Carrying a Jurassic on me
Chapter 35 - 35 35 - Murder Without Guilt_1

35: Chapter 35 – Murder Without Guilt_1 35: Chapter 35 – Murder Without Guilt_1 When Lin Baoguo heard Yan Fei’s voice, he hurriedly got out of bed without even bothering to get dressed properly.

He put on a jacket over his pajamas and dashed out, his heart pounding.

Seeing Yan Fei dressed only in a tank top and shorts, he was even more terrified, fearing that some accident had occurred.

In the midst of the cries from the awakened children inside the room, Lin Baoguo’s heart was again filled with alarm once he understood the full situation.

For the police station in the town, dealing with cattle theft was more troublesome than murder cases.

Firstly, its impact was extremely detrimental.

From a legal perspective, stealing oxen was a lesser crime, falling under simple theft, and didn’t usually result in long prison sentences.

However, for a farming household, the family’s ox could be their most valuable possession.

It might represent their last resort if a child needed to go to school or if an elderly member fell seriously ill.

Any significant incident in the family could result in that ox becoming their last straw.

Simply put, for many families, their livelihood and hope hinged on that one ox.

The theft of such an ox could lead to the bankruptcy of a farmer and could impact their lives for many years.

Secondly, solving a cattle theft case was difficult.

Usually, by the time the police arrived at the scene of a theft, other villagers – bystanders and well-wishers alike – would have already trampled any potential clues.

Moreover, cattle thieves usually moved from place to place, committing crimes in different areas.

Given the convenience of modern transportation, once stolen, the cattle would be swiftly transported to a remote location and slaughtered.

After all, who could taste any sign of theft in a piece of beef?

So, Lin Baoguo, ignoring his state of undress, ran to the neighboring compound.

After knocking on a couple of doors and shouting a few words, he hurried back to change his clothes.

Just as he was about to button his shirt, he ran out again.

Meanwhile, the sound of car ignition could be heard from the compound where he had just been.

Moments later, the only jeep belonging to the police station pulled out, and Lin Baoguo pulled Yan Fei to climb in.

To Yan Fei’s surprise, Director Wang Zhanjun was the one driving the vehicle.

As they tidied themselves in the car, they urged Yan Fei to guide the way.

During the journey, the men quickly took stock of the situation and, hearing that the thieves had been apprehended, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Now the streets were starting to fill with school-going children, Wang Zhanjun drove while continuously honking his vehicle’s horn as he followed Yan Fei’s directions till they finally reached the immobilised cattle thieves.

The men exited the car and glanced briefly at the incapacitated thieves.

Wang Zhanjun then offered a smirk at Yan Fei and said, “You cheeky fellow.

You used to catch wild rabbits and chickens.

Now, you’ve started catching people.

How much are you going to charge us for these three thieves?”

Yan Fei flashed a grin in response before his expression turned sour.

He had noticed an unfamiliar policeman sweeping the area with a flashlight, picking up his wooden stick and a knife.

Illuminated by the car’s headlights and the flashlight, Yan Fei could see everything clearly.

What a beautiful knife!

With a hilt that seemed to have been made of a golden yellow stone and a shiny golden tiger head at the end, the knife sported a blade that was almost a foot long, emanating a chilling glow.

It even had a blood groove, a sawtooth edge on its back, and oozed an imposing presence.

How did such a fine thing manage to escape my attention?

Is it a waste of me having a lineage of blacksmiths?

Unaware that Yan Fei’s dejected expression was due to his regret of not seizing the attacker’s weapon, Wang Zhanjun was asking Lin Baoguo and another policeman, “Old Lin, Old Zhao, which one of you two can drive this tricycle?”

Both men responded that they could drive the tricycle, which was not a complicated machine.

So, Wang arranged, “Old Zhao, you will drive the tricycle, and I will follow behind.

Let’s head back to the station first.

Old Lin, I’m sorry but you and Xiao Fei will need to take the ox and keep it at his place till tomorrow.

We’ll return it to its owner once they come to report the theft.”

Once the tricycle and the jeep left, Lin Baoguo slapped Yan Fei on the head, “Can’t you stay out of trouble?

What on earth were you doing out so late?”

Yan Fei, already having thought up an excuse, answered as they continued to lead the ox, “I now have school and limited time.

I need to get up early to run a bit and practice some kung fu on the Great Wall, where there are fewer people, before going to school.

Just as I got here, I saw the three thieves…

”

Despite feeling that there was more to the story, Lin Baoguo didn’t know how else to probe further and could only reply, “Anyway, just be careful.

Don’t confront any troublemakers by yourself in the future.

People like these are desperate and dangerous.

They could do anything.

What if you got hurt?”

Yan Fei just nodded in response.

Seeing Yan Fei’s unconcerned demeanor, Lin Baoguo didn’t have much more to say.

He could only ramble on about the importance of safety and self-protection.

Yan Fei muttered to himself: He’s only been a father for a short while, and he’s become so nagging…

At this moment, a gust of wind blew, causing Lin Baoguo to shiver while saying, “Aren’t you cold?”

Yan Fei, wrapping himself tighter in his police jacket, looked at Lin Baoguo who was only wearing a misbuttoned dress shirt and shamelessly replied, “No!”

On the trip over, Lin Baoguo had given Yan Fei his police jacket to wear.

Now, in the middle of autumn, with the chill of the early morning wind, it was only natural that one would shiver.

