Chapter 109: The Cunning Old Fox’s Calculated Scheme

Liu Jingye pondered for a moment and said, “Brother Xian, you know, we’re all fairly new to this world. We just started out and are unfamiliar with the rules of the underworld. Suddenly taking on such a big job feels a bit overwhelming for us. How about this: you let us think it over and discuss it, and in the meantime, you stay here, have a drink, sing a little.”

“Alright!” Brother Xian agreed immediately, though he was certain that once Liu Jingye and his gang saw the money, they would be hooked. To him, they were nothing more than small-time thugs.

“Hu Ming, make sure you keep Brother Xian company. Brother Xian, have a couple more drinks,” Lin Shengnan said briskly as she stood, then left the private room with Liu Jingye right behind her.

In an empty adjacent room, Lin Shengnan poured a bottle of beer and handed it over, lowering her voice. “What do you think about this matter?”

“It’s definitely not as simple as he said,” Liu Jingye replied. “Blocking the road for no reason has to be related to the vehicles passing through. And that map just now was only a traffic map, no buildings were marked around. Let me check more closely.”

Liu Jingye pulled out his phone and quickly found a detailed map of the city, then carefully studied the route they had just discussed.

Lin Shengnan sat beside him, took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and then held it out, feeding it to Liu Jingye puff by puff.

He took a drag instinctively, then froze, turning to look at Lin Shengnan with a strange expression, impressed by her attentive service.

She shot him a glance, then turned away without looking further, still holding the cigarette as a faint red glow flickered at its tip.

“Heh, this is the kind of woman the boss has—thoughtful, respectful, and attentive,” Liu Jingye thought to himself. “Everything revolves around the man; when he’s around, you serve him well, and when he’s not, you can hold your own. That’s a true boss’s woman!”

He wanted to tease her but seeing her face flush deeply and knowing there were more pressing matters, he restrained himself and resumed studying the map intently.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He pointed to a spot on the map and traced the route Brother Xian had indicated, moving his finger along it. His expression turned grave.

“Oh, so this is their target. But who exactly is the boss to take such a huge risk?” Liu Jingye exclaimed.

“What is it? What did you figure out?” Lin Shengnan asked anxiously.

“This is none of your business. Women shouldn’t meddle in men’s affairs,” Liu Jingye said with a commanding tone, truly acting like the big brother and treating Lin Shengnan as his woman.

Still holding the cigarette, Lin Shengnan said, “Do you want me to shove this cigarette butt in your mouth?”

Liu Jingye quickly shut up, realizing if she had that intention earlier, he wouldn’t have noticed.

He pointed seriously at the map on his phone. “Look closely. This is the route Brother Xian mentioned. But see what places are along this road?”

“A vegetable market, a post office, a logistics company…” Lin Shengnan guessed. “Could they be planning to rob the market, then escape through the logistics company, and send the stolen goods by mail?”

Liu Jingye broke into a cold sweat, gave her a sharp look, and praised, “You really are the big sister boss. You’ve already come up with such a perfect plan: separate the people from the goods, so no one can trace them.”

“Is it really like that?” Lin Shengnan said with some pride.

“I have only one question: what’s worth robbing at a vegetable market?” Liu Jingye asked.

Lin Shengnan scoffed, “Don’t underestimate the vegetable market. The vendors selling seafood, fruits—they make a good income every day. In such a large market, even if merchants don’t have a thousand, they must have at least eight hundred. If you rob them all…”

“Rob them all?” Liu Jingye was shocked. “If not a thousand, then eight hundred? How many people would you need for that? What if they all fight back and beat you to death?”

“That’s true…” Lin Shengnan scratched her head, embarrassed at having underestimated.

“Ah…” Liu Jingye sighed helplessly. He thought, “This girl’s imagination is quite vivid, and she really does have a gift for concocting perfect crimes. But her humble background makes her a bit petty, still fixated on the vegetable market.”

But that was normal; one’s vision and foresight grow as their status rises. He believed one day Lin Shengnan’s criminal talent would be fully realized.

For now, it was up to him to help them. He pointed at the phone. “Look here and here…”

“The detention center and the courthouse? Are they planning…” Lin Shengnan suddenly understood.

“That’s right,” Liu Jingye said. “This route is the only way from the detention center to the courthouse. They must be planning to hijack the prison transport!”

Liu Jingye’s words struck Lin Shengnan like thunder. At her current level, such things were unimaginable.

“Who on earth would do such a thing?” she asked, astonished. Such acts were only seen in period dramas, where people begged for their lives with a sword at their throat. It was unheard of in this day and age.

