The news of Wu Wangchun's arrest and the dismantling of the casino spread rapidly, causing significant embarrassment to the police in Hancheng and Xinhe. This was because the operation was carried out by higher authorities, bypassing them entirely.
In response, a city-wide, hundred-day campaign against gambling and organized crime was launched. The Xinhe police, in particular, pledged to eradicate all casinos within their jurisdiction, including larger mahjong parlors.
Lin Nan also called Yang Jian to inquire if he had any connection to Wu Wangchun. He informed Yang Jian that the police had seized firearms, ammunition, controlled knives, and gambling tools used for cheating from the casino. From Wu Wangchun's home, they found a large amount of cash from unknown sources, IOUs, a handgun, twenty rounds of ammunition, and three hand grenades.
Wu Wangchun and his gang were facing prosecution for multiple charges, including organizing a criminal syndicate, organizing gambling, illegal possession of firearms, fraud, illegal fundraising, illegal detention, and usury.
Unable to help Wu Wangchun or recover Song Jianhao, Yang Jian no longer concerned himself with these troublesome matters. He decided to visit Wu Wangchun's family after the public outcry subsided to see if they needed any assistance and to help them manage their lives as best as he could.
As for Song Jianhao, Yang Jian had no hope of recovering the more than one million yuan he had lent him. Even if Song Jianhao served a few years in prison, he would not have the capacity to earn such a sum.
With the police intensifying their crackdown on gambling, individuals like Song Jianhao who relied on casinos for a living would be completely out of the market.
As the summer vacation ended, Lu Yao returned to the Experimental Middle School to continue teaching. Yang Zhengyuan started kindergarten, and Yang Hui resigned from her job at Hanhua Supermarket to exclusively care for the children of both families, picking them up and dropping them off from school, and cooking for both households.
Yang Jian's life was leisurely and comfortable. The water plant project was progressing steadily. An agreement had been signed with the town government, and construction could commence once the land procedures and approvals from the water conservancy department were secured.
This project involved watershed protection. The Xiaosha River flowed through two inter-regional administrative districts, requiring coordination with provincial and municipal water conservancy departments, which would prolong the approval process.
The only thing that unsettled him was the safety of San Pang. After such a long time, there was still no news from Yang Fan.
Hancheng, Binjiang Park.
Wu Laizi received a notification from Baoguo and met him as arranged at the viewing platform.
He had been part of Baoguo's team for nearly two months. Their meeting locations were mostly here, and Wu Laizi still didn't know where Baoguo lived.
Although they met frequently, Baoguo remained wary of him, consistently assigning him to deliver goods to clients. Baoguo never delivered the goods to him directly but had another young man hand them over.
This made it difficult to obtain evidence of Baoguo's drug trafficking. Wu Laizi reported this situation separately to Lin Nan and Yang Jian.
According to Yang Jian's plan, they should directly abduct Baoguo and force him to reveal Cat Brother's whereabouts, as the longer San Pang and the others stayed there, the greater the danger.
However, Lin Nan disagreed. His goal was not only to rescue San Pang but also to uproot the entire drug trafficking chain. If they only apprehended Baoguo, it would alert Cat Brother, causing him to hide even deeper.
This was originally the responsibility of the anti-drug squad, but since the lead on Cat Brother had suddenly gone cold, Lin Nan suspected an informant within the anti-drug squad. Therefore, he decided to investigate himself this time.
"Brother Bao, the wind has been a bit tight lately. The police are making big moves. Should we reduce our transactions?"
Influenced by the Wu Wangchun incident, the police's hundred-day campaign had also increased inspections of entertainment venues. Wu Laizi worried about running into trouble.
Baoguo nodded. "I called you here today to discuss this. We do need to take a break during this period and reduce our shipments. Also, I want to go on a trip for a while. Are you coming?"
"Yes, with the police making such big moves, I really don't want to stay here. Where are we going?"
"No specific destination. We'll go on a road trip and see where we end up. We'll come back after the hundred-day campaign here is over."
Baoguo was clearly scared. He had been a local boss in Xinhe, and with the police cracking down on organized crime, there was a chance someone might report him. It would be safer to lie low elsewhere.
"We'll leave in a bit. I've already prepared my daily necessities. I'll buy clean clothes on the road. You don't need to go back to pack."
"But I don't have my ID or charger. Can we go to my rental place?"
Wu Laizi wanted to call Lin Nan and Yang Jian before leaving.
Not having an ID was a problem. Baoguo agreed and took him to his SUV parked in the park's parking lot, driving directly to Wu Laizi's rental building.
"Brother Bao, wait a moment. I'll be right down."
"No problem, I'll go up with you. Since we're back, let's pack more luggage. After all, we'll be away for several months."
Wu Laizi wanted to go upstairs alone, but Baoguo followed, clearly preventing him from making a call.
There wasn't much to pack. Wu Laizi grabbed a suitcase and set off with Baoguo.
Both of them could drive and could take turns. Baoguo drove the SUV out of Hancheng, onto the highway, and then sped south.
Their journey slowed down only after they crossed the provincial border. As Baoguo had said, they were on a road trip, stopping to visit famous attractions.
At a highway service area, Wu Laizi finally seized an opportunity when Baoguo went to the restroom to call Lin Nan and report their travel situation.
Then he dialed Yang Jian's number. He was now determined to help Yang Jian. The day he agreed to cooperate, Yang Jian had Biao Biao deliver fifty thousand yuan to his parents' home. This was both a warning and a bribe, and he had no choice but to comply.
"Mr. Yang, I'm traveling with Baoguo. We plan to return after the police's hundred-day campaign ends. I'm letting you know that it will be inconvenient for me to contact you during this time."
"Where are you now?"
Yang Jian became anxious upon hearing that they would be away for two to three months.
"We are currently in Fenghuang Ancient City in Western Hunan. Tomorrow, we'll head to Southeast Guizhou Miao villages."
"Did Baoguo mention their final destination?"
"No, he said they'll go wherever the road takes them. However, since they're going to Southeast Guizhou, their next destination is likely the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. There are many attractions here, and two months might not be enough to see them all."
"Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau? Do you think he might go to see Cat Brother?"
Northern Myanmar borders the southwestern Yunnan region, and Cat Brother is likely hiding near the Yunnan-Myanmar border. Yang Jian sensed a clue from Baoguo's travel direction.
"Is Cat Brother around here? Baoguo didn't say. I asked him about Cat Brother before, but he always brushed me off."
"Do this: don't contact me during this period. Just travel with him. If you see Cat Brother, contact me immediately. And remember, don't cross the border. San Pang was tricked into Northern Myanmar by Cat Brother."
Yang Jian's reminder wasn't out of concern for Wu Laizi's safety, but because Wu Laizi was the only key person who could find Cat Brother. He didn't want him to get into trouble before San Pang was found.