I revealed my identity as a police officer, which placed immense pressure on Huang Aiguo. He couldn't doubt me, as in the Paradise scam, local cadres were eventually mobilized to verify everything.
The ability to mobilize cadres was no ordinary feat.
I watched him, his eyes darting around as he likely considered an escape plan. I knew he couldn't get away. This was the downside of locals setting up scams in their own territory; he couldn't openly deceive, nor could he flee shamelessly.
"If I tell you everything, will you let me off the hook?"
I only wanted to know the truth. Besides, I wasn't a cop or a hero. If this had nothing to do with me, I didn't need to be a saint and punish bad people for the sake of righteousness.
"Alright, I promise."
"Swear it!"
I couldn't help but laugh. "You're a swindler, and you believe in oaths? Do you think this is a TV drama?"
"Aren't you a police officer?"
"So what if I'm a police officer? Are all police officers good people? For someone like you, who's been brainwashed, to become a con artist, I'm truly... Forget it. I swear I'll let you off the hook this once."
Huang Aiguo nodded with relief and looked around again. "Let's talk inside!"
...
As soon as Huang Aiguo uttered a single sentence, I slapped him. The old man's dentures fell out, and he looked at me in fear. "Officer, did I say something wrong?"
"Say it again," I glared at Huang Aiguo furiously.
Huang Aiguo put his dentures back in and covered his mouth, afraid to speak.
"Speak!"
I roared at him. He trembled and mumbled softly, "Old Man Lin is a con artist, nicknamed 'x driver'. I wasn't retired yet that year, but I was laid off early. I had to pay for my own insurance and support my family, so I reluctantly became Old Man Lin's tool..."
My grandfather was a con artist. I couldn't accept this fact, but Huang Aiguo recounted this part of his experience word for word.
The scam Huang Aiguo spoke of was something my grandfather had once told me about. The Lishan Resort investment scam, the very scam that led to the bitter end of my grandfather's colleague, Zhang Bing. Back then, my grandfather told me this reason to motivate me to break through the Paradise scam targeting the elderly. Now, Huang Aiguo told me this scam was actually orchestrated by my grandfather. How could I believe this? Regardless, I didn't quite believe Huang Aiguo. I felt that Huang Aiguo, the swindler, was starting to talk nonsense and smear my grandfather's name because my grandfather had passed away.
...
At that moment, Lin Han called me, asking where I was and to come home.
I warned Huang Aiguo to think about it carefully and then tell me the whole story. If I found out he had lied even a single word, I would send him straight to prison.
This wasn't a threat. If I proved Huang Aiguo was slandering my grandfather, then Huang Aiguo would have thoroughly offended me. Even if I had to chase him to the ends of the earth, I would put him behind bars.
...
I arrived at the Lin family's house only to find that the police had returned. Lin Mama had called Lin Zhijun, who was busy handling the funeral arrangements for my grandfather and couldn't get away. So, he asked Lin Mama to call me to negotiate with the police.
When I returned, Lin Han was sitting slumped on the sofa. Lin Mama was nervously telling the police, "Is there something wrong with your investigation? The old man has already passed away. Please don't slander his life."
Logically speaking, I should have been seeing the Xi'an police for the first time. But they looked somewhat familiar, and I couldn't place where I had seen them before. Sensing they were here with ill intentions, I was about to ask what was going on when Lin Han blurted out, "Tang Nan, is what they're saying true?"
"What are they saying?"
"Grandpa was a con artist, and he had a nickname, 'x driver'."
I could choose not to believe Huang Aiguo, but when the police said it, I truly hesitated. Perhaps because of my reaction, Lin Han's eyes widened. "Tang Nan, you're something else. You called me back from Beijing just to use me against my grandfather. Get out, get out of this house immediately."
"I don't know anything!"
"You don't know anything? Your expression has already betrayed you."
Lin Mama was explaining to the police when she saw Lin Han acting erratically. She quickly came over to pull her aside and said to me helplessly, "Tang Nan, Xiao Han is a bit overwhelmed. Please be understanding and don't mention it to her father."
Honestly, Lin Han's attitude had also thrown me into a turmoil. My grandfather was 'x driver'? Was that possible?
Upon closer thought, I couldn't dismiss it. I recalled a few details. When I first arrived, my grandfather took me to the Paradise Art Collection Company. His methods weren't particularly brilliant, but his aim was clear: to draw me into the scheme.
In that scheme, I met Zhang Mao, one-fourth of the 'drivers', at Tiezhishan. I had thought it was a coincidence, that Zhang Mao had bad luck and fell into my hands. Now, I realized it was likely my grandfather's scheme. There was a small detail I had forgotten after I returned. Before I revealed my identity, my grandfather and grandmother both knew that Lin Han and I were in a fake relationship.
