Siheyuan came through and sent Jia Zhang to prison

Li Fan stroked his chin and pondered for a moment, then looked at He Feng earnestly: "Director, I think Zhao Ci's method is feasible. He can enter as a technician, which is legitimate and unlikely to arouse suspicion; Zhang Chuan can apply to be his bodyguard and stay by his side under the guise of protection. This way, we can get close to the core area while ensuring safety, killing two birds with one stone, which is perfect."

Zhang Chuan immediately looked at He Feng, his eyes as firm as a rock: "Director, as long as you agree, I guarantee I'll keep a close eye on Zhao Ci, following him around even when he's eating and sleeping, and I won't let him get into any trouble! If anyone dares to lay a finger on him, I'll break their arm first!"

He Feng nodded, then turned his gaze to a young man sitting in the corner: "This is Zhao Lei, the captain of our group. He's the most experienced, and his men are all elites. He'll be leading a team to set up a perimeter around the coal mine and will fully cooperate with you. If anything happens on your side, even if you just sense something is wrong, he'll bring reinforcements immediately. He'll never let you fight alone."

Zhao Lei stood up abruptly, his back ramrod straight, and replied in a deep voice, "Don't worry, I'll rent a place near the coal mine and keep an eye on things 24/7. I've memorized your codes and contact methods, so there won't be any delays."

Li Fan added, "Director, please don't worry. To avoid attracting attention and being exposed, Zhao Ci and Zhang Chuan will no longer meet directly with anyone else in the bureau, and their daily communication will be through encrypted channels. If there's any news, I'll relay it; everything is perfectly safe on my end."

Looking at his subordinates, each with their own tasks and eager expressions, He Feng felt much more at ease. He put down his teacup and said seriously, "Then it's settled. Zhao Ci, prepare the technical data. Zhang Chuan, get a reliable bodyguard identity. We'll set off tomorrow morning. Remember, safety first, investigation second. Don't be reckless."

He Feng naturally understood the underlying meaning in Li Fan's words—he wanted Zhao Ci and Zhang Chuan to go into hiding and secretly protect their safety. After all, the coal mine was a mixed bag, with all sorts of people from all walks of life. If people found out that these two were sent by the Public Security Bureau, once their identities were exposed, it would be hard to say whether they could even get away unscathed, let alone investigate the case.

He nodded, his tone resolute: "Okay, let's do it that way. Only a few of us know about this, so it absolutely must not be spread. I'll arrange for them to take up their posts at the coal mine bureau as newly transferred cadres, and all the formalities will be completed."

Li Fan nodded in agreement, his eyes showing approval—He Feng's arrangement was prudent.

He Feng turned to Zhao Ci and Zhang Chuan, a hint of apology on his face: "The situation is special and urgent right now, so I won't hold any welcoming ceremony. I'm sorry to trouble you two. Once this case is closed, I'll personally throw you a proper welcome party and we'll have a good drink together."

Zhao Ci was about to say something polite, like "It's all part of the job," when Zhang Chuan laughed first, patting his chest with a cheerful expression and guaranteeing, "Don't worry, Director, this is nothing! Zhao Ci and I will handle it perfectly for you, without any ambiguity, and we'll make sure those people can't find a single flaw!"

Zhao Ci nodded in agreement, his tone steady and firm: "Director, we will do our best to investigate the case and will never let you down."

He Feng then looked at Zhao Lei beside him: "Zhao Lei, you'll have to make a trip later. Take them to the station on the outskirts of the city, let them take a long-distance bus out, go around in a circle, and then come back."

Li Fan was taken aback for a moment and couldn't help but ask, "Director, is this arrangement because... you're worried about being followed on the road?"

“Jiang Hu came from the military; he’s very vigilant and doesn’t tolerate any wrongdoing,” He Feng explained. “We need to make the whole thing perfect so that even if he wanted to investigate, he wouldn’t find a single flaw. That way, the two of them can stay securely in the coal mine bureau, making it easier for subsequent operations.”

Li Fan suddenly understood and quickly nodded in agreement: "The director is indeed very thoughtful! I'll go arrange the vehicles and routes right away." He turned and hurriedly left, secretly admiring himself—this "feint" tactic really lowered the other party's guard. He Feng did this with a deeper meaning: he wanted the people at the coal mine to think that the Public Security Bureau was just conducting a routine investigation and would leave once it was over, with no further connection to these two "new cadres," so that they could completely lower their guard.

The plan here is progressing step by step, in an orderly manner. Meanwhile, in the courtyard on the other side, beneath the calm surface, turbulent waves are quietly brewing.

In the morning, He Yuzhu changed into clean work clothes, his collar neatly buttoned, ready to go to work. He looked at Qin Jingru standing at the door to see him off, a gentle smile on his face, and said softly, "Jingru, you can take a day off today. You don't need to help out in the cafeteria. I'm going to work now. You stay home and rest well, read some books, get some sun, don't push yourself too hard, and take good care of yourself."

Qin Jingru felt a sweet warmth in her heart, like she had a piece of candy in her pocket. A shy yet satisfied smile spread across her face as she nodded vigorously, "I know, Brother Zhu, you can go to work without worry. Be careful on the way." He Yuzhu had always been considerate of her, always making sure she had the best of everything, and lately he had been especially attentive to her needs. She had heard that he was still vying for the position of cafeteria director, and she thought to herself that once he became the director, their lives would definitely become more and more prosperous. She subconsciously touched her lower abdomen, her eyes filled with anticipation for the future.

This scene, witnessed by Qin Huairu not far away, felt like a needle pricking her heart with pain. She had originally hoped that Qin Jingru would remember their sisterly bond and help her after marrying into the family, occasionally getting some benefits from He Yuzhu. But now, the girl was only concerned with her own life, having completely forgotten about her, her older sister.

Watching He Yuzhu's figure disappear around the corner of the alley, Qin Huairu took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the anger surging in her heart. She put on a warm smile and walked towards Qin Jingru: "Jingru, why didn't you go to work today? Isn't the cafeteria busy?"

Qin Jingru greeted her with a smile, her tone light and cheerful: "Sister, I've changed shifts, so I won't be going to the cafeteria today. I'll rest at home for the day."

Qin Huairu nodded, her gaze sweeping over the girl's face, and asked seemingly casually, "I just heard Zhuzi tell you to take care of yourself at home. Did you catch a cold? You look fine."

Qin Jingru had intended to keep it a secret, but the joy in her heart was too overwhelming, making her jump around like a little rabbit. She leaned closer, lowered her voice, and said with a mix of pride and shyness, "Sister, I don't have a cold... I'm pregnant, and I just found out not long ago. Brother Zhu told me to rest well, and he won't let me do any housework, not even the water tank."