Chapter 64: Li Na’s Heartache
County Bureau, Criminal Investigation Division!
When Li Yi arrived in his mule cart, Li Gang was interrogating a suspect in the interrogation room. Upon learning that Li Yi had arrived, he immediately handed his work over to someone else and came out to greet him.
“Brother Li Yi, I’ve finally been waiting for you!”
Li Yi smiled and said, “Captain Li, thanks for your help today!”
“No need to thank me. You’re ridding the community of a menace—we’re on the same side!” Li Gang replied immediately.
It was only then that Li Gang noticed there were other people behind Li Yi. He hurriedly asked, “Who are these two?”
Actually, Li Gang had already noticed Tang Xue and Li Na back at the supply and marketing cooperative. After all, both of them were quite attractive—especially Tang Xue, who stood out as a striking sight among the group of dark-skinned, short, and plump village women.
He just hadn’t realized at the time that they were actually related to Li Yi.
“My sister and my wife!”
Li Yi immediately introduced Li Na and Tang Xue to Li Gang, and at the same time, he revealed Li Gang’s identity to the two women!
Upon learning that the police officer chatting and laughing with Li Yi was actually the deputy captain of the county criminal investigation team, both Li Na and Tang Xue were stunned.
To them, the head of the production brigade was already a big shot; a commune official was a top-level leader; and the captain of the criminal investigation squad was a figure so high-ranking they’d never even dared to imagine.
In an instant, both of them became somewhat self-conscious!
Li Gang, however, didn’t read too much into it and simply invited the three of them into his office.
Once inside, Li Gang had someone pour each of them a glass of water, then sat down across from Li Yi.
“Captain Li, weren’t we supposed to take a statement? Why are we in your office?” Li Yi asked, puzzled.
“Brother Li Yi, there’s no rush with the statement. I have something I’d like to ask you!”
Seeing the look on Li Gang’s face, Li Yi knew exactly what the guy was going to ask.
Before Li Gang could speak, he immediately said, “I know what you’re going to ask. All I can tell you is to stay away from Huo in the future. If you really have no choice, then at least know your limits—don’t try to be a hero!”
Li Gang was instantly shaken, and found Li Yi even more unfathomable.
He hadn’t even opened his mouth, yet the other guy already knew what he was going to ask—this was definitely a true master!
“Then I really am… well, lacking in that area…”
Li Yi cut him off immediately and said, “According to your facial features, yes. But that’s not something that can’t be changed!”
“It can really be changed?”
“It can be changed. Just think about your Captain Wang—he also had the face of one who dies young, but hasn’t he changed that now?” Li Yi said.
“How do you change it? Does it cost money?”
Li Yi shot him a withering look and said, “Can money buy a life? Don’t think money is all-powerful!”
“Then what do we do?”
“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from fire from now on? How many times do I have to say this?” Li Yi said helplessly.
Li Gang hurriedly replied, “I’ll remember. From now on, I’ll definitely stay away from all kinds of fire—even the bonfires on New Year’s Eve, I’ll keep a safe distance from them!”
“That’s the spirit!”
Li Yi then checked the time and said, “Enough of this nonsense. Let’s get this statement recorded. We’ve got to get back!”
“Alright, I’ll take the statement myself!”
Li Gang then led Li Yi to the interrogation room to take the statement, while Tang Xue and Li Na stayed in his office to drink tea.
…….
After the two left, Tang Xue asked in surprise, “How on earth does he know someone like Captain Li? That’s so surprising!”
Li Na was just as confused; she shook her head and said, “I have no idea!”
“Didn’t he mention it to you before, Sister Na?”
“No!”
Li Na continued, “You know what he’s like—he’s a wild one. He never wants to talk to his family about anything. To be honest, if it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t even stay home for two days in a month!”
“But… what does that have to do with me?”
“Haha, of course it has something to do with you!”
Li Na added, “I’ll tell you this: ever since that thing happened between you and Xiao Yi, he’s completely changed. For days now, he’s been getting up early and coming home late, working hard to earn money to marry a wife. He hasn’t gone over to the next village to fool around anymore!”
Tang Xue smiled and said, “Well, he really has changed—and he’s got more self-control now!”
“No, it’s because our little Xue is just too charming!” Li Na teased.
Tang Xue’s face flushed slightly, and she said shyly, “Sis Na, if you keep saying things like that, I’m not going to talk to you anymore!”
“Hahaha, I won’t say it anymore, I won’t say it anymore. Why are you getting shy all of a sudden!”
Li Na loved teasing her best friend; seeing the young girl blush made her truly happy.
“Sis Na, I didn’t quite understand what Captain Li was saying to him just now. Did you get it?” Tang Xue asked again.
“No, I’m just as confused as you are!”
Then Li Na added, “Never mind them. Judging by what happened today, Xiao Yi really wasn’t lying to us. He does have connections in the county, so we won’t have to worry about him getting caught selling at his stall anymore!”
“Yeah, he really didn’t lie to us!” Tang Xue said, sounding a bit happy herself.
Li Na looked at her best friend and said with a touch of relief, “Xiao Xue, I’ve actually always felt really guilty toward you. Otherwise, with your qualifications, you’d probably be back in the city by now. And I’ve always felt that Xiao Yi isn’t good enough for you. To be honest, I’m the one who ruined things for you!”
Ever since that incident, Li Na had blamed herself for days on end; it had almost become a constant source of guilt for her!
“Sis Na, don’t say that. It wasn’t your fault—after all, no one could have predicted…”
Before Tang Xue could finish, Li Na cut her off and said, “Xiao Xue, listen to me. Before, I really did feel guilty toward you, like I’d pushed you into a pit of fire, but now, more than anything, I’m grateful to you!”
“What are you grateful to me for?”
“I’m grateful that you helped Xiao Yi settle down, that you helped him become so outstanding, and that you didn’t choose to send him into the abyss at the most critical moment!”
In truth, every time Li Na thought back to what happened that day, she couldn’t help but feel a chill run down her spine and break out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, Tang Xue had a gentle disposition. If it had been anyone else, they would have insisted that her younger brother was a hooligan, and the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Given the current climate, her younger brother might have ended up in jail.
So, just as she’d said, Li Na felt both deep remorse and immense gratitude toward Tang Xue.
Tang Xue, however, shook her head and said, “Sister Na, you’ve had some education; you should know that every cloud has a silver lining!”
“It’s true that we got entangled because of an accident, and at first, I felt utterly hopeless. But now I feel that accident might not have been such a bad thing for me after all, and I don’t think going back to the city would necessarily be better!”
“Xiao Xue, do you really feel that way?”
“Yes, that’s exactly how I feel!”
“That’s truly wonderful. Although you’re destined to marry into our Li family, I still hope that when you and Xiao Yi exchange vows, you’ll do so willingly!” Li Na said.
“I do!”
…….