Chapter 32 Delayed Gratification
Lin Wantang's parents were quite surprised by the arrival of Ji Feng and his group, and their wrinkled faces were filled with confusion and anxiety.
However, when Ji Feng said the name "Lin Wantang", the two old men looked confused and asked him if he had found the wrong person.
Ji Feng was confused and confirmed the address again and again.
Until the old man said his son's name was "Lu Chenzhou", he almost suspected that he had misheard, and even thought that his memory was confused and he had mixed up the names. After confirming again and again, he was so shocked that he couldn't speak, and he froze in place.
"Auntie, are you Lu Chenzhou's mother?" Ji Feng couldn't help but feel his eyes red. He thought of what Yong Xiangdong said, and felt sad.
"You are..." the old lady asked blankly.
"I am Chen Zhou's classmate. What's going on?" Ji Feng was full of doubts.
The two old men didn't know why Ji Feng called his son "Lin Wantang". They had never heard of this name and didn't know why this name was associated with their son.
When the old man pulled out a faded graduation photo, Ji Feng's gaze instantly fixed—Lu Chenzhou was Lin Wantang! His mind was instantly in a tangle of thoughts. He pulled out his phone and called Xin Xiao, but the call was temporarily unavailable. Then he remembered that Xin Xiao was still on the plane to Yishijiang.
What was going on? He didn't dare to think about it anymore. He would wait until he saw Xin Xiao.
The two old people never thought that their son’s classmates would come to visit them many years after his death, and the long-forgotten past was gradually revealed.
As the old man confirmed Jifeng's identity, his vigilance gradually dissipated, replaced by deep memories and guilt.
Lu's mother held Ji Feng's hand and tearfully recounted the story. It turned out that before Lu Chenzhou fell ill, his parents and Lu Chenzhou had disagreed over his choice of girlfriend, a contentious argument that had strained their relationship. Aside from a single call during Chinese New Year, Lu Chenzhou had little contact with them, and years had flown by.
Later, the last time they heard from Lu Chenzhou was in a phone call from his dying son. He expressed his immense longing for his parents and a deep sense of self-blame. He told them to "forget me," and then passed away. At this point, Lu's mother broke down in tears, while his father silently wiped away tears beside him.
Ji Feng was already full of sympathy for Lu Chenzhou, but after hearing what Lu's mother said, he could no longer control his emotions and tears welled up in his eyes. How could such a tragedy exist in the world! Seeing someone die young is the greatest pain in the world, but these two elderly people didn't even have such an opportunity. Poor them, they couldn't even remember the year or month when they last saw their son. How cruel and sad it was!
He hadn't expected this news to be the final straw. Days of pursuit, sudden interrogations, the crushing emotional toll, coupled with the pressure of pre-trial investigations, the constant fighting, the starvation and cold, the taut nerves, the extreme exhaustion, the biting cold, and the unbearable grief—in just two or three days, Ji Feng's body and mind felt like they were swept by a raging storm, repeatedly ravaged. His heart felt like it had been torn open, his chest ached like a heavy blow, his vision went black, and he instantly lost consciousness.
When he woke up, he was already in a local hospital with Maitiwuzi by his side.
"Teacher, you're awake."
"Where am I? What is this place?" Ji Feng asked weakly.
"Teacher, this is a hospital. You fainted. You are too tired."
"Did I faint at Lu Chenzhou's house?"
"Yes, teacher. But the doctor said that there's nothing wrong with your body. You're just overworked and your emotions are too volatile. You'll be fine after some rest."
"Is this Ku Zhaolan?"
"Yes, I just received a call. Captain Jiang and his team have already gotten off the plane and are on their way here with Captain Aiermuhe."
"They are coming?" Ji Feng still felt dizzy.
"Here it comes. It should be here soon." Maitiwuzi comforted Jifeng.
"Are the two old people okay?"
"It's okay. They saw you faint and were very worried. They helped me take you to the hospital."
"Oh, thank them." Ji Feng closed his eyes, the old faces of the two old men appeared in his mind, and his heart ached.
At this time, noisy footsteps and familiar voices were heard outside the door, and Jifeng knew that they were coming.
The door of the ward was gently pushed open, and several familiar figures walked in quietly.
