Chapter 273: Forging Evidence

"When was the memorial service held?"

"Think carefully before you answer."

Li Ya turned his head to look at him, reminding him.

"It seems it was October 3rd."

"That's right, September 26th was the day Chen Cuiping passed away, and the memorial service happened to be on the seventh day after her death."

Gu Youniu pondered for a moment and answered with certainty.

October 3rd.

It matched the intelligence perfectly.

It seemed that piece of intelligence was the real deal.

If he could get his hands on the original, he could make an arrest, but it was a pity that the dead stutterer wouldn't open his mouth.

"Are you sure?" Li Ya asked.

"Sure."

"People even came from above; Sister Ping was well-liked, there were over a hundred people at the funeral." Gu Youniu's honest face was full of pride and sorrow.

"Do you miss her?" Li Ya asked.

"I do, how could I not?" Gu Youniu's eyes dimmed.

"Do you know she had an older sister?" Li Ya glanced at him and continued to ask.

"I haven't heard of that." Gu Youniu said.

"I'm telling you, she does."

"She looks just like Chen Cuiping, and she's a Mobile Corps Commander leader in the mountains of Yixian."

"When you see her later, you'll naturally recognize her."

Li Ya smiled and said.

"Mobile Corps Commander leader..." Gu Youniu opened his mouth but didn't respond further.

Li Ya glanced at him sideways and said coldly:

"Do you know who saved your life?"

"I know, it was you." Gu Youniu nodded.

"Good that you know. Without me, you would have been taken straight to be executed."

"For your sake, I spent a fortune pulling strings."

"Little Brother Gu, one must be grateful."

"I saved your life, you should show some appreciation."

Li Ya was quite skilled at psychological warfare and hoodwinking people.

"Yes, yes, Captain Li, you tell me." Gu Youniu nodded repeatedly.

"No rush. Welcome to Jinhai."

"I'll take you to eat first."

Li Ya smiled, stepped on the gas, and drove to a high-end foreign restaurant.

He personally cut the steak for Gu Youniu and poured him red wine.

"Never had this before, right?"

"Is it good?"

He sipped his wine and asked with a smile at Gu Youniu, who was wolfing down the food opposite him.

"It's good."

"I've grown up this big and never eaten anything so delicious, such a big piece of beef."

"City people are really lucky, they can eat anything."

"They're even willing to slaughter cows."

Gu Youniu answered indistinctly while chewing.

Soon, he finished eating, rubbed his belly, and smiled honestly:

"Captain Li, it's delicious, but it's not as filling as steamed buns or meat buns, hehe."

"Easy to fix."

"Waiter, another set meal."

Li Ya turned his head and shouted.

Gu Youniu ate three portions in a row and downed several glasses of red wine before saying, "Thank you, Captain Li. It's really satisfying; I haven't been this full in a long time."

"If you work for me from now on, you can eat steak and drink red wine every day."

"See that girl over there?"

"Do you like her?"

Li Ya pointed at the pretty waitress in the lobby and said.

"I see her."

"She's got big hips, she can definitely bear sons."

Gu Youniu nodded and said.

"As long as you like them, you can find ten, a hundred women like her, and they'll bear you a whole litter."

Li Ya knew well that for people like this, the two main pillars were being well-fed and clothed, and continuing the family line.

"But, but how much money would that take?"

"I can't afford to marry."

Gu Youniu swallowed, his face turning red with embarrassment.

"From today on, you are an external member of my Action Team. With me, are you afraid you won't have chances to earn merit?"

"When the time comes, you'll have money and status."

"I guarantee you'll marry a wife a hundred times prettier than her with even bigger hips."

Li Ya smiled, first painting a big picture for him.

"Yes, yes, thank you, Big Brother Li."

"From today on, I'm working for you. Wherever you say to strike, I'll strike!"

Gu Youniu said, moved to tears.

"Let's go."

"I'll find you a place to settle down first."

Li Ya took him and found a small house near the Embroidery Building.

