Xiao Moran and Su Xiaonuan went into the store and found that all the valuables had been packed into sacks, and some were piled up in a heap. It seemed that they had been arrested before they could move them.

They also believed that thieves had broken into the store, since Jiuya Restaurant was very popular and there must have been a lot of inventory in the store.

"When people's eyes turn red, their hearts turn black," Su Xiaonuan muttered.

"That's why people break in and steal things." Xiao Moran was busy running around, putting all the items back in their places. "In your line of work, there are too many competitors."

...

After they had packed their things, the police car arrived.

The person leading the team was Lu Kuan.

"Director Lu, what brings you here?" Su Xiaonuan greeted him. "My little shop was just burgled, why would it alarm the leaders?"

"Xiao Nuan, hurry up and bring out that guy named Tie Zhu. He's done a great job this time." Lu Kuan walked into the shop looking refreshed and sat down by himself.

"It's just catching a group of thieves, isn't it?"

“This is no ordinary thief,” Lu Kuan said, shaking his head.

Xiao Hong and Zhong Ling had already called out the two brothers, Tie Zhu and his brother.

"Come here!" Lu Kuan beckoned to Tie Zhu.

Tie Zhu walked timidly to him, keeping his head down and not daring to look at Lu Kuan even once.

"That's really great!" Lu Kuan patted him on the shoulder. "You helped us arrest all the human traffickers entrenched in the provincial capital, not a single one escaped. It's truly gratifying! Those women and children who were sold will soon be rescued."

"So it wasn't a thief after all?" Su Xiaonuan said anxiously. "Boss, please tell me quickly, what exactly happened?"

“Last night, that group of men came for these two girls,” Lu Kuan said, pointing at Zhong Ling and Xiao Hong. “Unexpectedly, the Tie brothers mistook them for thieves and called the police. They were too greedy, which is why we caught them all. Based on the backup call you made from your shop, we took down their hideout in one fell swoop.”

After saying that, Lu Kuan shook his head, and his subordinate immediately stepped forward and stuffed a 500 yuan reward into Tie Zhu's hand. "This is a reward from the Provincial Public Security Bureau."

Tie Zhu hesitated to accept the offer and looked at Su Xiaonuan.

"Take it, you deserve it." Su Xiaonuan was very happy. "Those trafficked women and children can go home now."

Tie Zhu had never seen so much money before, and he still dared not accept it.

Su Xiaonuan accepted the money for him. "I'll accept it on his behalf. Thank you, leaders. This money is a real lifesaver for the Tie brothers. Director Lu, could you perhaps put in a word with the nearby schools and make an exception to send Tie Suo to school?"

Lu Kuan already knew about the Tie brothers' situation, and he agreed to Su Xiaonuan's request without hesitation. "Don't worry, I'll arrange Tie Suo's schooling. But what about what you promised us?"

"I haven't forgotten. I'll report to your office today." Su Xiaonuan clasped her hands in a fist salute. "Whatever your orders, I will do my best."

“Okay, it’s a deal.” Lu Kuan stood up. “At nine o’clock, at the Zaoyang Public Security Bureau, we will be waiting for Comrade Su there.”

After seeing Lu Kuan off, Su Xiaonuan and Xiao Moran turned back and saw Xiao Hong and Zhong Ling cheering while hugging the iron lock.

"Tie Suo, you are truly our lucky star. If it weren't for your shit, we would both be finished."

“Little Iron Lock, from now on you will also be our younger brother, our own younger brother. If anyone dares to bully you, we will protect you.”

...

"Alright, you two, stop messing with the iron lock. The little guy is getting embarrassed." Su Xiaonuan took the iron lock from their hands.

"Boss lady, can my brother really go to school?" Tie Zhu asked excitedly, rubbing his hands together. Even though he had heard it with his own ears, he wanted to confirm it again.

"Okay." Su Xiaonuan nodded. "Tiezhu, when the bank opens, I'll take you to deposit the money. Keep a little on you for emergencies. In the future, if you don't use up your monthly salary, save it to support your younger brother's education."

"Okay, thank you, boss lady." Tie Zhu bowed.

"Work hard in the shop and learn the basics. In two years, you can learn to cook from the master chef. Then, I can help you open a franchise store. You're different from others; you're starting from scratch in everything, so you have to learn diligently, understand?"

"Understood." Tie Zhu turned around and went to work.

As long as there is hope in life, no matter how hard or tiring it is, I am not afraid.

……

Su Xiaonuan arrived at Lu Kuan's office on time, but before she could even sit down and discuss anything, another murder occurred.

Lu Kuan led Su Xiaonuan to the crime scene.

Inside an abandoned stone house on Cuiping Mountain, a woman dressed in black lies in a pool of blood.

The area has been cordoned off.

The leaders of the four branch bureaus all came.

"Comrade Su, this case is now in your hands." Lu Kuan shrugged. "This is the seventh victim."

"What's going on?" Su Xiaonuan asked. "Could it be a series of cases?"

Yu Yang replied, "That's about it. The killer is too cunning. He always chooses a different place to kill, and the killings always happen at the end of the year. I didn't expect it to happen earlier this year."

"The victims were all young women, dressed in plain-colored clothes, mostly white and gray. They all died in the same way: first strangled unconscious with a rope, then raped and murdered. A kerosene lamp was left at the scene."

"Could something have changed?" Su Xiaonuan muttered to herself thoughtfully. "The time of the crime was brought forward, and the color of the victim's clothes has changed..."

After saying that, he asked the forensic doctor for a pair of gloves and carefully examined the deceased's body.

Indeed, as they said, the deceased had ligature marks on his neck, his clothes were disheveled, and there were signs of assault. The fatal wound was to his heart, a single, fatal stab.

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