As the Lunar New Year was drawing near, the police station was still as busy as ever. Jiang Han brought a box of tea eggs to the criminal investigation unit to send some warmth. Adding some nutrition to her colleagues' late-night snacks.
Old Song, who was in charge of the bomb case, ate two tea eggs while complaining to Jiang Han, "It took three whole days just to track down and check all the surveillance footage along the sports car's path. A 100 million dollar luxury car driving down the street, everyone wants to take a photo with it. Who knows how many people have touched it... "
Jiang Han listened to Old Song's ramblings with a smile, while also glancing over the surveillance footage. Her smile gradually froze as she exclaimed excitedly, "Old Song, look at this!"
Hearing her words, Old Song quickly bit through the instant noodles in his mouth, "Did you discover something?"
The others also heard their conversation, and put down their instant noodles to walk over.
This was a segment of street surveillance that captured Shen Youlin driving out alone that afternoon to cruise around. Yu Shu wanted bubble tea, but the shop was busy and the drinks were all made to order, so the service was slow. He had waited in line for the drinks for quite some time, during which the car was casually parked at the roadside.
A young woman dressed fashionably and gaudily appeared on the sidewalk. She had shocking pink long curly hair flowing down, and carried an exaggeratedly large canvas bag on her back. The sunglasses on her face were also ostentatious in style, only revealing her petite nose and mouth. She seemed to randomly stroll by, drawn in by the luxury sports car - but all the police officers keenly noticed the overly performative traces in this woman's actions.
Next, the woman looked left and right, seemingly to confirm no car owner was nearby, then took out her phone to snap pictures, roughly a dozen or so, accidentally dropping the phone near the back wheel - with her back facing the camera, she squatted down to pick up the phone, taking a full minute.
It doesn't take that long to just pick up a phone.
"Immediately check other nearby surveillance footage to see if any caught this woman's front face."
"The lab results are out, judging from the bomb residue left on the sports car, it did indeed come from the small workshop we busted. Old Ma, interrogate that boss again to find out if any young women have bought explosives from him."
"I'll go right away!"
"Old Song, stop eating your instant noodles. When we crack this case I'm treating you to seafood!"
"Everyone get moving, let's solve this quickly so we can feast on the Boss's seafood treat and bankrupt him!"
"Go! Go! Go!"
Even in the most prosperous cities, run-down corners still exist. Baojing Alley was one such place. The houses were low, shabby, and dilapidated. Most families living here didn't even have a proper toilet, still using chamber pots to relieve themselves at night.
But Shen Hui would rather walk 10 minutes to use the toilet in the middle of the night than use that disgusting thing!
In the dim room, the only source of light came from the illuminated smart makeup mirror. The filth and grease on the floor was thick and heavy. The cramped, damp room had mottled mold stains on its walls. In the corner were piled some brightly colored clothes, the shocking pink wig standing out.
The young woman hummed a song while carefully made up each eyelash at the only table in the room. The old, peeling wooden table was covered with a silicone tablecloth, and packed full of high-end makeup products that clashed with this house.
Shen Hui sat on the wooden bed smoking, unshaven and haggard. Through the dirty, greasy glass, he stared blankly at the gloomy sky. The room's only armchair was occupied by an elegantly dressed old woman, who watched Shen Hui's miserable state with great interest.
Finally Shen Hui got annoyed by her stare. "Don't look at me with those pitying eyes, Zhang Yi. Take a look at yourself, how much better off are you now?!"
Zhang Yi's smile didn't diminish. "Not much better off, but at least I didn't end up in the slums here."
"Heh," Shen Hui laughed coldly. "Can't compare to you enjoying over a decade in prison, right?"
"Prison conditions were much better than this," Zhang Yi's tone was mocking. "Besides, when the police catch you, at least a dozen or 20 years in jail, minimum."
"All talk. Now you and Shen Chaowen, Yu Fanxing, look like you're from two different generations. Would Shen Chaowen even recognize you now? If you ran into each other on the street, would he call you auntie or granny?"
Zhang Yi's hideous expression contorted, thick foundation flaking down her face, eyes fierce, "Shen Hui!"
Shen Hui didn't actually leave the country at all. The border checkpoints were heavily guarded, not so easy to secretly cross. The Qingdao trip was just a decoy.
Shen Hui laughed somewhat manically, "Why directly call my name? My dear little sister, hmm?"
Mei Li finished applying her lipstick, satisfied with her perfect look before packing up her makeup to play peacemaker. "Come on, both of you, less arguing. Together you're over 100 years old. Shen Youlin wasn't killed by the bomb. I said Old Shen's idea wasn't great to begin with. What's your next step?"
Zhang Yi, "Wasn't it you two who acted on your own? Not only did Shen Youlin not die, he's caused a huge mess. But it's fine this way, dying would've been letting him off easy. No rush, the good show's just beginning."
After breakfast, Shen Youlin got busy in the living room. First he wrote a proper couplet -
Top line: Jingmei blooms alone
Bottom line: Ningyan soars together
Horizontal scroll: Made by heaven and earth
After appreciating his work for a while waiting for the ink to dry, he called out loudly, "Passerby A---"
"Coming~!"
Like a grand eunuch beside an idle ruler, Passerby A was usually unseen. But with a shout he'd appear from who knows where, leaving Yu Shu gawking dumbfounded, forgetting the sugar orange she was peeling.
"Boss, your order!"
Shen Youlin handed over the couplet, "Make a trip to paste this couplet on your boss lady's apartment door."
The couplet at Yu Shu's place was still last year's "No marriage, no romance, no birth, no raising kids", tsk tsk, too outdated.
Passerby A's face lit up as he eagerly took it, "On it!"
Yu Shu said, "Why make him run so far during New Year's?"
"He's happy to, holiday work means higher pay."
Passerby A nodded vigorously, face glowing with joy, "Yes yes! I'm thrilled!"
"After pasting up the couplet, don't come back. Just stay there. Yu Shu and I will head back in a few days too."
"Roger that!"
Passerby A left happily with the couplet.
After he was gone, Shen Youlin picked up his brush to write another -
Top line: Beauty Yu wears red embroidered shoes, dainty steps beneath the moon.
Bottom line: Flower boy blows green jade flute, melodious tunes against the wind.
Horizontal scroll: A beauty at home
He pondered then changed the horizontal scroll to - My wife's unmatched elegance.
After waiting for the ink to dry, he personally pasted it on the villa's front door. Yu Shu couldn't stop him at all.
Shen Youlin also wrote "Woof woof woof" for Du E's doghouse before officially opening the couplet stand for business.
In the Shen family group chat, Shen Youlin sent a photo of the table covered in red paper and writing supplies, then @ everyone - "Family, the couplet stand is open! No personal custom orders accepted. Mystery couplets will be randomly sent, delivered by sled to your door. Limit 3 couplets per household, special price of 88,000 each. Order quickly while supplies last!"
Shen Youlin: [@Yu Shu pay on delivery]
The group fell silent for a moment, and ten seconds later, Yu Shu received a transfer from Shen Yuxiao, then the receipt messages kept coming without stopping, even the Old Madam came to join in the fun.
Yu Shu couldn't help but cover her face. Everyone in the Shen family spoiled Shen Youlin rotten.
