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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 146: The Advancement of the Two Treasures
At the end of Changfeng Avenue in Luzhou City, Changfeng District, there lay a vast area hidden behind lush green trees.
The shooting range echoed with the sound of gunfire; the combat area was filled with wooden horses, ruins, and abandoned buildings, where agile figures darted about; the training ground was alive with shouts and battle cries.
For Sun Qinghua, this fierce yet monotonous scene was an eye-opener. A team moved in perfect unison, falling forward and backward, then flipping over like fish out of water. Brother Hua's mouth dropped open in astonishment as he watched them leap from two or three stories high. Those SWAT members were scaling walls barehanded, and when things got intense, they could jump straight down from two stories. Brother Hua, who had once tried jumping off a building himself, felt his heart race with excitement. As for the shooting range, it was needless to say that Brother Hua, who had never touched a gun before, was drooling at the sight and tugging at Aeming's sleeve, asking, "Bro, can you get me a gun? How much would it cost?"
"It's not about the money. Bringing you here is already an exception. Just look around and find some excitement; it's too dangerous to actually handle a gun," Aeming reassured him. It was clear that Ruhua' leader was not pleased; just watching without being allowed to touch anything was no fun at all. Aeming wrapped an arm around him and continued comforting him, "It's really not worth it. The recoil from those guns is so strong that after firing a few rounds, my wrist hurts... Hey Tsinghua, how about sleeping? The conditions here are a bit lacking."
They would be sleeping at the guesthouse outside the training ground, which mostly accommodated family members and visitors. The conditions were certainly poor, but Sun Qinghua didn't mind at all and casually replied, "It's fine; I have no feelings about it."
"Really? You used to be a millionaire tycoon! I'm actually worried you won't be able to handle it here," Aeming asked with concern.
"Don't mention it. On the surface, it looks impressive, but deep down it's still rough. I've been used to sleeping on hard beds since I was little. Later on, I spent over a hundred thousand on a soft bed—guess what happened?" Sun Qinghua asked.
"What happened?" Aeming was curious.
Sun Qinghua chuckled and said, "I ended up aching all over from it! I got so mad that I started sleeping on the floor instead. I've gotten used to it."
Aeming laughed lightly. Among Xiao Mu's friends, none were ordinary characters. Seeing that Aeming seemed skeptical, Sun Qinghua grinned and said, "It's true! They say money is useless; once you spend it all, you have to earn more... Haha! It's also true in reverse; when you have more money in hand, you become a jerk too. In reality, it's not that useful—just a way to show off."
Perhaps he had truly let go of things; being in a brand new environment had lightened Ruhua' mood considerably—especially after learning that the average salary here was just over three thousand and even during training it was less than three thousand. This revelation left him quite shocked but also gave him a sense of superiority.
As they walked and chatted over the course of two days—most of which were spent with Aeming accompanying him— Ruhua noticed that Xiao Mu seemed to be locked away in the guesthouse for some reason. He vaguely knew that Xiao Mu had helped the police before, and finally mustered up the courage to ask about it: "Hey bro, can I ask you something?"
"About Xiao Mu?" Aeming replied.
"Yeah." Ruhua opened his mouth wide in response.
"Well, it's better if you don't know... To put it simply, he helped me with some tasks before; we are partners. This time around, I need his perspective for some minor matters," Aeming explained.
This explanation left Sun Qinghua feeling somewhat disappointed. He scoffed and said, "Why not just ask anyone else? Ask him? What does he know? Besides eating and drinking or gambling and cheating—don't be fooled by his good family background; apart from that one good thing about him, he has nothing else going for him."
"Oh, I can relate to that," Aeming agreed with a smile, turning to Sun Qinghua. "But this point is actually useful. Have you thought about it? What you just mentioned is the most common motive and purpose for crime... So, why do people deceive and cheat? Isn't it all for eating, drinking, and gambling?"
Indeed, having personal experience made him empathize. Sun Qinghua pulled at Aeming's sleeve eagerly and said, "Well, I can do that too! Why don't you ask me?"
"You can?"
