Chapter 35: A New Beginning

Perhaps it was the experience from last time that allowed Hao Yang to quickly suppress the sadness in her heart.

However, her mood had significantly declined.

Wang Jian looked at the old houses outside, which would be demolished in a few years. As a police officer, he was very aware that due to outdated equipment and population decline, the local government planned to demolish these old buildings and construct various new facilities. This would create many job opportunities, potentially attracting many young people back to the county to work.

Overall, the county still had good development potential, and with little competition, it seemed quite promising.

Still, a county is a county. No matter how well it develops, it can’t compare to a city. Wang Jian thought this as he finished patrolling the old housing area and gradually drove out, heading towards the most prosperous part of the county.

As the car moved, the surrounding scenery flashed by, and the dilapidated old buildings were no longer in sight. The car was now heading towards the most prosperous area of Lianxi County.

Lianxi County got its name because of a small tributary of the Yangtze River. Although small, it was called a ‘stream,’ and later someone named it Lianxi County.

Actually, it was more of a large river than a stream. Wang Jian was driving the police car slowly towards the bridge over the river. The bridge wasn’t very long, perhaps a few hundred meters, and within half a minute, Wang had crossed it.

On the other side of the river, the infrastructure was noticeably better. Every corner had surveillance cameras, and the surrounding shops were open for business. The buildings, while not new, weren’t dilapidated either.

The buildings here were also significantly taller, with the shortest being seven stories high, and some reaching more than ten or even twenty stories.

People were constantly passing by, with many young people among them.

Wang Jian drove to the most prosperous area of Lianxi County, near the Dragon-Heng Century Square, and found a parking spot. He got out of the car and took a deep breath of fresh air.

Hao Yang’s car stopped, and she quickly opened the door. Her face looked terribly pale, almost green. She got out and felt a wave of nausea. Hao Yang ran to a nearby trash can and started vomiting.

Yes, she was carsick. Although she felt a bit uncomfortable when she first got in the car, the discomfort worsened over time. She felt dizzy and nauseous, something she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Hao Yang didn’t believe she would get carsick, so she endured it in the car.

Hao Yang threw up into the trash can for a while, but all she could bring up was some acidic saliva. The feeling of wanting to vomit but not being able to was extremely uncomfortable for her stomach.

Seeing Hao Yang in such distress, Wang Jian took out a pack of tissues from his bag and handed them to her. He gently patted her back and said,

‘You should have said something earlier. I could have driven slower.’

Hao Yang didn’t speak; she just took the tissues, wiped her mouth, and threw them into the trash can. She leaned against a nearby power pole to rest for a while, and the discomfort gradually subsided.

‘Thank you, Officer Wang, for your concern. I’m not uncomfortable now,’ Hao Yang said to Wang Jian after recovering.

Seeing Hao Yang thank him, Wang Jian felt a strange emotion. How could such a young child be so understanding? He wondered what experiences Hao Yang might have had.

‘You don’t need to call me Officer Wang. I’m not that old; I’m only in my twenties. It makes me sound old when you call me that. How about you call me Wang Ge instead?’ Wang Jian suddenly suggested.

‘Ah? Then I’ll call you Wang Ge,’ Hao Yang replied after a moment of surprise.

‘Go ahead and call me that,’ Wang Jian said with a smile.

‘Wang Ge,’ Hao Yang said without hesitation.

‘Eh, you’re a good girl, Ge…’ Wang Jian started to reach out to pat Hao Yang’s head but saw her messy hair, which was also dirty. His hand, already extended, withdrew silently.

‘How about I take you to a barbershop first, Wang Ge?’ Wang Jian suggested.

‘Sure,’ Hao Yang agreed.

Wang Jian then extended his large hand, and Hao Yang took it without hesitation. They began to look for a barbershop.

Wang Jian usually got his hair cut at an old man’s stall in the old housing area. He didn’t plan to take Hao Yang to a small stall, as the old man mostly served elderly men or those in their forties and fifties. Rarely did women or children go to his stall.

They found a barbershop nearby that looked quite nice. Through the glass window, they could see several barbers giving clients haircuts, and the cuts looked good. The environment inside was also very clean, with only some stray hairs on the floor.

‘Is this place okay for a haircut?’ Wang Jian asked, pointing to the barbershop.

‘I’m fine with anywhere,’ Hao Yang replied softly.

‘Then we’ll get it done here,’ Wang Jian said, pulling Hao Yang’s small hand towards the barbershop door. He pushed the door open and entered.

The barbershop had the heater on, and Hao Yang immediately felt more comfortable. Wang Jian thought the heater was too strong and felt a bit hot, so he loosened his clothes a little.

A female barber noticed and got up from a nearby chair, walking over to them. ‘Are you here to get a haircut?’ she asked.

‘I’m not getting a haircut, but I want a full wash, blow-dry, and cut for the child,’ Wang Jian said, pointing to Hao Yang.

‘Of course, little sister. What kind of hairstyle do you want? I can cut any style you like,’ the female barber said, squatting down to speak to Hao Yang.

‘Think about what style you want and tell me,’ Wang Jian added.

‘I don’t mind. You choose,’ Hao Yang said after a long pause. Truthfully, she wanted a buzz cut, as her hair was very bothersome and seemed useless. But if she said she wanted a buzz cut, it might sound strange, so she gave this response.

‘If that’s the case, I’ll just go with my instincts and make you look great,’ the barber said, taking Hao Yang’s small hand and leading her to the second floor. Wang Jian sat on a sofa downstairs and started browsing videos, feeling bored.