Meeting Tong Kaiwen's ambiguous gaze, Zhang Cheng recounted the whole story, naturally omitting the details of how he had seriously injured Chen Xiaomo and the others.
Upon hearing this, Tong Kaiwen frowned slightly and pondered for a moment: "So, you came to me because you want to?"
“It’s very simple. Please ask Prosecutor Tong to help contact the Inspectorate.” Zhang Cheng’s smile vanished, his eyes burning. “You know, if an ordinary citizen like me reports this, the Inspectorate will most likely delay. By tomorrow, my employees will be either dead or crippled, and their so-called ‘confessions’ will probably be airtight.”
“As long as Prosecutor Tong is willing to lend a hand, I will provide financial and logistical support for your future law firm without any hesitation.”
Zhang Cheng's gaze was firm.
Tong Kaiwen pondered for a moment and said, "Okay, I can help you. For no other reason than to avoid one more wrongful conviction."
He picked up the phone on his desk and dialed a number.
Shortly after, Tong Kaiwen put down the phone and nodded to Zhang Cheng: "I have arranged everything. You can find a public phone booth nearby. I will call you in an hour to let you know the progress."
The office of the station chief on the second floor of Jiefang Street Police Station.
Zhao Daming, dressed in a police uniform, stared angrily at Hu Bingyang behind his desk: "Old Hu, you guys on Jiefang Street have really stretched your reach! Coming to my South Street to arrest people without even giving me a heads-up?"
Hu Bingyang, the head of Jiefang Street Police Station, looked distressed: "Old Zhao, you know my predicament as the head of the station. I only just heard about the arrests. When the police called to ask, I knew nothing. I've lost face big time!"
Although he was the director, his real power was far less than that of Zhong Te, because Zhong Te's future father-in-law was Secretary Xu.
"I just came from the hospital. The injured people at the Little Sun Video Hall all said that there was only one perpetrator. But you guys arrested seven people at once. Isn't this ridiculous!" Zhao Daming slammed his hand on the table.
"What's the point of telling me all this?" Hu Bingyang spread his hands. "If Zhong Te wants to arrest people, let alone seven, even seventy, he can come up with seventy reasons. Old Zhao, I know you were close to Zhang Cheng in that October 12 case..."
He paused, then lowered his voice, "Let me give you a piece of advice: don't get involved in this mess. Chen Xiaomo is Zhong Te's sworn brother. His Achilles tendon was severed and his eyes were blinded. Zhong Te is determined to avenge this. If you get caught in the middle, you'll only get yourself into trouble."
The office door was pushed open as soon as he finished speaking.
Hu Bingyang and Zhao Daming both looked at the newcomer, who was none other than Zhong Te.
Zhong Te seemed not to see Zhao Daming and walked straight to Hu Bingyang: "Chief Hu, the suspect has confessed. The mastermind is Zhang Cheng, the owner of the [Yangcheng] video arcade."
"you mean?"
"Zhang Cheng is wanted throughout the city!" Zhong Te said coldly.
“Deputy Director Zhong, isn’t this against the rules?” Zhao Daming couldn’t help but interject. “Only the Municipal Public Security Bureau has the authority to issue arrest warrants.”
"Rules are rules, but people are flexible! Zhang Cheng is missing now, we must catch him as soon as possible! I'll go to the police station tomorrow to complete the paperwork!" Zhong Te refused to back down.
Seeing Zhao Daming rendered speechless, Hu Bingyang shrugged helplessly and nodded to Zhong: "Okay, we'll do it your way."
"Yes, Chief Hu!"
Zhao Daming's face was ashen as he watched Zhong Te stride away, then turned to Hu Bingyang: "Old Hu, you've been completely sidelined by him!"
"What do you mean by 'standing on the sidelines' or not? It's all about serving the people..." Hu Bingyang said with a laugh.
"No!" Zhao Daming shook his head. "I want to interrogate Zhang Jianhao and the others!"
"Old Zhao, don't mess around! This is our case, you have no right to interfere!" Hu Bingyang said anxiously.
"The person was arrested on my South Street, why can't I inquire about it?"
"You're just being unreasonable!"
"Old Hu, can you do me a favor?"
Looking into Zhao Daming's earnest eyes, Hu Bingyang felt helpless: "Old Zhao, I really can't help you with this."
"Useless!" Zhao Daming kicked Hu Bingyang's desk leg. "You're having a really frustrating time as the director!"
Hu Bingyang remained unmoved, thinking to himself that the provocation tactic wouldn't work on this old fox.
Just then, a police officer rushed into the office in a panic: "Chief, the police inspector is here!"
"What?" Hu Bingyang's expression changed, and he suddenly stood up and rushed out of the office.
The lobby on the first floor of the police station.
Two middle-aged men in inspector uniforms were confronting Chung Te, their expressions serious.
“Deputy Director Zhong, we have received a report alleging that your station is abusing its power to extract confessions. We are now going to obtain all the confessions and question the arrested suspects individually.” One of the inspectors’ voices was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Chung Te's face turned ashen; he hadn't expected the inspector to appear out of nowhere at this critical juncture.
He tried to intimidate them by using his status: "Comrades, there seems to be some misunderstanding here. We always handle cases in a certain way..."
“We’ll know if there’s a misunderstanding once we’ve looked into it,” another inspector interrupted him. “Please cooperate.”
Zhong Te was speechless, and veins bulged on his forehead.
"Gentlemen, it's a misunderstanding, it's really a misunderstanding!" Hu Bingyang hurriedly ran downstairs and saw the two inspectors. He cursed Zhong Te in his heart for being such a troublemaker.
The inspector turned to him: "Director Hu, you should have heard our request. Please make arrangements as soon as possible."
"No problem, I'll arrange it right away!" Hu Bingyang dared not refuse.
He pulled Zhong Te, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot, toward the duty room, closed the door, and lowered his voice: "Deputy Director Zhong, what are you up to? The inspectors have been alerted! If you can't handle this, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Hu Bingyang is usually easygoing and doesn't compete with others, but that doesn't mean he has no temper.
He pointed to the phone on the table: "I'll give you five minutes. If you can't solve it, I'll do it myself!"
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