Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 278 A Tough Nut to Crack

"Gold-plated!"

Jiang Yan glared at Nie Guoqiang, knowing all too well what kind of person her husband was.
He might turn a blind eye to things that are worthless or don't need to be measured in money. But once money is involved, especially expensive monetary transactions, even if you're his wife, don't expect this bastard to turn a blind eye.

Now that she's already married and her son is all grown up, what can Jiang Yan do now?

All I can do is be careful in general and go along with this jerk's wishes whether things are going well or not. Even though I have a bad temper, when it comes to important matters, don't I still have to listen to this bastard?

Besides, if it really comes down to money, she's a forensic doctor specializing in criminal cases; she could easily rig the injury assessment and get whatever money she wanted.
Leaving aside the methods of this crime, just talking about the consumables that these stupid policemen completely don't understand, is there any need to say more?
Feeling increasingly annoyed, Jiang Yan abruptly changed her expression, threw on the blanket, and without even taking off her clothes, yelled that she wanted to sleep and told the scoundrel to get out. And that damned cat next to her—who doesn't know what you're up to? It's just that Yang Xiaotong is too stupid!

Hmph! Always trying to mess with me!
"Women are all crazy!"

The dog-man and the cat were kicked out of the bedroom, exchanged a speechless glance, and sighed together.

Seeing that Nie Guoqiang had washed the dishes and wiped the table, and was about to check Nie Zhuangzhuang's homework, and even seeing the pain in Nie Zhuangzhuang's eyes, Lin Ge figured he was bound to get a beating, so he decided to retreat. He couldn't bear to see such a cruel scene, and was afraid he would burst out laughing on the spot.

"A life-saving medicine! I never thought I'd see such a wonderful thing one day."

As Lin Ge walked, he looked down at the dangling bell around his neck. To be honest, he had heard of this thing in his past life; it was said to be able to keep the dead alive, and the legends about it were very mysterious.

According to Jiang Yan, it's simply a more portable and effective form of adrenaline. Its advantages include greater convenience in carrying and use, and the fact that it's a traditional Chinese medicine that is non-toxic and non-addictive. However, its disadvantages... its high cost, or rather, the scarcity of raw materials, is the biggest obstacle to its mass production.

This thing is only useful for saving lives in times of crisis; it's unlikely to become a lifesaver like in novels. Or rather, so far, all the "good things" Lin Ge has obtained from Yang Xiaotong and Jiang Yan are similarly useless. They're all useful, of course! But they're not... well, they're not particularly magical. Yang Xiaotong mocked Jiang Yan for giving her cat deworming medication, and Jiang Yan scoffed at Yang Xiaotong for putting a smartwatch on her cat—that's all.

"Forget it! They're all useful and good things. We can't take ourselves too seriously, nor can we underestimate the value of steamed buns."

Lin Ge shook his head, banishing his greedy thoughts.

The next day, Lin Ge was woken up by a phone call from Nie Guoqiang.

"You didn't go back to the Municipal Bureau yesterday?"

Nie Guoqiang's voice was very deep, just like that of Boss Yan Ke who had caught an employee skipping work.

He knew that Lin Ge had turned off the collar's tracking function. After all, the work at the Municipal Public Security Bureau was confidential, and Nie Guoqiang himself would often consciously not keep too close a view of Mimi. But... Shao Yongkang's calls were getting through to him, which was a bit too much.

"Ow!"

Lin Ge lazily raised his head and yawned, then curled up and continued to doze off.

"Meow?"

Startled awake, the little hawksbill turtle groggily opened her eyes and immediately showed excitement upon seeing Lin Ge's tail. She hadn't seen Lin Ge while sleeping for many days, and instantly felt a great sense of security.

"A cat? You're...at the police station?"

There is no doubt that Nie Guoqiang has a pair of dog ears, as he was able to hear and distinguish the sound of the little hawksbill turtle.

At this moment, the little tabby and the snow-clawed tabby also came over, utterly incredulous that they could hear humans talking on their father. The two cats eagerly reached their paws towards Lingo's collar, but when they suddenly saw the two golden bells, they became excited.

"Get away, don't break it!"

