Chapter 37 Chapter 37 (Updated on June 27) King Tianliang...
The next morning.
A flash of red lightning slid across the quiet streets at dawn and drove into the still quiet Jiangtan Municipal Bureau.
Ji Yinhe jumped off the Tianhong 90 in a handsome and neat manner and pushed the car towards the carport beside the courtyard wall.
Thinking that the case finally had a clear clue, she stayed up all night in bed excitedly, and couldn't wait to get back to the team and start the action!
My brain is extremely excited now, but the dark circles under my eyes look a bit scary.
After locking the bike, he turned around with big strides. After taking just two steps, he bumped into Comrade Xiao Wu, who was pushing a broken bicycle in with a sad face.
The two faced each other and asked in unison: "What's wrong with you?"
Ji Yinhe: "I didn't sleep well..."
"Oh! Your problem is easy to solve, just catching up on some sleep... I'm so unlucky! My bike broke down halfway!" Xiao Wu offered the oddly shaped seat behind him, pressed it to show her, and sighed, "The spring under the sponge is bulging out, and no matter how hard I try, I can't press it down. My butt is hurting all the way!"
Ji Yinhe chuckled. "Brother Wu, I have some tools in the pocket of my motorcycle. It's still early, so how about I help you take it apart and have a look?"
"That would be great!"
Ji Yinhe took out the pliers and screwdriver, rolled up his sleeves, and quickly removed the mat from Xiao Wu's bicycle.
"Well, the spring is indeed broken, but everything else is fine. It's too early now, and the hardware store is closed. I can buy a new one during the day and replace it!"
"I didn't expect you could do this!" Xiao Wu gave him a thumbs-up. "Next time, don't call me Brother Xiao Wu. I'll call you Sister Xiao Ji."
Little Sister Ji chuckled, "Remember to call me when the time comes. I'll definitely help you put the seat cushion back on after I removed it."
"Sister Xiao Ji, you are my sister forever!"
Xiao Wu put on a silly smile, put the seat cushion back to its original bare position, and walked into the office building side by side with Ji Yinhe.
Before I even reached the fifth floor, I heard an angry curse coming from the empty and quiet corridor.
Ji Yinhe and Xiao Wu were stunned and stopped at the same time.
That was clearly Director Rao’s voice!
Rao Zhenghao is usually known as a nice guy. He is friendly and gentle to everyone from provincial and ministerial leaders to security guards. Why is he so angry?
The two men walked up on tiptoe and bent over, and after listening to a few more words, they realized that the person he was scolding was not someone else, but their Captain Tang!
A team is a collective. If the team leader is reprimanded, it must mean that there have been major mistakes in their criminal investigation work!
Ji Yinhe thought of Lu Zheng’s phone call last night, and stopped hiding. He took Xiao Wu and ran upstairs and rushed into the office.
Rao happened to be standing in the middle of the outer room. With a crisp sound, he threw the newspaper in his hand onto the table.
"—It's in the morning paper! This is the sample copy I snatched back from the printing factory!" He pounded the table in frustration, "Tang Ci, oh Tang Ci! If I hadn't used my connections to withdraw the article in the middle of the night, what would the public think now? Would the case still be solved?"
Tang Ci stood opposite with red eyes, head lowered and silent.
Last night, I watched Ding Tongguang until almost twelve o'clock before I went home. When I entered the door, I saw Tan Yaxin sitting alone on the sofa, complaining sadly about why he had to work overtime so late.
He was shocked, and then he tried to reason with her and appeal to her emotions, and asked her to leave the house on the grounds that "Auntie will be worried, we are all adults and have to go to work tomorrow."
After finally lying down and falling asleep for just four hours, Tan Yaxin called again, saying that she had dreamed of her father. She was worried that it would be dangerous for him to be a criminal policeman, and asked him to apply for a transfer to the administrative department.
After much persuasion, the other party finally agreed to let him finish the current case first.
Captain Tang, who was no longer sleepy, simply gave up sleeping and went straight to the office to start a new day of case handling.
