Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 550 Trouble is coming
"You've arrived a bit early!"

Ma Baifen greeted the people who got off the car with a smile, and then lightly tugged at Lin Ge's ear, making Lin Ge glare at him with disgust.

It was clear that the old man had aged even more than six months ago; the wrinkles on his face were deep enough to trap a mosquito. He was still wearing his police uniform, which he had washed and dried, but there were several fewer familiar faces among his men than before, and two more unfamiliar young men.

"Training a new student again, Teacher Ma?"

Zhao Zhigang shook hands with Ma Baifen and made a joke, only to be pinched hard by the old man, making him wince in pain. But what he said was true; there were indeed far too few capable young police officers willing to stay in rural police stations.

"Chief Ma!"

Huang Liangcao also shook hands with Ma Baifen.

"Since we're already here, let's not waste any more time and just go. Oh, Xiao Huang, I'll ride in your car."

Ma Baifen glanced disdainfully at the Passat driven by the Zhanghe Police Station, then turned and got into Huang Liangcao's BYD. Despite the BYD's smaller size, Ma Baifen's disdain for joint venture cars transcended nationality and class.

Riding in Zhao Zhigang's car was a middle-aged policeman named He Qiang from the Shili Town Police Station. He was the deputy director of the Shili Town Police Station and Ma Baifen's most reliable partner over the past few years.

Upon seeing this person, Zhao Zhigang's expression changed slightly.

The police station chief and deputy chief need to set off together; it seems this matter is not as simple as just finding the cat's owner.

As the police car drove along, He Qiang briefly explained the situation in Shili Town to Zhao Zhigang.

In Shili Town, there was a company called Ermao Grain Purchasing Station. It was a well-known, long-established grain purchasing enterprise in Shili Town and even the entire rural area of ​​Zhangzhou City, basically occupying about 40% of the grain purchasing market in Zhangzhou City. Back then, it quickly dominated the grain purchasing market in Zhangzhou City by charging two mao more per jin of rice than others. With its decent reputation and generous attitude of paying on time without delay, it enjoyed an excellent reputation in the rural areas of Zhangzhou City.

The mobile phone number that Wang Jiaxuan found this time, which was related to Norwegian Forest Cat and Agricultural Bank, belonged to Mao Shouren, the owner of Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station and the former owner of Xiaoming Food Co., Ltd. and Xiaoliang Industry and Trade Co., Ltd.

"Mao Shouren? Yes! That's him! But didn't he die last year? Why is this phone number still in use, and why was it suddenly disconnected at the beginning of this month?"

Zhao Zhigang nodded, confirming that He Qiang's stated goal was largely consistent with his understanding of the situation.

"Six years ago, Mao Shouren was hospitalized due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Later, due to dementia and other health issues, he handed over the company to his two sons, Mao Xiaoming and Mao Xiaoliang, to manage. Soon after, Mao Xiaoliang took control of the original Er Mao Industry and Trade Co., Ltd., and renamed it Xiaoliang Industry and Trade. Subsequently, Mao Xiaoming also officially renamed Er Mao Food Co., Ltd., which he owned, to Xiaoming Food. In short, apart from the Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station, Mao Shouren's core businesses had been completely dismantled and taken over by his two sons. It was because of this discovery that Mao Shouren died suddenly last year due to a sudden heart attack. This matter has spread throughout our village, and the police station is also aware of it."

He Qiang revealed an expression of exasperation, shaking his head regretfully, and said, "Yang Yuhua, as Mao Shouren's wife, obtained the Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station after Mao Shouren's death and continued to use Mao Shouren's mobile phone number to contact grain purchasing customers in various townships. That's all we know so far. As for why the mobile phone number was suddenly disconnected, who knows? Perhaps it was an oversight, or perhaps there are other reasons."

"Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station, Xiao Liang Industry and Trade Co., Ltd., and Xiao Ming Food Co., Ltd., a Norwegian Forest Cat and a mobile phone number have somehow gotten involved with three private enterprises. This is truly a headache!"

