As the day came to an end, Qi Taiguo returned home. His little niece was sitting in the living room reading a book. Upon seeing him return, she quickly went to get his slippers and poured him some tea.
Qi Taiguo was taken aback and praised her, "Xiao Yun, youâre so good, but you donât need to do this. Uncle can take care of himself."
"You and Aunt are both busy, I can do little things," Xiao Yun said.
"Where is your aunt?"
"She said she went to buy groceries."
Just as Xiao Yun finished speaking, Cheng Su returned with a basket of groceries. Seeing him, she said, "Youâre back?"
Qi Taiguo saw the basket was quite heavy, quickly went over to take it, saying, "Iâm back. So heavy."
"There are some fruits. Take them out and let Xiao Yun have some!" Cheng Su said while changing her shoes.
Qi Taiguo took out a bag of apples and some grapes and oranges, telling Xiao Yun to wash and eat them.
"How was it? How were the new recruits today? Did you see Ning Le and Cheng Jiasheng?" Cheng Su put down her bag and began taking out the groceries, grabbing a plastic basket and sitting on a small stool to clean vegetables.
Qi Taiguo mimicked her, helping with the vegetables, and said, "I saw them, each more arrogant than the last!"
"Isnât that a headache?" Cheng Su joked.
Qi Taiguo snorted softly, "If they really have the ability to remain arrogant, that would be great. Just hope they donât lose all their spirit after setbacks."
Cheng Su glanced at him, "Cheng Yaozu said he would send his nephew over, but thereâs still no sign of him, and Ning Ge too, thereâs no word from him either."
Qi Taiguoâs eyebrows furrowed slightly as he said, "Maybe somethingâs delayed them?" But in his mind he was wondering, is it that difficult over in Guangcheng to find anything? Otherwise, why has it been delayed so long?
He wasnât wrong. Ever since Shenglongâs overseer noticed something amiss, the trading on that side seemed to have lessened significantly.
Ning Ge discreetly infiltrated two trucks, carefully checking them; they carried only ordinary goods, or basic military supplies like blankets and other daily necessities.
That night, Ning Ge quietly followed Li Gui, who was overseeing the operation, to their office, hiding beneath the window.
"Brother Gui, still no word from the top? Itâs been so long, and the scrutiny remains so strict. At this rate, our goods probably wonât get out."
Goods, what goods?
Ning Ge pricked up their ears, their breath tightening. Sure enough, there was something fishy.
"Without a nod from the top, who dares to ship this stuff? If itâs discovered, whose fault is it, yours or mine? Iâm telling you, neither you nor I can afford the consequences; this is a matter that could cost heads!" the other man replied, presumably Brother Gui.
Ning Geâs breath hitched. A matter that could cost heads, itâs surely something shady. So, where are these goods?
"So weâll just drag on like this? Across the sea, theyâre pressing us again."
With a snap of a lighter, Brother Gui responded, "Let it drag on, we only follow orders. Without a nod from the top, we wonât move. Even if thereâs movement across the sea, itâs none of our concern!"
"Alright. But dragging it on isnât a solution either, Brother Gui. Should we stir up some trouble? Theyâre watching us too closely, itâs not good for us!"
Brother Gui seemed to hesitate and said, "Alright, those damn cops staring at our line wonât do. We need to stir up some trouble. Start a terrorist attack, create some chaos, at several points, the train station, the bus station..."
Ning Ge listened, their face darkening, just about ready to leave, when a loud shout came from outside. Who?
Then, gunshots rang out.