RNP Chapter 967 Xiao Bao is very uncomfortable
Chapter 967 Xiao Bao is very uncomfortable
Gu Bei, who was listening, immediately responded, "Once I've recovered, I'll move back in. I'll rent a small compound at the end of the alley and keep an eye on things from there. I'll be aware of any disturbances around your house, and I'll make sure nothing goes wrong."
Gu Nan nodded heavily, feeling relieved. With Gu Bei and Hei Zi around, he could focus on Xiao Bao's affairs. He stood up and patted Gu Bei on the shoulder. "Then you guys rest here first. I'll be back soon and bring you some spiritual water later."
Gu Bei waved his hand without saying anything, while Heizi raised his head and barked softly at him, sweeping the ground with his tail docilely, as if to say, "Go, we are at home, don't worry."
As Gu Nan walked out of the cellar, his heart ached. If Gu Bei and Hei Zi hadn't risked their lives to protect Qiu Ye and the child, who knows what would have happened to them during the chaos of last night. He would remember this kindness for the rest of his life.
He straightened his clothes and decided to go to the steel mill first. He had asked for leave a few days ago due to an injury, and had only asked someone to call Director Yang, but it always felt inadequate. Now that he could walk again, he should go in person to talk to the director and take a look at the situation at the factory.
Elsewhere, in the makeshift hut, Xiao Bao was trying to move his arm. The dull pain from the wound didn't stop the anxiety in his eyes. He looked at Wang Ran, who was packing his medicine box. "Alright, look at me now. Can I walk around now?"
Wang Ran frowned and looked at him, his tone full of disapproval: "Brother Bao, your wound has just been stitched out, you really can't go out and do anything. If you make any violent movements and the wound opens, it will be no joke."
Xiao Bao grinned and waved his hand nonchalantly: "Don't worry, what kind of strenuous exercise can I do? I just want to meet some old friends, sit down and have a cup of tea and chat."
Wang Ran knew he couldn't persuade Xiao Bao, so he dug out a small glass bottle with a foreign label from the bottom of the medicine box and put it in his hand. He said with some concern, "Brother Bao, this is a painkiller that someone brought back from abroad. It's very strong. If the pain is unbearable, take one pill. It will last for four or five hours. But remember, don't take too much. It hurts your stomach, and you already have chronic stomach problems."
Xiao Bao took it and put it in his arms, patted Wang Ran's arm, and smiled: "I know, you are more nagging than my mother." After that, he turned around and walked out. Although his steps were a little unsteady, they revealed an unstoppable stubbornness.
He felt like a weight was weighing down his heart—things had been really bad lately. Monkey and Ma Zi had been killed by the Public Security Bureau, and his two most capable men, Cunning Rabbit and Zhang Du, had lost contact. Had they gone on the run, or had they also been arrested? He had no idea. He had ventured out this time, firstly to test the waters and see what was going on at the police station; secondly, to find Cunning Rabbit and the others. Even if there was only a glimmer of hope, he had to try. As soon as he stepped out of the door, a fierce look flashed in his eyes—no matter who was behind this, he would settle this account sooner or later, and he would never let this anger go.
Xiao Bao knew the nature of Cunning Rabbit and his companions. If nothing unexpected happened, they'd probably be hiding in the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town—it was their old hideout. But the closer he got to the warehouse, the more he wondered: Normally, it was deserted, but there were always villagers picking up scrap metal. So why wasn't anyone there today? The air was unnaturally still; even the sound of the wind blowing through the dry grass was distinctly audible.
About a hundred meters from the warehouse, Xiao Bao stopped dead in his tracks. Something was wrong, terribly wrong—the pile of scrap wood at the warehouse entrance, untouched for years, had been moved, and a few fresh footprints could be seen in the corner. He didn't move any further. He glanced around and saw an old man strolling under a locust tree on the side of the road, squinting in the sun.
Xiao Bao took out a cigarette box from his pocket. It was a pack of good cigarettes he had bought specially before, and he himself was reluctant to smoke them. He walked over, took out a cigarette and handed it to him, putting on a casual smile on his face: "Uncle, have a cigarette to relieve your fatigue."
The old man opened his eyes and saw the brand of cigarettes. His eyes lit up and he quickly took the cigarettes and put them between his ears. He then politely moved aside to make some room for Xiao Bao. "Young man, you look young, but why do you look so pale? You look very weak."
Xiao Bao squatted down beside him and coughed twice, his voice a little weak: "Alas, I was a soldier before and was injured on the battlefield. I have a chronic illness that comes back when it rains. I look a little weak."
When the old man heard the word "served in the army", his eyes suddenly changed, and he patted his arm quickly: "So you are a hero! Come and sit down, I'll give you my small stool." As he said that, he gave up the small stool under his buttocks, and his tone was full of respect.
Xiao Bao thanked him and sat down. After chatting for a while, he casually glanced towards the warehouse and asked, "Uncle, you often walk around here. Do you know what's going on with that warehouse up ahead? It looks so deserted, there's not even a soul in sight."
The old man glanced toward the warehouse and smacked his lips. "Looks like you're from out of town. This warehouse was bustling these past few days." Seeing Xiao Bao listening intently, he simply lit his cigarette, took a drag, and then slowly spoke. "About three days ago, in the middle of the night, there were suddenly several 'bang bang bang' noises. It sounded like firecrackers, but crisper than firecrackers. It sounded like... like gunshots."
Xiao Bao's heart skipped a beat, and he calmly stuffed the whole box of cigarettes into the old man's pocket. "Uncle, can you tell me in detail what happened that day?"
The old man weighed his cigarette case and laughed even more warmly. "I got up at night that day and heard some noise, so I leaned over the wall to take a look. It was pitch black and I couldn't see anything clearly. I saw a flashlight flash in the warehouse a few times and heard someone shouting. Then there was no sound. The next morning I came to check and saw that the warehouse door was open and there was something red on the ground. It looked scary." He paused and lowered his voice. "I guessed something had happened. I've been avoiding it for the past few days, but no one has come."
The old man didn't dare to say much. After all, his eyesight was not good to begin with, and it would be bad to say more, so he spoke vaguely.
Xiao Bao felt his throat tighten, the cigarette case in his hand nearly buckling. The sound of gunfire, the red stuff... Cunning Rabbit and Zhang Du were in grave danger. He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and chatted with the old man for a few more words before getting up to say goodbye. As he turned back, his steps were heavier than when he had come. The wound on his back felt like something was pulling at it, and the pain made him grit his teeth.