Song Hongyu dropped her son off at the daycare center and took a taxi to another residential area. Zhen Zhen sat in Qiao Zhikai’s car, following her at a discreet distance. Song Hongyu entered a building, and Zhen Zhen followed. She noticed the elevator stopped on the fifth floor and didn’t move again. Zhen Zhen ran up the stairs to the fifth floor, where there were only two apartments, making it easy to keep watch. She hid in the emergency stairwell, observing both doors. Two hours later, Song Hongyu emerged, accompanied by a thin man with fair skin. After confirming he wasn’t part of the criminal gang, it became clear that Song Hongyu was having an affair with him. Moreover, he wasn’t her only lover.
I disguised myself as a retired cadre carrying a birdcage and strolled around the pool hall. Yang Bo approached, rolling two walnuts in his hand. We stood under a tree, chatting like old neighbors.
Yang Bo said, “He doesn’t often go home, usually staying here. He sleeps around one or two in the morning and wakes up around noon the next day. He frequently eats out too.”
I checked my watch; it was exactly noon, so he was likely awake. A few minutes later, Deng Ligang emerged from the pool hall, dressed neatly. A young man called Er Biao pulled up in a car. Deng Ligang got in, and they drove off. Our car followed at a distance. Deng Ligang’s car stopped in a parking lot on a street known for its restaurants. They walked into a restaurant, where beer and a table full of dishes were soon laid out. Deng Ligang, Er Biao, and several ruffians sat around the table. I led Lin Hui and Yang Bo into the restaurant, choosing a table next to theirs. We ordered simply: a plate of fried meat with noodles and a bottle of beer each. I noticed Deng Ligang’s shoulder bag on his chair, its zipper not fully closed, revealing a dagger and a machete inside.
Er Biao asked, “Boss, want some baijiu?”
Deng Ligang waved his hand in refusal and asked, “I’ve been out on business these past couple of days and haven’t been keeping an eye on the shop. Any trouble?”
A thug beside him said, “Boss, that kid called Da Tou from West Street has been causing trouble at the pool hall lately. He’s even got the nerve to ask us for money.”
Deng Ligang replied, “Tell him if he keeps acting up, I’ll scoop out his eyeballs with a spoon and stomp on them.”
He then picked up a rib and put it in his mouth, crunching on the cartilage.
He continued, “If they don’t believe it, let them come. In my book, if you don’t draw blood when you hit someone, it doesn’t count as hitting. When I fight, I must win. That’s the only outcome of a fight.”
His words sent a chill down my spine. Ten years had passed, but this bastard’s murderous aura hadn’t diminished one bit.
A young man came in and whispered something in Deng Ligang’s ear.
Deng Ligang’s expression remained unchanged. He had barely eaten but left immediately. Our car followed him at a distance, watching him enter a residential area and return to his home.
Deng Ligang entered, tossing his keys onto the shoe cabinet by the door. Seeing Song Hongyu’s shoes, he knew she was home. Song Hongyu sat on the sofa, cracking sunflower seeds and watching TV. She didn’t even turn her head when she heard Deng Ligang come in. He asked, “Did you take our son to daycare?”
Song Hongyu grunted in response, her eyes not leaving the TV.
Deng Ligang glanced at the TV, which was playing a tearjerker romance drama.
He sat down on the sofa opposite her. “Living quite the carefree life, aren’t you?” His words were full of mockery.
Song Hongyu looked at him. “What’s there to envy? This is your home. If you want to live like this, you could do it in a heartbeat.”
Deng Ligang stared at Song Hongyu, trying hard to suppress his anger. Song Hongyu cracked open another sunflower seed. “Why are you staring at me? There’s no honey on my face.” She didn’t even bother to look up as she spoke.
Deng Ligang said, “I think you’re getting more and more out of line.”
“In your mind, what would be considered ‘inline’?”
“Song Hongyu, you don’t have a trace of your old self left.”
“Have you ever seen a woman who’s the same inside and out?”
Deng Ligang lowered his voice and said, “If you dare go out to meet that bastard again, I’ll rip his head off.”
Song Hongyu turned to look at him. “Why bother with him? If you want to rip something off, rip mine off.”
Deng Ligang felt his chest tighten at her words. He said, “Don’t think that just because you’re the mother of my son, I won’t do anything to you!”
Song Hongyu replied, “What could you possibly do to me?”
“Don’t Freaking push me!” Deng Ligang’s words came out through gritted teeth.
Song Hongyu’s tone was calm. “Isn’t death what people fear most? I’ve long since chewed up and swallowed that word.”
Deng Ligang poured himself a cup of tea. He noticed his hand was shaking slightly.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll use family discipline?” he asked Song Hongyu.
“Family discipline? Why not use multiplication instead?” Song Hongyu’s lips curled into a smile.
Deng Ligang took a sip of tea and walked over to Song Hongyu, looking at her with complex emotions in his eyes.
He reached out a hand, beckoning to her. Song Hongyu thought he wanted to resolve their conflict with an embrace, as he had done in the past. She stood up and walked over, but Deng Ligang swung his arm and slapped her hard across the face.
Song Hongyu went berserk, smashing everything she could in the house before storming out, and slamming the door behind her.
