Chapter 50: My Family

Yang Jianwen puffed on his dry tobacco pipe, his heart full of anxiety as he pondered what to do about his younger son. Suddenly, he heard his elder son’s voice calling out, filling him with delight. He looked up to see Yang Dong hurrying toward him.

“Son!” Yang Jianwen felt as if a ray of light had pierced the gloom in his heart.

He stood up hurriedly, grabbed Yang Dong’s hand, and asked anxiously, “Son, what are we going to do about your brother?”

He was just a farmer, never having attended much school since childhood—there simply hadn’t been the conditions for it. But he understood plenty of the important principles of life. He knew that his younger son, Yang Nan, was caught up in something strange and sinister.

He’d already gone to the town police station to report the incident, but the officers there told him it was difficult to handle. Those idle troublemakers could be anywhere, and bringing them in would be nearly impossible.

In short, they meant to say: it’s out of their hands.

He argued angrily with the police, but they lost patience and simply told him to go home and wait for news.

Their attitude was so harsh that Yang Jianwen felt utterly hopeless.

Though he wasn’t surprised by how grassroots officers behaved, having it happen to his own family chilled his heart.

“Don’t worry, Dad. I came home precisely because of my brother’s situation.”

Yang Dong patted his father’s slightly stooped back, trying to soothe him.

“First, tell me about my brother—how is Nan? Has he woken up?”

Yang Dong asked about his younger brother’s condition as he led Yang Jianwen toward the clinic. Yu Baijiang and Song Yue followed behind.

“Ah, your brother’s awake, but he hasn’t spoken a word. No matter what we ask, he won’t answer. You know your brother’s temperament—he’s always been quiet. I’m worried he’ll brood over it and something worse will happen,” Yang Jianwen said, his face full of worry as he mentioned Yang Nan.

Yang Dong glanced at his father’s hair, noticing it was already streaked with gray. Though Yang Jianwen was only forty-five, the sun and wind had aged him, his face always turned toward the earth. He looked easily over fifty.

“Dong, thank goodness you’re back. What are we going to do about your brother?” his mother, Du Yuxiang, called out from the bench outside the ward, rising immediately when she saw her son and husband enter. Her eyes were red with worry.

She was also a farmer, aged forty-eight—three years older than Yang Jianwen—and looked even more worn out. Her face was lined, exhaustion etched deep.

“Mom, don’t worry. Let me go in and see my brother,” Yang Dong comforted her before pushing open the ward door.

It wasn’t a private or high-end hospital room—not like the ones he’d stayed in the city. Three patients shared the space, with their family members crowding in, totaling seven or eight people. The room was noisy, some people smoking without concern.

Yang Dong frowned. How could anyone recover properly in such conditions?

He said nothing, but walked to the bed nearest the window.

His brother Yang Nan lay there, his leg in a plaster cast, bound up tightly.

He stared at the ceiling, silent.

“Nan!” Yang Dong called out, his brother’s expression briefly flickered with life. Yang Nan turned his neck to see Yang Dong, his dry throat croaking, “Brother, you’re back.”

“Do you know the thugs who beat you?”

Yang Dong was eight years older than Yang Nan. The eldest brother was like a father—ever since childhood, Yang Nan had looked up to him with respect.

Sometimes his words were more effective than their parents’.

“I know one of them. He dropped out of our high school. He’s always loafing around, hanging out with those other guys, mixing with the wrong crowd. His name is Pan Dalong.”

“Pan Dalong? Got it. Don’t worry, just focus on recovering. Leave the rest to me.”

“I’ll make sure they pay the price and face the full force of the law.”

Yang Dong patted Yang Nan’s shoulder, reassuring him, then turned and left.

Between brothers, some things didn’t need to be said.

Yang Nan watched his brother leave, a sense of relief coming over his face.

He’d been silent because he knew this was a complicated matter. Those thugs had connections in town. Relying on their parents to stand up for him was impossible.

So he’d waited for his elder brother to return.

Now, with Yang Dong’s words, his heart felt settled.

After leaving the ward, Yang Dong turned to his father, “Dad, did you report it to the police?”

“I did, but it’s useless. The police said in these cases, you can only count yourself unlucky—they can’t do a thing,” Yang Jianwen sighed, frustration written all over his face.

