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However, things began to take a new turn. In the following days, the outcome of Hans Schulman's case quickly spread through Spring City through unknown channels.
Shen Tong and her companions knew that Xiaoshuang must have had a hand in this—after all, the photo of Hans Schulman casually walking out of the Police Station circulated widely throughout the streets of Spring City. The angle of the photograph was particularly clever, capturing the disdain and smugness in Hans Schulman's eyes, which ignited the fury of the city's residents.
The parents and relatives of the previously missing children were also extremely outraged. Their children had suffered such harm, yet the perpetrator was still at large! They quickly banded together, protesting and petitioning daily in front of the German Consulate.
As time went on, more and more citizens of Spring City joined the ranks of the petitioners. Students from Spring City University even organized protests on their own—giving speeches on the streets to condemn the government's weak attitude and incompetence, demanding severe punishment for the criminal, regardless of his identity.
The development of events took everyone by surprise. As the scale of protests continued to grow, many civic organizations and business associations issued statements calling for strict punishment for the criminal. Even the usually conservative Chun Cheng Evening News changed its previously passive stance, beginning to publish commentary articles about the case. Although the wording remained cautious, their position was now clear.
Faced with overwhelming public pressure, the German Consulate was ultimately forced to issue a statement promising to "investigate and address Hans Schulman's criminal behavior according to the law."
Even more surprising was that three days later, Hans Schulman was returned to Spring City Police Station under escort from his lawyer, where he would be detained under the supervision of a Special Committee.
Chun Cheng Evening News featured a front-page headline about "Hans Schulman's Re-arrest," accompanied by a photo of him bowing his head as he entered the Police Station. After this news broke, the protests gradually subsided. The citizens of Spring City believed that through their persistence, justice had finally been served.
However, the truth was cruel—half a month later, Lin Mingchang learned from an old colleague at the Police Station that Hans Schulman had been secretly sent back to Germany for medical treatment due to "acute pneumonia" and "heart issues," all orchestrated directly by the Special Committee. The so-called "justice" was merely a performance aimed at quelling public anger.
Hans Schulman was already living comfortably in a private sanatorium in Berlin. Meanwhile, after being suspended from his job, Lin Mingchang found himself aimlessly passing his days. He often visited Shen Tong's small courtyard to help her chop firewood, fetch water, and repair her old house.
One day, as they were quietly eating together, Shen Tong suddenly spoke up: "Lin Mingchang, I want to pickle some vegetables. Since you have nothing to do, could you help me out?"
Lin Mingchang paused for a moment before understanding her intent. "Are you worried that I'll be idle all day and feel down? You want to give me something to distract myself?"
Shen Tong lowered her head, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her face. "I just think... it’s a bit hard for me to pickle several kinds of vegetables alone. If you don’t want to help, just pretend I never said anything."
Lin Mingchang suddenly laughed, "I’m willing! I’m best at pickling vegetables. When I was a child, I often helped my mother with it. You don’t even need to lift a finger; just leave it to me!"
Shen Tong couldn't help but chuckle, reaching out to place a piece of pickled radish into Lin Mingchang's bowl.
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