Deng Ligang immediately sobered up, realizing the situation was dire. He chased after her to her father’s house. Old Song, living in a foreign place without relatives or friends, had become increasingly eccentric and irritable. He had repeatedly argued about wanting to return to their old home in Huayuan, disturbing the neighbors and attracting the attention of the community security guards, who came to observe and mediate.
Seeing Deng Ligang arrive, Old Song immediately started cursing, “You ruined my New Year’s Day, then you destroyed my Spring Festival. Why don’t you just bring some joss paper on Qingming Festival and set me and the house on fire while you’re at it?”
He cursed at Deng Ligang, each sentence more vicious than the last. Deng Ligang had a violent temper but respected his elders. Old Song was his father-in-law, so he couldn’t hit or curse back at him. As Old Song’s insults became more outrageous and his voice grew louder, Deng Ligang finally lost his patience. He asked Old Song, “What’s wrong with a son looking for his mother and asking her to come home?”
Old Song, spittle flying, retorted, “If it weren’t for you keeping my daughter here against her will, would I have been imprisoned in this place where I don’t know a single face for years?”
“I’ve been running around, working hard to earn money to support your Song family. Even if I don’t have any merit, don’t I at least get credit for my efforts?” Deng Ligang asked.
Old Song said, “No matter how big someone else’s roof is, it’s not as good as having your umbrella. We don’t need your hard work. Tonight, I’m taking my daughter, son, and grandson back to Huayuan.”
Deng Ligang asked, “Do you dare to leave?”
Old Song’s eyes widened. “You’ll see if I dare or not!”
Deng Ligang said, “Let me go ahead of you then.”
He leaped onto the windowsill, opened the window, and turned to look at Old Song. “If you dare mention leaving one more time, I’ll jump right now. After that, your entire Song family, old and young, can open your mouths wide and drink the northwest wind!”
When it came to survival, Old Song immediately fell silent. Song Hongyu grabbed Deng Ligang and pulled him down from the windowsill.
Without another word, Deng Ligang took her hand and led her back home.
Gu Jing and Xiao Ma pretended to be buying tea at Feng Shuanghuan’s shop. They sat at the tea table, watching Feng Shuanghuan wash and brew tea. Feng Shuanghuan introduced the tea to them: “This is Jin Jun Mei, a top-grade black tea. It takes about 60,000 to 80,000 buds to make one jin of this tea.”
Gu Jing took a sip and nodded repeatedly. “Delicious.”
Xiao Ma chimed in, “Fragrant.”
“Now try this Biluochun,” Feng Shuanghuan offered.
Gu Jing and Xiao Ma sampled cup after cup, enjoying the free tea tasting.
Xiao Ma asked, “Sister, can you also top up mobile phones here?”
“Yes, we offer that service too,” she replied.
Shi Bi, now going by the name Sun Xuequan, returned and was startled to see Gu Jing and Xiao Ma.
Feng Shuanghuan asked, “Where’s our son?”
Shi Bi replied, “He’s outside playing football with some kids.”
The Shi Bi before them had gained at least thirty jin. At first glance, he was almost unrecognizable. His skin was loose, his body obese, presenting a dejected and decadent appearance. Gu Jing carefully examined his features, confirming that this Shi Bi was indeed the one they were looking for. Shi Bi nodded politely to Gu Jing and Xiao Ma before heading to the back room.
Gu Jing bought two liangs of jasmine tea and left with Xiao Ma.
Ji Dashun was the least successful of the four. He quickly grew tired of life with Xiao Liying. When Xiao Liying mentioned that she had a relative who had made money in the coal mines and built a siheyuan in their hometown, Ji Dashun became interested. He discussed it with Deng Ligang. Deng Ligang thought that the coal mine, being a hundred li from Suilu, would be easy to control. He gave Ji Dashun some money to invest, demanding 30% of the annual income. The same went for Shi Bi. Similarly, he put 30% of his billiard hall and foot massage parlor business into the pot for everyone to share.
This way, Deng Ligang wasn’t taking advantage; he was using money to keep the gang together, ensuring they wouldn’t disperse. They agreed not to contact each other unless it was important, meeting only for a meal during the New Year. Ji Dashun had also committed murder, though not as many as Deng Ligang and Shi Bi. Liang En, who partnered with him, found Ji Dashun to be quick-witted and capable, always completing tasks excellently. He admired him and put him in charge of procurement. Those who worked with Ji Dashun at the coal yard felt he had an inherent sinister aura and was a ruthless character, so they tried to avoid him as much as possible.
Ji Dashun’s mobile phone signal was located at a coal mine 100 kilometers away from Suilu City. There were many coal plants in the area. By analyzing Ji Dashun’s surrounding relationships, we found the coal boss he was working with. I pretended to be from a Tianjin power plant and called him, saying I wanted to place an order. Coal boss Liang En, seeing a business opportunity, immediately went to the agreed-upon coffee house for a meeting.
I arrived at the coffee house first and greeted coal boss Liang En when he arrived. Getting straight to the point, I showed him my police badge. Liang En was bewildered. I took out a photo of Ji Dashun and showed it to him.
