Chapter 906: Old Fan's Overt Scheme

Chief Zheng, why won't you let me meet Mayor Lin? What exactly are you afraid of? Frankly, if I meet him under your nose, what tricks could I possibly pull?

In the interrogation room, Huang Jinrong was still making a final struggle.

Zheng Congwen smiled, a cold smile: 'Director Huang, do you think this is a vegetable market? Still haggling? I already said, there's no room for negotiation on this matter...'

Before he finished speaking, someone knocked on the interrogation room door.

Zheng Congwen furrowed his brow.

'Who is it?'

'Political Commissar, Mayor Lin has arrived.'

The voice from outside was Section Chief Yuan's, tinged with nervousness.

Zheng Congwen's expression changed as well; he hurried to the door, pulled it open, and saw Section Chief Yuan standing outside, looking as if facing a great enemy.

'Mayor Lin just got out of his car and has already entered the lobby.' Section Chief Yuan reported: 'He brought his secretary and driver; it seems he's come for Huang Jinrong.'

!!!

Zheng Congwen's mind raced.

At this moment, even with his toes Lin Dongfan could tell why he had come.

He glanced back at Huang Jinrong in the interrogation room.

He clenched his teeth.

He made a decisive decision: 'Send him away immediately.'

'???' Section Chief Yuan stared for a moment: 'Send… send him where?'

Zheng Congwen urgently ordered: 'Transfer him to the detention center, exit via the back door.'

'Understood.'

Section Chief Yuan nodded and immediately escorted Huang Jinrong out of the interrogation room.

Huang Jinrong struggled and shouted, 'Surname Zheng, are you trying to kill me?!' In response came Section Chief Yuan's warning and a firm escort.

After the commotion in the interrogation room died down.

Zheng Congwen straightened his collar, took a deep breath, put on a smile, and walked toward the office building entrance with a vigorous demeanor.

City Bureau lobby.

Upon seeing Lin Dongfan, Zheng Congwen greeted him with a beaming smile: 'Mayor Lin, why did you come? You didn't even call ahead so I could go pick you up.'

Lin Dongfan gave a faint smile.

His words were sharp as a blade: 'Old Zheng, I heard you made a big move today? You sealed off a billiard club and arrested people?'

Zheng Congwen felt a tightening in his chest, but his face remained unchanged.

'Mayor Lin, your information is truly timely. Indeed, a billiard club is suspected of organizing prostitution; we have conducted a lawful crackdown.'

'Who was arrested?'

Lin Dongfan stared directly at Zheng Congwen.

Zheng Congwen appeared unfazed, maintaining a calm smile: 'A few individuals involved in vice, plus the club's owner, Huang Jinrong.'

'Huang Jinrong?'

Lin Dongfan raised his eyebrows slightly, feigning surprise: 'Is that the Huang Jinrong from Huang Engineering Company?'

'That's him.'

Zheng Congwen sighed: 'Ah! We didn't expect this either. Huang Jinrong is somewhat of a figure in Wuzhou; I never imagined he'd engage in this. The evidence is solid, so we must act according to law.'

'Solid evidence? What evidence?' Lin Dongfan pressed.

Zheng Congwen had prepared: 'We received a report that the club had people engaging in group licentiousness. After police arrived, we caught one man and two women in the act in Hall 8 of the club; that man admitted Huang Jinrong had arranged the escort for him. Currently we have both testimonial and physical evidence, and Huang Jinrong himself admitted responsibility for managing the club.'

Lin Dongfan nodded: 'Where is he now? I'd like to see him.'

Upon hearing that, Zheng Congwen's smile froze instantly.

But he quickly put on a new smile: 'Mayor Lin, what a coincidence—Huang Jinrong was just transferred to the detention center. Procedure requires he stay there overnight, with interrogation tomorrow.'

'You really moved him fast.' Lin Dongfan smiled thinly.

Zheng Congwen, unhurried: 'The officer handling this case is Xu Jialiang; he always acts swiftly and decisively.'

Upon hearing that, Lin Dongfan's face showed a smile while his mind already sharpened his knives, ready to slaughter pigs and sheep.

'Damn it!'

'How dare you play tricks under my nose!'

'You think moving him to the detention center means I can't touch you, you bald thief? And you're pushing the blame onto Xu Jialiang—you're really a piece of shit!'

'If I don't make you suffer today, you won't even know who's the big or little king!'

His secret anger rose to this point...

Lin Dongfan swept his gaze over the officers present: 'Since I'm here, let's hold an on-site meeting. Call everyone responsible for this case; I want to hear the situation.'

'Hold an on-site meeting? Now?'

Zheng Congwen clearly hadn't expected Lin Dongfan to do such an idle, pointless thing; he was momentarily baffled, unable to figure out what sort of quack medicine Lin Dongfan was selling from his gourd.

Lin Dongfan asked with a smile: 'What's wrong, Old Zheng, not convenient?'

'No… I didn't mean that,' Zheng Congwen replied embarrassedly with a faint bitter smile: 'Mayor Lin, please wait a moment; I'll summon everyone right away.'

Ten minutes later.

City Bureau small meeting room.

Seven or eight people sat on either side of the long table—Zheng Congwen, Xu Jialiang, several officers who participated in the operation, and a recorder.

'Everyone here?'

Lin Dongfan scanned those present.

Zheng Congwen nodded: 'All present, Mayor Lin. What are your instructions?'

"Also no special instructions, just wanted to check the situation." Lin Dongfan pressed further: "The Huang Jinrong case—who exactly is in charge of it?"

Xu Jialiang steeled himself and raised his hand: "Mayor Lin, it's me."

Lin Dongfan looked at him: "Captain Xu, go ahead, what's the situation?"

"It's like this..."

Xu Jialiang briefly explained the whole matter.

But in front of Zheng Congwen, he didn't dare say that the report received by the City Bureau was false, nor did he dare say that Zheng Congwen had suddenly ordered him to seal off Huang Jinrong's billiard club.

This left Lin Dongfan feeling very disappointed.

Lin Dongfan asked: "Where is Huang Jinrong's older brother, Huang Jintang, being detained?"

"At the First Detention Center." Xu Jialiang replied truthfully.

Lin Dongfan pressed further: "And what about Huang Jinrong?"

Upon hearing that, Xu Jialiang instinctively glanced at Zheng Congwen's changing expression. Immediately, Lin Dongfan's reproachful voice rang in his ears: "Answer my question! Where are you looking?"

"......!!!"

Xu Jialiang's heart skipped a beat from fright; he quickly withdrew his gaze and straightened his posture: "Huang Jinrong, too, was just transferred to the First Detention Center."

"Both brothers are being held in the same place—who arranged this?"

Lin Dongfan's tone and demeanor grew colder.

The meeting room fell silent for a few seconds; Xu Jialiang didn't dare to speak further, lowering his head and staying silent.

After a moment...

Zheng Congwen spoke up to explain: "Mayor Lin, this is standard procedure. The First Detention Center has better conditions and standardized management. For cases handled by the City Bureau, suspects are usually sent there."

Lin Dongfan stared straight at Zheng Congwen.

He asked half-smiling: "Huang Engineering Company was founded jointly by the Huang Jintang and Huang Jinrong brothers. Now the company is embroiled in lawsuits and suspected of illegal operations, among other issues. You've detained the two brothers together—what if they collude in their statements?"

This sharp question, like a soundless sword, pierced straight into Zheng Congwen's heart.

In an instant.

The composure and calm on Zheng Congwen's face vanished without a trace, replaced by an indescribable tension mixed with a hint of hidden anger.