Chapter 019: Casting a Wide Net

This story is purely a work of fiction.

After a long day’s work, Leng Junfeng was utterly spent, as wilted as an eggplant struck by frost. He dragged himself back to his office, head hung low, looking listless and dejected.

He slumped into his swivel chair, gazing blankly up at the ceiling.

Without even bothering to remove his shoes, Leng Junfeng propped his feet up on the desk, crossing his legs with an air of careless ease. His toes tapped idly, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

His expansive desk bore three computers, a few folders, and four telephones in different colors. Beside the phones stood a pure gold ashtray, sculpted into the form of two dragons encircling the basin, their bodies stretching from the sides to form a double-dragon play with a pearl. There was a button on one side of the ashtray—crafted with exquisite precision.

On the wall directly opposite the desk hung a massive computer display. Below it, three rows of eight smaller monitors each streamed surveillance footage of the corridors and key areas on all three floors of the building. From this office, every inch of the premises could be observed. The enormous display was mainly for video calls with the boss and MC, but he seldom had use for it.

He took out a Cuban cigar, tapped it twice on the desk with a muffled thud. Gently, he fitted it into a pipe, twisted it to secure the cigar, then checked to ensure it was properly set. He set his feet down from the desk onto the floor, bent forward, and pressed the button on the ashtray.

With a crisp “snap,” the golden pearl between the dragons sparked a flame. Leng Junfeng lit the cigar, taking a deep, satisfying draw, then exhaled a stream of smoke rings. Occasionally, he would direct a gust of breath at a drifting ring, sending it swirling across the office. The room quickly filled with a pale blue haze and the rich aroma of cigar smoke.

Once again, he propped his legs up on the desk and continued to smoke. When he was halfway through his cigar, the large display lit up—it was a video call from the boss, Gao Yating.

He set down the cigar and pressed the button to answer. Gao Yating’s voice came through: “Mr. Leng, what’s the betting situation for today’s match between Shrimp and Wintermelon?”

He glanced at one of the computers on his desk. “There’s still some time before the match starts. So far, I’ve received bets on Wintermelon that surpass Shrimp by three million. Wintermelon is a historically strong team, but this amount is much less than what usually comes in for a favorite. Is Shrimp seeing a surge in popularity today? Are you sure about your tip that Wintermelon will lose?”

“Absolutely. This is top-secret information, straight from headquarters via Will. No mistakes—you can trust it. Keep me updated on the flow of funds; the more money wagered on Wintermelon, the better,” replied Gao Yating.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got a dozen boys watching every move without blinking,” Leng Junfeng assured her.

“Be sure to report back to headquarters promptly, especially if anything goes wrong. That way, we can respond in time,” Gao Yating instructed.

“Understood, Boss. By the way, about your request for Officer Xiao Jin to cultivate some new players—it’s underway. He went to the stadium in Hexi to watch the match between Dahe and the Tigers. There, he bumped into an old friend of Zhengzhe’s, Chi Zhaoming from the TV station. Xiao Jin tells me that Director Chi is a football enthusiast. He’ll be coming here soon. He’s arranged for an interview with our ‘All Good Company’ team. Once that’s done, I’ll take the TV crew over, and after we finish, Xiao Jin and I will bring them to Zhizhen Bar for some fun. Many of Director Chi’s friends are football fans. I’ve heard they often buy tickets when they watch matches together, and there are quite a few of them. This is a great opportunity,” Leng Junfeng replied, trying to curry favor.

“Oh, excellent! Director Chi will be very useful to us in the future. The television network is a resource we must fully exploit. As for today’s match, keep your distance—let Xiao Jin drop a few hints to Director Chi and draw him in. Let him win some money,” Gao Yating said slyly.

“Rest assured, Boss. I’ve already passed the tip to Xiao Jin. The bait is set; just waiting for the fish to bite! Speak of the devil—Xiao Jin and Wu Zhengzhe have just arrived in the lobby downstairs,” Leng Junfeng reported, peering through the floor-to-ceiling glass into the lobby.

“Oh? Didn’t you say Director Chi from the TV station was bringing his crew?” Gao Yating queried.