“Do you know this person?” I asked.
“Yes, his name is Wu Jianye. He’s my business partner,” Liang En replied.
I said, “He’s a fugitive we’ve been chasing for ten years.”
Liang En was so shocked his mouth hung half-open, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He said, “I didn’t know. I didn’t know.”
I said, “It’s okay if you didn’t know before, but now that we’ve told you, if you don’t cooperate with our work and cover for him, you’ll be guilty of harboring a criminal. We will deal with you according to the law.”
“I’m willing to cooperate with the police, but you have to promise me one thing,” Liang En said.
“Go on,” I replied.
Liang En said, “Wu Jianye has been drained by alcohol and women. Plus, years of working in the dark, damp mines have taken their toll. He’s been diagnosed with cancer. Since getting this illness, his temper has become especially volatile. People at the mine avoid him if they can. I can lead your people into the mine, but I absolutely cannot show my face. I’m afraid he’ll take revenge on me and use me as a scapegoat.”
I said, “Don’t worry, we’ll guarantee your safety.”
Our small team had been staking out Suilu City for nine days. All four criminals were finally confirmed, and Snow City sent twenty special police officers to prepare for the arrest operation. I didn’t dare use local police forces, fearing that the complex social relationships in the area might lead to information leaks. If there were any operational errors, all our efforts would be in vain. Deng Ligang was exceptionally strong in anti-detection and anti-pursuit abilities, and he always carried a knife. We had to be fully prepared to arrest him, without any oversights. If he escaped again, we might never find him in this lifetime. I had considered all possibilities and had long since disregarded my own life.
I began assigning arrest tasks. I would be responsible for the number one target, Deng Ligang. Deputy Squad Leader Yang Bo and two special police officers over 1.8 meters tall would accompany me.
Gu Jing’s task was to arrest Shi Bi, while Zhen Zhen and Lin Wei were responsible for arresting Song Hongyu. When assigning tasks, my gaze lingered on Zhen Zhen for a longer time. Zhen Zhen understood my concern and responded with an unwavering look.
Ge Shoujia was assigned to arrest Ji Dashun, who was a hundred li away. This was the primary stage of the arrest operation. If it failed and word got out, the four criminals would scatter like birds and beasts in the blink of an eye, like four drops of water merging into the sea, impossible to retrieve.
Ge Shoujia was short, spoke with a northern Jiangsu accent, and had an unremarkable appearance that would easily blend into a crowd. He led four plainclothes criminal police officers to the coal mine where Ji Dashun was located. They found Liang En, who was sitting in a coal-dust-covered office with several others, smoking and drinking tea.
Ge Shoujia said, “Boss, we’re from Danyang, Jiangsu. We want to buy some coal.”
Liang En understood their intentions and nervously said, “For coal purchases, you need to talk to Fourth Brother.”
Ge Shoujia immediately sent someone to take them to the mine shaft. The shaft was dark and damp, and their eyes took a moment to adjust.
Ge Shoujia raised his voice and called out, “Is Fourth Brother here?”
There was no answer.
Ge Shoujia called again, “Fourth Brother, are you there?”
A voice from deep in the coal tunnel asked, “Who are you?”
Ge Shoujia said, “We’re from Danyang, Jiangsu. We want to buy some coal. They told us upstairs to find Fourth Brother.”
“Who told you I was here?” Ji Dashun asked.
Ge Shoujia said, “Boss Liang En.”
Ji Dashun emerged from the shadows, warily eyeing the dark figures before him.
“Alright, you go up first. I’ll be up in a moment,” he said.
Ge Shoujia agreed, “Okay, Fourth Brother. Please hurry, we need to return to Suilu to catch a flight this afternoon.”
With that, he turned and walked away. Ji Dashun kept his eyes fixed on their silhouettes until they disappeared at the end of the tunnel. As Ji Dashun aged, his vigilance
As he finished speaking, he turned and walked away. Ji Dashun kept his eyes fixed on their silhouettes until they disappeared at the end of the tunnel. As Ji Dashun aged, his vigilance increased. He had to be wary not only of the police but also of Deng Ligang. The man who came to buy coal spoke with a northern Jiangsu accent and was short and thin, appearing harmless. The men behind him were harder to judge. He decided to stall a bit longer.
Ge Shoujia didn’t leave the mine. He waited at the entrance of the shaft and had the other police officers check for alternative exits. They found a total of three exits. Twenty minutes passed without Ji Dashun emerging. Ge Shoujia ordered three officers to guard each exit while he went in to find Ji Dashun. He was in the open, while Ji Dashun was hidden in the darkness.
To avoid arousing suspicion, Ge Shoujia called out as he walked deeper into the mine, “Brother Si, why haven’t you come up yet? If we’re any later, I’ll miss my flight.”
Ji Dashun watched him from the darkness without responding.
Seeing no reply, Ge Shoujia stopped and said, “Brother Si, I really can’t wait for you anymore. How about this: you go about your business, and I’ll buy coal from Boss Zhang’s mine next door. It’s the same coal seam, so the quality shouldn’t be much different.”
With that, he turned to leave. Ji Dashun didn’t stop him. The neighboring mine’s owner was indeed surnamed Zhang and had always been his competitor. This guy might be here to buy coal.
