Chapter 355: Calling Reinforcements

A bearded man handed Mr. Gao a bag filled with thin, long sheepskin pouches. Mr. Gao said, “For safety, I need everyone to turn off their phones and place them in these pouches. Write your name on the pouch. I won’t touch your phones. I’ll return them to you at the exam site tomorrow morning or give them to your parents directly. Pass them back.”

The two rows of students started passing the pouches. Xu Xiaodong thought, “Chen really called it.” He had hidden a second phone in his shoe.

But there was an awkward problem: Xu Xiaodong didn’t have a pen. He saw the other students pulling out their pencil cases, which contained their exam admission tickets, ID cards, pens, pencils, and erasers. Li Mengran asked, “Didn’t you bring any stationery?”

“My mom was afraid I’d lose my documents, so she’ll give them to me at the exam site tomorrow,” Xu Xiaodong quickly lied.

“How will you do the test papers tonight then?” Li Mengran handed him a pen. “Use mine for now.”

“Thanks.”

Xu Xiaodong noticed the phones were placed into three pouches labeled “1,” “2,” and “3.” He wondered if there was some trick here.

Next, the bearded man distributed bottled water to everyone. The atmosphere in the bus relaxed a bit. Some students, who knew each other, chatted mostly about their dreams of university life. Xu Xiaodong overheard a girl complaining, “I can’t decide between Peking University and Tsinghua. Tsinghua is the best for science and engineering, and Peking University has a rich cultural atmosphere. Both are in Beijing though, and the thought of being so far from home makes me feel lonely.”

Li Mengran looked gloomy. “My dad missed getting into Peking University by two points and regretted it his whole life. He keeps nagging about it, so all his hopes are pinned on me. He pushes me to study hard. My average score in the mock exams is over 650, but he’s fixated on Peking University. If I don’t get in, I’m not his daughter. What’s so great about Peking University? Is it made of gold?”

Xu Xiaodong couldn’t help but feel sympathetic. He whispered, “Don’t you think they might be scammers?”

Li Mengran laughed, “I hope they are. Let my dad get scammed for once. Then, if he ever brings up Peking University again, I’ll throw this in his face and embarrass him.”

At this moment, the bus stopped. The students looked out the windows. Mr. Gao called the students in the first eight rows on the right to get out and board a van. Xu Xiaodong saw there were three identical vans parked outside.

He thought, “Clever scammers. They know not to put all their eggs in one basket; they’re splitting us up.”

The second batch of students was also called out to board the second van. Xu Xiaodong took his phone out of his shoe. Li Mengran saw him and gasped, but Xu Xiaodong motioned for her to be quiet and opened WeChat.

He had over a hundred unread messages, all invitations from Wang Haitao’s rich friends to eat, sing karaoke, or play golf. “These rich kids sure have a lot of friends,” he thought.

He searched for Chen Shi on WeChat but couldn’t find him. Anxious, he switched to the messaging interface and quickly typed a message: “Niubi Gang, I’m Xiaodong,” and then sent it to the emergency number: 12110.

“Everyone get out!” Mr. Gao ordered.

Xu Xiaodong hurriedly put his phone in his pocket while Li Mengran watched him in astonishment.

Chen Shi and Wang Haitao returned to the office where KK and Sun Zhen were already there. KK was smoking a guest cigarette, and Sun Zhen was playing a game. Wang Haitao looked surprised, and Chen Shi said, “They’re on our side. They’re very capable.”

KK asked, “Chen, why did you call us? Another case? Where’s Auntie Gu today?”

“We need your help. We might have to pull an all-nighter.”

Sun Zhen, still focused on his game, said, “I’m fine with that. I usually sleep in the morning anyway.”

KK, grinning, asked, “Will we get paid?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be well compensated,” Wang Haitao said.

“And this is?” KK asked.

“Lu Qixing’s son,” Chen Shi introduced.

“Lu Qixing? You mean that Lu Qixing?” KK looked at Wang Haitao with wide eyes, and Sun Zhen dropped his game to stare at him like a rare animal.

Wang Haitao, a bit embarrassed, straightened his tie. “I’m Wang Haitao, the owner of this office.”

“Master Lu, what do you need us to do? Just say the word, and we’ll go through fire and water for you!” KK clasped his hands together, eyebrows wiggling as he sent waves of admiration towards Wang Haitao.

“Have some dignity! Let me explain the situation,” Chen Shi said.

After Chen Shi explained, KK and Sun Zhen sat in their chairs, one with his chin in his hand, deep in thought, the other with arms crossed. KK asked, “So, how did you guys become best buddies?”

Chen Shi, exasperated, handed an empty cup to Sun Zhen. “Xiao Chong, get me some hot water.”

“No, no, no!” KK interjected. “So, we need to take down this scam ring and rescue the students so they can take their exams tomorrow morning? I don’t see what the big deal is about the college entrance exam.”

Sun Zhen sneered, “To a pig who knows nothing, knowledge is just ink on paper.”

“From an evolutionary standpoint, it seems people with sparse hair are more pig-like.”

“Are you looking for a fight?”

“Bring it on!”

“Stop fighting!” Chen Shi intervened. “I’ve already sent an undercover cop. Once we get the info, we’ll rush to the location and rescue the students.”

“Let’s be clear, what’s in it for us?” KK asked.

Chen Shi looked at Wang Haitao, the boss. He expected him to offer a hefty sum, but instead, Wang Haitao said, “You three can split the commission for this job.”

Chen Shi thought, “He’s quite shrewd,” and said, “I’ll pass. You two split it.”

“How much is the commission?”

“There are many parents involved. If each gives a thousand yuan, it’ll be around forty thousand in total,” Chen Shi coaxed, though the actual commission was closer to three thousand.

“Oh!” KK nodded in satisfaction. “Let’s do it! What’s next?”

Chen Shi checked the time. “It’s time to pick up Yueyue.” Since he couldn’t go himself, he planned to ask Lin Dongxue. Just as he picked up the phone, she called. “Old Chen, the 110 emergency center just received a text message: ‘Niubi Gang, I’m Xiaodong.’ What’s going on?”

Chen Shi thought for a moment. “I understand… Can you pick up Yueyue for me? I can’t make it today.”

“My brother said you borrowed Xiaodong.”

“I’m using him right now!”

“Is he useful?” Lin Dongxue laughed.

“He’s alright.”

“What interesting task are you on? I’ll come over after I pick her up.”

“Sure, the more the merrier. I’ll send you the address.”

“Who was that?” KK asked.

“My girlfriend, she’s also a cop.”

“Your girlfriend? Is she pretty?” KK asked.

Sun Zhen said, “There are no pretty policewomen. If she’s decent-looking, she’s considered a beauty. I bet she’s a 6 out of 10.”

“Chen’s taste can’t be that bad. I bet she’s a 7.”

“Enough! Don’t objectify women!” Chen Shi scolded.

Sun Zhen whispered to KK, “She must not be much to look at. Let’s be nice when she shows up and say she looks good.”

Wang Haitao, who knew the truth, chuckled silently.