When Zhou Muchuan spoke in that teasing tone, Shen Zhiyi’s cheeks flushed faintly pink.
“Everything at the top and bottom is scrap paper, but not what’s in the middle. The middle is full of money.”
Shen Zhiyi offered no explanation. She snatched the burlap sack from Zhou Muchuan’s grasp and held it close to her chest. “I’ll carry this myself for now.”
“Aren’t you worried it’s dirty?” Zhou Muchuan asked in return. The sack looked dusty and dull, and he could see grime coating its surface.
“It’s not dirty. I washed it thoroughly. It looks gray simply because it’s made of gray burlap material.”
“Fine then, hold onto it if you want.”
Once all their things were secured, Zhou Muchuan took long strides to his vehicle, climbed aboard, and put on his helmet. He then handed another helmet to Shen Zhiyi. “Put this on and get on.”
“Thank you.”
After fastening her helmet properly, Shen Zhiyi climbed onto the back seat. Between her and Zhou Muchuan sat the heavy sack filled with cash.
“Sister Li, Master Zhao, Master Qiu, I’m heading off now.”
“Take care on the road!”
With Zhou Muchuan accompanying her, the three of them felt completely at ease.
Zhou Muchuan pulled his helmet down firmly, revved the engine with a loud rumble, and rode away.
At the same time, not far from the intersection ahead, a sharp whistle cut through the air. A few minutes later, four old-fashioned motorcycles roared into place from all four directions of the crossing. They picked up their accomplices and sped off in pursuit of Zhou Muchuan and Shen Zhiyi.
“Did everyone bring their gear? That man leading the way is Captain Zhou from the police station,” the leader asked the man sitting behind him.
“Rest easy, Boss. Yao Ji said Captain Zhou got injured in the shoulder by Six-Fingers during yesterday’s operation and was even admitted to the hospital.”
“Good, that’s all we need to know. Remember we’re only here for the money, not anyone’s life.”
“Understood.”
The four motorcycles accelerated even faster, chasing after what they had been watching all day as their easy target.
Before long, the pair noticed the four vehicles closing in behind them. Zhou Muchuan slowed down and flipped up the visor of his helmet. Even as he reduced his speed, the riders behind kept accelerating clear proof they meant trouble.
Bang. Zhou Muchuan flipped the visor back down. He thought quickly: four motorcycles meant at least eight men, and there could easily be as many as ten.
Ordinarily, he might have stood a chance fighting eight men on his own, but things were different now. His left shoulder was still healing from injury, and earlier, Shen Zhiyi had accidentally struck it twice, which must have made the wound bleed again.
He had planned to take Shen Zhiyi home safely first, then head straight back to the hospital to have his injury redressed. He had never expected to run into this lawless gang. He was injured, and Shen Zhiyi was just a woman.
After a quick assessment, Zhou Muchuan decided against taking reckless risks. “Shen Zhiyi, hold on tight and wrap your arms around my waist.”
“Okay.” Shen Zhiyi could also tell they were in danger, but with the sack wedged between them, no matter how tightly she tried to hold him, Zhou Muchuan felt she wasn’t close enough.
“Throw that sack away,” Zhou Muchuan ordered.
If it had been full of money, he would have understood, but it was nothing but scrap paper. He couldn’t fathom why Shen Zhiyi was clinging to it as if it were her most prized possession.
“No way,” Shen Zhiyi refused instantly, without even stopping to think.
She had brought this home specially to give to her mother, something that would surely bring her mother great joy. And more than that how dare these scoundrels set their sights on what belonged to her? It was nothing short of delusional. How bold and reckless they were, trying to rob them on the road even though she was being escorted home by a police officer. They clearly cared more about money than their own lives, but she had no intention of making things easy for them.
“Shen Zhiyi, it’s just a sack of scrap paper are you willing to lose your life over it tonight?” Zhou Muchuan was growing frustrated beyond belief.
