Chapter Seventy-Six: Gratitude

“I’ll buy you a drink!” Keffin rarely went to bars, but tonight she had deliberately invited Qiu Fenyu to sit with her in an inconspicuous corner, watching him intently. “How did you know?”

“What… oh, you mean the left hand?” Qiu Fenyu laughed. “For someone who often practices shooting with both hands, it’s nothing to brag about. I’m familiar with it, so I can tell the difference between shooting with the left and right hand.”

Keffin nodded. Most people are only comfortable with shooting right-handed; few understand the nuances of firing with the left hand. Not everyone could shoot ambidextrously as Qiu Fenyu did.

“But… that Halloween night, I really witnessed the madness of Texas cowboys!” Qiu Fenyu chuckled. “It was almost like being back in Donetsk, gunshots and mortars everywhere. You could even feel the ground tremble when bombers flew overhead…”

“Is that why you came to America?” Keffin’s gaze softened.

Qiu Fenyu shrugged. “Yes, it’s one of the reasons.”

Keffin wanted to ask what other reasons there were, but hesitated. Thinking for a moment, she raised her glass, “Thank you for pointing it out to me. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have caught that bastard. We analyzed his gun, the bullets, the gunpowder, and his position at the time. In the end, he confessed himself.”

“He said he was terrified and just ran off—never expected to be caught so quickly…” Keffin couldn’t help but smile with pride.

“I never imagined… Officer Keffin would sit in a bar!”

Keffin rolled her eyes at Qiu Fenyu.

“All right, I should go. I’m really not used to staying here for too long…” Keffin took out a bill, pressed it under her empty glass, smiled apologetically at Qiu Fenyu, and left.

Qiu Fenyu snapped his fingers at the bartender to settle the bill.

Keffin had only paid for her own drink. Was this really treating him? Qiu Fenyu touched his nose in frustration.

Halloween ended in near-farcical fashion. But it became a hot topic in town, and Keffin’s swift capture of the shooter, Darren, astonished even Hobson. Her reputation in both the police department and the town seemed to have risen yet again.

After Halloween, drought-stricken Texas finally received a bout of rain, easing the dry spell and allowing the ranchers to breathe a sigh of relief.

Because of the heavy rain, Qiu Fenyu’s noodle shop, for the first time, didn’t sell forty bowls of noodles—but it still managed thirty-seven. To everyone’s surprise, the Japanese family were the first to show up, all together, including Masatoshi Mikura.

The clockmaker, Breslin, also came. One arm was in a sling, he couldn’t move his head freely, but he still made the effort. With one hand, he struggled to hold an umbrella, but he was soaked through.

“Breslin, you look terrible. You shouldn’t have come,” Qiu Fenyu called Davis over to take the umbrella, then helped Breslin to a booth.

“I heard from Chief Keffin!” Breslin glanced at Qiu Fenyu.

Qiu Fenyu smiled, “I didn’t do much—you should thank Officer Keffin!”

“I know, I know. I’m already very grateful to her. But I had to come here… to tell you personally.” Breslin quickly said, “This is for you…” He pulled a delicate box from his pocket and placed it on the booth’s table.

Davis turned in surprise to look at Qiu Fenyu.

Qiu Fenyu walked over, opened the box, and found an antique pocket watch.

“This… was passed down from my grandfather’s grandfather, nothing special, just a pocket watch. Perhaps it can express my gratitude.” Breslin smiled at him.

“No, I can’t accept this—it’s too precious!” Qiu Fenyu immediately saw the value of the watch. There was an engraved signature on the back of the case.

“George Gordon Meade…” Qiu Fenyu read the name aloud.

“Hey, Ray, are you giving your family heirloom to Qiu?” Someone eating noodles saw the pocket watch in Qiu Fenyu’s hand and joked loudly, “Your grandfather will crawl out of his grave to kick your ass!”

“No, it’s too valuable, Breslin. I appreciate your sentiment, but you should keep it yourself!” Qiu Fenyu tossed the watch, and Breslin instinctively caught it.

“Qiu, it’s nothing… just a watch…”

“If you really want to thank me, eat three bowls of noodles. If you can’t finish them, I’ll pack them up for you!” Qiu Fenyu shook his head and walked away.

Breslin was stunned. Three bowls of noodles?

Yes, in the end, it was three bowls of noodles, which Qiu Fenyu insisted he take home. As for the watch, it ended up back in Breslin’s pocket.

The poor fellow, carrying three bowls of noodles in one hand, umbrella in the other, staggered back to his shop through the rain.

When Tim returned, he laughed about it for a long time.

After the laughter, Qiu Fenyu suddenly asked, “Who is George Gordon Meade? Breslin’s grandfather? It doesn’t sound like it…”

Davis laughed, “That’s Breslin’s pride. George Gordon Meade was a general in Lincoln’s era, commander of the famous Battle of Gettysburg. He was the chief commander of that battle.”

Qiu Fenyu remained baffled, “Was the Battle of Gettysburg famous?”

He was a complete idiot when it came to American history; clearly, he didn’t understand any of it.

“Of course. If that pocket watch were auctioned, it could fetch a hefty price—ten thousand dollars, maybe even a hundred thousand!” Davis smiled. “I never thought he’d give it to you. What did you do to make him so ruthless with himself?”

“What a lovable fellow. If I had a beautiful daughter, I’d marry her off to him!” Qiu Fenyu laughed. “Too bad Tim’s just a rascal.”

“Oh, damn, don’t drag me into this!” Tim shouted angrily.

At last, the forty bowls of noodles were sold, and Qiu Fenyu felt he’d accomplished something great. He shooed Davis and Tim out, then sat in the shop, watching the rain outside, lost in thought.

But his reverie didn’t last long—he received a phone call.

It was Anthony.

“Qiu, you’re amazing. Honestly, I admire you. You’re the only person I truly respect!” Anthony began with a barrage of compliments.

“If there’s something, just say it, or I’ll hang up.”

“All right, first, congratulations. Your actions were flawless. Although B immediately investigated you, you have a strong alibi—the surveillance footage from El Paso. And throughout the operation, you left no clues that could be traced.”

“I did nothing, buddy. I spent a delightful Halloween in El Paso, my first in America. How could I miss the show?” Qiu Fenyu snorted.

“There’s a light task—do you want to take it?”

“No, I don’t want anything, Anthony. You have no idea what I want.” Qiu Fenyu dismissed him without listening. “I won’t do anything for you.”

“Don’t be so quick to refuse…”

“All right, if there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up!” Qiu Fenyu didn’t want to talk about it any further.

Anthony laughed, “I expected this response. I just had to ask. Oh… almost forgot—those Russian mobsters from San Diego have now been designated a priority target by B. You don’t need to do anything; all threats against you will be eliminated.”

“Thank you, Anthony. I’m grateful…” Qiu Fenyu nodded. “But… from now on, we’re even. I protected April for you, you gave me reliable intelligence and support. We’re square!”

“Wow—that hurts me, you know… I still look forward to working with you… beep beep beep…” Anthony wanted to keep talking, but Qiu Fenyu had already decisively hung up.

Anthony paused, but smiled as he put away his phone. Someone like that could only be beneficial. Sooner or later, he’d be of help.