Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 79 (Part 1)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 79.1 To Beseech and Obtain Benevolence
"Click——"
Lin Jingzhe calmly listened to the sound of the shutters, but only he knew of his tense feeling and stiffened back.
Elder Fang said that he owed him a commendation. He only thought it would be a pennant or a certificate of merit, no one told him that it would be such a serious event!
He sat stiffly in the huge venue, which seemed to be a celebration of the heroic deed of the domestic anti-smuggling operation. There were representatives from all parties sitting in about, and of the members who were present, some were even attending with bandages and plaster casts. Everyone was solemn and respectful, and the whole audience stood up amidst the majestic national anthem. Lin Jingzhe subconsciously followed and stood up, staring blankly at the black and white photos on the background board of the stage. Most of the young men and women in the photos were wearing police uniforms, smiling and full of righteousness, but they were destined not to be able to personally witness the victory of this battle.
The campaign against smuggling started in Qunnan and spread rapidly across the whole country within a year’s time. While countless lawbreakers were arrested, and countless valuable cultural relics recovered, more illegal business chains were also implicated in this operation.
Automobiles, tobacco, precious stones, metals, grain, and oil… It affected many fields and the rampant criminals have been severely purged. This was the biggest crack down since the founding of the country, and they had won consecutive battles. This success had given a strong boost of confidence to law enforcement officers from every trade in the country.
From his peripherals, Lin Jingzhe noticed a middle-aged man in military uniform with a plaster cast on his arm. He looked to have an upright and steadfast unyielding character. After the salute, he looked at the photos on the stage and secretly wiped his tears. He seemed to be welled in an indescribable emotion, and his expression remained heavy even when he was called to the stage.
All of the named people were participants who had contributed greatly during the anti-smuggling operation, but his reason for being invited was the inexplicable ‘cultural relic donation’. Compared with those contributors who had sacrificed their own lives, even if the donated bronze antiques were worth a lot, Lin Jingzhe believed his morality and conduct were lacking. He didn’t share their noble deposition nor did he ever paid special attention to cultural relics or smuggling operations in both his lifetimes. At most, he was just a commentator of the current trends, and it was just the casual kind. He didn't even remember if there was such a magnificent event at this time in his previous life.
He felt quite ashamed because of this, and determined that his visit today was probably just a formality. Unexpectedly, when the host announced his name, when he stood up on the spot, the applause in the venue was even more enthusiastic than when the last person called onto the stage, and it lasted for a long time.
Lin Jingzhe was bewildered. While making his way forward, he looked around, and saw many people in the first row turned their heads to look at him with a kind gaze.
Elder Fang sighed to Zheng Cunzhi, "It’s finally happened, otherwise the pressure on my mind would have continue to bear."
"Without Jingzhe's batch of antiques, our crackdown would not have been so swiftly organized. It wasn’t just concerning you, just look at Elder Zhou and the others’ expressions." Zheng Cunzhi smiled and pointed to the front row of the venue, and after Elder Fang's smile, his face turned solemn, "Elder Qi was hospitalized a few days ago, did this mean he’s going to interfere? I heard some bad rumors recently."
"Who’s?"
"That kid from the Qi Family." Zheng Cunzhi snorted, "We’re in the midst of this lively campaign now, but his previous affairs in Qunnan hasn’t completely settled, and yet someone had dug up the new about it recently. The details pertaining to this were also quite well put together. And his company, Dominion Properties, seems to be in some financial trouble, I heard he owes a lot of debt."
Elder Fang shook his head, "It’s internal strife; since they’re negotiating a tiger for its skin, the outcome is well predictable."
For a child to walk on the road of no return was devastating news to the seniors in the same compound. Seeing that Elder Fang was in a bad mood, Zheng Cunzhi quickly changed the subject, "Now that Little Lin has received this commendation, the special investigation team will now increase their vigor, right? Now that a national treasure donor, who promoted the anti-smuggling campaign, was being targeted by a plausible suspect of smuggling, Shi Nanxing won’t be able to escape this time."
******
Zheng Cunzhi was right.
After the first commendation event for the battle against smuggling, the emphasis for the car accident saw an immediate change. After the event, many heavyweights, who participated in the crackdown, began to pay attention to Lin Jingzhe. Afterall, he was the trumpeter who fired the first shot. What role did Shi Nanxing play in Qunnan’s smuggling group that was wiped out? Although kept suppressed, the people ought to know were well aware. Knowing that the two of them were at odds, and ‘playing games’ behind the scenes, though late, many people were enraged. It was easy to point out who was in the right or wrong, the one in the sky or mud.
How can there be such an undisciplined thing in the world?
Shi Nanxing looked at the daily newspaper with bloodshot eyes. This was the most widely spread and best-selling physical media in the country, but now the headlines have been obsessed over the same story for three consecutive days.
– {National Anti-Contraband Task Force’s First Victory. The Celebration Commendation Was Held In Yan City A Few Days Ago, Paying Tribute To The Heroes}
– {The Youngest Awardee - National Treasure Contributor Over Hundreds of Millions}
– {The Difficulties Combating Smuggling, Donor of National Relics Now The Target of Assassination}
Shi Nanxing crushed the newspaper into a ball and smashed it onto the ground.
