BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 175 I Am Jiao Dalang

“This isn’t Director Wu’s handwriting. His writing isn’t this good…”

Sun Desheng kept watching everything happening downstairs with a grin as he continued speaking to Che Qianzi: “If I told you this place hasn’t been lived in for nearly twenty years, would you believe me? The last person who lived here was our Director Wu. He even came back once a few days ago…”

“Hold on,” Che Qianzi interrupted. “That’s not what the guy downstairs just said. Didn’t he say that whenever the hotel business across the street got busy, they would rent this room out? How does it suddenly become twenty years of no tenants? I get it now—this guy downstairs is arranged by you too, right?”

“He’s someone Jiao Dalang arranged to watch this place. Been watching it for almost twenty years,” Sun Desheng said, still staring downstairs. “Before leaving, he told us to come take a look. After all these years, we’re the first ones to enter.”

“You got that jade button last night and already pulled off this much?” Che Qianzi looked at him in disbelief. “Normal people would need at least a week to plan something like this. You did it overnight—and still had time to block Old Huang and the others? Fatty… compared to you, my brain might as well be used for hotpot.”

Sun Desheng laughed. “This is something I’ve been forced into over the years. There are more and more clever people out there. If I don’t think a few steps ahead, I’ll be boxed in and manipulated at will…”

“But like I always say—you don’t need to worry. I may scheme against anyone, but never against you.”

“Now I finally understand why they say Shen La is the man behind you,” Che Qianzi said. “With a friend like you, there’s no need to use your brain.”

He tried to sit on the bed, but after seeing the filthy sheets and blanket, he couldn’t bring himself to ruin his expensive pants. Instead, he squatted on the floor.

“Still, this whole thing about Wu Rendi living here… isn’t that a bit too overbearing?”

“That depends on what happened here back then,” Sun Desheng said.

His expression suddenly changed. He stepped back from the window area and lowered his voice. “Don’t speak. The person we’re looking for is here.”

Just as he spoke, footsteps were heard on the stairs.

A moment later, someone knocked on the door.

Sun Desheng opened it slightly.

Outside stood a woman in her twenties.

“Sorry,” she said, “we made a mistake earlier. This room isn’t available for rent. How about this—we’ll pay for you to stay in a better hotel. It’s much better than here.”

Sun Desheng looked her up and down, then said, “We’re staying here. We’re used to big hotels anyway, just here to change things up. This little room is fine.”

Before he could finish, a man in his thirties walked out from behind her.

He had a proper, refined appearance, two neatly trimmed mustaches, and an average-to-tall build. His suit was high-end—clearly far more expensive than Che Qianzi’s entry-level outfit.

He pushed the woman aside and said directly to Sun Desheng, “I thought someone made a mistake and actually rented this room out… turns out it’s Bureau Chief Sun in person.”

The woman immediately turned and went downstairs tactfully.

Sun Desheng chuckled. “You found out my background so quickly… have we met before? I can’t remember.”

“We haven’t met in person, but I’ve seen your photo,” the man said with a faint smile. He took out a solid gold business card holder, pulled out a card, and handed it over with both hands.

Sun Desheng took a look:

Hangzhou Jiao Lang Silk Culture Co., Ltd. — Chairman Jiao Dalang

The man continued, “Since he entered the Investigation Bureau, I naturally have to keep track of your movements. That way, if he ever sends you to find me, there won’t be misunderstandings. Nice to meet you—I am Jiao Dalang.”

This man was the very clue Sun Desheng and Huang Ran had been searching for.

Che Qianzi had expected someone with three heads and six arms—but instead it was just a refined, middle-aged businessman.

“Since Boss Jiao already knows my background, I won’t bother introducing myself,” Sun Desheng said with a smile.

He took out the black jade button.

“I also saw your name in the Investigation Bureau archives. A few days ago, Director Wu came to Hangzhou. He brought back this little item and said he got it from you. He also said you should find the owner of this button.”

Jiao Dalang frowned and didn’t reach for it.

“He still hasn’t remembered,” he said.

Then he looked at Sun Desheng. “Bureau Chief Sun, don’t lie. He was the one who told you to find the owner of this button, wasn’t he? I’m afraid I can’t help you with this. This matter can only be remembered slowly by him—it cannot be spoken out by me.”

“What exactly must Director Wu remember on his own?” a voice suddenly came from the stairwell.

Huang Ran appeared, leading Meng Qiqi and Zhang Zhiyan upstairs.

Seeing Sun Desheng and Che Qianzi, Huang Ran smiled. “Big Saint, we were stuck on the highway all night. Luckily there’s something called a motorcycle. I have a few friends who ride, so they brought us here. A bit late, but we finally made it to Hangzhou.”

He walked up to Jiao Dalang and said, “You must be Mr. Jiao. I’m Huang Ran. Mr. He Zaifa from Singapore must have called you already, right?”

Jiao Dalang’s expression had been slightly displeased at the newcomers, but upon hearing the name He Zaifa, his attitude changed immediately. A smile returned.

“Yes, Old He called me this morning and said his friend Mr. Huang would be coming to Hangzhou. He asked me to show proper hospitality, so I’ve already reserved a private room at West Lake State Guesthouse.”

Seeing this change in attitude, Huang Ran shook his hand warmly.

“He is an old friend of mine. We also have joint investments in each other’s projects. Even your silk cooperation with him includes my funding.”

Jiao Dalang smiled even more brightly.

“Then this is no place to talk. Let’s go to West Lake State Guesthouse. I even have an eighty-year-old bottle of huangjiu stored there. A good day deserves good wine—we’ll drink it together.”

Just as the two were about to leave together, Sun Desheng casually spoke from inside the room:

“Boss Jiao, let me ask something… what you just said still stands, right? You won’t get drunk and start talking nonsense?”

Jiao Dalang turned back with a smile.

“Don’t worry, Bureau Chief Sun. I know my limits. If I could say it, I would’ve already said it directly to him a few days ago.”

He paused slightly.

“The same rule applies—this matter cannot be spoken by me.”