Chapter 47: Investigate

Chapter 47: Investigate

The southern end of the potter’s field.

In the weeds on either side of Old Liao’s grave mound.

Wang Kangnian lowered his binoculars, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

Most of those buried in the potter’s field were unidentified corpses. The blue smoke from burning joss paper ingots rising from the north immediately caught his attention.

The young man carrying the little girl gave him a familiar feeling.

“Xiao Si, take a look. Do you recognize that person?” Wang Kangnian handed the binoculars to Xiao Si.

“It’s him.”

Xiao Si took the binoculars and looked carefully. Then he lowered them and rummaged through a cloth bag, pulling out a photograph.

“Team Leader.”

In the midst of a chaotic crowd, there was a side-profile photograph of a handsome young man carrying a liquor bottle and hurrying forward while bent over.

At the time, Wang Kangnian had asked Xiao Si why he had selected this photograph.

Xiao Si’s answer had been that the photograph was aesthetically beautiful.

This man had appeared near the scene of Old Liao’s arrest and now had appeared at the potter’s field on Qingming.

Was this a coincidence?

Wang Kangnian did not believe in coincidences.

However, the man had not appeared at Old Liao’s grave mound, but rather far to the north of it.

Judging from what he had just done, he had brought a little girl there to pay respects.

“Investigate!” Wang Kangnian said coldly.

To determine whether this man was the superior contact of Old Liao that he had been searching for all along, that big fish he had been desperately trying to catch, was simple.

Investigate!

“This man’s identity.”

“Team Leader, this man is a policeman from the Central Police Station, Cheng Qianfan.” One of the team members spoke. “We checked him a few days ago and tentatively ruled him out.”

“Why rule him out? Just because he’s a policeman?” Wang Kangnian demanded coldly.

To him, the policeman’s identity was even more suspicious. The superior contact whom Old Liao had been willing to sacrifice himself to protect would certainly possess an extremely concealed identity, and being a policeman seemed to support that possibility.

“Go investigate. Find out this policeman’s movements on that day. Why did he go to Avenue Joffre? Why was he there?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Also, find out who’s buried in that grave mound. Someone just paid respects there, it won’t be hard to determine.” Wang Kangnian said gravely. “That’s extremely important.”

“Yes, sir!”

“The identity of the little girl he was carrying must also be investigated.”

“Yes, sir!”

Two days later.

“Little Sister Xiaobao, your new clothes are so pretty.”

“Xiaobao, can you give me another piece of malt candy?”

“Xiaobao, Xiaobao, can I use your paintbrushes to draw?”

“Xiaobao, what are you thinking about? Hurry up and draw.”

“I’m drawing Daddy and Mommy. I can’t remember what they look like anymore.”

“Then what will you do?”

“Brother told me that whenever I remember a little bit, I should draw a little bit. Slowly, I’ll definitely be able to draw them.”

Holding a book against her chest with both arms, Bai Ruolan watched the children playing with a smile.

With a new outfit, new shoes, plenty of snacks, and paintbrushes capable of creating brilliant colors on pure white paper, Xiaobao had practically become the little princess of the orphanage.

A beautiful butterfly flew over alone and landed upon Bai Ruolan’s lovely hair, pairing with her butterfly-shaped hair clip as though they were companions.

Rue Vallon, Central Police Station.

He Guan was playing dice with someone, his face flushed and covered in sweat. He appeared to have lost money.

Several policemen were animatedly gossiping.

The dancer named Honey Peach from the Great World entertainment complex had become involved with Fan Gandi, the brother-in-law of Liang Sufang, the Inspector General of the Songhu Garrison Command.

Her senior counterpart, Fan Gandi’s sixth concubine White Peony, had stormed over and started a fight. Her qipao had even been torn apart.

Both Honey Peach and White Peony had suffered losses, but a group of men had enjoyed quite a spectacle.

Big-Head Lu beat his chest in regret, lamenting that he had missed the show.

Old Mo’s death seemed as though it had happened a very long time ago. Everything was no different from usual.

Even Cheng Qianfan’s ambush seemed to have produced no further developments. No one mentioned it anymore.

After returning from leave, Cheng Qianfan had been summoned by Inspector Jin Kemu for questioning. After returning, he had likewise kept silent about the matter.

Holding an enamel mug, he drank American ginseng tea.

That short-lived ghost Old Mo had hanged himself, so the American ginseng Cheng Qianfan had bought from Big-Head Lu could only be enjoyed by himself now.

“Officer Cheng.”

Clerk Peng from the clerical office twisted her waist as she arrived at the doorway of the duty room and called out sweetly.

