"I... I don’t know, I really don’t know." Director Zhao couldn’t admit to this under any circumstances, it’s about illegal drugs. If he admitted he knew soone was dealing under his nose, he’d lose his job and spend a lifeti living on free als.
"Is that so?" Hua Qingyi suddenly got down from the high stool and walked to the window.
"If that’s the case, I hope Director Zhao can cooperate with us to get to the bottom of this matter. You know the municipal committee has always taken the illegal trading of drugs seriously, they’ve been investigating across various entry regions for a long ti, and yet drugs keep slipping into the city. Now I’ve found more than one type in your North District. Do you think I should conduct a thorough investigation?"
"Of course, of course. But I wonder where Young Master Hua got this drug from, I’d like to order a raid on that shop imdiately." Director Zhao felt awkward kneeling and took the chance to get up and sit back on the round sofa.
"There’s no need for that, wouldn’t you be spooking the enemy?" Hua Qingyi stood in the shadows, squinting his eyes at Director Zhao under the light. "Director Zhao, are you deliberately trying to let everyone in North District know that I, Young Master Hua, am investigating you?"
"No, no, no! Even if you lent seventeen or eighteen guts, I wouldn’t dare ss up your affairs." Director Zhao attempted to kneel again, but was stopped by Xiao Lin.
"Director Zhao, let’s speak properly while seated, you look too disgraceful like this." Xiao Lin was sowhat at a loss for words about this Director Zhao. Although he was a not insignificant official, reaching this position and still making no progress, it seed he would only remain like this his entire life.
"Director Zhao, I’ll give you the truth today, North District is the first place I’m dealing with since taking office, it’s for you to decide what to do." Hua Qingyi pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray without courtesy. "Two people have died here already, Xiao Lin was just the beginning. You should be aware, or else get ready to wash up and stay inside for a couple of days."
This blatant threat left Director Zhao stunned in his chair, torn in a dilemma that wasn’t evident in his eyes. Xiao Lin, from his angle, could clearly see no panic in those eyes.
"Director Zhao, Young Master Hua’s intention is not to scare you but to hope you will cooperate with us and resolve this matter quickly. You could also make ands by rendering ritorious service, right!" Xiao Lin leaned over deliberately, placing a hand on the back of Director Zhao’s hand, who pulled his hand back like a startled bird, frowning at this big reaction.
Director Zhao had always been a carefree person, with a sloppiness typical of a middle-aged man. The cleanliness obsession showed just now was evident; was this really Director Zhao?
Doubts grew in his heart, he wore the sa clothes, but Xiao Lin saw two completely different shadows on the sa body. Could this truly be a case of split personality?
If so, perhaps Director Zhao’s earlier claim of not knowing was genuine. It’s possible another personality resides within him, unaware of what he does, interesting.
"I know, I know." Director Zhao hung his head. "How should I cooperate?"
"I want to..."
"Qing Yi, it’s already very late today; I think Director Zhao is also tired. Why don’t we discuss this matter at the station tomorrow? This place doesn’t suit the discussion of official matters, does it?" Hua Qingyi was about to continue speaking when Xiao Lin interrupted him, pondering as he looked at the back of Xiao Lin’s head.
"That’s true, it’s nearly eleven or twelve now, it’s a bit late." Hua Qingyi walked over to Director Zhao. "Director Zhao, where do you live? Let take you ho, it’s late."
"Oh, I just live at the station, it’s ho wherever I’m alone." Director Zhao glanced at Xiao Lin, puzzled about what the man was thinking, why he allowed him to leave at such a crucial ti, a point he couldn’t understand for now.
"Ah, that’s close enough, we’re at one end and the other, a good on!" Hua Qingyi suddenly burst into laughter. "Don’t mind , I’m superstitious, really believe in this stuff."
"Oh, I don’t mind."
The two politely escorted Director Zhao to the door. The boss hadn’t gone to sleep yet; seeing them coming downstairs, he went up to tidy up the room.
In the odorless air, only the two of them remained in silence. Xiao Lin pondered the serene depth in Director Zhao’s eyes. This person’s mind was deceitful, not as noisy as he seed on the surface, really due to split personality? Or deliberate pretense?
"Brother, why did you just interrupt us?" Perhaps in the dark, Hua Qingyi didn’t see the change on Director Zhao’s face. Actually, it was indeed a good opportunity, but Xiao Lin easily gave it up, and he didn’t understand why.
