A Dream of Justice: The First Lady Constable | Chapter 2 | The Search Party Arrives | Novela.app

I dreamed of Gu Xin again. Back at the Police Academy, we both studied narcotics interdiction, though he was a year ahead of me. In my memory, he was the type of "good kid" who kept his head buried in books, focused entirely on his studies, and rarely participated in student union activities. I never expected we would be assigned to the same unit after graduation. I still remember my first day reporting for duty, carrying my travel bag. Gu Xin had squeezed through the crowd to give me a brilliant smile, boasting to those around him, "That pretty one there is my junior from the academy." ... Stop thinking about it. Don't think about it. I couldn't figure out if he had always been that way, or if he had changed bit by bit after spending too much time dealing with drug traffickers. After all, we had been colleagues for six or seven years. Now, all I could remember were those once-beautiful fragments: Gu Xin frowning as he sang an unrecognizable English song at a New Year’s party... A late autumn night, chasing dealers through a dense forest in the pouring rain. Gu Xin had suddenly tackled me to the ground from the side. Caught off guard, I had face-planted into the mud, nearly choking on the slush, just as a bullet whistled dangerously over my head... "Are we really going to keep this child?" a woman’s voice asked softly near my ear. A man’s voice sighed. "She’s just a child. Can we really just watch her starve to death?" "Raising one son is already..." The woman’s voice sounded troubled, trailing off into a long sigh as if she had encountered a monumental problem. "Looking at her clothes, she must be from a wealthy family," the man comforted her. "Her family is bound to come looking for her." The woman sighed again but said nothing more. A young boy’s voice cut in urgently, "Why isn't she waking up yet?" As he spoke, a small hand reached out to pry at my eyelid. I suddenly realized they were talking about me. It occurred to me then that between life and death, an immeasurable distance now lay between the current me and the old me. I didn't even have the chance to settle scores with Gu Xin anymore... A wave of listlessness washed over me. For at least two years before my death, catching Gu Xin and bringing him and every member of the massive drug network behind him to justice had been the sole purpose of my life. I won't deny there was a personal desire for revenge, for he had betrayed the ideals we once shared. But now... Having left my familiar world, what could I even do? I knew judo and grappling; I was skilled in various combat techniques. I could treat simple wounds, ride a horse, drive a car, pull all-nighters, and accurately distinguish between different types of narcotics. I could manage to get clothes somewhat clean, but I couldn't cook, and I had no idea how to handle domestic chores... What could a person like me do in this world? The result of this analysis only left me feeling doubly discouraged. Still, I woke up. I had to wake up, because the people who had saved me were an ordinary hunter’s family in a mountain village. They had only a tiny vegetable garden, and their primary livelihood came from the game the head of the household caught. This income was not only unreliable but also incredibly grueling to earn. Just like now, as dusk began to fall, the father and son had yet to return. The wife, looking miserable, kept the dinner simmering in an iron pot while she sat on a small stool by the door, gazing anxiously toward the mountain path. I felt it was time for us to talk. "Sister Xing," I said, sitting down at the dining table in the main room, clutching my small bundle. "I have something to say to you." Sister Xing looked at me with confusion. She probably hadn't expected a child to speak to her with such a serious, formal air. After a moment of hesitation, she cautiously sat down across from me. She was likely around my age—my *real* age, in her twenties—but perhaps due to malnutrition or the hardships of mountain life, she had developed premature wrinkles. If she could put on a little weight and relax her brow, she would likely be a delicate and pretty woman. I could see that much from her son. "You..." My scrutiny seemed to overwhelm her. Her lips trembled twice before she summoned the courage to speak first. "Don't you worry, your family will surely come for you." Those words were kind enough. Based on that sentiment alone, I made my decision. I opened the bundle, revealing the two or three outfits and several pieces of jewelry, and pushed them toward her. I didn't know much about gold and silver, but the craftsmanship of the jewelry looked decent; they should be worth something. Sister Xing was visibly startled by my actions, stammering, "You... you..." "Sister Xing, take these and pawn them," I said, choosing my words carefully. "I’m eating and living here, yet I can't help with the work. Use these to get some money to help with the household expenses." Sister Xing hesitated clearly. "I can't let you raise me for nothing," I added. "Consider this payment for my room and board." She was still wavering. I could see she was truly a kind soul; even though her life was hard, she wasn't the type to take advantage of others. I pushed the items closer to her. Since I had