Ghost Stocks

Chapter 60

Feng Junzi: "So you figured it out. I thought I was the only smart one!"

Chang Wu: "I only asked you to come here to spend money with me. I don't want to talk to you about the case. Don't get involved yourself."

Feng Junzi: "Forget it, let's not talk about this. Be careful. Don't forget, we're treating two girls to dinner and karaoke on Sunday to add some excitement to our boring lives—don't grin, I'm paying!"

Part 5 Goddess's Heart, Chapter 14: People Are Not As Good As Before

"How about a plate of sliced beef and tripe in chili sauce?"

"Lung slices? Lungs are so dirty, I never eat that stuff."

"Zhao Xue, you're so old-fashioned. The ingredients for Fuqi Feipian (a type of Sichuan-style beef and offal stew) aren't lungs, they're beef, tripe, heart, tongue... It was originally a snack made by a couple in Sichuan."

"Brother Feng, you are so knowledgeable!"

"What kind of knowledge is this? It's just about eating."

“Liu Xin, you’re wrong about that. As the sage said, ‘One should not be too particular about the fineness of food,’ and ‘Food and sex are human nature.’ Eating is a profound subject.”

"Brother Feng, how do you know my name? Did Zhao Xue tell you?"

"Didn't you just tell Brother Chang yourself?"

"Stop talking, the boiled fish is served, eat up... It's so spicy, let's have a drink together."

This was at the Sichuan Restaurant in Binhai City, where Feng Junzi was having dinner with Chang Wu, Liu Xin, and Zhao Xue. During the meal, Liu Xin didn't mention the ring again, but just kept chatting with Chang Wu and urging him to drink. When the boiled fish was served, Zhao Xue reached for the bean sprouts, but Feng Junzi reached out with his chopsticks and knocked them away: "What's the rush? They're still raw. They need to be poached in oil for two minutes to be cooked."

Zhao Xue withdrew her hand and smiled, "Really? I didn't know."

Feng Junzi: "Haven't you guys ever eaten Sichuan cuisine before? How come you don't know any of the intricacies?"

Liu Xin: "Just eat it, why be so particular? We rarely eat spicy food, because I've heard that eating spicy food can cause small bumps on your face."

Feng Junzi: "That's true... Waiter, bring me a bowl of duck blood soup... to help you two cool down."

The meal was quite lively, with a lot of food left over. A considerable amount of beer was consumed. Near the end, Liu Xin grabbed Chang Wu's arm and said, "Brother Chang, when are you going to visit me at Hanhao again? If you have time, I'll treat you to a late-night snack."

Chang Wu: "We can't go there all the time. That place is too expensive. We can't afford to go every day."

Zhao Xue interjected, "Brother Chang, are you kidding me? I think you two are both big bosses."

Feng Junzi laughed: "Then you've misjudged us. Actually, the two of us don't earn as much as the two of you."

Liu Xin was a little unhappy: "Brother Feng, are you pretending to be poor now because you don't want to treat us to karaoke?"

Feng Junzi: "Not at all, not at all. Today I'll treat you to something a bit more upscale—Midnight Nightclub."

He was probably already a little tipsy. Feng Junzi blurted out "Midnight Nightclub." That was where he first met Han Shuang and Xiao Wei, and also where he first met Zhao Xue two years ago. Feng Junzi remembered it clearly, but Zhao Xue couldn't. Zhao Xue's expression was a little awkward when she heard the words "Midnight Nightclub," but she quickly laughed and said, "Okay, okay, let's go to Midnight. I just drank duck blood, and now I'll drink Brother Feng's blood—it's all good for cooling down and beautifying the skin."

...

The private room at Midnight Nightclub was the same as always. While singing, Zhao Xue sat next to Feng Junzi. Her body unconsciously leaned closer—probably a professional habit she had developed from before. Feng Junzi felt a pang of emotion; this was the scene from two years ago. But Zhao Xue thought there was a new person beside her; in reality, she didn't know that this new person was still the same old one.

Zhao Xue, however, was very happy. Two years ago, she worked here as a prostitute, singing with customers. Today, she was a customer, a client. Thinking about this, she felt a vague sense of satisfaction, temporarily forgetting that she was still a prostitute, just in a different job. Feng Junzi understood this feeling, and perhaps this was precisely why he had brought her to Midnight.

They had a great time that night, but a little unpleasantness occurred after they paid the bill. Feng Junzi casually pulled out two bills and gave them to Zhao Xue and Liu Xin. Zhao Xue didn't notice and took them without thinking, but Liu Xin's face darkened: "Brother Feng, what do you mean by this? Why do we have to pay when we're out having fun?"

