Chapter 32: Digging Three Feet Deep

Ning Wei followed closely, and before long, they arrived at the construction site.

The demolition crew had a work plan and went about their tasks methodically.

It was broad daylight, so there was no need to be sneaky.

Ning Weidong walked along Fuchengmen Inner Street, calculating in his mind that, according to the work progress, they would reach the courtyard where Qi Jiazui's side room was located in three days at most.

By then, any further actions would be impossible to hide.

Within two days, he had to find where Qi Jiazui had hidden the items.

Thinking of this, Ning Weidong couldn't help but press his lips together tightly, then turned into the alley and went straight to the courtyard he had visited the night before.

Just as he reached the courtyard entrance, he saw a ruffian-looking youth leaning against the doorway, smoking.

The youth noticed Ning Weidong and his companion and immediately became alert.

Wang Xuewen and Zhao Chunming, who had been with Ning Wei yesterday, were in the shadows and did not show themselves.

This was arranged by Ning Wei to guard against Wang Jingsheng playing rough; these two could serve as fresh reinforcements to suddenly strike and catch the other side off guard.

Upon reaching the entrance, Ning Weidong didn't wait for the youth to speak and said directly, "Is Wang Jingsheng inside?"

The youth was taken aback; he didn't recognize Ning Weidong and had originally intended to size him up, but he hadn't expected Ning Weidong to call Wang Jingsheng by name directly.

The youth was one of Wang Jingsheng's subordinates and was a bit unsure of the situation.

While he hesitated for a moment, Ning Weidong had already stepped into the courtyard.

The youth only then reacted and tried to reach out to stop him, but was shoved aside by Ning Wei, who glared at him fiercely, causing him to stumble instantly.

Ning Weidong strode forward and entered the second Chuihua Gate.

At a glance, he saw Wang Jingsheng squatting on the steps in front of the North Room, smoking.

Behind him at an angle, that side room was filled with thick smoke and dust, and the sound of tools striking could be heard.

Fortunately, since it was a construction site, these noises were not too out of place.

"Ning Weidong?" Wang Jingsheng blinked, looking unnatural for a split second, but it vanished immediately.

Without waiting for Ning Weidong to speak, he stood up, threw his cigarette on the ground, and walked up to greet him: "Weidong, I was just about to go look for you."

Ning Weidong smiled and didn't bicker with him about why he hadn't told him he'd found this place.

Everyone was an adult; dwelling on such things was meaningless.

That Wang Jingsheng had hidden something was within his expectations, and Ning Weidong had guarded against this by finding his way here.

The key now was whether both sides still wanted to continue cooperating.

Wang Jingsheng's words were a way to save face; since he had been found, they would continue to cooperate.

Ning Weidong took out a cigarette, offered one to Wang Jingsheng, and gestured toward the side room with his chin: "Still haven't found it?"

It was as if there were no friction or lack of trust between them at all.

Wang Jingsheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief; if the items were already in his hands, he really wouldn't have minded falling out with Ning Weidong.

But now that he hadn't gained any benefits, it wouldn't be worth it to turn into enemies over this.

"No," Wang Jingsheng shook his head, took out matches to light Ning Weidong's cigarette first, then lit his own and took a deep drag.

Ning Weidong asked, "Are you sure you didn't get the wrong place?"

Wang Jingsheng pursed his lips and said firmly, "Definitely not!"

As for why he was so certain, Ning Weidong didn't press him; with only two days left, if he dismissed this location, it would be very difficult to find new clues.

It was better to focus on this spot and gamble on the probability.

Ning Weidong nodded and said nothing more.

Ning Wei leaned over to the doorway of the side room to look inside.

Two youths, one with a shovel and one with a pickaxe, were digging up the ground inside.

The heated brick bed in the room was already gone, and the two were digging down from the floor, looking quite like they were digging three feet into the ground. Ning Weidong and Wang Jingsheng stopped talking, both holding a glimmer of hope that they could dig something out of the room.

