BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 90 The Airport

“Xiong Fengnian? Xiong Wanyi’s uncle?”

After glancing at the information on the phone, Che Qianzi said in surprise:

“That can’t be such a coincidence, can it? Did Xiong Wanyi do something terrible in his previous life? Is he cursed to bring misfortune upon his uncle?”

The expressions on Sun Desheng’s face immediately became strange after hearing those two sentences. Seeing Fatty Sun’s reaction, the two Yangs beside him seemed to have heard something amusing and both covered their mouths and smiled.

Yang Xiao even added:

“Little brother, when you get the chance, you ought to find someone to tell your fortune. Maybe your luck has been bad lately. Why is it that you end up in the hospital every other day?”

“Old Yang, stop fooling around. We’re talking business.”

Sun Desheng quickly interrupted him and changed the subject.

“When Officer Yang mentioned that Xiong Wanyi’s uncle had died, I felt that something wasn’t right. I checked it out, and sure enough, there was a problem…”

He paused and glanced at the two Yangs beside him.

“Originally, this wasn’t a major incident. At worst, it was just a corpse-driving case. But I’ve had this uneasy feeling all along. I’m not saying anything, but whenever I get that feeling, nothing good follows.

I’ve already sent people to investigate Li Guangquan’s relatives, as well as Xiong Wanyi’s cousin. Logically speaking, every possible route should have been blocked off. That corpse driver shouldn’t have anywhere left to go.

But I just can’t shake this feeling. It seems like there’s still one path we haven’t blocked…”

About an hour later, the Min Tiao Bureau convoy arrived at the Capital Airport.

During the journey, everyone had already changed into airport service uniforms, security uniforms, and airport police attire. Sun Desheng was the most outrageous of all—he had somehow managed to obtain a captain’s uniform. Considering his nearly three-hundred-pound frame, it was truly a mystery where he’d found one his size.

This time, Che Qianzi did not accompany Sun Desheng.

After getting out of the vehicles, Fatty Sun headed to the airport control center. The two Yangs took up positions in the eastern and western sections of the airport, while the remaining investigators spread out to their assigned areas.

The moment Sun Desheng gave the order, they would rush into action.

Che Qianzi was given a security inspector’s uniform and stationed at the security checkpoint with Xiao Yifeng from Fifth Division. Since joining the Min Tiao Bureau, this was one of the rare occasions he wasn’t acting together with Sun Desheng.

He was already familiar with Deputy Director Xiao. The two of them stood at the business-class checkpoint, pretending to work.

Old Xiao was quite friendly with the young man and took the opportunity to build a closer relationship.

Seeing Che Qianzi looking around restlessly, he said:

“Little brother, don’t be nervous. This whole thing is just to help your second brother save face. Everyone here gets along with Shen La. When they heard they could help him out, nobody hesitated. If this really works out and Shen La marries that girl, he’ll have to treat everyone to a banquet at a fancy restaurant.”

Realizing Xiao Yifeng had misunderstood him, Che Qianzi explained:

“I’m not nervous. I’m just trying to find something to do. The two of us standing here doing absolutely nothing seems a little too conspicuous, doesn’t it?”

“It’s fine. Every temple has monks who loaf around.”

Xiao Yifeng laughed.

“If you’re bored, just take a walk. I’ll watch things here. You can come back later and take over while I sneak out for a cigarette.”

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable standing around, Che Qianzi nodded and decided to stretch his legs.

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed an elderly fat man going through security.

The man was enormous—around six feet three inches tall and somewhere in his fifties or sixties. Because of his excessive weight, he panted heavily after even slight movement, while sweat poured down his chin and dripped onto the floor.

He was dragging two large suitcases.

The X-ray scanner detected suspicious images inside, and security personnel requested that the bags be opened.

With a helpless expression, the fat man unzipped the cases and muttered:

“There’s really nothing in them. Just some clothes and local specialties for relatives. The Capital Airport really does have stricter security than anywhere else.”

Seeing the bags being inspected, Xiao Yifeng wandered over to watch the excitement.