As Ge Shoujia was about to reach the mine entrance, Ji Dashun emerged from the shadows and called out, “How much do you want?”
Without turning back, Ge Shoujia replied, “You’re not sincere about this deal. I won’t do business with you.”
Ji Dashun followed at a distance, “How much do you want?”
Ge Shoujia waved his hand impatiently, “Business is also about fate. Brother Si, we don’t have that connection. You go on with your work.”
He exited the mine shaft. Ji Dashun, seeing the deal slipping away because of his actions, rushed out of the mine entrance. The police officer waiting at the entrance swept Ji Dashun’s legs, knocking him to the ground. He then grabbed one of Ji Dashun’s arms, twisting it behind his back to handcuff him. Ji Dashun swung his free hand, throwing a handful of coal dust into the officer’s face, momentarily blinding him. The officer’s grip loosened, and Ji Dashun scrambled back into the tunnel. Ge Shoujia lunged after him.
Ji Dashun scurried away like a rat, with Ge Shoujia in hot pursuit. Ji Dashun ducked behind a protruding mine wall. Unfamiliar with the terrain, Ge Shoujia ran straight ahead. Sensing a slight movement from the corner of his eye, he dropped into a crouch and rolled. He managed to grab Ji Dashun’s ankle and slammed him hard against the mine wall. Ji Dashun let out a scream of pain, dropping the knife he was holding. His body went limp, like a snake with its joints dislocated. Ge Shoujia grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the mine like a dead dog.
In the sunlight, Ji Dashun’s face was black with coal dust, making him almost unrecognizable.
Ge Shoujia asked, “Your name is Ji Dashun, right?”
Ji Dashun rolled his eyes without answering. A police officer threw a basin of water on his face. The black water ran down his cheeks, revealing his true appearance.
Ge Shoujia said, “Alright, it’s you.” He began to lead him away.
Ji Dashun saw Liang En standing by the mine entrance and glared at him like daggers. Liang En trembled with fear at Ji Dashun’s intensity. Ji Dashun snarled, “If it weren’t for this useless body of mine, I would’ve tied you up long ago, you bastard.”
He was shoved into a car, which drove far away. Boss Liang stood there frozen, not daring to move.
I sat in the car with the special police, keeping a close watch on the pool hall and foot massage parlor across the street. I was anxiously waiting for news from Ge Shoujia a hundred li away. Deng Ligang hadn’t come out since he went in yesterday. His subordinates were quite diligent, opening the shop doors promptly at 9 AM. With no customers, they busied themselves repairing pool tables and replacing worn-out tablecloths, keeping busy all morning. While my eyes were fixed on the pool hall, my mind was on the arrest situation at the coal mine. At 1 PM, Ge Shoujia called to say they had caught Ji Dashun. I gave the order to close the net immediately. All three teams moved into action.
Deng Ligang was awakened by a nightmare. He dreamed he was walking alone in a wasteland. Suddenly, the ground became sticky like glue, trapping his feet. The more he struggled, the deeper he sank.
Upon waking, an inexplicable anxiety crept over him. His left eye had been twitching all day, followed by his right eye, and now nightmares plagued his sleep. No matter how big the problems at the shop, he could always handle them. But his wife at home was like a porcupine, pricking him painfully. Ah, once a boil forms, it’s only a matter of time before it needs to be lanced.
Er Biao came in and asked if he wanted to go eat hot pot with lamb spine today.
Deng Ligang said, “No, and you shouldn’t go out either. These past couple of days, something feels off. Stay and help keep an eye on the shop.”
“What feels off?” Er Biao asked.
“If I knew exactly what was off, that would be good.”
Deng Ligang used an electric pot to make himself a bowl of instant noodles. After a few bites, his stomach was full, but his heart remained empty. He shuffled downstairs to the foot massage parlor on the lower level, asking for the most skilled masseuse to give him a full-body massage in Room 2.
Old Hu arrived at Room 2 as requested, but Deng Ligang felt uneasy and said, “Let’s go to the room at the very end instead.”
It was a windowless storage room filled with bed sheets, towels, and other miscellaneous items.
Deng Ligang lay face down on the bed, enjoying Old Hu’s skilled technique. As his muscles gradually relaxed, he drifted off to sleep. Old Hu turned off the light and tiptoed out.
Since gaining weight, Shi Bi had become fond of sleeping. Going to bed at 11 PM and sleeping until 11 AM the next day was common for him. Feng Shuanghuan never woke him up. Their son was already in middle school and didn’t need to be taken to or picked up from school. A man sleeping in bed was always better than sitting at a gambling table. At this time, there weren’t many customers in the shop. She could make lunch and wake him up to eat later. Feng Shuanghuan was cracking sunflower seeds and watching TV when Gu Jing entered the shop. He looked around but didn’t see Shi Bi. Feng Shuanghuan recognized him as the man who had come to buy tea yesterday.
She smiled and asked, “How was the tea? Not bad, right?”
Gu Jing took out the package of tea, placed it on the table, and said, “When I opened it at home, it was all stems with hardly any tea leaves.”
