Chapter Fifteen: The Cancer Scare

  Liu Handong stretched out his hands: "Cuff me."

  Han Guangdao said: "You're not a criminal, why are you wearing handcuffs? Please go back and assist with the investigation. You're quite capable, weren't you a special forces soldier when you were serving in the army?"

  "Armored vehicle."

  Han Guang was taken aback and said: "This is the first time I've seen a motorized infantryman who can fight better than a special forces soldier."

  Liu Handong said: "That's because the special forces you know haven't been in a battle."

  "Have you been in a battle?" Han Guang seemed to understand, this armored vehicle soldier was different from the mainland troops' small car drivers, but a frontier line troop warrior who had experienced the test of war fire. No wonder he remained calm in crisis and his marksmanship was accurate. He was a veteran cop, knowing that even with good marksmanship, being able to exert one-third of it in combat was already not bad, psychological quality was the most important thing for a soldier.

  "It makes sense." Han Guang patted Liu Handong's shoulder and waved his hand towards the road, a dusty Aries sedan drove over. If you didn't pay attention, you'd think this car had been parked here for a long time. It seems that the Second Criminal Police Brigade has gone to great lengths to wait for themselves.

  "When did you start staring at me?" Liu Handong asked.

  "When you entered Binhe Community." Han Guang opened the car door.

  "Why didn't you come find me earlier?" Liu Handong asked with feigned curiosity.

  "It's not easy to get back home once in a while, how can I not see my family?" said Han Guang.

  Two people got into the car. Liu Handong noticed that several cars near the farmer's market were leaving one after another, presumably they were all plainclothes policemen.

  "Do you treat everyone like this?" Liu Handong asked.

  Han Guang thought for a moment and said, "Not necessarily, it depends on the situation. There was a murderer who ran away for ten years and couldn't hold out anymore, so he went back home for Chinese New Year. Our detectives waited at his door overnight and only took him away the next morning."

  "You're a good cop."

  Han Guang smiled and patted the driver's shoulder: "Drive on."

  The car started, heading directly south, crossing the river and onto the highway, speeding towards Jinjiang City. On the way, Han Guang asked some questions about the gunfight that had occurred the previous evening. This case was not under the jurisdiction of the Jiangbei Police Department, he was just asking out of curiosity. Liu Handong told him the whole story from start to finish.

  Han Guang was taken aback and lost his smile: "Wang Xing is also involved in this, well, at least he didn't bring shame to our Second Squad."

  Liu Handong asked strangely: "Is Wang Xing a colleague of yours?"

  "He was a detective from Jiangbei who went undercover as an informant before, he's a great seed for a detective, what a pity...what a pity..."

  Liu Handong nodded and didn't say anything, gazing at the scenery outside the window.

  "Xiao Zhang, pull over at the service station ahead and take a leak," said Han Guang.

  Aili drove into the service area, Han Guang and Liu Handong got off to use the restroom, and the driver turned off the engine and smoked beside the car.

  Two people came out of the toilet, bought a few bottles of water in the service area supermarket, got back on the bus and continued to move forward. The provincial government leaders ordered Han Guang to personally send Liu Handong over, the task was very tense and could not be delayed.

  The driver started the car, and Alice hummed a few times before stalling.

  Start again, stalled, moved forward for over ten meters, and then died again.

  The driver got out of the car, lifted up the hood, and cursed: "This old piece of junk breaks down at a critical moment, damn it!"

  Han Guang furrowed his brow: "Hurry up and fix it, if not, we'll have to call another car over." He turned to Liu Handong and said: "The criminal police team's funds are tight, several good cars have gone out on missions, only this broken-down car is left."

  Liu Handong didn't say a word, got off the car and walked to the back of the car, squatted down and sniffed, then lay down and took a look, saying: "I'll try."

  The driver was half-believing and half-doubting, Han Guang nodded.

