Chapter 166: Excited Yao Yuliang

Ming Dai took a look and smiled with delight. Wasn't this Mayor Wei's secretary, Yao Yuliang?

It was truly like being handed a pillow just as one felt sleepy. The very second she was fretting over how to report Dr. Gao's matter to Mayor Wei, Mayor Wei's secretary arrived at the commune in the next.

Noticing the lively scene in the courtyard, Yao Yuliang frowned slightly and gestured to the men he had brought along.

A man stepping behind him lunged forward like an arrow released from a bow, instantly grabbing Wang Defang and chopping him unconscious with the side of his hand just as Wang was about to liven up and bite fiercely.

By the time the man hit the ground with a dull thud, the deputy director of the commune's police station hurried over, wiping the sweat profusely from his forehead and wearing a fawning expression.

"Secretary Yao's men are as formidable as ever! Haha, our police station personnel really need to learn a thing or two from this comrade!"

Yao Yuliang cast a look that was not quite a smile at him and remained silent.

There would likely be no opportunity for them to learn. Mayor Wei intended to overhaul the police station here, and a new director would soon arrive to assume office. All these overlooked parasites were destined to be purged.

"That's enough. The man has been caught, and I'll be taking him away. You all can get back to your business."

The deputy director nodded and bowed obsequiously, echoing agreement. Meanwhile, Feng Jinbao, the deputy head of the commune, breathed a heavy sigh of relief as he watched Wang Youcai's family—their mouths gagged and looking utterly wretched—being shoved into the car.

Seeing that they were about to leave, Ming Dai handed Zhou Sinian a peanut and motioned toward Yao Yuliang.

Accepting the peanut, Zhou Sinian did not toss it out immediately. Instead, he cracked it open, ate the peanut kernel inside, and only then flicked the shell away.

A faint sound of air being cut through reached the ears. Yao Yuliang reacted with vigilance, dodging aside just in time to see two peanut shells lying on the ground.

He blinked in surprise, traced the direction from which they had been thrown, and his eyes widened.

It was Mr. Zhou!

Ming Dai pointed toward the area in front of the commune hospital. Yao Yuliang nodded slightly and followed the men ahead of him.

Half an hour later, in the small grove in front of the commune hospital, Ming Dai and Zhou Sinian were waiting for Yao Yuliang.

Upon seeing Zhou Sinian, Yao Yuliang looked somewhat stirred with emotion and addressed him earnestly, "Mr. Zhou, do you still remember me?"

Zhou Sinian cast a blank look at the rather excited Secretary Yao and asked with some uncertainty, "Did I happen to beat you up before?"

Ming Dai was left speechless. What kind of answer was that?!

Yao Yuliang, however, was thrilled. Smiling broadly, he said, "Yes, yes, yes! Brother Yan and I drove you here together. You gave me quite a beating all the way, and even dislocated my shoulder."

Zhou Sinian stepped forward very seriously, pinched Yao Yuliang's shoulder, and reminisced for a moment, "It seems you're right."

Far from dodging, Yao Yuliang actually leaned his body sideways to let him pinch. "See? That's exactly the feeling!"

Ming Dai: ......

With Zhou Sinian being this much of a handful, you and Mayor Wei are both inextricably tied up in this mess!

After finishing their bizarre trip down memory lane, Secretary Yao looked at Zhou Sinian, his eyes turning slightly red, and turned to Ming Dai to express his solemn gratitude.

"Little educated youth Ming, Brother Yan has told me everything. Thanks to you, Mr. Zhou managed to avoid disaster. I am truly, truly grateful!"

Ming Dai asked with mild curiosity, "Did you know Zhou Sinian before this?"

Yao Yuliang nodded. "I've known him since I was a child. I'm an orphan; when I was little, Miss Bai picked me up and brought me back to the Bai family, so she's practically my savior. If not for her, I would have frozen to death on the streets.

"Old Master Bai is a kind man. He took me in and had me study alongside Brother Yan as a companion reader. Brother Yan treats me like his own younger brother. Later on, whenever he went off to join the army, I followed along.

"When Mr. Zhou was a child, I often played with him. Later, when he went to the base, Brother Yan was busy and had no time to visit him, so I was always the one who went.

"Mr. Zhou was also exceptionally capable, standing out among so many children at the base and stepping up the ranks all the way to his later position. He is a genuine king of soldiers!

"If not for the events that happened afterward, his achievements would have been immeasurable!"

Ming Dai nodded. So that was how it was.

Zhou Sinian watched the visibly stirred Yao Yuliang and instinctively retreated a step behind Ming Dai, feeling that the man's gaze was somewhat strange.

