The Plough

北斗

the-plough

Chapter 165

Where did this invitation come from?
No one knew the answer.
Shen Renjie ran to the window to check, but there was no one outside.
However, there were many potted plants piled up under the windowsill, and the windowsill was quite high.
In this situation, it was impossible for someone to come in from the outside without stepping on the plants.
"These potted plants are all fine, without any traces of being trampled on. Nobody should have come in through the window," he said.
The Yang couple also received the news and hurried over.
Looking at the bright red invitation, both of them turned pale.
Ling Shu knew what they were thinking.
"Don't worry, there's no signature or stamp on it. It's possible that someone is playing a prank. Even if it's intentional, this is actually good news."
Mr. Yang gathered his wits and hurriedly asked, "What do you mean?"
Ling Shu replied, "If something were to happen to Yang Chunhe and she no longer had any value to the other party, then this invitation would not have been sent. But since it has been sent, it means that the other party may still have some other scheme up their sleeve, and it is also possible that Yang Chunhe is still safe."
This was hardly comforting, and the couple became even more worried after hearing it, but they could only force a bitter smile.
As ordinary people, they never imagined that they would be caught up in such a whirlpool.
Their daughter was the apple of their eye, but in the face of those in power, whether it was the outstanding Yang Chunhe or the comfortably well-off Yang family, they were all as fragile as boneless meat, unable to withstand a single blow.
The Yang couple couldn't imagine what kind of torture and inhumane treatment their daughter was enduring in a place they couldn't see. Ling Shu couldn't even imagine what was happening, so he could only try to calm them down.
"Um, where is this Azure Dragon Mountain Villa mentioned in the invitation? Should we go?" Mr. and Mrs. Yang looked at each other, confused and bewildered.
"You don't need to go because the invitation wasn't sent to you," Yue Dingtang said.
The Yang family men didn't understand.
Ling Shu understood what Yue Dingtang meant.
The Yang couple didn't understand anything, so it was natural that the other party was coming for them.
Because they were currently investigating this case, focusing on the disappearance of Yang Chunhe, and they had already been involved.
Also, because they had previously tracked down the Fifth Young Master Wu's whereabouts in the Changsan gang area, if the Fifth Young Master Wu was backed by a gang or organization, the other party would definitely have noticed and targeted them.
This was a trap.
It was like a shiny bait, placed in front of Ling Shu and Yue Dingtang, asking them whether they would take it or not.
Going there could mean finding Yang Chunhe and the answers to everything, but it could also mean risking their lives.
However, even if they didn't go, the other party might not let them off the hook.
"We'll go."
After coaxing the Yang family to come along, Ling Shu held the invitation and examined it closely.
Shen Renjie didn't believe that Ling Shu could figure out anything from it.
He himself didn't even want to touch it, feeling that the invitation was ominous.
"The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month is the Ghost Festival in Chinese traditional culture, which is three days from now. It's obvious that the other party is playing tricks, trying to intimidate us and gain the upper hand. We'll stay at the Yang family's house that night and see if they will come to pick us up in the middle of the night. It's also a good opportunity to meet the owner of the Azure Dragon Mountain Villa."
Yue Dingtang nodded, "Let's find Jiang He and get two good guns. He's been mingling with all sorts of people for years, and he definitely has some self-defense items that others wouldn't think of."
Ling Shu's spirits lifted, "That's right. If it weren't for Jiang He insisting that we investigate Miss Feng's case, we wouldn't have gotten involved. He should provide some help."
"Have you two ever thought that this might actually be, you know, sent to us by some kind of ghost or monster?" Shen Renjie couldn't help but timidly remind them as they began planning to cause chaos in the enemy's territory.
Ling Shu raised an eyebrow, "What the heck? Miss Feng? Or who? If it's Miss Feng who sent me an invitation, that would be even better. I really want to ask her why she wanted to commit suicide and who tied her up and let her go. There must be someone responsible for this injustice. She should help us out, considering how hard we worked for her, right?"
