Chapter 57 Chaos ensues
After being bullied by Gu Yanzheng, Tian Yongfeng became more obedient. When he came out of the warehouse and saw that there were fewer people at the scene, he planned to leave.
Xiao Min chatted with her colleagues on the side: "I have to say, the Major Crimes Unit is really capable. They solved a case that we couldn't find any clues for over a month in just over a week."
"I admire that Deputy Captain Shen; he can solve cases even when there are no conditions."
When Xiao Min saw Tian Yongfeng come out of the warehouse, she said, "That's great, now the fourth team has a hierarchy."
Tian Yongfeng beckoned Xiao Min over, took out a few bills from his pocket and stuffed them into his hand, instructing him, "Starting today, send over an iced watermelon every day at noon. It has to be a genuine stone watermelon, understand?"
"In this sweltering heat, I'm still preparing chilled watermelons for people every day?" Xiao Min muttered as she accepted the money, "She really is being treated like an elder."
"Watch out or I'll slap you." Tian Yongfeng couldn't bear to look at him grinning foolishly, so he called over the other team members and gave them a few instructions. Then, seeing the yellow bag being carried over from several buildings away, which should contain the body of Qin Lingling's mother, he looked disdainfully in the direction of Qin Lingling sitting in the police car: "Inhuman."
Qin Lingling leaned back in the car seat, her hands and feet shackled. Several circles of people surrounded the car, pointing and whispering about her, but unfortunately, it was impossible to see her expression through the black hood.
Would someone like her cry?
Qin Lingling's eyes were dry.
She lost all her money back in her childhood, when she relied on the kindness of others and scavenged for scraps. People gossiped about her and her mother, saying that her mother deserved to be someone's mistress and that her current paralysis was retribution.
Qin Lingling felt that it wasn't retribution against her mother, but rather divine retribution against her.
All her clothes were given to her by the neighbors. In order to fill her stomach, she washed clothes and took care of children for the neighbors. Because of her mother, she couldn't hold her head up and had to endure foul language. She was no different from a rat in the gutter.
Qin Lingling still remembers the best time of her life when she was sixteen and bribed a smuggler to go to Hong Kong. With a stolen gossip magazine in hand, she looked at the picture of her father looking triumphant and, after many twists and turns, finally found him.
Her father didn't even recognize her.
But he still took her to eat creamy ice cream, touch a Steinway piano, enjoy the night view of Victoria Harbour on a private yacht, and meet her half-sisters who were born on the same day, month, and year.
The girl was already a rising star in Hong Kong. She gave a speech in English at her father's group's banquet, owned her own white horse at the Jockey Club with a membership fee of one million a year, had large album posters printed on buses she had never ridden before, and could shop freely in luxury stores in Central.
The pair of red high heels that the girl casually threw away were enough to cover her mother's medical expenses for five years.
Qin Lingling doesn't hate girls; she hates her mother who brought her into this world and made her lose all face, and her father who personally strangled her life. They are the ones who kept her forever in the gutter, watching the dazzling stars.
The girl is like the other side of Qin Lingling's mirror image, living a life of being pampered and adored. She has a deep affection for her loving mother and embraces her father in front of the flashing lights of Hong Kong media, staging a happy and perfect life in a wealthy family.
Qin Lingling didn't want to ruin things anymore. Her mother was a bad woman who destroyed other people's families. She just wanted to get her mother's medical expenses.
As the girl's birthday party was about to end, Qin Lingling spoke to her father.
He casually lifted Qin Lingling's chin, as if admiring a toy: "I've heard too many lies about mainland girls earning money for their mothers' medical expenses, but you're prettier than them. If I peek out from between my fingers, it'll be enough for you to live a life of comfort for the rest of your life."
The medical expenses she desperately pleaded for were nothing to him; they weren't even enough to cover the cost of a single drinking session.
A torrent of malice overwhelmed her; she wanted to kill him, to nail this man to the floor, to kneel there forever.
Section Chief Shen misspoke; it wasn't six, it was seven.
She did give him chances, but in the end, she still forced him to kneel in front of the grand piano that she had played at the girl's birthday party.
It was clearly her and the girl's birthday that day.
This was her first murder. She quietly followed the smuggler back to the mainland, and no matter how hard the Hong Kong authorities investigated, they couldn't find her.
Qin Lingling closed her eyes, recalling her failed life. She had traded one life for seven dog lives, and in any case, it was all worth it.
"You don't need to waste your time interrogating me, I confess," Qin Lingling said calmly. "They all deserve to die."
