17: Chapter 17: 200,000 Yuan Reward for Acts of Bravery?

Lin Ning was a little moved.

The idea that good deeds are rewarded has become a legend these days.

Especially after dealing with that 'aberrant species'—the child's mother, Liu Mei.

Lin Ning didn't expect rewards for being a good person anymore. In fact, if he had made a conscious, sober choice, he probably wouldn't have charged in blindly knowing how dangerous it was.

But his body moved faster than his brain; it had a mind of its own.

There was no helping that.

However, receiving genuine goodwill and gratitude in return felt heartwarming and truly wonderful.

Lin Ning watched himself in the video and felt a bit embarrassed. There were none of those mighty, agile, or handsome movements seen in novels and movies; it looked more like two turtles brawling!

“This is too embarrassing. Why do I look so clumsy?”

Director Zhang, Officer Li Feng, and the young man all burst out laughing.

Director Zhang chuckled and said, “It's fine. In reality, everyone looks like that when they fight.”

Lin Ning covered his face. “This is just too ugly. I thought there would be footage of me fighting the thug with style.”

Officer Li Feng comforted him, “It's always like this. What you see on TV is choreographed for the camera. Even when we're wrestling with criminals... cough, we just do whatever works in the moment. Who has time to worry about whether their moves look good or stylish?”

Director Zhang added, “Your reactions are very fast—that's a talent—but your physical fitness still needs work. If you didn't have something in your hands and it came down to pure hand-to-hand combat, you would have been at a disadvantage. Lin Ning, young people shouldn't just stay cooped up at home playing with their phones. You need to exercise. Health is the foundation of everything!”

Lin Ning nodded repeatedly. Exercise—he definitely had to exercise. He’d swung two chairs and still hadn't knocked the guy out; he was indeed a bit lacking.

After saying goodbye to Director Zhang, he began filling out forms under Officer Li Feng's guidance.

Once finished, Officer Li Feng walked Lin Ning to the door.

Officer Li Feng told him, “The videos you mentioned have already been reported to the platforms for removal. We will issue an official report later, but you know how the public opinion environment is these days. Many people don't believe police reports but will believe messages from unknown sources or bots. So, if negative sentiment rises again, we'll release the video.”

Lin Ning no longer had any worries. He gave an 'OK' gesture. They were being very considerate, even consulting him on this.

He asked casually, “Where's your master?”

Officer Li Feng sighed. “He fell ill as soon as he got back that night. He's showing signs of a cerebral infarction.”

“Huh?” Lin Ning was a bit surprised.

When he saw Qiu Liang that day, he looked like the quintessential police officer—full of energy, imposing, and incredibly strong.

And it had only been one day.

Officer Li Feng said, “My master was heartbroken and also scared in hindsight. Plus, he's not young anymore, and the stress just boiled over.”

Remembering something, Officer Li Feng gritted his teeth. “When Li Zhijun committed robbery years ago, my master caught him, and he was sentenced to eleven years. You know how society is now—it's hard for ex-convicts to find work, and they're out of touch with society. Life is generally difficult for them. My master saw him wandering around the community every day and felt that something bad would happen if it continued. Plus, his mother was quite pitiful. So, my master helped him set up a stall in the community to sell teppanyaki. My master even helped with the startup capital and the license.”

“In the end, that beast thanked my master profusely and promised to work hard, but then he used rotten vegetables and stinking meat. When customers got sick and confronted him, he actually dared to threaten them. Since his food was bad, business was naturally poor, so he actually went and smashed up other people's successful stalls.”

“My master responded to the call and told him to apologize and pay compensation. He went crazy, thinking his current situation was all because my master caught him back then, and he's been nursing a grudge, waiting for a chance to retaliate.”

Lin Ning also lamented, “People like that spend all day thinking the whole world has wronged them. You can't reason with them like normal people. Like that Liu Mei who sued me the other day.”

Officer Li Feng shook his head, thinking to himself that Lin Ning had only seen the tip of the iceberg.

That was why being a police officer or a doctor was so hard; it wasn't just the physical toll, but the frequent mental trauma.

