NOS Chapter 96

Chapter 96: The Boundary Marker (4)

Chapter 96: The Boundary Marker (4)

At nine in the morning, Guan Yao and his team were preparing to depart.

The ringleader of the smuggling gang, “Erma Zi,” and his three henchmen were also put on the vehicle, about to follow the police to Hu Yang Village and Jin Gou Temple to “atone for their crimes.”

Yu Chunming stood on the steps in front of the City Branch Bureau, watching Guan Yao change into plain clothes. Like the smugglers, he wore a dog-fur hat and a large cotton-padded coat, disguised as a local villager.

According to “Erma Zi,” the client, “Mr. He,” had contacted them two weeks prior. Initially, the two parties communicated through coded messages on an online shopping platform. After reaching a deal, the impatient “Mr. He” quickly requested an offline meeting.

“We met in a small town near Baihua,” “Erma Zi’s” henchman, “Zhang Lao San,” confessed. “There was a farmhouse restaurant in the town. He treated us to a big meal. Brother Ma was happy and even waived his 8,000 yuan commission.”

“Commission?” Wang Zhen found “Zhang Lao San’s” statement intriguing during the interrogation.

“It’s for the documents needed over there,” the smugglers confessed. “There’s an old guy in our village who does business on the other side. He knows the ropes, knows where the infrared cameras are and where the blind spots are on the opposite bank, and can even get legitimate visas. That way, when we send people over, they won’t freeze to death in the wilderness.”

Wang Zhen sarcastically said, “Your service is quite thorough.”

“Erma Zi” was somewhat embarrassed. “Originally, we weren’t the ones doing this business, and I wasn’t the one with these connections. I didn’t expect that the previous gang was arrested some time ago, so these jobs came cheap to us.”

“Previous?” Guan Yao asked. “Are those the ones that were arrested at the Forest Ranger Station?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” “Erma Zi” nodded vigorously.

This referred to the group of smugglers contacted by Ai Hua. More than a month ago, Meng Changqing had crashed his car into a ditch, causing Qian Guowei, who was preparing to smuggle himself out of the country, to be stranded in Beilin Village near Za Mu Er.

The last incident caused a great stir, and with Ai Hua’s arrest, it directly alarmed Qian Guowei, who was already cautious, causing Guan Yao and the others to find nothing at Danfeng Pass and also causing Yu Chunming to be injured in Beilin Village.

This time, they must not repeat the same mistake.

Wang Zhen asked very carefully. He pointed to a spot on the map and asked “Erma Zi” to look at it one by one: “Jin Gou Shan No. 1 Forest Ranger Station, this is your agreed location. Yu Ning Town next to Baihua, is a full 178 kilometers away from Jin Gou Shan No. 1 Forest Ranger Station. How did your client ‘Mr. He’ run that far alone when the mountain was blocked by heavy snow?”

“This…” “Erma Zi” didn’t understand either. He stammered, “We all think Mr. He is a capable person. He dresses decently and speaks politely, so he must be able to find his own way.”

“Dresses decently and speaks politely?” Guan Yao raised an eyebrow. He took out He Wang’s photo. “Are you sure the person you’re talking about is this person?”

The last time Qian Guowei clashed with the police was still in Beilin Village. According to eyewitness descriptions, He Wang at that time should have been wearing a tattered cotton-padded coat, his hair was messy, and he had a strong odor on his body.

Moreover, he was injured and limped when he walked. He didn’t look like he could run for long and find a place to take care of himself.

But “Erma Zi” said that the “Mr. He” they saw was very decent, his clothes and behavior even resembled a big boss. Was this still Qian Guowei, who the police were looking for?

“Of course it is!” “Erma Zi” insisted. “It’s this guy in the photo, I won’t remember wrong.”

Guan Yao and Wang Zhen exchanged glances, both of them had varying degrees of doubt in their hearts.

Logically speaking, Qian Guowei was on the run, he had to avoid police pursuit and avoid Li Guanglai’s pursuit. Where could he find clothes to dress himself up like a boss from his original appearance as a scavenger?