As a result, he ran into Director Rao in the office, who was looking very angry, and scolded him.
"Investigate! There are only a few of them!" Rao glanced back at Ji Yinhe and Xiao Wu, then turned back and pressed his forehead, saying, "Who on earth sold the important information to the reporter?"
Tang Ci took a deep breath, "Could it be that... Team Three accidentally leaked the news?"
"Impossible! Cui Bin has taken the physical evidence to the provincial government. He's not in the bureau anymore. The others are just cooperating with Team One!" Rao Zhenghao poked a line of words on the tofu block with his index finger. "See? It names the suspect in the Qingyi River corpse case and is related to the city's richest man. Team Three doesn't know these details!"
Tang Ci promised: "Okay, Director Rao, please don't be angry. I will definitely find this undisciplined person! Fortunately, the newspaper has not been published yet-"
"Who is Gong Chenggong? How could he not know what I heard?" Rao Zhenghao was furious. "Someone called the provincial department a long time ago! Originally, this case wasn't that urgent, but now the provincial department has given you 72 hours to solve it! Clear the Gong family's name! Otherwise, every last one of them will be sent to the police station!"
He glanced at his watch and added, "Oh, sorry, you only have 70 hours left!"
Tang Ci's eyelids twitched, and he became anxious. "Time is too tight. We have offended Gong Chenggong now. He will definitely not be willing to cooperate. Can we ask the provincial and ministerial leaders to relax a little bit-"
"Tang Ci, Tang Ci!" Rao was just as disappointed as he was. "Have you forgotten the spirit of our police? Absolute reliability and implementation, and you're still bargaining with your superiors? 70 hours, that's it. You're only allowed to arrive early. If you're late, you'll pack up and wait to be sent to the grassroots!"
Everyone: “…………”
Rao was breathing heavily, his lips were chapped from talking, and he subconsciously reached for the large porcelain jar beside him, but found nothing.
Comrade Xiao Ji, who was quite perceptive, quickly made a cup of tea for the director and brought it over.
"We don't have green tea in the office, we only have white chrysanthemum. I've been feeling really dry lately, so please help me clear my internal heat."
"You little devil, stop flattering me!" Rao Zhenghao said this, but his tone softened. He picked up the teacup and took a sip.
After a moment, he calmed down and said, "Alright, let's get on with the case. And Tang Ci, the person who sold the information to the reporter must be found as soon as possible!"
"yes!"
Rao just strode out of the office, and the remaining three people looked at each other in confusion.
Tang Ci looked at the two of them and waved his hand, "You've heard what Director Rao said. What are you standing there for? Go get to work on the case."
"I'm waiting for your instructions, Captain." Comrade Xiao Ji honestly explained what happened at the Pegasus Skating Rink last night. "How about I call Teacher Lu and keep an eye on Gong Xie?"
"Let me think about it first." Tang Ci put his hands on his hips and sighed, then turned to Xiao Wu who was poking him with his claws, "What's your problem?"
Xiao Wu puffed up his cheeks, looked around, and whispered, "Um, Captain Tang... I think I know who leaked the clue to the reporter..."
“Who is it?!”
Tang Ci and Ji Yinhe both opened their eyes wide.
"I can't be 100% sure..." Comrade Xiao Wu patted his crew cut and stammered, "Deputy Captain Che has been saying things like family matters these days. It just so happened that I went to Su's house yesterday to check on Ding Tongguang, and I saw him standing at the gate of Jiangtan No. 3 Middle School, chatting with a guy wearing a vest and a work ID, holding a notebook..."
Ji Yinhe pondered for a moment, "If it really is Deputy Captain Che, he will definitely not admit it if we ask him rashly... We have to think of a way to make him surrender to Captain Tang on his own initiative."
*
An hour later.
Che Zhiwen walked into the municipal bureau office building with a leisurely and comfortable pace.
The aroma of breakfast wafted from the cafeteria on the underground floor.
He happily used his meal ticket to buy a basket of soup dumplings, a bowl of tofu pudding, two fried dough sticks, and two boiled eggs, then lifted the door curtain while holding the tall rice bowl.
