Chapter 281

We still have things to do; we need to go back first.

Even just nabbing an online fugitive could earn you a commendation.

If anything comes up, call anytime; remember, the troops will always be your strongest backing.

The armed forces personnel, having more work to handle, left first.

Lu Yang stayed behind; he had to wait for Ding Tengfei to finish his family matters before coming here to give a simple statement.

As the involved party, cooperating with the police in taking a statement is only natural, but he never expected that rounding up a few small fry could net him a commendation.

But one thing turned out to be roughly as he guessed: the people who set a trap for Ding Tengfei's father were indeed closely linked to the boss of Yuanbao who fled with the money.

Once it's confirmed that the loan sharking is illegal and that Ding Tengfei's father was set up, this debt can be written off through proper channels.

Thus, the pressure on Ding Tengfei's family eased considerably; as for those deposits, they are likely gone for good.

At that time, internet penetration wasn't high, phones hadn't entered the smart era, and information spread slowly.

Moreover, illegal fundraising and financial fraud cropped up all over the country from time to time.

No matter how much legal education grassroots police and communities do, there will always be victims.

The truly fearsome aspect of a Ponzi scheme is that it amplifies human greed and desire.

Even if you know it might be fake, that it could collapse, you still want to take a gamble—betting you can get out before the crash, betting you're among the few who can make money.

Lu Yang came to the steps of the police station, originally intending to see if Ding Tengfei had arrived.

But he saw a gaunt woman in her thirties, leading a hat-wearing girl into the station.

The girl was under ten, her skin an unhealthy pallor, and she wore a hospital wristband, suggesting she was ill.

Lu Yang's gaze followed them to the Main Hall, where he saw the woman emotionally talking to a female reception officer at the door.

Has the Yuan surname person still not been caught? After all this time, not a word?

That money was earned with my husband's life; I beg you, help me think of a way—please, think of a way!

My daughter was diagnosed with leukemia last year; she needs a lot of money for treatment. If we don't get that money back, she won't survive!

I beg you—I'm kneeling—please catch the perpetrator and recover the money...

Lu Yang, standing aside, vaguely heard the words 'flood relief' and immediately thought of a martyr's widow.

When the fraud scheme collapsed and the boss fled with the money, it left a mess and countless shattered families.

These days, ordinary folk already struggle to make a living; if they then suffer a serious illness, it's practically ruinous.

Had it not been for this incident, perhaps Ding Tengfei's grandfather wouldn't have died of a stroke from anger, and maybe many families would still be harmonious.

Even when faced with difficulties, they have some risk resistance, enough to help them endure for a while.

Greed is certainly undesirable, but those who meticulously design schemes to swindle money deserve death a thousand times over.

At that moment, he suddenly understood why Soldier King-type novels dominate the male readership charts.

When official channels can't quickly resolve something, killing and violence often prove more effective.

If possible, Lu Yang hopes that someday he can personally apprehend that scoundrel, bring him to justice, and recover every penny that was swindled; to fulfill the lofty ideal of eliminating harm for the people, petitioning for them, and serving the populace.

In the end, the woman, after patient persuasion by the female duty officer, left with her child.

Lu Yang could understand the difficulties faced by grassroots police; some cases are beyond their capacity.

Especially with financial fraud, the cases are often lengthy, difficult, and sometimes involve overseas elements; the only effective measure is vigilance.

This is much like the telecom scams that later sprouted like mushrooms after rain; once victims' money is transferred out, it is swiftly moved abroad by various means.

Trying to recover it afterward is as hard as climbing to heaven.

Big sis, wait.

The woman, holding the child's hand, turned to look at Lu Yang.

Who are you...?

I'm a soldier; here's my ID. I have a comrade whose family was also swindled out of a lot of money.

So, did he manage to recover it?

No.

Seeing Lu Yang shake his head, the hope the woman had just kindled faded again.

She had thought the military might have connections to help recover the money, but it turned out the same.

Lu Yang glanced at the little girl holding her mother's hand: 'How much money does your daughter's illness require?'

The woman wiped her face: 'A lot—just one round of chemo costs several thousand to ten thousand, and a bone marrow transplant would need at least two to three hundred thousand. We're an ordinary family; we simply can't afford that.'

Both sides' elders have nearly exhausted their savings; I truly have no recourse.

It's all my fault for being greedy and stupid; I trusted a friend's recommendation and put the money into that Yuanbao liquor business...

The woman slapped herself hard across the face, and her daughter, distressed, grabbed her.

Lu Yang didn't stop her; he just kept asking a few more questions.

Your husband, is he also in the military?

Yes, he's in the armed police.

Is he......

He died in the flood relief efforts eight years ago, was posthumously given the martyr title, and awarded first-class merit.

Lu Yang had a rough idea: 'Big sis, hear me out—I can't help you recover the swindled money, but I can teach you a method to get through this immediate crisis.'

At least you won't have to worry about your daughter's medical expenses; even a bone marrow transplant won't require you to fret.

Tell me, tell me—I'll do anything, as long as my child stays safe and sound!

The woman clung to hope like a straw, and a glimmer of hope reignited in her eyes.

Her daughter is her most precious, closest person, her blood carrying hers and her husband's.

Even if she had to beg or sell blood, she would surely cure her daughter.

Lu Yang leaned down and whispered something in her ear, but the woman's expression turned very odd.

"Is this really useful?"

"Trust me, it will definitely work. I'm a soldier; the People's Liberation Army doesn't deceive ordinary people."

"But, this way, could it be not so good?"

"Human life is above the heavens, and besides, you're a martyr's widow."

"Alright, I'll try."

"Remember to arrange a vehicle; you must haul that plaque over. That thing looks striking, looks imposing."

"Understood, thank you, thank you; I still don't know—what's your name, which unit you're in, and later how I should thank you?"

"My name is Lu Yang; there's no need to thank me. Your husband and I are both soldiers, comrades we've never met. Yet he is greater than me, braver than me—he's a true hero!"

After sending off the mother and daughter, Lu Yang put his hands on his hips, and his mood improved a lot.

He thought to himself that he was truly a damn genius, even this kind of rotten scheme—ugh... even such a peerless brilliant idea could be conceived.