Chapter 39: Insight

So, this was indeed an operation by another branch of the Military Statistics Bureau, but what could be the point of such an action?

Before long, Jiang Ping arrived with his men and found Zhao Xuan.

"Brother Xuan, so this is where you are. The scenery here is quite nice, actually."

Watching Jiang Ping trot over, Zhao Xuan stood up, turned around, and asked with a detached tone:

"Is everything taken care of?"

Jiang Ping grinned as he ran up, pulled a stack of legal tender from his pocket, and handed it to Zhao Xuan:

"Brother Xuan, this is your first time on field duty with us. It’s the usual custom; you must accept it. It’s not much."

Glancing at the stack, there was about two thousand in legal tender, which converted to a full hundred US dollars. Seeing Zhao Xuan accept the money, Jiang Ping’s demeanor became even more obsequious:

"Brother Xuan, this is the map of the eastern sector. Would you like to go and verify it?"

Zhao Xuan took it and tucked it straight into his trench coat pocket:

"It’s getting late. Let’s head back."

***

In the Director’s office at No. 76.

Zhang Sanjin refilled Ding Moqun’s teacup with hot water and stood respectfully to the side. After finishing his paperwork, Ding Moqun closed his fountain pen, raised a hand to rub his temples, and suddenly asked:

"Where did Ah Xuan go today?"

Zhang Sanjin was momentarily stunned but quickly replied:

"Zhoushan Road."

"Zhoushan Road? Why go to Zhoushan Road? Who was the field team leader he took with him?"

Upon hearing the name Jiang Ping, the corners of Ding Moqun’s mouth twitched slightly:

"Very well, it seems there is truly no problem there."

"What were the results of today’s internal investigation?"

Zhang Sanjin shook his head with a bitter smile:

"Director, we investigated twenty-six people in total and turned their residences upside down. Aside from some minor personal issues, everything else seems fine."

Though he had expected this, Ding Moqun still let out a cold snort:

"So, now you understand why I don’t dare to entrust important matters to outsiders."

Zhang Sanjin bowed his head in acknowledgment. After a long silence, unable to hold back any longer, he tentatively asked:

"Director, there is one thing from yesterday that I still haven't figured out. Why did you get out of the car?"

The corners of Ding Moqun’s mouth curled up as his gaze turned sinister. He stared straight ahead and said softly:

"If Xiaodao got out of the car, how could I not?"

Zhang Sanjin gasped inwardly; this statement revealed a great deal. He knew Ding Moqun didn't trust Dao Yan, but he hadn't realized the extent of that distrust. If Dao Yan got out, Ding Moqun got out because he was afraid the vehicle had been tampered with. Therefore, unless Ding Moqun was driving himself or the car was operated by subordinates he had personally trained, he would never sit in a car alone. In a confined space, that was no different from courting death.

"However, there were gains. At the very least, this proved that Xiaodao is not the problem, wouldn't you say?"

"It’s just that I didn't expect the Military Statistics Bureau to reach out to Xiaoya."

"By the way, regarding the matter I had you look into, what is the situation with Xiaoya’s teacher?"

Whether there was a problem or not, only Ding Moqun knew, and whether or not to use Dao Yan was his decision alone. Zhang Sanjin dared not speculate further. If he didn't even trust his own niece, then as an outsider, he had best keep his tail tucked and do his job well. Thinking of this, Zhang Sanjin hurried to look at Ding Moqun:

"It’s been confirmed. It is definitely the Military Statistics Bureau."

"Yesterday, Li Jinfang, Dao Ya’s Chinese literature teacher, proposed taking the students to visit Tongji Middle School to write an essay on the theme of 'Dreaming Back to Middle School'."

"However, after the tour, Li Jinfang never returned to the school. I contacted the school, and they replied that he had resigned and no one knows where he went."

"Furthermore, I checked train and boat tickets and found no trace of him, but I can be certain that Li Jinfang has already left Shanghai."

Ding Moqun exhaled a long breath and let out a sinister chuckle:

"What a massive game of chess! Such a long-term setup, just to assassinate me?"

"This Li Jinfang, he’s been Xiaoya’s Chinese teacher for nearly a year now, hasn't he?"

Zhang Sanjin looked at Ding Moqun, confused:

"That is correct, almost a year."

"But Director, the forensic evidence from the clock tower indicates beyond a doubt that this was a premeditated and well-prepared assassination attempt."

"The assassin fired two shots and retreated decisively without a moment's hesitation. There were others providing cover and clearing the trail; we couldn't even find a direction to track them."

"Besides, Zhao Xuan mentioned yesterday that the catalyst for this whole event is likely the internal investigation you initiated. As long as 'Columbine' and 'Young Tiger' aren't caught, this won't end."

"Perhaps that struck a nerve."

Ding Moqun leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Although everything seemed logical, he felt something was deeply wrong. The internal investigation had only just begun; they hadn't even identified Columbine or Young Tiger yet, so why was the Military Statistics Bureau acting so desperately? That, in itself, was suspicious.

"Do not stop the internal investigation. Focus on those who remained at No. 76 after work yesterday. At the same time, continue to investigate Zhou Dahe and his daughter. That is our only breakthrough!"

"You understand the direction, don't you?"

Ding Moqun’s schedule for leaving work was always irregular. Yesterday, he happened to leave early, and the Military Statistics Bureau managed to capitalize on it. The answer was simple. Upon returning to No. 76 after the attack last night, Ding Moqun had ordered an investigation into whether any calls were made from No. 76 or from nearby phone booths. The search yielded results: a call had indeed been placed from within the compound. While the identity of the caller was unknown, it was certainly someone who remained behind after Ding Moqun had left—and this person was likely Columbine or Young Tiger.

Zhang Sanjin swallowed hard, his mind racing before he spoke:

"I understand. Since it is confirmed that this father and daughter are with the Military Statistics Bureau, we will start by checking their recruitment serial numbers. After all, this pair had never appeared on our radar before, and for them to suddenly act with such disregard for their own lives upon appearing is indeed abnormal."

Times can be faked, but serial numbers cannot; they are assigned specifically, one person to one spot. Unless their files were not within the Military Statistics Bureau at all. If that were the case, it would mean they weren't with the Bureau, which made things even more interesting—a ruse of self-inflicted injury? If confirmed, Dao Yan, Dao Ya, Auntie Liu, and Zhao Xuan, who were all present yesterday, would be under heavy suspicion. Finding the mole among those four would be far simpler than finding a needle in a haystack at No. 76.

Not long after Zhang Sanjin left, Zhao Xuan arrived at Ding Moqun's office with the daily task report. Looking at the map of the alleyway routes in the eastern district of Zhoushan Road, Ding Moqun smiled with satisfaction:

"Not bad. It seems you are adapting quite quickly."

"You went to Zhoushan Road today—so, how much oil did Jiang Ping scrape off for you?"