On the weekend, the zoo was filled with adults bringing their children to play.
Some held hawthorn skewers, some had White Rabbit cream candies, and others had bought five-cent cotton candy made from white sugar at the entrance, fluffy as clouds. Some carried gourds, carrots, and vegetables, preparing to feed the rabbits and other herbivorous animals. The astonishment of the children and the laughter of the adults could be heard everywhere.
Once at the zoo, Han Xiaorui and Han Xiaojing each led a child, viewing the small animals one by one. They had a camera at home and plenty of film, so they snapped quite a few photos.
Just as Han Xiaorui was taking pictures of the children, a familiar figure appeared in the frame.
Ye Feng?
What would a staff member from a special department be doing here?
Initially, Han Xiaorui was about to say hello, but the children saw a giant panda and ran off to the other side. Following the children to the panda, Han Xiaorui continued taking photos.
Ye Feng, not far away, also spotted Han Xiaorui. He realized the target he was tracking today was very important. People coming to the zoo were almost always adults with children, or perhaps couples dating; almost no one came to the zoo alone. If he were to approach her abruptly, it would easily arouse suspicion.
After weighing his options, Ye Feng walked up to Han Xiaorui. “Xiaorui, let me take a picture for you.”
“Xiaorui?” Han Xiaorui was stunned. Although she had asked Ye Feng for help previously, there was no need to be so familiar, was there?
Ye Feng blinked his eyes and took the camera from Han Xiaorui’s hands. “Come on, let me take a group photo of the four of you.”
Han Xiaorui realized Ye Feng’s implication; he wanted her to help him provide cover. In any case, there were so many people at the zoo that even if there were bad guys, they wouldn’t dare do anything reckless. Besides, she wasn’t a pushover; if there really were bad guys, she would take action.
“Thank you!” Han Xiaorui replied gratefully. She had wanted to ask others to take photos before, but not everyone knew how, so they rarely had group photos of the four of them. Having Ye Feng take the picture now was quite nice.
While taking photos, Ye Feng adjusted the focus, sometimes using the camera lens to monitor those individuals. He intentionally guided them near the people he was monitoring, especially in crowded areas, even holding the children to look at the animals. This was because the target was also there with his wife and children.
Wearing sunglasses, Ye Feng found it even easier to monitor the situation. Sure enough, amidst the pushing and shoving, he saw Professor Wang—who had come to the zoo with his wife and children—hand over something resembling a roll of film to a foreigner who was there to look at the pandas.
Ye Feng handed the child back to Han Xiaorui. “Thanks for the help.”
“Don’t mention it,” Han Xiaorui whispered. “Take care!”
“I will.” With that, Ye Feng turned and quickly chased after the target, making a gesture to signal an arrest. Naturally, he didn’t do it inside the crowded zoo, but rather at the entrance, where he apprehended the foreigner.
The middle-aged man who had been accompanying his children in the zoo had no idea that his every move was being controlled. Ye Feng and another colleague walked up to the middle-aged man and looked at his two children. “Professor Wang, there is an urgent matter at the office; please come with us.”
When Professor Wang saw Ye Feng, he was momentarily stunned. He didn’t recognize the man, and the man hadn’t even mentioned which department he was from. Having just betrayed his unit’s secrets, the sudden approach made Professor Wang feel particularly guilty, and his heart began to race.
“If your office has something urgent, go ahead and be busy. I’ll take the children home,” said Professor Wang’s wife. She was a very virtuous woman and assumed her husband really did have work to do.
Professor Wang’s hands and feet went cold. “I…”
“It’s alright, there will be other opportunities to bring the children later,” Mrs. Wang said with a gentle smile, taking the children to the other side to continue looking at the pandas.
Professor Wang’s face was filled with regret, his eyes showing reluctance.
“Professor Wang, let’s go. You wouldn’t want us to arrest you in front of your children, would you?” Ye Feng said in a low, heavy voice. “What a happy family, yet some people just don’t cherish it!”
Professor Wang’s eyes turned red as he muttered to himself, “It’s over!”
Ye Feng had received instructions from his superiors not to use force against Professor Wang; otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered wasting words and would have arrested him long ago. Ye Feng smiled, appearing to outsiders as if they were just chatting. “Take this chance to redeem yourself; maybe you can get a lighter sentence.”
Upon hearing this, Professor Wang finally lowered his head and followed Ye Feng away!
Han Xiaorui, hiding in the distance with the children, watched as Ye Feng led the man away before she finally emerged. Han Xiaojing asked cautiously, “Sis, was Comrade Ye arresting a traitor?”
Han Xiaorui gritted her teeth. “It seems so. Traitors all deserve to die!”
Pingping blinked her eyes. “Mom, what is a traitor?”
When Han Xiaorui and Han Xiaojing heard Pingping’s question, surprise flashed in their eyes! My goodness? The autistic baby was actually asking questions! This was a huge step forward! It was a massive leap!
Han Xiaorui carefully weighed her words, trying to make them understandable for her daughter. “A traitor is a bad person—a villain!”
An’an widened her eyes. “Hit the bad person!”
“Hit the bad person!” Pingping repeated, her little face looking very serious. In their minds, bad people deserved to be punished! This was a very good realization.
After wandering around the zoo, they found a noodle shop for lunch. After eating, they took the children to buy clothes and shoes. Since summer was approaching, they needed to pick up a few extra outfits.
Seeing her sister buying her another dress, Han Xiaojing quickly refused. “Sis, you’ve already bought me two dresses; you don’t need to buy me more.”
“Two isn’t enough. You need at least seven so you don’t have to repeat outfits all week,” Han Xiaorui laughed. Her sister helped her a lot, and she couldn’t treat her poorly.
“Sis, you should buy some too; don’t treat yourself poorly either,” Han Xiaojing said, unable to refuse, and suggested her sister buy some as well. Her sister was so beautiful; she should always look gorgeous.
Han Xiaorui smiled and nodded. “That goes without saying. What is money for? It’s for spending. The more I spend, the more motivated I am to go fishing.”
The sisters spent the whole day shopping and returned home with bags in their hands, feeling particularly happy. Just as they arrived home, they heard the phone ringing. Han Xiaorui picked up the phone, and as soon as she heard the voice on the other end, she guessed who it was. “Boss Zhang, why are you calling in the evening?”
Fucai Seafood Restaurant had been on a roll recently. Having purchased exceptionally high-quality grouper and giant grouper from Han Xiaorui, they had gained significant fame locally. Especially that giant grouper—it had allowed Zhang Facai to open up a new channel, ensuring a prosperous future.
“Little Han, I have a big client here. After eating the grouper meat last time, the family elder is having a birthday, and he wants a giant grouper, preferably over a hundred pounds.”
“The price will still be 20 yuan per pound; I, your old brother, will absolutely not treat you unfairly. By the way, sell that large yellow croaker directly to me. The price will be more favorable than having someone else sell it for you.”
Being in the seafood trade, Zhang Facai had learned that someone in Jinshan Bay had sold several hundred pounds of large yellow croaker, and upon inquiring, he found out it was caught by Han Xiaorui. Not having bought it from her, he immediately felt he had missed out on a huge opportunity.
However, Zhang Facai didn’t dare offend the “Sea Goddess” that was Han Xiaorui; he was still counting on her to catch even better seafood for him!