190 Civilized Collectives
"Have you found it over there?"
"An old man said he thought he saw a man acting suspiciously, pulling a boy of about eight years old in a tricycle. The police went along the road to look for him. What about where you are?"
"Difficult," Zhang Quanbin shook his head. "The bus station is always bustling with people. Once they buy a ticket, they get on the bus and leave. If a trafficker were clever, they'd probably have already gotten on a bus and run away. However..."
Zhang Quanbin had barely paused when the other neighbors urged impatiently, "What are you waiting for? Just tell us already!"
"Zhou helped the police catch two thieves, but after investigation, they found out that the two thieves had committed a serious crime and were supposed to be arrested. By sheer luck, they ended up in the police station anyway."
Normally, the neighbors would definitely ask all sorts of questions, like how the thief was caught or if there was a reward for doing a good deed. But now that a child has gone missing in the alley, who cares about such trivial matters?
“I heard that the police went to the factory to check Sun Dashan’s information and are going to call the police station in his hometown to find out more.”
"Who? And who is Sun Dashan?"
The name Sun Dashan has faded from Yinxing Hutong for twelve years. New workers who have moved in don't know him, and even some of the older workers who have lived there for twenty or thirty years can hardly remember him.
"The one before Erni is Jiawang's biological father. Judging by the time, he should have come out a while ago."
"Oh, I remember now!"
"Don't be surprised, it could really be him. Otherwise, why would he target Jiahe? It must be because he's been having a hard time since he got out, and now that he sees Erni living a good life, he can't stand it. That bastard, his heart is rotten to the core, nothing he does is surprising."
"Why isn't the others back yet? It's almost dark..."
Before he could finish speaking, Grandpa Chang rode back on his bicycle. "Jiahe has been found, and Sun Dashan has been caught too!"
"Oh my god! It really is that damned Sun Dashan!"
"How did you find it?" The neighbors now had the leisure to ask questions until they got to the bottom of it.
Jiang Guiying, holding Lin Ting who was looking for her mother, said anxiously, "Then quickly send someone to notify the people at the station!"
"Yes, yes, I'll go to the neighborhood office to borrow a phone right now."
—
Guan Yuehe watched as the sky gradually darkened and glanced at the time on her watch.
They came for an afternoon. The police and railway staff at the local station reacted quickly, controlled the entrance to the station, and even let them board the train for inspection. They couldn't find them. Now, everyone entering the train station is being watched, and those with children and large suitcases are required to show letters of introduction and identification.
Still nothing.
Chang Zhengyi scratched his head, thinking that it wasn't a complete loss; they had helped catch a human trafficker and the old lady had stuffed seven or eight boiled eggs into his hand.
Both pockets were heavy.
Tonight's dinner might just consist of these few eggs.
But just as Chang Zhengyi was about to take out an egg to fill his stomach, he saw a policeman waving and running towards them. Before the man even reached them, his voice came first:
"Comrade Guan, Comrade Zhengyi, the child has been found!"
Guan Yuehe and Chang Zhengyi were overjoyed, "Is the child alright?"
"...They didn't say it on the phone, but the Changhu Subdistrict Office just called to say that the child has been found and asked us to help notify you to come back."
"Oh, it's good that you found it." Guan Yuehe thanked him repeatedly and invited Chang Zhengyi to go home.
The police officer said happily, "We should also thank you for helping to catch the human trafficker."
"It was just a small thing."
Chang Zhengyi remained silent; for him, it was just something he said without thinking.
When the two of them rode their motorcycle back to Ginkgo Alley, they found the alley quiet.
The ping-pong tables were empty, there was no television sound coming from the courtyards, and the lights in the courtyards were not as bright as usual.
Guan Yuehe pushed her cart home. Neither Aunt Hu nor Zhou Hongqi's house had their lights on, so she went to the backyard. She asked the neighbors and found out that they had all gone to the police station in groups.
At the same time, she also learned that it was Sun Dashan who had taken Jin Jiahe away, and that Zhou Baoan had bumped into him while out shopping. Fortunately, many kind-hearted people helped to subdue Sun Dashan and take him to Changhu Police Station.
