Chapter 52 Call the Police

“Sister, what are you doing? Why are you looking around? Did you forget something?” Jiang Pan Yu deliberately asked Tan Yanlu.

Tan Yanlu seemed to snap out of a daze and shook her head. “No… I didn’t forget anything. It’s just a bit strange. I feel like there’s something I haven’t finished yet, but I can’t remember what it is. Never mind, I’ll go queue up first. Maybe I’ll remember later!”

After saying this, Tan Yanlu joined the queue at the collection station. However, as she stood in line, her brows furrowed, and her heart began to ache uncomfortably, as if she had indeed forgotten something very important.

Jiang Pan Yu and Lian Xiuran found a spot by the roadside to wait for Tan Yanlu to come out. Naturally, the two of them were silent, each turning their heads to watch the bustling crowd and the myriad of life unfolding around them.

The queue at the collection station inched forward slowly. Jiang Pan Yu, feeling hot under the sun, loosened her scarf and took a few sips of water.

Just as Tan Yanlu stepped through the threshold, the Gossip System promptly issued a task: [Ding, an event point has been detected. Please ensure your safety while enjoying the show! Task reward: A bag of Nutrient Milk Candy, a one-time Treasure Appraisal Skill, and a can of No-Rinse Beauty Cream.]

Jiang Pan Yu immediately perked up. Recalling the events, she remembered that after Tan Yanlu left the collection station with a large sum of money, she was followed.

Tan Yanlu realized something was wrong halfway, but it was too late. She was dragged into an alley by several thugs and robbed.

Jiang Pan Yu thought this must be a coordinated crime. After all, with so many people coming and going at the collection station, how did the thugs know Tan Yanlu was carrying so much money? Therefore, it was likely that someone inside had leaked the information, and the thugs had targeted Tan Yanlu.

So, how could she break this situation? Jiang Pan Yu pondered, her gaze unconsciously scanning the bustling crowd around her.

Then, she let out a puzzled “Hmm” and glanced in a certain direction, her expression turning serious.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

A voice suddenly spoke beside her, startling Jiang Pan Yu. She turned to find Lian Xiuran asking her a question.

Lian Xiuran didn’t really want to engage with Jiang Pan Yu, but seeing her so serious, he decided to show some concern. He didn’t expect to scare her.

Jiang Pan Yu glanced at Lian Xiuran. “I saw someone acting strangely. He’s been walking back and forth several times. I thought he was waiting for someone, but just now I noticed he has a knife tucked behind him—a thin fish-gutting knife. But there’s no one selling or gutting fish here! And that man looks fierce, constantly looking around. He doesn’t seem like a good person.”

Lian Xiuran instinctively glanced around and asked, “Which one?”

Jiang Pan Yu pretended to tidy her things as she lowered her head. “The one leaning against the stone pillar over there, smoking. He’s wearing a loose, tattered jacket.”

Following Jiang Pan Yu’s direction, Lian Xiuran saw the man standing by the stone pillar. He did look suspicious, especially since it was December.

In the twelfth month of the northern province, the land was covered in ice and snow. Even on a relatively good weather day, everyone was bundled up tightly. Unlike that person who had his coat wide open.

If that person really had a knife hidden behind him, the open coat would indeed make it convenient for him to draw it.

Lian Xiuran was not from a small family. Since most of his family members held government positions, he had developed a keen sense of observation through constant exposure.

The purchasing station and the food station were bustling today, especially the food station where people were coming to hand over their Task Pigs. Those who came out of the food station basically carried money from selling pigs, which was one of the few ways to earn a substantial amount in the countryside.

If someone wanted to create some chaos, it would be too easy. Lian Xiuran instinctively started thinking in a negative direction.

Lian Xiuran couldn’t stand still anymore. He instructed Jiang Pan Yu, “You stay here and watch the stuff. I’m going to take a walk.”

With that, he walked away before Jiang Pan Yu could stop him.

Jiang Pan Yu naturally didn’t bother to chase after him. She was thinking that the predestined events of fate would surely happen, meaning Tan Yanlu would definitely be robbed.

In the Mermaid’s memories, Tan Yanlu was alone and outnumbered, which was why she couldn’t fend off the robbers. But what if they gathered more people?

Just like the last time when the hooligans harassed Tan Yanlu, because they had enough people on their side, they quickly resolved the issue and easily turned the situation around. The same approach would work now. The method doesn’t have to be new, as long as it works.

With more people, those thugs wouldn’t be foolish enough to jump out and rob, would they? Even if they were that stupid, wouldn’t it be the thugs themselves who would end up in trouble?

But where could she find so many people to cooperate with them? Jiang Pan Yu’s mind was spinning with ideas, many of which she dismissed herself, forming a vague plan in her heart.

Lian Xiuran returned after his walk, looking serious. “I just took a walk and noticed several people behaving strangely. Their coats were all wide open.”

Jiang Pan Yu took a moment to understand what Lian Xiuran meant. Indeed, in this weather, why would anyone leave their coat open? Wasn’t it cold?

