Spring 1979.
The lotus flowers are in full bloom and the sun is warm.
Under the shade of the trees outside Biwu Prison, Lin Yue did not accept the cigarette offered by Chen Bin.
"What, you really quit?"
He nodded grimly.
"When Sister Qing gave birth to Xiao Xi, I didn't see you quit smoking. Now a little kitten has made you docile. Is this still the majestic Inspector Lin back then?"
"Little Kitty" is the nickname given to his daughter by Rose. She was given this nickname because the neighbor's calico cat would giggle when she was called when she was young.
Ah Xin patted Chen Bin on the shoulder: "Stop teasing Brother Yue. Xiaomao has childhood asthma and can't smell cigarette smoke. It's not like you don't know this."
"The doctor said it will be fine as soon as you grow up." Lin Yue picked a leaf, put it under his nose and smelled it. There was a faint fragrance of vegetation.
"Brother Yue, I have a question that I have been holding back in my mind for a long time. I don't know whether to ask it or not."
Lin Yue looked up at A Xin and said, "What's the problem?"
"When you persuaded Brother Bin not to compete for the position of Kwun Tong District Inspector, did you already know that things would turn out like this?"
When Xue Jifu ordered the expansion of the police force, it was not difficult to find a detective as long as Lin Yue spoke for Chen Bin. However, he did not do so. Instead, he persuaded Chen Bin to give up the idea of going to Kwun Tong District to become a detective. Yao Ji and others People couldn't understand it. It wasn't until the ICAC was established in 1974 that an anti-corruption storm started in HK. All the detectives and most of the police sergeants were invited to have tea at the ICAC. Chen Bin and Yao Ji were all secretly glad they didn't get on the bus. In 1977, the Governor of Hong Kong issued an amnesty order and announced that police officers would no longer be held accountable for corruption committed before January 1, 1977. Several people's hearts finally dropped with their throats raised.
Looking back on what has happened in the past few years, Lin Yue seems to be able to predict the future.
Lin Yue glanced at him: "The circumstances are not serious, but if you are as greedy as those police detectives, I will still send you to jail."
"None of the black money we collected passed through your hands." A Xin muttered in a low voice.
"What did you say?"
"No, I didn't say anything." Ah Xin lied seriously.
"Brother is here."
Chen Bin interrupted the two of them.
Lin Yue looked around and saw a gray van driving down the slope and stopped less than ten meters away from a few people. Lardboy opened the door and got out.
"Brother Yue, Chen Bin, A Xin, you guys came so early."
Ah Xin looked around the lard guy up and down for a while: "I've lost weight, I've really lost weight."
Lin Yue smiled and asked: "How is business lately?"
"Thanks to Brother Yue, the investigators from the Independent Commission Against Corruption go to my place to spend money every day. I have no worries about food and clothing just by doing their business."
As Lei Luo's rent collector, Lardboy was sentenced to 4 years in prison. Because of his good performance during the sentence, the sentence was reduced to 3 years. In the early summer of last year, he was released from prison and returned to society. After finishing his sentence, he opened a wet market in Yau Ma Tei with the help of Lin Yue and others. I opened a pork shop and the business was doing well.
Lin Yue recalled the previous conversation between the two about the nickname "Lard Boy": "You can be regarded as inheriting your father's legacy."
Lardboy said: "Thank you, Brother Yue."
He was sincerely thanking him. If Yaoji hadn't sent him the metal shield, Yan Tong would have shot him to death. On the rooftop of the old building in Kowloon City Walled City, he opened the door to Lin Yue to protect Lei Luo. After one shot, Lin Yue did not blame him. After his sentence was over, he helped him open a shop in Yau Ma Tei. This kind of kindness will never be repaid in the next life, let alone the next life.
Lin Yue patted him on the shoulder: "Have you forgotten the conversation we had on the balcony when Brother Luo was re-elected as Inspector Zonghua?"
Lardboy thought about it carefully. At that time, he said that no one in this industry would want to leave a way out for himself. Lin Yue asked him what his way out was. He smiled and said, Brother Yue, you are right.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yue would really leave him a way out after many years.
