Chapter 44: This is no small matter!

Tang Ye first used reverse psychology, then followed it up with flattery, because he knew Wan Ming fell for that!

Sure enough! The hot-bloodedness hidden deep in Wan Ming's heart was activated!

After hanging up the phone, Wan Ming was full of fighting spirit, as if he had returned to the self of ten years ago—spirited, hating evil like a personal enemy, and riding fast with a whip!

"Brothers, follow me."

"Boss, what are we doing out in the middle of the night?"

"It's been a long time since we cracked down on gambling; let's crack down on gambling today!"

"It's the end of the year, and the gambling crackdown quota hasn't been met. I wonder which unlucky bastard will walk right into the line of fire!"

Wan Ming gathered the people together, and before setting off, he smilingly took a plastic bag and discussed, "Everyone, hand over your mobile phones and pagers! If anyone tries any tricks, don't blame me for turning hostile."

Only at this moment did everyone realize that tonight's operation didn't seem as simple as just cracking down on gambling!

Wan Ming took his brothers and headed straight for the Shashi Factory.

Wan Ming was experienced and anticipated that the other side would have lookouts, so when they were still a few hundred meters from the Shashi Factory, he had everyone get out of the car and proceed on foot.

Two young men were smoking on the shore; Wan Ming circled behind them, pinned them down, and then directed his brothers to head straight for the factory area.

Inside a room of over ten square meters, with the force of a thunderbolt, they arrested over a dozen people.

"Chief Wan, they were gambling quite heavily; the gambling funds add up to one hundred thousand."

Wan Ming waved his hand, "Confiscate it all. Take everyone in the factory away, even those who weren't gambling!"

Returning to the Police Station.

After a preliminary interrogation, Wan Ming grasped some of the situation.

He dialed Tang Ye's phone to report the situation, "Everyone has been caught and brought to the station. After a preliminary screening, the driver who caused the accident is a young man without a driver's license, and the construction vehicle he was driving wasn't insured either."

Inside the van, Tang Ye was already on his way back to Pinghu and said coldly, "No wonder this guy wanted to commit a hit-and-run."

If the paperwork were in order, they could just let the insurance company pay the compensation. But without paperwork, the Shashi Factory would have to bear the responsibility.

Furthermore, since the driver was on the road without a license, it wasn't just a traffic accident, but a matter of criminal liability.

The unit that had an employment relationship with him would also have to bear corresponding responsibility.

Wan Ming frowned and said in a low voice, "The pressure is quite high; a leader from the county bureau just called me and told me to transfer the person."

The so-called transfer was actually a disguised form of protection.

Tang Ye sighed, "Hold your ground against the pressure; I'm rushing back now."

Gu Wenqin was currently sitting beside Tang Ye, and because she was too sleepy, her body swayed from side to side, and she unconsciously leaned her head on Tang Ye's shoulder.

He carefully adjusted his sitting posture, and his numb arm felt slightly more comfortable.

Gu Wenqin's body was soft, like a ball of cotton; one touch and one would be lost.

The road was uneven, and her soft, fragrant, delicate body bounced up and down along with it.

Encountering a large pothole, Tang Ye subconsciously reached out his left arm to steady both their bodies, then immediately let go.

Tang Ye didn't expect it to be so bumpy, yet Gu Wenqin still didn't open her eyes; truly, you can never wake a person who is pretending to sleep.

If she wants to use me as a pillow, then let her!

Just as Tang Ye expected, Gu Wenqin wasn't sleeping very soundly. Even through their clothes, she could feel the warmth of his skin, and from his breathing, she could smell a special scent that brought a sense of security.

Although she knew their occasional physical contact was due to the bumpy road conditions, she still couldn't help but feel her heart rate accelerate.

Gu Wenqin knew that Tang Ye only regarded her as a business partner.

But in her heart, she viewed Tang Ye as something more important, akin to a spiritual pillar.

Arriving at the Police Station, it was already two o'clock in the morning.

Tang Ye saw the criminal suspect in the Interrogation Room and glanced at the previous transcript to understand the other party's background.

The driver who caused the accident wasn't old, only twenty, with his hair dyed yellow and an uneasy expression.

He dropped out of middle school, drifted on the streets as a hoodlum, and entered the Shashi Factory through the introduction of a relative. Because he kept failing the written test, he could never get a driver's license, but he was bold and usually drove without one.

"Xiao Liu, you know the reason you were brought here today. If you cooperate with us now, you can be treated more leniently," Tang Ye asked indifferently.

"I really was the one who hit the person; I plead guilty."

Xiao Liu was a street-smart guy who put loyalty first; he had made up his mind that since he was the one who did it, he would take all the blame—at worst, he'd spend a few years in jail.

"Explain clearly: whose car is it, and who allowed you to drive it?"

Tang Ye's gaze remained fixed on Xiao Liu's face.

