Chapter 84 Chunfang Lane: Comrades, prepare to close the net!
Yonggu New City construction site.
The construction site was muddy and noisy.
The setting sun cast a weary golden glow over the construction site.
Zheng Yu led a team to come several times, but all attempts were unsuccessful.
She sensed that her coworkers were hiding something, but no matter how she asked, she couldn't get any information out of them.
In the words of foreman Lao Ma, Iron Hammer had a bad temper and didn't get along with anyone; he didn't have any real enemies. Gray Bucket was mild-mannered and rarely spoke; he just followed Iron Hammer around all day and didn't have any particularly close friends. The two of them were like wandering spirits, not fitting in with the group. Even though there were work sheds available, they insisted on living separately outside.
After each setback, Zheng Yu felt excluded by the construction workers, but there was nothing she could do. They weren't suspects; she couldn't just arrest and interrogate them all, could she?
Liang Jiushan, however, was not afraid of trouble. Since he had nothing to do during his summer vacation, he simply bought a foam box and started selling popsicles near the Yonggu New City construction site.
He was not afraid of hardship or fatigue, and he was good at talking and would call everyone he met "brother" or "uncle." He quickly became familiar with the migrant workers on the construction site.
On this day, Liang Jiushan, dressed in drab old clothes and wearing a large straw hat, blended in inconspicuously among a group of workers resting in the shade, his ears perked up like radar, catching the noisy dialects and chatter around him.
A skinny bricklayer was complaining to his colleague, "Is the police coming to ask about the hammer and the mortar bucket again? Ugh, so annoying, they ask the same questions over and over again."
His companion sighed: "These two have definitely done something wrong, and it's not a small matter."
The skinny bricklayer, covered in mortar and looking exhausted, spoke in Yizhou dialect: "Sigh! The mortar bucket is too honest. If he gets into trouble, it's probably because he's been forced into it by the hammer. I remember one day I was plastering a wall with him, and he was absent-minded, muttering to himself, imitating people, saying things like 'Be careful, don't be clumsy,' like a big boss."
Liang Jiushan's eyes flickered slightly.
The phrase "Be careful, don't be reckless" and its tone are not Yizhou dialect at all, but Yuezhou accent. It might have been said by Scarface or one of his men. Moreover, the words have a certain "refined" quality, with a superior attitude, which strongly suggests it is Scarface's accent.
It turns out that Scarface is from Yuezhou.
Liang Jiushan approached the bricklayer and asked in Yizhou dialect, "Brother, do you know Meng Jianghao?"
The bricklayer, seeing his handsome features and polite demeanor, and noting his resemblance to his younger brother who was still in school, felt a sense of liking for him: "I worked with him for a while, so I guess we know each other. What do you want with him?"
Liang Jiushan blinked: "He and I are from the same hometown. His grandmother asked me to pass on a message to him."
The bricklayer looked around and whispered, "Shh... the police are looking for him. He must have done something wrong. Keep your voice down."
Liang Jiushan, with an obedient look that said "I understand, I understand," quickly lowered his voice and asked, "Brother, what did he do wrong? Is it serious?"
The bricklayer shook his head: "I don't know, the police didn't say, but judging from their demeanor, it's probably a big deal."
Liang Jiushan looked worried: "Oh, what should we do? Jiang Hao's grandmother is sick and wants to see him."
The bricklayer had no doubt whatsoever and sighed, "Sigh, I've heard Huitong mention Grandma before, and he misses her too."
Liang Jiushan sensed that the bricklayer had softened, so he slipped an ice pop into the bricklayer's hand and then asked, "Brother, is there any way to contact Brother Jiang Hao?"
"He who takes a bribe is bound to be obligated to do so." The bricklayer already had a good impression of Liang Jiushan, the young man who sold popsicles. Having eaten a free popsicle from him, he felt a little embarrassed and wanted to repay him in some way. He thought for a moment, then said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Before Huitong left, he told me something. He said that the big boss he worked for had a mistress in Chunfang Lane."
Liang Jiushan's eyes flickered slightly. He put the styrofoam box on the ground and moved closer to the bricklayer without making a sound. "Chunfang Lane, what kind of place is that?"
The bricklayer looked up at Liang Jiushan and saw that his clear eyes were full of curiosity. He couldn't help but laugh: "It's in the south of the city. It's a small alley with a lot of hair salons, massage parlors, and small hotels. There are quite a few people doing that kind of thing. You're too young. Don't ask about these things."
Liang Jiushan blinked and said "Oh". "Then I'll go there and try my luck. Maybe I can see my brother Jiang Hao and ask him to go home and see his grandmother."
The bricklayer patted Liang Jiushan on the head, his eyes filled with affection: "You rascal, you're too honest. There are a lot of bad people there, don't go looking for him. Just focus on selling your popsicles. If you happen to run into him later, just pass on the message to Huitong."
Liang Jiushan nodded repeatedly: "Yes, I'll listen to you, brother."
Chunfang Lane is located in the southern part of the city and is an unnamed alley.
The reason it was named Chunfang Lane, such an elegant name, is because there's a small shop called "Chunfang Beauty and Hair Salon" at the entrance of the alley. The owner, Chunfang, is in her early thirties, still charming, with a perm, a sweet tongue, and a knack for getting things done. Since she opened this shop in Yanshi five years ago, she has gradually made the alley popular.
This alleyway is lined with small hotels and hair salons, all engaged in shady sex work. Their low prices attract many working-class people.
If the police asked, the bricklayer would rather die than utter the name Chunfang Lane. Not for any other reason than fear that the police would investigate prostitution and shut down the alley.