to stay here for the time being, it was necessary to maintain good "military-civilian relations." Sister Xing finally accepted them with lingering hesitation, and when she looked at me again, there was a touch of guilt in her eyes. Striking while the iron was hot, I added, "Don't tell Uncle Xing or Xiaohu about this." This was the most I had spoken in a single day. Ever since I discovered this wasn't Xi Xia’s body, I hadn't been fond of talking, mostly because the voice wasn't my own. As for the trouble caused by my appearance, it wasn't a big deal—I never liked looking in mirrors anyway. Now, I was just continuing that habit; after all, the face in the mirror belonged to someone else. My attempt at bribery was effective. That night at dinner, Sister Xing took the initiative to give me an extra half-bowl of rice. Three days after I handed over my "dowry" to Sister Xing, she made a trip to town. By the time dusk fell, she returned carrying a sack of flour and two or three bolts of fabric. I guessed she had pawned my belongings. Over the next two days, she used a piece of red cloth printed with tiny flowers to sew me a short jacket. With that, I was officially settled in their home for the time being. Life in the mountain village was peaceful. Perhaps a bit *too* peaceful. Having not enjoyed a quiet life for many years, I found it quite difficult to adjust. My hands and feet began to itch for action. I discovered once again that the habit of practicing martial arts every morning and evening was incredibly hard to break. Thus, the curious Xiaohu became my first audience. Two days later, he officially took up the post as my first sparring partner. However, the days of having a sparring partner only lasted until the third evening. As dusk fell, I was in the kitchen with Sister Xing preparing dinner when someone pushed open the creaking courtyard gate and shouted at the top of their lungs, "Laixing’s wife! Laixing’s wife!" Sister Xing went out, looking puzzled. I heard many people chattering outside, but it wasn't Xiaohu and his father; they were never that noisy when they returned. My curiosity was piqued, and I couldn't help but poke my head out to look. It was dark outside, and I couldn't see much, only that the courtyard seemed full of people. Just as I was hesitating to pull my head back in, a sudden cry erupted from the crowd, and a massive figure lunged forward, pulling me into a tight embrace. Immediately, the scent of rouge and powder filled my nostrils; it wasn't pungent, but it wasn't pleasant either. I frowned, instinctively trying to push her away. To my surprise, she held on even tighter, wailing loudly as she hugged me, "Heaven be praised! Heaven be praised! Third Miss, you nearly scared us to death!" I froze. She knew me? At that moment, another small figure approached from behind her. She carefully took one of my hands, sobbing, "Third Miss, you're still alive... that's just... wonderful." I struggled to look past the two plump arms squeezing me. A delicate-looking young maid was bowing her head and wiping away tears; she looked thin and small, perhaps eleven or twelve years old. "A-Liang, look at yourself. Hurry and let go of the Third Miss." A middle-aged man’s voice sounded from behind the large woman. It was somewhat low, carrying a hint of unintentional authority. Looking toward the sound, I saw a man who was neither tall nor burly, yet he radiated a sharp, formidable aura. This serious-looking man was also scrutinizing me. Even in the darkness, I could clearly feel the faint warmth flowing in his gaze. I looked at him, then at the large woman, then at the delicate young maid. Suddenly, my throat felt dry. This was just great—the "relatives" had found me. What was I supposed to do? The large woman looked at me, then looked doubtfully at the man behind her. The man’s gaze was deep as he gave her an imperceptible look. I went on high alert, watching her every move. But she simply gave me a reassuring smile and reached into my collar. I was about to dodge when she pulled out a silver chain from around my neck. Hanging from the chain was a small, delicate silver lock with characters engraved on both sides. Unfortunately, I couldn't read them. Seeing the silver lock, the large woman finally breathed a sigh of relief, her face blooming like a bright flower. She looked at me, then at the man, and said uncertainly, "It is indeed the Third Miss. But why does she seem not to recognize us?" The man frowned, muttering to himself, "Could she have been traumatized by the fright?" The large woman hugged me again. To be honest, I really didn't remember ever being hugged like this by anyone. My mother had divorced my father when I was very young and left home; I had almost no memory of her. Growing up, my father was my only family, and even he had passed away in a car accident during my sophomore year of college. Though the large woman’s hug was a bit uncomfortable, the genuine joy radiating from her was actually quite touching. I was busy guessing who they were to me when I heard her say while wiping her tears, "Good child, your father and mother have been worried sick, and your brothers and sisters have been frantic too. Now everything is fine... Heaven be praised..." My father and mother? And brothers and sisters? My curiosity, without me realizing it, began to stir once again.