Der Himmel ist das Ufer des sterblichen Staubs

Kapitel 35

"Anyway, there are so many old cases, aren't there any other cases or clues that involve Longwangtang? Just find an excuse."

"no!"

"Fine, since you won't agree, then I won't help you with the case of the Hanhao Bathhouse that you want to investigate. You can go undercover and soak in saunas every day by yourself (see the next part, 'Goddess's Heart,' for details about this case)."

"Feng Junzi, how come you're so good at bargaining? I'll find you a car to lend you."

“I can’t drive, so I need to borrow not only a car but also a person. With you, Chang Wu, by my side, you are the best driver and bodyguard.”

...

Accompanying Feng Junzi to Longwangtang were not only Chang Wu, but also Yuan Xiaoxia, another policewoman from Chang Wu's criminal investigation team. Feng Junzi was right; Chang Wu's station had a backlog of cases, some of which involved Longwangtang. This Officer Yuan was originally an officer at the Longwangtang Police Station, but was later transferred to the Ganquan Branch Criminal Investigation Team. Being able to transfer from a rural police station to a city branch suggests her family connections were quite strong. Feng Junzi hadn't initially remembered Yuan Xiaoxia's name, but he had long heard of a beautiful policewoman in Chang Wu's team, and today he finally saw her in person. Officer Yuan was tall and straight, with a striking blend of heroic spirit and delicate beauty, truly deserving of the title "policewoman."

After arriving at Longwangtang, Feng Junzi took the opportunity to pull Chang Wu aside and quietly asked, "Captain Chang is quite dashing, isn't he? You even bring a policewoman with you when you come out to meddle in other people's business. What's your relationship with her?"

Chang Wu: "What nonsense are you talking about? Her family lives in Longwangtang. She's been too busy with work in the team and hasn't been home for a long time. When she heard that I was coming here to handle a case, she decided to come home to visit. What's wrong with that?"

Feng Junzi chuckled strangely: "That's even more suspicious. I think she's just trying to bring you home to meet her parents. Her parents look a bit like the old couple in Lin Zhenzhen's family."

As the two were talking, Officer Yuan walked over: "So you two were just wandering around here. Come to my house for dinner, my parents have prepared a lot of delicious food today."

...

Feng Junzi sat on a small hill not far from the sea, quietly gazing at a beach covered with pebbles. He muttered to himself, "This place is treacherous."

Sitting to the side, Yuan Xiaoxia asked curiously, "What's so dangerous about mountains that aren't high or waters that aren't deep?"

Feng Junzi: "I'm talking about feng shui. The mountain range here resembles a dragon. Reaching this point means being trapped between heaven and earth; it's a dead end."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "So you also research this? I heard you were an informant for Chang Wu, helping him investigate a case involving a bathhouse. What were you all doing there?"

Feng Junzi: "Whether it's taking a bath or visiting prostitutes, Officer Chang is very disciplined. I'll keep an eye on him, and if he does anything that violates discipline, I'll report it to you immediately. By the way, for the sake of reporting, what's your phone number?"

Yuan Xiaoxia: "Give me your phone number and I'll call you... What exactly do you do for a living? How do you know everything?"

Feng Junzi: "Excuse me, my main job is as a securities analyst."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "Oh! So you're a stock commentator," she said, her tone clearly showing a hint of disdain, and then added, "You guys who work in the stock market, don't be so naive."

Feng Junzi was a little embarrassed: "It's true that the stock market is not doing well, but it's not my fault. Officer Yuan, do you also trade stocks?"

Yuan Xiaoxia: "I also invest in stocks, and I'm heavily trapped. Not long ago, I added some more money because the State Council came out with some favorable policies, called the 'Nine Articles'. People are saying that the stock market is about to recover."

Feng Junzi: "You're referring to the 'Opinions of the State Council on Promoting the Development of the Capital Market,' which was issued in early February 2004. The stock market has been performing quite well during this period, but I suggest you sell all your stocks now."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "Why? Has it peaked? It can't be that fast, can it? Aren't there favorable policies?"

