Chapter 27: Enough Fooling Around

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“Compensation, medical expenses, food expenses, lost wages, nutritional supplements, nursing costs, transportation costs, follow-up treatment for the mild concussions my father and I suffered, and compensation for damage to our reputations.

“All together, ten thousand yuan. If you’re even one cent short, there’s nothing to discuss.

“Your Gao family has nine people with jobs. Do you think they’re worth that much?

“If you don’t think so, then leave. There’s nothing more to say.”

In the hospital room, Li Qi spoke to Diao Xiaojiao in an airy, casual tone.

Diao Xiaojiao was nearly beside herself with rage!

If Liang Bing had not been there, she would certainly have rushed over, torn Li Qi’s mouth apart, and scratched his face to ribbons.

How could he be so shameless?

Ten thousand yuan? You could buy his life for less than that!

“Third Li, have you no shame?

“You’ve just opened your mouth and named ten thousand yuan without a shred of evidence. What have we done to you that you’re demanding so much money?

“Officer Liang, are you really going to stand by and watch him bully innocent ordinary people like us?”

At that moment, Liang Bing was sitting in Li Qi’s hospital room. Two or three other police officers were in the corridor, asking the doctors about the Gao family’s injuries, including how many stitches each person had received and when they would be discharged.

According to Liang Bing, whether they would go home after being discharged or go straight to jail depended on whether Li Qi was willing to issue a letter of forgiveness.

Diao Xiaojiao tried to win Liang Bing’s sympathy.

Liang Bing let out a derisive laugh.

“More than twenty of you charged into someone else’s home and smashed their heads open, and you’re standing here claiming to be innocent?

“You’re like a toad with a chicken feather stuck in its backside—who knows whether you count as a bird or a beast?

“If you think Li Qi’s terms are unacceptable, then go home peacefully, climb into bed, and wait until you wake up to receive your verdict.”

If looks could kill, Li Qi and Liang Bing would already have been torn apart eight hundred times over by Diao Xiaojiao.

She knew there was no point in saying more. With an angry jerk of her head, she stormed away, looking exactly like an old toad.

Liang Bing turned back and asked Li Qi with a broad smile, “How are you feeling now?”

Before Li Qi could answer, Old Man Li spoke up.

“Dizzy, nauseous, muddle-headed even when lying down. Everything keeps spinning before my eyes. My heart hurts, and I feel like I can’t breathe.”

Several people had come to ask him about his condition that morning, and Old Man Li had grown quite practiced at the routine.

Li Qi nodded repeatedly.

“That’s right, that’s right. We have exactly the same symptoms.”

Liang Bing did not know whether to laugh or cry.

“I was just thinking of teaching you how to answer the doctor. Looks like I was worried for nothing. Where did you learn all this?”

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Li Qi had no way to explain that in his previous life there had been search engines and short-video apps, and that answers to almost anything could be copied straight from the internet.

After returning to the past, his memory had also become extraordinarily powerful, like a computer’s storage drive. As long as he had a clue, he could retrieve anything he needed, word for word.

So all he could do was grin sheepishly.

“I spent three years making my way in society, after all. I know all kinds of bosses and underlings in the mining district. Those idle fellows taught me everything.”

Liang Bing’s expression turned serious.

“You’d better keep your distance from those people in the future. I expect that within the next few days, once Aunt Qiu’s injuries have been treated, someone from her side will come speak with you.

“When that happens, you can ask for whatever you like. Getting them to arrange a proper job for you won’t be a problem.

“I can’t say much about Aunt Qiu’s identity, but her son is the political commissar of our city police bureau. If you seize this opportunity, what you gain from it will depend on your own ability.”

Li Qi still shook his head.

“We’re not the kind of people who do favors hoping to be repaid. I’d rather become wealthy through hard work and build a fortune with my own abilities.

“Take this matter, for example. There’s no affection involved—just acting. Since the Gao family dared to commit a crime in broad daylight, I have every right to stand here and make money from it.

“But this won’t cause trouble for you, will it?”

Li Qi knew that without Liang Bing’s cooperation, he could never have handled the matter so smoothly. In fact, he might not have been able to handle it at all.