  Liu Handong got into the driver's seat, started it several times, ignited the fire, stepped on the accelerator, and the Aries roared, the engine gradually returned to normal.

  "What's going on?" the driver asked.

  "If it can be started, then it's not a circuit fault. There is no smell of oil and no oil leakage on the ground, which means that the fuel injector is not clogged and the fuel pipe is not damaged. The only possibility is that the fuel pressure is too low, and the fuel pressure regulator may be faulty. However, the impact is not great, and it will be fine if the speed is slowly increased. It just needs to run for a while." Liu Handong explained.

  "Alright, buddy." The driver handed over a cigarette.

  "Little Liu, your car repair skills are quite good." Han Guang also praised.

  "It's nothing worth mentioning, I'm a motorized infantryman." Liu Handong said with a hint of pride.

  Ai Lishan is on the road again, three hours later, he drove into the Jinjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, and the Provincial Hall listed the 9.2 shooting case as a supervised case, ordering the Criminal Police Brigade to solve the case within three days.

  Captain Wan Xudong of the Mouth Public Security Bureau Branch received Han Guang and his party. They were classmates at the police academy and had a good relationship. After shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, they handed over Liu Handong.

  "Han Guang, let's have dinner together tonight and call Wang Xing." said Wan Xudong.

  "No, I'm in a hurry to go back, there are several cases that need attention." Han Guang excused himself. As a criminal police officer, they were all busy, and Wan Xudong was very understanding, laughing and saying: "Then next time."

  Han Guang pulled Wan Xudong aside and said, "Take care of him, he's a good kid."

  Wan Xudong smiled and said: "Don't worry, the provincial government has given orders, no one dares to touch him."

  Han Guangdao said: "Song Ting gives face like this."

  "This case is very important, let's talk about it next time, the top is eagerly waiting for a confession."

  "You go ahead and be busy, I'm leaving."

  After bidding farewell, Liu Handong was invited into the conference room. Wan Xudong took notes for him and made a detailed record of the events that had occurred over the past few days. The transcript was immediately sent to the desk of Song Jianfeng, the Director of Public Security.

  Song Jianfeng finished reading the transcript, his eyebrows raised, Liu Handong's experience reminded him of an old friend who also rose to fame out of nowhere, sharp and fierce, able to kill someone in ten steps, leaving no trail for a thousand miles.

  Outside the window, thousands of families' lights are on, and unknowingly, it's already past working hours. Song Jianfeng takes his notebook downstairs, and the driver opens the door of the Audi A6 to send Director Song to the Public Security Department's residential area, which is less than a 10-minute drive away. This place has tight security and bright lights, making it the safest place in the provincial city.

  Song Tingzhang's home was on the first floor. Song Jianfeng entered the house, took over the briefcase from his secretary and said: "Little Li, you can go back now."

  The secretary retreated and quietly closed the door, a Scottish Shepherd dog came trotting over with slippers in its mouth. Song Jianfeng changed into the slippers and stroked the dog's head: "Koko, is sister at home?"

  Su Mu called out twice and a twenty-year-old girl came out of the study: "Dad, you're back."

  "Where's your father?"

  "In the house." Song Shuang beckoned with her hand, and Shu Fan walked out of the house. The clothes she was wearing seemed a bit too big for her, probably borrowed from Song Shuang.

  Time rewound to last night, at the parking lot of Medical University Hospital, Shu Fan hired Wang Xing for a hefty sum of one million to rescue Liu Handong. After a half-second heavenly battle, Wang Xing finally accepted the deal, and the two made a pact. However, with this trip being a perilous journey through treacherous mountains and scorching seas, bringing along a little girl would be a hindrance. How to ensure Shu Fan's safety became a major problem.

