Chapter 868

When Yang Qing left Zhou Zheng's house, the sky had already started to drizzle.

He put the black stocking into an evidence bag and handed it to Xiao Ma: "Keep it safe, send it to the Technical Section later."

"Director Yang, can this thing be used as evidence?" Xiao Ma took the evidence bag and looked it over, feeling it had no technical value.

Yang Qing opened the car door and glanced back at him.

He said nothing.

Just one stare made Xiao Ma's scalp go numb; he suddenly felt that, in front of his master, he was a clueless oaf handling cases.

Xiao Ma didn't dare ask again, hurriedly got in the car to serve as the driver.

Yang Qing pulled out his phone and typed a message: "This case is a bit tough to handle. Regarding that three million yuan case fund, would you consider it again?"

As soon as the message was sent, Yang Qing laughed again like a petty scoundrel.

As if he had already swindled a huge sum, he didn't mention that he had grasped important leads and was confident he could take down Zhou Zheng within three days.

Soon after.

Lin Dongfan replied with a suggestion: "Zhao Linlin hit the suspect's head with an ashtray; no residual blood was collected at the scene? Let's do a DNA comparison."

Upon seeing this message, Yang Qing's smug smile vanished instantly.

He sullenly replied: "You're always telling me how to handle the case—if you don't show off, will you die? Zhou Zheng is a seasoned veteran detective; he'd leave his own blood at the scene for you to collect?"

"Is there really no blood at the scene? I don't believe it." Lin Dongfan pressed.

Yang Qing replied: "There is, and we've already done the DNA test. But the bloodstain on the ashtray, after DNA comparison, the appraisal report showed no relation to Zhou Zheng."

"You mean the Provincial Judicial Appraisal Center issued a false report?" Lin Dongfan wondered.

Yang Qing couldn't be bothered to type.

He replied with a voice message: "Now there are two possibilities: one, the Provincial Judicial Appraisal Center issued a fake DNA appraisal report; two, this is more complicated..."

He paused briefly.

Yang Qing added: "If the DNA appraisal report is true, it shows Zhou Zheng had already used counter-investigation tactics. To avoid suspicion, after the incident he fabricated the scene to mislead our investigation. Therefore, if we arrest whoever's blood is on the ashtray, we're likely to catch the wrong person, creating a wrongful case."

"Whose blood is on the ashtray then?" Lin Dongfan pressed.

Yang Qing said: "The Deputy Captain of the City Bureau Criminal Investigation Detachment—Gao Yicheng."

"Do you think Gao Yicheng might actually be a suspect?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Yang Qing replied with a smile: "Based on past case procedures, once the Provincial Judicial Appraisal Center's appraisal report comes out, we have to detain Gao Yicheng. But doing so would likely land us in a trap, falling for the suspect's ploy of killing with a borrowed knife. You now know how difficult this case is, right? I'm asking you for three million yuan in case funds—it's really not much, and Wuzhou City's Financial Bureau isn't short on that money."

"First, rule out the possibility of a false report from the Provincial Judicial Appraisal Center and apply for an out-of-region judicial appraisal. You can seek help from Hundred Yue Province—I'll have Jian Sining from Hundred Yue Province assist you." Lin Dongfan replied.

Yang Qing laughed and scoffed: "Brother, I've suddenly developed a little ambition—I don't know whether I should say this or not: I want to greet your second through ninth concubines!"

"I don't have any concubines." Lin Dongfan replied as if it were true.

Yang Qing finally couldn't hold back and swore: "Damn! You'd rather see me break my legs running than give me even a penny for case funds."

"You're from the Provincial Department—what gives Wuzhou City the right to allocate funds to the Provincial Department?" Lin Dongfan said righteously: "Just forget about it—go ask the Qi Bureau for money."

"Brother uh—get lost!"

"Alright."

"Damn! Really shameless."

After sending that harsh voice message, Yang Qing's mood also plummeted to the bottom; the frustration of not getting money showed on his face.

