Yu Xiaoluo called me so late because she wanted me to discuss a plan with Lin Zhijun to capture the leader of the swindlers by exploiting the x-driver's ignorance. Hearing this proposal, my heart was a jumble of emotions. I even wondered if I should confess that I was the one who made the call. But then, I realized it wouldn't work. The police's trust in me stemmed from Wang Zeyi and Yu Xiaoluo. Now that Wang Zeyi was no longer in Xi'an, the person in charge of the "Black Gold" task force here was a cadre from the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security Department.
If I revealed my absurd plan, it would not only damage the image of my colleagues from the criminal investigation bureau within the task force but also hinder the investigation. At this moment, I remembered Old Ghost's evaluation of me: "Elaborate but impractical." I didn't agree then, but now I admit it, I sometimes have far-fetched ideas.
"Yu Xiaoluo, I don't think this plan is good."
"How so?"
Yu Xiaoluo wasn't someone who readily accepted others' opinions, especially when the opinion came from me. So, her expression soured, and she tried her best to suppress her temper.
"We all know how the x-driver escaped, right?"
"Of course, your identity was exposed by Tie Zhishan."
I gave a bitter smile, "If only it were that simple."
"Tang Nan, you..."
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It's over. Yu Xiaoluo was about to lose her temper. I saw the other people's gazes shifting towards us and quickly pulled Yu Xiaoluo outside.
"Tang Nan..."
I looked at Yu Xiaoluo earnestly and interrupted her sternly, "I know that there shouldn't be any traitors in the ranks of the people's police, right?"
"You know that and you still say it."
"I swear on my life, Tie Zhishan doesn't know my identity."
Yu Xiaoluo stared at me. I said sheepishly, "Should I raise three fingers?"
"You're still going to say there are traitors in our ranks?"
"It's a fact!"
"Alright, what do you plan to do?"
Yu Xiaoluo actually relented, which was something I hadn't expected. When I insisted there was a traitor in the team, I even thought Yu Xiaoluo might punch me. I was surprised. This stubborn Beijing girl had really changed. In the past, she wouldn't have been like this.
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"Do you believe me?"
I asked tentatively. Yu Xiaoluo pouted, "Believe you? I'm telling you, it was Group Leader Wang who instructed me to go along with your crazy ideas when I came to Xi'an. That's why I'm listening to you."
Hearing her explanation, I let out a long sigh. I was really afraid that Yu Xiaoluo would wholeheartedly believe me, and I didn't want a righteous people's police officer to be led astray by me.
"Quick, tell me, what do you want to do?"
"We'll have the task force investigate the stolen national treasure. You and I will take a different direction."
"What direction?"
"The theft of the 'Buried Jade' is related to Zhang Bing."
"Zhang Bing died several years ago."
"Yes, but I know Zhang Bing's wife and daughter live together."
"Okay! Let's start investigating from them."
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...
The next day, Yu Xiaoluo drove to pick me up from the hotel and then we went to find Zhang Bing's daughter, Zhang Hongxia. Because of the police station's notification, Zhang Hongxia had taken the day off! After her father Zhang Bing passed away, Zhang Hongxia brought her mother to live with her. Their family wasn't wealthy. In their 60-plus square meter apartment, three generations lived together. A small room was partitioned off in the living room for Zhang's mother to live in.
When we arrived, Zhang Hongxia hadn't returned yet. After waiting for a while, she rushed back from work. When she opened the door, we saw Zhang's mother locked in the small room. This scene made Yu Xiaoluo, who couldn't bear to see human suffering, turn pale.
Zhang Hongxia noticed Yu Xiaoluo's displeasure and explained cautiously, "My mother's mental state isn't good. Sometimes she goes crazy and smashes things."
"What about her meals and bathroom needs during the day?"
"She doesn't eat or drink all day and doesn't use the toilet. She only eats and uses the toilet after I get off work in the evening."
Yu Xiaoluo became unhappy, "Why don't you send her to a nursing home in this situation?"
Zhang Hongxia gave a bitter smile, "My brother severed ties with our parents when he was young and doesn't care about anything. You can see our family's conditions. Neither my husband nor I have stable jobs, and my child needs to go to school. Where would we find the spare money to send our elderly mother to a nursing home?"
Yu Xiaoluo wanted to ask more, but I pulled her back and said with a smile, "Let's ask the old lady about what happened back then."
Zhang's mother was helped out by Zhang Hongxia. The old lady looked very weak, but her mental state was relatively stable. Yu Xiaoluo gritted her teeth, calmed herself down, and then asked, "Auntie, I wanted to ask about Lin..."
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Before Yu Xiaoluo could utter her grandfather's name, Zhang's mother suddenly started roaring like a madwoman, grabbing whatever was nearby and throwing it around. Zhang Hongxia skillfully hugged her mother, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mom, Mom, the police are asking, did our neighbors knock on the door? Do you know?"
