Chapter 41: The Case (Part 2)

“Teacher Ye, it’s not necessary. Feng Kuang and I… we are considered friends,” Wang Ying said quickly, waving her hand after hearing Ye Dongping’s words.

“Wang Ying, thank you, thank you!”

Hearing the word “friends,” Feng Kuang, lying on the hospital bed, felt a surge of excitement. He almost wished those guys had hit him a bit harder, so he would look even more pitiful.

“Maybe… I should walk you home?”

Ye Dongping wanted to explain things to Wang Ying’s family, so this kind-hearted girl wouldn’t be scolded by her parents when she returned.

“Comrade Ye, you can’t leave yet. We still need to ask you some things later. Please stay and assist…” The old police officer nearby spoke up after hearing Ye Dongping. “Let’s do this: Xiao Zhao, you see Xiao Wang home. Be careful on the way…”

“Got it! I’ll make sure to complete the task!”

Staying here with a bunch of men was nowhere near as pleasant as walking a girl home. The young officer agreed and left with Wang Ying.

“Why couldn’t Uncle Ye take her? Really, what’s the big deal about a man and a woman walking together?” Watching their departing figures, Feng Kuang on the bed couldn’t help but let his thoughts wander.

However, Feng Kuang didn’t dwell on it for long before his attention was grabbed by the old officer’s words. “Comrade Ye, I want to know, have you offended anyone recently?”

Ye Dongping didn’t need to think about this question at all. He shook his head firmly and said, “No, Officer. We just contracted a small scrap collection station, and it hasn’t even been open for more than a few days. How could we have possibly offended anyone?”

The old officer waved his hand. “Don’t be so sure. Think carefully again. While collecting scrap, did you ever get into any disputes with anyone?”

“No, absolutely not. Oh right, Feng Zi, do you recognize the guys who beat you up?”

Ye Dongping dismissed the old officer’s suggestion and instead looked at Feng Kuang. Asking himself was useless; he needed to find a breakthrough from the person involved.

“Uncle Ye, I don’t know them. Ever since I came to the city, I’ve called everyone ‘big brother’ when I meet them, and I always offer a cigarette before I speak. Who could I have possibly provoked…”

Hearing Ye Dongping, Feng Kuang cried out as if he had been wronged by the heavens. He was naturally clever and cautious in his actions, well-liked by others.

Otherwise, a country boy with little education like him, even with an old uncle in the United States, wouldn’t necessarily have gotten to know two girls with city jobs.

“That’s strange. From what you say, those people’s actions didn’t seem premeditated. But if they had no grudge against you, why would they beat you up?”

The old officer was also confused. He had handled many cases, but one as senseless as today’s was a first. There’s always a reason for fights and brawls, right?

Ye Tian, who hadn’t spoken a word since entering the ward, suddenly spoke up after hearing the old officer mention “no grudge.” “Brother Fengzi, we did have a conflict with someone. Have you forgotten?”

“A conflict? No, I didn’t. I haven’t offended anyone…”

Hearing Ye Tian’s clear voice, a look of confusion appeared in Feng Kuang’s eyes. He originally thought the people who attacked him were from the scrap collection station contracted in East City, as mentioned by the scavenger.

But Feng Kuang thought carefully—this was his first time going to East City. That person couldn’t possibly have divined it. There was no reason for them to know he was there to compete for business.

Besides, Feng Kuang had stayed with that scavenger the whole time, so that person had no chance to tip anyone off.

Feng Kuang had already mentioned these guesses to the old officer earlier, and the old officer’s opinion was the same: others couldn’t have known what he was there for, so there was no reason to attack him for no cause.

“Brother Fengzi, don’t you remember? At the Cinema, didn’t those guys say they were going to teach you a lesson?” Just as Feng Kuang’s thoughts were a jumbled mess, Ye Tian’s voice rang out again.

“You had a conflict with someone at the Cinema? Little kid, who are you? What’s your relation to Feng Kuang?”

Hearing Ye Tian, the old officer’s eyes suddenly lit up. He had a keen sense that the breakthrough in this assault case might lie in Ye Tian’s words.

Ye Tian looked up and said, “Officer Grandpa, my name is Ye Tian. He is my dad, and Feng Kuang is my brother…”

“Yes, Xiao Ye Tian. Tell me, who did you have a conflict with at the Cinema?”

The old officer didn’t bother wondering why Feng Kuang, whose surname was Feng, was Ye Tian’s brother. He was interested in the conflict Feng Kuang had at the Cinema.

“They tried to take our seats. Brother Fengzi argued with them a bit. When they left, they said they would teach Brother Fengzi a lesson. But that night, I had a stomach ache, so we left first and didn’t run into them…”

Ye Tian honestly recounted what happened that day. Though it was a bit disjointed, he managed to explain everything clearly.

After listening, the old officer frowned. “This… there’s still no proof that they were the ones who did it, right?”

Ye Tian rolled his eyes, glanced at Feng Kuang and blinked. “Brother Fengzi, didn’t they say anything while beating you up?”

“They didn’t… didn’t say anything. Oh wait, they might have. Something like ‘Let’s see how tough you are now!'”

Seeing Ye Tian’s action, Feng Kuang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly changed his answer. He knew Ye Tian wasn’t like other ordinary kids. If he said this, there must be a reason.

Those people were indeed cursing and shouting at the time, but Feng Kuang had been beaten senseless, his ears ringing, and he hadn’t clearly heard what they said. This line was something he made up.

“Young man, don’t say things carelessly.”

Seeing Feng Kuang’s expression, the old officer smiled. He had done this job his whole life; of course he could tell if someone was lying.

Hearing the old officer, Feng Kuang felt a bit guilty. He lowered his head and whispered, “I… I only heard that one sentence. I’m not sure if I heard it wrong.”

Just as Feng Kuang was about to admit he made it up, Ye Tian suddenly interjected, “Brother Fengzi, I remember one of the guys at the Cinema was called Dai Xiaohua. He had a full beard. Was he among the people who attacked you?”

“Dai Xiaohua? Isn’t that a girl’s name? How could he have a full beard?”

Feng Kuang didn’t understand what Ye Tian was getting at, but when he muttered “full beard,” his body jolted. He exclaimed loudly, “I remember now! The guy leading the attack had a full beard! There was a scar under his right eye. Yes, that was him!”

Remembering that man’s vicious face as he punched him, Feng Kuang became agitated. The scene replayed in his mind like a nightmare.

“Young man, calm down. Stay calm for now…”

Seeing Feng Kuang getting a bit out of control, the old officer quickly held him down. “Are you sure you clearly saw a scar on that man’s face?”

“Yes! That man had triangular eyes. I saw it very clearly!”

Feng Kuang’s answer made a look of understanding appear on the old officer’s face. He could tell that this time, Feng Kuang was definitely not lying.