Chapter 338: Turning Against Each Other

After pondering for a while, the technical investigator finally realized that Captain Yan was just spouting nonsense again: if you want to find a cold storage unit that uses nitrogen, you don't need to smell it at all. They were all built separately according to their functional types; the units using nitrogen are all in that one area, and it is clearly marked in the records.

If Lin Sicheng really is relying on his sense of smell, he certainly isn't smelling nitrogen, but rather the auxiliary gases required by different types of nitrogen storage units.

The operating costs for this type of storage are extremely high, and only three things are kept in them: high-value agricultural products, high-value aquatic products, and high-value pharmaceuticals and biological agents.

Different refrigerated goods require different auxiliary gases: fruits and fungi use ethylene, which is sweet-smelling and highly irritating. Pharmaceuticals and biological agents use ozone.

However, these two gases have a significant impact on pH levels. If the nitrogen is produced by the cold storage's nitrogen generator, or if the items stored inside are actually Cultural Relics, then ethylene and ozone certainly cannot be used; one would be able to smell it immediately.

Or rather, Lin Sicheng isn't relying on smell at all, but on sight. He only needs to look at the display data outside the cold storage: fruits, vegetables, and aquatic products require normal pressure, pharmaceuticals require negative pressure, and Cultural Relics are the opposite—they require positive pressure.

This includes humidity, temperature, and oxygen content, all of which have massive differences.

Looking at the surveillance again: isn't Lin Sicheng just looking at the gauges on the storage doors, then leaning in close to the door cracks to take a sniff?

After thinking it over, the female technical investigator glared at Yan Wenjing: "You're unreliable all day long, spouting nonsense; no wonder the General Team leaders don't like you."

Yan Wenjing was completely oblivious, his eyes fixed tightly on the large screen, which was filled with split-screen surveillance feeds of the area surrounding Lin Sicheng.

In the words of the General Team leader: Cultural Relics are certainly important, and the sooner they are found, the better. But the prerequisite is that you must keep the person safe.

"He alone is worth an entire detachment of yours..."

Just as he was silently muttering this, his phone buzzed. Yan Wenjing glanced at it, and his expression turned serious.

"Captain Yu!"

"Yeah!" Yu Guang replied, "You haven't been causing any trouble, have you?"

Yan Wenjing was stunned for a moment: "No!"

Upon hearing this "no," Yu Guang knew that Yan Wenjing must have had some ideas, but had been talked out of them by Lin Sicheng.

Sure enough, a dog can't change its habit of eating excrement unless you tie a leash to it.

Yu Guang sighed: "I just had the Municipal Public Security Bureau Branch check it out. Although the storage units Wang Chun ordered her subordinates to watch were rented early, the goods were only moved in a week ago. Whether it was moving or transporting, they hired the storage area's freight company and stevedores..."

Yan Wenjing understood in a second: if it were Cultural Relics, how would they dare to hire outsiders?

Nine times out of ten, what was moved in were all replicas. Even if there were a few antiques, they would be nothing but scrap metal.

Making a feint to the east while attacking in the west, deceiving the heavens to cross the sea—this woman is quite skilled at using military strategy, isn't she?

Thinking this over secretly, Yan Wenjing promised repeatedly: "Captain, don't worry. I guarantee I'll follow orders. Wherever Teacher Lin says to investigate, I'll go, and I'll report to the team at any time!"

"Good that you know. That's why I specifically gave you a reminder!"

After saying this, Yu Guang hung up the phone.

Nearby, Sun Liancheng was flipping through files. Seeing him put down the phone, Deputy General Captain Sun smiled: "Has Yan Wenjing been much better behaved lately?"

He isn't behaving; he suffered a huge loss and learned his lesson.

Why keep him following Lin Sicheng all the time?

If Yan Wenjing doesn't perform meritorious service to atone for his crimes, let alone being a Deputy Detachment Leader, whether he can even keep wearing this uniform is a question.

But the effect was immediate: with the addition of Lin Sicheng, the group he leads suddenly seems like they have an antenna stuck on their heads—they couldn't be sharper.

It can be said that at this stage of the investigation, the progress has been so fast and the results so significant that Lin Sicheng deserves half the credit.