Feng Shuanghuan’s face immediately darkened. “You were watching with both eyes when you bought it. We made the exchange face to face, money for goods.”
“I’m not asking for a refund, just exchange it for a different tea,” Gu Jing said.
“Once it’s been in your mouth, it can’t be exchanged,” Feng Shuanghuan said firmly.
“You can’t just do business as a one-time deal, can you?” Gu Jing pressed.
“So what if I do? Are you going to shut down my shop?” she retorted.
“Are you being reasonable?” he asked.
“No need to be reasonable. I am the reason,” she declared.
“A good man doesn’t argue with a woman. Call your husband out. I’ll talk to him.”
“He’s not at your service. Where did you come from? Go back there! Don’t waste my time.”
Xiao Ma entered and glanced at the two of them.
Feng Shuanghuan thought he was there to help and coldly asked, “What do you want?”
Xiao Ma took out a hundred yuan and placed it on the counter. “I want to top up my phone.”
“The machine is broken. Can’t do it,” she said.
Xiao Ma said, “It was working fine yesterday. How did it break so suddenly?”
“People can leave home perfectly fine and drop dead on the street in an instant. Why can’t a machine break?” Feng Shuanghuan snapped.
Xiao Ma asked, “What kind of attitude is this?”
“This is my attitude!” Feng Shuanghuan retorted.
“This attitude is unacceptable!” Xiao Ma insisted.
“So what if it’s unacceptable? Are you going to shovel me from Earth to the Moon?” she challenged.
“I’ll report you to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau,” Xiao Ma threatened.
“Go ahead! Hurry up and go! Don’t let your farts hit your heels and hurt yourself,” she mocked.
Shi Bi, sleeping in the back room, was awakened by the commotion and listened intently.
Gu Jing said, “With this attitude, you must refund my tea.”
Feng Shuanghuan cursed, “Do you sit back down on the shit you’ve just taken? Go home to your mother if you need your ass wiped. Don’t play the scoundrel here!”
“If you don’t give me a refund, you won’t be doing any business today,” Gu Jing threatened.
Feng Shuanghuan jumped up and down, cursing, “Go ask around! Who has ever scared Feng Shuanghuan? Try touching one finger at my shop! I’ll turn your five fingers into four!”
Shi Bi came out from the back room, seeing the tense standoff. He quickly stepped between them.
He took money from his pocket and stuffed it into Gu Jing’s hand. “Let’s keep the peace! Business thrives on harmony! If you’re not satisfied with the tea, of course, it can be returned or exchanged.”
Feng Shuanghuan immediately became agitated and reached out to grab the money. Shi Bi blocked her hand.
Shi Bi said to Xiao Ma, “Brother if you turn the corner from here, there’s another shop where you can pay your phone bill.”
As Shi Bi raised his arm to point the way, Gu Jing grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. Shi Bi fell to his knees in pain. Xiao Ma immediately grabbed his other arm, twisted it back, and handcuffed him. They dragged him out the door.
Feng Shuanghuan was stunned. After a few seconds, she rushed out the door. She ran into the kitchen of the neighboring dumpling shop, grabbed a cleaver from the chopping board, and ran back out.
The plump sister-in-law was startled and chased her to the door, shouting, “What are you doing? What are you going to do?”
Feng Shuanghuan yelled at the top of her lungs, “Gangsters have come to kidnap people! I’ll fight them to the death!”
The plump sister-in-law, afraid of getting involved, retreated inside and watched through the window. She saw two men dragging Shi Bi towards a car, his feet dragging on the ground as they pulled him forward.
He shouted, “I’m a law-abiding citizen! Why are you arresting me?”
Feng Shuanghuan charged at them, swinging the cleaver. Xiao Ma tripped her, sending her sprawling. The cleaver flew far away. Feng Shuanghuan got up from the ground, her nose bleeding from the fall. She wiped it with her hand, smearing blood all over her face. Gu Jing and Xiao Ma each held one of Shi Bi’s arms and shoved him into the car.
The car sped away in a cloud of dust. Feng Shuanghuan ran after it like a madwoman. The plump sister-in-law retrieved her cleaver and walked back to her doorway, watching the disappearing car and the woman running frantically after it. Her husband stood behind her, wiping his hands on his apron.
The plump sister-in-law said, “I warned Feng Shuanghuan that a submissive wife makes for a happy husband, but she thought I was just jealous. Look, I was right, wasn’t I?”
The underground foot massage parlor was dimly lit, with ten private rooms on either side of the corridor. All the doors were closed.
I told Yang Bo to dial using a local phone number. We both listened carefully but didn’t hear a ringtone. I mouthed, “It’s on vibrate.”
Yang Bo nodded and dialed again.
The phone on the bedside table began to vibrate. Deng Ligang woke up and looked at the phone. The screen showed an unfamiliar local number. He put the phone down and closed his eyes, letting it ring. As the phone continued to vibrate, Deng Ligang simply hung up.
A staff member carrying a stack of towels walked by and asked Yang Bo, “Who are you looking for?”
Yang Bo said, “I’m looking for the person in charge. I want a full-body massage.”
“Just go upstairs and get a ticket,” the staff member replied.
“There’s no one upstairs,” Yang Bo said.
