Xiao Fei's home was in the bungalow area, to the east of the factory. His home wasn't far from Lin Chuan's place; Lin Chuan lived in Building No. 2, while Xiao Fei resided in Building No. 5. The distance between them was just over a hundred meters.

Xiao Fei's family was rather poor, with both grandparents sick and bedridden, surviving only on a meager pension. Xiao Fei's parents also took on odd jobs outside to earn living expenses. The tens of thousands in severance they received years ago had been lost in a failed business venture.

The family could only live in this cramped little house.

As the group approached the doorway, Lu Dapao shouted, "Xiao Fei, come out here!"

"Be restrained, you must be restrained!" Zhou Kai hurriedly warned.

"Restrained my ass." Lu Dapao cursed irritably: "Damn traitor, running off with what doesn't belong to him."

Before long, Xiao Fei walked out of the house. His complexion was pale, with eyes that seemed to shift erratically. Xiao Fei was not tall and had a thin frame. He wore a gray jacket and black pants.

"Brother Pao," Xiao Fei said, glancing at Lu Dapao with timidity.

"I'm asking you, what the hell were you doing the night before last?" Lu Dapao glared at Xiao Fei with irritation.

"I..." Xiao Fei paused, then said awkwardly, "Nothing... I didn't do anything!"

"Do I really have to expose you?" Lu Dapao stared at Xiao Fei with a sneer, "Did you stash the drugs inside Feixiang Company?"

"Ah!" Xiao Fei was startled and quickly shook his head, saying, "No... that's not true. I don't know anything, I really don't know anything!"

"What are you so nervous about if you don't know?" Lu Dapao sneered, "So tell me, why were you sneaking around the company after midnight the day before yesterday? And where did you get the company keys from?"

"I..." Xiao Fei was shocked and unconsciously slipped his hand into his pocket.

Lu Dapao lunged forward in a flash, grabbed Xiao Fei's arm on the spot, and sneered, "What are you hiding in your pocket? Take it out and let's see."

"No!" Xiao Fei exclaimed in alarm.

Before he could react, Lu Dapao had already fished out a key from his pocket—the key to the rolling shutter door at the base of Feixiang Company's building. Lu Dapao laughed, "Xiao Fei, what are you doing hiding the company's key?"

"I... I didn't!" Xiao Fei shook his head vigorously.

"Tell the truth, did you do this!" Lu Dapao roared angrily.

"Brother Pao, I... I don't know anything," Xiao Fei said, panic-stricken and on the verge of collapse, frantically looking at Lu Dapao, "I really don't know, I swear, Brother Pao, please spare me, I don't know anything."

"You scumbag." Lu Dapao kicked him, bellowing, "Still won't admit it, huh? Seems like I must talk to your mother about this, and don't you ever come back to Feixiang Company again. You're no longer one of us at Jvyi Gang."

"Please, Brother Pao, I was wrong!" Xiao Fei quickly pleaded.

"Spill it, who instructed you to do this!" Lu Dapao glowered at Xiao Fei.

"Brother Pao, I was wrong," Xiao Fei immediately knelt down.

"Son of a bitch, did you really do this?!" Lu Dapao was unrelenting as he kicked and beat Xiao Fei. Xiao Fei didn't dare resist at all and could only curl up, desperately shielding his head with his hands.

After a fierce beating, Lu Dapao demanded, "Speak, who put you up to this?"

"I... I don't know either." Xiao Fei shook his head vigorously, then said, "A few days ago, a stranger approached me, offering me five hundred thousand to help him out. The moment I heard about the money, I agreed. But... I had no idea it was this, and by the time I realized, it was too late. I just heard that Brother Chuan was arrested."

Bang...

Lu Dapao punched him.

Xiao Fei fell to the ground with a thud, his face already beaten to a pulp by Lu Dapao, his nose bleeding profusely. Xiao Fei covered his nose, sat on the ground, and began to cry out loud, "I had no idea it would turn out like this, if I had known, I... wouldn't have done it for a million."

