Official Career Storm
Chapter 438

Chapter 438: Chapter 438

Evening was falling as the representatives from the nine companies returned from their tender bids, having been entertained by the leaders of the Housing and Construction Bureau, and went their separate ways.

They lay in their cars, succumbing to sleep in a mild state of intoxication.

A short distance behind them, however, followed another car, closely trailing them.

Three hours later, the vehicles exited the highway and entered Tian’an Province’s Tianhai City.

These nine companies hailed from various cities within Tian’an Province.

But now, all nine cars were entering Tianhai City.

It was evident that the same person was behind all nine companies.

Half an hour later, the nine cars entered different residential areas.

"Squad leader, should we make a move?"

"Have they stopped?"

"Yes, they’ve entered the underground parking garage."

"Hold on, let’s first ascertain their exact residence. Continue tracking them over the next couple of days to analyze their movements."

"Understood."

"After you’ve confirmed their address, bring a couple of men to see me."

"All right."

Song Guanchao sat in an ordinary sedan. While he was on the phone, the person he was tracking had already gotten out of the car, humming a tune and stumbling toward the elevator.

Once the man disappeared around the corner, Song Guanchao got out of the car and followed.

When he reached the elevators, the man had already gone upstairs.

Song Guanchao watched the floor numbers jump in succession.

4th floor, 5th floor, 6th floor...

Finally, the number settled on the 8th floor.

Song Guanchao turned and went into the stairwell, climbing up to the 8th floor in one go.

The upscale residential complex, with one household per elevator, did not require him to use any special methods to pinpoint the exact location.

He returned to the stairwell and sent the floor information to Lu Feng.

About twenty minutes later, footsteps echoed from below.

Lu Feng arrived with three others, and upon seeing Song Guanchao, he muttered irritably, "What a lousy complex, you even need a card to use the elevator."

Song Guanchao smiled, "Upscale complexes are like that."

He looked them over and gave a slight nod.

The four men wore black trousers and black jackets, rather than the black suits they wore last time.

Because this time, they were impersonating the police, not the Disciplinary Committee.

Lu Feng looked toward the apartment door, "So, do we go in now?"

"You know what to say, right?"

"Don’t worry, I’ve got experience now!"

Song Guanchao couldn’t help but chuckle, "Go on."

He was the Secretary of the Municipal Committee and had appeared on television a few times.

Logically speaking, the likelihood that the other party would recognize him was slim, but it was always best to err on the side of caution.

Lu Feng and his companions approached the door and knocked gently.

After more than ten seconds, footsteps from inside responded, "Who is it?"

"Hello, we’ve come to read the water meter."

"Read the water meter?"

The man inside, having drunk too much, didn’t think further and simply opened the door.

Upon opening the door and seeing four burly men, each standing around six feet tall, he was immediately taken aback.

"You’re here to read the water meter?"

Lu Feng’s face turned serious as he pulled out an ID from his pocket and flashed it before the man’s eyes.

The man squinted, only seeing the words "Nanjiang Provincial Public Security Department," and the drunken fog lifted instantly, his eyes becoming clear.

"You, you guys..."

"Mr. Li, is anyone else at home?"

"No, just me."

"Then come with us, there’s a case we need your cooperation with."

"I, I haven’t done anything wrong," Mr. Li said, now completely sober and confident.

"Haven’t done anything?"

Lu Feng sneered, "Let me remind you of a few things - today at noon, Dujiang City, the high-speed rail project, Hou Wen!"

Hearing these key phrases, Mr. Li’s newly summoned courage dissipated instantly, and his legs trembled and could barely support him.

"Take him away." Lu Feng couldn’t be bothered with further chit-chat, with a grand wave of his hand, he turned to leave while two men moved in to support Mr. Li from either side.

Mr. Li struggled, "I, I’ll change my clothes."

"Accompany him inside to change, and keep a close eye on him."

"Yes, Captain Lu!"

The two policers put on a convincing act, following Mr. Li into the house.

Indeed, Mr. Li wanted to seize an opportunity to call for help, but those two plainclothes cops watched him too closely. He had no chance.

After changing his clothes and grabbing his cellphone and access card, Mr. Li was taken away.

Exiting the elevator and getting into the car, they headed straight to a nearby hotel.

The room, booked in advance, already had cameras set up on tables.

Mr. Li’s cellphone was confiscated as he sat on a stool, his heart pounding with unease.

Lu Feng picked up a pen, flipped open his notebook, "I ask, you answer."

Mr. Li eked out a smile, "I will certainly cooperate with the police investigation."

"Hm, your attitude isn’t bad."

Lu Feng asked, "What’s your relationship with Hou Wen?"

"We don’t know each other."

"Slap!"

Lu Feng threw down his pen and pulled out a cigarette to light up.

He didn’t speak, just looked at him coldly.

Slowly taking puffs, his gaze made Mr. Li lower his head.

After finishing the cigarette, Lu Feng picked up the pen again, "What’s your relationship with Hou Wen?"

"I... I don’t know him."

"Li Rui, you’re not being honest."

"Officer, I really don’t know him, I’m just a businessman."

Lu Feng asked, "Do you know what crime it is to transfer state assets?"

Li Rui’s body shuddered, and inwardly he cursed his luck.

He thought the other side was bluffing him, but with those words, he realized they actually might hold substantial information.

Lu Feng continued, "Do you think you’ve been very covert and nobody noticed?"

"Naive."

Lu Feng turned on a cellphone, brought up a video, and showed it to him, "Watch this."

Li Rui looked down at the screen. It was of a man being interrogated.

He knew this man; he had just met with him today.

Dujiang City’s Finance Bureau Chief, Wang Shujing!

This was... the process of Wang Shujing being questioned by the Disciplinary Committee.

Any last shred of hope in Li Rui’s heart vanished.

Lu Feng took back the phone, "The thing that Hou Wen is involved in, it’s already completely understood by the province. They haven’t made a move on him yet, because they want to see how many people are caught up in this."

"Li Rui, I will give you two choices."

"Either, I’ll take you back to detention now, and the Prosecutor’s Office will charge you with embezzlement of state assets."

"Or, you can cooperate with the police."

Lu Feng lit up another cigarette, "Tell me your decision before I finish this cigarette."

"I’ll cooperate with the police!" Li Rui made his decision instantly.

Lu Feng acknowledged with a sound and said, "For the time being, you’ll stay here. The Provincial Department will supervise you around the clock."

He pointed to several corners of the room, "There are surveillance cameras; don’t think about escaping."

"If you cooperate, that’s meritorious. The Prosecutor’s Office will take it into consideration. If you flee or tip off Hou Wen, your crime will be escalated a degree, starting with life imprisonment. Given the amount Hou Wen has embezzled, even execution is not out of the question."

"I, I won’t, I will fully cooperate with the police comrade!"

Lu Feng stood up, "If you’re hungry, call, and someone will bring food to you."

"Yes, yes, officer, take care."

Lu Feng went to the next room, "Squad leader, we’re only arresting this one?"

"Arrest this one to probe the situation, no rush."

"What about the Finance Bureau? That Director Wang asked me if the money should be transferred over."

"Transfer it, why wouldn’t you?"

Song Guanchao said with a sinister smile, "Without the transfer, how can I show off my importance?"

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