The matter in Zhong County had been resolved, the case solved, and the clues obtained. Most importantly, through this incident, Liu Yuxin finally confirmed her feelings, and Yang Shaoquan understood her intentions.
There were no longer any obstacles between her and Cao Changming.
Within a couple of days, Hu Jia and his team returned to Chongqing. The office was filled with jubilation. Zhan Ruoxuan and Zhou Fengjiu immediately surrounded Lü Qingqing, chattering incessantly.
"Li Yang, Wen Wu," Hu Jia called out to the two, simultaneously giving Yu Yue a meaningful glance.
Li Yang and Wen Wu understood Hu Jia's intention in an instant. "Boss, it's been too long. Aren't you going to treat us to a cup of tea?"
"Get lost!"
"Then you can at least treat us to a smoke."
"Can you keep getting lost?"
"No!"
Saying this, Li Yang and Wen Wu exchanged a look, then one grabbed Hu Jia's left hand and the other his right, playfully dragging him towards the door.
Hu Jia resigned himself to it, cursing and laughing as he followed them out.
Tong Meng watched the three leave, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. Just as she was about to follow, Yu Yue stopped her. "How was it? Was it fun on the trip? Our boss's hometown is in Zhong County. Is the scenery beautiful there?"
Tong Meng shot Yu Yue an annoyed glance, trying to go around him on the left. Yu Yue shifted one step to the left. "I'm asking you a question."
Tong Meng suppressed her annoyance and tried to go around on the right, but was still blocked. "What? Are you getting distant after only a few days away?"
Heh!
Tong Meng finally realized this was deliberate obstruction.
"I need to go to the Judicial Department to see Director Tong," Tong Meng said. "Please let me pass."
"Is that so? Then I'll accompany you."
Tong Meng was infuriated, while Yu Yue's eyes curved into crescents as he smiled. "I'll go wherever you go."
Hu Jia knew Tong Meng would follow. Meanwhile, he was now giving instructions to Li Yang and Wen Wu.
"Go find someone named Lu Jiao. His hometown is Zhong County. If you find him, tell him someone has come to redeem a pawn."
"Lu Jiao? Male? How old? Where does he usually hang out?"
"Lu Jiao is an alias. I don't know his real name. He's probably male, maybe around 40? Or perhaps in his early fifties. As for his whereabouts, I trust you can figure that out. The only clue is that he's likely involved in the antique business."
Li Yang was dumbfounded. He stared at Hu Jia for a long moment before turning to leave.
Boss, if you want to set someone up, you don't do it like this.
I'm your brother, after all!
Seeing Li Yang storm off in a huff, Hu Jia didn't chase after him. Instead, he turned his gaze to Luo Wenwu.
"Boss, don't look at me. You know I'm sickly, not very bright, awkward with words, and slow on my feet. I really can't do this kind of finding people job." Luo Wenwu shivered involuntarily as Hu Jia's gaze fell upon him.
His string of excuses not only stumped Hu Jia but also made Li Yang stop and stare at him.
When did this bald guy become so eloquent?
He's learned some bad habits; he might have truly gone bad.
Hu Jia shot Li Yang a glare, implying that even the best person would be corrupted if they mixed with him.
Li Yang was speechless. He refused to take the blame. Humans have stress response potential; it gets triggered when they face danger.
Your mission to find Lu Jiao is dangerous!
"Enough with the excuses. You and Li Yang will search together." After saying this, Hu Jia added, "However, I have another task for you."
"What?" Luo Wenwu asked, somewhat warily.
"Find someone else!" Hu Jia said with a smile.
Luo Wenwu gasped, while Li Yang gloated. "Right, right, the capable ones should take on more work. Let him do more searching."
Luo Wenwu was annoyed. "You're like a clay figurine of a devil, not a bit of kindness in you."
Seeing the two bicker, Hu Jia couldn't help but smile. It felt good to have brothers around. "Alright, go find someone named Zhang Wei. As for his identity, anything goes. For his age, you decide. Gender should preferably be male, and his hometown is Zhong County."
Uh…
"Hahaha…" Li Yang was almost rolling with laughter. Who is this person? Even the gender is "preferably male."
"Boss, are you sure you're not joking?" Luo Wenwu was truly at a loss for words.
"Of course!" Hu Jia said confidently.
"But, what you're saying is so…" Luo Wenwu desperately wanted to say Hu Jia was unreliable, but he didn't in the end.
Hu Jia stifled his laughter. "What? Can't complete it?"
"I'll try my best and try to come up with an identity for you," Luo Wenwu said dejectedly.
"Hahaha…" Hu Jia roared with laughter, clapping Luo Wenwu on the shoulder. "When has your boss ever done such a disreputable thing?"
Luo Wenwu's eyes lit up. "You're tricking me? We're not looking for this Zhang Wei?"
"No, we still have to look! His personal information is the same as what I just said," Hu Jia replied.
"Then?" Luo Wenwu was confused.
Hu Jia beckoned him closer, signaling him to lean in. "Here's the thing…"
…
After work, Hu Jia and Lü Qingqing were swept along by the crowd and headed out for a gathering. Chongqing in late April was starting to warm up.
Having shed their heavy winter clothes for lighter autumn wear, their movements felt more agile.
The group was enjoying themselves heartily at a restaurant, while two hidden operatives shivered in a nearby corner.
"Seriously, they make us come for surveillance. They're eating so warmly, and we're out here starving and freezing."
"What can we do? Leader Tong is a favorite of Sixth Master now. Who dares to disobey her?"
"Pah! What favorite? She's nothing more than a whore who climbed her way up with her body."
"Hahaha, everyone knows that, so don't bring it up. Alas! That's the good thing about women; they have no real skills, yet they climb so high."
"I heard she got a clue from this mission, but the organization has been studying it for a long time without figuring anything out."
"When has she ever successfully completed anything?"
"Hahaha."
…
Getting up from the bed, Tong Meng had completed her first task.
"Still haven't figured out the secret of that ledger?"
"I never heard them discuss anything about 1924. And they didn't seem to react when they lost the ledger, not even looking for it."
"Heh, these kids are quite cunning," Qiao Huali said, getting dressed. "You, on the other hand, are still too naive."
Tong Meng knew Sixth Master was right, but she still didn't quite understand where the problem lay.
Seeing her look of partial understanding, Sixth Master didn't elaborate. "Were the people sent for surveillance today all yours?"
Tong Meng nodded.
"In the future, for surveillance, find people of lower rank."
Tong Meng blushed. Sixth Master meant that she, entrusted with "the capable fighters," had assigned them tasks suitable for subordinates.
What an arrangement.
"I thought this was different. After all, we were monitoring Hu Jia and Ouyang Wen, and also Lü Qingqing. They are all not to be trifled with," Tong Meng still wanted to explain.
"This is why I say you're a bit naive," Qiao Huali looked at Tong Meng, who appeared eager to learn. "Since you know Hu Jia called Li Yang and Luo Wenwu out as soon as he returned, he must have things to assign to them. Why are you focusing on the little cats instead of the big tigers? Do you think you'll overhear their mission reports when they return?"