Shen Renjie chuckled dryly, "Whatever makes you happy."
He didn't have Ling Shu's fearless attitude.
He felt scared from beginning to end about the whole situation.
Even if it wasn't a ghost, who were the Feng and Wu families?
They managed to manipulate both families, so there must be a powerful force behind them, right?
Shen Renjie valued his life and didn't want to get involved in this mess.
But Ling Shu didn't let him off the hook.
"Hmm?"
Ling Shu brought the invitation closer and sniffed it.
"It seems to have a scent. Do you want to smell it?" He handed it to Yue Dingtang, who nodded in agreement.
Then Ling Shu passed it to Shen Renjie.
Shen Renjie refused to smell it, saying, "You guys can smell it."
Ling Shu said, "It's the smell of sugar-coated pork hock."
Shen Renjie suspected that Ling Shu was starving.
He hesitated and leaned in to smell it, but couldn't distinguish the smell, so he had to bring it closer to his nose.
In addition to the smell of oil, there was indeed a faint fragrance. If Ling Shu didn't say anything, Shen Renjie wouldn't be able to tell which food it was. But as soon as Ling Shu mentioned sugar-coated pork hock, Shen Renjie had a sudden realization.
With these four words imprinted in his mind, the eerie and terrifying atmosphere that had just been present naturally dissipated.
Shen Renjie looked at the invitation again, and he was no longer afraid.
He was filled with mixed emotions and didn't know whether to be happy or hungry.
"The invitation card has a hidden pattern, upon closer inspection it looks like a dragon head, quite exquisite. This kind of detail cannot be produced by a small workshop, it must be from a large printing factory. Such factories are rare, and ones located next to such sugar-coated pork hock stalls is even rarer. With a little investigation, we can find out where this invitation card came from and follow the trail to catch the culprit."
Ling Shu patted Shen Renjie's shoulder.
"This glorious task is entrusted to you, old Shen!"
Shen Renjie: ???
Why is it me again?
I'm just a handyman, why should I be given such a big case?
Can't I just cling to someone's thigh and live off of them?
These three soul-searching questions made him feel even more miserable, and he began to resist.
"Captain Yue, I really can't handle this. The patrol station won't listen to me. Where can I gather people? And also, there are so many printing factory in Shanghai and so many possibilities, if they are located in the French Concession, I can't investigate it myself!"
He knew that ultimately it was up to Yue Dingtang to make the final decision. If they wanted to protest, they had to find the right person.
Yue Dingtang said, "As for manpower, I will inform Smith to assign people to you. As for the possibility you mentioned, it's not impossible. I will also let Smith communicate and coordinate with the people in the French Concession. You don't need to handle these things. You just need to lead people to investigate the source of this invitation letter. Also, Jiang He's people will assist you."
His tone was calm and rational, but the meaning behind his words were the same as Ling Shu.
These two were always in cahoots, singing each other's praises and colluding like birds of a feather.
Shen Renjie couldn't resist and felt hopeless, saying weakly, "Jiang He, he's the leader of a gang. Will he get involved in these matters?"
Yue Dingtang replied confidently, "Since he asked us to help find Miss Feng, he must also know about Minister Feng's secret dealings with warlords to smuggle tobacco. Maybe someone wants to investigate Minister Feng and asked him to intervene, so he will definitely help. Not only will he help, but he will also take the initiative."
Shen Renjie was shocked and uncertain, "Minister Feng secretly colluding with warlords to smuggle tobacco? Isn't he the Minister of Tobacco Control? Jiang He knew about it a long time ago?!"
He suddenly realized that he seemed to have discovered some incredible insider information, and it was too late to cover his ears.
Ling Shu grinned, "Old Shen, you're so timid. How are you going to climb the ranks and make a fortune in the future?"
Shen Renjie frowned, "My courage was all scared away by you. I haven't even reached a high position yet, and you want me to take on such a big responsibility. My small shoulders can't handle it!"
Ling Shu replied, "This is called a pre-rehearsal."
Soon, three days arrived.

The Plough

The Plough

Chapter 166 - Chapter 165

Ribbit