Chapter 76

Gu Changzheng kept staring at Lin Yun, and when he finished speaking, asked: “Who is this ‘Middle Brother’ you mentioned? Why would he order you to do these things?”

Lin Yun had already been unnerved by Gu Changzheng’s gaze, so much so that he sometimes doubted whether he was lying again!

He looked up at Gu Changzheng and whispered: “Middle Brother is just Middle Brother—everyone on the streets calls him that. I only know he’s powerful, and lots of people follow him.”

“Lin Yun! Are you still trying to hide something from us? That ‘Middle Brother’ of yours wants to kill you! Still not telling the truth?!” Gu Changzheng shouted angrily.

Lin Yun flinched, shaking his head rapidly: “Officer, I really don’t know his real name! I met him through Zhu Haitao.”

“What’s your relationship with Zhu Haitao?” Gu Changzheng didn’t ask how they met—he asked about their relationship, subtly reminding him the police already knew he knew Zhu Haitao.

Lin Yun froze, then lowered his head: “We’re childhood friends—from the same village.”

Gu Changzheng said: “And?”

“I’ll tell you: Zhu Haitao came to Zizhen before me. Later, seeing he was doing well, I asked him to help me get a job in the city. He introduced me to Snow Wolf Valley. Then, one time when I went out with Zhu Haitao and his crew, I saw them snorting meth and taking ecstasy—they looked so hyped up, so I… I tried some too. Before I knew it, I was hooked. My monthly earnings didn’t cover my habit. Then Zhu Haitao told me to work hard at Snow Wolf Valley—he said his older brother, Middle Brother, would supply me with drugs every month, on one condition: I had to report everything that happened at Snow Wolf Valley to him. For that, he gave me a phone.”

“That night—the night it happened—around ten o’clock, Zhu Haitao called me and said he’d be meeting Li Jun at a disco to talk business. He told me to leave one of my assigned private rooms empty, then follow his instructions after that. If I did it right, he’d get me transferred to New World to work with the girls.”

“I thought it was a great opportunity—big money! So I lost my head and agreed. After Li Jun left that night, he told me to go inside—he said Middle Brother wanted to take care of someone at Snow Wolf Valley. He’d pretend to be drunk and have me help him to the restroom. Inside, there was the man Middle Brother wanted to eliminate. All I had to do was move him to the room where he was waiting.”

“I agreed. Later in the restroom, I saw the dead guy—Huang Mao. Back then, he just looked dazed, like he’d lost consciousness. I figured he’d snorted too much meth or snorted powder—didn’t think much of it. I just followed their orders and dragged him into the private room.”

“Later, I realized he was dead. I was terrified and didn’t dare tell anyone. I thought: he’s not my problem—he overdosed on his own stuff, so it’s not my fault. But when I got back to my place after work, Zhu Haitao called again. He said Middle Brother had one more task for me: I had to call the police the next morning and report that someone had been killed at Snow Wolf Valley.”

“I figured I’d already done so much—this was just the final step. If I refused, everything before would be wasted. So I did as they said. But before I called the police, I was afraid Zhu Haitao was lying to me, so I asked to speak directly to Middle Brother—I wanted to establish a direct line with him, so I could get ahead later.”

Gu Changzheng let out an “oh” at this point: “Did Zhu Haitao agree? Did you speak to Middle Brother?”

“Yeah, yeah. We talked a few times.”

Gu Changzheng had already linked this “Middle Brother” to Chang Huazhong.

Chang Huaqiang’s younger brother had been sentenced to several years for assault and was released from prison five years ago. After his release, he first helped Chang Huaqiang manage the dance halls; later, when Chang Huaqiang became wealthy and built the Hongweida Furniture City, he was put in charge of it.

Gu Changzheng knew this man—he’d been low-key over the years, but still a recognized young entrepreneur. How could he possibly be dealing directly with someone like Lin Yun, a low-level thug?

So he quietly whispered a few words to the young officer taking notes, who nodded and stepped out.

Not long after, he returned with a cassette player, exchanged a glance with Gu Changzheng, then pressed play. Soon, a man’s voice came through.

Lin Yun looked utterly confused—he had no idea why the officer was making him listen to this!

Gu Changzheng watched Lin Yun’s blank expression, waved his hand, and the young officer stopped playback.

Gu Changzheng asked: “How many times did you speak to Middle Brother? Could you recognize his voice?”

Lin Yun said: “Since that night, including today—three times! I recognize his voice!”

“You’ve been in contact so frequently in just two days? What did you talk about?” Gu Changzheng grew more certain this wasn’t Chang Huazhong.

“Not much,” Lin Yun hesitated. “I asked when he’d arrange for me to go to New World to work with the girls. And… I asked him for money and drugs—meth—once.”

“How much money? How much drug? What kind? Did he give it to you?”

“Ten thousand yuan. I asked for about a handful—oh, around five grams of meth. He didn’t give me the money. He sent someone with the meth once. The money was promised today.” Lin Yun whispered.

Gu Changzheng thought: Is this kid’s brain fried from drugs, or was he just stupid? Could New World really give him a good job?

Besides, he’d just played half a minute of Chang Huazhong’s recording—and Lin Yun showed zero reaction! That proved the man he spoke to wasn’t Chang Huazhong!

Could there be another “Middle Brother” at New World? That was impossible!

Gu Changzheng sighed inwardly and continued: “Where does Zhu Haitao live? Do you know where he usually hangs out?”

“I know. I know.”

He immediately explained that Zhu Haitao had said he met a wealthy outsider at a casino and planned to fleece him.

Gu Changzheng asked if he was sure. Lin Yun immediately said he could call him—but Zhu Haitao wouldn’t answer, because knowing him, once he sat at a gambling table, even the sky falling wouldn’t make him pick up.

With Zhu Haitao’s location confirmed, the next step was planning action.

Outside the interrogation room, he called his Master Lu Haoxuan and briefly summarized the situation. Lu Haoxuan immediately said: “Someone like Zhu Haitao has no fixed address. Seize this chance and bring him in immediately. I’ll handle the paperwork with Director Zhou—you just move.”

“Yes, sir! Understood!” Gu Changzheng replied respectfully over the phone.