Chapter 55: Crazy Woman Robs Evidence

Li Hengbo went out to make a phone call, and the statements at the scene were still continuing.

Among the nine relatives of the victims present, only one woman called Lan Jie was relatively educated. She ran a photo studio in town, usually met many people, and could be considered worldly.

The remaining eight were all middle-aged and elderly villagers with little education.

If Lin Dongfan didn't give them legal education, they really wouldn't know which law they had violated.

Of course, they weren't so foolish as not to realize they were breaking the law.

Previously, they dared to conceal the truth about the deaths mainly because they held a mentality that the law does not punish the many, thinking that as long as everyone unified their story, there was nothing to fear, and it wasn't just one person staying silent.

Furthermore, the cadres in the village and town did not allow them to speak the truth.

Then let's just keep it hidden together.

The person is already dead; whether or not they appear on the official death list is the leaders' business, and it has nothing to do with these relatives—as long as the compensation is paid in full, that's enough.

Today, after being struck by Lin Dongfan's legal big stick, everyone finally realized the seriousness of the problem.

Who would want to give up a good life and go to prison instead?

Nobody.

In the eyes of the vast majority of villagers, going to prison is not just a loss of freedom; it is a great disgrace that brings shame upon one's ancestors, and if a family produces an ex-convict, the whole family will be unable to hold their heads high.

After the elderly man took the lead in confessing, the other eight relatives also dared not conceal anything further, and each one truthfully explained the actual cause of death of their own family member.

Lan Jie, who ran the photo studio in town, also provided Lin Dongfan with a set of posthumous photos.

This set of precious posthumous photos, though taken from an awkward angle and obviously candid, still shows the scene of the victims being carried down the mountain.

Originally intact people were all burned into unrecognizable black charcoal, a shocking sight.

With these posthumous photos as evidence, plus the testimonies of the victims' relatives, the matter of the relevant department falsifying the death toll can basically be determined.

Lin Dongfan immediately called Leng Chuan.

He reported the breakthrough: "Chief Leng, we have already obtained the posthumous photos of all the victims, as well as the statements of their relatives."

"Well done." Leng Chuan's voice sounded somewhat excited.

Lin Dongfan cautiously inquired: "Should we say hello to Secretary Chu?"

"This matter needs to be reported first to the Provincial Committee."

Leng Chuan further instructed over the phone: "First send the evidence materials over; as for Secretary Chu's side, I will communicate with him after the Provincial Committee issues its directives."

"That works."

Lin Dongfan had no objection to Leng Chuan's decision.

Now there is sufficient evidence proving that the true death toll of the 9·28 forest fire is 11 people; procedurally, casualties exceeding ten indeed need to be reported to the provincial level.

Moreover, concealing the death toll constitutes a criminal offense.

Afterwards, it may be necessary for the Nanzhou City Public Security Bureau to file a case and assist in apprehending suspects; this matter will be coordinated by Leng Chuan with Secretary Chu, which can avoid gossip.

After all, Lin Dongfan is the son-in-law of Chu Jinsong.

If he were to directly discuss the next steps in private with Chu Jinsong, that would be disrespectful to Leng Chuan and also raise suspicions of forming cliques and suppressing dissent.

But Lin Dongfan still sent a message to Chu Songjin.

The message was brief, just one sentence: "Today, I caught the 11th bus." Its meaning is clear: I have already lifted the veil on the 11 victims' tragedy, and we can move forward.

Chu Jinsong understood at a glance and smiled faintly in his office.

He picked up the desk phone: "Yuan, come to my office." Notifying Public Security Bureau Chief Xu Yuan to come over meant that preparations were to be made in advance.

In Chu Jinsong's view, this is a war of evenly matched forces.

Seizing the initiative is very important.

After hanging up the phone, Chu Jinsong also sent Lin Dongfan a message: "Stay safe."

"Mm."

These short four words made Lin Dongfan feel warm.

Just as Lin Dongfan was preparing to return to the Clear Lake Guesthouse to deliver the evidence materials to Leng Chuan, two police cars belonging to the Nanzhou City Forest Public Security Bureau rushed in like they were racing to be reborn, entering the compound of the Green Bamboo Village Village Committee.

From the two vehicles, a total of ten people got out.

The woman leading them was none other than the deputy chief of the Forest Public Security Bureau, Yin Qiuhong; the other nine were all uniformed forest police officers.

The ten of them came with a mighty, aggressive presence.

As soon as they got out of the cars, they blocked Lin Dongfan and Jian Sining at the village committee gate.

Lin Dongfan stepped forward and joked: "Chief Yin, what's the situation? Why such a big show of force?"

"Hand over that set of photos."

