Chapter Eleven: The Police Arrive

Life settled into tranquility; there were no more snake catchers coming for Jin'er, and Sha Le'er could finally breathe easy for a while. The old men still kept their birds, but no longer strolled them around Zhong Village. Every morning, a dozen or so elders would carry their birds, cages draped in cloth, and board the bus to Shiqiao. Shiqiao Town was much larger than Zhong Village, with even more people walking their birds and many more friends to be made; the elders, in fact, were happier than before.

Little snake Jin'er no longer appeared in public, and fewer people spoke of him. Still, rumors persisted that the police were investigating the owner who fed the little snake, with a reward yet unclaimed. Sha Le'er was anxious at first, but when no officers came for him after two days, his worries faded. His life grew more colorful, especially after Aunt Ma truly introduced him to a girlfriend.

She was a Sichuan girl, Zhou Wenli, strikingly beautiful. Zhou Wenli rarely came to see him, busy lately with work at the garment factory; even Aunt Ma herself seldom returned. From then on, Sha Le'er had something to look forward to—he awaited the arrival of the Sichuan girl.

He still went to the construction site each day, and thanks to his quick learning, he had become skilled, earning ten yuan more per day. He worked with vigor, always the first to arrive. Gang Mengzi and Liu Xi had left together, and had been gone for some time.

The sun remained as fierce as ever. Sha Le'er, iron hook in hand, was working on the upper floor when suddenly several police cars pulled up beside the site. More than ten officers got out, followed by someone familiar to them all—Tao Gaolong. Tao Gaolong greeted acquaintances as he went, but Sha Le'er kept his head down, paying no attention.

“Tao Bao, have you seen Sha Le'er?” Tao Gaolong asked Tao Bao, a fellow from Shangtao Village, working at the same site as Sha Le'er.

“He’s upstairs,” Tao Bao replied, pointing upward, then called out, “Sha Le'er, someone’s looking for you.”

Sha Le'er looked up and saw Tao Gaolong accompanied by over ten police officers. His heart skipped a beat—surely Tao Gaolong had tipped them off about the snake Jin'er, reporting him to the authorities.

“Damn it, that bastard’s tried to set me up again and again...” Sha Le'er’s eyes burned with hatred. “Fine, you want to trap me? Watch me trap you instead.”

The officers had already climbed up. The workers nearby quickly stepped aside. Migrant laborers feared the police more than anything; most had some issue or another—petty theft, lack of temporary residence permits, or worse.

“Are you Sha Le'er?” one of the officers asked. Sha Le'er immediately feigned stupidity, mouth agape, drool dripping, looking dazedly at the officers with a heavy rural accent and stuttering speech.

I... I’m Sha Le'er... Officers... you’re... looking for me... Brother Gaolong, why... why are you with the police... Is it... about that thing... you cut the wires to sell...?

The officers’ gazes snapped to Tao Gaolong, whose face suddenly drained of all color.

“Sha Le'er... how could you slander me like this?”

“Bro... Brother Gaolong, why... why are you copying my... stutter... My... my mouth... has no blood, how... how could I spit... spit at anyone?”

Sha Le'er’s drool hung long from his lips; wiping it with his hand left his mouth dirty and smeared, making him look every bit the fool.

“Xiao Li, cuff him!” the officers ordered, and Tao Gaolong was promptly handcuffed. He protested his innocence loudly. Theft was the bane of the police; with so many migrant workers, thieves abounded, stealing anything—especially wires. They’d run themselves ragged trying to catch wire thieves. Now, with a lead, there was no way they’d let it slip.

“Officers... why... why are you... cuffing Brother Gao...?”

Tao Gaolong was a bad sort, full of scheming, and had worked under Brother Qiang before; he was unpopular. Seeing him bring the police, everyone kept their distance, heads down, not hearing what Sha Le’er said.

“Where did he steal the wires?” an officer asked, face cold.

