Chapter 769: Cooperating to Understand the Situation

The weather was too damn hot; for someone like Ma Huangshang, it was truly unfriendly. Just moving a little meant being drenched in sweat.

It was better at home, with the air conditioning on, playing cards with a few brothers, and finding a few young ladies to "pull radishes"—that was what you called a happy life.

On Xinming Street in the Longsha District, right next to the river embankment, stood a three-story villa with high walls and a courtyard covering two mu of land, filled with pavilions, terraces, and all kinds of precious tree species. Not far away was the Nenjiang Park, which was currently under construction.

In this era, in Qishi, in such a location, a villa like this—if not one of a kind—was certainly one of the few.

Ma Huangshang's car arrived at the villa's main gate. The heavy cast-copper gate, over six meters wide, slowly opened, and an old man stood straight at the entrance.

Just as the car started, three police vehicles—a van, a jeep, and a Santana—suddenly darted out from the side and blocked the gate.

The corners of Ma Huangshang's eyes twitched as he racked his brains, trying to recall what he had done during this period.

Besides playing cards, going to the club to drink, and finding young ladies to "pull radishes," he didn't seem to have done anything illegal.

Thinking this, he straightened his back, feeling bold. He also wanted to know what the police were looking for him for.

Six police officers got out of the cars. The leader was a middle-aged man whom Ma Huangshang naturally recognized.

He reached out to roll down the window and said with a smile, "Comrade Liu, you brought people to block my gate—what's the meaning of this?"

Liu Shangmin walked over with his men: "The case of the Blue Flag Dance Hall—you know about it, right?"

Ma Huangshang was stunned: "I know. I reckon there isn't anyone in all of Qishi who doesn't."

Liu Shangmin nodded: "Someone reported that this case is related to you."

Ma Huangshang's fat face trembled, and he roared, "Fuck his mother, which turtle-son bastard is slandering me?"

He had done his fair share of framing others; now that someone actually wanted to frame him, how could he not be angry?

Liu Shangmin smiled: "Don't be angry. We also know this matter has nothing to do with you. But since someone reported it, we have to go through the motions and ask you to understand the situation, right?"

Hearing Liu Shangmin's words, half of the anger in Ma Huangshang's heart dissipated. Cooperating to understand the situation was fine; if he were truly wronged and thrown into the detention center, he'd have to perform "eating shit." Even if it were his own, the taste wouldn't be great.

Liu Shangmin knocked on the car door: "Sorry to trouble you, Boss Ma, come with us for a trip."

Ma Huangshang looked up at the sun in the sky. Although the car's air conditioning was on, the windows were open, and waves of heat kept rushing in; sweat appeared on his forehead again.

"Isn't it just understanding the situation?" Ma Huangshang was very unwilling to go to the police station. "Just ask here; I will certainly tell you everything I know."

"Boss Ma, don't make things difficult for me. On such a hot day, do you think I want to come?"

Liu Shangmin looked helpless. "Someone reported it, so we have to respond to the police normally. You have to come back with us."

Ma Huangshang didn't want to go, but he also knew that not going definitely wouldn't work.

"Can I go in my own car?"

It was just that getting in and out of the car was too much effort for him; he preferred not to be tossed around if he could avoid it.

"How can that be!" a young criminal police officer objected.

"That's enough!" Liu Shangmin patted the young officer on the shoulder. "Boss Ma is still a very principled person. His word has always been as good as gold. Since he has promised, he won't go back on it."

Liu Shangmin's serious flattery made Ma Huangshang feel so comfortable that he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"I don't have any other merits, but I am loyal and keep my word."

"Then let's go!" Liu Shangmin turned and got into the car.

The young man sitting in the passenger seat looked at the police car in front, feeling that something was wrong.

If it was just to understand the situation, why would so many people come, and why drive three police cars?

But he racked his brains and couldn't figure out what was wrong. In the end, he felt he was overthinking it, so he didn't dwell on it further.

Liu Shangmin sat in the Santana smoking, and the others didn't speak either; the atmosphere felt somewhat oppressive.

The car entered the police station courtyard. Liu Shangmin had already smoked three cigarettes in a row and finally threw the butt out the window.

"Everyone, keep your cool, don't let anything slip."

The others took a deep breath, then pushed open the car doors and got out.

Ma Huangshang squeezed out of the car with great effort, then looked up at the sun and took a breath.

The young man said, "Big Brother, do you want me to go in with you?"

Ma Huangshang waved his hand: "No need, it's just cooperating to understand the situation; I'll be out soon."

The young man nodded, watching Ma Huangshang enter the office building with the police before he climbed into the car.

The weather was too hot; it was more comfortable in the car.

Liu Shangmin brought Ma Huangshang to an office on the first floor and pointed to a stool.

"Sit!"

Ma Huangshang wasn't stupid; he had been thinking about this in the car. Now that he saw he had been brought to an office instead of an interrogation room, his heart completely relaxed.

"I say, Comrade Liu, the conditions in your criminal police team are too poor; how come there isn't even an air conditioner?"

Ma Huangshang looked around the office, looked up at the ceiling fan creaking as it turned, and curled his lip in disdain.

Liu Shangmin chuckled: "Can't help it. I reckon we are the poorest unit in the entire system."

Ma Huangshang sat on the stool with a thud, and then heard the stool creak, disappear, and only four legs remained.

"Your stool is too small; it's a bit uncomfortable."

Liu Shangmin's mouth twitched, and he took out a pack of Hongmei cigarettes from his pocket: "Don't have any good cigarettes, want one?"

Ma Huangshang was happy. Usually, if anyone gave him these cigarettes, he would throw them away.

But in this place, and given by Liu Shangmin, this was a huge honor; how could he not smoke it?

He took the cigarette, and just as he put it in his mouth, Liu Shangmin's lighter was held up in front of him.

He had lost count of how many times he had been to the police station in his life, but he had never received such treatment before; he felt incredibly comfortable.

This guy smoked the cigarette with great enjoyment: "Ask whatever you want to ask. This stool is too uncomfortable to sit on; I'll leave once you're done asking."

Liu Shangmin was just about to speak when the office door was pushed open, and a police officer stood at the door and shouted: "Old Liu, emergency mission, hurry up!"

Liu Shangmin was stunned, stood up, and walked out. Just as he reached the door, he slapped his forehead, turned around, and came back.

"Boss Ma, I'm really sorry, there's an emergency mission, I have to go respond. You just wait here, we'll chat when I get back."

Ma Huangshang watched Liu Shangmin leave the office and close the door, looking stunned. It took a long while for him to come to his senses.

"Motherfucker, just leaving me hanging here like this?"

He was very angry, but after thinking about it for a while, he felt better. Although he was cooperating to understand the situation, since he had been reported for being involved in a criminal case, if he weren't staying in the office, he would only be able to go to the detention room. Thinking this, his mood smoothed out. ===== CHAPTER 770 =====