The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

Ye Wenxu said nothing and turned on the electric baton.

He jabbed it towards Chen Fang's thigh.

The powerful electric current swiftly coursed through Chen Fang's entire body. Chen Fang, restrained to the hospital bed, couldn't even struggle as his whole body quickly began to tremble.

Even so, Chen Fang clenched his teeth and did not cry out.

This scene also terrified Su Lu'an.

She had only intended to give Chen Fang a hard time; she had never expected Ye Wenxu to get serious.

She felt anxious as Chen Fang's face twisted in pain.

She wanted to step forward to stop it, but was blocked by another policeman: "Doctor Su, please don't interfere. This is part of our case-handling process."

Su Lu'an said with a guilty face, "But he hasn't fully recovered yet, you doing this…"

She couldn't finish her sentence.

Ye Wenxu jabbed him a second time.

Just like before, Chen Fang's body shuddered, and even the wrists handcuffed together were chafed until they bled.

"Wow, I didn't expect this, Director Chen really has some backbone, eh? Getting shocked like this and not even whimpering. No worries, our criminal police team has plenty of tricks up our sleeves."

Having said that,

he put the electric baton back.

And then took a can of pepper spray.

Su Lu'an was beside herself with urgency.

Although Chen Fang was detestable and she truly wanted to get back at him,

she had not anticipated such "torture."

She cried out in haste, "Don't be reckless, the patient hasn't fully recovered yet. If you keep this up, someone might die."

Ye Wenxu was already annoyed.

He didn't care whether it would lead to a fatality or not.

He raised the pepper spray, ready to spray it at Chen Fang's face, when suddenly, someone at the door shouted loudly, "Stop!"

The voice was booming and authoritative.

Ye Wenxu turned around to see, only to find the grim-faced Organizational Department Director Zhang Feng walking in.

"Director Zhang, why have you come at this late hour?" Ye Wenxu asked in surprise.

Zhang Feng glanced at him and said coldly, "If I hadn't come, your criminal police team might have caused a fatality."

"How could that be? We're handling the case according to the law. This Chen Fang is just a hard-headed fool. With clear evidence against him, he still refuses to confess. Using some measures is only reasonable."

Ye Wenxu argued.

"Is that so? The evidence is conclusive? Since it's conclusive, then just convict him. Is there a need for torture?" Zhang Feng asked.

Torture was a serious accusation.

Hearing this, Ye Wenxu became somewhat panicked.

Just when he was thinking of how to explain himself,

another voice came from the door.

"If Comrade Wenxu is indeed torturing for confessions, then Comrade Zhang Feng, would your actions count as interfering with judicial fairness? Since when does the Organizational Department meddle with police case handling?"

Everyone looked intently.

The man before them was none other than the Deputy County Magistrate Ding Yuan.

Following Ding Yuan was another person, the Political and Legal Committee Secretary and the Director of the Public Security Department, Guan Cunzhong.

Their appearance,

also surprised Zhang Feng.

He smiled and said, "I didn't expect that Deputy Magistrate Ding and Secretary Guan would also have such concern for Comrade Chen Fang, not sleeping in the middle of the night and coming to visit him in the hospital?"

Ding Yuan naturally understood the mocking tone in his words.

He said with contemptuous laughter, "Compared to Director Zhang, I'm far behind. Clearly, Director Zhang got here first."

When old hands clash,

there's never a clash of swords.

A few words are all it takes to express both what is and isn't intended.

Zhang Feng said, "I'm not here to visit Comrade Chen Fang. I wasn't feeling well with my heart in the middle of the night, so I came in for a checkup. I just happened upon this. As a county leader, can't I enquire about it?"

What an excuse.

It left Ding Yuan momentarily at a loss for words.

After all, if he said he too happened to come to the hospital because he felt unwell, it would seem quite low.

With no alternative, he could only look to Guan Cunzhong and said, "Secretary Guan, since the hospital has already said there's nothing wrong with Chen Fang, should he be taken into custody under such circumstances?"

Guan Cunzhong immediately understood.

