Meng Yan asked Shi Dazhuang when he was leaving.
Shi Dazhuang said he would wait until Yu Gang's martyr certificate was issued before leaving. If it was quick, he would wait until the grave was moved before leaving, and then the old comrades-in-arms could get together. But he only had a maximum of ten days off. If it was slow, he would have to come back next year to sweep Yu Gang's grave.
Meng Yan insisted on treating Shi Dazhuang and Qingmu to dinner. Shi Dazhuang agreed, partly because he couldn't refuse such a kind invitation, and partly because they were comrades-in-arms who had gone through thick and thin together, so there was no need to be coy.
Before leaving, Meng Yan instructed the officers at the station to detain Hanbohan Laizi and the old woman together, and to verify the situation in several nearby villages based on the old woman's confession. He would write a report in the afternoon and then report to his superiors. Such a big case was beyond the capacity of a small police station to handle at will.
Mangdian is a small town with Tushu, but it still attracts a lot of merchants and tourists from the surrounding areas, so there are a few decent restaurants.
The place Meng Yan brought them to was on another street that intersected with Tobacco and Hemp Street, which was relatively quiet.
"Don't let the remote location fool you, the food here tastes just as good as what you get in the bookstore, and some of it is dishes you can't find anywhere else," Meng Yan said while ordering.
Shi Dazhuang said, "Becoming the director doesn't mean you can act like this! You treat me like an outsider!"
Meng Yan slapped his forehead. "Oh dear, I forgot about Captain Shi back then..." He chuckled sheepishly, "But we still have Teacher Qingmu! Is this Teacher Qingmu's first time in Mangdian?"
A dog was lying lazily in the Sun outside the restaurant. Just then, a beggar ran over and sat down next to the dog. The dog didn't bark, just glanced at him lazily, and then turned its head away. Clearly, this beggar was a regular customer and had become familiar with the dog, or perhaps he was particularly annoying so much that even the dog didn't want to talk to him.
Looking out through the glass door, Qingmu recognized the beggar as one of the two Madman who had fought in front of the Mangdian Grand Hotel that day.
Shi Dazhuang saw him looking towards the doorway, so he glanced over as well and frowned slightly.
The restaurant owner knew Chief Meng and, upon hearing that the person dining today was the director's former superior, was particularly hospitable. Seeing Shi Dazhuang's expression, he assumed he disliked the beggar at the door and opened the glass door to shoo him away. "Go away, go away, don't linger here, there's nothing for you to eat."
The Madman ignored him, just grinning and chuckling, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.
The boss was furious, but not wanting to hit anyone in front of the police chief, he took it out on the old yellow dog, picking up a broom and hitting it. "You can't even guard the door properly! I've been feeding you bones Tiantian nothing!"
The dog started barking after being hit. The Madman next to him, seemingly afraid of the dog, covered his head and walked away.
After the Madman left, the boss returned to apologize. "I'm sorry, Chief Meng, I made things difficult for you during a meal."
Meng Yan said, "It's nothing, he's just a beggar, you don't need to chase him away."
Shi Dazhuang asked, "Does that person come Tiantian?"
The shopkeeper said, "It's not Tiantian, but rather he's always here or there, showing up right around mealtimes. We've spoiled him; we always give him food, but if we don't, we feel uneasy. These days, there's no war or natural disaster; if we weren't truly desperate, who would want to be a beggar?"
Meng Yan suddenly remembered. "I know there's a Madman over on Tobacco and Hemp Street, but which village did this one escape from? How come I don't know him?"
The shopkeeper said, "This guy hasn't been here long, and I haven't heard of which village he's from, so he's probably not local."
The old yellow dog outside was lazy and silent again, but the Madman had returned at some point and was grinning at them through the glass, showing his yellow teeth.
The boss was about to go and kick them out again, Shi Dazhuang stopped him, saying, "Alright, just leave it alone. You're not bothering us. Just focus on making your family's signature dishes!"
