Chapter 2840: Worlds Apart

"Splash, splash..."

Liu Zhiguang wore handcuffs and dragged leg irons, walking at the rear under the supervision of two police officers. When he heard someone call his name, he stopped, looked up.

At this time, this guy was emaciated beyond recognition, cheeks sunken, cheekbones protruding prominently, his gaze empty and lifeless, devoid of any former vitality.

Yu Xiangjun sized up Liu Zhiguang; this guy and Zhao Pian were now worlds apart. Without close inspection, one might not even recognize him. But for the police, this situation was already commonplace.

Some criminals with extremely poor psychological resilience, after interrogation, become utterly exhausted and waste away. Especially when they know death is certain, awaiting it, that mental pressure is beyond what ordinary people can bear.

Yu Xiangjun wanted to first look at Liu Zhiguang purely out of curiosity. After all, this guy used to be a colleague of Zhou Andong, yet they went in opposite directions, taking different paths.

One became a tycoon, a famous entrepreneur, philanthropist. The other committed a serious crime, became a criminal, and was even implicated in the woolen mill corruption case. As far as he knew, just the Jinshiguang corruption case involved many people, and to this day, many clues remain untangled, still under investigation.

As for the case involving the woolen mill's main factory, the scope is even broader, the timeline extremely long, even retirees would be dragged in. Therefore, to clarify the clues and investigate thoroughly, it cannot be completed in one or two years.

「Let's go! 」 Yu Xiangjun merely glanced at him, then nodded with a smile to Feng Zhengyang: 「Jiangzhou Liquor Factory really produces talent. 」

Feng Zhengyang was stunned for a moment, then reacted immediately, following with a laugh: 「Liu Zhiguang is someone I personally interrogated. When he mentioned he used to be a worker at Jiangzhou Liquor Factory, I felt it was familiar, but couldn't recall it at the moment.

It was a colleague's reminder that made me remember Zhou Andong is from Jiangzhou, and used to be a worker at Jiangzhou Liquor Factory. Later, Liu Zhiguang confessed that he and Zhou Andong had a bad relationship, and was forced to leave Jiangzhou for Jingcheng……」

The people Yu Xiangjun brought escorted the named suspect onto the vehicle, and Feng Zhengyang also got into Liu Zhiguang's car: 「After Liu Zhiguang came to Jingcheng, he got a girlfriend, and with her help, set up a stall selling clothes in Zhejiang Village. Originally, selling clothes in Zhejiang Village, he could earn five to six thousand a month……」

Saying this, Feng Zhengyang tilted his head to glance at Yu Xiangjun, then burst out laughing: 「Hearing Liu Zhiguang's confession, at that time I even had an impulse to quit my job and come to Jingcheng to set up a stall selling clothes. 」

Yu Xiangjun said with deep feeling: 「Reform and opening up, many people started doing business. Around me, several have taken leave to start businesses. One of them, who has a relatively good relationship with me, treated me to a meal not long ago. According to him, now no matter what you do, you will make money—just more or less. 」

Feng Zhengyang nodded in agreement: 「Among my colleagues, I haven't heard of anyone going into business, but other units have. 」

Yu Xiangjun didn't linger on this topic, but asked: 「Earning five to six thousand a month, that's equivalent to our annual salary. What reason drove him to smuggle? Without channels, without someone to guide him, it's impossible. 」

「Just now you also said, Jiangzhou Liquor Factory produces talent. 」 Feng Zhengyang rolled down the car window, then reached into his pocket to pull out a cigarette and offer one to Yu Xiangjun, then continued: 「Liu Zhiguang took the wrong path precisely because of Zhou Andong. 」

Yu Xiangjun held the lighter, about to light Feng Zhengyang's cigarette, hearing his words, the hand holding the lighter visibly paused, somewhat astonished as he asked: 「What does this have to do with Zhou Andong? 」

Feng Zhengyang held Yu Xiangjun's hand with the lighter, lowered his head to light the cigarette, then gave a hey laugh: 「That day, his girlfriend asked him to accompany her to Wang Fujing for a hairdo.