“At this time, they’ve all gone to eat. You’ll have to wait a while.”
“Is there a back door here?” I asked.
The staff member said, “No.”
“Show me around,” I insisted.
The staff member led me through the foot massage parlor, confirming there was no back door. Then they went about their business. I arranged for four special police officers to search each room carefully.
I stood in front of a room at the end of the corridor.
Yang Bo said, “We’ve checked it out. This is a storage room, never used for business.”
I walked away from the storage room, thought for a moment, then went back.
I said, “Dial the number again.”
Yang Bo dialed, and I listened carefully. I heard a faint buzzing sound, like a mosquito flying.
Inside the pitch-black storage room, the light from a phone screen illuminated Deng Ligang’s face as he lay on the bed.
He pondered, “Why does this number keep calling over and over?”
I kicked the door open and rushed in. Deng Ligang reacted quickly, flipping off the bed like an acrobat and pinning me to the ground, his knee pressing hard on my chest. I struck his throat hard with my palm. Deng Ligang’s body went limp for a moment, but he sprang up like a coiled spring and bolted out. I chased after him. Deng Ligang ran upstairs, but a special police officer waiting at the basement door kicked him back down the stairs. Deng Ligang rolled and got up. I pointed my gun directly at his forehead, but Deng Ligang kicked it out of my hand with lightning speed. He sprinted down the deep end of the corridor. I picked up my gun and gave chase, with Yang Bo close behind.
Deng Ligang darted back into the storage room. I rushed in after him. Deng Ligang pushed over a cabinet, nearly crushing me. I jumped over the fallen cabinet into the storage room, which was pitch black. My foot slipped, and I fell into a deep hole. The fall left me seeing stars. Struggling to my feet, I used my phone’s light to look around. There was a narrow passage in the wall.
Deng Ligang, the desperate fugitive, had prepared his escape route well in advance. I pursued him along the tunnel. This passage connected to a spacious vegetable cellar. The cellar was cold and damp, filled with radishes, cabbages, potatoes, and boxes of alcohol. A dark figure climbed up a ladder and pulled the aluminum ladder up after him. I jumped in frustration. The cellar walls had uneven brick joints. I dug my fingers and toes into the wall, desperately climbing up.
I discovered this was the backyard, surrounded by walls as tall as a person. The ladder was thrown by the vegetable cellar entrance, and Deng Ligang had already vanished without a trace. I had followed Deng Ligang closely, no more than three minutes behind. The ground was frozen solid; even if Earth Travel Sun were alive, he couldn’t have burrowed underground at this speed. Special police forces were on high alert within several hundred meters of the massage parlor. Even if Deng Ligang had grown wings, he couldn’t have flown away. My eyes blazed with anger, and smoke seemed to rise from my throat. Where had that bastard hidden?
I leaped onto the wall and looked around. About fifty meters away from the outer wall, there was a public restroom. A truck loaded with sacks was parked seven or eight meters from the wall. The driver emerged from the restroom, zipping up his pants as he walked to the vehicle. He opened the door and started the engine. I jumped down from the wall and stood in front of the truck.
The driver was startled and rolled down the window, asking, “What do you want?”
I inquired, “What are you carrying?”
The driver retorted, “Why should I tell you?”
I pulled out my police badge and showed it to him.
The driver immediately changed his tone, “Potatoes.”
“I’ll take a look,” I said.
Without a word, the driver got out of the truck and cooperated with my inspection. I climbed onto the vehicle; each sack of potatoes weighed nearly a hundred jin. I searched through them one by one, working up a sweat.
The driver, unaware of what I was looking for, said, “It’s all potatoes, no contraband.”
As I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand, my eyes inadvertently glanced to the side, catching a glimpse of fabric in the corner. My heart skipped a beat. I took two steps over, and suddenly the sack on top of the fabric stood upright. Deng Ligang, holding the sack with both hands, leaped up and used all his strength to hurl the hundred-jin sack at me. I dodged it. Deng Ligang jumped off the truck, and I followed closely behind. The driver crouched down, covering his head with his hands in shock.
Deng Ligang was barefoot and couldn’t run fast. I caught up with him, pushing myself to the limit. Karate versus boxing eventually turned into a life-or-death struggle. I kicked him hard in the back of his knee, catching him off guard. He fell to his knees with a thud. I pressed my gun against the back of his head, while Yang Bo caught up and pointed his gun at Deng’s chest. We both chambered rounds simultaneously.
Two special police officers, each standing at 1.80 meters tall, rushed over and flipped Deng Ligang face-down on the ground, handcuffing him behind his back and shackling his feet. Deng Ligang turned over and sat up, his gloomy gaze sweeping across the four men standing before him.
“Where are you from?” he asked.
“The provincial department,” I replied, without specifying which province.
“On what grounds are you arresting me?” Deng Ligang inquired.
“There’s a nationwide crackdown on organized crime. Don’t you know? You’re involved in prostitution and gambling.”
Deng Ligang remained silent, but it was evident that he felt somewhat relieved. He believed that in Suiluo City, he was a person of some importance, and for such minor offenses, he would be bailed out in a few days.
