Chapter 282: I Must Go
Cheng Yuan took Cheng Qianqian back to Villa No. 1 and then found Cheng Da. "Cheng Da, from now on, you’re on personal protection for Qianqian. Xiaozao is at the house, so you don’t need to worry about anyone else’s safety."
"Yes, Master."
After seeing Cheng Qianqian settled, Cheng Yuan rushed to the Patrol Bureau.
In Interrogation Room 1, Wu Mengyao was personally interrogating Bai Jiangbo.
"Bai Jiangbo, don’t even think you can get lucky here. Leniency for confession, severity for resistance. Now, tell me the real reason you kidnapped Cheng Qianqian!"
Bai Jiangbo cracked a smile. "Director Wu, what’s your monthly salary? A woman as beautiful as you should be making more while you’re still young. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll give you five hundred thousand a month in pocket money."
SLAM!
Wu Mengyao slammed her hand on the table in anger.
"Bai Jiangbo, where do you think you are? You don’t plan on ever leaving, is that it?"
"Director Wu, you scared me to death! It’s a shame you’re too beautiful to actually be scary. I should give you some advice: a woman’s greatest weapon is gentleness, not aggression."
Just as Wu Mengyao was trembling with rage, Cheng Yuan finally arrived.
"Director Wu, have them step outside."
Wu Mengyao nodded. "All of you, step out. Mr. Cheng and I will handle the interrogation."
"Yes, ma’am!"
Two accompanying officers and a stenographer acknowledged the order and quickly exited the interrogation room.
Cheng Yuan sat down beside Wu Mengyao and looked at Bai Jiangbo with a faint smile. "Boss Bai, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cheng Yuan. I’m Cheng Qianqian’s brother."
Bai Jiangbo’s expression grew a little more serious. ’So this kid is Cheng Qianqian’s brother? He’s the one who took out my men?’
Bai Jiangbo was completely uncooperative. "Sorry, I don’t know any Cheng Qianqian, and I don’t know you."
Cheng Yuan grinned. "Boss Bai, it doesn’t matter whether you know my sister. You should know Jin Pengfei, though, right?"
’Jin Pengfei?’
Bai Jiangbo’s heart dropped.
After killing Jin Pengfei, he had done some digging and learned about the man’s identity and background.
"Jin Pengfei? I’ve heard the name, but we’ve never met."
Cheng Yuan grinned. "Is that right? Funny, because I seem to remember you two have met. Why don’t you take a look at this video, Boss Bai?"
As he spoke, Cheng Yuan pulled up the video he had secretly recorded that night and showed it to Bai Jiangbo.
Bai Jiangbo’s face fell. ’I can’t believe someone recorded what happened that night!’
Cheng Yuan asked calmly, "So, Boss Bai? Ringing any bells? If I were to hand this video over to the Patrol Bureau, would it be enough to convict you of intentional homicide?"
Bai Jiangbo’s mind raced. ’Cheng Yuan hasn’t handed over the video. That means there’s still room to salvage this.’
"What do you want?"
"Tell me why you kidnapped my sister! You and I have no feud, Boss Bai. In fact, you’ve done me a huge favor!"
Bai Jiangbo’s expression shifted multiple times before he finally let out a long sigh. "I can only tell you what I’m allowed to. Your sister has ’panda blood,’ and there’s a child with the same blood type who needs a heart transplant. I can’t say anything more."
Cheng Yuan suddenly recalled something. A while back, his sister had complained to him that her high school, No. 1 High, had already organized two physicals this year, and this last one required a blood draw!
He hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but looking back now... ’How terrifying!’
"Boss Bai, thank you for your cooperation."
"Mr. Cheng, I’m curious. We don’t know each other, so why would you say I’ve done you a favor?"
"There’s no harm in telling you. I was once framed and sent to prison by Jin Pengfei while protecting my girlfriend. He was my sworn enemy. So I have to thank you, Boss Bai, for killing him for me!"
After saying this, Cheng Yuan deleted the video right in front of Bai Jiangbo.
"Boss Bai, as for the matter with Jin Pengfei, I can pretend it never happened. However, the kidnapping of my sister cannot be so easily forgotten. You’ll be sentenced according to the law."
"Thank you for your leniency, Mr. Cheng."
Cheng Yuan stepped out of the interrogation room and dialed Shen Jiangnan’s number, but the call didn’t connect.
Cheng Yuan then dialed Wu Fei’s number. The call connected quickly this time. Cheng Yuan got straight to the point, "Xiaofei, is Uncle Shen busy? Why isn’t he answering my calls?"
Wu Fei was silent for a long moment before sighing. "Brother Yuan, his situation isn’t good. He defied his superiors for you, and now he’s heard that they’re planning to ’reassign’ him to the Tourism Bureau."
"The Tourism Bureau? Are you kidding me? Hasn’t Uncle Shen tried to pull some strings?"
"He’s in Beijing doing that right now, but the outlook isn’t very optimistic."
Cheng Yuan’s voice deepened. "Xiaofei, tell Uncle Shen to wait for me. I’m heading to Beijing immediately. I’ll help him figure something out!"
"Brother Yuan, you’d better not. Back home, his word is basically law, but in Beijing... he’s just not a big enough fish. He’s hitting brick walls everywhere. There’s nothing you can do even if you come."
"He’s in this trouble because of me. I have to go!"
...
「Beijing.」
The Second Bureau of the Central Organization Department, also known as the Bureau of Local Cadres.
Shen Jiangnan had already been waiting in line at the entrance to the Second Bureau for two full hours, but he didn’t dare show the slightest hint of impatience. Everyone else waiting in line was a big shot from the provinces.
Shen Jiangnan was learning firsthand the meaning of the saying, ’The gates of the nobility are as deep and unforgiving as the sea.’ He was beginning to understand just how difficult it was to get anything done in Beijing.
A staffer from the Second Bureau stepped out, glanced around, and asked in a haughty tone, "Which one of you is Shen Jiangnan?"
"Sir, I’m Shen Jiangnan!"
Even though this was just an ordinary staffer, Shen Jiangnan was all smiles, showing the utmost respect.
The staffer gave Shen Jiangnan a dismissive look. "Come in."
"Thank you, sir."
Following the staffer, Shen Jiangnan finally walked through the main doors of the Second Bureau.
Soon, they arrived at an office door.
The staffer knocked lightly. "Director Tang, Shen Jiangnan from Luocheng is here."
"Come in."
Shen Jiangnan couldn’t help but frown. "Sir, I’m here to see Deputy Director Tang."
The staffer’s expression hardened. "Deputy Director Tang is a busy man. How would he have time for you? Director Tang is his cousin. Seeing him is the same as seeing the Deputy Director."
"Of course, sir."
Led by the staffer, Shen Jiangnan entered the office and greeted Director Tang with great enthusiasm. "Director Tang, hello. I’m Shen Jiangnan, from Luocheng."
Director Tang barely lifted his eyelids.
"Old Shen, I’ve heard about your situation. The message came down from your own Governor. This is a very tricky matter."
"Director Tang, I’ve come with the utmost sincerity!"
As he spoke, Shen Jiangnan produced a thick envelope and placed it on the desk.
Director Tang pushed the envelope back without a moment’s hesitation. "Old Shen, this ’sincerity’ of yours isn’t quite sufficient. This is the Second Bureau! Not your little Luocheng! Do me a favor and go ask around what kind of ’sincerity’ other people bring! Manager Liu, see our guest out!"