***
The live broadcast of the "Legal Scene" program caused a great sensation in Liancheng, and the area in front of the Criminal Investigation Team building was packed with people.
Crime scenes can be seen on television, and reports can be heard on the radio. Many people can't resist the urge to witness the carnage firsthand. A group of unconnected reporters wait outside, hoping to get some exclusive information.
The "Liancheng Legal Online" program has been suspended due to the bribery scandal involving Zhao Bingrui, and public opinion is overwhelmingly in favor of Section Chief Shen.
Although Section Chief Shen spoke vividly in the studio, some people still doubted her ability to solve cases, thinking that she was just good at talking.
Having witnessed the entire process of solving the case, no one doubted her abilities anymore, and some even hoped that the "Legal Scene" program could continue to broadcast the exciting crime-solving scenes of Section Chief Shen.
Thanks to Liu Mei and the cameraman, Section Chief Shen now appears tall and imposing, seemingly a messenger of justice.
You said she was beaten up and lying on the ground with her legs trembling and her eyes rolling back?
It's a rumor, it must be a rumor!
Section Chief Liang was overjoyed. Standing downstairs at the Criminal Investigation Team building, he found the person in charge of the program team and, following Director Liu's instructions, asked the program team to edit it carefully and broadcast it again during prime time to establish a positive image of the police officers.
Liu Mei was scolded quite a bit at the time, but she patted her chest and agreed.
"Oh my, this is going to be interesting." She had just left the criminal investigation team when Section Chief Liang came to Mrs. Xu's door seeking help.
Mrs. Xu was accompanied by seven or eight other women who had brought their children and lawyers.
Shen Zhenzhu went to the hospital for an X-ray and came back. Her shoulder was very strong, with no fracture or bone crack, just soft tissue contusion. She took a bottle of safflower oil with public funds and planned to go back to the office.
He had barely stepped inside when he immediately turned and left to find Sister Zhang.
The fourth team's office was in complete chaos because of these people; the phone kept ringing.
Zhou Chuanxi's head was about to explode. He didn't see the fleeing figure. Rubbing his temples, he said, "There are two other ladies who had children with Xu Jiachang who couldn't make it here. They have asked their lawyers to apply for Xu Jiachang's DNA to be sent to the UK for testing."
"What? There's more?!" Mrs. Xu was filled with regret. If she had known that the mainland police would solve the case so quickly, she would never have used the media to put pressure on them!
She would definitely come quietly to cooperate with the police work, and after the case is solved, she would cremate Xu Jiachang directly. Why would she leave a body for these women to test for DNA?
However, the lawyers hired by others around her were aggressive, and the police officers in front of her also had a very official attitude.
Having finally managed to get Bai Xiaodeng to take the blame for the bribery case, she would never dare to use money to bribe mainland police again.
Now we can only watch helplessly as the forensic doctor takes those people to collect DNA samples, and then they'll "divide the cake" back in the port city.
Mrs. Xu cried so hard she could hardly breathe: "Can't I really refuse them? I'm Mrs. Xu!"
Zhou Chuanxi said with a hint of sarcasm, "You have very capable lawyers and detectives, so I'm sure you'll spare no effort to protect your assets."
Mrs. Xu knew she had completely offended him, so she stood up and said, "I want to apologize to Section Chief Shen in person."
Gu Yanzheng prepared the interrogation materials, walked to the door and said, "Call Lao Shen."
Just as Mrs. Xu was about to be happy, Gu Yanzheng looked at her expressionlessly and said, "Section Chief Shen is coming to the interrogation room with me. She doesn't have time to deal with you."
"How dare you speak to me like that?" Mrs. Xu exclaimed angrily, grabbing the lawyer beside her. "Did you hear me?"
"No, no." Anyone who had looked into the person in charge of the fourth team before coming here wouldn't have gone against him.
"Director Liu, so early?" Gu Yanzheng came to the outside of the interrogation room. "Qin Lingling has already confessed. There are some details to handle later."
Director Liu sat outside the interrogation room: "I've come to see what kind of people have turned Liancheng upside down."
When Gu Yanzheng saw Chen Zhenzhu coming over, he took out a pen and handed it to her, saying to Director Liu, "Just an ordinary person."
Shen Zhenzhu thought to herself, "Zheng Ge's taste is truly exceptional." Judging solely from her appearance, Qin Lingling was a top-tier femme fatale.
The most terrifying aspect of this kind of killer is not the killing itself, but that she makes her prey willingly walk into her trap and then hand over the knife herself.
Inside the interrogation room.
