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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 130: Where the Heart Belongs
In the procedural agency, time seemed to flow in a meticulous and orderly manner, yet it felt utterly mundane.
The last suspect in the theft case that occurred in Binhai, nicknamed Lani, was apprehended after a month and four days. She returned from a trip to Saipan and was taken directly from the airport by the Yunnan police. Her name was Xu Yanli, a graduate of National University, who had even participated in several blind date shows on television. If it weren't for the incident, no one would have suspected that she was a stylish female thief.
When the four rascals were identifying the crime scene, it sparked quite a commotion.
The major case on Surface Issue was far less confidential than those handled by the secret office. As one of the core members of the special investigation team, Guo Wei began running around between guarantee companies, credit firms, and commercial banks, verifying the whereabouts of stolen goods one by one and distinguishing which items were indeed missing. After navigating through the complex situation of the case, he realized that the hardest part wasn't dealing with the suspects but rather with those who manipulated and even disregarded rules—those who refused to cooperate, shut their doors, or even moved collateral items. Every step forward felt like trudging through mud.
At this moment, Master Shen Lingchen's superior skills became evident. If they wouldn't allow a library check, then they would look for other faults—surely there must be some tax evasion? No? Who would believe such nonsense?
Not even allowing an audit? Summon him; summon him every day. Drive over in a police car to bring him in and see if he still has any face left.
This tactic worked decently against bank managers, but those companies providing collateral and guarantees could really withstand pressure. You summon me, I’ll show up; if there's no money, what about the goods? Who will repay Rong Wu's debts?
If that didn't work, they would change tactics again.
Check their illegal activities; if they had any money, they wouldn’t be doing good deeds.
After several rounds of investigation, they uncovered repeated pledges of collateral, usury practices, violent debt collection methods, and even discovered that some small business owners were indulging in drugs and gambling—all of which were brought to light.
This strategy of shaking the tree to scare the tiger led to several protracted battles. Even within the police force, there was an understanding that this time the Provincial Department's attitude was increasingly resolute. As pressure mounted on one side, it inevitably softened the other. The confiscation and investigation of stolen goods proceeded like a dull knife cutting flesh—slow but relentless.
With over a hundred investigators working tirelessly every day across Binhai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Golden Lake, and Shenzhen-Hong Kong, officers rotated around the special investigation team. These thieves had left their footprints all over the country; tracking them down was no easy task.
The case files on the desk grew daily, stacking higher than a person's head.
The confirmed amount was accumulating day by day, to the point where even the Public Relations Department of the Provincial Department dared not report the truth anymore, starting to shrink the increasingly terrifying numbers down, down, and further down.
Two months later, as September approached...
The Ten Squad had turned into a bustling marketplace, with police cars crowding so much that even their own Car Brands had no place to park. The conference room, Division, and training room had all become crime scene locations. The ping pong table in the conference room served as the best makeshift desk for sorting through Case Situations and the arrested suspects. New faces appeared daily among the police, but the core personnel in the conference room remained unchanged.
A police car parked outside the squad, and Captain Xu Fei hurried out to greet Director Lin Qizhao. The two shook hands warmly. With major cases being cracked, the Ten Squad was now livelier than the Task Force. Lin Qizhao glanced at yet another vehicle from the hospital and remarked, "It's quite lively here, isn't it?"
"Indeed! We've even brought in two from the Task Force's Master, but it's still not enough," Xu Fei replied with a smile.
"Then let's bring in two more; just ask me if you need funding," Lin Qizhao joked. Xu Fei responded, "Right now, what we lack most is time. We wish every day could be 24 hours of daylight."
"Ah, that's how this profession is; it doesn't always go as you wish... Thinking back to when I first came to the Ten Squad, we were here to demand accountability, and I never expected it would turn out like this... Where's Deputy Commissioner Shen?" Lin Qizhao sighed.
"He's upstairs. I have to admit, at first he was constantly looking for You Bisheng. I thought it was a pointless endeavor, but who would have guessed there was indeed a connection with You Bisheng... Outside, Deputy Commissioner Shen has become quite a figure; I've heard that the Disciplinary Committee has uncovered several corrupt officials related to our investigation of stolen items?" Xu Fei asked curiously.
