Chapter 538: with translation of chapter title

The day after Xiang Wenting was apprehended, namely the ninth day of the first lunar month.

Around six in the morning.

Yuezhou International Airport.

After being tricked back to China by Zhang Lan, Wei Chao was seized by Peng Tianhua and others who had been waiting as soon as he stepped off the plane. The moment the cold silver handcuffs were clamped on, Wei Chao's playboy life came to an end.

But the one who collapsed the most was not Wei Chao, but Wei Shouqin.

Lin Dongfan now holds two key pieces of evidence:

One is a "baby-making diary" involving keeping a mistress, indicating an improper lifestyle; the other is those eight gold bars and 2.4 billion yuan in overseas bonds.

Wei Shouqin originally thought that the affair of keeping a mistress would surely not stay hidden, and this matter had to be admitted.

But those eight gold bars and 2.4 billion yuan in overseas bonds—no way would he admit to them! That's over two billion yuan; once he claimed that illicit sum, he'd wear out the bottom of his prison cell! This blame must be pinned on his dead father.

He never imagined that Zhang Lan would stab him in the back.

Interrogation Room No. 1.

Wei Shouqin sighed deeply as he spoke to Lin Dongfan: "A virtuous wife halves one's misfortunes. Too bad I don't have that blessing..."

"I'm not interested in your family affairs."

From the moment he sat down, Lin Dongfan's eyes remained fixed on Wei Shouqin; at a glance one could see that this Wei official before him was truly full of sorrow.

Seated beside him, Jian Sining was also very focused.

She had been taking notes continuously.

Lin Dongfan pressed: "Regarding the source of those 2.4 billion yuan in overseas bonds, later you can explain it clearly to Section Chief Jian. First, tell me about the Huang Xiuju case—it blew up so big; can you handle it alone? Is there anyone above covering for you?"

"Above?"

Wei Shouqin's mind turned, and the first person that came to mind was the vice governor in charge of health, healthcare, etc. —Lv Yizhi.

"Comrade Xiao Lin has a big appetite, actually wanting to follow the lead to net the big fish!"

"Can't say!"

"This matter must never be spoken of, no matter what!"

Wei Shouqin shook his head solemnly: "If someone had my back, how would I be sitting here now? You're overthinking this."

"Wei Shouqin, you're not cooperating at all."

Lin Dongfan suppressed his anger and gave a wry smile: "Before Wei Chao was apprehended, you refused to admit that those 2.4 billion yuan in overseas bonds were yours. Now you're pulling the same old trick, unwilling to name your superiors. Tell me the truth—are you resentful of the sunshine outside being too bright, wanting to spend a few more years in prison?"

"Really, no one above is covering for me."

Wei Shouqin furrowed his brows, thinking, "Your threats are useless; I've resolved to bear this myself—I, Wei Shouqin, am not a brainless clown."

"What's in it for me to take everyone down?"

"There's absolutely no benefit in that!"

"The huge sum of 2.4 billion yuan in illicit funds is already enough to sentence me to life imprisonment."

"If I bite a big shot now, it's life imprisonment; if I don't bite a big shot, it's also life imprisonment. Since either way it's life, why would I act so recklessly, like a mad dog biting indiscriminately?"

"Leaving a way out for others is leaving a way out for oneself."

"Who knows which way the wind will blow in the future?"

Thinking this through, Wei Shouqin steadied himself and retorted: "Huang Xiupu is just a sanitation worker; this little matter of hers, He Zhiqiang could handle it himself—no need for me to intervene. Director Lin, it seems you truly lack life experience. Over such a trifle, you actually think I can't handle it, underestimating me, don't you?"

"A medical accident that caused a death—this also counts as a trifle?" Lin Dongfan's face flushed slightly with anger.

Wei Shouqin replied dismissively: "In such a large hospital, when doesn't someone die? If you'd ever been a doctor, you'd know that human birth and death are merely part of the natural order."

"!!!"

Lin Dongfan was momentarily speechless, never expecting this corrupt official to use philosophy to diminish the gravity of a "death story"; it seemed he was determined not to cooperate.

However……

One thing is certain: someone above Wei Shouqin is definitely involved in the case.

After Huang Xiupu's case was transmitted to Jingcheng,

The Provincial Procuratorate's initial attitude remained 'let the mistake stand,' intending to tacitly allow subordinate units to turn Huang Xiupu's case into an ironclad one, so that Huang Xiupu would never have a chance to redeem herself.

