Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 95: The Burden of Possession
Shen Lingchen and Guan Yiqing arrived near the Nanhui Branch School at three in the afternoon. They did not dare to alert the local police station; at such times, the usual methods of Chinese police came into play.
He and Guan Yiqing each went to nearby convenience stores and small restaurants to buy things and strike up conversations with passersby who were out enjoying the afternoon breeze. After an hour, they gathered quite a bit of information about the South Huai Culinary School.
It was a community-run establishment without proper qualifications, so it wasn’t registered. Guan Yiqing couldn’t find anything through Skynet; the enrollment consisted mainly of young people from nearby suburbs and those who couldn’t stay in city factories. The fees were low, and they offered job recommendations, which made the business quite popular. The catering industry required a large number of cheap laborers, and this unqualified school had connections to issue certificates, making it a top choice for many.
The police couldn’t manage all the makeshift schools that were popping up everywhere. Guan Yiqing wasn’t surprised by this unspoken rule, but she found it strange that so many local thugs gathered here without any incidents occurring. Shen Lingchen explained to her, “Didn’t you understand this? This place serves as a hideout; they definitely won’t stir up trouble nearby. They’ll cause a ruckus in the city, then come back here to sleep. It’s no wonder I couldn’t figure it out; they’re hiding right under our noses.”
This explanation amused Guan Yiqing, and she laughed as she asked her mentor, “What are they trying to do? Are they gathering the remnants of Ma Yubing, He Shi, and Mao Shiping to regroup?”
That would mean aiding thugs and criminals. Even after years of experience in law enforcement, Shen Lingchen hadn’t anticipated such an outcome—cultivating informants only to hand over a leader to the enemy while also drawing attention to themselves by bringing trouble to Binhai.
He walked aimlessly, sighed, and remarked, “Only he sees us as a threat; when have we ever understood him?”
His tone was quite despondent; it was no wonder he was labeled a Red Line Informant—such roles weren’t meant for just anyone.
“But now things have gone awry. Pan Shuanglong was suddenly arrested, and the Suzhou and Hangzhou operations failed miserably. They must have startled the snakes in the grass. Now that Ma Yubing and Mao Shiping are scattered like monkeys after a tree falls, what do we do about those who were caught? We can’t interrogate them effectively, and those who weren’t caught are all gathered here. What now?” Guan Yiqing said with a mix of laughter and frustration. Shen Lingchen pondered in silence before she added, “Master, are we on the right track? If we say there’s no connection, Pan Shuanglong has ties with Ma Yubing, He Shi, and Mao Shiping, plus he has personal relations with Song Lijuan. But if we say there is a connection… this group of rascals seems completely unrelated to major thefts; their methods are entirely different.”
“What’s your major?” Shen Lingchen suddenly asked.
“Law and sociology,” Guan Yiqing replied.
“What hobbies do you have?” Shen Lingchen continued.
“Watching movies and playing badminton,” Guan Yiqing answered in confusion.
"This is it. Your major, your profession, and your hobbies all come together to form your life... Even the life of a notorious criminal isn't just about committing crimes. After all, no one is born a criminal; it's built up step by step. Just like me, as the Deputy Political Commissar, I didn't just appear here from nowhere; I grew from being a Police Officer," Shen Lingchen said.
Understood, still circling around the periphery, the only potential suspect, Song Lijuan, was currently in a psychological adjustment period. It was likely that external surveillance wouldn't detect any abnormalities in the short term.
The two walked aimlessly around the school, passing rice fields, a pond, and overgrown paths, waiting for the person involved in the crime to return. This mindset was particularly unique for Guan Yiqing; it even touched on her professional sensitivity as a police officer. After walking for quite some time, she quietly asked, "Master, how should we handle this kind of situation?"
"What situation?" Shen Lingchen replied.
"Well... what if an informant breaks the law?" Guan Yiqing asked.
