Chapter 80

Before ten o'clock, the Lin family started eating dumplings. There wasn't much entertainment on New Year's Eve, and most people couldn't stay up until midnight.

After finishing the dumplings, Lin Qiangsheng ran out to set off firecrackers. This year, the area around the car factory was bustling with activity, and the sound of firecrackers was continuous, much livelier than in previous years.

After setting off the firecrackers, the New Year was almost over. Accompanied by the sounds outside, Lin Qiangsheng turned over on the kang bed and fell into a deep sleep.

He didn't know how long he had been sleeping.

Around midnight, there was a sudden commotion outside.

"Fire! Fire! Come out and help put it out!"

Lin Qiangsheng was startled awake by the noise. He quickly put on his clothes and shoes and ran out.

Lin Qiangsheng saw his father, who was also dressed in a hurry, and asked, "Is there a fire?"

His father put on his clothes, grabbed a bucket, and rushed out. His mother, also dressed in a hurry, shouted, "Be careful!"

Lin Qiangsheng put on his shoes and ran out as well, but Xu Hongmei couldn't hold him back.

When Lin Qiangsheng reached the courtyard, he saw that the shed at the entrance of the alley was on fire. The houses were built with high beams and tiles, so the flames couldn't reach them, but the shed was covered with oil felt and wood, and the flames were already spreading!

Lin Qiangsheng hurried to the entrance of the alley, where many people were already trying to put out the fire.

Lin Qiangsheng looked around and was shocked! Not only was the shed at the entrance of the alley on fire, but many other sheds in the neighborhood were also burning!

Lin Qiangsheng didn't have time to think. Seeing that his father, Lin Xiangrong, was splashing water on the shed without much effect, he shouted to the crowd, "Pull off the oil felt!"

Lin Qiangsheng rushed forward, grabbed the scorching oil felt with both hands, and pulled hard, tearing off a large piece. A big piece of burning oil felt was thrown far away.

Seeing Lin Qiangsheng's method work, the people fighting the fire shouted, "Pull it off! Pull off the oil felt!"

Some people, without hesitation, reached out to pull, but their hands were burned by the melted oil, and they cried out in pain.

Lin Qiangsheng quickly shouted, "Be careful! Don't burn your hands!"

He grabbed the burned person, pulled him back, and said, "Find some snow and rub it!"

"Okay, okay!" the person nodded and ran to a snow pile.

Everyone worked together to pull off the oil felt, and the fire in the shed became much easier to control.

Lin Xiang ran over crying and called out to Lin Qiangsheng, "Brother, our shop is on fire!"

"Ah?!" Lin Qiangsheng turned around and saw Lin Xiang with disheveled hair and a tear-streaked face, which frightened him.

Lin Qiangsheng quickly ran towards the street corner, shouting, "Pull off the oil felt! Pull off the oil felt!"

When he reached the street corner, he saw that his fabric shop and watch shop were already reduced to ruins, completely unrecognizable!

"This!" Lin Qiangsheng stared at his shop, at a loss.

The two landlords who rented him the houses walked over to Lin Qiangsheng. One of them, surnamed Luo, said with a bitter face, "Qiangsheng, the fire started from inside the house. It was arson, and there was a smell of gasoline. Can you smell it?"

The other landlord, surnamed Zhang, slapped his thigh and shouted, "During the New Year, you say! A fire almost burned down our houses! Who could be so wicked!"

Lin Qiangsheng looked bitter and said, "Uncle Luo, Uncle Zhang!" He opened his mouth but finally said helplessly, "I'm sorry to you both!"

Luo, who was also a worker at the factory, shook his head, sighed, and looked at his house, which was now in ruins.

Zhang said to Lin Qiangsheng, "Fortunately, no one was burned! The Lao Luo family was nearby, and they escaped by climbing over the wall when their house was set on fire with gasoline! Qiangsheng, did you offend someone?"

Lin Qiangsheng nodded helplessly, looking at the charred remains of his shop, and bitterly pursed his dry lips.

Lin Xiang ran over, out of breath, and cried, "Qiangsheng, the big poster also burned! What a pity!"

The shop didn't keep goods overnight, and Lin Qiangsheng had only left the large advertisement poster inside. This fire had probably turned it to ashes!

Lin Qiangsheng nodded, paused, and said, "Fortunately, I took some photos of it! At least we have something to remember it by."

Lin Xiang chuckled, wiped her tears, and said, "The shop is gone, and you still have the heart to joke!"

Lin Qiangsheng laughed and walked to a dark corner, looking around carefully.

Lin Xiang walked over and asked, "Brother, what are you looking for? What should we do about the shop?"

Lin Qiangsheng looked around and said, "The fire was set by someone. I think this person hasn't gone far. He will probably stay to see his work! The shop is gone, but we can talk about it in a few months."