Lin Ge waved the two brats away, then stretched lazily to fully recover. Ignoring what trouble Shao Yongkang was causing, he lazily strolled to the cafeteria, ate until he was stuffed, and then contentedly prepared to leave.

"Hey! Mimi, you're up pretty late!"

Unexpectedly, Lin Ge ran into Shao Yongkang, who happened to be arriving at the police station. The guy walked in wearing a police uniform, accompanied by Wang Liqun and Chen Liang, his two henchmen. Outside the door, there was a bald scoundrel who looked like a lecherous bastard, peering at the young girls passing by.

"You're going a bit too far! Even Shao Shiren wouldn't have pressured Lin Bailao like this, would he?"

Lin Ge glared at Shao Yongkang. Who would force someone to be a beast of burden and then chase them all the way to their home?

"Don't misunderstand, it just happens to be within the jurisdiction of Zhanghe Police Station, and we need someone from here to help us out."

Shao Yongkang waved his hand with a smile and earnestly explained to a cat, "The guy from last night, his fingerprints matched. His name is Li Hu, a guy who's been in and out of prison twice, starting in his twenties and continuing until his forties. Hehe... He works as a security guard at a listed company here, hehe... Mimi, don't you think it's a coincidence that this company also manufactures pharmaceuticals! I don't believe there's no connection at all. A pharmaceutical factory... smart drugs... hehe..."

Shao Yongkang sneered, his gleaming white teeth sending chills down one's spine.

"Are you kidding me? So Zhangzhou City wasn't the shipping location for the smart drug, but the original production site? That's impossible! The police couldn't possibly have missed something like this."

Lin Ge stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"It's not that exaggerated!"

Nie Guoqiang walked in expressionlessly, looked around, and said in a deep voice, "Baike Pharmaceutical is a legitimate company that specializes in producing semi-finished raw materials for cold medicines. All its production and transportation are under the strict supervision of the Drug Administration and the Transportation Bureau. In addition, there are strict audits from the municipal and provincial authorities, as well as various domestic and foreign authorities. If there is any illegal or prohibited production, it is absolutely impossible to escape the eyes of professionals. At the same time, the anti-drug squad will also conduct regular patrols to prevent them from committing crimes."

"Why do you say that?"

Shao Yongkang didn't quite understand why Nie Guoqiang would attach so much importance to a pharmaceutical factory, even sending someone to keep an eye on it. Why?
"Some of the raw materials required for the production and manufacturing of Baike Pharmaceutical are pseudoephedrine and isobutylbenzene (Note ①)."

Nie Guoqiang's words made Shao Yongkang and Lin Ge, who was also puzzled, suddenly realize the truth.

Pseudoephedrine and isobutylbenzene may sound like ordinary chemicals. But once you connect them to the fact that methamphetamine is also known as desoxyephedrine, you'll understand why this pharmaceutical company is under such close scrutiny by various agencies.

A pharmaceutical factory with equipment, raw materials, and production capacity could easily produce several thousand kilograms of methamphetamine a day. It's quite normal for such a place to be a focus of attention for the local police station and the anti-drug squad.

But would a pharmaceutical company under close police surveillance really dare to engage in the business of illegal drugs?
Shao Yongkang exchanged a glance with Nie Guoqiang, a hint of regret in his eyes. Arresting a repeat offender security guard wasn't very meaningful; he'd thought the guy's workplace was the final target. Now it seemed today's trip had been a waste of time.

"No matter what, let's go and see! The one who attacked Mimi must be this Li Hu! Arrest him and interrogate him first, and we'll basically find out what happened next."

After calming down, Shao Yongkang remained decisive and did not abandon his previous decisions because of other people's opinions.

Or rather, for him, whether or not Baike Pharmaceuticals was behind Li Hu was irrelevant; what mattered was whether he had powerful backers. Given the assessment that Li Hu had posed a threat to Mimi, and considering his prior criminal record, arresting him was a no-brainer.

Two vehicles from the Municipal Public Security Bureau and two vehicles from the Zhanghe Police Station.

