Chapter 149: Chunsheng Capital

Five years ago, Yao Chuchu’s family, though not wealthy, lived a stable life. Her father was not the degenerate he is today; he held a steady job that, while not high-paying, was enough to support the family. Her mother, Zhao Yuemei, worked as a nanny for the Yuan Jianhui family, earning a better wage and often bringing home leftovers that the employers didn't eat.

Later, Yuan Jianhui’s father, Yuan Fuchun, discovered that two antique vases in their home had been swapped for fakes and immediately reported it to the police. The Yuan villa was equipped with security cameras. When the police reviewed the footage from a month prior, they found clear evidence of Zhao Yuemei moving the two vases out of the house and returning them thirty minutes later. Based on this footage, the police arrested Zhao, and a sum of money of unknown origin was discovered in her bank account. In the end, Zhao committed suicide by drinking pesticide at home.

During the investigation and prosecution, Yao’s father ran himself ragged, lost his job, and exhausted his meager savings. With his wife’s suicide, his entire world collapsed. He began to drink heavily, often blacking out, and eventually fell into a gambling addiction.

...

The surveillance footage and the money in the bank account were damning evidence against Zhao Yuemei. However, the case remained suspicious. From start to finish, the stolen antique vases were never found, and the money in her account had only been deposited on the day the report was filed. Furthermore, there was an illogical detail: if Zhao had truly stolen them a month prior, she should have fled immediately rather than staying on as a nanny. There were many such inconsistencies, but the judge overseeing the case seemed to ignore them, convicting her nonetheless.

...

After Guo Yanzhi finished detailing the case, he added, "There is another highly suspicious point. In Zhao Yuemei’s confession, there is no explanation regarding the movement of the antiques seen on the video. The interrogating officer shouldn't have overlooked that."

"Are you saying there’s something wrong with the confession?" Lu Feng asked.

Guo nodded. "Yes, I suspect the confession was tampered with. I wanted to find time to ask Yao Chuchu and her father about it the day before yesterday."

"Did you ask?"

Guo pulled a bitter face. "When I caused a scene at the Beauty Nightclub last time, the Green Dragon Gang checked my identity and identified me as a cop, refusing me entry."

"You’re a university lecturer, how did you become a cop?" Lu Feng asked, puzzled.

"To them, a police academy lecturer is no different from a cop," Guo shrugged helplessly. "Yao Chuchu stays inside the nightclub and never comes out, so I can't see her."

"I’ll bring her out for you. When do you want to ask her?"

"Tomorrow," Guo replied immediately.

"Fine."

...

The next afternoon, Lu Feng went to the Beauty Nightclub again. The bouncer recognized him and greeted him respectfully, "Master Feng, you're here. Brother Qiang hasn't woken up yet. Are you here to see Miss Chuchu?"

"Yes," Lu Feng nodded and asked, "Where is she?"

"In the wine cellar," the bouncer said, pointing toward the cellar.

...

The door to the wine cellar was open. Inside, shelves were neatly arranged and filled with various wines—red, white, and beer. A girl with a ponytail, dressed in a white shirt, black jacket, and slim-fit black trousers, was checking the inventory with a clipboard and pen.

Lu Feng walked up behind her, his shadow cast upon her back by the lights. Sensing someone, Yao Chuchu turned around. Seeing Lu Feng, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "Brother Qiang put me in charge of the wine cellar, so I don't have to serve drinks to guests anymore."

Lu Feng knew this was a special arrangement made by Zhabo Qiang. He nodded and asked, "Do you have time to come out with me now?"

"Huh?" Yao Chuchu didn't know why he wanted her to leave, but remembering the events of two nights ago, she blushed instantly. Without asking for the reason, she just asked, "Where to?"

"The hotel across the street," Lu Feng said.

Hearing "hotel," Yao Chuchu guessed his intentions. She didn't refuse, but nodded and asked, "Do I need to change?" She was dressed like a bartender, and while she looked fresh and pretty, she feared she looked like hotel staff.

"No, this is fine," Lu Feng shook his head.

Yao Chuchu had been working at the club for over a month and knew that some guests had peculiar tastes; the girls' lockers were stocked with all sorts of uniforms, from police and flight attendant outfits to schoolgirl and teacher costumes. She figured that perhaps Lu Feng had a penchant for white shirts and black trousers.

...

Lu Feng brought Yao Chuchu out of the club and across to the hotel. They didn't head for the guest rooms, but instead went to the hotel restaurant. Fatty Guo was already waiting at a window seat. Seeing Guo, Yao realized she had misunderstood, and she felt a wave of embarrassment.

"Please sit, Yao... Yao Chuchu. Would you like something to drink?" Guo was no longer stuttering, having taken out his notebook and pen, looking every bit the professional policeman.

"No, thank you... Officer Guo, is there something you need?" Yao asked after sitting down.

Lu Feng sat to the side and said, "Just ask."

Guo coughed twice and began his questioning. "Five years ago, surveillance footage showed your mother, Zhao Yuemei, moving antique vases out of the Yuan villa. Do you know about this?"

"I do! My mother told me about it. The police used that video to frame her for theft, but I believe she didn't steal anything," Yao said immediately.

"Then why did your mother move the antiques?"

"It was Yuan Jianhui who told her to. He said the vases were damp and needed to be moved outside to air out. Later, my mother put them back in their original spots. But the police claimed she used that opportunity to swap them," Yao said, her voice rising with emotion.

Hearing this, Lu Feng finally understood why Yao Chuchu blamed Yuan Jianhui for her mother's death.

"Did your mother tell the police this?"

"Of course she did! But they said she was lying, claiming the villa had air conditioning for dehumidification and there was no need to move the vases," she replied.

Lu Feng and Guo exchanged a look, both hitting upon the same key point. If Yao’s mother wasn't lying and it really was Yuan Jianhui who ordered the vases moved, then Yuan might be the one with something to hide.

"Have you looked into the background of the Yuan family?" Lu Feng asked.

Guo nodded. "I have. Yuan Fuchun is the boss of Chun Sheng Capital, an investment firm that has invested in twelve companies and enterprises in Yangcheng."

"Chun Sheng Capital?" Lu Feng frowned.

"Yes, that's the one."

Lu Feng had heard of them. Recently, the operations of Yun'an had been obstructed in many areas, and their revenue had declined significantly compared to the previous year. Chun Sheng Capital had approached Su Dao'an with an investment proposal. However, Yun'an hadn't reached the point of insolvency, and the terms proposed by Chun Sheng were so predatory that Su Dao'an had rejected them outright.

"Does Chun Sheng Capital have anything to do with Wang Yongye?" Lu Feng speculated.

Guo smiled and shook his head. "No, but..." He paused, trying to build suspense, but when no one pressed him, he continued, "However, Wang Yongye's wife has a connection. To be precise, her older brother is the brother-in-law of Yuan Fuchun."