As soon as Liu Xin spoke, Zhao Xue realized that what she had just done was simply a professional gesture from before. Feng Junzi smiled and said, "I invited you guys out to sing because I owe you. I've kept you out of work for one night, so I have to make it up to you... Besides, singing here is mainly for my female companions."

Feng Junzi deliberately avoided using the word "Miss," instead saying "female companion." While euphemistic, it sounded even more grating to Liu Xin. Her good mood for the entire evening was ruined by Feng Junzi's words. Was this Feng Ge constantly reminding Chang Ge of his status, perhaps he was doing it for Chang Ge's benefit?

Feng Junzi was indeed speaking to Chang Wu. Although he knew Chang Wu wouldn't have any kind of relationship with this woman, he couldn't help but offer a word of advice. He knew Chang Wu had no experience in the world of pleasure and was genuinely afraid he might inadvertently become addicted. Liu Xin accepted the money without saying a word, and Zhao Xue, seeing this, also accepted the money.

After taking the two girls home, Feng Junzi said to Chang Wu, "I heard from No. 18 that you and No. 29 went into the private room twice but didn't have sex? You really are a virgin! What's going on? Don't tell me you're a virgin."

Chang Wu smiled awkwardly: "I feel like the atmosphere is a bit off, kind of awkward."

Feng Junzi: "You'd better not do that. Don't forget you're a police officer on an undercover mission. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, understand? Just do what you're supposed to do, don't be so special."

Chang Wu retorted, "And what about you? I heard from number 29 that you and number 18 went into the private room twice and didn't do anything big either."

Feng Junzi: "My situation is different from yours. I don't like having sex with a condom. Having sex with a condom is like kissing through glass, it just doesn't feel right!"

Chang Wu: "So, Miss, would you like to go without a condom?"

Feng Junzi: "She's willing, but I'm not! I should go ask Grandpa Jin from Shi Ye's village."

Chang Wu: "That old Chinese medicine doctor! What's your relationship with him?"

Feng Junzi: "I asked him if he had any family-inherited secret remedies for treating AIDS." (Note: Oral sex can transmit AIDS. The probability of male-to-female transmission is higher than female-to-male transmission because the oral mucosa is prone to ulceration. Although the probability is very small, it's not impossible, so those who enjoy this activity in entertainment venues should be careful. However, oral sex will not transmit gonorrhea because salivary amylase in saliva can kill gonococci.)

...

Two weeks later, it was another weekend evening. Feng Junzi arrived at the Hanhao Bath Center early, finding himself alone. Instead of heading into the bathing area, he sat on the sofa in the lobby, smoking. A staff member approached and asked why he wasn't going in. He told the staff member that he had arranged to meet a friend at 5:30, but hadn't seen his friend yet, so he was waiting outside.

Around seven o'clock, a man came to the front desk, took out his key, changed his shoes, and entered the men's bathing area. Feng Junzi also stood up at this time and muttered to himself, "I won't wait any longer, I'll go in first." Then he said to the receptionist, "My surname is Feng. If any friends come looking for me later, just tell them I'm waiting for them inside."

When Feng Junzi entered the changing room, the man from before was undressing. Feng Junzi walked past him casually, memorizing his locker number, 316. Feng Junzi undressed slowly, and just as he finished removing his last sock, another man entered the changing room, while the first man had already gone into the shower area. Feng Junzi left the changing room with his key and towel, and as he was leaving, he heard the attendant call out the second man's locker number: "Sir, number 278, this way please!"

Feng Junzi didn't linger in the lounge for long before quickly entering a private room. He again ordered Zhao Xue's massage (number 18), and the same oil massage service as last time, but this time he didn't ask Zhao Xue to light incense. After the massage, he ran into Liu Xin (number 29) in the corridor as he left the private room. Liu Xin looked at Feng Junzi with a slightly surprised expression. Before he could speak, Feng Junzi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Brother Chang will be here later. I'll be going now."

Sure enough, Chang Wu entered shortly after Feng Junzi left. Liu Xin hadn't been working or going to the lobby to greet guests; she had been sitting at a long table at the back of the lounge, watching the guests come in. She spotted Chang Wu as soon as he entered. Just as Chang Wu sat down, before a waiter could even greet him, Liu Xin approached: "Brother Chang, you're here again. Brother Feng just left, why didn't you two come together?"

Chang Wu: "We were supposed to meet up, but something came up and I was late. This kid didn't even wait for me."

Liu Xin: "When we go out to play, we don't always have to go together. Isn't it the same if I'm with you? What kind of service do you want this time, Brother Chang?"

Chang Wu: "I'm a bit tired today, so I'll just lie here and have a drink. Maybe next time..."

