Chapter 38 Chapter 38 (Updated 6.27) Right in the middle of the chrysanthemum...

The other side of the city.

Ji Jianguo, who had just finished his meal, took Lian Qiao's hand and walked in the park in the middle of Heye Street.

The air was fresh and dry. The afternoon autumn wind blew down a layer of orange-red fallen leaves, which rustled when stepped on.

The two of them sat down on a bench in the corner, looking upwards, just in time to see a billboard that had just been erected on the main road not far away.

The four big characters "Chenggong Ceramics" sparkled in the pale golden sunlight.

The paint painting next to it is of Gong Chenggong in a three-piece suit - his huge smile is full of confidence and pride as the richest man in Jiangtan, and he doesn't forget to raise a smug thumbs up while holding a blue and white porcelain vase.

Ji Jianguo couldn't help but shake his head. "Twenty years later, why is he still this greasy old look—"

"A classic domineering CEO!" Lian Qiao scoffed with a laugh. "If the author hadn't so thoroughly and successfully crafted the character of the protagonist, the naive Long Aotian, this book 'River City Storm, Industry is King' wouldn't have dominated the bestseller list for a month... After all, it's just you straight guys who love it!"

"I don't like it! My reading list is quite tasteful—it's all The Wealth of Nations, Capital, and Selected Works of Mao Zedong!" Comrade Lao Ji retorted indignantly, "It was just that my subway commute was too long that day, and there was no signal, so I just opened this book to kill time—"

"...Right." Lian Qiao poked her husband's soft, strong biceps with a lewd look. "As long as there are muscles, whatever you say is right."

“…”

Looking at his wife who was obsessed with his beauty, Comrade Lao Ji sighed softly.

Back then, he was also a genius student at Peking University and Tsinghua University with excellent grades, and he had both good looks and brains.

In order to successfully get a job in the capital after graduation and get the most unemployed job in the city, he did not go home every summer vacation. He worked diligently in various units to obtain first-hand intelligence.

Unexpectedly, he traveled through a book in a magnificent way in the subway and became a successful driver for Long Aotian Palace.

According to the plot of the original book, he would betray the male protagonist at a critical moment and secretly pass on information to his rivals. After being discovered, the male protagonist contacted the gang to shoot him to death. Photos of the execution scene were also bought and hung in the company to serve as a warning to those subordinates and rivals who had ulterior motives.

In this way, he established his position as the richest man in Jiangcheng.

Ji Jianguo: “…”

This is too much of an outlaw!

Relying on his strong physique, smart brain and the knowledge and skills learned in modern society, Comrade Jianguo successfully completed the system tasks and became Long Aotian's most capable and trusted subordinate.

Not only did he reverse the fate of the original owner, but he also helped Gong successfully embark on the right path and become a true industrialist with genuine technology.

Just when Gong Chenggong extended an olive branch to him and wanted to create a new future for the ceramic factory together, Ji Jianguo decisively chose to resign.

Serving the king is like serving a tiger. He is too tired. It is time for him to live happily with his wife and find a low-key job to live a life of luxury.

Gong Chenggong was very disappointed with Ji Jianguo's retirement.

This was the person that Long Aotian, the great man, had the highest regard for and the most trust in! He even planned to appoint him as deputy factory director, to support the eldest daughter, Zi He, left behind by his ex-wife Wu Tianxin, and to keep the ceramic factory going strong!

Gong Chenggong tried hard to keep him, but all he got in return was the back of his confidant leaving without mercy.

However, the soft-hearted Ji Jianguo still left a letter to Long Aotian, with some suggestions, hoping that he would educate his children well, run the factory steadily, be low-key and humble, learn advanced technologies at home and abroad, buy more houses if he has money, and not speculate in stocks in 30 years.

But now it seems that Gong Chenggong didn't listen to a word, and did everything the opposite of what was said, as if he was deliberately trying to compete with Ji Jianguo.

