Chapter 41: Finally Revealing Her Beauty
Early spring is the most pleasant season in this coastal city. The sea breeze, carrying the salty aroma of spring, sweeps across the red tiles and green trees, while the city walls, mountains, and sea appear faintly in the mist. The cherry blossom avenue in Zhongshan Park is like a spread of pink and white silk, with visitors strolling amidst the colorful fallen petals. Amidst the interplay of spring rain and warm sunshine, a unique spring narrative unfolds at 36 degrees north latitude.
The investigation entered its fourth day, and after days of intense visits, many police officers were already showing signs of fatigue. Ji Feng was about to offer some encouragement when he looked up and saw Jiang Bo approaching from a distance. Jiang Bo rarely visited the front lines unless there was an emergency.
"Captain Ji, thank you for your hard work." Jiang Bo came to Ji Feng with a hint of concern in his tone.
"Captain Jiang, why are you here in person? The team is busy with many things, so you just take charge. We'll keep an eye on this."
"My brothers have endured four days straight. How can I sit back and relax? I just checked the progress summary. We're almost halfway through the investigation."
"Yes, we'll be halfway through today. The progress isn't exactly fast, but I always feel that for things like this, it's better to go slower and investigate more thoroughly. It's just a pain for these brothers."
Jiang Bo didn't say anything. He quietly pulled the corner of Ji Feng's sleeve, leaned over and whispered, "Because of the police force being transferred from the Municipal Bureau, Director Deng is a little restless. When he agreed to support the police station, he didn't expect it to take so long. He thought it would only be a day or two. I didn't tell him explicitly how many days the support would be needed. There's no point in saying more. You know." After saying that, he smiled strangely at Ji Feng.
Ji Feng asked in astonishment, "What did Director Deng say?"
"What Chief Deng said is not important. What's important is that the Public Security Detachment went to him to ask for the person. They said it's been three or four days and there's still no progress. They're also short on manpower."
"Oh, I see. Thank you so much." Ji Feng finally understood the real purpose of Jiang Bo's trip.
"Your opinion is..."
"It's okay, you continue the investigation as planned, and I'll go complain to Director Deng - the crying child gets the milk, right?" Jiang Bo said, and then he laughed, but he couldn't hide his helplessness and sophistication.
Ji Feng could understand Jiang Bo's hidden meaning, and after a moment's contemplation, he said, "Actually, I didn't expect to find the female boss by searching door to door."
When Jiang Bo heard this, his eyes widened instantly and he looked at Ji Feng in surprise.
"Captain Jiang, let me be honest. The real purpose of the inspection is to 'scare the crap out of you.' Each day's inspection is like a shrinking circle. As the circle shrinks, the psychological pressure on the female boss gradually increases. She's bound to make a move under the pressure, forcing her to break out. And I think she's already aware of the checkpoints at every entrance and exit. Honestly, your decision to set up checkpoints at every entrance and exit is crucial and brilliant. Haha."
"Haha, you want to 'shake' her out, not find her, right?" Jiang Bo laughed happily after hearing Ji Feng's flattery.
"That's right. Even if we exhaustively check every door, we may not be able to find her."
"Yeah, that's right. The deterrent effect of the investigation is greater than the actual effect. You're still hiding something from me. I saw Ji Chuan used the word 'cunning' to describe female bosses in the meeting the other day, and it would be more appropriate to apply it to you. Haha."
"Haha, Captain Jiang, you're too kind. Actually, this is just the first step."
"Oh? The first step? What's the second step?"
"I've analyzed her psychology. Although she's escaped from our sight numerous times, if she slipped up just once, even the smallest mistake, we could find her. We don't have the same tightrope-walking pressure as her, which is a huge psychological advantage. We can just start over and afford to lose."
"Yeah. That's right. She only has one chance to make a mistake, but we have countless chances." Jiang Bo concluded.
"Besides this psychological disadvantage," Ji Feng continued, "she seems to be 'up to something', judging by her repeated attempts to hide her whereabouts. It's possible she's involved in a criminal case. If that's the case, the psychological pressure on her will be even greater, and under such pressure, making mistakes is inevitable."
"Now that you mention it, I also think this woman is not that simple." Jiang Bo said thoughtfully.
"As the scope of the investigation narrows further, her psychological pressure will increase further, and she will almost have to wait for an opportunity to escape the encirclement."
"So what exactly is your second step?"
