Chapter 442: Butterfly Effect

Chapter 442 Butterfly Effect

Ye Xiaoxiao directly smashed the stone in her hand onto Yu Dahai’s forehead.

Blood gushed instantly—she hit way harder than the one A Bang had delivered back then.

After all, A Bang had some training and knew how to hold back.

But Ye Xiaoxiao had no combat experience; she simply relied on her instincts as a doctor, targeting non-lethal areas but still aiming to hurt.

Yu Dahai knew Ye Xiaoxiao was new to the island and figured she might be that officer's family.

But he was used to being arrogant, and the threats just rolled off his tongue without a second thought. He never imagined Ye Xiaoxiao would actually go at him.

Of course, Ye Xiaoxiao only hit him once, but Yu Dahai quickly recovered and tried to fight back.

Ye Changyuan first did a double-take at Xiaoxiao, then raised his hand to block Yu Dahai.

At the same time, he laid into him with several punches.

At first he'd hesitated about whether violence was justified, but now he went all out.

“You dare threaten my sister? Who the hell do you think you are?!”

If Xiaoxiao had been out here alone, she might have gotten hurt.

The more Ye Changyuan thought about it, the angrier he became, and his strikes grew heavier.

In the end, not only did they beat Yu Dahai, but Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changyuan also marched him to the police station.

“This man blocked our way, tried to scam us, and even threatened to kill me.”

Ye Xiaoxiao raised her hand to file a report with the officers.

Yu Dahai, beaten to a pulp, slurred his words, “You’re lying!”

“How am I lying? You were the one who came looking for trouble and said you’d kill me.”

The cops at the station told them to stop arguing and separated them to take statements.

But their sympathies clearly leaned toward Ye Xiaoxiao.

The female comrade looked neat and composed, didn't look the type to start trouble.

Meanwhile, Yu Dahai was a known troublemaker on the island. He had previously led a gang to shake down vendors at the island’s market before being caught and punished by higher authorities.

And just a few days ago, he had been arrested for brawling.

No question about who the real troublemaker was.

While Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changyuan were giving statements, the police also needed to contact their family.

Ye Xiaoxiao had no choice but to provide Lu Hanchuan’s name.

When the station chief heard Lu Hanchuan’s name, he stood up and started pacing nervously.

“Comrade, my deepest apologies. We didn’t realize you were Regiment Commander Lu’s wife. Rest assured, we will get to the bottom of this.”

Ye Xiaoxiao: “Yu Dahai has done a laundry list of offenses before, hasn’t he? How's a guy like him not behind bars already?”

The Head gave an awkward smile. "Yu Dahai is indeed a local thug, but he hasn't crossed any serious lines."

Some things could be made into big deals or nothing at all.

Ye Xiaoxiao understood their complexities but didn't give the Head a hard time; as long as the matter was handled fairly, that was enough.

After completing the statements, it was confirmed that Yu Dahai had initiated the confrontation and indeed started mouthing off with threats against Ye Xiaoxiao.

Though neither Ye Xiaoxiao nor Ye Changyuan were harmed, Yu Dahai's injuries appeared severe.

But the cops knew the score.

Since Lu Hanchuan hadn't arrived yet, the police told Ye Xiaoxiao they could leave first.

Meanwhile, Yu Dahai, despite his injuries, got locked up for more grilling.

"You're shielding criminals! You're all in on this together! I won't accept this!"

The Head stood before Yu Dahai, his voice flat. "Keep shouting, Yu Dahai. Don't forget your past deeds. If we dig into your old records, you'd be looking at eight to ten years behind bars."

"And do you even know who you've offended? They're from the capital. If anything serious had happened, you'd be dead a hundred times before breakfast."

Only then did Yu Dahai go pale as it hit him.

He'd been tricked.

Those backstabbing buddies of his had claimed the people helping Hai Yan were small fry, and he was just supposed to scare them off.

If Hai Yan were left helpless, he could have his way with her.

Yu Dahai desperately wanted Hai Yan's small shop—he had gambling debts to pay, and failure to do so would cost him limbs.

Now, flat broke and cornered, the police station was the safest place for him.

"Comrade, I admit my mistake. Please don't send me to prison—just let me stay here. I'll behave!"

Yu Dahai was acting like a madman.

The Head immediately stepped back. "Think this is some flophouse? You can't stay as long as you like. Confess everything you've done, and we'll send you to prison where you belong."

Yu Dahai clutched at the bars of the holding cell. "Head, I know the location of a big-time gambling operation! I can help you crack the case!"

He spilled everything, revealing the gambling spot he frequented.

But the Head wanted no part of that fight.

It was the 1980s—the whole country was a mess, let alone coastal areas and islands.

Though gambling was illegal and many venues were criminal hubs, their poor-as-dirt precinct lacked the means to act.

Two years prior, officers had been renamed "people's police" under orders, but all they got was new badges and uniforms—no firearms.

With just five officers and only the Head carrying a Type 54 pistol, they were no match for gambling dens manned by twenty, thirty hard cases armed with cleavers, axes, maybe even sawed-offs.

They were outgunned and outnumbered—they simply couldn't take them on.

However, those who can become the Head are certainly quick-witted.

Although the police station is poor, there is still a military presence on the island.

Those soldiers are all carrying live rounds and equipped with advanced weapons.

He had also seen the newly arrived army troops on the island—they were truly loaded.

Today’s incident was tied to that Regiment Commander Lu. If they could request support, they could take down any gambling den.

At first worried, the Head suddenly put the pieces together after some analysis.

He told Yu Dahai to spill the details about the gambling ring. If he could truly cooperate, they could apply for a reduced sentence on his behalf.

For the sake of his own life, Yu Dahai revealed everything he knew.

The gambling den wasn’t far from Changjing Island—just a twenty-minute ride on a small motorboat.

Almost everyone on that island ran gambling operations. The whole village was in cahoots. Cheating gamblers would sometimes be chopped up and thrown into the sea.

The Head had heard rumors, but due to the difficulty, he had never gone after those people.

Now, listening to Yu Dahai’s account, he realized just how challenging it would be to shut the whole operation down.

“Go on…”

...

Just then, as soon as Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changyuan stepped out of the police station, they ran into Lu Hanchuan.

“Are you both alright?”

Though Lu Hanchuan knew there was nothing to fear from Yu Dahai, even a mighty dragon couldn’t crush a snake in its own lair. Who knew what vicious methods the man might use for revenge?

He now regretted not having thrown away the key last time.