Just as he was hesitating whether to bring it into the office to eat, or ask Tang Ci for leave to go home and feast on it, a hazy figure floated down the stairs.
Xiao Wu looked depressed and sighed as he walked.
This kid never knew what was going on. Che Zhiwen raised his arm to stop him and asked, "What's wrong? Were you bullied by that little Ji girl?"
"No." Xiao Wu shook his head, looked left and right, leaned over and said a few words in his ear.
Che Zhiwen shuddered. "...What? Director Rao is angry? Has the newspaper been printed yet?"
"No! Director Rao went to the printing factory and stopped them in the middle of the night." Xiao Wu curled his lips. "But the provincial department has given us a strict order. We must solve the case within 70 hours and find the person who leaked the information to the reporter... I heard that the higher-ups recently issued a new document. Anyone who violates confidentiality regulations and leaks case clues to the outside world will be severely punished. They may even be fired!"
In fact, his poor acting skills were a bit unbearable at this moment, but in order to let Che Zhiwen take the initiative to admit his mistake to Tang Ci, he lowered his head and suppressed his smile, and according to Ji Yinhe's demonstration, he recited the lines she had written in advance word for word.
Sure enough, Che Zhiwen, who didn't understand the law and didn't care about the policy, had his pupils shaking violently.
"...Is it so strict now?" He swallowed hard. "Maybe they didn't say it on purpose. It's inevitable that neighbors, wives, and children might accidentally let a word slip—"
Xiao Wu shook his head. "Oh! That's why it's so hard to be a criminal police officer! Our heads are hanging on our belts, and we have to worry about this and that!"
He looked around and said in a low voice, "I heard... not only will he be expelled from the party and expelled from the party, but he will also be sentenced!
"...double dismissal?...prison sentence?" Che Zhiwen muttered absentmindedly.
Xiao Wu saw his expression and knew that he had stepped into a trap, so he quickly threw out his last burden:
"Oh, right, I heard from the secretariat that this document is still in Director Rao's hands and hasn't been released yet! So I think the person who leaked the information to the reporter should just tell the truth now. Maybe they can escape punishment!"
“…”
Xiao Wu was about to go to the cafeteria, but his arm was clamped by a strong force.
"You eat mine!" Che Zhiwen stuffed the lunch box into his hand without letting him go, then pulled him to a secluded corner. "Brother, can I ask you something?"
Xiao Wu lowered his head to peel the salted egg shells, "What's the matter? Why are you so polite? Tell me!"
"That's right... that thing you just mentioned, has Captain Tang been investigating? How far has he investigated?"
"Yes, there are only a few of us on our team!" Xiao Wu blinked. "The first one to come and question me was me. I said I had been working honestly these past few days and went back to the dormitory after work. My roommates could testify to this, so he let me down to have breakfast."
Che Zhiwen closed his eyes, his voice trembling, "What did Xiao Ji, Xiao Cheng, Xiao Lu, and Xiao Ye say? Why are they only suspecting our team? Isn't Team Three also involved in the investigation?"
"I don't know either!" Xiao Wu was a little annoyed. "Why don't you go up and ask him in person? Oh, right, Ji Yinhe just had an argument with Director Rao about those people in Team Three, and Director Rao said they knew nothing. So please don't help us out, or you might get scolded again!"
“…” Che Zhiwen was stunned for a long while.
I'm afraid it's really over now. There are only a few suspects, and they were divided into groups to follow them yesterday. Ji Yinhe and Lu Zheng, Xiao Wu and Cheng Mo can testify for each other. The only one who can't explain himself is him!
Seeing that he didn't say anything, Xiao Wu patted his shoulder, finished his breakfast in a few bites, picked up the empty lunch box and went to the sink behind the cafeteria to wash the dishes.
Che Zhiwen walked upstairs with weak legs and feet.
Tang Ci was the only one in the office, sitting silently in his seat, not knowing what he was thinking.
Hearing footsteps, she glanced up at him.
