Chapter 31: Let's Go, Let's Go Take a Look

Inside this room, the locations of the heated brick bed and the flue had been dug up, and the floor, originally paved with red bricks, had been turned into a mess.

It must have been the work of Wang Jingsheng and his wife.

Ning Weidong used a flashlight to carefully examine these dug-up areas, but he did not discover any structures like hidden compartments or secret niches.

In his memory, Qi Jiazui should have had quite a few things; to hide these items, a certain amount of space would be required.

But it was also possible that he only hid some emergency valuables here.

Ning Weidong pondered for a moment, did not start rummaging, and led Ning Wei straight out from inside.

In the pitch black, Ning Weidong did not think he could find what Wang Jingsheng had failed to find.

If it were really that easy, those who dismantled the windows and roof beams earlier would have discovered it directly before they even arrived.

Logically speaking, with a room dismantled to this extent, even if there were any hidden compartments or secret niches, it would be hard to keep them hidden.

As long as one took a stick and tapped around, it would not be difficult to discover where there was a hollow sound.

Since nothing was discovered, the high probability was that there was nothing.

Thinking of this, Ning Weidong could not help but frown.

Could it be that he thought wrong? But where was the mistake?

Was it that Qi Jiazui had left nothing at all, or had he looked in the wrong place?

Ning Weidong pondered as he left that courtyard.

Seeing his serious expression, Ning Wei remained silent by his side.

After a moment, Ning Weidong looked at Ning Wei and Wang Xuewen: "You two continue to keep an eye on Wang Jingsheng these next two days and see what his next move is."

Ning Wei nodded: "Third Brother, don't you worry, if there is any sign of movement, I will report to you the first chance I get."

Ning Weidong patted his shoulder.

It was nearly midnight, and Ning Wei was still able to detect the movements of Wang Jingsheng and his wife, which proved that Ning Wei and the men he brought, Wang Xuewen and Zhao Chunming, were capable of getting things done.

Otherwise, a moment of carelessness or a nap would have caused them to miss it.

Emerging from the pitch-black construction site, Ning Wei took Wang Xuewen to meet up with Zhao Chunming to continue watching Wang Jingsheng and his wife.

Ning Weidong went straight to the vicinity of Fuchengmen to wait for the commuter bus.

He did not have a watch and did not know the exact time; it had been at least half an hour since he left home just now.

Arriving at the commuter stop at the intersection, Ning Weidong turned up the collar of his cotton-padded coat and tucked his hands into his sleeves.

The north wind was whistling; it didn't feel like much while walking, but standing in one spot was exceptionally cold.

There was no wind-sheltered place either, so Ning Weidong could only pace in circles nearby, his mind still replaying the situation from just now.

If he had looked in the wrong place, or if Qi Jiazui had left nothing at all, then there was nothing more to say.

If there were things, and he had found the right place, where would they be hidden? Ning Weidong's thoughts raced; based on the situation just now, the probability of a secret niche with any significant space existing in that side room was very small.

The reason secret niches or hidden compartments are concealed is largely due to the cover provided by furniture and decorations.

Once those are removed, it is very difficult to keep them hidden.

But besides the room, where else could Qi Jiazui have hidden things? Ning Weidong pondered, having no leads for the moment, until the commuter bus drove over from the distance, the flash of the car's headlights bringing him back to his senses.

By this time, over a dozen people had already arrived at the commuter stop; some who were familiar with each other chatted together, while others smoked or stared blankly on their own.

Flashed by the headlights, they immediately gathered around.

The night shift commuter bus was not crowded, everyone had a seat, and the driver drove fast; it only took ten-plus minutes to reach the factory's South Gate.

Ning Weidong followed the crowd off, still following the procedure: first go to sign in, then hand over the shift.

When he arrived at the guard room, Wang Yong had already arrived, and those on the middle shift had not yet left.

Until twelve o'clock sharp, the three people from the previous shift left, and the Squad Leader, Xu Jinshan, had not come either.

Ning Weidong and Wang Yong were both used to it. Xu Jinshan was a well-connected figure in the Security Division, often joining the factory leaders' dinner parties; in the eyes of ordinary workers, he counted as a "favorite."

Ning Weidong was mulling things over in his mind, somewhat absent-minded.

Wang Yong also seemed to have something on his mind, picking at his fingernails while looking at a magazine on the table, but he had not turned a page after looking for a long time.

The room was deathly quiet, and neither of them spoke.

It was not until after twelve-thirty that Xu Jinshan walked in wearing his overcoat, his face long as if someone owed him money.

Seeing this, Ning Weidong and Wang Yong called out "Squad Leader" but did not go to provoke his bad mood.

Xu Jinshan grunted in response, ignored the two of them, and went straight into the inner room to cover himself with his military overcoat and sleep.

Ning Weidong and Wang Yong exchanged a glance and continued thinking about their own matters.

They had thought this night would just pass like this, but unexpectedly, not long after Xu Jinshan arrived, an uninvited guest came.

It was that same Technician from the Second Workshop as last time, named Liu Xinwen, who pushed the door open and came in from outside.

He was not as aggressive as last time; upon entering, he pushed up his glasses, his face devoid of expression.

Wang Yong, who was sitting outside, was stunned for a moment, then stood up and shouted toward the inner room: "Squad Leader, Technician Liu is here."

After that, he fished a cigarette out of his pocket and gave Ning Weidong a wink.

The two of them went outside, Wang Yong handed over a cigarette, muttering under his breath; it was garbled and hard to hear clearly, but it was likely nothing good.

Ning Weidong was somewhat curious about what kind of relationship this Liu Xinwen had with Xu Jinshan, to have come looking for him time and again.

He pondered whether or not to tell Li Peihang about this situation.

This time, Liu Xinwen did not stay long, leaving after about a few minutes.

Judging by his appearance, he had gained something, a faint smile lingering on the corners of his mouth as he left.

Ning Weidong and Wang Yong returned to the room, only to see Xu Jinshan standing gloomily by the door of the inner room, the muscles in his cheeks twitching, squinting his triangular eyes, wondering what he was thinking.

Seeing the two enter, he turned and went back into the inner room.

……

The next morning, the shift change was at eight o'clock.

Ning Weidong took the early morning bus home.

After Liu Xinwen left last night, it wasn't long before Xu Jinshan left too, leaving Ning Weidong and Wang Yong to take turns sleeping for a little over two hours.

With those two hours of sleep, Ning Weidong didn't feel tired.

There were many cars and people in the morning, and the bus swayed and jolted, not arriving at the stop until nearly nine o'clock.

When he returned home, Ning Weiguo and his wife had already gone to work, and that brat Ning Lei didn't know where he had run off to play.

Food had been left for him on the table in the Upper Room: a large steamed bun made of mixed flour and half a basin of egg and cabbage soup.

Ning Weidong was just eating when Ning Wei arrived.

He called out twice in front of the door to the earthquake shelter where he lived, and Ning Weidong poked his head out the door and shouted, "Over here."

Ning Wei hurried over and entered the room.

Ning Weidong returned to the table and, while continuing to gnaw on the steamed bun, said, "Have you eaten? If not, go to the kitchen and get yourself some chopsticks."

Ning Wei replied that he had eaten, and Ning Weidong didn't stand on ceremony, instead asking, "What's the situation over there?"

Ning Wei said, "First thing this morning, Wang Jingsheng brought two people over, and they're currently in that room digging up the floor~"

Ning Weidong raised his eyebrows, quickly finished the steamed bun in a few bites, picked up the vegetable basin and drank the soup dry, stood up, and wiped his mouth: "Let's go, let's go take a look."

(End of chapter)