Auspicious Flowers and a Moonlit Garden - Chapter 182 The Mystery of His Origins

The night was cold, and the wind was chilly. The stars twinkled and changed their light above the city, reflecting the myriad lights of the homes under the vast sky, as if marveling at the unpredictability of human affairs, or perhaps observing everything in the world with a detached eye.
What goes around comes around.
In front of his sister's apartment complex, Xiao Shi parked the car and turned to say, "Sister Ling, you go up by yourself. I have things to do tonight." Ling Yueru looked at her brother, her eyes filled with helplessness. She knew what her brother was going to do, but she couldn't stop him. All she could do was be tolerant and understanding.
Xiao Shi knew what his sister was thinking, but he was equally helpless. He also hoped for a peaceful resolution, but the Gong Xiaoyan incident had destroyed all possibilities.
Blood debts must be repaid with blood!
Ling Yueru cupped her younger brother's face, gently kissed him, then got out of the car and walked silently into the residential area. She didn't walk fast, just as usual; the lights on both sides illuminated her beautiful figure, and her long hair was occasionally lifted by the wind.
Watching his sister's warm silhouette, Xiao Shi softly uttered two words: "Thank you." He was moved by his sister's understanding—the understanding of a true woman, a woman who was carrying a life within her. This understanding was profound; he understood it.
As his sister's figure disappeared from sight, Xiao Shi regained his composure and dialed Liu Si's number: "Where is she?"
"Both of us are in Mengdu. But... hehe!" Liu Si chuckled lewdly. "A few new girls have arrived at Mengdu; they probably won't be out for a while!"
Xiao Shi didn't laugh, but calmly said, "Call me when he gets out, no matter what time." Then he hung up.
Xiao Shi took out an envelope from his pocket. He had gone home during the day while he was getting his passport processed. Inside was the license plate number that held the secret to his origins. He looked at it silently for a while, then started the car and drove towards Xiao Yuanshan's house.
"Xiao Xiao!" Xiao Yuanshan was somewhat surprised to see Xiao Shilai. He usually only made a trip during the Chinese New Year.
"Director," Xiao Shi said with a smile, still polite and courteous.
"Get up quickly!" Xiao Yuanshan smiled and hurriedly ushered him in.
Xiao Shi entered the living room. The television was on, and there was a bowl of steaming medicine on the table. Zhou Tong was lying on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, looking rather haggard, but still smiled and said, "Xiao Shi is here!" After speaking, she struggled to sit up.
Xiao Yuanshan rushed over to support him, scolding, "Just lie there, don't move!"
Xiao Shi asked, "Is Director Zhou ill?"
"Oh, my stomach's been acting up, it's an old problem!" Xiao Yuanshan picked up the medicine and pointed to the sofa beside him. "Xiao, please sit down!" Zhou Tong smiled apologetically and said to her husband, "Xiao, I can do it myself, you go keep Xiao company!"
Xiao Yuanshan smiled gently. "It won't make a difference," he said, "let him wait a little longer!" As he spoke, he blew on a spoonful of medicine and fed it to his wife. Zhou Tong was a little shy, glancing at Xiao Shi with a face full of tenderness and happiness.
Xiao Shi sat quietly to the side, savoring the affection between the elderly couple. Xiao Yuanshan and Zhou Tong were a couple who married later in life, having been together for only three years, but their love was deep and tender. The dependence they had on each other always filled Xiao Shi with longing, and this was the kind of family life he had always imagined.
After finishing his medicine, Zhou Tong's complexion regained some color, and he said with a smile, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Xiao Shi!" Before Xiao Shi could speak, Xiao Yuanshan put the empty bowl aside, waved his hand, and said, "Xiao Shi is no stranger, why be so polite with him!"
Xiao Shi smiled but didn't speak. Then, Xiao Yuanshan led him into the study. Once they were seated, Xiao Yuanshan offered him a cigarette. Xiao Shi took it and asked with concern, "Director, what exactly is wrong with Director Zhou? Why wasn't he taken to the hospital?"
Xiao Yuanshan lit his cigarette and tossed him the lighter. "A stomach ailment I've had for decades. It's incurable; I can only try to manage it slowly."
"Oh." Xiao Shi lit a cigarette. Xiao Yuanshan took a puff. He then said, "Xiao, I've made up my mind. Once the October Group case is solved, I'll retire early and take your Aunt Zhou back to our hometown in Fujian to live out our retirement."
"Of course." Xiao Shi nodded and smiled, saying, "You've worked for most of your life, it's time for you to take a break."
"Yeah, but I really hate to leave!" Xiao Yuanshan sighed deeply, then glanced at him and said, "But it's alright, if I get bored back there, I'll do what you do and go fix bicycles, haha!"
Xiao Yuanshan laughed, and Xiao Shi laughed too.
After the small talk was over, Xiao Yuanshan straightened his expression and said, "Speak, Xiao, what brings you here so late?"
Xiao Shi took out an envelope, placed it on the table, and slowly pushed it towards the director. "Chief, here is a license plate number. I was taken to the orphanage in this car back then. I would like to ask you to help me check it."
"Oh!" Xiao Yuanshan looked at him in surprise, opened the envelope, but only glanced at it before slowly pushing it back. "I know this license plate number, no need to check."
"You know?" Xiao Shi looked at him in surprise.
Xiao Yuanshan explained, "You should know about the unsolved case of Gu Chengsen, the former municipal party secretary, right? The provincial department still has a special task force handling this case, led by a deputy director, and I'm the deputy head. This is the license plate of Secretary Gu's car." After a pause, Xiao Yuanshan asked intently, "By the way, Xiao, what exactly happened? Why did you suddenly decide to investigate your background? And how did you get involved with Secretary Gu?"
