Nominal: My senior brothers are all big shots

Lin Feng walked back behind his desk, took a photo from the drawer, and pushed it in front of Li Guodong. It was the photo that Xiao Jingheng had given to Cheng Du, who then gave it to Lin Feng.

In the photo, a middle-aged man is standing next to a black sedan, talking to someone. The license plate of the car is obscured, but Li Guodong recognized the man's profile at a glance.

Li Guodong's pupils contracted sharply: "This is... from which department in the provincial capital..."

Lin Feng nodded: "Hou Jian told me. This person was also present at the dock when the batch of chemicals that Hengfa helped Yongsheng smuggle arrived at the end of last year. He's from the province, so he's not low-ranking."

Li Guodong's hands began to tremble. He stared at the photo for a long time, his voice hoarse: "Secretary Lin, if this matter is investigated further..."

Lin Feng interrupted him: "Investigate. No matter who it is."

Li Guodong took a deep breath and put the photo into his briefcase: "Understood. I'll investigate personally."

He stood up, walked to the door, then turned back: "Secretary Lin, if this person is really involved in the case, then what about the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection..."

Lin Feng said, "I'll handle the communication with the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. You just focus on investigating the evidence."

Li Guodong nodded and went out the door.

Meanwhile, at the Hengfa Group headquarters in Luhai City, Qiao Wuzhou sat behind his desk, twirling a pair of walnuts in his hands; the clinking of the walnuts was particularly crisp in the empty office. Feng Chengzhi sat opposite him, a newspaper spread out on the coffee table in front of him, the front page reporting on Luhai City's special campaign against organized crime.

"The North City Gang, the remnants of the South City Gang, the Wharf Gang, and Ma Sanpao—they've all been wiped out." Feng Chengzhi's voice was calm, as if he were reading a regular news briefing. "Zhou Wen is in jail, and Hou Jian is in jail too. As for Po Jun, he's still in the detention center; Chengdu won't release him, and no amount of pleading will help."

Qiao Wuzhou stopped eating the walnuts. He looked out the window, remained silent for a long time, and then said, "Chengzhi, who do you think Chengdu will investigate next?"

Feng Chengzhi adjusted his glasses: "Chairman, Zhou Siwen has had quite a bit of dealing with Biaozi. If he can't hold out and implicates Biaozi, then Biaozi will go to jail. If Biaozi goes to jail..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Qiao Wuzhou understood what he meant. Hu Dabiao was the core of Hengfa; he held too many shady dealings in his hands. If he went in, Hengfa was finished.

Qiao Wuzhou abruptly stood up, his chair sliding backward and hitting the wall. He paced back and forth a few times, then stopped, staring at Feng Chengzhi: "What about Hou Jian? How much do you know about his dealings with the docks?"

Feng Chengzhi said, "Hou Jian doesn't know much. He's just a gofer; he only knows the general idea of ​​where the goods come from and where they're delivered. But that batch of goods at the end of last year..."

Qiao Wuzhou's expression changed. Feng Chengzhi continued, "That shipment was for Yongsheng Transport. Hou Jian knows about it. If he confesses, it won't just be a problem for us anymore."

Qiao Wuzhou slumped back into his chair, the walnuts in his hand falling to the floor and rolling into the corner. He stared at the ceiling, his voice low and strained, as if squeezed from his chest: "Chengzhi, do you think Guo Yonglin will implicate us too?"

Feng Chengzhi paused for a moment, then said, "Chairman, Guo Yonglin is in dire straits himself. He won't attack us; it wouldn't benefit him. But he won't protect us either. All he can do now is clear himself of any wrongdoing."

Qiao Wuzhou closed his eyes, and only opened them after a long time. His gaze turned cold, like a snake preparing to attack: "Chengzhi, go find Biaozi. Make him clean up everything related to Zhou Siwen. Cover up what needs to be covered up, smooth things over. And as for Hou Jian, don't let him say another word about the docks."

Feng Chengzhi stood up: "Understood. I'll take care of it right away."