“Clerk Peng has summoned me. How may Qianfan be of service?” Cheng Qianfan set down his enamel mug, walked over, and asked with a smile.

Clerk Peng covered her mouth and laughed.

She liked talking with this young and handsome policeman. Little Cheng was handsome and refined, naturally pleasant to look at. He was unlike other men who seemed eager to swallow her whole.

“How would I dare trouble Officer Cheng?” Clerk Peng cast him a coy glance. “Chief Qin wants to see you.”

“Thank you for the trouble, Clerk Peng. I’ll go right away.”

Cheng Qianfan stopped joking, nodded, straightened his police uniform, put on his cap, and headed directly to the Chief Inspector’s office on the third floor.

“To Hangzhou?” Cheng Qianfan exclaimed in surprise.

“What, is there a problem?” Qin Detai asked in a deep voice.

“Reporting to Chief Qin, no problem.”

Cheng Qianfan quickly replied.

“Your subordinate naturally obeys his superior’s orders. I simply find it a bit strange.”

“There’s nothing strange about it. Although it’s rare for policemen to be sent away on official assignments, there are precedents.”

“Chief Qin, my mission is simply to protect this Campbell?” Cheng Qianfan asked doubtfully.

“That’s right. Your sole mission on this trip is to protect Campbell. As for what he intends to do or where he intends to go, you need not ask.”

“How long will this assignment last?”

“Undetermined. It depends on Campbell’s schedule. Whenever he returns to Shanghai, you’ll return with him.”

“Understood, sir.”

Cheng Qianfan frowned slightly as he spoke.

“Very good.”

Qin Detai nodded and smiled.

“Don’t look so unhappy, kid. On this trip to Hangzhou, all food, lodging, and entertainment expenses will be covered by public funds. Campbell already has his own bodyguards. Bringing you along is merely an additional layer of official protection.”

As he spoke, he pointed at Cheng Qianfan and laughed.

“You’re lucky, kid. Your French is excellent. People would fight tooth and nail for this sort of publicly funded holiday.”

“This is Chief Qin taking care of me.”

Cheng Qianfan replied respectfully.

“Cut the flattery. Good opportunities come to people with ability.”

Qin Detai laughed and cursed affectionately, then waved his hand.

“Off you go.”

“Your subordinate takes his leave.”

After Cheng Qianfan left, the smile disappeared from Qin Detai’s face.

He frowned slightly.

Mr. Xi Neng of the Investigation Unit of the French Concession Political Department had personally requested that a young policeman fluent in French be assigned to protect the French businessman Campbell on a trip to Hangzhou. Preferably the policeman should be a native of Zhejiang Province to facilitate matters.

Qin Detai obeyed and instructed Clerk Peng to select suitable candidates.

That was how Cheng Qianfan had been chosen.

Procedurally, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the matter.

However, the more Qin Detai thought about the selection criteria, the more peculiar they seemed:

Young.

Speaks French.

Native of Zhejiang.

It was practically tailor-made for Cheng Qianfan.

No matter how much he thought about it, Qin Detai could not understand. Could there be some hidden scheme behind this arrangement?

Yet given Cheng Qianfan’s status, he should have had no connection whatsoever to someone of Mr. Xi Neng’s stature.

As one of the leading figures of the French Concession Political Department, Xi Neng occupied an exceptionally elevated position.

Soon afterward, however, Clerk Peng came swaying into the room and brought back information she had gathered.

The French businessman Campbell was Xi Neng’s former schoolmate. He was going to Hangzhou and Zhejiang to inspect business opportunities and negotiate a deal. Having heard of bandit troubles in southern Zhejiang, he had used personal connections to seek Xi Neng’s assistance.

Xiu Gongshen of the Political Department had then taken the opportunity to recommend his student Cheng Qianfan to Xi Neng.

Qin Detai immediately understood.

He now grasped Xiu Gongshen’s intentions. Xiu Gongshen was obviously not interested in some publicly funded pleasure trip. He was creating an opportunity for Cheng Qianfan to distinguish himself before Xi Neng.

Strictly speaking, this matter amounted to Xi Neng using his authority to help a friend with a personal matter.

Nothing caught a superior’s attention more effectively than helping with personal affairs.

Qin Detai clicked his tongue.

That old fox Xiu Gongshen truly held Cheng Qianfan, this younger relative of his, in unusually high regard and spared no effort in cultivating him.

At the same time, Wang Kangnian, leader of Action Team Three of the Shanghai Special District Operations Section of the National Government’s Party Affairs Investigation Department, also received the investigation report.