Half past midnight.

Director Feng was brought back to the sub-bureau. Director Zhao served him tea and left.

On the other side, Captain Xu was reporting work to Liang Jianfeng.

"The chairman of Futong Company is named Peng Xingrong. We can't reach his phone. We contacted his secretary, who said Chairman Peng is not in Lingjiang."

"Not in Lingjiang? Where did he go?"

"His daughter is studying abroad, she's sick, and he went to accompany her for medical treatment."

"When did he leave the country?"

"Around this time, but no specific details were mentioned."

"Where is his secretary?"

"In Modu."

"Ask him to come back and cooperate with the investigation."

"We've already spoken to him. He's booked a flight for tomorrow morning."

At this moment, Director Zhao approached, saying, "Mr. Liang, Director Feng has been brought over."

"I know."

Liang Jianfeng pushed open the meeting room door, and Director Feng immediately looked over.

As their eyes met, Liang Jianfeng did not look away.

Director Feng's expression was dazed, his demeanor confused.

Liang Jianfeng sat down and asked, "Did you meet with Yang Lang on the 19th?"

"I did."

"You met him? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Ha ha." Liang Jianfeng asked, "Today is January 1st, how could Director Feng remember the events of the 19th so clearly? I just asked, and you immediately answered."

Director Feng's heart trembled, knowing he had made a mistake, but he had already prepared a response: "Something happened that day, it left a deep impression on me."

"What happened?"

"Report materials!"

Director Feng said, "Director Yang asked me to lunch that day. He told me the Tax Bureau had received over a hundred report materials. This situation had never happened before."

"Moreover, Director Yang behaved very strangely that day."

"Strangely how?"

"He seemed to want to tell me something, but during the meal, he received a phone call, and after answering it, he seemed very nervous. I asked him, but he wouldn't say, and he left before the meal was served."

"Which restaurant did you have lunch at?"

"Zhang's Private Kitchen near the Tax Bureau, private room 208 on the second floor."

"Did you discuss anything else?"

"No more." Director Feng avoided eye contact.

Slam.

Liang Jianfeng tossed some materials in front of him: "Take a look."

Director Feng opened it; these were reports and penalties handled by the Industrial and Commercial Bureau recently.

Director Feng knew what he was being asked, pretended ignorance, and said: "Why did Director Liang give me this?"

Liang Jianfeng asked, "Why was Futong Company given the maximum penalty?"

"This, this... this is normal."

Director Feng's speech became somewhat disjointed.

Liang Jianfeng asked, "Why did the other companies afterward receive only symbolic fines?"

"Because Secretary Wu gave instructions."

"Oh?"

Liang Jianfeng took the materials back and closed them, saying, "Director Feng, I suggest you not hide anything."

"I didn't..."

"Didn't?"

Liang Jianfeng sneered, "Without instructions from leadership, you imposed maximum fines on a company that evades taxes less than fifty million, even suspending operations. You say this is normal?"

"I checked the past penalty records of the Industrial and Commercial Bureau, there has been no record of maximum penalties within five years."

"Director Feng, if you don't honestly confess, I can only regard you as an accomplice to the suspect, and summon you on-site. Until the case is solved, you will remain as a criminal suspect in custody."

"I, I... it was Director Yang who asked me to do it."

Director Feng dejectedly said, "He called me and asked me to help him punish Futong Company. I thought..."

"Think what?"

"I thought Futong Company had offended him."

"Just one phone call, and you cooperated like this?"

Director Feng said, "Such matters are quite common. Director Liang, this isn't your first day in office, you're more aware of Lingjiang's situation than me."

"Besides, the money these companies pay yearly as tribute is not taken by me alone."

This answer was not what Liang Jianfeng wanted.

Intuition told him Director Feng was definitely hiding something.

But his answer was watertight and could withstand scrutiny.

The Tax Bureau and Industrial and Commercial departments are inherently lucrative, with companies offering tributes yearly.

Occasionally, encountering those who don't conform, fines and penalties are normal means of pressure.

Liang Jianfeng stood up, opened the door, and said, "Captain Shi, go through the procedures and detain Director Feng."

"Understood."

Behind him, Director Feng panicked: "Director Liang, I've already cooperated, why arrest me?"

Liang Jianfeng said, "Director Feng, I advise you to tell everything you know."

"The opposing side dared to make a move on Director Yang, do you think you're safe?"

"I can promise you, I won't interfere with economic crimes. Whether you embezzle or take bribes, I won't be concerned."

"If you don't cooperate, tomorrow I will apply for the Disciplinary Committee to intervene and thoroughly investigate your economic issues."

"Besides economic problems, this case will also be investigated concurrently."

"Consider it carefully yourself."

After saying this, Liang Jianfeng walked away.

Director Feng was nervous internally, uncertain.

This old policeman's intuition was too keen; he asked himself that he showed no problem, yet Liang Jianfeng still felt he had issues.

Once the Disciplinary Committee intervenes, he would have no way out.

Even if it turns out this case has nothing to do with him, he'd still face punishment, or even jail time, due to economic problems.

But if he cooperated, Zhu Qiushui wouldn't let him off.

It's not that he didn't trust Liang Jianfeng's character.

He was just more worried about Zhu Qiushui's background!

Clearly, the call Director Yang received on the 19th was a threatening one.

Didn't Director Yang consider exposing the matter?

Yet why didn't he reveal it, and instead, the eventual fate was the annihilation of his family after more than ten days?

He knew Director Yang very well, having been friends for years.

He surely considered exposing the matter, but there was only one reason he didn't—he was afraid.

He was uncertain about who stood behind Zhu Qiushui.

Now, Director Feng held more information than Director Yang did.

He could at least confirm that someone from Lingjiang police must be with Zhu Qiushui.

Otherwise, Zhu Qiushui couldn't have contacted him in advance tonight.

Furthermore, the case now is under the direct control of the provincial department.

This shows even the province doesn't trust Lingjiang City Bureau.

The mighty dragon still can't oversee the local snake.

No matter how capable Liang Jianfeng is, it's still Lingjiang.

Those people wouldn't dare target Liang Jianfeng, but to deal with him would be easy.

Being investigated by the Disciplinary Committee, at most means being dismissed, spending a few years in jail.

Offending Zhu Qiushui could lead to death!

Even family members could die!

Between two evils, choose the lesser one. In weighing the pros and cons, his current choice is the optimal solution.

After all, Director Yang's previous experience is right before his eyes, he doesn't want to repeat it.

Liang Jianfeng opened the interrogation room door and outlined the situation to Song Guanchao.

After listening, Song Guanchao pondered for a few seconds and said, "Director Feng has issues, need to find a way to get him to talk."

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