After those people left, Father Lin made a phone call to Mr. Du.
Mr. Du immediately dispatched people to follow them, but they did not rendezvous with the group that had taken Lin Yan. Instead, they headed directly towards Nanjing.
Without news of Lin Yan, Mr. Du did not give up. Although he was currently investigating the mole within his ranks, he dedicated more manpower to finding Lin Yan.
They would eventually deliver these items to Lin Yan, so following them would surely lead him to her. However, he did not withdraw the personnel assigned to other potential routes.
But soon, someone approached Mr. Du.
"Good day, Mr. Du!" Ding Ze Qi greeted Mr. Du casually and, without waiting for a response, sat down opposite him.
"May I ask why a distinguished officer like yourself is seeking me out? I've been abiding by the law recently and have done nothing that warrants a visit from an officer," Mr. Du replied unceremoniously.
This man had arrived with official government documents, coming directly to him. Since he had assumed his current position, no one had dared to speak to him with such disrespect.
"Mr. Du is naturally in high spirits and looks down upon humble clerks like us," Ding Ze Qi said with a half-smile.
"This officer is too modest. I, a mere nobody, rely entirely on you government officials," Mr. Du countered.
"Since you rely on the government, Mr. Du, you should refrain from overreaching. After all, there are some individuals you cannot protect."
"What does this officer mean?" Mr. Du's expression grew serious. Lin Yan had approached him for cooperation and was, in a sense, under his protection.
They had taken her away so directly, without even consulting him, and now they were admonishing him for overstepping his bounds.
Hadn't Lin Yan chosen to cooperate with him rather than the government, thus revealing her stance? They were forcing her hand and then blaming him; was this the behavior of the younger generation?
"Mr. Du is a smart man and must know that you are in no position to resist the government. So, are you truly willing to oppose the government for the sake of a woman?
Moreover, Mr. Du has already obtained what he desired. Miss Lin's usefulness to you is no longer as significant. Are you certain you wish to continue opposing us?" Ding Ze Qi was confident.
Mr. Du already possessed a complete munitions factory, so Lin Yan's importance to him had diminished. When weighing Lin Yan against his own power and influence, the choice was clear.
"I, Du, am a man of loyalty. Boss Lin has been of great assistance to me, and I cannot stand by while she is imprisoned," Mr. Du stated righteously.
However, he knew in his heart that although he had manpower and weapons, he could not truly oppose the government. Even this corrupt government was more than capable of dealing with him.
He felt conflicted, but he could not show it. Loyalty was their guiding principle; if he abandoned Lin Yan so readily now, who would trust them in the future?
"Mr. Du is joking. Minister Lin is a government official, and Miss Lin is also a talent of the party and the nation. How could she be imprisoned?
She is our honored guest, and Miss Lin has also written to report her safety, so Mr. Du can rest assured of her well-being.
However, if Mr. Du's men are found in places they shouldn't be, do not blame us for taking action." Ding Ze Qi looked at the man who controlled the underworld of Shanghai.
While many feared Mr. Du's influence, Ding Ze Qi was not afraid. Whether he was a greenhorn overconfident or simply too self-assured, his ability to become the head of the Shanghai Station at such a young age was undeniable.
Lin Yan was the first major undertaking of his tenure as head of the Shanghai Station, and he would not allow any mishaps.
"Boss Lin has always valued freedom. Do you truly believe she is willing to serve you by force?"
"The nation is in turbulent times, and I believe Miss Lin will also be willing to contribute to the country," Ding Ze Qi said with certainty.
Mr. Du didn't know what to say, but he clearly recognized that this man before him was different from the complacent government officials he had encountered.
Furthermore, he believed that if he did not withdraw his men searching for Lin Yan, this man would truly take action against them.
"I hope Mr. Du will weigh the pros and cons and choose the path that is best for you."
"Your tone seems rather arrogant. Do you mind telling me your current position and what gives you such authority?" Mr. Du was reluctant to admit it, but despite valuing Lin Yan, he truly could not confront the government for her.
"Mr. Du need not know my identity. I wish you prosperous business. As you are busy with important matters, I shall not disturb you further." With that, he prepared to leave.
Just as he turned and took a few steps, the guards at the door stepped forward to block him.
Ding Ze Qi did not engage in conflict with the two guards but turned to look at Mr. Du.
"Let him go!"
"Thank you, Mr. Du!" Seeing that the path was cleared, Ding Ze Qi smiled and thanked Mr. Du.
After Ding Ze Qi left, Mr. Du picked up the teacup in front of him and threw it against the wall.
The teacup shattered against the wall, breaking into many pieces. The tea water soaked a patch of the carpet below.
"Sir, shall we?" A subordinate approached the angry Mr. Du and made a gesture.
"No. Didn't you hear what he implied? He doesn't care about my influence. I don't know who this man is, but he is certainly not simple. Therefore, let's not do anything rash. Once our power grows stronger..."
Mr. Du did not finish his sentence, but his subordinate understood his boss's intention.
Mr. Du withdrew all his men, and Father Lin realized this. He understood that Mr. Du must have reached some consensus with "them." Therefore, he could no longer rely on Mr. Du.
Consequently, Lin Yan would have to escape their control on her own, and if that were the case, they could no longer remain in Shanghai.
If Mr. Du could not guarantee their safety, then leaving was the best option.
However, the method of departure still required careful planning. It would be best to have Lin Tong and the others leave first. He held an official position, making him a larger target, so he had to leave last.
Moreover, there was Lin Yan's pharmaceutical factory, which he had to handle properly before he could leave.
Just as Father Lin was preparing for their departure, Lin Yan finally received the items prepared for her by Zhang Ma.
When Lin Yan opened the rattan chests, she found that although the items were on her list, they had been replaced with those she used more frequently.
This made Lin Yan understand that her family must have grasped her intentions. Therefore, she could stabilize them for the time being and then find an opportunity to leave.