Chapter 810: Investigating the Old Case of the Small Mine Nest!

Meng Haibo's face was covered in bruises, and his hair was as messy as a bundle of straw.

His brow bone was swollen high, and there was a split in the corner of his mouth from which fresh blood was slowly seeping.

Hao Hongbiao walked toward Meng Haibo with a fake smile on his face, his tone feigning surprise: "Oh my, I clearly had people 'invite' you here, how could they be so rough!"

Watching Hao Hongbiao's hypocritical display, Meng Haibo felt an indescribable sense of nausea rise within him and gritted his teeth: "Hao Hongbiao, don't get cocky. I don't believe you can cover the sky with one hand!"

Hao Hongbiao walked up to him, patted Meng Haibo's face lightly with his palm, his tone full of contempt: "In this territory of Zhangping County, I, Hao Hongbiao, may not be a big shot, but to deal with an ant like you, I can crush you with the flick of a finger."

Meng Haibo curled his lips in a cold sneer: "I know you have some ability, but if anything happens to me, you won't get off easily either!"

Hao Hongbiao let out a "pfft" of laughter, his eyes full of disdain: "I know you're a Reporter for the Yanzhou Evening News! A reporter? What the hell is that worth? Truly powerful people wouldn't do this thankless job."

Having said that, he pulled a stack of hundred-yuan bills from his pocket and flicked them lightly against his palm, making a crisp slapping sound:

"There's ten thousand here, enough to cover your writing fees for half a year!

Take this money and get out of Zhangping County immediately.

From now on, we'll be at peace, and we might even be considered friends, how about that?"

Meng Haibo was so angered by these words that he laughed, his gaze firm: "Ten thousand? You underestimate me too much!"

Seeing that Meng Haibo was impervious to reason and still so stubborn, Hao Hongbiao sighed with feigned helplessness: "Your appetite is quite large! But you're only worth this much! If you don't know what's good for you, then I can only let you cool off for a few days."

Meng Haibo did not expect Hao Hongbiao to be this arrogant, and he shouted angrily: "Those who commit many injustices are doomed to self-destruction! You will pay the price for what you've done today sooner or later!"

"A price? Pay your mother!"

The fake smile on Hao Hongbiao's face vanished instantly.

The expression on his face turned ferocious.

He grabbed the ashtray from the table and smashed it onto Meng Haibo's forehead with a loud *bang*.

Meng Haibo felt a sharp pain shoot to the top of his head, his vision went black, his head tilted, and he passed out immediately.

"Damn it, that sounded really shitty!" Hao Hongbiao spat, then shouted toward the door, "Lock him up with Dahuang and Xiaowu, starve him for a few days, and see if he stays obedient!"

Dahuang and Xiaowu were a few vicious dogs specifically raised by the Mine Protection Team, terrifyingly fierce.

The underling nearby couldn't help but feel a bit nervous upon hearing this and whispered a word of caution: "Da Hong Ge, this person is a reporter. What if this blows up into a big issue?"

"Hmph, you have to be ruthless when doing things!" Hao Hongbiao waved his hand dismissively, "There are so many media outlets in the country; if every one of them sent reporters to join in the fun, you'd be annoyed to death!"

……

Tang Ye opened his email.

There was a notification in the unread list!

There was a new email.

He clicked on it casually and discovered the sender was Meng Haibo.

Tang Ye frowned and began to read it seriously:

"County Magistrate Tang, please be sure to read this urgent email!

I recently received materials submitted by a family in Zhangping County, and after reading them, I felt deeply unsettled—I truly did not expect that in today's society ruled by law, such dark things could still happen.

The other party's power is truly too strong; just lifting the tip of the iceberg makes one feel an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

When I sent this email to you, I was actually feeling particularly conflicted and hesitant, because I didn't want to drag you into this matter.

You are brave, decisive, and full of a sense of justice; if you knew about this, you certainly wouldn't just stand by and watch.

But once involved, you will inevitably run into endless trouble, which is what I worry about most.

The problems in Zhangping County are far more serious than they appear on the surface.

The person who submitted the materials to me is a family surnamed Zhang in Zhangping County; the head of the household was named Zhang Gang, originally a miner, and an unregistered 'black' miner at that.

A mine disaster last year cruelly took his life.

After the disaster occurred, although some compensation was given, that little bit of money was merely a drop in the bucket for a family that had lost its pillar.

They wanted to fight for more reasonable compensation for their deceased family member, but they were met with intimidation and threats from the Mine Protection Team, and they couldn't even voice their normal demands.

What makes me even more chilled is that the local authorities have long since formed a tied-together chain of interests, and trying to shake it is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

I have felt fear while investigating the case, and I have thought about giving up.

But I am a reporter, and I must never tarnish my professional faith—I can only grit my teeth and continue the investigation.

I have one more wish!

If I truly disappear, I do not wish to be nameless!

Please tell Han Jing that I once tried to do something!"

After finishing the email, Tang Ye's heart sank instantly.

He hurriedly grabbed his phone and dialed Meng Haibo's number.

A cold automated voice came from the other end of the line.

"The number you have dialed is powered off, please try again later."

A strong sense of unease instantly surged into Tang Ye's heart.

He pondered for a moment and dialed Xing Zhijun's number.

"County Magistrate Tang, it's so late, you're calling suddenly—is there an urgent matter?"

Xing Zhijun had just laid down on the bed and was chatting with his wife, Yao Lan, when he saw Tang Ye calling and quickly sat up straight.

"Old Xing, there is an urgent matter that requires your help." Tang Ye's voice carried a hint of urgency, "Do you still remember Reporter Meng, who helped us a great deal in the Li Zhongling case?"

"I remember! That comrade who is very tall and thin like a bamboo pole, named Meng Haibo, right?" Xing Zhijun reacted quickly, his tone also becoming urgent, "What happened to him? Did something go wrong?"

"I just received an email from him," Tang Ye said in a deep voice, "He was conducting an undercover investigation in Zhangping County, and his phone is unreachable. I'm worried he has run into trouble."

As soon as Xing Zhijun heard the three words "Zhangping County," his expression darkened instantly.

"Why would he go to investigate matters in Zhangping County for no reason?"

"Old Xing, he is a reporter; he must have discovered something. Is there some taboo in Zhangping County?"

"County Magistrate Tang, he wouldn't be investigating the Xiaowo Mine, would he?" Xing Zhijun asked cautiously.

"It seems you are aware. He is indeed investigating the old case of the Xiaowo Mine."

Seeing that Xing Zhijun was not hiding anything, Tang Ye also chose to lay his cards on the table!

Upon hearing this, Xing Zhijun immediately sat up from the bed.

He did not want his wife to know about this matter, so he walked to the balcony before lowering his voice and speaking in a grave tone:

"County Magistrate Tang, Zhangping County is a major coal mining county in Yanzhou; the waters there run very deep, and the situation is especially complex.

After the incident at the Xiaowo Mine back then, it caused quite an uproar for a time,

and it was only suppressed later after the provincial authorities issued a document demanding that the news be sealed.

Why would Reporter Meng want to poke this hornet's nest..."