Chapter 405: Xu Damao Gets Arrested

When He Yuzhu drove to the front gate of the Northern Thermal Power Plant, there were already soldiers guarding the place.

Xiao Tian ran over and said, "Section Chief Tian is already inside, waiting for you!"

He Yuzhu drove straight in; Tian Dan was discussing something with several leaders outside the steam turbine workshop.

The moment Tian Dan saw He Yuzhu get out of the car, she walked over quickly.

"Dan, what exactly happened?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Someone disguised as a maintenance engineer snuck into the steam turbine room and blew up an important bearing housing. Now, the entire machine is paralyzed. It will take... at least a month to repair."

He Yuzhu frowned, looked toward the workshop entrance not far away, and asked, "Are the security guards useless? Do they not check identification?"

"That engineer surnamed Zou got into a fight with someone two days ago and was beaten black and blue. The security guards didn't pay much attention; once they saw the injuries looked similar, they let him in. It just so happens those security guards are also new!" Tian Dan said.

"It seems this power plant has already been infiltrated by the enemy like a sieve."

He Yuzhu took out a cigarette and was about to light it when he was stopped by Tian Dan: "Didn't you see the sign? Restricted machine room area, no smoking!"

"It's already blown up like this, what 'restricted machine room area'!" He Yuzhu curled his lip.

"The Deputy Department Chief of the Security Division disappeared after the explosion occurred!" Tian Dan smiled helplessly.

"Then there's nothing more to say!" He Yuzhu carefully surveyed the scene and discovered that it hadn't been completely destroyed; only a bearing in a key location had been smashed.

"Dan, looking at this handiwork, it should be the work of Hu Yongan and his gang. They have superb technical skills but are very poor. If I'm not mistaken, these explosives were dismantled from mountain cannon shells. The amount isn't large, only about 50 grams. Otherwise, the entire steam turbine room would have been destroyed. In that case, there would be no possibility of repair. When the time comes, you talk to the people at the power plant; the Northern Automobile Factory can make the bearing. It won't take half a month; it can be repaired in seven days at most."

Tian Dan looked at He Yuzhu curiously and asked, "You kid are something! You can fix this thing, and you're also so well-versed in explosives?"

"No, isn't it that I have a good relationship with Liu Xiaohua? He is an expert in explosives. We studied the modification of the Bazooka rocket launcher together, so I know a little bit about explosives knowledge!"

Tian Dan nodded: "This incident is very serious. The explosion of this steam turbine unit affects the electricity supply of at least two urban districts. The higher-ups are anxious and want me to solve the case in two weeks, or else they will remove me from my post."

"Anyway, you don't want to do it anymore, so let's take this opportunity to quit!" He Yuzhu laughed.

Tian Dan glared at him: "I don't want to exit so ignominiously. Even if I have to leave, it must be by resigning openly and honestly." As she spoke, she gathered the hair scattered by her cheeks behind her ears and nimbly tied it into a low ponytail with a hair tie.

He Yuzhu fished a cigarette case out of his pocket, lit one, and took a deep drag: "Judging by these people's behavior of dismantling shells, they might be engaging in antique trading again. We need to increase manpower to keep a close watch on the Shijingshan area and the vicinity of the antique shops."

"I know!" Tian Dan said.

Just then, several leaders from the bureau and the Ministry walked toward them, called Tian Dan away directly, and gathered to the side to ask for details.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu quietly retreated a few steps and turned to slip out of the workshop.

After all, he was only helping out temporarily and didn't want to have too much contact with the upper echelons—if he were to be spotted and transferred to the Police Bureau, that wouldn't be the life he wanted.

The next morning.

Not long after Xu Damao opened the door, a rural woman walked in carrying a large burlap sack on her back.

Seeing the visitor, Xu Damao hurriedly smiled and greeted her: "Oh! Big sister, what mountain goods have you brought me today?"

Mei Feng smiled and said nothing.

"Come in quickly!" Xu Damao led Mei Feng into the secret room.

Mei Feng put down the sack and pulled out several pieces of lacquerware: an Ear Cup, a Lacquer Box, a Lacquer Goblet, and a Lacquer Spoon, laying them out on the table one by one.

Xu Damao put on gloves, picked up the exquisite Lacquer Box, examined it carefully against the light, and clicked his tongue: "The items are truly not bad, but it's a pity... you don't know how to maintain them, and you've ruined them." He shook his head repeatedly, looking heartbroken. "After these things are unearthed, they must first be cleaned, then undergo dehydration treatment... and finally, they must be reinforced. Look, here, and here, they've all cracked. Once the quality is damaged, the price won't go up."

Mei Feng listened with some impatience, knowing he was only saying this to drive down the price, but she couldn't vent her frustration, so she had to force a smile: "Brother, to tell you the truth, in that big tomb, there are also three Lacquer Tables, each more than two meters long and over a meter wide. If you give a good price this time, next time I'll pack them up and bring them over for you to handle yourselves, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's eyes narrowed into slits with a smile: "Such large Lacquer Tables? Those are rare items! If you can really get them, I will definitely give you a good price."

"Great, I'll have someone bring them to you in a few days. However, don't drive down the price for these few items."

"Big sister, look at what you're saying, I have never driven down your price. These few items are twenty million in total, no more. If you don't sell, you can take them away!" Xu Damao looked at Mei Feng with a firm gaze.

Although Mei Feng felt the price this kid gave was a bit low, she was helpless; she couldn't go to anyone else, so she nodded: "Big brother, I trust you!"

"Big sister, look at what you're saying, when have I ever driven down your price? These few items, twenty million in total, no more. If you don't sell, you can take them away." Xu Damao put away his smile and looked at Mei Feng with a steady gaze.

Mei Feng felt the price was low, but she had no other choice—she dared not go to anyone else. She had to nod: "Big brother, I trust you."

Xu Damao nimbly fetched the money.

Mei Feng put the money away, put the empty burlap sack back on her back, and walked out of the shop door with her head down, walking quickly.

But before she could walk out of the alley entrance, several plainclothes officers suddenly flashed out from the shadows and pinned her to the ground.

Just as Mei Feng was about to struggle, a cloth ball was stuffed into her mouth.

Five plainclothes officers then rushed into the antique shop.

Xu Damao was still happily examining the lacquerware, muttering: "I've struck it rich this time... I reported to my Siqiang that I bought them for fifty million, netting a profit of thirty million!"

The door was kicked open with a "bang," and before Xu Damao could react, his arms were twisted behind his back and he was pressed onto the table.

"Comrades, why are you arresting me?" Xu Damao shouted with his neck stiff.

"You kid provided funds to enemy special agents; this alone is enough to get you shot!" a tall, thin plainclothes officer said sternly.

"I'm just running an antique shop. When people come to sell things, do I have to conduct a political background check first?" Xu Damao continued to quibble.

"You little brat, your mouth is still quite hard! Let me tell you, that person just now was a special agent, a man!"

"I don't care if he's a man or a woman, I just know he's someone selling things. You can't just slap labels on people! Xiao Gu, hurry and call my Siqiang!" Xu Damao shouted toward the inner room.

"Nobody move! Everyone is to be taken back to the bureau for investigation; it's very likely that special agents are hiding in this shop!" the tall, thin plainclothes officer said.