Chapter 67: Clues

After Old Niu got out of the car, Li Wensheng didn't immediately start driving. Instead, he furrowed his brows and pulled out a cigarette and some matches from the system space. Lighting a cigarette, he inhaled the smoke and murmured in his heart, "Is it really him?"

Earlier, when Liu Zukang mentioned that Ren Zuhong had brought up the matter, Li Wensheng began to suspect Ren Zuhong. But after speaking with Ren Zuhong yesterday, he felt that Ren was unlikely to be a Japanese spy. Yet today, Ren sought him out, slipped him a gold bar, all to inquire about Liu Zukang’s fate—this made Li Wensheng doubt him once more.

If Ren, like Liu Zukang, had fallen from grace yet still tried to exonerate him, Li Wensheng wouldn’t have suspected a thing. But Ren was different. Yesterday, during their conversation, he claimed to have a close relationship with Liu Zukang, but made no effort to ask about Liu’s situation, focusing only on defending himself. Yet today, he was suddenly probing about Liu Zukang—highly unusual.

When the cigarette burned halfway, Li Wensheng suppressed his suspicions and drove off to find Shi Xiaozhen.

On the latter half of Baixing Street, he saw Bai Yan leading a group out of a building. Li Wensheng stopped the car at once and walked over.

“Chief, you were looking for me?” Bai Yan’s eyes sparkled like stars when she saw him.

Li Wensheng had no patience for her charm and asked directly, “How’s the canvassing going?”

Bai Yan pouted unhappily. “There’s something, but not about the dog. Someone said that before us, others came asking about a black and white long-haired dog.”

Li Wensheng’s eyes brightened. “Can anyone describe the person who asked about the dog?”

Bai Yan collected herself, her expression turning solemn as she shook her head. “They can’t. None of them remember what the person looked like. It’s been too long—almost a month. If we hadn’t come asking about the dog, they would have forgotten someone else had asked before.”

Li Wensheng was disappointed. He didn’t know exactly what had happened, but whoever had inquired about the dog was undoubtedly connected to the Japanese spy who stole the documents. If they could get a sketch of that person, perhaps they could trace the spy.

“Where’s Deputy Chief Shi?”

“Zhen Jie is canvassing on the next street over, Qisong Street.”

Li Wensheng turned and drove straight to Qisong Street.

In front of a tailor shop on Qisong Street, he found Shi Xiaozhen. As he got out of the car, Shi Xiaozhen saw him too. She instructed the new recruits to wait and walked over.

“Chief!”

“Any findings?”

“Yes. About a month ago, someone was here asking about a black and white, long-haired dog. But after so long, they don’t remember what the person looked like—only that it was a man.”

Li Wensheng’s expression didn’t waver, already having heard this from Bai Yan.

But a moment later, his expression shifted.

“However, Chief, there’s a man nearby who loves to eat dog meat. Many believe the dog was eaten by Jiang the Butcher. Out of fear of his retaliation, no one told that man about it.”

“Who is Jiang the Butcher?” Li Wensheng asked quickly.

“He’s a local thug, known by everyone. Because he has connections with the Society of Robes, people are afraid of him. Chief, I’ve already been to Jiang the Butcher’s house—he’s gone. The place is covered in dust, and it’s been searched. He’s been missing for a while.”

Li Wensheng’s eyes flashed. A disappearance—good. That strongly suggested the Japanese spy’s involvement. If they acted, they would have left traces, and the more traces, the more clues.

“Take me to Jiang the Butcher’s house.”

Jiang’s house was a small, single-story courtyard, dilapidated, with even a corner of the table nearly broken. Li Wensheng entered and ran his fingers through the dust on the table. He circled the room and, finding nothing unusual, instructed Shi Xiaozhen, “Let Bai Yan handle the canvassing. You focus on Jiang the Butcher—search his house inside and out. Question his neighbors and friends. I want to know when he disappeared, where he went before that, whom he met, what he did—find it all out.”

“Yes, Chief.” Shi Xiaozhen straightened her back and replied crisply.

After giving instructions, Li Wensheng drove back to the Second Division.

Just as he got out of the car—“Chief!”

He turned to see Gunman jogging over from the gate. Catching his breath, Gunman lowered his voice, “Chief, there’s been a development.”

“Tell me in detail.”

“Chief, the wife of Zhai Dongyuan, the director of Chongqing's Municipal Police Bureau, keeps a black and white, long-haired dog. But we can’t get into the director’s house. Sixth Brother sent me to ask you what to do next.”

Li Wensheng frowned inwardly. He hadn’t been in Chongqing long, but he knew Zhai Dongyuan was not to be trifled with. Ordinary policemen wouldn’t dare cross the Secret Service, but the director of Chongqing’s Police Bureau was different. Chongqing was the provisional capital; that position was critical. He wouldn’t be there without the trust of his influential uncle. Both the Secret Service and Central Bureau only dared investigate Zhai Dongyuan in secret—no one would storm his home openly.

Li Wensheng hesitated for a moment, then his resolve hardened. So what? If nothing came of it, at worst his uncle would scold him—but if something did, it would be huge. If a Japanese spy was hiding in the police director’s home, that spy would have access to everything in Chongqing.

Li Wensheng turned and started walking. “Let’s go—take me there!”

Soon, following Gunman’s directions, Li Wensheng met Zheng Yaoxian in a teahouse. To investigate the dog, Zheng had brought over thirty agents from the Secret Service—now, the small teahouse was filled with their people. Even the owner and staff had fled to the back.

Li Wensheng swept his eyes around and asked Zheng, “Sixth Brother, are you certain Zhai Dongyuan’s wife keeps a black and white, long-haired dog?”

Before Zheng could answer, a uniformed man at the side slammed the table and stood up, bellowing angrily, “How can you talk to Sixth Brother like that? If you don’t trust him, why ask for his help?”

“Jianzhi!” Zheng Yaoxian barked, face stern, then smiled at Li Wensheng. “Chief Li, forgive him—my brother’s a bit slow-witted. As for Zhai Dongyuan’s wife and her dog, I’m very sure. Several officials’ wives have seen it. She loves playing mahjong and often brings the dog along. Those ladies have seen it many times—I’m certain.”

“In that case, we search.”

As soon as Li Wensheng spoke, Zhao Jianzhi and his group were visibly stunned, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads. Search Zhai Dongyuan’s house? Are you out of your mind?

“Chief Li, we can search, but let’s be clear: if something happens and the higher-ups come down on us, you have to protect my men,” Zheng Yaoxian said gravely.

“No problem. I’ll take the lead for this search. Just follow me—if there’s trouble, I’ll take responsibility.”

“Then it’s settled.”

“Sixth Brother, this—”

Before Zhao Jianzhi could finish, Zheng Yaoxian laughed, “Jianzhi, I trust Chief Li. If you trust me, bring the men along.”

“Sixth Brother, of course I trust you. You’d never harm us.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

The teahouse wasn’t far from Zhai Dongyuan’s residence. After getting into their cars, they drove for a few minutes, entered the residential district, turned a corner, and arrived at Zhai’s mansion.