"Ah, I really can."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you? I'm someone who has lived large, almost losing millions as a tycoon. When you have money, what can you do? Isn't it just eating, drinking, and gambling? I'm better at this than they are; they only go for low-quality stuff. When we arrange things, it's with models starting at a hundred thousand; when dining out, it's not about the place but the chef..." Ruhua reminisced about his extravagant past, still seeming not to have figured life out.
Aeming interrupted with a smile, "I know... I know there's still a difference; he studied Judicial and Criminal Psychology."
"Don't listen to him bragging. Does one really need to study crime? Isn't that his specialty?" Ruhua dismissed Xiao Mu with disdain.
At that moment, Aeming noticed several cars driving in at the entrance and hurried toward them. Ruhua chased after him while still explaining, "Really, you'd be better off asking me than him! Don't think I don't understand deception."
"Really? You understand this too?"
"Of course! I often get deceived."
"Oh, a victim?"
"Yes, but it doesn't matter; some people I know have bad intentions."
"So you let them deceive you on purpose?"
"No, no! I just enjoy watching them flatter me like fools. Haha... It's just a bit of pocket change; back then, when my brothers were worth tens of millions, I didn't care about those small amounts."
"Oh, understood... Well, with Mr. Sun having that mindset, our job will be much easier."
"Wait, hey? Why are you running away? I haven't finished speaking yet... Can you get me a police uniform? I'm done being a stock trader; I want to be a police officer... Oh my gosh, police officers are so impressive, and female officers are even more so..."
Ruhua stood there in shock as a female officer, nearly as tall as Aeming, stepped out of the car. She exuded an intimidating presence, her expression serious, making Ruhua hesitate to approach.
It was Fan Saili, who had come with a team of Undercover officers. They were covered in mud from the vehicle, looking disheveled. Aeming shook hands with the Brothers and began arranging for meals and rest. The weary team members returned to their vehicles like defeated soldiers, heads hanging low. Aeming and Fan Saili exchanged glances, both feeling the same way.
Triumphant returns were rare; most times, it ended like this—returning empty-handed. Their current mission was to support A Group at Wang Shou's hometown, where they had been stationed for over three months before being ordered back.
"Saili, how did it go?" Aeming asked with concern.
It seemed something was amiss, and the mission had not succeeded. Fan Saili shook her head and, upon catching sight of Sun Qinghua in the distance, asked in surprise, "Why did you bring him along?"
"I had no choice; it's a package deal—one treasure plus one live treasure," Aeming replied quietly, his worry evident. "You didn't mention this person's background to Team Leader Zhou. It took me a lot of effort to bring him in."
Fan Saili chuckled softly. One was a reckless individual, the other a frontline officer; it was surprising they ended up together. She smiled and said, "If it had been a few days earlier, it might have worked out. Now the Provincial Department has made last-minute changes and recalled everyone who wasn't performing well. I suspect it won't be long before they make more moves... Zhou Qunyi has been parachuted in from the Provincial Department and called back those training at the Police Academy. They're all being redeployed; your people are basically being returned."
Fan Saili gestured toward the returning team members. Aeming angrily exclaimed, "Damn it! The Brothers have worked day and night for months only to have everything dismissed with a single statement."
"If you can't find the suspect, how can you be sure? Besides, your request is impossible—how can a frontline officer be involved with core case situations without causing a stir?" Fan Saili pointed out. Aeming's suggestion involved using Xiao Mu, an unofficial member; given the current situation, many official members had already been pushed out.
Aeming's frustration boiled over as he retorted, "What kind of nonsense is that? We come from the masses and go back to the masses; everything relies on the masses—that's our principle... What do you mean by unofficial members? In every case investigation and progress, don't you have to find clues from the masses?"
"Talking to me won't help; why don't you say it yourself?" Fan Saili shot back. Both were quick-tempered, and her words stung. She turned to leave but paused after a couple of steps to inform him: "By the way, this is an official notice—you can withdraw your teams stationed everywhere; there's another arrangement for the special case... Don't give me that look."
She confidently got into her vehicle and swiftly reversed out of the spot before speeding away. After a while, Aeming still felt angry when suddenly an ugly face popped up in front of him curiously asking, "Bro, is that your wife?"
"Huh?" Aeming was taken aback before muttering in frustration, "No! Stop guessing."
