Amidst my heavy breathing, Wang Xiaoling finally spoke to me, saying, "We were all too careless, and we underestimated that old fox Cao Jinbo... He probably anticipated that we would target his mistress, so he used this scheme. What he had his mistress take away wasn't what we wanted at all, but just a luxury watch from his own collection..."
My heart sank for a moment, and then I asked, "So what's going on now?"
“We are in a very passive position. I think the biggest problem right now is probably with his mistress… I suspect that she betrayed him at the last minute, which is why Cao Jinbo took such precautions… I plan to control her first, and then force Cao Jinbo to submit step by step.”
Without thinking, I replied, "The problem couldn't be with her; she couldn't possibly have plotted against me!"
"We must be cautious. This mistake could be fatal for us... We're afraid that Cao Jinbo has already destroyed the evidence, and it will be too difficult for us to convict him!"
I became even more anxious, and my voice rose several decibels: "It's pointless for you to control her. She really wasn't involved in Cao Jinbo's business. You should just go along with it and let her go to Singapore. If you keep her trapped in the country, Cao Jinbo will become even more suspicious."
“I no longer trust her, and I don’t want to take that risk again… I believe that only by keeping her under our control can we monitor her every move. And whether or not she is involved in Cao Jinbo’s business is not up to you or me to decide; we need to investigate and verify it.”
I felt dizzy, but I still retained a sliver of clarity. I whispered to Wang Xiaoling, "I don't agree with your approach. If you detain her and she doesn't arrive in Singapore on time, Cao Jinbo will definitely know you're investigating her... I think this is Cao Jinbo testing her. I know An'an; she never goes back on her promises to me... You have to believe me. If An'an gets to Singapore smoothly, Cao Jinbo will definitely lower his guard and won't destroy the evidence!"
After a moment of silence, Wang Xiaoling replied to me in a very low voice: "Michael, it's not that I don't want to believe you. I'm just an executor, I don't have decision-making power. To put it bluntly, our leaders don't trust me anymore... So, I'm just informing you of this result, that's all... You don't need to say anything more. We, the police, will handle the rest... You should go home for the New Year... Have a safe journey."
Wang Xiaoling didn't give me another chance to speak. After saying all that, she hung up the phone. When I called back, she didn't answer at all.
...
I sat on the guesthouse balcony in a daze for a long time until Lao Mi called me.
During this time, knowing I was going back, he called me almost every day, partly to check on my schedule and partly to check on my safety, given the long journey.
distant.
I went back inside and washed my face with cold water before answering the call...
He was anxious, so before I could even speak, he asked me, "Where are you now?"
"Still in Dali."
"Didn't you attend a friend's wedding yesterday? Why haven't you left yet?"
"Something came up and I'm a little late, but I'll definitely be back today... I'm already packing my things and I'll be leaving soon."
“There are traffic jams all over the country right now, and it’s even snowing in some places; I think you and Sisi should just fly back. I’m worried that you might not be careful on the way.”
"It's alright, don't worry. We'll definitely prioritize safety. If we were to fly, Dai Qiang would have to search everywhere for a car. It's peak wedding season now, and no car dealership might have a car in stock. That would just be adding to his troubles."
"In our eyes, nothing is more important than your safety. You should take a plane."
"Dad, it's really okay. I've driven this road many times, I know it very well."
Seeing that I insisted on driving, Lao Mi stopped pressuring me. After pondering for a while, he changed the subject and said to me, "Your mother asked me to ask you what size clothes Sisi wears. Your mother needs to prepare a set of underwear for her. It's a custom here. You have to wear new clothes for the New Year. She's worried that if you come back too late, the supermarket won't be open and you won't be able to buy any."
I replied with a smile, "You don't need to prepare that, she definitely brought her own new ones."
"...There's something else. We only have two rooms...You need to make arrangements in advance, so it won't be like before, where things get awkward at the last minute!"
Old Mi's seemingly casual remark reminded me of the time Ye Zhi came home with me, and how he arranged for her to stay in a hotel. I knew Old Mi was testing me; he wanted to see how far things had progressed between Yang Sisi and me.
I can understand him and my mom, because after the New Year, I will be 30 years old. It is rare to be unmarried at this age in a small county. Moreover, according to the values of a small county, if you are not married at this age, you will basically be labeled as a bachelor and shamed for life. Not only that, your family will also be humiliated, like a nightmare... So, Lao Mi and my mom are scared, and I am scared too.
I let out a soft breath and replied to Old Mi in a relaxed tone, "You don't need to worry about this, I'll arrange it in advance..."
After a brief pause, I added, "It's the Lunar New Year, we can't let her stay in a hotel... Dad, I'm quite wealthy now, so I need to bring up the matter of buying a house with you... You can go take a look now, and if you see anything you like, call me anytime, and I'll transfer the money to you... Consider it fulfilling one of my wishes; I want to have a new house to live in once I'm home... I heard from Dai Qiang that Hengtong Greentown has a model apartment for sale, you and I..."
Mom will go check on it in a bit.
"Okay, if that's how you put it, then your mother and I definitely have to go and see."
"Okay, that's settled then. I'll get ready to leave now."
Please be careful on your journey.
...
After ending the call with Lao Mi, I hesitated for a while before deciding to call Coach Ma and Tie Nan before leaving. I figured they wouldn't have anywhere to spend the New Year either, so I thought I'd invite them to come back to the small county town with me.
I've made up my mind. No matter how far the road is or how strong the wind and rain are, I have to go home for the Chinese New Year.
As I was packing my luggage, my phone, which was on the coffee table, suddenly rang. I instinctively rushed over and picked it up from the coffee table...
At that very moment, I could feel the nerves in my neck throbbing. It was a message from Yang Sisi: "Michael, the thing you've been longing for has been sent to you by express delivery. The address is Ma Zhidao and Tie Nan's farm. I insured the package, so it's safe. Please check your mail... Also, don't ask about me. This is the last thing I'll do for you. I hope you find your true love and become a happy man... Wherever you are, I will always wish you well!"
(End of this chapter)
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