Wu Zhongguo and Zhao Qiqi stood up and offered them their seats. Shen Zhenzhu sat to Gu Yanzheng's right and looked directly at the exhausted Qin Lingling.
"How exactly did you get to know Xu Jiachang?" Gu Yanzheng asked in a cold voice.
Qin Lingling, her face flushed from the incandescent light, her long hair sticking to her cheeks, tilted her head and stared at Gu Yanzheng: "I went to the opening of the Shanghai Securities Firm and met him for the first time. My target is the boss from Hong Kong; he's the one who invited me to dinner."
Gu Yanzheng said, "You met Ma Xiangxiang while working at Jingangwan Kindergarten, right?"
Qin Lingling peeled away the alluring facade, revealing the bloody truth to the world: "Men like them have a habit of philandering; just a glance is enough to hook someone who is willing."
“We are very clear about your motives and methods, but there is one thing I don’t understand: what methods did you use to make them obey your every command, even to the point of giving up their own lives?” Shen Zhenzhu asked.
Qin Lingling chuckled softly, looking at Chen Zhenzhu's expression with amusement: "The fact that you can ask this question proves that you've never been with a man before."
Shen Zhenzhu's temples were throbbing. Although she didn't understand men, she had touched them before.
"Sometimes I really envy people like you, who are focused on work and life, seemingly busy but have the right to control their own lives."
Qin Lingling's eyes suddenly turned fierce: "But my life is all about seducing men, giving them unique sensory stimulation, making them go from curiosity to infatuation, until they can't live without my 'rewards.' Taming a man is no different from taming a dog. Obedient ones are incredibly docile, disobedient ones are even more docile!"
......
......
When Shen Zhenzhu came out of the interrogation room, she was speechless for a long time.
Standing next to her, Gu Yanzheng noticed her expression and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Qin Lingling has developed paranoid antisocial personality disorder. She has a deep-rooted hatred for cheating men. After Sister Liu's live broadcast, many married men are panicking."
Gu Yanzheng said dismissively, "What's there to be afraid of? As long as you don't cheat, everything will be fine."
“Brother Zheng is right.” Chen Zhenzhu sealed the materials into the file and stomped her foot on the table outside.
Director Liu chuckled and handed Shen Zhenzhu a form: "This is the case-solving reward he applied for for you. Although it's not much, it will be paid with your salary next month. You can see it on your payslip. Just sign it and I'll approve it."
"Thank you, Director Liu, thank you, Brother Zheng." Shen Zhenzhu wouldn't turn down money; she cherished every penny she earned through hard work.
"It's already past mid-year. I'll apply for an 'Outstanding Police Officer of the Year' award for you at the end of the year. Do your best during this time and keep up the good work," Director Liu said with a look of satisfaction.
Shen Zhenzhu understood that the leader was starting to make empty promises, so she nodded vigorously and returned the favor with a promise in return: "I will never let the leader down and will definitely forge ahead and solve every case well."
"Not bad." Director Liu left satisfied.
Gu Yanzheng shook the bag of materials: "Case closure report?"
Chen Zhenzhu shrugged her shoulders: "Hiss, why do I still feel like I can't lift my arm?"
Gu Yanzheng saw through it but didn't say anything. He put down the document bag and said, "Let Axi write it. Take a look at it later. Don't send it to the procuratorate and have it sent back."
"Yes!" Shen Zhenzhu happily agreed.
When they returned to their office from the interrogation room, Mrs. Xu and the others had already left.
"Xu Jiachang's body has been taken away." Lu Ye came in from outside, fanned himself in front of the electric fan with his clothes, and said, "If you didn't know better, you would think he took away a golden Buddha. The scene was quite something."
“Why isn’t it a golden Buddha?” Wu Zhongguo said, glancing out the window. “A golden Buddha that brings wealth and prosperity.”
"Everyone's here? Let's eat! The food's pretty good today." Wu Fuwang's voice came from the doorway. He put the food delivery box on the ground and took out the food boxes one by one, handing them over: "Sixth Sister has finally managed to get you all back to health, you've all lost weight lately."
“This isn’t called being thin, it’s called successfully losing weight.” Lu Ye went over to take the food, and Chen Zhenzhu dragged a chair to the side of the coffee table, ready to start the meal.
Wu Fuwang glanced inside and asked in a low voice, "Is Sister Pearl alright?"
Lu Ye finally caught on and covered for Shen Zhenzhu, saying, "Tell Sixth Sister not to worry, look at her, she's lively and energetic."
Wu Fuwang glanced at it again, nodded, and said, "That's true. The main thing is that your case is too frightening; a woman could kill so many men."
