Chapter 58: The Great Leader of Dell

Zhou Mei nodded. “Exactly. He’ll never admit it—unless you have irrefutable evidence.”

“There’s rarely any solid proof left behind when handing over cash. I don’t have any evidence.”

“That’s why… what’s the point of us going? You ask, he dodges, and it’s over! It won’t do a bit of good—in fact, it might just tip him off!” Zhou Mei said.

Lin Xiaosu smiled. “Do you believe this? Opportunities are born in action.”

Zhou Mei studied him for a long moment. “Why is it that every time I’m with you, I feel like you’re leading me astray?”

“Oh, now that’s harsh. Think about it—since you met me, haven’t you been making waves in the Criminal Investigation Unit?”

“Making waves? Since I met you, I haven’t had a single peaceful day.”

“We’ve been busy, sure, but you’ve gained a lot. Isn’t that police star on your shoulder about to shine even brighter?”

“I like the sound of that. In this sea of hardship, it’s the only light that glimmers,” Zhou Mei admitted, a hint of joy in her voice.

“So, if you come with me today, maybe you’ll earn another shining star on your shoulder!”

“Yeah, right! You’re just using me as a human shield, or maybe a stepping stone. If someone accuses me of abusing my power, I’ll be lucky if I don’t get in trouble—let alone earn a merit!”

“How about this—if you get nothing out of today, I’ll give you something else as a reward,” Lin Xiaosu offered.

Zhou Mei’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”

“A breakthrough in the May Sixteenth case.”

“Who?”

“Li Kaiyuan—Tiger’s right-hand man, and former chairman of Qinghe Company.”

Zhou Mei was visibly shaken.

Li Kaiyuan was the key figure in Qinghe Company. It could be said that if he were caught, the entire chain behind Tiger would unravel. The task force knew how important he was—they’d already issued a warrant for his arrest, with a thirty-thousand reward.

Within the task force, a reward system had been announced: anyone who uncovered a critical clue would be promoted by one rank.

And one rank meant another police star.

Police stars—Zhou Mei’s greatest love.

“Where is he?” For once, Zhou Mei was genuinely excited.

“What I mean is, if nothing comes of today, then I’ll give you that information…” Lin Xiaosu teased.

“Don’t play games! Don’t you know how urgent this is? Just tell me what you’ve found! If you tell me, I’ll give you my all—you can use me however you wish!”

“Hey, hey, don’t say things like that…”

“What’s the worst that can happen? Aren’t you just using me as your scapegoat? What else could you do?”

Lin Xiaosu leaned in and whispered something in her ear.

The brashness vanished from Zhou Mei’s face in an instant. “How do you know that?”

Lin Xiaosu sighed softly. “I tend to be cautious by nature. You dragged me into the May Sixteenth case, so I have to guard against any loose ends coming after me. So, late at night, I went to the Bailu Restaurant—a place mentioned by several people—to see if I could overhear any plans against me. As luck would have it, I saw Li Kaiyuan and Zhou Luping enter a room together…”

Li Kaiyuan had told Zhou Luping that the situation had changed and he had to leave. In Fengcheng, there was no one he could trust—except Zhou Luping.

Why?

Because Zhou Luping was Li Kaiyuan’s exclusive subordinate.

If Li Kaiyuan were caught, Zhou Luping would surely be implicated.

If Li Kaiyuan escaped, Zhou Luping had nothing to fear.

This was a bond of mutual trust forged by dire circumstances.

Their fates were tightly intertwined—so long as Li Kaiyuan was free, Zhou Luping would remain safe; and as long as Zhou Luping stayed off the task force’s radar, Li Kaiyuan would never be caught.

So Li Kaiyuan dared to give Zhou Luping his emergency contact information. He wanted Zhou Luping to keep him informed about the May Sixteenth case while secretly managing several assets he left behind.

When Zhou Mei heard all this, her cheeks flushed.

No one knew where Li Kaiyuan was hiding, nor the social connections he relied on.

There was nothing in the records—no documentation at all.

If they wanted to find him, they could dig three feet into the ground and still come up empty.

Without hesitation, Zhou Mei switched to another phone and called the task force.

On the other end, excitement erupted immediately.

A vast net was cast over Jiangcheng at lightning speed.

Before Zhou Mei had even put down the phone, action was already underway.

The task force leader exhaled deeply on the line. “Comrade Zhou Mei, if your information proves accurate, we’ll make sure you’re recognized for your contribution!”

“Thank you, sir! This is simply my duty.”

Hanging up, Zhou Mei took a deep breath. “Now I’ll keep my word—you have my undivided attention!”

