Chapter 256: Suspected Jia Youwei 2.0

Zhang Ping'an shook his head, only then realizing that this man seemed a bit... dull; he was the type with unfocused, vacant eyes, and his movements were much slower than an ordinary person's.

"Young man, do you really have things you want to buy? Let me weigh them for you."

"That works too. And this is?"

"Oh, he's called Jia Erleng. The previous owner of this scrap station was a Lao Qigai, and Jia Erleng seems to have been adopted by him. After the Lao Qigai died, this scrap station became his. Later, with the Public-Private Partnership, he became the current Private Manager."

"With him like this, he can only do some simple scrap sorting work; the Street Office is essentially just supporting him."

"Then how did he end up like this?"

"I'm not too sure myself. I heard it seems to be a condition he was born with."

"Oh, I see. How much is it in total?"

"You can give me one yuan and three mao."

"Alright, Grandpa, I might come by to buy more books, tables, and chairs in the future. I'll be troubling you often, so please take these cigarettes to smoke."

"Cough, cough, sure thing. Feel free to come by whenever you have time."

Zhang Ping'an was almost certain that this was San Jie Fu Lao Jia's younger brother, Jia Youwei, but just to be safe, he decided to ask around more in the vicinity.

After leaving the scrap station, Zhang Ping'an stored the items in his space and asked a few elderly men nearby about the situation at the scrap station.

"Grandpa, have a cigarette. I'd like to ask you something. I'm from Sijiucheng and want to buy some miscellaneous books to read. Can I buy cheap miscellaneous books at this scrap station?"

"Then you've asked the right person. This scrap station has been here for a long time, I think it was around the forties. A refugee beggar, Jia Laotou, brought a fool along and made a living by picking up scraps."

"Later, they developed a little bit, and life got a bit better. Unfortunately, that Jia Laotou didn't get to enjoy the good life for many days before he passed away, leaving only the fool to guard the scrap station."

"But Er Leng—oh, that's the fool—seems to have grown a bit of a brain in the last two years. He knows to run home when it rains, and he can wash his own clothes and eat by himself."

"Their scrap station is famous for its fair prices. Initially, the Public-Private Partnership was just to ensure someone would look after Er Leng, and it slowly developed into what it looks like today."

"Oh, heh." Zhang Ping'an didn't believe that the Public-Private Partnership was just to take care of a fool.

Zhang Ping'an was a bit hesitant. This person took the Lao Qigai's surname, but was it just a coincidence that it was the surname Jia?

Afterward, Zhang Ping'an asked around the area again, and the situation was more or less the same as what the old man had said.

In the end, Zhang Ping'an had no choice but to put on his Public Security Uniform, intending to go directly to the Street Office to get first-hand information, though he still greeted Wang Weiguo first to avoid blowing his cover.

The reason Zhang Ping'an didn't tell San Jie Fu Lao Jia immediately was that he was afraid of giving him hope only to have it turn into disappointment, so it was best to be one hundred percent sure before saying anything.

"Hello, Grandpa. I'm looking for your Street Office director. Which room is he in?"

"The one at the very end," the old man said, not stopping him after seeing Zhang Ping'an in a Public Security Uniform.

"Public Security comrade, is there something you need?"

"Hello, Director Liu. I am Zhang Ping'an." Zhang Ping'an glanced at the Street Office director's Work Permit.

"I am from Sijiucheng and am currently investigating an old case. I hope you can cooperate with the work. However, I came in a hurry this time and didn't bring the relevant documents. This is our bureau chief's phone number; you can call to verify."

"Alright." Director Liu called to verify directly, and after a few transfers, he was already able to confirm that this was real.

"Hello, this is Wang Weiguo."

"Director Wang, hello..."

"Mm, that is the case. I ask that Director Li please provide as much help as possible."

"Easily done, easily done."

After some pleasantries, Director Liu hung up the phone and then said to Zhang Ping'an:

"Officer Zhang, just say what information you need."

"It's the information on the original owner of that scrap station not far from here."

