Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 369: Chapter 369: Night Rain Car Race (Part One, Congratulations to Yin Meng Maple Peak)

“`

Hearing the firecrackers outside the building, Cao Weihua flew into a rage, “Damn it… Who is that?”

In Zhengyang City, firecrackers had been banned long ago, though the enforcement was stricter during festivals. On regular days, it was more relaxed, especially when someone was getting married; a little celebratory firecracker was not a big deal as long as it wasn’t overdone.

But setting off firecrackers for a wedding usually happened around twelve o’clock. Today wasn’t a special day; besides, it was a Tuesday. Who would choose such a day to get married?

Seeing Cao Weihua storming out, his brother-in-law followed, “Weihua, don’t be impulsive.”

The people setting off the firecrackers weren’t in the building compound of the Construction Committee; they were across the street outside the gate.

Cao Weihua charged across the street, furious, “Bastards, who let you set off firecrackers… Eh, it’s you?”

Greeting him were two elderly faces streaked with tears, none other than the parents of the girl who had committed suicide by jumping from a building.

“We’re happy,” the old man flung off a handful of tears… maybe mixed with rainwater, as he laughed bleakly, “It’s not that vengeance won’t be served, just that the time hadn’t come. Now isn’t the retribution here?” n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Back then, Cao Weihua had been able to escape trouble and go abroad, greatly thanks to Director Cao’s efforts.

Still, the saying goes, not being greedy doesn’t necessarily mean one is good.

Of course, Director Cao was protecting his son, and his choice was human nature. But wasn’t it human nature too for the elderly couple, whose daughter had died?

It had been seven or eight years since their daughter’s death, and the couple lived in tears ever since. Today, one of their daughter’s old classmates from the Construction Committee had called to inform them that Director Cao had died unnaturally.

Cradling firecrackers, the old couple had hurried over without a second thought about fines or detention. They were happy, after all.

The only regret was, why was it the old one who died, and not the young one?

Upon seeing the elderly couple, Cao Weihua felt a twinge of guilt, but as he thought of his recently deceased father, and how they dared to so shamelessly humiliate the dead, he was filled with unceasing rage. His eyes turned red as he rushed forward, kicking the old man to the ground with one swift move.

Instead of getting angry, the old man just lay there, laughing hysterically, “Retribution, retribution… If you’ve got the guts, kill me!”

Fury rose in Cao Weihua’s heart, he wanted to charge forward and keep hitting, but he was held back by the old woman grabbing his legs.

He raised his hand to lay into the old lady, but the people who had followed him out quickly restrained him, “Weihua, Weihua… Don’t be impulsive, now’s not the time to make trouble.”

Cao Weihua truly seemed to be losing his sanity; he struggled several times, cursing as he did, “Motherfucker, let go… The old man has just passed, and now you want to change allegiances? Disloyal dogs!”

Those words were incredibly hurtful, especially since two of the people holding him were his own cronies.

Yet no one took offense—at least not right then. Whether there would be scores to settle later was a different matter.

After cursing for five or six minutes, Cao Weihua could not break free, and he gradually calmed down.

The old couple was restrained by others, and the unlit firecrackers they brought were snatched away by others.

Still, the two laughed unrestrainedly, with an edge of madness to their mirth.

By this time, dozens of onlookers had gathered around, and passing vehicles were affected.

Even the guard from the Construction Committee’s dormitory had crossed the street to watch the excitement.

Turning around, Cao Weihua headed for the compound across the street, shouting, “Damn it, this isn’t over!”

His mental state was indeed a bit off at that moment.

However, as he made his way through the traffic, a loud roar came from afar. A motorcycle raced towards him at an incredible speed, definitely surpassing a hundred kilometers per hour.

The motorcycle’s headlight suddenly switched on, its altered beam so glaring that it hurt to look at.

Cao Weihua wasn’t quite in his right mind and had a delayed reaction. Fortunately, one of his cronies was quick to grab him, screaming at the top of his lungs, “Run!”

Thanks to his crony’s tug, at the next moment, Cao Weihua was sent flying through the air by the impact, while the motorcycle sped off into the rainy night without stopping.

“Holy shit… this is murder!” someone exclaimed in disbelief.

This area was close to the heart of Zhengyang. Forget motorcycles, even cars weren’t supposed to go above sixty kilometers per hour, and it was raining to boot. The motorcycle daring to go so fast meant that any mishap would result in nothing but a total wreck.

So it was obvious, without even thinking, that the rider was targeting Cao Weihua.

Fortuitously, Cao Weihua avoided a direct hit, which saved his life. But after being struck, he suffered comminuted fractures in the lower half of his body and a spinal break. When he hit the ground, his head took a blow, and he passed out heavily.

The crony who gave him a tug suffered from a dislocated arm and a misaligned spine due to the forceful pull…

This was murder, no doubt about it, a conclusion nearly all the witnesses on the scene could agree upon. That’s why the police arrived quickly.

Of course, it was easy to guess that those with the most suspicion cast upon them wouldn’t be the owner of some manor in the suburbs but rather the elder couple on the scene, sobbing with joy.

