Chapter 22: Solving the Case Directly!

Liu Shan was somewhat puzzled. What was so special about these bank remittance records and transaction details? The investigators from the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee had already checked similar records before, which was how they caught the person who transferred money to Yin Tiejun—a man named Niu Sheng, a private business owner involved in municipal projects.

Niu Sheng confessed to the committee that he bribed Yin Tiejun to secure a municipal project worth four million; he spent half a million on the bribe. Liu Shan understood this matter well, so he wondered: what was the purpose of the Tenth Group’s investigation into these records? Wasn’t it pointless?

“No, sir, it’s not that simple,” Yang Dong immediately shook his head and continued. “Niu Sheng said he got the municipal project by bribing Yin Tiejun after winning the contract. But, in reality, Niu Sheng had already been awarded the project a week earlier. I work in the Municipal Office’s General Section—I know this project inside out.”

“What does that prove?” Liu Shan pressed, still frowning.

Yang Dong felt Liu Shan was missing the point and continued, “If you were Yin Tiejun, would you handle business for Niu Sheng before receiving payment?”

“Of course not. Who would work before being paid?” Liu Shan replied decisively. If it were him, he wouldn’t do it.

Suddenly, he realized what Yang Dong meant and looked at him, “So you’re saying…”

“It’s a suspicious point. Niu Sheng had already secured the project a week before, but the money was transferred to Yin Tiejun only two days ago. I don’t believe any corrupt official would do the job first and collect payment later. Even if Yin Tiejun were that trusting, he wouldn’t use his own account to receive the money—let alone stash it in his home refrigerator. And Niu Sheng’s fifty thousand was originally transferred from a man named Qi Cheng, Niu Sheng’s business partner. Qi Cheng got the fifty thousand from Yang Kai, who had received it from Building Materials Industrial Group.”

Yang Dong realized his explanation was getting convoluted. So he picked up a marker and mapped it out on the whiteboard:

Building Materials Industrial (ICBC) → Yang Kai (CCB) → Qi Cheng (ABC) → Niu Sheng (Commercial Bank) → Yin Tiejun (Commercial Bank)

“In other words, the fifty thousand started from Building Materials Industrial’s account, crossed three banks through three people, and finally landed in Yin Tiejun’s account.”

Liu Shan and Su Tongzhou both frowned, staring at Yang Dong.

Yang Dong chuckled and pointed at the whiteboard. “And the timing of these transfers—isn’t it remarkable, sirs?”

In that instant, Liu Shan and Su Tongzhou’s expressions changed. They hurriedly combed through the details from ICBC’s Jiangbei Branch in Lingyun City, especially the timing between each transfer.

“Building Materials Industrial transferred fifty thousand from their ICBC account to Yang Kai’s CCB account at 9:15 a.m. on February 24th. Yang Kai then transferred those fifty thousand to Qi Cheng’s ABC account at 9:25 a.m. Qi Cheng, upon receiving the funds, transferred them to Niu Sheng’s Commercial Bank account at 9:30 a.m. Niu Sheng sent the money to Yin Tiejun’s Commercial Bank account at 10:10 a.m. And then—the miracle happened!”

“Yin Tiejun’s housekeeper reported him for corruption at 10:50 a.m. on February 24th. The Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee opened the case at 3 p.m., searched his home at 5 p.m., and found fifty thousand in the fridge. Finally, they arrested Yin Tiejun in his car at 11:30 p.m. that night.”

“Sirs, some things don’t need to be spelled out!”

“This seamless chain of evidence was miraculously completed in a single day—astonishing, isn’t it?”

Yang Dong stopped his analysis there; there was no need to go further. Any more would be a slap in the face to the committee.

Su Tongzhou and Liu Shan exchanged a glance. Both veteran inspectors, with decades of experience, could sniff out a case’s authenticity instantly. This evidence chain, all completed in one day, was blatantly fabricated.

Why hadn’t the committee investigated such an obvious issue? Why hadn’t they scrutinized the accounts or analyzed the problems? They only arrested Niu Sheng, believing his confession to be the final word, without digging into his accounts or thoroughly investigating the municipal project itself.

