Chapter 1026: Doing My Best to Help

Chapter 1026: Chapter 991: Doing My Best to Help

“Mr. Pan?”

“It’s me, who are you?”

Liu Qingshan briefly told him what happened, Pan Tianhua was shocked: “What? What did you say? Qi Shuang and the child were kidnapped?”

“Yes, at the time of the incident she called you, but couldn’t reach you.”

“When I called her back, I couldn’t get through, I was worried.”

“May I ask what your relationship with her is.”

“I’m coming over right away, Officer Liu, please, no matter what, help me rescue them, Qi Shuang is my goddaughter, George is…my precious grandson.”

Pan Tianhua hung up the phone; what they discussed was heard by his son, Pan Weidong.

After a few days of recovery, Pan Weidong, who was lucky to be alive, regained his energy, though his voice was somewhat hoarse: “Dad, what happened to my sister, what happened to George?”

Pan Tianhua’s face was gloomy: “Focus on your recovery, I’m going to Nanjiang immediately.”

Pan Weidong was furious: “Damn it, who dares to touch my sister, I’ll kill him!”

Pan Tianhua angrily rebuked: “Haven’t you caused enough trouble already? Listen to me, don’t involve yourself in anything, focus on your recovery, I’ll definitely bring them back safe and sound.”

Pan Weidong said: “Dad, I have only this one sister, no matter how much money they want, give it to them, as long as they return safely. If they dare to harm a hair on my sister or nephew, I’ll hunt them to the ends of the earth and annihilate them. Let Square Head and Glove find them.”

Pan Tianhua pursed his lips and patted his son’s cheek: “Recover quietly, don’t cause me more trouble.”

Pan Tianhua knew very well that with the Qiao family’s power, the police would definitely do their utmost, but he was not confident in their efficiency. Some matters might be resolved more effectively through Jianghu methods. To find his daughter and grandson in the shortest time, he needed the full strength of the Orchid Sect.

Pan Tianhua no longer worried about his reputation, he immediately contacted Hua Zhuyue. Fortunately, Hua Zhuyue did not create any obstacles in this matter; she agreed right away to issue the Orchid Order, mobilizing all the strength of the Orchid Sect to help Pan Tianhua find Qi Shuang and George.

Qiao Rulong finally stepped off the car and approached Liu Qingshan: “Officer, what’s going on?”

Liu Qingshan looked at Qiao Rulong, somewhat puzzled: “You are…?”

Qiao Rulong took out his business card and pointed at the car involved in the incident: “My car.”

Liu Qingshan said: “May I ask what your relationship with the kidnapped Qi Shuang and her child is?”

Qiao Rulong said: “Qi Shuang used to be my employee; upon her return, I specially arranged for a driver to pick her up.”

Liu Qingshan observed Qiao Rulong’s expression, recalling his superior’s instructions to focus his attention on matters related to the case.

Liu Qingshan understood clearly what his superior was implying. With his rich experience in investigation over the years, he could almost conclude the relationship between Qiao Rulong and the mother-son involved in the incident; are these matters truly unrelated to the case?

Liu Qingshan roughly figured out the case’s outline, but found it increasingly tricky.

He looked around, whispered: “Who do you think is the most suspect?”

Qiao Rulong answered without thinking: “I don’t know!”

Actually, on the way here, he had been thinking about who would target him, most possibly Tang Jingwei. Tang Jingwei blamed his son’s death on him, so he might use the same method against him, but Qiao Rulong had nothing to do with Tang Tianyi’s death.

Liu Qingshan said: “You don’t need to have any concerns, the more clues you provide, the greater the possibility that we can quickly find Qi Shuang and her child.”

Qiao Rulong said: “I really don’t know why they would kidnap Qi Shuang and her child.”

Liu Qingshan said: “The purpose of kidnapping is usually two-fold: money or revenge. If it’s for money, their chance of survival is still high; if it’s revenge…” He didn’t continue but his expression indicated the situation was not promising.

Qiao Rulong also hoped it was for money, but he knew very well the possibility was extremely low. If it were for money, the kidnappers should have contacted him by now. Qiao Rulong’s inner conflict was intense; even if he confessed about his relationship with Qi Shuang, it wouldn’t help.

It takes the one who tied the knot to untie it; perhaps he should go find that person.

The car had been towed up. The police investigating the scene found a small pendant in the hand of a Filipino maid, likely torn from the kidnapper during a struggle; it was a small Eight Trigrams Compass.

Liu Qingshan took the Eight Trigrams Compass, his thick eyebrows furrowed. The compass is the emblem of the Thousand Gates.

His first thought was of Huang Si Po. Years ago, the kidnapping case of Tong Nianzu was under his charge, and Huang Si Po was one of the Eight Generals of Thousand Gates; could this be the work of Thousand Gates again? Liu Qingshan looked at the Eight Trigrams Compass and handed it back to his colleague in the forensics department: “Check for fingerprints immediately.”

Do not underestimate the intelligence of the kidnappers; this compass might be deliberately left as evidence to mislead.

Qiao Rulong planned to leave but was stopped by Liu Qingshan: “Mr. Qiao.”

Qiao Rulong paused: “Officer Liu, do you have more questions?”

Liu Qingshan straightforwardly said: “Can we monitor your phone?”

Qiao Rulong shook his head: “I will inform you immediately if anything comes up.”