"Jifeng, how are you?" Jiang Bo's voice was filled with anxiety, and his eyes looked back and forth at him.
"Captain Jiang, Teacher Ji is fine. He's just overtired and his emotions are fluctuating too much. The doctor said he just needs a few days of rest." Maitiwuzi explained.
"Ji Feng, why have you become so thin?" Xin Xiao walked forward, his tone full of heartache, "It's been less than two months, and you..." Before he finished speaking, his eyes were already wet.
"Jifeng, you have been wronged." Jiang Bo said solemnly.
"Captain Ji, it's not easy for you." Ji Chuan stood in the corner, his eyes red, and said in a low voice.
"I'm fine, really. I just need to rest for a while." Ji Feng forced a smile, but he couldn't hide the fatigue and haggardness in his eyes.
"Just focus on your recovery. We have arranged everything here. We will cooperate with Captain Jiang on the rest. Just focus on your recovery." Aiermuhe comforted softly.
"Yes, don't rush back. It's not too late to go back after you fully recover." Maitiwuzi nodded in agreement.
"Has the arrest warrant for the Lan family been approved?" Ji Feng suddenly spoke, looking directly at Jiang Bo.
"Approved. But they were too cunning and escaped early." Jiang Bo frowned. "But the plane will stop in Hong Kong. We have contacted the Hong Kong police through the Provincial Public Security Bureau to assist in intercepting it."
"Also, the provincial department has reinstated all your positions, and the municipal bureau's Party committee has rescinded all disciplinary action against you. Director Deng even asked me to convey his condolences, saying he'll celebrate your success when he gets home."
"Thank you, Director." Ji Feng responded calmly, his tone as calm as water.
"Jifeng, you have suffered!" Xin Xiao couldn't help shedding tears again. As he spoke, he gently stroked his arm that was like a dead branch.
"The Lan family must have realized that Lan Renxuan might be arrested, so they decided to escape." Ji Chuan added.
"I want to go back." Ji Feng suddenly sat up with a firm tone.
"Okay, let's go back together when you recover a little." Jiang Bo said gently.
"No, I want to leave now." Ji Feng's eyes were full of desire.
"The doctor hasn't agreed to discharge you yet, Teacher Ji. Please rest for another day." Maitiwuzi advised.
"I've recovered. Go tell the doctor."
"You have to be obedient, or I will let Dean Lu call you." Xin Xiao knew where his weakness was.
When Ji Feng heard this, the corners of his mouth twitched, but he didn't say anything in the end and closed his eyes helplessly.
The next day, Ji Feng was "forced" to stay in bed for another full day. He felt he had recovered enough to be discharged no matter what. Jiang Bo and the others knew they could no longer contain his eagerness, so they quickly completed the case, the prisoner's transfer, and the preparations for his escort. After all, this was the last flight to the mainland before the beginning of next spring.
On the morning of the third day, a group of people said goodbye to the Kakeshiku police and escorted Lan Renxuan on their journey home.
Four hours later, the plane landed smoothly. Sunlight bathed the runway in a soft halo. Through the window, Jifeng gazed at a familiar silhouette—the airport in his hometown, the starting point of his life, the place where he resolutely set out, bearing a heavy burden. As it drew closer, it grew increasingly blurry...
"I'm finally back..." He murmured softly, his voice almost swallowed by the sound of the engine, "My loved ones, my hometown."
From afar, he spotted familiar figures: Dean Lu, Hua Ailing, and a group of colleagues from the Langu Municipal Bureau. They held welcome banners, held flowers, and wore sincere smiles. Someone led the applause, and the applause rolled in like a tide. At that moment, Ji Feng's eyes warmed slightly, and his throat felt as if something was blocking it. Ten months of tempering like ice and fire; more than fifty days and nights of agonizing battles against exhaustion amidst the savage cold of the north wind; deep nights of icy shards and bone-chilling cold, fighting desperate battles against giving up and retreating; countless dark moments when his faith was shattered by indifference and disappointment, he still clung to his determination to pursue the murderer to the end, never letting go, never wavering. Now, with the honor and applause, he remained surprisingly calm.
