Chapter 857: Guest At Police Station
The salesperson recommended a Hong Kong iPhone 5s to me and Xiao Qin, but Xiao Qin shook her head.
“Apple phones are expensive and easily spotted by thieves. I would be so sad if it was stolen.”
Even though the ¥4000 was supposed to be Xiao Qin’s wages, I didn’t think buying an Apple was a good idea.
Firstly, since the salesperson didn’t put the iPhone 5s in a visible location, it meant it had shady origins and you may run into warranty issues in the future.
Secondly, I don’t like Apple’s closed operating system. In comparison, Android’s open operating system is much better (it’s actually because I don’t know how to use AppleOS, so it would be embarra.s.sing if I can’t help Xiao Qin solve any software issues).
After giving up on Apple, I planned on buying Xiao Qin a new Motorola android phone (it also costed almost ¥4000), but Xiao Qin thought it was too expensive and told the salesperson to show her phones that were around ¥1000.
After a series of back and forth, I bought Xiao Qin a ¥2600 HTC phone. It had a good appearance and specifications, and Xiao Qin liked the pure white color.
In the end, I saved ¥1400, but I was planning on spending it all on Xiao Qin. Recently, Xiao Qin didn’t have much of an allowance left because she spent it all on drawing tools, so I might as well treat her to a meal.
Xiao Qin booted up the phone after putting her own SIM card inside and she was unable to hide her joy as she watched the changing colors.
“Hoho, it’s a phone Ye Lin cla.s.smate bought for me, I want everyone to know about it. I’ll send a text to the Rose Three and Little Strawberry later, I think it’s okay if they know.”
“Also, I don’t think it will be stolen if it’s not an Apple. I don’t think anyone will steal a Hu Tu Chong (blunderer) phone.”
“Umm…” the salesperson couldn’t help but say, “HTC isn’t an acronym for blunderer.”
After I saw the salesperson stuff the iPhone 5s back under the counter, I said half-jokingly: “Are you disappointed we didn’t buy the Apple phone?”
“Not really. I’m just happy you didn’t nitpick without buying anything like last time.”
He said while pointing to an oval counter by the escalator, “Our iPhone 5s is definitely genuinely and I got it from my relatives. They sell genuine mainland goods over there, so you can go ask them.”
Xiao Qin was focused on fiddling with her new phone, so she didn’t look. However, I glanced towards where the salesperson was pointing.
I can’t believe I spotted a familiar face.
Fan Chuan and Shu Zhe had their backs facing us as they sat in front of the oval counter.
Fan Chuan was buying Shu Zhe an Apple phone. I’m a.s.suming that’s why Shu Zhe accepted Fan Chuan’s request and was dressed as a girl.
Fan Chuan, did you finally save up enough money to buy an Apple phone? I guess where there’s a will, there’s a way. He probably did other part-time work on top of the wages he already receives from the Golden Lightning second team.
Also, Shu Zhe has no sense of shame at all. He’s clearly a boy, but he would dress up as a girl in public just for an iPhone 5s.
Neither Fan Chuan nor Shu Zhe noticed me and Xiao Qin, and I didn’t want to greet them either.
It would definitely be awkward if we do meet, and I would have to explain to Xiao Qin later why Shu Zhe was dressed like a girl.
It was very chaotic inside the electronics market, so I didn’t stay inside any longer once I bought Xiao Qin her phone.
When we went back to the fountain square, we arrived right at the same time when the fountain was turned on. A row of five or six water columns shot up into the sky and it provided a temporarily relief to the people who were suffering from the heat.
Xiao Qin closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She let the water vapor hit her face as she looked refreshed.
Maybe she treated the fountain as Roma’s Trevi Fountain as she clasped her hands together and wished:
“I wish I’ll be this happy every day… no, that’s too greedy, I’ll be satisfied if I could be this happy once in a while in the future.”
Right when she finished speaking, chaos ensued.
“Someone’s s.n.a.t.c.hing phones, catch them!”
I turned around and saw four young men who weren’t older than me each holding a stolen phone in their hands. They all ran in different directions, but I bet they are accomplices since they acted at the same time.
d.a.m.n, they were mugging people in broad daylight without even covering their faces.
One of them had a vicious face (of course it wasn’t comparable to mines) and he ran towards me and Xiao Qin. He was holding an Apple phone he had s.n.a.t.c.hed and probably wanted to run around the fountain and escape in a tunnel.
Spider-man’s uncle once said: with great power comes great responsibility. I came out here with Xiao Qin to buy her a new phone. I can sympathize with the people who had their phones s.n.a.t.c.hed right when they just bought it for their girlfriend.
I didn’t think too much about it and stuck out one of my hands and caught onto the criminals arm. I then quickly turned around and used his momentum against him as I gave him a shove on his back. He ended up falling forward right into the fountain.
“Shoot…” Before the criminal could finish, he swallowed a mouthful of water.
In the instant he fell into the water, Xiaoo Qin caught the Apple phone that fell out of his hands. She glanced at me, then distanced herself so the water wouldn’t splash on her.
It was a smooth and fluid attack as if what had happened was an illusion. I never would have reached this stage of Yin Yang Sanshou if it wasn’t for my heart problems. It was bad luck that the criminal chose to run towards me and Xiao Qin.
The criminal didn’t really suffer any injuries and he soon climbed out of the fountain. He then glanced menacingly towards me and Xiao Qin.
