Chapter 400

Poker King knows some people who got rich from weed gambling; several of them are now worth over a hundred million, they keep in touch with Poker King from time to time, occasionally sharing news from the weed gambling circle, and orchid topics come up often—'Jade Cat Immortal' is also a hot topic among them now.

Poker King picked out some useful bits of what he'd heard and told Liuba, also informing Liuba that two orchid experts had recently gone silent. According to Poker King, either they've met with an accident, or something important has come up that makes them avoid outside contact.

Connecting this to the orchid theft case, Poker King guessed those two were probably hired away, after all, growing orchids well isn't easy, let alone an orchid like the 'Jade Cat Immortal' that has just hit a new high price.

Besides those two orchid experts, Poker King also mentioned a name, a guy nicknamed 'Qushu', who happens to be one of the suspicious individuals on the list Ye Hao gave.

After seeing the name, Liuba frowned, 'This guy… several parties are looking for him now; is he still in Chu Hua Shi?'

"'He'll probably be gone by tomorrow, so you need to hurry—this guy is slippery and runs fast; if you don't catch him this time, it'll be hard to get him next time.' Poker King said."

"'I've looked for this person before, but couldn't find him.'"

Hearing Liuba's words, Poker King raised his hand; someone behind him handed over a folder, Poker King opened it and took out a slip of paper, which he said was definitely a piece cut from a map.

Zheng Tan caught sight in his peripheral vision of Liuba receiving that paper from Poker King, and he too wanted to see exactly where it was, but he had to stay solemn and steady to maintain his secret‑weapon guise; just as Liuba had said when he arrived, Poker King likes to put on airs, so he judges people and matters that way—if you act profound he'll think more highly of you and you'll try harder, but if you're too lax and careless, showing it on your face, Poker King would probably think you're just brushing him off. Having kept up the secret‑weapon act for so long, Zheng Tan stifled his curiosity and continued to squat there solemnly, staring straight ahead without glancing sideways.

Zheng Tan felt Poker King glance his way just now, his heart tightened—sure enough, Poker King doesn't even let a cat off the hook. Fortunately he kept up the act.

After finishing their talk and tea in the private room, Liuba again led Zheng Tan away.

After leaving the teahouse and getting back in the car, Zheng Tan finally saw the slip of paper. It was indeed a piece cut from a city map, and Zheng Tan had studied that area on the map not long ago when the weasel boss Huangshulanglaoban made a delivery and passed through there.

They had turned up some leads. Liuba planned to go back and examine the data carefully, while Zheng Tan needed to go home and show his face, otherwise Jiao Ba would keep calling everywhere looking for the cat.

While heading home, Zheng Tan sent Liuba a text, recalling that the last time he followed the weasel boss Huangshulanglaoban from the grocery store on a delivery, he had encountered a police‑criminal scuffle en route; the young officer surnamed Liao left a deep impression on Zheng Tan, and both Huang Laoban and Er Mao had said the guy was not bad, so Zheng Tan wondered if Liuba couldn't handle it alone, could he recruit that person to help? Back then he saw that person nab criminals swiftly, and Poker King had said, if you can't catch Qushu in one go, he'll slip away.

Although Zheng Tan didn't know that Liao officer well, in order to find the orchid as soon as possible he still trusted Huangshulanglaoban and Er Mao once, and as for Liuba's side, he figured they could make contact with some means.

After receiving Zheng Tan's text and suggestion, Liuba checked up on that Liao officer, and indeed turned up something interesting; he thought it was no wonder that cat would recommend him.

Zheng Tan didn't know how Liuba had made contact with that Liao officer; Liuba only said they'd go after Qushu that night.

Liuba made a deal with Liaojingcha: Liaojingcha likes catching thieves, and that "thief" isn't limited to petty pilferers but also includes those who commit major crimes; however, there are always people obstructing his path, so Liaojingcha had Liuba gather some blackmail on those obstructionists—once he had that material, Liaojingcha felt those people would think twice when he went after thieves in the future and wouldn't constantly interfere.

Liuba also joked with Zheng Tan, saying Liaojingcha was interesting—he dared to take his superior's blackmail, cared nothing about promotion and only liked catching thieves; in Liaojingcha's own words, he's a cat‑year person, so he enjoys catching mice for fun, and promotion and money hold little appeal for him.

Liuba said the night‑time thief‑catching would likely keep him out late, so Zheng Tan thought he could just have Liuba call Jiao Ba then.

At ten thirty p. m., near the Second Ring Road, at the entrance of an alley on a commercial street, a police car was parked at the curb, with two people inside, one of whom was Liaojingcha.

The person in the driver's seat wore the same uniform as Liaojingcha. Just a moment ago, someone in a nearby residential compound had reported a theft at home; the caller was a female student from a prestigious nearby school, and her voice was quite pleasant.

"'The female students from that school are generally high‑quality, educated and good‑looking; just hearing her voice makes you go weak‑kneed, Xiao Liao—do you believe it? That girl's definitely a pretty lass. Stop lecturing me, Liang Ge, but you're at an age where you should be looking for a partner; when you meet someone decent, seize the chance. I know a buddy of mine who hooked up with that reporting girl in a burglary case, and now they're talking marriage, hehe—however…'"

Click!

Liaojingcha stared at the handcuff on his own wrist with utter surprise, then glanced incredulously at Liang Ge. One end of the cuff was locked on his wrist, the other on the steering wheel, and the owner of the cuff was obviously Liang Ge.