Shen Lingchen turned his head to look at her, a hint of concern on his face. This was indeed a matter worth worrying about, especially for newcomers. For someone like Shen Lingchen, an Old Cop, it wasn't an issue at all. He smiled and asked, "There are fish in the sea; we are the fish eagles. Can we catch all the fish in the sea?"
Guan Yiqing didn't understand and countered with a question: "What kind of metaphor is that?"
"The metaphor is this: if the fish run out, then so do the fish eagles. Society is like an ecosystem where many things are interdependent. At the bottom level, many illegal activities are just a way of life for them. Within the police force, can you guarantee that everyone is completely clean and never crosses any lines?" Shen Lingchen retorted.
"You didn't answer my question; I was talking about informants," Guan Yiqing insisted.
"It's the same thing. If someone is an ordinary law-abiding citizen, could they do such things? We are merely maintaining a balance—the balance between crime and punishment—preventing more people from crossing those lines," Shen Lingchen explained.
The implication was that he held a protective attitude towards such matters. Guan Yiqing rolled her eyes in exasperation but had slowly begun to get used to it; she no longer felt as much youthful indignation.
"Then what are you worried about?" Guan Yiqing asked.
Indeed, since breaking the rules had already become the norm, Shen Lingchen's concerns seemed unfounded. He awkwardly smiled and said, "You don't know how serious it can be; human greed and inflated confidence can be terrifying... Just look at Xiao Mu's actions—how much has changed in less than two months?"
From starting as a street pimp to extortion and setting up scams for money, and now organizing a group of societal scum to extort hotels while operating in different locations—Guan Yiqing counted in surprise and blurted out, "It sounds like... a crime escalation?"
"Well, now you know what I'm worried about," Shen Lingchen said, standing with his hands behind his back and letting out a long sigh.
Indeed, he was worried about the consequences of escalating things further. After all, he had been the one to pull Xiao Mu into this case, and now it seemed that guy was already reveling in the thrill and sense of achievement from committing crimes. Guan Yiqing sorted through her thoughts, a layer of unease creeping into her heart. She unexpectedly recalled that dream—the one where Xiao Mu was surrounded by countless police officers... and then taken away in a prisoner transport.
"I understand. Today is the day we confront him and put an end to all this," Guan Yiqing said. Given the current situation, there was no choice but to cut through the chaos decisively.
"Quite the opposite," Shen Lingchen hesitated for a moment before saying what he needed to: "Today marks a beginning. Ma Yubing and Mao Shiping are about to be released. I don't know if he's doing this intentionally or unintentionally... but it's enough for him to carve out a place for himself in this criminal organization."
Upon hearing this, Guan Yiqing's heart sank as if she had fallen into a pond; she froze in place. She knew that the truly perilous journey as an informant was just beginning...
...
As evening approached, an old, faded Volkswagen pulled into the campus.
The car was filled to the brim, and excitement made Big Gourd tremble all over as he held a stack of cash in one hand. Erhu Lu also clutched a stack in his hand, and the two were slapping each other playfully, the crisp sounds echoing endlessly.
They were just two broke guys who had never seen so much money before. After a day of crime, they swaggered into the bank and walked away with over one hundred thousand yuan. Robbing a Savings Institution couldn't be much different from this, right?
"Put it away; don't get reckless... When we get back, let Red Sister distribute it. The undercover at the restaurant kitchen gets three thousand each, and the rest should go to the school. We can't just eat and live there without paying any tuition; otherwise, they'll kick us out... Remember everyone, follow orders—never act on your own," Xiao Mu instructed.
"Of course! Who would dare disobey? I'd beat him to death," Big Gourd replied.
"Exactly! We're organized extortionists here; anyone who tries to take it all for themselves will choke on it," Erhu Lu added.
The two brothers' admiration for Xiao Mu flowed like an unending river, and all their words condensed into one question: "Big Brother, are we going again tomorrow?"
"Of course we should go. This is a classic case of using one trick to eat all over the world; we need to strike while the iron is hot... You guys, send out the second team, pick a restaurant, and then we can connect this operation later," Xiao Mu said.