But Liang Jiushan was only a teenager, looked harmless, and spoke with a genuine Yizhou accent, so the bricklayers treated him like one of their own and revealed the secret.
Knowing Scarface's possible whereabouts, the task force immediately set up surveillance.
Behind Chunfang Beauty Salon is a small, secluded courtyard. The gate is located in Guihua Lane, a back street. It is narrow and old, and cars cannot even get in. It is very quiet.
The police quickly deployed a professional surveillance network.
Plainclothes police officers, like drops of water merging into the ocean, silently deployed at the intersection of Chunfangli Street and both ends of the secluded Guihua Lane.
Across the alley, several high-powered binoculars and cameras were pointed at the back door of the beauty salon and the alley entrance from the residents' quarters.
On the evening of the third day of the stakeout.
Deep in Osmanthus Lane, a figure wearing a baseball cap rode a slightly worn, unlicensed 125cc motorcycle, skillfully turning into the lane and stopping in front of the iron gate of the backyard of "Chunfang Beauty and Hairdressing".
He glanced around warily before pulling out his keys, opening the door, and slid inside on his motorcycle. Although his baseball cap was pulled low, the distinctive, grotesque scar that ran diagonally from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth was clearly visible through his binoculars.
Scar! Target confirmed.
Even more encouragingly, police spotted Fan Hu and Meng Jianghao in the surveillance footage over the next two days. They didn't go directly into the beauty salon, but instead appeared at a nearby street corner.
Fan Hu was a burly man, wearing an ill-fitting, oversized T-shirt. His fierce gaze swept around like that of a restless, trapped beast. Meng Jianghao followed closely behind, his neck hunched, his face pale and his expression tense, carrying a heavy black travel bag.
As the three men appeared, a dark gray, somewhat worn Jetta sedan with a Yuezhou license plate also came into view of the investigators. The car parked on the side of the street near Chunfang Hair Salon, made a brief stop, and then drove away.
An investigation revealed that the license plate was a fake. Fan Hu and Meng Jianghao approached the vehicle, exchanged a few words, and then left.
Based on surveillance footage and prior clues, it was basically confirmed that the Scarface gang frequently traveled between Yanshi and Yuezhou. The Jetta sedan with the fake license plate was their main means of transportation, while the motorcycle was used for Scarface's covert movement within the city.
Drug dealers, murderers, and core members of drug networks have finally come together in the police's sights.
There has also been progress on Ying Songmao's side.
Centered on the abandoned old building's sewer system, a search of the underground pipe network was conducted, and some human bones and body parts were found in the culvert. The fingerprint of one finger was clearly visible, and the victim's identity was confirmed through comparison.
It's Chen Yan.
Although the outcome had been predicted, everyone remained silent on the day the identities were actually confirmed.
Comrade Chen Yan heroically sacrificed her life.
The atmosphere in the task force's office was heavy and intense, like the low pressure before a storm.
Zheng Yu's voice was firm and resolute: "All targets have been locked on! Their locations are clear, and their activity patterns are basically known. The time is ripe to close the net."
Lei Xiao's sharp gaze swept across the entire room, finally settling on Ying Songmao and Jiang Ling:
“Songmao, you’ve been in contact with the key target, Scarface, and you know his habits. Jiang Ling, you know the psychological characteristics of Fan Hu and Meng Jianghao best. You two will develop the arrest plan. Remember these points: First, ensure your own and the public’s absolute safety; second, catch them red-handed; third, Scarface, Fan Hu, and Meng Jianghao—not one of them can escape!”
Jiang Ling and Ying Songmao exchanged a glance. No words were needed; their tacit understanding had already formed through their joint efforts in combat.
The two quickly walked to the tactics board.
Ying Songmao pointed to the backyard of the beauty salon: "The core target, Scarface, is highly vigilant and armed. The structure of the backyard is unclear. Recommendation: SWAT team launch a strong assault. Choose a time when he is asleep late at night or just after waking up in the early morning, when his defenses are relatively relaxed. At the same time, all exits of Guihua Alley must be cut off to prevent him from escaping on a motorcycle. Plainclothes officers should control the front door of the beauty salon to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering."
Jiang Ling pointed to the location marker of the Jetta sedan: "Fan Hu and Meng Jianghao's whereabouts are uncertain, but they cannot be separated from this car and Scarface's instructions. They may be staying or committing crimes on the outskirts of Guihua Lane. Recommendation: Use vehicle tracking and positioning. Once their location is confirmed, when they get out of the car or are relatively dispersed, the mobile team should carry out a simultaneous arrest from multiple points. Fan Hu is extremely dangerous, and the arrest team must be equipped with sufficient firepower and protection. If necessary, non-lethal force can be used to subdue him! Meng Jianghao is the breakthrough point in the interrogation. When arresting him, be careful to leave him alive."
"The most crucial thing is time synchronization," Jiang Ling added, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of an impending battle. "We must ensure that Fan Hu and Meng Jianghao are also under control before Scarface is caught, to prevent them from fleeing or acting rashly. That Jetta is the key; keep a close eye on it, and we can control Fan Hu and Meng Jianghao!"
After listening, Lei Xiao slammed his fist on the table: "Good! The plan needs to be further refined. Zheng Yu, you coordinate with the traffic police, special police, and technical investigation team to keep a close watch on that Jetta. Everyone, go to Level 1 combat readiness! Weapons, equipment, and communications—check everything thoroughly!"
He surveyed the resolute and determined faces in the command room, his voice booming: "This time, we will not only avenge Comrade Chen Yan, but also completely sever this drug trafficking network that has plagued both regions. Comrades, prepare to close the net!"
The invisible net has quietly tightened, waiting only for the order to strike with lightning speed.
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