Chapter 985

But when they arrived, everyone was dumbfounded, because not a single person at the scene had left, and they were all standing there in a dense crowd.

Besides the sand miners, there were also Public Security Bureau personnel.

And the team leader was none other than Deputy Chief Lao Ding.

It turned out that Su Yang had called the Public Security Bureau before setting out, and Sun Chengjun immediately arranged for Deputy Chief Lao Ding to lead a team secretly there.

However, he did not go directly to Guantan Gou Zhen; instead, he detoured via the neighboring townships.

Therefore, the Guantan Gou Zhen town government had no idea at all; otherwise, it would not have been so foolishly caught red-handed.

Among the crowd was also the functionary whom their town government had just dispatched, preparing to evacuate the scene.

After Su Yang got out of the car, he walked toward the crowd at a leisurely pace, asking as he went: "Old Wang, why are there so many people here? What are they doing? Is there some event today?"

"It's the New Year holiday; why aren't people staying home but coming here to do this?"

"Oh, wait, there are also prefabricated color‑steel sheds set up here—how come there are still vehicles?"

Wang Yinxiang's face was extremely grim, his breathing grew heavy, and he said: "I don't know either why they aren't staying home but have come here to do this."

"Could they have come here to gamble? Even though it's the New Year, our town government and the County Public Security Bureau jointly issued a document strictly prohibiting gambling."

"Some lazy good‑for‑nothings in the village rely on these few days of gambling to make money all year; since the villages and towns are cracking down, they might flee to places like this."

"For the sake of gambling, these people rack their brains, finding any place they can; before, they even gambled in abandoned kilns belonging to others."

Su Yang chuckled and said: "I recall that the villagers' lives aren't exactly affluent—where would they get spare money to gamble?"

"It seems arriving early isn't as good as arriving opportunely; I've finally made it here after all this trouble, and today I even get to join the excitement."

While he was still speaking, Yang Kang walked over and said: "County Magistrate Su, it looks like you already have a grasp of the situation here."

The implication of his words was that the Public Security Bureau personnel had already arrived here, indicating this was no coincidence but surely prearranged.

As for the county's leaders, aside from the top chief, there are also County Magistrate Zhang Jiangbo, Zhao Nanxing, and Su Yang; anyone else trying to mobilize the Public Security Bureau would almost certainly have no chance.

Of course, Su Yang could not legitimately order the Public Security Bureau to act, but given his connection with Sun Chengjun, and the fact that countless pretexts could be found for a police dispatch, they could claim they came in response to a report.

Anyway, since you are currently investigating those two homicide cases, sending police here also makes a plausible explanation.

Su Yang laughed and said: "What situation could I possibly grasp? I was originally conducting research at the Industrial Park, and after finishing I realized I am now the head of the investigation team, so I ought to fulfill my duties by coming over to have a look."

"Of course, I've also heard of this place; I just wanted to see whether it could be developed in the future, but I never expected to run into this matter."

"Which comrade is leading the Public Security Bureau team? What's happened here?"

Before he could finish speaking, Lao Ding ran over and said: "County Magistrate Su, Department Head Yang, greetings, leaders. We received an anonymous tip that someone was illegally mining sand here, so we came to verify the situation—and sure enough, that's exactly what's going on."

Su Yang then looked as if a light had dawned: "Oh, there's actually this kind of thing."

He then turned to ask Wang Yinxiang: "Old Wang, do you have any sand‑mining enterprises here? Do you have the relevant permits?"

"If not, then it's truly illegal sand theft; this matter could be big or small, and if it's reported to your town, you can handle it however you see fit."

"Now that the Public Security Bureau is already aware of this, it's probably not possible to simply bury the matter."

"As for your earlier suggestion that this place might be a gambling den, it now appears not to be."

At this point Wang Yinxiang's face had turned purple; he had already devised countless excuses and reasons.

Since these people are able to work here, their minds are surely nimble; even if Su Yang were present, a few casual remarks from him would be enough for them to catch on.

Even if they couldn't scatter like birds and beasts, it would still be impossible to drag them into this.

But who would have thought, the police have actually cordoned off this place!

He stammered: "Our town really doesn't have such an enterprise, nor any legal sand‑mining permits."

"These people are probably engaged in illegal mining, right?"

Yang Kang, with a dark face, said: "Illegal mining capable of stirring up such a scene must have been going on for a long time."

"I just don't believe you hadn't noticed this before."

At this moment, Miao Wei, who had gotten out of the car together with Yao Lichun, had no choice but to steel himself and approach: "County Magistrate Su, Secretary Yang, I had previously received a report about this situation and even came specially once."

"At the time I even ordered the village's Party secretary and village head to keep watch here, to prevent such incidents. After all, the Sha He river is a public asset—how could we allow this to happen?"

Su Yang glanced at the town mayor, merely letting out a simple "ah," then said to Bureau Chief Lao Ding: "Have you asked them what exactly is going on?"

"After you arrived, did you go and explain the situation to their Party secretary and village head?"

Bureau Chief Lao Ding replied: "Their village head and Party secretary are right here; they're the ones directing the people to mine sand."

"However, these two seem to have drunk too much this time; after I asked a few questions, they were already drunk to the point of insensibility, lying in bed."

Su Yang said: "If that's the case, then take them to the bureau, and interrogate them whenever they wake up."

"Everyone present here will be taken back for individual interrogation."

His voice was relatively loud; the sand‑mining farmers who had originally been crouching on the ground with their hands over their heads were still thinking that the law does not punish the many, and besides, this was permitted by the village, participated in by the town, and the county ought not to interfere with them.

Today these police have come merely to squeeze some profit from this place; once they get it, they'll be done.

But who would have imagined that a single sentence from Su Yang would send them to the Public Security Bureau, causing some to panic instantly and shout loudly:

"We're just laborers; this has nothing to do with us—we earn only a few bucks a day!"

"The village told us to mine; we haven't broken any law!"

But Su Yang didn't bother to say more to them, because talking to them would be a waste of breath; once they're at the bureau, they'll naturally spill everything in full detail.

At this moment, Miao Wei and Yao Lichun were visibly panicked; they stopped Bureau Chief Lao Ding and said: "County Magistrate Su, Bureau Chief Lao Ding, I think there might be a misunderstanding about this matter."

"This is the land of Guantan Gou Village; they have the right to mine it themselves, and although they lack the permits, they can still apply for them retroactively."

"Moreover, they had previously applied to the town, but the town lacks the authority to grant such permits, so we helped them submit an application upward."

"However, the procedure is quite complicated, and it still hasn't been completed to this day; the relevant county departments ought to know the specifics."