Qiao Huali's symptoms finally appeared. He was in the office discussing matters with Hu Jia and Ouyang Wen when he suddenly foamed at the mouth and convulsed uncontrollably.
This terrified the two brothers, who immediately used their first aid knowledge to provide emergency care.
Qiao Huali, having regained consciousness, looked exhausted and sighed deeply. "I'm not going to live much longer, am I?"
Hearing this, Ouyang Wen's eyes welled up. "No, you'll live a hundred years. We will find the Shui Liao and surely cure you of this poison."
Hu Jia also felt a pang of distress. He had once resented Qiao Huali, believing he had betrayed them. Even after learning that Qiao Huali had been forced against his will, a certain distance remained in his heart.
But now, witnessing Qiao Huali collapse before him, his heart was filled with panic and fear.
He was afraid that this uncle, who had accompanied him since childhood, would be taken away from him.
"Uncle, you can use the information to exchange for the antidote. It's alright, we won't resent you." This was Hu Jia's first compromise.
He knew that after this first compromise, many more would follow, but what else could be done?
He had no choice. He couldn't just watch Uncle Qiao die like this.
"Children, I know you care about me, but you've been investigating this case for so long and finally have a clue. I've made a mistake once, and I don't want to make another." Qiao Huali appeared very weak. He clasped the brothers' hands. "It's alright. This poison only causes me pain; it won't kill me yet."
Hearing Qiao Huali's words, Hu Jia felt even more guilty. There were no risk-free gambles in this world. Some led to instant death, while others were a slow torture.
Neither could be endured.
"It's fine, Uncle Qiao. Go tell them. I'm investigating a fruit, lychees." Hu Jia quickly interrupted Qiao Huali.
"Lychees? Why are you investigating that?" Qiao Huali looked perplexed, then suddenly seemed to understand. "Could this be related to the shooting case?"
Hu Jia nodded.
"That won't do! Such an important clue, how can I use it for exchange?" Qiao Huali shook his head repeatedly.
"It's alright. This piece of information is useless to them."
"Fake?"
Hu Jia gently shook his head. "No, it's real. It's just that they already know about the existence of lychees."
Hu Jia explained that precisely because it was new and genuine information, Qiao Huali using it to exchange for the antidote would not arouse suspicion.
"But if they already have this information, it means I haven't handled things well. Why would they give me the antidote then?" Qiao Huali asked.
"This information first proves your value. Second, to increase your credibility, you can tell them that 'lychee' refers to the lychees of Zhong County."
Lychees of Zhong County?
A subtle glint flashed in Qiao Huali's eyes. Indeed, it was in Zhong County.
But on the surface, Qiao Huali still pretended to be worried. "It's fine to tell them about lychees, but revealing the location? Isn't that giving away too much?"
"It doesn't matter, this won't take up too much time anyway." Hu Jia thought that he would often be investigating information related to Zhong County in the future. If anyone with a keen eye looked into it, they would find out.
Moreover, he had a very important reason. Zhong County did not refer to a single city, but the vast land encompassed by the county's planning.
With his own strength alone, he might never find any clues in his lifetime.
But with the 'knife-wielders' joining in, as long as he paid close attention to their movements, there might be unexpected benefits.
"Zhong County? Isn't Zhong County your hometown? They'll definitely think of that, and your hometown might never have peace again." Qiao Huali exclaimed as if remembering something.
"Yes," Hu Jia nodded. "But don't worry, they won't find anything."
"Why?"
"Because I've already been there and searched thoroughly, but found nothing."
Qiao Huali had actually guessed this outcome long ago, but he was unwilling to accept it and wanted to confirm it again.
Now, hearing that Hu Jia's efforts were also in vain, Qiao Huali felt a degree of disappointment.
In fact, as early as six years ago, the year Hu Jia lost his memory, Hu Jia had deciphered the meaning of those two sentences.
Qiao Huali had used all his means at the time but failed to force Mou Jixuan to reveal the answer, which directly led to Mou Jixuan's death and Hu Jia's amnesia.
To allow Hu Jia to re-solve the puzzle based on these clues, Qiao Huali had spent six full years, stimulating him in various ways, hoping he would regain his memory.
He also used various methods to lead Hu Jia into the puzzle's labyrinth, intending to subtly inform him of information related to the shooting case.
Finally, Hu Jia, following his lead step by step, had unveiled the mystery of those two sentences.
But who could have known that Hu Jia would now tell him the puzzle was lychees, and lychees for which no information could be found.
Speechless!
Qiao Huali was lost in thought for a moment. Hu Jia mistook his daze for guilt over the matter. "Our top priority is to alleviate the spread of your toxins and ultimately eliminate all the poison from your body. As for these extraneous clues, they are not important. Their greatest value is in helping you."
Hearing this, Qiao Huali couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion. These two children were truly good to him.
What a pity.
What a pity.
Some grudges could not be resolved, and some things could not be avoided.
"Alright. I'll listen to you." Qiao Huali pretended to be helpless. "Oh, and about my antidote, it's Shui Liao. Once we find it, everything will be resolved."
Ouyang Wen nodded heavily. "Uncle Qiao, don't worry, we are already investigating the Shui Liao of Brazil."
In reality, Ouyang Wen was only trying to reassure Qiao Huali. Let alone Shui Liao, he hadn't even heard of where Brazil was.
"Good, good. The most important thing is to find out what kind of place Brazil is," Qiao Huali said with relief.
Speaking of which, Qiao Huali suddenly asked Hu Jia, "By the way, do you think Brazil could be a small place name in your area? Is there any village or remote area in your hometown called Brazil?"
Hu Jia and Ouyang Wen exchanged glances. Brazil in their hometown?
No way!
They both scoured their minds but couldn't find any place name related to Brazil, not even a homophone.
"Uncle Qiao, you're grasping at straws out of desperation, asking about Brazil everywhere," Ouyang Wen said with a smile.
Qiao Huali seemed to realize this himself and could only give a wry smile. "I can't help it; I just want to be cured so badly."
...
Fang Guobin was hesitant. Lu Jiao hadn't shown up for two days.
Had he gone out for something, or had something happened to him?
Fang Guobin thought about it and decided to report it to the police.
After all, Lu Jiao had just exposed Qi Ge not long ago. Who knew if Qi Ge had anyone behind him? If someone decided to take revenge for Qi Ge and harm Lu Jiao, it would be bad.
Thinking of this, Fang Guobin grew more uneasy and hurried to the police station.
At this moment, Hu Jia and the others had just left the office. Upon hearing about Lu Jiao's disappearance, they were also very anxious. After bidding farewell to Qiao Huali, they rushed off to find him.
Watching the group of anxious figures depart, Qiao Huali leisurely returned to his office and made a phone call to Tong Hua. "It's no use. Get rid of him."
...