Chapter 530

Bao Lin hesitated, a flicker of struggle passing through her eyes.

Yu Dazhang quickly noticed her anomaly.

"Don't forget—you're the one who asked for leniency. I've given you the chance; I hope you'll seize it."

This was the simplest form of psychological pressure—and yet the most effective.

Bao Lin lowered her head, bit her lip, and whispered:

"I know him."

That'll save a lot of trouble… Yu Dazhang felt a surge of relief.

They're on the same line—if she knows him, she must know some inside details.

Moreover, from her earlier hesitation, it seemed her relationship with Secretary Hong was anything but ordinary.

Yu Dazhang thought for a moment, then asked:

"What is the relationship between Secretary Hong and the leader who asked you for help?"

Asking questions requires skill.

First, you must not stray from the subject.

Second, each question must advance the case.

Every question should be like a puzzle piece, gradually assembling the full picture of the case.

Otherwise, you'll easily lose your own train of thought mid-interrogation.

The pretrial colleagues are the most professional—they each have their own rhythm, making you unconsciously follow their pace.

"Two years ago, Secretary Hong violated regulations to help someone, and someone reported him."

Bao Lin spoke calmly, unhurriedly:

"He came to me then, asking me to find someone who could help, so I contacted that leader."

Her tone carried a hint of relief:

"The matter was handled smoothly. What was originally a difficult problem was resolved effortlessly once the leader intervened."

"Later, Secretary Hong wasn't punished at all—and soon after, he was promoted."

This was a life-saving favor… Yu Dazhang finally understood.

Secretary Hong had already been in trouble two years ago; without that leader's help, he would have been investigated long ago.

What followed after that was easy to guess.

Secretary Hong's leverage was in that leader's hands—he had no choice but to comply.

Even if ordered to do something risky for himself, he had to obey obediently.

In the end, that leader didn't want Zhang Yanlong to get caught, which is why he later had Secretary Hong handle those messy affairs.

But the situation grew worse and worse.

Now, Zhang Yanlong has betrayed both sides.

Yu Dazhang then asked for the name and position of that leader.

What came next was beyond his authority to handle.

He dared to arrest Zhang Yanlong because Zhang Yanlong was merely a family member of a leader, with no official position himself.

But when the leader himself is involved, it must be reported.

The information gathered must be submitted to the supervisory authorities and the Discipline Inspection Commission—they will conduct their own investigation.

The only difficult part here is Bao Lin.

If you say she broke no law, she did indeed participate in the affair.

If you say she broke the law, she never committed any concrete criminal act.

As a female go-between, Bao Lin's role in this entire case was merely to make connections.

Perhaps people don't clearly understand the term "go-between."

Let me give an example.

Let's take the lowest-level go-between—it's easier to understand that way.

Anyone who's done business has probably encountered difficulties obtaining permits.

It always feels like the officials are deliberately making things hard; sometimes, to get one thing done, you have to run back and forth many times—and still fail.

At this point, many people think of "proxy services."

Strange as it may seem, those previously frustrating, impossible tasks often get resolved quickly once handed over to these proxy agents.

That's right—the "proxy" service here is, in fact, the lowest-level go-between operating in the gray zone of power.

These go-betweens establish connections with officials, "renting" power to provide clients with seemingly efficient and convenient services.

Of course, these "proxy" services have almost vanished now—the state has long begun cracking down on such illegal acts.

Bao Lin, as a higher-level go-between, is far more discreet; she doesn't deal with ordinary officials.