Chapter Seventeen: Investigation

Ermao chuckled, already knowing exactly what Chen Huajiang meant by "help."
"You want me to teach him a lesson, don’t you?"
Ermao took a swig of beer.
"You always get me. From now on, eat here whenever you like," said Chen Huajiang generously, though, truth be told, he’d never charged Ermao before anyway.
"Leave it to me. I already didn’t like the look of him just now. How can someone be so arrogant? What does he do, anyway?"
Ermao wasn’t too familiar with the inner workings of the Hongqi Factory.
"His father’s the head of logistics here. I got fired from the factory for fighting with him. He throws his weight around everywhere just because his dad has a bit of power."
Chen Huajiang spoke candidly. He’d long been disgusted by Gou Weidong, but he couldn’t take action himself—if he did, his little eatery might not survive.
"I can’t stand people like that. Just wait, I’ll be back soon," Ermao said, rising to leave the eatery.
It was already past ten in the evening. Chen Huajiang’s place usually closed around midnight—quite late for this era, with so little night life to speak of.
Ermao trailed Gou Weidong, waiting until he parted ways with his companions. Once Gou was alone, Ermao pulled a burlap sack from his bag and stealthily followed him down a narrow alleyway.
This was a route Gou always took, and at this hour, the streets were almost deserted. Only the faint glow of two streetlamps touched the darkness. Ermao moved with agility, quickly catching up to Gou. Just as Gou was about to turn and see who was behind him, Ermao threw the sack over his head.
What followed was a brutal beating—by the time Ermao was done, Gou’s face was a patchwork of bruises.
Afterward, Ermao returned to the eatery and gave Chen Huajiang an “OK” sign.
Chen Huajiang nodded and began tidying up his little place.
By the time Gou Weidong struggled free from the sack, his assailant had vanished. His first thought was that Chen Huajiang was behind the attack—who else could it be?
It was too late to retaliate that night. He decided to go to the police the next day and have Chen Huajiang arrested.
Once Chen Huajiang finished cleaning up, he walked home with Dagang and the others.
At home, Lin Jiayin sat in a chair, her face clouded with worry.

"What’s wrong? You don’t seem too happy," Chen Huajiang asked, concerned.
Lin Jiayin had spent the whole day debating whether to tell him about Wu De’s unwanted advances. But she feared Chen Huajiang would lose his temper and do something rash. Yet keeping it to herself was unbearable.
"Sit down. I need to tell you something," she said, pointing to the chair beside her.
Chen Huajiang had never seen her so serious. He nodded and sat.
"Maybe we should move the eatery. Wu De came to see me today, put his hands on me, and threatened to shut you down."
At last, she told him everything.
Chen Huajiang’s brows knitted, not out of fear for his business, but for Jiayin’s safety—would Wu De keep harassing her?
"Where did he touch you?"
"He called me to his office. I thought it was work-related, so I went, but I got away quickly."
Seeing her expression, Chen Huajiang’s heart ached.
How could he call himself a man if he couldn’t even protect his own wife?
"That bastard Wu De must have a death wish. Don’t worry—the eatery stays open, and I won’t let him get away with this."
His cold tone made Lin Jiayin a little afraid.
"Don’t go looking for him. We can’t afford to cross him—his father is the deputy factory director."
She worried he’d act impulsively and they’d truly lose the eatery.
"Don’t worry, I’m not that foolish. Just promise me that if he asks you to his office again, you won’t go," Chen Huajiang said.
Lin Jiayin nodded. In the past, he wouldn’t have cared, and she wouldn’t have told him. But lately, his changes gave her hope. She decided that honesty was best between husband and wife.
Chen Huajiang certainly wouldn’t take action himself. This time, he would make Wu De pay in silence.
The next morning, as Chen Huajiang busied himself in the eatery, several officers arrived.

"You’re the owner here? Come with us to the station," one of them said sternly.
Chen Huajiang was taken aback. He hadn’t broken any laws—why were they calling him in so early?
"Officers, have I done something illegal?" he asked, bewildered.
"Someone reported you for assault around 11:30 last night. Did you hit anyone?"
At least the officer explained the reason.
"My eatery closes at midnight, and with cleanup, I didn’t get home until after 12:30. How could I have had time to hit anyone?"
He quickly guessed Gou Weidong had filed the report.
The officers exchanged glances, then asked, "Do you have any witnesses?"
"My staff can all vouch for me, and so can last night’s customers," Chen Huajiang replied easily.
"Come with us anyway—close the shop. After we get a clear picture, you can return."
There was no point asking more here; they had to bring Chen Huajiang and his staff to the station.
Chen Huajiang waved his employees over and they followed the officers out.
He knew he had to cooperate, but the one who filed the false report would have to bear the losses.
Sure enough, at the station, they found Gou Weidong waiting in the office.
"Officers, it’s him! I’m sure—he’s the one who assaulted me last night," Gou Weidong declared loudly, pointing at Chen Huajiang.
"Let’s hear your stories before you say any more," the officer interrupted.
"Tell us again—what time were you attacked last night? Where did it happen?"
They had Chen Huajiang and Gou Weidong sit together, facing them, while the other staff members were questioned in another room.
"It was around 11:30, definitely not later than midnight," Gou insisted.