The result is obvious. One of the two children is disabled and the other is a drug dealer. Although he is still the richest man, he is about to be caught up by the second-ranked Wang Company.

In recent years, Gong Chenggong made some inquiries and learned that Ji Jianguo was still in Jiangtan, so he asked someone to pass on the message and give gifts, hoping to invite him back to be the company's vice president.

With Lianjie Snack Shop as his cash cow and winning the lottery from time to time, Comrade Lao Ji is living a carefree life in the Street Office and doesn't care about other trivial matters at all.

He even refused to agree to Gong Chenggong's request to meet and reminisce about the past.

…

Thinking of this, Comrade Lao Ji held Ms. Lian Qiao's soft and delicate hand.

Having lived for more than forty years, he already knew the meaning of life.

Maybe this journey through a book was destined, just to meet such a good wife and give birth to such a lovely daughter.

Lian Qiao leaned on his shoulder and asked softly, "What are your plans for the next step? Yinhe seems to have hit a bottleneck. Can we find the real murderer?"

Ji Jianguo withdrew his gaze and raised his hand to brush away the red leaves that had fallen on his wife's knees on her dress.

"My daughter will definitely find out the truth." His solemn eyes were filled with the pride and pride of an old father. "As for Gong Chenggong, he will also have to pay for his choice."

*

Successful porcelain industry.

The other party has a tough attitude, but the Serious Crime Squad is no pushover either.

It was impossible to hand over the person, so Tang Ci turned around and went downstairs with everyone. With so many outstanding talents in the team, he didn't believe that he couldn't find solid evidence!

Perhaps it was the koi physique that Ji Yinhe inherited from Old Ji that took effect—

As soon as I walked to the company gate, I saw a thin old man sitting quietly next to a police car with a small stool. He remained motionless even when several security guards surrounded him.

Everyone hurried over, with Tang Ci at the forefront, pulling the security guard aside.

Ji Yinhe squatted down and asked in a soft voice.

"Comrade police, you're finally here!" A look of disgust crossed the face of the skinny old man, Wen Jun. "I can't bear to stay here even a second longer!"

"What's your name? Where do you work? What's the problem you want to report to us?"

"My last name is Cao. You can call me Professor Cao. I taught politics at Jiangtan University, but I'm retired now." Professor Cao pushed up his tortoise-shell glasses. "I'm also a resident of Jinghu Villa, just across from Gong Chenggong's house... Comrade, I'm here to expose this family. They have low character and are morally corrupt! People like them don't deserve to be the richest man in Jiangtan, nor do they deserve to be neighbors with good people like us!"

His roar immediately attracted the security guard over. Tang Ci and Cheng Mo quickly stuffed him into the big jeep and signaled him to talk on the way.

"I moved into Jinghu Villa two months ago," Professor Cao said, wiping the saliva from the corner of his lips. "I haven't had a good night's sleep since then. This family is terrible. Gong Chenggong comes home at three and leaves at six. His wife dresses up all day long, and I don't know what she does for a living. The eldest son is relatively normal, but the most disgusting one is the youngest son—he either doesn't go out all day, or gets drunk in the middle of the night and howls around the neighborhood with a group of hooligans. And I have a daughter!"

Ji Yinhe nodded at Tang Ci and the others. What this person said was true. It matched what she and Lu Zheng had been following!

She held a pen and paper and wrote frantically, "And then?"

"I've reported it to the property management, but it's no use! I don't know what kind of background he has. I've seen through this society now. Money makes the world go round..." Professor Cao was so angry that he slammed the back of his chair.

Lu Zheng gently interrupted his complaints, "Are there any other situations? It would be best if there is evidence to support what you said, so that we can find the relevant departments to help you solve these problems."

"Ah! Yes, yes!" Professor Cao took out a tape with chipped corners from his bag.