Liu Xin was a little disappointed, but she didn't show it. She went to get Chang Wu some wine and sat down next to him. After about twenty minutes, Chang Wu seemed to have rested enough. He got up, greeted Liu Xin, and prepared to leave. Liu Xin escorted him all the way to the entrance of the lounge.

When Chang Wu entered the changing room, a man was changing clothes in front of locker number 316. As Chang Wu finished dressing and was about to leave, another man walked in and opened the door of locker number 278.

...

Half an hour later, at a roadside barbecue restaurant, Feng Junzi and Chang Wu sat facing each other, drinking and eating skewers. The surrounding environment was noisy, just enough to drown out their voices. Feng Junzi handed Chang Wu a receipt: "This is my bathhouse bill. Reimburse me."

Chang Wu laughed and said, "You're being too clear-cut. The young lady was pressing you."

Feng Junzi: "Public matters are public matters, and private matters are private matters. I'm not asking you to pay for it yourself."

Chang Wu: "Okay then, give me the receipt for your last visit to Ziye, and I'll reimburse you for it."

Feng Junzi: "The more I look at you, the cuter you become! ...I'm really curious, isn't your department always complaining about a tight budget? Why are you being so generous to me this time?"

Chang Wu shook his head: "I also feel that something is wrong. Let's talk about serious matters. Did you remember the trunk numbers of those two people?"

Part 5: Goddess's Heart, Episode 15: The Gentleman's Rival

"Remember, the tall guy's wardrobe size is 316, and the skinny guy's wardrobe size is 278."

Chang Wu nodded: "That's right, it's those two trunks. They did indeed exchange trunks when they left. But I didn't notice when they changed the keys... This method of trading is indeed quite discreet."

Feng Junzi frowned: "That's fucking disgusting. They stripped naked into the bathhouse, then exchanged keys, and swapped everything they brought with them—even their underwear? Aren't they afraid of catching STDs?"

Chang Wu laughed: "This method is better. Both of us are naked, so we only need to exchange keys. We don't have to worry about the other person carrying anything else."

Feng Junzi: "Chang Wu, I think your mission is almost complete. There's no need to get involved any further. Just report this lead to your bureau chief and let the anti-drug team take over."

Chang Wu: "That's right. The two of us definitely can't handle the next step of the investigation. The most important thing in this kind of thing is evidence. We need to set up a comprehensive surveillance network and take photos of the two of them exchanging suitcases as evidence. At the same time, when they enter the bathing area, we need to secretly open the suitcases and check them. If we find anything, we need to arrest them immediately after they come out—this series of tasks cannot be completed by an undercover agent."

Feng Junzi: "Then let's leave it at that... Chang Wu, have you investigated that matter? I'm referring to Liang Yingying."

Chang Wu frowned upon hearing this, and said thoughtfully, "I did find out something. Didn't I tell you that there have been seven suicides in the Hanhao Building in eight years? The one who jumped four years ago was Liang Yingying!"

Feng Junzi: "How could Liang Yingying have died by jumping off a building?"

Chang Wu: "I can't say for sure. The forensic examination results showed no obvious external injuries to the deceased, but there were serious injuries to the brain and thighs. The deceased had bleeding from the mouth, nose and right ear, indicating a skull fracture. The death was caused by severe traumatic brain injury. No fatal injuries were detected on the deceased's body, but the injuries on the body were characteristic of a fall from a height. Based on the characteristics of the crime scene, the deceased died from a fall from a height."

Feng Junzi: "Falling from a height can be either suicide or homicide. How is suicide defined?"

Chang Wu: "That's simple. We found a suicide note in her diary among her belongings."

Feng Junzi: "A suicide note? What did it say?"

Chang Wu: "On the last page of her diary, there was a passage: 'Everyone has become a stranger! What is the meaning of life? What is still worth loving? After giving, all I get is hurt! Giving up may be a better relief...' After authentication, it was indeed Liang Yingying's handwriting from the day before."

Feng Junzi looked at Chang Wu with a strange expression. He did not ask about Liang Yingying's suicide note, but slowly recited a poem: "The lonely child is surrounded by emptiness / The unfamiliar world is leaving me / Since the taste of love is so bitter / It is better to abandon it from now on / Only after it ends will I know eternity / Then all feelings need not be rekindled."

Chang Wu blinked repeatedly as he listened. He squinted and asked, "What kind of poem is this? It sounds strange. Why does it sound so familiar?"

Feng Junzi: "Strange? That's someone's youthful sentimentality! Of course it sounds familiar, it's something you wrote yourself when you were in high school! That year you were pursuing Tian Wei, the prettiest girl in our class, but she rejected you. In front of me, she returned your love letter, and you thought you were heartbroken, so you wrote this cheesy, crooked poem. Look at you now. I really can't believe you ever wrote a poem like that back then!"