"If you're lonely, you can go play in the Embroidery Building."

"It's close to the theater too."

"Not many people know you here, but you still need to try your best to keep your identity hidden. Go out less during the day, and do your leisure activities at night."

After settling Gu Youniu in, Li Ya instructed him.

"Got it, Big Brother Li."

"If I'm recognized, they'll catch me and take me back to be executed."

Gu Youniu said, understanding well.

Li Ya laughed: "Right, right, to be executed."

After arranging for Gu Youniu, Li Ya quickly returned to the station.

Arriving at the lobby, he happened to run into Hong Zhiyou.

"Captain Li, haven't seen you for several days." Hong Zhiyou took the initiative to greet him.

"Indeed."

"Away on official business."

"A life of toil!"

Li Ya shrugged and gave a bitter smile.

"A new seafood restaurant opened in Hedong; it's quite good. When you're free, let's go grab a meal. Old Xie just got out of the hospital and wants to treat, he asked me to invite you." Hong Zhiyou said.

"He's treating? It wouldn't be good for me to go." Li Ya touched the bridge of his nose, looking slightly awkward.

"White sugar."

"One thing is one thing."

Hong Zhiyou said in a low voice.

"We'll see, we'll see." Li Ya smiled.

"Fine, tell me when you're convenient so I can give him an answer."

Hong Zhiyou waved his hand and walked away quickly.

Face haggard!

Bad breath!

Bloodshot eyes!

Li Ya had been on a long trip, and he probably hadn't rested well along the way, or rather, he had been in a state of high mental tension.

But his mood seemed quite good.

This was the result of a long-distance raid with some gains.

The Station Master was right; most of the people around Hu Zongnan were all talk and no substance. This Zhou Li was unreliable.

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

Deputy Station Master's office.

Yu Zecheng pulled back the curtain and took a look; Li Ya had gotten in his car and left.

He set out the tea tray.

A moment later, Hong Zhiyou walked in with his hands in his pockets: "Old Yu, something up?"

"Captain Li has been gone for seven days."

"I checked the attendance records; his reason for leave was official business."

"Based on his past habits, he would definitely come to claim reimbursement for tickets and gas money immediately, but he's gone."

Yu Zecheng raised his hand and said with some worry.

"He went to Xi'an."

"And, there's a high probability he found Gu Youniu."

Hong Zhiyou looked at the ceiling and said.

"Gu Youniu?"

After a brief moment of shock, Yu Zecheng's pupils dilated rapidly.

"This person has seen Chen Cuiping. If he lets her see Wang Cuiping, with the way those two sisters look, wouldn't it be exposed?" He frowned and said.

"What's meant to come will come sooner or later."

"Being anxious is no use."

"You tell the Senior Sister to carry on as usual; I'll have Wu Ruirui accompany her recently."

"Even if Li Ya wants to arrest the Senior Sister."

"He won't be able to handle it secretly."

"As long as it's an open arrest, there must be ironclad evidence."

"Although I don't know what evidence he has in his hands now, as long as it's within the station, there's room to maneuver."

Hong Zhiyou said indifferently.

"Hmm."

"This guy Li Ya is really too cunning."

"Much more insidious than Ma Kui."

"How is it over at Old Lu's side?"

Yu Zecheng asked.

Don't look at how Lu Qiaoshan calls him brother; in the station, the only one he's truly close to is Hong Zhiyou.

"According to my informant in the Inspection Team."

"Lu Qiaoshan has caught a big fish."

"This person is a Red Ticket from Yancheng."

Hong Zhiyou's voice lowered even more.

"What?"

"Then wouldn't Wang Cuiping and I be in even more danger?" Yu Zecheng said.

"This person is a traitor."

"When Hu Zongnan occupied Yancheng, he escaped and defected to Li Ya, but was caught by Lu Qiaoshan for sending private telegrams."

"According to my people, Li Ya used this person to investigate Chen Cuiping's social connections in Yancheng, as well as Zuo Lan's current situation."

