Chapter 126: Waiting with One's Life

To avoid the surveillance cameras at highway toll stations, Kang Ning did not take the expressway back to Leijiang. Instead, he traversed Longquan Mountain, taking the old roads through Jianyang, Ziyang, and Zizhong.

At nightfall, Kang Ning drove the stolen off-road vehicle into the garage of the food company he had rented. He immediately turned on the garage lights and the vehicle's interior lights to inventory the two leather suitcases and other miscellaneous items inside.

Upon prying open the small suitcase, Kang Ning was surprised to find three neat stacks of hundred-yuan bills, totaling twenty-four thousand.

Setting the money aside, he pulled two neatly arranged documents from the lining of the suitcase lid. He opened them with interest, discovering one was a bidding document from the Bureau of Land and Resources, and the other contained the home addresses and contact numbers of relevant officials. Kang Ning’s lingering feelings of guilt vanished, and he thought to himself that such windfalls were always welcome.

He removed the two high-powered high-beam headlights added to the front bumper, dismantled the roof rack, and flattened the license plates. After tossing everything into the vehicle, he swapped the plates for those of the Armed Police and drove toward a suburban landfill.

Deep within the desolate landfill, Kang Ning opened the rear doors and hauled out the suitcases, documents, private enterprise seals, mining permits, clothing, interior carpeting, and all other added accessories. He piled them up and ignited them with a lighter. While the fire burned, he checked the vehicle one last time to ensure no excess items remained. Confident after a final inspection, he stirred the burning pile once more before driving away.

Back in the city, Kang Ning visited an unfamiliar auto parts store to purchase motor oil and other supplies. While the clerk loaded them into the car, he called Yusheng to ask who was on duty at the factory. Yusheng told him he was the only one left, as the original factory would be dismantled in three days, with all staff and equipment moving to the new site. Learning that Yusheng was alone, Kang Ning drove straight to the factory and soon met Yusheng, who was waiting outside.

A delighted Yusheng closed the gate and trotted to the wash rack. Just as he was about to switch on the high-pressure water sprayer, Kang Ning stopped him: "Yusheng, move the oil and other items out of the car first. Afterward, clear a maintenance bay; I need to inspect this vehicle’s braking system."

"You got it! Big Brother, is this an Armed Police vehicle?" Yusheng asked, surprised as he opened the rear door.

Kang Ning walked to the nearest tool cabinet, grabbed half a hacksaw blade, and climbed into the driver’s seat. "Yes, it belongs to a friend who asked me to help maintain it. Yusheng, did Brother Gao come to you to refurbish that jeep a few days ago?"

Yusheng stacked the boxes on a dry patch of ground and reported excitedly, "Who says he didn't? I spent three days on it, inside and out. I used the best putty and metallic paint, refurbishing it to police standards. When Brother Gao picked it up on the fourth day, his eyes popped out! He insisted on giving me a thousand yuan, but I only took four hundred and fifty to cover the costs. He was so happy, he praised me until I felt embarrassed!"

"Haha! You should have taken the thousand. That guy hijacked the car we spent so much effort modifying. I haven't even asked him for money yet." Kang Ning chuckled. Yusheng murmured a modest response and ran off to clear the bay.

As soon as Yusheng was gone, Kang Ning used the hacksaw blade to scrape off the inspection stickers on the top right of the windshield, then scrubbed the area clean with a cloth soaked in thinner. Once he was sure no traces remained, he pulled the authentic Armed Police inspection stickers from his pocket and applied them. Only then did he exit the vehicle, close the doors, and begin washing it thoroughly with the high-pressure hose. Seeing Yusheng return to take over, Kang Ning smiled slightly and headed to the restroom.

When Kang Ning returned, Yusheng had already moved the car into the bay. They chatted happily while working, and in less than an hour, the car was spotless, the brakes were checked, and the routine maintenance was complete. Looking at the near-mint condition of the off-road vehicle, Kang Ning couldn't help but smile.

As they parted ways at the factory gate, Yusheng’s eyes turned red with sorrow. "Big Brother, when will you come to see me again?"

Kang Ning turned around, took a plastic bag from the center console, and handed it to Yusheng. "Yusheng, it’s unlikely our paths will cross again after this. You’ve done well for yourself, and I’m happy for you. Listen, aren't your family and siblings all cramped into those two and a half rooms? I don't have much to give you as a parting gift, but take this fifty thousand yuan and use it to build a house. Don't refuse me. If you really feel bad about it, just save a little money every month from now on. If I ever go bankrupt, I’ll come to you for it, alright?"

Yusheng tried desperately to decline, but Kang Ning gave him a gentle push, sending him stumbling back through the gate. Yusheng could only sit on the ground, clutching the money, watching with teary eyes as Kang Ning drove away.

Back at the garage, Kang Ning parked and locked up. He returned to his rented room, showered, changed clothes, called Gao Qinghua, and headed out. He took a taxi to the entrance of the Judicial Bureau dormitories, where Gao Qinghua was already waiting.

They stood in the shadows of some trees, and Kang Ning asked in a low voice, "How is Brother Du?"