By coincidence, he ran into Zhou Andong, thus recalling his grudges with Zhou Andong, and the humiliation Zhou Andong brought him. Even more coincidentally, Liu Zhiguang's girlfriend knew a middleman who specialized in smuggling towels and shampoo to Russia. Afterwards, his girlfriend introduced this middleman to him. 」

Yu Xiangjun's eyes narrowed, his tone solemn: 「Could it be that this middleman was his guide? 」

「No! 」 Feng Zhengyang shook his head: 「After our investigation, this middleman was just a normal trader. Liu Zhiguang followed this middleman on a trip to Russia, stayed there for about half a year, and by chance met the Russian mafia, and through their introduction, got to know a Russian military captain. It was this Russian captain who helped Liu Zhiguang establish the smuggling channel. 」

Hearing Feng Zhengyang finish, Yu Xiangjun blinked: 「Just because he met Zhou Andong at Wang Fujing, then went on to break the law and commit crimes? 」

「Do you feel it's full of absurd theatricality? 」 Feng Zhengyang took a puff of smoke: 「When I heard it, I even found it hard to believe, but Liu Zhiguang said, what right does Zhou Andong have to become the director of Jiangzhou Liquor Factory, earn so much money, live in luxury, while he can't? 」

Yu Xiangjun fell silent for a moment, then sighed: 「Is it hatred, envy, jealousy, or greed that drove Liu Zhiguang to take risks and embark on the path of crime? 」

Feng Zhengyang fell silent, then after a while spoke softly: 「Hatred is just an excuse, envy breeds jealousy, greed made him take risks. 」

Yu Xiangjun pondered for a moment, then said in agreement: 「Two years ago, I met an expert who returned from abroad, specializing in criminal psychology. When we chatted, she also said that many criminal behaviors, hatred is often not the initial motive, but rather a rationalization sought for illegal acts.

When envy turns into 'Why does he have it while I don't' malicious jealousy, it will trigger criminal behavior. She also said, malicious jealousy significantly reduces subjective well-being and leads to broken interpersonal relationships, prompting one to take the path of crime. 」

Feng Zhengyang pondered for a moment, then said with deep admiration: 「This criminal psychology expert is truly knowledgeable; if I get the chance, I really want to meet her. 」

Yu Xiangjun said with a smile: 「You stay a few more days in Jingcheng, wait until I finish my current affairs, and I'll take you to meet her. 」

Feng Zhengyang said somewhat unexpectedly: 「Is the expert in China? 」

「Yes! 」 Yu Zhengyi said: 「She is a returned expert, now a professor at Peking University's Psychology Department, a doctoral supervisor! 」

Feng Zhengyang felt moved, but in the end still shook his head: 「We can only stay in Jingcheng for two days, any longer is not possible. 」

Yu Zhengyi thought for a moment: 「Like this, tomorrow I'll arrange people to take you around Jingcheng, and the day after tomorrow I'll spare some time to take you to Peking University to find that expert. 」

「Thank you very much! 」 Feng Zhengyang was truly grateful; as a police officer, being able to chat with a criminal psychology expert is of great help to him.

「Remember, you owe me a favor. 」 Yu Xiangjun said with a smile: 「When I have the chance to go to Harbin, you must treat me to drinks. 」

「No need to wait until going to Harbin! 」 Feng Zhengyang said earnestly: 「Tonight I'll treat you to drinks. 」

「No way! 」 Yu Xiangjun refused, saying: 「Jingcheng is my turf; you've come to my turf, how could I let you treat? 」

Saying this, the convoy drove into the branch bureau. Then came verifying the suspect's identity, signing the handover documents, and finally Yu Xiangjun personally escorted the criminal police from Harbin to the guesthouse for a meal.