"Damn bastardly kid, I'll deal with you later," Lu Dapao thundered with a roar.

Zhou Kai was already calling Lawyer Zhong.

After learning the situation, Lawyer Zhong hesitated, "According to the law, Xiao Fei's testimony is invalid as a witness. After all, he's a brother to all of you. Testimonies from any relatives or friends are useless."

"So what do we do?" Zhou Kai asked urgently.

"We need to find the person who bribed Xiao Fei; only then can we have a chance to completely turn the tables," Lawyer Zhong quickly said.

"Got it," Zhou Kai nodded, "I'll do my best!"

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Kai glanced at Xiao Fei, who was half-dead, and said, "Xiao Fei, the situation is complicated right now. I hope you remember how Brother Chuan has always been good to us, and you come forward to help us this afternoon."

"I'll help, whatever it takes to make amends," Xiao Fei nodded eagerly upon hearing this.

"Good, now think carefully, what does that person look like?" Zhou Kai urged, "This man is now key to whether Brother Chuan can be freed. If we can't find him, Brother Chuan's life is ruined."

"Yes!" Xiao Fei nodded.

Zhou Kai found a sketch artist skilled at portraiture, and had him begin to draw the person based on Xiao Fei's description. For now, this seemed like the only option. Once the artist had outlined the individual's appearance, they would have the brothers of Jvyi Gang take a good look to see if anyone looked familiar, and then track down the individual for Xiao Fei to identify.

The brothers of Jvyi Gang were ceaselessly trying. Tang Yumeng also never gave up her efforts; she was traveling all over, appealing to colleagues and friends in the judiciary, hoping they could offer her some help. In theory, as the top official of Jiangbei City, a word from her should have been enough to clear Lin Chuan's name, but Song Ming tightly controlled all of Tang Yumeng's powers, leaving her with no opportunity to intervene.

Tang Yumeng, in order to delay the prosecution against Lin Chuan, and to buy time for Zhong Wenyi, spent almost the entire day running around. From the Procuratorate to the court, from the court to the Ministry of Justice…

She had been to almost every place she could run to

But alas...

Her face carried the bitterness and grievance. Today, Tang Yumeng finally realized the weakness of her own influence and the insufficiency of her credibility. She visited so many departments, yet few were willing to see her. Most of the time, she was met with closed doors. Not only was she met with closed doors, but she was also severely humiliated by some department heads.

Being met with closed doors was one thing, but facing those who humiliated her, she was unable to retort or manage a response.

For example, the aged president of the Jiangbei City Intermediate Court said to her earnestly, "Secretary Tang, you are a city secretary. How can you abuse your power for personal gain? Lin Chuan's drug trafficking should follow the normal judicial procedure. How can you use your authority to interfere with the judicial department's work? You are defiling the party's trust in you..."

Confronted with the president's 'earnest' words, Tang Yumeng was left without the strength to argue.

As she left the court, Tang Yumeng looked disheartened. Although the sun outside was splendid, her world was shrouded in darkness. It felt like witnessing the end of the world or as if a life of despair was approaching her.

Tang Yumeng glanced at the time, only to discover she had been running around for five or six hours, without even a drop of water.

"Secretary Tang, let's go grab something to eat," Xiao Xue said with a sense of grievance.

"Mhm, let's go," Tang Yumeng nodded.

From morning until afternoon, Xiao Xue followed Tang Yumeng without even drinking a drop of water, constantly on the go. Finally able to eat a meal, Xiao Xue devoured her food voraciously, eating in an even uglier manner than Lin Chuan. Meanwhile, Tang Yumeng sat at the table, her face filled with melancholy, clearly not in the mood to eat.

"Secretary Tang, please eat something," Xiao Xue urged tenderly. "You've tried your hardest. Your failure isn't because of you, but because Song Ming is simply too cunning."