No, it should be said that he left a way out for everyone around him.
"Look, the door is open, the door is open." Chen Bin pointed at the prison door and said.
A prison guard came out and saluted several people standing not far away. After that, a familiar figure came into view.
Lei Luo's appearance hasn't changed much, except for the addition of some white hair on his head.
"Brother Luo." Lardboy greeted from afar.
Lin Yue walked over with Chen Bin and A Xin: "Brother Luo, congratulations on your release from prison."
Lei Luo looked at him blankly for a while, then stretched out his right hand to hold his hand: "Thank you for coming to pick me up."
"Brother Luo, Brother Luo, step across the brazier to get rid of bad luck."
At this time, Lardboy took out a white porcelain basin from the van, placed it in front of Lei Luo, put a roll of paper in it and lit it with a lighter.
"You are the only one who has a lot to do." Lei Luo smiled and stepped over the brazier and walked to the parking area at Chen Bin's greeting.
Lardboy didn't know what he was thinking of: "Hey, that's not right."
A Xin said: "What's wrong?"
"Why are there no reporters? No one reports on such a big event as a 500 million detective being released from prison after serving his sentence?"
"Brother Yue knows that Brother Luo likes to be clean, so he informed the newspaper people in advance not to bother them."
"Oh, that's right."
As Lei Luo walked forward, he asked Lin Yue: "Where is Xue'er?"
"The weather in Canada is bad, and my sister-in-law called to say that the flight was delayed. We are expected to arrive in Hong Kong in the evening. I have already asked Yao Ji and Buck Teeth Huang to pick them up at the airport."
"You are still so capable, and everything is arranged in an orderly manner." Lei Luo walked to the car door and stopped: "Would you like to see Ah Hao?"
"Okay." Lin Yue told Chen Bin, who was driving in front, "Go to Stanley Prison."
"Brother Luo."
"Um?"
"do you hate me?"
"Don't hate."
"Why?"
"Because I used to have justice in my heart like you, but something happened later and I changed my mind. Now I see you living like the person I longed for when I was young. I'm really happy." He took the water glass handed over by Ah Xin and drank. He took a sip and said: "It's worth spending four years in prison in exchange for the result of not having to live in a foreign land."
The court sentenced Lei Luo to six years in prison. The original sentence was not to end until the end of 1981. Later, because Cher voluntarily returned most of the stolen money, Lei Luo's sentence was reduced to four years and he was released from prison this spring.
Lin Yue smiled: "What do you want to eat tonight?"
"Pineapple oil from Metropolis Restaurant."
…
New Year's Day, 1980.
Bang~
Bang~
Bang~
Brilliant fireworks continue to bloom over Victoria Bay, New Year's bells ring throughout Hong Kong Island and beyond. The streets are brightly lit and neon, and tourists everywhere celebrate the arrival of the New Year.
Lei Luo was sitting on the sofa in the living room watching TV. On the blanket over the coffee table sat the kitten playing with clay. Lin Xi stood in front of the mirror and tried on the new clothes Xueer brought her back from Toronto. Anzi was behind her. Speak English.
The doorbell of the living room rang. Bai Qing went over to open the door. Lardboy was carrying a large piece of bacon to wish him a Happy New Year. Behind him, the grasshopper was holding vegetables and seafood in his arms. On the right, Yaoji was carrying two bottles of red wine. Chen Bin said gloatingly. A Xin's son sprained his foot while playing football in the afternoon, and the father stayed at home to take care of the child. He stopped taking oral medicine in the evening, and his buck teeth were holding up a couplet behind him and smiling like a comedian.
In the kitchen, Rose took the soaked sea cucumber to the sink and rinsed it, while Xueer took a spoonful of the soup and put it into her mouth to taste the saltiness.
Lin Yue pushed open the door of the study room, walked to the balcony on the second floor with a letter from Penang, Malaysia, and looked at the lively night sky with a smile.
At this time, a crisp counting sound sounded in my mind, 10, 9, 8, 7...