"Then... is she your girlfriend? Hey wait! Why are you ignoring me again? I'm telling you—it must be because she's ignoring you! You should learn how to pick up girls from Xiao Mu; that guy is really good at it... But I don’t need to learn from him; he loves Class Flower too much—I already got her... Wait for me..."
Ruhua rushed over like a clingy shadow following Aeming. Now Aeming was starting to feel a headache coming on. He had finally managed to get close to Xiao Mu, who lazily laid down conditions without revealing Jia Fangfei's whereabouts; he wouldn't budge an inch without getting something in return. And this brother Ruhua was shamelessly wanting to help the police while also having his own conditions—probably just wanting to try on that shiny police uniform for fun.
There was no chance to sulk behind closed doors. He called the brothers back from the kitchen for a meal, asking each one how they were doing. For those who seemed downcast, he offered a few encouraging words. Those on field duty had only two things on their minds when they returned: eat first, then sleep. They had to make the most of their time, as no one knew when an emergency call might come in, forcing them to spring into action.
Once everything was arranged, Ruhua managed to get Aeming feeling even more frustrated. It hadn’t been long since breakfast, and he ordered an extra serving, digging in with a loud thud. The behavior of this former tycoon was truly hard to watch; his mouth seemed to leak as much food as it took in, leaving a mess of soup and rice on the table.
There was no end to the absurdity. During training exercises, Ruhua followed along, his big head and protruding belly making the assembled team members burst into laughter. At the training meeting, Ruhua peeked through the window, occasionally catching someone’s eye and responding with a silly grin. It was as if he thought everyone was looking at him. Even when heading to the restroom, Ruhua tagged along, complaining about the poor conditions and suggesting to Aeming that if he lent him a police uniform, he would sponsor a new restroom.
This left Aeming feeling both amused and exasperated. After arranging the afternoon training schedule, he couldn’t shake off his unease. Outside at the guesthouse, he noticed Xiao Mu’s progress. At that moment, Ruhua was crouched behind a safety wall, watching live-fire exercises. It seemed like he had eyes in the back of his head; as soon as Aeming walked away, Ruhua bounced up to follow him.
“Hey, I’m curious—if you’re following everyone so closely, how did your wife get away?” Aeming said irritably.
The novelty of being here hadn’t worn off for Ruhua yet. Suddenly provoked, he grinned and lamented, “It’s all my fault really. My wife is actually quite good; she doesn’t let me invest in stocks or drink or hang out with those friends… sob, I didn’t listen to her at all.”
“Oh, I can see that. Don’t be sad; she’s gone now anyway,” Aeming replied.
“Brother, looking at you all not being sad makes me feel better—after all, you’re all so poor you can’t even marry! Compared to that, I’m pretty lucky,” Ruhua said, seemingly finding comfort among these single men.
This remark infuriated Aeming; he felt speechless and huffed in response. Ruhua continued to console him: “Don’t be upset; I really understand how you feel… you were just like me before.”
“How were we alike?” Aeming asked in confusion.
“How could we not be alike? Both poor and ugly, feeling inferior inside and living in pain… sigh… we share the same suffering. Seeing you really makes me feel like I don’t want to end it all,” Ruhua said with an expression that clearly sympathized with Aeming ’s plight.
Aeming nodded helplessly: “Oh, a kindred spirit… how rare.”
He quickened his pace; his long strides forced Ruhua to nearly jog alongside him while teasing him: “Slow down! Don’t be embarrassed; I’m not laughing at you… living a tough life isn’t your fault. But I do admire you for carrying the burden for the government despite such a hard life… society is really dark; look at me—so shrewd and hardworking yet still losing money on houses and cars!”
By the time they reached the guesthouse, Ruhua was still chattering away. Now Aeming understood why this guy felt so down that he wanted to jump off a building—having such an oddball around would drive anyone to that point!
When Ruhua knocked on Xiao Mu's door, he did not hold back and simply pounded on it. Xiao Mu was originally reviewing the detailed Case Situation, which was not meant to be disclosed. However, realizing that he might have to stop there, he thought of a way to send Ruhua away.
