Chapter 428: My Guess

The setting sun gradually lowered, and dusk gradually arrived.

The Mercedes-Benz stopped downstairs at the Zhongboya Company, and Liu Zhaoting got out of the car.

With a soft "creak," the rear car window rolled down.

Chen Weihua said with a hint of apology: "Mr. Liu, I was a bit impulsive today; please forgive me!"

Liu Zhaoting hunched his waist and squeezed a smile onto his face: "General Manager Chen, you are too kind; it is my own ability that is lacking!"

Chen Weihua nodded: "Good, this matter is considered turned over; let's cooperate again in the future!"

"Safe travels, General Manager Chen!"

Waving his hand again, Chen Weihua rolled up the car window, and the sedan made a U-turn and disappeared into the twilight.

Liu Zhaoting stared at the taillights for a long time, and finally, he sighed helplessly.

He was considered a somewhat well-known Appraiser in Beijing, yet he had been slapped in the face in front of so many peers?

But he couldn't blame anyone else; he could only blame his own lack of discernment.

Not to mention anything else: for this Brush Washer, Chen Weihua had spent over 300,000 in total at Zhongboya and here with Dean Yang. In the end, it turned out like this; let alone slapping him, even if he were to take half his life, no one would say anything.

Therefore, his boss would not only not stand up for him, but would even force him to apologize to Chen Weihua.

And how much did Liu Zhaoting earn?

Five thousand.

It amounted to earning the least money while taking the worst beating, but what could Liu Zhaoting do?

He turned his head, looked at the company with its lights on, and sighed despondently.

This trashy place, there was no way to stay here anymore—

The car stopped downstairs at the Wenbo Building; the secretary went to check out, the Assistant went to move the luggage, and Chen Weihua and the driver remained in the car.

A suite costing over a thousand was only used for half a day, which was truly a bit wasteful, but Chen Weihua was used to staying at the Marriott and was truly unaccustomed to it here.

He took out a cigarette case and handed one to the driver: "A Jun, remember to handle those few people who helped out today!"

This was certain: the importance of relationships lay in maintenance; regardless of whether the other party was helpful, as long as they were used, there must be a gesture.

"Mr. Chen, I know!" He Yingjun took the cigarette, picked up the lighter, turned back, and lit it for Chen Weihua. "Mr. Chen, what about those few swindlers?"

After a slight pause, the driver lowered his voice: "I have already greeted the public security side; they can arrest people at any time. I have also arranged people here at the hotel; we can take action at any time."

It meant that whether it was the underworld or the authorities, it only took one word from Boss Chen.

Chen Weihua took a puff of the cigarette: "Today, they gave me plenty of face. As the old saying goes, if a man respects me a foot, I will respect him a yard. Therefore, let's slow down for now—"

He Yingjun wanted to say more but stopped, and in the end, he couldn't hold back: "Mr. Chen, a skin disease will surely become a major disaster!"

Chen Weihua paused, but shook his head.

He had drifted through life for half a lifetime, and to be able to make his business this big, his experience in the underworld could not be called anything but seasoned. He at least knew that this was not a group of ordinary swindlers. He knew even better that although this setup was cliché, it was not simple.

They knew his whereabouts, personality, preferences, and so on like the back of their hand; it must have undergone extremely precise investigation. Therefore, from design to execution, it must have been counted in years at the very least, and the energy and money spent were even more massive.

But there was one point: man proposes, God disposes; no matter how well a trap is designed, it depends on luck. If any accident occurs, all previous efforts will be wasted.

To put it bluntly: the risk was too high, and the return was too low. To go to such great lengths and pay such high costs just to swindle two million did not make sense logically. Therefore, there must be other reasons.

If Chen Weihua were to make a blind guess: it looked more like they came to seek revenge?

There is only the principle of being a thief for a thousand days, not the principle of guarding against a thief for a thousand days; he had to find out the background of this group as soon as possible and figure out the ins and outs. It was best to prevent trouble before it happened and nip the risk in the bud.

If he were in Hong Kong, this matter would not be hard to handle. Chen Weihua had a hundred ways to send this group to Stanley to eat gruel. Or, to be more ruthless: leave it to A Jun, and the best outcome for those three would be spending the rest of their lives in wheelchairs.

Now that he was in the Mainland, the difficulty was much greater, but if he wanted to do it, Chen Weihua still had the ability to send this group of swindlers in to eat prison food for a few years.

And the premise was: this was just a group of low-life swindlers with no background.

Before, of course, it was, but unfortunately, it was not now: Zhao Xiuneng had been a local power for decades, and his fame remained; ordinary underworld methods naturally could not be used.

More importantly, this young man who was impossibly young, but possessed extremely high skills, an incredibly steady temperament, and a background that was even more mysterious.

Lin Sicheng once said something that Chen Weihua agreed with very much: he was a businessman, not a gang thug who would bleed on the streets at the drop of a hat. No matter what he did, he first had to weigh the pros and cons and consider the gains and losses.

