Chapter 1858

Chapter 1858: Chapter 1858

Jiang Wangshan repeated Song Guanchao’s words verbatim.

After listening, Chen Bolli’s eyes lit up: "Is it confirmed that Fengliang Company was set up intentionally?"

"Not confirmed, but the possibility is very high." Jiang Wangshan, having a police background, had an unusually keen sense for such matters.

He wasn’t sure who was behind the setup, but he was certain the company was definitely being framed.

"Get that journalist and interrogate him thoroughly!" Chen Bolli’s tone was slightly excited, leaving Jiang Wangshan puzzled.

"I estimate it won’t be that fast."

"Then speed it up!"

"...Fine, I’ll call him over today."

Jiang Wangshan didn’t hesitate; he put down the phone and called someone to come over, to contact Li Zhengyi and have him come for investigation.

Li Zhengyi was in Jiangzhou and received a call from Fengliang Company in the afternoon, inviting him to dinner in the evening.

Li Zhengyi knew Fengliang Company intended to use money to keep him quiet.

Money paves the way, always successful.

He was very curious how much Fengliang Company planned to spend.

While he was at the hotel, eagerly anticipating the hush money that was about to arrive, a call came in from a Beijing number.

"Is this Li Zhengyi?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"I’m from the Beijing City Public Security Bureau, our director would like to invite you for an interview."

"Huh?" Li Zhengyi was a bit dumbfounded, the municipal bureau asking me for an interview?

Li Zhengyi still had a realistic view of himself; although he was with CCTV, at the end of the day he was just a small-time journalist.

However, he was only puzzled and did not suspect anything.

"Mr. Li, do you have time?" They urged.

"When is the interview?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"That might be a bit rushed, I’m out of town."

"Could you please hurry back today? We’ll reimburse your airfare and accommodation."

Li Zhengyi hesitated for a few seconds, then asked, "What is the theme of the interview?"

They said, "315 is approaching; our director wants to do a special topic on 315."

Li Zhengyi thought for a while, and after tonight’s dinner, he would immediately return to Beijing; although a bit tight, he could make it.

"Alright, I’ll return tonight."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Li. Please send me your flight number later, and I’ll drive to meet you."

"No need, no need." Li Zhengyi felt slightly thrilled, thinking the bureau’s director was really courteous.

They insisted: "Mr. Li, please don’t feel embarrassed; since we invited you for an interview, we must host you properly."

"Well... alright then."

Li Zhengyi quickly purchased an eleven o’clock flight ticket and sent the ticket information over.

Time quickly moved to evening, and Li Zhengyi met President Huang at the restaurant.

He didn’t mention the hush money, nor did President Huang; they exchanged some idle talk during dinner. At the end of the meal, President Huang took out a rice gift box and handed it over: "Mr. Li, this is the latest product from our company; please take it home and try it."

"Credit should follow merit, I cannot accept this." Li Zhengyi feigned refusal.

President Huang deliberately put on a stern face: "It’s just a bag of rice, not something precious."

After some back and forth, Li Zhengyi accepted it.

He weighed the rice gift box in his hand; it was quite heavy, wondering what was inside.

Outside the restaurant, he hailed a taxi, sat in the back, and opened the gift box.

Inside wasn’t rice but a slab of plastic-sealed gold.

Each slab had ten pieces, each piece weighing 100 grams; according to current gold prices, it was around a million.

Li Zhengyi frowned slightly; honestly speaking, a million wasn’t much.

But since the gift was already given and he had received it, calling for more would be improper.

"Forget it, let it be; it was picked up for free anyway." Li Zhengyi took the gold out, placed it in his briefcase and casually tossed the gift box onto the backseat.

At one-thirty in the morning, the plane landed at Beijing International Airport; as he just walked out with his briefcase, he saw a man at the pick-up point holding a sign saying "Welcome Li Zhengyi."

Li Zhengyi couldn’t help but puff out his chest; it was the first time he received such high-standard treatment.

"Hello, officer." Li Zhengyi approached and greeted him.

"Hello, Mr. Li." The officer, after checking his photo, said, "Let’s get in the car."

In the parking lot, Li Zhengyi was amazed looking at two police cars parked.

For picking up just one person, they brought two cars, and they were police cars.

Could this count as misuse of public vehicles?

As soon as he approached, the car doors suddenly opened, and three officers alighted.

Two of them flanked him while another took out handcuffs from his waist and said, "Li Zhengyi, you are under arrest."

"???" Li Zhengyi was utterly confused.

The sound of "clack clack" made him realize he was already cuffed.

It wasn’t until the car exited the parking lot that Li Zhengyi slowly came to his senses, looking at the officer in the passenger seat, asking, "Officer, why am I being arrested?"

The officer in the passenger seat replied without turning his head, "It’s about an hour’s drive to the municipal bureau, Mr. Li, you can organize your words well; when you get to the interrogation room, you can save some time."

Li Zhengyi still didn’t understand: "So what crime did I commit?"

The officer directly ignored him.

Li Zhengyi’s mind was racing, feeling anxious and flustered, recalling everything he had done recently but couldn’t figure out what he did wrong.

To be honest, he had done plenty of shady things, but those were all in the grey area.

They could be considered legal or illegal.

Besides, it’s not just him; the other side isn’t clean either.

If they really reported to the police, it would be mutual harm.

So, at the moment, he really couldn’t think of what it might be.

But the police playing dumb made him both anxious and frustrated.

At two o’clock in the morning, the car entered the municipal bureau, his briefcase and personal items were taken, and he was thrown into the interrogation room.

After waiting for more than ten minutes in the interrogation room, someone entered.

A policeman in his twenties and another in his thirties.

Li Zhengyi sat upright, not daring to be casual.

As a journalist, he knew this violent office very well.

Once you enter this place, getting out is almost impossible.

"Name."

"Li Zhengyi."

"Age..."

After some basic questioning, the police asked, "Do you know why you’re being arrested?"

Li Zhengyi carefully shook his head, fearing they might think he was deliberately uncooperative: "No, I don’t."

The policeman asked, "Where did the gold in your briefcase come from?"

Li Zhengyi’s heart skipped a beat, thinking maybe Fengliang Company reported to the police?

But that’s not right; even if they reported, it should be Jiangzhou police arresting him, not Beijing’s police?

Maybe the gold in his briefcase was noticed, and they’re casually asking.

"Recently, gold prices have been rising, and I bought it for investment."

"Which bank or gold shop did you buy it from? Do you have transaction records?"

"From a private shop, cash transaction."

He gave an answer with no loose ends; the policeman smiled, not probing further: "Who instructed you to investigate Fengliang Company?"

Li Zhengyi’s mind buzzed, being stunned for several seconds.

It really was Fengliang Company!

This damn...

After a brief shock, Li Zhengyi realized there were influential people within that company!

Not seeking Jiangzhou police but Beijing police, and it’s the municipal bureau!

Finished, finished, it seemed he really was stuck this time.