"Boss, listening to you, this Lu Huaiying wasn't forcibly brought back by Inspector Hua, but he really has issues?"
"Otherwise, what do you think?"
Lin Qingge rolled her eyes ungracefully.
Speaking of which, the reason she glanced at Hua Jinrong at the time was because she discovered that this fellow wasn't as dissolute as he appeared, but rather a schemer who played the fool.
On the other side.
Lu Huaiying sat there with his eyes lowered, like a statue.
After an unknown amount of time, he finally spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice:
"If I say I'm a spy lurking in Harbin, would you tell that Inspector Hua about it?"
"Spy—"
Yan Tinghao was about to exclaim when Lin Qingge, with quick hands, covered his mouth.
"There are many types of spies. Which side are you working for?"
Hearing this, Lu Huaiying wrote a character on the table with his finger.
Since there was no water and no trace was left, Yan Tinghao was completely confused, but Lin Qingge understood.
It was the character "日" (Rì, meaning Sun or Japan).
So, this Lu Huaiying was actually a spy planted by the Japanese in the Northeast?
The news was too explosive that Lin Qingge had to stand there for a good while to recover.
"Also, although I knew of your existence in Harbin before.
But this is the first time I've met you today.
Isn't it a bit too hasty for you to suddenly reveal your identity like this?
"You forgot, today is not the first time we've met.
Four years ago, I saw you on the second bench from the left in Stalin Park."
Lin Qingge's eyes flickered upon hearing this, and she then pretended to recall:
"Oh, really?
But I remember it was the third bench from the right?
You were holding a collection of essays."
"No, it was a newspaper, an old newspaper from March this year."
"I don't remember things from so long ago very clearly, but now that you remind me, I have indeed seen you."
Lin Qingge said it as if it were true, but she wasn't in Harbin four years ago, nor had she ever been to Stalin Park.
So, the person Lu Huaiying saw was her elder brother, Lin Jingxing...
Meanwhile, Lu Huaiying continued on his own:
"In addition, my younger brother Lu Mingxuan has been taken care of by Detective Lin many times, and my elder sister Lu Sanniang often mentions Detective Lin's name.
Therefore, I trust Detective Lin."
"You are a Lu family member? But I've never heard Lu Sanniang mention it?"
"When I was a child, I was abducted by human traffickers and ended up abroad, where I was trained as an agent.
A few years ago, I returned to China after completing my training and was assigned to work as a reporter for the Harbin Daily.
When I was interviewing a case about a rich merchant exploiting migrant workers, I met my elder sister, who was the chairman of the labor union.
Fearing that my identity would cause them trouble, I specifically instructed them after we reunited not to reveal our relationship to anyone.
It is understandable that Detective Lin is not aware of this."
"So that's how it is. Are you planning to abandon the darkness and embrace the light?"
"Detective Lin, whether you believe it or not, I am sincerely surrendering.
I was abducted and taken abroad. Now that I've reunited with my family, I want to get rid of my clandestine identity as a spy as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, my strength alone is limited.
Coincidentally, the sudden death of Old Master Shangguan has stirred up the stagnant waters of Harbin and also given me hope."
"Then what was your mission in approaching Old Master Shangguan?"
"The Shangguan family operates Harbin's largest pharmaceutical factory.
And medicine, being a hot commodity second only to firearms, has always been a coveted prize for various factions.
The Shangguan family's pharmaceutical factory recently developed a special medicine that can stop bleeding and reduce inflammation in a short period of time."
Lin Qingge raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this:
"Your employers want the formula for this special medicine?"
Lu Huaiying shook his head upon hearing this:
"No, in addition to the formula, they also want to sign an exclusive purchasing agreement with Old Master Shangguan, monopolizing all the special medicine."
"Tsk, their appetite is so big, aren't they afraid of getting indigestion?"
As Lin Qingge let out a scoff, Lu Huaiying continued:
"But what they never expected was that Old Master Shangguan refused their offer, stating that his medicine would only be sold to Chinese people.
Coincidentally, Old Master Shangguan then contacted me and asked me to help him investigate Mrs. Shangguan.
Therefore, the superiors decided to play along, using my existing identity to approach Old Master Shangguan, steal the formula, and investigate where the Shangguan family's medicine was being sold."
"So you didn't take action against Old Master Shangguan?"
"Yes."
Lu Huaiying stated affirmatively, then added:
"Although I didn't receive orders to eliminate Shangguan Hong, killing anyone who doesn't yield to them is their usual modus operandi.
Therefore, I suspect that there is another hidden reason for Old Master Shangguan's death."
Having clarified the situation, Lin Qingge found Hua Jinrong, who was leisurely drinking coffee in his office, and recounted the entire conversation with Lu Huaiying verbatim.
"Tsk tsk, as expected of Detective Lin, you always bring me unexpected surprises~
You know, catching a spy is far more useful than catching a murderer~
If Detective Lin can follow the clues and round up all the spies lurking in the Northeast, the position of director will surely be mine!"
"Inspector Hua, I have a small suggestion regarding the handling of Lu Huaiying."
"What suggestion~"
"I hope that Inspector Hua can let Lu Huaiying go."
"Let him go?!"
Hua Jinrong's hand, which was fanning himself, paused, and he repeated uncertainly:
"Detective Lin, you mean I should let Lu Huaiying, this spy, go?"
"Lu Huaiying has an elder sister, known in the martial arts world as Lu Sanniang, who is the chairman of the Migrant Workers' Union and is famously protective of her kin.
If you insist on apprehending Lu Huaiying, Lu Sanniang will definitely not stand by idly."
Hearing this, Hua Jinrong pretended to be in a difficult position and said:
"Demonstrations and parades are indeed annoying, but since I know Lu Huaiying is a spy, I cannot just let him leave."
"How about this, you hand Lu Huaiying over to me to keep, and I will personally explain to Lu Sanniang.
After all, Lu Huaiying revealed very important information, which can be considered a contribution in exchange for his actions."
"That's fine~
After all, if anything goes wrong, Director Xu will be there to handle it, and I trust Detective Lin's work~"
Facing Hua Jinrong's flattery, Lin Qingge made a gesture with her palm facing upwards:
"If that's the case, please ask Inspector Hua to advance the accommodation and food expenses for Lu Huaiying at the detective agency for the foreseeable future~"
The truly-caught-off-guard Hua Jinrong: ...
"By the way, Inspector Hua, when your men searched Old Master Shangguan's study, did they find a stack of photos with Mrs. Shangguan as the subject?"
"No."
Hua Jinrong shook his head plainly.
At this moment, someone pushed open Hua Jinrong's office door without knocking.