Li Zhen had imagined several times the scene of reunion with his brother from a distant mountain.

For example, the two of them are standing on an empty street, with the bloody remnant sun and the battlefield filled with gunpowder smoke in the background. Then they strode closer, slapped each other on the back, and excitedly said that the brothers didn't expect to meet again.

Or one day he was in a hurry to the battlefield in a military vehicle on the street, and Qi Yuanshan stood silently in the crowd on the side of the road, nodded to him expressionlessly, and then said softly Brother, you must come back.

But in any case, he didn't expect it to be the current situation-

He sat on a chair beside the hospital bed and peeled apples unskillfully, while Qi Yuanshan stared at the ceiling, and the room was silent.

The apple was finally peeled, but it also shrunk a lot. He took the apple between his two fingers and sent it to Qi Yuanshan, and said with a smile: "Eat an apple?" Good for the body. ”

Qi Yuanshan squinted at him, and said in a sullen voice: "Don't eat!" ”

Li Zhen looked at his neck brace: "If you really don't want to eat, you will turn your head over." ”

Qi Yuanshan glared: "Can you turn your neck when it's broken?" Besides, girls only peel apples. ”

Li Zhen smiled apologetically: "I know that you have suffered on my behalf and fought for me." ”

Qi Yuanshan snorted: "I just see that they are not happy, I am willing to fight." ”

Li Zhen sighed, put the apple on the bedside table, and said sincerely: "When we first met, you bought me a box of lunches, and then took me to your aunt's shop to work, so that I had a place to live." Now I'm hospitalized for something I've caused - the grace of a drop of water should be reciprocated. I really don't know how to repay you. But some time ago, I really couldn't get out. I asked my comrades to come and see you, but you were no longer there by that time. ”

Qi Yuanshan was silent for a while, and took a few breaths: "Okay, you have to repay me for killing Yu Yongqiang." Let's settle the bill. ”

Li Zhen said in a deep voice: "This, I will definitely do it, don't worry." ”

As soon as he said this, Qi Yuanshan looked at him a few more times, coughed a few times sullenly, and his tone relaxed: "You really became an officer?" ”

"Hmm. Lieutenant. Li Zhen nodded.

"How did you become an officer? It really doesn't matter what you have at home? Didn't you tell me you were from the south country? ”

Li Zhen smiled bitterly: "This ...... Didn't I tell you before? Something happened to me at the time, so it's hard to say. But ......"

"Come on. If it's hard to say, don't say it. Qi Yuanshan interrupted him in a rough voice. Anyway, my aunt said you were from the secret army. I guess you didn't lie to me once or twice. ”

Li Zhen had to smile bitterly again, speechless. The lovely, simple friend had apparently forgiven himself now, but for a while he could not be as innocent as he had been. But at least he had begun to think about himself as he had done before, not wanting to embarrass himself, and no longer asking questions.

The two men sat in silence for a moment. Qi Yuanshan asked again: "You really don't recognize the relatives of some big people?" ”

Li Zhen straightened his waist. Raise a hand: "I swear to God about this." ”

So Qi Yuanshan also sighed: "Then forget it." My aunt told me everything. The three little rabbits had someone at home and sealed the store. Anyway, you're getting mixed up, so don't get involved in it. Wait until I'm ready...... I'm going to educate those three little bunnies myself......"

Qi Yuanshan was no longer angry. Li Zhen also breathed a sigh of relief. He stood up, gently put his hand on Qi Yuanshan's chest, and looked into his eyes: "Yuanshan, you listen to me." You can recuperate here, and you don't have to worry about anything else. Speaking of fighting, now I'm better than you. I promised you that there would be a result, and that guarantee is still valid. ”

Qi Yuanshan was stunned. He could see how sincere his friend's eyes were—those words that were never meant to comfort him. But he still shook his head: "Don't talk nonsense with me, I haven't been a soldier, but I know a little bit, if you dare to fight outside, you won't be locked up when you go back." It's not too late for a gentleman to take revenge for ten years, you know? I'm not bad these days! ”

At this time, Aunt Liu came back with the lunch she had given to Qi Yuanshan. Seeing his excited appearance, he hurriedly shouted: "What are you doing in Yuanshan, you give me a stop!" ”

Qi Yuanshan raised an arm and pointed at Li Zhen: "Auntie, he said he was going to ...... Yu Yongqiang"

"I'm not that stupid." Li Zhen smiled, straightened up again, looked at Aunt Liu, and then at Qi Yuanshan, "Just one word, do you believe me?" ”

Qi Yuanshan's mouth moved. I really want to say that I don't believe you, of course you deceived me! But seeing Li Zhen's unusually solemn expression, he had to mumble in a low voice: "Anyway, don't make trouble because of this." ”

"Then you can recuperate here in peace." Li Zhen smiled and nodded at Aunt Liu again, "Auntie, I'm leaving." You're here with him. If someone comes to harass you – you have my number, you call me. ”

Aunt Liu looked at him worriedly: "You...... Alas, Yuanshan is right, don't get into trouble because of this, let's just want to open the store again now. ”

"Don't worry." Li Zhen glanced at his friend and strode out of the ward.