With just one glance, Che Zhiwen knew that no one else was a suspect. Tang Ci had already determined in his heart that he was the one who told the details of the case to the reporter.
Think about the consequences of double expulsion and sentencing, and then think about yourself as an old policeman. If you go to jail, you will definitely be severely retaliated by the prisoners you once imprisoned.
Che Zhiwen gritted his teeth and decided to follow Xiao Wu's advice - tell the truth and be lenient if he confesses.
"Xiao Tang, I heard you were looking for someone to snitch on me." He sat down at the seat opposite and took a deep breath. "No need to look for anyone, it's me."
Sure enough, Captain Tang looked at him without any surprise.
"Lao Che, I need an explanation..." Tang Ci crossed his arms, his eyes filled with confusion. "Our wages are calculated based on length of service. You earn more than me, so why would you do something like this?"
"I'm not doing this for the money..." Che Zhiwen muttered, "Recently, our team has cracked two major cases. Reporters have contacted me for an interview, but didn't you repeatedly warn us not to show our faces and to keep a low profile—"
"Are you doing this for this little bit of vanity?" Tang Ci threw the newspaper sample that Rao had just brought in the morning in front of him. "There's not a single word about your name, Che Zhiwen, in it! But you, Deputy Captain Che, have completely disrupted our work rhythm!"
Che Zhiwen was scolded so much that he couldn't even lift his head. He pleaded, "Xiao Tang, Captain Tang, I know I was wrong...Put yourself in my shoes. Ever since Xiao Ji came, you've been praising her for everything, and I haven't been able to get a word in. I know I'm old and can't think like you young people. I just wanted to feel a little involved and hold my head up in front of my wife, children, and relatives...I never thought those reporters would write everything in the newspapers!"
He raised his head and stared at Tang Ci's indifferent face. "I'm going to swallow my pride and beg you! ... Captain Tang! I even took you out of the scene when you joined the Municipal Bureau! Can you please, for the sake of our friendship, not fire me and send me to jail—"
Unpleasant sobbing sounds rang out in the quiet office. After a long while, Tang Ci finally grabbed the paper and pen at hand, pushed it in front of the middle-aged man crying across from him, and said in a hoarse voice:
"Write down everything you said to the reporter, including the time, location, and details, as well as the number of people on the other side... Don't leave out a single word."
"Okay, okay, I'll write it!"
Tang Ci sighed deeply, "Since we've worked together for so many years, I'll handle Director Rao's case. For the time being, leave your documents with me and go back to rest. After the case is concluded, I'll find a way to get you a lighter position."
Che Zhiwen took out his police officer ID from his pocket, lowered his head and nodded repeatedly.
Although it was a bit embarrassing and felt like I was kicked out, at least I kept my job.
He wanted to say something, but Lu Zheng appeared in the office and called out "Captain Tang" in a light voice.
Tang Ci pinched his brows, stood up and walked out, closing the inner door behind him.
The office was not very soundproof, so Che Zhiwen didn't dare to say anything. He pricked up his ears and listened quietly to the noise outside.
I only heard the Lu University expert say, "I sorted through the evidence I found in Qi Hang's room in Feixun Dormitory the day before yesterday. I found a notebook in the deceased's wallet. It might be valuable as evidence."
After a rustling sound of pages turning, Tang Ci asked in confusion, "The front half of the book has been torn off, and the back half is just blank paper. Why are you showing this to me?"
"Comrade Ji Yinhe, based on the layout of Qi Hang's room, concluded that the deceased had obsessive-compulsive disorder and mysophobia. He would tear off each page after using it..." Lu Zheng picked up a charcoal pencil and lightly scribbled on the first remaining page of the notebook. "Look, this way you can see the traces of writing on the previous page."
Tang Ci narrowed his eyes and stared for a second, "Banyan Tree Lane?"
"Yes." Lu Zheng nodded. "Comrade Xiao Ji has a good memory... She said she saw in the case files that Rongshu Lane was one of the storage warehouses of the former ceramics factory, which was recently renamed Chenggong Ceramics."
