687: Chapter 683 Search…
687: Chapter 683 Search…
Ye Tian also nodded his head, finally understanding how Yi Zhongyuan had died.
No wonder the municipal authorities treated Yi Zhongyuan’s name with such indescribable caution.
Ji Ming went on, “After old Yi’s death, the higher-ups, to save face for the municipal department, told everyone involved, including the police who had taken down old Yi, to keep quiet about it.
Thus, only those within our department knew about old Yi’s case.
When others asked, we wouldn’t say a word.”
“Is that so?”
Ye Tian let out a light smile.
“Secretary Ji, if the municipal department was merely keeping tight-lipped, how come you sought me out?
Although Chief Wang and others would not talk about Yi Zhongyuan to outsiders, your mission must be quite different from the rest, right?”
Ye Tian’s words left Ji Ming utterly shocked; he stared at Ye Tian with wide eyes for a long time before finally putting on a calm expression…
“Captain Ye, you’re quite something to have guessed such details!
In fact, though the leader ordered to seal the news and told us not to speak to anyone about old Yi’s affairs, he secretly sent people to investigate.
As his secretary, I, of course, had to do his bidding!”
Now that Ji Ming had laid his cards on the table, Ye Tian no longer held back.
“Secretary Ji, thank you for sharing so much with me.
Actually, I happened to come across Yi Zhongyuan’s case by chance, and what I truly seek is the truth.
I have no interest in those valuable items; you can be assured of that!”
Ye Tian said confidently, while Ji Ming wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“That’s good to hear!
Captain Ye, although we didn’t find any clues back then, the leader has always been concerned about the rumors that old Yi found some treasure while repairing the pedestrian street plaza.
He wondered if that treasure caused old Yi’s insanity!
Therefore, the leader had me look into it, and if I found that treasure, I was to take it to the cultural relics department for authentication to see if it was dangerous.
Our department would surely not keep it for ourselves!”
As Ji Ming spoke, Ye Tian pondered…
Since Yi Zhongyuan had been killed several months ago, the person who sealed off the area again and wrote “Yi Zhongyuan” on the tape couldn’t possibly be Yi Zhongyuan himself.
So, who was the person who had resealed the area?
As for that, Ye Tian had no way of knowing…
Looking at Ji Ming, who was leading the way beside him, he realized from their conversation that Ji Ming had no idea what treasure Yi Zhongyuan had obtained.
So, it was unlikely that Ji Ming was the one who had left the clues for him!
Of course, whoever had resealed the area and left Yi Zhongyuan’s name must have had some motive to lead Ye Tian there; therefore, Ye Tian dared not take it lightly!
“Captain Ye, that’s the place!”
Walking along, Ji Ming suddenly pointed to a residential complex not too far away and said.
“Is this the place you wanted to bring me to?”
Ye Tian asked doubtfully, though it was within expectation.
Since the conversation began, Ji Ming had not been wandering aimlessly but had been walking directly toward this destination.
He must have intended to bring Ye Tian here.
“That’s right, Captain Ye!”
Ji Ming nodded.
“This is where old Yi lived.
These are the old apartments allocated by the municipal department over a decade ago.
Old Yi lived here until now…”
“…”
Ye Tian carefully observed the residential complex, where all the buildings were six-story old buildings, shabby and dilapidated, with the environment not well-kept, making the whole residential area appear grimy.
“Secretary Ji, it seems that the municipal department hasn’t been doing too well over the years!”
Ye Tian remarked sardonically, but Ji Ming immediately denied it!
“Captain Ye, please don’t talk nonsense!
The municipal department is considered one of the top institutions in Jiangcheng.
The staff there enjoys excellent benefits and welfare!
Especially engineers like old Yi, aside from receiving a substantial income within the department, could also make money through various projects.
His annual income would not be less than that of those business owners!”
While speaking, Ji Ming led Ye Tian into the building where Yi Zhongyuan had lived…
“New employees just starting in the municipal department can afford houses in Jiangcheng’s new town, but old Yi, a long-standing employee, had been living in a house allocated by the department over a decade ago.
It’s indeed puzzling!
Even more incredible, he’s over forty years old and still unmarried without even a girlfriend.
Isn’t that strange?”
As Ji Ming talked about Yi Zhongyuan, he seemed to be describing a monster, and Ye Tian also found it quite odd.
A distinguished engineer from the municipal department, with a considerable income, how could he possibly live in such a shabby house without even a wife?
No matter how you look at it, it defies common sense…
Ye Tian then asked, “In that case, Yi Zhongyuan must be exceedingly ugly, right?
