coobybook Chapter 1028 Old He
Chapter 1028 Old He
In the lobby of the Yunding Mountain villa, everyone returned one after another, their faces showing undisguised exhaustion, and their eyes still showing the bloodshot veins from a sleepless night.
Upon hearing the noise, the steward Guan Zhongping came out from the inner room. Seeing the situation, he quickly asked with concern:
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. The restaurant has prepared the food. Please come and have your meal. Master Jing will be here soon."
All eyes turned to Lu Feng, who nodded and said, "I reported to Master Jing on the way." With that, he took the lead and walked towards the restaurant.
Upon entering the restaurant, you'll see a burly chef bringing the last dish to the table.
The table was laden with a variety of nutritious meals, a well-balanced mix of meat and vegetables, and the steaming dishes emitted an enticing aroma.
It instantly brought out the hunger that everyone had suppressed all night, and many people's stomachs immediately started rumbling.
No time for formalities; everyone took their seats, picked up their bowls and chopsticks, and began to wolf down their food. For a moment, the only sound in the restaurant was the clinking of bowls and chopsticks.
Fang Zhongrui ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice, then looked up at Lu Feng, a worried look on his face.
"Shi Tiejun, Chu Xiangfeng, and Gu Shoucheng haven't returned yet."
Lu Feng paused, chewing his food, then put down his chopsticks and said:
"I contacted them when I got back. They hold important positions on the ship and are temporarily unable to leave, but they are not in danger at the moment and will keep in touch with me."
"That's good." Fang Zhongrui breathed a sigh of relief, but still had little appetite.
"The interior of the Sea Shark is more complex than expected. Those who remain inside will have to be extra careful."
Lu Feng nodded: "I've already emphasized to them that the main thing is to keep their identities hidden and not to act rashly. We'll discuss the next steps once Master Jing arrives."
As they were talking, the sound of engines came from the courtyard of the Yunding Mountain Villa, and three luxury cars slowly drove in.
The car in front stopped, and Wang Weidong, Wei Guoqing, and Xing Zhongxing got out first, their expressions still showing the seriousness they had when handling cases.
The middle door opened, and Deng Zhouyi jumped out first. He then opened the rear door, and Teng Zijing stepped out.
The tiger at his feet immediately perked up, wagging its tail and following behind him;
Ji Yang, Wu Lan, Zhou Jing, and Qin Yanjuan got out of the car behind. As soon as Ji Yang stood up, he looked around.
I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, this manor is so beautiful! The lives of the rich are so extravagant!"
Hearing the commotion, the steward Guan Zhongping quickly stepped out the door, a gentle smile on his face:
"Master Jing has arrived. Lu Feng and the others have returned and are having dinner in the restaurant."
Teng Zijing nodded without saying anything and walked straight to the living room. After entering, he glanced around the room and said coldly, "Please make yourself at home, Uncle Ping, bring some tea."
"Yes, Master Jing." Guan Zhongping replied, turned around and walked to the tea station, skillfully boiling water, warming the cups, and brewing the tea, his movements flowing smoothly.
Everyone took their seats, their eyes unconsciously scanning the living room's furnishings—
The mahogany furniture exudes a sense of calm and stability, while the calligraphy and paintings on the walls add a touch of elegance, perfectly complementing the luxurious estate outside.
Not long after they sat down, Lu Beichuan and Kuang Wenxun rushed in, their faces still showing signs of travel.
Upon seeing Teng Zijing, they immediately stood at attention and saluted: "Master Jing!"
Teng Zijing nodded: "Thank you for your hard work. Let's go to the restaurant for dinner first."
"Yes, Master Jing!" the two replied loudly, then turned and walked quickly toward the restaurant.
Just then, Lu Feng finished eating and came out of the restaurant, bumping into Lu Beichuan and Kuang Wenxun. He hurriedly asked, "You two are back? Where are Chen Yun and Wen Zhengbin?"
Lu Beichuan didn't stop walking, answering as he went, "We're still keeping an eye on the target. We'll report back when we get back."
"Okay, let's go eat first." Lu Feng nodded. "I'll go see if Master Jing has arrived yet."