However, as it approached noon, there were no surprises.

That side room was only so big; it had no roof, and they had searched everything from the walls to the ground.

The floor had also been dug up; even if there really were a secret chamber, they should have discovered an entrance by digging like this.

The two men working inside were exhausted; they came out covered in dust, carrying their tools, and said to Wang Jingsheng, "Second Brother, is that about it?"

Wang Jingsheng was the second child in his family, so those close to him under his command called him Second Brother.

Wang Jingsheng's brows knitted into a knot as he looked at Ning Weidong.

Ning Weidong went to the door to look, clicked his tongue, and said, "Let's leave it at that for now."

Wang Jingsheng took a deep breath, feeling extremely disappointed.

If it wasn't here, where else could it be?

According to the information he had gathered, this was the only room in this area that met the criteria.

If they came up empty-handed, the hundred yuan given to Ning Weidong didn't matter much, as it had to be repaid anyway.

But there was the connection with the Neighborhood Committee and the favor owed to Zhang Jinfa's people.

And these two men who had been working had put in the effort, so he would at least have to treat them to a meat meal.

Wang Jingsheng would lose at least twenty or thirty yuan net.

Taking one last look at the chaotic side room, no matter how unwilling he was, he had to give up now that they had dug to this extent.

The group left the courtyard, none of them in high spirits, and they went their separate ways.

Ning Weidong told Ning Wei to take Wang Xuewen and Zhao Chunming out for a good meal; they had been busy for two days, and even if they hadn't achieved success, they had put in the hard work.

Ning Weidong didn't join them and went straight home.

He lit the coal stove, took off his shoes, and leaned against the bed, pondering where exactly things had gone wrong.

Although the situation just now was disappointing, he had not given up.

Ning Weidong always felt that he had missed an important detail.

If that side room was truly the secret base of Qi Jiazui, and if he had really left something behind back then... besides that room, where else could it be hidden? Ning Weidong's thoughts raced, and he suddenly slapped his thigh, thinking of a place!...

On the other side, Wang Jingsheng returned home, dejected.

An Ning was, as always, sitting by the window holding a copy of "People's Literature" to read; the sunlight shone through the glass window onto her cheeks, making her appear exceptionally quiet and graceful.

Hearing the sound of Wang Jingsheng entering the door, she looked up and set the magazine down face-down; seeing Wang Jingsheng's state, she guessed the result: "Didn't find it?"

Wang Jingsheng plopped down onto the artificial leather sofa, the springs inside letting out a "creak," and said with a helpless face: "The ground was dug up, the wall plaster was scraped off, and there wasn't even a hair to be found."

An Ning pursed her lips, also feeling somewhat disappointed, but she quickly composed herself and sat on the sofa beside him: "Since there's nothing, there's no need to keep it hidden. You should hurry and tell Ning Weidong's side, don't let him think we ate the whole thing alone, only to end up with a bad reputation without even getting to eat the mutton."

Wang Jingsheng smiled bitterly and waved his hand: "No need, he was there just a moment ago..."

An Ning was stunned, then immediately realized that Ning Weidong had been guarding against them all along, and asked in surprise: "Didn't you say he was a straight shooter?"

Wang Jingsheng was speechless.

An Ning then said: "However~ this actually shows that Ning Weidong wasn't talking nonsense, and he really does want to find those things."

Wang Jingsheng let out a long sigh: "Whether he really wants to or is just pretending, it's all a waste of effort. Damn it~ we even owe Zhang Jinfa a favor for nothing."

After speaking, he pressed his hands on his knees and stood up: "You go to the Upper Room and get me two bottles of Erguotou; I'll take a slab of pork and two jin of vermicelli. Sikui and the others have put in quite a bit of effort these past two days..."

An Ning responded with an "okay," knowing the importance of managing the team and winning people over, and got up to go to the inner room to get the liquor.

But just then, she suddenly let out an "ah," a bright idea occurring to her.

(End of this chapter)