Yin Qiuhong got straight to the point, directly extending her hand toward Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan pretended not to understand: "What photos? I don't get what you're saying."

"Don't play dumb with me—today a victim's relative gave you a set of photos, didn't you? Hand them over." Yin Qiuhong, speaking as if ordering her subordinate, used a commanding tone to force Lin Dongfan to hand over the evidence.

Damn it!

Your action speed is really fast!

I only got the evidence half an hour ago, and you guys came rushing over this fast!

Lin Dongfan, suppressing his anger, pressed: "What gives me the right to hand it over to you?"

"There are some doubts about the 9·28 forest fire; the city leaders have decided to restart the investigation procedure, and this case will still be handled by our Forest Public Security Bureau." Yin Qiuhong, stern and resolute, said: "Those photos are important material evidence of the 9·28 forest fire; I hope you will cooperate with our work."

Upon hearing that, Lin Dongfan really wanted to slap her and let her taste the spicy heat.

Damn it!

With your arrogant attitude, this is called requesting cooperation? This is highway robbery!

If that set of photos fell into your hands, they would surely be destroyed immediately! You came rushing here to intercept, nothing more than to destroy the evidence.

Lin Dongfan sneered: "Chief Yin, you're having the Jianglan Province Anti-Corruption Bureau's task force cooperate with your Nanzhou City Forest Public Security Bureau—have you forgotten the priorities?"

"You investigate your corruption case, I investigate my forest fire case, they have nothing to do with each other."

Yin Qiuhong kept a cold expression throughout, her demeanor also proper and confident.

She again sharply retorted to Lin Dongfan: "Those photos are evidence from the forest fire case; what do they have to do with the corruption case you're investigating?"

"Whether there's a connection isn't up to you to say."

Faced with the aggressive Yin Qiuhong, Lin Dongfan's tone grew increasingly indifferent: "Move out of the way, a good dog doesn't block the road!"

"Lin Dongfan, you're shameless!"

Yin Qiuhong's face darkened with anger, and the nine forest police behind her immediately stepped forward two paces.

It looks like they intend to use force to seize.

Just then.

Yang Qing rushed out with two criminal police, pointing at these restless forest police and shouting: "What are you doing? All of you, get back!!!"

The nine forest police didn't even acknowledge him.

Yin Qiuhong chuckled lightly: "Surname Yang, what's your rank? What's your status? When does it become your turn, as a mere squad leader, to shout here? I advise you not to make a fool of yourself—stay where it's cool."

"I heard your bird's nest is cool; can you let me stay there for a while?"

As everyone knows, Yin Qiuhong rose to power by her looks; Yang Qing, this guy, stirs up trouble at the slightest disagreement, leaving Yin Qiuhong gritting her teeth in sarcasm, unable to speak.

Lin Dongfan didn't want to laugh either, but he couldn't help it.

"What a damn laugh!" Yin Qiuhong's eyes almost shot sparks as she warned Lin Dongfan sternly: "Surname Lin! I'm asking you one last time—will you hand over that set of evidence or not?!"

"Director Yin, yesterday you abused public power for private gain, urging your brother-in-law to investigate my drunk driving, and today you come to rob my evidence." Lin Dongfan furrowed his brow slightly: "You say whether it's possible, but actually I, Lin Dongfan, am not a soft persimmon anyone can push around..."

"Damn nonsense, attack!"

Yin Qiuhong is ultimately short-tempered; with a wave of her hand, the nine forest police behind her surged forward.

"Damn!"

Yang Qing also has a violent temper; he kicked the charging forest police officer to the ground, and his two criminal police brothers immediately followed up.

The three criminal police fought angrily against the nine forest police.

In the entire history of Nanzhou City, this is unprecedented.

Yang Qing's left cheek was quickly struck, leaving a large bruise; it's unclear whether it hurts.

He fought back while shouting: "Zhuangbi Fan, you retreat first!"

"Zhuangbi Fan" is Yang Qing's nickname for Lin Dongfan, derived from "Zhuangbi Fan," and has been used since college to the present.

One must say, his shout was quite righteous.

"Take it."

Seeing Yang Qing and the others struggling to hold their own, Lin Dongfan took off his coat, shoved it into Jian Sining's hand, rolled up his sleeves, and launched a kick into the melee.

The ferocity of that kick can only be described by the word "shot."

It directly sent the person flying to the ground, rescuing Yang Qing from the predicament of being surrounded and beaten.

In a fight, Lin Dongfan is serious; his true strength lies not in his legwork but in his fists—he's at least a trained street-boxer.

One punch, one forest police officer down; in just a few strikes he felled three.

Seeing that her side's nine people couldn't handle the opponent's four, Yin Qiuhong flew into a rage: "You bunch of useless! Grab your weapons!"