Moreover, Qian Guowei’s bank account in Za Mu Er had been under 24-hour surveillance. Could the money he withdrew last time support him until now and pay the high commissions for hiring smugglers twice?

“Qian Guowei probably has accomplices.” Before leaving, Guan Yao said to Yu Chunming.

At this time, the police bureau compound was in chaos. Yu Chunming was staring blankly at the special police team collecting firearms and ammunition. He absentmindedly asked, “Accomplices? What accomplices?”

“Accomplices who are supporting him to escape north.” Guan Yao replied, “Qian Guowei’s past accomplices were Lin Zhimin and Xu Wen and Ai Hua who were disguised as Wang Xinsheng and Wu Jiao, but now Lin Zhimin has been confirmed dead, Wang Xinsheng is missing, and Ai Hua has been arrested. Qian Guowei is isolated and helpless. How did he escape from the dragnet in Beilin Village and find the smugglers again?”

After hearing this, Yu Chunming slowly understood something. He frowned and asked suspiciously, “We have investigated all of Qian Guowei’s social relationships in Za Mu Er back then, and the people related to him are either dead or missing. It is impossible for anyone to…”

“What about Aunt Jiang? Have you investigated Aunt Jiang?” Guan Yao suddenly said.

These words made Yu Chunming’s expression instantly change. He stood still, and after a long while, he opened his mouth with some difficulty to answer: “You suspect… Jiang Min?”

Guan Yao pulled Yu Chunming over and took him to a secluded corner, and said in a low voice: “I have always had this guess in my heart, and I haven’t told anyone. Chunming, I know what it will mean if the guess is confirmed, but I also know that we are police, and any doubt cannot be let go…”

“I understand.” Yu Chunming agreed without hesitation, “I will find a way to investigate her carefully.”

Guan Yao squeezed Yu Chunming’s hand hard, and he told him: “Try not to leave the City Branch Bureau.”

At nine in the morning, two inconspicuous Jinbei vans left Za Mu Er with the smugglers and the police disguised as smugglers.

The sun that had just appeared in the morning was gradually obscured by dark clouds. Soon, the cold wind carried fine snow and fell down.

Yu Chunming, who was standing on the steps, felt a little cold. He blinked his sore eyes and realized that he could no longer see the two Jinbei vans that were gradually moving away.

“Chunming?” Liao Haimin called behind him.

Yu Chunming reluctantly turned his head: “Political Commissar.”

Liao Haimin smiled: “Let’s go, the hospital just called and said your dad’s condition is improving, let’s go see him.”

“I have work to do.” Yu Chunming declined.

“What work?” Liao Haimin’s face darkened, “I remember that your injury hasn’t healed yet, and you haven’t returned to work, what work can you have?”

Yu Chunming was a little helpless: “Political Commissar…”

“There are no outsiders now, call me Uncle Liao.” Liao Haimin pulled Yu Chunming and said in a low voice, “Old Yu called me, especially instructed me to take you with me, don’t be stubborn, and don’t embarrass your dad.”

“Uncle Liao…”

“The car is here!” Liao Haimin ignored everything else, pushed Yu Chunming into the car, and said with a smile, “Let’s go, don’t give me any more messy reasons.”

Liao Haimin looked like a political commissar, but he was surprisingly strong. Before Yu Chunming could resist, he was dragged into the car.

When they arrived at the hospital, Liao Haimin still babbled non-stop. He said earnestly: “I said Xiao Yu, it’s right to listen to your dad more, he also cares about you. I know that because he always wants you to go back to Songlan and be a teacher at the police academy, you two have conflicts, but you have to understand that your dad is afraid that your body can’t handle the grassroots work, what if one day you fall on the job, what should he do? What should Teacher Wang do? What about your younger siblings?”

These words made it seem like the Yu family couldn’t live without Yu Chunming, so after hearing them, he let them go in one ear and out the other, and followed Liao Haimin silently all the way, thinking about what Guan Yao had told him before he left.