The air in the hallway was a little cold, but it also made him more awake. He smiled coldly and muttered to himself.

"Trouble? I'm just afraid that things won't be big enough. ”

Forty minutes later, he was back on Peach Creek Road.

It's already noon. In the morning, I ate a drawer of xiaolongbao, and now my stomach is empty. So he went to a fast-food restaurant and sat down and ordered a lion's head meal. He had planned to fill his stomach well, but as soon as the meal was served, he frowned. Are you kidding...... A bowl full of rice was topped with a layer of broth, on which were piled with three boiled cabbage leaves, and half a meatball.

He picked up his chopsticks and poked the meatballs. It's hard as if it's made of rubber.

But he still picked it up, put it to his mouth, took a bite, and looked out the window.

Across the street, opposite is the Taoxi Road Police Station. The sign of the black on a white background hung on the vermilion doorpost, and three police cars were parked in the courtyard. It was time to leave work at noon, and he saw several policemen walking towards the store - looking at their armbands, they seemed to be assistant policemen.

These are the people who are waiting.

The assistant police officers were obviously old customers, and they entered the store to greet each other for a while, and then sat down by the window - next to Li Zhen. He had chosen this table because he had guessed that those people might sit in a place with a wider view because of their professional habits, and now he seems to have guessed correctly.

They chatted while waiting for the meal, and the topic they talked about was also something that Li Zhen had thought of before—complaining that they were not treated poorly by government employees, and that they could only come to this kind of restaurant to eat at noon.

Li Zhen looked at the remaining half of the balls in his bowl and felt that what they said was also the truth - this thing was obviously made of ham mixed with starch, and it cost him two yuan.

After slowly eating all the contents of his bowl, he drank up the small bowl of seaweed egg drop soup that came with him. Then he said to an assistant policeman who was sitting next to him and a meter away: "Inquire about something, was someone beaten here some time ago?" ”

The man was chatting with his colleague when he heard him speak and was stunned for a while, and then turned his head: "You ask me?" ”

Not only him, but also the five people at the same table were silent and looked at Li Zhen together.

Li Zhen smiled kindly: "Yes." I've heard about it, but I haven't seen any news reports. ”

Several assistant police officers glanced at each other. Then the face of the person who spoke to him sank: "What are you asking about this?" It's all gone. ”

Another grade was a little older and looked up at him: "You're a newspaper reporter?" ”

Li Zhen smiled and shook his head: "No." Just ask. ”

"Then there's nothing to ask about that." The man from before frowned and looked him up and down, and said, "If you are really a reporter, ask your leaders first, and then you will know whether you should ask this matter or not." ”

"So the TV and newspapers didn't report it because someone had said hello in advance?" Li Zhen nodded, "Then I really didn't guess wrong." ”

The man next to him wanted to stand up, but the older one held him down, and then looked at Li Zhen: "Young man, don't ask if it has nothing to do with you, let's go." ”

"Hmm, okay." Li Zhen nodded in agreement, then stood up and really left.

He was as good as a stream, and the others were stunned for a while. Then I saw him through the window walking all the way to the side of the road and crossing the street again...... I went to the gate of the police station.

The six assistant police officers glanced at each other, stood up in unison, and chased after the half-eaten meal.

Li Zhen walked unhurriedly, so he had just walked into the gate of the police station when the six people caught up with him. Hearing footsteps behind him, he stopped, turned his head, and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?" ”

The man who was questioned by him before looked scared: "What are you coming in?" ”

Li Zhen opened his mouth in surprise: "Isn't this the Taoxi Road Police Station?" Am I not allowed to enter as a citizen of the Empire? ”

"Of course you can get in. But I see you like a troublemaker. The other party snorted, "I advise you not to do this, don't walk around without eating." ”

Li Zhen sneered and looked at his armband: "Auxiliary police...... Temp workers are amazing, aren't they? Can casual workers be a threat? I complain to you in the same way. ”

"You pay attention to the words. What is a temporary worker? We are government employees. Wearing this dress represents the Imperial Government - I ask you again, what exactly do you do? The man stepped forward, but wisely did not make physical contact with Li Zhen on the side of the street.

Li Zhen looked at him, then at the other five people, and sighed: "You chased after you after only half of the meal, you are really dedicated." But you can't control this matter - I am Zhang Cui'e's agent, and I will follow up on the case of her family being beaten. Since you say that you can represent the Imperial Government, you should also know what it means to obstruct justice. So I suggest you get out of the way right away. (To be continued.) )