Chapter 15

Liu Handong extended his hands: "Cuff me."

Han Guang said, "You're not a criminal, why would you need handcuffs? We're just asking you to assist with the investigation. You're quite impressive, were you a special forces soldier in the military?"

Liu Handong replied, "A truck driver."

Han Guang was taken aback and said, "This is the first time I've seen a truck driver who can fight better than a special forces soldier."

Liu Handong said, "That's because the special forces soldiers you know haven't been in combat."

"Have you been in combat?" Han Guang seemed to understand. This truck driver was not like the small car drivers in the inland military units, but a soldier on the front lines of the border, who had experienced the test of war. No wonder he remained calm in a crisis and had precise shooting skills. As a criminal investigator, he knew that even the best shooters could only perform at one-third of their best in a real combat situation, and psychological素质 was the most important quality for a soldier.

"That's interesting." Han Guang patted Liu Handong's shoulder and waved to the side of the road. A dusty Citroën C-Elysée drove over. If you weren't paying attention, you might think the car had been parked there for a long time. It seemed that the Second Criminal Investigation Brigade had spent a lot of effort waiting for him.

"When did you start following me?" Liu Handong asked.

"When you entered the Binhe neighborhood." Han Guang opened the car door.

"Why didn't you come to find me earlier?" Liu Handong asked, knowing the answer.

"It's hard to come home, you have to see your family, don't you?" Han Guang said.

The two got into the car. Liu Handong noticed several cars leaving the area near the market, presumably plainclothes criminal investigators.

"Do you treat everyone like this?" Liu Handong asked.

Han Guang thought for a moment and said, "Not necessarily, it depends on the situation. There was a murderer who ran for ten years, couldn't take it anymore, and came home for the New Year. Our investigators waited outside his house all night and took him away the next morning."

Liu Handong said, "You're a good cop."

Han Guang smiled and patted the driver's shoulder: "Drive."

The car started, heading south, crossing the river and getting on the highway, heading straight for the provincial capital, Jinjiang City. On the way, Han Guang asked some questions about the gunfight yesterday evening. This case was not under the jurisdiction of the Jiangbei Criminal Investigation Brigade, but he was purely curious. Liu Handong told him the whole story.

Han Guang laughed: "Wang Xing was involved too, not bad, didn't bring shame to our Second Brigade."

Liu Handong was surprised: "Wang Xing is your colleague?"

Han Guang said, "He's a criminal investigator from Jiangbei, used to be an undercover agent, a very promising one, but it's a pity..."

Liu Handong nodded, saying nothing, and looked out the window.

"Xiao Zhang, stop at the next service area, we need to use the restroom," Han Guang said.

The Citroën C-Elysée pulled into the service area. Han Guang and Liu Handong got out to use the restroom, and the driver turned off the engine and smoked a cigarette nearby.

When they came out of the restroom, they bought a few bottles of water from the small supermarket and got back into the car to continue. The provincial police leadership had instructed Han Guang to personally escort Liu Handong, and the task was urgent, with no time to waste.

The driver started the car, but it stalled. He tried again, and it started, but after moving a few meters, it stalled again.

The driver got out, opened the hood, and cursed: "This old car is letting me down at a critical moment, damn it!"

Han Guang frowned: "Fix it quickly, if it doesn't work, we'll get another car." He turned to Liu Handong and said, "The Criminal Investigation Brigade is short on funds, all the good cars are on duty, only this old car is left."

Liu Handong said nothing, got out of the car, crouched down to smell something, and then lay down to look. "Let me try."

The driver was skeptical, but Han Guang nodded.

Liu Handong got into the driver's seat, started the car a few times, and revved the engine. The Citroën C-Elysée roared, and the engine gradually returned to normal.

"What happened?" the driver asked.

"If it can start, it's not an electrical problem. No fuel smell, no oil leak on the ground, so the fuel injectors aren't clogged, and the fuel lines aren't damaged. The only possibility is low fuel pressure, the fuel pressure regulator might be broken, but it's not a big issue. Just rev the engine a bit, and it will be fine," Liu Handong explained.

"Bro, you're good," the driver said, offering a cigarette.

"Xiao Liu, your car repair skills are impressive," Han Guang also praised.

"Not much, I'm a truck driver," Liu Handong said, a bit proud.

The Citroën C-Elysée hit the road again. Three hours later, they arrived at the Jinjiang Public Security Bureau. The provincial police leadership had listed the 9.2 shooting case as a priority, and ordered the Criminal Investigation Brigade to solve it within three days.

Wan Xudong, the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Brigade, greeted Han Guang and his team. They were old classmates and good friends. They shook hands and chatted, and then handed over Liu Handong.

"Han Guang, let's have dinner together tonight, and invite Wang Xing," Wan Xudong said.

"No, I need to get back, there are other cases I need to handle," Han Guang declined. Criminal investigators were always busy, and Wan Xudong understood, laughing, "Next time then."

Han Guang pulled Wan Xudong aside and said, "Take care of him, he's a good kid."

