Chapter 815: Arresting Yuan Ben Zhong

Yuan Ben Zhong pointed at the two female college students, nervous, his finger trembling: "You… you guys are spouting nonsense! Damn it, I was trying to help you, and you're playing six relatives not recognizing me?!"

Even at this moment, Yuan Ben Zhong was still playing the role of an uncle.

'Bureau Chief…' Lin Dongfan walked straight to the bedside, half-smiling, lit a cigarette: 'Save your breath; at this point, what's the use of making excuses?'

Speaking, Lin Dongfan dragged a chair over and sat down, shamelessly crossing his legs; his posture didn't look like someone coming to catch an affair, but more like dropping by for a visit.

'Director Yang…' Lin Dongfan then ordered Yang Qing: 'Find clothes for the two girls who slipped up, and let them leave first.'

Yang Qing nodded.

Turning around, he took two bathrobes from the closet and threw them to the girls: 'Put on the clothes, go out for a moment. Remember, don't run around; wait honestly outside for the police summons.'

The two female college students nodded repeatedly in fear, wrapped themselves in the bathrobes, and ran out.

Only three people remained in the room.

The air was eerily quiet.

Yuan Ben Zhong finally got his pants on, but his shirt buttons were mismatched, his tie askew, his hair a mess like a chicken coop. He sat on the edge of the bed, head lowered, not daring to look at Lin Dongfan.

'Bureau Chief.' Lin Dongfan spoke: 'Do you know why we came to find you?'

'I… I don't know…' Yuan Ben Zhong's voice sounded hollow.

'The boss of Biwave Pond—Chen Guofu, you should still have some impression, right?' Lin Dongfan spat out the two words, his eyes like knives.

Yuan Ben Zhong trembled all over.

'Chen Guofu jumped into the river and killed himself.' Lin Dongfan continued: 'He left behind an orphan and a widow; his wife says you drove Chen Guofu to suicide.'

'Nonsense!'

Yuan Ben Zhong shot up his head: 'Mayor Lin, that's slander! Chen Guofu himself mismanaged his business, couldn't take it, and jumped into the river; what does that have to do with me?!'

'No connection?'

Yang Qing sneered, pulled out his phone, opened a video, and handed it to Yuan Ben Zhong.

In the video, Boss Chen knelt on the ground begging for mercy, while Yuan Ben Zhong pointed at his nose and shouted: 'You worthless piece of trash! That lousy pond should have been shut down long ago!'

Seeing this, Yuan Ben Zhong's face turned deathly pale.

'This video was recovered from Chen Guofu's phone.' Yang Qing put his phone away: 'Besides, there's a record of your 380,000 consumption at Biwave Pond, all paid by Su Qingyu. There's also a video of you taking money to play mahjong; want to watch it together?'

Yuan Ben Zhong slumped on the bed, motionless.

It's over!

It's completely over!

'Mayor Lin…' Yuan Ben Zhong's voice trembled with tension: 'I… I'll confess… I'll admit… those money, those expenses… I acknowledge them… but Chen Guofu's suicide really has nothing to do with me! I just had someone check his fishing pond, according to law and regulation; who knew he'd become so desperate…'

'According to law and regulation?' Lin Dongfan stood up, walked to the bedside, looked down at him: 'Yuan Ben Zhong, do you think I don't know anything?'

Speaking, Lin Dongfan pulled out a few sheets of paper from his pocket and threw them hard onto Yuan Ben Zhong's face.

They were copies of the consumption records, plus photos of Boss Chen's ledger.

'Three years, 380,000!'

Lin Dongfan enunciated each word, voice icy: 'As a deputy bureau chief, where did you get the money to spend like that? Besides, you had Su Qingyu foot the bill—what gives him the right to pay for you? Is it because you're ugly?'

Yuan Ben Zhong was left speechless by the retort.

'How did Chen Guofu die?' Lin Dongfan pressed: 'Was it because his fishing pond was shut down? Or because you had someone beat him?'

'I… I didn't hit him…' Yuan Ben Zhong still struggled: 'That was the driver Lao Liu who hit him, but it wasn't my intention; I didn't tell him to hit anyone…'

'So you know he was beaten?' Lin Dongfan seized on the keyword.