Qiao Wuzhou stopped him again: "Also, we can't wait any longer with Po Jun. Go find someone to settle things with the victim's family. Money is not an issue. Get them to change their story and say it was consensual, that they were in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. As long as the victim doesn't pursue the matter, Cheng Du can't do anything to Po Jun."

Feng Chengzhi nodded and pushed open the door to leave. Only Qiao Wuzhou remained in the office. He picked up the walnuts from the floor, clenched them tightly in his hand until his knuckles turned white.

He walked to the window, looked at the Yong Sheng Group building across the street, and said in a low voice, "Guo Yonglin, you think you can absolve yourself of all responsibility? Not so easy. If I fall, you won't have it easy either."

Inside the detention center, the lights in the interrogation room were blindingly bright.

Qiu Wenbin sat in the chair, his handcuffs gleaming coldly under the lamp. He hadn't had a full night's sleep in a long time. Cheng Du sat opposite him, a stack of documents spread out on the table in front of them. He didn't speak, just quietly watched Qiu Wenbin.

The silence lasted a long time. Qiu Wenbin finally spoke, his voice hoarse like sandpaper scraping against wood: "Director Cheng, is there anything else you want to ask? I've confessed everything. The incident on the eighth floor, I did it. The bribery, I did it. The drug dealing, I did it too. It has nothing to do with anyone else."

Cheng Du did not answer. He pulled a photo from the materials and pushed it in front of Qiu Wenbin. It was the airport's departure record, which showed the names of his wife and children, flight numbers, and destination.

Qiu Wenbin's gaze fell on the photograph, and his pupils contracted sharply. His hands began to tremble, his lips quivered, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Cheng Du's voice was calm, as calm as a lake in winter: "Your wife and children went to Australia three days ago. All the paperwork was done, and someone made the arrangements. You took the blame for everything, and they are safe."

Qiu Wenbin lowered his head, his shoulders beginning to tremble. Cheng Du continued, "But have you thought about it? You're taking the blame for a death sentence. You're taking it for someone else, and they're living a good life abroad. Your wife and children are sunbathing in Australia, receiving money from others. And you? You're here waiting to die."

Qiu Wenbin suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse: "Director Cheng, I..."

Cheng Du interrupted him: "Qiu Wenbin, I know who you're taking the blame for. I also know what you're afraid of. But you need to think this through—if you take the blame, you'll die. If you don't, you might still live. But if you die, who will your wife and children rely on? The person who arranged for you to go abroad? He can send your wife and children abroad today, and he can make them disappear overseas tomorrow."

Qiu Wenbin's face was as white as paper. His lips trembled, and his voice seemed to be squeezed out of his chest: "Director Cheng, I... if I tell, my wife and children..."

Cheng Du looked at him, his gaze holding something indescribable—not sympathy, but understanding: "You said we'd protect your wife and children. If you take the blame, you'll die, and they won't be safe either. The choice is yours."

Qiu Wenbin remained silent for a long time. The only sounds in the interrogation room were the hum of the lights and his breathing. Finally, he raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse and almost inaudible: "Director Cheng, I'll talk. I'll tell you everything."

Cheng Du pressed the recorder.

That evening, in Lin Feng's office, Cheng Du pushed open the door and placed a thick transcript on the table. Lin Feng opened it and read it page by page.

Qiu Wenbin confessed how Yongsheng Group controlled Huaqiang Factory through shell companies, how Guo Yonglin instructed him to set up that private room on the eighth floor, how Duan Huiliang helped him handle those bribery accounts, how Zhu Liling helped him launder money, how Rong Xin helped him cultivate relationships, and how Wang Linxin helped him deal with those who disobeyed him.

Lin Feng finished reading the last page and closed the transcript. He looked up at Cheng Du: "Now that Qiu Wenbin has spoken, Guo Yonglin can't escape."

Cheng Du nodded: "But we need to be quick. Guo Yonglin must have already heard the news."

Lin Feng picked up the phone and dialed Qi Tongwei's number: "Secretary Qi, Qiu Wenbin has spoken. The evidence is conclusive. We can take action against Guo Yonglin now."

Qi Tongwei paused for a second on the other end of the phone, then said, "I'll report to Secretary Chen immediately. You, prepare to close the net."

Lin Feng said, "Understood."