Barely blinking eyes, they all swarmed around the strange-looking objects.
"How do you install this?" Iren was holding the object that looked like a splitter.
"Yeah. It's easy. Just like a regular splitter," said Tsaehorng. "Now, let's install it first."
"Should we install it now?" Yinqyueh spat out words that sounded so naïve. It made the others tried not to laugh.
Tsaehorng smiled. "We have to try these tools first. We have to know if these tools really work properly." He installed the device deftly. Judging by the movement of his hand, it seemed that the young man had done that before.
"Have you ever installed anything like this?" Iren looked at Tsaehorng while nodding. Maybe he had the same thoughts as Shannchyuan when he saw what the young man was doing.
"Never. But I've plugged splitters a few times. It's the same thing." Tsaehorng picked up the two small boxes that looked like transistor radios.
"What's this thing called?" Jenqyih pointed at the two objects.
"I don't know Uncle!"
"You don't know?" Jenqyih asked.
<
Tsaehorng smiled. "How about we just call this thing 'Huahshiang'?"
<>
Tsaehorng plugged earphones into each of those two things. He gave one Huahshiang to Shannchyuan while the other one remained in his hand. Then, he put the earphone in his ears. Shannchyuan followed the example of Tsaehorng just now.
"Just one, Uncle. Not both, Tsaehorng pointed to his left ear. "You also have to listen to the voice that comes out of the phone."
Shannchyuan smiled. He removed the earphone from his right ear. "Like this?"
Tsaehorng smiled broadly. He gave a thumbs up. Then he cupped his palms together. "Now let's try this tool first!"
Tsaehorng pressed a button on the two Huahshiangs. Then he took another pager from his pocket. He opened another message that the pager received.
"I had to call the number listed in this message as a sign that we were ready to try these tools," said Tsaehorng.
"Go ahead," said Shannchyuan.
Tsaehorng grabbed the phone's receiver. He dialed the number listed in the pager message he received.
"Hello!" Tsaehorng greeted after waiting for a few seconds.
"Is Mr. Huahshianq there? Yes, that's right, I mean Huahshianq Yeounan. Has he left? Ah, I just wanted to let you know that his order is ready. Tomorrow morning we will deliver it there. How about it? Five minutes past ten? Tomorrow! Thank you!"
Tsaehorng hung up.
Shannchyuan and his friends looked at Tsaehorng with inquisitive eyes.
"They said in five minutes the experiment will start," said Tsaehorng.
They were all waiting with palpitations.
<
Exactly five minutes later, the phone rang.
Tsaehorng patted Shannchyuan on the shoulder. "Please answer the call, Uncle!"
Shannchyuan picked up the phone. He heard a firm voice from the other end.
"Good evening. Is this Mr. Duanmuh's house?"
"Yes, you right!"
"May I speak to Mr. Duanmuh Shannchyuan?"
"Yes, I am Duanmuh Shannchyuan," replied Shannchyuan. "What can I do for you, Sir?"
"Look, Sir! Sorry if I disturb you by calling you at night. My name is Tzuooterng Herchyng. I am the director of the library at the Yuehming city council office. Someone named Symaa Dongshyr sent us a CV. This is related to a job vacancy at our library. We have tried to contact the owner of the bookstore where he worked before. However, so far, we have not been able to contact him. Apart from the name of the owner of the bookstore where he worked previously, your name is also on the list of people who we can call. We contact you to check Mr. Symaa Dongshyr's credibility. So we would like to ask you some questions regarding Mr. Symaa Dongshyr's personality and habits."
Symaa Dongshyr was Shannchyuan's ex-co-worker at the used bookstore turned cafe.
"Of course I do, but I have other very important matters right now. How about tomorrow morning?"
Suddenly the earphones in Shannchyuan's ears made a sound.
"Good evening Mr. Duanmuh! My name is Chioulin Shinnjaang. I am a police officer who handled the kidnapping case of your friend. The call you are receiving is part of an effort to test whether the equipment we have provided is functioning properly. Can you hear my voice through the earphones that you use? If you can clearly hear my voice, you can simply say that you will come to the Yuehming city council library tomorrow, after lunch."
Shannchyuan could hear the words clearly.
"Look, Sir! How about tomorrow afternoon I go there to give a detailed explanation about Mr. Symaa Dongshyr? Also, I would bring some additional documents that prove Mr. Symaa Dongshyr's work ethic."
"Okay, Sir!" Answer the voice coming from the caller.
"I'll be there sometime after lunch. This library is in the Yuehming town hall building, right?"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Okay, then see you tomorrow."
"Thank you, Sir!"
