Chapter 273: When a Person Is About to Die

A misunderstanding?

Wu Jiangshan narrowed his eyes, took a puff of smoke, then said coldly: "You attribute Lin Niansheng's death to a misunderstanding—I find it hard to believe you!"

How exactly did Lin Niansheng die?

Both sides knew full well.

But the matter had already been settled, so they didn't want to dwell on it.

Zhao Dezheng's face was ashen; he lowered his head and said, "Lin Niansheng's death was due to our mismanagement—if you have any anger, direct it at me alone!"

Heh, stop spouting useless nonsense—just tell me your goal!

Wu Jiangshan flicked ash from his cigarette; his tone remained cold throughout.

Hearing that, Zhao Dezheng's face darkened, and he rubbed his hands together.

The two of them were roughly peers.

Yet he had to humble himself and beg the other side—how laughable.

For the sake of the bigger picture.

Zhao Dezheng had no other choice at this moment.

"Old Wu, let's jointly investigate Liu Yunshen's case!"

"The evidence I hold is exactly what the Anti-Corruption Bureau needs most right now!"

"Then we ought to pull together as one!"

"Otherwise you might detain Liu Yunshen for a while, but not forever!"

"He'll have to be released sooner or later!"

Wu Jiangshan took the last puff of his cigarette.

He stubbed out the cigarette butt and asked in a detached tone: "You've gathered so much evidence—why not arrest anyone? Instead, you wait until we catch someone before proposing cooperation?"

"Well…"

Zhao Dezheng felt like he had a bone stuck in his throat.

"Heh."

"Let me say it for you!"

"You may have the evidence, but you fear the provincial capital's power and dare not act rashly!"

"Now the Anti-Corruption Bureau is acting before you; you're calculating that you can use the Bureau as a shield, so you're eager to come and get a share of the spoils!"

"After success, you'll even be able to save face in the media, whitewashing your past uselessness!"

"Truly a case of killing two birds with one stone—what a clever scheme!"

As Wu Jiangshan's words faded,

Zhao Dezheng's head was already bowed so low he couldn't lift it.

I had thought the other side would seize the opportunity to tell him there was no way.

But I hadn't expected.

After Wu Jiangshan's round of mockery,

Suddenly the conversation turned.

"Old Zhao, this time I can help you!"

"But remember, I'm helping you not because of our personal ties!"

"But because I don't want outsiders to keep looking down on us!"

Zhao Dezheng lifted his head in disbelief.

In terms of stature, he truly fell short of the other side.

"Thanks."

"No need to be polite!"

Wu Jiangshan gave a faint wave of his hand.

The two didn't leave the office until deep into the night.

The next day.

The two sides then formally began working together.

Liu Yunshen was taken from the hospital to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and fell directly into Liu Yanxi's hands.

Everyone was numb.

Facing double pressure, plus Li Jiaci's strict discipline.

Liu Yunshen broke down several times.

Eventually, under the will to survive, he confessed his crimes.

The case progressed quickly.

Soon, the date for Liu Yunshen's imprisonment was set.

Upon hearing this, Li Jiaci finally could breathe a sigh of relief.

During this period his two major factories also expanded outward at a rapid pace.

Moreover, several large timber trading bases were completed.

His workforce grew from over five thousand to thirty thousand today.

He is Pingzhou's most influential entrepreneur.

His name appeared alongside Wang Zhen's in major media newspapers and local TV stations.

Even the logistics company he founded went legit, not only handling his own business but expanding nationwide, taking on transport chains for hundreds of factories.

What does it mean to 'make money till you're numb'? Li Jiaci now truly understands.

However, heaven harbors unpredictable winds and clouds.

Just when Li Jiaci was thriving like a fish in water.

Liu Yunshen's situation could be said to have hit rock bottom.

There were still three days before he would be sent to prison.

The two bureaus still had some follow-up investigations requiring his cooperation.

In the detention center.

Liu Yunshen's spirits were low, and his vision was engulfed in darkness.

Looking back on his life, he felt immense unwillingness, yet facing reality he had no choice but to accept.

Just as he had once abandoned Lin Niansheng, he himself was now abandoned by his patron.

All the calls he made sank like stones into the sea.

He felt the despair that Lin Niansheng had felt before his death.

Suddenly, a faint footsteps approached from afar.

Liu Yunshen dazedly lifted his head and saw a man wearing a baseball cap and mask standing outside the railing.

He seemed to guess something, suddenly sprang up, gripping the railing tightly, and shouted hysterically at the other party.

"I have been loyal to him with all my heart, yet he wants my life!"

"Go tell him: I'm going to prison, and he won't have it easy either!"

"I will expose every shameful deed he has done behind the scenes!"

"If we die, we all die together!"

The black-clad person chuckled twice.

He stepped closer, lowered his voice and threatened: "You can certainly do that, but don't forget that your daughter Liu Qian is still under our watch; if her home catches fire, or if she meets with a car accident..."

"Don't touch my daughter!"

Liu Yunshen shouted loudly.

At this moment he truly panicked—what wouldn't these people do?

Killing a person is as easy as crushing an ant.

The black-clad person continued: "The higher-ups mean for you to commit suicide like Lin Niansheng; as long as you die, these matters will be settled, your daughter will no longer be threatened, the higher-ups will give her a sum of money to let her leave this place of trouble—think it over yourself."

Having said that, he left without looking back.

Liu Yunshen's body went limp, and he slid to sit on the ground.

If he does not die, then it will be his daughter Liu Qian who dies.

What an ironic ending.

In the dark surroundings came the muffled thud of Liu Yunshen banging his head against the wall.

Thud, thud, thud.

His forehead was a bloody mess.

Yet at this moment, life showed extraordinary tenacity.

Even death would not obey his wishes.

Liu Yunshen's inner world collapsed, and he staggered backward a few steps.

He wanted to use a running start to smash his head and die.

That was precisely at that moment.

In his hazy vision he seemed to see the deceased Lin Niansheng, wearing a spectator's expression, mockingly looking at him.

"You..."

Liu Yunshen tremblingly reached out his hand.

"Old thing, you've finally shown up!"

"Do you know how long I've been waiting for you down here?"

"Hahaha!"

Lin Niansheng's arrogant laughter rang out.

But it was only an instant.

Liu Yunshen's vision went completely dark.

Whether this is Lin Niansheng's vengeful spirit lingering to watch his retribution, or a hallucination born of his own remorse, no one knows.

Liu Yunshen gave a self-mocking laugh.

Suddenly he lunged forward, crashing into the wall smeared with blood.

Bang.

When Zhou Wanting rushed over,

he had already stopped breathing.

"How could this happen?"

"Weren't you supposed to watch over him?"

Zhou Wanting grabbed a colleague's collar and demanded sharply.