Ming Dai, however, understood. Translated into the terminology of her previous life, Yao Yuliang was likely Zhou Sinian's fan, holding him in deep respect and admiration.

Knowing that Yao Yuliang was about to leave with the vehicle, Ming Dai stopped reminiscing and brought up the matters concerning Ma Yinglong and Gao Qiao.

At the mere mention of Gao Qiao's name, Yao Yuliang's expression soured, clearly reminded of something ominous.

He gritted his teeth as he looked at Zhou Sinian. "If she really has a problem, we are in deep trouble!

"Gao Qiao is a very renowned doctor in Song City and has handled medical treatments for many important figures, including military leadership and experimental experts at the base!

"Back then, when Mr. Zhou was sent to the Song City hospital for treatment, it was Gao Qiao who took him in!"

Ming Dai nodded. The very thing she feared had come to pass.

"Then she might have tampered with Zhou Sinian's injuries. Even if she didn't do it personally, she very well could have delayed the optimal window for treatment."

With a heavy expression, Yao Yuliang looked at Zhou Sinian and nodded slowly. "At that time, she issued a critical condition notice for Mr. Zhou. It was Brother Yan who refused to give up, forcefully escorting Mr. Zhou all the way north to Beijing for medical care."

His brow furrowed deeply. "If she truly has a problem, then the causes of death for all the patients who passed away under her care over the years might be questionable."

Ming Dai understood his implication: he suspected Gao Qiao of using her official position to murder these individuals. After all, these people were talents who had made special contributions to the country; the loss of any single one of them was a major blow to the nation!

The situation was grave. Yao Yuliang carefully inquired about the details Ming Dai and Zhou Sinian had overheard.

After a moment of deep thought, he spoke. "There must be someone behind Gao Qiao. I will report back to Brother Yan, immediately interrogate Wang Youcai, and once we extract Ma Yinglong's identity, I'll bring people over to capture Ma Yinglong first. We'll see if we can force Gao Qiao to contact her superior."

Ming Dai nodded, agreeing that this was the best course of action.

At the same time, she reminded him, "Both Gao Qiao and Ma Yinglong mentioned Lookout Mountain, saying that the items hidden there are the most important. I don't know what that signifies—does Secretary Yao know what is located there?"

Yao Yuliang pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "I really don't know about that. However, Old Master Bai and the young master happen to be exiled there."

Ming Dai hesitated briefly before speaking her mind. "I have a feeling Gao Qiao is very likely to take people to Lookout Mountain."

Yao Yuliang looked at her approvingly. She was indeed clever; no wonder Brother Yan wanted to take her as his goddaughter.

"Don't you worry about that; I will discuss it with Brother Yan. You two must also be careful and try your best not to let anyone discover that you've been drawn into this! Take this number. If anything happens, you can call it—this line is secure. Brother Yan and I will handle any problems, so you must never take risks!"

Ming Dai accepted the slip of paper with the number and nodded.

Pressed for time, Yao Yuliang gave a few more parting instructions and hurriedly boarded the vehicle to leave.

Ming Dai and Zhou Sinian also intended to return to Liujiawan.

Fearing that Zhou Sinian might be spotted appearing alongside her, Ming Dai rode the bicycle back for the remainder of the journey.

The awkward posture throughout the trip drew the gazes of passersby along the road, making Ming Dai feel as though she had lost all her face!

A women's bicycle was an absolute necessity that needed to be arranged!

When they reached Liujiawan, it happened to be the start of the work shift, so very few people were around.

As they passed the educated youth point, the door swung open, and out stepped Chen Erhong.

Seeing the pair of trousers Chen Erhong held in her hand and catching the faint scent of blood, Ming Dai realized that the girl had accidentally stained her clothes and returned to change.

Ming Dai intended to ride straight home, but to her surprise, Chen Erhong called out to her.

"Educated Youth Ming!"

Ming Dai halted her movements and looked back at her, puzzled as to why the girl was calling her. Ever since arriving in the countryside, the two of them had zero interaction.

Chen Erhong bit her lower lip and spoke, "Educated Youth Ming, are you back from taking the exam? How did you do?"

Ming Dai looked at her somewhat strangely. "I did quite well. I passed, of course!"

Chen Erhong stared at her in a daze, taking a long while before replying, "Is that so?"

Sensing that the look Chen Erhong was giving her was rather bizarre, Ming Dai ignored her and pushed her bicycle forward.

What she did not know was that as she turned the corner toward her home, Chen Erhong stared at her disappearing back with eyes full of venom, clutching the trousers in her hand so tightly that she remained motionless for a long time.

Upon returning home, Ming Dai parked the bicycle and entered the space to find Zhou Sinian.