At this time, Xu Chunliang arrived by taxi. Seeing Qiao Rulong at the scene didn’t surprise him, but Xu Chunliang didn’t greet Qiao Rulong either; with his wife and child missing, he knew the urgency now. Xu Chunliang didn’t mean to gloat, otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.

Xu Chunliang walked straight to Liu Qingshan: “Officer Liu.”

Liu Qingshan said: “You came quite quickly.”

Xu Chunliang said: “Life is at stake, help wherever one can.”

Liu Qingshan said: “Tell me, why did Qi Shuang call you?”

“I reckon she dialed the wrong number, or perhaps she couldn’t reach anyone else, so in her desperation, she called me instead.”

Liu Qingshan glanced at Qiao Rulong, who felt increasingly frustrated. He could not stay here any longer and said to Liu Qingshan, “Officer Liu, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be off.”

Liu Qingshan asked back, “Are you sure you have nothing else to tell me?”

Qiao Rulong replied, “I’ve said all that needs to be said.”

Xu Chunliang chimed in, “Did you also mention the call I made to you?”

Qiao Rulong shot a cold glance at Xu Chunliang.

Liu Qingshan fixed a sharp, inquisitive gaze on Qiao Rulong.

Qiao Rulong said indifferently, “Is it related to the case?”

Xu Chunliang said, “Qi Shuang has contributed so much to your company; it seemed reasonable for her to seek help from me and for me to notify you. Unfortunately, you didn’t answer my call.”

Qiao Rulong said, “I was busy at the time, sorry, I have important matters to attend to, so I must be going.”

Liu Qingshan nodded, and after Qiao Rulong left, Liu Qingshan first arranged the action plan, then returned to Xu Chunliang’s side, pulled out a box of cigarettes, and offered him one.

Xu Chunliang waved his hand, indicating he didn’t need it.

Liu Qingshan reached for a lighter, and Xu Chunliang offered his own to light it for him.

Liu Qingshan looked at him curiously, “You don’t smoke, but you carry a lighter?”

Xu Chunliang said, “Young guys trying to make it in the system should master the basic skill of lighting cigarettes for the leaders.”

Liu Qingshan grinned, “I learned something new. I guess that’s why I’m still just a regular cop after twenty years.”

Xu Chunliang asked, “Any leads?”

Liu Qingshan said, “Why did Qi Shuang call you? What’s your relationship with that kid?”

Xu Chunliang was amused and frustrated, “Captain Liu, I already told you I don’t know why she called me. I’ve never even met that kid; I have no connection with her whatsoever.”

Liu Qingshan asked, “Qiao Rulong’s child?”

Xu Chunliang sighed, “I don’t know. Why didn’t you ask Qiao Rulong just now?”

Liu Qingshan said, “He’s not telling the truth.”

At that moment, a policeman walked over and whispered something to Liu Qingshan, who stubbed out his cigarette and said to Xu Chunliang, “Gotta go, I’ll be in touch if there’s any update.”

Xu Chunliang said, “Can I get a ride? It’s hard to catch a taxi here.”

Liu Qingshan nodded.

Xu Chunliang got into Liu Qingshan’s police car. As soon as Liu Qingshan got in, the officer at the front reported, “Captain Liu, we’ve tailed Qiao Rulong, and he’s now entered the Gulou District.”

Liu Qingshan said, “Stay on him, make sure he doesn’t notice.”

Xu Chunliang joked, “Do you suspect Qiao Rulong kidnapped someone?”

Liu Qingshan said, “Crime requires a motive. He definitely knows something; things have escalated to this level, and he’s still not cooperating. It’s truly a hassle.”

Xu Chunliang said, “Feeling a lot of pressure?”

Liu Qingshan shot him a glance, “What do you think?” Liu Qingshan was under immense pressure; the leadership had given him direct orders to rescue Qi Shuang and her son at all costs. All police resources in Pinghai Province were at his disposal, and this alone showed just how important the safety of Qi Shuang and her son was.

Xu Chunliang said, “You can drop me off at the next intersection.” Riding in a police car wasn’t very comfortable.

Once the car stopped, Xu Chunliang got out and waved to the officers inside, “I wish you success in cracking the case soon.”

Liu Qingshan rolled down the window, “Xu Chunliang, don’t keep any information from me if anything comes up.”

Xu Chunliang said, “You can rest assured.”

After watching the police car drive away, Xu Chunliang prepared to hail a taxi back to the hotel, when Mei Ru Xue called.

Xu Chunliang couldn’t help but smile bitterly at her number; if not for Qi Shuang and her son’s situation, she probably wouldn’t reach out to him.

Xu Chunliang stood at the intersection and answered the call, “Hello, Xiaoxue.”

Mei Ru Xue was silent for a moment before speaking, “Chunliang, I want to ask you for a favor.”

Xu Chunliang knew what she wanted to ask, “Rest assured, I’ll do my best to help. After all, Qi Shuang called me for help; I can’t just sit back and watch.”

“Thank you.”

Xu Chunliang said, “I’m not doing it for you, but this matter is likely retaliatory. Don’t get your hopes up too high.”

Mei Ru Xue said, “I understand.”

“Alright then, let’s leave it at that. I’ll contact you as soon as there’s news.” Xu Chunliang hung up the phone, not out of a lack of courtesy, but rather because there was indeed little left to say between him and Mei Ru Xue at the moment.