Chapter 36

Pengpeng was frightened and gently tugged at Song Shuang's sleeve, "Shuangshuang, what's wrong with you?"

Song Shuang sniffed and said, "What we did was wrong. Let's go and help him get his tricycle back."

Pengpeng said, "Didn't we agree? We should punish him a bit, make him beg us, and then give the tricycle back."

Song Shuang said, "I've changed my mind."

Liu Haneast was very frustrated. He had come to pick up Grandma Sun, but he didn't find her, and his tricycle was confiscated by the traffic police. He regretted donating his bank card, as he had no money on him. A Qianjiang 125 tricycle plus the modification costs would be a few thousand yuan, and he was torn between asking his mother for money or borrowing from Shanpao again. Maybe he could work as a bodyguard for Leopard and get an advance? The most frustrating thing was that his resettlement allowance from the military had not yet arrived, otherwise, he wouldn't be so strapped for cash.

While he was thinking, a horn sounded behind him. It was a red-and-white Mini Cooper, and inside were Wangcai's "mother" and her female classmate. Liu Haneast glanced at them and continued on his way. This kind of car cost at least a few hundred thousand yuan, and these two girls were clearly from wealthy families, not to be messed with.

"Liu Haneast, if you want your tricycle, get in the car," Song Shuang said.

Liu Haneast didn't hesitate and opened the car door. The two-door Mini was a bit cramped, so Song Shuang had to sit in the back, giving the front passenger seat to the tall and muscular Liu Haneast.

"To the traffic police headquarters," Song Shuang said.

Pengpeng drove to the traffic police headquarters. On the way, Liu Haneast kept his eyes straight ahead, silent, his jaw tight. He had realized that his tricycle being impounded was due to the girls' trick, but he had to suppress his anger and hope they would have a change of heart and return his tricycle.

They soon arrived at the traffic police headquarters. The three of them got out and looked around. The parking lot was full of cars, but there was no sign of the impounded tricycle. Pengpeng walked over and tapped on the window of the guard's room, shouting, "Hey, where's the unlicensed tricycle that was seized today?"

The guard came out with a cup of tea, frowned, and said sternly, "Which unit are you from? What car are you looking for? Have you paid the fine?"

Pengpeng said, "I just want to know where the tricycle seized this morning went."

The guard became angry, "If you have a question, go to the headquarters. Don't cause trouble here. Get lost."

Pengpeng gritted her teeth and ran into the office building. She met a policewoman and stopped her, "Pengpeng, what's up? Your dad isn't here."

"Aunt Wang, I want to know where the tricycle seized today is."

"Oh, the headquarters ordered that all seized vehicles be destroyed. All confiscated vehicles are sent to the South Suburb Scrap Yard. What's up?"

"Nothing, thank you, Aunt Wang." Pengpeng turned and ran back to the Mini Cooper, panting, "It's been sent to the scrap yard. Shuangshuang, what do we do?"

Liu Haneast turned his head, "You're the one who sent me the WeChat message, Shuang'er?"

Song Shuang ignored him and said to Pengpeng, "What are you waiting for? Let's go."

Pengpeng fumbled with her seatbelt, started the car, and headed south. Her driving skills were limited, and the Mini Cooper moved slowly in the sea of cars, often being overtaken, squeezed, and cut off, moving as slowly as a turtle.

A minor traffic accident occurred ahead, causing a traffic jam. The Mini Cooper was stuck in the flow of cars. Liu Haneast couldn't take it anymore and got out of the car. Song Shuang was alarmed, "Where are you going?"

Liu Haneast walked around to the driver's side and opened the door, "I'll drive."

Pengpeng hurriedly got out and sat in the passenger seat. Liu Haneast got in, fastened his seatbelt, and as the cars moved forward, he turned the steering wheel to the left, blocking a car trying to cut in, and drove over the double yellow line. The road ahead was clear, and Liu Haneast accelerated, the Mini Cooper darting forward. Pengpeng was thrown back by the inertia, and Song Shuang fell onto the seat.

"You're breaking the law!" Pengpeng shouted.

Liu Haneast's face was stern as he turned the steering wheel to the right, returning to the main road. He weaved through the traffic, driving the Mini Cooper like a nimble rat, darting through the gaps. Song Shuang and Pengpeng were tossed around like a small boat in a stormy sea.

"You... slow down," Song Shuang shouted.

"If I slow down, the car will be gone," Liu Haneast's face was pale. His previous car, a Volkswagen Santana, had been turned into scrap at the scrap yard.

On a stretch of open road, Liu Haneast floored the gas, and the two girls felt the powerful acceleration again. This time, they didn't dare speak.

Pengpeng glanced at Liu Haneast. A man was particularly handsome when he was focused on something, and a man who could drive a lady's car like an F1 car was even more handsome.

Song Shuang's mood was complex. She deeply regretted playing a trick on Liu Haneast. A tricycle was a small matter for the rich, but for Liu Haneast, it might be his entire livelihood.

They arrived at the scrap yard, and the car was stopped at the gate. Inside, there were many cars parked, and a stage had been set up with a banner reading, "On-site Destruction of Unlicensed Tricycles."