It sounded exciting, but Guan Yuehe glanced at her rumbling stomach and suppressed her curiosity, going to Courtyard No. 3 to find something to eat first.
When she got home, she found that only her father was at home; everyone else had gone to Changhu Police Station.
Why aren't you going?
"I don't like watching that kind of excitement."
Guan Yuehe wrinkled her nose, smelled the alcohol, and immediately glared at him. "Drinking secretly while my mom wasn't home?"
Guan Canghai was so angry he jumped up and down. "How did I steal a drink? It was your Uncle Ming who called me over for a chat, and I just had a couple of sips. I didn't steal a drink!"
The cupboards in the house were locked, so even if he wanted to take the wine out, he couldn't.
There's some food left for you on the stove, it's still warm.
Guan Yuehe didn't say anything more and started eating as soon as the food was served.
She went out early this morning to the meat station and finally managed to snag a piece of pork belly, planning to cook one of her signature dishes for Lin Ting tonight. But after all that fuss, the pork belly is still in the kitchen unprocessed.
After she finished eating and went out to pick up her child, she ran into her neighbors who were walking back home.
Everyone was either criticizing Sun Dashan or praising Zhou Baoan.
Grandma Bai said in a mystical tone, "Sun Dashan's downfall in Bao'an's hands is the will of Heaven!"
Sun Dashan only got involved once back then, failed to abduct any children, and was only sentenced to a few years. After his release, he insisted on courting death; given the current crackdown, Sun Dashan will definitely be executed.
"It's such a pity for Jiawang. I wonder if Sun Dashan's situation will affect him. I heard from Erni that she wanted to buy him a job... Sun Dashan is such a troublemaker!"
Others chimed in.
Although family background is no longer considered, the criminal record of immediate family members still has some impact. Wu Jiawang wants to buy a job, but it's possible that he won't be able to because of Sun Dashan's situation.
"Have Erni and the others not returned yet?"
"No. Jiahe was given medicine and sent to the hospital. He hasn't come back yet. All four of them are at the hospital."
Guan Yuehe wanted to ask more about the details of Sun Dashan's arrest, but Lin Ting suddenly pounced on her from behind, hugging her tightly and refusing to let go, "Mom, where's the braised pork?"
Jiang Guiying clicked her tongue, "She's been thinking about braised pork all afternoon. I don't think she'll be satisfied until she gets to eat it tonight."
"We can't make it today, we'll eat it tomorrow night."
Lin Ting frowned, about to shake her head, when suddenly her eyes lit up and she reached out to the person in front of her: "Dad!"
Guan Yuehe immediately looked ahead, and the corners of her mouth had just turned up when she saw the person in front of her, and she immediately froze.
Jiang Guiying and the others were both amused and exasperated. See? The child doesn't remember people again.
The tall man in military uniform greeted the neighbors with a grin, saying, "I just got home today when my dad dragged me to the police station to help out, so I didn't have time to go home."
"Northwest?! This lady almost didn't recognize you! Look at you, you've grown taller and stronger in just a few years. Do you have a boyfriend yet?"
Song Northwest: "......"
Upon seeing Guan Yuehe, Song Xibei quickly stepped forward to greet her, "Sister Yuehe! This must be your daughter. Her eyes look just like hers. I'm not mistaken this time, am I?"
Before Guan Yuehe could speak, Lin Ting called out "Dad" to Song Xibei several times. Song Xibei: "..."
He's never even had a girlfriend, how could he be a father already?
Seeing that Lin Ting was about to shout, Guan Yuehe pinched her mouth shut and explained with a laugh, "She hasn't seen her dad for more than a month and thought the man in the military uniform was her dad."
The more I think about it, the funnier it gets.
The kid has finally stopped mistaking photos for real people, but he can only recognize clothes. If he sees someone wearing a military uniform, he thinks it's Lin Yiku.
"Stop chatting on the street, let's talk when we get home."
Song Xibei had only taken a few steps when he saw Cai Ying. He didn't bother talking to the others and strode over to greet her.
Aunt Fang sighed with emotion. Looking at the Northwest, she was reminded of her own bitter days when she was a soldier, only able to return home to visit her family every few years. Each time she came back, everything had changed drastically.