“I’ll check with Officer Xiao,” Leng Junfeng replied, covering the receiver and asking Xiao Jin about Chi Zhaoming’s absence.

After learning why Chi Zhaoming couldn’t make it, Leng Junfeng continued his report. “He was supposed to come, but got a last-minute call from the station—some senior leader is coming to inspect a key city enterprise, and he’s been assigned to cover it. So, unfortunately, he can’t make it today. Next time there’s a program, we’ll arrange another visit. But don’t worry—getting him on the hook won’t be a problem. Next time, I’ll make sure to introduce him to you. It’s only a matter of time before he bites.”

Xiao Jin, barely catching his breath, was gulping down a bottle of cola, tilting his head back and chugging noisily. Wu Zhengzhe shook his head at Xiao Jin’s disheveled state.

Leng Junfeng stepped out of his office. Xiao Jin was already waiting outside on the second floor, still drinking clumsily from his bottle. “Slow down, slow down! No one’s going to snatch that water from you—what’s with the desperate act?” Leng Junfeng chided.

“You don’t know how busy I was today. Didn’t have a drop to drink while working the case—been parched for hours. I was dying of thirst!” Xiao Jin explained, thumping his chest. “Ah, finally, I feel alive again.” With that, he walked into Leng Junfeng’s office.

~~~

Wu Zhengzhe, thinking about Ming Yue’s son starting kindergarten, called a friend who worked at a school. “My little sister works in Dahe and is troubled about finding a kindergarten for her son. I’m worried for her too. You’re familiar with the schools—could you help find a spot for my nephew? The one she wants most is Happy Kindergarten; it’s close to her home.”

The friend readily agreed, and Wu Zhengzhe said, “I’ll wait for your news, then. Thanks.” He hung up.

~~~

Xiao Jin entered Leng Junfeng’s spacious office, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. He looked around, thinking how, compared to his own office, the difference was like heaven and earth. His days were filled with the shouts and rants of the strange characters brought into the police station—people who either raged or screamed in his oversized office. For someone who liked to study matches in peace, it was torment. He couldn’t help but sigh, “Wow, now this is what I call an office! If only mine could be this peaceful—I’d thank the heavens.”

“You’re dreaming, aren’t you?” Wu Zhengzhe laughed. “You’ll never find a police office, especially at the grassroots, that’s this quiet. If it were, they wouldn’t need you—jobless, wouldn’t you be?”

“Perish the thought! If Officer Xiao were out of work, that’d be a loss to the nation. Our police are the guardians of our backyard! Thanks to you, the people enjoy peaceful and happy lives,” Leng Junfeng chimed in, placing a few tall wine glasses on the side table. He poured fine French red wine into a decanter. “In a bit, I’ll let Officer Xiao and Officer Wu have a taste.” He gestured for them to take a seat on the sofa.

“We still don’t know what kind of person Wu Zhengzhe’s friend, Chi Zhaoming, really is. Be careful not to reveal too much—if he knows too much about us, it won’t do us any good, understand? Keep today’s inside information about Wintermelon losing a secret! The Huaguan Betting Network is online now. I’ll give you a few accounts. The site’s down for maintenance today, so if you want to place a bet, just call me!” Leng Junfeng reminded Xiao Jin. “I’m right here in the office, so come on over.”

Upon hearing there was inside information, Xiao Jin couldn’t wait to call Chi Zhaoming. “Too bad you couldn’t make it today. There’s a match between Wintermelon and Shrimp. Wintermelon’s a historically strong team, but they’re tipped to lose tonight—solid information. Interested in having a flutter? Or do you have your own take on the match?”

“Based on the odds you taught me last time, I think the favorite won’t win—betting on the underdog for the win,” Chi Zhaoming offered his analysis.

“My thoughts exactly. I’ll count you in, then,” replied Xiao Jin.

“No, no, you play. I’m not in,” Chi Zhaoming refused flatly.

After Xiao Jin hung up, Leng Junfeng, seeing the rebuff, reminded him, “Don’t rush things. Patience. You can’t eat hot tofu in a hurry.”

They made their way into Leng Junfeng’s office.

(To be continued)