"If the Public Security Detachment hadn't wanted to withdraw the people, I would have wanted to wait and implement the second step. But since this is the case, I will implement it ahead of time. So, I won't keep this secret for much longer, and the answer will be revealed soon."
"Be so mysterious, okay, I'll wait for good news..."
As they were talking, a young policeman from the police station ran over breathlessly and interrupted their conversation.
"Captain Ji, I received a text message when I was investigating just now. Please take a look." As he said this, he handed the phone to Ji Feng.
Ji Feng took the phone and looked at it carefully. "Officer Liang, you've worked hard. Please tell your superiors not to worry anymore. I have successfully left the community. Sheng Dongqian."
"Sheng Dongqian? Do you know her? Is she a resident of this community?"
"I don't know him. He doesn't seem to be from this community. This surname is quite rare. If he was from our community, I should usually have recognized him. I'll ask the household registration police to check it out right away and report back to you once they confirm it."
"Okay. How did she know your cell phone number?" Ji Feng asked anxiously.
"She must have been posted on the police notice board in the hallway," Xiao Liang said. "Captain Ji, is she the person we're looking for?"
Without bothering to answer, he shouted to Xin Xiao in the distance: "Contact the telecommunications company immediately and locate this mobile phone number through the base station. Be quick!" Then he patted Xiao Liang and signaled him to hand the phone to Xin Xiao.
"Well, since you've escaped, I will withdraw all police forces from Qijiagou Community as you wish. You are free." Ji Feng secretly calculated in his heart, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and sneered. However, there was an unfathomable calculation hidden in that smile.
"Captain Jiang, the time has come to implement the second step. Let's use their own tactics against them and send the brothers from the Public Security Detachment back. We have enough manpower."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Bo frowned, confused.
"Captain Jiang, if Sheng Dongqian is the female boss, and she sent this text message at this time, I think it's a sign that she's about to be shaken out."
He took out his walkie-talkie and called Chief Li of the police station: "Chief Li, I just received a text message from the target. I think she has successfully escaped. Brothers have been fighting continuously for nearly four days. It's really too hard. Let's withdraw and let everyone have a good rest."
"Escaped? Retreat now?" Director Li's tone revealed a hint of hesitation. "Captain Ji, we're almost halfway through the investigation. Do we really want to give up?"
"Let's retreat. There's not much point in continuing to defend." Ji Feng's tone was calm, but it carried an unquestionable strength.
"Well... okay then." Director Li paused, then shouted into the intercom, "Xiao Tang, notify everyone to stop the investigation, gather where they are, and prepare to evacuate."
"Roger that, Director Li."
Immediately, the sound of "packing up" echoed in the community.
A few minutes later, Director Li seemed skeptical of Ji Feng's order to evacuate and approached him. Before he could speak, Ji Feng gently pulled him aside and said in a low voice, "Director Li, this isn't a true retreat; it's luring her out. Under such high pressure, she's reaching her limit. We must proactively create an opening and give her a chance to 'escape.'"
He paused, a cunning glint in his eyes. "This retreat is like opening the floodgates of a reservoir. Even the slightest crack will cause the flood to burst forth. Comrades, please hold out for one last day, firmly control the six entrances and exits, and turn your visible posts into covert sentries. I'm sure she'll reveal herself."
Chief Li understood what he meant and gave Ji Feng a thumbs-up. Then, Chief Li pulled Officer Xiao Tang aside and whispered something to him. Xiao Tang nodded knowingly.
Afterwards, the shouts of "pack up" became more frequent and louder, echoing throughout the Qijiagou community.
At this time, Xin Xiao ran over and said, "The telecommunications company confirmed through the base station that this phone number is in the Qijiagou community. The registered user name is Sheng Dongqian."
"Have you checked with the police station? The address of this name."
"I checked and it's possible that he used a fake name. This phone number was registered quite early, when telecommunications companies didn't yet have real-name registration regulations."
"Okay. Quietly inform all officers that the prey is about to hit the net, so everyone should be alert."
"Is she still in Qijiagou Community?" Jiang Bo confirmed with Xin Xiao again.
"Yes. The communications company just used technical positioning to confirm that they are still in the community."
"Good. Just as Captain Ji predicted, it seems she has really been backed into a corner."
"Captain Jiang, Sheng Dongqian, the last character has multiple pronunciations. It's usually pronounced qian, but sometimes it's also pronounced xi. If you pronounce it this way, does it sound like 'sound of the east, strike the west'?"
