Xu Zhuohua stayed in this room for a whole day, while people outside were going crazy searching for her.
Dark clouds loomed over the city, the gray, fish-scale-like clouds obscuring the sky and the air thick with moisture, as if trying to cover one's mouth and nose, making it hard to breathe.
Every household kept their gates tightly shut, and everyone waited anxiously for the soldiers to knock on their doors.
In Xinhai City, there are many powerful and influential people, but those officials all put on airs and act as if they don't care about ordinary people, except for this feared young marshal Cheng.
Actually, it wasn't always like this. Cheng Muyun used to be playful, mischievous, and always ready to stand up for the underdog. He frequented the streets and alleys, ate at all the restaurants nearby, and would leave two silver dollars when he was in a good mood. He couldn't stand seeing officials bullying the poor, and could be considered the white moonlight in the hearts of merchants.
But after the eldest son of the Cheng family died a year ago, Cheng Muyun never visited any small restaurants again. He began to act like a real respectable person, cold and ruthless, killing without hesitation. His bloodthirsty reputation gradually spread throughout the streets and alleys, and he became a great demon king.
Cheng Muyun hadn't slept all night, his eyes were bloodshot, and he drank a cup of strong tea.
The news brought by the person who rushed back disappointed him again. The man picked up the teacup and smashed it on the ground. The snow-white teacup shattered instantly and exploded.
No one dared to speak. Chen Hede sat in the armchair with a mouthful of strong tea, quietly watching the darkening sky above the courtyard.
"Young Marshal Cheng, isn't this search a bit too high-profile?"
Cheng Muyun poured himself another cup of tea, angrily downed it in one gulp. He had drunk too much strong tea and could no longer taste the bitterness. "What else can we do? With such a huge operation, we still can't find anyone. What do you suggest we do?"
Chen Hede pursed his lips helplessly, "Why doesn't the young marshal investigate Liang Shaozun?"
Cheng Muyun rubbed his forehead. It had been twenty hours since Xu Zhuohua went missing, and despite his extensive search, no one had sent him any messages.
Do you want money or weapons? There has to be a purpose.
Even if Liang Shaozun kidnapped Xu Zhuohua, what was his purpose? To stop Cheng Muyun from investigating further?
"How can I investigate? Even the police station doesn't dare to investigate. Without any evidence, what can I use to investigate?"
Chen Hede put down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Start by checking the ledgers."
Cheng Muyun's sharp eyes looked at Chen Hede. Getting the ledger was an accident, how did Chen Hede know?
"You were following me?"
Chen Hede naturally knew Cheng Muyun's doubts, and said calmly, "In all honesty, I have never followed the young marshal. I only sent people to stake out near that soldier's hometown, and they happened to see him."
Cheng Muyun rubbed his fingers together, but ultimately didn't confront Chen Hede. Right now, he still needed the police to find Xu Zhuohua.
"I'll go back to the Cheng residence first. Deputy Director Chen will notify me as soon as he receives news from Zhuohua."
Cheng Muyun drove back to the Cheng Mansion, where Cheng Yuguang was indeed sitting in the hall, waiting for him.
Cheng Yuguang's face was unfriendly, and anger filled his brows, which frightened the servants beside him into trembling.
"Such a big fuss, are you afraid people won't know someone was kidnapped right under your nose?"
Cheng Muyun returned this time intending to demand his father return the person and force his way into the Liang family home.
Knowing the reasons why he hadn't gained a firm foothold, he didn't have much confidence in front of Cheng Yuguang.
"Concern leads to confusion! You're telling everyone she's your weakness!" Cheng Yuguang said, somewhat exasperated.
"Father! Zhuohua has been missing for so long, and instead of thinking about her safety, you're thinking about this kind of thing!"
Cheng Yuguang stood up, pointing at Cheng Muyun, "The Xu family has more than one daughter. Just for the sake of the East-South Route, isn't there another one who is more educated and reasonable? What use is a wicked child who has no family upbringing and changed his name without permission?"
Cheng Muyun shook his head and said angrily, "Yes, the Xu family has another daughter. After the eldest daughter died, there was a second daughter. What about our family? My eldest brother died, and I'm being asked to take over. Do you think that's the same?"
Losing his son in middle age was an unspeakable pain for Cheng Yuguang. Cheng Muchuan was most like him, in every word and action. This son was originally his pride.
Cheng Yuguang slowly lowered his fingers, as if all his strength had been suddenly drained, and slumped onto the sofa.
“I treat you two equally. I’ve been restless these past year since Mu Chuan left, and I haven’t paid enough attention to you. But you… can’t think like that.”
Cheng Muyun walked up to Cheng Yuguang and said, "Father, I have never blamed you. What I want to say is that our family's tragedy must not happen to the Xu family again."
Cheng Yuguang sighed, placed his rough hand on Cheng Muyun's head, and gently shook his head. "I know what you want to do, but the Liang family cannot be touched."
Cheng Muyun suddenly stood up. "You knew all along?"
Cheng Yuguang smiled and said, "You're not a clean operator. I found out about the person you sent to the Liang family. I've been waiting for you here all day."
Cheng Muyun said, "What if I said that my elder brother's death was related to the Liang family?"
...
Cheng Muyun successfully took the elite soldiers he wanted from the army.
Cheng Yuguang led a group to the Liang family to negotiate and buy time for Cheng Muyun.
"Since we suspect the Liang family of doing these things, we must investigate and find out the truth. Don't just keep harboring doubts in your mind; go find the evidence."
Cheng Muyun kept Cheng Yuguang's words in mind and led his men to the west of the city.
The silver recorded in the ledger would pass through a place called Huang's Cloth Shop when it was transported to various places to sell stolen goods.
Cheng Muyun suspected that this was the money laundering den, and that Huang Sanchong was probably related to Huang's Cloth Shop. Huang's Cloth Shop was very likely to link the silver outflow case with the opium case.
A group of elite soldiers disguised themselves and headed towards the west of the city in the dark, followed by a person dressed in night clothes.
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