"I'm not eating," Tang Yumeng shook her head, saying, "If Lin Chuan is brought to court, he will surely be sentenced to death."

"What?" Xiao Xue was shocked. "Is it that exaggerated?"

"Mhm," Tang Yumeng nodded, replying, "With Song Ming's character, he definitely won't pass up the slightest chance to make Lin Chuan die. How could he miss such a good opportunity?"

"What should we do then?" Xiao Xue became a bit anxious.

"I believe that justice lies in the hearts of the people," Tang Yumeng said seriously. "I also believe that good will always triumph over evil."

After running around for two days, Tang Yumeng still hadn't achieved any results.

...

Huai Mountain South Road Police Station.

"Sis, you've come to see me again?" Lin Chuan jumped up.

"Yes," Tang Yumeng nodded, saying, "I brought you your favorite fruits, and a pack of cigarettes."

"All this formality?" Lin Chuan grinned.

Lin Chuan was very happy, yet Tang Yumeng's expression was very downcast and somber. Especially seeing how happy Lin Chuan was, the greater the contrast in her heart became.

Lin Chuan lowered his head to open the cigarette box, and suddenly, he heard a faint sobbing sound.

Looking up, Lin Chuan saw Tang Yumeng silently crying. His heart sank immediately, and he said, "Sis, what's wrong? Did someone bully you?"

"No," Tang Yumeng shook her head quickly. She wiped away her tears and said, "Lin Chuan, I'm sorry."

"Sis, what are you talking about?" Lin Chuan frowned.

"I promised to get you out today, but I couldn't do it." Tang Yumeng bit her lip, tears swirling in her eyes. She struggled to suppress her pain and grievances, fearing that if her heart's grievances burst out, it might be like a collapsing dam with floodwaters rushing forth.

"What does that matter," Lin Chuan laughed. "It's more comfortable here than working, as long as they don't dock my pay, they can lock me up as they please."

Lin Chuan's words deeply pierced Tang Yumeng's heart.

Who would willingly sacrifice their freedom? Who would want to be couped up in a tiny cage less than five square meters? Lin Chuan's words were nothing more than his way of comforting himself, consoling himself, so that Tang Yumeng wouldn't worry or trouble herself too much.

"Don't worry, I will definitely find a way," Tang Yumeng said through clenched teeth.

"I believe you will definitely find a way to handle it," Lin Chuan nodded. "Because you are the top leader of Jiangbei City."

"Mhm," Tang Yumeng nodded firmly.

Tang Yumeng seemed to have gained encouragement, a great deal of courage. After repeatedly reminding Lin Chuan not to cause trouble inside, Tang Yumeng left the police station. Watching Tang Yumeng's departing figure, Lin Chuan felt a tinge of melancholy.

Over the past two days, he could almost see with his bare eyes that Tang Yumeng's complexion was turning darker, losing its glow.

Lin Chuan had been in the detention room for two days. Even though he had food and drinks served, his heart always harbored an ominous premonition. This time Tang Yumeng came to see him, it was clear that she had encountered great resistance.

In fact, Lin Chuan never expected Tang Yumeng to be able to fight against the cunning old fox Song Ming. The reason he stayed calm inside was to comfort Tang Yumeng, hoping she could be at ease and not exhaust herself over his matters.

But as it stands, it seemed Tang Yumeng was still looking haggard on his behalf. In just these two days, she had thinned so much. Lin Chuan felt somewhat heartbroken, and even more so, worried.

If it weren't for Tang Yumeng, Lin Chuan would have broken out long ago. Why would he stay in this tiny hellish place for two days? Besides, can a broken lock and a broken door really keep him contained? What a joke.

Lin Chuan sat on the edge of the bed, eyes fixed on the iron door. With his ability, he could kick that iron door right down. Between freedom and Tang Yumeng, Lin Chuan chose Tang Yumeng, to not make her worry. Therefore, Lin Chuan must continue to stay. To put Tang Yumeng at ease.

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