“Uncle Baoguo, could we keep this between us and not tell my parents?

I promise to return the favor, what do you say?”

“Don’t even think about it!

I don’t expect anything in return, just tell me what you were doing outside so late at night?”

“I was just practicing martial arts.

The yard is small, so I got up early to practice a bit.”

“…”

“I really do practice martial arts.

If you don’t believe me, we can practice together.

You’ll know if I’m trained once we spar!”

Lin Baoguo glanced at Yan Fei, pondered for a moment, and felt unsure about the proposal.

Since his wife got pregnant, he had been dutifully playing Mr.

‘Twenty-Four Filial Piety,’ leaving no time for martial arts.

Now, this boy had quickly shot up tall and looked like a little leopard.

If he were to lose, it would be hard to discipline Yan later.

“Never mind then, I’ll accept that you practice martial arts.

However, even if I don’t mention anything, it’s not guaranteed that your parents won’t find out.

Sooner or later, when they come back, they’ll learn about it.”

“No problem, as long as you promise not to tell.

If they find out, I will say that I caught sight of it during my morning run and called you over.”

“…”

Lin Baoguo fell silent again.

Deep down, he felt it wasn’t right for the kid to be left alone in this situation.

However, emotionally speaking, he had almost watched Yan grow up, from the time he started middle school in town to when he started working, perhaps even having a deeper connection with him than Yan’s own parents did.

Therefore, he decided to return home and assess the situation involving the case first.

Sensing that Lin Baoguo had agreed, Yan Fei relievedly waited until he had led the cow home.

After changing his clothes, he went off to school.

Watching Yan go to school as if nothing happened, Lin Baoguo could only sigh at the boy’s stout heart, unable to do anything more.

Once he arrived at the police station, Lin Baoguo instantly felt his scalp tingle.

Of the three thieves, one had a broken arm and leg, which was scary, but not life-threatening, as he lost little blood.

Another, struck with a wooden stick in the back, was internally bleeding seriously, making his situation even more critical than the first man’s.

He had been rushed to the health center in the town.

The only uninjured thief was still detained at the station, but the doctor suspected that he might have cracked ribs and suggested a detailed check-up at the hospital after the interrogation.

Desperate to redeem himself, this thief quickly confessed, revealing details from previous heists, where they sold the stolen cattle, to the location of their slaughterhouse.

Director Wang had already contacted the county station, which instructed an immediate search for the remaining suspects.

The criminals were injured, but time was pressing, and since the local station only had one jeep, the county station was sending down another one.

At the moment, the local station’s priority was to ensure the survival of the two gravely injured thieves and to interrogate them for information on their past crimes.

The one with internal bleeding was the mastermind, while the one with the broken limbs was his long-time accomplice, mainly responsible for carrying out the thefts.

The one who confessed was a newly admitted thief, for whom today marked the second heist, with not much information to be gleaned from questioning him.

Had the drama ended simply with catching the cattle thieves, Lin Baoguo might have reported Yan Fei to his parents.

But since Yan Fei’s actions were rather violent, Lin thought it best to address the matter personally with the boy first.

In the meantime, while waiting for the county department’s car, Lin Baoguo pulled Director Wang aside and confidentially reported asking: if it was possible to exclude Yan Fei from the case?

His reasoning was that Yan Fei was too young and still in school.

For his best interests and to avoid any future impact on his life.

This put Director Wang in a difficult position.

If they followed Lin’s suggestion and erased Yan Fei from the case, it would appear as though the local police had apprehended the cattle thieves.

This would be equal to claiming Yan’s credit for their own.

Bearing in mind the criminals’ expert techniques, the heist was obviously committed by professionals.

Once they busted the cattle-stealing operation, it would be a significant case.

Overstepping to grab credit for such a big case would leave them in an uneasy position.

Seeing Director Wang in a dilemma, Lin Baoguo continued: “Director Wang, I am not trying to claim the credit.

This case, when broken, will inevitably lead to the discovery of various theft and fencing gangs.

Should any slip through the net, there might be potential danger for Yan Fei and his family in the future…”

As he mentioned Yan Fei’s younger brother, Lin Baoguo felt he had overlooked something.

Just as Director Wang was becoming resolute, about to say ‘no,’ a flash of inspiration hit Lin Baoguo.

He blurted out, “Director, Yan Fei cannot appear in this case.

Years ago, Yan Fei was even certified.

If reported, the county station will have a hard time explaining.”

Director Wang paused, “What certificate?”

Lin Baoguo smirked, “A disability certificate.”

Director Wang was taken aback at first and then exclaimed in anger, “Old Lin, isn’t that irresponsible of you to say that?

In what way is he disabled?”

Lin Baoguo replied, “The city hospital issued a certificate.

I believe it was called mental development retardation, it basically means, intellectually disabled.

When he was a child, he used to suddenly become motionless, with a dull expression, as if he had lost his soul.

Regardless of what happened or what people said around him, he had no reaction, even when someone struck him.

His parents and grandparents took him to the city hospital.

He was then given a certificate, stating him disabled.

That’s why they had another child.”

“People like him wouldn’t even be sentenced if they killed someone,” Lin Baoguo caught his breath before continuing, “How do you plan to explain this to the county station if he is involved in the case?

Do you tell them that our whole station has been squatting by the wall, the West Bridge, the riverside, and the road, catching nothing but two chicken thieves after a few months of work?

And now, a barely thirteen-year-old mentally challenged kid has caught three criminals for us?”