Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

Hou Liangping gripped the wine glass tightly, his knuckles turning white.

blackmail!

This is blatant extortion!

Using state power to engage in organized crime-like extortion!

This Shen Zhong is absolutely deserving of death!

"Is there any evidence for this?" Hou Liangping tried his best to keep his voice calm.

"Evidence?" The junior clerk hiccuped. "Where would you find written evidence for something like this? But... I heard..."

He looked around, lowered his voice even further, and spoke almost into Hou Liangping's ear.

"The actual person in charge of that sand quarry was a man called 'Fatty Wang.' He was Liu Xinjian's confidant and was in charge of the accounts. He happened to be away on the day the quarry was razed, and he ran away with several key account books."

"The whole city is looking for him now. Shen Zhong's men are looking for him, and Liu Xinjian's men are looking for him too. If they can find this Fatty Wang... hehe, then the world in Handong will be turned upside down."

Fatty Wang!

Ledger!

Hou Liangping felt as if a bolt of lightning had cleaved through the fog before him.

That's the key!

This is the fatal witness who could send Shen Zhong to the guillotine!

Hou Liangping didn't dare linger in that hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

The drunken clerk was still muttering and cursing. Hou Liangping pressed several hundred-yuan bills under the empty bottle, and without even waiting for the shopkeeper to give him change, he pulled down the brim of his hat and hurriedly walked out of the store.

The sun outside was still scorching, but he felt refreshed all over, and even the sweltering air seemed to smell sweet.

It's really hard to find a place to break through the iron shoes, and it takes no effort to get it!

He hailed a taxi on the roadside and headed straight for the hotel. All the way, his fingers tapped unconsciously on his knees, and the taut string in his mind was vibrating wildly.

Fatty Wang.

Once we catch this person, pry open his mouth, and obtain those hidden ledgers, Shen Zhong's so-called "for national defense security" pretense will be completely torn apart! At that time, what military region standing committee member, what powerful background, will all vanish in the face of ironclad legal evidence!

Back in his hotel room, Hou Liangping locked the door from the inside and even pulled on the doorknob to confirm.

He took an anonymous SIM card out of his bag and put it into his phone.

He opened his contacts, and his fingertip stopped on a number.

Xing Tie, deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.

We'd all trained in the same system back then, and even had a few drinks together, so our relationship was fairly decent. Most importantly, Xing Tie was a resourceful man; finding someone in Jingzhou wouldn't be difficult for him.

The phone rang five or six times before it was answered.

"Hey? Who is this?" Xing Tie's slightly tired voice came through the receiver, with some background noise, like someone in a meeting or at a crime scene.

"Old Xing, it's me, Hou Liangping." Hou Liangping tried his best to make his voice sound relaxed and casual, like a casual chat between old friends.

There was a noticeable pause on the other end of the phone, followed by an immediate disappearance of the background noise, as if the other person had covered the receiver or moved to a quieter place.

"Director Hou... Director Hou? What instructions do you have for calling me at this time?"

Xing Tie's tone was somewhat cautious. After all, any news circulating in that circle in the capital could spread to the local areas overnight.

Although Hou Liangping suffered a setback, he has been reinstated. As long as the Zhong family behind him remains, he will still be the high-ranking Director Hou.

"It's not really an instruction; I'm just taking care of some personal business in Handong right now." Hou Liangping cut to the chase without beating around the bush. "I want you to help me investigate someone."

"Find someone? Director Hou, just say so. As long as it doesn't violate any principles, I'll definitely help."

"Wang Pangzi used to be one of Liu Xinjian's men at Handong Oil and Gas Group, in charge of the sand quarry at Baima River."

There was a deathly silence on the other end of the phone.

A good ten seconds passed before Xing Tie's voice came through again, "Director Hou... you're making things difficult for me. Fatty Wang is on edge right now, and... this matter involves Secretary Shen and General Manager Liu, I really don't dare to get involved."

Hou Liangping gave a cold laugh.

He really is a spineless coward.

"Old Xing, you're a smart man. I'm here representing more than just myself this time." Hou Liangping began to employ his most proficient psychological tactics.

"Besides, I only need an address. I'll handle the rest myself and will absolutely not involve you. Just tell me where he is, and I, Hou Liangping, will remember this favor."

"this……"

"What? You won't even give me this much face? Or do you really think that Shen Zhong can control everything? If that's the case, do you think I'll come out unscathed?"

Hou Liangping's tone suddenly turned stern, "Old Xing, think it through. If this fire starts, it will be very important which side you stand on."

There was another suffocating silence.

Finally, Xing Tie seemed to have made a difficult decision, and sighed: "Alright, Director Hou, since you've put it that way, what else can I say? But let me make this clear beforehand, I'm only responsible for helping you investigate this one thing. Once I find it, I'll send you the location. As for the rest, don't say that I gave you the information."

"The sooner the better." Hou Liangping hung up the phone, threw it on the bed, and a smug sneer appeared on his face.

This is the taste of power.

Even if they are temporarily down on their luck, as long as they still have that tiger skin, the small fry in these places won't dare to disobey them.

At the same moment he hung up the phone, in an office of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau.

Xing Tie, who had just looked troubled and made excuses, was now playing with his phone, his face completely devoid of any fear. He looked up at a man in casual clothes sitting on the opposite sofa.

Zhou Weiguo.

Hou Liangping had barely dialed the number when they accurately located Xing Tie and quickly found him.

"Captain Zhou, I've done my part perfectly, just as you instructed," Xing Tie said with a forced smile.

Zhou Weiguo nodded and placed a document on the coffee table: "Captain Xing, thank you for your hard work. Send this to Hou Liangping in half an hour."

"Understood, understood." Xing Tie nodded repeatedly, but a chill ran through him.

……

Half an hour later.

Hou Liangping's phone vibrated.

A short message popped up: North Mountain in the suburbs, Guiyuan Tianju Farmhouse, Room 302.

Upon seeing this message, Hou Liangping sprang up from the bed and slammed his fist into his palm.

Time is of the essence; action must be taken swiftly.

Hou Liangping knew that the worst thing to do when arresting such a crucial witness was to drag things out. If things got delayed and the person escaped, or was silenced by Shen Zhong's men beforehand, all his efforts would be in vain.

But he definitely can't do it alone.

Going to the local police station is definitely not an option; it would be troublesome if word got out.

He racked his brains and thought of someone.

Chen Hai.

The director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Handong Province, his old classmate, and one of the three outstanding figures in the political and legal system.

But he was cautious. He didn't intend to tell Chen Hai the whole story. After all, Chen Hai was now a cadre in Handong, and if he didn't want to confront Shen Zhong directly due to personal feelings or discipline, it would only make things worse.

He dialed Chen Hai's number.

"Hai Zi, I am a monkey."

"A monkey?" Chen Hai was somewhat surprised.

"I'm currently on a mission in Jingzhou and I have an urgent matter. I need two or three reliable brothers, preferably skilled, and I also need to borrow an inconspicuous car. Don't ask too many questions, and don't use official channels. Consider this my personal request."

Chen Hai was taken aback for a moment, but knowing Hou Liangping's personality, he knew from the tone that this was no small matter. Trusting his old classmate, he didn't ask further: "Okay, take care of yourself."