Chapter 408: Trust Crisis

He Yuzhu came out from the inner room with a distant smile on his face: "Auntie, is that really what Xu Damao told you? I didn't expect him to think so highly of me. But Auntie, I'll tell you the truth—this time, I really can't save him."

Cui Xiu pleaded: "Zhuzi, can we find a place to talk?"

He Yuzhu nodded: "Let's go, let's go to the East Cross Courtyard."

Cui Xiu said goodbye to Shen Guizhi and followed him across the courtyard to the East Cross Courtyard.

He Yuzhu poured a cup of tea for Cui Xiu and said: "Auntie, I probably know what you want to do, but I really have no way."

Cui Xiu took a small parcel from her bosom and carefully spread it out on the table—inside lay several pieces of warm, moist Jade Bi, glowing faintly under the dim light.

He Yuzhu asked the system calmly: "System, are these Jade Bi of any use?"

The system replied listlessly: "These are ordinary jade stones; they do not have the function of energy stones."

He Yuzhu sighed softly and pushed the Jade Bi back in front of Cui Xiu: "Aunt Cui Shenzi, I'll be honest. If it were in the past, I might have been able to put in a word. But this time I messed up some things and had a rather unpleasant falling out with the person above. At this juncture, even if I begged her, she wouldn't help me!"

He Yuzhu was telling the truth; if he did not hand over Lin Wanning, Tian Dan would not give him face for the time being. He also understood Tian Dan's intentions; if she obtained Lin Wanning, she would not kill her, but rather make her assist in solving the case.

Cui Xiu's eyes turned red and she was about to kneel again, but He Yuzhu hurriedly reached out to support her: "Auntie, please don't be like this. Think about it, the crime Xu Damao committed this time—providing funds to enemy agents—is a major crime. This charge... is truly too heavy..."

After hearing He Yuzhu's words, Cui Xiu also felt it made sense. Finally, she put away the Jade Bi, nodded slightly at He Yuzhu, and walked out of the room, looking completely wilted.

The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, He Yuzhu's door was knocked on with a "thump, thump, thump."

He got up to open the door and saw He Yushui standing outside with four little friends, each of them looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Classmate Yushui, why are you calling me so early?"

"Hurry up and go to Uncle's house! We're going to help!" He Yushui tugged at his sleeve, "Mom said Uncle doesn't know anything!"

He Yuzhu tapped her forehead lightly: "You child, don't say that when you see Uncle."

"Got it, got it." He Yushui curled her lips, looking unconvinced.

He Yuzhu let the children into the room: "Wait for me a moment." He touched the gauze wrapped around his head and said with some worry: "If I go over looking like this, it'll be like attending a funeral. What should I do? How about this, I'll send you all over and then come right back."

Ding Li's eyes darted around: "How about I get you a piece of silk to wrap around the outside of the gauze? Just like how ethnic minority women wrap their headscarves; it covers the wound and doesn't look obvious."

He Yuzhu laughed: "That's a good idea! No wonder you study art!"

He Yushui circled around He Yuzhu and asked: "Brother, who did you fight with again? You even got hurt this time; that person must be quite formidable, right?"

"Who else could it be? It's that group of people who kidnapped Xiaoqi before," He Yuzhu said.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoqi bit her lip and said in a low voice: "That woman is rotten to the core."

Once packed and ready, He Yuzhu took his mother Shen Guizhi, the prepared gifts, and the five chattering little girls, and headed all the way to Shen Wenqing's house.

This was his first time coming to Shen Wenqing's new home; it was a tidy, single-courtyard house with three main rooms, two rooms in each of the east and west wings, and red "double happiness" characters pasted on the doors and window lattices.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Shen Guizhi began to busy herself, and the few little girls were also kept running around by his instructions.

He Yuzhu, on the contrary, became idle; apart from being the driver running here and there, he had nothing else to do.

The wedding banquet was arranged at He Ji Restaurant near West Temple, with a total of over twenty tables set up.

All this money was paid by Shen Guizhi; she likely put in all her private savings from many years.

Those attending the banquet were all Shen Wenqing's colleagues and friends, and the atmosphere was very lively.

