Chapter 28: Zhang Heng's Text Message (2)

The text message contained every detail about Zhang Heng’s family: their home address, his parents’ personal information, bank account details, current balances, and even their ID numbers, phone numbers, and the withdrawal PINs for their savings accounts.

Staring at the message, Zhang Heng felt a surge of panic. Whoever could possess such intimate knowledge of his family—down to the bank account passwords—was clearly no ordinary person. This was a dangerous entity, a ticking time bomb for him and his family.

Just as Zhang Heng began to type a skeptical reply, a new message arrived. He hurriedly opened it:

(How about it? Will you cooperate? You have the power to choose, but I advise you to choose the right answer. I don’t think I need to spell out the consequences of choosing wrong.)

This threat rattled Zhang Heng, causing him to lose his composure. Yet, looking at the cold, menacing text, he typed: (Fine, I’ll listen to you for now. Tell me how you want to cooperate.)

Less than a minute after he hit send, his phone buzzed with a bank notification. He clicked it open:

(Your debit card ending in xxxx just received a transfer of 50,000 RMB. Current balance: 50,020.5 RMB. [Bank of China])

He was baffled. Why had 50,000 yuan suddenly appeared in his account? Just as he was about to open the Bank of China app to verify the transaction, the same number sent another message:

(Did you receive the 50,000? Let me tell you, since you’ve accepted it, you are now in possession of dirty money. Even if you contact the police, this hard evidence of receiving illicit funds makes you an accomplice. As long as you follow our instructions, we guarantee no one else will ever know about this. Afterward, we will give you another 100,000. We will also help you achieve what you came to Shanxi Province for: catching the buyer of that human trafficking ring. Plus, we will reunite you with Brother Liang Song. You have a three-fold opportunity right in front of you.)

Reading this long message, especially the part about reuniting with Brother Liang Song, Zhang Heng felt a spark of excitement. If Liang Song was alive, then there was hope for everything. However, he remained cautious. Driven by curiosity and doubt, he typed: (Fine. I want to know about Liang Song. You must let me see him in person. Once I confirm it is him, I will consider cooperating. Otherwise, there is nothing to talk about.) He sent the message.

Within minutes, a reply arrived:

(Fine, no problem. However, the meeting must be with you alone. You must not tell anyone else, especially the police. We will know if you involve a second party. I hope we can both keep our promises.)

Zhang Heng expected as much. He replied: (Understood. I will abide by the agreement. I want to see Brother Liang Song now. Please arrange it, thank you.)

Less than a minute later, the response came:

(Good. To demonstrate our commitment, complete a small task first. Go back to Taiyuan City today. Once there, find the Tianyuan Hotel in the city center. Find a way to get into Room 204. There is a letter taped under the mattress. Once you have it, message me. Do not send any other messages until then.)

Zhang Heng didn't hesitate: (Fine, I can do that.)

The sender immediately followed up: (The agreement begins. No need to reply.)

Zhang Heng opened the 12306 app and booked the fastest train to Taiyuan. He found a second-class ticket for a high-speed train departing in 16 minutes and booked it without a second thought.

He rushed to the station, scanned his ID at the gate, and sprinted toward the boarding area. He reached the gate just as the staff was about to close it, slid through, and sprinted to the platform. He boarded the train, verified his identity with the conductor, and found his seat just as the train began to pull away.

He let out a sigh of relief as the train sped toward Taiyuan. He didn't look at his phone again, choosing instead to watch the scenery pass by. Two or three hours later, he arrived at the final stop, Taiyuan. It was already pitch black outside.

He decided to head straight to the hotel mentioned in the text and spend the night there. He needed to figure out what they wanted him to do, who was sending these messages, and why. He was in the dark, and his only option was to follow the instructions step by step until the moment was right to uncover the truth.

He opened Baidu Maps and searched for "Tianyuan Hotel." Only one result appeared, located in the city center. This had to be the place.

The hotel was less than 5 kilometers away. He decided to walk, using the time to clear his head and think about his next moves. As he navigated the streets of the provincial capital, he was struck by the bustling nightlife and the vibrant energy of the city.

He found himself pondering: in a society governed by law and prosperity, why did people still choose to commit crimes that destroyed stability and harmony? What were these criminals chasing? Did they not realize that they would eventually be investigated by agencies like his, tried, and have their lives ruined?

He also reflected on why he became a criminal investigator. Initially, it was to fulfill his father’s wish—to be a respected man. Now, he realized that to be truly respected, one needed tangible achievements—breaking major cases that made the news.

Thinking of this, he felt a surge of determination. He quickened his pace. He told himself that once he finished the task and saw his comrade Liang Song, he would finally know the truth. The hospital had officially reported Liang Song as dead, and the media had broadcasted it to the world. But Zhang Heng felt it was unlikely that Liang Song would die so easily. Liang Song was a legendary investigator who had cracked major cases, like the national treasure theft. It was hard to believe he was gone based on a mere phone call, especially without seeing a body.

*The most important thing right now is to see Liang Song with my own eyes,* he thought, picking up his pace again.

He soon arrived at the hotel. He pulled his phone out, checked the room number—204—then put the phone back in his pocket, took out his ID, and entered the lobby.

A young woman was at the front desk. "Hello, welcome. Are you looking for a room?"

"Yes," Zhang Heng said.

As he was about to ask for Room 204, his subconscious warned him: *Don't. Do not let anyone know you are here for a specific purpose.*

"Sir?" the clerk asked again.

"Oh, yes," Zhang Heng replied.

He wanted to mention Room 204, but his intuition held his tongue.

"Sir, we only have three rooms left. One is 898 yuan, which includes a washing machine, a bathtub, and an office computer. One is 598, which has a washing machine but no computer. The last is 198, which has nothing but a bathroom, though it has a shower. Which would you like?"

He wanted to pick the 198-yuan room, but that felt too suspicious. He looked at the trash can by the front desk and suddenly had an idea.

"Excuse me," he said to the clerk. "Do you have any rooms that were just vacated and haven't been cleaned yet?"

"What?" she asked, looking confused. "Sir, who are you?"

Seeing her suspicion, he improvised: "Look, I only have about 150 yuan left. I can't afford the 198-yuan room. I was wondering if a room that hasn't been cleaned yet might be cheaper? I don't mind the mess; I’m not picky."

The clerk looked at him with a mix of embarrassment and pity. "Sir, that’s not really how it works. If you’re looking for something under 100, there’s an urban village about two kilometers that way. You might find something there."

"Please," Zhang Heng said, acting flustered. "I read great reviews about your hotel on Dianping, so I really wanted to stay here. I had enough money, but I was scammed by a rogue tricycle driver on the way here. He charged me 100 yuan for a short ride and hit me when I refused to pay. Look, he kicked my leg, it hurts, and I really don't want to walk any further."

Just then, a woman who looked like the landlady came down the stairs. "Lingling, what's going on?"

"Boss, this guest wants to stay in one of the rooms that hasn't been cleaned yet," the clerk replied.