Zhao Xiaogang waved a lighter in front of Su Mingfu's face.
Want to give it a try?
Su Mingfu shook his head in horror; the tape restricted his breathing, and his chest heaved violently.
"Please...please..."
He managed to squeeze out a few words.
"What do you want from us?"
Zhao Xiaogang leaned closer.
"Speak louder."
"Please...let me go..."
Tears soaked the tape on my face.
Zhao Xiaogang laughed loudly.
"That's more like it! Wouldn't it have been better if you'd listened to me this early on?"
They finally had their fill of fun, cut the tape, and left.
Su Mingfu struggled to break free of his restraints, leaving red marks from the tape on his face and wrists.
When I got home, I rushed into my room as if my life depended on it.
Lock the door.
Su Mingfu collapsed to the ground and finally broke down in tears.
He didn't know how long this would last, nor did he know why he had become a target.
...
Zhang Family Residence.
Zhang Erhe sat in a mahogany armchair in his study, toying with an antique bronze seal in his hand, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
"Sir, the latest reports from Chengnan Prison and No. 1 High School."
The housekeeper, Old Zhou, tiptoed in and placed two documents on the desk.
Zhang Erhe put down the seal and slowly opened the first document.
This is a detailed record of Su Mingqiang's current situation in prison, filled with observation reports from prison guards.
"The target continues to receive 'special treatment,' and his mental state is nearing a breakdown. Today, while cleaning the septic tank, he slipped and fell again, nearly drowning. After receiving basic treatment at the infirmary, he returned to his cell and showed no signs of resistance..."
"very good."
Zhang Erhe nodded in satisfaction and then opened the second document.
This is a record of Su Mingfu being bullied at school, and it also includes several secretly taken photos.
The boy in the photo is bound with duct tape, his face is covered with insulting graffiti, and his eyes are empty and desperate.
"That kid from the Zhao family did a good job."
Zhang Erhe's fingers tapped lightly on the photograph.
"Much ruthless than his father."
Old Zhou stood to the side, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.
As a trusted confidant who had followed Zhang Erhe for thirty years, he knew his old master's methods all too well.
But even he felt a little uncomfortable with the torture inflicted on the two young people this time.
"Sir, isn't it... time to close the net?"
Old Zhou asked cautiously.
"If this continues, what if someone dies..."
What's the rush?
Zhang Erhe gave Lao Zhou a cold glance.
"This is nothing! Su Jianguo killed my two sons, I'll make sure his sons suffer a fate worse than death!"
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the peonies in full bloom in the courtyard.
That was his favorite flower, symbolizing wealth and power.
"but..."
Zhang Erhe suddenly changed the subject.
"It's time to move on to the next step. Notify Section Chief Wang of the Land Bureau to take the contract to the prison to see Su Mingqiang tomorrow. As for the school, have Section Chief Zhao go there personally."
"Yes, sir."
Old Zhou respectfully withdrew.
Zhang Erhe took out two pre-prepared contracts from the drawer, which clearly read "Barren Mountain Property Transfer Agreement".
He stroked the paper with satisfaction, as if he could already see the scene of the Su family's vegetable base collapsing.
The next morning.
Chengnan Prison.
Su Mingqiang was roughly dragged from his sleep by prison guards and taken to the visiting room.
He was so thin he was almost unrecognizable, with sunken eyes and bruises all over his wrists.
When he saw the man in the suit sitting in the meeting room, he instinctively flinched.
"Hello, Comrade Su Mingqiang."
Section Chief Wang adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and gave a professional smile.
"I am Section Chief Wang from the Land Bureau. I'm here today to resolve the property rights issue of your family's barren hillside."
Su Mingqiang stared blankly at him, his lips cracked and bleeding.
Section Chief Wang took out a contract and a pen from his briefcase and pushed them in front of Su Mingqiang.
"It's very simple, you just need to sign these documents."
His voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable force.
"Once you sign, your days here... will be much easier."
Su Mingqiang's pupils suddenly contracted.
He picked up the contract with trembling hands, his blurred vision making it difficult to decipher the words on it.
When he saw the words "property transfer", he suddenly understood something.
"Who...who do you want me to sell the mountain to?"
His voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.
Section Chief Wang smiled.
"It's just a formality. Once you sign, you won't have to clean the septic tank anymore, your meals will improve... and you might even be able to apply for a reduced sentence."
Su Mingqiang's hands trembled even more violently.
The inhuman torture I had endured during that time flashed through my mind.
The stench of the septic tank, the beatings with police batons, the despair in the dark solitary confinement cell...
All this can be resolved with just a signature.
"I...I'll sign."
Su Mingqiang's tears dripped onto the contract.
He picked up the pen with trembling hands and wrote his name crookedly in the designated spot.
Section Chief Wang put away the contract with satisfaction, stood up, and patted Su Mingqiang on the shoulder.
"A wise choice. Rest assured, from today onwards, no one will make things difficult for you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