It wasn’t long when the news had spread across the country, even Shi Nanxing's friends in the southwest all called to inquire about it. It was already a sensation when the gossip tabloids on Hong Kong Island had reported all kinds of negative news about him before. Now, although the official domestic media did not mention his name, insiders could easily discern who the ‘mastermind’ behind the assassination was. With the dissension layering upon one another, the Shi Family members were continuing to bustle about, and they were already worn down.
Because of the existence of Sha Peng, Shi Nanxing did not even dare to go out recently.
This matter had reached a bottleneck; it was irreversible, and he had no other option but to leave this land. It's a pity that Qunnan's sea routes had been wiped out in the past, and he and his family had no other reliable connections to other cities' departure channels.
When Elder Qi said he wouldn’t care anymore, he truly did turn his back, leaving the Shi Family to face this dire predicament on their own. There was also news that the apprehended truck driver had shown signs of conceding, he may confess at any time now.
The old lady of the Shi Family had now turned to desperate measures, she had changed her mind and started to persuade her grandson to turn himself in and plead guilty. Although he would have to admit to attempted murder, Lin Jingzhe didn't die, and they could still exercise their family connections to lighten the sentence to less than ten years. It would not be possible for Shi Nanxing to spend his whole life in prison.
Shi Nanxing did not agree. With still a possibility of getting out, why should he go to jail?
The old lady went through her circle of old friends, but no one answered her pleas. Helpless, she put down her phone and cried while scolding the newspaper editor until she was out of strength.
In a room of deathly stillness, the phone rang suddenly after being quiet for several days. The family, who were used to the desolateness, had some trouble reacting immediately.
The old lady rushed forward as soon as she came to herself. When she heard the voice on the other end of the phone, she felt the storm above her head suddenly lifted. Seh firmly grasped the life-saving line and begged for help.
Elder Qi's tone on the other end of the phone sounded worse than when they quarreled in the hospital, but the strange thing was that he didn’t flare out. He only said one last sentence amidst the faint cries of his old in-laws, "You bring that little bastard to the hospital too."
This obviously meant there was an opportunity. After ending the call, the whole family was in shock. Shi Nanxing quickly concluded it was for Qi Kai, but the rest of the members, who were familiar with the old man's temperament, all firmly believed that the two families had completely severed ties.
Looking at his calm and collected expression, Mother Shi couldn't help asking, "What did you do to make him relent?"
Shi Nanxing adjusted his clothes with a dark face, "His most precious thing."
The Shi Family preparation for going out looked as if they were filming a spy war drama. Before taking a step out the door, Shi Nanxing over suspiciously asked to have their car in the garage to be thoroughly checked. Before the car started off, he pulled up the curtains of the back seat tightly; desperate times called for desperate measures.
He had heard news that Sha Peng had left the Southwest, Shi Nanxing was unsure where his destination was, but it was likely Yan City.
He cut off all contact methods from the public just to avoid letting the other catch wind of his location and plans. The previously agreed payment deadline had exceeded, so he must be more cautious before leaving the country.
The old man in the intensive care unit looked the same but seemed to have recovered a lot. He looked much more energetic as he maliciously glared at Shi Nanxing with his turbid eyes.
The Shi Family originally thought it was a reconciliation ceremony, but reality was obviously different from what they had imagined.
After a strange silence, Elder Qi's weathered voice rang out, "You were the one who released those things about Qi Kai's past, right?"
Shi Nanxing faintly smiled. And under the stunned gaze of his family, he found a chair and sat down beside the hospital bed, and began to peel an apple for Elder Qi.
Elder Qi laughed out of anger, "You are very smart, you knew that attacking Qi Kai would successfully coerce me. My many years of teaching you was not done in vain."
"I’ve already said it before, there are ships in which debarcation is no longer an option after boarding." Shi Nanxing looked down at the apple, avoiding the sight of his former family member, and continued in an unhurried tone, "Though this isn’t the only thing I have up my sleeves… Such as the information relating to you, it's all brewing in here."
He patted his stomach.
This was an extremely straightforward threat. Elder Qi had a violent coughing fit. After a short break, he took a sip of water and asked hoarsely, "What do you want?"
"I want to leave." Shi Nanxing finally met his eyes, his gaze were raging with fire, "The further the better."
The Shi Family didn't have this ability, but he knew that Elder Qi does. When the Qunnan incident happened, it was he who helped send him aboard. The only difference was the departure was temporary then, but this time, it was a permanent move.
Elder Qi was already disheartened, it was an awful feeling to be threatened by a child who he had endlessly pampered in the past. He really couldn’t comprehend how he, who used to be prosperous all his life, would end up like this?
The amount of love he had for Shi Nanxing back then was how much Elder Qi currently hated him, but for the sake of the present situation, he had no better choice than to back down.
Shi Nanxing had predicted the affirmative answer, but what surprised him was that he wasn’t feeling any joy. The feeling of emptiness became more pronounced.
Under Elder Qi’s disgusted eyes, he got up and bid farewell. Before leaving, he finally asked about the familiar figure he hadn't been able to see today, "Where's Qi Kai?"
The elderly replied calmly, "With the current tense situation, I sent him afar."