Chapter 37: A Battle of Wits and Courage
At the same time, in the city disciplinary committee building, Xu Yuncai’s office.
“What? Yin Xiumei doesn’t know where the nanny is?”
Holding the phone, Xu Yuncai’s face darkened considerably.
“What are you people good for? Can’t the police station get anything out of her?”
“How am I supposed to promote a pig like you? Useless!”
Xu Yuncai was furious. He had finally gotten hold of Yang Dong’s itinerary, and even knew that Yin Xiumei, the eldest sister, was aware of the nanny’s whereabouts.
He immediately instructed He Wu, the deputy director of Yunbei District Public Security Bureau under Lingyun City, to take care of the matter.
After receiving his superior’s instructions, He Wu ordered the chief of Xiaocang Town Police Station to personally lead a team to Dongji Village to apprehend Yin Xiumei.
But after they caught her, they couldn’t get her to reveal the nanny’s location.
Yin Xiumei claimed she didn’t know where her third sister was.
Bringing her to the police station was already outrageous and risky. If they applied force during interrogation, it would be even more likely to cause trouble.
So the chief of Xiaocang Town Police Station promptly reported to He Wu, who in turn called Xu Yuncai.
That’s when Xu Yuncai lost his temper.
“Old leader, Yin Xiumei doesn’t know where the nanny is. We’re out of options!”
He Wu, wearing his uniform and looking glum, was sitting in his office reporting.
“Idiot, can’t you broaden your thinking?”
“Can’t you investigate the nanny’s family situation?”
“If her eldest sister doesn’t know, find her eldest brother, second brother, second sister, even people from her hometown. I refuse to believe no one knows!”
“I’m giving you three hours. If you still can’t find the nanny within three hours, you can forget about being deputy director of Yunbei District Public Security Bureau!”
“I’ll report to Secretary Wu of the municipal committee and have you reassigned.”
Click!
Xu Yuncai raged, hurled insults, even threatened, and then hung up.
He Wu was terrified. He owed his promotion to his old leader, who had transferred him from the city prosecutor’s office to Yunbei District Public Security Bureau as deputy director. If he lost his position now, he’d never get another chance.
Though his deputy director post was only at deputy division level, there were still benefits to be had. He was reluctant to give it up.
He’d been hoping to curry favor with his old leader with some hometown specialties, maybe get promoted to executive deputy director and become a full division-level official.
If he botched this matter, not only would he lose hope of promotion, he might even lose his current job.
“Are all of you at Xiaocang Town Police Station pigs? Can’t you broaden your thinking? Yin Xiumei doesn’t know, so can’t you check her second sister, eldest brother, even relatives in her hometown? Surely someone knows?”
“I’m giving you two hours. If you still don’t find anything, you can forget about being chief of the police station. Go back to your old profession and feed pigs!”
The higher the rank, the heavier the pressure, passed down from level to level.
Xu Yuncai gave He Wu three hours, and he in turn gave the police chief two hours.
“Yes, yes, yes, Director, rest assured. I’ll get to the bottom of this!” The police chief wiped the sweat from his brow, nodding and bowing as he assured He Wu over the phone.
After hanging up, he put on his cap and set out to investigate.
Sure enough, it took only ten minutes for him to find out that the nanny, Yin Xiuying, had a second sister and an elder brother.
He sent people out, one to find her second sister Yin Xiulan, another to find her elder brother Yin Dacai.
Meanwhile, at Yin Xiulan’s house.
Yang Dong looked at Yin Xiuying, who was slumped on the floor, sighed, and said, “I’ve told you, I can’t save your elder sister.”
“But Secretary Yin can. You know his influence in the city.”
“But if you want Secretary Yin to save your sister, you must first reveal the truth about Secretary Yin’s case.”
“What are you still worried about?”
Yang Dong had explained everything clearly, yet Yin Xiuying hesitated.
Did she not want to save her sister?