"He even received things from Yancheng."

"In other words, this mole hidden in Yancheng is high-ranking and has a certain amount of power."

"The codename is Butcher."

Hong Zhiyou opened the window, lit a cigarette with a 'snap', and said.

"This person is too dangerous. No, I must notify the organization as soon as possible." Yu Zecheng said.

"No rush."

"Don't act rashly yet, let Lu Qiaoshan handle it."

"Lu Qiaoshan won't let such an opportunity go, and with the intelligence from Old Shang's side, Lu Qiaoshan will likely be able to pin Li Ya down."

"Wait until they finish their duel, then you report it."

Hong Zhiyou was afraid he would alert the enemy.

"Hmm."

Yu Zecheng nodded.

"Zhiyou, I truly admire you. You can even find a secret line in the Inspection Team; the rank of someone who knows about this must be quite high, right?" Yu Zecheng handed Hong Zhiyou a cup of tea and chatted idly.

"Most people in this world are vulgar, and the pursuits of vulgar people are nothing more than two things: money and dignity."

"I can give people money, and I can respect them."

"They have no reason not to do things for me."

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

Yu Zecheng didn't ask who that person was; it was the professional code.

After chatting briefly, seeing that Hong Zhiyou had no intention of leaving, he paused and said, "Anything else?"

"Yes."

"The Station Master hopes you'll move your position."

Hong Zhiyou pointed at his seat.

"This, so soon?" Yu Zecheng blinked, feeling quite surprised.

"Yes."

"Lu Qiaoshan made a great contribution in the last parade suppression and was promoted to Colonel."

"Since he's on par with Li Ya, he has the qualifications to compete."

"Without some bait, how can you make two tigers fight?"

"Besides, there's no logic in having two Colonels doing chores for a Lieutenant Colonel."

"Old Yu, you understand."

Hong Zhiyou said in a business-like tone.

"Understood."

"Honestly, I'm a bit reluctant."

"Deputy Station Master Yu sounds much better than Director Yu, it's one more word, isn't it?"

Yu Zecheng dusted off his seat and gave a bitter smile.

"That's not just one more word."

"It can be many more words."

"No choice, the situation doesn't allow it, and besides, there aren't two years left to sit in it, fighting for it has no meaning at all."

"Being at the bottom has the benefits of the bottom; many things can be seen more clearly."

"It's cold at the top."

Hong Zhiyou laughed with tacit understanding.

"Then let it go." Yu Zecheng looked up and said.

"By the way, how is Old Xie?" He asked.

"This guy couldn't stay in the hospital, said it wasn't convenient to do business, and has already gone home. Dean Ding arranged a special doctor for him."

"He does have a batch of white sugar on hand."

"It won't keep much longer."

"It's all turning yellow, but it can still be used, and selling it now can still earn a profit."

"Isn't Li Ya wanting to flip white sugar?"

"Old Xie wants to take a step back and flip it to him; earning a little is better than nothing, he can't let it rot in his hands."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Still dare to do business with Li Ya?"

"As expected of Old Xie."

Yu Zecheng clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Indeed, not an ordinary person."

"He is a true, pure businessman."

"Compared to him, I feel inferior."

Hong Zhiyou shook his head, laughed, and walked out.

Night.

Cat Ear Alley.

Li Ya knocked on the door.

Shang Bo opened the door, and seeing it was Li Ya, he was so scared he almost sat on the ground.

"What's wrong? I'm a person, not a ghost." Li Ya sneered.

You're more poisonous than a ghost!

The news of Old Xie being caught had spread through the circle; Li Ya's act of smashing the pot was like a stone causing a thousand waves, and he was viewed by the entire circle as a flood dragon and wild beast.

Old Shang's instinctive first reaction was that Li Ya had come to forcibly seize intelligence.

"Can the intelligence on 'Deep Sea' be lowered a bit?" Li Ya raised his eyebrows and asked.