"We're verifying that. Heh heh, don't believe or spread rumors," Lin Qizhao laughed off the topic without delving deeper.
There certainly was something significant; in fact, the biggest case wasn't about mortgages or banks or even the Binhai theft case but rather Xiao Zhuoli's private collection. For this individual who had fallen from being a police officer to a suspect, the task force had kept things under wraps. Only a few knew just how serious his criminal responsibility was.
Not accompanying him upstairs, Captain Xu politely asked if they were preparing a meal. Lin Qizhao declined and headed upstairs on his own into that familiar task force office. A few of his subordinates stood up to greet him warmly, calling him "Boss," both friendly and weary.
"You all seem to be in good spirits; make sure to learn as much as you can from Master Shen. It’s likely we won’t encounter such major cases again for ten years or even longer," Lin Qizhao greeted each one as he passed by. When he reached Guan Yiqing, he gestured and asked, "Where's Guo Wei?"
"He's negotiating with Fenghui Bank; there are still several pieces of collateralized stolen goods that need confirmation," Guan Yiqing replied.
"Where's the master?" Lin Qizhao asked.
"Inside," Guan Yiqing pointed towards the inner room.
Lin Qizhao smiled as he entered, but then turned back and quietly told Guan Yiqing, "Notify Guo Wei to come back. Let's all gather; I'm treating."
"Sure," Guan Yiqing replied with a smile.
Lin Qizhao chuckled and pushed the door open to see Shen Lingchen. The small room had only an old sofa added to it. The sight that greeted him was nothing but case files; the walls were plastered with photos of suspects, their names categorized in clusters. Two months had been enough for Shen Lingchen to dig deep into them.
"Master?" Lin Qizhao said softly.
Shen Lingchen, who had been focused on his writing, looked up in surprise and exclaimed, "Director Lin, you're here to shorten my life again? You call your subordinates 'master,' and I dare not respond?"
"If Director Zheng insists you take on disciples, then I'll just force my way in as a disciple. What's wrong with that?" Lin Qizhao replied with a grin.
"Suit yourself... Hmm, you look so cheerful. Is there good news?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"Guess," Lin Qizhao teased.
"No need to guess. Have Ma Yubing and Mao Shiping been found?" Shen Lingchen asked directly.
"Master is indeed perceptive. One is in Ningxia, and the other in Shaanxi. We caught one yesterday, which led us to the other. They've both been apprehended, and we're preparing to clear some space for them; they'll be released back to us the day after tomorrow," Lin Qizhao explained. The two had hidden well but ultimately couldn't escape Skynet's pursuit. Given the scale of their involvement, even the higher-ups in public security couldn't afford to overlook it.
However, such suspects no longer piqued Shen Lingchen's interest. He tossed his pen aside and remarked, "In this case, they aren't significant players."
"Well, the problem is that the big character is one of our own. Sigh... I didn't even get a chance to boast about my achievements," Lin Qizhao said with an awkward smile.
"This is a good thing. Cutting out this tumor will stabilize public security for several years without major cases. Fundamentally, it's still an issue of preventing occupational crime. I remember you said that someone like me, an unruly police officer, isn't worth emulating," Shen Lingchen replied.
Lin Qizhao felt embarrassed and said, "Master, I only spoke one bad word about you, and you still remember it."
"No, no, you were right. We need effective systems to manage things, not just rely on ideological education to raise awareness. When interests and conflicts arise, what often influences a person's behavior is not morality or legal principles," Shen Lingchen reflected.
"Yes, but we are still far from a legal system environment. In the past two months, look at how many people have tried to plead their cases, pull strings, and build connections. I'm afraid we'll uncover them," Lin Qizhao said hesitantly, feeling speechless. The invisible web of relationships was far more powerful than Skynet and the system; it was omnipresent and inescapable.
"There's nothing we can do; it's a society based on personal connections. Otherwise, being a police officer would be so exhausting," Shen Lingchen said helplessly.
