Xia Xiaolan released her grip on the electric shock device.

She had not only heard “Kang Wei’s” name but also saw him running toward them as she looked up.

She didn’t recognize the young man, but since he was with Kang Wei, he was naturally helping her.

“Kang Wei, you’re here.”

Kang Wei was impressed – how could she remain so calm in this situation?

The red armband wearers were furious and about to hit Shao Rongyong, but Kang Wei swung a coat rack, shouting, “Come on then! Let’s see which blind fool dares to make a move!”

While Kang Wei was angry, Shao Rongyong was more excited about the spectacle.

Xia Xiaolan quickly explained the situation from the side, “They claim to be police!”

If they were police, Kang Wei would be in trouble for hitting them. Xia Xiaolan’s argument with them was different – she had the advantage of public sympathy due to her gender.

Kang Wei grabbed a wooden stick to strike with, and Shao Rongyong joined in the commotion – both had experience in group fights.

A short but sturdy man pushed through the crowd, “No fighting, no fighting…”

He was the driver arranged by Secretary Hou.

The driver didn’t fight back when the red armband wearers struck him, but when someone tried to hit Shao Rongyong with a stick, he grabbed it and effortlessly snapped the infant-arm-thick wooden pole in half, tossing it aside.

“I said no fighting!”

The driver couldn’t risk either Shao Rongyong or Kang Wei getting hurt and facing the consequences.

The short, stocky driver was unassuming in appearance, but his actions proved decisive. All the red armband wearers were knocked down, while the driver barely lost a hair. His moves were quick, precise, and ruthless – far from the amateur flailing of ordinary people.

This escalated the situation, attracting the attention of real police.

Including Xia Xiaolan, everyone was taken to the nearest police station on charges of disturbing public order.

“Name, age, household registration location, and home address.”

The police kept everyone in one room – this wasn’t a major case, so they weren’t worried about collusion.

Shao Rongyong seemed like he was on stimulants, constantly winking at Kang Wei, who felt embarrassed and turned his head away. Shao Rongyong then secretly glanced at Xia Xiaolan.

So this was Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend.

Zhou Cheng had found such a beautiful girlfriend.

Shao Rongyong was stunned at first sight, feeling it was only natural – how could someone as picky as Zhou Cheng fall for anyone less beautiful?

No wonder Zhou Cheng cared so much. Even Shao Rongyong, who considered himself experienced with women after dating seven or eight girlfriends, was captivated upon first seeing Xia Xiaolan. His excitement had another reason – his big mouth had spread the news of Zhou Cheng’s relationship everywhere, and he feared Zhou Cheng might settle scores later. Unexpectedly, following Kang Wei to Shangdu had led to “rescuing” his future sister-in-law.

He had fought hard earlier, hoping his future sister-in-law would notice and remember his efforts!

“I asked for your name! Sit up straight and answer!”

The police officer impatiently pushed Shao Rongyong.

“Shao Rongyong.”

“Age and home address – what’s so glorious about you? Look what you did to those people!”

The short driver had asked to make a phone call upon entering the station, while the police told them all to behave. Shao Rongyong was particularly uncooperative, and Li Fengmei, experiencing such a place for the first time, was too frightened to speak coherently.

Xia Xiaolan maintained clear thinking and explained how the red armband wearers appeared and how she responded, insisting that Kang Wei, Shao Rongyong, and the driver had acted in righteous defense, only fighting to save her.

Xia Xiaolan innocently asked the interrogating officer:

“Officer, were they con men?”

The officer’s expression darkened.

None of the beaten men were police – they were members of the “Joint Defense Team.” With this year’s Strike Hard campaign approaching and severe police shortages, many civilian-police joint defense teams have been formed.

They usually assisted police work, participating in patrols, duty, checkpoints, and surveillance to prevent and stop illegal activities – similar to auxiliary police in later years.

Many people had witnessed what happened. The police station arrested everyone because the joint defense team members were severely beaten. The team members had their side too – someone had reported Xia Xiaolan for selling fake goods at high prices, and they were investigating. They claimed Xia Xiaolan refused to cooperate and had people beat them!

“You don’t recognize Joint Defense Team members?”

Xia Xiaolan looked innocent: “No, I’m just a country girl who recently came to the city. When they said they’d take me to the police station, I just asked if they were police and if they had ID, but those comrades got angry and tried to use force.”

Though police officers were typically more strong-willed than ordinary people, even he felt like he was forcing a confession when faced with Xia Xiaolan’s watery eyes.

Beauty could be misleading!

“Xiao Ping, you question her!”

He decided to let the female officer who had just entered handle Xia Xiaolan’s interrogation.

Xia Xiaolan looked up and found the female officer somewhat familiar.

The female officer was also stunned.

“From Anqing? You’re Xia Xiaolan, right?”

This Xiao Ping was none other than Zhuo Weiping, the female officer from Anqing County Police Station who had once taken Xia Xiaolan’s statement.

Xia Xiaolan had been ambushed by three thugs with ill intentions, and Zhuo Weiping knew the details. Later, when Zhou Cheng and Kang Wei reported Zhang Erlai for embezzlement, Zhang Erlai insisted Zhou and Kang were seeking personal revenge, speaking ill of “Xia Xiaolan,” which had made Zhuo Weiping suspicious.

Chief Liang at Anqing County Police Station had set the tone for the case, so Zhuo Weiping hadn’t investigated further.

Unexpectedly, after transferring back to Shangdu’s police system last month, she now saw Xia Xiaolan at the station. Zhuo Weiping instinctively looked around, not seeing Zhou Cheng but spotting Kang Wei.

Zhuo Weiping thought this must be what the ancients meant by “beauty brings disaster!”

Xia Xiaolan’s “record” was impressive – she had helped the Anqing police station meet four Strike Hard campaign quotas. Zhuo Weiping assumed the joint defense team members might have tried to take advantage of Xia Xiaolan’s beauty.

Unexpectedly, Xia Xiaolan’s fierce response and her helpers had turned the tables, leaving the joint defense team members beaten instead.

Xia Xiaolan also recognized Zhuo Weiping – the female officer had comforted her well back then and had a good temperament.

Sure enough, Zhuo Weiping softened her voice, “You’ve had quite some bad luck. Don’t worry, just explain everything clearly. The police station won’t wrong innocent people.”

Shao Rongyong had expected intense interrogation but found the police officers increasingly polite.

It was bizarre – Xia Xiaolan hadn’t just bewitched Zhou Cheng, she seemed to charm everyone regardless of gender… Look at that female officer’s gentle tone, as if speaking loudly might frighten Xia Xiaolan.

The driver, seeing attention had shifted elsewhere, lowered his voice and said:

“Don’t worry, I’ve already had someone notify Secretary Hou.”