Chapter 512: No Reason to Stand Out

The fax machine spat out paper, humming with a constant "buzzing" sound.

After a full minute, the secretary organized the documents and placed them on the desk.

These were encrypted faxes sent from the General Administration, all containing information regarding Lin Sicheng.

Chen Feng took them in his hands, reading word for word.

When he saw the line for age, his pupils could not help but shrink: 20 years old?

What was he doing when he was twenty?

Studying by the light of a lamp, hanging his hair from the beam to stay awake?

Yet at twenty, Lin Sicheng was already showing his sharp edge and standing out from the crowd.

In that year, at twenty, Lin Sicheng discovered that Inverted Pot, plugging a massive hole for the Xijing and Shaanxi Province public security departments, and even blocking a catastrophic disaster for Customs.

Two years had passed, and the General Administration still brought this case out for training from time to time. Even Lin Sicheng's information was kept complete and intact in the General Administration's archives.

It was a pity that too much time had passed, and Chen Feng hadn't made the connection at all. Even Li Shichen, who had only undergone training at the Ministry of Public Security last month and seen Lin Sicheng's photo, had turned around and forgotten it just the same.

But this couldn't be blamed on anyone: for people like them, who had to process and come into contact with tens of thousands of words of information a day, it was impossible to engrave every single event in their minds. Continuing to read down, Chen Feng sighed again:

Also at the age of twenty, Lin Sicheng helped Xijing Public Security crack the Zhang Anshi major tomb robbery case.

Any tomb robbery case inevitably involves smuggling and requires the assistance of Customs. Therefore, the information held by Customs was no less than that of the public security.

What Lin Sicheng specifically did was recorded clearly and distinctly here.

He discovered the case, he found the main clues, and he dug out the main culprits, and even the entire gang. He even went undercover? It gave the impression that the role Lin Sicheng played in solving the case was even greater than that of the Xijing Public Security Bureau.

If this weren't information sent from the General Administration, Chen Feng would even suspect if it had been fabricated.

With a silent word of praise, he flipped down further: The Wang Chun Case.

Compared to the Zhang Anshi tomb robbery case, this case had greater harm, wider influence, and the losses caused were as different as heaven and earth. Therefore, it was handled at a higher level as a major case supervised by the Ministry.

Looking at the course of the incident, Chen Feng couldn't help but pause: "Empty-handed against blades, one fighting eighteen?"

"Correct!" Li Shichen nodded, "Impressive, right?"

This was more than just impressive.

He had become a superman!

Chen Feng continued to read, his expression becoming increasingly strange: even for a major case supervised by the Ministry, Lin Sicheng was as dazzling as ever, and even more so than the last time.

Last time he was a passive participant, but this time, he was the active guide.

Because he took four stabs...

Just like last time, he reported the case, and he dug out the first key criminal. The difference was that he also participated in the interrogation?

And this was under the premise that the Beijing police had been gnawing at it for a long time without success, yet he managed to crack this hard nut, Ma Shan, who deserved to be shot ten times over? Also like last time, almost all the clues to the key criminals were dug out by him. He didn't just dig for clues; he led the police to make arrests. Including the main culprits and accomplices, they were all caught directly or indirectly by him.

The key was that he interrogated them all?

Ma Shan, Yang Jisheng, Ren Danhua, Qi Song, Song Qiu, and even Wang Chun.

Watching the process of Lin Sicheng interrogating Ma Shan, Yang Jisheng, and Wang Chun: even though the text was plain and straightforward without any embellishment, Chen Feng still wanted to cheer.

Chen Feng could fully imagine the scene where Lin Sicheng applied interrogation psychology to perfection. It felt like he was more of an expert than the interrogation experts themselves.

And what surprised him most was the main culprit's double: if it weren't for Lin Sicheng, the Beijing public security department would have definitely poked a massive hole. Although the danger was not as severe as the Customs' Inverted Pot, in terms of influence and maliciousness, it was even worse.

It could be said: if they had really let Wang Chun and Song Qiu get away with it, the Beijing police would have been laughed at by their peers for a lifetime.

Flipping further down, when he saw the process of capturing Wang Chun, Chen Feng sighed despondently: holding the criminal's bomb and turning it around to threaten the criminal? How tough must this will be, and how big must this courage be?

He finally understood why Li Shichen had tried to persuade him the night before.

With this kind of personality, you still want to use the set of human relationships and worldly wisdom to persuade him?

Heh heh...

With a self-deprecating laugh, Chen Feng closed the file and frowned again: "Every one of the cases he participated in is inseparable from Customs. But why have I never heard of them before?"

The Inverted Pot, that goes without saying; if it had exploded, Xijing Public Security could only rank second. The biggest pot would definitely have been carried by Customs.

