The youth who had stolen the backpack dashed into an alley. Before long, four or five more boys and girls ran out of it. All of them were skinny as sticks and filthy, some without even shoes as they raced barefoot through the alley.
The youth who had stolen Luo Yan's backpack quickly passed it to another companion of similar age, after which the two groups split up.
Clearly, they were trying to divide the pursuers' attention.
Watching the youth run off, Luo Yan could not help asking, "Captain, aren't we going after them?"
Wang Meng chuckled. "Why bother? Come on, let's head back to base."
He turned around and patted Luo Yan on the shoulder. "How much did you spend? Tell me when we get back. I'll pay you back when next month's salary comes in."
Luo Yan was stunned. Only then did he realize that Wang Meng had not been trying to play the long game and catch a bigger fish. He had come to deliver medicine to those youths.
Murong Xuan gave an awkward laugh. "The captain spends nearly all his monthly salary helping these orphans. To preserve their dignity, he uses this method to let them get what they need."
Wang Meng glared at him. "Who asked you to run your mouth?"
Then he continued, "Those kids have a hard time living here. I heard many of them have fallen ill recently. It just so happened that I'd spent all my money, so I had no choice but to ask you to front some of it."
"But don't worry. I, Wang Meng, have never owed anyone anything."
"When next month's salary comes in, I'll pay you back with interest."
Only then did Luo Yan understand why the female shop assistant had said Wang Meng was a