Dell Company was located in the southern part of the city.

The grounds were vast, a testament to the local government’s eagerness to attract investment.

They’d given him a hundred acres, opened every bureaucratic door, handled all land disputes for him, and offered land at a rock-bottom price. Once the factory was built, he’d get three years tax-free and half-tax for five more.

And Dell Company truly lived up to its reputation. Unlike most businesspeople who haggle over everything, he accepted every term without complaint, never missed a tax payment, and even prepaid taxes during times of government financial difficulty—helping the authorities weather tough times. Who wouldn’t appreciate such an entrepreneur?

In a few years, he’d become a model business leader, a guest of honor at every government department, the poster child of successful investment.

Lin Xiaosu and Zhou Mei drove into the industrial park.

Before them stood the impressive factory complex.

Dozens of steel-framed workshops lined the area—raw materials, selection, mixing, production, finishing, packaging…

Each workshop bustled with workers.

A security guard manned the gate.

When Zhou Mei showed her police ID, the old man’s attitude changed completely. “Officers, please, come in!”

They entered the office building without trouble.

On the third floor, in the chairman’s office, they met the chairman’s secretary.

She was not what they expected. Many private business secretaries were mere ornaments, but not this one. She was beautiful and impeccably dressed—not garish, but sharp and capable.

Upon hearing their purpose, she immediately poured them tea.

Her movements were elegant and precise, not a gesture wasted.

She handed them their cups with a serene smile. “The boss is entertaining a guest. It’ll be just a moment. As soon as they’re finished, I’ll take you in.”

Lin Xiaosu nodded. “Which guest is he meeting?”

“Someone from Changsheng Group.”

Lin Xiaosu remarked, “Changsheng Group is a national giant. Are they one of your clients?”

“Changsheng’s business covers a wide range. If we have the chance to partner with them, why not seize it?”

A few brief words—casual, yet revealing the secretary’s sophistication.

Changsheng Group, a prominent private company, founded thirty years ago, rose to fame in the last decade, renowned nationwide in the gene industry, and even internationally recognized.

To have such a global heavyweight as a partner would be an honor for most companies, but the secretary spoke evenly, without any hint of self-congratulation.

The meeting inside soon ended.

The door opened; a middle-aged man emerged—the representative from Changsheng Group. Du Lifeng personally saw him out with a broad smile, nodded to Lin Xiaosu and Zhou Mei, escorted the guest to the elevator, then returned.

Du Lifeng, around fifty, wore his hair slicked back, accentuating his broad face and exuding the presence of a true boss—full of energy and spirit.

“And you are…?”

“Boss, this is Officer Zhou from Fengcheng Criminal Investigation, and this is Detective Lin from the Fengcheng Detective Agency,” the secretary introduced.

“Pleased to meet you!” Du Lifeng shook hands with them. “Let’s talk in my office.”

There was nothing out of the ordinary.

The office was spacious, but not ostentatiously decorated—rather, it radiated understated luxury and taste.

For example, the coffee table was made of rosewood.

The desk was rosewood as well.

Each ornament on the desk was chosen with care and taste.

There was no computer—at his level, he’d long since stopped dealing with computers personally.

There was a dedicated area for receiving guests, with wide sofas, every corner spotless.

The three of them sat down. Du Lifeng smiled. “I haven’t had much contact with law enforcement. This might be the first time this office has welcomed officers.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Lin Xiaosu replied.

Du Lifeng laughed. “Well, maybe because I used to work in the west wing. I only moved here this month.”

“Mr. Du, you have a great sense of humor…” Lin Xiaosu laughed as well.

Du Lifeng let out a hearty laugh.

The atmosphere relaxed.

The secretary brought in two fresh cups of tea, the leaves newly changed.

Noting the harmonious mood, the secretary smiled as well.

Du Lifeng said, “So, what brings you here today?”

He looked at Zhou Mei, but it was Lin Xiaosu who spoke. “This morning, the municipal security bureau suddenly came to my agency and handed me a massive fine. I knew someone was trying to drive me out of Fengcheng, so I did some investigating. In the end, all clues pointed to you, Mr. Du.”

“Oh?” Du Lifeng’s smile, unbroken until now, vanished.

Lin Xiaosu fixed his gaze on him. “Deputy Director Liu Dong of the security bureau said that around 8 p.m. last night, you sent your driver to give him fifty thousand yuan, asking him to kick me out of Fengcheng.”

“What? That I’d send someone to bribe Liu Dong to drive you out? I know Deputy Director Liu, but only as a casual acquaintance. Anyone with common sense would see how absurd that is.”