Chapter 13

Lu Fan knew well that a fence needs three stakes, and a good man needs three helpers, so he took advantage of the lunch break to call his "sworn brothers" to the finance office to discuss the adult college entrance exam.

Everyone felt it was a fantasy when they heard their boss telling them to sign up for the "adult exam." Du Wenlong asked, "Brother Fan, can we even sign up? Why sign up for that thing?"

Lu Fan said, "I've consulted the admissions office. Junior high graduates can sign up for the adult exam to apply for a junior college degree starting from a high school level. We are all over 18, so we can all sign up. With a junior college degree, we can take the civil service and career unit exams."

Xia Li's face was full of disbelief as he said, "Brother Fan, even if we have the degree, can we pass? I heard that taking the civil service exam is like thousands of troops crossing a single-log bridge. Except for you and the second brother, we didn't even pass the high school entrance exam. Isn't it a bit ridiculous to let us take the civil service exam?"

Lu Fan persuaded, "Where there's a will, there's a way. At least get the qualification first. I heard there are only two books for the civil service exam; I will urge you to study. What if we find a way? Don't you want to eat from the public pot?"

Yang Minghao asked, "Brother Fan, I know you are doing this for the brothers, but how much is the tuition? Can we afford it?"

"About three to five thousand a year. We are still young; we can afford to throw this money away! If anyone doesn't have enough money, we'll find a way to help pool it together. We have nothing now, so what are we afraid of losing? It's nothing more than tightening our belts. Brothers, if you still recognize me as your big brother, listen to me!"

Du Wenlong said simply and decisively, "Brother Fan, I'll sign up. I have enough money."

Yang Minghao thought about it and also said, "I'll listen to Brother Fan. Damn it, even if the money goes down the drain, it's worth it to have a junior college diploma. We'll be cultured people too!"

Liu Jin Zhu said, "I'll listen to Brother Fan, I'll sign up too!"

Ceng Ming laughed, "Sign up then. We'll go to university together; maybe we can even pick up some college girls!"

Seeing that all the brothers had agreed, Lu Fan was very happy. When brothers are of one mind, they can cut through metal!

Only Su Xiaoyi, who was recovering from his injuries, remained. Lu Fan called him personally to communicate, but the sixth brother firmly refused. There was only one reason: money! And he didn't want to implicate his brothers.

On September 4th, before work, Lu Fan received a call from President Wu.

As soon as he picked up, he heard President Wu's anxious voice: "Little Fan, there are bad people making trouble. Han Xuyang told me to tell you: if anyone comes looking for you, stick to the story that what you delivered at the hotel that day was The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance!"

Lu Fan was startled and hurriedly agreed.

"Little Fan, keep your courage up. Don't be rattled by people's words and lose your head. We are thinking of a way."

After hanging up, Lu Fan was worried, his heart pounding wildly. But then he thought, damn it, he was just an errand boy, and the money in the briefcase wasn't his, so what was there to be afraid of?

At ten in the morning, the arrival of a police car broke the peace of the construction site.

Zhang Xiaobin, Deputy Director of the County Discipline Inspection Commission's Supervision Office, and Wang Yujia, led by Wang Wenkang, a police officer from the Chengguan Town Police Station, arrived at the site and pushed directly into the finance office.

Lu Fan was doing the accounts. He looked up, saw the visitors, and his heart immediately tightened. He pretended to be nonchalant and said, "May I ask who you are looking for?"

Police officer Wang Wenkang asked, "Are you Lu Fan? The accountant for Hengjin?"

Lu Fan nodded and said, "I am Lu Fan. What's the matter?"

Zhang Xiaobin stepped forward, flashed his work ID, scanned Lu Fan with a sharp gaze, and said coldly, "Lu Fan, you're so young, you know what you've done, right? Come with us and cooperate with the investigation."

"Okay, I need to tell my boss." Lu Fan didn't argue, didn't make a scene, and didn't ask questions, as if facing something insignificant.

Zhang Xiaobin said, "No need, your boss has already been taken away."

Lu Fan nodded silently, said nothing, and followed Director Zhang into the police car.

Du Wenlong and a few other brothers ran over quickly, blocked the police car, and loudly questioned, "Why are you arresting people!"

Lu Fan said calmly, "Chouchou, I am cooperating with an investigation, not being arrested. It's fine, I'll be back soon."

After getting in the car, Zhang Xiaobin began to fish for information: "Whether there's an issue or not isn't for you to decide. If you don't want people to know, you shouldn't have done it."

"Director Zhang, please clarify. I don't even know what bad things I've done? What law have I broken? Isn't the Discipline Inspection Commission for catching corrupt officials? I'm just an accountant for a private enterprise."

Wang Yujia scolded, "Still daring to quibble? Would we come looking for you for no reason? You might not be able to take bribes, but didn't you offer bribes?"

Lu Fan was slightly stunned. The Discipline Inspection Commission had such a young and beautiful cadre? She looked like a doll, had an exotic feel, and was about the same age as him, right?