“Dong, you know how things are in our town. It’s a mess,” Du Yuxiang added with a bitter smile. In these situations, you could only resign yourself to fate.

Yang Dong’s face darkened. “It’s exactly because Xia Shui Town is so chaotic that Nan ended up like this.”

“The police are seriously negligent—never handling anything. Always trying to downplay trouble, sweep things under the rug.”

“Even when it’s a murder case, they just report it to the county and call it done!”

He was genuinely furious.

Not to mention the enemy had targeted his brother to get at him—he was already enraged.

But the attitude of the police station left him unable to calm down.

“Brother Yang, don’t be angry. Leave this matter to us,” Yu Baijiang and Song Yue stepped forward into the corridor.

Yu Baijiang signaled to Yang Dong, his expression grave.

He wasn’t the least bit surprised by the way local officers handled things. Those thugs likely had connections with the police themselves.

Anyone who could run wild in town—who didn’t have some sort of background?

Over the years, Kaiyang County’s public security had been decent, which was why the economy was so strong.

But among the towns under Kaiyang County’s jurisdiction, Xia Shui Town had the worst public order.

The police station chief had been replaced three or four times, but the chaos persisted.

As vice-captain of the county’s criminal investigation team, Yu Baijiang knew this all too well.

It was precisely because he understood the situation that he signaled to Yang Dong—they would handle it.

Yang Dong looked at Yu Baijiang and Song Yue, a hint of apology on his face. “I’m really causing you trouble.”

“Dong, who are these police officers?” Yang Jianwen asked in surprise, noticing their uniforms.

Yu Baijiang’s shoulder insignia bore one stripe and three stars.

Song Yue’s insignia bore one stripe and two stars.

Though a farmer, Yang Jianwen was familiar enough with these ranks.

He knew Yu Baijiang was a senior superintendent, and Song Yue was a deputy superintendent.

But the police chief at Xia Shui Town’s station was only a deputy superintendent…

“Dad, these are my friends from the county public security bureau.”

“Nan’s situation, we’ll need their help.”

Yang Dong explained to his father.

Learning they were his son’s friends, Yang Jianwen beamed with joy.

He immediately pulled out a box of Changbai Mountain cigarettes from his pocket—he’d bought it earlier for the police at the station, only to have them refuse it as too cheap.

He wiped his hands and offered the cigarettes to Yu Baijiang and Song Yue.

“Officers, have a smoke!”

“Uncle, we don’t smoke—please, don’t trouble yourself,” Yu Baijiang and Song Yue quickly declined.

“Well… Have you eaten yet? Let’s go to the best restaurant in town!” Yang Jianwen, seeing they didn’t smoke, immediately thought of treating them to a meal.

His son’s friends had to be looked after, hosted well—otherwise, who would help them?

In that moment, both Yang Dong and Yang Jianwen shared the same thought.

“Comrade Yang Dong, let’s discuss things outside,” Yu Baijiang, overwhelmed by Yang Dong’s father’s enthusiasm, could only smile wryly at Yang Dong.

“Dad, Mom, take good care of Nan. Leave the rest to us,” Yang Dong said to his parents, then led Yu Baijiang and Song Yue outside.

Lu Yike remained in the car, not coming out.

Though she’d been sent by higher-ups to supervise Yang Dong, she knew how to keep her distance.

At this moment, Yang Dong needed to focus on his brother’s situation.

The last thing she wanted was to create trouble for him.

As for the possibility of Yang Dong leaking information? She trusted he wouldn’t.

And even if he did, where could it possibly leak to?

The two officials in charge of the Tenth Special Task Force, Yin Tiejun and Gu Santong, had already been detained by the city disciplinary committee.

There was no risk of leaks.

As for the other cases handled by the various task forces, even Lu Yike herself didn’t know the specifics—Yang Dong certainly wouldn’t either.

Everyone worked independently, without access to each other’s cases.

Yang Dong got into the passenger seat.

“How’s your brother?” Lu Yike asked with concern.

“He’s stable emotionally. He’ll be fine,” Yang Dong replied with a smile.

Then he said, “Yike, let’s go to the police station!”

“Alright.”