How come the celestial technique I stole is so powerful?!
Chapter 46 - 46 46 Fengcheng Jewelry Store

46: Chapter 46 Fengcheng Jewelry Store 46: Chapter 46 Fengcheng Jewelry Store Chief Zhang’s gaze fell on Wang Donghe.

Wang Donghe gently shook his head: “According to my analysis, Sister Feng seems to be the third ranking individual among the Five Tiger Generals.

Her status couldn’t possibly be higher than Brother Hu!”

“That’s puzzling then.

Is there something missing from Brother Hu’s expenditure book?” Lin Xiaosu said.

Wang Donghe’s brows furrowed slightly, not sure how to respond.

In modern society, income is closely related to status.

In any organization, it’s usual for higher-ranking officials to have higher salaries.

The same is even truer for crime groups, where higher status means higher income.

Brother Hu has no reason to earn less than Sister Feng.

So, where’s the issue?

Zhou Mei said: “Brother Hu’s assets are clear, the valuation is more or less accurate, and the account balance is at hand, which I believe is accurate.

The only opaque thing is his kept mistress.

No one knows how much he has spent on her.

The same holds true for the other three male Tigers; their spending on mistresses is unknown, the only exception being Sister Feng, who has no kept lover…

Could it be that this is why Sister Feng spends more personally?”

Is that really the case?

In general, it really is!

Men become poorer when dating!

Women don’t need to spend much in relationships (aside from physically), so, women’s money is freer…

Even in crime groups, when these people keep mistresses, it leads to a division of assets.

Lin Xiaosu smiled slightly: “Officer Zhou’s comment might just be the key.

Therefore, it’s necessary to find out how much money these four mistresses took from the four Tigers and where they spent it?”

Sun Yang was feeling baffled.

The topic had taken a big round and returned to the original track.

He originally thought, this Lin really needs a spanking for proposing such a difficult project.

If Chief Zhang took it to heart and assigned the task to him, he would be in trouble.

Then it took a sharp turn, as Chief Zhang had assigned Wang Donghe this task three years ago.

The task had already been done, and the enormous pressure was off his shoulders, and he was feeling lucky when this youngster brought this up again.

If Chief Zhang handed the task over to him, he would still have to shed a layer of skin.

Was this guy just here to mess with him?

I admit I was a bit rude when we first interacted, but you can’t be that petty…

Wang Donghe also furrowed his brows: “Chief Zhang, although we must be thorough in our investigations, too many details might ultimately interfere with the main line of inquiry.

Do you really think it’s necessary to further expand this scope?”

Chief Zhang’s bushy brows turned, and he too seemed somewhat indecisive.

It had taken three years to investigate the Five Tigers.

And now to investigate four mistresses…

Lin Xiaosu said: “In this case, you don’t need to fully investigate these mistresses’ personal lives.

Just focus on the main points, see where they primarily spend their money, and that’s it.”

“If that’s the case, it’s feasible!

Donghe, Sun Yang, act immediately!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Both responded simultaneously.

Lin Xiaosu also stood up: “It’s very late tonight; I’ll head back first!”

“Okay, hard work!

Once there’s news, I’ll have Zhou Mei contact you,” Chief Zhang stood up to see him off.

Zhou Mei wanted to escort him, but Lin Xiaosu refused: “No need, you hadn’t slept last night, better get some good sleep today.

I’ll go back by myself.”

He left.

In the meeting room, Chief Zhang laughed: “Ha ha… He’s still considerate and caring!”

“A caring warm man?” Zhou Mei laughed out loud: “With his one sentence, Wang Donghe and Sun Yang have to work overtime at night.

I bet these two definitely don’t feel he’s ‘warm’ in any way…”

Three days later, the persistent drizzle was finally replaced by clear skies.

As soon as the rain stopped, the scent of summer rushed over.

In the early morning, just as Fengcheng Detective Agency opened its doors, Zhou Mei’s black car stopped by the roadside.

She got out of the car and entered the Detective Agency.

Miao Ruolan, with mixed feelings, went to make her tea.

These feelings mainly stemmed from the night three days earlier, when she was settling the final payment with Sister Zhuang, and Lin Xiaosu went shopping with Zhou Mei, not returning until dawn.

She didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask him about it, she just felt a bit disappointed…

Thus, she had been feeling quite depressed these past two days, inexplicably so…

Today, she came again, not wearing her uniform, looking just like an ordinary woman on a date with her boyfriend…

Had they really taken that step?

Zhou Mei took the teacup handed to her by Miao Ruolan, her gaze lifting: “The task you and Chief Zhang set the other night has been preliminarily completed, here are the investigative results.”

A sheet of paper was handed to Lin Xiaosu.

In an instant, Miao Ruolan’s heartbeat sped up, the other night?

The night he went out shopping with her?

The task he and Chief Zhang set?

They weren’t just out as a couple shopping but were working on a case?

Really?

If only that were true.

Miao Ruolan didn’t know why, but her overwhelming feeling of loss suddenly lessened by half.

Lin Xiaosu took the paper, glanced over it, and his eyes suddenly brightened…

“What did you find out?” Zhou Mei asked.

