"Xiaoqi, as you instructed, I had the brothers dig into the Qi Family's background, and we found something quite interesting. The Qi Family is registered at the Government Office as operating in cloth production and sales, and there's a large dye factory sixty li outside the city. According to the records, it employs over seven hundred workers. I took a few brothers there for a look, and discovered the place is very odd."
"Describe it in detail."
In front of Shen Hao were a few simple dishes, and he listened to Wang Jian's report while eating.
"Generally, in a cloth factory, the skilled workers are the most valued; and the longer the factory's been running, the more skilled workers it accumulates. But in the Qi Family's factory, more than half are apprentices."
Shen Hao remained silent, knowing Wang Jian's capabilities—this couldn't be so simple, there was surely more to come.
Sure enough, Wang Jian continued, "All those apprentices aren't from around Five Rams City—the closest are from the Hai Xia Mountain Area, and some are even from beyond Zhuo Huo Pass. They're all between thirteen and sixteen—just half-grown boys.
I checked the factory's monthly roster. Except for the skilled workers, the apprentices change drastically; basically, they're all swapped out every three months.
And, according to the skilled workers in the factory, the reason for the frequent changes among apprentices is that the master has them sent to other factories to hold up the front. But even though the Qi Family is wealthy, they don't have that many factories. There's no need for so many workers. And there's no record of the Qi Family sending workers to other cloth shops."
"So why does the Qi Family bother to constantly recruit new apprentices?"
Why indeed?
"I suspect that while the Qi Family openly hires workers, they're secretly engaged in human trafficking."
"Human traffickers? What's their network? Where are they sending people? Every three months, and so many at once—they couldn't keep this under wraps for long. It doesn't make sense." Shen Hao shook his head, indicating the theory was flawed.
"Xiaoqi, you said we must make bold conjectures and verify cautiously when investigating. I believe the Qi Family's dealings aren't ordinary human trafficking."
"Oh?"
Shen Hao kept eating and drinking, as Wang Jian pulled an account book from his jacket, flipped to a page, and placed it on the table, gesturing for him to look.
Then Wang Jian continued, "Xiaoqi, see here—this is a yin yang account book I found at the Qi Family. There's a product sold in units of 'altar,' with no name. Every three months, the Qi Family sells thirty altars' worth of this substance, earning three hundred thousand taels. Whatever this is—it's worth more than gold."
"So? What does this have to do with the apprentices?"
"Xiaoqi, I suspect what's inside these 'altars' is the blood of those apprentices. The Qi Family isn't just a trafficker—they're ruthless sellers of human blood!"
Human blood sellers? Shen Hao put down his bowl and chopsticks.
"Xiaoqi, I'm not guessing blindly. I have two reasons. First are the doubts I just shared. Second, is what I discovered about the banned materials in the Qi Family's warehouses. I had someone check the origins of those materials at noon, and found that they're nearly identical to the ingredients for a notorious yin tofu evil item—except for one thing: virgin boy's blood. That matches up with the missing apprentices from the factory...
So, I believe the Qi Family is secretly trafficking people, killing innocents, and manufacturing and selling evil, yin objects."
Hearing this, Shen Hao couldn't help but furrow his brow. Wang Jian's deductions might be presumptuous, but the logic and critical points were sound—in other words, this was a high-probability 'possibility.'
And thinking of the fragment of evil sect Yin Talisman he'd found in the Qi Family's kitchen, Shen Hao felt the fog over the case had begun to clear.
He stood and paced for a long while, then made up his mind.
Now that the case had a clear target, it was best to act directly, to avoid further complications.
With a serious expression, Shen Hao told Wang Jian, "Wang Jian, follow protocol: immediately issue a lockdown order to the Five Rams City Government Office, have them post guards to monitor every inch of the city. Then, go overnight to the Garrison and request one hundred ordinary soldiers; I have a feeling there's much more hidden behind the Qi Family.
Also, every one of the Qi Family's employees—especially those frequently in close contact with the Qi Family—must be investigated. Don't just check their backgrounds; learn their social circles. Upon any suspicion, take action at once—do not overlook a single person!
Additionally, the Qi Family's yin yang account books should offer traces of each business transaction. Compile and hand these over to the Garrison's case records office for filing, then have them coordinate with colleagues from other stations to assist in the investigation.
And, go to Fengyuan Inn, have them list all guests staying in the last half month. Focus on anyone coming and going who often interacts with vagrants..."
Besides acting on Wang Jian's judgement, Shen Hao also assigned tasks related to Xie Mountain, Ma Jiu, and Chen Erniu.
Receiving his orders, Wang Jian hurried off.
Sitting back in his chair and grabbing the wine bottle for a swig, Shen Hao stared at the gloomy Qi Mansion courtyard and muttered, "Motive—still haven't found the motive. But I feel it's not far now."
...
Three days after the case broke.
While Wang Jian was so busy he barely touched the ground, Shen Hao returned alone to Li City, entering the Xuanqing Guard Station. He needed to report the case progress to General Flag Chen Tianwen.
But just as he stepped through the station gate, Shen Hao encountered someone he rather disliked.
Wu Qing, Jia Flag Team B Small Banner Officer—a real nepotist, his father an old friend of the Trial Hundred Households; relying on this connection, he's always arrogant in the Guard Station and constantly at odds with Shen Hao.
"Well well, Shen Hao—busy again? I heard you just finished your last case and took up a new one? Your General Flag sure works you like an ox. Tsk tsk, aren't you worried you'll drop dead from exhaustion?"
"Wu Xiaoqi, spare me your concern. I have things to do, goodbye." Shen Hao couldn't be bothered to trade words, sidestepping past him at once.
"Tsk, this bumpkin..." Wu Qing watched Shen Hao's back, suddenly seeming to think of something as his eyes shifted and a slight smile appeared.
...
In Chen Tianwen's Public Office.
After hearing Shen Hao's report, Chen Tianwen's face showed not only surprise but rare delight. This was a real big case—not only was an evil sect Yin Talisman found at the crime scene, probably linked to those people, but now there's a Qi Family possibly involved in 'slaughtering innocents, manufacturing and selling evil, yin objects.'
With only days left before the Big Case Conference, Chen Tianwen felt that if this was handled properly, he'd make a name for himself at the meeting—a huge boon for him.
"The report Wang Jian submitted last night—I've already approved it. I'll draw one hundred soldiers and twenty warriors from my direct command to station at Five Rams City at your disposal. Besides, I'll personally urge the case records office as well. But Shen Hao, you mustn't disappoint me. You have to handle this case beautifully, understand?"