Coming back to his senses, Lu Fan asked suspiciously, "Leaders, I really don't know why you are looking for me. Half a year ago I was still a student, and I've only been at this site for two or three months."

Wang Yujia wanted to say something else but was stopped by a look from Zhang Xiaobin.

Before long, the vehicle drove into the detention center; the Discipline Inspection Commission had an office point there.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous, especially after entering the detention center. Lu Fan's palms were sweating. He kept cheering himself on: stay calm, don't panic when things happen, County Chief Han must have a way.

After entering the interrogation room, Lu Fan sat on the chair, facing Director Xiaobin and the beautiful cadre calmly, as if he wasn't so nervous anymore.

Zhang Xiaobin took the initiative, handed Lu Fan a few photos, and asked, "Did you follow Deputy County Chief Han Xuyang into the room?"

Lu Fan nodded and said, "The boss invited County Chief Han to dinner, they drank some wine, and he asked me to escort him."

"You were carrying a briefcase when you went in, and you didn't have it when you came out."

"That's right, I gave it to County Chief Han. I couldn't very well take it back."

"What was inside?"

"The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance!"

Wang Yujia couldn't take it anymore and said, "Are you kidding me? Delivering a copy of The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance?"

Lu Fan couldn't help but retort, "Then what do you say was inside?"

"Running a project, of course you were delivering money!"

Lu Fan said, "Big sister, you have to speak with evidence. I can't afford such a heavy charge. Besides, what project am I running? I'm just a worker."

Wang Yujia said angrily, "If you aren't the mastermind, you're an accomplice, and it's still against the law! I see you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Don't you know about leniency for confession and severity for resistance? I advise you to confess honestly."

Lu Fan said firmly, "I only know that the briefcase contained The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance. I was just running an errand; can I disobey my boss's words? From beginning to end, I never opened the briefcase. This is the most basic professional ethics. I know nothing else!"

From this moment on, no matter what the two asked, Lu Fan had only one answer: I don't know!

At noon, the Discipline Inspection Commission had a working meal, two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, four dishes and one soup. Lu Fan wasn't nervous at all and ate with relish.

Wang Yujia couldn't help but say, "Where did you get such a good appetite?"

Lu Fan smiled slightly and said, "The food is really good!"

After lunch, the interrogation continued, but Lu Fan couldn't even lift his eyelids and fell asleep immediately—a habit he had developed at the construction site.

"Such a big heart?" Wang Yujia walked over and pushed him hard twice.

Lu Fan said with sleepy eyes, "I really can't hold on anymore. Let me sleep for a while."

"In your dreams, please cooperate with the investigation!"

"I've said everything I know. I'm just an errand boy. Can you please not make things difficult for me? I still have to go back to work to earn money; my sister and I have to live!"

Zhang Xiaobin suddenly remembered that Lu Fan's parents were both gone. He empathized and, for once, felt a trace of sympathy for the interrogation subject, saying, "Lu Fan, you don't need to cover up or shield anyone. As long as you confess the issues truthfully, I will do my best to keep you safe and sound."

Wang Yujia's jaw almost dropped. How did the cold-faced director change his personality today? When had he ever said such things? He had always been as cold and ruthless as an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves when dealing with "enemies"!

Xiaobin was just following procedure for this case and didn't intend to go for the kill, because he knew Hongtao respected County Chief Han very much—it was a heartfelt respect.

Lu Fan could only go down this path to the end; if asked, it was The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, and he denied everything else.

The whole afternoon was spent bickering like this. The corporal punishment Lu Fan had worried about didn't happen, which made him feel even more relieved; it was nothing more than just enduring it.

Lu Fan reminded himself at every moment: the harder it is to endure, the less he could be depressed. If he could endure it, he would pass; if he couldn't, he would be out, and perhaps his whole life would be out.

There was no hurdle that couldn't be crossed, no difficulty that couldn't be resolved. As long as you dared to endure, could endure, and were willing to endure, you would definitely be rewarded and gain Han Xuyang's trust. This was the only life-saving straw Lu Fan could think of at the moment.

At ten in the evening, Director Zhang Xiaobin and Wang Yujia left. The cadre taking over the shift was Sun Shaojie from the Discipline Inspection Commission. The interrogation continued until two in the morning and finally ended. Lu Fan had never been so exhausted—physically and mentally drained!

Returning to the room, Lu Fan fell asleep, but as soon as he entered dreamland, he was pushed awake by Sun Shaojie, who said there was a question that needed verification, so he was taken back to the interrogation room.

This was the time when people were most exhausted. In a daze, it was very easy to relax one's vigilance. Lu Fan forced himself to stay alert so he wouldn't say the wrong thing.

After an hour of trivial interrogation, Lu Fan finally returned to the room.

After sleeping for less than half an hour, he was woken up by Sun Shaojie again. This time, it was time for breakfast.

Lu Fan was on the verge of a breakdown. It was the first time he realized how happy it was to be able to get a good night's sleep.

During the interrogation, Director Zhang Xiaobin and Wang Yujia came to change shifts. Lu Fan felt that he was becoming delirious.