"But what if that restaurant doesn't need any help? We won't be able to get in," Big Gourd asked.
"Are you really that clueless? Just find a way to make them short-staffed!" Xiao Mu replied.
"What kind of way?" Big Gourd couldn't quite grasp it.
"Oh, I got it! We can find that restaurant's helper, stop them on the road, and give them a beating until they can't work anymore. Then we'll have our chance!" Erhu Lu chimed in.
"Wow, when did you become smarter than me?" Big Gourd exclaimed in surprise.
"Just learned it from the big brother," Erhu Lu flattered.
Xiao Mu felt a bit elated from the praise, laughing heartily as he drove into the school, dropping the two off. Big Gourd knocked on the car window and asked, "Hey, aren't you coming to eat with us? Don't go off having fun without us!"
"Are you both stupid? We need to change cars; we can't use the same one for our operation!" Xiao Mu scolded.
"Oh, I got it! Learned another trick," Big Gourd said, suddenly enlightened. This was basic counter-surveillance knowledge.
"Exactly! How is our big brother so talented?" Erhu Lu marveled.
"Stop buttering him up," Big Gourd reprimanded.
"I actually want to flatter you; you're not that smart," Erhu Lu retorted.
This comment annoyed Big Gourd, who gave him a stack of cash with a thud on the back of his head. Erhu Lu, however, didn't mind at all and said, "That really hurts in a good way! I say, boss, how about we don't give three thousand this time? Can we settle for two thousand five? Each of us can keep five hundred as a tribute to the big brother..." This suggestion was immediately accepted by Big Gourd.
In the rearview mirror, those two were happily heading back to the campus dormitory. Xiao Mu pressed the accelerator, speeding up as he passed an SUV. He honked the horn, and that vehicle leisurely followed him all the way back to the city.
The car was rented. After returning it, he stepped out to find the SUV parked on the street. Xiao Mu jumped in, and sitting there were Guan Yiqing and Shen Lingchen, who he hadn't seen in a while. Shen Lingchen suggested finding a quiet place, and without a word, Guan Yiqing drove off.
...
Guan Yiqing had no idea how high the informant's status was, but it was definitely higher than hers. Throughout the drive, she kept looking at the case files provided by Shen Lingchen. The tablet belonged to the project team but was specifically for Shen Lingchen's use; even Xu Fei probably wouldn't know as much.
However, she didn't mind these details. The bizarre methods of Wang Zihua's case were pointed out by the informant; even locating Song Lijuan was thanks to his judgment as a civil servant. The only downside was Pan Shuanglong's capture; this person's arrest came too early and disrupted all their plans. Now she worried about how an informant could navigate such a delicate and dangerous situation.
"Damn, his name is Pan Shuanglong? He actually committed so many crimes?" Xiao Mu muttered, then asked Shen Lingchen, "What about Ma Yubing and Mao Shiping? Didn't they discover anything?"
"Right, do you know Pan Shuanglong?" Shen Lingchen replied.
"Of course! Before his arrest, I applied for a position with Rascal in Suzhou and Hangzhou. I should have gotten the job! And now look—after you caught him, the front line of the theft ring has been taken down, and we can't find any leads," Xiao Mu said.
Such banter amused Guan Yiqing. Shen Lingchen chuckled and asked, "How did you end up here? By the way, how did you escape that day?"
"That day Black Steel notified me about a pickup in the morning, so I went to the logistics company. I wanted to grab some breakfast... but when I got there, it was swarming with police. I figured you guys had made your move and thought I better get out of there quickly," Xiao Mu explained.
"Then why did you bring so many people with you?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"You think I wanted to? Once things went south, those who weren't involved were definitely informants. What if you couldn't clean up all the remnants and they came back to trouble me?" Xiao Mu replied.
"So you took everyone away and managed to avoid detection?" Shen Lingchen questioned.
"Ah, is there really no better way? Anyway, I have nowhere to go," Xiao Mu said.