“Who says otherwise?” Shen Zhenzhu also came over to take the lunchbox; the freshly cooked food was still piping hot.
Seeing that she was alright, Wu Fuwang took out a few more cups of milk tea and handed them to her, saying with relief, "I have to hurry back. Business has been good at the shop lately, and I've almost been overwhelmed."
"Thank you for your hard work." Seeing him sweating profusely in the hot weather, Shen Zhenzhu handed him a napkin to wipe his sweat: "If it's too hot, then don't deliver it."
"Practicing in the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer is good for your health." Wu Fuwang slung his lunchbox over his shoulder and tapped it: "Let's go."
Wu Zhongguo sighed, "He can be considered a prodigal son who has turned over a new leaf."
"The dishes today are really good: plum-flavored spare ribs, fermented bean curd pork, hand-shredded eggplant with minced garlic, loofah and egg soup, and braised yellow croaker and turtle with pork." Wu Zhongguo distributed chopsticks, already overwhelmed by the aroma of Sixth Sister's cooking before even starting to eat.
Shen Zhenzhu opened the last lunchbox and found it contained shaved ice. Crabapple, yam beans, dried apricots, grapes, oranges, walnuts, and other ingredients were mixed in the shaved ice and topped with a thin layer of rock sugar syrup, making it both sour and sweet, and extremely delicious.
"My mom is really amazing." Shen Zhenzhu swallowed and was about to take a bite when Gu Yanzheng stopped her: "Eat after you finish your meal."
"Oh." Shen Zhenzhu stared at the shaved ice and ate a mouthful of rice, but after taking a bite of fermented bean curd meat, her gaze was immediately drawn to the rice.
After the pork ribs are cooked and cut into large slices, the broth is added to the pot along with the lean and fatty meat. Then, rose-red fermented bean curd made by Sixth Sister is added, crushed, along with cane sugar and Shaoxing rice wine. It is then simmered over low heat for two hours. The large, translucent slices of meat are dyed red by the fermented bean curd, resulting in a bright color and a tender texture like tofu. It's a great dish to eat with rice and is very appetizing.
"This silver thread roll can also be dipped in the sauce of fermented bean curd and pork." Wu Zhongguo is an expert when it comes to food, and he understood Sixth Sister's intention when he saw the silver thread roll on the side.
He tasted a few bites of each dish. The plum ribs were sweet and sour, and the tangy plum sauce balanced the greasiness, making it perfect for summer.
Needless to say, the eggplant with minced garlic is steamed until soft and tender, absorbing all the flavors. It has a rich garlic aroma and a slightly spicy taste, and people in Liancheng have loved eating it with rice since they were young.
The loofah and egg soup is sweet and refreshing, perfect for cooling down in the summer. The natural sweetness of the loofah and the tender eggs, combined with a handful of clam meat, make for a delicious and flavorful soup that you can't stop drinking until you're sweating profusely...
He usually enjoys a cup of fragrant Tieguanyin tea after meals, but today Wu Zhongguo picked up a milk tea and sat down to watch the young people eat, sipping his milk tea as he did so.
"I heard that a few milk tea shops have opened, but business is slow." Lu Ye finally had time to speak after eating for a while: "But business is not good, and they only sell fruit juice, which doesn't taste like Hong Kong-style milk tea."
"Don't worry, if Sixth Sister says she's second, nobody says she's first." Chen Zhenzhu was quite confident in Sixth Sister's development ability. Even if they all had the recipe for Hong Kong-style milk tea, they might not be able to beat Sixth Sister, let alone the fact that they didn't.
Seeing that she kept glancing into the shaved ice container, Gu Yanzheng found a clean small bowl, scooped half a bowl of it into her bowl, and handed it to her.
Shen Zhenzhu pretended not to see it.
Gu Yanzheng smiled and poured some more for her. Shen Zhenzhu then reluctantly took it and ate it in small bites.
"Leave some for me." Lu Ye finished off the remaining food and took out a bowl, waiting for Gu Yanzheng to distribute the shaved ice.
"You can divide it yourselves." Gu Yanzheng put down the smoothie, stood up and stretched a bit, and said, "You can all leave work early once you're done."
"Wow!" Shen Zhenzhu was excited. She hadn't been able to stay at home properly lately, so being able to leave work early was wonderful.
"Hey, Yu Yuan's college entrance exam results haven't come out yet?" Wu Zhongguo asked abruptly. "Does she have a target school?"
"She's not out yet," Shen Zhenzhu said in an adult tone. "But my sister is doing very well in school. She wants to be a doctor and she'll have a bright future."
