Chapter 264: The Gao Family's Defensive Tactics Are Deep

Fine, I won't speak, you continue.

Lin Dongfan had already given the order; everything had to be settled before nightfall. To finish the interrogation as quickly as possible, Jian Sining suppressed her anger and quietly took notes, no longer interjecting.

But Zhao Lianyue also remained silent, unsure whether this guy's train of thought had truly been interrupted or if he was trying to avoid the main point.

Lin Dongfan cut straight to the core: "After Bai Yuqin's death, did you throw her corpse into the dung, or did Bai Jianping throw her corpse into the dung pit?"

"I've said I truly liked Bai Yuqin." Zhao Lianyue put on a look of anguish: "I just went to take a shower, and when I came back I saw Bai Jianping strangling her to death. Honestly, my heart was in agony back then—I even wanted to kill Bai Jianping, that beast, with one slash; that beast really is a beast!"

"According to your account, hiding the corpse in the dung cellar was done by Bai Jianping?" Lin Dongfan questioned.

Zhao Lianyue's face flushed with resentment: "At the time he sat on the bed smoking, calmly telling me: 'Old Five committed suicide; it was you who drove him to death. Give me that bag of money, and I'll turn a blind eye to this. Otherwise I'll call the police and make you regret it.' Those were his exact words—he turned the tables on me with a threat."

Continue.

Lin Dongfan stared intently at every subtle change in Zhao Lianyue's expression, carefully judging whether he was telling the truth or lying.

The resentment on Zhao Lianyue's face didn't look feigned.

He continued his recollection: "Just now I said I had two bags of money—one sank into the dung cellar, the other was still in the car. Bai Jianping didn't know I had two bags. So I told him the money was in the car, but that sum wasn't from an ordinary person; I couldn't touch it and had to return it in full."

"'You just said he turned the tables on you with a threat, and you said you couldn't touch that money, so he didn't want the money?' Lin Dongfan questioned."

Zhao Lianyue replied: "Since I didn't get the money, he certainly wouldn't let it go; he kept threatening me. Eventually, left with no choice, I promised to give him 100,000 each month. When he cursed at me earlier, you also heard—I sometimes gave only 50,000. Honestly, I've thought several times about having someone take him out; that kind of beast doesn't deserve to live. But as for killing him myself, I dare only think it, not do it."

"'Continue talking about the corpse hidden in the dung cellar—were you involved?' Lin Dongfan pressed."

Zhao Lianyue gritted his teeth, thought for a moment, and replied heavily: "I wasn't involved; Bai Jianping put Bai Yuqin's corpse in a sack and dragged it to the pigsty."

He paused briefly.

Zhao Lianyue then continued: "Back then I tried to stop him, calling him a beast—how could he throw his own sister into a dung pit? Even dead, she shouldn't be treated like trash. He punched me until I saw stars. He's strong; I couldn't beat him in a fight. I had no choice but to watch helplessly as he committed those heinous acts, but…"

"'But what?' Lin Dongfan asked."

Zhao Lianyue said: "He also promised me then that if I delivered the money, he would consider retrieving Bai Yuqin's corpse and burying her properly. So afterward he'd ask me for money every now and then; although I was reluctant, I still gave some. I never imagined that half a year later he still hasn't dug up her corpse for burial. I'm damned foolish—how could I believe a beast's words."

As he spoke, Zhao Lianyue's face again flushed with hatred.

But whether he was acting or telling the truth, Lin Dongfan now dared not fully believe him, after all, officials are never short of skilled actors.

Lin Dongfan temporarily set aside the murder case.

He further probed the corruption case: "How much do those two bags of money total? Who gave them to you?"

"'Each bag is five million, so two bags make ten million. I haven't counted the exact amount, but the figure should be correct.'"

Zhao Lianyue paused for a moment.

He continued: "Those two bags of money were both given to me by Zheng Bin, Chairman of Jianglan Natural."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dongfan's expression shifted slightly in surprise, and Jian Sining, who was taking notes, couldn't help but glance up at Zhao Lianyue.

This is explosive news!

In 2006, when Jianglan Province vigorously promoted gas reform, Jianglan Natural burst onto the scene, competing with the then-prominent Qiangsheng Petrochemical for the province's natural gas supply business.

The driving force behind the incident was Gao Lu.

In other words, although Jianglan Natural's chairman is Zheng Bin, the true behind-the-scenes controller is actually Gao Lu; Zheng Bin is merely a puppet she put forward.

This shows Gao Lu had prepared a backup plan early on.

Knowing that many of Jianglan Natural's affairs couldn't see the light, she deliberately found a puppet to front the operation so that if anything went wrong, the puppet would take the blame.

For the task force, the investigation difficulty is certainly not small.

Catching Zheng Bin is easy.

But pulling out the behind-the-scenes Gao Lu is no easy task.

Lin Dongfan further questioned Zhao Lianyue: "Why did Zheng Bin give you ten million?"

"'Zheng Bin wanted me to lend a hand to topple Li Chunyan of Qiangsheng Petrochemical.' Zhao Lianyue admitted: 'Back then I thought: taking down Li Chunyan would benefit me in two ways—I could get the ten million, and I could curry favor with Gao Lu. Whether I could become deputy mayor ultimately rests with the Gao family.'"

"'There's something I don't understand,' Lin Dongfan wondered: 'Zheng Bin's boss is Gao Lu. Since you wanted to use the Gao family's ladder to climb a step, you'd be seeking their favor. In that situation, why would Gao Lu have Zheng Bin give you ten million? Even if she didn't give that money, you'd still have to help with the Gao family's affairs, right?'"

"'You just don't get it.'"

Zhao Lianyue gave a light smile.

He continued explaining: "If I took that ten million and then toppled Li Chunyan, should anything go wrong later, it would be seen as a power-money deal between me and Zheng Bin. Conversely, if I refused the ten million and directly toppled Li Chunyan, I would be labeled as Gao Lu's enforcer, with blame pointing straight at the Gao family. Gao Lu's ten million, in the end, is meant to mitigate risk. To her, a mere ten million is nothing but a drop in the bucket."

"!!!"

Hearing this, Lin Dongfan was left speechless.

Indeed, I underestimated the Gao family's tactics—brother holds power, sister does business; using power to make wealth, then wealth to protect power—this scheme is truly damn slick.

Zhao Lianyue suddenly added: "I know you want to catch Gao Lu, but even if I tell you all this, it's actually useless—you could never get the evidence on her. You can only arrest Zheng Bin, but that guy definitely won't squeal on Gao Lu, since he's basically a fearless desperado who's done time before."

"'Don't rush to a conclusion.'"

Although Zhao Lianyue's guy makes a lot of sense, Lin Dongfan could never let his morale be crushed in this matter.

Lin Dongfan calmly pressed the key point: "Who blew up the ethylene warehouse?"

"'Shi XiongJie, just an idle street loafer.' Zhao Lianyue laughed: 'He and his brother Shi BaoJie have been helping Gao Lu all these years. But I bet that guy has already fled; he wouldn't stay in Nanzhou waiting to die. Even if you can't catch him, it's pointless—you still can't move Gao Lu.'"

"'Damn, I'm really unlucky—I was a step late and let the key person get away.'"

Lin Dongfan lamented repeatedly, yet his heart blossomed with joy.

Malkang Gobi!

Shi XiongJie—isn't he the guy who incited the masses to besiege the anti-corruption task force? What a coincidence; he's already been caught.