Chapter 342
Su Hongchen raised an eyebrow, looking at Jiang Yexun with a hint of schadenfreude. Despite the amusement in his eyes, Jiang Yexun showed no hesitation as he took another sip of tea.
“This is indeed good tea,” Jiang Yexun remarked.
Having brewed the tea, there was no reason not to drink it. But such a fragrant green tea was indeed rare, and it seemed it would take some effort to find something even better.
Seeing that everyone had begun drinking, Su Xiaoxiao picked up the hot water bottle, intending to refill their cups. Jiang Yexun hurriedly reached out to take it, and the moment their fingertips touched, a wave of tingling sensation shot through his body.
Su Xiaoxiao felt the hairs on her back stand up, and her eyes burned with heat. Afraid that others might notice something unusual, she didn’t even dare to raise her head, clenching her hands into fists.
Once the tea was poured, Jiang Yexun turned around, his gaze soft as he looked at the young lady who was about to sit down. “I’ll go to the kitchen to learn how to cook from Aunt first, and I’ll chat with you later.”
“Are you not going to drink any tea?” Su Xiaoxiao asked casually, trying to mask her anxiousness.
“I’ll have some once the food is cooked, by then the tea will be warm enough,” Jiang Yexun said with a smile.
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t insist, nodding in agreement. Once Jiang Yexun left, she turned to Su Hongchen with curiosity. “So, what did you find out this afternoon?”
“Not much. We just did a basic check on whom Wan Hongfa has been in contact with over the past few months. Tonight, I’ll report the situation of the Dong and Pan families to the military and have them keep an eye on Wan Hongfa and his family. Wan Hongfa has been in touch with many people, probably around sixty to seventy, both openly and secretly,” Su Hongchen said, his tone growing serious.
“Sixty to seventy people? Will there be enough time to investigate them all?” Su Xiaoxiao asked anxiously.
Su Hongchen nodded, “A preliminary investigation should be sufficient, but it may not catch everyone who has bribed him. A more detailed investigation would take more time. Even if Dad is arrested, it might reduce the vigilance of those behind the scenes, making it easier to expose them. However, it will take a few months to get to the bottom of it.”
Su Xiaoxiao immediately shook her head, “If we have clues, we should act quickly. There are too many eyes on Dad’s position as factory director. As soon as he’s taken away, someone else will likely replace him. Dad has worked so hard for the steel plant all these years. If he loses everything because of someone else’s scheming, it would be devastating not just for him, but for me as well.”
Jiang Yexun, who had come out of the kitchen with a plate of garlic lettuce, placed it on the table and said, “Brother, let me handle the people Wan Hongfa knows from the underground casino. You focus on his regular contacts.”
“Do you understand the dangers if those behind the scenes are involved with the casino? If they find out, you could be in serious danger,” Su Hongchen warned, his brow furrowing.
Jiang Yexun nodded, “They’re armed and might resort to violence. But I’ve dealt with such situations before.”
Seeing Su Hongchen about to say more, Jiang Yexun added, “I’m marrying Xiaoxiao, so I can’t afford to be reckless. Besides, I have a valid reason for frequent contact. Xingzhi is here to search for his sister who was sold by his stepmother. We’ve reported it to the police and provided a sketch. This reason will help justify our interactions without raising too much suspicion.”
Su Hongchen was still concerned but knew he couldn’t change Jiang Yexun’s mind. He reluctantly agreed, “Alright, be careful. Don’t rush things. If you find anything suspicious, inform me immediately. I’ll get professionals to conduct a thorough investigation.”
“Understood,” Jiang Yexun agreed, knowing that leaving the professional tasks to experts was the best approach.
Once Jiang Yexun returned to the kitchen, Su Hongchen turned to He Xingzhi. “Xingzhi, could you tell me more about your sister?”
He Xingzhi quickly nodded and pulled out a picture from his pocket. “This is a picture of my sister from four years ago when she was three years old. She was sold by my stepmother at the train station. I’ve looked in the nearby cities, but there’s been no news.”
As he spoke, He Xingzhi’s voice trembled with emotion.
After his mother passed away, he had always felt heartache for his younger sister, who had lost their mother so young. So, whatever good things he had, he was always willing to give them to her. Who would have thought that the wicked woman, out of jealousy, believed that his sister might try to take away things meant for her unborn child.
Taking advantage of her pregnancy, even though it had been exposed, his father, unwilling to do anything to her, had secretly sold his sister.
Fortunately, that wicked woman had met with a bad end, but he had to find his sister. How could he face their deceased mother otherwise? Moreover, in his heart, their father was no longer family to them. The only remaining family he had now was his sister.
“This is a picture of her at three years old, but after being abducted, she might have changed in appearance. I’ll call someone skilled in drawing to create several different portraits of her for you,” Su Hongchen said, seeing the hope in He Xingzhi’s eyes.
He Xingzhi was overwhelmed with gratitude and shook Su Hongchen’s hand. “Thank you! Brother Chen, I’m really grateful.”
“It’s me who should thank you. You’re risking so much for our family’s cause,” Su Hongchen replied sincerely.
During this time, Su Hongchen had noticed how strong the bond between Jiang Yexun and his brother was. They weren’t just fearless in the face of danger, but their unspoken understanding was impressive. Even a single glance was enough for them to coordinate perfectly without any obvious signals.
If it hadn’t been for their seamless exchange of words and acting this afternoon, the investigation wouldn’t have progressed so smoothly.
Su Hongchen was thinking when suddenly, a familiar cramping pain hit his stomach. His expression changed, and just as he was about to stand up, He Xingzhi had already shot up, heading straight for the bathroom.
Su Hongchen stiffened for a moment and instinctively looked at his sister.
Su Xiaoxiao blinked innocently, about to ask him what was wrong, when she heard Su Hongchen grit his teeth and say, “How can your cooking skills be this bad… You can’t even brew tea properly?”
“Brother, don’t accuse me wrongly! I was just adding some hot water from the thermos to Dad’s treasured tea leaves,” Su Xiaoxiao replied, defending herself with confidence.
But Su Hongchen was in so much pain that he couldn’t say anything more. He turned and rushed out of the room.
The moment he left, Jiang Yexun also dashed out of the kitchen. Without saying a word, he followed Su Hongchen down the stairs.