But he isn't Police, so these credits are useless to him; in the end, it can only benefit Yan Wenjing.

Having taken such a big advantage, even if Yan Wenjing were a pig, he would know who to listen to and how to act.

Yu Guang sighed: "I wonder if it will still work this time?"

How could it work every single time, every single instance?

Sun Liancheng was just about to shake his head, his chin already tilted up, when he paused: "Hard to say!"

Just like at the beginning, when Ma Shan wouldn't confess no matter what, and even Yu Guang was at his wit's end, Lin Sicheng relied on social connections to find the key figure, Ren Danhua.

Later, when the case hit a dead end, it was still Lin Sicheng who found a new path and fished out Wang Chun.

Especially that Yang Jisheng (Old Han)—you could say Lin Sicheng was lucky, but if he weren't a professional, he wouldn't even know what this person did. You could say he is professional, but by some strange coincidence or stroke of fate, he just happened to bump into this person?

Although this old man's rank isn't high, his level of participation was extremely high; he knew everything he should and shouldn't have known. More importantly, the interrogation was fast: caught on the spot, and Lin Sicheng interrogated him right there, even successfully turning him.

It was precisely because Yang Jisheng cooperated that the General Team was able to find out Wang Chun's background, and then find out about the two bosses behind her and Ma Shan, as well as the mole providing them with convenience and protection.

And every single time, whether it was Yu Guang, or himself, or even the General Captain, they had absolutely no hope at the beginning. They just held the mindset of "hitting the tree to see if any dates fall," but the results were more surprising each time.

In the words of the General Captain: This kid is a bit uncanny...

"Find them first; if you can find them, of course, that's best: cut the Gordian knot. If you can't find them, don't worry: boil the frog in warm water!"

Yu Guang agreed deeply and nodded vigorously.

For sentencing and conviction, just catching the people is far from enough; you must have sufficient evidence and form a closed-loop chain.

Since it is Grave-robbing and Smuggling of Cultural Relics, the Cultural Relics naturally become the top priority. The reason the police team didn't rush to make arrests, but instead conducted further in-depth investigations while searching for the Cultural Relics, is precisely because of this:

They need to form a chain of evidence, and even more so, avoid this group jumping over the wall in desperation and destroying everything together.

Therefore, even though they were so short-staffed that it made the leaders scratch their heads, the General Team still tried their best to cooperate. Just like this time: it was just checking a cold storage unit, which the Police Station joint defense team could have handled, yet Sun Liancheng sent a team of criminal police.

Not only were they the elite among the criminal police, but they were led by Yan Wenjing, a Deputy Detachment Leader. So, it's not that Yan Wenjing isn't liked; on the contrary, the leaders are giving him a chance.

Of course, the key lies in him being obedient enough: he does exactly what Lin Sicheng says.

If it were anyone else, even if they eventually executed the orders, they would question them to some degree. When the superior acts, the subordinates follow, and the results would be discounted significantly.

It's even possible that a golden opportunity would slip away in an instant...

Just as he was thinking this, his phone "buzzed," and Yu Guang picked it up.

After a few sentences, he immediately reported: "Captain Sun, Deputy Detachment Leader Tu reports that Ren Danhua and Yu Jiyao are together, currently at Panjiayuan."

"Huh? Didn't Wang Chun deliberately separate them, one going to Shibalidian and one to Liangmajie?"

Sun Liancheng pondered, "I guess they've turned a corner: realized that Wang Chun was using them as stones to test the path?"

Yu Guang's eyes lit up: "Could it be dogs biting dogs?"

"Difficult! That woman's prestige is too deep-seated; unless forced to the very end, Ren Danhua wouldn't dare to rebel... Let Old Tu keep watching and adapt to the situation!"

Sun Liancheng shook his head, "By the way, tell Lin Sicheng. This kid knows many tricks; see if he has any ideas?"

Yu Guang nodded.

Lin Sicheng not only understood many tricks, but his mind was also sharp.

When it came to the ins and outs of grave-robbing and antique dealing, there was nothing he didn't know like the back of his hand. The key was his ability to draw inferences and frequently come up with ingenious plans.

Just the two times he handled the Zhamashan case and the interrogation of Yang Jisheng, even a group of Experts were moved to applaud.

