Chapter 15: Punishment for Impulsiveness
"Captain Ji..." Xin Xiao hesitated to speak.
"Pack up," Ji Feng said bitterly, "I know there's a problem, but I can't do anything about it. I know there's nothing I can do about it, but I still come. Sigh..."
"What's the problem?" Xin Xiao asked in confusion.
"The Lan family is transferring assets. Once they've emptied out their fortune, they can walk away anytime. By then, even if we have evidence, it will be too late!"
"Oh." Xin Xiao suddenly realized. "That's right, we don't have an extradition agreement with the UK, these people are so cunning!"
The two walked towards the parking lot in silence. Just as they reached the car, Jifeng's phone rang. It was Jiang Bo.
No need to guess, it must be the Lan family who filed a complaint.
As soon as the phone connected, Jiang Bo's voice came out, his tone slightly impatient: "Captain Ji, you've caused me so much trouble. Didn't I tell you before? Don't mess with the Lan family without evidence. Now, the Lan family has called the mayor, accusing you of abusing your power and hindering the development of private enterprises. They've put several accusations on you. The mayor just criticized the director harshly, and the director has also accused me... Sigh."
Ji Feng's heart sank. This was the first time Jiang Bo had spoken to him in such a tone.
"I'm very sorry, Captain Jiang, for causing you so much trouble. I take all the responsibility alone. I have no complaints no matter how you handle it."
"Captain Ji, the problem now isn't how to deal with it. The Lan family claims that the business environment in Lan Valley is poor and threatens to move their company out. Their company is a major taxpayer in Lan Valley. If they move out, the loss will be too much for anyone to bear."
"However, they are already moving. I suspect they are transferring assets in preparation for a future escape."
"Captain Ji, you still say this now. Let me ask you, what basis do you have for saying that the Lan family is preparing to escape?" Jiang Bo tried to make his voice sound calm.
"This..." Ji Feng was speechless for a moment.
"He was just going abroad to participate in an exhibition. All the necessary paperwork was in place, and everything was legitimate. How could that be considered a runaway? Aren't you being a bit arbitrary?"
"Captain Jiang, the Lan family is ostensibly attending the exhibition, but no one can guarantee that the antiques they took away will be brought back. I'm worried that if the Lan family escapes, it will be too late even if we get evidence."
"I understand what you're saying, but you also have to understand me and the bureau. Without evidence, we can't touch the Lan family. They're not that easy to mess with. I..."
"Captain Jiang, I understand your feelings very well. I just can't stand by and watch the Lan family play tricks on us and escape openly right under our noses."
"Evidence! Jifeng, what I want is evidence! Without evidence, nothing you say will be of any use!" Jiang Bo finally raised his voice.
Ji Feng didn't intend to argue with Jiang Bo any further and said, "Captain Jiang, I'm already on my way back and will be back at the team soon. I'll apologize to you in person."
"Oh—" Jiang Bo hung up the phone helplessly.
After hanging up the phone, Ji Feng sighed: "Captain Jiang really attaches great importance to evidence."
"Got it?" Xin Xiao said as he opened the car door and got in.
"Alas, I don't blame Captain Jiang. I only blame myself for not being able to resist human nature. I knew that this trip was meaningless, but I still came. There is indeed a huge gap between knowing and doing." Ji Feng said embarrassedly.
"Everyone is like this. I'm not even as good as you." Xin Xiao comforted while driving.
"If Dean Lu knew..." Ji Feng suddenly remembered something, "He doesn't even need to say a word. Just that look in his eyes is enough to give me chills."
"Hahaha!" Xin Xiao laughed out loud, "Don't worry, if I don't tell anyone, no one will know."
Although the tone was casual, it made Jifeng feel reassured, solid and reliable again.
"Honestly, I have no confidence in myself. I don't know if I can control myself next time I encounter this situation. I don't blame others for what they say. I don't think I look like a 40-year-old. But this is my personality. What do you think I should do?"
"I understand your choice very well. Just as you said, if the Lan family never returns, even if we solve the case, the people will have escaped and the property will have been transferred. Solving the case in this way will only be half the effort."
"Yeah, who knows if they will really come back in twenty days? You can only believe half of what these people say."
"Now you understand, don't you? It's not just you. Many people on the team also dislike Captain Jiang's way of doing things—sticking to procedures and waiting until there's irrefutable evidence. We can't say he's wrong, we can only say he's old and his thinking has outgrown him."
The two of them chatted in the car, and soon the car entered the city.
Back at the team, Ji Feng came to Jiang Bo's office. Jiang Bo's face was not looking good. "Captain Ji, without any evidence, what would have happened if you went to the airport? Could you have stopped the Lan family?"
"Captain Jiang, don't say anything. It's all my fault for being too aggressive. Just tell me how to handle this, and I'll take it all."
"Captain Ji, to be honest, the director just now insisted on giving you a punishment. I persuaded him with all my might, but he wanted me to give you a serious criticism and make a self-criticism at the team meeting. You must be more careful in the future and not be so reckless again."
"Thank you, Captain Jiang, for your kindness. I accept the criticism and will conduct a thorough self-examination at the meeting."
"The Lan family is not only powerful, but also very cunning. They are not easy to deal with. Otherwise, this case..."
Ji Feng heard the hidden meaning and said, "I understand, Captain Jiang. I will try to redeem myself from my crime and make meritorious service."
"It's not a 'crime' to speak of. What's important is that we handle things properly in the future."
