Chapter 1827: Looking for a Needle in a Haystack
"So, you came over in the middle of the night just to tell me this." Ye Shikai rolled his eyes, "Couldn’t you just call me? Coming over so late, what if someone misunderstands?"
"What’s there to misunderstand?" Zhang Ting tossed the documents to Ye Shikai and specifically reminded him, "Get some rest, you must be at the police station on time tomorrow."
"If it weren’t for you coming over at midnight, I’d already be asleep..."
"Enough nonsense, I’m leaving now, don’t forget tomorrow morning."
"Alright, you better hurry up and go back."
Zhang Ting left the room, and Ye Shikai escorted him to the door. Feng Ling was still standing there waiting, like a lifeless statue. Didn’t the hotel’s security find her suspicious?
"She’s already left, shouldn’t you return to your room as well?" Ye Shikai said flatly, "Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere."
"Since you put it that way, I’ll head back. I’m just across the hall, call me anytime if you need anything." Feng Ling nodded slightly, and even though she entered her room, if Ye Shikai guessed correctly, she was definitely peering through the peephole watching his door. If Ye Shikai left, she’d certainly follow.
Ye Shikai looked at his phone; it was already 1 AM. If he delayed any further, there’d be no need to wake up tomorrow morning...
The next day.
Zhongyuan City Police Station.
"Zhang, since you two are new here and unfamiliar with the South District Market, I could assign someone to guide you." Huang Hai suggested.
"No need, Director Huang, we can manage." Zhang Ting said while urging Ye Shikai into the car.
"Ye, be careful too."
"Thank you for your concern, Director Huang."
Zhang Ting drove the car, Feng Ling was still following behind, while Ye Shikai closed his eyes to rest; he hadn’t slept well last night because of Zhang Ting’s "visit".
"I noticed Director Huang is quite concerned about you." Zhang Ting glanced over and remarked.
"Is he?"
"Of course, and he also asked yesterday if you’re accustomed to living here after returning home. Normally, you two are strangers, so why is he asking all these questions?" Zhang Ting was like a shark sensing blood in the water, sharply perceptive.
"You must have known each other before; I should’ve guessed earlier. My director and your father were old acquaintances, maybe Director Huang knows you as well."
"Don’t overthink it, not everyone knows each other." Ye Shikai waved his hand, "I really didn’t know Huang Hai before."
Ye Shikai believed Huang Hai’s "concern" was likely due to his identity as a cultivator; ostensibly "concerned," but actually probing for information.
Huang Hai was cautious of Ye Shikai, probably assigning someone to keep an eye on him. Ye Shikai was curious about Huang Hai’s background, who turned out to be a cultivator as well.
"We’re here." Zhang Ting parked the car by the roadside, and the two got out and entered the South District Market.
"Wow, this is a lot."
The South District Market was Zhongyuan City’s largest bazaar, selling everything from hardware to groceries to seafood, an absolute "melting pot," with countless vendors.
"So many people, where do we start looking?" Zhang Ting hadn’t expected it to be so vast; the bigger the place, the more mixed the crowd. Ye Shikai surveyed the surroundings; a place like this had all sorts of people, and if someone was hiding here, they’d be hard to find.
"Feeling anxious now? What’s the point of coming out now?" Ye Shikai teased.
"Well, then we’ll search shop by shop. According to the data, the missing persons often visited here; surely someone recognizes them." Zhang Ting handed him the missing persons’ photos.
"Come on, let’s search every store."
"Excuse me, have you seen these people?"
"Don’t have much impression."
"Can’t recall."
"Haven’t seen them."
"Judging by their looks, aren’t they scrap collectors? How could I remember? This market has at least a few thousand people daily."
Two hours later.
"Have some cool drinks." Ye Shikai bought a bottle of beverage, handing it to Zhang Ting, whose gaze was almost murderous. Having searched for hours without any clues, she felt restless but there was nothing to do. Walking around a massive market for two hours trying to find clues about some beggars and scavengers was like searching for a needle in a haystack. The market saw all kinds of people daily; vendors might remember regulars but not beggars and scrap collectors. Even if they recognized them, how could they know where these missing persons lived or their age or family?
"I’ll definitely find them, let’s continue searching." Zhang Ting wasn’t willing to give up; she was determined to find a lead today.
"Wait, searching like this is like looking for a needle in a haystack; you’ll be exhausted for nothing." Ye Shikai pulled her back.
"Then what do you suggest? Sit here, expecting clues to fall from the sky?"
"Of course not, but we should use a more efficient method." Ye Shikai gestured to the distance, "I heard there’s a tenement area near the market. Since the data says these missing persons frequently came to this market, where do you think they’d live?"
"I see, they must live over there in the tenement area!" Zhang Ting shouted excitedly. "Come on, let’s go quickly."
The place they were headed was just a kilometer from the market, no need to drive; they arrived shortly after walking.
"This place is really run-down."
"Of course, tenements are inherently like this, mixed and chaotic." Ye Shikai murmured.
"Sounds like you know quite a bit about it." Zhang Ting retorted, "Didn’t you also live in tenements before?"
"Not really, but you’re half right; I grew up around tenements as a kid." Ye Shikai chuckled lightly. His family had poor financial conditions during his childhood, though not living in tenements, he had many friends there.
"Let’s go take a look inside."
"Alright."
"Hey man, do you know this person?" Ye Shikai asked a blond-haired man nearby, offering him a cigarette.
"This guy? Let me see... I vaguely remember him; he often collected scrap around here, but I haven’t seen him recently." The blond man answered while smoking the cigarette given by Ye Shikai, the proverb "those who accept gifts are obliged" proving true.
"Do you know where he lives?" Ye Shikai pursued.
"Seems like... in the deep alley. Keep going inside, then take a left; should be around there."