Feng Junzi: "Are there even bigger policies than this? Have you seen the recent developments? It's very clear that macro-control is about to begin. Recently, banks have raised the reserve requirement ratio again. In the stock market, the Delong Group finally couldn't hold on and collapsed. Last week, a friend of mine who was a branch manager inexplicably absconded. From the big to the small, a series of events give people a very bad feeling."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "What does this have to do with anything? What does macroeconomic regulation have to do with your friend's escape? Did you report it to the police?"

Feng Junzi: "I wouldn't report this kind of thing to the police easily. The funds and people involved are too complicated. At most, I'll just report it as a missing person."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "Then that's none of our business. What about the policy updates you mentioned earlier?"

Feng Junzi: "Have you been reading the newspapers lately? Do you know about the Jiangsu Tieben incident? A local steel project worth hundreds of billions of yuan was halted just like that. The central government is intentionally controlling overheated investment."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "Steel projects? The performance of listed steel companies is very good. I heard that Binhai Steel Group has also been doing very well this year."

Feng Junzi: "It's very good," then suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Do you know what 'anti-pornography and anti-illegal publications' means?"

Yuan Xiaoxia was baffled by the question, wondering why Feng Junzi had suddenly steered the conversation to this topic. Feng Junzi continued, "There's a saying among the common people: 'Crack down on prostitution, crack down on prostitution, protect and support.' I've heard that every time a crackdown on prostitution is launched, the entertainment venues shut down are run by those foolish bosses. This industry isn't for ordinary people; it's impossible to do without connections. They all have relationships with leaders at all levels. So, cracking down on prostitution and illegal activities is taking down the competitors of those with connections and influence, allowing the core enterprises in the entertainment industry to develop better. Do you understand?"

Yuan Xiaoxia laughed: "I understand, but our police's crackdowns on prostitution aren't always like the one you described."

Just then, Chang Wu's voice came from afar: "Feng Junzi, you want to talk to our policewoman about cracking down on prostitution tonight? Don't you have any other hobbies?" As he spoke, Chang Wu walked up the hillside: "I've looked around but haven't found anything. Feng Junzi, have you figured out anything?"

Feng Junzi: "I didn't find anything special either... Policewoman, why aren't you staying home with your parents? Why are you getting involved in this mess with us?"

Yuan Xiaoxia: "I've known this family since I was a child. I lived in this area when I was a kid, so we were neighbors. They were a nice family. I never expected something like this to happen. I find it very strange."

It was already eight or nine o'clock in the evening. The sun had long since set, the air by the sea was fresh, and the stars in the sky were exceptionally bright. Starlight reflected on the rippling sea, creating shimmering, magical colors. There was no wind; only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks could be heard. Sitting on the hillside, one could enjoy the beautiful night view. But Feng Junzi wasn't there to admire the scenery, and Chang Wu had no idea what he was hoping to see. Did he want to see the ghosts of that family?

Feng Junzi asked Yuan Xiaoxia, "Does that family usually live here?"

Yuan Xiaoxia: "Yes, they are fishermen. The houses on the higher beach over there belong to them. Their boats are usually moored on this beach. The villagers nearby live quite far apart. This is how they make a living by the sea."

Feng Junzi muttered to himself, "If that little girl Xiao Yunyi were here, she might make some discoveries. She claims to have eyesight that is different from ordinary people."

Chang Wu was both amused and annoyed: "What kind of expert have you met this time? Does your eyesight seem extraordinary? Could this little girl you're talking about see ghosts?"

As they spoke, a thick cloud drifted across the sky, obscuring the starlight and moonlight overhead, darkening the surroundings. A sea breeze inexplicably blew in from afar, and all three felt a chill. Feng Junzi closed his eyes as if deep in thought, and Chang Wu couldn't help but say, "If we don't find anything, let's go back. Don't let Officer Yuan get cold; it's very cold by the sea at night."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "I'm fine, but how long are you going to sit here?"

