Chapter 573 - 573: Call the Police
Brother Fang, seething with anger, turned to glare at the owner who had inadvertently bumped into him. “Are you trying to meddle in this? Do you really think I won’t trash your shop today?” he threatened menacingly.
The owner, visibly intimidated, pointed towards the door and timidly remarked, “Brother Fang, the police are here!”
This reminder caused Brother Fang to realize that someone had indeed instructed him to stop earlier.
However, consumed by rage, he disregarded who might have dared to intervene.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed several police officers standing at the entrance of the shop.
The officers briskly made their way inside.
“Who called the police?” one of them inquired, his voice exuding authority and a chilling tone.
The two young girls previously harassed by Brother Fang stood up and announced, “We did. We were the ones who called the police.”
Everyone had assumed the girls had left, unaware they had called the police immediately after exiting the restaurant.
After identifying the callers, the officers began a preliminary assessment of the scene.
One officer caught sight of Xia Wan but stayed quiet at her subtle cue.
In this small county, Xia Wan was acquainted with most of the police force.
Nonetheless, it seemed prudent under the circumstances not to publicize her connection with the law enforcement.
“What’s the situation?” another officer asked the crowd, “Who is the owner here?”
The owner promptly stepped forward, addressing the officer, “Comrade
Officer! I’m the proprietor of this establishment.”
“What transpired here?” the officer queried, casting a glance at Brother Fang and the others, especially pausing upon seeing Brother Fang’s blood-stained face.
The owner, momentarily unsure, hesitated, struggling to find the right words to explain.
Meanwhile, Linda loudly appealed to the police, “Officers! I’ve been taken hostage!”
The police officers’ demeanor shifted upon hearing this, and they quickly approached Linda.
Behind her, a tall and muscular man still clutched her wrist.
Linda, raising her wrist to the officers, exclaimed, “See! He’s still holding onto me!”
Prompted by her plea, one of the officers firmly instructed the man, “Sir, please release her now.”
The man, however, appeared reluctant to comply.
The officer’s expression hardened, “If you refuse to release her, we will be forced to take action.”
His voice, loud and clear, resonated with all present.
It was then that the man finally spoke, “I cannot let her go.”
“Why not?” the officer pressed, his expression growing stern, “We ask for your cooperation. Failure to comply will lead us to take legal measures.”
Reiterating their readiness to use force, the officer awaited a response.
“If I release her, she’ll become violent,” the man said bluntly.
The officers, taken aback by this revelation, paused momentarily.
One of them, thinking quickly, asked, “Are you implying that this lady was the aggressor?”
“Yes,” replied the tall, muscular man succinctly.
“No, that’s not true!” Linda immediately countered, complicating the officers’ task.
One officer motioned for the owner to approach, “Boss, please come here. Let’s clarify the situation.”
To the tall man, another officer said, “Release her. We’ll ensure she doesn’t… well, doesn’t hit anyone again.”
Surprisingly, the man complied, letting go of Linda and gently pushing her towards the officers.
Brother Fang watched this unfold, his frustration evident.
Linda, massaging her slightly reddened wrist, glanced at Xia Wan and Liu Hua.
“Look, both of my friends have been hurt! ” she pointed out to the police.
The officer, noticing Xia Wan and Liu Hua, stepped closer to inquire about their condition.
Liu Hua was still grimacing in pain, holding his stomach.
Upon seeing this, the police swiftly dialed for an ambulance.
While awaiting its arrival, the officers questioned those at the scene, identifying the involved parties and instructing them to assist with the investigation at the police station.
Given the limited resources in the county, the police car couldn’t accommodate everyone. Except for the directly involved individuals, the rest were expected to cooperate voluntarily.
The ambulance, a modified old van, arrived promptly.
Though rudimentary, it was certainly a better option than walking to the hospital.
With the police’s approval, Xia Wan accompanied Liu Hua into the ambulance.
Linda, Brother Fang, and the tall, muscular man were courteously escorted to the police car and taken to the station for further proceedings..