Chapter 50

In the evening.

Lin Dongfan, Jian Sining, and others returned to Qinghu Guesthouse, ordered a few takeouts, after eating they began interrogating Luo Qiang; today is destined to be overtime.

The curtains in room 401 were drawn tight, not letting in a sliver of light.

Only a small desk lamp was lit in the room.

The seclusion served to bolster the solemn atmosphere,

All around, an oppressive darkness prevailed, invisibly giving people the psychological illusion that only by clinging to this glimmer of light ahead could they escape their predicament.

"Are you going to volunteer the information yourself, or shall I help you recall it?"

Lin Dongfan stared straight at Luo Qiang sitting opposite him.

Jian Sining, seated beside him, kept her head down while taking notes.

Luo Qiang seemed unaffected by the surroundings, and replied disdainfully: "I'm neither corrupt nor bribed; why did you bring me here today? You'll have to send me back the same way."

Lin Dongfan smiled, not rushing to slap him in the face.

Former director of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, Cheng Dao, was also being interrogated in this temporary interrogation room. Cheng Dao had repeatedly muttered the four words "I don't remember," trying to conceal some things.

In the end, he had worn himself down to a haggard state: dark circles under his eyes, sallow yellow skin, disheveled and greasy hair.

He looked a dozen years older.

Mentally, he suffered repeated breakdowns; even in his dreams at night he would plead: "Please, let me sleep a bit, okay? I really don't remember…"

By contrast, Luo Qiang should not possess Cheng Dao's stubborn will to resist.

Since Luo Qiang's daughter wasn't in anyone else's hands, there was less to worry about; moreover, his case didn't reach the threshold of a criminal offense.

Lin Dongfan placed two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes on the table, each packed in a high-end gift bag.

When these items were taken out,

Lin Dongfan kept his eyes on Luo Qiang's facial reaction.

Seeing Luo Qiang still smirking dismissively, as if the two cigarettes had nothing to do with him, Lin Dongfan then produced an envelope containing two thousand yuan in cash.

Lin Dongfan asked: "Does this look a bit familiar to you?"

"Not familiar."

Luo Qiang replied calmly.

Lin Dongfan bluntly said: "These were found in your car; you don't recognize them?"

"I remember now."

Luo Qiang remained unhurried: "My father‑in‑law's sixtieth birthday is coming up in a few days. The cigarettes are a gift I bought for him; the money is a red envelope I intended to give him. For a father‑in‑law's birthday, doing a favor—is that illegal?"

"Not illegal," Lin Dongfan laughed.

Luo Qiang countered: "If it's not illegal, on what grounds are you confiscating my private property?"

"I'll give you one more chance—is this your private property or stolen goods? Think it over before answering." Lin Dongfan's demeanor now resembled that when Leng Chuan interrogated a case: expressionless, icy cold.

The two parties stared at each other in silence, making the interrogation room's atmosphere even more oppressive.

It gave one an inexplicable feeling of suffocation.

Luo Qiang's psychological defenses were clearly loosening; otherwise, his face would not show tension, nor would his eyes reveal a hint of hatred as he glared at Lin Dongfan.

"You only have one chance—are you sure you won't speak?"

Lin Dongfan increased the pressure.

Luo Qiang clenched his teeth silently, his facial muscles visibly tightening: "I said this is my private property—what more do you want me to say? It's ridiculous!"

"You really won't shed a tear until you see the coffin."

Lin Dongfan gave a faint smile.

He slowly laid out the facts:

"On January 2, 2010, at 9:16 p. m., a traffic accident occurred in Dongchuan Town."

"Driver Li Mingpu, while overtaking by borrowing the lane, knocked down a plastic water barrier in the middle of the road. He said his visibility was poor, thinking it was just a minor scrape, so he didn't stop to check."

"After returning home, Li Mingpu discovered that the outer casing of his car's headlights was shattered, and a fragment of the plastic water barrier was lodged in his bumper."

"Only then did he realize the seriousness of the matter, and he immediately drove back to the scene to report the accident to the police and his insurer."

"He returned to the scene to report the police at 11:09 p. m., less than two hours later."

"At that time, you were the one who led the team out on patrol."

"You told Li Mingpu that this constituted hit‑and‑run and that his vehicle would be seized on the spot. This show of force left Li Mingpu flustered, for hit‑and‑run is no trivial matter."

"Then, you privately comforted Li Mingpu:"

"Fortunately, no one was hurt—it's just a water barrier issue, which could be big or small. Moreover, you asked him whether he had any acquaintances, suggesting he get them to speak to your team leader."

"An ordinary citizen—where would he get so many connections?"

"Li Mingpu is sensible; this morning he brought these gifts to find you."

Having said that, Lin Dongfan picked up the pack of Zhonghua cigarettes on the table and lightly tapped it twice.

Luo Qiang's face had already turned ashen.

He indignantly retorted: "Li Mingpu indeed wanted to give me a gift, but I didn't accept it—don't spout bloody nonsense! Up to now I still haven't issued him an accident determination certificate."

"Stubborn as a dead duck."

I had long expected Luo Qiang to stubbornly argue to the end.

Lin Dongfan gave a faint, light chuckle: "Li Mingpu came to see you today with these items; you indeed didn't openly accept them. But you gave him your car keys, asking him to move your car for you. Li Mingpu isn't stupid—having your keys, wouldn't he know to put the things in your car?"

"He put them in my car—that's his doing; I had no idea!" Luo Qiang angrily insisted to the end.

Lin Dongfan asked with a smile: "If you were unaware, then why did you just say these items were your own private property?"

Luo Qiang's veins bulged from the questioning, and he ultimately couldn't control his emotions.

I can't fathom how Lin Dongfan knows all this.

In the collapse, Luo Qiang slammed his fist on the table, glaring at Lin Dongfan as he bellowed: "You Lin! I'm either handling accidents every day or on the way to handle accidents! Every day I work myself to death, no rest even on holidays! What's wrong with taking two packs of cigarettes? Who in your agency hasn't taken a gift? I just don't believe you're incorruptible!"

"I admit your frontline traffic police workload is huge; please calm down first."

Everything was as expected; Lin Dongfan didn't want to escalate the conflict, and everything still had to prioritize the overall situation.

Lin Dongfan said gently:

"There's now a chance to redeem yourself through service; it's up to you to seize it. If you agree, this matter can also be handled internally by your unit."

Internal handling?

Luo Qiang was stunned at once; this guy went to such trouble to grab a handle on me, now he's caught it, yet he's not taking it up the chain—what's he trying to do?

I don't understand at all.

Luo Qiang asked, puzzled: "How does one redeem oneself through service?"

It was getting late, and Lin Dongfan didn't beat around the bush, getting straight to the point as he asked Luo Qiang: "Is Yang Shouli, the village head of Qingzhu Village, your father-in-law?"

Yes, what's wrong?

Luo Qiang still looked bewildered, waiting for Lin Dongfan to spill the main task.

Lin Dongfan said: "Do us a favor and work on your father-in-law's thinking, get him to fully cooperate with our Anti-Corruption Bureau's investigation, and don't go down a dead end."

"Are you trying to investigate the 9·28 forest fire?"

Luo Qiang heightened his vigilance a bit; in his view, the truth of the 9·28 forest fire must not be spoken carelessly, as this matter would implicate his older female cousin Yin Qiuhong.