Two days passed uneventfully.

In January, on the eve of the Lunar New Year, the entire Dragon City was filled with a festive atmosphere. The sound of firecrackers began to explode all over the city from a little after one in the afternoon, and it continued non-stop until late at night.

Around eight o'clock, the Su family set up a buffet in the courtyard. The whole family gathered together, either whispering to each other while watching the New Year's Eve show broadcasted by the local Chinese television, or playing cards in groups of three or five, chatting.

Su Tianyu accompanied his second uncle for some wine and dumplings, chatting until after nine o'clock in the evening, when the latter felt a little tired and went back to his room to rest.

Inside the courtyard, the third sister, Su Miaomiao, waved her hand like a little girl and called out, "Let's go, Gou Liu Zi, let's go set off fireworks!"

"You guys go, I've had a bit too much to drink," Su Tianyu waved his hand, feeling down.

"Hey, it's the New Year, let's have some fun together. Don't just sit here thinking about An Qiqi. If you love her, go after her bravely." Su Miaomiao walked over, forcibly pulled up Su Tianyu, as well as the lazy eldest and second brothers, and then took a group of children outside the courtyard.

This year, the second uncle had prepared an especially large amount of New Year's goods. Fireworks and firecrackers alone filled four large cardboard boxes. A group of young people in their twenties, with a bunch of kids, excitedly lined up the fireworks and firecrackers in front of their house.

Su Tianyu stood at the door and lit a cigarette.

"Why do you look a little unhappy today?" Su Tiannan asked casually.

"Hehe, I'm not unhappy." Su Tianyu, emboldened by the alcohol, replied softly, "I just remembered Da Xiong. It's New Year's Eve, sigh...!"

"What are you thinking about him for?" Zhang Hao interjected from the side, "His family doesn't care about him. We're not related to him, so what can we do to help? Sigh, that's life. It's the New Year, we don't need to worry about others."

Su Tianyu nodded slowly and didn't say anything else.

"Sizzle!"

Not far away, Su Tianbei, fueled by alcohol, lit four or five boxes of fireworks in one go, and dragged his third sister to a distance to watch.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...!"

Brilliant fireworks soared into the sky, shining in the darkness, scattering light.

"The fireworks we bought this year are beautiful!" Su Miaomiao looked at the fireworks exploding in the sky with her hands behind her back, and said excitedly, "Let's work hard next year and try to rent a small island for our family to spend the New Year on."

As everyone looked up at the brilliant sky, Da Xiong appeared alone in the alley at the intersection. He was covered in dirt, with his hands in his pockets, gazing at his third sister with a faint smile on his face.

When the fireworks were exhausted, the Su family returned to the yard, talking and laughing. Da Xiong withdrew his gaze from Su Tianyu, wiped his cheek with his wrist, faced the darkness alone, and slowly disappeared.

...

The next morning, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Su Tianyu, Su Tiannan, and Su Tianbei drove the family's small truck, loaded with various gifts, and began to visit relatives and friends.

They first went to Yu Mingyuan and Wang Daolin's houses, then to the homes of some of the Su family's connections in the management committee and inner circle, and finally arrived at the Bai family.

"Uncle Bai, Happy New Year!"

Su Tianyu and the others carried gifts and stepped into the Bai family's courtyard, greeting Bai Dabiao.

"Hehe, very good!" Bai Dabiao stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, quite happy to see the Su family. "Oh, did Lao Su ask you to come?"

"Yes, my dad said, it's the New Year, so he told us younger ones to come see you," Su Tiannan said, stepping forward with gifts.

"Come on, sit inside," Bai Dabiao beckoned.

As they walked into the house, Bai Hongbo asked Su Tianyu, "I heard Da Xiong didn't go home. Where do you think he could have gone?"

"I don't know," Su Tianyu shook his head.

"Hey, that kid is just a little reckless." Bai Hongbo, who was usually sharp-tongued, was also concerned about the fool, "You say he wouldn't have been sentenced to much. Why did he have to run away? If he's caught now, the sentence will definitely be increased."

"That's right."

"Damn it, it's hard to be a good person!" Bai Hongbo couldn't help but sigh.

At this moment, neither Su Tianyu nor Bai Hongbo really understood why Da Xiong had to escape from prison, because no one could stand in Da Xiong's shoes and feel everything he had experienced.

Inside the Bai family's hall, Old Man Bai sat on a chair and said very generously, "We have guests at home, prepare a meal, and we'll have a drink later."

"No, Uncle Bai, we still have to go to the Kong family later," Su Tiannan declined.

"Oh, there are still so many days in the first month, any day will do!" Bai Dabiao said without any doubt, "You've come to visit, you must eat at home!"

Although Bai Dabiao had a sharp tongue and a bad temper, and often cursed and argued with Su Zhengcai, he was still relatively warm and genuine in his character.

...

Three days.

Da Xiong had been on the run for three whole days. During this time, his life was definitely not easy, but Tang Baiqing and Lao Yang were clearly in a more difficult situation than him.

A little after six o'clock in the evening.

Near Tongjiang Street in Zhanan District, Lao Yang, dressed in plain clothes, stood next to a garbage dump with four police officers, and said to a security guard at a construction site, "You have surveillance cameras around this construction site, right?"

"Yes, we have security guards at the front and back gates, and also guard dogs. Officer, don't worry, although we're on holiday here, if anyone sneaks in, we'll definitely find out. The management here is very strict." The security guard replied politely.

Lao Yang reached out and handed over Da Xiong's photo, "Take another look, and if you see this person, you must notify us immediately."

"Don't worry, if we find him, we'll definitely call the police." The other party looked at the photo and nodded, "I'll remember him."

"Okay, that's it then."

After speaking, Lao Yang left with his men.

"Brother Yang, it's the New Year period now, and all the police units in various districts are on rotating holidays. Even if we issue a notice for assistance in the investigation, no one will go out on the streets to search for a fugitive for you." A police officer followed Lao Yang and said, "This person doesn't go home either. If he hides somewhere, or simply leaves the city, where are we going to catch him?"

"All the checkpoints have been notified. As long as he dares to run outside, he's very likely to be caught," Lao Yang said as he walked, "This person is mentally challenged and doesn't have much anti-reconnaissance experience. Most importantly, he doesn't have any money or a social circle. It's too difficult for him to run away. I judge that he should be in a familiar place in Zhanan District, and he won't go far."

"That's possible," the police officer echoed.

"Let's go back first, I'll go find Tang Baiqing," Lao Yang replied wearily, and stepped into the car.

"Ring, ring, ring!"

Just then, the phone rang.

...

Outside the district, in the village, at Liang Feng's house.

"Brother Hei, yes, the one who contacted me is a childhood friend. We grew up together, very reliable." Liang Feng said in a low voice, "Yes, the kidnapping job in the Fifth District, I think the price is quite high, and the situation in the Old Triangle is relatively chaotic, making it easier for us to escape. Yes, the time is a bit tight. If we're going to take it, we have to leave on the fifth day of the new year."

Inside the phone, the man was silent for a long time before asking, "Where are you?"

"I'm at home. What's wrong, Brother Hei?"

"At home?" The man suddenly said, "Take a family photo and show it to me."

Liang Feng was stunned.