Elsewhere.

Mayor's office.

After putting down his phone, Lin Dongfan picked up his tea and took a sip.

Outside the window, the summer rain grew heavier, pattering against the glass. Lin Dongfan stared at the blurred water traces, his mind racing.

Has Gao Yicheng's blood appeared on the ashtray?

This is getting interesting.

Either Gao Yicheng is the masked man who attacked Zhao Linlin,

or the masked man, after attacking Zhao Linlin, wiped away his own blood left on the ashtray, then dropped Gao Yicheng's blood sample onto it, hoping to confuse things and muddy the waters.

The latter is more likely.

For a veteran detective like Zhou Zheng, obtaining Gao Yicheng's blood sample isn't difficult. Since they share an office, even a minor accident could yield each other's blood.

Lin Dongfan was considering calling Gao Yicheng in to find out what's going on.

Secretary Xiao Chen rushed in to report: "Mayor, the meeting time is up, Secretary Wang is waiting for you."

"Okay, I'll be right there."

Lin Dongfan turned around, stubbed out the cigarette butt in the ashtray, and, incidentally, snuffed out the idea of talking to Gao Yicheng.

Thinking that dealing with Wang Qigang alone was already enough of a headache, it would be more appropriate to leave the case matters to Yang Qing to handle.

Since Zhao Tianyu was executed and the Zhao Group was swallowed up, Wang Qigang has been holding a grudge in his heart.

Right now...

Wang Qigang has already taken the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa project as the weapon to break the deadlock; in this battle, victory will go to whoever has the tougher tactics!

Lin Dongfan dialed the president of Mortal Group, Ye Jiaying: "The Cloud Peak Mountain Villa project must not be left to rot; you need to come to Wuzhou yourself."

"I've already spoken with the engineering contractor Huang Jintang on the phone today," Ye Jiaying replied over the phone.

Lin Dongfan asked: "What did Mr. Huang say?"

He said that, to secure the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa project, he had once paid a 120‑million yuan project guarantee. But that money has already been diverted by Zhao Tianyu for personal use, and now Huang Jintang demands that our Mortal Group make up the shortfall. Otherwise he won't start work, saying he'd rather die together with everyone, and he's very emotional.

Ye Jiaying eased her tone.

She then continued: "120 million, this is not a small sum. We need to first verify whether this guarantee went into Zhao Group's public account or into Zhao Tianyu's private account."

"So the meaning is we can't reach an agreement?"

Lin Dongfan immediately understood that the 120 million most likely went into Zhao Tianyu's private account.

Otherwise, Ye Jiaying would definitely not refuse to fill this hole; after all, when Mortal Group acquired Zhao Group, it took over everything of Zhao Group, including debts.

He heard Ye Jiaying nod and say "mm" over the phone.

Lin Dongfan then analyzed: "I estimate that Huang Jintang's rear isn't very clean either. The likely truth is this: back then, Huang Jintang bribed Zhao Tianyu by paying a deposit to secure the project. Now that Zhao Tianyu is dead, there's no one to contradict it, so Huang Jintang dares to jump out and make a fuss."

"The problem now is that we have reached a dead end."

Ye Jiaying emphasized anxiously: "If we fill this 120‑million shortfall, we could be suspected of misappropriating funds, false accounting, or improper benefit transfer, exposing the group to financial audit risks. If we don't fill it, Huang Jintang won't start work. Then the schedule will be delayed, and Wang Qigang will find another excuse to act against you."

Lin Dongfan said solemnly: "Go see Huang Jintang yourself and negotiate in person. Give him a proper warning so he knows his place. If that 120 million went into Zhao Tianyu's private account, then he is not only suspected of bribery! Now he's using a work stoppage to extort you, demanding 120 million in return—this is suspected extortion."

Ye Jiaying replied: "Understood, I'll book a ticket and go to Wuzhou shortly."