Chapter Thirty-Five: Guoguo Seizes the Opportunity

Chapter Thirty-Five: Guoguo Seizes the Opportunity

When Xu Yun and the others returned, the first floor of the medicinal cuisine restaurant had already been thoroughly cleaned by Pang Gang’s crew. Pang Gang was intently sketching a layout on paper. Though it lacked the professional touch of a designer’s CAD drawing and the appeal of a rendered image, his dedication was evident. He then took the drawing to discuss plans with Ruan Qingshuang, while seven or eight workers listened attentively nearby.

“Mama!” Guoguo ran up to Ruan Qingshuang, bubbling with excitement.

Feigning annoyance, Ruan Qingshuang chided her, “Why did you leave without telling me? I was worried someone might have snatched you away and sold you!”

Guoguo stuck out her tongue, and as she looked up, she caught Ruan Qingshuang stealing a glance at Xu Yun. “Mama, if you miss Papa, just say so! He misses you too, right Papa?”

“Yes…” Xu Yun’s lips twitched.

“Mama, let’s go upstairs. I have something great to show you!” Guoguo, full of pride, grabbed Ruan Qingshuang’s hand and pulled her along.

Ruan Qingshuang, thoroughly puzzled, followed Guoguo upstairs. But as they ascended, Guoguo’s secret unraveled—each step she took, a wad of cash fell from under her fluffy skirt! One after another, seven thick bundles of bills hit the floor with a slap, leaving Ruan Qingshuang wide-eyed with shock.

Xu Yun finally realized what Guoguo had been up to during her brief disappearance in the Four Wolves Gang’s lair—she’d seized the chance to loot their treasury!

What a little demon!

Qiu Yan said nothing, simply turning to patrol outside the restaurant. The twists of fate were truly unpredictable—once a little princess who had no concept of money, Guoguo now bent for tens of thousands.

Guoguo only realized her clothes had loosened when more bundles fell. She quickly squatted down, gathered the money, and darted upstairs.

Once there, Guoguo pushed all the cash toward Ruan Qingshuang, her face shining with anticipation. “Mama, this is what those bad guys owed you.”

“Guoguo! Where did you get all this money?” Ruan Qingshuang was utterly stunned, her mouth agape and her expression tinged with anger. “What did you do? Did you steal it?”

Seeing her mother’s distress, Guoguo felt wronged. “I only did what I should have done.”

“Guoguo! What have I always taught you?” Ruan Qingshuang fumed.

Xu Yun came upstairs, smiling. “Sister Shuang, just accept it. I asked Guoguo to do it.”

What?! Ruan Qingshuang was taken aback.

Relieved, Guoguo scampered behind Xu Yun, wearing the look of a child who believed her father could do no wrong.

“If the Four Wolves Gang can smash our restaurant, we can smash their lair just the same,” Xu Yun said matter-of-factly. “This is compensation for our financial loss—we haven’t even asked for emotional damages. We’re being quite polite.”

“What on earth did you do? Are you crazy?” Ruan Qingshuang nearly fainted at Xu Yun’s words. He’d actually said they went and wrecked the Four Wolves Gang’s den! She was terrified—going up against the notorious local gangsters of Hedong was sheer madness.

Guoguo wrinkled her nose. “Mama, Sister Wan’er has our backs. We’re not afraid!”

“Did you get Wan’er into trouble?” Ruan Qingshuang asked, startled.

“Of course not,” Guoguo denied firmly.

Xu Yun knew the argument would go nowhere. “Sister Shuang, don’t worry. The Four Wolves Gang won’t bother us again. Wan’er has already arrested their boss.”

Ruan Qingshuang stared in disbelief. “Really?”

“Ask her tonight and you’ll know,” Xu Yun grinned. “So just accept the money.”

Only then did Ruan Qingshuang relax a little. She trusted that Qin Wan’er wouldn’t let them act recklessly, yet she had no idea Guoguo had concealed her opportunistic looting so well—Xu Yun and Qiu Yan had only just learned about it, and Qin Wan’er was still in the dark.

…

Qiangzi and Xiaofei took the dead Tibetan mastiff to Bai Ermazi at the Dongguan market. They skinned and boned it, bringing dozens of kilos of dog meat back to the restaurant. Given its rich nutritional value, Xu Yun decided to host a hotpot feast that evening. He told Qiangzi to invite the dozen brothers who had helped that afternoon and asked Pang Gang’s crew to stay as well.

“I’m starving,” Guoguo drooled at the mention of hotpot. “I heard dog meat is good for boosting kidney yang. Papa, you’re not… you know… deficient, are you?”

“Hey! There’s nothing wrong with me!” Xu Yun broke into a cold sweat.

Guoguo patted her chest in relief. “Phew… Now I can rest easy about Mama’s future happiness.”

Happiness! A word with so many meanings.

Everyone was stunned. Ruan Qingshuang blushed furiously, wishing she could disappear into the floor. Xu Yun’s smile froze—he no longer knew if having such a mischievous daughter was a blessing or a curse. Couldn’t she save such talk for when they were alone? There were so many people here!

Guoguo ignored the adults, who seemed petrified with shock, and reminded Xu Yun, “Papa, I’m hungry!”

