Chapter 2834

"Don't act pitiful in front of me; not informing your family and workplace is my bottom line."

Zheng Mingyu let out a cold snort, his eyes gloomy as he stared at Wu Jun. Now it's a test of patience, and Zheng Mingyu doesn't believe his patience is inferior to Wu Jun's.

"Ah!" Wu Jun leaned his upper body slightly forward, speaking in a negotiating tone: "Director Zheng, why don't you eat first? After you're full, I'll arrange a place for you to rest properly. Once you've regained your strength, shall we continue talking?"

Zheng Mingyu's wise eyes became dazed. Wu Jun wondered what he was up to—was he genuinely trying to let him rest, or was there some conspiracy? This guy didn't believe Wu Jun would be so kind-hearted, yet he couldn't figure out Wu Jun's purpose in doing this.

Then this guy started letting his imagination run wild, wondering if Wu Jun was waiting for him to fall asleep so he could talk in his sleep and then take notes...

Modern criminal investigators can't perform micro-expression and body language psychological analysis, but reading words and observing expressions is absolutely doable, especially for someone like Wu Jun who rose through merit—he's seen all kinds of criminals, and Zheng Mingyu's facial expression and gaze immediately gave him away.

Still, Wu Jun, even if he were a god, couldn't guess how vast Zheng Mingyu's imagination was. Who would think of letting him sleep, waiting for him to talk in his sleep to take notes?

Wu Jun didn't wait for Zheng Mingyu's answer, turned to the criminal investigator beside him and said: "Yan Ming, take Director Zheng to the duty rest room to rest."

"Yes!" the criminal investigator responded: "Director Zheng, follow me."

Wu Jun put the lid on the lunchbox: "Take the lunchbox with you, Director Zheng—eat whenever you're hungry."

Zheng Mingyu wanted to refuse, but he held back, wanting to see what Wu Jun was really up to.

Watching Zheng Mingyu follow the criminal investigator away, Wu Hong let out a hey laugh, pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

He hadn't even finished his cigarette when that criminal investigator returned, smiling and saying: "Arranged, and I've greeted the two brothers from the Municipal Bureau—they'll be guarding outside."

Wu Jun nodded; his task here was to buy time for interrogating Li Honghai, so whether Zheng Mingyu cooperated or not didn't matter. Now he'd sent Zheng Mingyu off to sleep, preparing to find a spot to nap himself. As for Zheng Mingyu—let him sleep, even if it's until tomorrow night.

Criminal Investigation Team Interrogation Room!

When Li Honghai was brought into the interrogation room last night, he thought he'd been caught for prostitution-related activities at the bathhouse. At first he was very arrogant, after all, he had backing—even if it was prostitution, at worst he'd just pay a fine.

Since Li Honghai was so frank, Zhao Hong naturally cooperated. Only Li Honghai didn't appear that sharp on the surface—he just wanted to confess the prostitution matter, but Zhao Hong kept probing, drawing out one problem after another.

Until after five in the morning, when Li Honghai's spirit began to wane, Zhao Hong felt it was about time, suddenly shifted the interrogation direction, and asked about the case of substandard steel and cement used in the Yuxi Imperial Garden project.

Li Honghai jolted awake—his previously muddled mind instantly cleared. At this moment he realized his arrest might not be for prostitution, but because the truth about his design work for Yuxi Real Estate had been exposed.

Still, Li Honghai's psychological resilience was far inferior to Zheng Mingyu's; holding on until now, his spirit had reached the brink of collapse. His eyelids kept twitching, and whenever he was about to fall asleep, a loud shout would come from nearby, each time startling him so much he nearly jumped up.

The reason it was only a near-jump was because he was handcuffed to the interrogation chair, so he couldn't jump up. By now, he was nearly driven mad with fear—every time he dozed off, he'd naturally startle awake with a jolt.

"Leader!" Li Honghai's eyelids kept twitching, his spirit exhausted to the limit, his voice hoarse and unpleasant as he spoke: "The Yuxi Imperial Garden used substandard building materials—it really has nothing to do with me.

Back then, Cai Liyuan, manager of the procurement department at Yuxi Real Estate, came to me and clearly proposed purchasing a batch of substandard building materials. I'm a businessman—why would he buy substandard materials? What does it have to do with me? If there's money to be made, I naturally wouldn't refuse.

Of course, I'm not an idiot either—to avoid trouble, when signing the contract, I made sure the exemption clauses were written crystal clear. If you don't believe me, go check the contract."

Zhao Hong laughed, knowing the timing was right—he could now increase pressure on Li Honghai: "Li Honghai, the Yuxi Real Estate case is a major criminal case, and our bureau chief is personally in charge.

Last night's inspection was actually aimed at catching you, and all personnel involved in the operation, aside from our criminal investigation team, were borrowed from the security department of the wool factory.

Now your arrest has definitely spread, but everyone assumes you were caught for prostitution at the bathhouse. So don't expect the people behind you to save you."

Zhao Hong fished out a cigarette from his pocket, lit one and put it in Li Honghai's mouth, then lit one for himself: "Li Honghai, are you waiting for Zheng Mingyu?"

Li Honghai took a hard drag on the cigarette, still insisting: "Leader, the Yuxi Imperial Garden has serious quality issues, but it has nothing to do with me. Cai Liyuan procured the building materials, and the contract clearly states everything. Now that something's gone wrong, you should go catch Cai Liyuan—why are you arresting me?"

Zhao Hong laughed hehehe: "I can tell you clearly—it's not just Cai Liyuan; all personnel involved in the case have already been arrested. And you—you're the one they confessed to. Also, don't try to hide behind the contract—do you think we police are idiots?"

Zhao Hong wiped the smile from his face, then pressed his hand heavily onto Li Honghai's shoulder: "According to the contract, there's indeed nothing wrong. But the price of those substandard building materials is only fifteen percent cheaper than standard compliant materials."

Saying that, Zhao Hong laughed again: "We conducted a market survey—your fifteen percent discount, is it really a discount?"

"Th... th... th... that... that... that... because... because..." Li Honghai, unable to give a reasonable explanation after half an hour, stammered.

The smile vanished from Zhao Hong's face: "Li Honghai, explain to me again—what's your relationship with these seven building materials companies: Yanhe, Hongyuan, Jinmin, Baisheng, Xujian, Lifang, and Hengxing?"

Li Honghai, holding his cigarette, trembled slightly: "Business relationship."

"Oh?" Zhao Hong gave Li Honghai no chance to catch his breath, continuing: "Then keep explaining—why are all the contracts signed by these seven companies for supply fulfilled by your Honghai Building Materials?"

"I... this... this... this..." Li Honghai stammered for a while before finally managing: "The bosses of these seven companies are all my relatives. So, the contracts they sign are fulfilled through me."

Zhao Hong laughed again, but this time his smile looked exceptionally radiant, his expression relaxing: "Li Honghai, these companies opened by your relatives all signed procurement contracts with Cai Liyuan, manager of Yuxi Real Estate's procurement department, and the prices vary.

Some are at market price, but others are twenty percent above market price—yet all the goods are supplied by your Honghai Building Materials, and they're still substandard building materials. Now, keep explaining—do you or don't you have a relationship with them?"