Chapter 549: Thanks to You

The plane climbed steadily; Lin Sicheng unbuckled his seatbelt and put on an eye mask.

"Teacher, Senior Brother, I'm going to nap for a bit!"

"Alright, we'll wake you when we arrive!"

Responding with a nod, Zhao Xiuneng looked at Wang Qi Zhi.

Did you stay up late again last night?

Wang Qi Zhi shook his head: I was in the same room as you, if you don't know, how would I?

The two exchanged silent glances, and Zhao Xiuneng pulled down the window shade.

A flight attendant came over to serve drinks; while she was still five or six steps away, Wang Qi Zhi made a gesture for silence.

They had been in Shanghai for ten full days, and the two of them had worried plenty and fretted plenty, but it felt like nothing had come of it.

This included helping Lin Sicheng get an introduction to Yun Hui, who in turn introduced him to a top-tier, famous ace Lawyer in the Shanghai finance and foreign investment sector.

But unfortunately, none of it was of any use.

It was still too early for a lawsuit, and there was a high probability that the first instance would be the final one, never even reaching the High Court. Even if Yun Hui wanted to help, she couldn't. Aside from accompanying Lin Sicheng on a trip to Saishi Company and preparing some materials for the lawsuit, Tan Zheng hadn't really helped with much else.

An Intern Lawyer could have done these tasks. Yet the legal fees were shockingly high; the advance payment alone was fifty thousand.

Thinking about it this way, they would have been better off not coming at all; at least they would have spent less.

Zhao Xiuneng gestured, asking if Lin Sicheng had mentioned the situation back in Beijing.

Wang Qi Zhi shook his head.

With the Anti-Smuggling Bureau formally intervening, there was less and less need for the Criminal Investigation Division, and even if Yan Wenjing wanted to provide updates on the case, what she knew was limited. They could have asked the Economic Investigation Division and the Anti-Smuggling Bureau, but firstly, they weren't very familiar with either side, and secondly, the Anti-Smuggling Bureau and the Economic Investigation Division didn't have a deep enough understanding of Lin Sicheng's status as a "Consultant."

Fearing the other party might overthink it, Lin Sicheng didn't make the call.

Besides, he didn't seem too anxious; if he were, he wouldn't have stayed in Shanghai for so long.

As for what he had actually been doing, Wang Qi Zhi really couldn't say.

Since returning from Saishi, apart from occasionally contacting Lawyer Tan, Lin Sicheng spent the rest of his time either writing and drawing or surfing the internet. Most of what he wrote was in English; there was more that Wang Qi Zhi couldn't understand than what he could.

The websites he logged into were either in English, German, or Japanese. Wang Qi Zhi did recognize a few, such as Bruker, Keyence, and Rigaku. He had asked about it at the time, and Lin Sicheng said he was making preparations in advance: in case Saishi Company didn't pay, he would have to reorder the equipment.

He couldn't just do nothing while waiting for this case. Checking in advance would help him have a better grasp of things.

Wang Qi Zhi had a gut feeling that the kid wasn't telling the truth: if it were just to order equipment, he could have checked back in Beijing; there was no need to stay in Shanghai. He had a hunch that Lin Sicheng was waiting for Saishi to contact him voluntarily.

But unfortunately, let alone a phone call, he hadn't even heard a whisper of Wind...

Sighing inwardly, Wang Qi Zhi rubbed his brow: he knew too little, and even if he wanted to help, he didn't know where to start.

More importantly, he always felt that the reason Lin Sicheng didn't tell him and Zhao Xiuneng was that he was afraid they would meddle and turn a good thing into a bad one. He himself might be capable of that, but old Zhao?

That whole "roaming the underworld" routine of his was completely useless here.

The more he thought, the more confused he became; Wang Qi Zhi sighed despondently and put on his eye mask as well.

He suffered from insomnia almost every night; he was practically having a nervous breakdown.

Zhao Xiuneng was much the same.

That was why they admired Lin Sicheng so much: he could fall asleep the moment his head hit the pillow and eat anything with gusto.

With his eyes closed, he thought for a long while, and just as he was drifting between sleep and wakefulness, a voice came over the intercom: "Dear passengers, the flight is about to land at Capital Airport..."

Wang Qi Zhi pulled off his eye mask and rubbed his eyes.

"We're here?" Lin Sicheng rubbed his face, "How is it so fast?"

Fast? They had been flying for two and a half hours.

It showed just how soundly Lin Sicheng had slept.

The three of them collected their luggage and got off the plane.

Having called ahead, the Santana was parked right in front of the three of them just as they exited the terminal.

Lin Sicheng checked his watch; it was almost one o'clock.

"Teacher, let's go eat first, then you and Senior Brother go home and get some good rest!"

Both of them had dark circles under their eyes from staying up; they really needed to rest.

Wang Qi Zhi asked casually: "What about you?"

"I have to go to Customs this afternoon; the Anti-Smuggling side said there are some materials that need to be supplemented!"

Great, so much for resting.

From this moment on, his mind was already filled with thoughts like "How is the Police interrogation going?" and "Has Fang Yin confessed?" Rather than pacing around at home in anxiety, it was better to go along.