“I don’t know either, that’s why I came to you.” Xiao Shi sighed, smoke billowing from his mouth and nose. “Dean Fang went to America to find his wife. This is what he gave me before he left. He said that I was abandoned at the gate of the orphanage by a man and a woman. They were driving a Jeep, and he wrote down the license plate number.”
"Then it can't be wrong!" Xiao Yuanshan slapped his thigh and habitually got up and paced around the room. "Secretary Gu is a former soldier who participated in the Liberation War. The jeep was something he specifically requested after he was reinstated. Could it be..." Xiao Yuanshan suddenly stopped and looked at Xiao Shi closely.
"Director..." Xiao Shi looked at his old leader with a puzzled expression.
Xiao Yuanshan seemed to be deep in thought. "The director of the municipal party committee office at the time was Xiao Tingxuan, who also came from an orphanage. Could you be…?"
"Where is he?" Xiao Shi suddenly stood up, his eyes gleaming.
Xiao Yuanshan sighed, gestured for him to sit down, and then sat back down himself. "Xiao Tingxuan was investigated for his case back then and was imprisoned in a Northwest prison for many years. After I joined the special task force, I also conducted some investigations. Although there were no results, Xiao Tingxuan's sentence was not sufficient, so the task force reviewed it and released him. I heard that he was disheartened and has already moved abroad."
Xiao Shi frowned and looked at him, asking, "Why was he sentenced?"
Xiao Yuanshan seemed somewhat heavy-hearted, sighing as he lit another cigarette. "You've been in the police force for so many years, you should know a bit about it. Xiao Tingxuan was representing the municipal party committee to receive guests at the time, so he should be cleared of suspicion. It's just that an important document was lost at the time, and since he was the office director, he was sentenced. Alas, the country hadn't fully recovered its order back then, and the investigation wasn't thorough. This should be considered a miscarriage of justice."
Xiao Shi remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Director, doesn't the Municipal Party Committee have sentry posts? Even if the country hasn't fully restored order, it's still the Municipal Party Committee. How can they openly go in and kill people?"
Xiao Yuanshan gave a wry smile and said, "Of course there are sentries, but they were stabbed."
"A stab wound?" Xiao Shi's eyes lit up. "So the person isn't dead?"
"He's not dead."
"who is he?"
"Du Hansheng".
"It's him!" Xiao Shi almost stood up again; this was a new discovery.
Xiao Yuanshan shook his head and said, "Du Hansheng was stabbed and seriously injured, his life hanging by a thread. Deng Shiyue was from the same hometown as him. That night, the army cadres were eating and drinking, and Deng Shiyue was sent out to buy wine, which saved him."
Didn't Deng Shiyue try to send a warning?
Xiao Yuanshan shook his head and said, "At that time, they were clearing out the guns and ammunition that had been scattered into society during the ten-year turmoil. The sentry post was only issued one blank round. Deng Shiyue did fire a shot before rescuing people, but the bullet was rotten and didn't go off. Du Hansheng had also lost too much blood, so he took him directly to the hospital."
Xiao Shi didn't speak, his mind racing.
Xiao Yuanshan suddenly smiled and said, "Because of this, Deng Shiyue almost faced military court-martial. The troops even held an event to discuss whether to prioritize saving lives or fulfilling their duties. Later, a high-ranking officer spoke up, saying that saving lives should come first. Deng Shiyue was transformed from a greenhorn into a squad leader."
This incident is very Chinese, but Xiao Shi did not laugh. He asked again, "What did Du Hansheng say later?" Xiao Yuanshan smiled bitterly again, "He said it was dark and he couldn't see clearly. He was unconscious after being injured and didn't know anything."
This time, Xiao Shi smiled. Deng Shiyue had said on the phone that the relationship between Du Hansheng and Zhang Yuzhou wasn't difficult to investigate, and now he understood. Du Hansheng must have recognized something when he was stabbed; this cunning fellow had his eye on Zhang Yuzhou's power, concealed the truth, and used it to blackmail him, which is how the two colluded.
Xiao Shi nodded, and seeing that it was almost time, he stood up and said, "Director, could you do me a favor and help me find out where Xiao Tingxuan is?"
“No problem, but he’s not in the country, so it might be a bit difficult.” Xiao Yuanshan stood up and walked up to him, looking into his eyes and saying, “Xiao, it’s only natural to want to reconnect with your family, especially since you’re an orphan. I understand. But the most important thing in life is to care for the people around you. Don’t force yourself. Just let things take their natural course.”
"I understand, thank you, Director." Xiao Shi said sincerely.
Xiao Yuanshan smiled and patted him on the shoulder, and Xiao Shi took his leave.
Leaving Xiao Yuanshan's house, Xiao Shi's mood was complicated, and his steps were heavy. With Du Hansheng coming to light, the cold case from years ago was gradually becoming clear. Although there were still many mysteries, it was only a matter of time. As long as Xiao Fang's investigation went smoothly, the truth about this case that had been dormant for decades should be revealed.
Xiao Shi stepped out of the building and walked towards his car. A night breeze blew by, making him shiver, but also invigorating him. What was bound to happen would happen eventually; he had no choice.
After getting in the car, Liu Si called: "Attorney Xiao, he's out!"
"I understand," Xiao Shi said, only four words.
Xiao Shi roused himself, started the engine, and the Cherokee roared off. The time had come; it was time to settle accounts with Cao Xiong!

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Auspicious Flowers and a Moonlit Garden - Chapter 182 The Mystery of His Origins

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