Chapter 8

"Uncle Li, to go to the Xixia Subdistrict to clear up old cases, we need to report to the top leader of the bureau. But the anti-prostitution and anti-illegal activities in Xixia Subdistrict can be tackled first! I think we can definitely launch a surprise operation tonight!" Bao Feiyang said, "This is also to improve the public security order in preparation for the city's two sessions!"

When Bao Feiyang mentioned the two sessions, Li Yifeng cursed himself for being careless! There was only a little over four days until the two sessions, and he needed to act quickly. Before going to clear up old cases, he could definitely arrange for his confidants in Xixia Subdistrict to launch a surprise operation and arrest Gong Dali first. For their side, every minute and second was extremely valuable, let alone a whole night!

"Yes, Director Li, I think what Feiyang said makes a lot of sense. The sooner we catch Gong Dali, the sooner we take the initiative!" Yan Hongfa also understood the key points and chimed in.

"Yes, I didn't think it through!" Li Yifeng, being straightforward, immediately admitted his oversight, "I'll contact the Criminal Investigation Team of the Xixia Subdistrict Public Security Bureau and have Fang Xuewen prepare. We'll start the arrest operation on Gong Dali tonight."

"I want to participate tonight too," Bao Feiyang immediately added, "Consider it as my early internship!"

"Alright! Meet me outside the Xixia Subdistrict Public Security Bureau at 8 PM. If you don't see me, call my pager!" Li Yifeng finished his instructions, called for his official car, and hurriedly left.

Yan Hongfa intentionally waited in the car for some time, estimating that Li Yifeng's official car had already driven far away. Then he drove the No. 3 official car of Zhongtian City out of the reed marsh and onto the main road.

"Feiyang, what do I need to do during this period?" Yan Hongfa asked Bao Feiyang while driving. Unconsciously, he had already regarded the younger Bao Feiyang as the mainstay.

"Brother Yan, what you need to do is stay at the municipal government and gather all information related to my uncle and Lu Zhongcheng, as well as the movements of the central special task force. We will meet with Director Li every day to summarize the progress. If you learn anything particularly significant or urgent, notify me and Director Li immediately," Bao Feiyang said thoughtfully. "Also, make sure to maintain this official car, keep it full of fuel, and keep your pager on 24/7. Be ready to set out immediately once you receive my call!"

Bao Feiyang had Yan Hongfa drop him off at the Xixia Subdistrict Public Security Bureau and then used a public phone outside to call Mei Lifeng. Mei Lifeng, upon receiving the call, immediately ran out.

"Brother Mei, I'm troubling you again," Bao Feiyang said apologetically.

"Feifei, you're being too formal with me again. Just tell me what you need!"

"Isn't your sister-in-law working at the post and telecommunications bureau? I want to get a Chinese pager."

After enjoying the convenience of mobile phones in his previous life, Bao Feiyang found it extremely uncomfortable to return to an era where even pagers were not yet widespread. Especially given the urgent situation, he desperately needed a communication tool that allowed him to contact people at any time. From the current situation, only a pager could勉强 meet some of his needs.

However, even the relatively backward pager, in Bao Feiyang's eyes, was a hot and scarce commodity in Zhongtian City in 1992. Even a regular digital pager required a note from the post and telecommunications bureau's leadership to obtain. As for the Chinese character pager that had just come out at the end of last year, it was a luxury item that symbolized status. Not only did it cost around 7,000 to 8,000 yuan, but even with a note from the post and telecommunications bureau's leadership, it could take several days or even ten days to get one.

Bao Feiyang knew that Mei Lifeng was dating a girl named Li Jingjing, the daughter of the director of the Yilu Road Post and Telecommunications Bureau. Two months ago, Mei Lifeng had even brought his girlfriend to Bao Feiyang's house to meet Bao Guosheng and his wife.

Originally, getting a pager would be best handled by Yan Hongfa. After all, Yan Hongfa was still the driver for the acting mayor of Zhongtian City, and the post and telecommunications bureau would have to comply with his request.

However, Bao Feiyang considered that Yan Hongfa would definitely be under close watch by people with ulterior motives. It would be easy for Yan Hongfa to get him a pager, but the pager number could easily fall into the hands of those people. If they bribed the pager operators, the content of the messages would be easily obtained. Therefore, Bao Feiyang came to Mei Lifeng to get a pager.