"Move along, no private vehicles allowed," the guard at the gate said.

Liu Haneast revved the engine but didn't speak. He knew the girls would have a plan.

Pengpeng said, "Let us in, we have important business!"

The guard was impatient, "A meeting is in progress. No entry."

Pengpeng was desperate, "I need to get in. Open the gate!"

The guard demanded, "Show me your driver's license and registration!"

Pengpeng shouted, "My father is Zhu Huabiao! Let me in!"

The guard was taken aback. Zhu Huabiao was the head of the provincial traffic police. Was this girl the chief's daughter?

Before he could react, Liu Haneast had already gotten out of the car and walked towards the gate. Song Shuang and Pengpeng quickly followed. The guard didn't stop them; his orders were just to prevent private vehicles from entering, not people.

Liu Haneast walked quickly, and the two girls stumbled behind him. The meeting was in progress, and the mayor, Jin Mudust, was speaking over the loudspeakers, "Destroying unlicensed vehicles is a strong measure to address the city's traffic congestion... Now, I declare the destruction to begin!"

At the mayor's command, several excavators started moving, using their large buckets to crush the unlicensed tricycles into scrap metal. The audience on the stage applauded, and journalists took photos and filmed the scene.

Liu Haneast stopped and slowly crouched down. He recognized his tricycle among the destroyed vehicles. It was repeatedly crushed, the metal body twisted, the tires deformed, and parts scattered. The tricycle was completely destroyed.

Liu Haneast sniffed. He was very sad, but he had arrived too late. Even if he had arrived on time, he couldn't have taken the tricycle back in public.

Song Shuang and Pengpeng stood far away, not daring to approach. They both felt Liu Haneast's sorrow and were deeply remorseful. The prank had gone too far, and they didn't know how to make it right.

Liu Haneast didn't cry. He was just very upset. He stood up and walked away. Song Shuang approached and said, "I'm sorry, I'll compensate you."

Liu Haneast's face was expressionless, and he continued walking past her.

"I said I'm sorry!" Song Shuang shouted.

"Where are you going? There's no bus here!" Pengpeng also shouted.

Liu Haneast didn't look back and walked away. Watching his lonely figure disappear in the distance, Song Shuang started to cry.

"Shuangshuang, don't cry. We can buy him a new and better one," Pengpeng said, shaking Song Shuang's arm.

Song Shuang wiped the tears from her face. What was wrong with her lately? She wasn't usually a crybaby, but she had cried a lot recently. At first, it was for Coco's disappearance, and later, it was all for this hateful Liu Haneast.

The on-site destruction ceremony ended, and the officials began to leave. The mayor's Audi left first, followed by the chief's car. The police-marked Audi A6 stopped in front of the two girls, and the rear window lowered to reveal a stern face.

"Pengpeng, what are you doing here?"

"Dad, I came to see the commotion."

"Ridiculous. What's there to see? Oh, Song Shuang is here too. Look at her, she must be here to observe social life. Not like you, always playing. By the way, how did you get here? I'll give you a ride."

"We have a car, Dad. Just drop us off at the gate," Pengpeng said, embarrassed by her father's obvious flattery.

The two girls got in the car and drove to the gate. The Mini Cooper had been moved aside by the police, who were preparing to scold them. But when they saw the girls get out of the chief's car and say goodbye sweetly, the police pretended not to see them and moved aside.

Song Shuang and Pengpeng got back into the Mini Cooper and sped away, but Liu Haneast had vanished, and they couldn't find him.

At that moment, Liu Haneast was sitting on a short-distance bus to the city, thinking about how to ask Brother Wang for help.

...

In Memphis, Tennessee, USA, in a beautiful residence with green grass and blue water, Shufan was drawing with a pencil under a sun umbrella. Xia Qingshi walked over and said, "Xiaofan, what are you drawing? Show Dad."

Shufan handed over a stack of papers, and Xia Qingshi slowly flipped through them, moved by what he saw.

The first drawing showed a girl being kidnapped on a road by a thug in a police uniform, his face twisted and scarred, and a black SUV that looked menacing.

The second drawing showed a dark suburban road at night, with the girl crawling out of the trunk of a damaged car. A tall man was stopping a construction truck, his face drawn with strong, righteous lines.

The third drawing showed the two standing between tall buildings, looking up at a rainbow with a group of construction workers.

The fourth drawing showed the man protecting the girl in a slum courtyard, holding a gun in one hand and firing. Behind him was a middle-aged police officer who had been shot in the abdomen, and in front were a group of thugs with various weapons, their faces drawn with evil and sinister expressions. Shufan's pencil drawings were heavily influenced by Japanese manga, using many lines to emphasize the man's strength and righteousness, while the thugs were depicted as despicable and dark.

"Is this Liu Haneast?" Xia Qingshi asked his daughter.

"Um," Shufan nodded.

Xia Qingshi squatted down, "Xiaofan, I swear, I will never let you be threatened again."

Shufan said, "I want to go back."

Xia Qingshi said, "We can't return until we find out who's behind this. I'll have Aunt An take care of Liu Haneast."

...