Chapter 15 The police station was bustling with activity, quite a few...

The police station was bustling with activity. Many leaders dressed in Zhongshan suits were present. Director Liao, who had previously looked down on her, was also there, busily serving tea and water to people.

Apart from Director Liao and Captain Wang, she didn't recognize anyone else, but they all exuded a powerful aura. Director Liao and Captain Wang stood to the side, their military posture impeccable.

Wang Xinhe beckoned Jiang Can over, then turned to a sprightly old man and introduced her: "Director Chen, this is Comrade Jiang Can. The reason we were able to wipe out the spies lying in ambush in Liao County this time was all thanks to Comrade Jiang Can's tip-off."

Director Chen was an old man in his fifties with an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were sharp and cold, as if they could see through people's hearts. He looked at Jiang Can without saying a word, and under his gaze, it seemed that there were no secrets left.

Jiang Can felt uneasy under Chen's gaze. Was Director Chen suspecting her? She quickly said, "Director Chen, hello. I'm Jiang Can, the one who runs a stall outside the steel rolling mill. I'm 18 years old, just graduated high school, and got married last month. Although I discovered the spy this time, it wasn't just my doing. I was no match for them; it was my husband, Shen Lang, who caught him. Also, Chen Tingting and Xiao Xue from the steel rolling mill promptly called the police, and the officers took it very seriously and arrived in time to prevent the spy from escaping."

She was very grateful for the two young ladies' help that day.

I didn't dare thank the two young ladies too much back then, for fear of upsetting the leaders of the steel rolling mill and causing them to make things difficult for me behind my back. But now it's different; this is a great achievement.

Director Chen chuckled, "Don't be so reserved, have a seat." Then he had the three of them called over and asked Jiang Can how he knew Qin Aiyang and You Jian were spies.

Jiang Can sat down in the chair opposite him and recounted the events of that day. When he got to the steel rolling mill, he mentioned that because he had received the storefront, he was obliged to help them and didn't bring up the fact that the steel rolling mill had protected Qin Aiyang and You Jian.

The leaders of the steel rolling mill also breathed a sigh of relief, finally feeling a huge weight lifted off their shoulders. How could they dare to protect two spies? They were especially grateful that Chen Tingting and Xiao Xue had helped call the police, and thought they would reward these two good comrades when they got back.

Jiang Can concluded, "I'm quite perceptive. I think he wasn't just taking advantage of me; he was using my beauty for other purposes. He's either a spy or a corrupt official—definitely not a good person. The two of them were working together, and they even brought in a few street thugs; they're probably accomplices. When I learned the fat woman's name, I was even more certain. Who in their right family has a name like Qin Aiyang? Isn't that 'loves the sun'? Don't you think so?"

Although it was just a casual remark at the time, intended to prompt the police to investigate thoroughly, if these two were indeed spies, then it would have to be a deduction made through meticulous observation, calm reflection, and careful analysis, since there can only be one truth.

Jiang Can then asked, "What did Qin Aiyang and the others do?"

She still doesn't know.

Captain Wang Xinhe glanced at Director Chen, who nodded, and briefly explained what Qin Aiyang and his spies had been doing. Qin Aiyang and his group's ancestors were not Chinese and had been lying low for decades. Over generations, they had collected a lot of information about the county. Recently, they had been in contact with criminals abroad, using women and money to lure those in power. They had also found several other oppressed women in a suburban courtyard, but fortunately, they were discovered early and their schemes failed.

He found it all very strange; Qin Aiyang and his group hadn't even started their big operation when they were all wiped out because of Jiang Can's report.

The key point is that Jiang Can knew nothing; she was just talking nonsense.

Director Chen smiled again, "Because of your meticulousness, our county wiped out a major spy group in one fell swoop. After discussion, the county has decided to commend you with a bonus of one thousand yuan, and also recommend you as one of Liao County's 'Three Good Citizens'." He then asked Jiang Can if he needed anything.

Jiang Can didn't care whether the leader's question was casual or not. Since Director Chen had asked, especially in front of so many leaders, she naturally had to make a request. With a touched expression, she said, "Director Chen, could you find a school for me to repeat a year? I don't even need to go to school; I can study at home and just take the college entrance exam next year. I have excellent grades; I've never ranked fourth in my entire life. I estimated my score for this year's exam to be very high, but I still didn't get in. My lifelong dream is to go to university and serve my country after I become successful."

Director Chen: "Since your grades are so good, how could you not find a school to repeat the year?"

Before Jiang Can could answer, Wen Ming from the steel mill's publicity department spoke up, glancing at Jiang Can with disdain: "Director Chen, you don't know this, but Jiang Can is of low character. When she was repeating her senior year at No. 1 High School, she seduced students and teachers, and even seduced students' parents while tutoring them. She made a mess of the school; no school would want to take her in now. If you ask me, she just got lucky this time; she doesn't deserve the title of 'model citizen.'"

Everyone gasped upon hearing this.

Jiang Can didn't even look at her directly: "That student's parent is a middle-aged man with a long face and a big belly. As for the students, one is an ugly boy with a face full of pimples, and the other is a fool who failed the college entrance exam after repeating it for five years. The so-called teacher is even worse; he's as tall as me. Even if you want to slander me, you should find someone good-looking, at least as tall and handsome as my husband. Who are you trying to insult with these ugly idiots?"

The young woman next to Director Chen chuckled, but quickly suppressed it.

