Animal Detective

The place they went to, Ah Chang Restaurant, was an open-air food stall.

The place was huge. The dining area was open on all four sides, like a pavilion, and there was a large courtyard outside filled with square tables.

Strings of colorful lights were strung overhead. It was packed with customers and bustling with life.

The food was all local specialty dishes.

Pan Wenhai kept urging the three of them to eat, saying they had come too early.

"If you'd come a month later, that's when the wild mushrooms hit the market in droves. The ones available now have just come out, so they aren't quite as plump and flavorful."

Pan Wenhai explained as he pushed a plate of spicy stir-fried mushrooms toward the three of them.

The taste was incredible, exquisitely savory.

As they were eating, a group of people suddenly emerged from the back of the courtyard.

At the same time, an upbeat song started playing.

The young people in the lead, dressed in ethnic costumes, formed lines and began to dance to the beat, swaying with every step.

Even Celestial Skill, who was lying by Shen Xin's feet, was captivated and turned its head to watch.

Ding Yuwei asked curiously, "Is this that 'Da Tiao' dance people talk about online?"

Wang Feng nodded and confirmed it was. He explained that it was a special event at Ah Chang's food stall, held every night.

He even asked Shen Xin if he wanted to join in and give it a try.

Diners from nearby tables were already getting up to join the dance.

Shen Xin glanced at Ding Yuwei, giving her an encouraging look.

Ding Yuwei didn't hesitate and stood up immediately.

It was like the old Bunny Hop dance, forming a long line with synchronized movements. It was all about the atmosphere.

Feeling the vibe, Shen Xin turned, picked up Celestial Skill, and started dancing while holding her.

She wasn't scared at all; her eyes were filled with excitement.

Everyone from their table joined in.

Ding Yuwei was right behind Shen Xin. Her body had warmed up from the dancing, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked radiant and captivating.

Jiang Wengang was behind her, followed by Pan Wenhai and Wang Feng.

Despite their age, the two of them were clearly experts at this, their movements perfectly rhythmic.

They were both beaming with joy.

For a brief moment, Shen Xin was struck by an inexplicable feeling.

'Perhaps for people like Pan Wenhai, being able to let ordinary folks enjoy this kind of carefree happiness is their greatest comfort.'

Unfortunately, the festive atmosphere was shattered.

From the back of the long line of dancers, the sound of a dispute arose.

Shen Xin turned to see people arguing.

Their tones were aggressive. Within a few sentences, they were already cursing each other's ancestors.

On one side was a man and a woman, probably a couple.

The woman was dressed like a punk girl, and the man looked about the same.

On the other side were three young men.

Apparently, one of the three men had groped the girl's butt while they were dancing behind her.

Her boyfriend was obviously not going to let that slide.

The kid probably wasn't even an adult, and men at that age are fearless. If his girlfriend got groped and he backed down, he'd lose face.

So, just as the restaurant staff went to mediate, the kid had already kicked the other guy.

The three men on the other side were just as thuggish.

The one who got kicked was in his twenties, wearing a black tank top with an earring in his left ear and a spiky brown faux hawk. He was clearly stunned for a moment after being kicked.

"Holy crap, you've got some balls, kid!"

His eyebrow twitched. He turned, grabbed a beer bottle from a nearby table, and charged forward.

Just as he was about to swing it, someone suddenly intervened.

"What do you think you're doing?"

It was Wang Feng.

But when the man in the tank top saw who it was, he flinched and bolted like a mouse seeing a cat.

Wang Feng himself was taken aback for a second.

However, the kid only ran a few steps before abruptly stopping.

He suddenly realized, 'I haven't done anything illegal. What am I running for?'

He shuffled back resentfully and said with a forced smile, "Captain Wang, what are you doing here?"

Wang Feng reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

The man ducked with an awkward expression and tried to explain, "Captain Wang, I haven't done anything wrong! It was just pure instinct. Your mighty presence scared me."

Wang Feng glanced at the other two and asked, "What's your name? You look a bit familiar."

The kid quickly replied, "Oh, Captain Wang, don't joke with me. Everyone knows you have a photographic memory and eyes like a hawk. But I really haven't done anything recently. If you don't believe me, you can take me in for a piss test."

Wang Feng kept smiling. "Liu Jia'ang, I'm finding that a little hard to believe."

Obviously, he had recognized the man from the very beginning.

Liu Jia'ang quickly raised his hand and swore, "Captain Wang, I swear to God, I absolutely haven't used recently. If I'm lying, may my whole family die."

Wang Feng obviously wasn't going to believe such bullshit so easily.

But just then, one of the three—a young man with medium-length hair who was skinny as a rake—suddenly turned and bolted toward the nearby dining area.

Shen Xin's group had been on guard and rushed out at the same time.

