Chapter 802: Obsession with Collecting

After being brought back to the station, the associate underwent another round of questioning. He appeared agitated but steadfastly refused to reveal the truth. Chen Shi remarked, “His attitude suggests either he’s been threatened or there’s still substantial profit awaiting him. The latter seems more likely.”

“Look at this.” Lin Dongxue held up a cellphone confiscated from the associate. In the browser’s search history was an entry: “Penalty for perjury how many years.”

“Haha, he’s quite aware. Maybe this kid thinks three years in prison isn’t a big deal. He probably couldn’t earn the promised sum by the killer himself in three years. But some things can’t be measured just by numbers. Once he’s in jail, he’ll understand that even one day behind bars is unimaginably painful.”

“I think the station should set up a mini-prison to give these ‘prison is no big deal’ types a taste of prison life for a few days.”

Lin Qiupu sent a text asking them to join for dinner. Lin Dongxue replied, “You don’t have to come tonight. Go home and be with Yueyue.”

“No, I’ll be with you tonight.”

“Haha, so I’m 24/7.”

“And there’s still Sunday!”

In the largest meeting room of the station, Lin Qiupu bought a lot of boxed meals for a simple gathering. The main purpose was for the colleagues from Team Three and Team Two to get to know each other. The men from Team Three stared directly at Lin Dongxue. When they learned she was an external consultant’s girlfriend, disappointment was evident.

After introductions, Lin Qiupu picked up his chopsticks. “Alright, let’s eat!”

“Eat well and hit the road,” someone muttered from a dark corner.

Lin Qiupu tapped his chopsticks. “Xiaodong!”

“I swear to God…”

“What’s going on?” a member of Team Three asked.

“We’ve got a haunting in our Second Team. Every time the captain speaks, someone interrupts. We still haven’t solved it. He’s the prime suspect.”

“I should wear a muzzle from now on!” Xu Xiaodong looked troubled.

“Haha, it’s probably really haunted!”

“Must be a poltergeist or a ghost tied to the land,” joked two members from Team Three.

“You’re all materialists; chatting about this isn’t appropriate,” Old Zhang reminded the young officers.

“If not that, then what? Chat about girls?”

“Do you guys have girls in your team? A bunch of monks.”

“Nonsense, we used to have a policewoman too. Ever heard of Han Luoxi?”

“Stop it!!!” The atmosphere around Team Three suddenly dampened. It wasn’t a pleasant memory. Lin Qiupu seized this opportunity to observe Chen Shi’s expression. Chen Shi was frowning and complaining to Lin Dongxue, “I bit into a dry chili; it’s so spicy.”

Ah, perhaps I’m overthinking it, Lin Qiupu thought to himself.

After dinner, night had fallen. Everyone got into police cars to “visit” Lie Guoxiao. Team Three’s comrades all wore action uniforms, while Team Two remained in plainclothes.

Lie Guoxiao’s residence was somewhat unbelievable—a former museum that was remarkably grand, a Soviet-style building located in the city center. Upon arrival in the hall, they found multiple iron gates. A bodyguard said, “Stop, you don’t have an appointment.”

“This is our appointment!” Lin Qiupu showed a search warrant stamped by the prosecutor’s office.

The bodyguard awkwardly said, “Let me go inside and inform Mr. Lie…”

“Stop!” Team Three’s captain snapped, “Do you not understand mandatory search? Either open the door obediently, or I’ll find the key on you.”

Under the captain’s stern gaze, the bodyguard finally relented and produced the key.

Entering inside, everyone was shocked. Was this a residence? It was more like a private museum.

Against the walls were floor-to-ceiling cabinets filled with various Tang Dynasty tri-colored pottery—animals, figures, and even naked women and foreigners, things not typically seen in museums. In the middle row were display cases with tempered glass protecting the twelve constellations’ Tang Dynasty tri-colored pottery. These were not avant-garde works by contemporary artists; these twelve pieces were truly epic rarities dating back to the Tang Dynasty.

The second room contained a complete collection of coins—rare coins from ancient and modern times from all over the world. Chen Shi had heard that America once had five misprinted coins without the inscription “In God We Trust.” Here, he saw three of them, as well as a Canadian coin mistakenly imprinted on a nail, a treasure in the collecting world, lying quietly on a velvet cushion in a display case, shining brightly under the lights.

Upon entering the third room, Team Three’s policemen exclaimed in shock. This room contained nothing but guns—from the earliest matchlock guns to revolvers used by celebrities and rare guns from around the world.

“Almost a terrifying obsession with collecting!” Lin Dongxue murmured in amazement.

“These can be seen as concrete symbols of his power,” remarked Chen Shi.

The final room was unexpectedly simple. Posters and promotional paintings from the 1980s TV series “Shanghai Bund” covered the walls. Display cases contained various props used in filming, including a life-sized glass case displaying everything worn by Xu Wenqiang.

“Is this…?” Lin Dongxue began to say.

“Yes, this outfit was worn by Chow Yun-fat,” said an elderly man with silver hair, descending the U-shaped staircase. He wore a long gown and leaned on a dragon-headed cane, accompanied by several bodyguards.

Approaching Lin Dongxue, he smiled and said, “If there’s something you fancy, I can give it to you.”

Lin Dongxue frowned, instinctively taking a step back to maintain distance.

“Are you Lie Guoxiao?” Lin Qiupu asked.

“What can I do for you, officers?” Lie Guoxiao smiled.

Lin Qiupu showed the search warrant. “On May 12th, a man named Shen Liqun was killed in his own pawnshop. A highly valuable ancient painting was stolen. Your subordinate Liu Feng is a major suspect. We suspect you ordered him.”

Lin Qiupu noticed a vein slowly bulging on Lie Guoxiao’s hand back; this old man seemed quite strong.

Lie Guoxiao casually smiled, “I’ve already had Liu Feng surrender himself. How could I have ordered such a thing? I’m just an ordinary citizen!”

Lin Qiupu looked at the expressionless bodyguards behind Lie Guoxiao and the entire room full of collections. “Just an ordinary citizen?”

“If I’m not an ordinary citizen, what else could I be? The underworld boss?” Lie Guoxiao’s last words were directed at Team Three’s captain.

“What is your identity? After this search is over, we’ll naturally have a conclusion,” said Team Three’s captain.

Lie Guoxiao gestured politely, “Feel free to look around. Don’t damage my collection. Although you all came with quite an imposing manner, as an ordinary citizen, I’ll do my best to cooperate with your investigation. Please.”