CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: THE BLACK USB DRIVE

A-2-301.

Qi Yun glanced at the doorplate, and sure enough, the entrance was lined with many second-hand washing machines.

The middle-aged owner saw a customer coming and warmly approached, "Brother, feel free to browse, they’re all eighty to ninety percent new."

"Alright, I’ll take a look around." Qi Yun replied and began to weave through the dozens of washing machines.

From time to time, he randomly reached out to touch and carefully examine a washing machine.

After about ten minutes, a gray Haier drum washing machine caught his eye.

The faint glow it emitted told him that this was the one mentioned in the intelligence.

"Owner, how much is this washing machine?"

The owner smiled and came over, "This one, huh, it’s been around for a while, if you want it, it’s 600."

"But I recommend you buy this one next to it, it’s practically brand new, great brand, high quality, washes very clean.

Just got it from a beautiful lady, and if you want it, I’ll give you the lowest price, 1500."

Qi Yun shook his head, "Just this one, I’ll use it at the construction site, give you 300."

"Huh~ 300 is losing money." The owner frowned at the price, shaking his head repeatedly, "No more bargaining, if you really want it, 400."

"Deal, then get a vehicle to deliver it for me." Qi Yun nodded in agreement.

After paying in cash, the owner immediately called for an electric tricycle, and together they loaded the washing machine onto the cargo bed, after which Qi Yun climbed on as well.

Not far from the second-hand market, there was an abandoned construction site, no surveillance or even streetlights there.

Qi Yun directed the driver to pull over, unloaded the goods, and only after the driver left did he carry the washing machine inside.

Finding a secluded corner, he took a good look around before starting to closely inspect the washing machine.

After some knocking and patting, he found nothing unusual.

So he laid the washing machine on its back, took out a pre-prepared screwdriver from his pocket, and unscrewed the bottom plate.

As the back cover slowly fell off, an object wrapped in a black plastic bag fell to the ground.

Qi Yun’s eyes narrowed, knowing that what he was looking for was inside that bag, and his heart rate increased involuntarily.

Opening the black plastic bag, inside was another transparent waterproof sealed bag.

Two bright yellow gold bars appeared before him, sealed together with an accompanying certificate.

Besides the gold bars, there was a black USB drive.

For some reason, from the first glance at this USB drive, a feeling of unease rose in his heart.

Qi Yun furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, then quickly packed everything up and stowed it in his coat.

Then he dragged the washing machine to a corner and hid it before walking towards the roadside.

The sudden appearance of the USB drive made him instantly more alert.

He adjusted his hat brim, and while walking, he observed around, confirming once more that there was no surveillance before leaving the scene swiftly.

...

Qi Yun walked for two kilometers, changing cars twice on the way, before returning to his rented place.

After locking the door, he took out the black plastic bag from his coat.

Both gold bars had a stamp, inscribed with ’CCB Gold 100g Au9999’.

At today’s gold price of 670 per gram, the two gold bars could sell for 134K.

Although he suddenly gained tens of thousands, Qi Yun couldn’t feel happy.

His gaze never left that black USB drive.

This thing, placed with Qiu Yuanshan’s bribery gold bars and hidden so well.

The content recorded inside isn’t hard to guess.

According to his initial assumption, the origin of the gold bars was illegal, and even if they were lost, the owner might not dare to make a fuss.

But with the addition of this black USB drive, everything became uncertain.

However, judging by the scale of bribery, the person on the other side probably isn’t someone with too much power, otherwise, there wouldn’t be only 200g of gold bars.

But that’s just his guess; what if he was wrong?

What if the contents of the USB drive involved some big shot?

He had lived for over thirty years and knew very well that ’using secrets to blackmail important figures’ only happened in novels.

If one didn’t have a certain background or influence, daring to do such things might result in disappearing without a trace.

On the other hand, if this USB drive was really important to the other party who had considerable power and they found him.

Even if he said he hadn’t seen it, the other side might not believe him.

After much thought with no resolution, Qi Yun decided he couldn’t be bothered to think further.

He opened a brick under the bed, sealed the USB drive in a bag, and stashed it inside.

Then, carrying the two gold bars, he left.

Riding his electric bike, Qi Yun went to a large mall nearby, where the streets had small shops that specifically bought gold.

He didn’t go to a bank due to cautionary considerations.

The price offered at the gold shop was a bit lower than at banks, 665 per gram.

Qi Yun handed one gold bar to them, and because it came with a certificate, they only did a simple check and then transferred the money without hesitation.

He then sold another gold bar at a different gold shop, increasing his card’s balance to 172K.

But right now, he wasn’t in the mood to be happy and bought a folding shovel from a hardware store before riding back to the place where he left the washing machine.

In a spot with softer soil, he swung his arms and started digging a hole.

After half an hour, the old washing machine was completely out of sight.

Qi Yun carefully cleared away the traces and then mounted his electric bike to leave.

...

On the other side, Qiu Yuanshan had just returned home from training out of town.

He looked exhausted, with bloodshot eyes, indicating he had gone through something troubling.

As soon as he entered, Qiu Jiahao heard the noise and hurriedly approached.

"Dad, you’re finally back."

Qiu Yuanshan glared at him coldly, took a bottle of antihypertension medicine from his bag, swallowed a handful, and then angrily said, "How do you even have the nerve to come here?"

Qiu Jiahao, seeing his father’s cold stare and interrogation, felt guilty. He lowered his head and softly said, "Dad, I... I was also anxious."

Qiu Yuanshan snorted, slumped onto the sofa, and rubbed his temples, "You know anxiety?

The mess you caused at the hot pot restaurant is now all over the internet, do you know what a massive trouble you’ve brought on me?"

Qiu Jiahao shivered with fright, attempting to explain, "Dad, I just couldn’t stand that guy, wanted to teach him a lesson. Who knew someone would record and upload it online."

Qiu Yuanshan, furious, slammed the table, pointed at Qiu Jiahao’s nose, and yelled, "You idiot!

Because of your impulsiveness, I’m being investigated now. Look at the mess you’ve made!"

Qiu Jiahao was so scolded that he couldn’t make a sound, hanging his head even lower.

At this moment, Qiu Yuanshan’s wife put down her phone in the bedroom and came out.

Seeing her son being scolded so harshly, she immediately stepped up to mediate, "Old Qiu, what’s the use of scolding him now? Better think of a way to quell the online storm."

Qiu Yuanshan felt like the antihypertensive he took earlier had been in vain, furiously barking at his wife, "I’m just a deputy secretary of the sub-district office! How am I supposed to quell it, like I’m some almighty king or something?"