Chapter 27: Chapter 25 Fishing Enforcement Chapter 27: Chapter 25 Fishing Enforcement Jiang Ning had ridden the subway for an hour, and after arriving at her destination, she shouldered her backpack, got off the train, and walked out of the subway station with her head down, following the crowd.
From the System, Jiang Ning knew the exact address of the criminal He Hui and took a car directly from the subway station to Fuhua Road.
Despite wearing a hat and a mask, the driver could still tell from her clothing and beautiful brows and eyes that she was a young girl.
Speaking in accented Mandarin, the driver struck up a conversation with Jiang Ning, “Young lady, Fuhua Road is quite out of the way, do you live over there?”
“No, I’m looking for someone.” Jiang Ning curved her lips into a smile, her voice clear and bright.
Upon hearing this, the driver immediately became concerned, “Who are you looking for, a man or a woman? You have to be careful when you’re out at your age.”
Jiang Ning replied to each question, “She’s a woman, I understand, thank you, uncle.”
The driver had only picked up Jiang Ning as his passenger, and since the subway station was quite far from Fuhua Road, it would take half an hour to drive there.
Clearly a chatterbox, the driver could keep the conversation going even without Jiang Ning initiating any topics. She replied amiably, occasionally asking for information she wanted.
Through the driver, Jiang Ning learned that Fuhua Town, where Fuhua Road was located, was the most economically backward among the several nearby towns.
Fifty years earlier, Fuhua Town had been a key development target of the urban area, but it was poorly located, and over thirty years ago, a heavy industry pollution accident had occurred there, prompting many factories to move away toward other places.
The massive outflow of the population led to Fuhua Town’s economic decline step by step, turning it now into a typical retirement town.
Half an hour later, the driver dropped Jiang Ning off at Fuhua Town.
The light blue taxi stopped at a crossroads, and the driver pointed, saying to Jiang Ning, “There, that road is Fuhua Road.”
“Okay, thank you, driver, I’ll get off here.” Jiang Ning took out her mobile phone to scan the QR code and pay.
The temperature was pleasant today, and beneath the blue sky and white clouds, the morning sun wasn’t too hot. The streets of Fuhua Town were very clean, though there were few pedestrians on the road.
Jiang Ning raised her hand and took off her mask, revealing her delicate and beautiful features, her skin luminous and fair. Even without makeup, not a single flaw could be seen on her face.
Jiang Ning took out the camera she had carried all the way from her backpack and hung it around her neck, taking photos of the streets around her with great interest.
The System in her mind watched as Jiang Ning walked from one end of Fuhua Road to the other and even lingered at a nearby abandoned port for a while. She seemed more like a young traveler coming to the town for inspiration than someone trying to catch a criminal.
The System became a bit anxious, afraid that Jiang Ning would lose her focus on play, [Host, you just passed the criminal’s house. Did you see it?]
“Don’t worry.” Jiang Ning reassured it, “Patience.”
With that, Jiang Ning raised her camera and took another picture of the clean beach.
The System didn’t quite understand Jiang Ning’s actions and autonomously scanned the vicinity, focusing on He Hui’s house. The result of the scan was quite surprising.
[Host, He Hui is standing on her balcony, sneaking glances at you!]
The skinny old lady, with wrinkles covering her face and a sinister look in her droopy eyes, was observing Jiang Ning through binoculars from her balcony. She resembled a coiled viper lurking in a gutter and eyeing passersby.
Jiang Ning chuckled, unsurprised by the System’s words.
She had been aware of the uncomfortable gaze fixed on her from behind since ten minutes earlier.
Jiang Ning posed a question to the System, “System, have you heard of a term before?”
[What term?]
“Bait enforcement.”
Jiang Ning put down the camera, suddenly turned around, and walked back with light and joyful steps.
The System in her mind was baffled; it didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Jiang Ning’s words, but it kept an eye on He Hui’s movements and, like an intelligent surveillance equipped with a voice assistant, synced He Hui’s activities in her mind.
[Host, He Hui has turned and entered the house!]
[Host, He Hui is going downstairs!]
[Huh? What’s she doing with such a big bag?]
[Wow, so her house even has a back door.]
[The back door leads to the alley connected to Fuhua Road; isn’t this superfluous?]
As the System’s naive voice stopped, in no time, Jiang Ning saw a woman emerging from the alley nearby.
The woman was thin and stooped over, her hands carrying a large bag of heavy items, walking alone on the street—she seemed to be struggling.
The System routinely reminded: [Criminal He Hui detected. Please, Host, arrest her within three days to receive a reward of 12 days of life value and 200 Merit Points.]
Jiang Ning’s eyes darkened. Had it not been for the System’s confirmation, she might not have been so certain that the person before her was He Hui.
According to the information on file, she was only forty-seven years old, but looking at He Hui’s staggering gait and her head of white hair, one would believe her if she said she was seventy!
Jiang Ning quickly approached and asked with concern, “Old granny, why are you carrying things alone on the street? Where are you going? Do you need help?”
He Hui lifted her head, her face wrinkled; her gaze first landed on Jiang Ning’s face, and seeing Jiang Ning’s plain appearance, a trace of satisfaction passed through her eyes.
He Hui coughed twice, pretending to be weak and powerless, “I live just up ahead… my spouse has passed away, and my children aren’t around. The cat at home has no food, so I went out to buy some.”
“Oh dear! I also like cats. Let me help you with that!” said Jiang Ning, reaching out to take the bag of cat food from her. He Hui immediately let go, grasping Jiang Ning’s arm and while walking her toward her own home, she gratefully said, “Thank you, young lady; you’re such a kind soul.”
Jiang Ning humbly replied, “Not at all, it’s nothing.”
He Hui started making small talk, “Young lady, you look unfamiliar, not like a local.”
Jiang Ning, without any guile, nodded her head, eyes shining with a clear and foolish light, “Mhm, Grandma has good eyesight. I’m a travel blogger who likes photography. I just arrived at this town today, and the scenery here is really nice.”
“You young people just like to wander around. My no-good son is the same, never coming home all year round.”
He Hui complained a bit, and in no time, the two of them arrived at He Hui’s doorstep.
After opening the door, Jiang Ning brought the cat food inside for her, then was about to leave when He Hui stopped her.
He Hui warmly invited, “Don’t go, don’t go. Stay for a cup of tea. You’ve done me such a big favor; I couldn’t bear to let you leave without having some water.”
Jiang Ning seemed a bit thirsty as well and nodded her head, “Okay, thank you, Grandma.”
He Hui brought out a cup of water from inside the house and handed it to Jiang Ning. After taking a sip, Jiang Ning soon collapsed to the floor.