The next day, Li Mu and her four siblings, Li Weihao, were summoned for questioning by Wan Zhongshan.
Of course, no useful information was obtained.
Five years ago, the four siblings were learning and playing by their maternal grandfather’s side, spending little time with their mother.
The only one who spent considerable time with her mother, Li Weixin, was too young to remember.
Wan Zhongshan had no reason to doubt Li Weixin's appearance.
Li Mu did not know much either; she had gone to the county town to accompany her grandson with his studies.
The little she knew about the Chen family was also what Wan Zhongshan had investigated.
The formation on the back mountain had not yet been opened. After four months and the deployment of helicopters, the private vault remained unfound.
Wan Zhongshan was disheartened. If the formation hadn't been found, he could have said Chen Guangfu was lying.
Now that the formation was found, it had to be opened at all costs.
Once the location of the formation was reported, it would no longer be a secret.
If the country didn't open it, private individuals would surely try to open it secretly.
It was like ancient tombs, attracting greedy individuals.
...
At the end of July, Damai and Yuan Man returned, also astonished by the many changes in the village.
"Auntie, did you organize the exterior of the houses?"
Tian Jing nodded, "Yes. How are Dayi and the other two?"
Damai sat beside Tian Jing, "After Dayi was sent over, she rested for half a month before she could get out of bed. Eryi and Sanyi rested for a month before they could get out of bed."
"Sanyi's ears were damaged by her father when she was one year old. Because she couldn't hear, she couldn't speak. The doctor said her intelligence was also somewhat impaired."
"The Tian family is too heartless, even more so than Grandmother Li."
Grandmother Li was cruel to her daughter-in-law, who was married into the family. But Tian Dayi and her two sisters were the Tian family's own flesh and blood.
Tian Jing sighed, "There are still many families like the Tian family hidden away. Women are always at a disadvantage."
"Let's not talk about this anymore, lest the Tian family find out. Even though guardianship has been revoked, it doesn't mean they won't harass them, especially that selfish mother."
"What about you and Yuan Man?"
Mentioning Doctor Yuan, Damai's face flushed. "Doctor Yuan said he would propose in the winter, after the village is done with its busy period."
Tian Jing pinched her cheek, "Your face is so red, it's obvious you're guilty. Have you been kissed?"
Damai's face turned crimson. "Auntie~"
"Oh my, hurry home. Stop showering me with affection."
As soon as Tian Jing chased Damai away, Jiang Changrong came to call her, saying Director Wan wanted to see her.
Tian Jing calmly sat down in front of Wan Zhongshan. "Director Wan wanted to see me?"
Wan Zhongshan's expression was complicated. "Comrade Tian Jing, the formation has been opened."
"Oh, congratulations. I assume Director Wan must have made a great discovery?"
Wan Zhongshan didn't answer. "Comrade Tian Jing, in terms of criminal psychology, the calmer one is, the more suspicious they are."
Tian Jing curved her lips into a light smile. "Director Wan, in terms of interrogation habits, deception is a commonly used tactic."
"I am not deceiving you."
Wan Zhongshan sighed. "Not only has the formation been opened, but we have also entered the private vault. The items inside... never mind. What I want to ask is, how did you do it?"
Tian Jing crossed her arms and remained silent.
Wan Zhongshan continued, "You and Li Zhengguo often go to Laoyingzui. With Li Zhengguo's skills, it wouldn't be easy to enter and exit. You guided him, right?"
Tian Jing still didn't speak, unsure if Director Wan had truly opened the formation.
However, she was certain that they hadn't entered the private vault yet.
Trying to trick her? Ha.
Tian Jing refused to answer. Wan Zhongshan became somewhat annoyed. "If you understand the law, it makes your suspicion even greater. Coupled with Li Zhengguo's past identity, both of you are suspects."
Tian Jing stood up. "Director Wan, if there's nothing else, don't waste my time. Investigating cases is your job."
"If there's anything I can cooperate with, I will definitely cooperate. But trying to trick me is impossible."
Watching Tian Jing's departing back, Jiang Changrong, who was acting as the recorder, slammed the table in anger. "Too cunning."
"Comrade Jiang Changrong!"
Wan Zhongshan reprimanded him lightly. "Everything requires evidence. We cannot forcibly convict someone just because they have time, strength, and ability."
"I'll listen to you. Trying to trick her, now we've alerted the snake."
"Sigh!" Jiang Changrong sighed. "That formation is too difficult. If Xie Wensheng can't open it, it's unlikely anyone else can."
"We've wasted so much time and gained nothing. We'll definitely be criticized when we go back."
Wan Zhongshan shook his head. "It's alright, someone else is taking over."
"Who?"
"Sun Liyang."
Jiang Changrong suddenly stood up. "Why Director Sun?"
Wan Zhongshan calmly said, "During several meetings to discuss countermeasures, he always said our efficiency was too low. So, the higher-ups called him to take over."
"Hmph! He's just a sycophant. Seeing that we've found the formation and are about to break it, he wants to snatch the credit."
Wan Zhongshan was unconcerned. "It's good that he's here. I always feel that things are not as simple as they seem."
"The missing Chen Yaoshi and his two sons should have entered the formation."
Tian Jing put down the rose she was holding and smiled at Old Madam Huang. "It's fine. This rose is lacking water. Watering it a couple more times will be enough."
"Thank you, Team Leader Tian."
"You're welcome."
Li Zhengguo didn't see his wife when he returned home. He learned from his mother that his wife had been summoned by Wan Zhongshan for questioning and had gone upstairs afterward.
The suite on the third floor was their bedroom.
"Tiantian?"
Tian Jing, who was sitting on the sofa thinking, looked up and patted the space beside her. "Come sit."
"What happened?" Li Zhengguo asked as he sat down.
Tian Jing turned to her husband and asked, "Do you know who Sun Liyang is?"
"No," Li Zhengguo shook his head. "What did Wan Zhongshan ask you about?"
Tian Jing chuckled. "He tried to trick me, but I ignored him. However, I overheard him and Jiang Changrong talking about Sun Liyang, saying that Sun Liyang and his team would take over."
Li Zhengguo explained, "The criminal investigation department has multiple divisions. Although Wan Zhongshan is the director, there are many deputy directors under him."
Thinking of Jiang Changrong's angry words, Tian Jing understood. "Perhaps this deputy director intends to use this matter to surpass or sideline Director Wan. We need to be alert and deal with it."
...
Sun Liyang, in his thirties, wore gold-rimmed glasses, giving him a refined and polite appearance.
He arrived with five subordinates and, after a brief handover with Wan Zhongshan, unceremoniously asked Wan Zhongshan to leave.
Jiang Changrong, enraged, was about to rush forward to reason with him but was stopped by Wan Zhongshan.
Just as Wan Zhongshan and his team were grudgingly packing their belongings to leave, Xie Wensheng's apprentice ran down from the back mountain.
"Director Wan, Director Wan, the formation is open! My master asks you to come into the mountain."
Sun Liyang stepped forward. "I am in charge of this matter."
The apprentice's face soured upon seeing Sun Liyang. "Director Sun? Director Sun?"
"Yes, from today onwards, this matter..."
"Wait..."
Wan Zhongshan interrupted Sun Liyang. "Our handover is not complete, as we do not know the progress Xie Wensheng has made. Since he has opened the formation, he needs to report to the higher-ups. After all, I have been in charge of this matter all along."
With Sun Liyang's displeased expression, Wan Zhongshan made a call to the Beijing authorities.
The final outcome was that both teams would stay.