"A few days ago, in the dead of night, I was woken up by a noise downstairs. I got up to close the window and saw Gong Xie and a young man hugging and kissing each other! Under the streetlight, they kissed for a full half hour! It really shows how the world has changed and people's hearts have changed... Later, the man got into a car, and Gong Xie chased him and kissed him for a long time. After the car drove away, I saw Gong Xie holding a cassette tape in his hand. There was a trash can a few steps away, and hey! He didn't throw it in, but just threw it into the green belt on the side of the road! I thought this person was too low-class, so I simply went downstairs to pick up the cassette tape--"

Everyone was shocked!

"Which day was it?" Ji Yinhe opened his eyes wide, "Can you still remember the specific time?"

Professor Cao counted on his fingers and said, "A week ago, yes, last Monday. That was the day I went to the school to collect my pension. I can't remember it wrong!"

"Does that young man look like this?" Xiao Wu quickly took out a stack of photos from his bag, including Qi Hang's ID photo and work photo.

Professor Cao frowned, "I wouldn't dare to say it's 100%, but there's an 80% chance."

"What's the model of the car?" Everyone was very excited. Tang Ci quickly asked, "Is it a Jetta?"

Professor Cao narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. "I'm an old man and I don't know much. It looks a bit similar, it's black anyway... No, comrade police officer, the most important thing is this tape! Do you have a tape recorder? Listen to it quickly!"

Lu Zheng reached under the back seat and actually found a Philips desktop battery.

Tang Ci, who was in the driver's seat, turned around in shock and asked, "When was it put up here?"

"Last time," Teacher Lu said calmly, "I felt your equipment wasn't up to par, so I replaced it all."

Tang Ci: "...This is my car!"

Lu Zheng hummed twice, then opened the card slot with a click and inserted the tape.

"I'm warning you—" Professor Cao covered his ears, and a look of disgust suddenly appeared on his face.

Immediately afterwards, a very suggestive humming sound was heard in the quiet carriage!

The protagonists are still two men!

"Um, well... a little over there!"

"Deep or not? Hmm? Speak!"

"Awesome... You're the best!"

Everyone: “…………”

Xiao Wu covered his ears in embarrassment, and Ji Yinhe's toes were scratching the ground frantically in his police shoes.

The lighter turned out to be Gong Xie's. He and Qi Hang were lovers!

Lu Zheng, who was also sitting in the back row, with Professor Cao between them, glanced at her nonchalantly and raised his eyebrows. The playful look in his eyes was exactly the same as the last time he heard the five-fold video audio in Lijing Nightclub.

Comrade Xiao Ji slowly lowered his head.

"——Enough! You just want to say that Gong Xie is a gay, we know it!" Captain Tang couldn't stand it anymore and stretched out his arm to turn off the tape recorder, but was patted on the arm by the serious Professor Cao.

"What's the rush?" Professor Cao said, his neck held high. "The key is still to come!"

Everyone had no choice but to wait patiently. After a long ten seconds, a low, coquettish voice came out:

"Can't I go on Wednesday?"

"No! I'm yours now, can't you help me make some money?"

"What on earth is a red dragon? I heard it's very dangerous—"

"Shh, don't say it!"

"Listen!" Professor Cao flipped the switch, indignant. "Not only did Gong Xie forcibly abduct men, he also made them work for him for free! He's completely unworthy of the newly enacted Labor Law. If every entrepreneur behaved like Gong Xie, how could our country ever join the WTO?"

There was silence in the carriage. Everyone was thinking that Qi Hang was indeed helping Gong Xie transport goods on Wednesdays, and the code name of this synthetic drug was probably Red Dragon!

However, Professor Cao's idea is not wrong...

Tang Ci said dryly, "Thank you, Professor Cao, for providing us with such strong evidence. We will accept this tape for now."

"Okay, okay," Professor Cao said earnestly before getting out of the car. "Police comrades, I heard from a relative who proofreads at the printing factory that Gong Chenggong spent a fortune to remove the news from the morning paper. He's so guilty, he must be trying to protect his son! You must arrest these bad guys and teach them a lesson!"

