How You Can Sue Me for My Crimes in Dreams

People have a tendency to stick together for warmth. This is especially true for those at the bottom.

Beggars do it, and so do the sick.

For beggars, it’s the Beggar Gang. For the sick, it’s...

”Support groups, mutual aid associations.”

Looking at Qian Hua, Xu Huo spoke slowly.

The names were self-explanatory: small groups that provided a space for patients to connect with one another.

Their members weren’t necessarily all patients themselves, but they all had a patient in their family.

”Hmm?” A few of the junior police officers frowned, not quite understanding.

”So where can we find them?”

Where indeed.

These days, unless you’d been seriously ill, you probably wouldn’t know about these little groups.

It couldn’t be helped. The internet was still in its infancy, its reach severely limited. According to official data, there were only sixteen computers for every thousand people on average.

This restricted communication and the flow of information to closed circles. If you weren’t part of one, you’d likely never hear about them.

As for where...

”Everywhere.”

Xu Huo paused, turning his head to look outside the hospital.

”Their people are everywhere!”

...

...

Where did the members of these patient support groups usually live?

In the hospital, and around it.

In truth, even with widespread internet access and a free flow of information, most people have no idea what life is like for someone who’s been pushed to the brink.

What did these people eat? Where did they live?

The breakfast sold at the hospital?

The hospital did sell a wide variety of breakfast items around 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning, but that was for the regular patients.

But for the members of the patient support groups, those with terminal illnesses...

They lived in the areas surrounding the hospital.

On the main street, perhaps, or in a small corner that offered meager shelter from the elements.

Of course, some stayed inside the hospital. Patients needed looking after, after all. But the companion cots cost money, so more often than not, people slept in the hallways and emergency passages. And if they got in the way of normal hospital operations, they lost even that privilege.

As for where to find them...

It was simple. Go to the cheapest eateries, the vegetable markets after the stalls have closed, the areas near the most grueling, back-breaking jobs.

You could always find one.

The hospital was a Grade A facility with strict management, so there weren’t many people fitting the description inside. The police decided to search outside.

It was easy to get information.

Hardly any of the local residents were unaware of these people. Xu Huo and the others asked for directions as they walked.

’Come to think of it, in his past life, there had been a Lord Stove and a Stove King’s Mother.’

’Their shop had been near a hospital. It was a sort of ”one-yuan kitchen,” charging only for fuel. The stoves were free to use, and they’d even provide a bit of oil, salt, soy sauce, or vinegar. They helped countless people.’

’They were honored as national heroes, but even on the day of the award ceremony, they chose to remain in their shop rather than attend the live broadcast.’

There was no such ”one-yuan kitchen” in Linlan City.

But it wasn’t without similar good-hearted people. Following a local’s directions, Xu Huo pushed aside the curtain flap of a small restaurant. His eyes swept across the room and immediately locked onto one person in the crowd.

”Officers, officers, what can I...”

The owner at the counter started, then quickly put on an obsequious smile and hurried over.

Xu Huo ignored him, his gaze fixed on another person.

”You’re Chen Gong, right?”

The person was wearing a threadbare, washed-out undershirt. He was painfully thin, little more than skin and bones, and looked to be only fifteen or sixteen.

He was eating.

And all he was eating was rice.

It was a large bowl of plain white rice, with a splash of soy sauce and a tiny dollop of lard drizzled on top. A quick stir, and that was his meal.

Hearing the commotion, he looked up in a daze. He glanced around before finally noticing the group of police officers standing behind him.

”You’re just eating this?”

Qian Hua’s brow furrowed.

Before he could answer, Xu Huo’s next question came immediately.

”The Lung Cancer Mutual Aid Association. Where’s the chairman?” he asked, referring to the information he’d written in his notebook from the locals.

In those days, not many people had computers. For the support groups, information about meetings to discuss their conditions was sent either by computer or via mobile phone.

”The chairman?”

”You’re looking for the chairman...?” Chen Gong, still just a boy, looked even more bewildered.

”There’s been an incident related to your Mutual Aid Association,” Qian Hua explained. ”We need to speak with your chairman about the case.”

