When Ke Yingying recounted Han Jie's experiences, I paid close attention to a particular individual in Han Jie's life: the person who always wore a suit, known as "The Full Little Pig Ghost."
At the time, I wondered when and how I could meet this person. To my surprise, we met so soon. At this juncture, I had to clarify something: when did I truly enter the game?
Initially, I believed the bet with Wang Ren was the beginning of this scheme. But now, it seems that's not the case. If Li Qiang had always been a parasite of the "Southern Faction," their conflict would have commenced long ago.
In my unrealistic "dream," Teacher Wang Ren had mentioned the name "The Full Little Pig Ghost." Had she already begun setting up this scheme back then?
If that were true?
Then, what about the chains in my heart? Was it Wang Ren's doing? Did she know I could unlock them? Did she know Old Ghost would definitely help me?
No, no, I shouldn't think like that.
Just then, a voice interrupted my thoughts.
"It's really impolite of you. I'm standing right in front of you, and you're spacing out."
"Oh, it's my honor to meet you."
I politely extended my hand, preparing to shake hands with "The Full Little Pig Ghost," but he ruthlessly brushed it away.
"You don't see me as an opponent at all?"
I smiled faintly, "Why state the obvious? You're merely a tool for Li Qiang. Do you have the qualifications to be my opponent?"
"Li Qiang is already dead."
"Someone once told me that schemes involving death are flawless. What if Li Qiang is dead? You are just a tool in this game."
Hearing my words, "The Full Little Pig Ghost" wasn't angered; instead, he chuckled, "Are you trying to provoke me?"
"No."
"You've seen through it but won't admit it. Tang Nan, you're considered a legend in the scheming circles. How can you be so petty?"
I ignored him because I was speaking the truth. I wasn't trying to provoke him; I was stating facts.
...
Da Huang couldn't stand it and said to "The Little Pig Ghost," "Brother, do you think you're something special? Role-playing is something us older guys have been doing for ages."
"You have no right to speak."
This remark infuriated Da Huang, who rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.
I held Da Huang back and said calmly, "Little Pig Ghost, if you don't state your purpose, we'll be leaving."
"You're leaving? You don't want to find Li Feng anymore?"
"Of course, we do."
"You can't find him without me?"
"Can't find him? Why? Did you kidnap Li Feng?"
"Yes, I did kidnap him. I'm here to negotiate with you."
Upon hearing "The Full Little Pig Ghost" say this, Da Huang chuckled, "You little scoundrel, I've been waiting for you to say that?"
After speaking, Da Huang took out his phone. I didn't even know when he had started recording. In fact, Da Huang was right. "The Full Little Pig Ghost's" perceived cunning was something we had long surpassed.
Not just me, but even Da Huang had been through too many thrilling schemes. We didn't consider "The Full Little Pig Ghost's" intelligence as true intelligence. With his phone out, Da Huang became more relaxed, "How should this be resolved?"
"Leave it to Da Zhou."
"Isn't Captain Zhou quite busy?"
"It's a kidnapping case, after all!"
We exchanged words, and "The Full Little Pig Ghost's" expression gradually changed.
I ignored him and continued, "Do you know what some people's advantage is?"
"What is it?" Da Huang chimed in, like a comedic duo.
"They hide their faces and think others can't see them."
"That's not..." Da Huang stretched out the word.
"That's called looking at the head and not the tail."
Da Huang clapped his hands vigorously, "Brilliant! And then what?"
"What else? We've said all we needed to say. It's time for us to thank the audience."
"The Full Little Pig Ghost" was infuriated by our exchange, his face turning ashen. I didn't pay him any mind and pulled Da Huang to leave. "The Full Little Pig Ghost" couldn't hold back any longer.
"Wait, I'm here to deliver a message."
"Deliver what message?"
"Li Qiang was killed by Han Jie."
"Who sent you?"
"I can't say."
"It's Li Feng, isn't it?"
Hearing me say that, "The Full Little Pig Ghost" was taken aback. Though he didn't admit it, it was an implicit confirmation.
...
Regarding Han Jie, I've gained some indirect understanding. She's a detached informant. Why do I say that? Because in Ke Yingying's story, although Han Jie seemed to be in love with Li Qiang, she actually wasn't. What Han Jie craved was the respect she received from people in social circles. Moreover, Han Jie knew very well that this respect stemmed from Li Qiang.
The harder something is to obtain, the more one fears losing it.
Some fear losing love, others fear losing money, but what Han Jie feared losing the most was her dignity.
I couldn't possibly be the only one who saw this. Senior Sister Cao Qian must have seen it long ago, which is why she exploited Han Jie's fear of losing dignity, transferring it to Li Feng's mother.
