Lin Fang was He Yuan’s good brother, and the reason they came here to relax was also because of Lin Fang.
Now that they had finally managed to uncover some clues, He Yuan naturally wouldn’t let it go.
“Shuyu, you should head back in a few days. I’ve already called for backup. You’re pregnant, and I’m not at ease with you staying here.”
He Yuan’s intuition told him that a tough battle lay ahead.
Ji Shuyu nodded. “But before I leave, I can still help you get more information out of Zhao Xiaocui.”
She wasn’t the type to cling unreasonably. Knowing that her presence here would only be a burden to He Yuan, she didn’t argue.
He Yuan nodded and pulled Ji Shuyu into his arms.
The next day, Ji Shuyu arrived at Director Wang’s house as usual, carrying a small basket of fresh eggs and some local mountain products.
As soon as she entered the yard, she saw Zhao Xiaocui in the main room, briskly sorting through some old clothes and miscellaneous items.
“Sister Xiaocui, what’s this?”
Ji Shuyu set down the basket and walked over with concern.
Zhao Xiaocui was startled. Recognizing Ji Shuyu, she relaxed, but her eyes reddened again.
She grabbed Ji Shuyu’s hand, lowered her voice, and spoke tearfully, “Sister Shuyu, I… I’m getting more and more uneasy. Old Wang didn’t come back at all last night. This morning, that wretched Dezhu came by, muttered a few things, and Old Wang’s face changed. He rushed out in a hurry.”
“I… I just feel like something big is about to happen!”
She pointed at the bundle on the floor. “I was thinking of packing up some worthless but essential things first. Just in case… if anything happens, I can grab the kids and leave quickly…”
Zhao Xiaocui was now like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow. Director Wang’s unusual behavior and her brother’s sneaky actions had pushed her long-standing anxiety to its peak.
She always felt that Director Wang would eventually fall victim to his own greed.
Especially with Zhao Dezhu, that troublemaker, by his side.
Ji Shuyu’s heart stirred, realizing the opportunity had come.
She held Zhao Xiaocui’s cold hands and comforted her gently, “Sister Cui, don’t panic. Speak slowly. What exactly happened? What have Director Wang and Brother Dezhu done now?”
Zhao Xiaocui, as if clutching a lifeline, couldn’t hold back anymore and said in a trembling voice, “I overheard a little. It seems it’s about some former warehouse keeper who was involved back then. He might have been found by their rivals, and it’s going to cause trouble!”
“Old Wang told Dezhu to handle it, but that coward Dezhu didn’t dare! Old Wang scolded him and said he would find… find that He Jianshe to do it!”
He Jianshe! Ji Shuyu was shocked internally, but her face remained calm. “Asking Brother He? Can he handle this kind of matter?”
Zhao Xiaocui still didn’t know that He Yuan and Ji Shuyu were a couple.
“Old Wang said He Jianshe is an outsider, not familiar to people here, efficient in handling things, and he has leverage over him, so he’s not afraid He Jianshe won’t obey!”
Zhao Xiaocui grew more fearful as she spoke.
“Shuyu, I suspect that batch of goods they mentioned is definitely not anything good! Back then, after Old Wang and Dezhu dealt with it, our family lived lavishly for a while, but I always felt that money was tainted!”
“Sister Cui,” Ji Shuyu looked at her with sincere eyes, “if that batch of goods really is problematic, and now it’s been dug up again, this could be a matter of life and death! If Director Wang falls, what will happen to you and the children? You need to think about a way out for yourself and your kids!”
“A way out? What way out do I have left…” Zhao Xiaocui shook her head in despair.
“There is!” Ji Shuyu stared intently at her. “Sister Cui, think carefully. When Director Wang and Brother Dezhu did this back then, could they have left behind any evidence?”
“For example, account books, receipts, or did you overhear any key names or place names when they were talking? Anything at all could become leverage to protect you!”
Zhao Xiaocui, jolted by Ji Shuyu’s words, looked flustered, her eyes darting nervously as if she was trying hard to remember something.
Suddenly, as if she had recalled something important, she hurried into the inner room. After rummaging around in the bottom layer of an old wardrobe for a while, she pulled out a small booklet wrapped tightly in oilcloth.
“This… this is something I hid away a long time ago,” Zhao Xiaocui said, her hands trembling as she shoved the booklet into Ji Shuyu’s hands. “Dezhu left it at home once when he was drunk. There are some numbers and names in it I don’t understand, but I thought it seemed suspicious, so I kept it hidden… Shuyu, do you think this is useful?”
Ji Shuyu took the booklet and quickly flipped through it. Inside were indeed records of vague codes, numbers, and dates. Although cryptic, combined with the information she and He Yuan had previously gathered, it was likely the key evidence related to the transaction of those goods.
This was an unexpected windfall.
“Sister Cui, this is very important!” Ji Shuyu said gravely. “You’ve given it to me, and I’ll try to see if I can help you… At the very least, if something happens, this might help prove your innocence, that you were just caught up in it all!”
Zhao Xiaocui, now completely distraught and placing all her trust in Ji Shuyu, nodded tearfully. “Sister, I believe you! You must help me!”
Just as Ji Shuyu successfully obtained the key evidence, He Yuan was also meeting two helpers who had rushed over, covered in the dust of their journey.
They were both sworn brothers he trusted with his life—skilled, discreet, and utterly reliable.
“Brother Yuan!” The two greeted He Yuan in low voices.
“Glad you’re here,” He Yuan said, patting them on the shoulders. He was about to brief them on the situation when the phone in the room rang.
It was Director Wang, his tone urgent.
“Xiao He, there’s a tricky matter that needs your immediate attention! There’s a man named Lao Guai at the old warehouse on the east end of the county town. He knows things he shouldn’t. Someone wants him silenced.”
“Take two men with you, go ‘invite’ him out, and find a place to settle him for a few days. Wait for my instructions! You’ll be well rewarded once it’s done!”
He Yuan sneered inwardly. So, it had come to this. Director Wang, cornered, was now trying to get him to do the dirty work.
This was the perfect opportunity to seize this key witness, Lao Guai.
“Director Wang, don’t worry. I’ll take some men over right now. I guarantee it’ll be handled properly!” He Yuan agreed without hesitation.
After hanging up, He Yuan immediately turned to his two helpers. “The target has appeared. Lao Guai, at the old warehouse on the east end of the county town. We need to get to him before anyone else does and ensure his safety!”
Under the cover of night, He Yuan and his two helpers quietly made their way to the abandoned old warehouse on the east end.
Inside, it was dim and cluttered. Sure enough, in one corner, they found a thin, elderly man cowering and trying to hide.
He Yuan signaled his helpers to secure the perimeter while he stepped forward.
Lao Guai was trembling with fear. “Wh-who sent you? D-don’t kill me!”
Instead of answering, He Yuan directly flashed a credential, lowered his voice, and spoke with authority.
“Lao Guai, we were sent from above to investigate Wang Youcai and Zhao Dezhu! You’re in danger. Wang Youcai sent us to silence you, but we’re here to save you! If you want to live, tell us everything you know!”
Upon hearing this, Lao Guai was first shocked, then, as if clutching a lifeline, burst into tears. “I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything! That batch back then wasn’t… it was… it was…”
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