"Sigh—he’s locked himself at home all day. Meilin’s body has been sent to the funeral home. The hit-and-run vehicle hasn't been identified yet. I suspect Xiao Du’s secret investigation angered the people behind this. He was warned last month, and at the time, Meilin was walking on the sidewalk when she got off her shift."

Gao Qinghua relayed the news painfully before staring at Kang Ning with a warning: "Yesterday, Xiao Du told me to let you know that he has verified your identity and believes you were likely framed. But he wants me to warn you: do not move against Ni San at this time. If you do, even if you run to the ends of the earth, he will bring you to justice! I think you should just go back to Chengdu and wait for news."

Kang Ning nodded. "I understand what Brother Du means; he’s afraid I’ll disrupt their operations. But waiting like this may come at an even greater cost. I’ve thought about it carefully—those people dared to strike at Sister-in-law Meilin to openly declare their stance and resolve to Brother Du. If Brother Du hadn't touched their core interests or secrets, they would never have risked so much to target the family of a law enforcement officer. It’s likely Brother Du has uncovered something, and they’ve been pushed into a corner and are retaliating viciously. Who knows how many more innocent, good people will die if this continues!"

Gao Qinghua nodded repeatedly in agreement. "I’m very worried, too! But I can’t help him. He has his superiors, and it wouldn't be appropriate or effective for me to get involved. I can only keep my phone on twenty-four hours a day, waiting for his call."

"Brother, is there any other news?" Kang Ning sighed, looking into Gao Qinghua’s eyes.

Gao Qinghua shook his head sadly. "Xiao Du and I have told you everything you need to know. I just hope you keep your promise and don't intervene, putting Xiao Du in a difficult position. He’s already under enough pressure. Stay away from this. So far, no one knows your true identity, but that might change if you get involved. Besides, how do you plan to handle my eldest sister?"

Kang Ning fell silent for a long moment before answering. "If she’s willing, I want her to move to Guangxi and stay at my father’s house. It’s the only safe place right now. Brother, I’m entrusting you with something—I’ve had a very bad feeling these past few days that I may have to go on the run again. If that happens, please, can you escort her to Guangxi? Once you’re there, you’ll understand why my home is safe."

"What are you thinking? I absolutely forbid you from doing anything reckless!" Gao Qinghua grabbed Kang Ning by the collar. "This is the most critical moment. If you dare to move against Ni San, don't blame me for exposing all your secrets!"

Kang Ning gently moved his hand away. "Brother, I’m not that foolish. I won't go back on my word, nor will I do anything to betray Brother Du. I’ll return after I finish handling the business with Lu Jing’s house. But, I want to see Brother Du. Can you help me?"

Gao Qinghua released him, hesitated, and pulled out his phone to call Du Jianwu. It rang for a long time before Du Jianwu’s hoarse voice answered.

"Brother... is something wrong?"

Gao Qinghua cleared his throat. "That brat wants to see you. I didn't know what to say, so I’m calling you."

Du Jianwu was silent for a moment before saying, "The usual place."

Gao Qinghua hung up and sighed. "Little brother, you’re making it hard for him."

"I know, but I have to see him. I also want him to know that I won't interfere with his work." Kang Ning paused, lowering his voice. "I went to the factory earlier. Yusheng said it’s being dismantled in three days. I was feeling nostalgic, so I climbed onto the roof. The scale of the new factory next door surprised me. There were many security guards at the new warehouses, which seemed unusually strict. I jumped the wall to take a look and found over twenty stripped-down vehicles inside—all Mercedes-Benzes. There were dozens of twenty-foot shipping containers in the yard, about half of which were sealed. If there hadn't been so many guards, I would have broken into the second warehouse, but I decided against it to avoid alerting them."

Gao Qinghua’s expression sharpened. "Wait here, I’ll go get the car."

In less than three minutes, Gao Qinghua pulled his Chang'an microvan up to Kang Ning. As Kang Ning climbed in, he laughed, "Why not take the jeep?"

"It’s less conspicuous with civilian plates. That car looks brand new after what Yusheng did to it. I happened to have a 212 at my office that reached its scrapping date, so I swapped the plates. When I go to Chengdu later, I’ll use a bureau report and a friend at the vehicle management office to update the registration. I have to say, the boys under me were all over it; they couldn't stop praising it. It’s a pity you aren't working on cars anymore; I’d have had you modify the bureau’s fleet."

Gao Qinghua laughed heartily. Soon, they arrived at an inconspicuous little hotel in the eastern suburbs. Upon stepping out, they saw Du Jianwu sitting alone at an empty outdoor table, waiting.

Kang Ning and Gao Qinghua sat down without much preamble. Seeing Du Jianwu’s bloodshot eyes and stubble-covered face, Kang Ning shook his head and relayed what he had discovered.

Du Jianwu straightened up immediately, his eyes flashing. "Are you sure about this?"

"I am! But I can’t guarantee they’ll still be there tomorrow." Kang Ning grabbed a boiled peanut from the dish, peeled it slowly, and popped it into his mouth.

Du Jianwu finished a phone call and returned, making a request that left Kang Ning stunned.