Chapter 102: Casting the Net Begins (Request for Votes)

Ning Zhiheng and his two companions drove to Willow Alley No. 2, the rented residence of the tenant Dong Chengjie, to inspect the scene.

Throughout the journey, Ning’s expression remained indifferent and he did not speak, but his heart was surging with waves of shock that refused to subside. He was not thinking about the two precious jade artifacts or Dong Chengjie’s true identity. What truly shocked him was the man he had met today: Professor Fang Boyi, a professor at Jinling University and a renowned expert in the antique trade.

He had encountered Professor Fang long ago and had even drawn his portrait by hand. The moment he first saw Fang, Ning felt a profound sense of familiarity. Every facial feature, from the shape of his brows to the spacing of his eyes, was identical to the man in the third memory fragment in Lu Ming’s mind—the person who had introduced Lu Ming to the Party as they stood together under the Party flag.

Although many years had passed, transforming a young officer into a refined university professor, the passage of time had only left minor marks—loosened skin, deeper eye bags—but the underlying facial structure remained unchanged. Ning possessed exceptional artistic talent, specializing in the minute details of human facial features, and his observational skills far exceeded those of an average person. Having personally sketched Fang’s portrait before, he was certain: the man in Lu Ming’s memory and Professor Fang Boyi were one and the same.

He could now conclude with certainty that Fang Boyi was a high-ranking member of the underground Party, possibly even Lu Ming’s superior, and by extension, the superior of the "Farmer," Xia Deyan. Years ago, Fang had already been an officer while Lu Ming was merely a soldier. As his sponsor for Party membership, Fang’s status and rank were clearly superior to Lu Ming’s.

This sudden discovery left Ning Zhiheng deeply unsettled. This meeting had allowed him to clearly touch the core of the Nanjing underground Party. However, he had no intention of proactively contacting them. He believed it was better to maintain the status quo; as long as he could ensure his own safety and keep his identity hidden, it would be mutually beneficial.

Fang Boyi, for his part, had no idea that a chance encounter had led this young man—a former soldier—to recognize him instantly and accurately deduce his identity. It was the irony of fate; in this vast world, the lives of those connected by destiny are inextricably linked.

The three men soon arrived at Willow Alley No. 2. Liu Datong went to find the landlord, who lived nearby. Before long, he returned, hurrying along with a man in his thirties.

"Officer Ning, this is the owner of the house, Jin De," Liu Datong said, gesturing to the man. Then, glaring at Jin De, he added, "This is Officer Ning, here specifically to question you. Jin De, answer honestly. Let me tell you, Officer Ning has eyes like torches and will not tolerate even a grain of sand. If you tell a single lie, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

Liu was nervous; after Cui Er had broken his leg and still lied, Ning had instantly seen through him, causing Liu to lose face. He had questioned this landlord before and was terrified that Jin De might hold something back, leading to another public exposure of his own incompetence.

As the landlord stammered his agreement, Ning said, "Jin De, open the gate first. I need to inspect the scene, and then I will ask you some questions."

Jin De complied, fumbling with his keys to open the gate. Ning entered first. It was a mid-to-high-end courtyard, spacious and well-maintained. After Jin De opened the house, Ning stepped inside. There were four rooms. Ning nodded and asked, "This is a fine property. The rent must be quite high, right?"

Jin De, anxious and unsure of the officer's intentions, hesitated. Liu Datong shoved him from behind. "Officer Ning is asking you a question! Why are you just standing there?"

"Yes, it is not cheap," Jin De replied hurriedly. "It is my ancestral property. I wouldn't have rented it out if I weren't in dire need of money—ten yuan in legal tender a month! But Dong Chengjie agreed on the spot without hesitation."

Ning nodded. "The place is very clean, and the furniture is tidy. Did you clean this?"

"No, no. It was like this when Dong Chengjie handed it over. He was a very clean person. Every time I came to collect rent, the place was spotless," Jin De answered.

