"Aha!" startled Lü Qingqing.
Was this the sound Hu Jia could make?
"What are you thinking about?" Ouyang Wen asked.
Hu Jia was completely immersed in her excitement, waving her hands and feet, "Why do you think Zhang Hanghai could turn into Zhang Hangjiang?"
"Because they look alike!" Ouyang Wen replied.
"No, it's not just because they look alike," Hu Jia said mysteriously.
"Because outsiders don't know Zhang Hanghai, so whatever name you give, I'll believe it," Lü Qingqing said.
"Wow, as expected of my Qingqing, you're smarter than that tall guy." Hu Jia's eyes sparkled, praising Lü Qingqing while also putting down Ouyang Wen.
"Come on, let's get everyone together for a meeting."
"Now? Everyone's asleep."
"Asleep? Get up and meet! I'm going to arrange a big operation!"
Hu Jia chirped excitedly, and Lü Qingqing rolled her eyes. She happened to see Ouyang Wen looking over, his eyes seeming to say, 'Didn't you want to see the silly dog? Here she is!'
"What operation are you going to arrange?" Ouyang Wen worried that Hu Jia's 'episode' would trouble everyone.
Hu Jia whispered something into Ouyang Wen's ear. Ouyang Wen's expression changed from surprise to fear, and he murmured, "Four years ago, three years ago, my God, if that's true, then it's too terrifying."
...
For the next two days, Hu Jia summoned everyone, not even sparing Luo Wenwu, who had "just had a baby." Only Yu Yue and Lü Qingqing remained in the Special Operations Team.
Lü Qingqing went to school as usual, while Yu Yue visited Mou Chunya's home every day.
Mou Chunya knew very well why Yu Yue was visiting, but Yu Yue was genuinely sincere. She was not only helpful but also spoke with affection and cared deeply.
She was truly making friends with Mou Chunya, and Mou Chunya could feel it. If Hu Jia hadn't repeatedly told her not to reveal anything about her younger brother to Yu Yue, she probably would have given in long ago.
"Sister Mou, your brother is gone. From now on, consider me your sister. You'll be lonely during holidays. Why don't you come to my place, and we'll make big tangyuan (sweet dumplings)?"
Yu Yue's words made Mou Chunya sigh with emotion. She had indeed spent many Spring Festivals alone. Seeing the sincerity in Yu Yue's eyes, Mou Chunya smiled, "Alas, I didn't expect to have a sister at my age. It's nice."
Mou Chunya thought for a moment, "I remember six years ago, it was a summer, around the Dragon Boat Festival. Ji Xuan said he wouldn't come back for the festival, so I didn't even want to eat the zongzi."
"Why didn't he come back?" As they interacted more, Mou Chunya no longer kept many things from Yu Yue, telling her that she had a younger brother named Mou Ji Xuan.
"He said he was going diving, mountain climbing," Mou Chunya said.
Diving?
Mountain climbing?
What did that mean?
Yu Yue didn't understand.
Mou Chunya just smiled, "I don't understand either."
This is all I can do for you.
...
"How is it? Any results?" Hu Jia looked excited as everyone gathered.
"I've compiled two lists."
"I have one."
"I don't have any. The only missing person doesn't match the timeframe."
Everyone chattered, summarizing the findings of their investigations.
For the past two days, Hu Jia and her team had been centered around Xiājiēzi Village, visiting all the surrounding villages and focusing on missing persons from the 14th year of the Republic of China to March of the 15th year of the Republic of China.
Finally, through repeated screening, they focused their attention on a person named "Yuan Shan." This person was about 30 years old, had no regular job, and often mingled with hoodlums from nearby villages.
Hu Jia nodded as she listened, "Let's go to Xiàtǔwān again!"
Cao Yang was excited. He didn't know what use Hu Jia had for this information, but he believed in her.
The detective must have his reasons for doing things.
However, Cao Yang was dumbfounded. He thought Hu Jia would arrive at the scene and dramatically present a string of evidence, pointing at someone's head and listing their crimes.
But to his surprise, Hu Jia stood at Yang Hua's door and shouted, "Liu Hongru, you cowardly turtle, you have the guts to do it but not to admit it. I'm ashamed for your ancestors."
Cao Yang's mouth fell open.
Is this how a detective solves cases?
By scolding?
As expected, the Liu family didn't open the door. But Hu Jia didn't care. Perhaps feeling that she couldn't curse enough alone, she even told Li Yang and Wen Wu to join in.
Cao Yang was also named, but he couldn't open his mouth. After thinking for a long time, he finally managed to utter, "Ah, turtle!"
"Liu Hongru, don't think I don't know you're home just because you're hiding inside. Open the door, open the door, open the door, open the door!" Li Yang was the most aggressive, jumping around and shouting.
"Liu Hongru, you bastard, you don't even bring toilet paper when you go to the toilet, aren't you afraid of inciting a pile of shit? If you don't come out today and explain things clearly to your grandpa, I'll smash your door." Luo Wenwu's voice was already rough, and coupled with his large build, he banged loudly on the Liu family's door.
Cao Yang was a bit confused. Just as he was about to ask Hu Jia what she was doing, he saw Hu Jia turn and run, disappearing behind a large tree in the blink of an eye, dragging him along with her.
"What's going on?" Cao Yang was utterly bewildered.
"Shhh..." Hu Jia made a silencing gesture.
Creak...
The Liu family's door opened.
Yang Hua rushed out with a sorghum broom and hit Li Yang with a "crack!" "Who are these little brats, causing trouble at my house? Are you tired of living?"
Li Yang's face turned green with anger. Fortunately, he dodged quickly. Who knew what that broom had swept over?
Seeing that her attack missed, Yang Hua stood with her hands on her hips and began to scold, "Tell me, what are you looking for my Hongru for? Where did he offend you?"
"Your Hongru borrowed 50 yuan from me and hasn't returned it. Do you have a right to be angry?" Li Yang jumped out first. "Is he your son? If he doesn't return it, you will."
Yang Hua exploded upon hearing this.
Fifty yuan was enough for their family to live on for a year.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Have you even inquired properly? My Liu family is the wealthiest within ten li. My Hongru borrowing money from you? You probably don't even have money to burn, let alone him having pocket money."
Her words were so venomous. If Li Yang wasn't acting out this scene, he might have wanted to resort to violence.
"Shut up!" Luo Wenwu shouted. "Whether he owes money or not, just ask him directly."
Given Luo Wenwu's imposing build, Yang Hua wisely didn't retort.
"Exactly, just call your son out and ask him," Hu Jia and the others were making such a commotion that many villagers were gathered to watch.
Everyone egged them on, putting Yang Hua in a difficult position. "Fine, you wait! Hongru, Hongru, come out and see if you recognize this person."
Yang Hua, as a mother, softened her tone considerably when calling her son.
A moment later, a man came out.
He was about 1.75 meters tall, wearing a good cotton jacket and a hat. Although the brim of the hat was pulled down low, Hu Jia could still see his face clearly.
He didn't look like a young man in his early twenties at all. He looked about Ouyang Wen's age.
Well, a bit mature!
Alas, children who grew up on the streets must have had a hard life, their appearance really showing the wear and tear.
"Are you Liu Hongru?" Li Yang asked.
This time Yang Hua was unhappy. "Didn't you say my son borrowed money from you? You don't even recognize my son?"
Li Yang snorted, "Damn, I found the wrong person."
Everyone: ...
Is it over with just finding the wrong person?
Cao Yang seemed to understand why Hu Jia had run to hide.
It turns out that the ones who get scolded are always the innocent ones.