"Comrades of the public security, what can I do for you?" Yu Linyang's voice trembled.
The two public security officers outside the door looked imposing and solemn. It seemed that no criminal could escape their notice. But when they spoke, they were very polite.
"Hello, young comrade. May I ask if this is Yu Jianchuan's home?"
Yu Jianchuan, his uncle? Yu Linyang nodded.
Yu Linyun saw the people at the door clearly at this moment. Her steps that were about to move forward suddenly stopped. Frightened, she quickly hid back in the room.
"Yes, he is my uncle."
The two public security officers exchanged a look.
"Then may I ask if he is at home now?" When asking this question, the square - faced public security officer beside him sounded a bit urgent.
Yu Linyang shrank back in fright: "Uncle has been away from home for more than a month."
Away from home for more than a month? Was he surely not on the run after committing a crime?
"Then where did he go?"
How could Yu Linyang know? His uncle didn't tell him the address before leaving.
However... Although Yu Linyang was carefree, he wasn't a fool. By now, he had belatedly sensed something was wrong.
Could it be that something had happened to his uncle?
"Comrades of the public security, may I ask what you want with my uncle?"
Hua Qingqing was unpacking parcels in the room.
The several parcels were bulging, obviously able to hold a lot of things. Probably her letter asking for money had worked. Not only had they sent her money from Hong Kong and the capital, but also thick clothes. It was quite rare.
Hua Qingqing put the clothes on the bed and took out the envelope.
Wow, Hua Jia had actually sent her a remittance slip for 200 yuan! He was really generous.
It seemed that her excellent scores when skipping to senior two had inspired his fatherly love. When the final exams were over, she would write another letter and send it. Well, she'd send it before the Chinese New Year. Since she couldn't go to the capital for the New Year, shouldn't her biological father give her some compensation?
She put the remittance slip aside.
Hua Qingqing took out the envelope from Hong Kong. This envelope was equally thin. When she opened it, there was a 100 - yuan bill inside.
Looking at the lonely bill, Hua Qingqing pouted. Was this the difference between meeting someone and not meeting them? Her mother had given too little. She had to play the victim more.
When she was unpacking the last parcel, someone knocked on the door loudly. Judging from the strength and the sound, one could imagine how anxious the person outside was.
Hua Qingqing went to open the door and saw the highly similar faces of the twins, both showing the same pale and frightened expressions.
?
"What's wrong with you two?"
"Cousin, there are... there are..." Yu Linyun gave her younger brother a disdainful look, raised her arm and gave him a hard shove, pushing him aside.
"You idiot, get out of the way!"
"Hua Qingqing, there are two public security officers outside. They said they're looking for uncle. Uncle might be in trouble!"
Yu Linyun looked at Hua Qingqing. Her panicked heart suddenly calmed down. She forced herself not to cry.
The public security officers were looking for Yu Jianchuan? This day had finally come.
Hua Qingqing tightened her grip on the envelope in her hand and stuffed it into her pocket.
She came out, closed the door, and suddenly asked Yu Linyun,
"Do you have any news about the thing I asked you to do before?"
Last month, she had asked Yu Linyun to find some classmates from their school to help find Yu Jianchuan. But until now, there was still no news. She had been busy with other things and was starting to think that he had left Nan County.
"No..." Yu Linyun sniffed and answered in a low voice, "I asked some people from our school to help look for him. Someone said they had seen uncle, but when I got there, there was no sign of him. I even gave them a few yuan in advance. I was completely scammed."
Hua Qingqing slapped her forehead. She had been too naive.
What could a high - school kid do? Swaggering around with money would only lead to being scammed or robbed.
Hua Qingqing sighed. When she went out, she saw the two public security officers standing outside in the cold wind.
"..." Hua Qingqing turned to look at the twins: You just left them outside like this?
Then two blank and stupid faces looked up at her blankly.
Hua Qingqing almost choked on her own breath.
Forget it. They were two idiots. What else could she expect from them?
She quickly walked over, invited the officers into the main room, and poured them a glass of water. It wasn't hot. She hadn't had time to boil the water, and there was no thermos.
It would have to do. Anyway, she had done her duty as a host.
One of the public security officers was surnamed He, and the other was surnamed Liu.
Although Officer He also had a straight face, he spoke more gently. He was easier to talk to than Officer Liu, who had a harsh tone and a rigid demeanor. Officer He even knew how to make small talk with her.
"Are your elders not at home?"
"My grandparents went to the village entrance to chat and warm themselves by the fire. My eldest uncle and aunt are working in the brick factory in the town. My second uncle and aunt are also doing odd jobs in the town."
"It's the weekend today. The three of us who are studying in high school in the county came back."
"You're still students. That's good. Which school are you studying in?"
Hua Qingqing smiled faintly and said calmly, "I'm a sophomore in No. 1 High School. The final exams are coming up soon. I originally didn't plan to come home, but I remembered that there was a book at home that I needed, so I came here to get it."
Look at this kid. She came all the way from the county to the countryside on a cold day just to get a book!
Probably because of the halo of being a good student, the public security officers' subsequent questions became even more gentle.
Regarding their questions, Hua Qingqing didn't choose to hide anything. She told them honestly.
"Comrades of the public security, I must explain to you that we really don't know where Yu Jianchuan is. He left home more than a month ago, and there has been no news of him since then. The two old people also don't know his whereabouts."
Officer He was impatient. He pointed at Granny Fang's radio and said, "Do you know that your uncle is involved in smuggling foreign goods, and the amount involved is as high as several thousand yuan? This is not something that can be easily dismissed by saying you don't know!"
"I see that you're studying in No. 1 High School. Your grades should be very good, and you have a bright future ahead of you. If there's a criminal in your family, it will definitely affect your future if you want to work in government departments!"
The twins behind were extremely scared. Tears welled up in their eyes and flowed down.
Hua Qingqing widened her eyes and pretended to be flustered, as if she had been affected by his words.
At this time, the gentler public security officer advised, "Although this may sound unpleasant, it's really for your own good. If you know any news about Yu Jianchuan, it's best to tell us now to avoid being recorded for shielding a criminal."
Hua Qingqing looked up at the two of them and suddenly sighed deeply.
"..." The words I just said weren't false. I really don't know where Yu Jianchuan is. That day, I saw him selling things in the county town. There seemed to be an endless supply of radios. I realized something was wrong. Coincidentally, I went to the capital during the summer vacation. I accidentally heard about smuggling foreign goods there and remembered it. When I came back, I asked him, and he admitted it..."
The two public security officers got excited.
He admitted it?!
Although they had received the order to come here for investigation, they had no evidence and hadn't caught the criminal yet. They couldn't easily draw a conclusion.
But!
Now Yu Jianchuan's family said that he had admitted it!