Wan Xudong smiled, "Don't worry, the provincial police leadership has spoken, no one will touch him."

Han Guang said, "Song Hall is giving us a lot of face."

Wan Xudong said, "This case is important, we'll talk about it later. They're waiting for the statement."

"Alright, you're busy, I'll go back," Han Guang said.

They said their goodbyes, and Liu Handong was taken to the meeting room. Wan Xudong took his statement, recording the events of the past few days in detail. The statement was immediately sent to the desk of the provincial police chief, Song Jianfeng.

Song Jianfeng read the statement, his eyebrows raised. Liu Handong's experience reminded him of an old friend, who had also emerged suddenly, fierce and formidable, capable of taking down an enemy in ten steps and leaving no trace.

The lights of the city were on, and it was already past the end of the workday. Song Jianfeng took the statement downstairs, and the driver opened the door of the Audi A6, taking him to the police family compound, which was heavily guarded and brightly lit, the safest place in the provincial capital.

Song Jianfeng lived on the first floor. He entered the house, took the briefcase from his secretary, and said, "Xiao Li, you can go home now."

The secretary left, closing the door gently. A Scottish Shepherd dog came over with slippers, and Song Jianfeng put them on, petting the dog's head, "Koko, is your sister home?"

The dog barked twice, and a girl in her early twenties came out of the study, "Dad, you're home."

"Shuang'er, where's the other one?"

"She's in the room," Liao Shuang waved, and Shu Fan came out of the room, wearing clothes that were a bit too big, presumably borrowed from Liao Shuang.

Let's go back to the night before. In the parking lot of the Medical University Affiliated Hospital, Shu Fan hired Wang Xing for a million yuan to save Liu Handong. After a half-second of internal struggle, Wang Xing finally accepted the job. However, taking a little girl with him would be a burden, and finding a safe place for Shu Fan was a big problem.

Wang Xing thought quickly. Shu Fan's uncle's house was not safe, and his own home was not an option either, as his wife was pregnant and couldn't take care of her. The safest place was the police family compound, which was heavily guarded, with electronic fences on the walls, cameras everywhere, and diligent security guards. Strangers had to register to enter, and most importantly, the residents were all from the police system, and no criminal would dare to cause trouble here.

He originally planned to take Shu Fan to his old classmate Wan Xudong's house, but when he registered at the gate, he encountered Song Jianfeng's daughter, Song Shuang. Song Shuang recognized Wang Xing and called out, "Hey, Han Yuliang, are you looking for my dad?"

Wang Xing quickly replied, "I'm not a city hunter, I'm more like the hunted."

Song Shuang saw Shu Fan in the back seat, opened the door, and got in, asking Wang Xing what was going on. Wang Xing briefly explained the situation, and Song Shuang immediately offered, "Bring her to my house, I'll protect her."

Thus, Shu Fan became a guest at Song Jianfeng's house.

Song Jianfeng had already talked to Shu Fan the day before and had a clearer understanding of the case. He did not object to Shu Fan staying at his house, as Qing Shi High-Tech was a major taxpayer in the province, and Xia Qingshi was a leading figure in the international energy sector, with a social status comparable to that of a provincial or ministerial-level official.

Shu Fan was still quiet, but when she saw Song Jianfeng, concern was evident in her eyes. She was worried about Liu Handong's safety.

"Don't worry, Liu Handong is under the protection of the provincial police, and your father's flight is almost at the Jiangcheng airport," Song Jianfeng said.

Shu Fan sighed with relief and finally smiled.

...

In the hospital, in the washroom, Ma Ling was washing her father's blood-stained shirt. Although the shirt had bullet holes, it could still be worn after washing. Suddenly, she found a piece of paper in the pocket. Although it was waterlogged and blurry, the words were still legible: stomach cancer, late stage.

It was like a bolt of lightning! Ma Ling's hands trembled, and tears fell into the sink. She suddenly understood why her usually rule-abiding and unassuming father had taken such a risk, fighting alone against the criminals on the street. He knew he had a terminal illness and didn't have much time left.

Ma Ling put the diagnosis away and forced a smile as she returned to the ward, but her eyes were red. Ma Guoqing had already woken up. Because of the gunshot wound to his stomach, he could only eat liquid food. The fruits and supplements sent by his colleagues were taken home by his wife, and the piles of flowers were taken away by the flower shop at the hospital entrance, leaving only a few flower baskets from the provincial and city police leadership.

"Xiao Ling, why are you crying? Who's bullying my little girl?" Ma Guoqing raised his hand to wipe away her tears, a gesture that made Ma Ling even more sad. Her father was in the late stages of cancer and could no longer dote on her.

She burst into tears on the bed. Just then, the doctor came in and asked, "Why are you crying? The patient is recovering well."

Ma Ling wiped her tears and said, "Doctor, please save my dad."

The doctor said, "The surgery was successful, it was just a gunshot wound. People who have had their stomachs removed are fine."

Ma Ling pulled the doctor out of the ward, showed him the diagnosis, and sobbed, "My dad... it