He had even been considering how to show Liang Bing his gratitude once everything was settled.

Liang Bing immediately saw through him, and his expression grew stern.

“Brother Li, let’s make one thing clear. The Gao family went to your house armed and broke into your courtyard to beat people. Those are established criminal facts.

“I have no intention of showing favoritism toward either side.

“As for any settlement you reach, it will be carried out within the limits permitted by the law.

“So don’t get any other ideas. Director Xu Tiesheng has repeatedly instructed us that everything must be handled according to proper procedure. No one is to receive special treatment because of their status.

“Whatever you do, don’t try anything underhanded. Otherwise, you won’t be thanking me—you’ll be ruining me.”

At that point, how could Li Qi fail to understand? He hurriedly put his other thoughts away and sincerely clasped Liang Bing’s hand.

“Brother Liang, then I won’t say thank you. Please convey my respects to Director Xu. He’s a fine director who truly puts the people first. Once this matter is over, I’ll send him a ceremonial banner. That should be all right, shouldn’t it?”

Liang Bing nodded repeatedly.

“Make sure you sign your name on it, so Director Xu can hang it in his office. If Political Commissar Zhou or Aunt Qiu happens to visit, they’ll be able to see it.”

“Of course. I’ll make it a large one.”

The two exchanged a smile. Everything was understood without being said.

Liang Bing told the father and son to get plenty of rest. After completing all the statements, he led the others away.

That afternoon, Li Li brought over steaming hot food, and father and son ate with great relish.

Li Qi tried to give Li Li some money again, but she repeatedly refused, saying that the hundred yuan he had given her last time would last her three months.

Li Qi shook his head and firmly pressed another hundred yuan into his elder sister’s hand.

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“Buy some more meat, and get some eggs too. From now on, Junmei should eat at least one egg every morning—two would be even better.

“Girls around eleven or twelve are at the age when their bodies are growing. Just look at how thin the child is. She’s like a stick of firewood; a strong gust of wind could snap her in two.”

Li Li’s eyes reddened.

How could a mother not know that her daughter was too thin?

But no one in the Gao family had cared. When the whole family ate, she was not even allowed at the table. She could only take her daughter into the kitchen and eat whatever she could by the stove.

By then, her heart had gone completely cold toward the Gao family.

After the father and son had eaten their fill, Li Li carried the dishes home to prepare dinner for her daughter and her younger brother, Li Zhe. Winter evenings came early, and by a little after four, darkness had already fallen.

At half past five, the hospital-room door opened, and Li Peng and Du Li walked in. Unexpectedly, Li Hai had come with them as well.

Li Hai went over to Li Mantang’s bedside and asked in a muffled voice, “Dad, how are you?”

“Dizzy, nauseous… Ah, no. I mean, I’m not going to die.”

Old Man Li stopped halfway through and realized that this was his own son. There was no need to keep up the act.

With a bright smile, Du Li placed a netted bag on Li Mantang’s bed.

“Dad, we bought you some canned peaches, malted milk powder, and those fried glutinous-rice sticks you love.”

A cold smile touched the corner of Li Qi’s mouth. That wretched Du Li was certainly up to no good.

She had always considered herself superior to everyone else. Unless she needed something from the family, she would never speak in such a pleasant tone.

He walked over, picked up a can of peaches, struck the bottom of the jar with his palm, and twisted off the lid with one hard turn.

He tipped back his head and gulped down the juice.

The canned-peach syrup really was delicious.

“What are you doing?” Du Li’s eyes revealed an undisguisable disgust. If Li Qi had obediently agreed to donate his kidney, she would already be wearing a white mink coat.

In her eyes, Li Qi was the most selfish and shameless scoundrel in the world.

Li Qi wiped his mouth.

“What? Didn’t you buy this for Dad? I’m just helping Dad taste it. Is that a problem?”

Du Li could not be bothered to argue with him. She shoved Li Peng forward, urging him to get to the point.

Li Peng sat down on Li Qi’s hospital bed. That afternoon, Diao Xiaojiao had come to see him again and obediently agreed to the demand for two thousand yuan.

His mood was excellent, and he spoke with complete confidence.

“Dad, this really can’t go on like this.”