"We've arrived. They're talking to the police officers in the living room." The two men said, brushing past Lu Feng and walking straight into the dining room.
Ten minutes later, Lu Feng and his team members sat down one by one on the living room sofa, and the atmosphere instantly became serious.
Teng Zijing sat in the main seat, tapping his fingertips lightly on the armrest, and gestured for Lu Feng to speak first.
Lu Feng stood up first and spread a piece of paper on the coffee table: "Last night I was mainly responsible for keeping watch on the outside and observing changes in the internal environment of the Sea Shark."
The ship's structure is more complex than I expected; I've roughly drawn a structural diagram.
He squatted down, picked up a pen, and made circles and dots on the paper. "The first floor is the reception room and conference room, where the people are the most diverse."
The second floor houses the VIP lounge and dance club, which are heavily guarded.
The third floor is divided into separate gambling venues and various office areas for exchanging chips, which require a special pass to enter;
The lowest level houses the warehouse and maintenance access; the suspicious individuals Lu Beichuan mentioned earlier likely disembarked and embarked from here.
Fang Zhongrui took over the conversation, his tone somber: "Chu Xiangfeng and I were in charge of searching the second-floor ballroom club and surrounding rooms. We searched all the places where people might be being held, but we found nothing."
He paused, his fingertips clenching so tightly they turned white. "I even suspect... that either the person wasn't locked on the ship, or..."
He was already dead, but he didn't dare say it aloud, not wanting to dampen everyone's morale. He didn't say the rest, but everyone understood what he meant.
The image of the gambler jumping into the sea from the deck last night flashed through his mind.
The menacing appearance of those men in black made him want to rush up and bring these scumbags to justice immediately.
Seeing his agitated state, Lu Beichuan sighed softly and took the report: "Chen Yun and I are in charge of providing support at the port."
Last night around 9 PM, I saw Chang Miaomiao and a distinguished-looking man disembark from the Sea Shark.
The sea breeze was too strong, and they couldn't hear the conversation clearly, so they got directly into a Ferrari SF90.
Chen Yun and I split into two cars and followed them alternately. We finally stopped at a seaside villa. Chen Yun stayed there to keep watch, while I came back to report.
Kuang Wenxun then spoke up: "I ran into an acquaintance on the Sea Shark—the subordinate who took Chang Miaomiao away from the Liujin Club in Kuncheng."
I followed him all the way to a manor, sneaked inside and searched the area, and discovered that Chang Haihe lived there.
Maids were there to serve us, but there were many people lurking in the shadows of the manor watching us. I told Wen Zhengbin to keep watch and come back to report.
The living room fell silent for a moment. Xing Zhongxing stared at the floor plan, his brow furrowed.
"The three-story casino is a complex environment, making it impossible to imprison people. The warehouse on the ground floor is guarded, which could be the breakthrough point."
The movements of Chang Miaomiao and Chang Haihe are also crucial. Lu Xiangwan describes the women around Second Master Feng Zhan.
It's very likely that it's Chang Miaomiao; however, she most likely knows the whereabouts of Coco and her father.
Teng Zijing's fingertip stopped on the armrest, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Lu Feng, send a copy of the structural diagram to Officer Zheng."
The Governor instructed the police to secretly assist in investigating the holder of the Sea Shark's travel permit.
Fang Zhongrui, you and Chu Xiangfeng will remain on the ship and keep a close eye on the key figures; quickly find out all the information about Chairman Feng Yuanzheng.
Lu Beichuan contacted Chen Yun to find out the security arrangements at the seaside villa; Kuang Wenxun met with Wen Zhengbin to find out who was monitoring the Changhai River.
He paused, then his voice suddenly turned stern: "Remember, it's better to be a step behind than to alert the enemy."
What we need isn't clues, but the safety of the hostages and to bring these scumbags to justice.
Everyone responded in unison: "Yes!"
Sunlight streamed through the leaves into the living room, falling on the structural diagram covered in markings.
It seemed to have illuminated the darkness deep within the "Sea Shark." A more meticulous plan was quietly unfolding.
Deep within Feng Yuanzheng's manor, a secluded cottage exudes a somber atmosphere.
The room was dimly lit, and the air was filled with the smell of medicine and the scent of aging.
