Chapter 26: So How Much Are You Prepared to Compensate?

Xu Lin tilted her head in thought for quite some time before slapping her thigh in realization—Wang Mingliang was now the captain of the First Enforcement Team.

With a clear target, Xu Lin was relieved and returned her attention to Brother Tao and the black-faced man’s conversation.

Their discussion didn’t last long before the old gatekeeper appeared, carrying four bottles of spray.

Brother Tao gave stern instructions regarding the use of the spray: after using it, make sure to destroy all evidence and leave no trace. The black-faced man agreed wholeheartedly.

After seeing the black-faced man off, Brother Tao felt uneasy. He turned to the old man and said,

“Spread the word—no one is allowed to come directly here anymore. If contact is needed, they must choose another safe rendezvous point.”

“Yes, sir.” The gatekeeper straightened up and replied. After a brief moment of thought, he asked, “Should we relocate our base here?”

“We’ll see. If any strangers approach in the next few days, no matter who they are, we move immediately,” Brother Tao replied.

Xu Lin raised an eyebrow; she hadn’t expected Brother Tao to be so cautious. Still, if they wanted to move, they’d need her approval.

She didn’t rush out to follow the black-faced man. Instead, she wandered the courtyard, checking every nook and cranny for over an hour before slipping away quietly.

In the office of the First Enforcement Team, Captain Wang Mingliang looked at the densely-written two pages in his hands, his expression a complex mix of surprise and excitement.

On those two pages were four locations where spies were hiding. Aside from the Machinery Factory compound, the other three were detailed down to the locations of their secret rooms and radio transmitters. If this report was true, these were some truly big fish.

Wait—poison spray? A gas that damages nerves? This was—

Wang Mingliang sat up straight, sensing instinctively that this was an important clue, possibly tied to the enemy nation’s abandoned biochemical research cases.

His fingers turned white from gripping the paper so tightly. After a moment’s deep thought, Wang Mingliang slapped his desk and stood up.

Damn it, let’s do this!

If the report was true, it would be a major achievement and a great service to the people. If not, at worst he’d face some disciplinary action.

Unaware of Wang Mingliang’s turbulent thoughts, Xu Lin, having resolved a significant matter, cheerfully headed to the state-run restaurant.

She first enjoyed a hearty meal, then packed away plenty more food in her storage space before heading to the Machinery Factory family compound.

By the time she returned to the Xu household, night had fallen. The five Xu family members had already finished dinner and turned off the lights to sleep.

Of course, it was possible they were only pretending—hiding away, feigning sleep to avoid a beating.

Whatever the case, when Xu Lin walked in, she was greeted by a cold stove and leftovers.

Thinking she’d let them off was impossible. Without a word, Xu Lin began to mete out punishment, using their failure to save her any food as a pretext.

She beat each of the five Xu family members, then squatted in front of her father, gripping his throat and demanding,

“On what grounds did you sign me up to go to the countryside? I’ve already cut ties with you all. What right do you have to make decisions for me?”

Xu’s father’s eyes rolled back, foam bubbling at his lips, nearly choking to death.

He struggled desperately, slapping Xu Lin’s arm to signal her to ease up before she actually killed him.

Xu’s mother, lying nearby and dazed with pain, was jolted awake by Xu Lin’s questioning. Seeing her husband’s miserable state, she was both frightened and terrified.

Not only did she not dare to intervene, she scrambled into a corner, fearing Xu Lin might turn her wrath on her.

“Let—let go,” Xu’s father stammered, tears and saliva streaming down his face as he hovered near death’s door. Only then did Xu Lin release her grip.

She stared coldly into his eyes, her murderous intent unabated, and threatened, “You’d better give me a satisfactory answer, or else—”

Xu Lin’s fingers cracked ominously. Xu’s father knew exactly what “or else” meant—she’d kill him, just as he’d once wanted to kill her.

Unfortunately, today wasn’t the day for action. Xu’s father was full of regret; he should have arranged for someone to take her out immediately.

“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you,” he gasped, his throat raw and every word an effort. After a long pause, he finally explained under Xu Lin’s deadly gaze.

“You’ve cut ties with us. It’s not appropriate for you to keep living here. I thought, since you have nowhere to stay in the capital, you might as well go to the countryside as an educated youth. You have money—you won’t suffer in the country. Isn’t that right?”

After his explanation, he even had the nerve to look self-righteous, as if expecting praise for his supposed concern.

The sight made Xu Lin’s skin crawl. She slapped him twice, hard.

“Right, right—my foot! So what if I don’t have a house? I have money—how hard is it to rent a place? Not only can I rent a house, I could buy a job if I wanted. I could live a good life in the city—why should I go to the countryside? What right do you have to decide my future?”

“Listen to me, Xu. If you can’t give me a satisfactory answer today—hmph!”

Xu Lin narrowed her peach blossom eyes, the killing intent even more palpable. “Then you’re dead today. And not just you—your whole family will die with you.”

The chilling threat made Xu’s father shudder; he hadn’t expected his plan to be exposed so soon.

If he’d known, he would have struck first. If she was too tough to deal with, he could always register her for the countryside afterward.

Faced with this threat, cold sweat broke out on his brow. Xu Lin was clearly not joking—she really meant to kill him.

No, no, he couldn’t die. Quickly, Xu’s father racked his brain for a solution.

“Linlin, I’m sorry. I acted without thinking, it was wrong of me. Please forgive me just this once.”

Seeing Xu Lin raise her hand again, his eyelid twitched and he hurriedly added, “I’m willing to make it up to you, to compensate you.”

The mention of compensation brought a smile to Xu Lin’s face. She narrowed her eyes and asked, “And how much do you intend to pay?”

How much? Xu’s father’s eyelid twitched again. If he offered too little, he’d get beaten; too much, and he’d hate to part with it.

Suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him—why be stingy? Once she was dead, he could take the money back. Whatever promises he made now were just empty words—what was there to lose?

“I’m willing to compensate you with two thousand yuan. With that, you could live in comfort in the countryside for years.”

“Oh? And what about after those years?” Xu Lin asked coolly, making his face darken. Was he supposed to support her forever?

“How about I send you twenty yuan a month?”

He offered tentatively, thinking to himself that whether she died or went to the countryside, there was no way he’d actually send the money—just another empty promise.

But what Xu’s father knew, Xu Lin understood even better. So she reached out and gripped his throat again.

Her sinister smile, combined with the gesture, sent shivers down his spine as adrenaline flooded his system.

His instincts screamed the truth—Xu Lin really did mean to kill him.