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

"Secretary Fang, Director Qian was intercepted at the highway entrance. Zhao Gang and his men had their car towed away and were taken away as well."

The person making the call was He Huan, the team leader of the urban management bureau.

Is the news reliable?

"It's absolutely reliable. My wife told me about it; she saw it at the highway tollbooth. I called you immediately after receiving the message."

Fang Zhiwen held his phone, remaining silent for a long time.

He sent Qian Cheng to the provincial capital.

Take the highway, enter from the Liuhe Town entrance, and head north; it will take a little over two hours to reach the destination.

But he didn't expect Zhao Gang to be waiting at the highway entrance.

"Secretary Fang? Secretary Fang, are you still listening?"

"exist."

Fang Zhiwen's voice trembled slightly.

"understood."

He hung up the phone, put it on the table, and stared out the window.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the pile of unfinished materials on the table. The white paper reflected the light, hurting one's eyes.

He reached out and gathered the materials together, aligning the corners, and set them aside.

Then he stood up, walked to the window, and lit a cigarette.

Qian Cheng was arrested.

He knew what this meant—Qian Cheng had something in his hands.

He has worked in Liuhe Town for so many years, and every project he has handled, every fund he has approved, and every contract he has signed is recorded.

Will he hand these things over to Zhao Gang?

If Qian Cheng can't withstand the pressure and speaks up, he's finished.

He picked up his phone and dialed Fang Mingyuan's number.

The phone rang twice and was answered.

"Brother, Qian Cheng has been arrested."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"When did this happen?"

"Two hours ago. At the highway entrance, Zhao Gang and his men."

Fang Mingyuan was silent for a moment, then asked a question that Fang Zhiwen hadn't expected.

What does Qian Cheng have?

Fang Zhiwen's fingers tightened slightly.

"He has worked in Liuhe Town for so many years, and every project he handled, every fund he approved, every contract he signed... is recorded."

"That's not what I'm asking." Fang Mingyuan's voice turned serious. "I'm asking—does he have anything to do with us?"

Fang Zhiwen knew what Fang Mingyuan was talking about.

It's not about the project in Liuhe Town, nor the whereabouts of the 1160 million yuan, but about things that can't be brought to light—the dealings between Fang Mingyuan and Qian Cheng, and evidence of Fang Mingyuan's "special arrangements" in Liuhe Town.

"have no idea."

"you do not know?"

Fang Mingyuan's voice rose a few decibels.

"Brother, Qian Cheng isn't mine. He's yours."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Fang Zhiwen was telling the truth.

Qian Cheng was assigned to Liuhe Town by Fang Mingyuan, and every matter Fang Mingyuan handled in Liuhe Town was done through Qian Cheng.

Fang Zhiwen was merely cooperating, signing documents, and acting as the "legitimate" person in charge.

"Zhiwen," Fang Mingyuan's voice returned to calm, "You need to do a few things right now. First, clean out your office—take what needs to be taken, destroy what needs to be destroyed. Second, organize all the materials you have, including those handled by Zhou Min, and put them in a safe place. Third—"

He paused for a moment.

"Third, if the disciplinary committee talks to you, don't say anything. Let me handle it."

Fang Zhiwen knew what "wait for me to handle" meant—wait for Fang Mingyuan to find connections in the provincial capital, wait for Fang Mingyuan to settle things, and wait for Fang Mingyuan to get him out of trouble.

But he wasn't sure if Fang Mingyuan could still do it.

"Brother, there's one more thing."

"What?"

"Zhou Min. If Zhou Min really did hand over the materials to He Ying, then these things—"

"I said, I'll handle it."

The phone was disconnected.

Fang Zhiwen took the phone away from his ear and looked at the screen; the call had lasted a little over a minute.

He stood there, finished one cigarette, and lit another.

……

Meanwhile, Fang Mingyuan's office

He hung up the phone with Fang Zhiwen, sat behind his desk, and stared at the calligraphy on the wall—"Tranquility leads to far-reaching influence."

He's had those four words hanging there for years.

It was written by a friend in the county who practices calligraphy. He had it framed and given it to him, and he has been hanging it up ever since.

I used to think this word represented a state of mind; now I think it represents a sense of unease.

Qian Cheng was arrested.

Qian Cheng has something in his hand.

Qian Cheng was assigned to Liuhe Town by Fang Mingyuan, and every matter Fang Mingyuan handled in Liuhe Town was done through Qian Cheng.

If Qian Cheng speaks up, he won't be able to escape either.

Fang Mingyuan picked up the landline on the table and dialed a number.

The phone rang a few times before being answered.

"Zheng Hai, it's me."

"County Chief Fang, what are your instructions?"

"Could you find out for me if Secretary Wang has any plans for tonight? I'd like to invite him to dinner."

"Secretary Wang Tiejun?"

"Um."

"Okay. I'll contact them right away."