So, in the previous life, they hastily closed the case within three days, transferred Yin Tiejun to the judiciary, and pronounced sentence.

Why?

Xu Yuncai took a huge risk but reaped great rewards, becoming Lingyun City’s deputy mayor and later, a standing deputy mayor.

Yet, anyone who dug into the Yin Tiejun case would find glaring flaws in the evidence chain.

This was a miscarriage of justice.

Liu Shan and Su Tongzhou looked at each other. Both realized the matter was far bigger than Yin Tiejun’s alleged corruption—the forces behind it were beyond their control.

Su Tongzhou stood, packed all the bank details into a file, sealed it, and signed his name.

Liu Shan followed suit.

“Yang Dong, you sign as well,” Liu Shan gestured.

Yang Dong nodded, stepped forward, and signed his name.

Such procedures could not be skipped.

“Comrade Yang Dong, Comrade Jiang Hu, you two may return. I’ll report this to the leadership. Protect Comrade Yin Tiejun—make sure nothing happens to him!” Su Tongzhou instructed urgently before turning and leaving.

Liu Shan followed.

At this point, there was little left for Yang Dong to do. He’d reached the limits of what he could uncover. The Tenth Group had no greater authority. The relevant facts were already clear.

What remained were mere tricks—why did the housekeeper give false testimony, frame Yin Tiejun, and file a false report? Why did Building Materials Industrial transfer fifty thousand for the “bribe”?

There were far too many hidden manipulations.

Yang Dong and Jiang Hu returned to the hotel where Yin Tiejun was being kept.

As soon as they arrived, they saw several people standing outside Room 107.

“I’m sorry, without authorization from Group Leader Yang, you can’t enter!” Hou Donglai, exasperated, confronted them, knowing he’d made enemies. Yet he had to—offending committee leaders was preferable to his wife discovering his own misdeeds.

“Hou Donglai, how dare you block Chief Ji?” someone barked angrily, pointing at Hou Donglai.

Yang Dong slowed his pace, observing carefully.

He recognized Ji Hongyu from yesterday—the deputy section chief of the committee’s office, and the nephew of Secretary-General Ling Zhenting.

“Leaders, the Tenth Group is fully in charge of the Yin Tiejun case. You’re not authorized to enter or investigate him!” Lu Yike had arrived as well, her expression resolute as she faced them.

She hadn’t intended to offend these people—she simply followed the law and procedure. The Tenth Group was designated to handle Yin Tiejun’s case, and she would not abandon principle because of pressure from above.

“Yike, don’t forget you’re a committee member!” Ji Hongyu’s face darkened, but he remained polite, mindful of Lu Yike’s influence and her importance within the committee.

“I am currently a member of the committee’s investigation team, Tenth Group!” Lu Yike replied coolly, offering no courtesy.

“You…” Ji Hongyu’s face grew uglier as he pointed at Lu Yike.

“Leader, you’ve finally returned,” Hou Donglai, sweating profusely, spotted Yang Dong and Jiang Hu and breathed a sigh of relief. He felt he could hardly hold out—if not for Lu Yike, he’d have surrendered long ago.

“Yang Dong!” Ji Hongyu turned, his eyes blazing as he saw Yang Dong—the man he most despised. He couldn’t explain it, but Yang Dong simply irritated him. There was something about him—an inexplicable aversion.

“Leaders, are you trying to interfere with the Tenth Group’s investigation? Or meddle in the committee’s investigation team’s work?” Yang Dong asked coldly, stepping up to Ji Hongyu.

“Yang Dong, you’re just a temporary staff member. You’re not part of the committee. Don’t wave your authority around here,” Ji Hongyu snapped, his face flushed.

Yang Dong pointed at the hotel entrance, addressing Ji Hongyu, “Please leave. Do not interfere with the Tenth Group’s duties.”

“Yang Dong, your days are numbered. Your transfer order will soon be voided, and you’ll be sent back to your original unit,” Ji Hongyu sneered, his eyes full of mockery.

“Haha, not soon—right now!” came laughter from the hotel entrance.

Two people walked in side by side.

Yang Dong and Ji Hongyu turned to look.

Yang Dong’s pupils contracted as he recognized the newcomers.