Ma Yunfei asked, "When you reported the town mayor to the county public security bureau, did they take a record of it?"

Gu Tian recalled: "Two policemen took me to a small room and listened to me for half an hour. They just stared at each other, whispered a few words to each other, and then let me go."

"Those two police officers didn't take any notes? Nor did they make you sign any records?"

Gu Tian shook his head.

Ma Yunfei found it unbelievable. According to normal procedure, the police should have taken a statement and had Gu Tian sign it.

More importantly, Gu Tian seriously injured the deputy mayor, who is still hospitalized in the town's health center. This single case is enough to warrant Gu Tian's detention, rather than his removal from the county public security bureau.

"Uncle, are you...are you sure you went to the county public security bureau?"

"Of course, I'm not illiterate. There's a big sign hanging at the door that clearly says 'Public Security Bureau,' and the two policemen are real."

Ma Yunfei pondered, finding it all too bizarre.

Perhaps these two policemen happened to have a connection with Mayor Gu Le, which is why they suppressed the report.

There can only be this explanation; there can't be any other reason.

Ma Yunfei felt a chill run down his spine. If Gu Le had connections in the county public security bureau, then it would be difficult to bring him down.

He had long realized that it was only a matter of time before Gu Le would target him again.

Ma Yunfei asked, "Uncle, what are your plans now?"

Gu Tian said, "Yesterday, I called my cousin in the county town. He said he had raised another 20,000 yuan for me. I want to get my hands on this money, but I'm worried that he might try to harm me again. So, I came here specifically to find you, hoping you can pass on a message to my cousin, telling him that I've arrived and that he can give you the 20,000 yuan so that you can pass it on to me."

Ma Yunfei frowned and sighed, saying, "Uncle, I probably can't help you with this. You may not know, but a couple of days ago, Erlv and I had a falling out. The mayor and his wife have given me an ultimatum, telling me to close the sales station and stop doing yam business. To put it bluntly, the mayor has turned against me. If you ask me to go to the mayor now, he'll suspect I'm conspiring with you to report him. I don't want to take the blame."

Gu Tian said unhappily, "Xiao Ma, your sales station is thriving and shows no sign of closing down. You're obviously trying to fool me. You're a slippery fellow; you'd never fall out with the mayor."

“Uncle, everything I’ve said is true, not a single lie. Right now, I’m using delaying tactics, hoping to do the yam business for one more day and at least earn some money to eat.”

Gu Tian said unhappily, "Xiao Ma, I'm at my wit's end now. There's no one else who can help me but you. If you're not willing to be a middleman, then help me deliver a note to the mayor. Even if you don't want to hand it to him in person, you can slip it under his door. You should be able to do that, right?"

As the saying goes, even a rabbit will bite when cornered.

If Ma Yunfei doesn't agree to Gu Tian's request, Gu Tian might turn on him.

Ma Yunfei said helplessly, "Uncle, you're putting me in a difficult position. Here's what I'll do: write a note and I'll secretly slip it under the mayor's door. That's all I can do. Please forgive me."

Ma Yunfei brought over a piece of paper and a pen and handed them to Gu Tian.

Gu Tian wrote in a crooked hand: "Cousin, I have arrived in Qinglong Town. I am afraid that you will harm me, so I am hiding in a very secluded place. Please put 20,000 yuan under the big pine tree at the east end of town at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. I will go and get it."

After Gu Tian finished writing the note, he handed it to Ma Yunfei and instructed him, "Little Ma, please do me one last favor."

Ma Yunfei pretended to be in a difficult position, as if he had made a great decision, and slapped his thigh, saying, "Uncle, for the sake of our friendship, I'm willing to risk everything to help you pass this note."

Gu Tian said, "Xiao Ma, if anything happens in the future, I might come looking for you again. The code is this tattered straw hat. Take a close look at this tattered straw hat. Seeing this tattered straw hat is the same as seeing me."

Ma Yunfei found it amusing, thinking to himself: You fool, do you think you're some kind of underground worker? You never dreamed that I was one of the conspirators who plotted against you.

Ma Yunfei asked, "Uncle, where are you staying?"

"I live in a nearby village."

"How can I let you know if I have any news?"

"I will come back to find you."

Gu Tian left in a hurry.

Ma Yunfei put the note in his pocket. He thought about it and felt that something was very strange.

Gu Tian reported Gu Le to the county public security bureau, but there was no response, which was unusual.

After considering it for a long time, Ma Yunfei finally made up his mind.

After lunch, he dressed up specially, wearing a baseball cap and a mask, and then went to the town's health center.

The inpatient department of the health center was very quiet.

He went straight to the ward for high-ranking officials.

The door to ward number one was closed, and Ma Yunfei knocked lightly twice.

Chang Xiaobao asked, "Who is it?"

"Mayor, I am Ma Yunfei."

Chang Xiaobao opened the door and said cheerfully, "Oh, it's Xiao Ma. What can I do for you?"

"Mayor, I have something very important to report to you. May I come inside to talk?"

Ma Yunfei slipped into the ward, turned around and closed the door, making sure to lock it from the inside.

Chang Xiaobao took two steps back alertly, then grabbed a water glass.

Chang Xiaobao seemed to be filled with doubt and vigilance about the arrival of Ma Yunfei, this uninvited guest.

Ma Yunfei said sincerely, "Mayor, don't be afraid. I'm not here to harm you. I want to tell you some important information."

Ma Yunfei told Chang Xiaobao everything Gu Tian had said.

He then took out the note that Gu Tian had written to the town mayor, Gu Le.

Deputy Mayor Chang Xiaobao listened quietly, without asking any questions or saying anything.

After Ma Yunfei finished his report, he took his leave, saying, "Mayor, I have reported everything I know to you. You should make a decision on what to do about this matter."

Just as Ma Yunfei opened the door and was about to leave the ward, the deputy mayor said, "Xiao Ma, don't go yet, sit down and let's discuss this."

The fact that the deputy mayor wanted to discuss this matter with Ma Yunfei clearly indicates that he considers Ma Yunfei a confidant.

"Xiao Ma, sit down. I have a question for you: Gu Tian reported Gu Le to the county public security bureau, so why did the county public security bureau ignore him and take no action?"

“Mayor, this is also a question that puzzles me. My analysis is that these two policemen happen to have connections with Gu Le, so they deliberately suppressed this report.”

Chang Xiaobao shook his head and muttered, "Generally speaking, it's unlikely that this situation will occur. Even if one policeman is connected to Gu Le, the other policeman won't abuse his power. The probability of both policemen being connected to Gu Le is too low."