The Mainland was his biggest source of high-end goods, and it accounted for more than 80 percent; unless absolutely necessary, there was no need to make such a big enemy for himself.

Of course, this was only directed at Lin Sicheng. As for this group of swindlers, what needed to be investigated must be investigated, and what needed to be guarded against must be guarded against. When the time came, he would strike first—

In a flash of thought, Chen Weihua flicked the ash and tapped the armrest again: "Investigate first; before there is absolute certainty, do not take action!"

"Understood, Mr. Chen!" The driver nodded. "And this one surnamed Lin, Mr. Chen, I always feel that he is putting on an act—should we investigate him too?"

Chen Weihua didn't speak: it wasn't unreasonable for A Jun to think this way.

It was because this person was too young, yet his skills were extremely great. His discernment and craftsmanship were even higher than one could imagine.

And compared to that, what was even more surprising was: his temperament, as well as his handling of affairs and methods, did not match his age at all.

At first glance, he was plain and unremarkable, with no waves. But there is a good old saying: those who are good at fighting have no illustrious achievements.

When sitting in the elegant room, Chen Weihua felt: sitting opposite him was a business tycoon who had drifted for decades, steady, introverted, and rational to the extreme.

Then, looking at that face again, he felt it was extremely unreal and extremely discordant. It was like a highly skilled actor performing, acting to the point of perfection, without a single flaw.

To say he was suspicious, he certainly was, but Chen Weihua still shook his head: "If something is abnormal, there must be a demon; it is better not to create extra complications!"

Since he hadn't found anything before, there must be a reason, and he certainly had to ask around, but he had to be particular about the methods.

Chen Weihua thought for a moment: "The 300,000-plus cannot be spent in vain; you go ask Dean Yang and ask General Manager Niu if they still want to cooperate in the future?"

He Yingjun suddenly realized: Mr. Chen was using the "two peaches to kill three warriors" strategy.

The reason for cooperating with General Manager Niu and Dean Yang was, first, to identify authenticity, second, for supply channels, and third, for interpersonal relationships.

But coincidentally, whatever they had, this one surnamed Lin didn't seem to lack. He was even a bit better than them. Since there was a better choice, why hang himself on one tree?

Peers are enemies; even to keep a big client like Mr. Chen, General Manager Niu and Dean Yang would have to muster 120 percent of their energy to investigate the one surnamed Lin clearly and thoroughly.

Of course, to avoid intentional disparagement or even fabrication, he couldn't rely entirely on them. The relationships that should be used still had to be used, and what should be investigated still had to be investigated.

Secretly changing his mind, the driver nodded: "Mr. Chen, I understand!"

"Alright, go make the arrangements!"

"Very well, Mr. Chen."

As the two spoke, a few more minutes passed, and the Assistant and secretary finished checking out of the rooms.

After helping to pack the luggage, the group arrived at the Marriott. After seeing Chen Weihua to his room, He Yingjun took his leave again.

"Mr. Chen, I'm off to handle things!"

"Good, be swift in your actions, don't be too stingy!"

"Don't you worry, Mr. Chen."

The driver understood that this referred to those friends in the Public Security Bureau, as well as certain local thugs.

"When you see General Manager Niu, be direct in your phrasing; no need to be too polite!"

"I understand, Mr. Chen!"

The one spending the money is the boss; with these people, there is indeed no need to be too polite.

After giving a few more instructions and sending the driver off, Chen Weihua felt a bit hungry and had his secretary order a meal.

After eating, Chen Weihua prepared to watch the news, but before he could turn on the television, his mobile phone buzzed.

He glanced at the caller ID and answered it casually: "A Jun!"

A trembling voice came through the earpiece: "Mr. Chen, something has happened!"

Chen Weihua paused for a moment: "A Jun, tell me slowly!"

"I first met with a few people from the Public Security Bureau and the Cultural Relics Inspection Department, set the meeting place, and then went to the Zhongboya Company. After meeting with General Manager Niu, I went to the hotel. But less than five minutes after everyone arrived, a group of plainclothes officers broke in and arrested everyone—"

Chen Weihua's eyelids twitched: What does that mean?

Plainclothes officers arrested the Public Security personnel?

"A Jun, did you see clearly?"

"Mr. Chen, it is absolutely true: I am at the Public Security Bureau right now—knowing I am from Hong Kong, the police let me contact the office, and I called you first—"

Being allowed to make a phone call meant the problem wasn't too serious.

Besides, A Jun hadn't really done anything. At most, he had given some gifts to the Public Security and Cultural Relics Inspection personnel and handed out some money to a few thugs.

Chen Weihua breathed a sigh of relief: "A Jun, don't panic, I'll be there right away!"

"Thank you, Mr. Chen!"

After hanging up, Chen Weihua grabbed his coat and hurried out, simultaneously contacting the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office.

The secretary and Assistant followed closely behind.

Because he had always kept up with his connections, the Group Leader he knew was very forthcoming and said he would accompany him.

He would try his best to get people out if possible, and if he couldn't, he would find a way to help him ask for the reason.

After hanging up the phone and sitting in the car, Chen Weihua was also considering this question: Right, what is the reason?

