Chapter 771: Office Rules

We've made sure we didn't cuff the wrong person?

Chief Zhang repeated Lin Dongfan's words, his face showing a half-smile, half-not-smile expression.

He stepped closer, sizing up the handcuffed yet calm man: "What, do you still want me to explain legal procedure to you?"

Lin Dongfan didn't speak, just calmly looked at him.

That gaze made Chief Zhang inexplicably uncomfortable—not fear, but a feeling of being looked down on, like when he usually went to the City Bureau for meetings, sitting in the back rows listening to leaders speak.

He shook his head, casting aside that absurd thought.

"Take him away!"

He waved his hand, turned, and walked toward the police car.

Two young police officers flanked Lin Dongfan left and right, pressing him into the back seat of the police car.

Bald Wang Lao San clutched his ribs, helped up by his companion into another vehicle; before getting in, he made a throat-slashing gesture at Lin Dongfan.

With no sirens, the two vehicles drove off one after another from this shantytown area.

Outside the window, the woman holding her daughter still knelt in the shed, her gaze blank as she watched the police cars drive away. Lin Dongfan withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes.

"Brother, first time in Wuzhou?" the young police officer in the passenger seat glanced back at him, tone fairly calm: "Your skills are decent; have you trained?"

Lin Dongfan opened his eyes: "Yes."

"Training's pointless." The young police officer shook his head: "Out here in the western suburbs, you could beat anyone, but you beat people from Chengxin Company—do you know who's behind them?"

"Who?"

"The Zhao Group." The young police officer lowered his voice: "Wuzhou's biggest taxpayer, a key enterprise in the city. You hit their people—this will be hard to settle."

The older police officer driving coughed: "Xiao Liu, say less."

Xiao Liu pursed his lips, turned back, and fell silent.

Lin Dongfan closed his eyes again.

Twenty minutes later, the police car entered the courtyard of the western suburbs police station. It was an old two-story building, peeling paint on the walls, a black-on-white sign hanging at the entrance.

Lin Dongfan was brought out of the car, walked down the hallway, and entered an interrogation room.

The room wasn't large: a table, two chairs, a surveillance camera in the corner—red light on, indicating it was working.

"Sit."

Chief Zhang followed in, gesturing for Lin Dongfan to sit opposite him. He himself sat down opposite, taking out a notebook and pen from the drawer.

"Name."

"Lin Dongfan."

"Age."

"Forty-one."

"Address."

"Not convenient to provide."

Chief Zhang's pen paused; he looked up: "Place of work."

"Not convenient to provide."

"Bang!"

Chief Zhang slapped the pen on the table.

He leaned back.

His eyes locked on Lin Dongfan: "Lin Dongfan, I warn you—this is a police station! Not a place to play guessing games. If you don't talk, I have a hundred ways to make you talk."

Lin Dongfan met his gaze: "Chief Zhang, I also remind you—handling a case requires procedure and evidence. Today's incident, who started it, the many onlookers saw clearly. You don't investigate the truth, but instead cuff me, the one acting in self-defense, and bring me in for questioning—is that appropriate?"

"Self-defense?" Chief Zhang sneered: "One guy beats down seven or eight, and you call that self-defense? I see it as intentional injury!"

"They surrounded me, a dozen or so, I fought back—that's justifiable defense."

"Excessive defense!" Chief Zhang raised his voice: "Besides, I tell you, the people you beat are now in the hospital getting examined. Light injury grade two or above means criminal liability—starting at three years!"

He was applying pressure.

This is the police station's usual tactic: first scare with criminal liability, make the person panic, then things become easier to handle.

Unfortunately, Lin Dongfan wasn't buying it.

"Chief Zhang."

Lin Dongfan's tone remained calm: "I suggest you do three things now: first, send people to the scene to find witnesses and take statements; second, retrieve nearby surveillance—this is a demolition zone, there should be security cameras at the intersection; third, check whether Chengxin Demolition Company has proper qualifications, whether their demolition work is registered."

With each sentence, Chief Zhang's face darkened a bit more.

Because these words hit the nail on the head.

"Take statements?"

"Who among the onlookers would dare to come forward and testify?"

"Check surveillance?"

"The surveillance in that area has been 'broken' for half a year."

"Check qualifications?"

"Chengxin Company can run roughshod over the western suburbs thanks to some people's tacit approval—what's there to check?"

"Lin Dongfan!" Chief Zhang sprang to his hands on the table, leaning forward: "You need to get the situation straight! Right now I'm interrogating you, not you ordering me!"

He pointed at Lin Dongfan's nose: "Last question—address, workplace, why did you come to Wuzhou? If you don't talk, you're not leaving here tonight!"

As his words fell, the interrogation room door was knocked.

A young police officer poked his head in: "Chief, Old Chen from the City Bureau called—has something for you."

Chief Zhang startled.

Old Chen from the City Bureau—normally the office director never directly calls this insignificant little section chief.

He glanced suspiciously at Lin Dongfan, turned and walked out of the interrogation room, pulling the door shut behind him.

In the hallway, Chief Zhang picked up the phone, his tone respectful: "Director Chen, hello hello…… Yes, I'm Zhang Jianjun from the West Suburb Bureau…… What?"

His voice suddenly rose, then quickly dropped.

"Yes, we just arrested a guy named Lin Dongfan…… What? The newly appointed Mayor? An undercover visit? …… Impossible, absolutely impossible! That guy doesn't look like a mayor at all……"

Chief Zhang's face gradually turned pale.

His hand holding the phone began to tremble, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

On the other end of the line.

Director Chen's voice was stern: "Zhang Jianjun, I warn you! The person you have cuffed is the newly appointed city leader! The Provincial Organization Department just called to inquire! No matter what's happening on your end, within ten minutes I want to see that person come out unharmed! Not a single hair out of place, or you can forget wearing that uniform!"

"But Director, he assaulted someone……"

"Who did he assault? Thugs from the demolition company? You know what kind of people they are!" Director Chen shouted in reprimand: "Zhang Jianjun, you are a people's policeman, not a thug for the demolition company! I'll say it again—you've stirred up a huge mess! Secretary Wang is already on his way over—release him immediately!"

The phone hung up.

Chief Zhang stood there dazed, phone still pressed to his ear, his mind a blank panic.

City leader?

Newly appointed Mayor?

He suddenly recalled what Lin Dongfan had just said——"I suggest you contact the City Bureau, or directly contact Secretary Wang."

Damn!

That wasn't pretending to be tough—he really does have connections!

"Chief Zhang?" the young officer beside him asked cautiously, "What did Director Chen say?"

Chief Zhang jerked back to awareness, his face as white as paper: "Quick! Go unlock the cuffs and release him!" He almost shouted it.

"Huh?"

"What 'huh'? Hurry up!"

Chief Zhang rushed back into the interrogation room, the door slamming against the wall with a loud bang.