Names: Uncle Zhao Mengsheng, Father-in-law Pei Yihong

"Okay, I'll make a call to raise the money."

Old Ma was satisfied, patted him on the shoulder, and got up to go back inside.

Chen Shan squatted at the door, glanced at his phone screen, and saw that the signal was weak, jumping by one or two bars.

He dialed a number, it rang three times, and then it connected.

"Feed".

"It's me. I don't have enough money, please transfer some more to me, I have to leave tonight."

After a few seconds of silence, a man's voice came through: "Okay."

The phone hangs up.

Chen Shan put his phone back in his pocket and stared at the dark mountain ridge in the distance. The border was just beyond the mountains; once he crossed it, he would be in foreign territory.

Once that's over, you'll be free.

Her daughter is overseas, and Li Shiya is also overseas; all that's missing is for her to go there so the family can reunite.

Chen Shan lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

The voice in my head was more pungent than smoke.

What a disgrace! The director of the Public Security Bureau of Handong Province is now stuck in a border town, being ripped off by a small-time human trafficker.

Chen Shan's knuckles clenched so tightly they cracked, then relaxed.

It's not that it is not reported, the time has not come.

At 11:30 p.m., Old Ma led three men, guiding Chen Shan through a sugarcane field, over two iron fences, and to the border river. The river wasn't wide, only a dozen meters across, but it was deep and flowed swiftly.

Old Ma turned off his flashlight, turned around and lowered his voice: "There will be a car to pick you up after you cross the river."

After you get ashore, follow the person in the white tank top. Don't look back, and don't say anything.

Chen Shan remained silent.

Old Ma rowed the boat from the front, while Chen Shan sat in the small boat, smoking a cigarette.

Just as they were about to reach the shore, Old Ma suddenly stopped.

"Boss, I've thought about it, and it's still not enough."

Chen Shan, a cigarette between his fingers, asked, "What's not enough?"

"After you cross the river, there are still people you need to bribe." Old Ma turned around, his thin face bathed in moonlight. "Give me another 100,000, otherwise no one will pick you up after you cross the river. If no one leads you through this forest, you're sure to die."

Chen Shan looked at him without saying a word.

The two henchmen behind him had already jumped ashore, one on the left and one on the right.

Chen Shan suddenly laughed.

"Old Ma, what's the most despicable thing you've ever done in your life?"

Old Ma was taken aback. "I've never done anything immoral. I'm an honest, trustworthy, and righteous person."

"No! It was today that he ran into me." Chen Shan couldn't hold back any longer.

Before he finished speaking, Chen Shan's hand had already moved.

He grabbed Lao Ma by the neck.

Old Ma's eyes widened.

With a loud "Awoo!"

Then, he fell into the water.

The two henchmen realized what was happening.

One reached for the knife at his waist, while the other swung a stick and smashed it down on Chen Shan's head.

Chen Shan tilted his head, and the stick grazed his ear and hit the water.

He grabbed the other end of the stick and pulled it back sharply.

The skinny man stumbled and lunged forward.

Chen Shan elbowed him in the temple.

He fell into the water.

It took less than ten seconds.

The two henchmen knelt down and begged for mercy.

Chen Shan took a couple of breaths, stretched out his stick, and Lao Ma grabbed it and climbed ashore.

Old Ma, still not completely dizzy, was panting heavily while clutching his throat.

Chen Shan used a knife to cut a strip of cloth from his clothes and used it to tie the hands of Lao Ma and the other two.

"Do you want more money?" Chen Shan squatted down and patted Old Ma's face. "Remember this, I can get your life back anytime."

"Grandpa, I don't want it anymore!" Old Ma shook his head vigorously.

I'm really afraid that Chen Shan will kill me with a single blow.

Chen Shan hasn't let Lao Ma off the hook yet.

Besides Lao Ma's clothes, Chen Shan took all the cash and cell phones.

Chen Shan stepped over the reeds that were taller than a person and quickly disappeared into the dark woods.