"sheng dong xi? Making a feint to the east and attacking in the west?" Jiang Bo pondered and muttered to himself over and over again.
"You mean... this is a pseudonym, and it actually means a feint to the east and attack in the west?" Jiang Bo seemed to suddenly understand.
"Yes. That's my guess. So I judge that Sheng Dongqian is most likely the female boss."
"She's really good. Want to play? Then play with her and have fun." Xin Xiao interrupted with a sneer.
Ji Feng parked the police car outside the community, and the officers quietly moved to their respective positions. The officers from the Public Security Detachment, who had come to support him, had already returned to report, and the community seemed to have returned to its former tranquility. He sat quietly in the car, the image of that woman flashing through his mind—sharp and meticulous, meticulous. She must have sensed the police's laxity and would not miss this opportunity to "escape." She was by no means foolish, but she was even more unwilling to be trapped here.
He knew that at this moment, he was like a dormant assassin bug, both prey and hunter. Now, he only had to wait quietly, waiting for the prey to stumble upon him.
The sound of an ambulance's sirens drifted faintly in the distance, gradually approaching. Director Li urgently called Jifeng over the intercom, saying that an ambulance had arrived at the community's north gate, claiming a resident had called 120 and reported a heart attack. The situation was extremely critical, and he suspected it was a trick, so he didn't dare let the car in.
Ji Feng said calmly, "Hurry and send the ambulance in. Do everything we can to save the patient. Once the patient is loaded onto the ambulance, send a police officer to accompany the vehicle to the hospital. Once the patient is in the vehicle, immediately check to see if they are truly ill. The rest of the officers will continue to guard the intersection to prevent her from making a feint to the east and attacking from the west."
Director Li responded with a "Got it", and then the ambulance drove into the community with blue lights flashing.
Ji Feng got out of the police car and ran towards the ambulance, following the sirens. By the time he reached the ambulance, the paramedics had already gone upstairs, leaving the driver to turn around. He hurried over to the driver and asked, "Who is the patient? What kind of person is he?"
"I heard it was an old lady in her seventies or eighties."
"Old lady?" Ji Feng frowned, his brows furrowed in confusion as he saw three or four medical staff in white coats hurriedly emerging from the residential building, carrying a stretcher. Ji Feng hurried over to check and saw an elderly woman lying on the stretcher. Her face was as pale as paper, cold sweat dripping from her forehead, and her chest heaving weakly. She looked in critical condition.
Soon, the old woman was loaded into an ambulance. One of the doctors said to another medical worker in a white coat, "The patient isn't seriously injured. Thankfully, you called in time. Please continue the examination with Dr. Jiang." With that, the medical worker on the scene jumped into the ambulance, followed by a police officer. The ambulance sirens blared again, and it sped toward the community entrance.
Ji Feng quickly pulled out his intercom and said to Director Li, "The patient is an old lady, not a target. Have our comrades continue to monitor the entrance and exit."
The moment he put down the walkie-talkie, Ji Feng suddenly felt like he was nailed to the spot, his eyes spinning rapidly. What did the words "Fortunately you called in time" mean?
Suddenly, Ji Feng was startled. The man in the white coat was a tall and thin man! He grabbed the intercom and ran towards the police car while calling Director Li.
"Captain Li, the target has likely fled in an ambulance. Please quietly alert the officers following the vehicle that the tall, thin female doctor in a white coat is most likely the target in disguise. Have your officers remain calm and quietly detain the target. We'll be there shortly."
Before he could finish his words, Ji Feng had already leaped onto the police car and slammed his right foot down on the accelerator. The engine roared, the tires scraping against the road with a sharp, piercing whine. The car shot out like an arrow, chasing the flashing blue light in the distance. He didn't dare blink for a moment, as if if he relaxed even a little, the ambulance would disappear.
When the police car rushed into the gate of the First People's Hospital of the city at lightning speed, medical staff were jumping out of the ambulance, opening the back door, and preparing to carry the patient out of the car.
Before the car came to a complete stop, Ji Feng had already flung open the door and rushed out like a gust of wind.
However, at this moment, a thin figure in a loose white coat jumped out of the back door of the ambulance. Instead of participating in the patient's rescue, he walked hurriedly out of the hospital.
Ji Feng shouted, "Sheng Dongqian!" and rushed forward, blocking the female doctor.
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