Chapter 26: The Confiscated Computer

Lao Qian was straightforward about this: "Okay, no problem. You are a police officer, do you want to see Niu Yinzhu's office?" Compared to the two supervisors buck-passing just now, Lao Qian, who disliked Niu Yinzhu, seemed to support Qi Fei much more.

Lao Qian took out a key and opened a cubicle. The desk was covered with a layer of dust; it was obvious it hadn't been used for a while.

"Three years, Niu Yinzhu's office hasn't been moved?" Qi Fei was a bit surprised.

"Heh, as long as there is someone who can do the work, the higher-ups don't care. I don't know what's wrong with these people. A project department supervisor, is it that hard to find?"

"Listening to what you just said, you are in charge of the things in the department now. Why don't they let you be the supervisor?"

"Hmph, at my age, they don't look up to me. In the end, it's 'use Zhong Wuyan when there is something, and Xia Yingchun when there is nothing.' When there is work to do, they say you have experience; when it's time to promote, they think you're too old." Lao Qian said indignantly.

Qi Fei looked around the office. This place was kept in good order. There were many books on the bookshelf, many related to the workplace, efficiency, interpersonal relationships, etc. There were thick stacks of materials on the desk. Qi Fei looked at them; they were all kinds of report drafts, large and small meetings, and even weekly work meetings. Each report was neat and tidy, and even the format was exactly the same. It seems Niu Yinzhu was a very hardworking person, but these contents remained three years ago forever.

"Where is her computer?" Qi Fei looked at the obvious mark on the desk and said.

"Speaking of this, the person just went missing, and it's not known whether she is dead or alive. The group office confiscated the computer, saying it was to prevent commercial secrets from leaking."

"The person is gone, and the computer is confiscated. It seems it's not easy for you to take over her work," Qi Fei couldn't help but say.

Lao Qian sneered: "Cut, what do you think this supervisor can do? She was promoted after two years of joining, didn't understand a thing, all the work was done by the people under her. Whether she is here or not makes no difference."

"Speaking of which, the group confiscating the computer makes no sense. Anyway, she doesn't do work here?"

"Hehe, of course it doesn't have much impact on us who do the work. What has an impact are those big shots above. Who knows what ghosts they are playing with secretly?" Lao Qian's words were full of dissatisfaction with the management.

Qi Fei was skeptical. After all, judging from the items left behind, this Niu Yinzhu was still very diligent. Lao Qian's evaluation had some jealous prejudice in it.

"That's about it. If you want to talk, let's go to my office and sit," Lao Qian said and took Qi Fei to his office, where there was a strong smell of smoke in the room.

"Don't mind, it's very messy here. It's a utility room. I don't go to Niu Yinzhu's office. I'm a substitute, not worthy," Lao Qian said and closed the door, sitting face to face with Qi Fei.

"Lao Qian, let's get straight to the point. I didn't say it when there were many people just now. Judging from the current situation, Niu Yinzhu's situation is not optimistic," Qi Fei said as soon as he sat down.

Lao Qian, who suddenly heard this, had the resentment on his face disappear by more than half. He was stunned, and after a long while, he stammered: "What does not optimistic mean?"

Qi Fei looked at him seriously and said in a low voice: "We found Niu Yinzhu's bloodstains. It cannot be ruled out that she has already been murdered."

Hearing this news, Lao Qian, in order to hide his confusion, scrambled to take out a pack of cigarettes and wanted to hand one to Qi Fei.

Qi Fei refused; he didn't smoke.

After Qi Fei refused, Lao Qian lit one himself, took a deep breath, and then calmed down a little: "This person, her nature is not bad, just a bit eager for quick success." Lao Qian's tone immediately softened. The smoke was misty, and he looked complex: "You came today, suspecting that there is a murderer in our group?"

In fact, Qi Fei had long seen that this Lao Qian was a person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

"We currently only found Niu Yinzhu's bloodstains. The clues are still very few. Because she went missing on the way to a business trip, it is too early to conclude now. Whether Niu Yinzhu was murdered, we cannot be sure until we find the person. We still have to understand some situations from you colleagues. Do you have anything you remember now?"

"She might..." Lao Qian blurted out, and then denied it himself, "Forget it, it should have nothing to do with it."

"Whether it has anything to do with it, I will judge. You can say whatever you want to say."

"Tsk, if you want to say that, you have to find Feng Yi."

"Who is Feng Yi?"

Lao Qian was clearly in a difficult spot. He cleared his throat before saying, "Heh, our second-in-command here. Before Niu Yinzhu went missing, she was quite the sycophant toward Feng Yi. As I just said, this Niu Yinzhu was originally a hands-off manager; aside from opportunities to show off and meet with leadership, she would dump all the operational work onto the people in our department. But ever since she got thick with Feng Yi, there was one project she suddenly wanted to handle herself. She wouldn't tell us anything, acting all mysterious. The bidding had just finished, and then she vanished. Don't you think that's strange? Everyone in the company is whispering that Niu Yinzhu absconded with the funds. Although I dislike her, I've always felt she wouldn't go that far. I noticed that in the period before she went missing, our group's Vice President was constantly seeking her out. Later, the projects we won in the bidding were all with suppliers who had good relationships with the Vice President. I told her back then that the process definitely wasn't up to code, but the thing I hate about her is that she has no bottom line when it comes to obeying those above her. To put it nicely, it's obedience; to put it bluntly..." At this point, Lao Qian finally had some reservations and stopped talking.

"Are you trying to say licking?" Qi Fei said the words for him.

Lao Qian sighed: "Maybe people like us who came from business are outdated. I just can't figure out how Niu Yinzhu, a high-achieving student from a top university, a Ph. D., could have no integrity to this extent. The words she said the most were that doing a good job in relationships can do a good job in work. At such a young age, so snobbish!" Speaking of this, he actually had a bit of hatred for iron not becoming steel.

"You said that someone reported it before she went missing. Is it this project?"

"Ha, it must be this big mouth Lao Yu who told you at the beginning, right?"

"Hmm, but I didn't know Niu Yinzhu was so concerned about this project."

"You came at the right time today. Our Empress Feng is here. Go and see."

"Empress?" Qi Fei was puzzled. It was obviously a nickname.

Lao Qian sneered: "You will know why she is called Empress when you see her later. She is the only vice president in the entire group who has to be equipped with a female secretary."

"She still has a secretary?" Qi Fei was a bit surprised. Although Nancheng Investment's strength is well-known, a vice president having a secretary seems a bit exaggerated. ===== CHAPTER 27 =====