Chapter 2704

In the early hours, half of the offices on the fourth floor of the Xicheng Sub-bureau were lit up, and through one of the windows, one could see figures moving inside—this was precisely Director Huang Minwei's office.

Yu Xiangjun sat on the sofa, watching Huang Minwei pace back and forth anxiously, opening his mouth several times to speak, but each time he ended up closing it again. Involving the Yin family, if it were just Yin Mo, it would be easier to handle. But involving Yin Mingxing made things difficult—this case was truly beyond their capacity to deal with.

After an unknown amount of time, Huang Minwei stopped his restless pacing, then looked at Yu Xiangjun, his face full of frustration and helplessness: "Xiangjun, let's report this case to the bureau."

Yu Xiangjun also said unwillingly: "If we report it to the bureau, there's a high chance this case will be shelved. Perhaps it will be discovered ten or twenty years later, the investigation restarted, but for the victims, that would be terribly unfair."

"I know it's unfair, and I'm unwilling too."

Huang Minwei felt a suffocating discomfort in his chest, and he kicked the table leg hard—it had already lost its paint, and the somewhat battered desk slid half a meter away. The screech of the table leg scraping the floor was especially piercing in the quiet night.

"Damn it, is there really no way at all?"

Yu Xiangjun frowned tightly, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "Director, since we can't make a move internally, we can seek external assistance."

Huang Minwei was stunned: "Seek external assistance?"

"Yes!" Yu Xiangjun said energetically: "Zhou Andong!"

Huang Minwei's eyes also lit up suddenly, he raised his hand and slapped his own forehead: "I forgot about Zhou Andong."

Zhou Andong and the Yin family had clashed multiple times over control of the woolen mill, and what surprised everyone was that the Yin family had been repeatedly beaten down by Zhou Andong, as if he were pressing their heads down and striking them.

If the case files were placed before Zhou Andong, he would certainly not miss this excellent opportunity to strike against the Yin family. However, doing so would be against regulations, and if any problems arose, he might even lose his position.

Huang Minwei instantly calmed down: "Using Zhou Andong's power is indeed feasible, but doing so would be against regulations. If something really goes wrong, neither you nor I could bear the responsibility."

Yu Xiangjun also calmed down, hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "I'll go see Zhou Andong. If anything happens, I'll take the blame."

"Nonsense!" Huang Minwei cursed: "How could this be something you bear alone? Go ahead—if anything happens, I'll take responsibility."

Yu Xiangjun glanced at the time, stuffed the case file into a document bag: "I won't go home tonight—I'll stay in the duty room and make do. Tomorrow morning, I'll get up early and wait at the hotel."

"By the way!" Yu Xiangjun turned and had just taken two steps when Huang Minwei called him back: "Have you had someone investigate the victim who was forced to suffer persecution, beating, and disability?"

Yu Xiangjun nodded: "I've already arranged for Old Qian to lead people in the investigation. They should be staying near the Gulou Vegetable Market, and there will definitely be results tomorrow."

Huang Minwei fell silent for a moment, then said: "Go rest now—I'll also stay in the office and make do for the night."

…………………………

Because it was quite late, Zhou Andong did not go home after leaving the bar, but instead stayed overnight at a hotel.

In the morning, he was woken by a full bladder, went to the restroom to urinate, returned to bed, and couldn't fall back asleep.

After opening his eyes and checking the time—it was already seven o'clock—he turned over, sat up, found a cigarette, and lit it.

Then he got out of bed, walked to the window, and with a rustling sound pulled open the curtains. A harsh sunlight instantly filled the room.

Zhou Andong stood by the window, yawned, and reached out to open the window. The early autumn morning was still somewhat cool, the morning breeze blew in, and Zhou Andong couldn't help but shiver.

"Damn, it's really time for it—I didn't expect it to be this cold."

Zhou Andong had a cigarette in his mouth, quickly closed the window, then turned and walked to the coffee table, pressed the half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray, and then went to the restroom to wash up.

"Bang bang bang..."

Zhou Andong was brushing his teeth when the door was suddenly pounded hard. Whoever dared to knock like that must be an acquaintance, and there were only a few such people.

First in line was Old Fourth, then Gu Bing, Zhang Zuo, and Tang Lin, and after that, probably only Xiao Bei.

At this time, whoever came to knock on his door, the first to be ruled out were Old Fourth and Xiao Bei; as for Gu Bing, it was also unlikely, because that guy was currently accompanying his wife—there was no way he'd come running over this early in the morning.

So, only Zhang Zuo and Tang Lin remained. It was only just past seven, and Zhang Zuo was impossible to be up this early, so the person knocking outside was most likely Tang Lin.

Zhou Andong quickly analyzed this in his mind, brushed his teeth, came out of the restroom, and opened the door. Sure enough, standing outside was Tang Lin, with Qiao Kuang beside him. What surprised Zhou Andong was that behind the two stood Yu Xiangjun and a police officer.

Zhou Andong didn't even look at Tang Lin, waved his hand toward Yu Xiangjun at the back, mouth full of foam, and mumbled: "Come in!"

The four entered, Zhou Andong returned to the restroom, quickly finished washing up, came out, and smiled at Yu Xiangjun: "Director Yu, coming over this early—there must be something important, right?"

Yu Xiangjun nodded, glanced at Qiao Kuang without speaking. He knew Tang Lin, but Qiao Kuang was unfamiliar to him. Although anyone who could hang out with Tang Lin must have a significant background, today's matter was serious, so caution was still warranted.

Zhou Andong immediately understood and said: "We're all our own people—just say what's on your mind."

Yu Xiangjun handed over the document bag in his hand: "Please take a look at this document first."

Zhou Andong took it doubtfully, opened the document bag, pulled out the file, and flipped it open. The front contained records of a rape and murder case from six years ago. When he turned to the back and saw Wen Sanmao's testimony, his hand paused, then his eyes narrowed. After about five or six seconds, a smile gradually appeared on his face.

"Director Yu!" Zhou Andong looked up at Yu Xiangjun: "You showing me this is against regulations."

"I know!" Yu Xiangjun said sincerely: "This case involves the Yin family. If I insist on investigating further, I might very well bring disaster upon myself."

"But if we report it to the municipal bureau, there's a high chance it will be shelved and gather dust. Director Huang and I are both unwilling, because for the victims and their families, this is terribly unfair and cruel. So, we can only seek external assistance."

"That's still not enough." Zhou Andong lowered his head to look at the document in his hand, then flicked it with his finger, producing a crisp snap: "Relying solely on Wen Sanmao's testimony to arrest Yin Mingxing and send him to the execution ground is far from sufficient."

Yu Xiangjun felt energized—although Zhou Andong hadn't explicitly agreed, the meaning in his words was already clear: he would step in.

"As long as you agree, I'll immediately go back to interrogate the Scarred Head."

"The Scarred Head?" Zhou Andong shook his head slightly: "Even if we add the Scarred Head's testimony, the timing still isn't right."

Yu Xiangjun probed: "Director Zhou, what do you mean?"

Zhou Andong lowered his gaze to the document, fixed his eyes on a name, and slowly traced it with his finger: "This case has a key figure, so our focus must skip over Yin Mingxing and fall on this guy."

Zhou Andong's voice grew softer and colder: "As long as we make this guy speak up and bite Yin Mingxing, I can send Yin Mingxing to the execution ground and trample the Yin family into the mud."