Guan Yiqing casually asked, "The place you chose isn't bad. We've been looking for you for a week and couldn't find you."
"Haha, I was at Culinary School at the time. In such a poor and desolate place, the police wouldn't bother at all. I had a sudden idea and just brought them all to school," Xiao Mu replied with a laugh.
Shen Lingchen said unhappily, "You're just being ridiculous."
"Then where should I send them? Do you expect them to fend for themselves?" Xiao Mu countered.
"But we can't organize extortion either," Shen Lingchen softly admonished, as if to remind him.
"Is this your first day as a police officer? I'm representing the Press to promote advertising space to them... You have no idea how shady those merchants are. I won't even mention the filth and chaos; leftover food can be reprocessed, and that's considered good. Do you know where the cooking oil comes from? They pour it back from gasoline barrels—it's all gutter oil. And do you know how much meat tenderizer and additives they store? They carry it back in sacks... Just think about how I used to eat scraps at restaurants; I could hardly wait to chase down these scoundrels with a knife," Xiao Mu said, his expression passionate. Now that he finally had the means, he was ready to take revenge.
"Mainly, you want to make some extra money, right?" Shen Lingchen interrupted Xiao Mu's deep grievances lightly.
Xiao Mu suddenly smiled, his righteous demeanor fading as he said slyly, "The primary goal is to purify the food market; the secondary goal is this... Hey, I'm saying, if no one reports it and no one investigates, why are you talking so much with me? I've signed a contract."
"When someone does report it, I'm afraid I won't be able to cover for you," Shen Lingchen said, pointing ahead. "Let's just eat something there."
They had already arrived at Wangjiang Road, which was quite remote. Turning into a small restaurant in an alley was safe enough. The three entered a small private room. After Xiao Mu ordered a few dishes and handed back the menu, he noticed Guan Yiqing staring at him intently. Curiously, he asked, "What does that mean? You're looking at me so affectionately; why do I feel something's off? Oh wait, I just remembered..."
"No need for reminders; I'll toast the master first... with tea instead of wine," Shen Lingchen said solemnly. However, this solemnity made Xiao Mu uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Guan Yiqing was laughing. After a moment of awkwardness, Xiao Mu said, "Forget it then; having such an old disciple who's both poor and dull is either a burden or a nuisance. You can do as you please."
"Oh, that's great!" Shen Lingchen's expression changed as he smiled and said, "Yi Qing, you bear witness—let's not mention that matter again."
Guan Yiqing was amused by Shen Lingchen's shamelessness and quickly nodded in agreement. Xiao Mu looked at Shen Lingchen with a smile and said, "Hey, with your character, you could go back and be my little brother. I'm actually in need of someone with such thick skin."
"Come, let's toast. Give me some face; after all, I'm a Political Commissar," Shen Lingchen said with a hint of embarrassment. Xiao Mu raised his teacup, clinked it against Shen's, and joked, "You remind me of that fool from Shaanxi Province."
"I'm curious, what kind of colleague could work so closely with you?" Shen Lingchen asked casually.
Xiao Mu set down his teacup and chuckled. It was a tense yet thrilling time he recalled. He summarized with a laugh, "To be honest, he was worse than you—full of crude language, ugly in appearance, and didn't care about hygiene. Ugh, let's not even mention it; he was worse than the suspects."
"Really? Do we have someone that bad in our team?" Shen Lingchen asked skeptically.
"No, it's your team; most of them are worse than him," Xiao Mu replied.
Guan Yiqing and Shen Lingchen exchanged puzzled glances, not understanding.
Xiao Mu smiled but offered no explanation. There was a camaraderie among men that didn't require excessive clarification. Just like now, looking at Shen Lingchen's pale face and cunning demeanor, he felt little animosity.
The dishes arrived quickly. To everyone's surprise, Xiao Mu wasn't picky about food and ate rapidly. Guan Yiqing curiously asked, "You just mentioned so many issues with the restaurant; how can you still have such a good appetite?"
