Chapter 540: Old Man Fan's Hands Are Warm

Interrogation Room No. 2.

Peng Tianhua was interrogating Deputy Director Zhou of the Yuezhou Municipal Health Bureau, who had helped Renmin Yiyuan cover up a medical accident; his motive was relatively complicated.

On one hand, he had accepted 100,000 yuan in cash from Hospital Director He Zhiqiang.

On the other hand, he wanted to display a proactive work attitude for Provincial Department's Wei Shouqin to see, hoping to gain Wei Shouqin's favor and rise swiftly.

By comparison, the motive of Liang, the bureau chief of the Public Security Branch, in the case is much simpler.

Just one word: greed!

Interrogation Room No. 1.

Bureau Chief Liang lowered his head in shame.

He explained to Lin Dongfan sitting opposite him the full story of the case: "……That day, Huang Xiuju stood at the gate of Renmin Yiyuan holding a sign and wailing, drawing a crowd. The hospital sent four security guards to drive her away. In the scuffle, Huang Xiuju stabbed one of the guards with a pair of scissors."

"Huang Xiuju, a frail sanitation worker, faced four burly hospital security guards—how could she possibly fight back?"

Faced with Lin Dongfan's questioning, Bureau Chief Liang was speechless.

Lin Dongfan ordered the playback of the surveillance footage from the USB drive; after watching the whole incident, the facts were crystal clear, leaving no room for excuse.

That day.

In the process of driving Huang Xiuju away, the four guards first assaulted her, knocking her to the ground; at that moment she pulled out a pair of rusty scissors she had picked from a trash bin.

Huang Xiuju did not subjectively intend to harm anyone; it was self-defense.

Careful observation of the surveillance footage shows that although Huang Xiuju was holding a pair of rusty scissors, her hands were trembling violently.

She kept wailing:

"My son died on the operating table; I just want an explanation. What did I do wrong?! Don't come near me—even if you beat me to death, I won't leave."

Her voice was desperate to the extreme.

Some of the onlookers couldn't bear to watch; several stepped forward to argue with the hospital guards, but the guards shoved them away harshly and warned them not to meddle.

Next.

The guards then punched and kicked Huang Xiuju; she was apparently driven to the brink of collapse, and in her panic she stabbed one of the guards in the abdomen with the scissors.

The rust‑stained scissors carried the threat of tetanus.

Not long after, the hospital called the police, and Huang Xiuju was taken away. Three days later, the police applied to the Yuezhou People's Procuratorate for her arrest on suspicion of intentional injury.

Now, Huang Xiuju is detained in the women's detention center.

Awaiting trial.

If the normal procedure is followed, for causing minor injury Huang Xiuju would be sentenced to less than three years in prison; the worst possibility, however, is that she might die an "accidental" sudden death before the trial.

However……

Now the director of Renmin Yiyuan, He Zhiqiang, has been arrested, and Bureau Chief Liang has also taken the initiative; Huang Xiuju's life is thus spared, the truth has come out, and for the moment no one dares to harbor ulterior motives.

Lin Dongfan asked Bureau Chief Liang: "You took such a big risk to help He Zhiqiang sweep things under the rug—was it just for accepting his special banquet?"

The so‑called special banquet meant food and drink, plus a KTV music teacher.

However……

In Bureau Chief Liang's world, these things are indeed not worth mentioning.

Bureau Chief Liang lowered his head in shame: "My father‑in‑law suffers from heart failure; he spends 300 days out of 365 in the hospital each year, and the expenses are huge—a bottomless pit. Director He promised me that if I helped him settle the matter, Renmin Yiyuan would become my father‑in‑law's home, and all medical fees would be waived."

He paused for a moment.

Bureau Chief Liang continued his confession: "Director He exploited my weakness, and I failed to hold my line. I am willing to reflect deeply and accept the organization's investigation. I hope the organization will give me a chance."

"There are plenty of opportunities—just answer the questions properly."

Lin Dongfan pressed further: "In the Huang Xiuju case, from the incident to arrest approval took only three days! That's absurdly fast—who in the Yuezhou Procuratorate is pushing the arrest?"

"It's the Prosecutor General—Qiao Lianzhou."

By this point, Bureau Chief Liang dared not conceal anything further.

Even if Qiao Lianzhou has a powerful background, we must still bite back! No matter how strong his background, it cannot outweigh the Central Commission's anti‑corruption resolve—those who should fall will fall sooner or later.

