Chapter 19: The Commissioner Arrives

Luan Jin'an, who had been hiding to the side drinking water, choked instantly upon hearing such explosive news. He coughed violently, nearly coughing his lungs out.

Once his breathing steadied, he managed to blurt out, "Do you people in the Public Security Bureau always play this wild?"

"Li Bing, Captain Li, you aren't taking anyone today. Please cooperate with the investigation. I will report the situation here to the bureau exactly as it is, and as for how this case should be handled, I will follow the bureau's instructions."

Li Bing grew agitated and shouted at Luan Jin'an, "You actually suspect me?"

Luan Jin'an remained calm. "Li Bing, you're a veteran officer; cooperating is every citizen's responsibility and duty. I’m treating you as Captain Li right now to save you some dignity, so don't push your luck. If you don't want that dignity, I’ll have to handle this strictly by the book!"

Xiao Ziguang stepped forward, pulled handcuffs from his waist, and raised an eyebrow at Li Bing. If Li Bing continued to act out, Xiao Ziguang wouldn't mind cuffing him.

As police officers, they naturally had the ability to distinguish right from wrong and could easily tell which words were true and which were false.

Li Bing realized that if he didn't cooperate, even if Luan Jin'an didn't make a move, Xiao Ziguang would. That would be more than just ordinary embarrassment; it would be humiliating.

A single arm cannot wrestle a thigh. It was better to concede now while he still could; continuing to be stubborn would not only cost him his face but potentially his reputation as well.

As Li Bing relented, everything fell back into Xiao Ziguang's rhythm.

Zhou Liang began taking a statement from the mistress, while Chen Sheng questioned Li Bing, who remained defiant and uncooperative.

Xiao Ziguang paired up with a seasoned officer to carry Zhang Xiao into the interrogation room. He then handcuffed the naked Zhang Xiao directly to the "repentance chair."

Zhang Xiao was indignant. "Xiao Ziguang, you can't be this malicious. We’re all in the same system; if not for the sake of the monks, do it for the sake of the Buddha. Let me tell you, leave a path for others so you have a way back later."

"What do you mean we’re in the same system? You won't be for much longer! Soon, I’ll be the law and you’ll be the criminal. Why should I leave you a path?"

Xiao Ziguang knew how to twist the knife. While speaking with disdain, he deliberately looked Zhang Xiao up and down, then continued, "Zhang Xiao, you know the law. Your situation is dire—your personal life is a complete mess."

"Not only soliciting prostitutes but also keeping a mistress. I suggest you confess for leniency..."

Zhang Xiao’s face was filled with contempt. "Xiao Ziguang, take my advice: children shouldn't pry into the affairs of adults. Don't think that catching a few trivial mistakes is enough to bring me down."

"Let me tell you, my connections and background are more powerful than you can imagine! If you’re smart, kneel and apologize now, and I might show mercy and forgive you. Otherwise..."

"You’re just a dead duck with a stiff beak! I’ve caught you red-handed, and you..."

As Xiao Ziguang was about to launch his psychological offensive, the interrogation room door was knocked. Luan Jin'an poked his head in. "Xiao Ziguang, Bureau Chief Xiong is here, in the office..."

Xiao Ziguang kept his composure and asked deliberately in front of Zhang Xiao, "It’s not just Bureau Chief Xiong, is it?"

Bureau Chief Xiong, full name Xiong Yaohui, was the Deputy Chief of the Tianhai City Public Security Bureau in charge of criminal investigation—the direct superior of the criminal police squad. He wouldn't come to the squad for no reason.

In Xiao Ziguang's memory, Deputy Chief Xiong had always been someone eager for advancement. He had a very close relationship with Bureau Chief Zhang of the Finance Bureau and, through him, had leveraged connections with a high-ranking official to rise rapidly and eventually move to the Hanzhong Provincial Public Security Department...

If Xiong Yaohui was here, it was likely that Zhang Xiao’s uncle, Bureau Chief Zhang of the Finance Bureau, had arrived as well.

Luan Jin'an glanced at Zhang Xiao before saying, "Bureau Chief Zhang of the Finance Bureau is here too!"

Xiao Ziguang nodded. Just as he was about to leave, Zhang Xiao let out a cold snort. "Xiao Ziguang, I’ve always wanted to tell you something."

"Don't think that just because you climbed the Xue family's tree, you’re suddenly superior! In Tianhai, the Xue family is indeed a powerful clan, but you are nothing more than a lowly son-in-law."

"While my Zhang family isn't a powerful clan, I’m still someone of status. You want to step on me to get ahead? Aren't you afraid of hitting a wall?"

Xiao Ziguang grinned at Zhang Xiao. "Wash up and get ready for prison, kid! Do you really think I would have made a move if I wasn't absolutely certain?"

Zhang Xiao’s expression changed. "What do you mean?"

Xiao Ziguang showed his wrist, pointing at his watch. "Your Honor, you don't have much happy time left!"

Before Zhang Xiao could ask for clarification, Xiao Ziguang and Luan Jin'an left the interrogation room.

Inside Luan Jin'an's office, Xiao Ziguang saw Xiong Yaohui, a man in his forties as stout as a bear. Opposite him sat a man in his forties wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking refined but with a sinister glint in his eyes.

If his guess was correct, this was Zhang Cheng, the Bureau Chief of the Finance Bureau. As the "God of Wealth" controlling the city’s purse strings, he was a powerful official who could hold his own even against those of higher rank.

After all, no matter which department head needed funding or subsidies, they all had to bow and scrape before Zhang Cheng.

The power of the "financial pen" was deep; who got money first, who got it later, and when it was released were full of complexities.

Timely approval didn't guarantee success, but late approval could certainly ruin things.

Even though Xiong Yaohui was a Deputy Chief in charge of criminal investigation, he still had to be subservient to Zhang Cheng. Whenever he wanted more office funding, he had to treat Zhang Cheng to plenty of bathhouse visits.

Luan Jin'an knocked on the door and walked in with Xiao Ziguang. Xiong Yaohui, who had been smiling moments ago, immediately turned cold and slammed his hand on the table. "Xiao Ziguang, do you have any respect for the organization? Do you have any discipline?"

"Before the facts are clear, you dare to frame an honorable judge? Do you deserve the Party? Do you deserve the people? Do you deserve the uniform you're wearing?"

The reprimand was formulaic and meant nothing to Xiao Ziguang. It was a standard script used whenever a subordinate made a mistake.

Zhang Cheng looked Xiao Ziguang up and down and smiled. "Old Xiong, don't get angry. He’s young, bound to be impulsive, and prone to mistakes due to a lack of experience."

"Besides, I’ve heard of this Xiao Ziguang—the Xue family's live-in son-in-law. He thinks his background is so noble that he looks down on both you and me."

It was a vicious remark, worthy of a bureau chief. He had dug a pit and pushed Xiao Ziguang right into it, turning a work issue into a class struggle.

Xiong Yaohui fell for it, letting out a scoff. "Just a live-in son-in-law for the Xue family, and he thinks he can turn the world upside down? Believe it or not, I’ll call Xue Ao right now and have him slap you himself!"