Chapter 5

Xiaofan left without saying goodbye. This girl, who couldn't speak, was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside, with a distinct personality.

Liu Handong immediately went downstairs. When he hurriedly reached the third floor, Xiaoli happened to come out of the room, her face full of surprise, "Brother Dong, you're here." Liu Handong nodded and went straight down the stairs. Xiaoli leaned on the balcony and shouted, "Brother Dong, where are you going?" Her shout startled Zhu Xiaoqiang, who was tidying up the network cables and router downstairs. He lifted his head and adjusted his highly myopic glasses, which had slipped down his nose, and saw Liu Handong rushing out like the wind.

Liu Handong, bare-chested, came to the street, where people were bustling about. There was no sign of Xiaofan.

He slapped himself, thinking that Xiaofan, a penniless and weak girl, was facing a brutal and cunning kidnapper. The city was probably searching for her, and now he had sent her out. Did he even deserve to be called a man?

In the time it took to smoke a cigarette, she couldn't have gone far. Liu Handong chased north, as this direction led into the city. After running 500 meters, he still couldn't find Xiaofan. Perhaps he had chosen the wrong direction. The streets of Tiesha were interconnected, and Xiaofan, unfamiliar with the terrain, could have gone in any direction. Liu Handong changed his direction and continued searching, but after a long loop, he still found nothing. Frustrated and self-blaming, he slowly walked back to the rental house.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Xiaofan and a group of women washing clothes by the sink. Although she couldn't speak, she communicated smoothly with others through gestures.

Liu Handong felt relieved but also a bit angry. The little girl hadn't left without saying goodbye; she had integrated with the crowd and was washing clothes. He had run around for nothing.

Xiaofan had changed all her clothes and shoes. She was now wearing a set of artificial cotton pajamas with prints of Big Gray Wolf and Happy Sheep, and a pair of crystal slippers. Her original T-shirt and jeans were hanging on the clothesline. She saw Liu Handong and, like showing off, lifted the plastic basin with the clothes she was washing, which included Liu Handong's shirt.

"Her big brother, take off your pants and let me wash them. You don't even have a change of clothes, it's really a pity," one of the women said.

Liu Handong's face turned red, and he said thanks but declined.

The woman went back into her room, took out two pairs of beach shorts and tank tops, and threw them over, saying, "Take them first, and pay me when you have money."

This woman sold clothes on the street. Although these clothes were knock-offs, the quality was still decent. Liu Handong thanked her, took the clothes upstairs, and changed. His original jeans were covered in dust, dirt, and oil, hard as iron. After taking them off, Xiaofan tried to wash them but couldn't scrub them. The same woman who had given her the clothes took them and put them in her basin, saying, "Girl, your brother is really messy. This pair of pants hasn't been washed in years."

Under the sunshade, the landlord turned her head and shouted, "Save water."

Everyone laughed and continued washing clothes.

Liu Handong scratched his head, feeling there was nothing to do. Suddenly, he remembered his phone hadn't been turned on. He went upstairs to ask Zhu Xiaoqiang, "Do you have a universal charger?"

Zhu Xiaoqiang said he did, and Liu Handong went upstairs to take his Nokia 1110, removed the battery, and charged it. Zhu Xiaoqiang couldn't help but sneer, "What era is it to still use the 1110? You should get a 5230; it's cheap and practical, with a high cost-performance ratio." He then showed off his 5230.

Liu Handong said, "Oh, the 5230, isn't that the 'loser's special phone'?"

Zhu Xiaoqiang laughed, "The 'loser's special phone,' so what? I'm a loser, and I speak for myself..."

Suddenly, the QQ icon on the right side of the Shenzhou laptop on the table started flashing. Zhu Xiaoqiang became excited, rushed over, and opened it, only to be greatly disappointed. The message box read, "I'm taking a shower. If you have anything, please leave a message."

