Chapter 2, One Million Dollar Check

I smiled and said: "Stop playing. Did you make a mistake?"

Returning to the office, I felt very pleased. I didn't expect it to lead to this. I just need to find a classmate who works in the prison to help me check; it shouldn't be difficult to locate this person. I picked up the phone, just about to dial. My phone rang. I looked at the number. It was from Da Meng, so I had no choice but to answer his call: "Hello, Da Meng, please spare me. I haven't had time to think about your case yet. I ... ... " But Da Meng interrupted me: "You guessed it right, another case has come up."

Da Meng accompanied by a smile, holding a bottle of wine: "Come, let's have a drink. The more you drink, the more inspiration you'll have."

The next day at noon, I finally got out of bed. I still felt dizzy, with a dry mouth and parched throat. Stumbling over to the refrigerator, I opened it and took out a bottle of soda. After downing it, I felt a little better

I nodded and said, "Rest assured, I will do my utmost to help you find your daughter"

I picked up the check and looked at it; it clearly stated "One Million". I was a bit bewildered. What kind of case is this that resulted in a million? However, I have no way of contacting that elderly person. This is rather strange.

Qi Zhongwei nodded and said, "Twenty years ago, my wife passed away. I brought my little daughter to this city. At the long-distance bus station, I told my wife to wait for me while I went to the restroom. But when I returned, my daughter was gone. My daughter's name is Qi Xiaomin. At that time, she was wearing a red little jacket, had her hair styled in two small horn braids, and her big eyes were very adorable. Her skin was fair, her little mouth was red, and she was extremely cute..." At that time, she was wearing a red little jacket, had her hair styled in two small horn braids, and her big eyes were very adorable. Her skin was fair, her little mouth was red, and she was extremely cute..."

I went out, found a small restaurant, and casually took a bite. I then went to the bank to deposit a check at hetushu.com. After that, I arrived at the long-distance bus station. This bus station has been in existence for over thirty years. Although it has been renovated, the address has largely remained unchanged. I am now here looking for a little girl who went missing twenty years ago. The probability of success is basically the same as finding a needle in a haystack. I have no expectations. I just came here to take a look since I have nothing else to do. I am now here looking for a little girl who went missing twenty years ago. The probability of success is basically the same as finding a needle in a haystack. I have no expectations. I just came here to take a look since I have nothing else to do

I nodded and thanked the aunt before leaving

The elderly lady was quite talkative and smiled, saying: "Why spend any money? This is all mine"

I gave a wry smile: "Do you think it's reliable for this old gentleman to entrust me with this matter? With just this little clue, can you find anything? It's been twenty years; can that girl really be waiting there all this time?"

Da Meng shoved the check into my hand: "Wrote it wrong? The numbers can be wrong, but can the words be wrong too?"

The elderly woman said, "Isn't she around fifty years old now?"

I was taken aback: "No way. How could you have bought this place?"

Da Meng smiled and picked up the check on the table. Upon seeing it, he let out a startled exclamation. I stood opposite Da Meng and said irritably, "What are you doing, making such a fuss? Can't you be a bit more composed?"

Da Meng chuckled and said: "Look at you, getting anxious just from talking. This is quite good, even more thrilling than eating seafood. Hehe, by the way! Do you have any inspiration?"

The elderly woman pursed her lips and said, "Indeed, I have spent my entire life here"

We kept drinking until midnight. Both of us had a bit too much. Da Meng still did not give up, putting his arm around my shoulder: "Buddy, I've always thought your brain is the sharpest, you must help me think of something."

I shot a glance at Da Meng: "It was originally a bit, www.hetushu.com, but now it's all gone because of you."

Finally, Qi Zhongwei came to his senses and smiled apologetically at me: "As one grows older, one tends to reminisce. That scene keeps flashing before my eyes. Over the past twenty years, although I have been busy with my career, I have never stopped searching for her. However, I have not found a single clue, which is why I have come to seek your help. My time is running out. I hope you can assist me." That scene keeps flashing before my eyes. Over the past twenty years, although I have been busy with my career, I have never stopped searching for her. However, I have not found a single clue, which is why I have come to seek your help. My time is running out. I hope you can assist me.

At this moment, Da Meng had already jumped up and grabbed my clothes, saying: "Steady now, you can't be steady just by looking. This is a check for one million."

I asked, "Oh! So you are quite the elder here?"

I am a bit unclear and would like to ask again, but the elder has already left

The old man smiled and said, "I will contact you; I will come to see you often. As for why I am looking for you, I am afraid you are the only one I can turn to."

The night is dark but not completely so. Da Meng and I are sitting at a street-side food stall. Our feet are resting on beer crates as we heartily munch on lamb skewers. While eating, Da Meng complains, "You have already taken a million, yet you don't even offer to treat me to some seafood or something?"

I walked to a small shop next to the long-distance bus station. Feeling thirsty again, I went in to buy a bottle of soda. The shopkeeper was an elderly woman, seemingly around sixty years old. I started chatting with her: "Ma'am, your business seems quite good! With the foot traffic and this location, how much did you pay for this place?"