Secretly turning these thoughts over, Yu Guang picked up his phone...

The sky was overcast, as if it were about to snow.

The autumn Wind was bleak, whipping up loose leaves from the cracks in the paving stones, Floating up suddenly, then scattering just as quickly.

The old man selling rubbings was wrapped in a military overcoat, leaning lazily on a recliner. The young man selling porcelain was hugging a hot water bottle, responding to customers in a listless manner.

There were far fewer customers, and business was much worse.

Ren Danhua had her hands in the pockets of her trench coat, her brows locked in a frown. Her eyes were like two blades, staring intently at the shop before her: a retro storefront and an elegant plaque, yet now the doors and windows were tightly shut, and the place was deserted.

Several white police seals crossed in an 'X' shape, looking exceptionally jarring.

Jinlu Zhai could be considered the eldest sister's biggest business on the surface. Out of every ten items of stock, six or seven had to make a stop here.

If it was raw stock, it would be "bathed" to become cooked stock. If it was already cooked stock, it would be put on the table again to raise its value.

But to be sealed just like that—the key was that the eldest sister was not at all surprised, and not at all distressed.

This meant she had anticipated it long ago and had made arrangements long ago.

When the stock was moved away, she didn't know.

Who moved it, and whether it was Qi Song, Ren Danhua likewise did not know.

Ren Danhua felt that she was getting further and further away from the eldest sister, becoming more and more like a stranger.

Thinking again of those pieces of junk in the Treasury on Liangmajie, Ren Danhua's heart sank: it was clearly a pile of trash, yet the eldest sister told her it was all high-end goods?

Eldest sister, you didn't expect this: I indeed didn't know you had a Treasury there, but Yu Jichuan did.

Thinking back on the bits and pieces of these past years, the more Ren Danhua thought about it, the more wrong it felt.

On the surface, the eldest sister trusted her more, yet she always made her show her face?

Most of the stock was sold by her, most of the money was collected by her, and even most of the accounts were managed by her.

This included distributing money to the subordinates, and even more so, pulling strings to bail people out.

But why, the closer she got to the core, the less she actually knew?

For example, where the pits were dug, where the stock was collected, and where the earned money was stored? Even now, she hadn't even figured out who the big boss and the second boss were.

Let alone those connections that had always provided convenience...

Suddenly, Ren Danhua had a realization, and a chill went down her spine: so all along, the eldest sister had been using her as a chess piece, or even as a scapegoat to block disaster?

"Click—click—click—click..." High heels stepped on the stone slabs, making a crisp sound. The footsteps were fast and urgent, getting closer and closer.

Ren Danhua turned her head; Yu Jiyao looked panicked.

"Don't rush, tell me slowly!"

Yu Jiyao caught her breath, her voice trembling: "Everyone in the shop was arrested, including Lao Sheng. The accountant might have been arrested too..."

Hearing "accountant," Ren Danhua's eyelid twitched: No wonder the eldest sister, who was always as steady as Mount Tai, suddenly panicked?

It wasn't strange for Sheng Qingfeng to be arrested; since the shop was sealed, they would definitely take the Person in Charge back for investigation.

But the accountant, she never even came to the shop; every month Lao Sheng would send the accounts over, and after she finished them, Lao Sheng would bring them back.

Did Lao Sheng confess voluntarily?

Impossible.

He knew very well: if he didn't open his mouth, it would be at most a week or two. If he confessed, it would be a lifetime. Besides, the accountant only did the books and knew absolutely nothing, nor did she ever ask...

"Where was the accountant arrested?"

"Probably at home; her nephew said that this morning, her mobile phone couldn't be reached, and no one answered the landline."

"Did you ask how long it's been since Lao Sheng had any business?"

"I asked, half a month. The last time, he sold a string of White Wax Stone Prayer Beads..."

Ren Danhua narrowed her eyes: If it was just the accountant, the problem wasn't that big. Because the books were fake to begin with, and the goods and accounts were separated; the accounts Lao Sheng handed over all recorded legitimate items.

Regardless of what the real items were, whether they were actually sold, or if the events happened, the names, eras, origins, and destinations in the accounts were all fine.

The problem was: no business for half a month, and suddenly they make arrests?

Arresting the shop owner and the shop assistant was one thing, but they even arrested the accountant who had never even been to the shop?

