Provincial Capital

Bie Dongshan hurriedly came to report to Cheng Rushan, “Director Cheng, Bian Haitao refuses to admit anything.”

Although Bian Haitao used the art gallery as a way to accept bribes and help people, he never had direct contact with them.

On the surface, it all appeared as if people were just buying art.

Even if the people who bought the art admitted to bribing him, it wouldn’t be enough to convict Bian Haitao.

Cheng Rushan said, “Then issue an investigation order and bring Jiang Ling and Meng Yiyi in for questioning.”

To Cheng Rushan, Bian Haitao’s actions seemed beyond his usual capability.

Given Bian Haitao’s skills, he shouldn’t have been so cautious and elusive.

When Jiang Lin informed him that Jiang Ling and Meng Yiyi had appeared in the capital, he immediately realized what was happening.

Meng Yiyi, the so-called fortune-teller, was problematic.

Cheng Rushan flipped through the case files, then threw them aside. “Have Kuang Guomei brought in for questioning.”

Since Bian Haitao was under investigation and suspended, Kuang Guomei was also affected and hadn’t been to work these past few days.

Half an hour later, Kuang Guomei was brought to a quiet small meeting room.

She sat there, feeling uneasy, and kept glancing out the window.

Soon, Cheng Rushan walked in briskly, took one look at Kuang Guomei, and handed her an envelope.

Kuang Guomei looked at him suspiciously, then opened the envelope and saw a stack of photos fall out.

She was so angry that she trembled all over.

She knew that Bian Haitao disliked her, and after she lost her usefulness, he not only lost any feelings for her but even felt disgusted.

For her son and because her father had lost his power after the political upheaval, making it difficult for her to live a divorced life, she endured everything.

She knew Bian Haitao had affairs outside, but she pretended not to know, though the pain in her heart was obvious.

Over time, it became unbearable.

Now that Bian Haitao was under investigation, she was even more terrified.

Seeing the concrete evidence of Bian Haitao’s misconduct with other women, this alone was enough to have him removed and investigated.

Cheng Rushan: “Bian Haitao has violated laws and regulations, causing a very adverse impact on the Party and the government. Now it has even affected your work. Do you want him to affect your children’s lives as well?”

Kuang Guomei firmly believes that a father’s background affects his children.

Even though ten years have passed since the end of the Cultural Revolution, this belief has not changed.

After her father was sidelined, those who had been wronged by him in the past united to ostracize her family, with cold words and various forms of exclusion.

Her parents’ lives were very difficult. Her brother’s job and her nephews’ studies were also affected.

Her nephews were bullied and excluded by other students at school.

So, she knew well how significant a father’s impact on a family could be, without needing anyone else to tell her.

Kuang Guomei gritted her teeth and said, “Cheng Ju, I want to divorce Bian Haitao!”

Cheng Rushan: “Bian Haitao has illegally amassed wealth. You should know where the embezzled money is hidden.”

Kuang Guomei hesitated for a moment, recalling the scene when Bian Haitao left.

When the prosecutor’s office guards came to “invite” him, he asked for a few minutes to talk to her.

That was the second time he had looked at her with such sincere eyes.

He held her hand, hesitated to speak, and finally said, “Meimei, I have never regretted marrying you. No matter what I have done for my career, in my heart, you will always be my only wife.”

Because of these words, she was once deeply touched and willing to stand by him through thick and thin.

Now, hearing Cheng Rushan’s words and seeing these photos, her feelings of jealousy and despair could no longer be concealed.

The facts she had long known would not be believed without seeing them with her own eyes.

These photos are more reliable than Bian Haitao’s words.

“Cheng Ju, phone call!” The office secretary ran over.

Cheng Rushan stopped speaking, allowing Kuang Guomei to make her own decision.

He got up and returned to the office.

On the way, the secretary said, “Cheng Ju, it’s Director Jiang on the phone.” After saying this, he noticed that Cheng Rushan, who had been moving at a steady pace, suddenly quickened his steps and rushed into the office, as if he were competing for the big prize from a few years ago.

Cheng Rushan grabbed the phone, and his voice unconsciously softened, “Wife, where are you?”

Jiang Lin had called him before going home, and he had been wondering where her car was, feeling she should be home by evening.

Jiang Lin’s voice sounded somewhat different, with a hint of unusual excitement. “Shan Ge, we had a bit of trouble on the road, but it was nothing serious. We’re now at Pingde County Public Security Bureau…”

“You encountered highway robbers?” Cheng Rushan’s voice suddenly became as tense as a tight winch.

