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Chapter 17: On-Site Visits
The meat processing plant was full of drama today. From the harsh criticism in the morning to the unexpected praise in the afternoon, the day was filled with twists and turns!
However, the person responsible for all of this—Li Yi—remained completely unaware. At this moment, he was strolling outside a high-end residential community.
Urban Area: Tuanjie Community
Although the name Tuanjie Community might sound a bit rustic, it was one of the earliest affluent neighborhoods in Jiangnan Province. Those who lived here were all well-known figures in the region. One such person was Liu Tongfu, who had purchased a house here to store his stolen wealth.
At this time of the year, Jiangnan was experiencing its hottest season!
Li Yi wore a simple Dacron shirt, a pair of trousers, and polished leather shoes. If not for his empty pockets, one might have mistaken him for a wealthy young man.
Sitting near the entrance of the community, he carefully observed the people coming and going.
He had been squatting outside for most of the day, but to no avail.
Although the community wasn't large, it still had over a dozen buildings. Trying to locate Liu Tongfu's secret hideout among so many households was proving to be a difficult task.
As the sun slowly set in the west, lights began to turn on in the various apartments.
Li Yi sighed. It seems there's no hope for today.
Remembering how his wife had turned into an angry lioness the previous night, he decided to return home early to avoid making her worry again.
But just as he was about to leave, a sudden thought struck him.
A New Approach
Tuanjie Community had a prime location—though not in the city center, it was still well-equipped with schools, shopping malls, hospitals, and other essential facilities. The occupancy rate here was naturally high.
Since Liu Tongfu had purchased this property to hide stolen money, it was unlikely that he visited frequently. Simply waiting for him to appear was a foolish approach—who knew how long that might take?
Instead, why not try another method?
By asking around and identifying houses that were either unoccupied or rarely visited, he could systematically narrow down the possibilities and pinpoint Liu Tongfu's secret stash.
Moreover, since Liu Tongfu wouldn't want anyone to know about this location, it was highly likely that even his own family was unaware of it.
That meant the number of potential targets wouldn't be too large.
With his plan set, Li Yi immediately sprang into action.
Under the soft glow of the setting sun, he walked toward the Tuanjie Community entrance.
His composed demeanor and respectable appearance ensured that the security guard at the gate didn't suspect anything. Without any trouble, he walked in openly.
Gathering Information
Not long after entering, Li Yi spotted several residents sitting in a pavilion, cooling off.
In this era, very few households owned air conditioners. On hot summer evenings, people preferred to gather outside after dinner to enjoy the breeze and chat with neighbors.
Seeing this as a perfect opportunity, Li Yi confidently approached them.
As he got closer, a loud voice rang out—
"First Cannon!"
Li Yi looked over and saw two elderly men engaged in a game of Chinese chess.
With a relaxed posture, he clasped his hands behind his back and silently observed the game.
There is an old saying: "A true gentleman watches chess without speaking."
This was exactly the impression Li Yi wanted to leave on these two elders.
At first, the two old men glanced at him suspiciously, worried that he might start interfering in their game.
However, when they noticed that he remained silent and focused, their wariness gradually disappeared.
"These days, how many young people can remain this patient?"
They were impressed.
For over half an hour, Li Yi stood there, watching attentively. Occasionally, his brows furrowed in thought, but he never uttered a word.
Finally, the game came to an end.
The winner, an old man wearing reading glasses, looked at Li Yi and asked,
"Young man, do you play chess?"
Hearing this, Li Yi subtly exhaled in relief before flashing a polite smile.
"I know a little—just a little!"
"Then what do you think of my moves?"
"Your chess skills are truly remarkable, especially that move where you retreated to advance—it was quite impressive!"
"Haha! You actually noticed that?" The old man chuckled happily.
The other elderly man, adjusting his glasses, also turned to examine Li Yi more closely.
"This young man is extraordinary!"
The strategy used by the old man—"retreating to advance"—was a subtle technique, difficult to spot even for experienced players. Yet this young man had recognized it instantly.
Curious, the elder smiled and asked,
"Young man, do you live in our community?"
Hearing this, Li Yi's eyes lit up.
Finally! I've been waiting for this question all day!
The Perfect Cover Story
"Uncle, I'm the newly transferred district police officer. Today, I came here to conduct community visits!"
"Oh? You're a policeman?"
"Yes."
"Then why aren't you in uniform?"
"It's part of the job requirements. If I wear a uniform, it might alert any potential suspects," Li Yi replied with a serious expression.
At this, the two elders' expressions changed.
"You mean... there are criminals in our community?"
"Not exactly," Li Yi reassured them.
He then explained, "Last night, our city police successfully cracked a major child trafficking case. However, one suspect managed to escape. The authorities issued a directive for all district officers to conduct discreet inspections of local communities, searching for anything suspicious."
Hearing this, the two old men nodded solemnly.
"Comrade, have you found anything suspicious?"
"Not yet. I've been observing this place all afternoon but saw nothing unusual. That's why I wanted to ask the long-time residents—you both seem to know this area very well!"
"Of course! We've lived here for years. We know everything that happens here!"
Li Yi pretended to hesitate, then said,
"I don't want to disturb your chess game..."
"Nonsense! Helping the police is more important than chess!"
Seizing the opportunity, Li Yi continued, "We are primarily investigating houses that have remained unoccupied for long periods. Such places could easily become hideouts for criminals."
"Hmm… most homes here are occupied, but there are a few that are rarely used," one of the elders, Uncle Zhou, said, frowning.
"Exactly! Pay special attention to houses where the owners are frequently absent."
After thinking for a moment, Uncle Zhou said,
"Now that you mention it, I do recall a few! For example, there's a house above ours. No one ever stays there, except during holidays."
Li Yi's eyes gleamed.
"Are there many such houses in this community?"
"Not many, maybe two or three."
"Can you tell me the exact locations?"
Without hesitation, Uncle Zhou provided a list of four addresses.
After memorizing them, Li Yi felt a surge of confidence.
"With these leads, I'll surely find Liu Tongfu's stash soon!"
Formulating a detailed action plan in his mind, Li Yi left the community, with the two old men watching him depart with admiration.
His hunt was just beginning.
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