When I donated money to Li Feng's mother's nunnery, Li Feng's mother's years-long knot was untangled. For many years, Li Qiang had not divorced Li Feng's mother, and Li Feng's mother was essentially practicing on behalf of him. Frankly speaking, if Li Qiang hadn't persistently donated incense money, the temple wouldn't have been able to support Li Feng's mother.
Because of this, when I helped Li Feng by donating incense money, Li Feng showed a tendency to reconcile with his mother, and perhaps Li Feng's mother would return home.
Initially, Han Jie collaborated with other businesses under "The Full Little Pig Ghost's" arrangement. However, things gradually changed. Han Jie discovered that this "borrowing tiger's might" method was very effective. Thus, she used Li Qiang's identity as Deputy Prosecutor to illicitly make money. The biggest question is, Li Qiang didn't say much about this? Instead, he let Han Jie do as she pleased.
In the records, we always knew Li Qiang had a wife and three mistresses. The woman known as the "Second Wife" had borne Li Qiang three children and had already moved abroad. The same applied to the "Third Wife," who had two children with Li Qiang before going to Europe. Li Qiang didn't invest much energy in these two women. Apart from regularly sending them living expenses, Li Qiang didn't interfere with their lives.
Therefore, in Beijing, Li Qiang ostensibly had only two women: one was his legal wife, Li Feng's mother, who was practicing on behalf of him in the nunnery. The other was Han Jie.
However, Han Jie was actually a pseudo-mistress. She had no physical relationship with Li Qiang. Even the child Han Jie was known to have for Li Qiang was adopted.
Within this meticulously maintained social circle, Han Jie was merely a facade of hypocrisy. Han Jie knew this better than anyone, which made her even more anxious.
A fly won't sting a seamless egg.
Senior Sister was that fly, searching for weaknesses. She must have found Han Jie in private. Under Senior Sister's persuasion, or rather, mental domination, Han Jie found Da Huang and joined the farmhouse that I was building for Li Feng.
For many years, Li Feng had not wanted anything to do with his father. Hence, he smashed the stove and pots.
This was the outcome Senior Sister wanted Han Jie to witness.
But the reality was different. Things always take unexpected turns. I persuaded Li Feng to return. And as a "second-generation demon," how could he not perceive this trend? Thus, Li Feng's return was the straw that broke Han Jie's back.
Next, Li Feng's actions further stimulated Han Jie. He also donated incense money. Just as Li Feng and his mother were about to be reunited.
Li Qiang's mistresses were not in Beijing, and his wife was devoted to Buddha. In this situation, people would look highly upon Han Jie. Once Li Feng's mother returned to the Li family, why would Han Jie, a mistress, be a shareholder in so many businesses? Moreover, most of these businesses were joined by Han Jie privately, with no connection to Li Qiang.
Anyone with some capability could easily discover that Han Jie was orchestrating all of this behind the scenes.
Thus, under Senior Sister's "domination," Han Jie killed Li Feng's mother.
As long as Li Feng's mother was dead, Han Jie could maintain her current social status.
However, events would not unfold according to Han Jie's wishes. Li Feng decided to help me, so he changed his original intention and went home to find his father, Li Qiang. According to Wang Ren's plan, Li Feng would have become a murderer.
But Li Feng was very intelligent, a born schemer. He was no ordinary person. He must have investigated his mother's death and then found his father.
I surmise that Li Feng and his father, Li Qiang, had a heart-to-heart talk. After Li Feng left, Li Qiang decided to take his own life to avenge his wife. Thus, Li Qiang's tragic death the next day occurred. To frame Li Feng, Han Jie deliberately altered the time on the video, making it appear that Li Feng was the murderer of his father. But Han Jie hadn't anticipated that Li Feng was prepared. Not only was he online at an internet café, but he also deliberately provoked others, causing a brawl, and someone even called the police.
However, on the day of his arrest, Li Feng told the police that he had killed Li Qiang. By doing so, Li Feng used himself to draw all the police's attention, and then he used his father's tool to kidnap Han Jie.
Han Jie disappeared, which is beyond doubt. But how did Li Feng disappear as well? And this tool named "The Full Little Pig Ghost" claimed to have kidnapped Li Feng.
This must be the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
...
Wang Ren's scheme was truly brilliant. When she made the bet with me, she told me that Li Feng was originally meant to be used against Senior Sister. Li Feng must have known there was someone behind Han Jie, so he risked his life to be captured, then used "The Full Little Pig Ghost" to wait at home for me, so that I could deal with Senior Sister Cao Qian.
The mantis stalks the cicada, but who is the hunter behind the oriole?
A bird catcher?