Chang Wu smiled a little embarrassedly: "I remember now, Tian Wei actually liked you back then—you rascal... How did you remember this poem?"

Feng Junzi: "Your poem and that passage in Liang Yingying's diary are almost identical in meaning. Don't forget you're still alive and well, nothing unexpected has happened to you! Liang Yingying's diary cannot be used as a suicide note. Nor can it be used as evidence of suicide; at most, it suggests she may have been heartbroken!"

Chang Wu pondered for a moment and said, "It's a pity that this case has already been decided. This is the most logical explanation."

Feng Junzi: "According to the materials we have, Liang Yingying had used drugs before her death. Didn't the forensic doctor find that?"

Chang Wu: "No autopsy was performed during the autopsy, and Liang Yingying's body was forcibly cremated."

Feng Junzi: "What happened? Who did this?"

Chang Wu: "This matter is complicated. The armed police were in charge of it at the time, and I don't know the details very well."

Feng Junzi: "Are you kidding me? Does a suicide case require the use of armed police?!"

Chang Wu: "It wasn't because of the suicide case. It was because the Liang family organized a group of villagers to cause trouble at the Hanhao Hotel, which triggered a mass incident. Later, there were rumors that the son of a big shot went to the Hanhao Hotel and said he wanted to find a virgin to have some fun with. He took a fancy to Liang Yingying, and Liang Yingying resisted, which is why she fell from the building. When the city saw that this matter had become a big deal, they dispatched armed police to maintain order, supposedly to protect the interests of foreign investors and ensure the normal operation of the Hanhao Hotel."

Feng Junzi: "This rumor doesn't seem to be true. Has anyone investigated it?"

Chang Wu: "There was no investigation because the forensic examination results showed that Liang Yingying was not a virgin at all."

Feng Junzi: "This kind of rumor is a bit misleading. It seems to be talking about someone, but it's actually defending someone. How was this matter handled in the end?"

Chang Wu: "The Liang family's trouble-making was actually for money. The municipal party committee set up a working group and demanded that the Liang family cremate the body immediately and stop causing trouble before they would agree to provide compensation. Later, the working group paid a sum of money, and the hotel also paid a sum of money, and that was the end of the matter."

Feng Junzi: "That doesn't make sense. If it's determined to be suicide, why should the municipal party committee's working group pay compensation?"

Chang Wu: "It's said that it was to maintain stability and prevent damage to the investment environment. At that time, Vice Mayor Sun was also the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and many things were arranged by them... I, a lowly policeman, can't explain it clearly. Feng Junzi, you don't need to get involved in this matter anymore. I'm also a little surprised; this isn't your usual style. This has nothing to do with you."

Feng Junzi: "Originally, it had nothing to do with me, but now it does. I finally know why I was inexplicably beaten up four years ago. On the night of April 28th four years ago, someone chased me from the front of the Hanhao Hotel all the way to the entrance of Binhai Park, robbed me of the camera around my neck and the wallet in my pocket, and I was also punched and kicked. ... I've never been beaten like this before in my life. Now that I can guess what it was about, how can I just let it go!"

Chang Wu: "You had this amazing adventure? I've never heard you mention it before."

Feng Junzi: "Why bother talking about something so shameful? A friend came to visit the day, and I spent the whole day with him, taking him back to the Hanhao Hotel. Then, I went out for a smoke and this happened! I was even wondering if it was illegal to stand in front of the hotel with a camera on my back? Because this didn't seem like a typical robbery. There were so many people watching at the entrance of the seaside park, everyone must have a wallet, right? Half of them had cameras. They just started robbing me—only one person helped me at the time, sigh!"

Chang Wu: "The night of April 29th, four years ago? That's the day Liang Yingying died. Feng Junzi, you're really lucky. It's very likely that the one who did it was one of Young Master Sun's men."

Feng Junzi: "That's what I think too. I don't have to pursue Liang Yingying's matter. But if I get beaten up in the street for no reason, should I just tell myself to pretend I don't know anything? I must find out who did it. As for whether I can get revenge, that's another matter."

Chang Wu: "I advise you to be careful. I've also investigated the people around Young Master Sun in private. The others are fine, but there are two who are extremely powerful. One is nicknamed 'Martial Gallant,' and the other is nicknamed 'Soul Master.' Martial Gallant is said to be a master with exceptional skills."

Feng Junzi: "We've seen martial arts masters before. No matter how high his skills are, can they surpass Old Master Xiao and Xiao Zhengrong? Besides, this isn't the era of cold weapons anymore; the mind is the most important weapon."

Chang Wu: "Actually, we should be more careful about another person. That Soul Master is said to be the strategist by Young Master Sun's side. He is not only resourceful, but also... how should I put it, he has special abilities."