“…Okay, don’t worry!”

Ji Yinhe was too embarrassed to tell him the truth, that the person who withdrew the paper was actually the director of the Municipal Bureau.

After seeing Professor Cao off, everyone parked the police car on the side of the road and had a brief discussion.

With this tape and Professor Cao's testimony, although it cannot be concluded that Gong Xie is the murderer, it is certain that he asked Qi Hang to help him with drug trafficking.

"Captain Tang, are we going back to Chenggong Ceramics?" Xiao Wu asked.

Tang Ci thought for a moment and shook his head.

"No, that tape doesn't mention anyone by name. Gong Chenggong definitely won't admit it now and won't let us arrest him." He pinched his brow and said, "I'll call Director Rao, and then we'll go to Rongshu Lane!"

"Okay!" Xiao Wu waved two fingers across his temples.

Everyone jumped into the car separately. Ye Qing and her assistant came to meet them. Cheng Mo took them to the Santana used exclusively by the Technical Department.

Ji Yinhe sat in the back seat, staring at the busy traffic outside, lost in the flow of thought——

Qi Hang delivers goods every Wednesday, and today is Monday, so could his death have been last Wednesday?

Was Banyan Alley the primary crime scene? Based on the bruises on the body, did Gong Xie imprison the victim there and then beat him? Will they find "Red Dragon" in the warehouse? Or will they discover Qi Hang's elusive work ID?

Thinking back on the scenes from the investigation so far, Ji Yinhe always felt that something was wrong.

——They were clearly so affectionate last Monday, but now it’s Wednesday, how come they killed someone?!

What huge conflict did they have between the two? Why did they hate each other so much that they locked the other person in the trunk of a car and drowned him in the river?

And judging from the way he followed Gong Xie last night, he didn't look like he had just killed his lover...

Ji Yinhe pressed his eyebrows and felt that there seemed to be a lack of closer connections between each link.

Before one crisis is over, another crisis arises.

As the big jeep turned onto the main road leading to Banyan Tree Lane, the sharp-eyed Comrade Xiao Ji spotted a familiar figure lying on the side of the road, which was rapidly retreating, under the roots of a tree.

"——Captain Tang! Stop the car!"

Tang Ci didn't ask any more questions and slammed on the brakes.

Two or three police cars behind also stopped.

"...What's wrong?" Cheng Mo and several police officers from the police station gathered around, "Did you find any clues or—"

The next second, he saw the person lying on the ground and his eyes widened.

When planning actions in the office, everyone deliberately spoke loudly so that Che Zhiwen in the inner room could hear them.

The purpose is to test whether he is truly repentant or has other plans.

At this moment, Comrade Che Zhiwen, who always looks like a decent man, is in a very miserable state. His clothes are covered with mud, his big head is buried in the tree roots, his hands are covering his buttocks, and his ears to the neck are all red.

There were a few drops of blood on the ground.

Tang Ci laughed in anger and asked loudly, "Lao Che, why didn't you write a self-criticism in the office? How did you get yourself into this state?"

“…” Che Zhiwen cried intermittently.

Tang Ci let out a long sigh.

It seems that he has to report to Director Rao and send the person out of the municipal bureau.

Tang Ci frowned, squatted down, patted away his hands that were covering his butt, and asked Ye Qing's male assistant to come over and check.

"It's nothing, just a superficial wound." The assistant seized the opportunity to get revenge. "We can bandage it, too. It's just that Deputy Captain Che always complains about the stench of us forensic doctors...why don't we call an ambulance?"

Tang Ci: “…”

Ji Yinhe pulled Xiao Wu and nodded towards the broken bicycle not far away.

At this moment, the seat cushion was gone, and a few pieces of red-dyed cloth were still floating on the top of the iron pillar.

