Upon receiving news of his father, Cheng Huasheng's mood brightened considerably. He put the phone back down, smiled, and grasped his wife's hand. "Dad's address has been confirmed."
Li Ailian was also very happy. "Was that what you were talking about on the phone just now? When can we bring Dad back?"
A hint of gloom appeared in Cheng Huasheng's eyes. "It will take some more time. Wen Yun has been attending meetings with the leaders recently. He came to see me the night before last and told me some things."
Cheng Wenyun is the son of Cheng Huasheng's elder brother. He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a young age and went to work at the consulate of T country a few years ago, which is how he escaped a disaster. Two years ago, Cheng Wenyun returned to China and is now working as a secretary for a certain leader.
"I'll go get someone to write a letter of introduction first, Ailian. I plan to go to Linyun City in person next month."
Li Ailian hesitated for a moment, then said, "I also want to go with you."
“Although you made a promise to those people when you left, asking them to take good care of Dad, he was in a cowshed. Coco and I are in Beijing. Although the neighbors are annoying, I have a formal job and Coco is in school. Our lives are much better than Dad’s.”
“I’ll go with you before summer vacation ends, so I can pack some necessary items for Dad and make him more comfortable inside.”
Li Ailian deeply respected her father-in-law. As a high school physics teacher herself, she knew his abilities. If it weren't for that calamity, her father-in-law and husband would have made significant contributions to the country's aerospace industry, which would have been an unparalleled honor.
Upon hearing Li Ailian's words, Cheng Huasheng hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, our whole family will go! We'll bring Coco too."
Coco is the daughter of Cheng Huasheng and Li Ailian, and she is ten years old this year.
Li Ailian laughed, "Okay, then I'll go get a letter of introduction too."
Cheng Huasheng and Li Ailian soon went to their respective workplaces to obtain letters of introduction.
It's easy for Li Ailian to get a letter of introduction, but it's very difficult for Cheng Huasheng to get one.
Despite his youth, Cheng Huasheng was the second-in-command of the last secret research and development mission. Although the mission was over, there would be a second and third batch of research and development missions. Cheng Huasheng's personal safety was of great importance to the National Security Bureau. He said he was going to Linyun City, so the higher-ups had to arrange for him to be protected by bodyguards and also contact Linyun City to make contact.
In short, Cheng Huasheng was very cautious about his travels.
This is not making a mountain out of a molehill. The world's leading aviation countries keep their research on fighter jets completely secret. It is not uncommon for some foreign politicians to assassinate technical personnel in order to curb the development of other countries.
This is not something that people in the small town of Zhongmo can concern themselves with.
Attention shifted to the town's public security bureau.
Liu Yinyin arrived at the destination quickly with her child. She requested to see Xia Lei, but was unsurprisingly refused.
Xia Lei is now a criminal suspected of serious crimes related to the trafficking of national cultural relics, so it's unlikely that anyone could easily be allowed to visit him.
Liu Yinyin was so anxious that she was furious. She cried and begged, saying that she would do nothing but see Xia Lei once.
Police officer Xiao Zhao and Captain Liu were completely unyielding, refusing to allow any outsiders to see Xia Lei.
Liu Yinyin's tears fell in a downpour; she was completely lost and didn't know what to do.
Just as Liu Yinyin was filled with anxiety and couldn't think of a solution, the director of the Public Security Bureau walked in from outside.
He glanced at Liu Yinyin and felt that she looked familiar.
"Why does this person look so familiar?" the bureau chief asked his subordinate.
The subordinate looked closely and said, "Director, have you forgotten? She submitted an article to the city government before, and one of her articles about our Public Security Bureau was published in the daily newspaper. Provincial leaders even praised our bureau."
Upon hearing his subordinate's explanation, the bureau chief understood. His gaze towards Liu Yinyin softened, and he asked, "Then why is she crying so bitterly? Did something bad happen? Our bureau cannot allow the people to suffer injustice."
The subordinate whispered a few more words in the director's ear.
The bureau chief's expression became complicated. He walked over and said, "Liu Zhiqing."
Liu Yinyin looked up, saw the bureau chief, and her eyes lit up immediately. "Bureau Chief! You still recognize me."
The bureau chief nodded. "I know you. Your article is very well written."
Liu Yinyin's tears fell again. "It is my honor to receive a word of praise from you, Director."
"Director, if I had a better way, I wouldn't have come to you. Could you please make an exception and let me see my husband, Xia Lei, just once? I really only want to see him once!"
The bureau chief really couldn't make an exception for her in this matter.
Xia Lei, Li Hu, Chen Weiguo from the archaeological team, and their accomplices—these people have formed a complete chain for transporting and selling cultural relics. Each of them is guilty and cannot be easily exonerated.
If they can solve this case, the Zhongmo Town Public Security Bureau will definitely be commended, and the bureau chief will not let go of this opportunity to enhance his resume.
The bureau chief shook his head. "Liu Zhiqing, you should know that your husband has committed a serious crime. Before the matter is resolved, we do not allow anyone to visit him. I cannot help you with this."
When Liu Yinyin heard the director say that, her heart finally died, and she withered away as if all her energy had been drained.
How could this happen? How could this happen...?
Everything was fine before, so how did it suddenly turn out like this?
Xia Xi cried and called for her mother next to Liu Yinyin.
Liu Yinyin emerged from the station in a daze, standing under the bright sun, yet feeling icy cold.
What can we do now?
Her gaze swept around and she suddenly spotted a grandfather and grandson.
They held hands, and their grandson was eating popsicles non-stop.
Grandfather and grandson...
Master...
Suddenly, Liu Yinyin thought of something. She bit her lip, grabbed Xia Xi, and found a place nearby where she could make a phone call.
"Xixi, when the call connects, remember to call him Grandpa and then introduce yourself. Xixi, do you remember how Mom taught you to introduce yourself?"
Xia Xi nodded obediently, "Mom, I remember!"
Liu Yinyin took a deep breath and dialed a number.
Amidst the busy tone, Liu Yinyin's heart pounded like thunder. Finally, with a click, the call connected.
"Hello?"
It was an old male voice.
Liu Yinyin tightened her grip, and soon she handed the microphone to Xia Xi.
Xia Xi listened to Liu Yinyin's words, "Grandpa! I am Xia Xi, my father is Xia Lei, and my mother is Liu Yinyin!"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then an aged voice slowly said, "Your dad? Let him answer the phone."
Liu Yinyin took the microphone, her voice choked with emotion, "Father-in-law, Xia Lei... Xia Lei has been arrested."
...
The relationship between Jiang Ci and Zhou Mingli has been somewhat strained these past few days.
Both young children could sense the oppressive atmosphere in the house.
Even though it was rabbit meat, which Zhou Miao and Zhou Yang loved, it didn't taste good anymore.
Zhou Yang and Zhou Miao took a bite of their cornbread, looked up at Jiang Ci, and then at Zhou Mingli.
From the moment we sat down to eat, my parents didn't say a single word.
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