The matter of inheritance is premature to discuss, I must first conclude the task at hand perfectly. Knowing Wang Zeyu's connection to Cui Fang, my plan must change, and become more aggressive.
I am not the same person I was before; I can see further into the future.
...
After leaving the old Beijing copper hot pot restaurant, I used the phone Old Gui returned to me to call the fraud center. This game began with me reporting Lin Han. The report detailed how Lin Han, during an antique appraisal, used a trick to swap out the Qianlong thumb ring. Furthermore, a national treasure, the "Qing Yin Jian Gu Tu," was discovered in Chang Dachun's home.
...
After reporting, I turned off my phone and hid in a cheap motel that didn't require ID.
Every day, when I went out to eat, I would browse information online at a nearby internet cafe and buy newspapers from local vendors. From the limited information available, I gathered news of Lin Han and Chang Dachun's arrest.
Then, I reported Wang Zeyu on the Public Security Department's website, accusing him of being the leader of "Zheng Qi" and responsible for the "Nuclear Warhead."
Having done this, I moved to a different district, again hiding in a basement motel. As the 2008 Spring Festival approached, the Olympics and New Year brought a flourishing prosperity to Beijing. Amidst this vibrant atmosphere, I hid in a dingy motel, eating instant noodles.
...
According to the meager information I gathered from the internet, I called Lao Tie.
"I want to buy the green jade thumb ring you have."
"Why?"
"The real Qianlong thumb ring and the Qing Yin Jian Gu Tu are in my hands. Once I get that thumb ring, I can go to Hong Kong or overseas for a secondary auction. I'll possess immense wealth and live happily abroad."
Hearing me say this, Lao Tie let out a dismissive snort. "Tang Nan, do you take me for a three-year-old? Tell me what's really going on. I know your current situation. Lin Han was arrested, and all your assets are frozen. Even if I sell you the green jade thumb ring for one million, can you even afford it?"
"I have my own money."
"I'm sorry, Tang Nan, doing business with you now is too risky. I don't know what you're plotting."
"Tie Zhishan, you're my brother. When you swindled two hundred million back then, I didn't say a word. Are you not going to help me now?"
"If you don't tell me the truth, how can I help you?"
"Alright, I'll tell you the truth. I know who the 'Nuclear Warhead' of 'Zheng Qi' is."
"Who?"
"I can't tell you. The less you know, the safer you are. I've already reported him, but I'm not confident I can deal with him. So, I must prepare for both possibilities. If I can't win, I'll leave Beijing and live abroad."
Lao Tie was silent for a moment before saying, "I'll consider it. How can I contact you?"
"I'll contact you!"
With that, I hung up and turned off my phone. When I returned to the basement motel, I saw a police car and quickly hid. Yu Xiaoluo had arrived; she had found me.
I knew Yu Xiaoluo was worried about me. I could see her anxiety; she couldn't believe that Lin Han and I would do such things, but the evidence was not in our favor. I watched from afar as Yu Xiaoluo got into the police car and disappeared down the street, bundled in her thick coat.
...
It was quite cold that night, and it had started snowing. I squatted on the street, finally waiting for Da Huang to return. He got out of his car, still on the phone, "Did I feed my lawyer fees to the dogs? You can't even handle this little thing, get lost..."
Perhaps the lawyer couldn't solve the problem, and Da Huang was angry. He hung up the phone and kicked the car tire in frustration.
"Brother Da Huang..."
I called out softly. Da Huang saw it was me and ran over with joy, asking, "Where have you been for the past half month? Why do you look so disheveled? What's going on?"
"It's quite cold. Can we talk in the car?"
"Let's go inside."
"No, no, I can't cause you any more trouble."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"We can't both go in, can we? Someone has to keep watch outside."
Da Huang thought about it and agreed, bringing me into the car.
It was so cold that day, I was freezing. I rubbed my dry hands. Da Huang, with concern in his eyes, took off his gloves and handed them to me. Wearing the gloves, I grinned at him.
"Still smiling? What happened? How did things turn around so quickly, and we've suddenly become villains?"
"The old saying goes, 'the common folk should not provoke officials.' We've stepped on a landmine."
Da Huang frowned. "Is Wang Zeyu really the leader of 'Zheng Qi'?"
I didn't answer the question and instead said to Da Huang, "Can I borrow some money?"
"How much?"
"200!"
"2 million?"
"200 yuan!"
