Upon arriving at the police station, as Qin Chuan had expected, both groups were reprimanded, with no one being shown favoritism.
Xiao Guodong, having learned his lesson, did not show up himself but sent a professional.
This professional was clearly an elite, delivering a high-sounding speech filled with grand principles beneficial to the nation and its people, all in the name of building a harmonious society.
For an old hand like Qin Chuan, it was like water off a duck's back, entering one ear and exiting the other. However, others were different. Including Qin Gang, none of them had ever attended such a political lecture, and they listened with rapt attention.
After the lesson finally concluded, both parties wrote sincere self-criticisms, and the matter was considered settled.
Any future transgressions would be severely punished!
Stepping out of the police station, Qin Chuan stretched. Unbeknownst to him, the sun had already begun to set.
Just as he was about to leave, a voice called his name from a car.
"Oh, Captain Xiao!"
Seeing Xiao Guodong in the car, Qin Chuan quickly walked over, his face beaming with enthusiasm.
Xiao Guodong looked directly at the gentle and humble youth before him, as if trying to reconcile him with the prickly, gloomy, and sharp-tongued figure he had encountered at the hospital.
In the end, he found it impossible to reconcile the two. The person at the hospital and the one before him were entirely different personalities. It was hard to imagine that these were two manifestations of the same person within the same day.
"Qin Chuan, do you have a grudge against Li Yuan San and his family?"
With no one around, Xiao Guodong didn't mince words and directly posed a sharp question.
"Yes, of course!"
Qin Chuan replied calmly, "Captain Xiao, didn't you see? Li Yuan San's family has been trying to kill me and get me locked up!"
"But that's because you put their son in jail first!"
Xiao Guodong retorted, "No, you're just trying to smooth things over for me! I'm asking if you had a grudge against Li Yuan San's family *before* all this?"
"No, why would I? We were good neighbors who helped each other before!"
Qin Chuan answered without hesitation.
"Qin Chuan!!"
Xiao Guodong's voice suddenly rose, loud enough for Qin Gang, waiting in the distance, to hear and glance over.
Inside the car, Xiao Guodong's face turned extremely serious through the car window, a hint of killing intent surging forth, as if he were truly angry.
"Don't treat everyone like a fool. No one in this world can truly do whatever they please!"
"Regarding Li Houping's situation, you know and I know what happened! The only one to blame is Li Houping for being a fool and actually daring to cross the line of the law, allowing you to manipulate him!"
"But I am officially warning you here today, you'd better not do anything similar in the future!"
"Otherwise, if you ever go too far, I'll be the first one to arrest you!"
"Yes, Captain Xiao!"
Qin Chuan stood at attention and saluted, appearing to have taken it all in.
"Can I leave now?"
"Get lost!"
Xiao Guodong waved him away impatiently. With his years of experience as a detective, he felt Qin Chuan hadn't taken any of it to heart, and he could only shake his head.
He feared that society would soon lose another promising talent, a shame.
"Third Brother, what did Captain Xiao talk to you about just now?"
On the way back, Qin Gang couldn't hide his curiosity.
"Just gave me a political lecture, worried I might go down the wrong path."
Qin Chuan replied casually, "This old policeman, he's actually quite righteous..."
As the brothers chatted and laughed, they returned to the hospital. The waiting elderly couple, Qin Shuren and Jiang Cuihua, breathed a sigh of relief and anxiously asked if he had suffered any mistreatment...
That night, after having dinner with his parents, Qin Chuan took out his phone and dialed a number he remembered.
"Hello, who is this?"
A pleasant, mature voice came from the phone.
"Sister, it's me!"
Qin Chuan said.
"Oh my, the sun must have risen in the west for you to call me proactively?"
Li Ya sounded extremely surprised.
Qin Chuan chuckled, "Why can't I call you? You were the first person I called after buying my phone, aren't you honored?"
"Very honored, extremely honored!"
"You, a miser, actually splurged on a phone!"
Li Ya's voice sounded very happy, "Right, where are you now? Still in the county town?"
"Yes, I am! I'm at the hospital with my parents."
"Then wait for me, I'll be right over!"
Li Ya said, and as if afraid Qin Chuan would refuse, she hung up, leaving Qin Chuan standing bewildered in the hallway...
He didn't think much of it afterward. He took out a slip of paper from his pocket, a phone number belonging to Liu Long, and dialed it.
"Hello, Brother Liu, it's me! Qin Chuan!"
"This is my phone number, yes! Yes, yes!! We'll contact each other when we leave..."
Li Ya arrived very quickly. In less than fifteen minutes, a Santana stopped outside the county hospital. A bustling woman stepped out, carrying large bags of nutritional supplements.
"No, Sister... Why did you bring so much stuff this late at night?"
Qin Chuan, waiting at the entrance, looked helpless at Li Ya's display.
"What's wrong with that? Of course, you bring gifts when you visit someone in the hospital!"
"Would you come empty-handed?"
Li Ya replied casually, "You might not care, but I do!"
"Hurry up and help me, don't you have any initiative?"
Qin Chuan really didn't know what to do. It wasn't that he was afraid of Li Ya bringing gifts, but rather he was worried about his parents' reaction when they saw her.
Just imagine, a beauty like Li Ya suddenly showing up late at night, bringing so many gifts—any normal person would have their suspicions.
What's more, his parents already had other ideas about Li Ya, and this time, things were likely to become irrevocably complicated, if not outright embarrassing.
However, Qin Chuan couldn't really refuse Li Ya's kindness; it was rare for someone to be so thoughtful...
"Damn it, let's take it one step at a time!"
With a very gloomy mood, Qin Chuan could only lead Li Ya towards the inpatient department.
Just as he had predicted, when Qin Shuren, Jiang Cuihua, and even Qin Gang in the ward saw Li Ya's sudden arrival, the three of them were first surprised, then extremely enthusiastic.
They almost treated Li Ya as their future daughter-in-law, showing her great concern and care.
Li Ya was also very eloquent, calling them Uncle and Auntie, making the elder Qin couple beam with joy.
"Third Brother, what exactly are you up to?"
Taking the opportunity, Qin Gang quietly sidled up to Qin Chuan.
"Up to what?"
Qin Chuan looked confused.
"Don't play dumb, of course, I'm talking about Teacher Yang and Boss Li Ya. Who do you like?"
Qin Gang whispered, secretly observing Li Ya, who was chatting with his parents while sitting on the bed.
"If you ask me, Boss Li is really great. I feel like she's got feelings for you too. Why don't you just be with Boss Li?"
"Although Boss Li is a little older than you, she has a great figure, a beautiful face, and she's so rich, hundreds of thousands! It's hard to find such a wealthy woman even with a lantern!"
Qin Chuan's face turned completely dark. He knew it. This time, even Qin Gang was going to misunderstand!
"Li Ya and I are just in a cooperative relationship, friends! Friends, understand?"
"Nonsense!!"
Qin Gang looked unconvinced. He had seen his younger brother with Li Ya several times, even late at night last time.
Suddenly, he seemed to recall something terrible and his eyes widened.
"Third Brother, tell me honestly, are you planning to play the field like in the TV shows?"