Lin Qizhao strolled around but was once again moved by Shen Lingchen's meticulous patience. He gazed at the suspect relationship chart that Shen had organized, with each person labeled with detailed backgrounds. The more he looked, the more fascinated he became, unable to help but exclaim, "Master, your skills are truly remarkable... You should take on a few apprentices. This intuitive and reverse thinking approach should never be left without successors."
"This clumsy method probably won't attract many willing to put in the effort... By the way, has Rong Wu's funeral been taken care of?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"It's done; the family has already collected the ashes... Dust returns to dust, soil returns to soil. May this sinful soul find peace," Lin Qizhao said as his gaze shifted to the center of the relationship chart where Rong Wu's photo was pinned.
Rong Wu, 197* to 200*, educational background unknown; work experience unknown.
The text displayed his clear face. His resume was minimal; he had no criminal record. Lin Qizhao asked, "Master, looking back now, Rong Wu was indeed not simple. He was powerless himself yet managed to gather people like Nie Qifeng, He Shi, and Pan Shuanglong to do his bidding. When Nie Qifeng learned of his death, he actually shed tears... So far, Xiao Zhuoli's account indicates that this person had strong loyalty."
"A person with great ambitions can cause significant destruction if they incite those at the bottom... This person could only be understood by Xiao Mu. From our perspective, it's hard to comprehend such a person's way of doing things. In fact, solving this case was quite fortunate; if Rong Wu hadn't been trapped in stock trading and taken that last desperate risk, I might not have had the opportunity... People are like that; they can live smartly for a lifetime but ruin everything with one foolish act," Shen Lingchen commented.
Lin Qizhao chuckled dryly. Upon investigation afterward, it turned out that Rong Wu had lost all his wealth in the stock market—over a hundred million lost through continuous margin calls and loans—leaving him unable to fill the hole he had dug for himself. Pressured by external troubles and internal strife, he likely sought a way out once and for all.
"From this perspective, his character is not high; he remains trapped by human greed," Lin Qizhao reflected.
"Yes, a person with such a lofty self-image will certainly be unable to forgive himself. Coupled with the shadow of his father's past in his heart, he would never face the humiliation of being brought to justice again. So, his final choice... indeed, no one could stop it," Shen Lingchen analyzed. As he spoke, Lin Qizhao smiled. Upon seeing this, Shen Lingchen shyly remarked, "It's easy to be an armchair critic; our experiences are too pale and singular to compare with Xiao Mu. That kid is probably even more elevated than Rong Wu; he is not constrained by money."
As always, outsiders were fascinated by the case, while those truly involved felt a shadow in their hearts. Every time they reached a critical point, they inevitably had to mention the name that was not meant for outsiders: Mulin Shen.
Once again, it came to mind, but there was nothing more to say. Lin Qizhao's last memory was of the time after Rong Wu's suicide when he and Shen Lingchen went back to pick someone up. They only saw Xiao Mu's solitary figure, stumbling away into the bewildering rain. He walked away as if he were a stranger to everyone and then disappeared. This person, who had deep knowledge of criminal organizations, likely wanted to vanish, and no one could stop or find him.
"Master, do you have any news about him?" Lin Qizhao asked eagerly.
Shen Lingchen thought for a moment before shaking his head in disappointment. It seemed he was weighing whether or not to speak. Eventually, he furrowed his brow and said, "There’s some indirect news; his informant account was used in Huainan for a transaction of fifty thousand yuan—only that once."
"Huainan? Could it be..."
"Yes, Rong Wu's hometown."
"This..."
"Don't ask me; I can't make sense of it either. However, I actually don't find his actions repulsive."
As Shen Lingchen spoke, the only piece of news seemed so strange that Lin Qizhao frowned in confusion. Why would someone who had already stepped into the police force willingly descend into depravity to handle affairs for a notorious criminal?
"Master, here's what I think... First, I'm here to bring you good news; second, after such a long time of hard work and exhaustion, we should go out for a meal to relax. I really want to invite Xiao Mu along," Lin Qizhao said after a moment.
Shen Lingchen looked at him thoughtfully for a while before stretching his neck and calling out, "Yi Qing, come here."
