CHAPTER 119: FIRST INVESTIGATION

Zhao Yiming’s car rolled to a quiet stop in front of the apartment complex. The headlights dimmed, and the engine purred into silence.

Beside him in the passenger seat, Han Queying sat with arms folded, her eyes sharp and focused. The apartment across the street was old, worn down by years of rain, smog, and city indifference.

The small houses nearby looked even worse cracked tiles, rusted gates, faded red paint that used to mean luck.

Now it only looked like blood that had dried under the sun.

"...This is it?" Queying asked, her voice low.

Zhao Yiming nodded. "Ruan Lihua said this is one of their prime targets. The apartment complex and some houses along the alley haven’t sold yet."

"I see... Those bastard don’t feel threatened even when the court decided to continue the investigation for their company, huh?" she sighed, her hands crossed.

"They are working with the police too and this isn’t the first time they are being sued like this."

"I know. I can’t believe I work with corrupt police as if nothing happened."

Han Queying took something from her bag, it was a spicy candy, and gave one to Zhao Yiming before popping it into her mouth.

"You seriously love spicy that much, huh?" he shook his head and put the candy inside his pocket.

"Of course! All my seniors keep shoving me easy cases! But about five to ten of them in a row! This candy is the reason why I can wide awake till now."

Zhao Yiming chuckled, "Good job officer, you are indeed a great police." he then continued, "You can sleep for a while now since today we only observed their movement."

Han Queying shook her head, "Nah, I’m good. Just by me another dandan noodle today."

Then, the front gate of the building clattered open. Two men in cheap black suits stepped out one of them holding a thick DSLR camera, the other carrying a clipboard.

They headed straight toward an elderly couple sitting outside their door.

"They are moving," Han Queying muttered.

The suited man barked something at the couple, waving his clipboard aggressively. The woman flinched, and the man stood up, his legs trembling.

The guy with the camera raised it and took pictures, zooming in, taking close-ups of peeling paint, mold on the walls, even trash bags that someone had left out.

"They’re doing the classic game," Zhao Yiming said.

"Photograph everything, make the area look like a safety hazard, and threaten to report it to city housing if the owner doesn’t sell."

"And people still believe this bullshit?" Queying hissed. "It’s their people who dump garbage, break windows, and pretend to be thugs scaring residents!"

The woman started crying. The suited man jabbed the clipboard again, then pointed at the main road. It was all staged.

Behind the two enforcers, a black car was waiting, engine idling, already assuming they’d force someone out today.

"Heavens, this pisses me off," Queying growled, already unbuckling her seatbelt. "I can’t just sit here and do nothing."

Zhao Yiming grabbed her wrist. "Don’t do it, Queying... It will cause more trouble."

"What?!"

"You are a detective and if they know about this, they will realize that we are sniffing them," His voice was calm, but serious.

"Yiming, they’re threatening old people!"

"I know," he muttered, jaw clenched. "But if we rush in now, we’ll blow everything. The residents will get scared. Golden Earth will pull back and lay low, and we won’t be able to get evidence."

She glared at him like she was ready to punch a wall. "So we just sit here and let them—"

"No. We help them. But from the shadows."

Han Queying narrowed her eyes. "Like that man with a bat costume?"

Zhao Yiming lifted his brow, "Well, if you said so... But what kind of crazy man uses a bat costume to help people?"

"Pffft, are you living in a cave to the point you don’t know that superhero?" She scoffed, but slowly sat back, frustrated but understanding.

"So what’s the plan, ’Bat-Zhao’?"

Zhao Yiming’s gaze didn’t leave the building. "We wait until they leave. Then I’ll talk to the residents. Buy the land under New Dawn Housing, and protect the deeds. Quietly. Legally. Lihua’s people will gather dirt on the Golden Earth squad that came today."

He paused. "And you... on can start working on that police angle."

"Fine." Queying huffed. "But if I see one of those bastards lay a hand on someone, I’m going in."

"Deal."

They sat in silence again as the suited men shouted one last warning before walking away.

And the camera clicked, like a trigger being pulled. Not only videos they also record illegal things they’ve done too even when Han Queying kept cursing to wanted to punch them and Zhao Yiming could only add oil to the fire or laugh.

After what felt like forever, the black sedan finally drove away.

Zhao Yiming stepped out of the car and adjusted his collar. Han Queying slammed her door shut a beat later, her expression darker than storm clouds.

