Before returning the phone to Yang Sisi, I memorized Ye Zhi's phone number. It's not that I have a particularly good memory, but rather that her phone number was very simple in structure, consisting entirely of 0s and 9s except for the first three digits.
I don't want to overanalyze her reasons for choosing this number, but the numbers 0 and 9 represent the beginning and the end respectively. Ye Zhi's choice must have some underlying meaning.
Perhaps she really is a woman who strives for perfection, so once she starts something, she must have an ending.
If my understanding is correct, then there is indeed a big difference between us, because I am a person who cares more about the process, and there are many results that I cannot get or afford; looking back on my life, whether it is love, career, or even studies, there are too many regrets that ended without a trace.
As I was thinking about these things, Yang Sisi reached out her hand and said to me, "What is it about my phone that's so attractive to you?... You look so reluctant to let go!"
I returned the phone to Yang Sisi.
She added, "You've memorized Ye Zhi's number, right?"
Before I could even speak, she added, "Even a pig that only eats feed could remember her number, so you definitely can too!"
"Can we stop joking around at a time like this?"
"Okay, let's get serious then... What did Ye Zhi tell you?"
I pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and then replied truthfully, "She said that there was no legal basis for pursuing criminal charges against Tie Nan for his mistake, and that we shouldn't be too nervous."
Do you believe what she says?
Why don't you believe it?
"If you believe, then relax a bit... Look at your legs, can you please stop holding them so tense all the time? I feel tired just looking at them!"
I subconsciously looked down and saw that my legs were indeed taut. In order to prevent Yang Sisi from making a fuss, I simply sat down on the ground, and then looked up at the colorful clouds in the sky. Only then did I gradually relax.
...
After sitting there for a while, Peach's loud shout came from inside the room: "Michael, Sisi... I found Tie Nan's ledger, come and take a look."
Under the dim glow of the setting sun, Yang Sisi and I exchanged a glance, then rushed into the house. Taozi was holding a waterproof bag containing a notebook; judging by its confidentiality, it was undoubtedly an account book.
Yang Sisi asked Taozi, "We searched for a long time but couldn't find it. Where did you find it?"
"In the toilet tank."
Yang Sisi glanced at it and said incredulously, "His imagination is really wild... Your imagination is pretty wild too, you actually managed to find him hiding in this place!"
"We've searched everywhere we can, and this is the only place left."
As she spoke, Peach handed me a waterproof bag that was dripping with water.
I took the notebook out. The notebook had a combination lock, but it wasn't difficult to open. I smashed the plastic lock to pieces with a brick, and Yang Sisi and Taozi came over at the same time.
This notebook was indeed used by Tie Nan to keep accounts. It was filled with daily revenue records. I looked at it carefully twice. His business has been quite good recently. He's almost always fully booked, and there are even quite a few hourly rooms available. He also remembers the payment methods very clearly. Eighty percent of the payments were in cash... It seems that he wasn't at ease when he was operating illegally, so he probably actively encouraged most customers to use cash payments, which are less likely to leave traces. This can be seen from the percentage. Under normal circumstances, the percentage of payments made via mobile phone should be much higher than cash payments.
What Tie Nan did proves that he knew beforehand what the consequences of his actions would be, which shocked me. I don't know what kind of motivation could make someone so willing to take such a risk.
So, he must be crazy!
...
Peach and I recalculated the figures several times, and the final amount we arrived at was [amount in yuan], which was very close to Peach's previous estimate. If we weren't investigated, the inn's revenue would easily exceed 250,000 yuan by the end of the Lunar New Year season.
Even 180,000 is a shocking amount; at least I see in this number the madness of people dying for money.
I placed the ledger on the table, and Peach looked at me with a deathly pale face.
I lit a cigarette, took several deep drags, and said, "I'll take the ledger to the police station later. I can afford this money... I hope that if I hand over all the money, the fines later will be less."
Yang Sisi, who lacked social experience, asked in bewilderment, "Isn't paying this amount enough?"
"Confiscating illegal gains and imposing fines are two different things."
Yang Sisi complained, "Such a big gap, when will it ever be filled?... I really don't know what Tie Nan is thinking. It's not like we can't make a living in Dali, why is he so impatient for quick results!"
Peach is crying...
Yang Sisi realized she was being emotional and quickly comforted Taozi. In the meantime, I picked up the ledger again and walked out of the inn. My destination was the police station I had visited that morning.
I think that under such high pressure, this is the only way to save Tie Nan, and his refusal to confess will only make things worse and will not do him any good.
...
When I arrived at the police station, Wang Xiaoling was still the person I was assigned to. I didn't say much, but I firmly placed the ledger on her desk and said, "Officer Wang, the ledger has been found. Every single income of the inn during this period is recorded in it clearly... He is currently detained, so it is definitely inconvenient for him to take out this money. Therefore, I will handle this matter for him... I hope you will consider the punishment accordingly later."
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