"Hey... Master, what's wrong?" Guan Yiqing asked as she pushed the door open. Shen Lingchen, without lifting his eyelids, arranged, "Here's the plan: we'll take the afternoon off and gather tonight. You find a way to notify Xiao Mu. I'll be there with Lin Department Head and Guo Wei."
"Got it, I'll let her know," Guan Yiqing replied before leaving.
Her? How would she know?
Lin Qizhao looked at Shen Lingchen in confusion. Shen Lingchen smiled, and then Lin Qizhao remembered something and smiled too, giving a thumbs up to praise his master's keen insight...
…………………………
…………………………
In Binhai City, at the Overseas Chinese Hospital, this day was special. Xiao Mu quietly appeared here as if on a mission.
With few friends, Lezi was the only one around. The two of them huddled by a small flowerbed in the inpatient department, seemingly waiting for something. Lezi chanted like a spell: "Girl, girl, girl, girl..."
What was he praying for? He was hoping that Xiao Mu's stepmother, Zhong Xiaomei, would give birth to a girl. Lezi's thoughts were probably beyond Xiao Mu's comprehension as he pulled Lezi and asked, "Hey, Lezi, why are you so anxious about my stepmother giving birth?"
"How can I not be anxious? If it's a girl, you might still have a chance to become wealthy after forty. But if it's a boy, I reckon things could get dangerous... So for my future well-being, it's best if it's a girl; otherwise, I might end up poor with no one to borrow money from," Lezi said seriously, clearly thinking ahead.
Speaking of this matter, Xiao Mu quietly asked, "How's Ruhua doing? The stock market is in shambles; he won't be in trouble, will he?"
"Well, how should I put it?" Lezi said nervously. "Mr. Sun... now only wears red clothes and pants; even his underwear has to be red. You can't imagine how he looks... his eyes are wide open like a vampire; it's terrifyingly red."
"How much did he lose?" A chill ran through Xiao Mu as worry crept in.
"You don't have any nonsense to say, so can I ask?" Lezi said.
Xiao Mu was at a loss; there was nothing he could do about it. This kind of thing could only be left to fate. Just as he hesitated, Lezi leaned in and whispered to him, "Hey, you’re not still thinking about Mrs. Sun, are you?"
"That marriage is probably on the verge of collapse, right?" Xiao Mu asked, as was human nature.
Lezi smirked and replied, "Yeah, it’s likely about to be taken over by someone else."
"Don't be secretly happy. I'm really annoyed right now. In this situation, I can't even pull him back," Xiao Mu said.
"I’m telling you, silly brother, if the National Team can't move the market, what can you do? Luckily I don’t have any money; otherwise, I’d be serving the Stock Market this time," Lezi said, feeling cheerful because he didn't lose money since he had none to begin with.
This guy was completely carefree. When his phone rang, Xiao Mu took it out and ignored him. Lezi started shouting playfully: "Women, women, women, women..."
Irritated, Xiao Mu stood up and answered the call. It was Guan Yiqing on the line. "Hello, what's up?"
"Where are you?"
"In... Binhai?"
"I need to tell you something. How about a gathering tonight with Department Head Lin, Commissioner Shen, and Guo Wei?"
"I have something to do."
"Don't give me that. You arranged for me to inquire about things just for your own sake. I mention a small matter and suddenly you have something to do? What is it?"
"Well... that is, Stepmother, let me see, I..."
"Huh? I'm at the hospital, where are you?"
At this point, Xiao Mu looked around and ran outside, spotting Guan Yiqing who had just entered. He called out and waved. Guan Yiqing quickly approached, and upon seeing him hiding in the backyard, she burst into laughter. Then she noticed he was hiding someone else too, which made her laugh even harder as she asked Xiao Mu: "What’s going on? Since you’re here, why not go in and take a look?"
"Forget it, I’ve been here already," Xiao Mu replied awkwardly. Lezi was still with his hands together, calling for a girl. Guan Yiqing asked, "Oh, what does it matter whether it's a boy or a girl to you?"
"It matters a lot; I'm thinking about my brother's future," Lezi animatedly shared his thoughts with Guan Yiqing. Halfway through, he received a slap, which made him chuckle as he urged Guan Yiqing: "It’s about time; Police Flower Sister, go check it out and let us know the result. It has to be a girl."