Xiao Mu opened the door, and the two entered. Ruhua took a seat at Xiao Mu's desk, adopting an air reminiscent of Mr. Sun, looking quite at home. Xiao Mu reminded him, "Hey, that's the Case Situation... Baldy, is this appropriate?"
"Oh come on, appropriate or not... I guess it’s almost over. Have you figured anything out?" Aeming's face was filled with worry. Xiao Mu was about to provoke him with a comment but upon seeing his expression, decided against it. He shook his head and said, "You really think too highly of me; it's just that I have too few clues."
Laughter erupted as Ruhua found it amusing. He chuckled and looked at the two of them, saying, "This guy is so talented, stealing so many wives from others... Haha, wow, this is really fun! Is there such a promising career?"
The two wore grim faces and remained silent, causing Ruhua's laughter to falter. Realizing it was inappropriate, he awkwardly added, "Oh, I'll learn from this experience; it's a rare opportunity."
Aeming gave a tearful expression while Xiao Mu sat on the bed and leaned back with a smile, asking him, "You've finally witnessed Ruhua's charm, right? He's had hyperactivity since childhood; his energy is more exuberant than most."
Aeming nodded in silence, understanding the gravity of the situation. Ruhua then felt compelled to correct Xiao Mu seriously: "That's not a condition; you're an idiot."
"Well, it's not a condition... If you can hold your tongue for five minutes, I'll admit it's not," Xiao Mu replied.
Ruhua was about to correct him again when Xiao Mu said: "Start." So Ruhua sat up straight and focused intently.
With this method in place, Xiao Mu exchanged glances with Aeming; they could begin. However, by now there was little left to say. Aeming simply stated, "Fan Saili just came by; the team from Zhaoyuan County has been withdrawn. The previous project team hasn't made any progress in over three months; the Provincial Department has directly replaced this project team."
"Oh, I understand; it’s no longer your concern," Xiao Mu said cheerfully. Aeming rolled his eyes in frustration and asked, "It's no longer my concern—does that really make you this happy?"
"Not exactly happy about that; however, if it's no longer your concern, it means it's no longer mine either... Stop wasting my time; where is Jia Fangfei?" Xiao Mu pressed on. This was a matter of exchanging conditions; the stakes weren't high but seemed unnecessary now.
Aeming sighed heavily for a moment as if giving up. After some time, he reluctantly told Xiao Mu: "I’m not sure of the specifics. I got the information from Ye Tianshu; he's currently at the Chang'an City Bureau. I'll have him check for you later... Don't glare at me; I didn't intend for you to find out. Knowing would just add another burden on your mind; if you insist on knowing, there's nothing I can do..."
It was clear he meant well. Xiao Mu felt reluctant to blame Aeming for deceiving him any further. He sat up and curiously looked at Aeming before cautiously asking, "Is there really no hope left?"
"Unless we can catch Wang Shou in a short time frame—but right now it seems catching this trafficker is no easier than finding a Counterfeit Money den. I think the project team will need to adjust their direction," Aeming said while looking expectantly at Xiao Mu. However, from Xiao Mu's tightly furrowed brows, all Aeming saw was disappointment.
"It's not that I don't want to help you; some clues can be found through analysis but some things rely on luck. This time luck isn't on our side—there are too few leads we can pursue," Xiao Mu said seriously.
"Well, we were also in a hurry and didn't know what to do. I'll book your tickets tonight, and I can send you off tomorrow," Aeming said, glancing at Xiao Mu. He felt it was inappropriate to send them away so quickly, so he added, "Why don't you stay a few more days? You can enjoy more time in Luzhou. I have nothing else to do anyway, so I can keep you company."
"It's clear that you're still not giving up... Let me analyze this for you again. There are many doubts that simply can't be resolved," Xiao Mu replied.
"Just think about it; this fugitive will eventually be caught," Aeming said.
"Assuming the motive is that his fiancée, Yao Yuxia, called off their engagement, leading him from resentment to hatred and down a path of crime, why haven't you looked into Yao Yuxia's situation in more detail?" Xiao Mu asked.
"She got married and moved away almost twenty years ago. What could we possibly know? When her family heard Wang Shou's name, they kicked the officers out," Aeming replied. It wasn't a glorious matter; the broken engagement led to Wang Shou abducting a relative's daughter, which was certainly hard to discuss.