Liao Haimin was completely unaware, he continued to persuade earnestly: “Xiao Yu, you have to understand, parents all over the world are the same, no matter what, your dad raised you, even if you don’t get along, this family relationship is still there, don’t always look at each other coldly as soon as you meet… Do you still remember when you ran away from home when you were in junior high school, it was your dad who took us to find you all over Songlan, at that time he told me that if you were lost, he would…”

“Uncle Liao,” Yu Chunming couldn’t bear it anymore, he asked, “Do you remember that Vice Governor Yu is not my biological father at all?”

Liao Haimin’s expression changed, his words stuck in his throat, and he became silent.

Yu Chunming realized at this time that the two had reached the door of the ward, and Yu Zhenshan was leaning on the head of the bed and quietly watching them.

“Cough, Old Yu.” Liao Haimin touched the tip of his nose and called out a little awkwardly.

Yu Zhenshan’s leg injury had just been changed, and he was in good spirits and his complexion was much rosier than the day before. He glanced at Yu Chunming, who was bowing his head, and said nothing.

“Xiao Yu, sit down.” Liao Haimin pushed Yu Chunming, trying to push him to Yu Zhenshan’s bed.

Yu Chunming didn’t appreciate it at all. He turned his head and pulled a stool, leaning against the corner of the wall.

At this time, Yu Zhenshan spoke, he said: “When Wang Zhen came yesterday night, he said that the airport car accident the day before yesterday was not a sudden accident, he didn’t say it clearly, what is the specific progress of your investigation?”

Liao Haimin wanted to answer, but Yu Chunming spoke before him: “The driver who caused the accident is called Chen Yupei. It is currently highly suspected that he is the elder brother of Chen Yujie, the mastermind of the ‘Li Qie case’ in the Tianyun Metallurgical Plant eleven years ago. He was incited by the suspect Li Guanglai to choose to drive into the airport after taking drugs and drinking.”

Yu Zhenshan had read relevant case files and knew who Chen Yujie was, but at this moment he was a little unable to sort out the connection between “revenge” and “driving under the influence of drugs”.

He asked: “Who is the driver trying to avenge?”

“His brother, Chen Yujie.” Yu Chunming replied.

“Didn’t Chen Yujie die in an accident?” Yu Zhenshan asked again.

“It’s hard to say,” Yu Chunming paused, “Team Wang and we all suspect that Chen Yujie was killed by He Wang and Wang Xinsheng, that is, Qian Guowei and Xu Wen, after killing Li Qie. Although there is not enough evidence now, this inference is very reasonable.”

“What’s reasonable about it?” Yu Zhenshan frowned.

Yu Chunming replied very calmly: “The suspect Li Guanglai believes that after Chen Yujie killed Li Qie, he took away the victim’s suicide note and relics that Li Qie kept with him. Li Guanglai, Qian Guowei, Xu Wen and others all firmly believe that this suicide note contains the truth about some past events thirty-three years ago. Therefore, after so long, Li Guanglai has not given up searching. In order to get what he wanted, he used Chen Yupei’s brotherly affection for Chen Yujie and revealed some truths about Qian Guowei, luring Chen Yupei to avenge his brother and kill me, who is… related to Qian Guowei.”

After hearing this, Yu Zhenshan’s face had no expression, he snorted coldly and said: “Without any basis.”

Yu Chunming knew that Yu Zhenshan would dismiss his speculation, he didn’t care, and continued: “We went to Chen Yupei’s house and found my ID photo in his drawer.”

Yu Zhenshan narrowed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.

Yu Chunming added: “It’s my ID photo when I first joined the team, not the newly taken version. We and Team Wang have studied it, this matter may be related to the renovation of the Songlan City Bureau last year. At that time, the police security department outsourced the cleaning work to a property company, and the property company that bid for the job was the one where Li Guanglai used the alias ‘Yi Jun’ to enter. If this is a coincidence, then it is a bit too coincidental.”

“Yes,” Liao Haimin also echoed, “Old Yu, although there is no conclusive evidence yet, that photo is really a bit weird, so… Xiao Yu’s speculation is actually very reasonable.”

Yu Zhenshan didn’t speak for a long time.

Yu Chunming continued: “Moreover, the previous interrogation of Qin Tian confirmed that Li Guanglai had already found out my true identity through the household registration policeman Jiang Min had bribed a long time ago. He hates Qian Guowei and me, so it is not surprising that he would do this.”