Gu Yanzheng said, "The doctor is good and highly respected."
Shen Zhenzhu said happily, "Anyway, she estimates her score should be close to the cutoff. She wants to be a pediatrician in the future to help children."
Looking at her proud face, Gu Yanzheng smiled and said, "Then you deserve even more respect."
Chen Zhenzhu nodded.
When they were little, they didn't have much money and were afraid to see a doctor when they were sick. A retired pediatrician in Xin'er Village would treat them for free. Perhaps it was then that little Shen Yuyuan planted the seed of becoming a pediatrician, wanting to pass on the flower of love to the children to come.
"By the way, Brother Ye, do you have any friends who ride motorcycles?" Chen Zhenzhu walked to the window and saw Gu Yanzheng's motorcycle. Remembering that her own means of transportation had been abandoned, she had some ideas.
Lu Ye asked, "What's wrong? You want to buy a motorcycle?"
Chen Zhenzhu said, "Oh, why can't I buy it?"
Lu Ye said, "It's not that you can't buy one, but you need a motorcycle license. Without a motorcycle license, you can't register the motorcycle even if you buy it, and even if you do register it, you can't drive it on the road."
Shen Zhenzhu had a sudden urge to buy a motorcycle to show off, but upon hearing that she would need to take a driving test, she immediately changed her mind: "Forget it, I'm quite afraid of falling off a motorcycle. How about I buy an electric tricycle instead, I can use it to carry people, vegetables, or even the dog?"
Lu Ye was displeased: "Why did you glance at me when you were pooping the dog?"
Shen Zhenzhu denied it and continued to ramble on to the others: "Don't look down on electric tricycles. When there's a case, they can take you all to the scene in one trip."
Gu Yanzheng was amused by her: "Electric tricycles can't be on main roads. If you lead them to the scene and the traffic police come after you to arrest you, is that reasonable?"
"Can't I just buy a few more helmets?" Shen Zhenzhu was angry. Is it easy for ordinary people to scrimp and save to buy a means of transportation?
"Rejected." For the sake of the image of the Fourth Major Crimes Unit, Gu Yanzheng pointed to the motorcycle downstairs and said, "Whoever gets a driver's license can ride my motorcycle. No one is allowed to mess with the electric tricycles."
"Oh." Shen Zhenzhu ran to the window again to look at Zheng Ge's motorcycle. The black motorcycle looked majestic, as if it was waiting for her. Hehe.
Wu Zhongguo chuckled behind him. It's true what they say, every little thing has its day. Ever since Old Shen arrived, Captain Gu has been emptying his pockets constantly. At this rate, all four teams will need to upgrade their equipment.
Gu Yanzheng's words were always firm and decisive. Chen Zhenzhu happily hitched a ride home with her boss after get off work, took a shower, and then went to the store.
As evening fell and the scorching sun subsided, the temperature dropped considerably.
Many people were out for a stroll on the streets.
The restaurant is busier in the evening than at noon, with diners queuing up and taking numbers with great enthusiasm.
When a returning customer greeted Shen Zhenzhu, the customer boasted to the person next to him as soon as Shen Zhenzhu entered the shop: "This is Section Chief Shen, who just solved a major case. This shop is owned by her mother, and I often come here to chat with her."
Two young girls came to the milk tea counter. Shen Yuyuan came over to Shen Zhenzhu and said, "They are my classmates. They don't want to go to university anymore. They came here temporarily to find a job to tide them over."
"That's good, it makes things easier for me too." Chen Zhenzhu went around to the back of the restaurant counter and slumped down: "How can I be a beast of burden at work and then have to be a beast of burden again after get off work?"
Shen Liuhe was still busy in the kitchen, and Xiao Li had brought a newcomer to help him. Shen Zhenzhu noticed that, without realizing it, the small shop was becoming more and more well-managed by Sixth Sister, and more and more people were helping out.
Customers came and went, and the restaurant finally passed its peak period.
Chen Zhenzhu turned on the TV and sat in the corner changing channels.
After the national "News Broadcast," the "Focus Interview" program began.
He Liana's face appeared on the television with a capable air, and Chen Zhenzhu pointed at her and said, "This is my god-sister, He Liana!"
Shen Yuyuan was very supportive: "Wow, she's your god-sister and also my god-sister! My god-sister is really amazing!"
The diners sitting inside, whether they knew her or not, were all drawn to He Liana's voice.
She is exposing and reporting on illegal brick factories and underground surrogacy cases. In the midst of the simple folk customs, such news makes everyone unable to help but follow her lens into the illegal brick factories and see the scenes of exploitation and enslavement.