For the latter two cases, the roles would be reversed: the public security had the greatest responsibility, followed by Customs.

And every time, Lin Sicheng's role was irreplaceable, important to the point that it couldn't be more important. But the strange thing was, as the Department Head of the Port Management Department, Chen Feng had no impression of it?

"Because the two main culprits of the Zhang Anshi tomb robbery case have not yet been brought to justice, this kid's identity must be kept confidential." Li Shichen explained, "Actually, the General Administration doesn't know much either; apart from a few leaders, only the two Department Heads of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau and the Risk Management Department..."

"I understand that, but what about the others?" Chen Feng looked suspicious, "His center's achievements are so numerous, and his personal ability is so strong, strong to the point that the Ministry of Culture leaders sent Department Head Xiao specifically to clean up after him. But why haven't experts like Director Chen and Dean Ding heard of him either?" "I do know a little about that: first, the time hasn't come. His project with the Cultural Relics Research Institute is still in the cooperation stage, and it will only be announced once the results are finalized. The project with the Forbidden City has only just been established and research hasn't even started, so there's no need to publicize it too early."

"Secondly, the Cultural Relics Bureau and the Ministry of Culture both value these two projects quite highly; at least, the Archaeology Department and the Cultural Heritage Department both value them very much. According to the wishes of several Department Heads, it would be best if Lin Sicheng could be stationed in Beijing long-term to participate in the research personally. They are afraid that if this information is announced too early, Xijing might not let him go..."

The key is that Lin Sicheng never makes demands. Government departments, including Xida, have hardly invested anything, yet they have received one benefit after another. Such talent, who wouldn't want them?

Li Shichen paused slightly and pointed to the documents in front of Chen Feng: "Thirdly, the public security department also wants this person! So, they also helped to suppress it..." Chen Feng suddenly realized: no wonder Director Li knew so clearly?

The Customs Anti-Smuggling Bureau is also under the leadership of the Ministry of Public Security...

At first thought, it felt incredible: a student in his early twenties, still reading for a master's degree, being fought over by three ministries?

But looking at the things he had done, one wouldn't find it strange anymore.

Especially the latter two cases: he could investigate and interrogate, even better than the criminal investigation and interrogation experts. His professional technical skills were even more unfathomably strong. If he were a leader in the public security department, he would snatch him up too.

But Chen Feng still couldn't figure it out: as the old saying goes, human strength has its limits. Only in his early twenties, where did he learn so much knowledge, and learn it so proficiently?

He could appraise, he could research, and even authoritative experts like Director Lu and Dean Ma were convinced.

If he worked in public security, he was even more of a dab hand.

Even if he had a good brain and was a genius among geniuses, didn't he need to accumulate experience?

Li Shichen replied jokingly: "Otherwise, why call him a genius?"

Chen Feng was speechless.

Just as he was sighing, "knock knock," the door was knocked twice.

Chen Feng shouted "come in," and Song Jingqiu and Wei Ziyu pushed the door open and entered.

Each holding a folder in their hands, they respectfully placed them in front of Chen Feng.

"Department Head Chen, Bureau Chief Li, the procedures for Hu Hai have been completed, and all items have been returned."

"Who came to handle it, Director Lu?"

"Wang Qi Zhi and Lin Sicheng also came, but they didn't come upstairs; they are just waiting in the lobby!"

Li Shichen let out a "Huh": "He actually dared to come?"

Chen Feng, however, shook his head: There is nothing he wouldn't dare to do.

To tell the truth, Customs should be grateful to him, not resentful.

If it weren't for Lin Sicheng, that Inverted Pot would definitely have caused a huge disaster; at the very least, all four people present would have had to lose their jobs. And this incident, when it comes down to it, is still a problem with the system...

In a flash of thought, Chen Feng opened it to look, signed the document, and handed it to Song Jingqu: "Lao Song, report this to the General Administration!"

Song Jingqu nodded, his face full of shame: "Department Head, for this incident, I will write a self-criticism!"

It is indeed time for a self-criticism, and Song Jingqu certainly bears responsibility: being overly suspicious and seeing enemies everywhere, only to end up causing a farce?

He must certainly take responsibility for what he is responsible for, and he must certainly be disciplined where discipline is due.

Customs' reputation is indeed not looking good: after all, being slapped in the face by a kid, they will at least be laughed at by the Cultural Relics Bureau and the Ministry of Public Security for several years. But to say how much loss this incident caused Customs, that is not necessarily true. Just as Wu Hui and Xiao Heng said: your system has been in use for over twenty years, it is time to change it.

For the public good: fewer cultural relics going out means the country suffers less loss. For private convenience, fewer Smuggling Cases mean Customs and the Cultural Relics Bureau can have an easier time.

No matter how you calculate it, it cannot be blamed on Lin Sicheng. And besides, there is still the matter of the previous Inverted Pot...

