Chapter 13: Capture the Leader First

Wanshun shot him a glance. “Stop picking at your food and eat. It’s nothing worth fussing over. The more you pay attention to him, the more he thinks he matters. Hurry up and eat. When you’re done, tell me all about that Second Ma’s family.”

Immediately, Liu Caicai’s attention was diverted. “Right, right, Second Ma! Sis, let me tell you, that Second Ma isn’t even human—he’s wicked to the core! That bastard is the worst, you have to help me teach him a lesson.”

Wanshun focused on her noodles, lending an ear to Liu Caicai’s tirade about Second Ma, picking out the useful bits from his complaints.

Second Ma’s surname was Cao. His father, Cao Baojian, had made his way out of the remote mountains through education, becoming a college graduate—a real self-made man, at least in theory. But once he left school and entered society, his once-inspired heart grew tainted by the world and lost its former luster.

Now, he held a position in a small department at the commune. Though he made no major blunders in his work, his petty mischiefs were many—anyone wanting to dig up dirt wouldn’t have a hard time.

When Wanshun finished eating, she left what she’d brought for Liu Shuhefang and hurried out with the eager Liu Caicai.

The sun blazed overhead, scorching their backs.

“Sis, where are we going now?” Liu Caicai was itching for action. If reality allowed, he’d have liked to swagger around like a gang member, axe in hand.

Wanshun’s eyes ached just looking at him. “Where do the people from the office usually have lunch?”

There was a canteen, but few ever ate there.

Liu Caicai didn’t get it. “The wild game restaurant, of course. Sis, aren’t we looking for Second Ma? Why’re you asking about the office?”

Wanshun’s lips curled in a smile. “To catch the bandit, you must catch their leader first. Second Ma is just a lackey. He’s not important.”

“What do you mean?” The dark-skinned youth was lost.

Wanshun didn’t explain. The two ambled over to the wild game restaurant.

It was lunchtime, and the place was packed.

Nowadays, with the emphasis on wildlife protection, many wild animals were off-limits—no hunting, no eating. But the more people are forbidden, the more they want to defy.

This restaurant, bold to the point of recklessness, specialized in wild game. The prices were exorbitant, and, of course, what was served often didn’t match the sign out front.

Many came here, partly to satisfy their appetites, but more for status and bragging rights.

Among the crowd of sharply dressed men, Liu Caicai spotted the fat, big-eared Cao Baojian—Second Ma’s father.

“Sis, see that one grinning so wide you can see his stomach? That’s Second Ma’s dad. That beast’s mouth eats from every bowl—fatter than my dad by a long shot. He’s definitely lining his own pockets.”

Wanshun saw the plump, jovial man at the center of the crowd, socializing with effortless charm.

His mouth was indeed enormous; when he opened it, every tooth was on display—yellow and greasy, truly disgusting.

Once she’d identified the man, Wanshun didn’t linger. She led Liu Caicai away.

Liu Caicai followed, baffled. First, they stopped at a print shop to make a banner, then to a music store to rent an erhu, and finally set up outside the office building.

Liu Caicai hunched behind Wanshun, looking constipated. “Sis, are we really doing this? Won’t we get beaten up?”

Wanshun grinned, “Don’t worry. At most, we’ll be half-dead.”

Liu Caicai…

After lunch, staff trickled back to work.

Wanshun found a stone bench to sit on, the banner overhead. The spot was right at the main thoroughfare to the office building—not blocking the door, nor the road, but perfectly conspicuous.

The erhu rested on her lap. She began to play “Moon Reflected on Second Spring.”

The mournful, winding melody echoed, silencing even the cicadas in the trees, its sorrow floating through the air.

Many people stopped to listen—their ears filled with a tragic tune, their eyes wide with the shock of gossip.

The banner’s headline: “Please, Let the Child Go.”

The message read: “Respected leader, 5'3", 220 pounds, age forty-three, fair and plump head of the market department, the child truly has no money to honor your young master anymore—please, have mercy.”

A group of cheerful cadres strolled past…

Huge beads of sweat rolled down Cao Baojian’s forehead. Damn it, if she’d added his full name, it couldn’t be more obvious.

In the entire office, he was the only one tipping the scales past two hundred.

“L-le-leader, I can explain, really…”

Today, the higher-ups were inspecting the office. Everything had gone smoothly; conversations flowed, lunch was a delight. He was just waiting for his promotion.

Then this happened.

Just wait. Just you wait. Cao Baojian ground his teeth in hatred.

The leader’s smile vanished instantly. He glanced at the banner and then scanned Cao Baojian from head to toe.

Cao Baojian felt itchy all over.

The leader’s expression was all politeness and no warmth. “No rush. Go ask what’s going on, lest there be any unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Cao Baojian forced a smile. “Yes, yes, I’ll go ask right away.”

When Liu Caicai saw Cao Baojian’s dagger-sharp eyes coming their way, his skinny legs began to tremble.

“Sis, he’s coming, he’s coming. What do we do?”

Wanshun, lost in the sorrowful music, replied, “Cry. Cry your heart out. The louder the better.”

Liu Caicai swallowed hard. He just wanted to run.

But as a man, he couldn’t abandon his sister.

He screwed his eyes shut and braced himself. “Waaa…”

Cao Baojian was just about to speak—

Time ticked by. The brat’s wailing was like the Yellow River bursting its banks, with no sign of stopping.

Cao Baojian shifted to Wanshun, who was even more engrossed in the music than the kid was in his crying.

That bright red banner hung above them like a death sentence.

The leader behind him grew increasingly impatient, and sweat poured down Cao Baojian’s face.

If it weren’t for the leader’s presence, he would’ve taught these two a lesson they’d never forget.

He held himself back and finally hissed, “Who are you people? What do you want?”

The music and crying stopped at once. Liu Caicai looked at his sister, completely at a loss.

Wanshun’s face was full of terror. She packed up their things and, without looking back, dragged Liu Caicai off.

Cao Baojian… Was this it? Was he now a marked man?

Liu Caicai was dumbfounded. “Sis, that’s it?” It felt like they’d done all that for nothing.

Wanshun spoke earnestly, “Always leave a line of retreat. That way, you can meet again someday.”

Liu Caicai was bewildered. Did you actually leave a line?

That banner was just short of showing his photo and ID number.

“Sis, do you think that bastard Cao will go after my family?”

Wanshun patted his head. “Don’t worry. He won’t dare—at least not openly. What he does in private, who knows.”

Seeing the boy still looked troubled, she couldn’t help but smile. “Relax. Now you can go settle the score with Second Ma yourself. I guarantee he won’t be able to call for backup.”

“And listen—don’t go near the river, and don’t play in the water, got it?”

Liu Caicai was puzzled by the sudden change of subject. “Really, sis? But why? How are we supposed to get through this heat without swimming? I’m a great swimmer. Nothing will happen.”

A heaviness settled over Wanshun. Yes, she’d taught Liu Caicai to swim herself—taught him every rescue technique, how to handle cramps, chest pain, everything he’d need to get back to shore.

So how did he drown in the previous life?

“Just remember—no swimming. Especially not alone.”

Seeing how serious she was, Liu Caicai reluctantly agreed.

Wanshun sighed. The boy was careless, but he always kept his promises. She could rest easy.

“Go home now. I’m leaving.”

“Sis, where are you going?” Liu Caicai grabbed her, his eyes full of reluctance.

“Home, of course. Don’t worry, brat. I’ll be back often. Keep an eye on the Cao family, and come to me if anything happens.”