The key was that, except for Lao Sheng, no one else in the shop knew where the accountant lived. If Lao Sheng hadn't confessed, how did the Police manage to arrest the accountant at the same time they sealed the shop?

Ren Danhua's heart gave a violent jolt: Unless the Police had been watching this place for a long time. No wonder the eldest sister was like a frightened bird, suspecting that the Police were targeting her...

Biting her tongue to steady herself, Ren Danhua pinched the bridge of her nose: "Have you heard any news about Qi Song these past few days?"

"No!" Yu Jiyao shook her head: "Cousin, he isn't on the same line as us!"

That was true; Qi Song was only responsible for going into the pits, digging up the stock, and transporting it.

Others didn't know, but she knew very well: compared to that, what was transported to Jinlu Zhai didn't even count as a drop in the bucket.

The problem was, where was all that stock?

It wasn't at Shibalidian, and it wasn't at Liangmajie...

Ren Danhua took a sharp breath and narrowed her eyes: "The eldest sister might be planning to run!"

Wasn't that obvious?

A pile of junk, yet she solemnly asked the three siblings to investigate, and even specifically instructed: don't get close, just watch from afar?

This was clearly using her and Ren Danhua as bait to test the Police.

"She is heartless, don't blame us for being unrighteous!" Yu Jiyao gritted her teeth, "Sister, let's run first!"

Ren Danhua gave a "heh" sound: "Seeing you gnashing your teeth, I thought you wanted to flip her over. After all that, you're just tucking your tail and running?"

But immediately, she sighed again: "What kind of methods the Big Sister has—if others don't know, how could she and Yu Jiyao not know?"

"Even if the three siblings grew ten more brains and tied them together, they still wouldn't be her match."

"So, besides running, it seems there's nothing left but to run?"

Ren Danhua crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on the tips of her shoes: "Don't rush, let me think..."

As she spoke, she began to pace in circles. After a good while, Ren Danhua raised her head: "Do you remember, one year, when Qi Song was too busy, the Big Sister asked you and your brother to go to the Lengku the Big Sister rented to get nitrogen?"

Yu Jiyao nodded: "I remember, it was last spring, the weather was freezing, and my brother drove the refrigerated truck there. The Big Sister said the place was built like a maze and was afraid we wouldn't find it, so she told us to just wait at the market entrance and Qi Song's younger brother would bring it out."

"But we waited for ages, shivering from the cold, and never saw a shadow of Qi Hao, and he wouldn't answer his phone... It was almost dark when we finally saw his car. My brother wanted to call, but I was so furious I didn't let him; I just drove in after him."

"Only after going in did we find out he was seeing a female college student and had gone to celebrate her birthday, forgetting all about the Big Sister's business. My older brother and he are close, so he persuaded me for a long time before I didn't report him to the Big Sister..."

"Do you still remember that Treasury?"

"I remember..."

Just after replying, Yu Jiyao suddenly realized: "The Big Sister's goods, are they hidden there?"

"I'm just guessing: if only nitrogen was stored there, why wouldn't she let you go in?"

Yu Jiyao was stunned: "No wonder Qi Hao was so scared his face turned pale that day; he was afraid I'd report him to the Big Sister and almost knelt down?"

Then that must be it.

"You and your brother go, go right now, take a secret look, and see if Qi Hao is still there."

Yu Jiyao shuddered in fear: "Cousin?"

Ren Danhua gave a bitter smile: "I don't have that ability, nor do I have the guts to go against the Big Sister; I just want to verify it..."

"Qi Hao is the most trusted of the Big Sister's confidants. Qi Song only has this one younger brother, and out of love for him, the Big Sister likes him more than usual. So, if Qi Hao is there, the goods must be there. Even if the Big Sister runs away, she would have to handle these goods first."

"If the goods are still there, she can't run away for the time being. Consequently, this proves that even if there is a problem, it shouldn't be very serious, and it's not without room for maneuver."

"If they aren't there, it means the goods have already been moved, and the Big Sister can run whenever she says she will. So, why wait around to be her scapegoat?"

"Of course, it's also possible they aren't in the Lengku, but in another place."

"You go to the Lengku, I'm going to Shili Bridge!"

