LWDC Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Racing Against Time

Chapter 196: Racing Against Time

Chapter 196: Racing Against Time

Duan Yunhong’s car wasn’t stopped at all on the way east. On the second day of being back home, uninvited guests arrived at his door.

“Staff Officer Xu, what a rare guest.”

Duan Yunhong sat in his living room, a rare occurrence, and hosted a guest alone: “I apologize in advance, I’m a bit busy here, I’m afraid I don’t have much time to entertain you. How about this, let’s just have a cup of tea today, and another day I’ll prepare a small gift and pay you a formal visit, how does that sound?”

A middle-aged man in military uniform sat opposite him, none other than Staff Officer Xu, nominally on the same side as Liu Fan. However, he actually belonged to another army and wasn’t a direct subordinate of Liu Fan. Duan Yunhong had seen him twice before at some gatherings in Shashi, but their face-to-face interactions were limited to greetings. They were merely acquaintances and didn’t have any real connection.

“Long time no see, Mr. Duan is issuing an eviction notice so quickly?” Staff Officer Xu clearly didn’t intend to give Duan Yunhong much face either. After a few brief greetings, he started asking, “I heard you brought someone back with you yesterday, why can’t I see them?”

Duan Yunhong didn’t even bother with the pretense of drinking tea and directly retorted, “Staff Officer Xu is very interested in me? You visit right after I get back, and immediately ask about the people I brought back?”

“Mr. Duan, there’s no need to be so hostile, we’re just chatting. I didn’t bring anyone and barge in without knowing the situation, did I? My unit has ordered quite a few cars from you, we look out for each other, so we’re friends, right?” Staff Officer Xu smiled, but it didn’t seem genuine, more of a smirk. “I heard that the eldest son of the Southwest Chamber of Commerce president came back with you? I didn’t have the chance to meet him last time he came, how about calling him to chat?”

Duan Yunhong said, “He’s not here.”

“Mr. Duan, you’re not being very interesting, are you? Are you afraid your friend will steal your business?” After being rejected with cold words again and again, Staff Officer Xu finally turned cold as well. “Alright, if that eldest son isn’t here, then you brought back a woman, right?”

“What woman?” Duan Yunhong responded with unwavering composure. “Is Staff Officer Xu also concerned about whether I bring women?”

“Mr. Duan, let’s not beat around the bush anymore, did you bring Cheng Lingqi’s mother to Shashi?” Staff Officer Xu completely tore off the mask of friendliness and stared at Duan Yunhong with some hostility. “General Liu has already called Shashi demanding her! You guys are really bold, Deputy Officer Cheng was kidnapped by bandits, his life is uncertain. And you dared to take his mother away overnight, what are you trying to do, huh?!”

“You also know it’s an emergency, we just brought Madam Cheng to Shashi along the way, so she can reunite with her daughter in this difficult time. The mother and daughter can support each other, what’s the problem?” Seeing his direct questioning, Duan Yunhong also revealed his hand and stopped pretending. Of course, Duan Yunhong’s explanation was still coated with the “packaging” they had discussed in advance: “Moreover, Deputy Officer Cheng urgently needs ransom money, and General Liu’s side can’t provide much, so the Cheng family had to borrow from us. Young Master Ning can only provide a portion, and I rushed back to free up cash, what’s the problem?”

“Is that so? You came back for the ransom?” Staff Officer Xu sneered again, “Then the car that drove out of your back door before I arrived, was it also to raise money for Deputy Officer Cheng?”

“…” Duan Yunhong’s expression remained unchanged, but in reality, alarm bells were ringing in his heart.

Indeed, twenty minutes before Staff Officer Xu arrived, Ning Fei had taken Cheng’s mother and left in a car, heading to the rendezvous point designated by Cheng Mengxiao. Duan Yunhong originally wanted to go with him, but Ning Fei kept him at home, saying, “To avoid being caught in one fell swoop, you stay at home to support. And I’m just going to drop someone off, I’ll definitely be back today, you can move out if I don’t return.” Duan Yunhong had no choice but to listen to this debt collector’s arrangement and stay at home.

Then, not long after Ning Fei left, Staff Officer Xu arrived.

Duan Yunhong thought that as long as they saw him at home, they would ignore the car that had left earlier, at least out of respect for him. But judging from Staff Officer Xu’s performance, Duan Yunhong speculated that these people already suspected that Cheng Lingqi’s kidnapping was a setup.

–Ning Fei… be careful.

*

Ning Fei took Cheng’s mother to the Cheng’s… and then took Cheng Mengxiao as well, and sent them together to a village in the suburbs of Shashi.

This wasn’t the final destination. Deep in the village was a jeep, an old model, but it looked very clean. Shen Zejun got out of the car and walked towards Ning Fei, who had also gotten out, and even shook hands with him proactively: “Thank you so much, Mr. Ning! Once we rescue Lingqi, we will definitely invite you and Mr. Duan for a good meal!”

“Sure, if there’s a chance.” Ning Fei knew he was still acting, and also knew that he probably understood that he saw through his act, but he still cooperated, “Is it okay to leave your mother with you like this? Can you guarantee Lingqi’s safe return?”

“Ahem, Lingqi’s current situation is definitely safe, don’t worry.” Shen Zejun replied, “However, rescuing him will take some effort, so he won’t be able to come to the city soon, don’t worry. Also, don’t trust those people from Liu Fan. They pushed Lingqi into the fire, and they will never be willing to spend a penny or send a person to save Lingqi.”

Ning Fei quickly became too lazy to continue acting out the “support rescue” act and directly changed the subject, “I’m not talking about that, just tell me, can you guarantee the safety of Lingqi, his mother, and Xiaoxiao when they’re in your hands?”