We escorted Deng Ligang, dressed in a shirt and trousers, towards the main gate. A group of young men came running over. Without asking, it was clear they were Deng Ligang’s underlings. They shouted and yelled, demanding we release him.
I barked sternly, “Police conducting official business! All of you, back off!”
The thugs, wielding wooden clubs, continued to act threateningly and refused to listen.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll shoot you! Damn it!” I furrowed my brows and drew my gun.
Yang Bo and the two special police officers simultaneously released their gun safeties, aiming at the group of thugs. The young men, eyeing our weapons, dared not approach any further.
A Passat car sped towards us, stopping right in front of us. The two special police officers and Yang Bo quickly got Deng Ligang into the car. The driver was extremely nervous and didn’t wait for me to get in. He stepped on the gas, and the car sped away in a flash.
Left behind, I felt a bit dazed. The thugs, seeing I was alone, surrounded me with menacing looks. Having been a police officer for so many years, I’d seen it all. I chambered a round and swept my gaze across their faces one by one.
“I have five bullets in my gun, and any one of them is faster than you. Whoever dares to act up, I’ll take them down with one shot!” I declared.
A mob is just a mob; when it comes down to it, no one was willing to risk their life against me. I calmly returned to the massage parlor, entered the storage room where Deng Ligang had been getting his massage, and wrapped his clothes and shoes in a bedsheet before coming out. Those young thugs were still standing there like a flock of silly geese. I tried to hail a taxi on the street, but seeing the gun in my hand, no driver dared to stop. I tucked the gun into my waistband, cast a challenging look at the thugs, and walked straight past them. I had gone quite far before the thugs started to chase after me.
Yang Bo suddenly realized I wasn’t in the car. He asked, “Where’s Chief Peng?”
The special police officers looked at each other in confusion. Yang Bo cursed angrily, “You put the criminal in the car and left Chief Peng alone in that den of thieves? Did a donkey kick your heads?”
The Passat made a U-turn, its tires screeching against the ground. I walked down the street with large strides, carrying the bundle on my back and holding the gun in my hand. The thugs followed at a distance. I failed to hail two taxis in a row. The thugs closed in, eyeing me menacingly. I planted my feet firmly, preparing for a fierce battle. Just then, the Passat charged into the crowd. Yang Bo opened the door, and I immediately jumped in, slamming it shut. The driver floored it, and the Passat sped away.
Deng Ligang, wearing a hood, turned his head to look out the rear window but couldn’t see anything. Judging by his posture, it was clear his body was relaxed and not at all tense.
The Passat arrived at the Security Bureau entrance. Feng Shuanghuan, who had chased Shi Bi here, was blocked outside. She desperately tried to force her way in. As the guards dragged her away, she threw a tantrum, screaming, “Old Sun! Sun Xuequan!”
Shi Bi and the shivering Deng Ligang were escorted to the basement of the Security Bureau for initial questioning. I removed the hoods covering their heads and tossed Deng Ligang his clothes and shoes.
After Deng Ligang had dressed and put on his shoes, he looked up at me and asked, “Your accent isn’t local. Where are you really from?”
I said, “Xuecheng Police Department.”
Deng Ligang and Shi Bi immediately understood; that a major case had been cracked.
I told Shi Bi, “Your wife followed you here.”
Shi Bi’s eyes reddened, and he looked at me with a complex expression. I understood he had something to say and immediately took him to the adjacent room.
“The world is vast, but nothing matters more than one’s heart and home. I’ve lost both,” Shi Bi sighed.
I asked, “Do you realize the gravity of your crimes now?”
Shi Bi nodded, “The past is like quicksand; the more I tried to escape, it, the deeper I sank. Fate is cruel and indiscriminate. You’re arresting me for the Xuecheng incident, right?”
I neither confirmed nor denied it.
“I certainly won’t survive if I go back to Xuecheng. If you want my cooperation, I have one request,” he said.
“Go on,” I replied.
“I want to see that woman outside the gate, to settle some family matters with her. After that, I promise to tell you everything and cooperate fully.”
“I agree,” I said.
The disheveled Feng Shuanghuan was brought in. Seeing Shi Bi in handcuffs and shackles, she lunged forward in shock, shaking him vigorously.
“What have you done? Huh?! Sun Xuequan, what have you been hiding from me?!” she cried.
Shi Bi cast a pitiful look at me.
“Can you remove my handcuffs? Just for two minutes,” he pleaded.
I instructed the special police to remove his handcuffs.
Shi Bi took off his large gold ring, gold necklace, and watch, handing them to Feng Shuanghuan.
Feng Shuanghuan looked at him with tears in her eyes.
Shi Bi said, “I’ve committed a capital offense. Heaven has been kind to me, allowing me to live ten more years and giving me the chance to spend time with you. You often asked why I was so good to you and the child. Now I’ll tell you: I cherished every day I spent with you as a gift. I’ve been content these past few years. Shuanghuan, our fate together has come to an end. Go home and take good care of your child. Don’t come looking for me again.”
Feng Shuanghuan was stunned for a moment, then threw herself at him, holding him tightly as they both wept.