“He may think it’s not strange, but we can’t think it’s not strange.” Yu Zhenshan said suddenly, “Qian Guowei and Jiang Min’s son died more than 20 years ago. The death certificate has been entered into the system and can still be checked. Remember, their hatred is a source of water.”

Yu Chunming froze, he looked up at Yu Zhenshan and said nothing.

Yu Zhenshan immediately turned his head and asked Liao Haimin: “You didn’t tell Wang Meng about my injury, did you?”

Liao Haimin smiled awkwardly, reserving his answer.

Yu Zhenshan was slightly displeased: “You forgot all about the agreement we made in the early years?”

Liao Haimin was flexible, he immediately picked up his bag, stood up, and said with a smile: “Well… Xiao Yu, you can stay here and accompany your dad more, I still have work to do, I’ll go first.”

Yu Chunming turned a deaf ear, he also stood up and said: “Vice Governor Yu, I also have work to do, I’ll go first.”

“Wait,” Yu Zhenshan didn’t give Yu Chunming a chance to slip away, he raised his hand and pointed to the chair next to his bed, and then ordered, “Sit here, I have something to ask you.”

Yu Chunming stood still.

Liao Haimin pushed him: “Hurry up, say a few more words to your dad.”

Yu Chunming still stood still: “If you have anything to say, just say it now, I have something to do and I’m in a hurry to go back.”

Yu Zhenshan was not an unreasonable person, especially when he was lying in bed, his original majesty was reduced by half, he looked at Yu Chunming, softened his tone, and asked: “Is your injury healed?”

“It’s healed.” Yu Chunming replied very coldly.

Yu Zhenshan moved his lips, seemingly wanting to ask something, but probably those words were too difficult to say, so he had to give up.

“Go back,” he sighed silently, “Be careful, don’t be reckless.”

Yu Chunming’s eyes moved slightly, and then he nodded: “Okay.”

Yu Zhenshan was such a person, he had a lot to say when scolding his subordinates, but he had very few words when he should express his feelings directly.

Of course, Yu Chunming had no interest in listening to his sentimentalism, and even less wanted to get close to smell the disinfectant that he hated the most. Since he could leave, he should leave quickly, Yu Chunming didn’t want to see him any more.

On the way back, Liao Haimin kept sighing. He was Yu Zhenshan’s old comrade-in-arms, and he was also an elder who watched Yu Chunming grow up, his mind was filled with the traditional concept of “family harmony brings prosperity”, but he repeatedly ran into obstacles in his ideological work.

He couldn’t help but say: “Xiao Yu, actually your dad cares about you a lot.”

Yu Chunming “hmm”ed and leaned over to the driver: “Stop when you pass the Linchang Staff Family Compound, I’ll get off there.”

Liao Haimin said again: “Xiao Yu, didn’t Guan Yao tell you before he left, let you try not to leave the City Branch Bureau? I’ve cleaned up the house, you just come with me…”

Yu Chunming was upset: “Uncle Liao, doesn’t your wife I’m sorry for you？”

“What?” Liao Haimin was stunned.

Yu Chunming pressed his throbbing forehead and leaned back in the chair: “If you nag less, maybe your wife wouldn’t have divorced you.”

“Who said my wife divorced me?” Liao Haimin was furious, “It was your master who divorced!”

“Oh, sorry, I remembered wrong.” Yu Chunming said innocently.

Liao Haimin had a dark face, swallowed a breath, and didn’t know how to communicate with this stubborn donkey for a long time. When they arrived at the downstairs of the Linchang Staff Family Compound, he finally squeezed out a sentence.

“Xiao Yu,” Liao Haimin said sullenly, “I’ve known your dad for thirty or forty years, even if he doesn’t say it, I know his little things very well.”

“Hmm.” Yu Chunming responded casually, preparing to turn around and push the door to get out of the car.

Liao Haimin continued: “Xiao Yu, you may not know, among your dad’s three children, only you are most like him when he was young.”

Yu Chunming paused, his hand stopped on the car door handle.