NOS Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Fish Cliff Island (11)

Chapter 68: Fish Cliff Island (11)

After Li Xiaotian delivered the new clue that day, the Linchang Police Station and the search and rescue team sent by the administrative office searched the mountain for another day and night. Finally, they found a footprint hidden under the new snow at the entrance of Qianjin Ping.

The Jin A Lin Mountain area had already started its winter hibernation. After September, few villagers would enter the mountains again, let alone now in late October, when everything was covered in silver. However, the footprint looked like it had been left not long ago, and it also had obvious wheat bran stuck to it.

“Before it snowed, every household in the village would dry this stuff. It’s normal to have it stuck to the soles of shoes.” Han Chen examined it carefully with a flashlight.

Na Fei was taking pictures next to him. She leaned over and used her gloved fingertip to pick up a piece of wheat bran, “When we visited Qianjin Ping before, it’s true that every household was drying this stuff, but have you noticed that most villagers dry finer wheat bran? The wheat bran dried by one family is very similar to the wheat bran stuck to this footprint. It’s larger and coarser.”

Han Chen raised an eyebrow, “Li Ying?”

“That’s right.” Na Fei stood up, holding the piece of wheat bran in her palm, and took two more photos, “Li Ying’s family conditions are not good, and the wheat pieces he buys are all low-priced goods, many of which are leftovers sold by people in the market, so it’s easy to see the coarseness. As for the shoe print… If I’m not mistaken, this should be a rubber shoe print. The pattern on the edge is very similar to what we found outside the entrance of the building in the Three Mine Staff Family Compound. It looks like they are all discarded military supplies.”

Han Chen hissed, his expression a little embarrassed, “We’ve already been to Qianjin Ping too many times these past two days, and Li Ying’s house has also been searched many times, and we haven’t found anything. No matter how much we talk now, it’s all empty talk. We can’t just hang Li Ying up and interrogate him, can we?”

Na Fei exhaled a breath of cold air, “I just want to say that if this footprint matches the one at the entrance of the Three Mine Staff Family Compound, then Xiao Meng… may have fallen into the hands of the suspect.”

Han Chen stomped his feet and said nothing more.

“Officer Na!” At this moment, Li Xiaotian’s voice came from behind the two. He was wearing a dog-skin hat, and his face was red from the cold, “Officer Na, news just came from the Branch Bureau, saying that it’s been confirmed that the blood on the cloth belongs to Xiao Meng.”

“Then there’s no running away,” Na Fei put away the camera and breathed hot air into her hands, “If Xiao Meng has really been kidnapped by the suspect, we must change our strategy now.”

Han Chen looked at the footprint and muttered to himself, “Then it’s strange, Meng Changqing went to Qianjin Ping with Fang Wang, why did the suspect only take him?”

“Or perhaps, Meng Changqing wasn’t taken away by the suspect, but chased after the suspect.” Na Fei’s words instantly made the faces of several people present look a little ugly.

“Although Xiao Meng is reckless, he is careful. If he saw the faces of the two people, he wouldn’t fail to recognize them. Could it be… that he also injured his head?” Yu Chunming asked in confusion.

Guan Yao pursed his lips and replied vaguely, “Xiao Meng was injured quite seriously. Currently… he can’t provide us with any useful information.”

“Injured quite seriously?” Yu Chunming stood up with a “whoosh”, “Why didn’t you say that before?”

Guan Yao sighed and went forward to pull him back down to sit, “You were in bad shape before, how could I tell you?”

Yu Chunming frowned, still unwilling to believe this.

Guan Yao picked up the clothes that had been dropped on the ground just now and draped them over his shoulders, “When I go back, I’ll naturally know what Xiao Meng’s situation is. Now, both of us are staying in Songlan, and we can’t do anything about it.”

Yu Chunming seemed to believe it and not believe it, “Xiao Meng is not in any life-threatening danger, right?”

“Of course not.” Guan Yao was now able to lie skillfully.

But Yu Chunming had many questions, and these questions were even filled with logical relationships and language judgments, a series of techniques used in interrogating criminal suspects. Fortunately, Officer Yu was a police officer, and Officer Guan was also a police officer. The two answered flawlessly, but it made Guan Yao break out in a sweat.

He finally found a chance to catch his breath and fled out the door, but before he could catch his breath, he ran into Yu Zhenshan in the corridor.

“Director?” Guan Yao was taken aback.

Yu Zhenshan nodded slightly to him, looking like he had been standing here for a long time.

“Director, you…” Guan Yao didn’t know if this big leader had heard his conversation with Yu Chunming just now. He tentatively asked, “Why didn’t you go in?”

Yu Zhenshan naturally wouldn’t give an explanation. He said directly, “Before I came just now, Wang Zhen reported to me on the phone about your police station. It’s good that you didn’t tell Yu Chunming the truth.”

Guan Yao didn’t understand what the “good” meant.