Having thought this through.

Bureau Chief Liang laid out the facts frankly: "At first, I detained Huang Xiuju just as a formality; I didn't really intend to punish her. I had wanted to do some ideological work with her, to facilitate a private settlement with the hospital. As long as she promised not to appeal or cause trouble, I could have Director He give her compensation."

"She didn't agree?" Lin Dongfan wondered.

Bureau Chief Liang shook his head: "Huang Xiuju is an honest, conscientious person. I talked with her once, and she didn't explicitly refuse. If the compensation were paid in full, I'm confident I could settle this. Unfortunately……

"Unfortunately what?"

Lin Dongfan awaited Bureau Chief Liang's continuation.

Bureau Chief Liang pondered for a moment, then shook his head repeatedly with regret: "Everything was going smoothly in the coordination, and Director He had agreed to sit down and talk. But Qiao Lianshan of the Procuratorate suddenly intervened. He kept insisting this was a criminal case, forbidding private settlement and demanding strict handling of Huang Xiuju."

"Why would he do that? Does Huang Xiuju have a grudge against him?"

The more Lin Dongfan heard, the more doubtful he became.

Huang Xiuju, a poor sanitation worker, never even had a chance to meet Qiao Lianzhou—how could she bear a grudge against him?

Lin Dongfan pressed on: "Was the injured guard a relative of Qiao Lianzhou?"

"No."

Pondering the inside story, Bureau Chief Liang was also at a loss.

He shook his head and added: "Qiao Lianzhou and I don't get along. It wouldn't surprise me if he did this just to undermine me. I wanted to protect Huang Xiuju, but he insisted on taking the opposite stance."

Hearing this, Lin Dongfan was momentarily speechless.

In the eyes of you trash, the honor, disgrace, and freedom of the lower classes are merely sacrificial pawns in your mutual scheming—damn it!

Lin Dongfan swallowed his anger and pressed: "According to what you're saying, the arrest of Huang Xiuju is entirely Qiao Lianzhou's fault?"

"I didn't say I had no responsibility—I'm the one who arrested her. I have evidence showing Huang Xiuju acted in self‑defense, but I didn't step forward to prove her innocence. I neglected my duty, and I regret it."

Bureau Chief Liang assumed a posture of sincere repentance.

Finally, he changed the subject again: "But the main responsibility lies with Qiao Lianzhou; it was he who insisted on arresting Huang Xiuju. His background is strong, I couldn't go against him, so I chose to compromise."

"You said his background is strong—who is his background?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Chief Liang replied without hesitation: "In Yuezhou's official circles, this is no secret. He once served as secretary to Lv Yizhi for five years. He is Lv Yizhi's confidant, regarded by Lv Yizhi as a prized disciple."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dongfan couldn't help but silently mourn for Chief Liang for three seconds.

Lv Yizhi!

Baiyue Province's Standing Committee member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Government Party Group, and Executive Vice Governor. Such a background is indeed not something this small leader of the Public Security Bureau can afford to provoke.

That noon.

After finishing the interrogation, Lin Dongfan deliberately went to the Women's Detention Center to visit Huang Xiuju.

The forty-eight-year-old Huang Xiuju looked as haggard as a sixty-year-old, her dry hair half-white, and her body very frail.

She thought Lin Dongfan was someone from the Yuezhou City Procuratorate.

Upon seeing Lin Dongfan, she burst into tears:

"Leader, I didn't mean to stab that security guard…… He hit me, and I don't know what happened—I just blocked a few blows, and then…… Please help me investigate clearly; I really didn't mean to stab him……"

Her agitation was not ordinary; as she spoke, she was about to kneel before Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan hurriedly supported her arms: "Ms. Huang, don't do this—please get up first." Lin Dongfan helped her sit on the stool.

Gripping her bony, thin hands.

He told her: "I am Lin Dongfan of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau; I came today to tell you: I understand your situation, don't be afraid. Give me a little more time, and I will surely vindicate you."

Upon hearing this, Huang Xiuju's weathered tears fell like broken beads.

She clearly never dared to dream that, in this world, someone would still care about her life or death. And this person, now truly sitting before her, was not a dream.

He eagerly grasped Lin Dongfan's hand.

Choking with sobs: "Thank you…… I don't know how this happened; my son died, I only wanted an explanation, and they locked me up here……"