I did not look at the check, I merely nodded at the old man. He stood up and walked outside. I accompanied him to the door. I said, "Mr. Qi, how can I contact you? Also, why did you come to find me?"

Trembling, he took out a wallet resembling a picture book and pulled out a yellowed photograph from inside. He handed it to me. I took the photograph and looked at it. The photograph was quite old, likely because Mr. Qi often took it out to fondle. Therefore, the figures on it were not very clear. However, it was still evident that the little girl in the picture was very cute

My tongue has become short, and I patted Da Meng's face: "Don't try to flatter me. I can tell you that there are more cases to come, each one worse than the last. Only then will you understand what true disgust is. There are decapitated bodies, disemboweled ones, dismembered corpses, and others with their internal organs shattered."

I nodded and said, "Do you know how old he is?"

However, I cannot recall anything about last night. Upon entering the office, I picked up that check and examined it closely. It still felt unbelievable. Since I could not find that old man, I decided to deposit the money first and deal with it later

The elderly man nodded and said, "Yes, there is only one."

I nodded slightly: "Rest assured, I will do my utmost to assist you. Do you have any other clues?"

I put down the lamb skewers and said to Da Meng: "You need to understand, you came to seek me out, so it should be you treating me. You took a box of my cigarettes and are still here talking about me. And about that one million, can it be moved? It's all so unclear."

I am very pleased; I did not expect that just coming to take a look would actually yield a clue. I said, "So do you know where this trafficker is now"

Qi Zhongwei was immersed in his memories, his eyes shining with light. However, what he said was of no help to me at all. Nevertheless, I did not interrupt him, allowing him to recall slowly

Da Meng pushed me away: "There is nonsense. I won't talk to you anymore. I'm leaving, don't forget to help me think about the illustrations and the book!"

I looked at Qi Zhongwei and gestured for him to continue. Qi Zhongwei said: "My daughter went missing in this city twenty years ago. She was only four years old at that time. I have been searching for her all these years, but I have never found her. Now I have a terminal illness. I have no heirs, and I hope you can help me find my daughter. I want to leave everything to her."

I smiled and said: "Look at that old man; he doesn't seem like someone who is short on money. Should we give him some hope? Besides, I will do my best to investigate, and asking for a bit of operational expenses isn't unreasonable."

I remained persistent and asked, "What is his name? Do you know?"

The elderly woman thought for a moment: "I remember his surname is Huang, everyone calls him 'Huang the Cripple', but I can't recall his first name."

Back in my room, Da Meng was sitting in my spot with a cheerful smile: "How is it? My friend, you must be a lucky star. As soon as I arrive, you have guests coming to your door."

Da Meng shook his head: "This private detective really makes a good profit. Should I resign and join you?"

The elderly woman smiled and said: "This is indeed the most chaotic place in our city. If we talk about lost children, it is said that at least one or two go missing every week. It has been twenty years, so I can't remember all the details. However, I do know that twenty years ago, there was a kidnapper who often stole children from here. I have seen some of the children he took. But I heard that he was caught later and went to prison"

I also shook my head: "This matter is a bit strange. It requires some thought."

The elderly woman inexplicably took the photo, squinting at it for quite a while. She then looked up at me and said, "I must say, it does look somewhat familiar. It seems that the kidnapper really did abduct a little girl like this. But I can't recall the details clearly."

The elderly man nodded, a smile blossoming on his face. He then reached into his pocket and took out a checkbook. He wrote an amount, placed it on my desk, and said: "This is the deposit and action fee. There will be a generous reward upon finding it."

Qi Zhongwei said: "By the way, there are four moles on my daughter's shoulder that form a square."

Da Meng snorted: "Just keep picking at it."

We raised our necks together and finished the bottle of wine

I furrowed my brow and pointed to the spicy hot pot on the table, saying: "Isn't there seaweed in this? If you haven't had enough, I can get you some grilled clams."

As soon as I heard this, I quickly took out the photo that Qi Zhongwei had given me and handed it to the elderly lady, saying: "Ma'am, please take a look. Have you seen this little girl before?"

The elderly person said, "This photo is for you; you must take good care of it."

Watching Da Meng get into the taxi and disappear in a flash, I also swayed back to my office, which is essentially my home. I collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

I nodded and asked, "Do you have any photos of her from when she was a child?"

I looked up and down at the elderly man before me. Judging by his attire and demeanor, he seemed to be quite a successful individual. I was somewhat puzzled as to why someone with his financial and social resources would seek out her daughter through me. However, I did not voice my thoughts and instead asked, "Could you describe the situation at that time?"

The elderly woman shook her head: "I haven't seen him since he went in."

I asked again: "Twenty years ago, someone lost a little girl here, do you know?"

Da Meng snorted, "Then why did you agree? And even accepted their money"

The elderly woman smiled and said, "What are you buying for? My original house is right here. Back then, this was a long-distance bus station, and I ran a small shop here. When they relocated us, I didn't take any money; I took this house instead"