Blinded chapter 73
Xie Li contacted Yu Zhengkun, asking him to bring people directly to the customs to check the batch of goods that Hongji was about to transport to Southeast Asia.
When Yu Zhengkun answered the call, he was originally in a meeting. He asked Xie Li to wait for a moment, lowered his voice after leaving the meeting venue, and said to Xie Li, “Is the information reliable?”
Xie Li said, “I’m sure there’s a problem with that batch of goods.”
Yu Zhengkun fell silent for a moment and said to Xie Li, “I’m under a lot of pressure.”
Xie Li remained silent.
Yu Zhengkun continued, “There are people from Chang Guanshan at the top. Last time, when we searched Hongji Pharmaceuticals, we faced a lot of pressure. If there’s another problem this time, future operations will become increasingly difficult.”
Taking a deep breath, Xie Li raised his hand and rubbed his eyes with his palm. He said, “Chang Guanshan wants to move the entire drug manufacturing plant to Southeast Asia. If we don’t stop him this time, we’ll really be helpless.”
Yu Zhengkun’s breathing was heavy.
Xie Li’s eyes turned red. He said, “I’ll do my best to delay the time. You must take action on your end, okay?”
Yu Zhengkun finally assured him, “Okay, I’ll get to it.”
After hanging up the phone, Xie Li sat in the car, smoked half a pack of cigarettes, and drove back to the Chang family.
It was already late at night. Xie Li parked the car in the empty space in front of the garage and walked towards the two-story building where Chang Xiaojia lived.
Passing through the garden, Xie Li saw Chang Xiaojia standing under the dim street lamp ahead, looking down at the ground as if waiting for him.
He subconsciously quickened his pace, a bit surprised, and said, “Chang Xiaojia?”
Chang Xiaojia did not lift his head.
As Xie Li approached, a strange feeling suddenly surged in his heart. Although the person’s figure, clothing, and posture were all the same as Chang Xiaojia’s, he inexplicably felt that it wasn’t him.
He subconsciously stopped, then heard a fierce wind behind him. His body, conditioned by rigorous training, lowered his head, dodging the steel pipe that was swung at the back of his head, and then turned around to throw a punch at the person attacking him from behind.
The person was pushed back several steps by the punch, and the steel pipe in his hand made a harsh sound as it dragged on the stone slab on the ground. When he steadied his steps, Xie Li, illuminated by the light, finally saw that the person was unexpectedly Yao Wei.
However, right after that, a gun was pressed against the back of Xie Li’s head. He heard the sound of a bullet being loaded, and Shi Hongqian’s cold voice sounded at the same time, “Don’t move.”
The person under the streetlamp just now was indeed not Chang Xiaojia but Shi Hongqian. He deliberately wore clothes similar to what Chang Xiaojia liked and imitated his posture to divert Xie Li’s attention.
With a swollen cheek from Xie Li’s punch, Yao Wei, angry, dragged the steel pipe, wanting to smash it against Xie Li’s head again.
However, Shi Hongqian stopped him with his indifferent voice, “Did Mr. Chang ask you to kill him?”
Yao Wei turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood on the ground, then pointed the steel pipe at Xie Li’s face. “A traitor like you is not worthy of being my brother!”
Shi Hongqian suddenly became a little impatient, using the gun to lightly hit Xie Li’s head, “Walk. Mr. Chang wants to see you.”
Xie Li cooperated, turning around and heading towards the villa where Chang Guanshan lived. As he walked, he asked Shi Hongqian, “Does Chang Xiaojia know you’re treating me like this?”
Shi Hongqian didn’t answer.
Xie Li continued, “Were you adopted by Chang Xiaojia’s mother?”
Shi Hongqian remained silent.
Sighing, Xie Li said, “She must be very disappointed.”
Shi Hongqian calmly replied, “You don’t need to think too much. Young Master Jia will know soon.”
Chang Guanshan was still lying on his bed in his room. When the wind was strong by the Lake in the evening, he would have someone close all the doors and windows. Upon entering the room, there was a stuffy atmosphere, not very pleasant.