When Shao Yongkang saw that the mere Zhanghe Police Station dared to drive a Passat, he curled his lip in displeasure. Even his own squadron primarily used older Santanas and Citroën Elysées (the same models used for taxis). The city bureau's vehicle replacement plan was progressing slowly, and those old cars, over ten years old, were still diligently serving. Meanwhile, Nie Guoqiang and his Zhanghe Police Station were already driving brand-new cars with incredibly powerful air conditioning?

"It's even a mid-size car!"

Shao Yongkang muttered unhappily.

"The police station has requirements for the vehicles they drive, right? How dare they drive such a nice car? Boss, I'm reporting them!"

Wang Liqun quickly encouraged them while driving.

"Idiot! That's the reward Mimi earned from solving cases in Zhuzhou! Two murder and dismemberment cases that shocked the national police system, and the Zhuzhou Municipal Bureau only spent the price of two beat-up cars to get Mimi to solve them quickly. It's a huge profit for them."

Shao Yongkang glared at the back of Wang Liqun's head from behind.

"..."

Wang Liqun gave an awkward smile; how could an ordinary policeman like him know such a thing?

But suddenly connecting this information to the present, Wang Liqun couldn't help but ask, "So, Captain, what did we pay for asking this cat to solve this case...?"

"Shut up!" Before Wang Liqun could finish speaking, Shao Yongkang, whose face was as black as ink, stopped him.

Wang Liqun suddenly realized what was going on and chuckled.

The group soon arrived at Baike Pharmaceutical Factory, which belongs to Baike Group and is a well-known traditional chemical enterprise in the city.

Thirty years ago, before Zhangzhou City had developed into a major economy, Baike Group was already a long-time taxpayer and a pillar of employment in the city, supporting Zhangzhou's industrial sector. However, with the advancement of industrial technology in recent years, many of Baike Group's products have become obsolete, forcing the closure of numerous factories. Even so, it continues to thrive in the pharmaceutical industry, producing semi-finished raw materials and other raw materials, managing to survive steadily but with difficulty. Even though Baike Group's employee salaries are relatively low compared to other high-tech industries in the city, its comprehensive social security and housing fund benefits are exceptionally substantial, exceeding those of many high-income companies.

It's an old factory, and the workers there have been there for decades. Many of them have been working there since they graduated, and now they're in their forties or fifties, far beyond considering the factory their home.

In a factory like this, employee cohesion is obvious.

Nie Guoqiang's detailed instructions to Shao Yongkang emphasized the importance of understanding the emotional attachment a long-time employee has to a long-established factory. They had worked there for decades, witnessing the company's rise and fall, and watching it slowly decline. Leaving aside sentimentality, finding new employment is extremely difficult for someone in their fifties. The fact that the factory had allowed them to work there until retirement meant no one could accept it suffering any form of harm.

Even if the target is just the security guard at the entrance, it can easily escalate into a standoff between the police and the workers, incited by some individuals.

"Tch! Do they really think they can storm the police?"

Shao Yongkang sneered dismissively, then turned to Wang Liqun and Chen Liang, instructing them to be careful. As for Quan Chenghai, that bastard didn't need any protection at all.

Lin Ge stared at this stubborn coward with disdain.

But Shao Yongkang wasn't stupid. He knew that in this era of extremely high employee turnover, it was incredibly rare and remarkable that a group of people could stick to an old factory for decades.

As Nie Guoqiang pointed out, in such situations, workers can be easily incited by certain cadres who have been their leaders for more than ten or even twenty years.

And in such a factory, one can imagine how complex the interpersonal relationships are.

Just like those factories before the reform and opening up, it was common to see bloated staff due to kinship ties, bribery, and favoritism over competence. For Li Hu, a guy with a criminal record, to get in smoothly, even as a convict working as a security guard, would be unbelievable without connections.

Who are his connections? Will they protect him without any scruples? Could they actually be involved in the case?
No one could have predicted this before it was truly investigated and clarified.

The police car was quite conspicuous, and the fact that the people who got out lingered a little too long at the factory gate quickly attracted the attention of the security guards. There were four people in the security room; one of them immediately made a phone call, while the other three slowly walked out.

"Tch! The police station's security booth only has two people on duty. This run-down factory, however, manages to have ten or more people working in shifts to guard just one gate?"

Chen Liang grunted.

"Officer, what's the matter?"