Seeing that Zhang's mother's emotions were still unstable, I quickly changed my words, "Mrs. Zhang, we're really asking about your neighbors."
Because I said that, Zhang's mother's emotions gradually stabilized, and she started to pant. Yu Xiaoluo and I exchanged a look. We couldn't get any information in this situation. I told Zhang Hongxia to comfort her mother and then pulled Yu Xiaoluo outside to wait. Outside, I saw a bank nearby and went in to withdraw 100,000 yuan using the bank card Lin Zhiyuan had given me.
After finishing the transaction, Yu Xiaoluo was asking Zhang Hongxia. Zhang Hongxia knew nothing about what happened back then, which made Yu Xiaoluo a little dejected. I handed the money to Zhang Hongxia. Both Zhang Hongxia and Yu Xiaoluo were a bit stunned.
"Please get a better environment for the old lady. If she's always kept in a small room like a cage in the living room, what will your child think? And how will you be treated when you're old?"
Zhang Hongxia heard this and tried to push the 100,000 cash back to me, "Officer, I can't take your money, I can't repay you!"
"You don't have to repay it."
I didn't take the money and left with Yu Xiaoluo. Zhang Hongxia ran quite fast, catching up to us in a few quick strides. I frowned, "This money is truly for you."
"No, officer, I want to tell you, if you want to collect evidence of the Lin family's crimes, I can give you a phone number and address. Her name is Jiao. She's about the same age as my mother. Her son was also harmed by the Lin family."
...
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We didn't have much hope for this lead. On the way to Aunt Jiao's house, we were silent for a while. I sat in the passenger seat, staring ahead. Thinking of Mrs. Zhang's appearance, my heart ached. My grandmother said my grandfather deserved his fate. Seeing Mrs. Zhang's condition, I began to believe my grandmother's words. My heart even wavered, was it really necessary to investigate? They deceived the Zhang family like this, even if he wasn't the x-driver, how was he different from the x-driver?
"Where did you get the money?"
Yu Xiaoluo's question pulled my soul back from its spiritual journey.
"Mine!"
"Yours?"
I had answered subconsciously just now, but I felt something was amiss. I thought about it. Fortunately, it wasn't cash I brought. I confessed truthfully, "Lin Zhiyuan gave it to me?"
"Why did he give you so much money?"
"To help my grandfather protect his reputation, that's why I'm actively investigating this matter."
"You're not investigating to solve the case? It's for the money?"
Yu Xiaoluo made me feel a bit flustered. "Let's talk about the case. Do you think this Aunt Jiao can help?"
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"Unlikely!"
I didn't have much hope for this Aunt Jiao either. Aunt Jiao and her boss were intellectuals. Her husband passed away a few years ago, and she was raising a son alone. Her son was in his forties and unmarried, still living off his mother.
I don't understand how the Lin family could have deceived her. She was a victim of the resort scam, and even if she was, she shouldn't know that my grandfather was the x-driver, right?
After a brief chat about Aunt Jiao's background, we arrived at her apartment. It wasn't too dire, a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment. As soon as I entered, I heard a familiar sound and smelled an unpleasant smoky odor.
Aunt Jiao's son, in his forties, was sitting in his bedroom playing Legend, smoking, with a stubble. From the side, I didn't notice anything wrong with him. But when he turned around, I was startled – one of his eyes had no eyeball.
...
Aunt Jiao was quite enthusiastic, pouring us a cup of water and smiling, asking, "You're here to investigate the Lin family. Hongxia called and told me. You're investigating old Lin, why are you investigating him? He's also a bitter person like us."
Huh? Wasn't she supposed to have a grudge against the Lin family? Why was she putting in a good word for my grandfather? Yu Xiaoluo and I exchanged glances, both puzzled. Yu Xiaoluo calmly said, "Aunt Jiao, can you tell us about it?"
Aunt Jiao nodded and slowly recounted her grievances with the Lin family.
When she spoke of the Lin family, the seemingly calm Aunt Jiao also gritted her teeth. In Aunt Jiao's story, her grandfather and grandmother were good people, but fate was unfair, and heaven sent them a rebellious son. Aunt Jiao's son, Jiang Cheng, who was now playing Legend next door, wasn't like this initially. The turning point in his life was when Lin Zhijun gouged out his eye.
"Lin Zhijun? How is that possible?"
When the criminal investigation bureau recruited Lin Zhijun as an informant, they investigated him thoroughly. Lin Zhijun had been hardworking and driven since childhood, with no blemishes and excellent academic performance.
Gouging out someone's eye is not a minor offense, yet Lin Zhijun's file contained no mention of it.
Suddenly, I had a feeling that finding this Aunt Jiao was the right direction.