If they threw the sack aside, the gang would stop to collect it, buying them precious time to escape. Once they reached the village, they could alert the residents, who would surely come to their aid. Almost every household had farming hoes, and many kept guard dogs. With the men from the village coming out armed and the dogs barking loudly, the criminals would certainly be scared off.
Zhou Muchuan could hardly believe Shen Zhiyi was being so short-sighted. Didn’t she understand this was a matter of life and death? Why wouldn’t she cooperate?
“I don’t care. You can throw anything else away, but this sack is mine,” Shen Zhiyi said firmly. She held the sack tightly with one hand, while her other arm strained to wrap around Zhou Muchuan’s waist as securely as possible.
“You…”
“These people are risking their lives for money, but you’re ready to risk yours for paper worthless scrap paper at that!”
“It’s not scrap paper, it’s money…”
Her words were swept away by the wind, and Zhou Muchuan, too angry to pay close attention, didn’t catch what she said clearly.
He was furious, yet he had no way to make her listen. The more he argued, the tighter she held onto her precious sack.
Left with no other choice, Zhou Muchuan twisted the throttle to full power and raced toward Lihua Village.
Eight hundred meters… five hundred meters… three hundred meters… one hundred meters…
The whistles meant to unsettle their nerves grew louder and closer. Zhou Muchuan clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his strong, weathered hands bulging and throbbing with tension.
“Stop the vehicle!” The thugs, seeing their prey within reach, shouted excitedly at the top of their lungs.
“Zhou Muchuan, stop and fight them! Who do these petty criminals think they are, daring to steal from me? Do they have no regard for their own lives?” Shen Zhiyi shouted back, her own temper flaring up.
Zhou Muchuan felt utterly helpless. This woman was truly fearless and fierce, even referring to herself with such bold confidence. Didn’t she realize that if she kept provoking them, the gang might grow angry enough to slash her face, leaving her disfigured? Did she not understand that words spoken in anger often bring disaster?
“Well, well, well… the little lady has quite a strong spirit,” the gang’s leader said, laughing instead of growing angry when he heard Shen Zhiyi’s sharp retorts.
“Little lady, we’re only after money, not lives. Leave what you have here, and we’ll let you go safely.”
“Pah! Come and get it if you dare!” Shen Zhiyi was completely unafraid and continued to challenge them openly. Did they really think she was some delicate, helpless young woman who couldn’t stand up for herself?
“Stop talking, Shen Zhiyi,” Zhou Muchuan said, trying to calm her down.
But Shen Zhiyi refused to hold back. Just then, Zhou Muchuan’s three-wheeled vehicle was boxed in and forced to stop by the four motorcycles.
Seven or eight burly men jumped down from their bikes. Shen Zhiyi stayed firmly seated behind Zhou Muchuan, still clutching her sack tightly. “You lowly thieves really have nerves of steel. Take a good look at who you’re dealing with this is Captain Zhou from the police station. How dare you try to rob him too?”
“Captain Zhou, is it? Captain Zhou, has that wound on your left shoulder healed yet? You’re out here protecting this young lady even while injured. Who exactly is she to you?” The leader was a man who had spent years on the wrong side of the law and knew every regulation and procedure of the police station inside out.
“Zhou Muchuan, you’re injured?” Shen Zhiyi turned to him, her voice filled with concern.
His left shoulder?
Was it the same spot she had hit just a little while ago?
Could it really be such a strange coincidence?
“Four Eyes, do you intend to get locked up again and never see the light of day? Are you giving up on providing for your family and acting like a responsible man?” Zhou Muchuan stared coldly at the man with glasses standing before him.
“Of course not, Captain Zhou. I’m only doing this because I have no other choice. I’ve got elderly parents to look after, young children to raise, and a wife to support. Please, have some mercy on us. Just let the young lady hand over some money, and my men and I will leave immediately.”
“Pah!”
Before Zhou Muchuan could respond, Shen Zhiyi let out another sharp, fiery exclamation.
Zhou Muchuan shook his head in exasperation. “Shen Zhiyi, can’t you act a little more like a lady?”
Shen Zhiyi: “…”