Yao Wei walked in front. After knocking on the door, he waited for a while before hearing Chang Guanshan’s voice from inside, “Come in.”
After Yao Wei opened the door, Shi Hongqian used the gun to prompt Xie Li to walk in front into Chang Guanshan’s room.
A young female nurse stood by Chang Guanshan’s bedside. Her hair was messy, and her clothes were disheveled. She was currently bending over to help Chang Guanshan fasten the belt of his robe.
As for Chang Guanshan, he lit a cigarette, lazily put on his glasses, glanced at Xie Li, and slightly raised his head, saying, “What’s the matter? Couldn’t hold back?”
Xie Li said, “Mr. Chang, I don’t understand what you mean.”
When Chang Guanshan exhaled a puff of smoke, it sounded like a sigh. He said, “At this point, whether you’re a traitor or not doesn’t matter. You know me. I’d rather kill the wrong person than let anyone go. Whether you’re investigating Hongji Pharmaceutical, betraying Ye Shaoyin, or being an accomplice of Ruan Qiuyuan, it doesn’t matter. As long as you die.”
“Mr. Chang,” Yao Wei said, “he may have leaked information about the Customs shipment.”
Chang Guanshan chuckled. Looking at Yao Wei, he spoke gently, “You’re talking nonsense. There was originally no problem with the Hongji shipment. It was handled by Xie Li himself, officially inspected by Customs before being packed. There’s nothing to worry about, and no one will believe him.”
Xie Li looked into Chang Guanshan’s eyes, knowing that he had already bought off the higher-ups in the Harbor City Police. If Yu Zhengkun’s faction couldn’t compete with Chang Guanshan’s people, then no matter how much effort he put in, it would be in vain. In the end, he, Ruan Qiuyuan, and Chen Haiman would all be sacrificed in vain.
However, at this moment, Xie Li found himself unusually calm. He recalled his determination when he received the task, and that determination hadn’t changed. If he were to die here today, he thought he had at least informed Yu Zhengkun about the whereabouts of the drugs, and he had left all his meager inheritance to Chang Xiaojia. He wouldn’t have any regrets.
Chang Guanshan didn’t rush to speak. It seemed like he wanted to slowly torment Xie Li. He leisurely finished a whole cigarette, handed the cigarette butt to the nurse next to him, patted her ass, and said, “You can go out first.”
The female nurse tidied up the things on the bedside, leaving the room.
Chang Guanshan said to Shi Hongqian, “Bring Chang Xiaojia over.”
Shi Hongqian nodded.
As Shi Hongqian was about to leave, he handed the gun over to Yao Wei, who continued to press it against Xie Li’s head.
Yao Wei’s grip on the gun wasn’t as steady as Shi Hongqian’s. His whole being seemed restless, as if the gun in his hand might go off at any moment.
Xie Li told himself to try not to pay attention to the gun. His gaze fell on the wardrobe in Chang Guanshan’s room. The wardrobe was made of solid wood with double doors. Chang Xiaojia had hidden inside that wardrobe initially, witnessing his father killing his mother through the crack between the doors.
Apart from fear, Chang Xiaojia must also harbor hatred towards Chang Guanshan. If he found out Xie Li was a policeman, would he hate him too?
Xie Li didn’t know.
After about ten minutes of Shi Hongqian’s departure, Chang Xiaojia gently pushed open the door of the room. He stood outside, unwilling to come in, softly calling, “Dad?”
Chang Guanshan leaned against the head of the bed and said, “Come in.”
Chang Xiaojia slowly walked into the room. He didn’t look at Chang Guanshan but kept his eyes on Xie Li. He asked, “Dad, what are you doing?”
Chang Guanshan said, “What kind of person did you bring home?”
Chang Xiaojia walked to Xie Li’s side. His gaze shifted to the gun behind Xie Li’s head. Suddenly, he reached out, wedged his hand into the trigger of the gun, and fiercely slapped Yao Wei, scolding, “Get lost! How dare you point a gun at him!” With a swift motion, he took the gun away.