Chapter 072
Shimen Yihshyong
Chioujen's sharp gaze made Yihshyong feel uncomfortable.
I completely forgot about that. I'm not our dahge, who can usually think about several things at once. So, they should all be able to understand it.
"You're right," Yihshyong said. "So what do you think now is best?"
"This morning, when I was giving a statement, I had time to ask about where the police stationed their members to monitor. They didn't answer in detail, but they said there was always a policeman manning the grocery store."
"After they set up an monitoring post in the house?"
"That's right. It's not just the grocery store. There are a few more spots they're monitoring closely."
Chioujen stopped talking for a while. "So it's best," Chioujen looked at Jinqkang, "besides buying underwear, you also bring the paper. When you get to the grocery store, you give it to the police who are on duty there."
Apparently nothing escapes Chioujen's attention! This kid is amazing!
"Yes, Sir!" Jinqkang said.
"Now, Shyongge, please tell the police about this first," Chioujen told Yihshyong.
Yihshyong immediately headed over to where they had put Huahshiang. After plugging the earphones into his ears, Yihshyong turned on the Huahshiang. Once connected, he promptly told the police about their plan. Yihshyong didn't say much. He really didn't want to talk a lot. He just listened to the cop talking on the other end. Occasionally, he would state that he understood what the police meant.
"Okay!" Yihshyong thumbs up. "The police said, later, when you entered the grocery store, there would be a policeman approaching you. You can give this paper to him."
"Was that Mr. Chioulin?" Iren asked.
"No. I don't know who the policeman I just spoke to was," Yihshyong said. "Did you meet him there earlier?"
Iren shook his head. "I didn't meet him." He turned to Chioujen. "How about you?"
Chioujen shook his head. "I don't think he's there."
"There's no way he wasn't there." Yihshyong said. "The range of the tool is limited." He pointed at Huahshiang.
"I mean, maybe he's not in the house, but he's still somewhere else not too far from here either," Chioujen said.
"So you think the police have more than one place to monitor this?" said Iren. "Do you have a solid enough basis for that?"
"I told you that the police are monitoring many spots closely. It is not impossible that they also have other places where they can gather," Chioujen said.
"There is another possibility," Yihshyong said.
"What do you mean?" Iren asked.
"It's possible that Mr. Chioulin was indeed there. You didn't recognize him because he didn't introduce himself. Remember, none of us have ever met him face to face. So we don't know what his face or body looks like."
"I think it's a strange thing if he didn't want to meet us there," Chioujen said.
"I'm just saying that it's a possibility," Yihshyong said.
"Excuse me, Sir." Jinqkang interrupted their conversation. "About the thing I have to give to the police."
"Sorry. I almost forgot." Yihshyong gave Jinqkang the paper containing the message from the kidnapper.
"How can I be sure that the person who approached me was a policeman, Sir?" Jinqkang asked.
"Later, there, when the police officer is standing right in front of you, he will pretend to ask about someone's address in this housing complex. It's up to you what answer you want to give. However, between the sentences you use as an answer, you must insert the words 'full,' 'big,' and 'wet'. Then he will immediately answer. I don't know what sentence he will use as an answer. But for sure, the sentence will contain the words 'roof,' 'window,' and 'door.' After hearing the answer, you must answer that you will draw a map to the address he asked. The cop will then take out a small notebook. It's up to you what you want to write in the notebook, but you must slip this paper between the pages of the notebook."
Jinqkang nodded after hearing Yihshyong's explanation.
"Do you understand?" Yihshyong was worried that he was speaking too fast. "Do I need to repeat the instructions again?"
"No need, Sir! I already understand what I have to do and say."
"Good." Yihshyong breathed a sigh of relief.
"I will also give a report to Mr. Mingju. He said that I should report important things that happened." Jinqkang added his answer.
"Next to the grocery store is a payphone box. You can call him from there," Yihshyong said.
Jinqkang nodded. "Thank you, Sir."
"Then, let's not waste any more time. Hurry up and get there!" Yihshyong patted Jinqkang on the shoulder.
"Yes, Sir!" Jinqkang then ran out of the house straight away. The young man was walking so fast, he even looked like he was half running. Yihshyong hoped he could do his job well.
Meanwhile, Gongshi and Pyngher were silent as they watched and heard the conversation. When they weren't asked, they said nothing. They seemed to be listening to all the conversations in silence. Yihshyong was sure that the two of them had been trained to behave that way. From their expressions, Yihshyong guessed that Gongshi and Pyngher had already guessed, in general terms, about what had happened.
Yihshyong turned to Pyngher, who was just sitting on a chair in the dining room. The man smiled politely when he realized Yihshyong wanted to say something.
"Mr. Pyngher," said Yihshyong. "Did you bring a change of clothes? I'm afraid you will have to be here for a longer period of time. Apart from the people who are now here, you must also listen to the descriptions that will be given by other people who have also seen that girl."
"How many people are there who aren't in this house right now?" Pyngher asked. "I mean, the people I have to ask about the girl's face I have to paint."
"Only two people. Mr. Mingju and one of our friends, Mr. Dongfang." Yihshyong smiled.
Did he feel burdened with a task like this?
Pyngher nodded. "Mr. Mingju said earlier that I might have to be here until morning. So I've brought a change of clothes."
I hope this person is willing to do it not out of necessity.
Yihshyong nodded. "Thank you, Sir."
