Chess can generally be divided into two types. One involves local skirmishes, step by step, controlling the rhythm, leading the opponent until they are completely dragged down, forced to death. This close combat strategy is too murderous, but it can catch the opponent off guard, easily winning. It becos troubleso when encountering soone good at strategic layout, who quietly sets up a killing trap and finally delivers a fatal move.
Luo Zheng noticed Lan Bo's strong murderous intent and simply let Lan Bo eat most of his pieces, smoothly completing the layout. Suddenly, he launched a countermarch, firing at the center line. Lan Bo was startled, realizing that moving any piece would lead to being forced into a trap by the opponent's next move. He couldn't help but be shocked.
"Yay, he won! Brother-in-law is amazing." Lan Xing also saw the brilliance in the ga, excitedly made a victory gesture and high-fived Lan Xue, who was equally happy.
"You're not even married yet, and you're already siding with outsiders?" Lan Bo jokingly scolded, but everyone could see he wasn't really angry, and they all laughed. Lan Bo looked at Luo Zheng, his eyes full of appreciation, and said with a smile: "Interesting, you spotted the flaw in my strategy, deliberately sacrificed pieces to lure into a trap and then executed a fatal move. You have the makings of a General, no wonder they all listen to your command, you truly have a knack for this."
"Dad, were you just waiting to say that?" Lan Xue pretended to protest.
"Surrendered, huh? Old rascal, even your two beautiful and intelligent daughters admit defeat and follow his command, can't you just accept it? Haha." Lan Xing laughed happily, as if she had won herself.
Lan Xue smiled silently watching the scene, showing the grace of a big sister, and said to Lan Bo: "Dad, I'll make dinner. Let him accompany you for a drink tonight, but don't drink too much."
"Alright, as you say." Lan Bo replied with a happy smile, extrely satisfied with his current life, two obedient and sensible daughters, and an outstanding son-in-law. Thinking of this, Lan Bo looked at Lan Xing and jokingly reproached: "You silly girl, dare to criticize your daddy, you're not young anymore, better find a boyfriend to settle down."
"Forget it, there's no man in the world as outstanding as brother-in-law. With him as a benchmark, I suspect I'll stay single forever. Dad, I'll stick with you, have food and drink and a place to live, inherit so savings, no stress, life is great. I'm the legendary rich and beautiful woman." Lan Xing said coquettishly.
"What nonsense." Lan Bo scolded with mock anger, but his eyes were smiling.
The family joked cheerfully for a while, Lan Xue went to the kitchen with a face full of smiles, and Lan Xing also ran to help. Lan Bo held Luo Zheng to continue the ga. Before long, the TV news broadcast suddenly caught Luo Zheng's attention.
Luo Zheng paused to look at the TV, only to see the host with a serious face saying: "Ladies and gentlen, it has been four days since the shocking Heavenly Pearl theft case, with two days left before the deadline to solve the case. Can the police solve it within the stipulated ti? Reporters interviewed relevant departnts, but all remained silent. Religious temples are conducting silent prayer ceremonies. So sources reveal they are praying for the Heavenly Pearl and hope for its early return."
As soon as this was said, the TV screen switched to a desolate mountain temple, with many people dressed in Lama clothes sitting at the entrance, hands clasped together, murmuring sothing. Luo Zheng watched in confusion, while Lan Bo suddenly whispered beside him: "If the Heavenly Pearl isn't found, it might cause trouble."
"What do you an?" Luo Zheng asked curiously.
"The Heavenly Pearl is their sacred treasure, a symbol. If it gets lost in our country, it could be used by other countries to incite, provoke, and eventually lead to incidents of division and independence. It's hard to say if there's a shadow of other countries behind this, but progress is slow, and the police are oddly silent." Lan Bo explained with a serious tone.
"This thing is useless for ordinary people. Why steal it?" Luo Zheng wondered aloud.
"I don't know. It's said to have the power to bring the dead back to life, and the rumors are very detailed. But who knows about such pseudo-scientific claims? Perhaps soone believed it and stole it to save soone, or soone thinks it's fun and stole it for their collection. It might be so country attempting to create trouble for us; independence movents in the west have long existed. If the item isn't found, wouldn't it provide a perfect excuse?" Lan Bo said in a somber voice.
"Creating trouble, subverting regi unity? That's the special agent's tactic." Luo Zheng comnted seriously.
"Exactly, but such things are really hard to clarify." Lan Bo seed indifferent, smiled: "Forget it, let the police worry about this. Let's continue playing chess, it's hard to find a good opponent, co on, set up the board."
Luo Zheng agreed, continuing the ga with Lan Bo, but his mind was distracted by the Heavenly Pearl case. His chess skills fell sharply, and Lan Bo forced him into a disadvantageous position, prompting him to focus. They played back and forth for a while until the kitchen called that dinner was ready, and they put away the chess pieces to get up.
During dinner, Lan Xue noticed Luo Zheng's thoughtful expression and couldn't help but ask him about it. Luo Zheng pondered and felt that it wouldn't hurt to talk about it, so he shared the process of assisting Shi Feng in the investigation. Finally, he looked at Lan Xing and added: "The opponent managed to hack the infrared detection and unlock the fingerprint password lock; clearly, there's a skilled hacker helping them. Are there many of such people in the country?"
"Quite a few within the system, but not many outside. Such experts pose a great threat, and once discovered, the nation imdiately acts to manage them to prevent trouble." Lan Xing explained.
"So, even those outside have records? At least the nation knows of their existence?" Luo Zheng asked.
"Of course. These people don't easily reveal themselves, but they help when the country needs them, like I often ask for their assistance. They're trustworthy, willing to serve the country, just unwilling to work within the system. Should I ask around for you?" Lan Xing replied.
"No rush, it's Shi Feng's responsibility; we shouldn't intervene. Friends can give so advice, plus there are likely many such people internationally. Perhaps it's not a dostic job. Let's not talk about this anymore, Uncle Lan, let offer you a toast." Luo Zheng smiled, changed the topic, but kept the matter in mind.
"Without clear motives, it's quite challenging to trace. Let's eat." Lan Xue smiled, saw Lan Xing wanted to say more, gave her a look, and went to pour wine for her father.
Lan Xing felt eager, wishing to imdiately investigate, but considering her father's presence, discussing too much might leak secrets. She understood Lan Xing's implications and nodded knowingly, went to eat instead, contemplating the matter and thinking about how to trace clues later.
Having spent a long ti in the world and being a shrewd person, Lan Bo could easily sense everyone's thoughts and said calmly: "Luo Zheng, what you ntioned actually isn't that hard. The Heavenly Pearl is a sacred item; no one dares to collect it. Offending countless believers is a major issue, not auspicious. There's certainly a conspiracy here."
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