Jiang Pan Yu was now almost certain that these suspicious individuals were the robbers who would target Tan Yanlu in the story. But she couldn’t reveal this truth directly and had to approach it indirectly. “How about we report it to the police station?”

Lian Xiuran was taken aback but then nodded. “Alright, you wait here. I’ll go to the police station.”

Jiang Pan Yu couldn’t let him leave now. If he left and Tan Yanlu came out shortly after, the two girls wouldn’t be able to handle a group of armed thugs!

Jiang Pan Yu quickly stopped Lian Xiuran. “If we’re going, let’s all go together. You know those people look suspicious. With so many people around today, they can’t possibly rob everyone. They’ll have to pick those carrying large sums of money.

But how do they know who has a lot of money and who doesn’t?”

It was about exchanging something of high value for money at a purchasing station, or driving a few pigs to a food station to exchange for money. In any case, the amount obtained had to be substantial and astonishing.

This would definitely attract attention. If someone at the food station or purchasing station had been bribed, they would surely leak this information, as they wouldn’t let such a large sum of money slip by.

If they really came to rob, then the staff could catch them, right?”

Officer Chen nodded and said, “This method isn’t entirely unfeasible. Let me report it to the higher-ups and see if it can be implemented. You all stay here for now.”

After Officer Chen left in a hurry, Jiang Pan Yu turned her head and noticed Tan Yanlu and Lian Xiuran staring at her intently. Jiang Pan Yu asked in confusion, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Tan Yanlu shook her head and said, “Nothing, I’m just surprised that you would suggest this to Officer Chen. But I think your idea is feasible.”

Lian Xiuran commented, “The idea is good, but where are we going to find something valuable to exchange for money at the purchasing station in such a short time?

Moreover, the food station only accepts pigs. Even if we could find a few pigs now, there’s not enough time. I’m afraid Officer Chen and his team won’t adopt this idea.”

Jiang Pan Yu fell silent. There was indeed no time to find pigs, but Tan Yanlu had something valuable—the plump ginseng in her basket.

Lian Xiuran’s words reminded Tan Yanlu, and she had an idea, thinking about her original purpose for going to the purchasing station.

Just then, Officer Chen returned, looking somewhat disappointed: “I reported this method to my superiors. They had considered it before, but we don’t have the tools for entrapment, so the idea was shelved.”

“Officer Chen, if I can provide assistance, can this method be implemented?” Tan Yanlu spoke up.

“That’s true, but…” Before Officer Chen could finish, Tan Yanlu took out a long cloth bundle from her basket.

She unwrapped it, revealing a plump ginseng inside: “Officer Chen, take a look at this. I was originally planning to sell it at the purchasing station. Why don’t you help me sell it?

This way, I get the money, and you have the tools for entrapment. It’s a win-win situation. Why don’t you report this to your superiors again?”

As the cloth bundle was opened, everyone caught the distinct aroma of ginseng. Officer Chen was stunned: “This is ginseng, right? Where did you get such a fine thing?”

“I found it while gathering firewood in the mountains this autumn. I originally wanted to keep it as a family heirloom, but I’m short on cash now, so I thought of selling it,” Tan Yanlu fabricated the origin of the ginseng without batting an eye.

Indeed, there are many wild ginsengs in the mountains of the northern province, but apart from professional foragers, others need a bit of luck to find them.

Tan Yanlu must be one of those lucky people, and Officer Chen didn’t seem to doubt this.

Instead, he was quite pleased and said, “In that case, I’ll go and report to my superiors again.” With that, he left in high spirits, his footsteps light and cheerful.

After Officer Chen left, Tan Yanlu wrapped up the ginseng, still pondering how to explain to Jiang Pan Yu and the others when she had dug up the ginseng.

After all, everyone in the village knew each other’s comings and goings, and if she didn’t handle this well, she could easily be suspected.

Unexpectedly, it was Jiang Pan Yu who spoke first: “Well, Tan Yanlu, you’ve struck it rich and didn’t even call your sister. You’re really not being fair. No, no, now that I know, you have to treat us.”

Jiang Pan Yu, of course, knew that the ginseng was grown by Tan Yanlu, but she had to pretend not to know to cover for Tan Yanlu and, in the process, get a little something out of it.

Lian Xiuran was the one who didn’t know the truth. Hearing Tan Yanlu and Jiang Pan Yu talk like this, he naturally believed that the ginseng was dug up by Tan Yanlu herself. He chimed in, “They say those who see it get a share. Youth Tan, you can’t leave me out when you treat us.”

Tan Yanlu immediately felt less tense. She relaxed her shoulders and nodded, “No problem. Isn’t our village about to slaughter the New Year’s pig? I’ll buy a few extra pounds of meat then and show off my cooking skills for you to taste. But let’s agree, just the three of us, no more.”

“If I can get an extra bite, I definitely won’t tell anyone. You can count on me, sister.”

“Then it’s settled.”

As they were talking, Officer Chen returned, not alone but with two leaders following him: “Comrade Tan, are you really willing to hand over the ginseng to us as a tool?”