《Once Upon a Time in a Foreign Land》Chapter 187 : Dongfang Zhengyi
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Caihong nodded. "That's right Uncle! That girl is indeed Miss Lüqiu. Her face and body shape were clearly caught by my friend's camera."
"Armed with the photo, and also the Biaoshu photo, I started asking some people at some hospitals that I hadn't had the chance to visit yesterday," said Qiuzhen.
"Has anyone seen Dage or Miss Lüqiu?" Asked Zhengyi.
"None of the people I asked said they had seen the people in the photos I showed them. There were already a lot of victims who were home from the hospital, so there weren't many people there for me to ask. I was about to give up when suddenly someone approached me," Qiuzhen said.
"That person approached you without you asking?" Yixiong leaned his body as he said that.
"That's right. That person introduced himself as Hetian. He was one nurse working at the hospital. He heard from someone else that I was wondering. So he came up to me to see who I was looking for."
"Then what did he say?" Asked Zhengyi.
"I showed him photos of Miss Lüqiu and Biaoshu. When she saw Miss Lüqiu's photo, he just shook his head. But when he saw Biaoshu's photo, he said that yesterday he saw a man who looked exactly like Biaoshu. He even described the clothes the man was wearing. The clothes he described were very similar to the clothes that Biaoshu was wearing yesterday."
Yixiong looked at Qiuzhen with a strange look. Zhengyi could hardly believe what he saw. Yixiong's eyes were exactly like the look in someone who had just received a shock. He didn't seem to have expected Qiuzhen to say something like that.
"I asked him where he saw the man. Then he replied that yesterday afternoon he saw the man when he was in front of a building which is currently being used as an exhibition of paintings painted by some novice painters."
"Did he tell you where the building that held the painting exhibition was?" Caihong asked.
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The gigantic city they lived in was a very busy city. At this time, maybe there were dozens of painting exhibitions were being held. Zhengyi glanced at Jingkang. He suspected Jingkang knew about the places where the painting exhibitions were currently being held. While Jingkang was helping Caihong, it's not impossible that he's also looking up information on the schedule of all the painting exhibitions that were being held this month throughout the gigantic city.
"He wrote down the address of the building." Qiuzhen took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket. He unfolded the paper and gave it to Yixiong.
"Eh! This is the address of the building where you held the painting exhibition," said Yixiong. He held out the paper to Caihong.
Caihong's eyes widened as he read the writing on the paper. He looked at Jingkang.
"You didn’t know about this before either?" Zhengyi looked straight at Caihong’s face. The young man’s facial expression caught Zhengyi’s attention.
Caihong nodded quickly. "I also just found out about this, Uncle! Earlier when Uncle Zhonghang called me to the hospital where Zhuge was being treated, he only said that he had very important news that the other friends needed to know immediately. Then I immediately returned to here."
"How was Dage when that person saw him yesterday?" Yixiong asked. He seemed to have gotten himself under control. Yixiong looked calm again. At least that was the conclusion Zhengyi drew after observing the change in his housemate's expression.
"That person said that Biaoshu looked fine. At that time Biaoshu was talking to someone."
"Does this person know the person Dage spoke to?" Yixiong asked.
"That person, Mr. Hetian, said that Biaoshu was talking to someone he knew. The person's name was Zhurong Zhenyi. In fact, Mr. Hetian was there because he had business with that person named Zhurong."
"What were they talking about?" Asked Zhengyi.
"Mr. Hetian didn't know what they were talking about. Mr. Hetian said after he appeared, that person, who looked exactly like Biaoshu ended his conversation with Mr. Zhurong and left."
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"We should immediately ask that Zhurong person," said Caihong.
"Mr. Hetian said that he could arrange a meeting with that person. But that person is at work. He most likely won't be able to come until after sundown."
"Did Mister Hetian then contact that person?" Asked Zhengyi.
"That's right. I saw it myself when Mr. Hetian called in one room in the hospital. That person said he would come around six in the evening. But he also said that there is a possibility that he wouldn’t come on time."
"Where is the meeting place?" Asked Zhengyi.
"Same as yesterday. At the place where he spoke to Biaoshu," Qiuzhen replied.
"In front of the painting exhibition building?" Ask Zhengyi.
"That's right. Right in front of the building," Qiuzhen said.
"This is very interesting," said Zhengyi. "So, after this, you’re going to meet that person?"
Qiuzhen nodded. He turned to Yixiong. "Does Xiongge have any other opinion on what I should do? I also have to adapt my plans to those of you all."
"What you have planned is correct." Yixiong took a deep breath. "As you said earlier. Later you will leave here to meet that person. Regarding our plans related to the Xinxiu’s kidnapping, let’s wait to see if there is a change in plans by the kidnappers. So now we just have to wait for the call or package from them. If there is a change in plans, of course we have to discuss again what we will do tonight."
"Mr. Ximen," Jingkang said. "I think there is something else you should explain to Mr. Mingzhu and Mr. Zhonghang."
Of course! That mysterious wallet issue is also an important thing!
Caihong and Qiuzhen glanced at Yixiong
"It's a good thing you reminded me," Yixiong said. He then recounted a phone call from a person who found a wallet.
There was silence for a moment as soon as Yixiong finished telling his story. Each seemed to try to analyze the event in their own minds.
"We have to call that person immediately. We have to make sure whose wallet it is. If it's not a Biaoshu or Xinxiu wallet, then it doesn't really matter. I mean, it doesn't matter to us. But if it turns out to be the wallet of one of them, then this can be used as a starting point for further investigations," Qiuzhen said.
"Before contacting that person, I want to hear Yiren's opinion first," said Yixiong.
"We don't know what time he'll be home, do we?" Qiuzhen said that while clenching his right palm. Even though his voice sounded slightly raised, his face still didn't reveal a particular emotional turmoil. Zhengyi was a little surprised to see that. The people Shanquan gathered here each had their own uniqueness.
"I think he'll be home soon, too. Let's just wait a bit." Yixiong said those words calmly.
Ring!
Their phone rings.
It was very likely that this was a call from the kidnappers. Yixiong walked over to their phone. He didn't pick up the phone right away.
Ring!
The second ring rang.
Yixiong still didn't pick up the phone. He waited a moment. Jingkang seemed to take the initiative. He approached Yixiong. Most likely, the kidnappers wanted to talk to Duanmu Shanquan again.
Xiongge is really living his role. This time Xiongge imitated Dage's habit. He is about to pick up the phone after the third ring!
For the umpteenth time today, Zhengyi shook his head.
Ring!
Third ring. This time, Yixiong firmly picked up the receiver. Jingkang was already prepared. He stood beside Yixiong.
"Hello!"
Yixiong's voice was firm and dignified. He listened carefully to the words of the person on the other end.
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