After finishing cooking, Sixth Sister took off her apron and sat down. The diners in the restaurant watched the camera's lens rise and fall with their own emotions.
Seeing the disabled people being controlled, many soft-hearted female diners had tears in their eyes.
They all breathed a sigh of relief when the police finally appeared.
But when he saw that some police officers were in danger, his heart clenched again: "Oh no, what should we do? These people have guns."
Just then, Shen Zhenzhu's figure descended from the sky, knocking down two criminals who were much taller than her in succession. She used a scissor kick to throw the burly man to the ground, then slammed the handcuffs on him, looking incredibly smug.
Chen Zhenzhu was still happy and turned her head to say, "Sixth Sister, don't you think I look impressive?"
Shen Liuhe lowered her head to wipe the rolling pin: "Yeah, if they can jump down from that height, the factory must be taller than a typical second floor, right?"
"Yeah, it was at least three stories high, but I made sure I was careful before jumping. It was a really emergency, and luckily there were some bad guys below who caught me..."
When Shen Liuhe pulled out the rolling pin, Shen Zhenzhu felt a tightness in her skin, and a sense of oppression from being ruled by blood ties arose spontaneously: "Listen carefully to what I'm saying, assaulting a police officer is a crime."
Sixth Sister raised her rolling pin, grinding her teeth as she cursed, "You've really grown up! Instead of using the stairs, you jumped off! Today you'll learn your lesson!"
"It's too late!" Shen Zhenzhu turned and ran.
On TV, Shen Zhenzhu arrogantly beats up criminals, and Sixth Sister chases after her with a rolling pin, trying to hit her.
The junior official was utterly humiliated amidst the laughter of the crowd.
After broadcasting the previous case, her dear god-sister also seriously criticized certain media outlets and individuals on television for smearing and spreading rumors about the mainland police, and stated that the central government would investigate and hold accountable the heads of local television stations, and would never tolerate such behavior!
In her interview with Focus Interview, she highly praised Liancheng criminal police officer Shen Zhenzhu, who participated in the rescue operation. In order to make it clearer for everyone, she insisted on playing the scene of Shen Zhenzhu jumping off the building and beating people three times!
That's like adding fuel to the fire.
Shen Zhenzhu dodged the rolling pin and ran to Yuan Jiangxue's shop. She saw that Aunt Yuan looked displeased, and then she noticed that the TV was on!
She hurriedly ran towards Uncle Lu's shop, followed by bursts of laughter. It was a sight to behold, but it brought tears to her eyes.
Shen Liuhe originally didn't intend to hit her, she just wanted to scare her so she wouldn't be so dangerous in the future. Who knew that Shen Zhenzhu really thought that she was going to hit her? So she had to give her a couple of slaps!
Finally, after receiving two light taps on her buttocks, Chen Zhenzhu was able to return to the shop, feeling embarrassed and awkward.
The next day was the weekend, and Chen Zhenzhu slept in late.
After running a few laps around the neighborhood, I arrived at the shop with rosy cheeks. Now, there are female students working part-time at the shop. They have a pure and innocent romance, and they've decorated the shop with small touches to make it warm and cozy.
With plenty of time to make dolls, Li Lili made several palm-sized dolls based on Chen Zhenzhu's image and placed them in front of the milk tea counter. Many customers who came specifically to buy them wanted to do so.
Chen Zhenzhu strolled to the shop entrance and noticed the pink rose wall next to the milk tea shop. She had no idea when it had been planted.
"Section Chief Shen, can we take a photo together?"
"Wow, we actually ran into Section Chief Shen!"
"You're my idol! Can we take a picture together?"
Many tourists and local young people stood in front of the rose wall to take photos. When they saw Chen Zhenzhu coming over, they pulled her over to take photos together, whether they knew her or not.
Shen Zhenzhu discovered that the person running the photo booth was actually Uncle Lu.
Her dimples were faintly visible, and her almond-shaped eyes smiled generously at the camera.
Taking photos isn't as convenient now. After Uncle Lu takes the photo, he writes down the time to pick it up and then starts taking photos for the next person.
"You've made it a success for them to meet their idol here." Uncle Lu finally finished taking the photos, put down the camera, and carefully wiped it clean. He said, "Let's all come back later for a group photo. Such great weather, such a beautiful flower wall, and such an amazing Section Chief Shen—we can't miss any of it!"
Shen Zhenzhu was amused by him and went from shop to shop, calling everyone together to take photos.