If it were just bribery, it certainly wouldn't be a big problem, because the money sent this time wasn't much; A Jun would at most be detained for a few days.

As for giving money to the thugs, it definitely wouldn't amount to a crime: A Jun only had a few hoodlums sit in the coffee shop across from the hotel; they didn't hack anyone, let alone break the law.

Then what could it be for?

Subconsciously, the face of Lin Sicheng appeared in Chen Weihua's mind.

But it didn't feel like it, because the logic didn't hold: if this person wanted to give him a warning or a show of force, he would have done it earlier. There was no need to politely invite him over and even give him a two-million-dollar check.

So, was it an accident?

The key was, why were the Public Security officers who were eating with A Jun also arrested?

His mind was in a chaotic mess, and it wasn't until the car stopped that Chen Weihua came back to his senses.

After getting out of the car, he looked at the light-up sign on the top of the building: Criminal Investigation Division General Team?

It wasn't a Police Station, nor a Municipal Public Security Bureau Branch, and certainly not some detachment.

Instinctively, his heart sank another notch.

Chen Weihua didn't rush inside; after waiting for a while, a black-plated Lexus drove into the courtyard.

The Group Leader got out of the car, spoke a few brief words, and the two entered the lobby. After stating their identities, the guard at the reception desk led them to a conference room.

After another few minutes, two police officers entered. One was over fifty, with white hair at his temples, and the other was slightly younger, in his early forties.

Their ranks were the same, both with three stars on their shoulders.

Upon seeing who had arrived, the Group Leader stood up immediately; he didn't know if it was an illusion, but Chen Weihua always felt that the Group Leader was a bit panicked.

There was no introduction; they just asked the Group Leader to go to the side to talk with them, leaving Chen Weihua to wait there.

This wait lasted nearly an hour.

Just as he was waiting in anxiety, with a "bang," the door to the conference room was pushed open.

Chen Weihua was first happy, then shocked.

What made him happy was that A Jun was there too. Thinking about it, the situation must have been clarified, and the problem wasn't big. The Group Leader had provided a guarantee, so even if there were a penalty, he wouldn't go to jail.

What shocked him was that the Group Leader's expression was very strange, even nervous, and quite ugly.

If it were just a minor issue of gift-giving and bribery, it wouldn't be enough to make him look like this, would it?

Amidst his shock and suspicion, the police said they could leave. The Group Leader gave him a wink and introduced the police officer beside him.

It wasn't one of the two from before, but a younger one.

"Mr. Chen, this officer's surname is Yan; he is Branch Captain Yan of the Cultural Relics Investigation Detachment!"

Upon hearing "Cultural Relics Investigation Detachment," Chen Weihua's eyelids twitched slightly: he worked in the antique business and knew best what this department did.

The key was, this person was only in his early thirties, yet he had two stars on his shoulder straps?

The connections he usually maintained had ranks two levels lower than this person—

Secretly guessing, Chen Weihua reached out his hand, but Yan Wenjing didn't move at all, and there wasn't a trace of expression on his face.

He looked at Chen Weihua, his tone very flat: "General Manager Chen, we welcome our compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao to come to Beijing to do business, but the premise is that you must abide by the law and behave yourself; you cannot break the law, and you certainly cannot commit crimes—"

In an instant, Chen Weihua's heart could not help but skip a beat: this was clearly a warning.

He struggled to squeeze out a smile: "Leader Yan, could I ask you to be more specific?"

"I don't have the time, nor do I have the obligation!" Yan Wenjing's voice was very cold, "Boss Chen, if you don't know what you did wrong, then don't do anything wrong at all!"

As the words fell, Yan Wenjing turned and left.

Chen Weihua was at a loss, his face pale.

With such a high rank and such a heavy tone, it was akin to an ultimatum; it was definitely not as simple as just A Jun sending a gift.

The key was the future: in the antique business, who could dare say they were completely innocent and clean?

The Group Leader gestured, meaning they should talk after going outside.

After leaving the hall and getting into the car, Chen Weihua told his secretary and Assistant to go take a taxi.

As soon as the Mercedes-Benz drove out of the courtyard, Chen Weihua could not wait: "Mr. Liang, what exactly is this about?"

The Group Leader stared at him, as if asking: You did something, don't you know what it is yourself?

"Mr. Chen, do you know who those first two people were? One is in charge of entry and exit management, and one is in charge of cross-border crime—"

"With their rank, they would only appear together if a major case occurred."

Chen Weihua shook his head vigorously: "Mr. Liang, believe me, I didn't!"

"I know, those two police officers also said: after investigation, you haven't yet!" The Group Leader sighed, "However, the person you had A Jun investigate has a very, very sensitive identity—"

Pausing for a moment, the Group Leader frowned: "Just like the sons of Dong Sheng or Mr. Ceng!"

Chen Weihua's face turned white.

The only person A Jun investigated besides the three swindlers was Lin Sicheng—

"Did those two police officers say that?"

"No!" The Group Leader shook his head, "I guessed it!"

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