Otherwise, how could he be so destitute?”
Ji Ming immediately shook his head and said, “How could someone who is exceedingly ugly pass the exam to enter the municipal department?
They should have been eliminated during the interview, right?
In fact, not only is Old Yi not ugly, he is very handsome.
When he was young, a lot of women chased after him, but because of his peculiar temper, it never worked out with anyone!
Even as he entered middle age, that guy’s charm didn’t fade at all.
Many people who didn’t know his background would ask colleagues about him, but after they learned of his personality, they all gave up.”
Ye Tian said with a smile, “Secretary Ji, you mentioned that the guy changed drastically after finding the treasure.
Are you saying that wasn’t his original personality?”
“No, no, no!
Captain Ye, it’s not the same at all!” Ji Ming quickly denied, “Before he got involved in the pedestrian street plaza restoration project, that guy didn’t talk much, buried himself in work every day, and barely interacted with colleagues!
But after the restoration project of the pedestrian street plaza was completed, he became much more talkative, and would argue over anything, causing conflicts with several colleagues.
Everyone found him disagreeable!”
After thinking for a moment, Ye Tian said, “He’s got a handsome income, yet he can only afford such a rundown house and has no wife or children.
It seems he spent his money elsewhere!
However, where exactly he spent it remains unknown to anyone…
If he hid the treasure because of money, then after getting the treasure, he should have sold it to get through the economic crisis, right?”
However, Secretary Ji Ming immediately refuted Ye Tian’s speculation!
“Captain Ye, that’s actually not the case!
Since Old Yi had no children and both his parents had long since passed away, after Old Yi’s death, his money was claimed by a relative!
This fellow Old Yi’s assets were substantial; there were tens of millions in his personal account, a complete tycoon!”
“Tens of millions in assets?” Ye Tian was startled, “That’s quite interesting.
It’s my first time encountering such a person who just saves all their money without spending it.
Is he only interested in the numbers in his account?”
Ji Ming also sighed and said, “That I don’t know.
Although I had a good relationship with Old Yi in the department, it was only to the extent that ‘we could talk a bit more’.
After work, I never had any contact with him.
Therefore, I have no idea what he wanted to do or what his life’s goal was.
What’s the meaning of living if a person has no goals?
Isn’t that just a walking corpse?”
“A walking corpse…?”
Ji Ming’s words reminded Ye Tian.
According to Ji Ming’s description, the series of behaviors exhibited by Yi Zhongyuan before his death did indeed resemble a puppet being manipulated.
However, whether Yi Zhongyuan was a puppet at the time remains to be debated.
The most important reason is that, three months ago, Yi Zhongyuan found part of the Spirit Vein Stone in his own way…
But up to now, the Sima Family is still searching for the location of the Spirit Vein…
These two points contradict each other and cannot justify themselves!
“We’re here!”
While Ye Tian was pondering, Ji Ming had already brought him to the house where Yi Zhongyuan lived, and he unlocked the door of Yi Zhongyuan’s house with a key.
“How do you have the key to Yi Zhongyuan’s house?”
Ye Tian asked in surprise, and Ji Ming immediately gave a wry smile, saying, “Isn’t this the leader’s directive?
In order to find clues in Yi Zhongyuan’s house, I was asked to get this key made.
If it really got into the hands of the eager, I’m afraid I couldn’t continue being a secretary!”
“Hehe…
don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul!”
Ye Tian smiled and then entered the house with Ji Ming.
This was a simple, dilapidated little house, with only one bedroom and one living room, and it was neither tidy nor clean — it was dirty and smelly.
Since the house had its water and electricity cut off, the room was exceptionally dark, and even during the day, it was pitch black.
Ye Tian drew the curtains, and the room became a bit brighter…
Ji Ming continued, “Under the leader’s orders, I’ve been here a few times before, but every time, I failed to find any clues to the treasure.
The mess in this room, that was caused by my search!
The leader also came once, but also found nothing and left in annoyance.
I thought it might be better to give up if it continues like this, but unexpectedly, Captain Ye, you were also investigating Yi Zhongyuan’s case, so I brought you here to take a look!”
Ji Ming said earnestly, and Ye Tian understood his meaning.
For the leaders of the municipal department, the most important thing was the treasure that Yi Zhongyuan had acquired and hidden.
However, for Ye Tian, the most important thing was the truth of the facts.
Thus, there was actually no conflict between the two parties, and they could cooperate with confidence!
“Don’t worry, Secretary Ji, even if we find something valuable in this house, I’ll pretend I haven’t seen it!”
Ye Tian patted Ji Ming on the shoulder as he spoke.