Chapter 108: The Bombing Case Stirs Up Trouble Again

He Yuzhu pushed open the door, and a wave of warmth mixed with the aroma of food rushed toward him.

He Daqing was just taking dishes out of a food box; several were already set on the table.

"You brought quite a lot of things this time! Are they willing to let you?" Shen Guizhi asked while setting out the bowls and chopsticks.

"The host is generous. This isn't leftovers; she specifically instructed me to keep a portion as soon as it came out of the pot," He Daqing said quite proudly.

He Yuzhu leaned in to look: "Dad, this is Tan Family Cuisine. Is the host's family very wealthy? I don't think you could find many such families in Beijing!"

"You're actually right. It's the branch of Third Master Bai from the Baicaotang, so they do have some family wealth," He Daqing lowered his voice, "They are considered a well-off family in Beijing."

"The Bai family?" He Yuzhu's heart stirred, suddenly recalling the rumors about Bai Guafu, and he teased: "Dad, the host wouldn't happen to be a widow, would she?"

He Daqing immediately glared: "You little brat, are you making things up about your father again? Her family is doing just fine. She even has a son!"

"Then what is the name of the head of the Bai family?" He Yuzhu continued to press.

He Daqing pondered for a moment: "I heard her husband call her Xiao Ting. This woman is no simple person; she is generous in her dealings and has a strong sense of purpose. She makes all the decisions, big or small, in the household."

He Yuzhu thought to himself that this must be Bai Guafu without a doubt. She is only generous now because the family foundation is solid. If the money runs out, it will be a different story.

He deliberately teased: "It seems you have a good impression of this Auntie Xiao Ting?"

"Are you trying to set me up again?" He Daqing made a move to hit him, and He Yuzhu hurriedly dodged.

Shen Guizhi quickly smoothed things over: "It's hard enough to get together without you two bickering. Can't you two stop for a moment? Come, let's all taste this Tan Family Cuisine."

"Mom, Dad just started living a peaceful life, and now he's getting ideas again," He Yuzhu said while dodging.

"You little brat, see if I don't deal with you!" He Daqing chased him around the room.

He Yushui clapped and laughed from the side: "Brother, Brother, run! Run!"

He Yuzhu took the opportunity to pick up his younger sister: "Alright, today big brother will hold little He Yushui while eating."

On the table were laid out authentic Tan Family Cuisine dishes: Braised Shark Fin in Brown Sauce, Abalone Slices in Oyster Sauce, Arhat Prawns, Yellow Wine Braised Chicken, and Crispy Box.

Shen Guizhi tasted a bit of each and asked skeptically: "Why do I feel like this taste isn't as flavorful as the Boiled Fish that Zhuzi makes?"

"Mom, these dishes are for refined people to savor, not for poor people to satisfy their cravings," He Yuzhu explained.

He Daqing nodded in agreement: "The kid is right. In these times, if you set out a table of Tan Family Cuisine and a basin of Braised Pork, and let a poor person choose, nine times out of ten they'll choose the Braised Pork. Tan Family Cuisine doesn't have much of a market yet."

He Yushui was only concerned with holding a chicken leg, gnawing until her mouth was shiny with grease.

At the same time, in the living room of Xu's Rickshaw Firm, steam was rising.

Jin Hai, Tie Lin, and Xu Tian were sitting around eating mutton hotpot.

Tie Lin scooped up a large pair of chopsticks full of meat, swirled it a few times in the sesame paste, and began to eat in big mouthfuls.

Xu Tian sighed: "I wanted to have a good New Year, but something happened at our police station again, and it's in my patrol area."

"What happened?" Jin Hai asked.

"A young woman wearing red clothes was killed in a dilapidated courtyard. The wound was on her stomach, and she had bled dry. It's the same as the case from last year; I suspect it's the same person!" Xu Tian said in a heavy tone.