Ning turned to Liu. "Datou, try to recall: when you interrogated Cui Er, did he say he had moved any furniture or belongings?"

Liu recalled, "Cui Er was very clear during his first interrogation. He said he turned the room upside down and searched every corner. The place should have been a mess!"

"That means after Dong Chengjie discovered his home had been burglarized, he cleaned everything up and restored it to its original state before moving out the next day," Ning mused.

"That only proves he was feeling guilty," Chen Yanqing added. "He was afraid the landlord would notice something strange when returning the property."

"Exactly. Dong Chengjie had two contingency plans. He didn't want to escalate the situation; he was desperately trying to cover up the theft," Ning agreed with Chen’s assessment. "This proves that the jade magatama, especially the noble family seal, must be his personal property. It identifies him as a Japanese national, and it is vital to him."

Ning turned back to the landlord. "Jin De, did Dong Chengjie show any unusual behavior? How was he with his neighbors?"

"Nothing unusual," Jin De replied after careful thought. "I live nearby, but he left early and returned late for work, sometimes working overtime. I have my own affairs, so I rarely saw him except to collect rent. He was gentle and polite, and he got along well with the neighbors, but he never invited anyone into his courtyard. He was very fastidious, as everyone knew, and I was the only one who occasionally entered."

"How long has he been renting? Was he always alone?" Ning asked.

"Just over six months. He never missed a rent payment, and he was always alone."

"He claimed to be a teacher. Did he go to work every day?"

"Every day," Jin De confirmed. "Early out, late in, and sometimes he didn't even rest on Sundays. He seemed very busy."

"Datou, take Jin De and find a few neighbors. Yanqing, go to the car and get the paper and drawing kit I brought. I am going to draw a portrait of Dong Chengjie!" Ning commanded.

He had gathered enough information to form a preliminary judgment. The most important task now was to find Dong Chengjie. He had a trump card: portrait sketching. In this era, it was a lethal weapon and had become one of his most effective investigative tools. The more witnesses who provided descriptions, the more detailed the information, and the more realistic the portrait would be.

With Officer Liu’s intervention, the neighbors did not dare to delay. Six neighbors arrived to assist. Ning listened to their descriptions, making adjustments for two hours until the portrait was finished. Everyone agreed it looked exactly like the man, and they heaped praise on Ning’s artistic skill.

Ning dismissed the group and studied the portrait, frowning as he pondered. With this image, he had plenty of leads; the only task remaining was to find him.

Dong Chengjie—a fake name, no doubt. All his registered information was likely fabricated. He was about 1.70 meters tall and around thirty years old. He must have had a job, or he could not have maintained his cover for six months. It was a routine job, sometimes requiring work on Sundays.

"Datou, I will have copies of this portrait made for you tomorrow. Check with the rickshaw unions. He isn't short of money, but driving a car would be too conspicuous; he likely used rickshaws. Reward anyone who provides a lead. This man is decisive; he chose to flee the moment trouble arose. He is a cautious opponent!

"However, there is one thing: the two jade pieces we have—especially the gold-inlaid family seal—are extremely important to him. Once he feels safe, he will definitely come back to look for them. Keep your ears to the ground for any rumors about someone searching for a jade magatama or a family seal. This is a crucial clue; do not take it lightly."

Liu Datong nodded, agreeing to every point.

"Also," Ning added, "does the public know about your arrest of Cui Er?"

"It happened in the middle of the night at his home, but he hasn't been seen for days. Many people probably know by now," Liu answered, confused by the question.

"Then spread the word that the arrest was for something else—prostitution, robbery, anything—just don't let anyone suspect he was caught for theft! We don't want to alert the target," Ning ordered. "Tell Liu Yonghe and that rickshaw puller, Cheng Guang, to keep their mouths shut. Don't mention anything about the burglary at this rental property! Tell your men to keep the details of Cui Er’s arrest under wraps."

"Understood! I will arrange it immediately!"