Chen Feng thought for a moment: "Bureau Chief Li, you are more familiar with him and have more opportunities to come into contact with him; see if you can contact him in advance. Perhaps one day, we will have to ask for his help..."

Li Shichen nodded.

He had the same thought: Lin Sicheng's utility could absolutely match an entire team of Experts.

"When we return to Beijing, I will have Sun Liancheng from the Criminal Investigation Division set up an appointment! Oh, right..."

Li Shichen remembered, "He is not only a specially appointed Consultant for the Beijing Municipal Bureau, but the Ministry is also preparing to invite him to conduct a few training sessions. I will have to go then too, so it will be a good chance to meet..."

"Training on what, Cultural Relics?"

"And interrogation!"

Chen Feng paused and made a "Tsk" sound: Not sticking to his proper business, yet being able to specialize to this extent, there is really no one else like him...

The sun shone through the branches and leaves, casting mottled light and shadows on the ground.

High concrete walls, the tops covered in electric fencing. The iron gate was towering and grim, gleaming with a cold light.

A plaque hung at the entrance: Baiyun Detention Center.

With a "Bang," the small door opened a crack, and two figures emerged.

One was wearing a police uniform, the other a suit.

Hu Hai raised his head, staring straight at the sky.

The sunlight was blinding, yet he couldn't bear to blink: having lived this long, it was the first time he felt that the taste of freedom was so wonderful... Just as he was intoxicated, a joyful voice reached his ears: "Pangzi!"

Hu Hai was stunned, and after seeing who it was, his mouth subconsciously curled up.

"San, Aqin, I thought I wouldn't be able to get out this time..."

"You can't even imagine the setup: they treated me like a murderer, twenty people in the same cell, two people per shift, changing every two hours, just standing at the head of my bed, watching me twenty-four hours a day..."

"They gave me the best food and the best cigarettes, just like they were worshipping an ancestor... I thought, even if I wasn't shot, I would at least be sentenced to life imprisonment..." As he spoke, tears streamed down Pangzi's face.

Feng Laosan sighed.

Having spent half his life in the underworld, he had been in places like the detention center many times. He had been in, and Hu Pangzi had been in even more.

It was precisely because he had been in that he was afraid: except for heavy criminals in major cases, what kind of person could receive Hu Pangzi's treatment?

The answer is none.

One can imagine how Hu Pangzi survived this month.

After a hug, Feng Sanjiang punched him again: "Pangzi, do you know that you were almost made an example of this time? Do you know which unit handled your case? The General Administration of Customs and the National Cultural Heritage Administration..."

Hu Hai was stunned, his face turning pale: Two ministries?

Damn it?

With this kind of setup, it wouldn't be strange to be sentenced to life imprisonment...

Hu Pangzi didn't know the reason, but he could feel it: there isn't a prisoner who hasn't seen the guards being amiable and not even daring to say a harsh word, right? Because his every word and action, even every day in the detention center, might be written into the file.

It is no exaggeration; Pangzi really had prepared himself to sit in prison for the rest of his life...

"Then how did I get out?"

"It was Boss Lin!"

Hu Hai was startled and looked back.

Not far away, two cars were parked; Lin Sicheng stood in front of the cars, with Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng beside him.

There was also a man in his forties, but Hu Hai had never seen him.

He hurried forward two steps, stood in front of Lin Sicheng, and bowed deeply.

But just as he bowed halfway, it was as if he had bumped into an iron railing.

Lin Sicheng caught him: "Hu Shifu, there's no need!"

To put it bluntly: if Lin Sicheng hadn't needed them, Hu Hai wouldn't have brought these worthless fakes in, and naturally, this incident wouldn't have happened. Furthermore, he would need Hu Hai's help later. Lin Sicheng couldn't just stand by and watch...

But Hu Hai didn't think so: those were ministries, and two of them at that?

One can imagine how much of a favor Lin Sicheng had to call in and how much risk he had to take?

Hu Pangzi had been in the business for so many years and had helped countless people; if you counted them one by one, which one would do this?

The answer is zero...

He wiped away his tears: "Boss Lin, watch my performance in the future!"

Lin Sicheng smiled, "Let's go back to the hotel first, wash up, and have a couple of drinks to calm your nerves!"

"Okay!" Hu Pangzi nodded repeatedly, "Boss Lin, when are we going abroad?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "With these few items you brought, the materials for Artifact Research are enough for now. We won't go abroad first; let's return to Beijing!"

Yesterday during the meal, Wu Hui and Xiao Heng both said: materials can be found slowly, but the framework must be set up first.

Otherwise, it would be like this time, with no name and no status. Even if they wanted to stand up for Lin Sicheng, they wouldn't have a reason.

Lin Sicheng also felt that made sense...