“Don’t... don’t know... I only... just arrived... before... was at home... heard people... talking nonsense...”

“How long have you been in Guangzhou?”

“Twelve... twelve days.”

The officers saw Sha Le’er acting the fool and realized they’d get nothing out of him. Tao Gaolong’s changed face only confirmed their suspicions—now that they had a lead, they’d find a way to pry open his mouth. Seeing the despair in Tao Gaolong’s eyes, Sha Le’er secretly rejoiced.

“Tao Gaolong said you kept a snake, is that true?”

“No... no... I’m scared... scared... it could bite... bite someone to death.”

As he spoke, Sha Le’er’s face showed genuine terror.

“Take us to your place for a look.”

“Yes...”

The officers took the handcuffed Tao Gaolong and Sha Le’er, and soon arrived at his rented room. The police searched everywhere, but found nothing.

“No need to look, a fool couldn’t possibly keep a snake.”

“Officer, he’s not... a fool...” Tao Gaolong tried to redeem himself.

“If he’s not a fool, then you are?” an officer kicked Tao Gaolong angrily. “Damn it, say another word and I’ll beat you!”

The police cars drove off with sirens wailing. Sha Le’er collapsed onto his bed, heart thumping wildly. Damn Tao Gaolong, now he’d brought this upon himself. Yet, despite having outsmarted Tao Gaolong, Sha Le’er felt little joy—if Tao Gaolong’s sister, Tao Haiying, found out he’d set her brother up, she’d certainly come for him.

He’d once harbored some hopes for Tao Haiying, but it seemed those hopes were doomed to die.

“If people find out I framed Tao Gaolong, won’t I drown in spit?” The thought troubled him. “If that bastard really stole wires, he’ll end up in jail… Sigh, maybe I went too far this time.”

He shook his head, a bit regretful.

“No one must know I set him up. No one heard what I said, so I’ll deny everything—what can he do? He’s tried to trap me again and again; I brought it on myself…”

At that moment, a few people suddenly entered at the door, startling him upright.

“Le’er, why did the police come looking for you just now?”

Sha Le’er saw who it was and relaxed. It was Da Long, Uncle Shengui, a few close friends, and Brother Qiang.

“You scared me,” he said, standing up. “Brother Qiang, Uncle Shengui... please, sit.”

Seven or eight people found places and sat, looking at Sha Le’er.

“Le’er, did you do something wrong?” Brother Qiang frowned. “You’re working at my site, you’d better not mess around.”

“Brother Qiang, I work every day; even if I wanted to do something bad, where would I find the time?”

Sha Le’er was a bit annoyed.

“I know you’re honest, which is why I raised your pay so quickly.”

“Thank you, Brother Qiang.”

For this, Sha Le’er was genuinely grateful to Sha Qiang; he’d barely worked ten days before his pay was raised. Some had worked over a month and still earned thirty-five a day.

“No need for thanks, you earned it. If you didn’t do well, I wouldn’t have raised your pay. You’re a good hand—learn fast. I raised your pay because I was afraid other foremen would poach you. Now, tell us what happened.”

“It’s all because of Tao Gaolong, the bastard,” Sha Le’er said, face full of indignation. “He wanted to claim the reward, so he told the police I was keeping the little snake that ate the thrush, and brought them here.”

“That bastard, full of schemes. Why did he get cuffed?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it was something else. Who cares? He got what he deserved!”

Everyone cursed Tao Gaolong—he’d betrayed his fellow countrymen. Sha Le’er was happy to add fuel to the fire; in their eyes, Tao Gaolong became the worst sort, rotten to the core.

“All right, everyone get back to work,” Sha Qiang said, waving his hand. Sha Le’er’s trouble had cost his site dearly.

Just as everyone was about to leave the little room, the roar of a car sounded outside. The car stopped at the door, and Gang Mengzi entered, dressed in a full suit, followed by a flamboyant woman.