"Waaah..." The old woman stuffed a smelly rag into her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears from the stench, and kept whimpering.

Han Qiushi and Han Qiulin didn't care whether the old woman shed tears or not. Right now, they were still feeling regretful that they didn't have any female elders in their family. Otherwise, they would definitely have brought them along and given the Xia family a good dressing down.

Seeing that there was no sign of anyone hiding in the house, Han Qiushi and Han Qiulin did not expect the old woman to say anything and stepped out the door.

When Han Qiushi was in the yard, he couldn't help but shout to the curious onlookers, "Comrades, this family is full of vipers and wolves. My wife is pregnant with twins. I have to go on a mission today and can't accompany her. She has to go to the hospital for a check-up by herself. But I never expected that Xia Zheng, that bastard, would call two hooligans to harm my wife."

"You wouldn't believe it, they kicked my wife right in the stomach, and after that... they even tried to defile her... Luckily, some kind people were passing by, otherwise my wife and child..."

"How could there be such vicious in-laws? If they have any grievances against us, they should just say so. The Xia family wants my family to be destroyed. My wife is in the hospital being desperately treated, while the criminals are still at large."

"This is almost a fatal incident, and the Xia family is still trying to cover it up... Has anyone seen Xia Zheng and Xia Ri? If this viper isn't caught, who knows what other children he might harm?"

As Han Qiushi spoke, his eyes reddened. He was a tall, burly man in military uniform, whose imposing presence would have intimidated even the Japanese. Yet, he had been reduced to this state by his own people.

The crowd couldn't bear to see soldiers and their families, who served the country and its people, suffer such injustice, and their mouths were full of condemnation towards the Xia family.

"The Xia family itself doesn't have much ability, and they treat us neighbors like dirt. They're arrogant enough, but their hearts are truly wicked."

"Who says otherwise? They harmed a soldier's child. They'll get struck by lightning sooner or later, and even if they die, they'll be whipped by lightning. I was at home just now and didn't notice the commotion at the Xia family's place. Did you see it?"

"Damn it, I didn't even notice..."

"Me too, everyone's busy in the house, haven't seen anyone from the Xia family..."

Han Qiulin saw that the people around him were shaking their heads, as if they hadn't seen it. He looked around and finally fixed his eyes on an old woman whose clothes were covered in patches.

The woman kept glancing at Han Qiushi and then at the old woman, her expression conflicted. She seemed to be hiding something, and although she opened her mouth several times, she couldn't say anything.

Han Qiulin thought for two seconds and then shouted into the crowd, "The Public Security Bureau rewards people who provide clues when they catch fugitives. If you know anything about this, please provide it to me. I work at the Public Security Bureau, and as long as the clues you provide are true and useful, I will apply for a reward for you."

"Not only does the Public Security Bureau offer rewards, but if anyone sees it and can speak out, I'll give them 50 yuan!" Han Qiushi added from the side.

"50 yuan...that's three months' salary for me."

"Oh dear, what kind of work did I do at home back then? If I had just gone out for a walk more often, I would have earned this money myself."

"Good heavens, this money is enough for my family to live on for half a year... You really didn't see anyone? No?" Seeing everyone shaking their heads, the people around slowly changed from shock to relief.

Thankfully, no one knows where Xia Zheng and the others are. This 50 yuan didn't end up being earned by someone else. It's good that we're all poor together. It would be strange if so much money were spent on someone else.

Han Qiulin watched the aunt the whole time. When she heard about the reward and 50 yuan, her eyes lit up, and she looked excited and happy. She wanted to say something, but after looking at the people around her, she shut up and kept looking at Han Qiushi with hope.

"If anyone is not comfortable talking here, they can talk privately. As long as the information is true, you will receive the full amount of money." With that, Han Qiulin gave Han Qiushi a look, and the two walked outside together.

They had only walked a short distance when the aunt, covered in patches, quickly walked ahead of them and hurriedly said, "I know where Xia Zheng and Xia Ri are. Follow me."

Upon hearing this, Han Qiulin and Han Qiushi exchanged a glance and then walked towards their aunt's direction.

Aunt Patch led them to a deserted alley. Seeing that they had followed, she got straight to the point, "Young man, I saw Xia Zheng and Xia Ri. Just as a group of people came up ahead, the two of them were carrying a lot of things and walked over there."

Han Qiushi became a little agitated upon hearing this: "Do you know where they're going?"

“They went to the countryside. I heard them talking as they left. It was in Zhoucun, on the outskirts of Beijing. At that time, I was on my way to the scrap yard to pick up some things to take home, and that's when I ran into them.”

Han Qiulin: "Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"

Aunt Patch nodded repeatedly: "It's true, absolutely true. You're from the Public Security Bureau. I... I wouldn't dare to say anything out of line."

Han Qiushi somewhat believed this. The aunt looked at them with a hint of fear, so she usually wouldn't dare to deceive them. Otherwise, if she found out later that it was a scam, she would have to give back the money she had taken and would be registered. It wouldn't be a worthwhile deal.

"Okay, I believe you." Han Qiushi readily took out 50 yuan and handed it over, then thought for a second and took out another 10 yuan.

“Take this 10 yuan. I don’t care what excuse you have, beat up the old woman inside, preferably tear her mouth apart. 10 yuan is a lot of money. Auntie, you decide how much to beat her and how many times.”