Zhao Zhigang scratched his head.

To be honest, Zhao Zhigang didn't care about the division of the old man Mao Shouren's property. Although Mao Shouren had a very good reputation in the countryside when he was alive, death is the end, and all that remained were his two good-for-nothing sons and his wife, whose involvement in the matter was unknown. Zhao Zhigang didn't believe that his wife, Yang Yuhua, was unaware of the division of his industrial and trading company and food company.

"What inside information does the police station know about the Mao family's affairs? For example, what was their reason for sending a Norwegian Forest Cat to the bank?"

Feng Yi, who was driving, spoke in a low voice.

"It must be a loan issue, right?"

He Qiang didn't hide anything, nodding and saying, "The grain market was bad the past two years, which had a significant impact on Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station and Xiao Ming Food Co., Ltd. After all, if their purchase price was even one cent higher than the market price, it would mean a 10% loss for the company, which was quite serious. Purchasing stations that never delayed paying farmers for their grain started showing signs of delaying payments starting the year before last. Although farmers could still get their money when they went to ask for it, it wasn't as straightforward as before. So I suspect that Mao Shouren's company has had serious financial problems these past two years, but I don't know exactly how serious it is. Hmm... I just hope nothing bad happens! This money is the hard-earned money that farmers have dug out of the fields. Even if each family only has 10,000 or 20,000 yuan, it's all the wealth that farmers can realize after a year of hard work. If something goes wrong, it will be terrible."

"Since they know that Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station has financial problems, why don't the farmers switch to another purchasing station? Even if they can sell at a lower price, they should at least get the money first before discussing anything else!"

Feng Yi asked again.

"Hehe... Isn't this the reputation that Mao Shouren has built up over the past ten or twenty years? The people sell their grain to him every year and trust him! Decades have passed, and this kind of trust cannot be erased in a short time."

He Qiang shook his head with a wry smile.

"Then... what if they really can't come up with the money? Mao Shouren's reputation will be ruined by his two good-for-nothing sons and wife, right? Shouldn't it be Mao Xiaoming who tries to get a loan from the Rural Commercial Bank?"

Zhao Zhigang had a guess about the whole thing.

The current issue is no longer about the Norwegian Forest Cat; the real trouble has shifted to this large grain conglomerate that targets farmers. If Mao Xiaoming and Yang Yuhua truly owe farmers substantial sums for their grain sales, and even bank loans can't cover the shortfall, then this will escalate into a very serious social problem. The consequences of the nation's poorest and most populous profession being exposed will be unimaginable.

"Farmers barely earn any money in a year, and even without considering labor costs, they still have to cover the costs of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and planting machinery. If they can't get the money from selling their grain, it could be a matter of life and death!"

Lin Ge stared wide-eyed, and for a moment he was no longer sleepy.

The mood inside the vehicle grew heavy. No one wanted the worst-case scenario to actually happen; if the grain purchasing station went bankrupt or even absconded with the money, things would be disastrous.

Fortunately, after arriving at the Ermao Grain Purchasing Station, Yang Yuhua, the actual owner, personally greeted the police officers.

When questioned by the police, she vehemently denied any financial issues with the Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station.

Yang Yuhua even stated that the farmers left their funds at the purchasing station because they trusted Mao Shouren and also for the convenience of withdrawing them.

In rural areas, banks are scarce, and there are only a handful of credit cooperatives that are closely connected to farmers. Depositing or withdrawing money requires going to the township, which is very inconvenient. However, Er Mao Grain Purchasing Stations are located near almost every large village. Farmers can sell their grain at the station and settle accounts on-site. When they need money, they can simply walk a few steps to pick it up, which is safer than depositing it in a bank or keeping it at home. For over a decade, the villagers have been doing this, and Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station has never cheated anyone out of a single penny. They even pay interest at the same rate as banks, demonstrating their excellent reputation and strong bond with the villagers.

When Zhao Zhigang inquired about the suspension of her mobile phone, Yang Yuhua only explained that she had changed to a new number, and declined to elaborate further.