Zhu Xiaoqiang felt a sense of loss and typed, "You've had a cold recently. Drink more hot water, go to bed early, and don't stay up late."

The reply was the same automatic message.

Liu Handong said, "Xiaoqiang, can I borrow your computer to look up some information?"

Zhu Xiaoqiang quickly closed the message box and said, "Sure, what do you want to look up? I can help you." He then opened the Baidu search bar.

Liu Handong sat at the computer, first searching for a technical forum, browsing it, and downloading a few software programs. Zhu Xiaoqiang wanted to protest but held back, thinking he could delete them later.

Then Liu Handong accessed the local traffic management website. His eyes fixed on the screen, his hands typed rapidly, and the webpage entered a strange interface with a stream of characters rolling by. Zhu Xiaoqiang was stunned, "You, you, you're a hacker."

"I majored in computer science in college," Liu Handong said.

"Which university?" Zhu Xiaoqiang was very interested because he was also a college graduate from the nearby Jinqiang City Transportation Vocational and Technical College.

"Jiang University," Liu Handong said, his hands still typing. He accessed the traffic management system database through the Jin Dun Technology Consulting Company, which was responsible for maintaining the traffic network, and searched for the registration information of the Highlander.

Zhu Xiaoqiang felt a bit disappointed. Jiang University was a prestigious university, listed among the 211 and 985 projects, far superior to the high school diploma and vocational college he had attended.

"Why are you living here?" Zhu Xiaoqiang was puzzled. Graduates from Jiang University were highly sought after by various organizations. How could he end up living in a rental house on Tiesha Street?

"I didn't graduate. I joined the army in the second semester of my first year," Liu Handong answered briefly. He had already found the information he was looking for. The Highlander was registered to Shifeng Group, a large enterprise involved in real estate development, catering and entertainment, and property management, with a significant presence in the real estate market of Jinqiang City and the entire Jiangdong Province.

He then searched for the expansion project on Wenquan Road. The construction company responsible was a subsidiary of Shifeng Group. This matched up. The two severely injured and unconscious robbers were definitely rescued by Shifeng Group. The injured person with a rebar through his head was likely taken to the nearest hospital for treatment, providing a clue.

The truth was becoming clear. Gu Changjun, the security department head of Shifeng Group, was familiar with the police due to his job. He might have carried out this kidnapping, possibly with others involved, and perhaps not just for ransom. However, these were not things Liu Handong needed to investigate further, and he lacked the capability. That was the police's job.

The most important thing now was to notify Xiaofan's family. Liu Handong shouted to the courtyard, "Xiaofan, come over."

Xiaofan, who was helping others wash clothes, walked over. Liu Handong first asked if she knew Shifeng Group. Xiaofan shook her head, confused. Liu Handong then let her sit at the computer and said, "Write a letter to your father; he will see it."

Xiaofan thought for a moment, bit her lip, and sat at the computer, opening her GMAIL account to write the letter.

Liu Handong and Zhu Xiaoqiang started chatting, "Brother, what do you do?"

"I just graduated and haven't found a job yet," Zhu Xiaoqiang said.

"What did you major in?"

"International Trade."

"Sounds impressive." Liu Handong glanced at Xiaofan, who was typing on the keyboard, producing English text.

"Just messing around. I graduated from a lousy vocational college and can't find a job. What about you, Brother Dong?" Zhu Xiaoqiang asked.

"I don't have a job," Liu Handong said, thinking he had no money and no dinner, and said, "Xiaoqiang, can you lend me some money? I'll pay you back later."

Zhu Xiaoqiang looked hesitant. He was a poor student, and his family wasn't well-off. He only had 500 yuan, which he needed for something important. However, he didn't want to refuse. Liu Handong, noticing his expression, didn't insist.

"Never mind, I'll go out and see if I can find some work. Xiaofan, stay here and don't run around," Liu Handong said, wearing a tank top and leaving the house. He wandered around Tiesha Street, looking for odd jobs to earn some money for food.