Jiang Lin was worried he might be upset. She initially thought about not telling him, but then she feared that if she didn’t, he would be unhappy later.

It wasn’t just about him being upset; she was mainly concerned about him being sad.

She had promised him that she wouldn’t hide anything.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. It’s fine. We had those electric shock sticks developed, and they came in handy. I used one on a highway robber, and…”

“What happened?” Cheng Rushan was eager to be by her side immediately.

“Well… I might have broken his leg. Could I be sued for intentional harm?” She had stunned the man with the electric shock and then, in a hurry to escape, ran him over with the car without caring about him.

In the chaos, she ended up breaking his leg.

In modern times, people might accuse her of excessive defense or intentional harm since the robber had already lost his ability to act, and she continued to injure him.

Hearing her worried and careful tone made Cheng Rushan’s heart ache.

She was robbed by a few despicable criminals, managed to escape, and now might be accused of harming the robbers?

Anyone who dares to say such a thing will face his lifelong grudge!

“Don’t be afraid. Next time something like this happens, just kill them. I’ll take all the responsibility.”

He was increasingly determined to get her a legal firearm.

He had previously trained Jiang Lin on how to use and maintain a pistol, but since they were traveling to the capital by train this time, she felt it wasn’t necessary and refused to carry a gun.

Carrying a gun is quite troublesome, especially in places like the capital.

If they were going to a remote or rural area, she might have agreed to take it, but for the capital, it seemed unnecessary.

At that time, there weren’t nationwide crackdowns on homemade or illegal guns.

In rural areas, many people had shotguns or even semi-automatic rifles, especially among local thugs who almost all carried guns.

Jiang Lin was still a bit scared.

At that moment, she only thought about escaping.

She didn’t think about dragging the man out but rather used him as a makeshift obstacle.

After reaching a safe place and reflecting, she realized her actions were actually illegal since the man had already lost his ability to act.

Since there would definitely be self-proclaimed “guardians of justice” criticizing her anyway, she decided to inform Cheng Rushan in advance so he could be prepared and not caught off guard by any accusations.

“I’m not afraid. We’ll cooperate with the Public Security Bureau’s investigation, and it’ll be over soon…”

Before she could finish, Cheng Rushan said, “You wait there; I’ll come to pick you up.”

He immediately turned to the secretary to arrange a car. “I’m going to Pingde County.”

He then told Jiang Lin, “Wait for me. Rest well.”

He didn’t ask Jiang Lin if she was injured or if there were any issues because he knew she would probably say she was fine.

Rather than worry uselessly, he preferred to see for himself.

After speaking a few words with Jiang Lin, he hung up the phone, then went to put on his sidearm.

The secretary was startled; seeing Cheng Rushan don the weapon made him feel a chill.

Cheng Rushan gave some instructions and then appointed two judicial officers to accompany him for recording.

Bie Dongshan ran over excitedly, “Brother Cheng, Kuang Guomei is willing to confess.”

Cheng Rushan showed no sign of pleasure and replied indifferently, “You handle this matter. I’m going to pick up Jiang Lin.”

Bie Dongshan asked, “What happened to my sister-in-law?” He sensed something was wrong; otherwise, Cheng Rushan wouldn’t be acting so urgently.

Cheng Rushan said, “They encountered robbers over there. I need to personally follow up on this case.”

Of course, such cases are under the jurisdiction of the Public Security Bureau.

The courts and procuratorates typically don’t interfere in the preliminary stages, though there are exceptions if there’s suspicion that the case is related to their ongoing investigations.

On the road, Cheng Rushan drove himself, leaving the two judicial officers, who had previously thought themselves skilled drivers, utterly astonished.

In the end, they could only keep their mouths shut and grip the handrails tightly.

Before dark, Cheng Rushan and his team arrived at the Pingde County Public Security Bureau.

Jiang Lin had finished giving her statement and was resting in the corridor of the bureau, chatting with Su Xingyun.

She and Xiao Chen were not seriously injured; a few days of rest would suffice.

As they were talking, a familiar jeep rushed in—it was Cheng Rushan’s official vehicle.

Su Xingyun’s jaw dropped, “Cheng Rushan is incredibly fast!”

Jiang Lin quickly stood up and ran over, seeing Cheng Rushan jump out of the driver’s seat.

His expression was more serious than ever, making her a bit anxious.