Upon hearing that a group photo was to be taken, the individual business owners of Tiesi Commercial Street, still clinging to outdated ideas, began to dress up. Even Chen Zhenzhu was dragged away by Yuan Jiangxue to have her hair combed and lipstick applied again. The entire street was on high alert, striving to take an amazing group photo.
After taking the group photo, everyone still had happy expressions on their faces, and they returned to their respective shops in small groups, chatting as they went.
After eating the zucchini and egg dumplings her mother made, Shen Zhenzhu carried a bucket and coaxed Uncle Lu to go crayfish fishing with her.
She's been craving this for a long time!
"What's so good about those things? They're all claws with no meat." Uncle Lu said this, but he was still very happy to go shrimp fishing with Chen Zhenzhu. He pushed his tricycle and loaded it with fishing rods, buckets, a parasol, a shovel, and various side dishes to coax Chen Zhenzhu to sit down and fish for shrimp.
Shen Yuyuan and Li Lili were so engrossed in making milk tea that they wouldn't go no matter how much they were called. Shen Zhenzhu, on the other hand, sat comfortably behind Uncle Lu's tricycle, holding a parasol.
"Why not buy some white shrimp and make stir-fried shrimp? Your mother's stir-fried shrimp is generous with oil and seasonings; once you've tasted it, you'll never forget it." Uncle Lu chatted as he rode with Chen Zhenzhu on his back, leisurely and carefree.
Chen Zhenzhu, with the summer breeze blowing behind her, squinted her eyes, tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and said proudly, "You'll never forget the braised prawns I made."
"Then I'm going to broaden my horizons today. You'll be in charge of catching earthworms, and I'll be in charge of fishing. Let's fill a bucket and have a good meal when we get back."
"No, I'm afraid of earthworms. Can you catch them yourself?" Chen Zhenzhu bargained from behind.
......
When Shen Liuhe heard that Shen Zhenzhu had come to the shop, she went out for a walk and saw that the zucchini and egg dumplings that she had left for her had been eaten and then disappeared again: "You've grown wings and are flying around everywhere."
I spent a rare, leisurely holiday digging for earthworms and fishing for crayfish by the river. My face, which was fair before I left home, turned several shades darker when I arrived at the shop carrying a full bucket of water.
The people of Liancheng are picky eaters; guarding the Bohai and Yellow Seas, they wouldn't care about a small river.
This benefited Chen Zhenzhu.
Wearing gloves, she went to the backyard and frantically scrubbed the crayfish, which attracted Shen Liuhe and the others to come and take a look whenever they had a spare moment.
"Big sister, if this isn't cooked properly, it will have a muddy taste. Sixth sister said that she was the only one who ate this when she was a child, and now everyone eats seafood."
Shen Zhenzhu coldly said, "You just wait."
Yuan Jiangxue also came over and looked at the dark water in the big red basin. Out of politeness, she didn't pinch her nose and said, "I won't eat it. Your mom can just make me some cold noodles tonight."
Without even raising her head, Chen Zhenzhu continued coldly, "You just wait and see."
She is full of ambition, and a full bowl of crayfish will be her ambitious creation.
Before Brother Leng could even speak, Chen Zhenzhu pointed and said, "You just wait."
"Hey, okay, I'll be waiting." Before Brother Leng could finish speaking, he turned and left.
Standing at the back door, Li Lili saw Chen Zhenzhu, whose hair was disheveled from washing a large number of crayfish, and hesitated before saying, "How about I do it?"
Shen Zhenzhu still showed a kind face to those who were willing to help her. Finally, she raised her tired and pale face and said, "Sweetie, just go up and wait to eat."
Ah, Shen Zhenzhu has two faces.
After cleaning the live shrimp, you have to trim off the whiskers and rostrum, and remove the vein. This whole process alone took more than an hour.
When the prawns were poured into the oil, everyone stood by and watched, thinking it best not to make any sarcastic remarks; they could just eat a few bites as a token gesture.
The oil in the wok is sizzling with scallions, ginger, and garlic. The freshly cleaned prawns, still lively, slide into the hot oil with a sizzling sound. The prawns turn from green to red and quickly curl up and tumble in the hot oil, releasing their aroma. A bowl of prepared spices, such as Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, etc., is added to the wok along with a large spoonful of lard and stir-fried vigorously.
The spicy aroma hits your nose as light and dark soy sauce drips down the side of the pot, instantly staining the prawns with a deep brown color. A pinch of sugar and half a bowl of Shaoxing wine are then added, releasing the fragrance of wine and prawns. The savory and salty sauce bursts forth from the kitchen, making your mouth water.