There were many job opportunities, such as truck driver and skilled worker positions, but none paid immediately. After a few hours, Liu Handong returned, disappointed.

Zhu Xiaoqiang was playing DOTA on the computer, fully engrossed. Xiaofan wasn't there. Liu Handong went to the rooftop, but no one was there. He returned to the second floor and asked Zhu Xiaoqiang, who said she had gone out with the neighbor, Aunt Zhang.

Aunt Zhang was the kind-hearted woman who had lent the clothes. Her stall was on Tiesha Street. When Liu Handong went there, they had already closed. Xiaofan was pushing the cart and chatting with Aunt Zhang, showing him a 50-yuan note.

Aunt Zhang laughed, "Don't look at your sister; she can't speak, but standing there, my business boomed. She made over 500 yuan in the afternoon, more than a week's worth of sales. This is her wage. You, as her brother, shouldn't take it to smoke or drink. Don't be like my husband, who just drinks and gambles all day."

Liu Handong scratched his head, thinking, "What's this got to do with me? I'm an innocent victim."

Xiaofan smiled brightly, her eyes squinting, revealing a row of white, neat teeth.

It was already evening. Aunt Zhang and her family lived on the second floor. Her child was in elementary school, and she had to run her business, cook, wash clothes, and pick up her child from school, leaving her no time.

The rental house didn't have a gas pipeline, so they used an electric stove. Xiaofan pointed to the cutting board, knife, and wok, indicating she could help cook. Aunt Zhang was delighted and showed her where the oil, salt, and other condiments were, then hurried off to pick up her child.

Xiaofan was a skilled cook, quick and efficient. Her knife skills showed she had practice, and she was proficient in frying, stir-frying, and cooking. She cooked the vegetables to a bright green and fragrant, the meat tender and delicious, and made a bowl of cucumber salad with garlic and sesame oil. By the time Aunt Zhang returned, the table was set with a full meal.

Aunt Zhang praised the food, and her son, after putting down his schoolbag, ran to the table and started eating, saying, "Mom, the food you made today is really good."

"It was your sister Xiaofan who made it," Aunt Zhang said happily.

Xiaofan took off her apron, pointed upstairs, and indicated she wanted to leave. Aunt Zhang pulled her to the table and said, "Eat together." She then shouted upstairs, "Dong, come down and eat."

Liu Handong was on the rooftop, calling his mother. After charging his phone, he received a message from his stepfather's phone, asking him to call home.

Liu Handong's hometown was in Jiangbei City. His biological father died in the front lines in Yunnan in the 1980s. When he was young, his mother took him to the Malipo Martyrs' Cemetery every year to pay respects. Later, his mother remarried a retired soldier, whom Liu Handong disliked and barely spoke to.

His mother said on the phone, "Someone called looking for you. What trouble have you gotten into, son?"

Liu Handong's heart tightened, knowing the police had traced him through his ID number, and this phone number might be monitored. He quickly said, "I'm fine, Mom, don't worry about me. I'll hang up now."

After hanging up, he removed the battery and SIM card, feeling relieved. He then heard someone calling him from below. He went down and saw the table set with bowls and chopsticks. Aunt Zhang smiled and said, "All the food is made by your sister. There's a bit more rice today, so eat more, Dong. Do you want some beer? I'll buy it for you."

Liu Handong quickly said no, thanked Aunt Zhang, and started eating, glancing at Xiaofan. This girl didn't seem like a rich family's daughter but more like a born helper.

After dinner, Xiaofan took the initiative to wash the dishes. By then, Zhu Xiaoqiang had finished his instant noodles. The sun was setting, and the neon lights of the hair salons on Tiesha Street were lit up. The neon signs of the 10-yuan leisure salons and Wenzhou hair salons flickered in the night, and Tiesha Street entered its night mode.

How to sleep at night was a big problem.

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