Chen Gong was simple-minded. A boy in his mid-teens, he hadn’t been exposed to the flood of information that kids in a later era would be. He had no ulterior motives.

”Brother Hai just got off his shift, so he’s probably at his second job... He should be at the gardens...”

”I’ll take you to him.”

With that, Chen Gong abandoned his meal, jumped up, and hurried outside to lead the way.

Xu Huo glanced at the bowl on the table, then pulled several hundred-yuan bills from his pocket. He placed the cash on the counter and gave the owner a meaningful look. The owner understood immediately and took the money without a word.

It wasn’t a huge amount, but it was enough for the boy to afford meat for a month or two.

He then went out to rejoin the police.

Wang Hu wasn’t with the group. He reappeared a moment later.

He was carrying a plastic bag with a food container inside. He’d already opened the lid, and the steaming aroma of meat wafted out.

”You didn’t get to finish your meal. Here, eat this on the way. There’s no rush.”

Wang Hu thrust it toward Chen Gong with a stern expression. Before Chen Gong could say anything, Wang Hu quickly hopped into the front passenger seat.

Chen Gong looked bewildered. Xu Huo nodded. ”Go ahead and eat.”

The group got into the car. Chen Gong swallowed hard, then sat in the back and began to wolf down the food.

The Mutual Aid Association chairman’s afternoon workplace, a garden, wasn’t far—just six kilometers from the hospital.

There was a small park with a large flower bed at its center.

At 4:30 PM, the police arrived.

They spotted him in the crowd the moment they got out of the car.

The chairman was easy to spot, which was likely due to his profession.

He was a clown.

A clown in comical makeup, complete with a red nose and an absurdly large wig.

The temperature hadn’t dropped much in early October, and the past two days had been scorching. Yet, the man was layered in a thick clown costume. He forced a smile as he used exaggerated movements to attract children, all while holding balloons and other trinkets, trying his best to sell them to the adults in the park.

Wang Hu took a deep drag on his cigarette and flicked the butt away. He turned to look at Qian Hua.

”Xiao Yuan, go bring him to the station.”

The man needed to come to the station and work with the desk officers to provide any useful leads.

Qian Hua was tongue-tied. To be honest, he didn’t quite have the heart to go up to him... That was it, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. For some reason, a single glance at the clown filled him with a sense of powerlessness.

He turned his head to look at Xu Huo at his side. Xu Huo was giving him a sideways glance.

”You want me to go?”

”I’m not a police officer, you know.”

Qian Hua: ...

He let out a quiet sigh and started walking forward.

”Wait. Buy everything he has,” Xu Huo said suddenly, taking out the rest of his cash and pressing it into Qian Hua’s hand.

Seeing this, Wang Hu sighed. With a case this big, he hadn’t had the presence of mind to bring any money. He didn’t have a single yuan on him; he’d had to borrow cash from a junior police officer just to buy the boxed meal earlier.

He’d even written an IOU with his phone number on it.

Qian Hua didn’t hesitate. He took the money and walked forward.

But before he could even speak, the chairman saw his police uniform and froze. A flicker of panic crossed his face, and he immediately began gathering his things, keeping his head down as he prepared to leave.

”Wait, don’t go! I’m not code enforcement! I’m not here to confiscate your things!”

Qian Hua quickly tried to stop him, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

”There’s been a case in Linlan City, and we need your cooperation with the investigation, Mr. Jiang. The police department will offer you a generous reward for your time!”

”No, I’m not going...”

Jiang Hai kept his head lowered, his emaciated frame trembling as he anxiously gathered his belongings.

”Just cooperate with us. It doesn’t matter if the case gets solved, or if you even provide any useful leads...”

”The police will buy everything you have here!”

Qian Hua glanced at the man’s wares, then pulled most of the money out of his own wallet.

”For double the price.”

Jiang Hai hesitated. He looked at Qian Hua with wary eyes, but when his gaze fell upon the banknotes, he stared.

After a long moment, whatever he was thinking, he finally steeled himself. His heart began to pound.

”Alright!”