Xiao Mu shrugged and said, "Out of sight, out of mind. I can't help it; I've gotten used to not thinking about how much gutter oil or chemicals I've consumed while eating. After being back from abroad for so long, I've adapted to this rough environment. It's an era where everyone is out to get each other; don't expect any pure land."
This made Guan Yiqing lose his appetite. Shen Lingchen smiled as he watched Xiao Mu's flickering words while occasionally glancing at Guan Yiqing. He knew the young man might have temporarily stepped out of his psychological shadow. Seizing the opportunity, he interjected, "Mu, do you have any plans?"
"I do," Xiao Mu replied with a smile, then looked at Shen Lingchen and added, "But I'm not going to tell you."
"Look at you! If you don't tell me, I won't feel comfortable sharing my plans either," Shen Lingchen teased.
"Then you go first," Xiao Mu said.
"I can't go first; I want to base mine on your situation. You go first," Shen Lingchen insisted.
"It's simple. With Rascal captured and weapons put away, I'm of no use anymore. I don't want to be a burden to you all; I'll make some money on my own and plan to go abroad. My student status is still valid; it's more lenient over there. My major is special—if I earn enough credits to graduate, I might even get a green card... Looking back now, I really shouldn't have come back just for my father's inheritance," Xiao Mu said as he ate and spoke, seemingly already having made up his mind.
"Going abroad?" Guan Yiqing suddenly felt a bit disappointed.
"Ah, there's no way around it. In this country, talented people have no future. Just like me," Xiao Mu said, astonished.
Guan Yiqing burst into laughter, unsure if it was genuine or just for fun. Xiao Mu chuckled along and then asked Shen Lingchen, "What about you, Political Commissar? If you give me a civil servant position, I won't leave either."
"Look at what you're saying. With your talents, being a civil servant would be a waste," Shen Lingchen replied. Upon hearing this, Xiao Mu immediately gave him the middle finger, clearly in jest. However, he continued with sincerity, "What I mean is, you might need to revise your plans."
"Revise what? You guys caught Ma Yubing and Mao Shiping, and just when you discovered Song Lijuan, another big blunder happens. Even the dumbest thief would be scared off; they won't show up for a while," Xiao Mu said.
"So do you think... there’s a connection? I mean between Ma Yubing's group and the other one still lurking beneath the surface?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"There should be... Look, their organizational structure should be like this." Xiao Mu dipped his hand in the tea and drew circles to illustrate. Mao Shiping was likely responsible for disposing of stolen goods at the Hideout, but he didn't deal with clients directly; that middleman was probably Ma Yubing.
As for Old Cripple, or He Shi, everyone knew he was a washed-up figure in the underworld. However, Xiao Mu speculated that he had merely washed his hands of it without cleaning up properly. Based on the information exchanged with the thugs they had recalled, He Shi was likely the origin point of this gang—similar to a beginner's village in a game where one must gain experience before moving on to bigger opportunities. The captured Pan Shuanglong, known as Panzi, was essentially the village chief responsible for recruitment.
Soon enough, an organizational chart began to take shape: starting from the beginner's village to spreading across the country to steal things and then returning through logistics to complete cross-regional disposal of stolen goods.
"How long has this been going on?" Xiao Mu estimated it had been at least two years.
"And how much have they stolen? That’s impossible to quantify; it must be astronomical."
"How many thieves have they trained? That's hard to say too; there are multiple recruitment sessions each year. Who knows how many have actually made it through?"
There was also a crucial question: what was the connection between this well-established theft organization and Wang Zihua's case? So far, all they knew was that Pan Shuanglong had Song Lijuan as his mistress.
At this point, Xiao Mu fell silent and smiled at Guan Yiqing who had been asking him questions. Guan Yiqing looked uncertainly at her outfit as if something was off. It definitely wasn't that; she asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"You have a habit of overlooking the obvious," Xiao Mu said.
"What's wrong with that?" Guan Yiqing asked.
"I've already given you hints about the case I'm working on today," Xiao Mu replied.