As for the Norwegian Forest Cat, Yang Yuhua denied it outright, claiming she was unaware of it.

"How to do?"

After leaving the recycling station, several policemen stood by the roadside, looking at each other in bewilderment.

At this point, it seems the matter is over, if not resolved. However, beyond the issues surrounding the phone number and the Forest Cat, the situation is causing the police officers considerable concern. Unlike ordinary companies, this company involves countless farmers, and the consequences of every action it takes could be extremely serious. Perhaps Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station does indeed have problems, but it is still supported by the unwavering reputation of its deceased former owner, Mao Shouren. The police cannot say for sure whether the company will face any unforeseen changes. If they are lucky and manage to weather the storm with their reputation, then naturally nothing will happen! But what if they can't...?

"It shouldn't be that bad, right? The grain market was pretty good last year and this year, much better than in previous years. Plus, the government abolished the agricultural tax, which reduced the pressure on farmers. It's really not to the point where a collective run on cash would cause the purchasing stations to go bankrupt."

He Qiang still didn't believe things were that serious. What company doesn't have its crises? As long as we get through this, what big problem could it be?
Moreover, as a transit unit, a grain purchasing station cannot possibly lose money as long as it operates steadily, right? Buying grain at 1.4 or 1.5 yuan and selling it at 1.6 or 1.7 yuan, at most the profit will decrease, but it shouldn't be so bad that it can't even pay the farmers for selling their grain.

That makes sense, and the police officers nodded in agreement, having no choice but to acknowledge this view for the time being.

Only Ma Baifen frowned and hesitated, saying, "But we have to be careful about one thing: Yang Yuhua and the Mao Xiaoming and Mao Xiaoliang brothers are not Mao Shouren. Mao Shouren was indeed benevolent back then, but who can guarantee that these two brothers and Yang Yuhua will still maintain the same style as when Mao Shouren was alive? If they cause some trouble, and the amount of unpaid debts accumulates, it will lead to big problems."

A large truck loaded with rapeseed slowly drove out of the purchasing station. Ma Baifen couldn't help but step forward to stop it and personally ask the driver. After learning that it was being delivered to Chengbei Xiaoming Food Co., Ltd., he made way for the driver to leave.

The more Ma Baifen thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He couldn't help but walk into the purchasing station, but was stopped by the two security guards at the gate.

The two security guards were very rude. Although Ma Baifen and Zhao Zhigang were all wearing police uniforms, the two guards refused to let them in. They stated that unless Station Chief Yang agreed, no one could break the rules and barge in.

Ma Baifen wasn't angry. He simply gestured for one of them to ask Yang Yuhua, and then asked the other person about his situation.

“I’m a farmer from a nearby village. We’ve finished harvesting the rapeseed and are in the off-season, so Station Chief Yang saw how hard it is for us farmers and hired us to work. Young people can earn several thousand yuan a month doing manual labor, and even older people like me can earn over a thousand yuan a month just by guarding the gate. Humph! How could such a kind-hearted Station Chief Yang be a bad person? This Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station has a good reputation in this area, so how could they do anything wrong? What’s wrong with the police? As long as ordinary people abide by the law, what business is it of yours?”

The old security guard was arrogant, his words filled with reverence for the late Mao Shouren and respect for Yang Yuhua. In his view, having taken someone's salary meant he had to do their bidding, and without the station chief's permission, not even relatives or neighbors could get in!

Soon another security guard jogged back and said that Station Chief Yang did not have time to entertain the police, so he kept a close watch on the door and did not allow Ma Baifen and his party to approach, and his attitude became rude.

Ma Baifen's expression immediately turned even worse.

How dare they hide from the police like this? What else could it be but something sinister?

Although he didn't know what Yang Yuhua and her two sons had done, Ma Baifen knew that something terrible must have happened that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.

Although there is no evidence, it may be too late to regret it when the evidence is discovered.

"Mimi, and Zhao Zhigang too!"