Fang Mingyuan hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair.

Wang Tiejun, a member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, is his political ally.

The case in Liuhe Town involves the public security system.

Wu Tiejun has been sidelined; Wang Tiejun is the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and has leadership over the public security system.

If Wang Tiejun could step in, perhaps the situation could be salvaged.

But he also knew that Wang Tiejun was a shrewd character.

When he was doing well, Wang Tiejun treated him like a brother.

Now that he's in trouble, will Wang Tiejun still stand by his side?

But he could only give it a try.

My phone vibrated.

He picked it up and saw a message from Zheng Hai: "County Chief Fang, I found out that Secretary Wang has no appointments tonight."

Fang Mingyuan replied with a single word: "Okay."

He then dialed Wang Tiejun's number.

……

At this moment, in the interrogation room of the county public security bureau...

In the corridor, Zhao Gang came out of the interrogation room, and Su Wanqing went to greet him.

"Still haven't spoken?"

"No. He hasn't said a word since he was arrested." Zhao Gang's expression was somewhat grave. "When asked if he's eaten, he doesn't answer; when asked if he's drunk, he doesn't answer; when asked if he knows why he was arrested, he doesn't answer."

Su Wanqing walked to the door of the interrogation room and looked inside through the glass window.

Qian Cheng sat in the interrogation chair, head down, maintaining the posture she had adopted when she arrived that morning.

"Has the tech team cracked the USB drive yet?"

"It's been cracked. Inside are records of projects in Liuhe Town over the past few years, including contracts, transfer records, and acceptance reports. There are also several audio recordings."

Su Wanqing's fingers tightened slightly: "Record?"

"Yes. A recording of Qian Cheng's phone call with Fang Zhiwen."

Su Wanqing's heart started racing.

Qian Cheng not only kept a record, but also made an audio recording.

This shows that he never fully trusted Fang Zhiwen.

While working for Fang Zhiwen, he meticulously recorded everything, using it as leverage to save his life in the future.

Such people are the most difficult to deal with—but also the easiest.

He is difficult to deal with because he is meticulous and doesn't speak easily;

He's easy to deal with because he has something in his possession, and he knows what he can get in return for it.

"Team Leader Zhao, I'll go in and talk to him."

Zhao Gang glanced at her: "Director Su, this is inappropriate. You work for the government office, not as an investigator."

"I'm not going there to investigate a case. I'm going there to negotiate with him."

Zhao Gang remained silent for a moment.

"Director Su, there are procedures for interrogation."

"I know," Su Wanqing said, looking at him. "But procedures are rigid, people are flexible. Qian Cheng isn't speaking now, not because he's resisting, but because he's waiting. Waiting for what? Waiting for someone to tell him what he can get in return for what he has."

Zhao Gang thought about it.

"You can go in. But I have to be there."

"it is good."

Zhao Gang pushed open the door, and Su Wanqing followed him inside.

Qian Cheng heard the door open but didn't look up.

Su Wanqing sat down opposite him, while Zhao Gang stood at the door with his hands in his pockets and his gaze fixed on Qian Cheng.

"Money Prospects".

Su Wanqing's voice was not loud, but it was very clear.

Qian Cheng did not move.

"You know who I am."

Qian Cheng slowly raised his head and looked at Su Wanqing.

His eyes were bloodshot, his lips were dry and cracked, and he looked several years older.

"Director Su."

Su Wanqing cut to the chase: "Qian Cheng, do you know what you can get for what you have?"

Qian Cheng remained silent.

"Take the initiative to confess, cooperate with the investigation, and perform meritorious service—these will all be taken into consideration when sentencing. You are the person in charge, not the decision-maker. If you can clearly explain Fang Zhiwen's problems, the organization will treat you leniently."

Qian Cheng's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"Director Su, can you represent the organization?"

"I can't," Su Wanqing said, looking at him. "But County Chief He can. She told me to tell you—what you have is your only bargaining chip. Use it well, and you can get a lighter sentence; don't use it, and once we find out, the situation will be different."

Qian Cheng remained silent for a long time.

"What will Secretary Fang do if I tell him?"

"That's not your concern. You should be concerned about yourself, your wife, and your children. They're waiting for you to come home!"

Qian Cheng was conflicted, his fingers tightened slightly, and he stared down at the table.

Go home? Is it really possible to go back?

Fang Zhiwen agreed to take care of his wife and children on the condition that he would shoulder all the responsibilities.

But can he really handle it?

He Ying and her ilk are not to be trifled with, nor are those people in the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Even if I don't say anything, they'll find out sooner or later...

Su Wanqing looked at him but didn't urge him.

After waiting for a long time, Qian Cheng finally raised his head.

"Director Su, I'll speak now."

Zhao Gang walked over and pressed the recorder button.

Time: 4:23 PM. Person being interrogated: Qian Cheng. Interrogator: Zhao Gang.

"Let's begin..."