When Bao Feiyang said he wanted a Chinese pager, Mei Lifeng was taken aback. This thing was hard to get, and he himself only had a digital pager.

"When do you need it?"

"Right now."

"What?" Mei Lifeng's face fell, "Feifei, you're really putting me in a tough spot. If you could wait ten to fifteen days, I could ask Jingjing to help. But you want it right now? Even if I knelt down and begged your sister-in-law, I couldn't get it!"

"Are Chinese pagers that scarce?" Bao Feiyang knew pagers were scarce, but he didn't expect them to be this scarce. Even the daughter of the post and telecommunications bureau director would need ten to fifteen days.

"What about a digital pager? Can you get one today?" Bao Feiyang had to settle for a second choice. Although a digital pager could only display phone numbers, it would at least allow Li Yifeng and Yan Hongfa to contact him in emergencies.

"I'll try with Jingjing. If I can't get one, you can use mine for now."

"Also, I don't have any money right now. You'll have to pay for the pager first, and I'll pay you back in a few days."

"Money is no issue. I just don't know if your sister-in-law has any in stock. She finishes work at 6 PM, so let's hurry over."

At the Yilu Road Post and Telecommunications Bureau, there were two digital pagers in stock. With Li Jingjing's help, Bao Feiyang quickly obtained a pager and completed the registration. The cost of the pager, around 2,000 yuan, and the annual service fee of 180 yuan were temporarily paid by Mei Lifeng.

Just as they finished the procedures for Bao Feiyang, Mei Lifeng's pager beeped. He quickly called back the post and telecommunications bureau. After hanging up, he looked regretful and said to Bao Feiyang, "Feifei, there's an urgent task at the bureau tonight, and I need to go back immediately. Have dinner with Sister Jingjing!"

"No, don't trouble Sister Jingjing. I have plans tonight too," Bao Feiyang, despite his thick skin, couldn't bring himself to accept a free meal after borrowing a pager.

"Don't be so formal with me, or you'll go hungry! Don't blame me!" Mei Lifeng laughed and scolded Bao Feiyang, then hurried back to the bureau.

Bao Feiyang thanked Li Jingjing, went outside, and first called Yan Hongfa to give him the new pager number. Then he called Li Yifeng.

Li Yifeng quickly called back. Before Bao Feiyang could speak, he asked, "Where are you?"

"I'm near the Yilu Road Post and Telecommunications Bureau."

"That's not far from the Xixia Subdistrict Public Security Bureau! I'm at the Xixia Subdistrict Bureau right now. Come over immediately; we're about to start the operation!"

Hearing that the operation was starting immediately, Bao Feiyang didn't dare to delay and ran towards the Xixia Subdistrict Public Security Bureau. As he ran, he thought, if only he had received this message earlier, he could have taken Mei Lifeng's car to the Xixia Subdistrict Bureau.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Bao Feiyang was startled. Mei Lifeng had also received a call, saying there was a task at the bureau tonight. Could it be the anti-prostitution and anti-illegal activities operation targeting Gong Dali? He hoped it wasn't the same operation. He had gone to great lengths to keep Mei Lifeng out of it to protect him. If Li Yifeng had also assigned Mei Lifeng to the operation, all his efforts would be in vain.

As Bao Feiyang approached the Xixia Subdistrict Public Security Bureau, a blue-black Xiaoli car quietly stopped beside him. The rear window slowly rolled down, revealing Li Yifeng's face: "Feiyang, get in!"

Seeing that only Li Yifeng and the driver were in the car, Bao Feiyang opened the rear door and sat down with Li Yifeng.

"Uncle Li, wasn't the operation supposed to start at 7:30? Why did it start early?"

"I thought it would take Fang Xuewen a few hours to track down Gong Dali. But it turns out Gong Dali is already a known figure at the Xixia Subdistrict Bureau. As soon as Fang Xuewen assigned the task, the investigators found Gong Dali."

"Where is he?"

"He's having dinner at the Zhongyuan Restaurant with two women," Li Yifeng said. "According to the investigators, both women are prostitutes, and one has been dealt with by the bureau's public security team. They also learned that Gong Dali has a long-term room at the Haitian Hotel. After dinner, he might take the two women to his room. Fang Xuewen has already organized a special task force. Once Gong Dali takes the two women into the room, we'll start the arrest operation..."