Wang Qi Zhi shook his head: "I'll go with you!"

"I'm going too!" Zhao Xiuneng sighed, "I wouldn't be able to sleep at home anyway."

Lin Sicheng hesitated to speak.

He really wanted to persuade Zhao Xiuneng and Wang Qi Zhi: this matter would definitely be resolved well; one way or another, they wouldn't lose out, and in the worst-case scenario, they could at least get the machines back.

So, there was no need to be this anxious.

But the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back.

He had already said similar things quite a few times; although not as directly, that was roughly the meaning.

But it was to no avail.

It didn't matter, though; in a few days, the truth would come to light.

They found a random restaurant, grabbed a quick bite, and at two-thirty in the afternoon, the three of them arrived at the General Administration of Customs.

Without a pass, the Santana couldn't get in and had to park at the entrance. Looking at the ridiculously high steps, the towering building, and the plaque at the entrance that made one's eyes swim, Zhao Xiuneng finally came to his senses.

This is a Ministry?

In his entire life, the highest-level government agency he had ever entered was the Xijing City Public Security Bureau. And that was only because he had been summoned as a criminal suspect. He had never imagined that one day he would walk through the gates of a ministerial-level institution in such a bright, open, and clean-handed manner.

He wasn't exactly scared, because he hadn't committed a crime this time. As for what exactly he was feeling, Zhao Xiuneng couldn't say.

He felt quite emotional: ever since he met Lin Sicheng, he had entered more law enforcement agencies and seen more leaders than he had in the first half of his life. He was stunned for a good while, and only when Lin Sicheng finished his call and said they could go in did Zhao Xiuneng come back to his senses.

"Junior Brother Lin, isn't this about submitting supplementary materials? I thought we were going to the public security side, so why are we here?"

"This case is being hosted by the Anti-Smuggling Bureau, so it definitely has to be handled from the Customs side!"

"What I mean is, we actually have to come to the Ministry?"

"It's the same for the public security side!" Lin Sicheng explained, "Since it involves international Smuggling, if the public security department were hosting it, we would have to go to the Twenty-Fourth Bureau (Anti-Smuggling Bureau); it's still a Ministry!"

Does that mean we have to go to the Ministry of Public Security?

Zhao Xiuneng fell silent.

Although he had long since washed his hands of that life, his heart still drummed at the mere mention of the "Ministry of Public Security."

Wang Qi Zhi, on the other hand, was curious: how could Lin Sicheng come here without feeling the slightest bit of trepidation?

He acted just like a thief, glancing at the duty post at the entrance and then at the Customs building.

"Lin Sicheng, after we go in, will we get kicked out?"

It was a government agency, after all, so of course that was impossible, and Wang Qi Zhi knew it too.

He just felt that since Lin Sicheng had offended Customs so severely, how could he dare to just walk in like this?

"Teacher, don't worry!" Lin Sicheng was exceptionally confident, "Customs is so big, not everyone knows us."

That was true.

Wang Qi Zhi nodded subconsciously, but immediately felt something was wrong: why did Lin Sicheng's words sound so guilty?

Just as he was feeling suspicious, a uniformed police officer came out of the building, greeted Lin Sicheng first, and then took them to register.

It was very detailed; they registered their Identity Cards and units, and asked for the reason for their visit.

After about a quarter of an hour, the guard finished the registration and let them pass, and the three of them entered the main gate.

Just as he stepped onto the stairs, Lin Sicheng suddenly stopped.

Wang Qi Zhi was following closely behind him and almost bumped into his back.

"Why did you stop? Keep walking?"

Lin Sicheng sucked his teeth: he wanted to keep walking too.

In fact, if he could turn back, he had the urge to turn around and leave.

But sometimes, things are just that unlucky; whatever you fear most is what happens.

Sighing, he put on a smiling face and stepped onto the stairs.

At first, Wang Qi Zhi didn't notice, but after climbing five or six steps, the officer who brought them in stopped to salute, and only then did he see.

Seven or eight meters away, Chen Feng was walking down with a few people.

The expression on his face was very strange, as if he were very surprised to see Lin Sicheng here.

He must have also seen Lin Sicheng's pause, as he waved his hand: "Tsk, Lin Sicheng, come here, come here!"

He didn't forget to greet Wang Qi Zhi: "Professor Wang!"

Wang Qi Zhi's heart skipped a beat: is it really true that what you fear most is what happens?

He had just been thinking that since Lin Sicheng had offended Customs so severely, he hoped they wouldn't run into anyone they knew.

As it turned out, the first person they ran into was the one he had offended the most.

But the strange thing was, he didn't see any displeasure on Chen Feng's face, and judging by his tone, it even seemed to carry a hint of mockery?

Turning this over in his mind, Wang Qi Zhi greeted him: "Department Head Chen!"

Lin Sicheng followed closely behind: "Department Head Chen, what a coincidence!"

"It is quite a coincidence!" Chen Feng looked amused, "I seemed to see you looking like you wanted to hide just now? I'm not a tiger..." Could he not hide?