Jiang Can nodded hurriedly: "That's right, I don't know who I offended, but they insist on ruining my reputation and firing me. Only an empty-headed person would believe that."

Wen Ming, her mind blank, turned pale. She had lost face in front of her superiors, but she didn't want to see Jiang Can go to school. She added, "Why does everyone say you're seducing men, but not others? If you weren't crazy, would people talk about you like that?"

Just then, Shen Lang arrived and overheard this. He sneered, which made Wen Ming glare at him angrily.

Shen Lang said exaggeratedly, "Why are you looking at me like that? Do you have a crush on me? Let me tell you, even if you dress provocatively, I still don't like a middle-aged woman like you!"

Wen Ming was only forty years old, but she had a perm, wore a dress and high heels, and dressed very stylishly. Because she was well taken care of, she looked like she was only in her thirties.

Wen Ming was furious, pointing at Shen Lang: "You, you, you..."

Shen Lang: "What?! Threatening me won't work. I swear I will never obey. Give up."

Wen Ming's face turned bright red, and he finally found his voice, "How could I, the director of the propaganda department, possibly be interested in a blond hoodlum like you?"

Shen Lang: "Then why don't I say that others seduced me, but I say that you seduced me! If you didn't seduce me, why would I say that about you?"

Jiang Can was overjoyed; if it weren't for the inappropriate occasion, he would have applauded Shen Lang.

Wen Ming was both angry and annoyed. When had she ever been so humiliated? She wanted nothing more than to tear Shen Lang's mouth apart, but how could she continue in this situation? The deputy factory director glared at her, and she finally shut her mouth without saying another word.

Director Chen found Shen Lang quite interesting. "Where do you work? How old are you?"

After learning that Shen Lang was working at a cotton mill, he said, "The cotton mill has declared bankruptcy. You're not very old, do you want to go to school with us?"

Shen Lang was horrified. "I'm good at fighting, but I'm really bad at going to school."

Director Chen smiled and told Jiang Can to report to Moling No. 1 Middle School next Monday. "I'm from Moling County. The old principal was my classmate. He likes top students. But you have to take the exam. If you don't pass, Moling No. 1 Middle School won't accept you."

Moling County is the neighboring county.

Director Chen knew the county was rife with problems. He was already over fifty and wanted a peaceful retirement, so he decided to let the young girl repeat her studies in Moling County.

Jiang Can was genuinely happy this time. "Thank you, Director Chen. I'm sure I'll get into university next year."

When Xiao Xue and Chen Tingting arrived, they were also rewarded, just like Shen Lang, each receiving a pen and a certificate of merit for being a "Three Good Citizen" of the county.

The two were overjoyed. With this certificate, they knew they would definitely be recognized for their performance in the factory's future awards, and promotions and raises would follow.

Then they took photos of Jiang Can and the other three. There will be reporters interviewing them later, and this matter will be reported.

After leaving the police station, Xiao Xue and Chen Tingting invited Jiang Can to a movie and dinner. If Jiang Can hadn't mentioned them to the high-ranking leader, they wouldn't have gotten this benefit.

Jiang Can decided not to go to the provincial capital this afternoon. She could repeat her studies now, so she didn't need to go to the provincial capital to alert the enemy. She would just wait and see what the people behind Shen Jiajia would do next.

There's a ton of stuff to do at the restaurant; it's opening tomorrow, so she needs to get everything ready. Nothing can stop her from making money right now! She smiled and said to Xiao Xue and Chen Tingting, "Come to my restaurant tomorrow at noon, and I'll treat you to lunch."

After parting ways with Xiao Xue and Chen Tingting, Shen Lang asked Jiang Can about his plans.

Jiang Can: "I'll tidy up the store first and open it tomorrow. Making money is the priority. Since Director Chen has spoken, I can go to Moling County to repeat my studies. My student status is gone, so the problem will be exposed when they check it. Shen Jiajia can't go to university peacefully. They will have a backup plan. They won't let me repeat my studies as I wish."

Shen Lang scoffed, "I love using backup plans. I've never been afraid of anything since I was a child." He then mentioned Director Chen, who had actually recommended Jiang Can to study in the neighboring county, which showed that the situation there was murky and he didn't want to get involved.

Jiang Can sat in the back seat, her eyes stinging from the wind. She squinted and said, "The Shen family has such a powerful influence in Liao County, I don't expect to be able to overthrow them all at once."

Their initial goal was to earn money to buy a house.

Make money to buy a house first, everything else can wait.

If the Shen family is willing to pay, everything is negotiable.

Was Jiang Can wronged? Of course she was. For the past two months, she had almost not survived. If she hadn't run into Shen Lang that night, she would have been dead.

But complaining is useless; we must be realistic.

It's a reality that Director Chen would recommend schools in other counties to her.

Suddenly, Shen Lang slammed on the brakes. A car stopped in front of him, blocking the bicycle. The car window rolled down, revealing Wen Ming inside.

She sneered, "Be careful riding your bike. If you hit a car, can you afford to pay for the damages?"

Shen Lang sneered: "Is that all the tricks you have? You think you can force me by riding in a car? Give up, I don't respect you. If you show your face in front of me again, I'll report you to your factory for forcing women into prostitution!"

Wen Ming was so angry she almost choked. She slammed her fist on the back of the chair. "You little punk, how dare you spread rumors about me!"

Shen Lang walked around the car, pushed off with his feet, and rode away on his bicycle. "Can Can, don't worry, I don't like old cured meat. It's hard to chew."