The boss nodded in agreement and said, "Then I'll keep an eye on things for you." He then went into the kitchen to help.
Soon, the dishes were served one after another.
Shi Dazhuang tasted it and said, " Meng Yan, the restaurant you chose is indeed excellent."
Qingmu took a few bites and thought it was delicious; it was indeed a flavor he couldn't find in Wuzhong. He suddenly thought of the Boss Coal; if that guy knew he was eating such delicious food in Southern Yunnan, he would definitely nag for a long time.
Shi Dazhuang kept putting food on Yu Meiren's plate, urging her to eat more. But Yu Meiren ate only small bites, like a lady from a wealthy family.
" Beauty, the way you eat is unlike a girl from the mountains!" Ever since Meng Yan learned about Yu Gang's situation, he has been particularly affectionate towards Yu Meiren.
Shi Dazhuang also said, "Yes, Beauty, why are you eating so slowly? Is it not delicious?"
Yu Meiren smiled shyly, "I've never eaten such delicious food before. I'm afraid if I eat it too fast, I'll lose all the flavor."
Shi Dazhuang and Meng Yan laughed heartily, but their laughter concealed a hint of sorrow. How many good people like Yu Gang sacrificed themselves for their careers; how many families were broken up because of drugs; how many well-behaved children like Beauty never got to eat a decent meal, and were even struggling to get enough to eat!
Meng Yan didn't dare to drink too much, since he had to go to work in the afternoon. Shi Dazhuang also didn't drink much, only opening a few bottles of beer with Qingmu.
They drank casually, chatting about their past with the anti-drug squad, but with the Beauty beside them, they didn't say much about Yu Gang.
However, Yu Meiren was in an unusually good mood. Although they didn't say much, she could tell that Uncle Shi and Yeye were good friends with her father, that they were all police officers, and that they were the best people in the world.
The Madman at the door started banging on the glass.
The restaurant owner shook his head and said, "This guy must have been attracted by the aroma on your table."
He went to the kitchen, brought back a bowl of rice, poured some vegetable soup on it, put it on the ground at the door, and yelled, "Eat up, eat up! Don't knock on the door again, or get out!"
The Madman saw the food, grinned, and then bent down to bury his face in the bowl to eat.
At this moment, the old yellow dog next to him suddenly stood up and barked at the Madman.
The Madman was startled and cowered to the side.
The yellow dog wagged its tail and went to the bowl to eat.
The boss didn't pay much attention and went inside. The people inside, of course, didn't notice what was happening outside and were unaware of the incident where a person and a dog were fighting over food. But Yu Meiren saw it all.
The Beauty quickly finished the rice in her bowl and said to the owner, " Yeye, can I have another bowl of rice?"
"Wow, the Beauty has a good appetite!" Shi Dazhuang and Meng Yan both complimented.
The Beauty simply blushed and smiled, saying nothing more.
The owner quickly brought over another bowl of rice.
The Beauty noticed the rice bowl was a bit full, so she added some to the already empty plate of leftovers beside her, and piled it with even more food. Then she picked up the plate and ran to the door, saying to the mad beggar, "This is for you."
The mad beggar seemed surprised that a little girl would run out and bring her food. After a moment of stunned silence, she started yelling happily.
Seeing the beggar take the plate, the Beauty exclaimed "Oh!" and quickly ran back into the shop to get a pair of chopsticks. "Sorry, I forgot to bring chopsticks."
The Madman, however, had already started eating with his hands from the plate, completely ignoring her chopsticks.
The Beauty watched him eat for a while before slowly walking back to her own spot.
Just as Meng Yan was about to praise the Beauty's kind heart, a uniformed police officer rushed over and accidentally kicked over the food bowl that the big yellow dog was eating at the door.
" Chief Meng, something terrible has happened! They've escaped!" the officer said breathlessly.
Meng Yan asked, "Who ran away?"
" The Medicine Granny, Han Bo, Han Laizi... they've all run away!"