"Cousin, what are you going there for?"

"The Big Sister also has a Treasury there, and as long as Qi Song isn't out, he guards it. So, if the Big Sister's goods haven't been moved, there will definitely be more at Shili Bridge than at the Lengku. But neither Qi Song nor the Big Sister knows that I know about this place..."

Yu Jiyao glanced at the plaque of Jinlu Zhai and was stunned for a long time: "The Big Sister has always said the most expensive goods are all at Jinlu Zhai!"

"A wily rabbit has three burrows; given the Big Sister's personality, she wouldn't even tell the truth to her own son."

"Let alone three pawns?"

"Let's go!"

Ren Danhua shook her head and turned around, but just as she lifted her foot, she turned back: "Throw away your old phone and use a new number. Then go to Times Square, enter through the front door, change your clothes, and leave through the Backdoor..."

"Ah?" Yu Jiyao was shocked and looked left and right: "Are the Police following us?"

"It's possible!" Ren Danhua nodded, "It's even more likely that the Big Sister has sent people to watch us in secret!"

Yu Jiyao was stunned, her face turning deathly pale.

She finally knew what Ren Danhua was going to do: "He who hesitates is lost. Since we have to run, it's better to run sooner than later."

"But what if?"

"What if the boss guessed wrong, the Big Sister guessed wrong, and there's absolutely nothing going on?"

"Even if there's nothing going on, there's no need to come back!" Ren Danhua sighed, "I only found out today that the Big Sister has always been using us as tools!"

Yu Jiyao had known for a long time, much earlier than Ren Danhua.

But whenever she thought of the Big Sister's methods and style, her legs would go weak.

"If... what if the Big Sister takes revenge?"

"Rest assured, she won't!" Ren Danhua shook her head, "If the fish dies and the net breaks, it's not good for anyone..."

Yu Jiyao's face turned even paler.

Only she knew: her cousin had laundered so many goods for the Big Sister, and every single account was recorded clearly.

"Including everyone she bailed out, every sum of money sent out..."

Only now did she understand: why her cousin had kept an ace up her sleeve. And she finally understood why, since they were going to part ways, her cousin still wanted to confirm where the Big Sister's most valuable batch of goods was hidden.

"This is to tell the Big Sister clearly: even if you want to silence me, wait until the Wind blows over. Otherwise, I will report you."

"If we're going to die, we'll die together..."

She trembled her lips, her upper and lower teeth clattering: "Cousin..."

"Do you think I'm too ruthless?"

Ren Danhua sighed leisurely, "No matter how ruthless I am, at least I didn't use you as a gun! At least, your father is my uncle, and my mother is your aunt... while she and I are only together because our hometown is in the same village. And you and she have no relationship at all..."

"Whether you want to go or not is up to you. Whether you want to snitch to the Big Sister is also up to you..."

After finishing, Ren Danhua looked at her deeply and turned around.

Yu Jiyao wanted to say something, but her tongue curled into a ball in her mouth, unable to spit out a single coherent word.

She wanted to pull Ren Danhua back, but her hand froze in mid-air, unable to reach out.

Just as she was at a loss, caught in an internal struggle, Ren Danhua's voice came from afar: "Think about that Section Chief, think about that university teacher, and then think about those clients you've accompanied..."

Yu Jiyao's heart suddenly stiffened.

"Who wants to live in a sewer for their whole life, always living in fear?"

"Which woman doesn't dream of a life of raising children and living securely?"

"But the Big Sister never gave her a chance; as soon as there was a hint of it, she would nip it in the bud. From beginning to end, the Big Sister only treated her as a tool to contact clients and provide an outlet for those old men older than her father."

"Yes, the Big Sister gave her a lot of money, but what she wanted wasn't just money..."

Calculating again, she is already twenty-five this year.

In an instant, Yu Jiyao gritted her teeth and quickly chased after her: "Cousin, I'll call my brother..."

"Your brother is slow to react and thinks too well of everyone; don't tell him directly..."

"Cousin, I know..."

"Be sharp and keep your guard up; it's very likely we have long been watched by the Police... Although Eldest Sister is ruthless, her instincts are very sharp and she has never misjudged."

Yu Jiyao nodded vigorously.

(End of this chapter)