The man, seemingly the security captain's man, chuckled and greeted the group of police officers who got out of the car. He glanced at the cat crouching next to the officers but didn't ask any questions. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket to offer some, but Shao Yongkang glared at him, and he quickly put it back.

Well! They're obviously used to this kind of thing, not a professional team from a security company.

Lin Ge could tell at a glance what kind of guy this was.

These days, security guards are much more professional. Various security companies offer training and programs, some even more rigorous than the police department. It's rare to see companies hiring their own security guards these days, and hiring tough guys is even rarer.

Just looking at this unprofessional security team, Shao Yongkang and Nie Guoqiang exchanged a glance, and their mood became somewhat serious.

"The police are handling a case. Could you please contact your supervisor? We need some assistance with something."

Wang Liqun naturally wouldn't let Shao Yongkang speak, and took the initiative to step forward and say to the security captain, "Also, let me see your security personnel roster! There shouldn't be any criminals here, right? By the way, who conducts the regular training for security guards here?"

"Training...?"

The security captain's expression stiffened, and he said awkwardly, "This kind of thing is handled by the company with specific arrangements and unified scheduling. Officer, Baike Group is a legitimate listed company, so rest assured that we would never do anything illegal or unethical."

Wang Liqun nodded, neither confirming nor denying, and said, "Hmm, let me see your duty roster first. And you over there, put down your cell phones and call the duty supervisor using the landline."

The man in the security room awkwardly put his phone away.

Soon, a middle-aged man wearing work clothes and a red hard hat rushed out of the office building.

He looked rather sleepy, and his hat wasn't tied up, which didn't surprise Shao Yongkang and the others.

Waiting patiently for the man to arrive, Wang Liqun showed his police ID and demanded an inspection of the company's safety and raw material safety. Only after the man and his group left the security room did he mention Li Hu's name.

"Li Hu?"

Lai Qiang was completely bewildered and hesitated, saying, "Um... I don't recognize this name. It shouldn't be one of the company's management, right? As for the employee names, I'm sorry, our company has more than two thousand employees and is responsible for an important job creation task in the city. How could I possibly remember so many names if you ask me about just one person? But the HR department must have a detailed list. Please come with me to the third floor, and I'll show you around."

As he spoke, he noticed the cat following behind the police and raised an eyebrow in confusion. But in the end, he remained silent, letting the police lead the cat into the office building.

"The company's duty officer doesn't even remember a single security guard's name? What kind of shift can they be on duty like that?"

Shao Yongkang lagged behind and gave a cold laugh.

"I haven't paid enough attention to these kinds of corporate issues."

Nie Guoqiang felt somewhat guilty, and his confidence that the company was without problems was quietly waning. Just by looking at the security team and the attitude of the managers, it was no surprise that such a company might be a den of iniquity.

Lin Ge, who had remained silent all along, was now somewhat puzzled.

Although no one was spotted following him last night, the person who lingered there for half an hour still left behind a distinctive scent. Lin Ge, however, didn't detect a similar smell at the company's security booth.

In other words, even if Li Hu's criminal record shows him working at this company, the fact is, at least recently, that he has definitely not been at the security booth.

A security guard who isn't on duty?

Yet they still pay him his salary on time, and his performance evaluation is quite high?

There is undoubtedly a problem here.

"Li Hu? Li Hu, oh, found him!"

The HR department's office space was quite large, but most of the cubicles were empty. A young woman was on duty alone in the office, and following General Manager Lai's orders, she found the person named Li Hu on the computer.

"It's him!"

Seeing the work injury record on Li Hu's medical record, Lai Qiang looked over helplessly and said, "No wonder I didn't remember such a person. I only just remembered. Li Hu injured his leg in an accident at the company half a year ago and applied for work injury leave. He's still recovering and waiting to be laid off! What do you need from the police? Here's his contact information and address. You can ask me anything you need my cooperation with. By the way, is this person a criminal or..."

"half year ago?"

"Accident?"

Nie Guoqiang and Shao Yongkang were both stunned. Could it really be such a coincidence?

……

Note: Isobutylbenzene is not used to manufacture drugs, but obviously something with a similar name cannot appear in the novel, so it is used as a substitute.

(End of this chapter)