Chapter 26: Schemes and Deceit

"Zhou Sen, Mr. Qiushan asked me to inform you that the person you apprehended yesterday has been cleared and has already been released," Jin Suying said, her face dark with displeasure.

"Released? Secretary Jin, he was following me. What about his motive and purpose? What if he meant me harm?" Zhou Sen was bewildered.

Jin Suying replied stiffly, "There are some things you don't need to know. However, you needn't worry—there won't be a repeat of this."

"If you won't tell me, then I'll go ask Mr. Qiushan myself..."

Jin Suying reached out and stopped Zhou Sen. "Zhou Sen, don't make trouble. Mr. Qiushan isn't at the police station right now, so it would be pointless for you to go."

"Don't I at least have the right to know who was following me?" Zhou Sen halted, questioning.

Jin Suying was silent for a moment before lowering her voice. "Special Operations Division of the Police Department."

Zhou Sen understood. It was Lin Dakuan's men. But why would Lin Dakuan have his own subordinates follow him? On one hand, he tried to show goodwill, while on the other, he sent people to shadow him. What were they really after?

Zhou Sen was tempted to let loose a string of curses, but this was the police station—if he wanted to vent, he'd have to find someplace more private. Otherwise, the consequences would be too severe.

...

Zhou Sen was in an extremely foul mood.

Back at the warehouse on Haicheng Street, he had just sat down to take a sip of hot water when Gu Laoliu came in from outside.

"Boss, I heard the guy we caught yesterday was released first thing this morning. What's going on?" Gu Laoliu was always well informed.

"Don't get me started. Turns out, he was one of our own—from the Special Operations Division."

"But boss, we roughed him up pretty badly yesterday. You think those bastards from the Special Ops will just let this go?" Gu Laoliu was clearly frightened, but still couldn't resist cursing as he spoke.

That was indeed a problem. Lin Dakuan was the type to brood over even the smallest slight. If he decided to pursue the matter, Zhou Sen’s scrawny frame probably wouldn't hold up under the pressure.

But what could be done now? The deed was done. There was no way to turn back time.

"Boss, maybe we should offer a generous gift and apologize?" Although Gu Laoliu was an old policeman, he was still rather timid.

Apologize?

He hadn't done anything wrong, so why should he apologize? Zhou Sen bristled at the very thought. But then, he'd always played the part of the timid and weak. If he suddenly started acting tough, it wouldn't be convincing.

If he was going to keep up the act, he had to stick with it—these people were all sharp as tacks. The moment they sensed something was amiss, all his prior efforts would be wasted.

But to keep swallowing his pride like this, who could endure it? This wasn't just a matter of acting once or twice; as long as he remained in Bingcheng, he'd have to keep up the act for years. He wasn't sure he could keep it up without slipping.

Seeing Zhou Sen silent, Gu Laoliu thought he was considering the idea and perhaps even leaning toward it.

After all, Lin Dakuan was the right-hand man of Saburo Shibuya at the Police Department. Offend him, and you'd essentially be offending Shibuya himself.

Saburo Shibuya was the real power in Bingcheng's Police Department.

Perhaps not an apology, Zhou Sen thought, but this could be an opportunity to test the waters—after all, there was so much he didn't know about the secrets at work here.

"Laoliu, do you know what Director Lin likes?"

"I’ve heard he’s crazy about the roast duck from Houdefu. He orders it every time," Gu Laoliu replied.

"Good. Reserve a private room for me there, and make sure they have that roast duck for lunch today!" Zhou Sen decided. To be followed and still have to put on a smiling face—what an indignity. But for the sake of the future, he'd swallow his pride and play his role. True strength lies in knowing when to bend.

"The boss is going to invite Director Lin to lunch?" Gu Laoliu asked.

"Yes," Zhou Sen nodded.

...

At Chezhanzhi Street, the traffic bustled. Inside the Special Operations Division of the Bingcheng Police Department, Lin Dakuan was still brooding over his subordinate getting whacked over the head. It might have been deserved, but it still left a bad taste in his mouth.