Based on this alone, one can see:

This case certainly implicates a provincial-ministerial-level bigwig! The reason is simple: relying solely on Wei Shouqin, an official of his rank, cannot sway the Provincial Procuratorate's stance.

Lin Dongfan rose and said: "The opportunity for leniency through frank confession has already been given to you. Since you refuse it, let's wait and see. Keep your eyes wide open and watch whether I can drag out your superiors!"

"Director Lin..." Wei Shouqin still wore a helpless expression: "Your habit of nitpicking is really not endearing at all. I've said there's no one above me, yet you insist on forcing me to name someone. I, Old Wei, am at least a bureau-level official—does a bureau-level official not deserve to earn you some merit? That's over the top."

"Nonsense!"

Jian Sining, who had been lowering her head to take notes, suddenly put down her pen and slapped the table with her palm.

She sternly rebuked Wei Shouqin: "Who told you that anti-corruption work is for earning merit? Please watch your language!"

Wei Shouqin furrowed his brow and lowered his head in silence.

He thought, "You all just want to nab a provincial-ministerial-level bigwig; in reality you're only trying to turn a small case into a big one! You're doing this to climb the ranks for great achievements, and you yourselves know it."

"Sining, keep questioning and get to the bottom of the source of those 2.4 billion yuan in overseas bonds."

Lin Dongfan, too bothered to waste more words with Wei Shouqin, went out and summoned someone to serve as note‑taker for Jian Sining, to assist her in interrogating Wei Shouqin.

At present, Lin Dongfan's investigative direction has two points.

First, the corruption problem in the medical system.

Second, the matter of Huang Xiupu being arrested despite her innocence.

Matters have priorities.

Lin Dongfan's train of thought is clear; right now he wants to resolve first the Huang Xiupu issue, for it is a matter of life and death—every extra day Huang Xiupu remains detained adds to her peril.

Since Wei Shouqin refuses to cooperate and name the higher‑up tiger, Lin Dongfan proceeded to Interrogation Room No. 2, gesturing for everyone else to leave upon entry and leaving only Peng Tianhua to stay and observe.

He Zhiqiang already knew that Xiang Wenting had been apprehended.

His heart was like dead ash.

He gave a bitter smile upon seeing Lin Dongfan: "Director Lin, the issues that needed to be explained, I already made them clear to Section Chief Peng just now. The matter of Xiang Wenting's escape really wasn't something I arranged on purpose."

Cut the nonsense.

Lin Dongfan dragged open a chair and sat down opposite He Zhiqiang.

He cut straight to the core issue: "Explain the arrest of Huang Xiuju."

"Director Lin, this…" He Zhiqiang gave an embarrassed, awkward smile: "This seems like a matter for the Faction, it doesn't have much to do with your anti-corruption bureau, right?"

Are you going to speak or not?!

Lin Dongfan narrowed his eyes and adopted a solemn expression.

This unusually cold and severe gaze made the atmosphere in the interrogation room tense considerably.

Peng Tianhua saw He Zhiqiang wearing a bitter expression and staying silent; his fury surged to his head, he stretched out his foot under the table and kicked He Zhiqiang hard.

He angrily shouted: "Who are you being all smiles and laughs with? Speak!"

He Zhiqiang flinched his foot, gave a grudging smile: "Huang Xiuju stabbed the security guard; that guard is still in the hospital. The Faction's criminal detention of her—isn't that quite normal?"

"Where did the hospital entrance surveillance footage from the day of the incident go?" Lin Dongfan pressed.

He Zhiqiang seemed to have anticipated Lin Dongfan's question.

He replied calmly: "That surveillance camera has been broken for Along time; I've urged the logistics department several times, but they haven't replaced it—this really isn't my fault."

Every time something happens, the surveillance fails—do you think everyone's an idiot?

Lin Dongfan realized that He Zhiqiang, like Wei Shouqin, did not want to let Huang Xiuju off the hook in this matter.

Lin Dongfan asked puzzled: "A struggling sanitation worker at the bottom rung—do you really need so many of you to gang up and bully her? This part of the conversation won't be entered into the record; consider it a private chat. Tell me, now that you've been arrested yourself, why are you still pushing Huang Xiuju onto a dead-end path? Why? What has she done to you?"