Chapter 19: The Grand Spectacle

“Hello, is this the Nagai Road Police Station? I’d like to confirm—there’s a reward for reporting gambling, right?”

“Yes, may I ask if you have any leads?”

Outside the Da Mao residential complex, at a street corner, inside the phone booth across the road, Zhai Da had already dialed the police.

“I can’t give you the lead just yet. Could you explain the rules regarding the reward for reporting? Also, how is the reward distributed, how is the informant’s safety ensured, and is it taxed?”

On the other end, the seasoned policeman’s voice carried a hint of lecturing, sensing Zhai Da’s youthful tone and the non-urgent nature of the call: “Young man, reporting gambling is about maintaining social order. Are you a student? You shouldn’t be so calculating…”

“Oh... then I’ll report it to another station.”

Zhai Da was about to hang up, but the policeman quickly interjected, “Wait… hold on. Let me check the materials. Don’t hang up. I’ll transfer you to another extension; this line can’t be occupied too long.”

The call went silent with beeping sounds, reconnecting about three minutes later:

“According to the latest Interim Measures for Rewarding Informants Who Report Illegal Gambling Activities: For seized gambling funds under 10,000 yuan, the reward is between 100 and 500 yuan.

“For amounts between 10,000 and 100,000 yuan, the reward is 3% of the seized funds.

“For amounts from 100,000 to 500,000 yuan, the reward is 5%.

“For sums above 500,000 yuan, the reward is 6%.

“The maximum reward for a single case shall not exceed 60,000 yuan.”

Zhai Da had already researched this online; the reason for calling again was to make sure the station took his report seriously and that the reward was genuine, not a mere formality.

By these rules, as long as the gambling sum exceeded seventy thousand yuan, his 2,000-yuan shortfall would be covered.

“How do you ensure the safety of the informant?”

“You have to trust the police.”

The older officer, unconcerned, assumed this was probably a student whose family members were gambling, and the young man might have had a dispute with his parents, wanting to act righteously.

Sending a patrol officer to knock on a door would suffice; it wasn’t a major issue, nor would anyone actually be arrested.

But then came the unexpected reply: “I can trust the rules, but not necessarily the people who enforce them.”

This was not 2024... August, and it was a small county town—caution was necessary.

In fact, Zhai Da had a backup plan: he intended to leave a record with the "S Long Hotline," since Dongyang County belonged to “Qian City,” where every report had to receive a response and follow-up.

The older policeman sighed and said:

“You can report anonymously. We will provide a unique ‘informant code,’ like a verification code. Later, you can claim your reward at the station by simply describing the process using this code. No need to appear in person or present any ID.”

Zhai Da nodded inwardly; that was a good method.

He could have someone else collect the reward—someone like Wu Yue, who was simple-minded and perfect for the task.

“How long does it usually take to receive the reward?”

“That depends on the complexity of the case. If the gambling funds are all cash, it can be sorted out in one night. After completing the procedures... about three days.”

The call lasted more than ten minutes until finally, Zhai Da shared his lead and received his “informant code.”

He also warned that while the size of the gambling operation was uncertain, there were many people involved—around twenty, including gamblers and lookouts. It was a prime opportunity to catch them in the act, so they needed to act fast.

Hearing the scale, the officer on the other end seemed more attentive.

After hanging up, Zhai Da left the phone booth and headed to the street’s outdoor gym equipment. Lu Wei sat quietly on a device whose name he couldn’t recall, patiently waiting.

Zhai Da plopped down beside her. “The call’s done. There’s no turning back now.”

There were no streetlights here; Lu Wei couldn’t read. She held Zhai Da’s energy bar with both hands and whispered, “No regrets.”

Zhai Da asked, “This won’t affect your life, right?”

He immediately felt he’d asked a foolish question.

With a father like hers, even if she got caught up in this, it would be for the better.

As expected, Lu Wei shook her head: “No, he rarely comes home.”

The two concealed themselves in the darkness, waiting for things to unfold.

Zhai Da had already called Yu Xiaoli, telling a little white lie about going to Wu Yue’s house to hang out and eat. He was currently neglecting his studies, and Mrs. Yu didn’t mind much.