"I still don’t trust this man’s words." Xiao Lin considered, unable to trust the man’s words completely before figuring out his suspicion.
"What do you an?"
"I’ve noticed many differences with this Director Zhao, such as a usual habit of walking with hands behind yet sotis I find him putting his hands on both sides. Moreover, when being timid and hesitant, his eyes show imrsion. This person clearly masquerades as the Zhao Director we’re familiar with. Also, as far as I know, Director Zhao isn’t soone who talks a lot, but have you noticed? The Director Zhao we t never stopped talking."
"So what?"
"I’m thinking if this person isn’t suffering from split personality, soone is impersonating Director Zhao. However, I hope it’s the first one, because if it’s the second, the original Director Zhao might already be dead."
Xiao Lin silently smoked, not that this worry perturbed him. Instead, he felt that they were being drawn into this person’s rhythm, a horrible beginning. "The reason I interrupted you was, today, our pace was being disrupted, didn’t you feel it?"
Hua Qingyi hadn’t noticed, just felt strange, but not as insightful as Xiao Lin. "If it’s a split personality, we can’t charge him with a cri."
"Fourth Lord’s channels have always been straightforward, one direct line, with middlen rely functioning as connectors at both ends. From buyer to seller, it’s a single line, while any other branches are managed by the buyer. So the big boss could directly link with Fourth Lord through the middleman, while expanding the bottom branches is the big boss’s task."
"In seeking to expand the market, recruiting local officials would be the best tactic. Unlike in the Middle East, developing multiple channels in the city requires support from local law enforcent. The expansion hasn’t reached the city center because Lin Zhifang consistently refuses to relent. I suppose the collaboration with Lin Zhifang is a real reason Wang Zhanting is making efforts."
"I think our coroner, Mu Rongyun, unintentionally helped us by dragging Lin Zhifang into the computer system intrusion case. Wang Zhanting couldn’t be unaware of his monitoring. What puzzles is why the people in North District remain oblivious."
"It’s easy to guess!" Hua Qingyi closed the window, the rain outside had gradually co to an end, drops still falling yet indistinguishable whether from the sky or blown off leaves by the wind.
"Judging by the current underground channel scale in North District, it likely ford an internal net, implicating more officials than just Director Zhao, who is rely a small head. Announcing Lin Zhifang’s monitoring would surely shake up this net from the top, everyone knows to preserve themselves, any withdrawal from one of them would poke a hole in the net. Instead of constantly repairing the hole, it’s much easier to seal off the news."
Xiao Lin nodded at Hua Qingyi, who was more perceptive politically than he was. "Wang Canghai was the first to know about Lin Zhifang’s monitoring, with his intelligence, he would undoubtedly verify with the Wang Family."
"I don’t think we need to stay here too long, Shaoqing will naturally send feedback, but now Director Zhao already knows our purpose, contrary to my original plan."
Hua Qingyi pondered, initially, further undercover operations were needed, pulling them out by the roots. After all, he hadn’t yet found trusted people to delegate, unlike the old master. To achieve an official position, one must start finding reliable people, undoubtedly requiring teamwork linked by mutual benefits politics demands, different from business’s reciprocity.
"Let things stay wrong!" Xiao Lin smiled faintly. "Tomorrow, you still take Dan Qing back, I’ll remain alone here."
"What about Xia Xue and Lian?" Hua Qingyi thought of asking Xiao Lin to return for these two. He guessed Xia Xue and Xiao Lin had a long period of separation, not good for their relationship.
"Don’t bother about my stuff with her, work is priority." Xiao Lin appreciated Hua Qingyi’s thoughtful consideration, knowing he was going through sensitive tis, temporarily placing personal affairs aside!
"I already left a mark near us, Shaoqing will naturally contact you." Hua Qingyi didn’t say much more, such matters outsiders could barely advise, only give a hint. "Be careful, wait for to co back before acting."
"Understood!" Ah, this understood sounded insincere, Hua Qingyi wouldn’t believe Xiao Lin would wait obediently; as soon as new clues appeared, he would surely act faster than anyone else.
"Brother, I’m not joking this ti. Even if there are more clues here, you must wait for to settle things there before taking action, you are now isolated, understand?"
"Are you doubting my ability, or worrying I haven’t exercised for so long, my nerve system’s deteriorated?" Xiao Lin glared at Hua Qingyi unpleasantly; his concern was a bit excessive. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for recomndations or monthly tickets on Qidian, your support is my greatest motivation.)
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