Siheyuan: I am Banggeng's uncle

Chapter 723 Don't put all your eggs in one basket!

As soon as Wang Kai finished speaking, Chen Weiguo led Director Gong of Xinjiekou Police Station toward Jia Dongming and his group.

Upon seeing Chen Weiguo and Director Gong, Jia Dongming immediately stepped forward to shake hands with Director Gong and said with a smile, "Hello, Director Gong! I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you again this time."

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's words, and recalling the case they had solved the previous day, Director Gong said to Jia Dongming with great enthusiasm, "Captain Jia! What you said really makes me feel ashamed. As the director of Xinjiekou Police Station, we didn't even know that a vicious criminal gang was hiding in our jurisdiction."

"Yesterday, thanks to the clues provided by you and Captain Chen, we cooperated with the Major Crimes Unit of the branch bureau to successfully arrest seven criminals. Subsequently, through the confessions of these seven criminals, we successfully solved several major cases that occurred in our jurisdiction a few years ago."

Upon hearing Director Gong's words and recalling the purpose of their visit, Jia Dongming quickly asked Director Gong, "Director Gong! I believe Captain Chen has already told you why we're here, right? Could you please give us a more detailed introduction to Shen Zhongqing's situation?"

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's question, Director Gong recalled what Chen Weiguo had mentioned to him before he came, and quickly introduced him to Jia Dongming: "Captain Jia! Shen Zhongqing's parents are well-known capitalists in our area. During the Liberation War, his parents provided some assistance to our side. After the founding of New China, his parents were among the first capitalists to want our policies and implement joint public-private ownership."

"Several years ago, Shen Zhongqing's parents passed away due to illness, leaving Shen Zhongqing alone in the Shen family. Because he was a capitalist, he made a living by selling off some of his family property from time to time. Because he usually kept a low profile, we did not find anything suspicious about him."

Upon hearing Director Gong's explanation, Jia Dongming frowned deeply and asked with a serious expression, "Director Gong! Doesn't this Shen Zhongqing have any brothers or sisters? Before liberation, capitalists all had three wives and four concubines. The Shen family's business is so large, how could they only have Shen Zhongqing as their only child?"

When Director Gong heard Jia Dongming ask about the specific situation of the Shen family, he immediately introduced to Jia Dongming: "Captain Jia! According to the information we have, Shen Zhongqing has two older brothers and one older sister. However, before the liberation, Shen Zhongqing's two older brothers and sister disappeared for some unknown reason."

After listening to Director Gong's explanation, Jia Dongming pondered for a while before speaking: "Many capitalists follow the famous saying, 'Don't put all your eggs in one bowl.' So I suspect that before liberation, the Shen family, in order to protect their family business, placed bets between us and Baldy."

"Shen Zhongqing's older brother and sister should not be missing, but rather they left with Baldman when he was defeated, either going to the island or to other countries. As for why Shen Zhongqing's parents did not leave Beijing, it is probably because the Shen family has too many businesses in Beijing and cannot deal with them all in a short time, so they have no choice but to stay in Beijing."

"Furthermore, Director Gong, you just mentioned that Shen Zhongqing's parents passed away a few years ago. Personally, I think that Shen Zhongqing's parents did not actually pass away, but rather used their passing as an excuse to quietly leave Beijing with the money they had sold. I estimate that they are probably already abroad, reunited with Shen Zhongqing's brother and sister."

Upon hearing Jia Dongming's analysis, everyone's faces showed surprise. Director Gong, with a face full of regret, replied, "Captain Jia! I was wondering why Old Master Shen, who was in good health, suddenly passed away. It seems the Shen family staged a clever escape, using his death as an excuse to flee Beijing with their wealth." Jia Dongming's analysis greatly surprised Chen Weiguo. Thinking of the character of those capitalists, Chen Weiguo said indignantly, "Almost none of those capitalists are good people, so Captain Jia's analysis does indeed have some merit."

At this point, Chen Weiguo remembered the division of labor he had previously discussed with Jia Dongming, and quickly changed the subject, asking Jia Dongming, "Captain Jia! You and Wang Kai just went to scout near Shen Zhongqing's house. Did you find anything?"

When Wang Kai, who was standing nearby, heard Chen Weiguo ask about the results of his reconnaissance trip with Jia Dongming near Shen Zhongqing's house, he immediately recalled Jia Dongming's analysis of the surrounding environment during the reconnaissance. He quickly explained to Chen Weiguo, "Team Leader! Earlier, Captain Jia and I went to reconnoiter near Shen Zhongqing's house. Based on the environment around that small building, Captain Jia ultimately concluded..."

Upon hearing Wang Kai's explanation and learning of Jia Dongming's suspicions about the pawnshop, Director Gong carefully recalled for a moment before solemnly explaining to Jia Dongming and Chen Weiguo, "Captain Jia! Branch Captain Chen! I know that pawnshop. Before liberation, it was actually a pawnshop, owned by the Shen family."

"Later, due to policy reasons, the Shen family changed the pawnshop into a consignment shop. After the public-private partnership began, the Shen family gave the consignment shop to the Shen family's steward. Now, the Shen family's steward is the private manager of that consignment shop."

Upon hearing Director Gong's introduction and learning the true situation of the consignment shop, Chen Weiguo felt that Jia Dongming's analysis was not without merit. He replied with a face full of agreement, "Director Gong! Shen Zhongqing has been operating the black market for so many years, yet no one has ever known him. He is the behind-the-scenes boss of the black market, which shows that he is very careful in his actions."

"I reckon Shen Zhongqing must know that we've captured Gui Laoqi and Jiang He. Given Shen Zhongqing's cautiousness and prudence, he certainly won't stay at home obediently waiting for us to arrest him. So I think Captain Jia's words make perfect sense."

After hearing Chen Weiguo's words, Director Gong pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Captain Jia! Branch Captain Chen! How about I send someone to that consignment shop to see if Shen Zhongqing is actually there?"

Upon hearing Director Gong's suggestion, Jia Dongming refused without hesitation, saying, "Director Gong! Shen Zhongqing has been secretly operating the black market for so many years. I estimate that he is very familiar with the personnel in your police station. Under such circumstances, if you send someone to the consignment shop to investigate, it is very likely to arouse Shen Zhongqing's suspicion."

“Captain Jia! Apart from the officers from the police station, no one else knows Shen Zhongqing. If we send our people to investigate the consignment shop, even if they meet Shen Zhongqing in person, they won’t recognize him.” Upon hearing Jia Dongming’s answer, Chen Weiguo’s face immediately turned serious, and he solemnly reminded Jia Dongming.

Upon hearing Chen Weiguo's reminder, Jia Dongming pondered for a moment before quickly saying to Chen Weiguo and Director Gong, "Captain Chen! Director Gong! Our municipal bureau has an artist. We can invite him over and have him draw Shen Zhongqing's appearance based on the descriptions given by our colleagues at the police station. That would solve the problem of our colleagues not recognizing Shen Zhongqing."

(End of this chapter)