It was nearly midnight.
Under the bright moonlight, the family of four hurried along.
In the distance, the fire had grown larger. The whole car was engulfed in flames.
Fortunately, they were in the countryside, in a remote area, and it was the middle of the night. No one had noticed a thing.
When they crossed a river, Chen Dawei decisively tossed the license plate into the water.
After walking for half an hour, they finally reached a town. Before they could find somewhere to stay, a patrol officer on the road stopped them.
"What are you doing out so late?" A patrol officer swept a dim flashlight back and forth over them.
Fortunately, they had already agreed on their story along the way and were prepared for this sort of situation. Chen Dawei forced himself to stay calm. "Our car broke down. We're looking for somewhere to stay for the night."
The officer looked at the group: some grown, some small, all carrying luggage, and speaking with a local accent. He didn't suspect a thing; instead, he helpfully suggested, "It's pretty late to be looking for a place now. Try knocking on the door of a small inn. The owner will probably let you in!"
"Thanks so much. We won't keep you. We'll be on our way!"
"Mm. Be careful out there. Things have been a little rough lately. If you run into trouble, shout. We're usually patrolling nearby," the officer said.
The family had been given a scare, but they quickly moved on.
Chen Shouyi finally realized that Mother Chen, who was always so forceful at home, was all bark and no bite. Faced with a situation like this, she'd been completely stunned, her expression rigid.
Thankfully, Father Chen had nerves of steel.
Otherwise, Chen Shouyi would have