Yu Zhenshan said slowly, “If he knew, he would definitely go back at all costs, and I don’t plan to let him go.”

Guan Yao’s expression darkened, and he asked softly, “Director, what do you mean by… not preparing to let Chunming go?”

Yu Zhenshan glanced at Guan Yao and didn’t give any answer, “Yu Chunming is my son, which means that no matter where he is, as long as he wears a police uniform for one day, he will never be able to get rid of being pointed at by others. But he still chose this path, so he must also bear the consequences.”

What were the “consequences”?

“He was the one who got into the Songlan Municipal Bureau Criminal Investigation Detachment in the first place. Of course, with me around, others wouldn’t think so. So only if he resigns or leaves the core police system can the dirty water splashed on him and me be completely wiped clean,” Yu Zhenshan said, “I know he doesn’t want to, but he has no choice.”

“He has a choice,” Guan Yao replied without hesitation, “It’s Director, you who have no choice.”

These words made Yu Zhenshan’s eyebrows move.

“Deputy Director Yu,” Guan Yao called out solemnly, “The reason why Yu Chunming insisted on staying in the police force has nothing to do with you from beginning to end.”

Yu Zhenshan laughed. It was the first time he had looked at the police officer in front of him so seriously, “Maybe Officer Guan doesn’t know yet, Yu Chunming has already agreed to me.”

Guan Yao paused.

So, Yu Chunming was leaving? Leaving the Linchang Police Station? Leaving Za Mu Er? Leaving him?

This was a big deal, a huge deal, but why had Yu Chunming never mentioned it to him?

Yu Zhenshan was a leader, and leaders never gave any explanations, they only assigned tasks, so all of Guan Yao’s questions could only be buried in his heart.

He replied with a wooden expression, “I understand, Director.”

Yu Zhenshan nodded, seemingly very satisfied with Guan Yao. He took two steps, then turned back and asked, “You used to be a soldier in the 52nd Border Defense Regiment?”

“Yes, I was a soldier in the 52nd Border Defense Regiment.” Guan Yao replied mechanically.

Yu Zhenshan seemed to smile, “After you received the Commendation in the army, which commander brought you to Songlan to receive the award?”

Guan Yao hesitated for a moment and replied, “It was our political commissar of the combined brigade, Lu Dingjiang.”

“Lu Dingjiang…” Yu Zhenshan raised the corner of his mouth, “Back in the sixties, when we fought with the Russians, his father and my father were both on the Hulin front line. Later, my father died, and I grew up eating at his house. When you insisted on retiring from the army, he came to me for the first time, asking me to do something, saying that you were the best soldier under him, and asked me to arrange a work unit that would definitely not mistreat you. I looked at your resume, it was very good… and also very familiar. Just in time, the following year Yu Chunming graduated from graduate school and was preparing to apply for the Songlan Municipal Bureau. It’s just a pity, you didn’t come at that time.”

Guan Yao was stunned.

Yu Zhenshan continued, “I also know that when Yu Chunming and Yu Huan had a conflict and ran away from home alone to go back to Za Mu Er, you happened to come to Songlan. A kind-hearted police officer from a station police station helped you check Jiang Xin’s household registration information. At my request, he showed you Jiang Xin’s death certificate and sent you back to Za Mu Er. Guan Yao, this matter, I was wrong.”

Leaders generally don’t admit their mistakes, and even if they do, they often have ulterior motives, so Guan Yao stood upright and forced a smile, “No, Director, we were all still young at the time…”

“Yes, I was also young at that time.” Yu Zhenshan left a meaningful sentence.

Today he came, without going into the room to see Yu Chunming. Perhaps Yu Zhenshan was also very clear that his adopted son didn’t want to see him. After all, the two had been glaring at each other for so many years, and the discord between them couldn’t be resolved overnight. Yu Chunming was a stubborn donkey, and Yu Zhenshan was a dignified director, so naturally, no one was willing to bow their head.

And Guan Yao was a Northeast man, without the potential to be a matchmaker. He was always in an unspeakable position between the father and son – clearly things weren’t even close to being settled, but in the eyes of the elders, he had already become a prospective son-in-law.

Therefore, Officer Guan also began to naturally conceal his anger at Yu Chunming for being about to stay in Songlan. He couldn’t explain whether this anger came from not wanting to leave this person, or being angry that this person was hiding secrets.

At dinner, Yu Chunming saw Guan Yao’s strange silence at a glance. He glanced at Yu Huan, who acted as if she hadn’t heard anything, and asked, “Which train are you taking back to Za Mu Er?”

Guan Yao’s hand holding the chopsticks paused, and he casually replied, “I haven’t bought a ticket yet, I’ll talk about it when the time comes.”

“There are only two trains a day from Songlan to Za Mu Er, one leaves at twelve noon, and one leaves at seven in the morning, or you can take a plane, one flight a day.” Yu Chunming said.