“I don’t know who, but it’s definitely hostile to us,” Liu Jingye said. “Though Brother Xian keeps saying they don’t want us involved so we won’t get implicated, ignorance might keep our hands clean, but once the incident happens—cars suddenly blocked on the road at both ends—the police will be suspicious. We won’t be able to avoid blame.”

“So, what do we do?” Lin Shengnan now fully relied on Liu Jingye as her anchor.

Liu Jingye thought a moment, then clapped his hands. “Let’s do it! Not making money when you can is foolish. Last time everyone was very righteous and donated the money they earned. But this time it’s dirty money. If we don’t take it, who will? Go tell Brother Xian we’re in.”

“But…” Lin Shengnan hesitated.

“It’s fine. Just trust me,” Liu Jingye said confidently. Lin Shengnan trusted him absolutely.

She stood up to leave, but Liu Jingye suddenly said, “Oh, right, can you give me ten thousand of the deposit?”

Lin Shengnan immediately stiffened, as if someone was trying to steal her family heirloom. “What do you want money for?”

Liu Jingye frowned. “I’m a bit tight on cash recently. Business at the inn isn’t great, so…”

“Tight on cash for what?” Lin Shengnan pressed.

“Just pocket money, to buy cigarettes, alcohol, tea, sweets, sometimes get a good meal, and fuel my motorcycle,” Liu Jingye explained.

“That doesn’t need ten thousand!” Lin Shengnan acted like a stingy wife cautiously handing money to her husband. She decided, “It’s just for eating and drinking. I’ll give you two thousand. That’s enough for daily meals out. I’ll also get you two packs of the best cigarettes from the venue. If that’s not enough, you can come back for more. As for alcohol—beer, liquor, whatever you want—you can drink here with me. No need to spend money outside and get into trouble!”

Before Liu Jingye could respond, Lin Shengnan’s face flushed red. She hurriedly turned and left, shouting from the doorway, “It’s settled!”

Liu Jingye smiled wryly, thinking, “How did this turn into her controlling the finances and managing the man’s wallet? She’s definitely good at running a household!”

After Lin Shengnan left, Liu Jingye took out his phone and called Yuan Xiaoying.

“Hey, Director Yuan, what are you busy with?” Liu Jingye feigned casualness. “So busy you don’t even have time for a relationship?”

“I don’t even have time to go to the bathroom,” Yuan Xiaoying snapped. “I don’t know what’s going on today—conflicts nonstop. There was a brawl at a factory in the development zone, an arson at a city village residence, a man was brutally tortured to death in a hotel parking lot, and just now, a shooting in the suburbs. I’m leading patrols in the area. You be careful too.”

Liu Jingye was inwardly alarmed. “The Japanese and Vietnamese are really at each other’s throats.” He feigned calm and said, “You too, don’t push yourself. Remember, you’re a leader now. Think about the big picture and teamwork.”

“Yeah, yeah. Got it,” Yuan Xiaoying said impatiently.

“Oh, by the way,” Liu Jingye casually mentioned, “I saw a notice today. There’s a public trial at the court tomorrow. Do you know about it?”

“Tomorrow? Not a public trial,” Yuan Xiaoying said without suspicion. “Tomorrow is the hearing for that bastard Huang Xing. Because of his complicated background, it’s a closed trial, not open to the public.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Yes, probably at two in the afternoon. The prosecutors came to me today to verify materials related to Huang Xing’s arrest.”

Liu Jingye wanted to learn more, but Yuan Xiaoying had no time. “I have to patrol now. Be careful yourself. Contact me when you can.”

The call ended, but a fierce fire of rage blazed in Liu Jingye’s heart. He cursed, “Huang Guangzong, you old fox. Even at the end, you’re still thinking of harming others. You’re courting death!”

“Clearly, this is another scheme by that old fox Huang Guangzong. He’s been completely abandoned by the Japanese. The Vietnamese and a deadly female assassin are hunting him. With no way out, he’s ready to gamble everything. Not long ago, he contacted the remnants of the Huangchao faction, trying to make a comeback. It all happened in this nightclub, where he fought for territory with Lin Shengnan and the out-of-town gangs, backed by a Japanese ninja. After I drove them off, the old fox found out I’m allied with Lin Shengnan. Now he’s deliberately using Brother Xian to broker this deal, hoping they’ll help hijack the prison transport and rescue Huang Xing. Then he and his son will be on the run. If they fail, even if he dies, he’ll drag us down with him…”

“The old fox’s scheme is clever, but he never dreamed I’m involved in both the black and white sides,” Liu Jingye said coldly with a smile. He called Yuan Xiaoying again, cheerfully telling her, “Director Yuan, here’s another chance to earn merit and a reward for you!”