"Isn't this my car?" Xiao Wu lifted the car up and said in surprise, "Oh, by the way, the sponge spring of my car is broken, and Sister Xiao Ji helped me remove the seat cushion. Before I had time to buy a new one, I just parked it at the door of the carport--"

Everyone understood instantly.

Che Zhiwen rode Xiao Wu's bicycle to investigate a case. At first, nothing seemed unusual. But when the seat cushion loosened and fell off, it was too late.

Che Zhiwen sat on the bare iron pillar with sharp screw edges.

Judging from his expression at the moment, which looked like he wished he could die on the spot, the injury was right in the center of his anus!

"Pfft——" Someone couldn't help but cover his face and laugh.

Even the serious Tang Ci couldn't help laughing when he imagined this scene.

Except for the owner of the bicycle, Xiao Wu, he was staring at the bloodstains and cloth on the screw mouth. The more he looked at it, the more it looked like the color of underwear, and he couldn't help but feel like vomiting.

"Alright!" Tang Ci turned to the forensic assistant. "Find a public phone and call 911. Stay with him. Everyone else, get in the car. Don't waste time here!"

"...Captain Tang." Xiao Wu looked at the bicycle in his hand in embarrassment, "What should I do with my bike?"

Tang Ci held his forehead and said, "Just throw it away. Let him compensate you when he is discharged from the hospital."

"Okay!" Xiao Wu happily threw the car to the ground and climbed onto the big jeep happily.

Although the old car looked a bit miserable, it was a blessing in disguise for him!

*

Rongshu Lane is near an industrial zone. Its cement road is narrow, yet heavily dented by trucks. The factories in this area are both state-owned and privately contracted, but because they were built so long ago and are so far away, most are now abandoned.

From the outside, the warehouse looked empty, with only a few security guards at the door, gathered together playing cards.

Tang Ci drove the car to the door, took out his ID and search warrant and waved them, "Police investigating the case."

The security guards looked at each other, pushed the door open, and then ran away.

It looks like a mess.

Everyone just rushed into the warehouse door.

Chenggong Ceramics probably hasn't used this warehouse for a long time. The moldy walls are still covered with the ceramic factory's safety production slogans, and the shelves are also covered with a thick layer of rust. The sunlight slants in through the broken glass, piercing the dust floating in the air.

Ji Yinhe, Xiao Wu and Cheng Mo led a few people to search in different directions, but all that was left here were boxes of porcelains. It looked like they had been there for who knows how long, and no one would want them even if they were given away for free.

No wonder the security guard seems so indifferent.

Xiao Wu wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked, "Captain Tang, could it be that all the stuff has been taken away?"

Tang Ci put his hands on his hips and kicked away the scattered urea bags on the ground. "Look again! Don't those books say that as long as a crime is committed, there will inevitably be related traces left behind?"

"—— Locard's Law of Exchange of Materials!" Ji Yinhe and Lu Zheng said in unison.

Tang Ci scratched his forehead and looked at the man who had been standing aside with his arms folded since entering the warehouse. "What insights does Expert Lu have today?"

"I'm not worthy of your kind advice." Lu Zheng looked at Ji Yinhe, "Comrade Ji, there are marks on the shelf five meters to your right, indicating it has been moved recently."

Ji Yinhe hadn't checked here yet, so he ran over to take a look.

It really is! Only by shining a beam of light on the dust on the shelf can you see a faint trace of dragging.

She quickly rolled up her sleeves and moved the box down.

"Why is it still porcelain?" Xiao Wu came over with a frustrated look on his face. "Captain Tang, it's tableware. It looks like it was cooked so carelessly!"

Ji Yinhe squatted on the ground, put on gloves, and carefully took out a porcelain bowl.

"Teacher Lu, could you please come and take a look..." Ji Yinhe said softly, as if afraid of shattering the porcelain, "Isn't the color of this thing a little off?"