After the soup was reduced, Chen Zhenzhu brought a large iron basin and poured it all in. Before she could say anything, Li Lili had already taken the large iron basin out and placed it on the table outside.
Shen Zhenzhu followed behind, waiting for the large iron basin to be set up. The prawns were bright red and glistening with oil, the sauce thick and tempting. She sprinkled a handful of bright green scallions, and the steam carrying the aroma wafted over.
No invitations were needed; everyone obediently sat down around the round table.
Shen Yuyuan couldn't resist reaching out to pinch one, only to pull her fingertips back after being burned. Then, she carefully blew on the shrimp and peeled off the shell little by little.
The tender, bouncy shrimp meat melts in your mouth, the savory sauce permeating every fiber, a perfect balance of sweet and salty, with a hint of aroma. The most exquisite part is the roe in the shrimp head; sucking it out releases a rich, flavorful explosion on your tongue.
A large bowl of braised prawns was quickly devoured by everyone. Even at the end, they couldn't bear to wipe the sauce off their fingertips, savoring the taste.
Chen Zhenzhu's proud tail was practically wagging in the air; everything was understood without her saying a word.
"Why isn't this shrimp on your menu?" A customer who had received his menu in advance while waiting in line outside kept peeking out, pencil in hand: "What's it called?"
Shen Yuyuan said, "It's called braised prawns in oil. We're just testing the dish. If you want to eat it, it will be available in three days. You can make a reservation in advance if you want to eat it."
Upon hearing Shen Yuyuan's words, Shen Zhenzhu's big eyes widened: "You want to buy braised prawns in three days?"
A diner nearby hurriedly said, "Yes, I'd love to! It goes really well with beer."
"Leave one for me too, so I can have a taste."
"You have new dishes? Don't forget to include me! I'm a regular customer, so please don't forget me!"
"..." Shen Zhenzhu felt the enthusiasm of the foodies.
Upon hearing the news, Shen Liuhe came over to support her youngest daughter: "Selling it will definitely have a market! You don't know how many restaurants are going to offer barbecue and late-night snacks. I was just worried about what to sell that would be different from the others. Now that we have such delicious braised prawns, what is there to worry about?"
Li Lili came over with a pen and notebook, and pressed them in front of Shen Zhenzhu, saying, "Big sister, quickly write down the recipe, let me think about how to promote it."
“But we can’t even supply enough crayfish that we catch ourselves,” Shen Zhenzhu said.
Xiao Li followed Shen Liuhe out and waved his hand, saying, "Don't worry about the supply. I'll tell my brothers and they'll all go shrimp fishing. It's fun and you can make money at the same time. I guarantee they'll be scrambling to send their catch here."
Faced with such a group of workaholics, Shen Zhenzhu was filled with admiration: "Okay, then I'll confess, I'll confess everything."
Sixth Sister's restaurant is thriving, and everyone is looking forward to the new summer dish, braised prawns.
But just then, a phone call shattered the peace.
After Li Lili answered the phone, she rushed over and said, "It's the landlord."
Shen Liuhe was still telling Shen Zhenzhu, "You can put in the bean sprouts and cucumbers you mentioned, and also some dried bean curd sticks and potato slices. It's delicious and refreshing, and they're all easy to flavor."
Shen Zhenzhu knew that Shen Liuhe had a keen sense of food, so she said, "I'll do whatever you say. I'll write down the recipe for you, and you can decide how to make it."
Shen Liuhe nodded and answered the phone with a smile, but after saying only a few words, her face turned pale.
Upon noticing this, Chen Zhenzhu quickly went to the counter and asked, "What's wrong?"
Shen Liuhe instantly lost her composure, tightly gripping Shen Zhenzhu's hand and saying, "The landlord said he wants to sell these two shops to raise money to speculate on stocks!"
This news was like a bolt from the blue, shocking Shen Liuhe's entire family. Even Yuan Jiangxue and the others came over to express their indignation on their behalf!
"The landlord is going too far. Luckily, we listened to my older sister and signed the lease. Otherwise, what would we do if he sold the storefront?"
Shen Yuyuan paced back and forth angrily: "They just rented it to us and now they want to sell it? Isn't this blatantly taking our rent but not wanting us to do any good work?"
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Author's Note: ***
See you tomorrow, there's a red envelope!
Next case preview: "A-Level Wanted: The Massive Robbery in 11 Provinces"
Zhuzhu: Uncle, is this your grenade?
[sunglasses]
***
The recipes, instructions, and descriptions related to the food were referenced from the internet and modified.
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