Xia Jianguo and Li Chunmei walked back from the bus stop carrying large bags and small packages. As they passed the supermarket entrance, they saw several people gathered around the checkout counter, who were very agitated and speaking loudly.
All they heard was something about counterfeit money.
Xia Jianguo asked the security guard next to him, "What's going on? It's so noisy, why isn't your manager coming out to do anything about it?"
The supermarket security guard, who had initially been somewhat impatient, became very respectful upon seeing the owner and vividly recounted what had happened. To be honest, he did a pretty good job; I hadn't realized he had this skill before.
Xia Jianguo looked at the clock hanging at the entrance of the store. "It's almost time to close. Go and help maintain order."
Xia Jianguo and Li Chunmei put down the bags they were carrying on the fifth floor, then went to the office area of the discount supermarket. Outside the monitoring room, they heard Xiao Wu and Xia Minmin talking.
"Xiaomin, how did you discover that this man had a problem?"
“At first, I thought he bought a lot of things, but they were expensive. I was told to keep an eye on him. When he was counting money for me, I saw a stack of hundred-dollar bills in his wallet, at least five thousand dollars. Few people would carry that much cash. He handed me sixteen hundred dollars. When I counted it, I found that the money was not right. I used a money detector to check it several times. He didn’t show any impatience. Instead, he bet with me. This is very abnormal.”
Xia Jianguo and Li Chunmei entered the monitoring room, and Xiao Wu stood up to greet them.
Xia Minmin saw her parents empty-handed. "Mom and Dad, you're finally back! Didn't you bring me a pineapple bun?"
Li Chunmei tapped her forehead, "You little glutton, I brought it for you. I brought the whole last pot back for you, and it's already on the fifth floor."
Watching the interaction between his second brother, second sister-in-law, and Xiaomin, Xiaowu was filled with anticipation for their unborn child.
Xia Jianguo and Li Chunmei stood behind Xiao Wu and Xia Minmin. "Have you pulled up the surveillance footage?"
"It's been retrieved and copied. Xiaomin and I will go to make a statement and take it to the police station later."
Xiao Wu played the video in its entirety. The counterfeit money this person used was so well-made that it could even fool the money detector. If Xiao Min hadn't insisted, they might have been fooled.
Li Chunmei was very pleased with her daughter's performance in the video. "I must give Xiaomin a good reward today."
Xia Jianguo was also very proud, "Since Xiaomin has reduced her losses by 1,000 yuan today, this money will be directly awarded to Xiaomin."
"Thank you, Mom and Dad." Who can resist such a windfall!
Xia Jianguo then said to Xiaowu, "You and Xiaomin go to the police station quickly. Your sister-in-law and I are at home preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. We'll have a family dinner today. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll have the New Year's Eve dinner and make dumplings with the employees who stay behind."
As they were leaving, Li Chunmei said, "Don't forget to bring your ID cards."
The two clumsy kids hurriedly went upstairs to get their ID cards.
After saying goodbye to Li Chunmei and Xia Jianguo, Xiao Wu rode his motorcycle with his niece on the back, carrying the copied surveillance footage to the police station.
At seven o'clock in the evening, the factory area was very quiet. There were almost no people or vehicles on the road. Xiao Wu's motorcycle was going very fast and the wind was strong. Xia Minmin huddled behind him.
After the motorcycle came to a stop, Xia Minmin tidied her wind-blown hair and looked around the police station.
There is a guardhouse at the entrance, and the main gate is an iron gate. There is a large courtyard with two trees, one on the left and one on the right, planted in front of the office building, like two guards standing watch.
There's a three-meter-long shed in the right corner, where motorcycles and bicycles are parked. To the left is a two-meter-long bulletin board covered with various advertisements, such as brochures prohibiting pornography, gambling, and drugs.
The office building was a three-story white building. Three police cars were parked in front of the building, along with a brand-new Santana sedan and two dilapidated Chang'an minivans that were almost falling apart. One of them had been driven to the supermarket earlier.
"Xiaomin has arrived. Our security guard will register her."
Xia Minmin, holding onto Xiao Wu's arm, stepped off the motorcycle.
The security guard, who was about fifty years old and wearing glasses, was sitting at his desk writing and drawing with his left hand. Xia Minmin noticed that his right hand seemed to have been amputated.
Xiao Wu raised his middle finger and knocked on the doorman's window. "Brother, hello. We're here to make a statement."
The security guard looked up, his glasses slipping down from his ears. He took them off and asked, "Was it Old Qian who sent you over?"
"Yes, Officer Qian asked us to come over to make a statement. Do both of us need to register?"
The security guard handed the registration book to Xiao Wu, "We need both. Is your child accompanying you?"
"No, she's the person involved."
Xiao Wu returned the registration book to the gatekeeper, saying, "We've registered."
"Let me see your ID card."
Xiao Wu handed the two ID cards to the gatekeeper from his shoulder bag. The gatekeeper confirmed that they were correct and then let them in.
Xia Minmin and her companions ran into the young policeman who had come to the supermarket earlier in the lobby of the office building.
Upon seeing Xiao Wu and Xia Minmin, his eyes lit up. "You've come at the right time! Come with me to give your statement! Did you bring the surveillance footage?"
Xiao Wu took out a copy of the surveillance footage from his shoulder bag and handed it to him.
"Let me tell you, this kid has done more than just these things."
He glanced around warily and whispered, "When all the evidence is gathered, we'll have a go at it. You two better keep this a secret."
Officer Qian walked out of the office and saw Xiao Fan whispering to the victim.
"Xiao Fan, what are you saying!"
Officer Fan immediately stood up straight, his middle finger pressed against his trouser seam, and shouted in a strong voice, "Reporting, sir, I'm asking the victim about the situation at the time."
Officer Qian sighed softly and shook his head slightly. This Xiao Fan is good in every way, except for his gossip. Sooner or later, he'll suffer because of that.
A policewoman walked by and, upon seeing Officer Fan's appearance, her lips twitched incessantly.
Officer Qian said, "Xiao Sun, come here and take a statement from this child about the counterfeit money case we discussed today."
"Understood, Captain!"
Officer Sun turned to Xia Minmin and said, "Little sister, come with me to give a statement!"
It was completely dark by the time the statement was taken. Officer Fan escorted Xiao Wu and Xia Minmin downstairs. "We'll let you know if there's any further news. We'll probably be working overtime every day this Spring Festival!"
"Okay, thank you for your help. Please take care and get some rest."
Officer Fan looked at Xia Minmin and found her to be just as clever as her mentor had said. Her intuition was perfect for making her his successor. "Little girl, do you want to be a policeman in the future? I think you have a bright future. I have high hopes for you."
As I walked out of the police station's courtyard, the lights in the guardhouse were on, and the guard was leaning against his desk writing something.
Xiao Wu noticed that his niece hadn't followed and turned to look at her, knowing what she was staring at the gatekeeper for.
"Xiaomin, we should go home now. Your parents and your aunt are waiting for us to come home for the New Year's Eve dinner."
"They're here!"
At this time, all the surrounding buildings were dark, but this small building was still brightly lit, and the staff inside were still working hard.
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