"Why are you zoning out again? You're reaching into my plate with your chopsticks. What are you thinking about?" Huang Xiaopang suddenly interrupted He Kao's thoughts.
He Kao thought to himself, "I suspect you are the Hidden Moth!" But he said aloud, "I'm thinking about my aunt's phone call. I don't know what trouble her family has gotten into again. I just can't shake this uneasy feeling."
Huang Xiaopang replied, "What's the use of just thinking? Ask someone, like Aunt Liang."
He Kao thought for a moment, then took out his phone and dialed a number. Once connected, he said, "Sister Liang, it's Xiao Kao... I just wanted to ask if there hasn't been any trouble lately with my family or over by my aunt's side?"
The voice on the other end was a neighbor from He Kao's hometown. Based on age, he could call her Aunt, which is what he did when he was a child. But after going to college, he started calling her Sister.
Sister Liang's voice was exaggerated, "Xiao Kao, you actually don't know?"
He Kao replied, "Nobody has told me anything. How would I know?"
Sister Liang said, "Your aunt's family was selling fireworks in town during the New Year. Do you know how much money they made?"
He Kao answered, "I don't know."
Sister Liang continued, "I've heard they made three hundred thousand legally, but that's far from the real amount. They were reported for having a large batch without proper permits. Even your uncle was detained for two days before being released; this was last month."
He Kao questioned, "Released after two days?"
This question was odd because He Kao knew it was true. If his uncle had been reported and investigated, two days wouldn't be enough to release him.
In the local area, his uncle had some connections and often engaged in minor trades others wouldn't dare, like running a designated fireworks sales point.
A few years ago, Qi Yuan City's main district banned fireworks, but recently the policy relaxed, allowing them during specific times and areas. Jiangbei District isn't the main area, so fireworks were allowed during New Year.
The restrictions on setting off fireworks extend even more strictly to sales, with nearly no sales points in the main district. Buyers have to go to designated sales points at the urban-rural border.
Getting this special operating license isn't easy; his uncle secured one, opening a sales point in Pugang Town. Many city folks drove there during New Year to buy fireworks.
Fireworks are regulated dangerous goods; their sales quantities, varieties, procurement channels, and storage locations adhere to strict control regulations.
Making thirty thousand during one New Year doesn't seem like much compared to the complexities of handling permits and the risks involved, but in reality, they made more than that.
With official documents and legal procurement channels, all goods were registered and controlled. But his aunt's family procured a large batch of fireworks through private means, avoiding tax and registration.
Sister Liang continued with the gossip, "They found nothing; all sold out during New Year, so they released everyone..."
Village life features much "neighborly harmony," where if you borrow an onion someone might just give you one—and everyone seems to get along well on the surface.
But when a family suddenly makes a fortune, envy brews among neighbors. Forget whether the money was earned legally or not—even if it wasn't, people would find angles to report them—thus Aunt's family was reported.
His uncle was taken by police for investigation and released forty-eight hours later, not just because of connections but because no major issues had been found. The New Year batch had already been sold out; there was nothing left to find.
Hearing all this, He Kao froze in shock, recalling his aunt's earlier phone call asking if he was coming back! He quickly asked, "Sister Liang, has my aunt come over to my place recently?"
Sister Liang replied, "She did, last month. Came by at night with a pickup truck, unloading goods into your yard, the truck covered with tarps, closed the yard gate and ran three trips in total.
I wasn't asleep at the time, saw it from upstairs through the window, and asked what was going on. Your uncle said it was construction materials for your house."
He Kao thought to himself, oh no, he already guessed what was happening. His aunt must have stashed all the goods at his place secretly, and there were plenty, making three pickup trips—not afraid of blowing the house up!
By regulation, unsold fireworks must be registered and stored at designated locations. But Aunt's fireworks lacked proper permits, unable to be legally stored.
They originally had a warehouse, but being reported led them to stash the goods at He Kao's house. If caught, it'd mean jail time even without conviction—detention would be guaranteed.
If this gets unearthed, the charges would first fall on He Kao, with the goods hidden in his house. It'd be extremely hard to clear himself of suspicion, being both kin and evidence—not many would believe he wasn't involved.
Even if he managed to prove his innocence, the investigation by police risked his job, especially if he was still interning without official employment—no company would want this trouble.
If officially hired, being detained would still lose him his job, potentially landing him in jail. Future job prospects at national units or major enterprises would be non-existent—they'd fail background checks.
The more He Kao thought, the more serious the situation seemed, his fear growing; before he could snap out, Sister Liang suddenly whispered, "Xiao Kao, do you think they hid those goods at your place? This can't be; it's too dangerous!"
Apparently, not only did He Kao suspect this possibility, but neighbor Sister Liang did too. Her worries were justified—her home next door risked being affected by any accident.
He Kao, somewhat flustered, replied, "Really? I haven't been home for over two months, haven't heard a thing."
Sister Liang advised, "Go back home soon and check. If it's true, have them move the goods immediately! Don't get dragged into illegal stuff..."
Before finishing, her tone suddenly escalated, "Oh no, it's too late!"
Sister Liang was startled, prompting He Kao to ask, "What's too late?"
Sister Liang replied, "Police have arrived, two police cars with flashing lights! Your aunt's there causing a scene, rolling around by the gate—she can't stop them!"
He Kao asked, "Are you at my house?"
Sister Liang replied, "I'm by my window... Hold on, I'm heading over now."
Huang Xiaopang extended his head to listen too, vaguely understanding what happened. He gestured at He Kao, whispering, "Too many people here, let's go out and find a place."
The two left the restaurant without eating, with Huang Xiaopang signaling He Kao to follow him, turning here and there until opening a door—into a secluded storeroom.
He Kao's knowledge of the floor only stretched from the elevator to the restaurant, never imagining there being such a place on the third floor. He activated the speakerphone with Sister Liang heading downstairs, bringing them live coverage.
Why were the police searching He Kao's place? They all could guess.
The informant, already targeting Aunt's place, seeing goods moved to He Kao's yard, definitely revealing it—and Sister Liang saw it too, so who else might have? It's just more clouting them with reports, claiming illegal goods were transferred.
His uncle had some ties locally, including having a cousin as the town police station leader, but it's not like they could manipulate everything. Perhaps the informant aimed directly at the leader.
Zhou Yan couldn't hold off enforcement forces by causing a scene at the gate. Police demanded keys to the gate and door, she sternly refused, resulting in the authorities bringing out tools like bolt cutters and impact drills, preparing to break in.
Sister Liang had squeezed into the onlooking crowd, murmuring, "We don't recognize the officer leading the police; they showed a search warrant, even called the owner on-site... Xiao Kao, why is your phone unreachable?"
**