I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

The next morning, in the office of the deputy director of the county government office.

Su Wanqing sat behind her desk, a phone number displayed on her phone screen—Zhao Gang, deputy captain of the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the County Public Security Bureau.

He was in charge of investigating the incident where Chen Dapeng was beaten in Liuhe Town.

After investigating for several days, nothing was found.

It's not that we can't find out, it's that someone is preventing us from finding out.

Su Wanqing picked up her phone and dialed the number.

The phone rang three times before being answered.

"Captain Zhao, this is Su Wanqing."

"Director Su?"

Zhao Gang's voice carried a hint of surprise—it was unusual for the deputy director of the government office to call him directly.

"What's the matter?"

I'd like to see you. Is today a convenient day?

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Convenient. Where?"

Su Wanqing thought about it and decided she couldn't do it at work.

The county government building was crowded and noisy. When Zhao Gang, a criminal police captain, entered and exited the government office, he was seen by people and discussed.

Is Zhao Gang here to report on his work?

The claim that the criminal investigation team has very little working relationship with the government office is unfounded.

Looking for someone? Who? Who is he related to?

Every question can be answered by making up an answer, but the more answers you make up, the more flaws you reveal.

"Don't do it at work. There's a teahouse on the east side of the county town, called 'Qingming Teahouse,' do you know it?"

"I know. When?"

"It's 12:30 PM. I'd like to invite you for tea."

Zhao Gang remained silent for a few more seconds, as if confirming some information—perhaps he was wondering why Su Wanqing had arranged to meet him at the teahouse, or perhaps he simply hadn't realized what was going on.

Finally, he said one word: "Okay."

At 12:30 pm, at Qingming Tea House.

When Su Wanqing arrived, Zhao Gang was already there.

He sat in a corner booth with a cup of tea in front of him.

He wasn't wearing a police uniform, but a dark jacket, and his hair was neatly combed. He didn't look like a policeman, but more like an ordinary middle-aged man who had come to have tea.

But his posture betrayed him—his back was ramrod straight, and his eyes would occasionally glance at the doorway, indicating that he was observing his surroundings; it was a professional habit that he couldn't shake.

Su Wanqing walked over and sat down opposite him.

Zhao Gang poured her a cup of tea and pushed it towards her.

"Director Su, what's the matter that's so urgent?"

Su Wanqing didn't beat around the bush.

She took a brown paper envelope out of her bag, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Zhao Gang.

"Captain Zhao, take a look at this first."

Zhao Gang glanced at the envelope but did not open it immediately.

He looked at Su Wanqing with a scrutinizing gaze.

"What?"

You'll see when you see it.

Su Wanqing's voice was very low.

Zhao Gang's fingers paused for a moment.

He picked up the envelope, opened it, took out the materials inside, and read them page by page.

His expression remained unchanged, but Su Wanqing noticed that his brows furrowed slightly—not the kind of furrowing one would show upon seeing trouble, but the kind of expected heaviness that comes after confirming something.

"Director Su." Zhao Gang put down the materials and looked up at her. "Who wrote these materials?"

Su Wanqing did not answer the question.

"Captain Zhao, tell me first, is this testimony sufficient to file a case?"

Zhao Gang glanced at her.

"If the testimony is true, that's enough. Instigating the beating, intentional injury."

He paused, then added.

"But there's a problem."

Su Wanqing asked, "What's the problem?"

"Regarding the assault, the testimony states that 'Fang Zhiwen instructed Qian Cheng to arrange for Liu Jun and Wang Lei to beat up the audit team staff.' However, if there is only the witness's statement and no statements from Liu Jun and Wang Lei, Fang Zhiwen and Qian Cheng could easily deny it—the witness was not present at the scene and only heard it from Qian Cheng. This testimony is hearsay evidence and lacks sufficient probative value."

Su Wanqing remained silent for a few seconds.

"Therefore, Liu Jun and Wang Lei need to speak up."

"Yes. As long as they both confess that Qian Cheng ordered it, we can trace it back to higher levels. Once Qian Cheng speaks up, Fang Zhiwen won't be able to escape. Once Fang Zhiwen speaks up, the higher-ups—"

He didn't say who it was, but both of them knew who he was talking about.

Su Wanqing picked up her teacup, took a sip, and put it down.

"Captain Zhao, if I can provide the whereabouts of Liu Jun and Wang Lei, how long will it take you to catch them?"

Zhao Gang thought about it.

"If we know where they are, we can take care of them in a day. But there are procedures to follow when making arrests—the detention warrant needs to be approved, and the action plan needs to be submitted. It's not like I can just make an arrest whenever I want."

"County Chief He will coordinate the matter of the criminal detention warrant."

Zhao Gang glanced at her.

When Su Wanqing mentioned "County Magistrate He", her tone was very confident. It wasn't "I'll ask for you" but "It's already been arranged".

"Alright then." Zhao Gang nodded. "Once you've found the person, I'll personally lead the team to arrest him."

Su Wanqing took out another piece of paper from her bag and handed it to him.

On the paper were a few lines written by Zhou Min—Liu Jun's ID number, mobile phone number, and address; the same information as Wang Lei; and several places they frequented: a billiards hall in Liuhe Town, an internet cafe in the county town, and a rented house in an urban village in the provincial capital.

Zhao Gang glanced at it, folded the paper, and put it in his pocket.

"I brought the person here within a day."

Su Wanqing looked at him.

"Captain Zhao, where do we interrogate them after they're caught?"

Zhao Gang thought about it.

"Logically, they should be at the Liuhe Town Police Station. But the people at the Liuhe Town Police Station..."

"I can't trust him."

Su Wanqing continued his words.

Both of them fell silent.

The head of Liuhe Town Police Station is Fang Mingyuan's man. Fang Zhiwen has been in Liuhe Town for ten years. What is the relationship between the people in the police station and him? How many meals did they eat from him? How many gifts did they receive from him? Who knows?

"We can't conduct the trial in Liuhe Town," Zhao Gang continued. "I'll take him to the county public security bureau for questioning."

Su Wanqing nodded.

"Captain Zhao, there's something I need to make clear to you."

"you say."

"This case is being watched by higher-ups. County Chief He is also watching it. Go ahead and do it; if anything goes wrong, County Chief He will take responsibility."

Zhao Gang looked at her for a few seconds, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

"Director Su, I've been a police officer for twenty years. I don't need anyone to take responsibility for catching bad guys."

Su Wanqing looked into his eyes, and her gaze held scrutiny, confirmation, and a hint of respect.

She didn't say anything more, stood up, and picked up her bag.

"Captain Zhao, I'm waiting for your news."

Zhao Gang also stood up.

"Director Su, go back and tell County Chief He—I've taken on the case in Liuhe Town."

Su Wanqing nodded, turned and left.

As she walked out of the teahouse, she stood at the door, took a deep breath, and then took out her phone to send a message to He Ying.

"County Magistrate, Captain Zhao has agreed."

He Ying quickly replied with two words: "Okay".