He Yuzhu wandered around the banquet and actually saw old acquaintances he hadn't seen in a long time—Lao Zhou and Li Xiangxiu.

He smiled and went up to them: "Deputy Bureau Chief Zhou, it's been several years, everything is well, right?"

Lao Zhou laughed heartily and patted his shoulder: "Although we haven't seen much of each other, I've heard plenty about your affairs. How about it, I heard you... blew that whole group to nothing?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu immediately got annoyed: "Did Tian Dan tell you? This woman is really..." Before he could finish his sentence, someone suddenly patted his back, neither lightly nor heavily, right on his wound, making him hiss in pain.

"Talking bad about me, are you?" Tian Dan walked out from behind him with a smile, showing no signs of anger on her face.

"Dan, you're looking good today! After such a great achievement this time, are you going to be promoted to Deputy Bureau Chief?" He Yuzhu flattered her.

Tian Dan smiled without answering, only pulling him to a less crowded pillar nearby and lowering her voice: "I sent people to check; that mountain collapsed over fifty meters. To clear it, it will take hundreds of people several months to finish. This time, I'll count it as your win!"

"Dan, if a woman is too smart, it's easy to have no friends," He Yuzhu rubbed his nose.

Tian Dan didn't dwell on it; she took a folded piece of paper from her bosom and stuffed it into his hand: "Help me translate this secret code, and we'll call it even."

He Yuzhu took it and glanced at it: "Alright, I'll go back and check some materials, I'll try my best to translate it for you. However, I have something I want to ask you!"

"What is it?" Tian Dan immediately became alert.

"Don't be so nervous, it's a small matter. Did you arrest a kid from an antique shop? He's my neighbor," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

Tian Dan sneered: "He's got some nerve. If I don't let him learn a lesson this time, who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause in the future."

He Yuzhu nodded: "I don't necessarily have to intervene, it just depends on... whether he has anything I'm interested in. Within your jurisdiction, what's the lightest sentence he could get?"

"Three years," Tian Dan said crisply. "If we pursue the charge of aiding the enemy, at least ten years."

He Yuzhu nodded.

Tian Dan said: "I just came to give a gift to Old Shen; I don't have time to eat, I still have a meeting to attend."

"Go ahead and get busy!" He Yuzhu waved with a smile.

At this moment, Li Xiangxiu walked out and said: "Zhuzi, how is Wang Xia doing? I haven't seen her in a long time."

"She's doing quite well; the factory at the Street Office is very profitable. Are you still working as Lao Zhou's Secretary?" He Yuzhu asked.

"I'm the Office Deputy Director now," Li Xiangxiu said proudly.

"Impressive! You're already a Deputy Section Chief," He Yuzhu praised.

Public Security Bureau Detention Center.

Cui Xiu came to see Xu Damao again. Her eyes were red, and her voice was choked with sobs: "I went to beg the He Family... He Yuzhu said he could have helped, but he messed up a matter recently and had a falling out with the person above, so he can't help right now!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao sneered, "Heh." "Mom, listen to what he said. It's obvious he's saying he doesn't think much of those few pieces of jade and wants something better. That bastard has a cousin who especially likes ancient jade!"

A glint suddenly flashed in Cui Xiu's eyes: "You... can you tell there's a hidden meaning in his words?"

Xu Damao rolled his eyes and lowered his voice: "This grandson is very familiar with that woman surnamed Tian who arrested me. It seems if I don't bleed a little this time, I won't be getting out!"

Cui Xiu immediately became happy and said: "Damao, money is an external possession. If you sit in prison for decades, your life will truly be over! Give him whatever valuable things you have!"

Xu Damao looked left and right, then lowered his voice: "Mom, go to that small courtyard of mine at Qianmen. Under the persimmon tree directly facing the main gate, there's a jar... inside is a large piece of jade. Take it and give it to him. If that still doesn't work... then forget it."

Cui Xiu wiped away a tear: "Damao, if you promise me one thing, Mother will go and run this errand for you."

"You name it!"

"If you can get out this time, don't follow your Siqiang anymore. Mother will find you a proper job." Cui Xiu's tone was resolute, "Otherwise, I would rather you stay inside."

Xu Damao gritted his teeth and slammed a fist onto the tabletop: "Fine! I promise you!"