Chapter 403: Case closed and settled

The stove in Zhou Zhengwei's office crackled.

He sat at the desk, holding a report he had just finished writing.

The steel pen lay beside the ink bottle, its tip still stained with wet ink.

The report cover read: "Regarding the Conclusion and Handover of the Zheng Bingkun Undercover Case."

A thick stack, from the shopkeeper's early years to the final arrest process, from the testimonies of the thirty-seven accomplices to the seized loot and contraband, leaving no detail unexamined, laid out in meticulous order.

This was the last thing he could do.

To wrap up the case completely, and then—hand it over.

A soft knock came at the door.

"Come in."

Chen Nationalist Army pushed the door open and entered, holding a tea pot.

"Political Commissar, the investigation team has arrived."

Zhou Zhengwei looked up.

Through the door crack, two middle-aged men in Zhongshan suits could be seen standing outside, solemn expressions, each holding a briefcase.

"Please let them in."

The investigation team members entered the room.

The leader, surnamed Sun, wore glasses and spoke in a stiff, formal manner.

"Zhou Zhengwei, we are from the city, sent to take over the Zheng Bingkun case."

Zhou Zhengwei nodded and pushed the report toward them.

"All the materials are here. From case filing to closure, the full process is recorded. Thirty-seven individuals were involved, all have been apprehended. The list of seized money and goods is attached at the end."

Old Sun took the report and flipped through it quickly.

Seeing the summary on the last page, he looked up.

"You're not going to follow up further?"

"We are from the military system," Zhou Zhengwei said, lighting a cigarette. "Although this case involves enemy agents, it mainly took place locally. Over-involvement would be inappropriate."

He said it quite tactfully.

But Old Sun understood.

Military and government affairs are separate; each handles its own duties.

That is the rule.

"What about the subsequent trial and sentencing..."

"It's entirely up to you." Zhou Zhengwei exhaled a puff of smoke, "I only have one request—handle it according to the law, strictly and swiftly."

Old Sun nodded heavily.

"Rest assured, we will handle it solemnly."

The two talked a bit more about details.

As they were leaving, Old Sun suddenly asked: "What about Li Ping'an… should we give him credit?"

Zhou Zhengwei fell silent for a moment.

"Follow procedure. Give what is due, but don't over-praise. Young man, the road ahead is still long."

"Understood."

Seeing the investigation team off, Zhou Zhengwei stood by the window, watching them get into their car and drive away.

The car drove out of the compound and disappeared at the street corner.

He let out a long breath.

As if he had set down a heavy load.

The shopkeeper's case ends here.

What remains is another system's matter.

It no longer concerns him.

In the deep night, when all was quiet, Li Ping'an opened his eyes.

His wife and children beside him were already asleep, breathing evenly.

He rose silently, put on his clothes, and got out of bed.

He walked to the corner of the main room and sat cross-legged.

He closed his eyes.

His consciousness sank into the depths of his sea of awareness.

There, the spiritual spring space glowed with a faint light.

Like the entrance to another world.

Li Ping'an's divine perception slowly probed inward.

Before him, everything suddenly opened up.

The space had expanded a bit more compared to before.

About the size of a basketball, Li Ping'an had divided it into several regions.

The far left was the planting area.

Neat ridges of fields were planted with seasonal vegetables.

The cabbage had formed heads, lush green. The radishes showed half their bodies, bright red. There were also several patches of chives, cut once and regrown, forever tender.

These were all planted by him in his spare time.

Watered with spiritual spring water, they grew exceptionally well.

The middle section is the livestock area.

Bamboo fences enclose several small pens.

One side raises several hundred chickens, squatting in grass nests and sleeping; the other side has two ducks, with flat bills tucked under their wings, occasionally emitting dreamlike quacks.

Further inside there are also a pig and some sheep, some caught from the forest, some bought from the black market, now grown plump and round.

These are all living creatures.

Raised in the space, they make no noise or disturbance,

To the right is the antique area.

Several camphor-wood chests are stacked there, containing old items collected over the years—some from Prince Gong's Mansion treasury, some looted from Japanese soldiers, some taken from Kuomintang officers—all sorted and stored, plus there is gold.

There are porcelain, calligraphy and paintings, and copper coins.

Li Ping'an doesn't understand appraisal, but he has divine perception.

He can sense the traces of time on those objects, and can "hear" their silent stories.

The innermost section is the aquatic area.

A modest-sized pond, its water diverted from the spiritual spring, clear enough to see the bottom.

Inside swim carp, loach, and yellow eel—all caught by him from the Yongding River or Shichahai and released here, raised in the spirit spring water, grown plump, plus some seafood he obtained in Tianjin a few years ago.

Li Ping'an walks around in the space.

His steps are soundless.

Like a king inspecting his domain.

He first goes to the livestock area and picks out several of the fattest roosters.

With a thought, the roosters fall into a deep sleep.

Plucked, gutted, and washed clean.

He rubs them thoroughly with salt, Sichuan pepper, and five-spice powder, inside and out.

Hung in a ventilated place.

This is how to make air-dried chicken.

He also picks a duck.

Processed the same way, but with added cassia bark and cloves, giving a richer flavor.

Hung beside the chickens.

Several dozen naked chickens and ducks slowly air-dry in the space, their skins tightening and taking on an enticing golden hue.

Li Ping'an walks to the corner.

There hang several strips of ham that have begun to air-dry.

Made two months ago.

Made from pork hind legs, salt-cured for thirty days, then washed, sun-dried, and air-dried.

It has now taken initial shape.

He leans in and sniffs.

There is a faint salty fragrance, plus the richness that the fats have mellowed into over time.

In another two months, by New Year, it will be just right to eat.

Then sliced for steamed rice or used in soup—both are exquisite.

Li Ping'an nods in satisfaction.