  Wang Xing's mind was racing, and he knew that Shu Fan's uncle's house was definitely not safe. His own home wasn't an option either, as his wife was pregnant and wouldn't have the energy to take care of her. The safest place would be the Public Security Bureau's residential compound. This place had tight security, with electronic fences on top of the walls, dense surveillance cameras, and diligent security guards who registered every stranger entering or leaving the gate. More importantly, all the residents here were public security personnel, so even if a criminal dared to come here, they would be taking a huge risk.

  He originally planned to send Shu Fan to his old classmate Wan Xudong's house, but unexpectedly met Song Director's beloved daughter Song Shuang while registering at the gate. Song Shuang recognized Wang Xing and shouted: "Hey, Han Yulang is here, looking for my dad?"

  Wang Xing hurriedly replied: "I'm not a city hunter, I've been hunted by others instead."

  Song Shuang saw Shu Fan in the back seat, opened the car door and got in, asking Wang Xing what was going on. Wang Xing briefly explained the situation, and Song Shuang immediately took charge: "Take me home, I'll protect this little sister."

  Thus, Shu Fan became a frequent guest at Director Song's home.

  Song Jianfeng had already talked to Shu Fan yesterday and had a clearer understanding of the case. He didn't object to Shu Fan living at home because Qing Shi High-tech is one of the largest taxpayers in the province, and Xia Qing Shi is also a leading figure in the international energy field. In terms of social status, he is no worse than a department-level cadre.

  Shu Fan still didn't like to talk, but when she saw Song Jianfeng, her eyes clearly showed a concerned expression, and she was worried about Liu Handong's safety.

  "Don't worry, Liu Handong is already under the protection of the provincial bureau. Your father's flight will also arrive at Jiangcheng Airport soon." Song Jianfeng said.

  Shu Fan let out a sigh of relief and finally smiled.

  ……

  The hospital's inpatient department, the bathroom, Ma Ling helped her father wash a blood-stained shirt. Although this garment had bullet holes, it could still be worn after washing. Suddenly, she found a piece of paper in the pocket, took it out and looked at it. Although it was blurred by water, the handwriting was still recognizable: gastric cancer, terminal stage.

  What a thunderbolt on a sunny day! Ma Ling's hands were trembling, and tears fell into the pool with a plop. She suddenly understood why her father, who had always been so law-abiding and unassuming, was fighting for his life this time, single-handedly confronting the thugs in the streets. It turned out that he knew he had a terminal illness and didn't have much time left.

  Ma Ling put away the diagnosis book, forcing a smile as he returned to the ward. However, his eyes were red and puffy. Ma Guoqing had woken up, but due to his gunshot wound in the abdomen, he could only eat liquid food now. The fruit supplements sent by colleagues were taken back home by Ma's wife, along with a large pile of fresh flowers, which were directly collected by the flower shop at the hospital entrance, leaving only a few bouquets from provincial and municipal leaders to fill the scene.

  "Little Ling, why are you crying? Who bullied my precious daughter?" Ma Guoqing raised his hand to help his daughter wipe away her tears, but this action made Ma Ling even more heartbroken. Her father was already in the late stages of cancer and could no longer dote on her or spoil her as he used to.

  She lay on the hospital bed wailing loudly, just as the doctor came in to check on her and asked: "What's wrong? The patient is recovering well, isn't she?"

  Ma Ling wiped away her tears and said: "Doctor, save my dad."

  The doctor said: "The operation has been done and it was very successful. It's just a gunshot wound, others have had their stomachs removed and they're fine."

  Ma Ling pulled the doctor out of the ward, took out the diagnosis book, and sobbed: "My dad... is in the late stage."

  The doctor took a glance and pushed his glasses: "This is wrong, there were no signs of tumors during the operation, was it misdiagnosed?"

  " Misdiagnosis......" Ma Ling's expression turned stiff.

  "It can't be completely ruled out that it's a misdiagnosis, your father's chronic gastritis is quite serious. Let's do a biopsy to check, and also to put the patient and family at ease." The doctor said something, but Ma Ling basically didn't hear it, she was overjoyed and then devastated again, her brain short-circuited.