"What case files? Why don't I remember them..." Tang Ci pressed his solar plexus.
Lu Zheng just laughed.
Because what Ji Yinhe was reading were the clippings that he had personally sorted and bound, there was of course no need to let the jealous Captain Tang know these details.
"Alright, call Xiao Ji, Xiao Wu, and Cheng Mo over here, let's have a meeting." Tang Ci made the final decision, "It's time to meet this richest man today!"
…
In the inner room separated by a door.
While Che Zhiwen was writing a report on the situation, he listened calmly to the noise outside.
Tang Ci asked everyone to take collective action today. Now, whether it was the gold-plated lighter, the anonymous reporting phone, or the Pegasus Skating Rink and the Banyan Tree Lane warehouse, they all pointed to Gong Xie and the Gong family.
Director Rao quickly issued a search warrant, but although there was a lot of evidence, the relevance was not strong enough, so they were required to search only in the warehouse and not enter Chenggong Ceramics and Jinghu Villa.
Although Tang Ci was helpless, he had to agree and planned to take a team to Chenggong Ceramics to talk to Gong Chenggong.
As soon as everyone set off, Che Zhiwen threw the unfinished situation report on Tang Ci's desk and walked out of the empty office.
At first, he was intimidated by Xiao Wu and Tang Ci's performance and stopped talking without thinking much.
But after eating rice for decades, Che Zhiwen felt more and more that something was wrong.
He has worked in the system for more than 30 years and has friends in every administrative department of the Municipal Bureau, but he has never heard of such a document being issued from above.
Moreover, no one has ever been arrested and sentenced for leaking the case to media reporters.
After thinking about it again and again, there is only one possibility -
These were all lies they made up to get him to confess the leak!
Che Zhiwen was extremely angry. As a fellow revolutionary comrade, such a hateful and cunning method of extracting a confession was actually used on him.
It’s obvious at first glance that it was that bad girl Xiao Ji’s bad idea!
Now, after working diligently for thirty years, I have lost my integrity in my old age and am being transferred to a position that others look down upon. How embarrassing!
Che Zhiwen stood by the corridor window with his hands behind his back, watching the big jeep and two Santanas drive out of the Municipal Bureau compound, and suddenly an idea came to his mind.
Just admit your guilt, but leaders also like people who can make up for their crimes and make meritorious contributions!
If he solved the case before Tang Ci and the others, wouldn't he be able to make those arrogant young people realize that experience is always the key?
When Tang Ci gets promoted and leaves, maybe he can even get the position of captain before retiring.
At that time, wouldn't it be just a matter of a word for him to send Ji Yinhe from Team 1 to the police station downstairs?
The more Che Zhiwen thought about it, the more he felt that this was feasible. He ran straight to the office to retrieve his police officer ID and hurried downstairs.
There is no need to go to Chenggong Ceramics now. Judging from their conversation, the real murderer is most likely Gong Xie - he can just go directly to the Rongshu Lane warehouse to look for the key evidence!
But how should he get there?
The fleet will definitely not send him a car. He has to transfer and wait for the bus, which is a waste of time. As for taking a taxi... he has no money.
He glanced to the side and saw Xiao Wu's unlocked bicycle parked quietly at the door of the shed.
Without saying a word, he sat down on the wobbly seat, pushed off the ground with his toes, and rode out of the Municipal Bureau compound smoothly.
*
As the most impressive company in Jiangtan, Chenggong Ceramics is located on a busy avenue in the Economic Development Zone, surrounded by green trees. Its office building is built in the same American style as Jinghu Villa, and is as magnificent as a miniature version of the White House.
Ji Yinhe got off the big jeep and was almost blinded by the chrome brand name in the sunlight.
Several security guards, dressed even more like detectives than they were, came over and asked, "Who are you? What do you do?"
Tang Ci showed his ID and said, "I'm from the City Bureau's Serious Crime Squad 1, and I'm here to talk to your Chief Gong."
The leading security guard looked at them for a few seconds, said "Wait a minute", took out his pager and pressed a few buttons.