"Disgusting," she muttered under her breath. "Acting like they own the damn street."

They approached the old couple still seated on the weathered bench outside their ground-floor unit.

The old man clutched a cane with both hands, while the woman sat with slumped shoulders, wiping her eyes with the hem of her shirt.

"Excuse me," Zhao Yiming called gently. "Are you alright, Uncle, Auntie?"

The man looked up. His eyes were tired, cautious. "Who are you?"

"I’m not from the government," Zhao Yiming said quickly not wanting them to get more suspicious. "But I’m here because I saw what just happened. I want to help."

The woman sniffled and muttered, "They’ve been coming by every few days... taking pictures, shouting at us... Said we violated new urban codes. That we had mold and unsafe wiring."

"They’re lying," Han Queying said flatly, crouching down so she was eye-level with them. "They do this all the time. Intimidate residents into selling cheap so they can knock the building down."

Just then, a young man jogged up from the alleyway, phone in hand. "Auntie Qiao! Uncle Tian! I got your message, Are you okay?"

They’re okay," Zhao said, stepping back slightly, surprised by the newcomer.

The old man glanced at the boy, then nodded. "Ah, Kai, you came quickly."

The young man turned to Zhao and Han Queying, cautious. "Who are you?"

"I’m Zhao Yiming," he said calmly. "We saw what Golden Earth was doing here. We want to help."

"Help? How and why young man?" the old man, Tian said.

"Well, this man right here has a personal grudge against the group that harasses you and he is rich." Han Queying grinned as she tapped Zhao Yiming’s shoulder as he laughed awkwardly.

"Yeah, and I need your help, you man. We’d like to talk to everyone here. Whoever’s still resisting Golden Earth. Can you help gather them?"

"Sure," Wang Kai said. "We already have a WuChat group. I’ll message them."

Fifteen minutes later, six residents gathered around the courtyard. Aside from Uncle Tian and Auntie Qiao, there was Ms. Dong the widow who ran a tiny dumpling stall nearby; Mr. Zheng, a retired schoolteacher; and a younger single mom, Lin Na, holding her daughter’s hand.

Zhao looked around, then stepped forward. "I know you’re afraid. And I don’t blame you. But I want to make you an offer."

Some eyebrows lifted. No one spoke. Since those two men and even more often threatened them, every help even bit was needed.

"I represent a company called New Dawn Housing. We’re not with those people who work under Golden Earth and as most of you already know, they wanted to buy your land and houses at a low price."

"We’re against them. And we want to buy your land at a normal price, not to evict you, but to protect you."

Murmurs passed between them. Everyone was in disbelief, after all, if he wanted to buy at a price higher than that so-called Golden Earth.

"You’ll stay in your homes. No one gets kicked out. You’ll simply pay rent to us, something fair and far cheaper than your current taxes. In return, we make sure no one harasses you again."

"You’re asking us to give up our deeds," Ms. Liu said sharply. "How is that protecting us?"

Zhao nodded slowly. "A good question. Because when your property is under our protection, Golden Earth can’t target you without facing legal trouble. We have the means to fight back."

"And if we say no?" asked Mr. Zheng.

Han Queying stepped in now. "Then I hope you have a good insurance and a lawyer on speed dial."

They stared.

"I’m not exaggerating," she added. "Do you know what happened to Madam He in Lianwu District?"

They all went quiet. Even the little girl clutched her mother’s hand tightly.

"She and her husband refused to sell. Then, someone from Golden Earth pushed her until she was in a coma. Her husband didn’t have a choice but to sell the store."

"However, because of this kind young man, her husband can pay the hospital bill and even keep the store! If you don’t believe me, feel free to ask the tenant from Lianwu Street!"

Everyone then started to whisper to each other. They were scared, in doubt, and many more. After all, Zhao Yiming’s arrival was too confident.

What if he scams them?

Zhao Yiming waited, letting it settle before speaking again. "I’m not here to scare you. I’m here because we don’t want that to happen to you."

Wang Kai looked at the older residents. "It’s... a lot to take in."

"It is," Zhao agreed. "I’m not forcing anything. But the longer you wait, the closer Golden Earth gets."

There was a pause. Then Auntie Qiao nodded slowly.

"We’ll think about it. Just... give us some time."

Uncle Tian added, "This place is our home. We can’t give it away like it’s nothing. Just let us talk it over."