Lin Xiang was surprised and looked around cautiously.

Lin Qiangsheng looked south towards the crossroads and suddenly saw a flash of light. He looked closely and picked up a brick from the ground.

"Sister, stay here. Don't come unless I call you! If you come, bring people!" Lin Qiangsheng said to Lin Xiang.

Lin Xiang said anxiously, "Where are you going? Don't go!"

Lin Qiangsheng broke free from his sister's hand and crouched down, running towards the source of the light.

After passing the crossroads, he got closer. Lin Qiangsheng saw that the light was from a bicycle handlebar. The metal handlebar reflected the light, catching his attention.

The bicycle was leaning against a big tree, hidden by it. Lin Qiangsheng walked over cautiously, saw no one under the tree, and looked up.

"Hey!" At that moment, a dark figure suddenly jumped down from the tree, making a muffled sound.

Lin Qiangsheng quickly jumped to the left. The dark figure held a club and swung it down, the wind from the club brushing past his scalp.

Lin Qiangsheng took a few steps back, and the dark figure swung the club again. Lin Qiangsheng grabbed the brick and threw it at the person.

"Thud!" The brick hit the dark figure's abdomen directly.

"Ouch!" The person in front of him cried out in pain and crumpled to the ground.

Lin Qiangsheng kicked the dark figure in the chest, "Puff," sending him sprawling.

Lin Qiangsheng grabbed the dark figure's ankle and pulled him towards the road, shouting, "Who are you? Why did you set fire to my shop?"

The dark figure panted heavily, gasping for breath, and said through gritted teeth, "Don't you recognize me?! I remember you! I'll never forget!"

Lin Qiangsheng carefully examined the person's face and finally recognized him, laughing bitterly, "It's you!"

This person was the young worker in his thirties whom Lin Qiangsheng had expelled from the factory!

"Li Jianchao? Is that you? I know you!" Lin Qiangsheng had inquired about his situation after expelling him from the factory.

Li Jianchao said resentfully, "You and your father expelled me from the factory. I have elderly parents and young children. How am I supposed to live now? Give me my job back!" As he spoke, he suddenly grabbed the club and swung it again.

Lin Qiangsheng dodged, and Li Jianchao swung the club twice, sitting up to fight Lin Qiangsheng to the death.

At this moment, Lin Xiang brought people over, and Gu Hongliang shouted, "Hey! Who set the fire?"

Lin Qiangsheng quickly turned around and called, "Gu Hongliang, it's me!" It was dark, and he didn't want to be mistaken.

Gu Hongliang, holding a brick, was about to throw it but stopped when he heard Lin Qiangsheng's voice. He ran over and looked closely, finally recognizing Lin Qiangsheng standing and a stranger sitting on the ground.

Gu Hongliang shouted, "Qiangsheng, it's so dark here! What are you doing? Why don't you turn on the light? I almost hit you!"

Lin Qiangsheng shouted, "Where the hell is there a light to turn on!"

The people who ran over laughed, and someone asked, "Who is this? Is this the one who set the fire?"

Lin Qiangsheng looked at Li Jianchao, who was sitting on the ground and looking at the crowd, and said, "It's him! Arrest him and take him to the police station."

Li Jianchao shouted, "Don't come near me!" He raised the club, threatening everyone.

Gu Hongliang laughed and suddenly raised the brick, throwing it at him, shouting, "Damn you! You dare to threaten me with a club!"

"Clang!" The brick hit Li Jianchao's face squarely, and everyone felt a twinge in their hearts.

Some people thought involuntarily, "Damn, that must hurt!"

Li Jianchao didn't even cry out. His face was covered in blood, and the club flew out of his hand.

The crowd rushed forward and dragged him to Lin Xiangrong.

Lin Xiangrong, hearing that the arsonist was caught, also rushed over and saw them.

Lin Qiangsheng whispered a few words to his father. Lin Xiangrong glared at his son, waved his hand, and said, "Still take him to the police station! I got you out last time, but I didn't expect to have to send you back in! Why do you make things so difficult?"

Li Jianchao glared at Lin Xiangrong and said fiercely, "I..."

"Thud!" Suddenly, a foot kicked Li Jianchao in the face, cutting off his words. Lin Qiangsheng retracted his foot and scolded, "Look at me properly! What kind of expression is that?!"

"Uh..." The crowd looked speechlessly at Lin Qiangsheng.

Lin Qiangsheng waved his hand and said, "Find a rope. Let's take him to the police station."

"Let's go! This guy definitely needs to suffer a bit!" Gu Hongliang shouted.

A group of people escorted the arsonist, some grabbing his hands, others his neck, and more people following behind, as if it were a festival again.