Xu Yun dared not say another word and hurried to the kitchen. Qiangzi and Xiaofei followed to help. Soon, the dozen-odd brothers arrived, and the restaurant buzzed with activity.

Guoguo, acting like a little boss, directed the young thugs to set up tables and chairs. They all obeyed her, as she was, after all, the boss’s boss’s boss!

They divided into three tables, and after two hours, three steaming hotpots were ready.

At that moment, Qin Wan’er entered, humming and smiling. Qiangzi’s crew were instantly dumbstruck—this policewoman was something else! She’d tracked them all the way here! Now they were caught red-handed; there was no escape.

“So this is where the dog went,” Qin Wan’er said, sniffing the air and addressing Xu Yun bluntly, “Aren’t you going to get me a bowl and chopsticks? Or do you want me to expose you?”

Xu Yun had no retort left and obediently fetched her tableware.

Qiangzi’s men, relieved, began quietly speculating and gossiping about how their heroic Brother Yun had conquered this formidable policewoman.

“Wan’er, why are you back so late?” Ruan Qingshuang asked with concern.

Qin Wan’er shot Xu Yun a glare. “Had to clean up after certain people at the station. So annoying!”

Qiangzi’s crew broke out in a sweat.

Xu Yun was speechless. This was a huge achievement—everyone would be scrambling for credit, yet she acted as if it were a chore. No gratitude whatsoever.

“Did Xu Yun and Guoguo cause you any trouble?” Ruan Qingshuang asked seriously.

Hearing the change in her tone, Qin Wan’er quickly explained, “Not at all. In fact, they helped me a lot—rid the community of a menace.”

“You really arrested the leader of the Four Wolves Gang?” Ruan Qingshuang nearly shouted in surprise.

Her words frightened Pang Gang’s crew out of their wits. Good heavens, this policewoman was bold—she even dared to take on the Four Wolves Gang’s boss!

Qin Wan’er quickly pulled Ruan Qingshuang aside and whispered, “Sister Qingshuang, from now on, there won’t be a Four Wolves Gang in Hedong. You don’t have to worry about them anymore.”

“Really?” Ruan Qingshuang wondered if she was dreaming.

Guoguo pouted and snorted, “Mama didn’t believe me when I said it before. Hmph.”

Realizing she’d wronged Guoguo, Ruan Qingshuang put a piece of meat in her bowl. “Guoguo is truly amazing. Better?”

“Papa is even more amazing,” Guoguo replied carelessly, but everyone immediately thought of dog meat’s supposed effects, exchanging knowing glances.

Xu Yun, of course, didn’t deny it. “Of course!”

After Xu Yun and the others left, Qin Wan’er had immediately called the station, reporting that she’d found a stockpile of firearms and ammunition at Wang Shunxi’s Tibetan mastiff breeding base. At first, the station thought she was joking and wanted to check with Chief Liu, but then Qin Wan’er sent Liu Guangming a photo from the scene.

That shocked Liu Guangming out of his wits! He dashed out of his office, shouting for everyone to get ready and deploy immediately!

With Wang Shunxi arrested, the Four Wolves Gang collapsed. The astonishing cache of weapons led to the entire breeding base being sealed off. Who would have guessed Wang Shunxi harbored such ambitions, hoarding so many arms—he truly intended to rule Hedong.

This case instantly catapulted Qin Wan’er’s status at the Wenhui District police station to unprecedented heights. Even Chief Liu Guangming beamed with satisfaction. Thanks to her string of achievements, their station now topped the performance rankings across all of Hedong’s precincts.

Qin Wan’er excused herself early, claiming she wasn’t feeling well, knowing that if she stayed, the bureau leaders would drag her to a celebration banquet and pepper her with questions about her personal life—and try to set her up with someone.

The hotpot feast, worth two million, left everyone thoroughly satisfied. That mastiff, raised on beef since it was a pup, truly deserved its title as king of dogs—its meat was tender, flavorful, and delightfully chewy.

Qiangzi sent a subordinate to buy ten cases of beer, and the men drank heartily. During the meal, Xu Yun finalized arrangements with Pang Gang—they would start work overtime the next day, with Xu Yun paying triple wages, but he expected the work to be completed three times as fast. Pang Gang downed his beer in one gulp and agreed enthusiastically, promising the place would be ready for business in a week.

By the time everyone left, it was already past ten. Qiangzi’s group, still unsatisfied, went on to continue drinking at the barbecue night market. Pang Gang ordered his workers to get some rest and to assemble early the next morning, ready to work with full energy.

Though the first floor of the restaurant was in ruins, the second floor remained untouched. Qiu Yan had gone upstairs an hour before, and Guoguo, suddenly remembering something, grabbed Qin Wan’er and raced upstairs with her.

Xu Yun and Ruan Qingshuang stayed behind to clean up the battlefield before locking up and heading upstairs themselves.

“Wow! Sister Wan’er, yours are even bigger than Mama’s! Will they even fit?”

Just as they reached the second floor, Guoguo’s exclamation burst from Qin Wan’er’s room. Xu Yun’s eyes lit up—Guoguo must have picked out lingerie for Qin Wan’er as well, and was now insisting she try it on.