In fact, Yang Dong was only bluffing. Her eldest sister, Yin Xiumei, wouldn’t be harmed. Once those people realized they couldn’t get anything out of her, they’d let her go.
But Yang Dong had no choice but to use this tactic to deceive Yin Xiuying.
He needed her to make a decision quickly and bring her back to the city.
If Yin Xiumei was released and Yin Xiuying learned the news, she’d never fall for it.
“That fifty thousand yuan… Do I need to repay it?” Yin Xiuying asked, trembling.
Yang Dong was silent, realizing this was what she cared about.
She had probably spent the money, otherwise she wouldn’t be so conflicted.
“No need to repay it. The person who gave you the money did something bad. They won’t dare make a fuss or publicize it.”
“But your elder sister is in real danger. If you have any conscience, you shouldn’t leave her in harm’s way. Do you understand?”
Yang Dong spoke solemnly, looking at Yin Xiuying.
She breathed a sigh of relief. So long as she didn’t have to repay the money—otherwise, where would she find the means?
“I’ll go with you,” she said, standing up, strength returning to her.
Yin Xiulan, standing by, sighed with a complex, helpless expression. Clearly, she could no longer comment on her third sister’s actions.
She knew what Yin Xiuying had done was wrong, both morally and legally.
“If I tell the truth, will my elder sister be released?” Yin Xiuying followed Yang Dong out the door, repeatedly asking him.
“She will. Don’t worry.”
“Really? Will she be beaten? She won’t be harmed, will she?”
Yang Dong felt irritated but had to patiently explain.
“This is a society ruled by law. Even if those people play dirty, they won’t go too far against your sister.”
“At least, she won’t die or get hurt. At most, she’ll be illegally detained for a few days.”
“But whether she comes out depends on whether you tell the truth.”
“Only if Secretary Yin is released can he save your sister and even your other family members.”
“If not, sooner or later, you’ll be targeted, and your family won’t escape either.”
Yang Dong’s words were half reassurance, half threat.
Hou Shuangquan looked on with a strange expression. He hadn’t expected Yang Dong to use such tactics—he had actually tricked the nanny into coming out and agreeing to testify.
“Leader, are we going back to the city now?” Hou Shuangquan opened the car door, gesturing for Yin Xiuying to get in, then asked Yang Dong.
Yang Dong nodded, then shook his head.
“We’re definitely going back, but I’ll drive you myself.”
Hou Shuangquan was surprised, pointing at the nanny.
“What about her? After all this effort, aren’t you taking her back?”
Vroom—
As he finished speaking, the roar of a motorcycle engine came from the village entrance.
Hou Shuangquan looked toward the sound.
He saw a police motorcycle approaching, growing closer.
With a screech, it braked to a halt.
Jiang Hu took off his helmet, looked at Yang Dong, and grinned, “Leader, I’m here.”
“Jiang Hu, why are you here?” Hou Shuangquan was startled, incredulous.
Jiang Hu glanced at Hou Shuangquan but ignored him. This so-called smiling tiger was sinister; Jiang Hu didn’t like him.
Yang Dong explained to Hou Shuangquan, “I asked him to come.”
“When? How did I not know?” Hou Shuangquan frowned. He hadn’t seen Yang Dong contact Jiang Hu at all during their drive.
“You forgot? When I stopped the car to relieve myself?”
“That’s when I texted Jiang Hu, told him to come.”
Yang Dong smiled ambiguously at Hou Shuangquan.
With this reminder, Hou Shuangquan finally understood.
“Leader, are you still playing diversion?”
Hou Shuangquan immediately grasped Yang Dong’s intentions.
He wanted Jiang Hu to take the nanny back to the city by motorcycle, while he and Yang Dong would drive back as usual.
“Exactly… I’m afraid the information might leak again, and all our efforts would be wasted.”
Yang Dong sneered.
Now it was a battle of wits and courage with his adversaries, and only time would tell who would outmaneuver whom.