He nodded and said, "Ye Wenxu, bring the person back to the station first. Don't linger in the hospital."

"Yes, sir!"

Ye Wenxu received the order.

His eyes shone with a sharp light.

He approached Chen Fang and, while opening the handcuffs, said, "Comrade Chen Fang, the hospital is a public place. Our presence here has also affected the rest of other patients. Now that you have recovered, let's head back to the station. Rest assured, once we're on police turf, I'll make sure someone takes good care of you."

The implication of these words was already quite heavy.

They were meant for Chen Fang to hear, as well as Zhang Feng.

For Chen Fang's part, it was to tell him that what happened in the hospital was merely an appetizer. Wait until we get to the police station, and I'll serve you the real "feast."

For Zhang Feng's part, it was to tell him, you think you're a big county leader? Got a temper? Now that I'm taking Chen Fang back to the police station, what can you do to me?

Ding Yuan did the same.

His gaze towards Zhang Feng was somewhat defiant.

Clearly, in this back-and-forth exchange, Ding Yuan had the upper hand.

At this moment, the most regretful person was Su Lu'an.

If she hadn't told Ye Wenxu that Chen Fang was better, perhaps this situation wouldn't have occurred.

If it was just Ye Wenxu, she could still have "blown up" a bit, but now with so many leaders arriving all at once, she, as a doctor, seemed to have lost her right to speak.

"I'm sorry."

As Chen Fang was being escorted by several police officers passing by the door, Su Lu'an said softly, like a child who had made a mistake.

Chen Fang smiled and responded, "I'm the one who should be saying sorry."

"Let's go."

Ye Wenxu pushed him and rebuked.

Chen Fang turned around, looked at him and said, "Chief Ye, no need to be like that. Who knows, you might have to release me in a little while. Making it so awkward now, what will you do if you can't save face later?"

"Release you? Dream on. Just wait, once we're at the station, see how I'll deal with you."

Ye Wenxu said scornfully.

Chen Fang smiled and replied, "One should always leave themselves a way out when dealing with people. Otherwise, when there's no path left to take, you are sure to regret it."

"Keep spouting nonsense, and I'll zap you with my stun baton, believe it or not?"

Ye Wenxu barked impatiently.

Chen Fang was helpless.

He could only shake his head and descended the stairs surrounded by the crowd.

Just as he was about to get into the police car.

Ye Wenxu's phone rang.

He walked aside and asked somewhat irritably, "What now?"

What was said on the phone was inaudible to others, but his expression suddenly changed.

From initial disbelief, he became shocked.

After hanging up the call, he hurried over to Guan Cunzhong and whispered a few things into his ear.

Guan Cunzhong was also dumbfounded.

He then whispered a few words to Ding Yuan.

Ding Yuan was taken aback and asked, "Are you sure?"

Ye Wenxu leaned in from the side, nodded, and said, "Positive. The forensic department has already tested it. It's the weapon that killed Qi Hui, and on the weapon, there are only the fingerprints of Qi Hui and Niu Yong."

"Could Chen Fang have used some method to erase his own fingerprints?"

Ding Yuan, an outsider in these matters, asked.

Ye Wenxu shook his head and replied, "If Chen Fang's fingerprints had been erased, then the fingerprints of others would no longer exist either. Niu Yong wouldn't be able to take the fall. If someone was impersonating, the dagger wouldn't have Qi Hui's fingerprints on it."

His words provided a professional explanation.

Under such an explanation, there was only one possibility left.

Chen Fang was not the murderer!

The call came from the police station.

Just over an hour ago, Niu Yong had walked into the county police station building to surrender himself, admitting that he had killed Qi Hui, and he had also submitted the murder weapon.

The police station did not dare to be negligent.

First, they detained Niu Yong.

Then, they urgently tested the murder weapon.

Only after the test results were confirmed did they call Ye Wenxu.

This news left the three of them stunned in place.

Turning to look at Chen Fang, he was humming a tune, looking entirely at ease.

It seemed he had known this would be the outcome all along.