“Let’s see, it’s not certain yet.” Guan Yao replied.

Yu Chunming frowned, “It’s almost the peak tourist season, if you don’t buy a ticket now, will you have to stand all the way back?”

“Standing… just standing, it’s not like I haven’t stood before.” Guan Yao wiped his mouth, “Mainly there are more things about the case, I don’t have time to worry about other things.”

Hearing this, he knew that he was prevaricating. Yu Chunming’s face immediately sank, and he put down his chopsticks, “Officer Guan’s tight-lipped appearance, is he afraid that I will go back with you?”

“No…” Guan Yao said perfunctorily.

“No?” Yu Chunming looked at him coldly, “Even if I go back with you, what can happen? Wang Zhen can’t fire you from the police force, can he?”

Guan Yao was calm, and he replied, “I really didn’t buy a ticket, I’ve been busy these past two days.”

The atmosphere between the two was wrong from the beginning. Yu Huan was smart, she rolled her eyes and knew it wasn’t good, so she quickly stood up, put on her newly bought small bag, and grabbed a napkin, “Well… I’ll go first, Second Brother just sent a message asking me to go back quickly, he didn’t bring the house key.”

After speaking, Yu Huan smiled considerately and retreated quickly.

With the third wheel gone, Yu Chunming finally couldn’t bear it anymore, he raised his voice and asked, “Guan Yao, are you avoiding me?”

“Avoiding you?” These words made the person who was trying to remain silent stunned, “When did I avoid you?”

“You’re afraid of me.” Yu Chunming directly came to a conclusion.

Guan Yao was really exhausted, and he replied, “How could I be afraid of you?”

“You’re afraid of my feelings for you.” Yu Chunming said frankly.

What feelings? Guan Yao knew it clearly, but he couldn’t say it.

So Yu Chunming immediately took a step further, “You’re also afraid of your feelings for me.”

“I’m not afraid of anything.” Guan Yao took a breath.

“Then you…”

“I just want to know, why didn’t you tell me that you’re not going back to Za Mu Er anymore?” Guan Yao blurted out.

After asking, he regretted it.

Yu Zhenshan had told him these things. Besides this, Yu Zhenshan had told him many things, and Guan Yao had already decided to keep those things buried in his heart. But now, Yu Chunming had pried open a crack, and this crack was like an anthill on a thousand-mile dike. Guan Yao couldn’t stop it in time, and the monstrous flood could drown him.

The fragile window paper between the two had disappeared, so they had to meet naked now. Guan Yao even felt that he could see Yu Chunming’s beating heart through his thin chest, the blood flowing in all directions, and the warmest strand of it had flowed through his palm.

Indeed, it was difficult not to fall in love with Yu Chunming, and it was even more difficult to admit that he hadn’t fallen in love with him. Even if he lied, Guan Yao couldn’t hide his true feelings.

Therefore, he desperately wanted an explanation.

“I never said that I wouldn’t go back to Za Mu Er.” Yu Chunming quickly gave the answer, “Who told you that I would stay in Songlan forever?”

Guan Yao didn’t speak.

Yu Chunming nodded, “It was Deputy Director Yu, right? It was Deputy Director Yu who told you.”

“Chunming…”

“So you believe him and not me?” Yu Chunming suddenly stood up and wanted to go outside.

Guan Yao immediately followed and tried to stop him, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to Songlan, I’m going to stay in Songlan and never go back.” Yu Chunming said angrily.

Guan Yao’s heart relaxed, he raised his arm and blocked him in a vague way, then softened his tone, “I didn’t not believe you, I just think… I think it’s actually good for you to stay in Songlan.”

Yu Chunming stopped and turned to look at Guan Yao, “What do you mean?”

Guan Yao said seriously, “I think it’s good for you to stay in Songlan.”

“What’s good about it?” Yu Chunming questioned, “What’s so good about it? Do you think it’s good because you can finally get rid of me?”

“No…”

“Or are you really afraid of my feelings for you?” Yu Chunming asked loudly, “Guan Yao, what are you afraid of? Can you tell me everything?”

Guan Yao was speechless. He was silent for a long time, and then gave an answer that made people laugh and cry.

“Because you and I are both men.” He said.

“Men?” Yu Chunming was amused by his anger, “Is this a man’s problem? Guan Yao, tell me the truth, is this a man’s problem? Don’t you know what kind of feelings I have for you?”

“I know, I just…” Guan Yao couldn’t find a suitable reason at all.

Yu Chunming suddenly smiled, he took a few steps closer and looked into Guan Yao’s eyes, “I know, it’s not a man’s problem, it’s a problem of courage.”

Courage? Guan Yao’s heart tightened, and he couldn’t help but hold his breath.

And Yu Chunming came to him with a smile, and then slowly uttered a sentence, “Guan Yao, you don’t dare to say you love me, not because you don’t love me, but because you don’t have the courage to love me, you don’t have the courage… to love Jiang Xin.”