There was only one thought in my mind: to live.

Li Shiya.

And his own daughter.

The next day.

9:30 a.m.

Office of the Executive Deputy Director of the Public Security Department of Handong Province.

The red telephone on Xia Changfeng's desk rang.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was the area code for Yunnan Province.

His brows furrowed involuntarily.

Yunnan Province?

I don't have much business dealings with them.

Could it have been transferred from the ministry?

Regardless of the consequences, let's answer the call first.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Director Xia, this is Xiao Zhao from the Border Management Division of the Yunnan Provincial Border Defense Corps. There's something I need to report to you."

Xia Changfeng's heart skipped a beat.

Border Defense Corps?

Border Management Office?

The phone call came to my office, and they specifically asked for me.

This is no small matter.

"Director Zhao, please speak."

"Last night, around midnight, a robbery occurred on the border river in our jurisdiction."

A smuggler surnamed Ma, along with two others, went to pick up a "goods" shipment, only to be robbed by the person they were supposed to deliver. Cash and cell phones were stolen, and the three men were tied up by the riverbank, nearly becoming mosquito food.

That snakehead, Old Ma, is terrified now.

Indeed, if Chen Shan were to strike, next year would be Old Ma's anniversary.

Xia Changfeng's fingers tightened suddenly around the phone.

Snake head.

Receiving the goods.

Sending people out of the country.

What are the defining characteristics of a person?

"He is about 1.78 meters tall, in his forties, speaks with a Handong accent, has calluses on his hands, and moves very nimbly."

Old Ma said that the man was obviously a trained fighter; he took down all three of them in no time, in less than ten seconds, without even giving them time to react.

Old Ma said this man was probably a soldier, especially his eyes; they looked very fierce.

Xia Changfeng's heart was pounding out of control.

The accent of Handong.

In his forties.

1.78 meters tall.

It's just Chen Shan.

He was almost certain who it was.

But I still asked one more question: "Do you have any photos?"

"Yes. The checkpoint by the border river captured half a profile shot, but the clarity isn't great. I'll send it to your email right away, please take a look."

"Okay. I'll look into it right away. Director Zhao, thank you for your cooperation."

This old man is afraid of dying.

He was robbed but dared not utter a word, and fearing retaliation, he simply poured out all his dirty laundry, hoping to find peace of mind in jail.

"Okay, Director Zhao, I'll contact you after I've seen the photos. Thank you for your help."

After hanging up the phone, Xia Changfeng sat in his chair and remained silent for a full minute.

He opened his email, downloaded the attachment, and clicked on the photo.

Half a profile, somewhat blurry, but the outline is still recognizable. The lines of the jawbone, the curve of the brow bone.

And that spirit, even with only half a face showing, exudes an aura that's not to be trifled with.

That's right.

That's Chen Shan.

Chen Shan, former director of the Public Security Bureau of Handong Province.

Xia Changfeng made a phone call.

The call was answered quickly.

"Province Qi, this is Xia Changfeng."

"Comrade Changfeng, what's the matter?" Qi Tongwei's voice was steady on the other end of the phone.

"Qi Province, there's news about Chen Shan. The Yunnan Provincial Border Defense just called me, saying that a smuggler was robbed near the border river."

The smuggler confessed that the person who robbed him was the "goods" he was about to send out.

That person's characteristics perfectly matched Chen Shan's.

The photos were sent from Yunnan Province; I looked at them and it's basically confirmed to be him.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

Qi Tongwei felt a bit overwhelmed. "Are you sure?"

Chen Shan still appeared on camera.

"I'm at least 80% sure."

"Okay. I understand. I'll report to the Provincial Party Committee and then decide on the next course of action."

Qi Tongwei hung up the phone.

He stood by the window, looking out at the provincial government compound; everything seemed calm and normal.

But he knew that this matter had caused a huge uproar.

Chen Shan not only survived, but also reached the border, stole a snake's head, and crossed the border river.

The other side of the border river is outside the country.

Chen Shan really ran away.