Chapter 2172 - 2373: Cuffing You Too!!!

The nearest large supermarket isn't far from where they live, just a few minutes' drive away. After parking the car and going inside to select some necessary ingredients, Hao Jian came out carrying the purchased ingredients. Since he had bought groceries a few times before, he knew his way around and didn't take any longer routes.

A few minutes later, he parked the car in a parking area, then took the car key and went into the market to pick out ingredients.

Liang Yuwei wanted to eat oil-brushed prawns. To enjoy prawns, they had to be fresh, and preferably wild-caught rather than farm-raised; that's the only way they taste good. To pick out fresh, quality prawns, Hao Jian wandered back and forth in the market and finally bought some from an elderly lady selling prawns.

Nowadays, too many farm-raised prawns are being sold as wild-caught ones. It's hard for ordinary buyers to distinguish between farm-raised and wild, but for someone like Hao Jian, it's easy to see through it at a glance. Persistence pays off, as Hao Jian eventually found a store that sold wild-caught prawns.

This store was much more clever than previous ones. They didn't try to pass off farm-raised prawns as wild-caught. Observant customers could easily tell and wouldn't buy from her. Instead, she mixed some wild-caught prawns among mostly farm-raised ones, which would easily deceive customers unless they had keen eyes like Hao Jian.

For Hao Jian, however, it was still easy to tell the difference. In the end, he picked the wild-caught ones, bought them, and left. Then he purchased other items from the market, like fresh chicken for Kung Pao Chicken since Liang Yuwei wanted to have it.

Finally, Hao Jian bought so many fresh ingredients that both his hands were full. He left the market carrying them, ready to drive home.

He placed the ingredients in the trunk, then prepared to get in the car and drive away. But suddenly, he heard someone shout and instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.

"Stop, don't move."

He saw a woman in a police uniform chasing a man, and the man was holding a bag. Behind the female police officer was another woman; it seemed like this thief had stolen the bag from the woman behind, and the female police officer was helping to chase him.

The thief just happened to be running in Hao Jian's direction.

"Get out of the way!" The thief shouted angrily at those blocking his path. These people had just left the market and didn't know what was happening. Seeing a man with a fierce look running away with a bag, and hearing him shout, they instinctively moved aside.

It was only after the fact that they saw the female police officer chasing after him, telling him to stop, that they realized the man who had run past was a thief. Even if they'd known before, they probably wouldn't dare to stop him. After all, a thief might have a weapon, and getting hurt wasn't worth it. It's best to stay out of things that don't concern them.

But Hao Jian's gaze remained fixed on the female police officer chasing them. She was dressed in uniform, running closely behind. Surprisingly, she was the fastest runner, with a group of male officers trailing behind her, panting heavily, unable to catch up to a woman.

What caught Hao Jian's attention was the policewoman's good figure, her pretty face, and the rare determination on her face; it was hard not to find her attractive and want to look a few more times.

Hao Jian intended to curb his curiosity and get in the car to drive home and cook for Liang Yuwei. But unexpectedly, just as he turned his attention back, the male thief charged straight at him, looking fierce and only about ten meters away.

"Move!" The male thief saw Hao Jian standing there and shouted angrily, trying to clear his path.

Initially, Hao Jian was going to get in the car and drive away, ignoring the incident. It was the police officers' responsibility to chase the thief, not his; he didn't want to get involved or play the hero for no reason, so he was about to leave.

However, when the thief arrogantly ordered him to move aside, Hao Jian got irritated. Who the hell are you to talk to me like that? You tell me to move, and I'll move? Why can't you take another path, the street's wide enough? And being arrogant after stealing things?

So instead of walking away, when he heard the thief shouting at him, his temper flared up, and he stubbornly stood there, watching the thief run towards him.

The thief saw Hao Jian standing firm and got even angrier. As he ran up to Hao Jian, he raised his fist, intending to punch Hao Jian for blocking his way.

"Get lost!" he shouted, swinging a punch.

Hao Jian just smiled. If the thief had merely run past, Hao Jian would have tripped him up, letting the policewoman catch him. He didn't expect him to resort to hitting. Damn, do you think I'm easy prey, Hao Jian thought to himself.

As the thief swung, Hao Jian swiftly caught his fist. With a twist, the thief's face contorted with pain, yet before he could scream, Hao Jian punched his face, causing it to deform. Then he tripped him, and with the forward momentum, the thief fell to the ground, teeth-first, breaking them instantly, spitting out blood and teeth fragments.

The thief's face showed anguish; he didn't even understand what happened before being taken down. In pain, he couldn't even scream because his broken teeth hurt too much.

Still, he tried to get up and flee, but when he reached for the stolen bag, it was gone. Looking up, he saw it in the hands of the guy who had tripped him. Just as he prepared to endure the pain, grab the bag, and run, an immense weight pressed down on him from behind, knocking him back to the ground.

He felt a sharp pain in his back. This time it wasn't Hao Jian but the female police officer who had caught up and subdued him. Handcuffing him, she sternly said, "Don't move!"

His heart sank. He'd only snatched a purse, thinking he could escape the nearby police officers if he ran ten meters. But he underestimated their persistence, especially this female officer chasing him.

Now, with handcuffs on, he accepted his fate. What mattered now was the hope that the purse held less money; the more it had, the longer he'd spend in detention.

Thieves hope their loot is valuable, earning more for their efforts. But when caught, they wish the value is low to minimize their time in custody. After all, he's just a petty thief; if the stolen good's value is too high, it's a more serious crime.

So, being handcuffed and pressed to the ground, he stopped struggling or speaking, knowing escape was impossible, and accepted his fate.

Seeing the thief captured, Hao Jian smiled, handing the thief's stolen bag to the female officer and said, "Here! The bag..."

But before he could finish, his hands were unexpectedly cuffed as well, startling him. As a good citizen who helped catch a thief and return stolen property, why was he now handcuffed?

"Hmm?" Hao Jian questioningly exclaimed.

The female officer handcuffed him without saying a word, grabbed the bag from him, and walked away without even glancing back.

Hao Jian was dumbfounded, as was the thief on the ground.

What was going on? Why was he cuffed too? A confused expression swept over the thief's face.

At this moment, the female officer instructed the group of male officers: "Take both of them to the station."

With that, she tossed the bag to one of the male officers beside her and left.

"Hey!" Hao Jian called out, "What are you doing? Why are you cuffing me?"

The male officers who arrived were also puzzled. Wasn't there only one criminal? How did there end up being two? But they didn't dare question it.