Later, after breaking the scheme, my grandfather's excited demeanor, stroking his beard and drinking merrily as we returned, was etched in my memory. If, I say if, my grandfather's joy at that time wasn't because I had broken the elderly scam, but because he was about to use my identity to implement the 'lizard shedding its tail' strategy and leave the circle cleanly. This possibility also existed.
...
Lin Mama's words made me daze. She looked at me, who was spacing out, and asked again, "Tang Nan, did you hear what I said?"
"Yes, I heard."
"Then you handle everything."
"Let him handle it. He's here to deal with 'x driver'. Now, he hasn't completed his mission and is trying to pin the 'x driver' identity on Grandpa."
Lin Han shouted indignantly. Lin Mama also became uncharacteristically angry. "Xiao Han, have you forgotten what your father said? No one can tarnish the Lin family's name. What are you doing now, admitting your grandfather was a con artist?"
Chided by her mother, Lin Han fell silent. I also remained silent. Someone entered the room.
Looking at the person who entered, my expression was somewhat uncontrollable. Yu Xiaoluo, why was she here? Oh, no wonder these two police officers looked so familiar. I had seen them in Beijing; they were members of the 'Black Gold' task force.
If the 'Black Gold' task force was truly involved, then this might not be baseless. I couldn't be emotional now. Blindly believing my grandfather wasn't 'x driver' and trying to understand the situation emotionally was a grave mistake for anyone orchestrating a scheme. At this juncture, I had to forget the good impression my grandfather had left on me and understand the facts from an observer's perspective.
...
"Officer, my girlfriend is a bit agitated. Can we talk outside?"
Yu Xiaoluo glanced at me, then at the nearly out-of-control Lin Han, and nodded. "Let's go, we'll talk outside."
Once outside, I couldn't wait to ask, "Was Grandpa really 'x driver'?"
"We received a tip to that effect."
Another tip. There was an informant for Grandma's alleged murder of Grandpa. After Grandma was arrested, the police did not reveal the informant's identity. Now, the deceased Grandpa was 'x driver', also due to an informant.
This was definitely a scheme, and a clever one at that. I was still clueless, unable to guess the opponent's next move. In fact, I had reason to believe that the scheme Old Ghost spoke of, which even he admired, was this one.
"Who was the informant?"
"We don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Our Xi'an colleagues are investigating. However, due to the informant's involvement, the case concerning Old Man Lin has been transferred to the task force. We even have reason to believe that Grandma Lin committed the murder because she discovered Old Man Lin's true identity."
"Is there any evidence?"
"Not yet."
"If there's no evidence, don't spout nonsense."
I directly challenged Yu Xiaoluo. If it were the old Yu Xiaoluo, she would have thrown a punch by now. However, she had matured and understood how to manage my emotions.
"What are your thoughts?"
"My thoughts can wait. What about Grandma? Did she confess to killing Grandpa?"
Yu Xiaoluo shook her head, her expression grave. "Grandma Lin said nothing. She's the most resolute old lady I've ever met. No matter what we said, her expression never changed."
...
Lin Han was now emotionally breaking down. Rather than go back and watch her make a scene, it was better to see Grandma now.
"I want to see Grandma."
This request made Yu Xiaoluo frown. "That's not protocol."
"How many times have we done things by the book since we met?"
Perhaps it was because we had collaborated for so long and she had been influenced by my behavior. Or perhaps it was because she trusted me. Yu Xiaoluo thought for a moment. "I'll arrange it for you. When do you want to see Grandma Lin?"
"Now!"
...
Yu Xiaoluo was not one to drag her feet. Since she had promised me, and I said now, then it was now. Yu Xiaoluo drove me to the Public Security Department, where the task force office was located. Grandma was also there.
Grandma looked haggard but exuded a spirit of determination. Looking at her, I felt a pang of heartache and said softly, "Grandma, I will definitely get you out."
"Thank you, Xiao Tang. I'm so old, it doesn't matter if I'm rescued or not. Good child, can you promise me something?"
"I promise. Tell me."
"Our lives are ruined, but it doesn't matter. We can't let Xiao Han bear a bad name. Can you take her away from Xi'an and protect her, love her for the rest of your life?"
"If she's willing, I can!"
Hearing my assurance, Grandma smiled. "Old man, I didn't misjudge you."
Grandma's words made me feel something was amiss. I said to her, "I pulled some strings to get in, so our conversation isn't being recorded. Can you tell me what exactly happened with Grandpa?"
"He got what he deserved."
This was not the answer I wanted. Almost subconsciously, I said, "What are you saying?"
"The old man got what he deserved. He ruined Zhang Bing's family. Child, I won't say any more. Don't worry about my affairs. Just let me spend the rest of my life in prison."