Chapter 45: Everyone must pay the price for what they have done!

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By the roadside near Chaoyang Kindergarten, behind the strawberry stall—
Wearing glasses and exuding an air of refinement, Chen Songshe stood basking in the warm sunlight, a faint smile playing on his lips as he observed the passersby and vehicles. Unlike the typical vendors, his demeanor was calm and composed.
“So anxious—because of the child’s grades?”
“The delivery must be overdue. Is he heading to Xinglong Community?”
“Excited, flirtatious, but sneaky—off to a secret rendezvous with a lover?”
Every passerby, every rider, every car carried a story.
Watching them was Chen’s favorite pastime during slow business hours.
Ding dong!
His phone chimed suddenly.
He took it out, his smile brightening considerably as he tapped to play a voice message:
“Big brother, when will you be back? I made your favorite stewed lamb, garlic prawns, and pickled cabbage vermicelli today! I’ve been busy all afternoon—exhausted!”
A sweet, coquettish voice flowed softly from the speaker.
It was his sister!
“Haha, just what I love.
I’m closing up shop now—no more sales today!”
“Great, I’ll be home waiting for you!”
Chen Songshe put away his phone, smiling as he immediately began packing up.
Just then, a police car pulled up in front of his stall.
Chen’s temple twitched twice, but he quickly composed himself.
Shen Ting stepped out of the vehicle:
“Boss, closing up a bit early today, huh?”
“Not really, got some family matters. Hey, young man, want two more pounds of strawberries?
By the way, where’s your adorable sister? Didn’t she come with you today?”
Chen smiled.
Shen Ting said nothing, just stared at him.
Two more officers stepped out, their faces stern as they regarded Chen.
He set down the plastic bag, removed the gloves he had just put on, adjusted his glasses, and remained remarkably calm:
“Looks like you’ve found something.”
“For your sister’s illness?”
Shen Ting had just shared Chen’s information.
His father had been one of the victims in the accident years ago!
Twelve years ago, before the kidnapping case, his sister was diagnosed with leukemia.
But the family couldn’t afford treatment!
The compensation from his father’s accident—mere tens of thousands—was nowhere near enough.
“Half of it, yes.
The other half is for myself, for pride.
Everyone must pay for their deeds.
Liu Furen was like that—I am no exception.”
The two officers watched him intently, but Chen showed no sign of fleeing.
Instead, he picked a few strawberries, eating them slowly and deliberately.
He savored the taste, glanced at Shen Ting, and smiled:
“I have few regrets now.
I hope your sister’s ear ailment can be cured as well.
These strawberries are for her.
When I see your sister, I think of my own when she was young.”
The officers stepped forward, but Shen Ting held them back.
After he finished the strawberries and sent a message to his sister:
“Xiaoling, go ahead and eat first. I have some things to handle here, no need to wait for me.”
Only then was Chen handcuffed and taken into the police car.

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When Shen Ting and his team returned to the station, the other squads that had gone to apprehend suspects were already back.
Xiong Beibei said excitedly:
“Besides Chen Songshe, we only caught one other person.
He runs a convenience store on Fuxin Street.
Another is confirmed to be in Yun Province Prison for smuggling.
He was arrested three years ago and sentenced to six years.
One suspect died from illness during the pandemic a couple of years back.”
“Including Chen Songshe, that makes four.
What about the other person?”
Shen Ting asked.
“Technically, two!”
Xu Xinyidao replied: “The last grave corresponds to a pair of twin brothers.
From what we know, after the crime, the brothers fled to Myanmar, and in recent years, they seemed to be in the Golden Triangle.
The younger brother was shot and killed in a firefight last year.
Our colleagues are still confirming the whereabouts of the older brother.
We may need to cooperate with local authorities there for his capture.”
In other words, only four suspects remain alive.
Three have already been apprehended!

The interrogation began swiftly.
The three suspects confessed without much resistance.
Thirteen years ago, during the Spring Festival, the twins involved in smuggling returned to Chaoyang to celebrate.
By then, they had already set their sights on Liu Furen, planning to kidnap him.
The twins knew that just the two of them wouldn’t be enough.
Liu Furen’s bodyguards were formidable.
Even if they brought a gun, the risk was high.
During the holiday, the twins contacted three childhood friends.
All had fallen on hard times, dropping out of school early after their fathers died, working low-paying jobs.
Money was desperately needed.
Though kidnapping was illegal, the three didn’t hesitate to join.
Had the target been someone else, they might have hesitated, but since it was Liu Furen, they eagerly awaited the kidnapping to commence.
At that time, Liu Furen was at the height of his fame.
One of the country’s top ten richest men!
Frequently featured on the news, giving stacks of hundred-yuan bills to impoverished households, even making headlines on national TV!
Their jealousy of Liu Furen’s success was palpable.
Originally, the kidnapping team consisted of the twins plus the three friends.
Chen Songshe was not invited!
They considered themselves insignificant, hopeless for life.
But Chen Songshe was different—a golden phoenix rising from the mountains.

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After high school, he was admitted to Qingbei University!
His future was bright!
They would never have wanted to jeopardize Chen’s prospects!
At a dinner, they learned that Chen’s sister, Chen Qingling, had leukemia.
They even thought they could give Chen a share of the ransom to cover her medical expenses.
However, Chen was highly observant and noticed their odd expressions during the dinner.
They met several times afterward, clearly hiding something from him.
After pressing repeatedly, he learned of their plan to kidnap Liu Furen.
Upon hearing this, Chen laughed.
Their plan was crude and reckless!
Even if the police were incompetent, they would surely be caught.
Chen improved their plan and, unwittingly, joined the gang as its strategist.
After thorough study, he discarded the kidnapping and ransom idea, opting for robbery instead.
Because ransom required contacting the Liu family and could involve the police, making it too risky.
Robbery was more direct!
They waited long for the opportunity—early April, when Liu Furen publicly announced a charity giveaway in Ningyuan Township.
He planned to distribute ten million yuan in one go!
Along with Liu’s watch, bracelet, and other valuables, the six could share nearly two million yuan!
They were satisfied.
Chen designed the operation carefully.
They sank a ferry in Shuibay and placed the ferryman’s family nearby to divert the police’s attention.
Meanwhile, they hid in the old industrial district’s copper smelting plant to evade the first thorough search.
They sent a ransom note to the New Economic Daily, feigning a kidnapping.
Using misspelled words to mislead the police!
The intricate plan to sink the ferry—all were Chen’s handiwork!
He poured all his heart and soul into securing the money to cure his sister.
After their father’s fatal accident, their mother lost heart and died a year later.
Before she passed, she urged him to take care of his sister.
In truth, it was his sister who cared for him.
With heavy high school coursework, Chen relied on her for daily support.
After enrolling at Qingbei’s Transportation Engineering School, his sister dropped out due to poor grades and worked to support him.
She sent him money until she fell ill and was diagnosed with leukemia!
He could not let his sister die!
Even if it meant risking his promising future!
As a top student in transportation at Qingbei, under his professor’s guidance, he studied the entire capital’s road network.
This knowledge allowed him to evade capture during the massive police manhunt, maneuvering like a gazelle evading hunters.
Chen understood that the more meticulous the plan, the greater the chance of mistakes during execution.
So he designed large margins for error.
Yet, when the plan was set in motion, something still went wrong…