Chapter 144: Instant Noodles

"What a beautiful child."

Beautiful things always make people want to take a second look.

Especially since Yun Jiao looked so well-behaved at the moment.

"She’s pretty, right? See that thief from today?"

A police officer who knew the inside story walked leisurely past the group of young officers, carrying an enamel mug. He took a sip of tea and sighed.

"She’s the one who beat him up."

"What?" They didn’t believe him.

How old was that kid? She looked like she was only three. She wouldn’t even reach a person’s waist if she jumped. How could she possibly beat up a grown man?

"Heh, you’d better believe it. This little girl is incredible. Remember those human traffickers from before? The ones who were beaten black and blue? She did that, too."

Even though he knew, his heart couldn’t help but soften as he looked at the little girl sitting obediently on the small stool.

’The kid hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s all the fault of those scumbags!’

They only found out after the interrogation that the thief hadn’t just stolen Yun Jiao’s family’s money. Seeing a tiny little girl like her chasing him, he’d even gotten the idea to sell her!

What’s more, they found a dagger on him.

Luckily, he never used it. Or rather, he never had the chance. The moment Yun Jiao attacked, the thief was beaten into a daze. His head was ringing so badly he completely forgot he even had a dagger on him.

Afterward, he was so dizzy from the beating that he didn’t have the strength to fight back.

Of course, the interrogation went so quickly because the thief, having already been tortured by Yun Jiao, confessed rather fast.

Yun Jiao, of course, noticed the officers’ gazes. With a lollipop in her mouth, she tilted her head slightly, turned her big eyes toward them, and then broke into a smile.

"Hello, big brothers, big sisters, and uncles."

’Yep, I’m a polite kid. I always say hi.’

In an instant, the group of adults felt their hearts melt at the sight of the sweet, polite, and adorable child.

So good, so well-behaved! ’A kid this sweet, even if she hits someone, it must be because the other person was in the wrong!’

At this moment, the entire group was so mesmerized they weren’t thinking straight.

Zhao Jian Country came out holding an enamel mug, inside which Yun Jiao’s instant noodles were steeping.

"What are you all crowded around here for?"

"Captain Zhao, we were just taking a look, hehe."

With that, they scurried off. Otherwise, Captain Zhao would get mad.

Although Yun Jiao was still sitting on her little stool, her eyes were now glued to the instant noodles.

It smelled so good, so good~

"It needs to steep for a little longer."

Seeing how greedy she was for the noodles, Zhao Jian Country found it both amusing and adorable.

He patted her head.

The little one’s hair was really soft—thick, dense, fluffy, and gentle to the touch.

Yun Jiao didn’t mind the head pat. CRUNCH, CRUNCH. She bit down, shattering the candy in her mouth, then stared eagerly at the noodles.

The aroma grew stronger and stronger, practically intoxicating the Little Mermaid.

"Uncle Zhao, can I eat it now?"

She looked at Zhao Jian Country with puppy-dog eyes.

"Let me see."

Zhao Jian Country opened the lid and poked the noodles with his chopsticks.

’They’re soft.’

"You can eat now, but it’s a little hot, so be careful."

Yun Jiao nodded repeatedly, pulled the enamel mug onto the table in front of her, and eagerly began to eat.

She ate with intense concentration, and her eyes sparkled after the first bite.

Just as she was finishing the noodles, Yun Jiao saw her dad and brothers arrive.

Still slurping noodles, she raised her little arm and waved to them.

"Dad, Little Uncle, Brothers~"

Yun Lin was frantic. The grown man’s eyes were red as he rushed over in a few steps and swept Yun Jiao into a hug.

"Jiaojiao, you scared us to death."

Yun Jiao patted her dad’s back and comforted him in a soft voice.

"It’s okay, Dad. Jiaojiao is strong. I’m okay."

She took out the money and handed it to him. "Dad, the money. I beat up the bad-guy thief, and he was brought to the police station."

With both the person and the money safe, everyone could finally relax.

No one had expected that a trip to sell fish would lead to so much drama.

Zhao Jian Country walked over. "The thief confessed. He was the one who deliberately spread the word about you selling the bluefin tuna. He did it to gather a crowd so it would be easier for him to make a move."

The thief was a clever one, knowing it was easier to succeed in the chaos.

He exploited the crowd’s voyeuristic herd mentality, spreading the news of a two-hundred-plus-jin bluefin tuna to attract more and more people to Da Yun Restaurant, all wanting to see the fish for themselves.

Unfortunately for him, he ran into a monstrously talented child like Yun Jiao.

"That damn thief! No wonder! There weren’t that many people when we went into Da Yun Restaurant, but when we came out, it was so packed we couldn’t even move."

Zhao Jian Country said, "For him to spread the news so quickly, he must have had accomplices. Our comrades in the police force got two names out of him and have already gone to make the arrests."

While the adults were talking, Yun Jiao was holding the enamel mug of noodles, her head huddled together with her brothers’.

Yun Xiaowu: "It smells so good!"

Yun Xiao Liu’s eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously in agreement.

Yun Xiaoqi: "Little sister, let me have a bite."

Yun Xiao Ba and Yun Xiaojiu also looked at Yun Jiao with pleading eyes.

Yun Jiao picked up some noodles with her chopsticks and fed them to her brothers.

"There’s enough for everyone. Eat up."

The brothers opened their mouths, waiting for their little sister to feed them.

"It’s so delicious!"

It was the first time any of them had eaten instant noodles, and they were immediately conquered by the rich flavor.

The last of the noodles was quickly finished, and even the broth was drunk down to the last drop.

The enamel mug belonged to Uncle Zhao, and Yun Jiao wanted to wash it clean.

Yun Xiaowu took it from her. "I’ll do it."

Meanwhile, the conversation between Yun Linhai’s group and Zhao Jian Country was coming to an end.

After giving their statements, they would be free to go home.

When they learned that Zhao Jian Country had paid for Yun Jiao’s instant noodles, they insisted on paying him back.

Zhao Jian Country refused. "It was only eighty cents. Jiaojiao helped us catch a thief, and if we catch the other two, she’ll have done us a great service."

She was basically helping them meet their performance quotas.

In the end, they didn’t manage to give him the eighty cents.

The two thousand-plus yuan was also secured. This time, it was split into three parts and given to Yun Linhe, Yun Chendong, and Yun Chenxi to hold.

Splitting it up was safer.

"Dad, money. Give Jiaojiao three yuan."

Yun Jiao hugged Uncle Yun’s leg, tilting her little face up to look at him.

Yun Linhai didn’t ask what she wanted to do, simply handing her three yuan.

’The money should have been Jiaojiao’s to begin with, anyway.’

Holding the money, Yun Jiao puffed out her chest and proudly called her brothers to the convenience store.

"Brothers, let’s go! We’re buying instant noodles!"

Yun Xiaowu and the others immediately cheered.

"Let’s go, let’s go! Jiaojiao, I’ll carry you."

Yun Xiaowu scooped up the tiny Yun Jiao in one motion.

Yun Jiao didn’t struggle, resting obediently on his shoulder with her eyes curved into a particularly beautiful smile.

Arriving at the convenience store, Yun Jiao handed the owner three yuan. "Sir, I want instant noodles. Three packs."

"Alrighty. Are these your brothers?"

Yun Jiao nodded and said in a very proud voice, "I have nine brothers."

"Whoa, that’s incredible. Amazing."

The convenience store owner praised her generously.