Chapter 14: Unsatisfied
On a morning in Lan Valley, a thin mist, like a veil, gently enveloped the reefs. The scenery was indeed beautiful, but running on the soft sand was particularly strenuous, far more exhausting than on hard ground. After only thirty minutes of running, Jifeng's vest was soaking wet, but his breathing remained steady and strong.
He was about to run straight to the Criminal Police Detachment along Binhai Road when he suddenly heard a familiar voice calling him from behind. Turning around, he saw Xin Xiao walking towards him quickly with sweat on his forehead.
"Why are you here?" Ji Feng stopped and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"The child arrived at school early today. After I sent him to school, I saw that it was still early. I knew you often go for a morning run here, so I came to see you." Xin Xiao smiled, his tone was relaxed, but his eyes still revealed a hint of hesitation that he couldn't hide.
"Have you had breakfast?" Jifeng asked.
"Not yet. I plan to go back to the team to eat. By the way, the brother who was on duty last night asked me to thank you."
"We had a feast last night, and he was keeping watch outside the Lan family's door. We can't forget about him, right? Oh, by the way, was there anything going on last night?"
"Yes, the Lan family loaded two large trucks with wooden boxes and took them away."
"Oh, there must be more than ten boxes in total, right?"
"Yes, it looks like the big wooden box is packed very carefully. It's probably an antique or something valuable."
Ji Feng narrowed his eyes, his gaze darkening. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "I've decided. I'm going to stake out the airport today. I can't force them to investigate, nor can I watch them walk away with impunity. When exceptions are necessary, they must be made."
"Alas, I knew you wouldn't let the Lan family go easily, but... Jiang Bo knew about it..." Xin Xiao hesitated.
"I can't take care of that anymore." Ji Feng waved his hand. "I'll go by myself. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility for it myself."
"That won't do." Xin Xiao immediately shook his head. "If you want to go together, you have to take me with you when you show up." Xin Xiao joked.
"You are still so stubborn." Ji Feng smiled helplessly, "Be obedient, stay in the team and cooperate with me, don't cause trouble."
"You know me. Do you think I can let you fight alone?" Xin Xiao said in a firm tone.
Ji Feng looked at him, sighed, and stopped arguing.
Indeed, Ji Feng understood Xin Xiao's character and knew that it was meaningless to persist, so he walked towards the detachment with Xin Xiao.
After a quick shower, they went to the cafeteria. The breakfast was simple but satisfying, and they quickly finished their meal before heading straight to the airport.
He knew that today's action might not go smoothly and might even involve certain risks, but standing idly by was not his style.
The airport terminal was bustling with people. The clatter of announcements, footsteps, and the rolling sounds of suitcases blended together like a modern urban symphony. Ji Feng and Xin Xiao scanned each passenger like hunters searching for their target.
A black Mercedes-Benz S-Class slowly pulled up in front of the terminal. As the door opened, Xin Xiao immediately recognized it as the Lan family's private car. Immediately, the three members of the Lan family filed out, flanked by several attendants, and headed towards the check-in counter.
Lan Xiting, dressed in a well-tailored dark gray suit, clutching his passport and ID card, exuded a calm demeanor as he spoke quietly to the staff. His every gesture and gesture betrayed a calmness and composure, a man in command of the situation. Lan Ruojin, meanwhile, wore an ivory silk gown, the smooth fabric draped over her tall, slender figure, its hem fluttering in the breeze. She alternately glanced down at her phone to check her itinerary, then glanced up at her surroundings, her expression unhurried and composed, a look of unhurried composure evident in her.
Customs confirmed that the Lan family's shipment was entirely antiques. He requested their cooperation in verifying whether any prohibited cultural relics were among them. After the communication, he quickly walked towards the three Lan family members.
"Ms. Lan, please stay." His voice was not loud, but it was loud enough to penetrate the noise of the airport.
Lan Ruojin turned around, his eyes flashed slightly, and the smile on the corner of his lips stopped abruptly: "Captain Ji? Are you here to catch a plane too?" Lan Ruojin widened his eyes in surprise.
Ji Feng's gaze swept across the three people, finally landing on Lan Xiting: "This, I believe, must be Mr. Lan Xiting?"
"Yes, this is my father." Lan Ruojin said calmly, "Captain Ji, what can I do for you?"
"Excuse me, are you going on vacation or for business?"
"Oh? Captain Ji, are you performing official duties?" Lan Ruojin raised her eyebrows. After the last contest in the Criminal Police Detachment, she was not at all inferior to Ji Feng in momentum.