Just then, Feng Junzi suddenly exclaimed, opened his eyes, and said, "I saw it!"

"What did you see? Did you see a ghost?" the other two asked almost in unison.

“It’s not a ghost, you can see it too. Try what I say: stare intently at that beach, don’t move your eyes, and after a minute, suddenly close your eyes and tell me what you see.”

Chang Wu and Yuan Xiaoxia both tried what Feng Junzi said, and they both nodded and said, "Close your eyes, and there are a few white spots of light in front of you... It looks like something on the beach is glowing, creating a visual afterimage... I just went to the beach and saw that they were just a few cement blocks, nothing special."

Feng Junzi: "I know what's going on. These cement blocks can emit fluorescence. You can't see it during the day, and you couldn't see it clearly when the starlight was very bright, but we noticed it when the clouds blocked the starlight. What exactly is this thing?"

...

"These cement blocks are used to moor boats or tie poles to dry fishing nets. They're very common around here. They're also very easy to make. You just fill a diesel drum with cement, wait for the cement to harden, and then knock the diesel drum off," Yuan Xiaoxia explained to Chang Wu and Feng Junzi, standing next to the cement block.

Feng Junzi shook his head: "These cement cylinders have such smooth surfaces, they weren't poured from diesel drums, they seem to have been made with special molds. Why do they look so familiar? I seem to have heard of such things before... but I can't remember. Lately, I seem to have some problems with my brain, there are always things I can't remember."

Chang Wu said from the side, "How it was done is not important. The key question is why it emits fluorescence? And why is the fluorescence so faint that it is almost undetectable?"

Feng Junzi stroked the concrete pillar and murmured, "A fluorescent light in the darkness..." He suddenly jerked his hand back as if bitten by a snake, stumbling several steps backward and nearly falling to the ground. But seemingly oblivious to his embarrassment, Feng Junzi shouted to the other two, "Get out of here! Quickly, get away from here!"

Part 4: A Pair of Chopsticks, Chapter 13: Trouble Comes from the Mouth, Insult Leads to Self-Reproach

"Cement glows in the dark because it contains highly radioactive materials."

As they spoke, the three had returned to the hillside where they had been sitting. Feng Junzi was still slightly out of breath. Chang Wu asked, "Is this the cause of death for that family of five?"

Feng Junzi: "Very likely. Do you know how Marie Curie died? She died from pernicious anemia caused by long-term exposure to radioactive materials. This symptom can be very similar to leukemia. But why couldn't the hospital detect it?"

Yuan Xiaoxia spoke up: "Given the medical conditions in Longwangtang Town, let's not even talk about it. This family can't afford to go to a big hospital in the city. Besides, when ordinary people get sick and die, apart from busybodies like Mr. Feng, I'm afraid no one else will care."

Chang Wu: "Feng Junzi, are you sure that's radioactive material? What exactly is it?"

Feng Junzi: "There is only one possibility, and that is processed nuclear waste."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "How could nuclear waste be cement?"

Feng Junzi: "It's not cement, it's concentrated wastewater and the residue after treatment. This kind of liquid cannot be poured out casually. I'm not very clear about the situation at nuclear weapons factories, but nuclear power plants are generally treated with cement for solidification. These cement blocks are very likely solidified cement."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "Mr. Feng, how do you know so much?"

Feng Junzi did not answer. Chang Wu said from the side, "After graduating from university, Feng Junzi was assigned to the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant. He worked there for a year and a half, and his personnel file is still in Zhejiang."

Yuan Xiaoxia nodded and then asked, "How is this kind of cement solidification usually treated?"

Feng Junzi: "The radioactive decay period is very long, so it is usually buried permanently in a deserted place."

Yuan Xiaoxia seemed determined to get to the bottom of it: "Is that a very troublesome matter?"

Feng Junzi: "That's right. It's easier to deal with in China, but it's really very costly for some countries to handle it."

Chang Wu interjected, "Which countries in the world have this kind of thing?"

