Chapter 16 Apple

Jia Wenjun was awakened by the noise outside. She and Da Huang woke up from a pile of carpets, leaned against the wall, and slowly walked towards the secret passage.

"Brother Bai?" Jia Wenjun looked at Bai Ma Shan, who was being pushed in by the others, confused.

Da Huang also wagged its tail and went over to Bai Ma Shan, whimpering.

Bai Ma Shan walked towards her quickly, his face gloomy. "You said Anna hid drugs here? Are you sure?"

Jia Wenjun didn't know why he suddenly asked about this, but she nodded firmly. "Anna definitely hid drugs on the ship. I even saw her using them. But she's too cunning, I can't find where she hid them."

Bai Ma Shan told her what had just happened above. Jia Wenjun remembered something and said, "Before, Lu Maowang wanted to come down and take advantage of me. He used apples as bait. He said he had many apples at the time. He must have stolen and hidden them."

Bai Ma Shan frowned. "I know it was him, but the people above don't believe it. I'm worried that Anna is using Lu Maowang to drive those who suspect her down here. She might be planning something."

Jia Wenjun shuddered when she heard this. Bai Ma Shan was right. Anna had brought them on a drug-filled ship. It couldn't be just for a pleasure trip. Now that she had also sent Bai Ma Shan down, she must have a purpose.

"Could it be that she's going to deal with the drugs on the ship?" Jia Wenjun said.

Bai Ma Shan had thought so too. "It's very likely, but where else can she hide the drugs besides here? How can she handle it alone? Or does she think she has the whole situation under control and is getting the people on deck to help her?"

They couldn't figure out these questions. The ship was shaking badly, so they had to find a place to sit down.

It was still raining, with thunder and lightning outside, but the sounds were much quieter and warmer in this dark hold than on deck.

Bai Ma Shan looked at Jia Wenjun sitting in the shadows, feeling suffocated. Although he knew she must have felt bad when she was sent down, he could only understand the feeling now that he was experiencing it himself.

Jia Wenjun didn't know what Bai Ma Shan was thinking. Her attention was focused on what Bai Ma Shan had just said about Anna potentially making a big move.

She and Bai Ma Shan were trapped below. Even if something happened, they would be the last to know. But she couldn't just sit and wait for death. She had to keep the evidence in her bag safe and have a weapon handy in case something suddenly happened above. She needed to be able to protect herself, at the very least.

Before, she was alone with a dog, but now that she had Bai Ma Shan, she had a helper.

Up on deck, Lu Maowang revealed the location where Bai Ma Shan had "hidden" the apples. There were indeed three apples inside.

"Why so few?" Hu Si originally thought they could each have one, but he didn't expect so little. Each person could only have a bite?

Hao Jiening and the others were also disappointed. "Lu Maowang, didn't you say Bai Ma Shan hid more than a dozen? Why are there only three?"

Everyone was unhappy. They had just fallen out with Bai Ma Shan, thinking they would have a feast, but who knew they would only get a bite each.

Faced with everyone's anger, Lu Maowang remained calm. "I saw more than a dozen before. How would I know when he secretly ate so many? Besides, something is better than nothing. These apples are lifesavers on this ship. It's better to have something than nothing."

No one could refute this. In room six, in front of everyone, Grandpa Wang divided the three apples into nine pieces. Hu Si's family of three, Anna, Lu Maowang, Grandpa Wang and Teacher Lin, Lili, and Sun Jiaojiao each received a piece.

Nao Nao held up the apple in his hand. "Grandpa Wang, can you cut my piece in half again? I said I would save half for Uncle Bai."

Hao Jiening angrily poked her son's forehead. "Are you stupid? He's already eaten more than a dozen himself. Why are you saving anything for him! Eat it quickly!"

Grandpa Wang didn't believe that Bai Ma Shan would steal apples before, but the apples were found in his suitcase, so he had no choice but to believe it now.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the chewing of apples.

Lu Maowang didn't eat his share. After everyone had finished, he held the small piece of apple and said to the still-unsatisfied crowd, "I want to discuss something with you. Can you delete the last few seconds of the video taken by Zhao Di's camera that show me? The camera only filmed me at the end. Just remove those few seconds, and leave the rest untouched. That way, the police can still arrest Jia Wenjun and it won't affect everyone's quest to avenge Zhao Di."

Teacher Lin was the first to object. "It's all in one video. If you want to delete it, you have to delete the whole thing. We can't delete such important evidence just to get you out of it."

Grandpa Wang also agreed with Teacher Lin. "If you didn't do anything, the police will clear your name. You don't have to worry. We can't touch this evidence."

Anna looked at Lu Maowang, who was up to no good, and sneered in her heart, but didn't say anything.

Hu Si's family of three and Sun Jiaojiao all acted like it was none of their business. Their silence meant there was an opportunity to win them over. Lu Maowang began to cast his bait. "Actually, Bai Ma Shan gave me two apples in two installments so that I wouldn't reveal what happened. I ate one with Nao Nao just now, and I still have one left. I'm willing to take it out, along with this piece, and share it with everyone. Please, help me delete those few seconds."

Hearing that there were more apples, Lili and the others were tempted, but after all, this concerned a life. No one dared to agree first.

Because of his injuries, Lu Maowang had a pitiful aura about him when he spoke. "You all know that I sleep with my eyes open, but it's difficult to explain this to the police. It's very troublesome to prove my innocence. If anything goes wrong, it'll be a huge headache. I don't want to get into such trouble. Please, be kind and help me."

Seeing the big man's eyes turn red, Sun Jiaojiao stared at the piece of apple in his hand, thinking that his acting skills were pretty good.

She said, "We've all been through life and death on the same boat. Let's help each other if we can. I know how to delete it without destroying the original evidence, but if I help you delete it, you have to give me half of the apple separately."

Sun Jiaojiao really wanted to eat fruit. Those few bites just now weren't enough to fill her throat. Anyway, she had already killed someone. She didn't care who killed Zhao Di. She cared even less about who was in the video.

"No, absolutely not." Grandpa Wang shook his head firmly.

Teacher Lin also stood on Grandpa Wang's side. Lili hesitated. She wanted to eat the apple, but if she deleted the evidence without permission, would she be considered an accomplice of Jia Wenjun if the police found out?

It didn't seem worth the risk for a few bites of apple.

Hu Si's family and Sun Jiaojiao thought the opposite. Anna watched the people on the deck split into two arguing groups, and felt happy. The more chaotic and divided they were internally, the easier it would be to handle things when her people arrived.

Tonight should be about the time.