"Alright, let's set that aside for now. The first key point is in prison. Someone like him will definitely face hardships. Coupled with his experiences after getting out and trying to find work, I believe this will only strengthen his resolve to get rich through illegal means," Xiao Mu said.
"Exactly. Introducing women into the sex trade started around that time," Aeming added.
"According to the case files, this line of work isn't easy. The underworld of gambling and drugs is intertwined with it. Once you're involved in such business entanglements, trouble is inevitable... So he found a safer and more bizarre way to commit crimes," Xiao Mu explained.
"Right, this aligns with the theory of escalating criminal behavior... He started by seducing young women under the guise of romance within the province, then took them abroad for tourism before selling them to prostitution rings," Aeming noted.
"Pay attention to the timeline; he withdrew from that business two months before the incident. He certainly didn't know he was going to commit a crime. What could have prompted him to leave that line of work?" Xiao Mu questioned.
Now it seemed plausible that encountering a woman could explain things as well. Aeming nodded and said, "If we consider your theory about encountering a woman, it seems to make sense."
"Yes, this could also explain why his targets shifted... Then look at his subsequent crimes; he created a fake overseas study program and scammed over four hundred thousand... Within two years, he went to Poverty County for investment recruitment and deceived over two thousand workers, earning nearly one million in referral fees. Of course, since several people were involved, he might not have gotten all of it... These two turning points can explain things; if he wanted to settle down or find a hiding place, he would definitely need money. Given his background, it's unlikely he could engage in legitimate work, so he had no choice but to resort to these schemes... Deceiving workers also reflects the trauma left by his past experiences; he's someone with a twisted mindset who seeks revenge for even minor grievances. Otherwise, his anger wouldn't be directed at impoverished workers like himself."
"That's about right. According to reports from the front team, this person is somewhat unconventional. Failing the college entrance exam hit him hard; he was also rejected from military service. In a place like Poverty County, aside from farming, there aren't many prospects... By the way, the school's investigation found a former substitute teacher who reported positively about him. They said he was doing well academically but couldn't afford to repeat a year due to his family's financial struggles," Aeming remarked.
"This is exactly it; he's someone with unrecognized talent whose experiences led him to discover his greatest strengths," Xiao Mu stated.
At this point, they paused their discussion. When he reappeared later on, it was in connection with drug trafficking—something that couldn't be easily explained. The escalation of his criminal activities made sense; changing careers was also plausible. He had almost become invisible to the police's gaze—someone like him would undoubtedly possess many unassailable identities.
Aeming pondered aloud: "...In our initial judgment, we found it strange—like a dividing line—whether it was human trafficking or fraud; strictly speaking, neither constitutes a serious crime. With his silver tongue, he wouldn't even need to resort to violence to achieve his goals... But what followed is inexplicable: counterfeiting currency and drug trafficking are serious offenses. He actually managed to steal four kilograms of drugs from traffickers..."
"So, this turning point is crucial. What kind of event could have prompted such a drastic change in him? Regardless of his psychology, abilities, or experience, he shouldn't be able to pull something like this off... But I've watched it several times and can't find an entry point," Xiao Mu said.
The two exchanged glances, perplexed.
At that moment, unexpectedly, Ruhua turned around and asked, "Is it five minutes yet?"
"Ah, you can speak now; it's over anyway... Sorry, Baldy," Xiao Mu replied helplessly.
Aeming gave a thankful glance, but Ruhua got excited and pointed at the computer screen, saying, "Bro, check Drugs."
"Do I need you to tell me? We've been investigating drugs for months with no leads," Aeming said. If they were stumped, what could this joker do? This caught Ruhua off guard; he sulkily replied, "That can't be right. This kind of 'Auntie' is very special; it should be easy to trace."
"What Auntie?" Xiao Mu asked in confusion.
"Shut up... wait." Aeming was startled. Ruhua quickly fell silent as Aeming explained, "No, no, no. I meant for Xiao Mu to shut up. Tsinghua, you actually know about this stuff?"
His question was serious. Ruhua became alert, covering his mouth and hesitating as he looked at the two. Xiao Mu began to be surprised and asked Aeming, "What do you mean? This stuff is called 'Auntie'?"