“`

The elderly couple staunchly denied having instigated the crime, but the police wouldn’t stop their investigation just because of their denial.

Some suggested that the mastermind behind the murder might well be Feng Jun from Luohua Manor, but regrettably, those who made such claims couldn’t provide any concrete details of the feud between the parties, only speculating it was due to deep-seated business enmities.

It’s not as if Cao Weihua’s actions weren’t excessive, others were just too embarrassed to speak of what he had done.

Since no evidence was forthcoming, the police prioritized the investigation of the elderly couple.

The investigation showed that the couple indeed had the motive for contract killing, but logically, this possibility was rather low.

After all, since Cao Weihua wasn’t dead, the police’s focus on the case significantly decreased.

The following day at ten in the morning, the police officer in charge of the investigation visited Luohua Manor to ascertain Feng Jun’s whereabouts the previous day.

This time, Feng Jun answered the phone and indicated for Men Gang to let them in.

When the police asked him where he was the day before, he would certainly claim he was in his villa. As for whether anyone could verify that—”I closed the door to sleep; how could anyone confirm? Anyway, I never went out.”

The two investigating police officers had gleaned some insider knowledge about the enmity between the parties and felt that the man before them really might be the mastermind behind the scene—even children know the one who benefits the most is the most suspicious.

But what does it matter if the suspicion is strong? Reasoning and logic cannot replace evidence.

Not to mention anything else, just the fact that the man before them was an outright billionaire was enough to ensure that the two police officers proceeded by the book.

If Cao Weihua had been conscious, or if Director Cao had still been alive, some public relations moves might have put Feng Jun on the defensive, but with no one else coming forward, are the police supposed to trouble themselves with unnecessarily pestering Feng Jun?

They conducted their investigation for a few hours. Feng Jun spoke about what he could and kept silent on what he couldn’t, even going so far as to turn the tables by complaining that the Baixing Town Government had reneged on their word. A contract in black and white, with the bright red Great Seal, and they wanted to go back on their word.

He hoped the police could stand up for him.

The two policemen indicated that they were unable to help and also asked, “Could we take a look around your manor?”

Walking around the villa’s courtyard wouldn’t be a problem, Feng Jun gave such a response.

The rooms of the villa—he would not allow them to be scrutinized; the woods beyond the villa—neither would he consent to their inspection.

The two policemen didn’t have a search warrant, and if the homeowner refused entry, they were powerless.

By the time the police left, it was nearing twelve o’clock. Feng Jun did indeed offer them lunch, but how could they possibly stay to eat?

As they drove past the mountain gate, the two officers saw a dozen or so makeshift altars scattered in the wild, with many people who had only brought incense burners. They lit incense sticks and placed the burners on the ground, facing Luohua Villa, murmuring under their breath.

One officer clicked his tongue, “Damn, we still have to gather information in the town… Why do I feel a chill running down my spine?”

The other officer sighed, “Let’s get a rough idea and call it quits. The guy’s not dead after all.”

“Ha, so you’re scared too?”

“It’s not about being scared, but thinking about that crow gives me goosebumps… We should all have a sense of reverence, right?”

Two days later, the construction plans for Luohua Manor were approved, and the grand construction began. Meanwhile, those who had fallen ill gradually recovered—an occurrence that, far from diminishing the manor’s mystery, made the offerings of incense at the main gate even more flourishing.

Cao Weihua’s condition finally stabilized—vegetative state.

For the Cao Family, with two men in the family dead and one in a coma all within a short period, it truly seemed as though the sky had fallen. The Director’s wife couldn’t bear such a blow and nearly collapsed, ending up in the hospital for long-term care.

Cao Weihua’s sister couldn’t stand it anymore and let it be known she was going after Feng Jun—he had harmed her father and brother.

She sent people to Baixing Town to collect information, but once others heard she was investigating Luohua Manor, the majority turned away—go mad on your own, we won’t join you.

After Zhang Hongfei received the news, he even made a special trip to Luohua Manor. He didn’t enter but chatted with Men Gang at the gate, handing him a cigarette and hinting at the sister of Cao Weihua inquiring about Boss Feng, and to keep an eye out.

Feng Jun got the message from Men Gang, aware that Director Zhang was showing goodwill.

Then, it suddenly dawned on him: with his current reputation, whether or not he built the surrounding wall seemed… irrelevant?

Compared to a tangible wall, the air of “otherworldliness” around his name provided the manor with far more effective protection.

Of course, these were just his musings; the perimeter wall still needed to be built—a clear boundary could once and for all resolve many hassles.

With the arrival of heavy construction equipment and personnel, the manor no longer retained its former tranquillity. And as the patients finally recovered, the incense offerings at the mountain gate gradually began to subside.

In these days, Feng Jun stayed quietly within the manor grounds. The matter of the Cao father and son was no small issue, and he understood all too well that it was impossible to shake off suspicion; perhaps the police were even keeping a close eye on him at this very moment.

Therefore, it was necessary for him to keep a low profile for a while. The crazier the heavens are, the more it rains; the crazier people are, the more likely they are to invite trouble.

(First update, celebrating Yin Mengfeng Peak~1/5)