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the surging emotions in his heart. He knew that all this was his lifelong pursuit, a choice he had no regrets about, and the exhilaration and ethereal lightness that came after a long period of perseverance.
Along with a sense of relaxation and relief, a sense of fulfillment and happiness deep in the heart flows quietly, which is far beyond the reach of momentary joy or low-level "rewards".
He was lost in this lonely yet deeply satisfying moment. The people around him gradually blurred like phantoms; the clamor gradually faded away, returning to silence. He was the only one in the world!
"Jifeng! Welcome home!" Dean Lu's eyes remained firm and steady, and his powerful hands tightly grasped the dry, hard and rough "dead branches".
Although he had already told himself to remain restrained, when he actually saw Dean Lu, Ji Feng couldn't help but go forward and hug him: "Dean Lu, I'm sorry, please scold me." His voice trembled a little.
"I was just about to praise you for becoming calmer, but don't be silly." Dean Lu grabbed his shoulders with both hands, looked at him carefully for a moment, frowned slightly, and said, "You've worked hard!"
Director Deng also stepped forward to shake hands: "Comrade Jifeng, you have worked hard and withstood the test."
"Thank you, Director Deng. I'm flattered that you've come all the way from Lan Valley." Ji Feng said in a calm and measured tone.
"I should come. You are our contributor and a hero!" Director Deng laughed heartily.
Perhaps fatigue and a touch of airsickness, Ji Feng felt nauseous until he greeted the last person in the group. Hua Ailing stood quietly, looking at him with a smile: "It's only been a little over fifty days, and I almost didn't recognize you. The 'Black King Kong' baner is even more suitable..." For some reason, Ji Feng could hear the soft Jiangnan Wu dialect in Hua Ailing's Sichuan dialect, which felt strange. Just as he was about to make a joke, Hua Ailing's smile disappeared in an instant. Then her face changed slightly, and tears almost burst out. She quickly turned around and lowered her head to hide her tears. Fortunately, the crowd was noisy and no one noticed.
Ji Feng stood in the crowd, listening to the endless stream of congratulations and compliments, greeting every smiling face. He felt his own smile stiffen, a comical expression of a fake smile. He knew clearly that it was far from time to celebrate, as a more important mission awaited him. Beyond that, there was also a hint of uneasiness and uncertainty...
Director Deng thoughtfully arranged for Jifeng to go home to visit his parents, have dinner with them, and then return to Lan Valley in his special car. Unwilling to let his parents see him in this state, Jifeng planned to return to Lan Valley to recover and regain his "clean" appearance before returning. Citing the urgency of the case, he declined Director Deng's offer. Director Deng, upon hearing this, showered Jifeng with praise. After they boarded the car, Director Deng informed Jifeng that the Lan Valley Municipal Bureau had prepared a grand welcome ceremony for him.
Ji Feng didn't like this from the bottom of his heart, but there was nothing he could do; he had to deal with it.
After the clichéd flower-laying, speech, applause, and group photo op, Ji Feng offered a few perfunctory words of humility, concluding with a formal promise to persevere and strive to solve the Shen Zhaoran murder case as soon as possible. The lengthy welcoming ceremony finally concluded, but Director Deng announced that a symposium would follow.
At the symposium, Director Deng passionately summarized the five major cases Ji Feng had solved during his trip: Lan Renxuan's intentional homicide, illegal possession of a firearm, organizing, leading, and participating in a criminal gang, the Lan family's tomb robbery, and the cultural relic smuggling case. Forced transactions, intentional injury, and harboring victims were considered minor offenses. Solving five major cases and several minor ones in one fell swoop was a remarkable achievement, rare nationwide.
Ever since I met Director Deng at the airport, and for almost a whole day now, Director Deng has been talking non-stop.
Afterwards, Director Deng announced the commendation decision:
1. Reinstate Jifeng to all his positions and revoke his previous disciplinary actions;
Second, Ji Feng will be awarded a second-class individual merit;
3. Send a letter of commendation to the Provincial Police Academy and recommend simultaneous awards;
4. Report to the Provincial Public Security Department, announce and commend within the provincial public security system, and nominate them as "Model Workers of the Provincial Public Security System";
5. The Langu Criminal Investigation Detachment was awarded a second-class collective merit.
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