To avoid standing out at night, Zhai Da had taken off his blue-and-white school uniform jacket and tied it around his waist. But after wearing it all day, the short-sleeved shirt underneath smelled slightly of sweat.

They fell into a brief silence. Suddenly, Zhai Da realized he’d been avoiding deeper conversations with Lu Wei, never asking how she truly felt about reporting her own father, nor trying to comfort or persuade her.

This seemingly emotionless girl had been swept along by him into a strange “mission,” like a puppet being pushed forward.

Feeling a twinge of guilt, Zhai Da broke the silence: “Is your hand injury still not healed?”

The last time he’d noticed several band-aids on Lu Wei’s hand; today, there was no improvement.

“It’s healed, but there are new ones.”

“Does it hurt? Like a needle prick?”

“Yeah, it hurts... but I can bear it.”

“Is it tiring at the factory?”

“Tiring... but I can bear it.”

Zhai Da sighed. Was she some kind of turtle enduring all this?

“Working isn’t just about skill—you need tact. Know when to slack off and when to step up... safety comes first.”

“You helped me so much this time; I’ll speak up for you with my mom later.”

He had always wanted to use connections, but this was the first time he felt what it was like to be the ‘backdoor’ for someone else.

The factory’s backdoor? Just do two fewer pieces of clothing a day—it’s easy!

To Lu Wei, he was “the only official second-generation allowed.”

Suddenly, two men emerged from the side gate of Da Mao complex—one of the lookout crew from that day.

Already alert, Zhai Da immediately grabbed Lu Wei and pulled her back into the shadows, hiding thoroughly.

Lu Wei made a soft sound but didn’t resist.

The two lookouts glanced around, focusing mainly on the street ahead, oblivious to the pair a few dozen meters away.

Zhai Da had chosen this spot well; a step back meant total darkness and no surveillance cameras.

After a while, two black sedans pulled up, and several people got out.

The two lookouts immediately approached them.

From a distance, Zhai Da couldn’t see clearly, but their shouted plastic Japanese phrases—“Everyone go! Everyone go!” “Hey! Count it, count it!”—were unmistakable across the street.

Zhai Da thought for a moment: This little gambling den has quite the business... even foreigners?

The dealer sending someone to greet them suggested they were big spenders... or prime targets.

This was about to get interesting.

He didn’t mind—as long as the police didn’t go easy because foreigners were involved.

Also, Lu Wei’s father might end up in custody longer.

Once everyone had entered, Zhai Da relaxed slightly.

Lu Wei smelled of clean laundry detergent—pleasant and comforting.

They stayed very close, pressed together to avoid revealing the limited shadow area; Zhai Da was practically holding Lu Wei.

This girl was truly slender—as if a gust of wind could topple her. He felt his single arm could wrap fully around her waist.

Honestly, it wasn’t romantic.

It only reaffirmed to Zhai Da that reporting Lu Wei’s father was the right choice.

Lu Wei showed no shyness or lowered gaze, no struggle, her expression calm.

She simply felt the faint, slightly sweaty warmth of his chest—a strange sensation.

A mosquito flew past Lu Wei’s eyes and landed on Zhai Da’s chest, or rather, right before Lu Wei’s eyes.

She stared for a moment but didn’t swat or kill it.

As if possessed, she suddenly butted him with her forehead.

“Ouch!”

Zhai Da looked at her in shock. Was she really some sort of turtle?

“What was that for?”

“There’s... a mosquito.”

Rubbing his chest, he realized she’d hit the exact spot between his ribs.

“You headbutted a mosquito? Did it die?”

“No... it flew away.”

“So I got hit for nothing? You could’ve just blown it away!”

The awkward moment was broken by her headbutt.

After they separated, neither mentioned the brief embrace.

Another ten minutes passed when more vehicles arrived at the intersection.

Four sedans and a white Iveco van.

The sedan passengers were clearly not ordinary people; they glanced around and began preparing batons and handcuffs.

No need to mention the Iveco van—fully armed personnel, some holding shields.

Zhai Da clicked his tongue.

Tonight’s operation was going to be serious.