Chapter 140: 140, In the name of justice (Third update, requesting monthly votes)

The items Ren Xiaosu had Wang Fugui prepare were not as difficult to obtain as they seemed; many were even everyday necessities. Yet, when purchasing them in bulk, one had to be cautious, for such a collective acquisition might well attract the notice of others.

After all, the fact that these items could be used to make bombs was no secret.

The next morning, Wang Fugui set out without once inquiring of Ren Xiaosu what the items were for—Ren Xiaosu needed them, and so he bought them.

Now, Wang Fugui had defined himself as a shopkeeper, diligently and conscientiously attending to his tasks.

Originally, Ren Xiaosu feared Wang Fugui might botch the job, but later discovered that Wang Fugui was even more meticulous than he had imagined.

These items, Wang Fugui spent an entire day on the tram, traveling to and fro through four districts in the east, south, west, and north, making four separate trips to procure them all.

By the time Wang Fugui returned home that evening, Ren Xiaosu saw that he was nearly exhausted.

On this side, Xiaoyu had already purchased new clothes for Ren Xiaosu and the others, and the enrollment procedures for Yan Liuyuan, Ren Xiaosu, and Wang Dalong had been completed.

Moreover, Xiaoyu had inquired on their behalf, saying that the Bili Academy held two holidays each year, and now that they had entered winter, the first half of the semester was nearly over.

Thus, Ren Xiaosu and the others would not be attending school much longer, as the holidays were likely imminent.

Of course, this aligned with Ren Xiaosu's needs; the initial phase was one of adaptation, and a holiday would serve as a buffer.

In the end, they still had to attend school, and Ren Xiaosu suddenly felt a sense of anticipation, wondering whether the curriculum at Bili Academy would be the same as what Mr. Zhang had taught.

After dinner, Wang Fugui approached Ren Xiaosu and whispered, "Today, while purchasing these items, a shopkeeper made a passing remark that has left me uneasy."

"What did he say?" Ren Xiaosu asked.

He inadvertently said, "Why is everyone buying these things?" I asked him who else had bought them, and he mentioned a girl had come yesterday. Fortunately, he restocked today; otherwise, there might have been nothing left for me.

Ren Xiaosu frowned, and inexplicably, he suddenly thought the girl might be Yang Xiaojin!

Their bomb-making skills were so similar that, in considering the act of crafting a bomb, the items they sought to purchase were likely identical.

Yang Xiaojin, perhaps, had not realized that Ren Xiaosu was doing exactly the same thing.

What was Yang Xiaojin up to? This girl wouldn't be planning to blow up Bili, would she?

Of course, such a small bomb would not be capable of destroying Bili. Ren Xiaosu suspected Yang Xiaojin's target might be the Huoshì Company branch within the 109 Bili.

After all, he had long sensed that Yang Xiaojin had some grudge against the Huoshì Company.

The next morning, at dawn, Ren Xiaosu and the others took the tram to No. 13 Middle School. As they rode, he noticed other students on the tram, their identities unmistakable due to their uniform blue and white school uniforms.

When Tang Zhou handed them the procedures, he mentioned that the uniforms would only be issued at the school, as the garments were to be distributed by size. The students under Jiang Wu's care had already received theirs, leaving only Ren Xiaosu and the other two.

Now, Jiang Wu had the students reside in the faculty dormitories of No. 13 Middle School; henceforth, they could rely solely on their own efforts, for they had no parents.

However, Ren Xiaosu had not anticipated that these students had become exceptionally united, having all endured life and death together; in the absence of family, they instinctively regarded their fellow sufferers as kin.

At that moment, Ren Xiaosu overheard the students ahead discussing, "Has anyone told you? There are refugees entering Bili. Apparently, someone who rode the tram with them fell ill upon returning home. My mother says it's because the refugees carry disease germs from outside."

Another student said, "My father told me, if you encounter refugees, keep away from them."

"I don't think it's that serious," a girl whispered.

"Who knows? My mother said that a few years ago, a refugee brought in a virus that infected many people, killing dozens. Otherwise, why do you think everyone keeps them out of Bili?"

Upon hearing this, Ren Xiaosu furrowed his brow. How had it become like this overnight? Frankly, before entering Bili, he had not expected the refugees to face such rejection.

Moreover, Ren Xiaosu had previously thought that if they were rejected, it might be due to poverty or similar reasons.

But he had not anticipated that it was due to the so-called virus.

The settlement was not in a quarantined area, and Ren Xiaosu held the so-called virus claims in contempt. He had encountered many Bili people—Luolan, Tang Zhou, Yang Xiaojin, Luo Xinyu, Liu Bu, and those private troops who had accompanied them to Jingshan.

None of them had fallen ill or died, had they?

He did not know who was deliberately spreading the virus transmission claims, making it seem as though they were massive carriers of disease.

At that moment, Wang Dalong stared blankly at the girls on the tram, as if the others' discussions had nothing to do with him.

However, Yan Liuyuan was more sensitive; he furrowed his brow and whispered, "Brother, do we really carry the virus?"

"No," Ren Xiaosu shook his head.

"Then why do they say such things? Shouldn't we refute them?" Yan Liuyuan's previously good mood upon entering Bili was being ruined by everything around him.

"Refuting is useless," Ren Xiaosu replied.

"Why? This is slander against us," Yan Liuyuan wondered.

"Liuyuan, if ten people say we're bad, is that slander?"

"Yes, of course it is," Yan Liuyuan answered.

"What if a hundred people say we're bad? Is that slander?"

"...Yes," Yan Liuyuan thought and replied.

"What if ten thousand people say we're bad?" Ren Xiaosu said calmly, "Then it is no longer slander, but justice."

"Brother," Yan Liuyuan whispered, "Though I understand less than you, even if millions slander us, as long as I believe it's wrong, it cannot be justice."

Ren Xiaosu smiled: "You're right."

The students on the tram were influenced by their parents, who told them not to recklessly act heroically, to be more "sharp" in their dealings, and not to associate with certain people.

In truth, the students' thoughts were merely an extension of their parents' will, so Ren Xiaosu now clearly realized that most Bili people probably did not welcome their arrival, though he was unsure if the situation would worsen.

Now, Ren Xiaosu had no time to concern himself with these matters; upon learning that Yang Xiaojin might have also purchased a large quantity of bomb-making materials, he became even more curious about what she intended to do.

Moreover, Ren Xiaosu felt that if he had the chance, it would be best to find out where Yang Xiaojin had placed the bomb, lest it explode on himself...

......

Thank you, Duancheng Zhihēn, for becoming the new ally of this book.

Today's book recommendation: "End of the Multiverse Online," which I'm also reading; the later plot is very exciting.