"Alright."

Before long, someone brought over a thick file. After a quick flip through, he pointed at the file and said:

"This is all the information on Jia Yusheng and Jia Erleng."

"Alright, thank you for the trouble."

Zhang Ping'an took it and looked; there was very little information. What could be confirmed was that Jia Erleng had been abandoned by someone and was later adopted by the Lao Qigai.

It was very likely that Jia Erleng had been abducted from Sijiucheng and brought here, and after discovering he was somewhat mentally disabled, they abandoned him.

After much hesitation, Zhang Ping'an decided to communicate with San Jie first. Zhang Ping'an called Wang Weiguo's office directly, and finally, Si Jie's husband relayed the message to San Jie.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Zhang Ping'an dialed Wang Weiguo's office phone again.

"Wang Shu, is my San Jie nearby?"

"She is. Xiaohua, come take the call; I'm going out for some air."

"Oh, alright. Many thanks, Wang Shu."

Wang Weiguo waved his hand and went out to smoke, leaving the space for the siblings.

"Ping'an, what's the matter?"

"San Jie, I might have found San Jie Fu's younger brother, Jia Youwei."

"What? Ping'an, you... really? Can you be sure?"

"I'm eighty percent sure. He looks seventy or eighty percent like San Jie Fu, and his mind isn't very good either. Based on the information I've investigated, there's an eighty percent chance it's true."

"Good, good, good. I, I..."

Zhang Xiaohua was also quite excited. This was a heavy burden on Lao Jia's heart; occasionally in his spare time, she would see Lao Jia sighing, and it went without saying that he was thinking of his brother.

"San Jie, do you think I should tell San Jie Fu, or..."

"Tell him, you must tell him. I'm going to tell Lao Jia right now. Ping'an, you wait there for us; we'll be over in these two days." After Zhang Xiaohua finished speaking, she hung up the phone and ran out in a hurry.

"..."

"San Jie is too impatient."

After coming out, Zhang Xiaohua didn't even bother to greet Wang Weiguo, and she hurriedly rode Si Jie's Bicycle to the Rolling Mill.

"Hello, this is a restricted area of the Rolling Mill. Non-employees are prohibited from entering."

"Hello, I am a family member of an employee. Could you please help me call Jia Youcai, a Level Six Worker in the second workshop?"

"Sure, wait a moment." Upon hearing it was a Level Six Worker, the Security Section had to arrange it immediately.

Zhang Xiaohua waited anxiously outside the factory for nearly twenty minutes before she saw her San Jie Fu, Lao Jia, come out.

"Lao Jia, I have something to tell you, but don't get excited."

"What is it? Tell me, Xiaohua." Lao Jia also noticed that his wife's state was not right and asked hurriedly.

"Ping'an, he... he seems to have seen your younger brother, Jia Youwei, in Modu."

"What? Are you telling the truth?" Lao Jia's hands gripped Zhang Xiaohua's arms tightly.

"It's true, Lao Jia. Ping'an said he looks eighty percent like you and is also a bit slow-witted. Based on the timeline, it is very likely your brother Youwei."

"Good, good, good."

Lao Jia was trembling all over with excitement; this was the first time in over thirty years that he had news of his own brother.

"I'm going to ask for leave right now, Xiaohua, you wait for me." Lao Jia hurried back into the factory.

Zhang Xiaohua watched Lao Jia's state and felt uneasy; just as she wanted to go in, she was stopped by the Security Department.

"Comrade, could I trouble you to make a call to Procurement Section Two? The Deputy Section Chief, Jia Dongxu, is my son."

"This... alright."

After receiving the call, Jia Dongxu hurried over. After asking about the full story, he also went to ask for leave; he was worried about his father traveling far in this state.

The family of three soon gathered at the factory gate. Lao Jia did not stop Jia Dongxu from asking for leave; he had indeed been very excited just now, and even now, he still was.

The three of them went home to pack simply, told Qin Huairu, and headed straight for the train station, but it was too late, and there were no train departures at all in the evening.