"Alright, I can send a message, but Xiao Mu, tonight..." Guan Yiqing inquired. Xiao Mu nodded, and she walked away casually. Lezi curiously whispered, "Oh, are you two going to hook up tonight?"
"Can’t you think of something more innocent?" Xiao Mu snapped back, feeling flustered.
"Hehehe... I was just thinking of something pure. I mean, your dad is going to have a tough time; the kids will be about the same age as your siblings and cousins—what a chaotic scene that will be! Who will help whom?" Lezi began to worry about Xiao Mu's family. In anger, Xiao Mu raised his fist, prompting Lezi to quickly say, "Okay, okay! I won’t say anything more. I'll start praying: girl, girl, girl..."
At that moment, they heard one loud cry followed by another. The two who had never experienced this before were curious about the source of the sound. A sacred expression inexplicably appeared on Lezi's face as he murmured: "It’s born."
"It’s born; that’s good! Stepmother is an older mother." Xiao Mu’s expression relaxed. In his psychologically constructed mind, he thought differently from others; he oddly reflected on lost lives—the journey from the joy of birth to the sorrow of death—a passage called life.
He remembered Erhu Lu, who had died without even being found by family; he thought of Rong Wu, whose two generations had suffered unjustly; those stories filled with sadness, joy, indifference, or excitement all faded into oblivion with death. What could possibly remain?
What does life mean to a person? No matter how smart he was, he couldn’t come up with an accurate answer.
Guan Yiqing hurried over, and Lezi jumped up anxiously asking: "Was it a boy or a girl?"
"What do you hope for?" Guan Yiqing asked.
"A girl," Lezi quickly replied.
"No wonder they say you have a mouth like a crow. A pair of twins, both boys. Mother and children are safe," Guan Yiqing laughed heartily.
Lezi felt regretful and awkwardly said to Xiao Mu, "Brother, my condolences."
"Get lost. Tell your dad to spend some money to celebrate," Xiao Mu said, as if he had completed a mission, feeling relaxed. He stood up as if to leave, but was pulled back by Guan Yiqing, who said unhappily, "Hey, what's with the hiding? Let me tell you, from today on, I won't be involved in your family's matters anymore. If there's something, don't ask me."
"After today, do you think I will have anything to deal with?" Xiao Mu retorted.
Oh right, Guan Yiqing suddenly understood. The only matter had been settled, so she certainly didn't need to be a messenger anymore. However, she wouldn't let it go that easily and pulled him back, saying, "Alright, it's fine... But we still have to meet. Are you really planning not to see anyone? Let me tell you, your dad, Assistant Yan, and a whole bunch of relatives from your dad's side are here. Someone just asked about you... I told your dad that you sent me here; he's waiting outside... Well... well... just go."
As Guan Yiqing spoke, she pushed Xiao Mu out. At the corner of the stairs stood Old Mu with his hands behind his back, unable to hide his excitement. The moment he saw his son, that tension seemed to dissipate into thin air. Xiao Mu walked hesitantly towards him; when he reached his side, they stared at each other for a long time before Old Mu bluntly asked, "Aren't you going to greet me?"
"Dad," Xiao Mu murmured.
"Oh, you haven't forgotten this title! Come here; I want to say a few words to you." Old Mu stood with his hands behind his back, just like when he used to bring his mischievous son home from school. He took a stance and said, "Don't try any tricks with me; sending a female police officer to check on your stepmother... even sending someone undercover at home... Hey? Where is she?"
After taking a few steps and noticing something was off since his son hadn't moved at all, he looked at Xiao Mu in annoyance. Xiao Mu stood tall and straightened up beside him. He said seriously, "Dad, I'm just worried and came to check on you. If you're going to doubt my intentions, then just pretend I never came."
"Tsk... Damn it, you've been taught by the police to forget your own family," Old Mu grumbled under his breath. After walking a couple of steps with an awkward posture, he simply stopped and after several attempts to gather his thoughts finally spoke up: "...I know a bit about your situation. No matter what happens, father and son are still father and son. Even if you're some kind of informant or a bad person that everyone points fingers at, you're still my son. A tiger doesn't eat its cubs; I'm not that cruel yet."