Ah! This person cannot refuse a request from his employer. Whatever he's feeling, I hope Tsaehorng pays extra. Uh? Or should I give him some money? But, what if he gets offended?
"You're welcome, Sir," Pyngher replied with a respectful nod.
Yihshyong turned his gaze towards Gongshi. The old man was looking around the room where they were now. His eyes then fell on a painting hanging on one of the walls there.
"Isn't that Mr. Shanqguan Yeongleei's painting?" Gongshi said. His forefinger was pointed at a painting depicting a landscape of a swamp.
"You mean this 'Green Swamp' painting?" Iren asked.
"Green Swamp?" Gongshi turned to Iren. His eyebrows rose.
"We don't know what the title of the painting is. So 'Green Swamp' is the title we gave it." Yihshyong smiled.
Green was the dominant color in the painting. Actually, the color was more accurately referred to as a combination of green and blue. The painting itself was a landscape painting depicting a swamp that seemed quite shallow. Many plants covered the edges and the middle of the swamp. There was a towering mountain in the background of the swamp.
"How do you know this painting is the work of Mr. Shanqguan? There is no signature on this painting," said Iren. "We don't even know who painted this painting."
"I saw it when the painting was almost finished. The painter was Shanqguan Yeongleei. I still remember it well. It happened about forty years ago. At that time, I had recently started working for Mr. Mingju's family. Shanqguan Yeongleei was a friend of Mr. Mingju Tsaehorng's grandfather." said Gongshi.
"It turned out that he painted it himself," said Yihshyong. "He never mentioned that at all."
"Do you know Mr. Shanqguan Yeongleei?" Gongshi asked.
"He was the owner of this house," said Iren. "I mean, the old owner. The new owner is his nephew."
"His nephew? Is he Shanqguan Gongsyh?"
Yihshyong was surprised. Gongshi turned out to be acquainted with the owner of this house and his nephew.
"Are you a friend of Mr. Shanqguan?" Iren asked.
"No. He was a friend of Mr. Tsaehorng's grandfather. I don't know whether they can be called friends or not. However, what I clearly see is that there was quite an intense interaction between them. Several times I have taken Mr. Tsaehorng's grandfather to meet Mr. Shanqguan. At that time, Mr. Shanqguan's elder brother worked far away, so he left his son with Mr. Shanqguan."
Yihshyong tried to remember. He was sure that he had not seen any of the Mingju family presented at Mr. Shanqguan's funeral. Even as Yihshyong recalled, there were no bouquets from the Mingju Family.
"Are they not friends anymore?" Iren asked in a low voice.
"I don't know, sir. But I get the impression that they agreed not to see each other again. I don't know why."
"Didn't you hear something from your other friends? I mean, the other Mingju family employees?" Yihshyong asked.
"Their mouths were tightly shut. So I never knew the truth either. It's just that there was once a Mingju family employee who accidentally let out a word. At that time, I happened to be near him when he was talking to someone. I forget who the person he spoke to was. He said that the Mingju family and the Shanqguan family have already got their share."
"Got their share? What's this about?" Iren's face changed. From his face, Yihshyong was sure that Iren was very curious and wanted to know more. Something he felt, too.
"I don't know either, Sir! But they mentioned the words 'gold and silver relic of the ancestors'. After that, the person he spoke to mentioned about 'it is kept in a secret place whose entrance must be unlocked by solving riddles'. or things like that. It was a long time ago, so I couldn't remember the exact words."
Yihshyong and Iren looked at each other. The information was completely unexpected.
Too bad we have to move out of here soon. Interesting things like this need to be investigated further.
"But, Gentlemen, please don't tell anyone about this," said Gongshi.
Before this, had this old man ever told such things to outsiders? There is no way this is the first time he leaks such things.
"Also, don't say that I was the one who told you." The old man continued his words.
If we won't tell anyone, we definitely won't mention his name.
"Okay, Sir! You don't have to worry," said Iren, laughing.
Oh! I can't be so sure about this.
"You have to keep your mouth shut, too." Gongshi approached Pyngher.
Pyngher smiled. "Sir, don't worry." Those were the only words that came out of his mouth. That person looked so quiet. Or maybe he just didn't want to talk much.
Hopefully this person is trustworthy enough.
Then, while waiting for Chioujen to finish preparing dinner, Iren, Yihshyong, and Gongshi engaged in a lively conversation. Gongshi shared his experience while working for the Mingju Family. The things the old man told me were very interesting indeed.
"There must be a lot that you can put into a book if you decide to write a memoir in the future," said Iren.
"I am not well educated. I don't know how to make writing interesting," said Gongshi.
"Actually, it doesn't really matter. As long as the material is interesting, I think most people can tolerate the style of language you use," said Iren.
"But I really don't know how to make correct sentences," said Gongshi.
"You can hire a ghostwriter," said Iren.
"What's that?" Gongshi asked.
"Ghostwriter is a person who helps someone write a book. Many people can't write a book for various reasons. For example, because they are too busy or maybe not good at putting together words. Now, the ghostwriter then helps people to put their ideas into writing." Yihshyong explained the meaning of the term to Gongshi.
Gongshi nodded. "But there are many things I can't say. There are also things I can say, but with the Mingju family's permission."
"In that case, just write things that are safe and allowed by the Mingju family," said Iren.
The look on Gongshi's face showed a hint of interest in the idea. But he said nothing. Yihshyong understood that there was a lot the person had to consider.
"Dinner is ready!" Chioujen shouted from the kitchen.
Just in time! I'm already so hungry!
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