activa-t Chapter 64 Follow along and wait at the door.
Chapter 64 Follow along and wait at the door.
In the French Concession, the Laoxikai Police Station was a three-story gray brick building with Chinese police officers standing guard at the entrance, armed with guns.
Zhou Xing got off the carriage carrying the cloth roll, gave a few extra coins to pay the fare, and walked straight inside.
I haven't been here for a few days, but the lobby still smells the same: sweat, cigarettes, and foot odor.
Several Chinese constables on duty were chatting idly around a long table, spittle flying everywhere.
"Last night, if I hadn't had such bad luck..."
"I heard that someone from higher up has come to investigate the case of the judge in Tianjin again..."
Two others winked and whispered about a new girl who had just moved into a brothel.
Zhou Xing stepped into the lobby.
The voice suddenly lowered.
The Chinese constables, who were chatting happily, suddenly stopped talking, glanced over, and then quickly looked away, a hint of unease flashing across their faces.
Some people lowered their heads and pretended to organize documents, while others picked up their already cold teacups and gulped down their tea.
The air fell into a subtle stillness for a moment.
Zhou Xing seemed oblivious, his gaze sweeping across the room before he walked to the Annamese policeman closest to the door.
The Annamese constable was short and dark-skinned. He was leaning against the wall, nodding his head, and dozing off.
Sensing someone approaching, he forced his eyelids open a crack and saw a short-sleeved outfit, the fabric of which was somewhat worn.
He made an impatient "gurgle" in his throat, his eyelids drooped again, he tilted his head to the other side, and mumbled something in Annamese, roughly meaning "Don't bother me."
Zhou Xing stopped in front of him and asked:
"Is Inspector Lai in his office?"
The Annamese police were getting quite annoyed by the disturbance. Who was it that was being so tactless?
He suddenly looked up, his eyes wide, wanting to reprimand him, but the words caught in his throat.
He recognized the face and knew how much Inspector Lai valued this Chinese police officer.
"Yes, yes, Detective Zhou."
He quickly stood up straight and blurted out broken Chinese.
Zhou Xing nodded and casually tucked the eight-foot-long spear, wrapped in cloth, into the belt buckle of the Annamite policeman.
"Follow me. Wait for me at the door."
His tone was flat, his movements were crisp, even somewhat casual.
The Annamese constable was completely caught off guard. He felt a weight on his waist and looked down to see the long roll of cloth tucked diagonally into his belt.
The cloth wad at the butt of the gun was stuck between the belt and the uniform, and the gun barrel was pointing diagonally outward, trembling precariously.
His face changed instantly, first turning red, then a little pale.
Standing in the police station lobby with that thing stuck in his waistband?
What kind of talk is that!
He looked up and quickly glanced at the Chinese constables who were watching them.
Although those people didn't say anything, the mockery and probing in their eyes made him feel even more humiliated.
The Annamese policeman's throat bobbed, as if he wanted to say something, but meeting Zhou Xing's calm gaze, he only uttered two hesitant words:
"Okay, okay."
He gritted his teeth, hurriedly grabbed the gun, and jogged a few steps to catch up.
The gun was too long; the butt of the gun was stuck in the ground, and the tip was almost touching the ceiling. He couldn't take a step, and his posture was awkward, like a lame soldier carrying a flagpole.
The two walked up the stairs one after the other until their figures disappeared.
The brief silence in the lobby was then broken.
"See that?"
A tall, thin policeman lowered his voice and gestured towards the stairs.
"They've really gotten cocky! They're ordering that Annamese monkey surnamed Chen around like he's their grandson! That damn Annamese has bullied people a lot before."
"He's Inspector Li's favorite! Didn't you see Inspector Li last time..."
Another round-faced policeman said sourly, "Tsk tsk, I wonder what kind of luck he had, or, hehe, what kind of good deal he made to climb the social ladder."
After saying that, he let out a few lewd chuckles.
An older police officer standing nearby frowned, refraining from joining the banter, and instead lowered his voice:
"You guys say, Inspector Ruan's death was so suspicious, and Inspector Li took over not long after, and they were so close. Could it be that Inspector Ruan wouldn't..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but he conveyed the meaning.
The group exchanged glances, and their smiles gradually faded.
The air suddenly felt a bit cold.
The round-faced policeman chuckled twice:
"Ha, ha, Brother Wang, you're really good at thinking! Who is Inspector Ruan? Li Wenyong used to be like a mouse before a cat when he saw him! Besides, that scene... impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"Exactly, you're overthinking it!"