Soon, a man in his thirties in a suit with an extraordinary temperament strode out of the office building.
"Hello, Captain Tang. My name is Gong He, and I'm the deputy general manager of Chenggong Ceramics." He politely shook hands with Tang Ci and then made a welcoming gesture. "Please come this way."
A group of people followed Tang Ci and Gong He, walked through the terrazzo-paved garden, and entered the luxurious building.
Ji Yinhe stayed behind and observed everything along the way - Gong Chenggong must be a rather narcissistic man, as the walls were covered with his photos and certificates of honor, and the mahogany display cabinets were filled with gold-rimmed bone china teapots exported to Germany, blue and white porcelain ornaments sold overseas, and underglaze colored tableware custom-made by wealthy Hong Kong businessmen... Considering Old Ji's lazy personality, it was indeed difficult for him to work in such a place.
Gong He brought them into the second-floor conference room filled with the aroma of Longjing tea and asked them to sit down and wait.
But twenty minutes passed and Gong Chenggong still didn't show up.
Xiao Wu said impatiently: "How about I go out and ask under the pretext of looking for a toilet?"
Tang Ci was also a little anxious and stood up. "You have a hot temper. Don't get into a fight. Let me go!"
"..." Ji Yinhe thought to himself that you two are worthy of being master and disciple, you are both equally good.
Finally, Cheng Mo stopped them both and walked out with steady steps. A few minutes later, he returned, looking puzzled, and said, "I don't think they're busy. I just happened to run into Deputy Manager Gong, and he said... Mr. Gong asked if we had decided who to send out."
"Hand over the person?" Tang Ci narrowed his eyes.
Lu Zheng, who had been resting his eyes since entering the conference room, said, "They're trying to intimidate us."
"What do you mean by showing off?" Xiao Wu raised his eyebrows. "We are here to investigate the case seriously. We didn't do anything to them!"
Lu Zheng smiled and shook his head.
Tang Ci understood what was going on. "Did they think we were here to apologize? Did they think we were going to hand over the old car that got into trouble?"
Everyone: “…”
Cheng Mo stammered, "That seems to be the meaning. Manager Gong He said that Mr. Gong is in a bad mood right now... He will cooperate with the investigation only when he is in a better mood."
"Lao Che is from our Municipal Bureau. If he made a mistake, the Municipal Bureau will naturally punish him. I won't hand him over!" Tang Ci slammed his hand on the table, pushed the door open, and led the way out. "It's the common people's duty to cooperate with the police to solve the case!"
Ji Yinhe was afraid that he would get into trouble with others, so he grabbed Lu Zheng's sleeve and chased after him.
Unexpectedly, Gong Chenggong, along with Gong He and a group of bodyguards, stood menacingly on the corridor outside. Gong Chenggong, wearing a neat suit, looked down at the group of people rushing out.
"I told you to solve the case within 72 hours and clear the name of our Gong family. Why are you still pestering me? It's endless!" He glanced around slowly and lowered his voice, "Who do you want to hand over?"
"Mr. Gong." Tang Ci raised his chin, "We won't be friends with anyone."
Gong Chenggong smiled confidently, "Interesting! After all these years in society, this is the first time someone has dared to touch my weak spot... Do you know what the consequences are?"
"The people's police don't do everything. We only resolve requests that are reasonable, legal and in line with the demands." Tang Ci's momentum weakened for only a second but he quickly regained it.
Xiao Wu agreed: "That's right! What are the consequences? Tell me!"
Gong Chenggong raised his middle finger and pushed the frame of his glasses, a smile twisting the corners of his sharp lips.
"When the weather gets cold, I'll bankrupt Wang's Company, the second-richest company in this city. Once Jiangtan's fiscal revenue plummets, your police benefits will naturally decrease!"
Everyone: “…………?”
Wang’s company is so unlucky!
In the corner, Ji Yinhe slowly narrowed her delicate eyebrows and whispered to Lu Zheng who was watching from the sidelines:
"Why is Gong Chenggong's speaking style so weird..."
-----------------------
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