Chapter 212: In a Quandary

The old man was taken aback. “Yes, I worked at the factory for many years, retired not too long ago. Why are you asking?”

Chen Shi signaled to Lin Dongxue, who stepped forward and showed her badge. “We’re investigating a case.”

Seeing the police badge, the old man got excited. “Heaven has eyes! You’re finally investigating this! That bastard manager embezzled funds and fled abroad, causing our factory to shut down. Has he been caught?”

“Uh, no, we’re criminal investigators, looking into another case.”

“Is it the one where the manager’s entire family was wiped out?”

“There was such a case?!” Lin Dongxue was shocked.

“Oh, I wish it were true. That bastard, surnamed Ding, screwed over hundreds of us…”

“Sir! Sir!” Chen Shi interrupted, stopping the old man from going off on a tangent. “We need to know if the factory sign lit up at night. Did it flash? What colors?”

“It lit up, white and blue! At night, the ‘Yutong Motors’ sign would flash, visible from far away. Why do you ask?”

“Did the lights ever break? Please, answer this first.”

“Yes, they broke. Over time, they stopped working. Why?”

“Which parts broke?”

“Um…” The old man hesitated, so Chen Shi changed his approach, writing the letters on his palm and asking what parts of the sign were visible thirteen years ago.

“Thirteen years ago? I can’t recall exactly, but I remember the bottom of the ‘Y’ broke last. The lights were on one circuit, and near the factory’s closure, only a cross was visible at night.”

They were thrilled. Chen Shi asked, “When did the factory shut down?”

“2007.”

“Do you know the factory’s address?”

After getting the address and the old man’s contact information, they headed to the former Yutong Motors site, now a residential area. Lin Dongxue sighed, “Everything’s changed. How do we find the old sign?”

“Hopefully, we can find former employees who remember the sign’s height. That way, we can eliminate buildings below that height.” Chen Shi looked around. “This area wasn’t full of high-rises back then.”

Lin Dongxue checked the time. It was late, and they hadn’t found much. She felt discouraged. The first day yielded few clues.

Chen Shi said, “Let’s assign tasks for tomorrow. We shouldn’t work together. I’ll handle the ‘cross’ investigation; Xiaodong, check missing persons reports at the local precinct; Dongxue, dig into Chen Guang and Yin Wen’s backgrounds.”

“Are we done for today?” Xu Xiaodong asked.

“Yep, we’re done.”

“Great, early dismissal, time to play!” Xu Xiaodong cheered.

Lin Dongxue and Chen Shi exchanged glances. Lin Dongxue scolded, “Can you not be so openly happy?”

“Honestly, I don’t think we’ll solve this case. It’s been thirteen years, the buildings are gone, and the bodies must be decomposed.”

“For that statement,” Chen Shi raised his voice, “you’re buying us dinner!”

“Right, demoralizing us means you owe us a meal!” Lin Dongxue chimed in.

“Oh, fine, but not too expensive!”

After a meal on Xu Xiaodong’s dime, they returned home. Chen Shi checked on the young monk, who was doing his evening prayers at the guesthouse. Seeing them, he greeted them with a bow.

Chen Shi returned the gesture. “Little master, is your stay comfortable?”

“It’s alright.” The young monk looked better than the day before, clearly well-rested. “Though the couple next door were making noise during the day, I gently reminded them, and they’ve turned over a new leaf.”

Chen Shi noticed shoe prints on the wall, imagining the couple’s frustration. “Do you have money?”

“A little.”

“Do you have enough food? Let’s get you some supplies.”

“Just simple food is fine.”

They took him to a nearby supermarket, where he picked out pickles, buns, and pancakes, ignoring the tempting deli items. When he saw live fish being slaughtered, he paused to recite a prayer.

“Steadfast in your faith, quite the master,” Lin Dongxue commented.

The young monk replied, “Miss, you praise me too highly. I’m still attached to worldly matters, not free from desires.”

Chen Shi said, “We’ve been investigating all day. Rest assured, we’ll get you answers.”

“Thank you both,” the young monk said sincerely.

“Can you tell fortunes?” Lin Dongxue asked suddenly.

“I can’t, but I see you’re kind and will have good fortune.”

“Haha, that makes me happy! Thanks for the good words!”

Chen Shi added, “I can say that too.”

Lin Dongxue rolled her eyes. “Coming from you, it doesn’t have the same effect.”

“Girls are so superstitious!”

“None of your business!”

Back home, Tao Yueyue had finished dinner and was studying. Chen Shi planned to return the computer. Tao Yueyue said, “Keep it for watching TV with Lin-jie. I actually prefer my desk without it.”

They had no TV because Chen Shi believed it was full of junk, preferring the internet. He asked Lin Dongxue if she wanted to watch a movie.

“Sure, I haven’t been online lately. Let’s see what’s new.”

They chose a comedy. To avoid bothering Lin Dongxue, Chen Shi refrained from smoking. As they watched, Lin Dongxue, recovering from anemia, grew sleepy and eventually leaned on Chen Shi’s shoulder, softly snoring.

Tao Yueyue came out for a drink, saw them, and smiled mischievously. Chen Shi gestured for her to move the coffee table so he could carry Lin Dongxue to her room.

Instead, Tao Yueyue fetched a blanket, covered Lin Dongxue, and left. Chen Shi mouthed, “You brat, come back!”

He looked at the sleeping Lin Dongxue, thinking how lovely she was. Such a beautiful girl doing a tough, dangerous job stirred his protective instincts. He remembered a face he once loved, fearing Lin Dongxue might meet the same fate if that person, still at large, found out about her.

Adjusting his hold on her, he gently brushed a lock of hair from her face. He heard a click and saw Tao Yueyue taking a photo with her phone. Chen Shi raised his fist, demanding she delete it. Tao Yueyue stuck out her tongue, sent the photo to Lin Dongxue’s phone, and left.

Chen Shi felt desperate. He carefully retrieved Lin Dongxue’s phone, but it was locked with a fingerprint sensor.