Feng Junzi: "I'm not entirely sure either, but if we're talking about nuclear power plants, China, the US, Russia, and even Pakistan all have them, but the countries with the highest proportion of nuclear power generation are probably France and Japan..."

"Who are you people!" As the three were talking, a shout suddenly came from not far away, and five or six figures emerged from the darkness, seemingly wielding long and short weapons, and surrounded Feng Junzi and his companions.

Without even lifting his eyelids, Feng Junzi stood up and replied sarcastically, "We came here to see the scenery. This sea wasn't dug by your family, so what's it to you?" This wasn't Feng Junzi's usual style; he was behaving strangely today.

"Stop trying to talk your way out of this. You're no good if you come here in the middle of the night. What did you steal? Let us search you."

"What are you searching for? If you have nothing better to do, go home and masturbate. Don't go looking for trouble." It was Feng Junzi speaking again. For some reason, he was unusually bold tonight.

Feng Junzi's words seemed to enrage the group, and two or three of them came over to make a move. Feng Junzi suddenly said, "Don't move, or you'll be the first to suffer." Sure enough, the group obediently stopped moving. Feng Junzi turned around with his arms crossed, and saw Chang Wu and Yuan Xiaoxia on either side of him silently drawing their pistols, the dark muzzles gleaming coldly in the night.

"I knew you all came armed," Feng Junzi said smugly, then turned around and, feigning authority, scolded, "Now I'll ask you one by one. Answer each question as you go, and don't ramble on when I'm not asking... You go first, what are you doing here?"

"We came from a nearby aquaculture farm to look out for the sea."

Which organization is it from?

“We’re not from any unit; we’re from a labor reform brigade. We’ll be released in two years.”

"Then why did you run away now?"

“We were hired by the owner of the seafood farm; the labor camp sent us here.”

"Who told you to come here and meddle? Do we look like we're here to steal sea cucumbers?"

“Someone just called the boss and said that three people came to the beach to steal things and are now dividing the loot on this hillside, so we came over.”

"You, the smallest one over there, what's your name?"

“Reporting to the government, my name is Zhou Dahe, and I am from Pingyou Labor Reform Farm in Binhai City.”

When Feng Junzi asked this question, he turned around and looked at Chang Wu and Yuan Xiaoxia. Yuan Xiaoxia said, "You can get lost." The group felt as if they had been granted a pardon, turned around and disappeared into the darkness in a flash.

Feng Junzi: "Aren't you afraid of violating discipline by carrying guns out here?"

Chang Wu: "Do you know our discipline? We are on a mission right now."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "What, are you going to complain to our team? Don't forget that I'm helping you today."

Feng Junzi: "Why did you let them go? Maybe we can find some clues on these people."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "They are telling the truth. They are indeed the people who watch over the sea at the nearby aquaculture farm. I even recognize two of them. You can't ask them anything."

Feng Junzi: "It seems that the sudden appearance of these people must be related to those cement blocks... Huh?... Where did those cement blocks go? They moved so fast."

Chang Wu: "It looks like someone's been watching us. That whole charade was just a diversionary tactic; someone took the opportunity to remove those cement pillars."

Feng Junzi: "Report it to the police immediately."

Yuan Xiaoxia: "Whatever case you report, we are the police."

Feng Junzi: "Then let's report to the bureau right away."

Chang Wu: "How do I report this? Do you have any evidence? You found a few suspicious cement pillars, and then they disappeared in the blink of an eye? Although I know the problem is serious, my superiors will call me an idiot."

Feng Junzi: "Those cement pillars are evidence... They're gone... It's okay. Radioactive materials tend to leave residues. There are definitely still radioactive residues on this beach, which can be detected."

Chang Wu: "You don't know our case filing procedures. This matter is probably going to be very difficult. We can only investigate after we figure it out. Those people just now were not simple. If we come back with our men, the pebbles on the whole beach might have been replaced. People who can do this kind of thing are definitely not ordinary people. Some things are beyond your imagination."

...