Lu Zheng walked over quickly, took the porcelain bowl from her hand, and looked at it carefully over and over in the sunlight.

"The color is a bit blue..." he muttered to himself, "Could it be that the red dragon is blue?"

Without waiting for everyone to react, he opened the toolbox with one hand, took out an extremely delicate utility knife, and gently scraped along the bottom of the bowl.

——A circle of shimmering light blue appeared deep in the white porcelain surface.

Everyone was shocked: "!!!"

Tang Ci immediately rushed over, "Teacher Lu, please check all the porcelain here with Ye Qing to see if there are any other signs of biological life——"

Lu Zheng made an OK gesture.

"Cheng Mo, find a public phone and call the police station. Send more people to keep an eye on Gong Xie! Xiao Ji, Xiao Wu, you two come with me!" With a clang, Captain Tang kicked open the warehouse door. "Let's go back and report to Director Rao. If everything goes well, we can arrest him tonight!"

*

"...The powder on the jacket is indeed a synthetic drug. It's not Red Dragon, but the molecular formula is very close."

In the director's office, Team Three Captain Cui Bin was showing Rao Zheng the inspection report. "The provincial department arrested several drug addicts in Dengzhou in the first half of the year and seized a lot from them. It's said that this stuff came from the north. It's of high purity, so it's very expensive—"

Bang!

With a loud bang, Tang Ci kicked open the door with a cardboard box in his arms.

Following behind him were the still calm Ji Yinhe and the panting Xiao Wu.

"You'd better have something important to say." Director Rao looked at the footprints on the door with heartache.

"Director Rao, Captain Cui," Tang Ci said with a simple nod. "We've raided the Rongshu Lane warehouse and discovered porcelain tainted with drugs. Lu Zheng's preliminary inspection suggests it's the Red Dragon that hasn't been shipped out yet!"

Rao just slapped the desk and stood up immediately.

"Xiao Tang, Xiao Cui." He gave the order loudly and solemnly, "Team one, team three, move out—"

"Catch Gong Xie!!"

…

Five minutes later, just as Tang Ci got into the jeep, the passenger door was suddenly opened and Cui Bin jumped in.

Tang Ci tutted his words, "You're riding in my car again—"

"Why are you so stingy!" Cui Bin glanced at Ji Yinhe and Xiao Wu in the back row and said with a grin, "I heard your team didn't have much work to do, but suddenly a remarkable policewoman showed up, and from then on, you started working overtime day and night... This policewoman must be you, right, Comrade Ji?"

Ji Yinhe straightened his back and said, "Hey, it's me, Captain Cui."

"Hello, hello." Cui Bin rubbed his paws. "You have a real talent for solving cases... Team Tang is too serious. It's not fun. Why don't you come and play with our Team Three for a few days?"

Ji Yinhe's eyes immediately opened wide.

Drug control! That's so interesting. Unlike Team One, which occasionally has minor thefts and fights, Team Three either has no cases or only major ones!

Tang Ci gripped the steering wheel unhappily, "What do you mean I'm not having fun... Xiao Ji, you're not allowed to go!"

Under the pressure of his leader's authority, Comrade Xiao Ji silently retracted his excited smile.

Tang Ci glanced at her, feeling a little soft-hearted. After thinking for a moment, he muttered, "If the team is free, I'll go help out once in a while..."

"Thank you, Captain Tang! You are so generous!" Comrade Xiao Ji immediately flattered him.

Cui Bin's laughter echoed in the carriage, and Tang Ci felt happy.

Once this case is finished, he can ask Ji Yinhe out for dinner.

“Beep!” “Beep!”

Tang Ci and Cui Bin's pagers rang at the same time, and everyone's heart skipped a beat.

Cui Bin asked Tang Ci to concentrate on driving, took out his Hanxian pager, took a look, and immediately slapped his thigh and roared:

"Damn it! Gong Xie f*cking ran away!"