"Okay, Captain Jiang, I understand."
Walking out of Jiang Bo's office, Ji Feng feigned a relaxed, nonchalant demeanor, yet within him, a heavy weight weighed down his heart, making it hard to breathe. He knew it was all due to his impulsiveness that had landed him in such an awkward position. Dean Lu's WeChat warning resurfaced, and his heart was swirling with anxiety. He decided to go for a walk and relax, so he invited Xin Xiao to join him as they headed to the beach.
It was Jifeng's first time at the beach in the afternoon. It was early summer, and the sea breeze caressed his face. Waves rippled like snow on the rocks, and seagulls skimmed across the shimmering surface, leaving long, silver trails. The shoreline was rustling with the rustling of black pines. On the slopes, clover and coreopsis wove a purple-gold carpet. A wooden boardwalk meandered to where the sea met the sky.
The sunlight fell on Ji Feng's face, casting a bronzed outline. He and Xin Xiao walked side by side on the wooden plank road, chatting as they walked.
"Xin Xiao, you've been running around non-stop for dozens of days. You've worked hard." Ji Feng spoke first.
"Isn't it the same for you?" Xin Xiao responded with a smile, "You're not any more relaxed than me."
"I volunteered and don't feel tired." Ji Feng said calmly.
"Let's not talk about this anymore, let's talk about something else." Xin Xiao knew there was no point in continuing, so he wanted to change the subject.
"I don't care. I'm tough and can withstand some blows." Ji Feng obviously understood Xin Xiao's intention.
"Have you ever considered taking some time off?"
"Just tell me what you want to say. Did you hear anything?" Ji Feng seemed to understand what Xin Xiao meant.
"You're overthinking it. I really see that you're very tired lately. Why don't you take a vacation? Hua Ailing said she'll be coming to Lan Valley soon."
"Tsk." Ji Feng finally understood what Xin Xiao meant and shook his head with a wry smile.
"Seriously, Hua Ailing is a little older, but she wasted her youth waiting for you. Besides, she was the school belle back then. She's still single because of you. You should at least give her an explanation."
"I didn't ask her to wait. She volunteered."
"It's pointless if you say that. If you had made it clear earlier, would people still wait for you foolishly?"
"How do you know I didn't explain it clearly? I've said it more than once."
"I heard that her relationship with her parents became strained because she was waiting for you."
"Why? She asked you to be her lobbyist?"
"No way! With so many classmates, it's not even my turn to be a lobbyist."
"You only know one side of the story, otherwise it wouldn't have taken so long..."
"Then tell me."
"I admit that she is a good person, but I am not worthy of her. I am doing this for her own good."
"You are not worthy of it? If you are not worthy of it, then no one can be worthy of it." Xin Xiao said with wide eyes.
"You don't understand. We're not talking about the same thing."
"So what are you talking about?"
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
"You two's bet has spread throughout your classmates. If we can't solve the case, you have to keep your word."
"You think I can't solve this case?"
"Don't you have a golden partner like me? Haha," Xin Xiao joked.
"Then you have to work hard. You are shouldering two important responsibilities, which are related to my career prospects and life happiness." Ji Feng made Xin Xiao silent.
"Now that you say that, I feel a lot of pressure."
"Forget it, I was just kidding. I've exhausted you, and my sister-in-law isn't going to come after me to settle the score?"
"No, your sister-in-law is quite reasonable."
"Hey, let's invite my sister-in-law and the kids to come out and get together someday."
"Okay, sure. But we'll have to wait until Hua Ailing comes. Otherwise, you'll be a bright enough third wheel."
"Haha, you're just messing around."
"You're not just randomly clicking. You need to be serious. She's been pursuing you since we were in school. It's been twenty years now. In the eyes of all your classmates, you're a perfect match. Alas, fate plays tricks on us."
After hearing this, Ji Feng's eyes grew darker, and he murmured slowly, "A wise man never falls in love."
He looked lost, and Xin Xiao saw it. He silently put away the idea of asking further questions and remained silent tactfully.
Ji Feng's phone rang, bringing him back to reality from his distant thoughts. He looked down and saw it was a text message. Ji Feng glanced at it and handed the phone to Xin Xiao with an expressionless face.
Xin Xiao took the phone and looked at it. "500,000, return to the academy. The money will come when you are there."
"Who?" Xin Xiao asked vigilantly.
"I don't know who it is. This isn't the first time, and I can't find any information from the operator, but it's already obvious. The last time I received a text message was when I went to the auction house to investigate Shen Zhaoran. This time, haha, it's at this critical juncture."
"The Lan family?"
"It doesn't matter who he is, and there's no need to investigate him. Doing so would only distract us. Perhaps his real purpose is to mislead our investigation or slow down the case."
"Yes, we should focus on solving the case at our own pace and not let him lead us by the nose."
"It is not ruled out that they want us to miss a certain time window."
"Yes." Xin Xiao nodded thoughtfully.
"The Lan family has gone abroad and won't be back for twenty days. We can't just sit and wait during this time. We have to continue investigating other clues."
"Yes, while they're away, I'll go touch the Thuja spice circle."
"Yes. Your idea is correct. We need to understand Shen Zhaoran's connections and all aspects of the circle, no matter how big or small. In order to improve efficiency, we will act separately. I think it is necessary to go to the provincial capital to meet Zhou Wenlan."
"It's settled." Xin Xiao nodded firmly.
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