"Boss, Zhou Sen really went at it—Sun Erhu has a lump on his head the size of an egg..." Zou Shuxun came in to complain, gesturing animatedly. He was the one who had arranged the surveillance on Zhou Sen, and he had to get justice for his men, or the team would lose faith in him.

"If you’re caught tailing someone, getting beaten up is only natural, isn’t it?" Li Shaotang chimed in, delighted at his colleague’s misfortune.

"But he didn’t have to be so ruthless!"

"How was he supposed to know who was following him? What if it was someone with ill intentions? If it were you, what would you have done?" Li Shaotang shot back. "Maybe your men are just incompetent—being discovered by a rookie."

"Li Erdonkey, you looking for a fight?" Zou Shuxun was livid. His men had been beaten, but it was true that Sun Erhu had been careless to get caught.

"So you mess up and can't take a bit of criticism?" Li Shaotang was unafraid.

"Li Erdonkey, you want to get thrashed? Want to try me?"

"Go ahead, I’m not scared."

"Enough! Both of you, shut up!" Lin Dakuan was exasperated. These two were his most capable men, but they were always at each other's throats, neither willing to back down. "If you want to fight, go out into the yard and let the whole department watch. Maybe they’ll judge who’s right!"

"Calm down, boss. I won’t stoop to his level. But Sun Erhu really is hurt—doctor says he needs to stay in the hospital for observation, just to be safe," Zou Shuxun glared at Li Shaotang, then turned to Lin Dakuan.

"I understand—medical expenses will be covered by the division. It’s a work-related injury, after all. Give him some extra for recovery, too. It's almost the New Year; we can't have people thinking we don’t look after our own," Lin Dakuan instructed.

"If you ask me, Zhou Sen should pay. He’s got the money!" Zou Shuxun grumbled.

A knock sounded at the door.

Translator Wu Shuqing poked his head in, smiling. "Director, Zhou Sen is here. He’s asking to see you."

"He dares show his face?" Zou Shuxun stood up, swearing furiously.

"Zou, don’t make trouble. Zhou Sen didn’t know my men were following him. Besides, he isn’t the same Zhou Sen he used to be," Lin Dakuan warned.

"Zhou Sen must have figured out we were tailing him. He’s either here to confront us or to apologize," Li Shaotang analyzed.

Lin Dakuan nodded. Now that Zhou Sen was here, refusing to meet him would only make things worse.

"You two step out for now," Lin Dakuan waved at Zou Shuxun and Li Shaotang.

Zou Shuxun was reluctant, but Li Shaotang dragged him away.

In the corridor, as Zou Shuxun brushed past Zhou Sen, Zhou could feel the obvious hostility in the man's eyes.

Zhou Sen wondered when he’d managed to offend that lame man. Wu Shuqing came out as well and hurried him inside.

Zhou Sen composed himself and followed Wu Shuqing into Lin Dakuan’s office.

It was his first time in this office, and though the furnishings were a bit old, the space was large. The genuine leather sofas, the rosewood desk—everything was expensive and exuded authority.

If this was just the office of the Special Operations Division's chief investigator, how much more luxurious must the offices of the division chief or Deputy Commissioner Saburo Shibuya be?

"What brings you to see your uncle today, Xiaosen?" Lin Dakuan greeted him with a smile, rising from his seat.

"Uncle Lin, last time you treated me to dinner at the Iberia Hotel, and I’ve been meaning to return the favor. Today, I’ve reserved a table at Houdefu—I sincerely hope you’ll join me for lunch!" Zhou Sen said nothing about being followed, only mentioning his gratitude.

"You’re too polite, my boy. It was nothing to treat you to a meal—no need for you to reciprocate," Lin Dakuan was taken aback, unable to read Zhou Sen’s intentions.

"You have always looked after me, Uncle Lin. If not for your advice, I wouldn’t have dared take on the Sheerkin case at Mr. Qiushan’s request," Zhou Sen smiled.