Looking at the size of the two suitcases, he said:

“Why didn’t you check these in? Would’ve saved you the trouble. You can still go outside and handle it. The business-class baggage counter is right nearby.”

“Well, I’ve got some valuables with me.”

The fat man wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“I bought several Song Huizong landscape paintings in Panjiayuan yesterday. These are national treasures! If they got lost in the airport, wouldn’t I become a sinner for all eternity?”

By then, the security staff had already opened the scrolls.

Even Che Qianzi could tell they were fake.

The counterfeiters had been too lazy to make them look old. The xuan paper was snow-white and looked no more than a year or two old.

Probably only this fat man in the entire Panjiayuan market could have fallen for such an obvious scam.

Xiao Yifeng smiled and couldn’t even be bothered to explain.

After completing the inspection and finding nothing suspicious, they allowed the sweating fat man to pass.

Seeing him struggle with his backpack and the two heavy suitcases, Che Qianzi finally found something to do.

He walked over and helped push one of the suitcases.

“Which gate are you headed to? I’ll take you there. Wipe off some of that sweat before you flood Song Huizong’s paintings. If that happens, you’ll probably drop dead on the spot.”

“That would be wonderful. Thank you so much.”

The fat man seemed not to hear the last sentence.

While wiping his sweat, he smiled and said:

“Young man, what’s your name? I’ll write a thank-you letter to your airport online. Good people like you are becoming rarer and rarer.”

“Don’t mention it.”

As he spoke, Che Qianzi casually glanced at the fat man.

That single glance happened to catch sight of a tiny section of steel needle protruding from beneath the man’s chin.

Earlier that morning, Che Qianzi had seen an identical steel needle.

The other one had been embedded in the corpse of Li Guangquan.

Although Che Qianzi fought like a mad dog, he was capable of keeping his composure when necessary.

His expression didn’t change in the slightest.

As he accompanied the fat man toward the boarding gate, he casually chatted with him.

Eventually, he learned that the man’s name was Long Dekou.

He had come to Beijing partly for business and partly for sightseeing. Now that his affairs were finished and he had enjoyed himself enough, he was preparing to return home.

When they arrived at the gate, there were still twenty minutes before boarding.

Among the ticket-checking staff stood several Second Division investigators disguised as airport employees.

Che Qianzi subtly signaled one of them with his eyes, indicating that the large fat man should be watched closely.

The investigator immediately understood and nodded.

Che Qianzi then pretended to leave and positioned himself at the gate opposite, keeping Long Dekou under surveillance.

At the same time, he called Sun Desheng.

However, something seemed to be happening on Fatty Sun’s end.

Che Qianzi called three or four times, but nobody answered.

Did the fatty put his phone on silent again?

As this thought crossed his mind, the fat man suddenly rose from his seat.

Pushing the two suitcases, he slowly walked toward the restroom across from the gate.

Apparently, he was going to relieve himself.

Che Qianzi intended to follow him, but the investigator stationed at the gate beat him to it and entered the restroom alongside the man.

Since Che Qianzi had already interacted with the fat man, appearing again might raise his suspicions.

So he remained where he was.

There were only a little more than ten minutes left before boarding. The fat man would surely come out soon.

Yet even after boarding began, Long Dekou still hadn’t emerged.

As the line of passengers steadily grew shorter, Che Qianzi began to feel uneasy.

After hesitating for a moment, he decided to check the restroom.

Perhaps the big fellow had a bad case of diarrhea.

However, when he entered the restroom, he found it completely empty.

The stalls were all vacant.

Only the two suitcases remained on the floor.

The fat man was far too conspicuous. If he had come out, Che Qianzi could not possibly have missed him.

And had he really abandoned even his precious “Song Huizong paintings”?

Suddenly, realization struck him.

He hurried over and opened one of the large suitcases.

The moment it opened, a blood-soaked investigator tumbled out.

Che Qianzi immediately opened the second suitcase.

Inside, he found nothing but thick layers of artificial human skin and flesh…