Chapter 97: Reverse Tracking
Jiang Li heard the footsteps behind her and slowed her pace, observing her surroundings as she walked.
The two people following her saw that Jiang Li was heading into a surveillance blind spot and were secretly delighted. ’This idiot, isn’t she just finding a good spot for us?’
The two quickened their pace, preparing to use this opportunity to attack Jiang Li directly.
As soon as one of them stepped in, BANG, his head throbbed with pain. He was hit so hard he didn’t know which way was up.
"Fuck!"
His accomplice reacted, swinging a fist at Jiang Li, but she subdued him in just a few moves.
Seeing their weak-ass fighting skills, Jiang Li immediately guessed who they were. ’People from the research institute.’
Jiang Li fished out her keys from her pocket, her fingers closing around the earpick. She had no choice but to press the earpick against his carotid artery and ask coldly, "Who sent you?"
The man she had pinned down froze, too scared to move.
Jiang Li applied a bit more pressure and continued her intimidation. "Do you know why I’m using an earpick?
"If I poke it in, it’s perfect for hooking your artery right out."
Hearing Jiang Li’s chilling tone, the man couldn’t help but imagine the squelching sound and the sight of his artery being pulled out.
He shivered in terror and immediately started wailing spinelessly.
"AHHHH! I’ll talk! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!"
Jiang Li eased the pressure slightly. "Speak. Otherwise, these keys of mine are pretty useful too."
"It’s Wu Jianzhang! He sent us to watch you and find a chance to knock you out and take you back."
The man trembled all over, cold sweat beading on his forehead. ’This woman just came from the police station? She’s scarier than a murderer!’
’A new name. So the person from the research institute looking for her is named Wu Jianzhang.’
Jiang Li looked at the man expressionlessly. "What else?"
"N-nothing else! He just told us to grab someone. We don’t know the rest." The man shuffled backward, trembling.
"How does he contact you?"
Jiang Li mentally noted it down, then looked up at the two men. "Should I escort you to the police station?"
"No, no need! We’ll go ourselves."
The man scrambled up from the ground in fear and hoisted his partner over his shoulder. He’d rather do a couple of days in jail than breathe the same air as her.
"Don’t mention this incident."
"Okay, okay, okay, we get it! My buddy and I were stealing money before. How does that sound?"
Jiang Li didn’t say a word. She watched them flee in disarray. Once they were out of sight, she looked down at her phone and searched for information on Wu Jianzhang. Seeing the familiar face that appeared, she thought, ’So, his name is Wu Jianzhang.’
Jiang Li went to a mobile service store and got a new SIM card, which she inserted into the other slot in her phone. On the way back, she carefully reviewed the information on Wu Jianzhang.
He owned a sanatorium. Jiang Li immediately hailed a taxi and went there. Wu Jianzhang’s sanatorium was on a mountain, large and opulent.
Soon, she saw Wu Jianzhang walk out with some people. The patients inside were seeing him off with smiles on their faces.
Jiang Li hid around a corner, watching that familiar face.
"Alright, that’s far enough. Make the arrangements I mentioned, and get me the best equipment. This time, I absolutely will not let her escape!"
Wu Jianzhang instructed his assistant with a smile. Whether Jiang Li’s second personality was still there or not, he was determined to capture her and see for himself.
This time, he would absolutely not let her get away.
"Director, Jiang Li is currently a key person under police protection, and she lives nearby. If we do this, won’t we attract the attention of the police...?"
"Don’t forget, the chief is Zhou Fuhai. If he decides to make trouble, I’ll just stop his daughter’s treatment."
Wu Jianzhang snorted coldly, got in the car, and left.
Jiang Li peeked out and studied the sanatorium. It was filled with elderly people and psychiatric patients, and there were many doctors and nurses.
’Wu Jianzhang has some influence. The patients in here must have powerful backgrounds too. He wouldn’t dare do anything reckless, which is why he can only resort to shady business.’
Jiang Li’s gaze fell on the garden inside, and images flashed through her mind. If she remembered correctly, she had escaped from behind that very garden, hiding in the mountains for several days before she finally got away.
Jiang Li watched Wu Jianzhang’s car and followed it. She saw him pick up his child from kindergarten and then return to a villa complex.
Jiang Li noted the general location and Wu Jianzhang’s information from outside. Just as she was consolidating the details and preparing to leave, she suddenly saw Wu Jianzhang’s car drive out of the complex again.
After a few seconds of surprise, Jiang Li followed him.
Wu Jianzhang’s car entered another villa complex. Jiang Li waited outside for a long while, but he didn’t emerge, so she finally hailed a taxi and went back.
’Two villa complexes. It looks like Wu Jianzhang is keeping someone on the side. I just wonder who the mistress is.’
Back home, Jiang Li shut herself in her room after eating and sorted through the information she had gathered.
Then, she searched for information about Wu Jianzhang on various online platforms.
In the living room, the three of them watched the hurried Jiang Li. Wu Ming walked to Jiang Li’s door and knocked.
"Jiang Li, did something happen?"
"Ah, no. It’s been a long day, I just want to rest early," Jiang Li replied, her eyes still on the information she had found.
Wu Jianzhang’s wife, Liu Meiling, had a son late in life; he was only five years old.
Jiang Li took a screenshot of the photo. Looking at the information she had organized on her desk, she thought, ’Looks like I’ll have to make another trip tomorrow.’
That night, Jiang Li dreamed of the opera stage again. The dream was the same as the night before: she woke up right after the White Bone Demon fell.
Jiang Li opened her eyes in confusion. ’There’s nothing bloody about this dream. It’s a perfectly normal dream. So what is it trying to tell me?’
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! Come out and eat!" Yu Huannian’s voice came from the door. She quickly called out in response.
When she came out, she saw Yu Huannian waiting by the door. Jiang Li paused for a second. ’Is he afraid I’m going to run off or something?’
"Oh, right. The bonus money came in. I’ll send it to you guys in a bit."
"So fast?" Wu Ming looked at Jiang Li.
"No, this is from before." Jiang Li did a quick calculation. ’Including the bonus from Huo Qing’s side, it should be several hundred thousand.’
"This much?" Yu Huannian stared at the fifty thousand on his phone. "This..."
He had been thinking he’d make a thousand a month.
Miao Anji took a look and immediately started praising her. "Sister, you’re amazing! You helped us earn so much money, hehe."
"It’s normal. We caught three fugitives this time, plus some other things... Anyway, we won’t starve."
Jiang Li ate her breakfast. ’Yu Huannian and Miao Anji’s cut is more of an advance. Otherwise, they’d really think we’re too poor to eat.’
"Jiang Li, are you going out today? Where to? Take me with you," Wu Ming asked, looking at her.
"Maybe some other time. I have something urgent today," Jiang Li refused without a second thought.
"I’m heading out then." Jiang Li grabbed her car keys and left. She drove straight to Liu Meiling’s residential complex and waited at the entrance. Before long, Liu Meiling came out for a stroll with her nanny.
Liu Meiling looked very young, around thirty, while Wu Jianzhang looked almost fifty.
Jiang Li staked out in her car all day. At one in the afternoon, Liu Meiling drove out of the complex in a convertible.
She quickly followed.
By the time she arrived at the mall, she saw Liu Meiling in what appeared to be a dispute with another woman.