Chapter 42

“Boss, have you seen this woman?” Captain Luo and his team went to the joss paper shop Shen Hongxing mentioned.

The shop owner took the portrait.

He recognized the woman’s headscarf immediately, “Officer, I’m not sure if I’ve seen her, but I saw a woman wearing a headscarf this morning!”

After pouring Captain Luo a cup of water, the shop owner said, “Officer, it’s Ghost Festival. Many people came to buy joss paper and gold ingots. But I remember this woman. She was silent, standing in the corner, looking at a girl in red.”

“The girl dropped her joss paper and gold ingots when she saw the woman. The woman wearing a headscarf went to her and said something. The girl in red gave me 10 kuai, didn’t take the change, and said she had to go to the restroom.”

“Right!”

The owner suddenly remembered Shen Hongxing, “Fifteen minutes later, another girl came looking for the girl in red. After I told her the girl in red went to the restroom, she ran out the back door.”

It was exactly as Shen Hongxing described.

Captain Luo went to the back and found the abandoned public restroom nearby.

“Thank you, boss. If you remember anything else, come to the Criminal Investigation Department. I’m Luo Wenjing.”

Leaving the shop, Captain Luo instructed his men, “Post reward notices. Anyone who provides information about the woman in the headscarf will get 10 kuai!”

It was Ghost Festival. People wouldn’t usually go out.

He believed the woman lived nearby and came to the shop to buy offerings, encountering Cao Hongxia.

He instructed another officer, “Have someone wait at the station and docks. Once the reward is out, she’ll try to escape!”

“Yes, Captain!”

Night fell.

Shen Hongxing lay in the guesthouse.

She wanted to return to the abandoned ship, but it was too small for the detectives.

Captain Luo booked a room for her in a guesthouse opposite the police station.

She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

It was time for Xu Shuangshuang and the others to settle down at the hospital.

What to do?

She wanted to call and ask about Hongxia.

But communication is underdeveloped now.

News is completely blocked.

“Knock knock!”

A knock came at the door, “Miss Shen, Old Chief Lu wants to see you!”

It was Grandpa Lu.

Shen Hongxing didn’t expect her situation to spread so quickly in this era.

Opening the door, Lu Ping’an supported Old Chief Lu.

She ignored Lu Ping’an.

“Grandpa Lu, why are you here?” She helped Old Chief Lu into the room.

Lu Ping’an followed but was stopped, “Wait outside!”

She tried to close the door, but Lu Ping’an stopped her.

He was firm, “Shen Hongxing, what are you doing?”

He said she was making a fuss?

Shen Hongxing slammed the door shut.

She turned to Old Chief Lu, bowing her head like a child who had done wrong, “I’m sorry, Grandpa Lu, I’ve embarrassed you.”

Everyone knew her relationship with the Lu family.

Before, when others insulted her, they also insulted Old Chief Lu.

“Silly girl, Qingshan told me everything. You didn’t disappoint me! If I were you, I would have saved my friend too!”

“Grandpa Lu!”

Shen Hongxing cried. In both her past and present lives, Grandpa Lu had always been kind to her.

They talked for a long time. Old Chief Lu looked at Shen Hongxing with affection, “Girl, is there anything I can do to help?”

She was his old friend’s only granddaughter.

His old friend’s precious child.

He would save her.

Shen Hongxing said, trembling, “Grandpa Lu, please call Uncle Lu. I want to know if Hongxia is still alive!”

Every second alone in this room was agonizing.

“Okay, I’ll call him. Eat your meal. Ping’an will tell you the news.” Old Chief Lu glanced at the untouched food.

This girl really cared about her friend!

“Thank you, Grandpa Lu!”

Lu Ping’an helped Old Chief Lu leave the guesthouse.

Shen Jianguo, his wife, and Shen Jiaojiao were waiting outside. Seeing them, they rushed over, “How is it? Hong…”

Is that girl Hongxing alright? Was she tortured?”

Old Chief Lu glared at Shen Jianguo, “Do you think the detectives are gangsters?”

Shen Jianguo shrank his neck, not daring to speak.

Lu Ping’an listened from behind.

Old Chief Lu ignored them and walked towards the car.

Minutes later, he arrived at the communication room and called an operator, “Connect me to Chief Lu Jiaoyang’s office in Haicheng Military Region!”

“Yes, Chief!”

The call was quickly connected.

“Dad!”

Old Chief Lu asked, “Jiaoyang, Hongxing asked me to call. She wants to know if the injured girl is still alive.”

“Alive and not alive!”

Old Chief Lu was confused, “What do you mean?”

“Cao Hongxia is seriously injured. She had massive bleeding, multiple organs are failing. Military experts are doing their best, but her survival depends on tonight!”

“I see.” Old Chief Lu lowered his eyes.

It looked grim.

He said to Lu Jiaoyang, “Jiaoyang, I know your position. You can’t break the rules, but Hongxing is your Uncle Shen’s only granddaughter. You must help her, understand?”

“Dad, don’t worry. I won’t ignore her!” Lu Jiaoyang promised.

He secretly loved her for so long. Even if he had to give up his military career, he wouldn’t abandon her.

Without her, he wouldn’t have married or had children.

He dedicated his life to the country.