"Captain Li, there's no talking to anyone else, but who are you? I'll bleed a little, lower it a bit more, twenty-five big yellow fish, deal immediately." Shang Bo was afraid of death and said, acting a bit cowardly.

"What if I don't pay?" Li Ya retorted.

"Captain Li, even if you kill me, you won't get it. If I die, someone will immediately destroy the intelligence."

"Thanks to you, the entire industry code has changed now."

"Transactions don't carry stock."

"It's all payment first, buyer self-pickup, wait for the pickup."

Old Shang took a slight breath and said.

"Twenty gold bars, sell or not?" Li Ya asked.

"Can't sell." Shang Bo looked him straight in the eye and said.

"Forget it then."

"Whether it exists or not isn't important anymore."

"Do you have any telegrams or documents issued by the Border Defense in the past?"

"From anywhere is fine, not limited to Jinhai."

Li Ya said.

"I have those, many are past their expiration date, you give a friendly price, take whatever you want." Old Shang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Inside.

He flipped out a batch of materials that were about to mold and handed them to Li Ya.

Li Ya took a few looks and randomly picked a few with clear stamps and signatures: "How much?"

"You decide." Shang Bo said.

"Behave yourself from now on!"

Li Ya fished a few scattered legal tender notes from his pocket and threw them coldly on the ground.

"Yes, yes."

Shang Bo nodded and bowed as he picked up the money.

Li Ya turned his head, gave a contemptuous cold snort, and walked out.

After Li Ya was far away, Shang Bo's face turned gloomy, and he tore the banknotes into shreds. He quickly picked up the phone:

"Hello, Old Jiang."

"Any news?"

"Oh, Li Ya is so rampant, openly breaking the rules, and no one cares?"

"What about Jianfeng's people?"

"Isn't he also made of flesh and blood? He came to smash my stall again today."

"If we let him continue to cause trouble, this industry will be impossible to survive in; everyone might as well close their shops and go home to drink milk."

"Good."

"Got it, then let him be arrogant for a few more days."

"Rest assured, when it comes time to raise money, count me in."

After Shang Bo finished speaking, he hung up the phone with a 'snap'.

Li Ya's open smashing of the pot this time had moved many people's cheese, and at least the high-level officials involved in the Ministry of National Defense were extremely dissatisfied.

It was just that Jianfeng was already investigating the military side of things.

The "big shots" above didn't dare to make a move at this sensitive time.

However, once this sensitive time passed, Li Ya would definitely have to eat a bullet.

Li Ya took the intelligence, lit a fire, turned on the high beams, and drove to a luxurious courtyard by the Haihe River.

He knocked on the copper ring on the door.

Soon, a servant walked out: "Sir, can I help you?"

"Is Mr. Liu in?"

"Li Ya from the Jinhai Station has a request."

He said.

"Please wait a moment, let me go report."

The servant closed the door.

Soon he walked out again: "Mr. Li, please come in."

Inside, Liu Yunchen was already waiting with a pipe in one hand and a purple clay teapot in the other.

"Mr. Liu, long time no see, how have you been?" Li Ya asked with a smile.

"Quite well."

"I've dealt with your Jinhai Station's Director Lu and Secretary Hong many times, so we're not outsiders. Speak." Liu Yunchen raised his hand to invite him to sit.

"Can you imitate this?" Li Ya handed the telegrams and documents to Liu Yunchen.

"I can."

"There isn't a handwriting or stamp in this world I can't imitate."

"But it will take some time."

Liu Yunchen put on his glasses and looked at them carefully for a few moments before saying.

"Can you get it done within three days?" Li Ya handed him Chen Cuiping's obituary and the telegram content about the urgent transfer to Jinhai.

"No need."

"Two days at most."

"But the cost won't be cheap."

Liu Yunchen bit his pipe and laughed proudly.

"How much?" Li Ya asked.

"Two big yellow fish." Liu Yunchen held up two fingers.