“Of course…” Shen Zejun answered subconsciously, but he quickly realized that there was more to Ning Fei’s words than met the eye. He sized up Ning Fei, his eyes full of inquiry, as if assessing whether to reveal more of the truth. But Ning Fei wasn’t trying to join them, nor did he want to hear his confession, so he just patted him on the shoulder: “If you can guarantee me that, then I’ll temporarily believe you. After all, Lingqi is my brother, and I brought his mother all the way back and forth between Shashi and Yu City, just hoping that they’re all safe and sound, and have a smooth life.”

“Mr. Ning, don’t worry, my mother and brother will definitely be safe!” Cheng Mengxiao sent her own mother into the old jeep, and when she turned back, she saw Shen Zejun was stunned, and quickly filled the gap, “You can just send us here, thank you for your hard work, Zejun will take us from here. You…”

Ning Fei glanced at the jeep and casually asked, “Where are you planning to meet Lingqi next?”

“At my relative’s home in the countryside.” Shen Zejun finally went “online” again, “It’s farther away from the conflict, and safer, so we can live a stable life. Living there will inevitably be a bit difficult, I guess Mr. Ning will find it old and inconvenient. When it’s cleaned up later, I’ll invite Mr. Ning to visit.”

“Alright.” Ning Fei thought to himself, the car you used to pick up people looks like a military vehicle, you’re probably taking Cheng’s mother directly to that organization, how could it be some “relative’s home in the countryside.” But the more they hid it, the safer it really was for the Cheng Lingqi family. So Ning Fei didn’t ask any further, just waved his hand: “I’m leaving then. You guys go too, be careful on the road.”

Shen Zejun said, “Safe travels to you too.”

Ning Fei nodded, got in the car first, and the car started without hesitation to return. Shen Zejun and Cheng Mengxiao watched the exhaust of the black car disappear into the distance. After a long time, Cheng Mengxiao opened her mouth and said: “Do you think… he could be pulled over to our side?”

“I have that feeling too. Did you hear? He only asked if you could guarantee the safety of your brother and mother, and didn’t ask in detail about how we’re going to rescue Lingqi when we didn’t even take the ransom money. He seems to understand what we’re actually doing.” Shen Zejun still gazed into the distance, slowly replying, “However, no matter what he thinks, by helping Lingqi this time, he has definitely offended those people from Liu Fan.”

“Those people play the ‘eliminate anyone with different intentions’ game, they’ll squeeze people who were originally neutral to our side. Maybe later, even if we don’t actively try to pull him over, he’ll come and join us on his own. After all, as long as he knows that Lingqi is actually doing well on our side, his impression of us will change for the better.”

“Yeah, let’s wait and see, and first settle my brother’s matter.” Cheng Mengxiao turned her head to look at him. “Let’s go, get in the car, I need to ‘brainwash’ my mother first. As long as I tell her that the organization’s rear is safe and stable, and my brother will never have to go to the front lines to desperately kill enemies and risk his life, my mother will definitely join me in persuading my brother!”

Shen Zejun also turned his head to look at her and smiled: “There are many women in the rear of the organization, your mother can participate in activities with them. Doing some simple work every day, and chatting to relieve boredom, she should like it.”

“Haha, actually my mother is a very good cook. It’s just that in recent years she’s always worried about my brother’s safety, and it’s not safe to go out, so she’s been bored and unwilling to move…”

The two talked as they turned back and walked hand in hand to the car.

*

Ning Fei rode in Duan Yunhong’s car back to the city, and the road in the suburbs was peaceful. But at the city gate, they were stopped.

The driver thought it was a “routine toll collection,” and after rolling down the car window, he habitually handed over a few good cigarettes. But the guards at the city gate took the cigarettes and still leaned against the window and said, “There’s an order from above, the people in this car, go directly to the Staff Office.”

The driver was stunned when he heard this: “The Staff Office? Is there a mistake? Our boss is a businessman, he’s the car dealer Mr. Duan…”

“Stop talking nonsense, we’re talking about this car, just go when we tell you to!” The guard swung the gun behind his back to the front and waved it near the muzzle. “Are you asking for it?”

As he spoke, another guard on the passenger side directly pulled the car door, but it didn’t open, so he vigorously patted the car window: “Open the door!”

The driver was confused by this situation and subconsciously looked back at Ning Fei. Ning Fei looked around and found that the front and rear seats were surrounded by several guards, and all of them were carrying guns. Although there were pistols hidden in the front and rear rows of the car, two fists couldn’t defeat four hands, and making a scene here would probably end badly.

–As expected, I’m being watched as soon as I get back. Luckily, I raced against time to send people away early this morning, otherwise it would really be too late.

“…Open it.” Ning Fei made a decision. The car door lock was released, and the guard got in the passenger seat with his gun, sitting down casually: “Drive in the direction I tell you, and don’t try any tricks.”

Ning Fei took a whole pack of cigarettes from the back seat and handed it to the front row: “Sir, is the higher-up looking for me? Then can my little brother drop me off at the gate and leave?”

That guard stuffed the whole pack of cigarettes into his arms, his tone became a little more polite, but the content was still very tough: “No, everyone in the car has to go in. You’re a big businessman, don’t make things difficult for us, just go directly to the Staff Office to talk.”

The driver was also detained, so there was no chance for him to rush to report the news to Duan Yunhong afterward.

Ning Fei thought about it back and forth, and simply leaned back in his chair, his body completely relaxing.

–Forget it, let Duan Yunhong react on his own.

–If worst comes to worst, I’ll just leave directly at the Staff Office and end this broken mission.

——————–

The next chapter will be the end of this world!

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