"It's also called Pink Lady," Ruhua said proudly. The two looked at him with mischievous intent, prompting him to clarify quickly: "I’ve never tried it! I really haven’t! I'm strong enough on my own; I don’t need it... This thing is very special; Binhai has it too. Girls particularly like it. At some parties, if someone quietly asks if anyone brought Auntie, they’re talking about this. Some even hide it in lipstick or makeup kits; once you try it, you feel the effect immediately... Yeah, they say it's quite exhilarating; women can even shoot multiple times themselves..."
In this regard, Xiao Mu felt clueless. He glanced at Aeming, who nodded and said, "Although his explanation is a bit crude, it's quite straightforward."
"Is it very expensive?" Xiao Mu asked.
"Yes, it's well-made. The main ingredient is Methamphetamine and contains Methcathinone and Maharaja Substance but lacks the drowsiness side effects associated with those ingredients. The finished product is light pink in color. In the market, insiders call it 'Auntie,' while drug dealers named it Pink Lady. When it first hit the market, it could even be taken on flights. Last year we had a province-wide crackdown on it; its market price doubled," Aeming explained while shooting a glance at Sun Qinghua. Ruhua felt embarrassed and couldn't look at the police officer anymore.
"Why is it called Auntie?" Xiao Mu asked curiously.
"Isn't that obvious? Both Auntie and Big Auntie are red," Ruhua scoffed.
"That's one aspect," Aeming chuckled and continued: "The other aspect is that it's easy to consume due to its high purity; you don't even need a pipe to enjoy it. Unlike pure ice which can be harsh for beginners, this one is much more appealing to female users... But it's also more addictive; usually just one use leads to addiction."
"I'm... damn..." Ruhua said, startled.
"What do you mean? If you have something to report, hurry up and do it," Aeming replied.
"No, no, no, I mean, it's a good thing I only like weed...," Ruhua said.
Aeming's eyes widened, and this time Ruhua shyly told him, "Don't look at me like that. According to news reports, even President Obama used to dabble in it when he was younger."
"Well, he became president. Why didn't you?" Aeming shot back, provoking him. Ruhua pouted and replied, "That was just luck. What do I have to compare with a black guy?"
Aeming was not polite at all; he grabbed Ruhua and made him stand straight. Then, seriously and solemnly, he began to explain the dangers of drugs. Ruhua didn't want to listen, but standing in front of a towering figure who was a head taller than him made him reluctant to resist. He nodded repeatedly, saying, "Alright, alright, I got it. Officer Comrade, you all work hard," but the next words choked him.
"No matter how hard you work, people will still use drugs anyway. Why bother? They might as well die from it; that would save trouble."
Aeming was left speechless by this guy. He raised his hand in a threatening gesture, but Ruhua just laughed knowingly, aware that Aeming was all bark and no bite. In the end, he raised his hand and slapped himself in the face—an expression of shame and frustration for being a police officer unable to solve social issues.
"Wait, wait..." Xiao Mu spoke up. His eyes had been fixed on the pile of drug photos. Suddenly turning around, his serious expression transformed into one of joy as he excitedly said, "Baldy, you should thank Brother Hua. I've found the breakthrough; you really might get lucky."
"What do you mean?" Aeming exclaimed in surprise and excitement. Knowing Xiao Mu well enough to recognize that expression meant there was hope.
"Drugs... he might not be a dealer but rather someone close to him is using drugs. If that's the case, it explains why he's committed crimes repeatedly and taken risks; perhaps his limited funds can't support a drug user... This must be someone very important to him. Yes, it should be like this—pushing him beyond limits and escalating his crimes. Why does it have to be proactive rather than forced?" Xiao Mu pondered excitedly as curiosity about an unknown mystery reignited his interest after more than a year.
"Come on, sit down... Thank you Mr. Sun, thank you Xiao Mu. Let me express my gratitude on behalf of the Brothers who returned empty-handed... Please tell me your analysis in detail." Aeming performed a grand gesture of respect as he pressed Ruhua down into a seat and formally bowed to both men before gathering around Xiao Mu to carefully listen to this imaginative theory...
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