Da Huang looked at me with utter bewilderment. "Stop messing around. We're all counting on you to turn things around. What can you do with 200 yuan? Tell me honestly, is it 2 million? Or 10 million? I'll scrape together everything I have. Even if we can't provoke the officials, we can't give up!"
"200 yuan is enough. They're watching me closely now, and I need a safe place to stay."
Da Huang sighed and handed me his wallet, then said, "I'll go home to get the key. You go hide at the old house for a few days."
I watched Da Huang go inside and close the door. I got out of the car and sprinted into the darkness...
...
"Lao Tie, have you considered it?"
"I agree!"
"How much are you selling it for?"
"3 million. Brother, I'll help you out this once."
"Alright! Thanks! I'll notify you of the transaction location."
...
After hanging up the phone and turning it off, I lay in the small motel, turned off the light, and watched the flickering television play a drama. I slept reasonably well that night. In the morning, feeling slightly more refreshed, I checked out and went to a nearby market to buy a 20-inch suitcase. A suitcase this size would be perfect for carrying 3 million.
"I want to trade with the Master Designer."
After preparing the suitcase, I called Lao Tie.
"Why?"
"Compared to you and Wu Sheng, the Master Designer is the only one I feel safe with."
The Master Designer was an old man with exceptional skills in designing props and handling accidents. However, it would be nearly impossible for him to catch me without prior setup.
"There's no need for that, Tang Nan. If I didn't want to help you, would I be giving you this treasure for three hundred thousand?"
"Stop the nonsense, Lao Tie. If you truly want to save me, do as I say."
"Alright! Where's the transaction location?"
"Da Huang's old house. I'll send you the address shortly. Come out early to avoid traffic. We'll meet at noon, sharp."
...
At noon, I, alone, carrying the suitcase, arrived at a Western restaurant. In this elegant restaurant, Cui Fang sat alone in a quiet corner, gracefully eating a steak.
"Sister Cui Fang."
"What are you doing here?"
I didn't answer and sat down with a smile. I said to the waiter, "Please bring me a black pepper steak, well-done. I personally don't have a taste for Western food. Oh, and charge it to this lady's bill."
The waiter looked at Cui Fang, and after she nodded, he left.
"Tell me."
"Lao Tie and I grew up together; I know him like the back of my hand. He's changed. He's not the same Lao Tie he used to be. Therefore, it's not a matter of him helping me out of brotherly affection."
"What do you mean?"
"If he truly wanted to save me out of sentiment, he wouldn't have taken the three million. For Lao Tie's current wealth, it's a drop in the ocean. But he still took the three million because he knows that 3 million in cash fits into a twenty-inch suitcase. Lao Tie wants others to see me making the transaction."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because Lao Tie has cooperated with the police."
Cui Fang frowned. I observed her expression and smiled, "You probably don't know yet. Wang Zeyu is temporarily under internal investigation by the organization and cannot participate in operations. Your intelligence is already out of date."
"Hmph!" Cui Fang laughed, interlacing her fingers and resting them on her chin, looking at me with amusement. "You sacrificed your own family to set this up, all for this?"
I didn't answer Cui Fang. I took out my phone, turned it on, and called Yu Xiaoluo.
"Where are you?" Yu Xiaoluo yelled into the phone as soon as she answered.
"Sister, please don't get angry. Think about the child. You've cooperated with Tie Zhishan, haven't you?"
"Yes, I will catch you today. We can talk about anything else back at the bureau."
"I'm sorry, Sister. I'm not there. However, I believe the Master Designer is. He's an old man wearing a suit that seems to be his son's, looking a bit ill-fitting. Don't be fooled by his appearance; he's the murderer of Zhang Ying'ai."
"Where are you?"
"I won't turn off my phone. Track me by location."
With that, I hung up and looked at Cui Fang's serious face opposite me.
"You probably don't understand what I mean, because this is the mind of a schemer. Sister Cui Fang, let me ask you, do you know Gao Xiaojuan?"
"Mmm!"
"Then you must have met Mr. Wen De and his disciples of the Schemer, right?"
"Yes."
"You're familiar with Wang Ren, aren't you!"
Cui Fang's brows furrowed into a knot. Her expression was no longer relaxed. I looked at Cui Fang, knowing she understood what I meant.
"Before I disappeared, I took some Sun Moon Lake black tea to visit Teacher Wang Ren. She showed me a path, and I thought about it for a long time to understand why Wang Zeyu's teacup didn't contain Sun Moon Lake black tea."