Yuan Ben Zhong choked up instantly.

'Enough.' Lin Dongfan stood up straight, told Yang Qing: 'Call Secretary Shi, have him bring people over. Bureau Chief Yuan is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law; secure the scene.'

'Sure.' Yang Qing pulled out his phone.

'Wait!'

Yuan Ben Zhong suddenly dropped to his knees, clutching Lin Dongfan's thigh tightly, begging like a grandson: 'Mayor Lin! Mayor Lin, I was wrong! Give me a chance! I'll confess everything! I'll report! I'll expose! I know a lot! Zhao Group, Su Qingyu, and… and the higher-ups! I'll tell all!'

Lin Dongfan lowered his gaze at him.

His eyes were ice-cold.

'Bureau Chief…' Lin Dongfan replied coldly: 'Save those words for the disciplinary commission.'

Speaking, Lin Dongfan gently kicked away Yuan Ben Zhong's hand, turned, and walked out.

When he reached the doorway.

He turned back and glanced once more.

Yuan Ben Zhong was still kneeling on the floor; at first glance, he looked like a lost, homeless stray dog.

'By the way,' Lin Dongfan suddenly asked with a smile: 'How does that eighty‑catty big green fish of yours taste?'

Yuan Ben Zhong froze.

Lin Dongfan then sneered teasingly: 'Bragging isn't a crime, but next time you brag, please first check whether there's anyone in the water helping you hang the fish.'

'!!!'

Yuan Ben Zhong, humiliated to the point of having no intact skin, knelt awkwardly in place; though his heart burned with myriad anger, he had no strength to vent it.

The door closed.

In the room, only Yuan Ben Zhong remained, along with the mess all over the floor.

He knelt there, dazed.

Lin Dongfan's last words kept echoing in his mind.

Hang the fish!

Who would have thought Lin Dongfan even knows that.

As it turns out, Yuan Ben Zhong has long been a laughingstock.

Yuan Ben Zhong suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter growing louder and louder, finally turning into hysterical mad laughter! As he laughed, tears streamed down.

This half‑lifetime struggle of a career, this life that should have been proud!

Everything, at this moment, was put to an end by Lin Dongfan with a "period"! And all of this began with that damned eighty‑jin big blue fish.

The more Yuan Ben Zhong thought, the more he collapsed; he didn't think he was wrong, but rather believed that his ending up in this situation was ultimately due to insufficient backing.

At least, his backing isn't as strong as Lin Dongfan's!

……

In front of the hotel, Lin Dongfan and Yang Qing stood smoking.

"Feeling good?" Lin Dongfan asked.

"Not bad." Yang Qing blew a smoke ring: "Just let that old bastard off easy—I kept my anger bottled up, not striking him, feeling suffocated inside."

"Getting my hands dirty by beating him." Lin Dongfan said: "The law will take care of him."

In the distance, several black official vehicles came with sirens, slowly stopping at the hotel entrance; Shi Liantang led people out of the cars and hurried into the hotel.

"Old Shi, you're quick!" Yang Qing greeted with a smile.

"How could I not be quick?" Lin Dongfan stubbed out his cigarette, smiling: "After waiting so long, I've finally caught this big fish."

"Mayor Lin is joking."

Shi Liantang remained as stern as ever, not liking to joke in work settings.

Everyone exchanged a smile.

The night breeze blew, bringing a slight chill.

But their hearts were warm.

"Old Shi, I'll leave the scene to you." Lin Dongfan gave a brief instruction, then patted Yang Qing's shoulder: "Old, treat me to a late‑night snack. I heard that next to Old Chen's fishing spot, there's a good fish head soup."

"You still have an appetite?" Yang Qing raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?" Lin Dongfan said: "After cleaning up the trash, of course we should celebrate."

The two got into the car and disappeared into the night.

Meanwhile, on the sixteenth floor of the hotel, Yuan Ben Zhong was cuffed with cold irons and led out.

He kept his head lowered all the way.

His shirt buttons were still misaligned, his collar askew.

Passing a hallway mirror, he caught a glimpse of his reflection—damn, he looked a mess! Too bad, he'd never have a chance to turn things around in this lifetime.