Feng Yuanzheng lay on the simple bed, barely breathing, his withered hand tightly gripping the wrist of the old housekeeper, Lao He.
With his other hand, he trembled as he held a small package wrapped in oil paper and struggled to stuff it into Lao He's palm.
He was panting heavily, each word seeming to have exhausted all his strength:
"Old...Old He, you must...find a way to send...send this package out, and give it to my son Feng Tao."
Looking at his sallow face and reddened eyes, Lao He quickly grasped his hand to comfort him:
"President, please don't worry or get agitated. Just rest well. I will definitely find the Third Young Master and personally hand the item over to him. Don't worry."
Feng Yuanzheng's tears slid down his cheeks, soaking his pillowcase, his voice filled with endless regret:
"You need to hurry... I... I want to see my Tao'er again... I was so foolish... If I hadn't been so stubborn back then..."
And...he wouldn't have ended up like this, and he and his mother wouldn't have suffered such a fate...
At this point, he coughed violently, his chest heaving.
Old He quickly patted him on the back to help him catch his breath, choking back tears as he said, "You will see the Third Young Master, you definitely will. You should take care of yourself first and wait for my news."
Feng Yuanzheng nodded weakly, his eyes unfocused, yet he stared intently at the doorway, as if hoping for something.
Old He carefully tucked the oil paper package into his bosom, concealed it close to his body, and then tucked Feng Yuanzheng's blanket in before quietly leaving the small house.
The sun was shining brightly outside, and the flowers and plants in the manor were in full bloom, but Old He's heart was heavy.
He knew how important the contents of that oiled paper package were, and he was even more aware that the road ahead was fraught with danger.
The Feng family is now beyond the control of the old chairman. Finding the third young master, Feng Tao, under the noses of Feng Yan and Feng Zhan is as difficult as climbing to heaven.
He straightened his clothes and walked through the garden as if nothing was wrong, his steps becoming more steady as he caught a glimpse of the bodyguards watching him from the shadows.
The oil paper package in his arms, through the fabric, had a slight tactile sensation, like a branding iron, searing his conscience and the mission he had to complete.
Old He had made preparations in advance to ensure a smooth departure from the Feng family manor. He was carrying a bulging bundle wrapped in some dirty bedding.
A pungent, rancid smell spread with each step. He deliberately kept his head down and walked towards the back door.
As they passed by the long corridor and flower hall, they happened to see Feng Zhan chatting with his mother, Shen Yuehua, sitting at a stone table.
Shen Yuehua was playing with an exquisite brocade box, inside which lay a diamond necklace, its brilliance dazzling and clearly very valuable.
Upon smelling the stench, her brows furrowed instantly. She looked up at Lao He, her tone filled with disgust:
"Ugh, did you poop in the bedding again? It stinks! Old He, what's wrong with you? Can't you just walk around it? The stench is making me nauseous!"
Old He immediately stopped and bowed, apologizing, "I'm sorry, Madam, I'm sorry, Second Master, I'll be leaving now, I'll be leaving now."
Feng Zhan, with his legs crossed, waved his hand impatiently: "Get out, get out, get out!"
"You're getting more and more useless with age, you reek of sourness. Get out and don't ever come back, you're a jinx!"
Old He nodded repeatedly, carrying the package as he hurried through the flower hall, behind him Shen Yuehua's low complaints still lingering:
"That old geezer is getting more and more disgusting. If it weren't for the fact that the club's elders needed him to keep them in check, we would have gotten rid of the old man a long time ago..."
Finally out of the back gate of the manor, Old He breathed a sigh of relief and headed straight for the public toilet not far away.
He locked the door, quickly pulled the oil paper package from the dirty bedding, dusted it off, and put it back close to his body.
Then, he pulled an old hat and a thick scarf from the bottom of the package, and put them on his head.
The scarf was pulled up to the tip of his nose, completely covering half of his face, leaving only a pair of wary eyes visible.
After tidying himself up, he opened the door, strode out of the public restroom, and blended into the crowd on the street.
Sunlight fell on the brim of his hat, casting a shadow. No one could see his expression clearly. Only the heavy oil paper package tucked into his arms reminded him of the mission on his shoulders.