"Tian'er, isn't that just the Little Red Jacket! Stop talking about it, are you going to let people eat or not?" Tie Lin put down his chopsticks, looking distressed.

Jin Hai complained: "You have so many issues. I already made arrangements with He Yuzhu for you to be the manager of the new restaurant, but now you can't get away. Who is going to be the manager?"

"I want to get out too, but the higher-ups won't let me. Station Chief Feng is gone, and the new Station Chief Ma is even stricter than him," Tie Lin said helplessly, "How about letting Guan Baohui give it a try?"

"She won't do; her temper is too big, and she still has that noblewoman's attitude. She can't do this," Jin Hai shook his head.

Xu Tian interjected: "I heard your Military Statistics Bureau Beiping Station is going to be reorganized into the Secret Service Bureau. Second Brother, can you get a promotion this time?"

"What's so good about being a Group Leader? You're putting your head on the line. A year ago there were over 160 people in the station, now there aren't even 20 left. Less than 20 percent survived," Tie Lin said with a bitter tone.

"Did your Station Chief offend someone? Why are they specifically targeting you for bombings?" Xu Tian asked.

"There's a secret in this that only the people above know. I asked Section Chief Sun of the Telecommunications Division, but he wouldn't say," Tie Lin lowered his voice.

Xu Tian turned to Jin Hai: "Big Brother, if the shop is short on people, let Jia Xiaoduo come help? She's always selling tea in big bowls at Qianmen, braving the wind and rain; at least it's warmer in the shop."

"Fine, I had that intention even if you hadn't said it," Jin Hai agreed readily.

Tie Lin sighed: "I really can't get away. The investment remains the same, but I can't be there in person."

In the Shen Residence, Liu Rusi was accompanying Shen Shichang for a meal, with the Seventh Concubine keeping them company.

Shen Shichang put down his chopsticks: "I used my connections in Nanjing to try and find the incriminating material in Wang Siyuan's hands. I heard it was taken by one of Yi Xiansheng's concubines. You must keep an eye out and make sure to get the material. It contains not only material on me but also the leverage for many people in our faction. As long as it isn't found, these people won't be able to sleep soundly."

"Dad, this is hard to handle. The incident happened in Nanjing, and we are out of reach," Liu Rusi frowned.

"There is news that the person was last seen near Cangzhou and likely came to Tianjin or Beiping. I think it's more likely they went to Tianjin; there are foreign concessions there," Shen Shichang analyzed.

"I'll send people to check, but it's like looking for a needle in a haystack," Liu Rusi sighed.

"Your operation this time was done beautifully; thinking back on it now, it's still a bit heart-stopping. If it had failed, Wang Siyuan's desperate counterattack would have been something we truly couldn't handle," Shen Shichang said with lingering fear.

Liu Rusi nodded: "Fortunately, we prepared a backup plan."

"That Zhuzi, bring him to see me one of these days. I'm becoming more and more curious about him," Shen Shichang suddenly said.

"Don't you think about poaching my people. You can meet him, but he has to work for me," Liu Rusi immediately stated.

At the door of the new Station Chief of the Military Statistics Bureau Beiping Station, Ma Zhansan, a rickshaw puller knocked on the gate.

A middle-aged woman opened the door, and the puller handed over a pastry box: "Madam, this is a New Year's gift from Section Chief Sun of the Telecommunications Division for Station Chief Ma."

"Why didn't he deliver it inside himself?" the woman asked, taking the box.

"Section Chief Sun said there's a token of appreciation inside, and he was too embarrassed to come in person, so he's waiting at the entrance of the alley!" The puller said, then pulled his rickshaw away.

The woman took the box into the house, where Station Chief Ma was drinking tea: "Who is it?"

"The New Year's gift from Section Chief Sun at your station. He said there's money inside and he was too embarrassed to come in."

Station Chief Ma took the box and was just about to untie the rope when he suddenly remembered some rumors within the station.

"It's bad, there's a bomb inside! Run!" He grabbed his wife and ran outside.