But the fastest to react was Pan Wenhai.

He shot forward in a single bound, vaulted over the railing, and in just two more steps, tackled the kid to the ground with a flying leap.

He locked the kid's arm behind his back, and a scream like a stuck pig immediately rang out.

Celestial Skill was also quick to react, rushing forward almost simultaneously and barking ferociously at the young man on the ground.

Shen Xin stopped in his tracks, inwardly surprised.

'He really is an old soldier. His combat skills are top-notch.'

Gasps of shock erupted from the surrounding crowd.

Terrified, Liu Jia'ang quickly said, "Captain Wang, I don't know this dumbass!"

Wang Feng snorted, tossed him to Jiang Wengang, and strode forward, pulling out a pair of handcuffs.

Here in Dian Nan, anti-drug officers especially almost always carried restraints and firearms.

Pan Wenhai hauled the man up and said, "He doesn't have the smell on him. He's probably a dealer."

Wang Feng nodded. He didn't recognize this person.

But the fact that he ran definitely meant something was wrong.

He immediately took out his phone and called the nearby police station.

Soon, patrol officers arrived and hauled both groups away.

Since they had stumbled into this, Shen Xin wondered if he should follow them to see what was happening.

Wang Feng waved his hand. "No need. That kid's been busted before. It's nothing major. Let the station handle it."

He looked toward Liu Jia'ang, who was about to get into the police car.

Liu Jia'ang turned his head to look back, staring intently at Pan Wenhai, somewhat lost in thought.

Sensing Wang Feng's gaze, he quickly forced a smile.

That's what Wang Feng said, but after they finished eating, he still excused himself and left.

He just told Pan Wenhai to take Shen Xin and the others to look around some more, suggesting the night market, which was also quite fun.

After the incident, no one had much of an appetite left.

Pan Wenhai even apologized to Shen Xin, saying he knew Wang Feng was anxious and had cut dinner short, meaning Shen Xin didn't get to eat properly.

"That guy, he might seem rough around the edges, but he's actually very meticulous. There must be something up with that kid from earlier."

"I also heard from others that there have been some rumors lately. Some strangers have shown up in Dehong."

At this point, Pan Wenhai glanced at Shen Xin.

He thought it might be related to the mission Shen Xin's group was on.

「Elsewhere.」

After leaving the food stall, Wang Feng hurried to the nearby police station.

When he arrived, Liu Jia'ang had already completed his urine test.

He had actually told the truth; he really hadn't used recently.

"Captain Wang, see? I wasn't lying. As for the kid who ran, I swear to God, I just met him. I really don't know what he did."

"I've turned over a new leaf."

Liu Jia'ang looked aggrieved.

Wang Feng ignored him and turned to arrange for someone to interrogate the kid who had tried to flee.

He also got a urine test, and it came back negative for drug use.

But here in Dian Nan, when someone gets into trouble like this, they're either a user or a dealer.

Especially since this kid was hanging out with Liu Jia'ang.

The interrogation went relatively smoothly. Around two in the morning, the kid caved.

He had come from Yongchang. The third man in their group used to work with him in a factory and had come here to join him.

The reason he came to Dehong was that he had stolen something back in Yongchang.

It had nothing to do with drugs, though.

Wang Feng contacted the Yongchang police, who confirmed that his story was true.

Only then did he breathe a small sigh of relief.

He had been afraid the kid was involved in drug trafficking and that it would be overlooked.

He gave Liu Jia'ang another stern warning before finally releasing him the next morning.

"Brother Liu, I really didn't know he was in trouble," the remaining companion hurriedly explained as they walked out of the police station.

If it weren't for that kid, the two of them wouldn't have been put through this all night.

"And man, we have the worst luck. How did we run into the Reaper himself?" he grumbled.

Liu Jia'ang shot him a glare and cursed impatiently, "Get lost."

After the other guy left, Liu Jia'ang hailed a taxi and left as well.

Back home, he took out another phone and dialed a number.

It took a long time for the call to connect. Once it did, he immediately spoke in a subservient tone, "Brother Fei, it's me, Liu Jia'ang. Do you remember me?"

A man's voice came from the other end. "If you have something to say, say it."

Liu Jia'ang said hurriedly, "It's like this, Brother Fei. I remember last month, didn't you say I should let you know if I ever saw that Old Pan and his dog?"

"Well, yesterday, I saw Old Pan at Ah Chang's. And most importantly, he had his dog with him."

The man on the other end of the line had sounded lethargic.

But as soon as he heard this, he suddenly perked up and asked urgently, "Are you sure it was his dog?"

Liu Jia'ang quickly replied, "I'm sure. It was that one. There's no mistaking it."

"Good."

The man on the other end said, "Good," and hung up the phone.

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