"We just found out that what you are shipping are antiques. Do you have the legal exit procedures?" Ji Feng couldn't ask the Lan family directly about his suspicions, so he could only ask even though he knew the answer.
Lan Ruojin's lips curled up slightly, as if he had heard something funny. "Captain Ji, it turns out you're on business. Is there something wrong with our goods?"
"We are verifying."
"Don't bother, the paperwork is all here." She gestured to her assistant. The assistant pulled a stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them to Ji Feng. "Captain Ji, would you like to review these: Exit permit, customs declaration form, invitation to the International Cultural Relics Exhibition?"
Ji Feng took the document and pretended to look through it carefully. He knew that there was no problem with the procedure.
At this moment, the phone rang. It was the customs officer calling: "Captain Ji, after careful inspection, we have confirmed that there is no smuggling of cultural relics."
"Okay, I understand, thank you." Ji Feng responded.
Lan Ruojin elegantly adjusted her shawl and said with obvious sarcasm, "Captain Ji, what are you talking about so early in the morning? We in the Lan family have always abided by the law."
Ji Feng remained unmoved: "It's just a routine inspection, please cooperate."
"Routine inspection? Do you have the procedures?" Lan Renxuan next to him suddenly jumped out, shaking his straw-yellow hair, with a gleaming silver nose ring, and looking arrogant.
Ji Feng turned to face him, unable to conceal his disdain for this dandy boy, "You are Mr. Lan Renxuan, right?"
"So what?" He still used a provocative tone, and his nostrils with nose rings expanded and contracted, and the breath he exhaled almost sprayed on Jifeng's face.
"Cooperating with the public security authorities in their investigation is the duty of every citizen," Xin Xiao said seriously.
"Is there a problem?" Lan Xiting said coldly, "Captain Ji, it's not appropriate to intercept private cargo that is legally leaving the country without reason, right?"
Lan Ruojin added at the right moment, "Our shipment is a precious collection invited by the Eileen Museum in the UK to be exhibited. Can you bear the responsibility for delaying our trip?"
The terminal hall broadcast sounded again, reminding passengers to board the plane as soon as possible.
"You delayed our boarding. Can you take responsibility?" Lan Renxuan suddenly shouted, attracting the attention of the surrounding passengers.
"Captain Ji, are you questioning the official seal of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage? Or are you doubting the inspection capabilities of the customs?" Lan Xiting asked aggressively.
Lan Ruojin took out his cell phone and asked, "Do you want me to call Director Zhang of the Cultural Relics Bureau right now and ask him to explain it to you personally?"
"Ms. Lan, I'm performing my duties. Please cooperate." Ji Feng's voice was low, but every word was as sharp as a nail. "If there are any mistakes, I will take responsibility."
"Captain Ji, to be frank, this is a typical abuse of power. I suggest you think carefully about how to write a self-criticism when you go back." Lan Xiting looked angry.
"Mr. Lan, one last question. When will you return home from this exhibition?"
"It's none of your business!" Lan Renxuan yelled at Ji Feng even more arrogantly.
Lan Xiting raised his wrist to check the time, and used his expression to stop Lan Renxuan from yelling.
"Captain Ji, we are not obligated to tell you our itinerary, but in order to cooperate with your work, I can tell you, but please let us board the plane as soon as possible."
"Speaking."
"I'll be back in about twenty days." Lan Ruojin said helplessly.
Ji Feng's eyes were sharp: "Please board the plane, sorry." As he said that, he stepped aside to make way for the aisle.
"That's it?" Lan Xiting sneered. "You stopped us early in the morning, and you're done with just a simple 'sorry'?"
Lan Renxuan seemed to be oblivious to the passage Jifeng had made. He held his head high and chest out, defiantly charging towards Jifeng. Jifeng dodged again, backing away and saying to Lan Xiting, "I told you, if anything goes wrong, I'll take the blame."
Lan Xiting straightened his collar, walked past with his head held high, and said, "Captain Ji, see you later."
Lan Ruojin smiled contemptuously and walked past Ji Feng, her skirt fluttering, leaving a hint of woody fragrance mixed with cedar vetiver in the air, cold and noble.
Even after the three Lan family members disappeared through the security checkpoint, Ji Feng remained standing, his face grim and gloomy, his eyes fixed on the direction the Lan family had vanished. He clenched his fists, then slowly unclenched them, muttering softly, "Just letting them go like that is so frustrating..." An inexplicable uncertainty hung in the air. He didn't know if the Lan family would ever return. Even if they were to leave Lan Valley forever, he had no power to stop them. If they were truly the masterminds, then what was the point of this investigation?
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