Through Xiao Liu's expression, one could read what he was thinking.

"I already said, it was all me. I'll take the blame; it has nothing to do with anyone else!" Xiao Liu appeared very impatient.

Tang Ye frowned, then smiled faintly, "You'll take the blame? What are you going to take it with? In the past few years in Pinghu Town, there have been at least ten hit-and-runs, with eight lives lost. Can your one worthless life handle that?"

"What do other car accidents have to do with me?" Xiao Liu looked at Tang Ye in disbelief.

Tang Ye deliberately exaggerated, "These hit-and-run cases have never found the perpetrator and have been classified as a series of crimes. We strongly suspect that you are the perpetrator of this series of crimes."

Xiao Liu was indeed pushed to the edge, "Nonsense! You want to frame me!"

Tang Ye sneered, "Since you want to plead guilty, then plead guilty to everything, and those cases can all be solved too. However, for you, it won't be as simple as spending a few years in jail. You're still young, only twenty; if you're sentenced to death, that would be a real pity."

Hearing these words from Tang Ye, Xiao Liu's face instantly turned pale.

He hadn't studied much, but he often heard stories in the underworld, such as encountering corrupt police who, seeing that you have a criminal record, would directly frame you for other crimes to increase their case-solving rate.

Thinking of this, Xiao Liu only felt cold sweat breaking out wildly on his back.

His voice trembled, "I swear to heaven, I've only hit someone this one time; the previous matters have nothing to do with me."

Tang Ye saw that Xiao Liu's psychological defense line was gradually crumbling and continued to press, "I'm asking you: at the end of last year, in the direction of Houhe Village, a construction vehicle hit a motorcycle, the victim died on the spot, and the construction vehicle fled. Who exactly was the perpetrator of that accident?"

"If you can provide clues, I will fight for an opportunity for lenient treatment for you."

Tang Ye deliberately slowed his speech and said with regret, "Actually, the patient you hit today has already been saved. As long as you cover the compensation costs and obtain a settlement, you won't even have to go to jail!"

The muscles in Xiao Liu's face kept twitching, clearly showing his inner struggle.

On one side is loyalty;

On the other is sitting in prison until the end of one's days;

Or perhaps even facing a firing squad.

Tang Ye smiled meaningfully, "I know what you're thinking. Do you think Boss Bi will save you? Don't be delusional. You are all just working and risking your lives for him. When something happens, he spends a little money to have you take the fall. It's impossible for him to waste too much energy on you."

Wan Ming observed Tang Ye's interrogation rhythm from the side and was secretly surprised. It seemed like simple questions and answers, but every step was grasping the other person's psychology, as if he knew exactly what he was thinking.

Tang Ye felt sorrow for Xiao Liu's ignorance and youth.

In truth, Xiao Liu was merely a tool.

For the sake of so-called loyalty, he had forced himself into a dead end.

A subordinate leaned in toward Wan Ming and whispered, "Chief, someone from the County Bureau is here."

Wan Ming glanced at Tang Ye, "Understood! I'll go out and handle it."

Tang Ye knew that pressure was being applied from above.

There was not much time left for his interrogation.

Walking into his office, Wan Ming wore a smile, "Why did you come in person! If there was something, a phone call to let me know would have sufficed."

Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau Guo Chuan looked at Wan Ming with a stern expression, "Old Wan, fine them. You can fine them heavily, but you must release them immediately."

Wan Ming spread his hands helplessly, "Since it involves a homicide case, it cannot be settled just by a fine."

Guo Chuan looked at Wan Ming in surprise, "How did it get dragged into a homicide case? Wasn't it a gambling bust?"

Wan Ming patiently explained to his superior:

"Last night in Qianjin Village, a man was hit by a construction vehicle and seriously injured, after which the driver fled the scene. We caught the perpetrator at the Shashi Factory. At the same time, we discovered that the Shashi Factory is linked to multiple hit-and-run traffic accidents. Director Guo, this matter is no small thing!"

Guo Chuan frowned deeply, "Isn't it just a few people gathering to gamble? Don't make a mountain out of a molehill! Listen to me and release them immediately. You have performed meritorious service many times recently, and the Bureau is considering promoting you. Don't be foolish and ruin your future."

Before Wan Ming lay not only the authority of his superior but also his unknown future.

Wan Ming remained unmoved and was preparing to state his position to Guo Chuan.

The people absolutely could not be released!

At this moment, the door was pushed open, and the subordinate said softly, "Chief Wan, the suspect has confessed. Last year's hit-and-run accident is also related to the Shashi Factory."

Wan Ming breathed a sigh of relief.

In the end, Xiao Liu had confessed everything...

Guo Chuan suddenly realized that this arrest operation in Pinghu Town was not really about the gambling!

It appeared to be a gambling bust, but it was actually targeting the Shashi Factory!

Or rather, it was pointing toward "General Bi"!