"You're too modest, Xiaosen. I just have a few more years' experience as a policeman," Lin Dakuan replied, waving his hand humbly.

"Uncle Lin, there are still a few details about this case I’d like to consult you on. Could we discuss it over lunch?"

"Now?"

"It’s about time. If we leave now, we’ll get there just right—and I could hitch a ride with you," Zhou Sen grinned.

"You sly fox. Well, let’s go," Lin Dakuan agreed after a moment’s thought.

Zhou Sen never mentioned Zou Shuxun, Li Shaotang, or Wu Shuqing. His aim today was Lin Dakuan alone. Last time, Lin had hosted and brought whoever he pleased. This time, Zhou was the host, and irrelevant parties were not invited.

He did this deliberately. He wanted to portray himself as a young man with some cleverness but still naive and inexperienced—a bit of a hothead.

Lin Dakuan considered mentioning the others, but recalling Zou Shuxun’s earlier attitude, he decided against it. After all, if they clashed at lunch, it would only make matters worse.

As for the issue of "Zhou Sen," Saburo Shibuya had expressly forbidden him from revealing that it was he who had arranged it.

A quarter of an hour later, on Zhengyang Street, in a private room at Houdefu.

After sharing a toast, Zhou Sen filled Lin Dakuan’s glass. "Uncle Lin, there’s something I don’t understand and wish to ask you about."

"Go ahead," Lin Dakuan nodded slightly.

"The Sheerkin case was originally yours at the scene. Why was it transferred to the Nangang station?"

"Oh, you saw the scene too. It was just a routine home invasion and murder, not really the jurisdiction of Special Operations, so it was handed over."

"But the Police Department has a Criminal Division, and murder falls under serious crime. The victim was a White Russian newspaper editor—such a high-profile case being transferred to a local precinct, and ultimately landing in my hands, seems odd, doesn’t it?" Zhou Sen pressed.

"I really don’t know. Once the case was transferred, it was out of my hands. Maybe the Criminal Division felt the case occurred in Nangang District, so they handed it over to the local police—that’s not unusual," Lin Dakuan replied. Truthfully, he was curious too, but since Saburo Shibuya hadn't explained, he dared not ask.

In any case, Zhou Sen was clearly involved in something significant. The Japanese had their own motives, which he neither understood nor wished to guess.

"Then why did you have me tailed, Uncle Lin?" Zhou Sen suddenly changed tack.

Lin Dakuan nearly choked on his drink. This kid was completely unpredictable—who asked questions like that?

"You misunderstand, Xiaosen. Now that you’re investigating Sheerkin’s murder, you’re bound to draw the attention of the killer. At your godfather’s request, I was to ensure your safety, so I had men watching over you, discreetly."

"Is that so? If that’s the case, why didn’t you just tell me? I’ve misunderstood you, Uncle Lin." Zhou Sen raised his glass, sincere. "Let me toast you as an apology."

"Don’t worry about it, Xiaosen. You didn’t know—no harm done."

"This morning at the station, I heard that brother had already been released. I didn’t even check on how badly he was hurt. That’s my fault—I didn’t know my own strength..." Zhou Sen said apologetically.

"It’s my fault for not telling you and causing the misunderstanding," Lin Dakuan replied. "Now that everything’s been cleared up, let’s leave it at that."

"Thank you, Uncle Lin. With your reassurance, I feel at ease. I’ll be sure to visit that brother in the hospital with some gifts..."

"No need for that. It’s just a minor injury—no bleeding. He’ll be fine after a few days’ rest."

Zhou Sen didn’t press the matter. If they hadn’t been Lin Dakuan’s men, he wouldn’t have shown such courtesy, considering they’d been following him.

"Uncle Lin, I’ve encountered some difficulties with the Sheerkin case. You have so much experience and have cracked so many major cases—could you advise me?"

"Of course, my boy. Tell me what’s troubling you," Lin Dakuan replied, clearly delighted by the flattery.