He then goes to the planting area for a look.

The cabbage can be harvested, and the radishes should be pulled.

But he is not in a hurry.

Let them grow a bit more, become fuller.

Anyway, time flows differently in the space—one night outside equals several days inside.

He walks to the edge of the spiritual spring.

The spring eye is not large, but it gushes forth clear water.

The water quality is clear and sweet, carrying a faint spiritual aura.

Li Ping'an cups a handful and takes a sip.

Cool and refreshing as it goes down, all fatigue disappears.

This spring water has endless wonderful uses.

Watering the vegetables makes them grow; raising the fish makes them fat.

When people drink it, it also strengthens the body and improves health.

Over these years, he has relied on this spring water to survive one crisis after another.

Unfortunately, the space cannot be known to others, or it would easily invite trouble.

Only occasionally can he give a little to his family, and it must be diluted with ordinary water.

Li Ping'an sits down by the spring.

He closes his eyes.

His divine perception slowly spreads through the space.

Feeling each vegetable's breath, each chicken's heartbeat, each antique's slumber.

This is his greatest secret.

And it is his final retreat.

If one day he can no longer stay outside.

At least there's still this place where one can settle.

One can grow vegetables, raise chickens, and fish.

Live the most ordinary life.

But Li Ping'an knows that day had better not come.

He likes his current life.

He has work, family, and responsibility.

Ordinary, genuine, down-to-earth.

That's enough.

The next morning, when Li Ping'an woke up, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Beside him, Lin Xueqing was still asleep.

He gently got up and walked to the main hall.

He took out two cabbages, a radish, and a basket of eggs from his space.

He put them in the kitchen.

As usual.

When Lin Xueqing woke up and saw these, she was no longer surprised.

"This cabbage grows really well." She picked one up, weighed it, "It's much better than what's sold at the market."

"Someone brought it from the countryside." Li Ping'an said, "It's homegrown, no chemical fertilizer."

"And these eggs?"

"Also from the countryside, laid by free-range chickens."

Lin Xueqing nodded and didn't ask further.

She had long been accustomed to her husband's these "connections."

Anyway, the goods are good and the price is right—why ask so much?

The family of four had finished breakfast.

Li Ping'an sent the children to school.

On the way, Li Yaozong suddenly asked, "Dad, what will we eat for New Year?"

"Dumplings, fish, meat." Li Ping'an said, "And... dried chicken."

"What is dried chicken?"

"It's just chicken that's been cured, air-dried, then steamed." Li Ping'an smiled, "It's very fragrant."

"I want to eat dried chicken."

"I'll make it for you for New Year."

After seeing the children off, Li Ping'an went to the steel rolling mill.

On the way, passing the grocery store, he saw people lined up in a long queue.

In their hands they clutched meat coupons, egg coupons, and oil coupons.

Their faces showed anticipation as well as anxiety.

With the year-end approaching, who doesn't want to spend a prosperous year?

Li Ping'an suddenly felt a bit sentimental.

He has a space, a spiritual spring, and those cured chickens, ducks, and hams.

He can have a very abundant year.

But there are many people in the courtyard who might not even get to eat a meat dumpling meal.

For example, the Jia family.

For example, the Yan Bu Gui family.

But he cannot help.

If he helps one, he must help all.

He can't manage to help everyone.

Moreover, it easily invites trouble.

These days, being too conspicuous is not a good thing.

Li Ping'an took a deep breath, pressed down with his feet, and the wheels accelerated.

He should just take care of his own family.

Other people's affairs, don't worry too much.

In the evening, returning home, as Li Ping'an just entered the courtyard, he smelled a fragrance of stewed meat.

It drifted from the central courtyard.

Sa Zhu's family.

It seems they took some money and improved their life.

In the front courtyard, Yan Bu Gui was watering the flowers.

Seeing Li Ping'an, he nodded.

"Ping'an, off work?"

"Mm." Li Ping'an stopped, "Third Elder, watering the flowers?"

"Yes." Yan Bu Gui pushed his glasses, "These chrysanthemums need frequent watering, otherwise they won't bloom well."

He paused, lowering his voice.

"Have you heard? Sa Zhu's family stewed meat today, such a big piece." He gestured with his hand, "At least two catties."

Li Ping'an smiled.

"What others eat is their own freedom."

"Also." Yan Bu Gui sighed, "Our family... we just make a batch of dumplings, with cabbage filling."

That was said pitifully.

But Li Ping'an didn't pick up the conversation.

He pushed the cart back to Xi Kua Yuan.

Lin Xueqing was cooking.

In the pot, cabbage was being stir-fried, beside it rice was steaming.

It was a very simple dinner.

"Ping'an, just now Sha Zhu brought over a bowl of stewed meat." Lin Xueqing said, "I said no, but he forced it on me."

On the table indeed sat a coarse porcelain bowl, inside was red-braised pork, glossy with oil.

"Then let's keep it." Li Ping'an said, "Another day we'll make some dumplings to send over."

"I think the same."

The family sat down to eat.

Li Yaozong picked up a piece of meat, eating it with oil all over his mouth.

"Dad, the meat from Sha Zhu's house is really fragrant."

"If it's tasty, eat more." Li Ping'an gave him another piece, "But remember, when others give you something, you must remember to repay."

"Mm!" Li Yaozong nodded heavily.

Outside the window, the night grew darker.

In the Siheyuan, the lights of each household lit up one after another.

The aroma of meat, the aroma of rice, mingled together.

Drifting in the winter night's air.

Ordinary, warm, real.

This is life.

Li Ping'an lifted his rice bowl and ate slowly.

The little secret in his heart about space, about the shopkeeper's past, all slowly settled down.

Only the bowl of rice before him, the dishes on the table, this family remained.

It was enough.

Truly enough.