"'Kid, after all this time you still haven't improved—how's that reaction supposed to catch thieves? Your technique isn't up to snuff; follow my example and train more, or else next time you'll fail to cuff a crook and get cuffed yourself instead—consider this a lesson. Besides, we don't need two people for this call; I can go alone, you wait in the car. Don't think about snitching—we can't be traitors, you get me?' Liang Ge said smugly, then opened the car door to get out."

But as Liang Ge stepped out with one leg, he felt a chill on his wrist; from the pulling came a sharp pain. Liang Ge looked back at his wrist and found that the handcuff originally resting on Liaojingcha's hand had somehow ended up on his own wrist!

"'Liao Shi. You!'"

"'Liao Shi, sorry about that,' Liaojingcha said with a sincere, apologetic smile to Liang Ge, 'I also feel my skills are lacking and I need more training; this time it's best that I personally go train.'"

Saying that, Liaojingcha stepped out of the car, went to a nearby drink shop that was about to close, bought a cup of coffee, and thoughtfully placed it in the car for Liang Ge.

"'Liang Ge, have some coffee first. I'll come back after I finish things over there.' Having said that, Liaojingcha lifted his hand to press down his cap brim and walked into the alley."

"'Holy shit! Liao Shi you …' Liang Ge, handcuffed to the car by his own cuff, was so angry he felt like vomiting blood, but he didn't dare shout curses lest nearby civilians hear and think badly of him."

He hurriedly felt for his keys… none!

He tried calling for help, rummaged his pockets… still nothing!

"'Damn it!' Liang Ge slammed the steering wheel twice with his free hand, muttering curses at Liao Shi, wondering what to do afterward."

Going to file a petty report? He'd have to be an idiot to do that. According to the Ministry of Public Security's regulations on police equipment use, handcuffs are instruments of law enforcement used by public security organs, and even when personnel use them there are strict rules. This time he was the one who first cuffed a colleague; if word got out he'd definitely be criticized and given a written review, and if someone with an agenda gave him a push from behind, would he still get promoted?

"'Damn it,' he'd planned to give that kid a lesson, but instead he got screwed over. Too bad his colleagues kept saying Liao Shi was as solid as his name—solid as a fart!"

He glanced at the coffee sitting nearby, Liang Ge let out a 'hmph', picked it up, and took a sip.

"'Fuck!' It's iced!! Does he not know it'll get colder tonight?! Shouldn't he have bought a hot one?!'

Liang Ge angrily slammed the steering wheel twice again.

When Zheng Tan and Liuba arrived at the agreed spot, Liaojingcha's side was already finished; four people lay on the ground, three looking young—whether they were workers or students was unclear. The other, about thirty, short and slightly chubby, was exactly the Qushu they were looking for.

Qushu had planned to flee tonight, wanting to clear out some of his 'goods' beforehand to make the escape smoother. But he hadn't expected that, while in the middle of a transaction, a young man in a police uniform would interfere, and before he could make a getaway he was knocked out and lay on the ground.

"'The person's yours; remember to send me the stuff when the time comes.' Liaojingcha pointed at the prone Qushu and said to Liuba."

Liuba nodded, 'Got it.'

After receiving the assurance, Liaojingcha asked, 'Do you want to interrogate him?'

"'Yeah, there are a few things I'd like to find out about,' Liuba said."

"'Hmm,' Liaojingcha paused, then added, 'If it's something fairly important or urgent, it'll probably be a hassle—this guy's mouth isn't easy to pry open; he's been through interrogation before.'"

"'So?' Liuba looked at Liaojingcha."

"'So, I suggest you find someone to help you.'"

"'Who?'"

"'That cat knows.' Liaojingcha pointed at Zheng Tan, who was crouching in the shadows not far behind Liuba, and gave a completely sincere smile."

Zheng Tan: '…' What's he pointing at me for? I know jack shit!

He constantly runs into people who speak in half‑sentences without making things clear, yet oddly these folks can infer the intended meaning from those fragments, which makes Zheng Tan feel frustrated with his own intellect.

"'In consideration of the information you've given me,' Liaojingcha pulled out a notebook, wrote a string of numbers, and handed it to Liuba, 'That's his number, but if you go alone he won't pay you any mind; have that cat take you there, and your chances of success will be higher.'"

Having said that, Liaojingcha lifted his hand to press down his cap brim, walked off, and didn't even bother with the other three who had been stripped of their clothes and were lying on the ground shivering in the cold wind.

Liuba injected Qushu with a vial of drug that would guarantee he stayed asleep.

After stuffing Qushu into the car's trunk, Liuba looked at Zheng Tan and asked, 'Who was the person Liaojingcha just mentioned?'

Zheng Tan also looked bewildered. 'Damn it, how would I know who Liaojingcha meant?'

After thinking carefully about the people he knew and those Liaojingcha might know, Zheng Tan wondered if Liaojingcha was referring to that weasel; the two aren't exactly strangers, but besides the weasel, who else could it be? Er Mao? Or someone else?

Liuba dialed the phone number Liaojingcha had left behind, deliberately raising his voice a bit.

Zheng Tan jumped onto the back of the chair, propped up his ears, and listened carefully.

It rang for a while before the other end picked up, and a groggy, half-asleep voice came through.

"Hello."

Just one word, Zheng Tan was certain it was the grocery store's 'weasel'—no doubt. (To be continued...)