The others quickly echoed, then gave a dry laugh.
They stopped talking about that topic and started discussing where to eat that night, but their eyes kept wandering, glancing at the stairwell every now and then.
Second floor, outside the supervisory office.
The Annamese constable stood ramrod straight, his hand resting on the long gun tucked into his belt.
The gun barrel stretched out long at an angle, so he could only try to stay as close to the wall as possible, motionless, sweat beading on his forehead, his face showing a bit of confusion.
His movements were awkward, but he dared not relax in the slightest, much less put down his gun.
Zhou Xing knocked twice on the door, and Li Wenyong's voice came from inside: "Come in."
Push the door open and go inside.
Li Wenyong was sitting behind his desk, with a uniformed police officer standing in front of him, seemingly reporting something.
Upon seeing Zhou Xing enter, Li Wenyong raised his hand to stop his subordinate from speaking.
"You go out first. Close the door behind you."
The constable glanced at Zhou Xing, but didn't dare to ask any more questions. He bowed his head, replied "Yes," and left, gently closing the door behind him.
The door closed, shutting out the sounds from outside.
"Has the list been submitted?"
Zhou walked to the desk, didn't sit down, and asked directly.
"I've reported it."
Li Wenyong took a sheet of paper from the drawer and pushed it over. "This is the list of twelve people that Renault requested to arrive within three days after the initial screening."
Zhou Xing glanced at the list; it included Chinese, Annamese, and even two French police officers. His name was prominently listed.
He pointed to the list with his finger. "Compile a file on Renault as soon as possible, the more detailed the better."
Especially his experience in Annam, how he suppressed the rebellion, what methods he used, what unusual things happened to the corpses afterward—every detail, everything.
Li Wenyong nodded: "Understood. I'll check through our old channels and get it to you as soon as possible."
Zhou Xing pondered for a moment, then said:
"That distant relative of yours, who was staying in the attic I stayed in a few days ago, should not go back for the next few months. Find an excuse to go away and hide somewhere else, or stay somewhere else."
Li Wenyong was taken aback:
Why?
"Unlucky."
Zhou Xing said calmly, "Also, find two clever and tight-lipped people to keep an eye on that attic."
"No need to go in, just watch from a distance and see if any unusual people pass by. Keep an eye on them for a week."
Li Wenyong's eyes flickered. He didn't ask why, but only replied:
"Okay. I'll arrange it."
"Um."
Zhou Xing nodded. "For the next few months, consider it as me renting that house. The rent will be deducted from your salary."
Li Wenyong nodded subconsciously: "Okay, huh?"
He looked up, somewhat taken aback. "Me? I pay?"
Zhou Xing turned his head and glanced at him, his eyes saying, "What else?"
"With your salary, do you expect me to pay for it?"
Li Wenyong hesitated, then finally gave a bitter smile:
"Okay, deduct it from my account."
"Where are those old things?"
Zhou Xing asked about the ultimate purpose.
"The evidence room, cabinet number three, is locked separately. I have the key."
Li Wenyong took a bunch of keys from his waist, found one of the brass keys, and handed it to Zhou Xing. "Shall we go now?"
"Now."
Zhou Xing took the keys, turned around, and went out.
Outside the door, the Annamese policeman was still holding his gun, his legs were getting numb from standing. When he saw Zhou Xing come out, he immediately straightened up.
Zhou Xing glanced at him:
"Follow me and wait at the door."
The Annamese policeman, with a pained expression, continued to limp along.
The group walked one after another to the end of the corridor, where they stood in front of a door covered with sheet metal, with a sign that read "Evidence Room".
Zhou Xing took out his key, inserted it into the lock, turned it, and pushed the door open.
The room had no windows and smelled of old dust and rust.
A small light bulb hangs on top, and several rows of tall iron frames are piled with all sorts of burlap sacks and wooden crates.
Zhou Xing walked straight to the innermost part.
Against the wall stood a dark green metal cabinet, about half a person's height, with a large brass lock hanging on the door.
He unlocked the door and opened the cabinet.
It was divided into several floors, with various items scattered around in a cluttered manner.
Several yellowed account books, a porcelain vase, a few antique jade ornaments, a dagger, and several oil paper packages.
Zhou Xing's gaze swept across the area and stopped in a corner of the second floor.
There lay a copper coin.
The moment their eyes met, his heart skipped a beat.
A strange sense of attraction emanated from the copper coin.
It is a token.