Chapter 74: One Question Mark Isn't Enough
"Yangliang: ??? Ah?"
"Lin Li: Uncle, I'm afraid the credits might end up benefiting outsiders, so I'm not planning to report to the main station this time. But if you're resting at home, could you pass this task to a colleague? I'll send you a 1 directly when the timing is right, and you just need to have the on-duty colleague bring people over."
It was visibly clear that Yangliang's brain had once again stopped working.
Because it kept showing "the other party is typing," yet no messages were being sent.
"Yangliang initiated a voice call."
Lin Li answered it.
"Lin Li! What are you doing?" Lin Li heard Yangliang's warm greeting as soon as he picked up.
"Uncle, I know you're in a hurry, but please, don't rush."
Because you'll be even more anxious in a moment.
"Firstly, Uncle, to infiltrate deeply this time, I need to reveal some of my identity information to gain the trust of adversarial forces. Hence, I'm now called Bai Bufan, Lin Li is dead. If you happen to come by, don't call me Lin Li. Consider me nonexistent.
If it's a colleague, they don't know me anyway, so that's fine."
"Also, isn't your police station having a community renovation event today? There's a male probationer involved, right? Be careful, he's an insider and will leak info about your actions. Here's the detailed situation...
So, during your operation later, try to avoid him, but not too obviously, or my undercover identity will be exposed. I recommend a few methods..."
Lin Li naturally had to inform Yangliang about this first.
Yangliang was silent as he processed this information. After a long pause, he could only blurt out one sentence:
"You bastard kid..."
Yangliang really felt uncomfortable not saying it out loud.
Lin Li shook his head.
Luckily, he didn't accept making Yangliang his father, or he'd also turn into someone without manners.
Damn it, he really hates people who curse.
"So, Lin Li, are you trying to replicate the last scene again?" Yangliang's brain finally began to function reluctantly, and he asked.
"More or less." Lin Li nodded, even though only Bai Bufan beside him could see it.
"Didn't you say your friend only knew about a chicken farm at Qingjue?" Yangliang asked loudly.
"Uh... I made new friends." Lin Li responded, scratching his head.
"..."
"What kind of friends are you making, damn it! Where do you even meet these people?" After a brief silence, Yangliang was somewhat broken.
He really couldn't understand how a student like Lin Li, who could get into Nansang Middle School, found these connections.
Are there really that many talents in the world?
"Life is never short of beauty, only a lack of eyes to discover it." Lin Li answered.
Yangliang: "..."
Is that how the phrase is used?
"Xiaolin, can you tell Uncle Yang the places your friends told you? We'll send plainclothes officers to monitor and gather information there, and the capture operation will also be conducted quickly. As for you, please hurry and return the way you came back, alright?" Yangliang advised gently.
"Once you've strung the bow, there's no turning back. The two of us are already on the car, there's no going back now. Besides, the longer we delay, the more men will be financially ruined and left destitute, how could I bear that?
I, as your recognized 'Heroic Youth' and 'Anti-vice Pioneer,' how could I back down at this moment? How could I live up to the banner you awarded me! How could I live up to Sister Sun's praise and publicity! How could I live up to Principal Wang's careful nurturing!"
Going back is absolutely not an option; if he went back, the anti-vice operation would be in vain. Lin Li righteously refused.
"The banner can be reclaimed, the publicity can be canceled. Your principal hasn't even nurtured you, everything's still on time!" Yangliang loudly said on the other side of the phone.
Not good.
Lin Li might appear abstract but is actually internally fragile and sensitive; things like banners and praise, those honors, to him must be something he clings to crying at night alone. Clearly, Lin Li has taken them as his life guidelines!
No one understands Lin Li better than himself, and that's why Yangliang now deeply regrets not stopping the upper levels from giving this banner back then.
For a child like Lin Li, too high moral standards are definitely not a good thing.
It's also his fault for not being careful enough.
"Eh? Wait a second." Before Lin Li could respond, Yangliang, who was lamenting over the banner issue, suddenly paused. With a slightly uncertain voice, he slowly asked:
"Xiaolin, I just heard you say 'the two of you are already on the car,' it was 'two,' haha, I must have misheard, right?"
"You didn't hear wrong, Uncle; this time I brought my classmate, who is also my good brother. He also wants to become someone like me, so he came today. Come on, Bao Wei, say hello." Lin Li patted Bai Bufan's shoulder beside him.
