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Chen Jiu'an whistled, a playful smile spreading across his face. "Interesting, quite thrilling!"
Captain Lin's expression turned serious; this was not just an ordinary smuggling case. The origins and destination of this batch of arms, along with the tangled web of interests behind it, required thorough investigation. He exchanged brief greetings with Chen Jiu'an and Lin Mingchang before leading his men to escort the smuggling gang and the truck filled with firearm parts back to the Police Station.
On the way back to the inn, Lin Mingchang turned to Chen Jiu'an and asked, "Jiu'an, how do you plan to arrange the upcoming investigation? Shouldn't we hurry to check out the New World Dance Hall?"
Chen Jiu'an shot Lin Mingchang a sidelong glance, grinning as he replied vaguely, "No rush, I've got everything planned. We'll meet at the New World Dance Hall tomorrow night."
The following evening, Shen Tong and Lin Mingchang arrived at the New World Dance Hall, located in the most bustling area of Yangzhou City. The grand four-story French-style building was near the Canal, brightly lit and enveloping the entire upper class of Yangzhou.
Lin Mingchang wore a well-tailored dark suit tonight, with a silver brooch pinned at his collar. Shen Tong donned a royal blue qipao adorned with intricate patterns, her jet-black hair styled into a vintage bun, still wearing a black veil that partially obscured her right face.
Standing at the entrance of the dance hall, they looked around but found that Chen Jiu'an had not yet arrived. Two burly men stood by the door; to avoid raising suspicion from the security guards, Lin Mingchang decided it was best to enter first.
He gently took Shen Tong's hand and walked confidently into the New World Dance Hall.
Inside, the decor was lavishly extravagant. Above the spacious dance floor hung a massive crystal chandelier nearly two stories high, while walls and booth edges were adorned with gold-plated materials. A diverse crowd coexisted harmoniously in this space: foreign merchants mingled with local dignitaries and socialites, filling clusters around each other as the air was thick with a blend of perfume and tobacco.
Lin Mingchang strolled with Shen Tong to the bar, intending to order drinks while they waited for Chen Jiu'an. Behind the bar were three bartenders dressed in matching white shirts and black vests, bustling about efficiently.
"What can I get for you two?" one of the bartenders asked as he approached them.
Lin Mingchang recognized the bartender's voice; looking up closely, he nearly exclaimed the man's name. To his surprise, it was none other than Chen Jiu'an! If he hadn't initiated conversation, Lin Mingchang would never have guessed that he had disguised himself as a bartender to blend in early.
Chen Jiu'an had slicked his hair back meticulously with pomade, shining brightly under the lights. He sported a thin mustache above his lips and poured drinks with an impressively professional demeanor that made him look quite convincing in his role.
"I finally managed to get in here," Chen Jiu'an said in a low voice. "I've been gathering information inside the ballroom for the past couple of days, but I haven't found any valuable leads. I think this place probably has nothing to do with our case; that matchbox might just be a coincidence..."
Seeing that Lin Mingchang and Shen Tong remained silent, Chen Jiu'an skillfully took out a bottle of champagne from behind him, poured two glasses, and handed them to the two. He continued, "After we discovered the smuggling operation involving Arms yesterday, I arranged for my men to secretly investigate the smuggling trade in Yangzhou. Let's meet at my place tomorrow afternoon to sort through the clues. Since we won't uncover anything today, why don't you both relax and have some fun before heading back to the inn?"
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