Chapter Thirty-Five: Borrowing a Man

Chapter Thirty-Five: Borrowing People

Knock, knock!

Liu Peiru had just put away his phone when the door to his office was knocked upon. He paused for a moment before speaking, “Come in.”

“Xiaobing, what brings you to my office so early in the morning? Is there something you need?” Seeing Liu Xiaobing enter, Liu Peiru asked curiously.

“Chief, just now I went to Number 11, New First Street to inspect the scene. I discovered that our opponent is quite cunning. He took advantage of the complicated sewer system and its dreadful environment to easily cut off our clues. Yet, he miscalculated a crucial detail,” Liu Xiaobing said solemnly to his uncle, sharing his findings.

“What is it?” Liu Peiru asked instinctively.

“His radius of activity,” Liu Xiaobing replied slowly, pronouncing each word deliberately.

“Xiaobing, you mean…” Liu Peiru’s eyes lit up.

“Exactly. The incident a few nights ago happened within minutes, and our people sealed off the entire New First Street and the surrounding streets and intersections. The blockade is still in place. The person who rescued Mr. Li couldn’t have gotten far in such a short time, even using the sewer system. So, I believe he is still near Number 11, New First Street.”

As he spoke, Liu Xiaobing stepped forward to the wall where the map was hung, pointed to the location of the De Yi Building, and, using his index finger and thumb, traced an invisible circle centered on it. He continued, “I believe his radius of activity is within three hundred meters at most, not exceeding five hundred meters.”

After finishing, Liu Xiaobing looked expectantly at Liu Peiru. But Liu Peiru didn’t speak immediately; he seemed lost in thought. After a while, he sighed, “Xiaobing, you’ve grown quite a lot.”

“It’s all thanks to your guidance, uncle,” Liu Xiaobing replied with a chuckle.

Liu Peiru shook his head, not continuing the topic, but countered, “According to your deduction, have you considered something? If our opponent could rescue Mr. Li without raising suspicion, it’s clear his radius of activity exceeds your expectations. So why couldn’t Mr. Li have left that radius as well?”

“He wouldn’t,” Liu Xiaobing said confidently.

“Why?”

“It’s simple. I checked: around New First Street, including the area near De Yi Building, there are twenty-two manhole covers. To escape, our opponent could only pick one spot—here. This location allows him to quickly exit the underground without drawing attention.” Liu Xiaobing pointed to a spot on the map.

The spot he indicated was indeed the manhole Bai Ze Shao had chosen to leave through.

“This spot is very close to Number 11, New First Street. At that time, our people had already begun sealing off the street. Military police, constables, and all sorts of forces were deployed. He was lucky to escape alone; taking along a severely injured person would have been impossible, both due to time constraints and because two people together would be far too conspicuous.”

He paused, taking a moment to organize his excited thoughts. “The most crucial point: I questioned the staff at De Yi Building. That night, nobody left New First Street in pairs; aside from a single rickshaw, there wasn’t even anyone leaving during that period.”

“Are you sure the staff was telling the truth? Why would he remember so clearly?” Liu Peiru mused.

“Uncle, I asked him about that too. After the incident, only our people kept pouring into New First Street. The only thing that stood out was the rickshaw heading out. Because it was so unusual, the staff remembered it,” Liu Xiaobing explained passionately, eyes fixed on Liu Peiru.

Unfortunately, faced with his enthusiasm, Liu Peiru remained calm, almost indifferent.

“Uncle…” Liu Xiaobing called out softly.

“Xiaobing, I understand your reasoning and largely agree with your deduction. But I can’t support your next actions,” Liu Peiru said, shaking his head with some complexity.

“Why? If we search every house within the five-hundred-meter radius I marked, I guarantee we’ll find Mr. Li!” Liu Xiaobing exclaimed, nearly jumping in agitation.

“Xiaobing, since you know New First Street so well, you should also know who lives there. Searching that area—not just you, but even me, even the director—none of us has the authority or the courage to do such a thing.” Liu Peiru, ever shrewd, knew all too well the shady dealings on that street. His little Special Affairs Bureau had no right to search there.

Liu Xiaobing’s deduction and reasoning, even if others hadn’t been so meticulous, were still mostly understood by people like Wu Zhengke and Liu Peiru. Yet, none of them brought up the topic, clearly aware of the underlying issue.

Precisely because they understood this, despite the higher-ups expressing strong opposition to the Special Affairs Bureau’s blockade, they continued to hold the line, hoping to catch Mr. Li and the mole.

“But I…” Liu Xiaobing felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his heart. He hadn’t expected all his painstaking investigation to amount to nothing.

“Enough, Xiaobing. Some things don’t always need a result. Some matters can’t be accomplished just by your effort,” Liu Peiru said meaningfully. He then looked at the dejected Liu Xiaobing and warned, “Xiaobing, I’m warning you—don’t act recklessly, understood?”

“I understand,” Liu Xiaobing replied, utterly dispirited.

“Louder, I can’t hear you,” Liu Peiru suddenly slapped the desk and barked.

“Reporting to the Chief, I understand!” Liu Xiaobing, head held high, shouted back—even his anger and dissatisfaction spilling out.

“You brat,” Liu Peiru laughed and scolded softly at Liu Xiaobing’s display.

Knock, knock, knock!

The abrupt sound of knocking interrupted their conversation. The door swung open, and the portly Qian Yihai waddled in. “Say, Chief Liu, I hope I’m not interrupting your conversation?”

“Not at all. This brat was just being stubborn. But Chief Qian, you’re a rare visitor. With the busy General Affairs Section, how do you have time to come here?” Liu Peiru asked with a hint of suspicion.

“Chief Liu, I’m here to borrow some people,” Fatty Qian said without ceremony, settling himself onto the sofa.

“Borrow people?” Liu Peiru felt a surge of confusion.

“Yes, I’m here to borrow people.”