"No, just imitating these few words and adding a stamp is that expensive?" Li Ya was getting anxious.

"See this?" Liu Yunchen held out his hand.

"What?" Li Ya didn't understand.

"Listen carefully."

"This hand has gifted poems to Chen Bulei and inscribed characters for Liu Yazi's garden."

"Even when the Chairman wants me to write a few strokes, he has to add a 'please'."

"Charging you two gold bars, do you still think it's expensive?"

Liu Yunchen held up his fair right hand and said proudly.

"Fine, fine, fine, two it is." Li Ya hated these pretentious scholars and frowned unhappily.

"No."

"Now it's four." Liu Yunchen sneered.

"No, you're raising the price on the spot, are you playing with me?" Li Ya said angrily.

"Take it or leave it."

"See the guest out!"

Liu Yunchen had always been arrogant, and seeing Li Ya's dead-set attitude, he really wasn't going to serve him.

"Captain Li."

"My Master Liu has this temper, please."

The butler raised his hand and said.

"Four... four it is!" Li Ya gritted his teeth and said.

"Then pay up." Liu Yunchen said.

"Isn't it payment upon delivery?" Li Ya said.

"For others, yes."

"For you, no. You can even eat Old Xie, I can't afford to play with you, old bones that I am."

Liu Yunchen sneered with disdain.

"You!" Li Ya was furious, his eyes glaring.

Liu Yunchen couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind and walked inside with a flick of his hand.

"Captain Li, what are you waiting for? Go home and get the money." The butler said with sarcasm.

"Fine."

Li Ya bit his lip, nodded fiercely, and walked away quickly.

Then, he fetched the money and obediently returned to pay the bill.

Night.

Hong Zhiyou and Wu Ruirui had a fierce battle, and the two of them were panting and hugging each other.

"Little girl, are you a tiger? Trying to eat someone."

Hong Zhiyou laughed, exhausted.

This was no longer a White Bone Spirit; three strikes weren't enough, it would take five.

"So what? To bear you a child, how long has it been?"

"Finally recovered, don't you have to compensate me?"

Wu Ruirui laughed coquettishly.

"Must compensate, must compensate."

"Tomorrow I'll ask the teacher for some deer antler powder and serve you well."

After joking a few times, Hong Zhiyou brought up the main point:

"Ruirui, tomorrow take the child to my house to stay for a while."

"I don't have an opinion."

"I'm just afraid Lele won't be used to it, and it wouldn't be convenient for Chou'er and the chef to go over." Wu Ruirui said.

"Li Ya might arrest my Senior Sister recently."

"If you're there, it won't be convenient for him to move her secretly." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Understood."

"You mean for me to follow Mrs. Yu?"

"The Great Master's order, how dare I not obey."

"Fine, then I'll take the child to our mother's house tomorrow morning."

"It also saves Mrs. Yu from running to our house."

"Rest assured, wherever she is, I'll be there, I absolutely won't give Li Ya a chance."

Wu Ruirui hugged Hong Zhiyou, raised her chin, and smiled.

"Many thanks, my wife, I... I'll go take medicine now." Hong Zhiyou was overjoyed.

"Disgusting."

The next day.

Hong Zhiyou was late for a rare occasion.

Arriving at the office with soft hands and feet, Wu Jingzhong was already working.

"Teacher, sorry, I'm late." He bowed to apologize.

"No matter."

"Striving for the next generation, being late is a small matter."

Wu Jingzhong smiled and winked.

He was now hoping for Ruirui to quickly continue the line with a boy.

With a boy, and the eldest son at that, even if he wasn't around in the future, if Ruirui was at home, her voice and the Wu family's bloodline inheriting the property would be more legitimate.

Hong Zhiyou gave an awkward smile, and just as he was about to tidy up, Wu Jingzhong stopped him:

"Don't tidy up today."

"Go, notify the heads of each department to come to the conference room for a meeting; there should be a conclusion to this matter of Deputy Station Master Yu Zecheng."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 274 =====