I didn’t admit defeat because I wasn’t afraid if he wanted to see who had the fiercer gaze. I glared right back at him with a killer’s eyes and made him tremble.
“Just you wait.” He said the most typical thug line before running away.
Since we already got the stolen goods back and neither Xiao Qin nor I wanted to get wet, so we didn’t chase him.
Everyone knows not to corner a rat. What if those criminals were carrying knives and they attacked once they had no other choice? While Xiao Qin and I were both skilled in martial arts, there was no reason to put ourselves at risk as it was better to leave it to the police.
Once I stopped one of them, the other three accomplices all glared back at me as they ran away.
The chaos pa.s.sed once those criminals all ran into the underground tunnels. Xiao Qin and I waited by the fountain to wait for the owner, but who knew it was Fan Chuan and Shu Zhe.
“Luckily you were there, Ye Lin.” Fan Chuan happily patted my shoulder, “I thought two months of my salary would have disappeared just like that. The Five Tigers brags about you, but I never expected you to live up to your name.”
Xiao Qin, who had androphobia, didn’t make a sound in front of Fan Chuan. She pa.s.sed the phone to me so I could give it to Fan Chuan.
Shu Zhe, who was dressed as a girl and attracting a lot of attention from men, was standing three steps behind Fan Chuan. ‘She’ looked very annoyed as if the whole world was against her.
“Cla.s.s… cla.s.s leader.” Xiao Qin exclaimed after seeing Shu Zhe, but then she quickly realized they had the wrong hair color which only made Xiao Qin more puzzled.
Fan Chuan and Shu Zhe were quite lucky compared to the other three who had their phones s.n.a.t.c.hed. They weren’t able to get their phones back and could only place their hopes on the police or blame their bad luck.
A lot of crimes probably occur around the electronics market because six police officers quickly arrived. Me, Xiao Qin, Fan Chuan, and Shu Zhe were all involved and couldn’t avoid being questioned by the police.
Since there was a new regulation in place that required police to be recorded at all times, they were extremely polite.
“Can you please come with us to a nearby station to make a statement, it’s right on this street.”
The same question was asked to Fan Chuan, Shu Zhe, and the three other victims. Since they still didn’t get their phones back, they obviously cooperated and went to make a statement.
Shu Zhe whispered to Fan Chuan that he didn’t want to make a statement. It wasn’t hard to understand since he already got his phone back, plus he was a boy dressed as a girl so it wasn’t good for him to go to a police station.
Fan Chuan was completely obedient and said he still had something to do so they couldn’t make a statement. The police uncle was very disappointed at their lack of awareness.
“Sigh, young people these days. They don’t care about anyone else as long as nothing bad happens to themselves…”
“Lao Yuan, stop complaining, it’s still recording.”
The police who was holding the recording equipment quietly reminded him from the side.
After Shu Zhe got the iPhone 5s back from Fan Chuan, he left without even saying thanks to me and Xiao Qin. Fan Chuan could only thank us again, before following Shu Zhe and disappearing into the crowd.
The Lao Yuan officer saw the two victims leave, then said to me and Xiao Qin:
“I heard the two of you know the victim, that you bravely helped them get their stolen phone back, and that you even came face to face with the criminal… if it’s convenient, can you come back with us to make a statement?”
“Alright.” I agreed, “I have nothing else to do and it’s not lunchtime yet. It wouldn’t hurt to make a statement… the police station has air conditioning, right?”
“Of course, we’ll even give you refreshing drinks.” Lao Yuan said enthusiastically.
“Okay.” I nodded, “It’s so hot today. If we’re going to have air conditioning and drinks, then it’s worth going as a courageous by stander, not a suspect…”
Actually when Lao Yuan first arrived, he subconsciously reached for handcuffs when he saw my face. He only realized I wasn’t a criminal when everyone told him I was a helpful pa.s.serby.
“If Ye Lin cla.s.smate is going, then I’ll go too.” Xiao Qin got inexplicably excited, “I’ve seen the faces of those four scoundrels. I could also draw them for you.”
Xiao Qin said as she proudly patted her bag.
“I’m a manga artist, so I’m great at people portraits. The criminals will be brought to justice with my drawing skills.”
“Really?!”
Lao Yuan and the other police officers were all overjoyed when they heard Xiao Qin could draw their portraits.
“That would be a huge help. If we can solve the case with your drawing, then that will be a huge contribution. We will officially contact your school and commend you.”
“Don’t worry ^_^, leave it to me.” Xiao Qin clenched her fist with confidence, “The criminals won’t be able to escape justice with my drawing skills.”
“That’s great.” An officer who was standing a bit further away, came closer and said, “We were just worrying about how we didn’t have any pictures of the criminals. If we have your drawings, then this month’s clearance rate…”
Don’t believe her, please don’t believe Xiao Qin! She might mislead you guys into a vegetable field to catch the criminal.
I quickly told them that Xiao Qin had awful drawing skills and don’t let her draw the criminal sketches. The police officers thought I was being modest and didn’t listen to my warnings. They happily welcomed us to the nearby police station.
Twenty minutes later, the police weren’t as happy anymore.
After a brief statement, Xiao Qin took out her professional sketchbook and 3B drawing pencils, and with a concentrated look, she finally finished the much-antic.i.p.ated portrait of the suspects.
As long as you work hard, you can grind an iron bar into a needle. Xiao Qin has been practicing her drawing skills for a while, so she wasn’t drawing potatoes and eggplants anymore.
Xiao Qin drew 4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the police.