"Uh, hello, Uncle. My original name is Bai Bufan, but since Lin Li borrowed it, now I'm called Zhou Baowei. We'll meet soon. Nice to meet you." Bai Bufan leaned in and introduced himself.
"Uncle, remember to bring two hoods, huh? One isn't enough," Lin Li added from the side.
"..."
"..."
"Uncle?" Bai Bufan, who hadn't heard a response, asked somewhat nervously and fearfully.
"Quiet, I'm thinking."
Bai Bufan: "..."
The taxi had just arrived, so Lin Li and Bai Bufan got into the back seat first.
"Uncle, have you thought it over?" Lin Li inquired after the car started.
"...So Lin Li, what's your purpose in bringing this classmate of yours?" Yangliang asked.
"He also longs to become a 'young hero,' he also wants to gain the glory of banners and cultivation! Right, Bao Wei!" Lin Li declared loudly.
"Huh? Uh, right! It's for these noble things! What else? Could it be just for fun?" Bai Bufan was a bit stunned by this, then nodded firmly.
Yangliang: "..."
Why does this sound more like a confession?
"Bufan... are you a local of Xiling? What's your family situation like? How many people are there?" Yangliang asked softly, probing.
Once bitten by a snake, ten years fear the well rope.
Yangliang didn't want to have sleepless nights again.
"Huh?" Bai Bufan was a bit bewildered, looking at Lin Li.
Why does it suddenly feel like a census is being conducted?
Lin Li, however, understood and took back his phone: "Uncle, Bufan's family is happy and harmonious; you don't have to say anything more."
—He won't want to acknowledge you as his father either, Lin Li didn't say this part.
Yangliang exhaled a sigh of relief.
Then was completely sure
that this happy and harmonious kid was purely in it for fun! Noble goals, my foot, he even wavered just now!
Good for you, Bai Bufan!
Heh heh.
Yangliang remembered this name.
Meanwhile, on Lin Li's side, he heard a deep breath on the phone:
"Your Nansang Middle School, ah, well done, no wonder it's the best school around here! There's indeed a reason for its excellence, talents keep emerging."
The voice carried a hint of laughter, seemingly a sincere compliment.
"It's just alright, you should tell Principal Wang this next time, he'd be quite pleased to hear it." Even while on the phone, Lin Li shook his head modestly.
Hopefully, he can come out pleased, Yangliang sighed deeply and finally confirmed: "So Lin Li, and Bufan, you two must help us gather evidence, right?"
"That's right, Uncle Yang."
"Alright, alright, I'll get up and go to work now." There was a touch of resentment and resignation in Yangliang's tone: "I know about the mole situation you mentioned. I'll be careful during the operation later, won't let him and those people on the road recognize our actions and identities.
Tell us the location name, that way we can head over in advance and respond to your messages faster, you wouldn't want another situation like last time where you almost had to persuade a lady to respect herself and nearly lost your own virtue, would you?"
"Uncle, you won't backstab me, right, go ahead and catch them one step before me after hearing the location name, will you?" Lin Li was quite cautious.
Yangliang: "..."
This kid is just like this, it's just a protective shell; habitual mistrust of the outside world is normal, is normal, he is actually a kind and excellent but also pitiable good kid inside...
After comforting himself for a long time, Yangliang said warmly:
"I won't."
"Okay, Uncle, I trust you, trust is the basis of cooperation. After all, we'll have many cooperative operations in the future, the place we're going is Tianhong Foot Therapy and Spa, the specific address is 67 Chidun Street, when the time comes, just listen to my instructions on WeChat."
Yangliang didn't remember the name and address.
It's not that his memory is that bad.
He simply didn't hear the latter part clearly; after Lin Li said the first half, his mind was filled with the echo of the first half:
[We will have many more joint operations in the future]
[Many operations]
[Many]
So these two times are just the beginning!?
Will I end up seeing Lin Li every time there's a bust from now on?
This sort of thing is a bit too terrifying, isn't it?
This isn't just a [Pioneer in busts], it's practically a [Mighty General in busts] already!
Yangliang took a deep breath, and compared to the address, he felt there was more important information to get from Lin Li now:
"Lin Li, do you mind introducing that friend of yours to Uncle, just want to meet him, no other intentions, just want to meet him."
The friend who led you astray, the one who caused Lin Li to end up like this, right!
Let's catch you, brat! Have a proper educational session! What exactly is your intention telling Lin Li so much information!
"Hey, Uncle Yang, how did you know? I was just thinking that!" Lin Li exclaimed in surprise.
Yangliang: "?"