Did I? Guan Yiqing thought, glancing at Shen Lingchen, who also looked puzzled. Xiao Mu's way of thinking was simply beyond his comprehension.
"Let me put it this way: I first sent an undercover agent to infiltrate the hotel as a worker, secretly recording their illegal activities. After they left, I would step in and use sincere language to promote advertising space to them... The key point of my approach is turning illegal extortion into legal income. Do you think I'm breaking the law?" Xiao Mu explained.
"I understand... It definitely sounds illegal, but no one can see those involved in the illegal aspects. Song Lijuan is one of them. There might be others," Shen Lingchen said.
"Others?" Guan Yiqing exclaimed in surprise.
"There are those mysterious thieves who have only shown themselves once and haven't been captured on camera. For such a big operation, they should avoid exposure as much as possible... So let me ask you, who was responsible for the initial reconnaissance, tracking, and gathering information about the leader's family?" Xiao Mu continued.
"Oh, you mean there might be thieves among the thieves?" Guan Yiqing realized.
"It's not just a possibility; it's a certainty. Among us are Old Cripple, Widow Ma, and Mourning Hair. All three have considerable wealth, likely more than most, so why are they still committing crimes? Besides money, there's also a motivation called the thrill of crime—control, a sense of achievement, and so on. These individuals fit the profile of professional criminals. This type of criminal may have an impeccable legal identity, and once you trace it back to them, it will be nearly impossible to catch them," Xiao Mu elaborated. They weren't just committing crimes for money; their motivations were more complex, and it was possible they had even higher-profile individuals backing them.
"In our country, there are also..." Guan Yiqing asked skeptically.
"There are indeed; there are serial killers and mass murderers. It's just that due to news censorship, we don't see much of it... Xiao Mu, do you know a lot about professional crime?" Shen Lingchen inquired. This concept was vague for him; he could only think of it as habitual offenders.
"It's easy to understand. When someone does something repeatedly, there's a certain sentiment attached to it. For example, if you've been a police officer for over twenty years, even if you're now wealthy and out of uniform, you'll still often think back to that tough profession... And the thrill that comes from crime is unparalleled—getting something for nothing, feeling intellectually superior, achieving a prominent status—all these can allow an ordinary person to reach goals they could never achieve through any other means. Once someone has developed such habits, do you think they can give up that thrill?" Xiao Mu asked.
"That's true; these thieves are far more cunning than any I've caught over the decades. They leave no evidence behind," Shen Lingchen said with a hint of frustration.
"Use the Chinese Characteristics interrogation to slowly torment them; that's your strength, and you can experience some pleasure from it, haha," Xiao Mu said with a sly grin. Guan Yiqing shot back, "Why do I feel like some people are already getting a sense of accomplishment from their crimes?"
"Of course! Otherwise, how else would I spice up my gloomy, failed life?" Xiao Mu retorted, which made Guan Yiqing so angry that he ignored him.
"Well then, Mu, you should be able to accept what I’m about to say. How about I give you a little more sense of accomplishment to brighten your dark life?" Shen Lingchen asked with a smile.
Xiao Mu suddenly became alert and nervously asked, "What do you mean?"
"I mean that Ma Yubing and Mao Shiping are about to be released. You can continue your thrilling journey... Don't make excuses; you've already pulled their people under your banner. It’s impossible for them not to come looking for you... I'm really not forcing you," Shen Lingchen said seriously.
Damn it, he had walked into a trap and tied the noose around his own neck. Xiao Mu awkwardly looked on, feeling as if he had just swallowed two pounds of gutter oil, letting out a sudden "ugh" as he choked on his words.
Guan Yiqing couldn't help but laugh at Xiao Mu's expression, while Shen Lingchen bit his lip to suppress his laughter. They were completely oblivious to the fact that within Xiao Mu's awkward expression lay a hint of amusement, albeit tinged with pity and sadness. It seemed like there were words left unspoken, yet at the same time, there was nothing at all; Xiao Mu didn’t say anything...
Comment 0 Comment Count