"Officers, I have a tip. Once I saw Lin Baoshan having a meal with some petty criminals, and it looked like he secretly gave them money. You know, who just gives away money for no reason? There must be some deal going on between them."

Thus, under the diligent investigation of the police officers, the petty criminals were quickly brought back to the police station.

In front of ordinary folks, the petty criminals act tough and arrogant, but in front of the police, they’re quite cowardly. Before long, they confessed, and even dragged Lin Baoshan into it.

Apparently, a long time ago, Lin Baoshan had bribed them to harass Yuan Chun, thinking it would help him pursue a wife.

As a result, Lin Baoshan not only was charged with instigating theft but also with fraud, and along with another crime of ruining shoes, he faced a combined ten years of labor reform.

Li Yimin was sentenced to three years, Captain Li to five years.

...

"Yuan Chun, I heard there was a thief in your house, are you alright?"

The next day, Yuan Chun went to the canteen for lunch and saw Yun Xiaohu waiting in line. She quickly handed him an empty lunch box and some money notes, saying, "I want braised tofu. I’ve brought meat sauce and pickled eggs, so don’t buy pickled eggs. I’ll go grab a seat."

Yun Xiaohu opened his mouth to speak but seeing so many eyes on them, he had to patiently line up for food.

Holding several lunch boxes, Yun Xiaohu sat across from Yuan Chun and couldn’t wait to ask, "Yuan Chun, I heard from a colleague this morning that there was a thief in your house. Are you okay?"

"I’m fine. The thief got in while we were at the movies, and by the time I got home, they were gone."

Yuan Chun took out three canning jars and an aluminum lunch box from her satchel.

The lunch box contained three pickled eggs and a dozen slices of braised meat.

The three canning jars contained meat sauce, pickled vegetables, and spicy cabbage.

She had taken these out of the Jade Gourd Space in the morning. The pickled vegetables were packaged; she tore the packet and put it into the canning jar.

The spicy cabbage was something she made herself in her previous lives. She made a lot, filling several large water tanks. Yesterday, to thank her neighbors for helping the police with clues, she gave a big bowl of spicy cabbage to every neighbor in the alley.

Spicy cabbage isn’t expensive, it’s cheap and delicious. It makes a perfect token of gratitude.

Yun Xiaohu opened the lunch boxes, pushed Yuan Chun’s lunch box in front of her, and said, "Yuan Chun, in the future, let my sister and Xiao Lei keep you company. Or you could stay at the factory dormitory; it might not be very convenient, but it’s safe."

Yun Xiaoqian added, "Yuan Chun, I often go on business trips, and I don’t stay in my single dorm room that much. I can let you stay there."

Feeling the concern from her friends, Yuan Chun smiled and felt warmth in her heart, "You don’t have to worry. Those people have been caught and won’t come to my house anymore. Besides, I changed all the door locks on my house yesterday afternoon, and after this incident, my neighbors will surely keep a better eye on my house. It will be fine."

But Yun Xiaoqian and Yun Xiaohu were still worried.

However, after Yun Xiaohu tasted the spicy cabbage, he was too preoccupied with eating to speak. He ignored the eggplant stew he ordered and focused solely on the spicy cabbage.

"Yuan Chun, what... what is this dish? It’s so delicious, sweet, sour, spicy—all my favorite flavors are combined in it. It’s simply the best taste on earth."

"That’s spicy cabbage, a new recipe I’ve developed." Yuan Chun didn’t dare say it was a traditional dish from another country.

"Cabbage?" Yun Xiaohu was incredulous, "I’ve eaten cabbage for so many years, and I’ve grown tired of it. I never imagined it could taste this good." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

His eyes gleamed, "Yuan Chun, later I’ll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some cabbage. You have to help me make it into spicy cabbage. Whatever seasonings you need, give me a list, and I’ll buy them."