The groups of people they dealt with were too unique.

He waved away the unpleasant thoughts.

Officer Li Feng lowered his voice and told Lin Ning, “The reward should be quite a bit. Usually, the city has a fixed standard. Since this is Capital, Director Zhang said there's a high chance it'll be 200,000. I heard the Sub-bureau and the station have their own separate rewards, which could be another 50,000.”

Officer Li Feng winked at Lin Ning, looking a bit smug.

Lin Ning: “???”

Wait! That much?? Lin Ning had always thought it would be five or ten thousand at most. After all, he hadn't been killed or injured, right?

Lin Ning asked excitedly, “That much? I saw in the newspapers before that they only gave five thousand.”

Officer Li Feng: “What year was that newspaper from? Ours isn't even the highest. Down in Guangdong, there are rewards of a million... cough, but it's better not to need that money.”

Lin Ning understood. “No life left to spend it, huh~”

Officer Li Feng: “...Alright, I just wanted you to have an idea. Go on, get going!”

Even if that was the case, you shouldn't say it out loud!

Especially coming from Lin Ning's mouth, it sounded so wrong.

Lin Ning chuckled and waved goodbye to Officer Li Feng.

Oh boy, oh boy!

He never expected this. This was a true windfall!

Lin Ning raised his left hand and gave it a hard kiss. “Hand of God! From today on, you are the Hand of God!”

Lin Ning no longer disliked that his body moved faster than his brain. This was the manifestation of free will; this was heaven's arrangement!

Passersby avoided Lin Ning in alarm. Damn, kissing himself on the street? Must be a mental patient. Can't afford to mess with him!

Lin Ning didn't notice the looks or the way people dodged him at all. Even if he had, what did it matter? Everyone was a stranger here anyway!

He was lost in his own joy. Ah, if it weren't midday, he'd definitely go have a drink.

His phone chimed with a text message, and Lin Ning instinctively checked it.

He was starting to make a habit of it because lately, it was all good news!

“??? A 10,000 yuan deposit to the bank?” Lin Ning panicked instinctively. The reward for courageous action? It couldn't be this fast, and it was so little! Officer Li Feng probably wouldn't trick him!

He opened his mobile banking app to check the sender—Wang Qiao?

What was going on? Lin Ning was completely confused.

Wang Qiao was a friend from his university dormitory, the one who had told Yang Weifeng about his debt.

Initially, not wanting to burden others, Lin Ning had only called the friends and family who had been harassed by debt collectors to apologize. He hadn't contacted anyone who wasn't on the debt collection list.

He had contacted Wang Qiao because the guy was also a 'debt king,' and Lin Ning wanted to consult him on how to defer debt payments.

Lawyer Zhang was introduced by him.

And now he was sending him money?

He made a call immediately. “Old Wang, you transferred to the wrong account. You sent money to me.”

Wang Qiao didn't have a cent to his name. With that woman around, he didn't even have enough to pay his own debts.

He definitely made a mistake.

Wang Qiao's voice sounded hoarse over the phone. “I didn't. It's for you to get by.”

Lin Ning now understood a bit of Yang Weifeng's concern. “Where did you get the money?”

“Ah, Guoguo broke up with me. The money I'm making now is enough to pay the loans, and I have a 10,000 yuan balance this month.”

When Lin Ning heard the name Guoguo, his eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head.

“She was willing to let you go?”

Wang Qiao: “Waaaaa... Guoguo doesn't want me anymore... waaaaa...”

Pulling the phone away from his ear, Lin Ning was speechless.

Wang Qiao's mess was entirely of his own making. The brothers hadn't lacked in advising or even scolding him.

But the man was in 'true love'~~~ (sarcastic tone).

He couldn't control it and didn't want to anymore.

But this guy had lent him what little money he had for his turnover. How was Lin Ning supposed to repay this sentiment?

“Stop wailing! Tell me! Where are you?”

“Sob... I'm at home...”

“Wait there!”

Lin Ning raised his hand and hailed a taxi.