Lin Xiaosu said, “Let me ask you both a question.

If you were given ten million, what would you do with it?”

Zhou Mei responded, “I might save five million, buy a house and a nice car with the rest.

With any leftover money, I’d buy luxurious items I like and experience the life of the rich.”

“So buying luxurious items is only the third priority in your allocation of funds.”

“Yes!”

“Ruolan, what about you?” Lin Xiaosu’s gaze shifted toward Miao Ruolan.

Miao Ruolan shook her head, “I can’t imagine having ten million, so I’ve never thought about this question.”

“There’s still time to think about it now.”

“I would save all…

Oh, I would keep half for my brother to use for his wedding, and I would live off the interest from the rest.”

“So, you definitely wouldn’t spend all your money on jewelry?”

Miao Ruolan widened her eyes, “Jewelry is just decoration.

It’s not edible or wearable.

If conditions allow, maybe buy one or two pieces, but spending all my money on it…

that would be crazy, right?”

Lin Xiaosu laughed, “Sister Feng spent nearly all her money on jewelry, and her four mistresses did the same, spending almost all their money on jewelry.

Ruolan called this madness!

It’s reasonable for one person to be crazy, but when five women are simultaneously crazy, it’s not merely madness; it’s a suspicion!”

Zhou Mei’s eyes sparkled, “Do you think this is a chain of interest transmission?”

“Yes!

There are two types of black market financial chains: horizontal and vertical.

Horizontal starts from the source with a parallel track; vertical is more mysterious.

It involves transforming the chain to some extent, using lawful appearances to cover unlawful transactions.”

“Do you suspect they were laundering money through jade?”

“Yes!

Do you know why?

Because the pricing of jade is indeterminate; it’s just a rock dug out of the ground.

Worthless stones and top-quality jade worth a hundred million have the same cost.

Its value is dictated by the market, not the cost.”

Zhou Mei pondered with her teacup in hand, “Normal women like jewelry and jade, but these are tertiary desires.

One person might crazily love jewelry and jade, but when five people connected to the same case all do, it certainly raises suspicions.

However, even if it involves money laundering, it is hard to prove since their transactions appear legitimate on the surface.

Everyone knows jade prices are ridiculous, but since the public accepts them, if they think their purchases are worth it and someone is willing to buy at high prices, it’s legally sound.”

Lin Xiaosu said, “Indeed, but you shouldn’t overlook another chain!”

“What?”

“The end goal isn’t just the transfer of benefits; it’s transaction!” Lin Xiaosu explained, “Since it’s a transaction, there naturally is ‘merchandise’ exchanged.”

“Merchandise?” Zhou Mei’s heart raced, realizing ‘merchandise’ undoubtedly referred to narcotics…

“Have you always been unable to track the origin of the goods circulating in Fengcheng’s black market?”

“Yes!”

Lin Xiaosu continued, “A reminder, the merchandise at Fengcheng Jewelry Store involves processing and selling raw stones, which originate from Qingmian Country!”

Zhou Mei’s teacup trembled fiercely…

In moments, she formed a closed loop in her mind.

Fengcheng is located at the intersection of three provinces, facilitating transportation.

Thus, it became a convergence point for the black market.

But how were these illicit goods transported?

No one could trace their source.

Now, she seemed to grasp a clear route…

Fengcheng Jewelry Store follows a path of cutting raw stones, processing, and crafting jade jewelry.

This path offers customers strong assurance of genuine quality, precluding the possibilities of acid washing or counterfeiting—if in doubt, one could even visit the jade processing workshops and see the entire process of stone cutting, selecting, crafting, and polishing firsthand.

This has led to booming business for the store.

Not just the wealthy women of Fengcheng, even those from Jiangcheng flock there to shop.

From a business standpoint, it’s a success.

But what about a different kind of business?

It’s equally convenient.

The raw stones come from Qingmian Country, known for its drug trade.

It’s a legitimate business, hauling raw stones openly nationwide.

What if it carried some contraband?

As long as the methods are sophisticated, who could discover it?

This solves the most challenging aspect of illicit goods transportation…

And financial handling is another challenge in black market dealings, logically closed here…

Instead of conventional bank transfers or conspicuous cash deals, they integrate laundering elements, using the legitimate sale of jade and jadeite to facilitate the transfer of benefits.

Anyone trying to make money in this black market is actually taking a huge risk.

Ghost Eye Old Seven is no exception.

But if he were the jewelry store?

Wouldn’t he effortlessly gain the largest share of the capital?

And Sister Feng and her four mistresses play roles, using legitimate forms to funnel funds into his account…

With the five women, the amounts confirmed so far are nearly a billion!

Who knows how many others are engaged in similar endeavors?

Lin Xiaosu slowly looked up, “Check when was their last delivery.”

Zhou Mei replied, “We just checked; a batch of raw stones arrived at the processing plant the day before yesterday…

You mean…”

“My point is, we might just visit this renowned Fengcheng jewelry store!”

“Just the two of us?” Zhou Mei asked.

“Ruolan will join too!” Lin Xiaosu added, “This has been a dream of mine for years—to have enough money someday to take two beautiful women on a jewelry store spree…”