Because of the Guangdong affair, Song Jingqiu was almost suspended.

Although he was eventually spared from punishment, he certainly had to write his fair share of reports.

Although Chen Feng was a principal official, he was not the main Person in Charge, so he was slightly better off. But only slightly: not only did he have to make a self-criticism at a general meeting, but for the past few months, the Port Department he led had been working the most overtime.

More importantly: this case was still going to be blamed on the Port Department.

It was as if Lin Sicheng was fixated on kicking a cripple's bad leg, and once wasn't enough—he had to kick it a second and third time.

Just imagine, how would the cripple feel when he saw him?

What's more, this time he was even caught at the cripple's home...

"Department Head Chen, I wasn't hiding!" Lin Sicheng hurriedly smiled, "I just didn't expect to run into you here!"

"It is quite unexpected, right? I think it's quite unexpected too!" Chen Feng smiled enigmatically, "After the meeting just now, Old Li mentioned you, saying you were quite bizarre. And in the blink of an eye, we ran into each other!"

Old Li must be Director Li Shichen; he said I was bizarre?

Lin Sicheng thought to himself: it really is quite bizarre, as if he were cursed here, causing trouble time and time again.

The key is, every time he causes trouble, it's the Port Department's trouble?

Lin Sicheng didn't know how to respond, so he just smiled.

"Lin Sicheng, thanks to you, I was finally praised by the leaders today. To be honest, I have to thank you!"

Chen Feng smiled, "You have my number, right? Next time there's any situation, don't just look for Old Li, look for me too!"

Lin Sicheng was confused: if I look for you, wouldn't you be so angry you'd faint?

And this "thank you," it doesn't sound like sarcasm, does it?

Just as he was feeling suspicious, Chen Feng checked his watch: "You're here for the case, right? Let's talk next time then!"

Lin Sicheng was exceptionally well-behaved: "Goodbye, Department Head Chen!"

Chen Feng smiled: when Lin Sicheng acts like a decent person, he really does look like one.

He waved his hand again and led his secretary and driver down the stairs.

Lin Sicheng muttered to himself: I just have a feeling that Department Head Chen is acting a bit strange.

Think about what he did before: for the big picture, and for the leadership at the General Administration, it was of course of great benefit.

But for Department Head Chen... putting himself in his shoes, whenever he thinks of Lin Sicheng, he could absolutely grind his teeth in hatred.

Therefore, if they met, pretending not to know each other wouldn't be necessary, but he certainly shouldn't be this amiable.

Wang Qi Zhi was even more surprised than him: "What's the situation with Department Head Chen? What did you do?"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "That batch of equipment for the Center was let in through the Shenzhen port."

At first, Wang Qi Zhi was a bit confused: if imported equipment doesn't come in through the Customs port, where else could it come from?

But then, he realized: Guangdong is a pilot zone, and all ports are under the dual management of the provincial Customs and the Port Department.

Otherwise, why would Song Jingqiu stay in Guangzhou all this time?

But in this way, it means the port staff were negligent, which is how this Smuggling Case came to be. Does it also mean that this time, the blame was once again neatly pinned by Lin Sicheng onto Chen Feng's head?

In an instant, Wang Qi Zhi's eyes widened. He turned his head abruptly, staring at Chen Feng's back.

"No... Lin Sicheng, Department Head Chen saw you, and he could actually still smile?" Wang Qi Zhi's face was full of disbelief, "Has he been driven mad by you?"

How could that be?

That's what he said, but Lin Sicheng couldn't figure it out either.

When in doubt, ask the leader; he took out his phone and dialed.

It rang twice, the call connected, and Li Shichen's voice came through: "Lin Sicheng, I'm right here in the office, why are you calling?"

Lin Sicheng was very polite: "I only came over today to cooperate with the Anti-Smuggling Division's inquiry, I wouldn't dare disturb you, leader!"

Li Shichen let out a "Ha": "Lin Sicheng, stop playing dumb, speak your mind!"

Although they hadn't known each other long, Li Shichen also held a concurrent post at the Ministry of Public Security and had learned enough from the sidelines: Lin Sicheng was simply not the type of character to be polite with you.

Making this call, there was a one hundred percent chance something was up!

"It's just a small question I'd like to ask you, leader!" Lin Sicheng weighed his words, "Just now, I ran into Department Head Chen..." Before he could finish, Li Shichen let out a "Ha": "When he saw you, was he quite happy?"

Lin Sicheng thought about it: he was indeed quite happy.

"Yes!"

"Happy is right!" Li Shichen laughed, "Are you unable to figure out why, after you've sabotaged him time and again, old Chen didn't curse at you when he saw you?" Cursing wasn't necessary; after all, he is a leader and must at least maintain his composure.

But he definitely shouldn't be this amiable.

Lin Sicheng answered honestly: "I am indeed a bit curious!"

"Rest assured, he is genuinely happy this time!" Li Shichen's tone was relaxed, "This Saishi case is being jointly hosted by the Anti-Smuggling Division and the Port Department!" Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.

No wonder Department Head Chen would say: Thanks to you?