111: Chapter 111 Key Witness

Luo Jinghui's voice was low, carrying a hint of helplessness.

“Preliminary statistics show fifty-one cadres at the deputy division level or above. Among them, thirteen are heads of departments, all in critical sectors: the Construction Commission, Land Resources, the Planning Commission, the Economic and Trade Commission, Finance, Labor, Civil Affairs, Education...”

The sound of papers being flipped came through the phone.

“There are also two at the deputy bureau level: one is the Secretary-General of the Municipal Committee, Cao Zhengchuan, and the other is the Deputy Mayor in charge of industry, Lin Shouzheng.”

Zhao Yang's heart jolted.

Municipal Committee Secretary-General Cao Zhengchuan—that was Ji Hongwen's chief steward.

Lu Zheng's expression remained calm as he only asked one question:

“Is the video footage clear?”

“Clear,” Luo Jinghui gave a bitter laugh.

“Some of it is... unsightly. These people are regulars at Platinum Night, and most were secretly filmed more than once.”

Lu Zheng knew very well what it meant for Guo Mingkai to hold such materials.

He listened quietly, falling into deep thought.

With such a large number of people involved and officials even at the deputy bureau level, it was indeed difficult to handle.

If the regulations were strictly enforced, the entire Tongan officialdom would suffer a massive earthquake, and half of the government departments would be paralyzed.

While Lu Zheng was contemplating, Luo Jinghui continued:

“The club manager, Bai Fengming, is extremely arrogant and refuses to reveal the purpose of the video tapes.”

“She even warned us that if we touch her, we'll have hell to pay.”

Speaking of this, Luo Jinghui couldn't help but laugh.

Since joining the police force, this was the first time he had been threatened by the person in charge of a venue providing illicit services.

Lu Zheng tapped his fingers on the desk and said in a heavy voice:

“Since she knows Guo Mingkai was taken away and still dares to be so arrogant, there must be a more powerful protective umbrella behind her. How to dig it out is up to you.”

Bai Fengyin was only the manager of a club and not a public official, so the Commission for Discipline Inspection had no way to take action against her.

Luo Jinghui nodded. “I know; we are currently conducting an urgent interrogation. Additionally, the security captain of Platinum Night, Lyu Jianye, is suspected of involvement with organized crime.”

Lu Zheng was silent for a moment before saying solemnly:

“Director Luo, hand over the list of all public officials involved. I will handle them.”

“As for the others involved in prostitution, drugs, gambling, or gangs, you in the public security bureau will handle them yourselves. Remember, you must dig out the protective umbrella behind them.”

After hanging up the phone, Lu Zheng looked at Zhao Yang and asked:

“Who do you think is backing Bai Fengyin?”

Zhao Yang softly uttered three words:

“Ji Hongwen.”

Given the relationship between Guo Mingkai and Ji Hongwen, Ji Hongwen was very likely a regular at Platinum Night.

And since Luo Jinghui hadn't mentioned Ji Hongwen's name, it meant Ji Hongwen most likely knew about the activities going on at Platinum Night.

In other words, everything Guo Mingkai did had at least received Ji Hongwen's tacit approval.

Lu Zheng nodded slightly. “Regardless of whether Bai Fengyin confesses, our work cannot stop. Guo Mingkai might break in another three days; you must gather evidence as quickly as possible.”

When a person under investigation is on the verge of a mental breakdown, presenting key evidence will completely crush them.

Zhao Yang stood up. “Master, I'm heading there now.”

A SWAT team member drove, escorting Zhao Yang and Zheng Beichen to the Die-Casting Machine Factory dormitories.

In the car, Zhao Yang looked at the street scenery passing by the window, the scene from last night repeatedly appearing in his mind.

In the courtyard of Platinum Night, rows of men were squatting on the ground.

Those people might have been leaders sitting on a rostrum giving reports just the day before.

And now, they were in such a wretched state.

No matter the time, one must hold onto their bottom line.

Whether as a person or as an official.

Arriving at the Die-Casting Machine Factory dormitory compound, Zhao Yang saw from a distance a group of people gathered in Sun Dehai's courtyard.

The workers were discussing fervently, asking the representatives who had attended the meeting exactly when they would return to the factory to work.

Seeing a police officer and two young men approaching, everyone fell silent.

Zhao Yang walked up and greeted Master Sun warmly.

“Master Sun, do you have a moment? I'd like to talk to you.”

Sun Dehai gave a few quiet instructions to the crowd and then said:

“Everyone, please disperse.”

After the crowd left, Sun Dehai led the three of them into the house.

Zhao Yang and Zheng Beichen followed him inside, while the SWAT member stood straight outside the door like a spear.

“This is my colleague, Zheng Beichen, a deputy section-level investigator from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.”

As soon as Zhao Yang finished the introduction, Sun Dehai grabbed their hands.

“Thank you both. If it weren't for you, how could we return to work at the factory so soon?”

Zhao Yang spoke bluntly, “Arranging for the workers to return to work wasn't the intention of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection; it was an arrangement made by the relevant leaders of Tongan City.”

Sun Dehai was a bit dazed, not knowing what he meant by that.

Zhao Yang explained, “Guo Mingkai was taken away by the Commission for Discipline Inspection, and the Tongan City leaders immediately reacted like this. This only shows that the leaders were aware of the workers' situation.”

“But why did they let it slide before Guo Mingkai was taken away?”

Zheng Beichen added from the side, “There was a six-month gap, wasn't there? What were the city leaders doing during that time?”

Sun Dehai came from a worker background and spoke directly:

“This leader is Secretary Ji of the Municipal Committee. Is he feeling guilty? Or does he have something to do with our factory's restructuring?”

Without concrete evidence, Zhao Yang couldn't answer that.

He looked at Sun Dehai and asked:

“Master Sun, do you remember what Ji Hongwen said the last time he came to the factory for research?”

He was reminding Sun Dehai not to forget everything those people had done just because of a small benefit.

Sun Dehai was stunned for a moment, then slapped his thigh hard:

“How could I forget! He must have seen our report and gotten scared!”

Zheng Beichen took out a notebook and asked:

“Master Sun, did the last symposium specify which people would be returning to their posts? Was there a specific time? What about the salary and benefits?”

“Sigh, I forgot to ask!” Sun Dehai slapped his thigh again. “At the meeting, they only said arrangements would be made as soon as possible, told us not to cause trouble, and to wait patiently.”

Zhao Yang smiled. “Master Sun, I dare to bet that if you don't continue reporting, you'll likely never be able to go back to work.”

Sun Dehai wasn't stupid; he had already realized that Ji Hongwen was trying to appease their emotions and win people over.

He furrowed his brows. “Is he just painting us a pretty picture?”

Zhao Yang nodded. “Yes. The Die-Casting Machine Factory's accounts are a mess right now; how can he resume production?”

“To produce, we must wait until the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection clears up the problems at your factory and sorts out the accounts.”

Seeing the timing was right, Zheng Beichen quickly asked:

“So, the Accountant Li you mentioned to Zhao Yang last time—what is his phone number?”

“It's time to let them investigate thoroughly! So many of the factory's assets vanished into thin air; we aren't willing to let it go either!” Sun Dehai turned and walked toward the old desk in the living room.

He opened a drawer, took out a yellowed phone book, and flipped to the latest page.

“Li Chengjian was originally the head accountant of the Die-Casting Machine Factory, but now he's gone into business in Nanyue Province. His number is 139...”

Zhao Yang immediately picked up his phone and dialed the number Sun Dehai provided.

The phone rang for over ten seconds before connecting.