The person who claimed to be Tzuooterng Herchyng then hung up the phone.
"Thank you, Sir!." said Chioulin Shinnjaang. "Now we just have to wait for the call from the kidnapper. You can remove the earphones now."
Shannchyuan and Tsaehorng then pulled the earphones out of their ear canals. Instinctively, Shannchyuan looked at the clock on the wall. Ten o'clock was still a long time.
"I think now is the time, Uncle," said Tsaehorng.
"Time to do what?" Yinqyueh's eyes looked straight into Shannchyuan's eyes with a probing look.
"You must go, now," said Shannchyuan. "But before that, I want to talk for a moment."
Jenqyih looked at them in surprise. But he didn't say anything.
Shannchyuan stood up, then walked toward his room. Yinqyueh followed Shannchyuan's steps from behind at such a close distance.
"Who did I go there with?" Yinqyueh instantly uttered those words when the two of them were already in the room.
"Of course with Miss Dihwuu, and escorted by Tsaehorng's driver. I think Tsaehorng has asked Miss Dihwuu to accompany you to the apartment. So you won't be alone there."
"Hmmm..." Yinqyueh touched Shannchyuan's arm. "When will Uncle catch up there?"
"Tomorrow afternoon, I'll try to get there. After that, we will go to Yuehming to have a look at the situation there. But of course it all depends on how things turn out after this. I don't know what Shinnshiow's kidnappers will ask for ransom, and in what way. So, now, I can't promise anything yet."
"Is that all Uncle want to say?"
"Of course not. There is another thing." Shannchyuan walked over to the bed. He crouched down and grabbed a small box slightly larger than a matchbox. After standing up, Shannchyuan held it out into Yinqyueh's hand.
"What's this?" Yinqyueh brought it closer to her face.
"Please save this thing for me. At least for the time being."
"What is this? Is it something so important?"
"It may not be important to other people, but to me, it's quite important. So I'm asking for your help."
"If this thing isn't important to other people, then there's no way anyone would take it away."
"I know. But if some burglars somehow manages to get into this house when we're not all around, he might just take the things that are here without a second thought. They might as well take this thing away. . Incidents like that are not rare in a robbery."
"Is this place unsafe?" Has anything like this ever happened in this housing complex?"
"Nothing like that ever happened here. I'm sure this place is actually still pretty safe."
"So, Uncle is worried that the people who kidnapped Brother Shinnshiow will break through here?"
"I don't think that's possible. After all, we already reported it to the police."
<>
"So, Uncle is actually sure or not about the security here?"
"I don't think there's anything wrong with being more careful."
"Okay!" Yinqyueh took a deep breath. "Then where should I store this thing?"
"That's up to you. You can keep it somewhere you feel safe in the room Tsaehorng has prepared for you in his apartment."
"How long should I keep it?"
"Until when I asked for that thing back from your hand."
Yinqyueh's face still showed dissatisfaction. But she didn't ask any further.
"Now, let's get out of the room. They're waiting. Don't waste any more time."
They then came out of the room.
"I'm ready!" Yinqyueh raised her right hand.
Although the girl's voice sounded excited, her face was not at all happy.
<
"A moment!" Jenqyih looked at his friends. "Where do you want to send Miss Liuchiou to?" His eyes showed he wanted his friends to explain in a flash. "
"In the meantime, we will evacuate her first to a safer place." Iren patted Jenqyih's shoulder. "But we'll stay here until Shinnshiow returns."
"Safer place? Where is it?"
"Tsaehorng's apartment," answered Iren.
Jenqyih widened his eyes. After nodding with a smile, he raised his right thumb.
"Let me carry this bag," said Iren to Yinqyueh. Without waiting for the girl's answer, Iren took Yinqyueh's backpack.
They walk out of the house. Tsaehorng's driver had started the car. Iren Yinqyueh's backpack into the trunk of the car right away. Tsaehorng took the opportunity to get into the car. He sat in the seat next to the driver. The young man spoke seriously to the driver. He seemed to be giving instructions about the things that the driver should do. His hands were moving in the air as if he was demonstrating something.
Shannchyuan gently grasped Yinqyueh's two hands. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine." Shannchyuan, for the umpteenth time, tried to calm the girl down.
Yinqyueh nodded. She got into the car through the back door. Tsaehorng, who had finished giving instructions to the driver, got out of the vehicle. Miss Dihwuu then got into the car. She sat next to the driver.
From behind the window, Yinqyueh waved her hand. Shannchyuan, Iren, Jenqyih, Yihshyong, and Tsaehorng also waved to the people in the car. The car started running. In a matter of seconds, the car, moving away, had disappeared behind the bend into the highway.