The group returned to the police car, and Ma Baifen said to Lin Ge and Zhao Zhigang without hesitation, "Mimi, find a way to sneak in and see if you can find anything! Zhao Zhigang, you're a stranger they don't recognize, so try to sneak in and check the situation. I have a very bad feeling right now. What if Yang Yuhua is planning to run away with last year's rice money and this year's rapeseed money? That would be a real problem!"

"As for it?"

Zhao Zhigang was stunned for a moment. Why would he give up a profitable purchasing station and just run away with a little money for grain? Is that worth it?

"Don't underestimate the value of grain! A farmer's rice and rapeseed alone would be worth at least 20,000 to 30,000 yuan, right? Not to mention the Ermao Grain Purchasing Station, which covers almost all the rural areas of Zhangzhou City, just in the area around my Shili Town alone, there are nearly 10,000 farming households! Even if only a third of them are sold to Yang Yuhua, that's still close to 20 million yuan, right? If we act decisively now, the money and grain are still in the accounts and in the warehouse. But once they're all transported away and sold, how will the people recover their losses?"

Ma Baifen spoke with a serious expression, then took out his phone and gave orders to everyone in the police station, demanding that they set off immediately and try to find out the current situation of Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station from all aspects.

With his resolute attitude, Zhao Zhigang and Huang Liangcao no longer objected and quickly acted according to Ma Baifen's orders.

However, the security at Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station was even tighter than expected. The surveillance cameras covering the entire courtyard wall made it impossible for Zhao Zhigang to find a way to sneak in. The surrounding farmers, having sold their grain to the station without receiving payment, naturally wouldn't allow anything to happen to it and refused to provide assistance to the police. Therefore, Zhao Zhigang was helpless except to rage, and could only place all his hopes on Mimi, who had already successfully infiltrated the station.

"Wow! What a huge grain warehouse! What tall stacks of grain! This is truly an eye-opener!"

Lin Ge wandered aimlessly around the purchasing station, looking around curiously.

Following behind him were several cats that the purchasing station originally kept to deal with rats and insects. These little guys were easily recruited by Lin Ge, and with them by his side, Lin Ge's appearance went unnoticed by others.

Lin Ge couldn't think of where to look for clues, so he just wandered around looking at the various granaries.

To his surprise, the warehouses marked with "Class I Rice" and "Class II Rice" were almost all empty, having completed all the transfers. In other words, the rice sold to them by the farmers had been sold out, so why wasn't there any money to pay them?

In addition, the warehouses that purchase rapeseed are also operating busily, with large trucks coming and going, quickly transporting the rapeseed of various grades that have just been screened away without waiting to stop.

Everything was almost exactly as Ma Baifen had said; Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station really did show signs of absconding.

However, Lin Ge wasn't worried, since the camera on his collar had been on since he entered. In other words, the Zhanghe Police Station had received and clearly seen the situation inside the purchasing station, and naturally wouldn't allow them to escape.

"Tsk! Luckily, we discovered it in time! If we had waited until they finished processing the rapeseed, filled their wallets, and ran away, even if we caught them, it would have been difficult to recover the transferred assets."

Lin Ge sighed with relief, feeling extremely fortunate that he and the white cat had discovered the long-haired big cat yesterday.

I'm also very glad that the Baimiao Police Station and Zhanghe Police Station didn't treat the search for the cat as a joke, otherwise they might not have been able to find the Er Mao Grain Purchasing Station.

If we were to realize this too late, the consequences would be unimaginable!

This is the hard-earned money of our farmers! These are their only two harvests a year! If these bastards really swindle them out of everything, how are our farmers supposed to survive?
Lin Ge couldn't help but curse inwardly.

"Old Liu, what have you thought about what Station Chief Yang said?"

Suddenly, voices came from not far away.

The content involved Yang Yuhua, which made Lin Ge stop and listen intently.

"Of course I'll do it! Only a fool wouldn't! I'm not short of money right now, so of course I'll put it in the recycling station to earn interest! It's several thousand a year, isn't that free money?"

(End of this chapter)