The captain remained silent for a long while after hearing the Lin family’s intention.

Frankly, he didn’t agree with reporting to the police.

After all, Zhuang Xiaopang was just a few years old, what could a seven or eight-year-old child understand? Besides, nothing happened to Haicai in the end.

It would be enough to let the Zhuang family pay for the medical and nutritional expenses.

But he couldn’t say these things.

After all, their families were relatives.

If he said that, what would people think? Moreover, in the brigade, Lin Guodong’s family was now the most prosperous.

Lin Guodong was an officer with a decent rank, and even Lin Xiaojing had secured a stable job.

The Lin family was thriving, and he didn’t want to offend them.

“Well, then do as you wish. However, the Zhuang family has already split up.

Zhuang Xiaopang’s side only consists of him and his mother. If you report to the police, his mother probably won’t give up,” the captain said.

Moreover, Xiaopang’s father had already passed away.

If Xiaopang had another accident, his mother would definitely…

sigh…

Qian Aifen said, “We don’t care if she gives up or not. My son is in the hospital every day, suffering.

It’s already merciful that we’re not demanding his life. What else can she do if she doesn’t give up? Have a fight or a beating? Are we, the Lins, afraid of her?”

Qian Aifen said this with confidence.

In this era, having many sons was a source of strength.

The Lin family had three sons, plus the youngest one who hadn’t grown up yet, adding up to quite a few male heirs.

In addition, the Lin family had cousins, as well as her own brothers.

From Qian Aifen’s behavior, it could be seen that her maternal family had a good reputation, and naturally, they wouldn’t allow her to be bullied.

Therefore, in this era, having many sons was a sign of strength.

Lin’s father sighed again, “Brother, this matter must be reported to the police.

It’s best if you can understand, but the issue with our Haicai is not just about medical expenses.

This time he targeted Haicai.

If he’s not taught a lesson, who knows who he might target next time? If the next victim can’t be saved in time, it will be a big problem.”

The captain, after hearing Lin’s father’s words, also felt that it made sense.

“You’re right, for the sake of other children, we can only leave it to the police comrades.”

The Next Day

As the sky began to lighten, Lin Guofeng and his wife went to the police station in the town.

When they arrived, the police officers hadn’t started work yet.

After the officers came on duty, they explained the situation, including the fact that Haicai was still recovering in the army and provided Haicai’s medical records.

The police were already cautious when they heard that a child had almost drowned, and they became even more cautious when they learned that their relatives were serving in the army and had a decent rank.

When Lin Guofeng and his wife returned, they brought the police with them.

They explained everything to the villagers, including the fact that Haicai was still recovering in the army.

They also showed the police Haicai’s medical records.

Everyone was shocked.

Troops

……

Today is Sunday, and the children are all resting.

After breakfast, four kids hugged their soccer ball and rode their bicyle out.

Sanbao sat on the bicycle, his little feet pedaling hard, though the bicycle wasn’t very fast.

But it was just a kid’s bicycle, and the roads in the residential compound were flat and safe, so it was safe for him to ride alone.

Haicai couldn’t play yet, but even watching everyone play made him happy.

The kids were playing in the small park.

As they were halfway there, they met a sentry running towards them.

They were familiar with this sentry.

When he approached, Erbao called out first, “Uncle…”

The sentry also saw them and stopped, asking, “Are your parents here? I need to talk to them.”

Erbao’s eyes twinkled, “They’re not here, we’re going to answer the phone.”

“In…” Yibao started to say, but his voice wasn’t as strong as Erbao’s, so the sentry didn’t notice.

Thinking Erbao was telling the truth, the sentry said, “Then go answer the phone.”

“Haha…” Erbao grinned, then said, “Uncle, I tricked you. Our parents are here.” It was a game kids liked to play.

If they successfully tricked someone, they felt clever.

But Erbao also knew the purpose of a phone call, so after tricking him, he told the truth.

The sentry said, “…Then I’ll go call your parents to answer the phone.” He didn’t want to talk to them anymore, feeling a bit embarrassed to have been tricked by them.

Fortunately, the kids spoke up again, or he would have turned back.

Watching the sentry leave, the four kids happily went to the sentry post.

Erbao said to Haicai, “Have you ever made a phone call? It’s fun. You can hear the other person’s voice on the phone. It’s really interesting.”

Yibao also nodded heavily, “Yeah, it’s really fun.”

Haicai widened his eyes and shook his head. “Really?”

Erbao said, “Really. You can see for yourself later.”

Sanbao rode his bicycle back and forth at the entrance of the sentry post.

Several kids saw him and came over.

In a short while, it became lively at the sentry post, with more kids playing.

Ning Shu and Lin Guodong arrived together, coming quickly.

“Lin Erbao…” As soon as Ning Shu saw the kids, she stopped Erbao who was playing.

“Mom…” Erbao showed a silly smile.