I signaled to the special police officer, who stepped forward to separate them, putting the handcuffs back on Shi Bi before leading him away. Feng Shuanghuan left, crying as she walked. Her exhausted figure gradually disappeared beyond the gates of the Security Bureau.
During the initial interrogation, Shi Bi confessed thoroughly, admitting to being responsible for ten lives.
Three of the four criminals had been caught, but Song Hongyu was still at large. Zhen Zhen, Lin Hui, and Li Pengfei staked out Song Hongyu’s residential building from night until dawn the next day. Song Hongyu went about her usual routine, taking her son to daycare, and then meeting her lover. After lunch, she left her lover’s place and went directly to the pedestrian street where her brother had a stall. She relieved her brother so he could go eat, and she watched the stall for a while. Then she went to the underground shopping mall. The passageways in the underground mall, like subway tunnels, were long and straight, making surveillance difficult. Zhen Zhen couldn’t keep staring at Song Hongyu, fearing that if she opened a door, they might end up face to face, and Song would recognize her.
Zhen Zhen switched with police officer Li Pengfei to watch below while she kept guard above ground.
A few minutes later, she called Li Pengfei. He said, “She’s shopping. I’ve got eyes on her.”
Zhen Zhen felt uneasy. She told Lin Hui to keep watch here while she went to block the other end of the passageway. She quickly descended the stairs. She saw Li Pengfei standing in front of a stall and quietly asked, “Where is she?”
Li Pengfei gestured towards the small goods area, “She’s sitting in there.”
“Sitting?” Zhen Zhen sensed something was off. She walked closer to look, and her head began to spin, her vision blurring. The woman sitting there was dressed like Song Hongyu, but it wasn’t her! Zhen Zhen tried to calm herself, thinking that this was a straight street, and Song Hongyu couldn’t have just walked out brazenly.
She told Li Pengfei, “She’s still on this street. Lin Hui is blocking that end, and you guard this entrance. I’ll check each store one by one. She can’t have vanished into thin air.”
Li Pengfei immediately guarded the stairway entrance. Zhen Zhen meticulously checked each store, reaching the end without finding Song Hongyu. Her mouth turned bitter with anxiety, but she forced herself to stay calm. She turned back, walking towards the third-to-last store, a hat shop, and looked inside again. The shop was empty except for the owner standing behind the counter, facing away. She wore a red down jacket and a felt hat, with shoulder-length short hair peeking out from under the hat. Judging by her attire, it didn’t seem to be Song Hongyu, but Zhen Zhen decided to go in anyway. Just then, I called Zhen Zhen. She turned and walked to the entrance to answer the phone. I told her that all three teams had completed their missions, and it was all up to her now.
Zhen Zhen felt anxious. She looked up at the end of the street; the sun was about to set. Her heart clenched as she returned to the hat shop. The woman in the felt hat was no longer behind the counter. Zhen Zhen called out, “Boss?” A middle-aged woman peeked out from behind a curtain and asked, “Buying a hat? Big sale, everything’s half off.”
Zhen Zhen was shocked and immediately ran out. A figure flashed at the entrance of the general store, and she chased after it. The person ran into the back storage room, with Zhen Zhen in hot pursuit. The shop owner was stunned by the sudden chase. The storage room was small, and the woman in the felt hat was cornered. Two cold beams shot from her eyes; it was Song Hongyu. Zhen Zhen took out her handcuffs and approached her, grabbing one of her hands to cuff her.
Song Hongyu’s other hand quickly snatched a horsewhip from the shelf and lashed out at Zhen Zhen. Zhen Zhen didn’t dodge, nor did she let go. She grabbed Song Hongyu’s arm and twisted it hard behind her back. With a crack, the arm dislocated, and Song Hongyu let out a scream of pain, falling to her knees. Zhen Zhen swiftly handcuffed her, removed her hat, and the wig fell off. Zhen Zhen yanked open her down jacket, revealing white underneath.
Zhen Zhen smirked, “Pretty strong counter-surveillance skills. You almost slipped through the net.”
After relocating Song Hongyu’s arm, she put the handcuffs back on. Song Hongyu caught her breath and asked, “Why are you arresting me?”
Zhen Zhen replied, “Don’t you know your crimes?”
“I don’t!” Song Hongyu showed no fear.
Zhen Zhen pointed at herself, “Don’t you recognize me?”
Song Hongyu’s gaze slid over her face, “I don’t know you.”
Zhen Zhen reminded her, “2004, the kidnapping case in Room 3002, Unit 1, Building 8, Hehua Residential Complex in Luancheng.”
Song Hongyu froze for a moment, then calmly said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Zhen Zhen took out the silver bracelet from her pocket and dangled it in front of her, “Recognize this?”
Song Hongyu’s face changed color instantly.
Zhen Zhen said, “This bracelet witnessed how you killed that person.”
Song Hongyu argued, “I don’t see it has a mouth. How did it tell you?”
Zhen Zhen replied, “It doesn’t have a mouth, but you do. You told me, and I didn’t dare forget a single word.”
Song Hongyu sneered, “Do you have evidence?”
Zhen Zhen said, “Yes, I am Zhen Zhen, the one you almost killed.”
Song Hongyu recognized her then, and her lips began to tremble involuntarily.