Fu Yu slowly raised his head. His bloodshot eyes fixed on Zhou Yi, and a savage grin spread across his face as he panted, "At worst, they'll charge me with the crime of unexplained huge assets. A few years in prison, tops. But you'd better watch yourself. If you can't finish me off, be ready for me to finish you off!"
Zhou Yi's expression did not change at this naked threat. He slowly crouched down, his gaze sharp as a blade as it pierced the other man's eyes. "You know better than anyone that once you're locked up, this won't be a matter of a few years," he said evenly. "I'll make you a bet. The moment news of your arrest gets beyond this courtyard, the task force's tip line will start ringing nonstop, and the evidence submitted will pile up across the entire desk. The victims and families who hate you enough to tear you apart, the witnesses who were too frightened by your brutality to testify-they'll all seize this chance to come swarming in and kick you while you're down! You still think you'll only get a few years? Dream on! A piece of scum like you has only one destination: the bullet fired from an executioner's gun!"
Every slash drew blood; every thrust pierced the heart!
One merciless sentence after another shattered the last scraps of false hope Fu Yu had used to deceive himself. Boundless terror surged over him like a tide, pushing him to the brink of a breakdown.
Not only Fu Yu-even Xie Zhaolong, Sun Mei, and the others nearby felt a chill sink deep into their bones at those words.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Fu Yu struggled to his feet and roared in agitation, "My dad's the county Party secretary! You can't touch me! You can't touch me!"
Ring, ring...
A phone rang in the courtyard on the heels of Fu Yu's shouting.
Zhou Yi took out his phone and frowned slightly at the unfamiliar number on the screen.
"It's my dad calling! Answer it! Hurry up and answer it!" As though he had found a lifeline, Fu Yu gestured frantically at Zhou Yi, urging him on.
Zhou Yi considered it for two seconds, then declined the call as despair filled Fu Yu's eyes.
Even if the call was from Fu Pingjiang, what difference would it make?
He was not going to release Fu Yu, so why waste his breath?
"Answer it! Why won't you answer it?" Like a gambler who had lost every last chip, Fu Yu screamed hysterically, his eyes red.
Zhou Yi gave him a look of disgust and ordered coldly, "Take him away!"
The two criminal investigators visibly hesitated. They knew perfectly well that doing so could very likely expose them to the county Party secretary's wrath.
"Move aside."
Shao Mingbao and Zhu Jianping pushed the two hesitant cowards out of the way, then seized Fu Yu by the arms, one on either side.
Fortune favored the bold. Since they had decided to stake their futures on their captain, they could not afford to hesitate or waver.
As Xie Zhaolong, Sun Mei, and the others watched Young Master Fu being dragged away, they could not help feeling a pang of fear for their own futures.
Xie Zhaolong in particular felt that if Fu Yu's ultimate fate was a bullet, his own crimes added together would be enough to get him shot twice over.
So, Captain Zhou, we're on the same side, right?
When Fu Yu wanted to go after your parents, I was the one who stopped him.
Meanwhile, near Zhou Yi's home, two police cars remained on patrol.
"Keep your eyes peeled. If you see anyone suspicious, go over and question them immediately," Liu Zhi, captain of the Second Squadron, reminded his officers again and again.
He and Wang Hongwu of the Third Squadron had divided the duties between them: one watched the residential community where Zhou Yi lived, while the other escorted Zhou Yongxin to and from work.
They had only one objective: to ensure the safety of their captain's parents.
The county Party secretary's office.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Fu Pingjiang gazed somewhat absently at the four large characters on the wall: "Through steadfast action, reach far." The calligraphy had been personally written by Wang Hongmin, vice chairman of the provincial CPPCC, and Fu Pingjiang had paid a substantial sum to obtain it.
He was not actually surprised that Zhou Yi had refused his call.
Since Zhou Yi had already chosen to side with Yan Xiangyu, and had discovered evidence of Fu Yu's crimes, there was practically no chance he would still obey the county Party secretary's orders.
Knowing that, why had he made the call anyway?
Because Fu Yu was his only son. If there was even the slightest possibility, he had to try.
At that moment, Fu Pingjiang regretted arranging a cushy position for his son at the power supply bureau.
Otherwise, Fu Yu would not have qualified as a state employee, and the charge of the crime of unexplained huge assets could not have been pinned on him. That would have left far more room to maneuver.
Things had already come to this. More words would serve no purpose.
No matter what, he had to save his son!
With that thought, he picked up his phone and called He Haidong, chief prosecutor of the County Procuratorate.
"Fu Yu's case should be accepted directly by the county People's Procuratorate in accordance with the law. Go to the County Public Security Bureau immediately and demand that they hand him over."
Fu Pingjiang issued the order in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Rest assured, Secretary. I'll take care of it right away," He Haidong replied without hesitation.
After ending the call, Fu Pingjiang thought for a moment, then dialed another number.
"Secretary Zhong, I'm heading into the city right away. I have urgent business with the mayor. Sorry for the trouble, but could you check whether he has time to see me? Thank you, thank you. Then I'll see you tonight."
After those two calls, Fu Pingjiang felt a little more at ease. He glanced once more at the inscription on the wall and decided not to draw on that connection just yet.
By the time Zhou Yi brought Fu Yu back to the County Public Security Bureau under escort, the entire county town was in an uproar.
Fu Yu had been arrested.
Fu Yu had been arrested by Zhou Yi too.
Wait, why "too"?
Once again, Captain Zhou had demonstrated to everyone in the county, through indisputable facts, both his determination to fight crime to the bitter end and his ability to do so!
Mostly his ability!
To put it simply-a thunderous crack rang out, young Zhou arrived to take command, leading everyone to take down the bad guys, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm...
Heads poked out in unison from row after row of open windows in the County Public Security Bureau building.
They watched the police car slowly stop below, watched the infamous privileged son Fu being escorted out, and watched that tall, straight figure enter the building.
"We're all police officers, so how can the gap be so huge?" In the Political Work Office, Yang Liu propped up her chin and deliberately made the remark while glancing at Zheng Yifan.
"There's no comparing us. At first, I really was a little unconvinced, but later I gradually realized that there are always people in this world who seem born to make you envy them, admire them, even idolize them. So is it really that hard to admit someone else is outstanding? No, not for me!" Zheng Yifan said with a grin.
"Aren't you about to become County Magistrate Yan's secretary? Work hard, and you'll do great too." Yang Liu clenched her little fist and cheered Zheng Yifan on.
She had only been joking earlier. In truth, she had always thought highly of Zheng Yifan. He had a flair for writing and drafted excellent documents, and he was gentle and always accommodating toward her. More importantly, he was quite good-looking too.
Zheng Yifan smiled. He had not yet had a chance to tell Zhou Yi the news.
Before, Zhou Yi had always looked out for him. Now, at last, he had a chance to repay him.
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