Within a few years, Lin Yiku discovered that his home and the alley had changed drastically in just two months since he last went home.
Upon returning home, Lin Ting saw television reporters interviewing the neighbors at the alley entrance, and the neighbors were all dressed neatly. Meanwhile, Lin Ting was pulling Gu Yu along to go to courtyard number two to find her father.
As soon as Gu Yu turned her head, she saw her uncle and immediately hugged Lin Ting, making her turn around, "Your father is here, not in courtyard number two."
Lin Yiku's eyes met Lin Ting's big eyes.
Lin Ting looked up for a while, hesitated for a moment, and finally rushed over to hug his leg, "Dad?"
"Hmm." Lin Yi praised Lin Ting for being smart and recognizing him.
"You're back!" Guan Yuehe was about to come out to catch the baby when she saw Lin Yiku, who was covered with babies and luggage.
Holding Lin Ting in one arm, carrying luggage in the other, and with Gu Yu on his back...
As soon as she entered the house, Lin Yiku couldn't help but show off, "My daughter recognized me as soon as she saw me."
Unexpectedly, Yuehe didn't get jealous. Instead, she laughed so hard she bent over, and inexplicably patted his chest, saying, "You should thank your military uniform."
Without these clothes, even if he put his big face right in front of Lin Ting, she would just push him away in disgust.
He knew she must have made a fool of herself again when she laughed so hard.
However, the two younger ones were watching them closely. Lin Yiku decided to ask later, so she opened her luggage bag and started looking for food for the two younger ones.
"By the way, what's going on outside? Why are there reporters here?"
That's where things get interesting.
"After Sun Dashan was released from prison and sent back to his hometown, he behaved himself for a year before running away back to Beijing and contacting his old friends to do business."
"I've been in Beijing for almost two years. Last month, I finally remembered to go find Wu Jiawang and try to persuade him to ask for Erni's job. But it didn't work out. Then I tried to take Wu Jiawang back to my hometown, but that didn't work out either."
Guan Yuehe snorted, "According to Aunt Bai, Sun Dashan didn't want to come back to find Wu Jiawang at first, but he only remembered that he had a son named Wu Jiawang after he found that he couldn't have children."
Wu Jiawang didn't mention to his family that Sun Dashan was looking for him, but as soon as he heard that Jin Jiahe was missing, Wu Jiawang immediately went to the police station to explain the situation.
He took a sip of water and continued, "There's been a crackdown lately, and his business dealings involved stealing collective property. He was reported and was about to flee. He wanted to say a few more words to Wu Jiawang. But instead of catching Wu Jiawang, he found Jin Jiahe alone and planned to kidnap him to get revenge on Sister Erni."
Then, Bao'an went out shopping and bumped into Sun Dashan, and arrested him.
After listening, Lin Yiku said, "So, the TV station is here to interview Bao'an? Another outstanding comrade who acted bravely and righteously has emerged from our alley."
Guan Yuehe suddenly laughed twice and held up four fingers, "Four!"
"Um?"
“Bao’an stopped Sun Dashan, Sister Hongqi caught two wanted thieves at the bus station, and Chang Zhengyi and I caught a human trafficker at the train station.”
Each police station reported the situation, and after the Municipal Public Security Bureau verified the facts, they planned to issue certificates of commendation to the residents mentioned. Upon closer inspection, it turned out they all lived in Ginkgo Hutong.
When the TV station heard the news, they sent a reporter to conduct an interview.
So, having heard a day in advance that the TV station was coming, the neighbors in the alley got up early, all dressed in their best clothes, eager to make a big splash on TV so they could show off to their friends and family later.
Their Ginkgo Hutong should at least be rated as an "Advanced Hutong" this year, right?!
Lin Yiku glanced at the wall behind the TV and said, "Our family is going to have one more certificate of merit."
Guan Yuehe looked up and couldn't help but smile. The certificates she received were either "Advanced Worker" or "Excellent Worker" awards from Zhuoyue Garment Factory, or certificates from the Municipal Public Security Bureau.
If you didn't know better, who would guess she works in the foreign trade department?!
Author's Note: [It's melted]
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