"No, I understand," Xiao Mu replied softly with an expressionless face.
Old Mu seemed to be stimulated, as if he had just met his son for the first time, yet he was taken aback by how his son had turned out. He found himself longing for the days when they indulged in drinking and gambling together; at least back then, he felt a sense of familiarity with his son. The person before him now was so unfamiliar that he could hardly bring himself to acknowledge him.
"So..." Old Mu murmured, "Come back."
"Haha." Xiao Mu suddenly laughed.
"What are you laughing at? Fine, you win... Come back, I'll give you some money. You can live your own life without my interference. Your dad is getting old; no matter how capable I am, I can only do my best. But I can't just sit around and waste away like before... Actually, dividing the assets is the right thing to do to avoid future complications... I won't shortchange you." Old Mu struggled to express the complexities of family matters.
Xiao Mu smiled again, understanding his father's difficulties. He said, "Dad, not only have you shortchanged me, but you've also done the same to Stepmother. All these years, you've guarded that little bit of money so tightly; it’s heartbreaking... Stepmother is an older mother-to-be, and I was a bit worried about her, so I came back to check on her. I'm relieved she's fine... Every time I see you, it's always about arguing or asking for money. You don't think I'll come back this time and be the same as before, do you?"
"The problem is, you've changed so much that I find it even harder to get used to," Old Mu scratched his cheek.
"Seems like you're just more intolerant now, haha," Xiao Mu replied.
"Let's not talk about that anymore. If you need anything, ask Xiaoyan to arrange it for you... By the way, Clarity... I should go check on her. As one gets older, there are always more things to worry about," Old Mu said awkwardly. He had invested too much money in his son but had been too stingy with his emotions.
Xiao Mu felt a warm yet strange sensation inside him; his father's awkwardness made him feel uncomfortable. He softly said, "Dad, I've hated you before but never resented you... Not in the past and not in the future either. From now on, I'll come back to see you often... I want to find something for myself to do."
"Well then, maybe let Xiaoyan..." Old Mu suggested nervously.
"Really no need for that, Dad. We will all have our own lives; that's something no one can replace... I seem to remember that Grandfather never acknowledged you as his son-in-law and that Mom hasn't been back home in many years?" Xiao Mu asked.
Bringing up this old matter made Old Mu feel both awkward and somewhat proud; he nodded and said, "Yes, he always wanted to force me into marrying into their family. How could that work? Being a son-in-law would mean I'd always be looked down upon."
"But he actually thinks quite highly of you," Xiao Mu remarked.
Old Mu nodded and smiled.
However, the next sentence left him speechless. Xiao Mu said, "But in an invisible way, you are repeating his mistakes. Children are not ingredients; they will become whatever you want them to be."
This statement left Old Mu gasping for breath for a long moment, yet he felt it made a lot of sense. After saying this, Xiao Mu felt a sense of relief wash over him. He smiled and said, "Dad, I'm leaving... I will come back to see you often when I have time. You really don't need to worry about the trivial matters at home like Grandpa did. There are things more precious than money, like having a devoted partner and two chubby little boys... Take good care of them and never educate them to be like me."
As Xiao Mu spoke, he laughed a bit awkwardly, but it was far more relaxed than when he used to seek help from others. He waved his hand lightly and called out cheerfully as they walked away, occasionally turning back to say goodbye to his father.
It was completely unexpected. Old Mu blinked, unable to grasp the intricacies of the situation. He didn't realize when Guan Yiqing and Assistant Yan had come to stand beside him. When he came back to his senses, Assistant Yan quietly asked, "Uncle, how did you let him go? Didn't we agree that the young master would come back?"
"I didn't send him away; I told him to take the money and come back," Old Mu replied awkwardly.
"Oh, it seems he has really grown up," Assistant Yan remarked curiously at Guan Yiqing, who shrugged and said, "Don't look at me; I really have no idea. Maybe it's just as you think."
"What do you mean? He seems more sensible now, but why do I feel even more heartbroken?"
Old Mu looked at Guan Yiqing in confusion, seemingly searching for answers. But when it came to family matters, who could truly explain them?
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