“Comrade Lin Erbao, did you do something bad today?” Ning Shu had already learned from the sentry’s joke that Erbao had made.

Although Erbao immediately confessed, she still wanted to educate him so that the children wouldn’t get into the habit of making such jokes.

Erbao blinked, immediately understanding what his mother meant.

He shook his head vigorously, “No, no, I was just joking with Uncle.”

Ning Shu tapped his smooth forehead, “You can’t make jokes like that in the future. If I find out you’re joking like that again, I won’t prepare a birthday gift for you, and I won’t give you any meat to eat.” Ning Shu couldn’t explain complicated reasons to him.

She could only use gifts and the promise of meat to threaten him.

In fact, when she was a child, she and her friends had played such jokes, but they happened to her.

Looking back now, it was normal.

But when it happened to a child, she worried endlessly.

As a first-time mother, she was always worried about this and that.

“I understand.” Erbao was broad-minded.

If his mother said not to make such jokes, he wouldn’t.

He was used to listening to his mother.

His mother was so powerful that whatever she said must be right.

While Ning Shu was talking to Erbao, Lin Guodong had already answered the phone inside.

When she went in, Lin Guodong was talking on the phone, just responding with “yes” or “okay.”

“Dad, whose call is it? Haicai has never heard a phone before. Can he listen too?” Erbao’s little head peeked into the door, asking Lin Guodong inside.

Haicai followed behind Erbao, also sticking his head in, his eyes shining with some expectation, but also a little shy.

This child was shy and easily embarrassed.

Lin Guodong waved to them at the door, “Come here, it’s a call from your grandma.”

As soon as they heard it was Grandma’s call, Erbao and Haicai hurried in.

Yibao and Sanbao followed, leaving their bicycles outside for the kids from the nursery class to ride.

Lin Guodong picked up Haicai, “Mom, Haicai wants to talk to you.”

He held Haicai with one hand and held the phone to Haicai’s ear with the other.

Before Haicai could figure out what to say, he heard Grandma’s voice on the other end of the line, “Haicai… Is that you?”

In fact, the sound quality of the phone was not high, and the voice transmitted through the phone was different from a real person’s voice.

But maybe Haicai knew it was Grandma on the other end, so however he listened, it sounded like Grandma’s voice.

“It’s me, Grandma.”

Haicai’s voice was soft.

But Lin’s mother still heard him, “Haicai, are you feeling better? Is there anywhere uncomfortable? If you feel unwell, tell your third uncle and third aunt.

You have to listen to your third aunt there. Don’t play too much when you’re not feeling well. Wait until you’re better before playing.” Lin’s mother always worried endlessly.

Haicai still said softly, “I know. If I’m not feeling well, I’ll tell my third aunt, and I’ll listen to her.”

As for the third uncle, he only said two things every day:

he called out “Third Uncle” at lunch and again at dinner.

Lin’s mother could still rest assured about this grandson.

He inherited the eldest son’s character and was quiet and obedient.

“Grandma, Grandma, it’s me, Erbao. Can you hear me?” Erbao shouted from the side.

Lin’s mother naturally heard him, “I can hear you, I can hear you, Erbao. Grandma hasn’t seen you in a long time. Have you grown taller? Have you grown stronger?”

When Haicai heard Grandma’s words, he said to Lin Guodong, “Third Uncle, let Erbao talk on the phone. Grandma is asking for him.”

Lin Guodong put down Haicai and picked up Erbao.

As a child with phone experience, as soon as Erbao was picked up by his dad, he held the phone himself, “Grandma, it’s me, Erbao.”

“Erbao, Grandma can hear you. Are you being good? Have you grown taller? How have you been in the army?” For a grandson she hadn’t seen in almost a year, Lin’s mother really missed him.

Erbao said loudly, “I’m very good, I don’t know if I’ve grown taller, but I’m doing very well in the army. I’m going to school now, and I’m farming to make money. I’ve earned a lot of money, and I also have teacher’s rewards, little red flowers. I know a lot of friends now.”

Lin’s mother said, “Oh my, Erbao, you’re such a good boy.”

“Hehe…” Erbao was very happy to be praised by Grandma, “Grandma, I let my brother answer the phone now. My brother and Sanbao are here.”

“Ah, then let your brother and Sanbao answer the phone.”

Next, Yibao answered the phone, and Lin’s mother asked the same questions as Erbao, and Yibao obediently answered.

When it was Sanbao’s turn, as he listened to the voice coming from the phone, his eyes curious.

Sanbao was puzzled.

There was no one inside the phone, so how could the phone hear sound?

“Sanbao… Sanbao, can you hear Grandma’s words?” Lin’s mother asked on the other end.

“Uh… Uh…” Sanbao responded while looking at his dad, pointing to the phone, “No one… no one…”

Lin Guodong didn’t know how to answer him.

…..