Mo Yongxing was in front, and Qin Yu was behind. The two stepped into the dance hall. Qin Yu looked around and saw the tables and chairs inside pushed haphazardly. A group of police officers surrounded a fat, middle-aged police officer with a puffy face standing in the hall. On the opposite side, Ah Long and a few of his men were also standing, staring at the police officers, but their demeanor was much weaker.
"Ren, don't push it too far. I, Ji Ah Long, am not someone to be bullied easily."
"Hmph, bullying? The dance hall across the street was set on fire. Was it you who did it?"
The fat middle-aged police officer spoke, his face showing a hint of anger. He was the newly appointed deputy director, Ren Yuanpeng. The largest shareholder of the dance hall across the street was him. He had invested a lot in that dance hall, but it was burned down last night, and all the decorations and furniture were gone. Thinking about this, his face became even colder.
"Funny, what does the fire at that dance hall have to do with me? Which eye did you see me set it on fire?"
Ah Long's face showed a mocking expression. After the fire at the dance hall last night, he had specifically asked his men, and he was sure that he had nothing to do with it.
"You envy the good business of the dance hall across the street, so you brought people to set it on fire and now you're trying to argue. We'll see if you still have the nerve to talk tough at the police station."
Ren Yuanpeng had another plan in mind. Originally, he didn't necessarily need the Dream Dance Hall just because of the Victory Dance Hall. But now that the Victory Dance Hall was burned down, he wanted to get the Dream Dance Hall. Regardless of whether Ah Long was involved or not, Ren Yuanpeng was determined to take him to the police station. Once inside, he had his ways to make him confess.
"What? No evidence, and you, Ren, want to arrest people!"
"For a thug like you, what evidence do we need? Cuff them all."
Ren Yuanpeng waved his hand, and the police officers moved forward to handcuff Ah Long and his men.
"Is this how the police handle cases now? No evidence, and you just arrest people? Have we returned to the old society?"
A mocking voice came from behind the crowd. Everyone turned to see two young men standing at the entrance. One had a proud look on his face, seemingly disdainful of everyone around, while the other had a smile, but it was clearly mocking.
These two were Qin Yu and Mo Yongxing. The one who spoke was Qin Yu.
"Who are you? How did you get in? Don't you know the police are handling a case? What are the police at the entrance doing, letting people in so easily?"
Ren Yuanpeng's face turned sour when he saw outsiders. He then shouted at a police officer beside him.
"Director Ren, don't worry, I'll deal with those little brats."
The police officer beside Ren Yuanpeng was a squad leader. The police at the entrance were his subordinates. Without paying attention to Qin Yu and Mo Yongxing, he quickly walked to the entrance.
"You don't care how we got in. I've never heard of the police arresting people without evidence, and with such a show of force. Is it because someone is using public resources for personal gain?"
Qin Yu had already understood the situation. Director Ren had already shown his true colors, and there was no point in pretending anymore. He might as well expose the truth. Even if he wasn't the county magistrate's guest, he could always lend the Dragon Seeking Disk to the Mo family. He didn't believe he couldn't deal with a deputy director.
"You... you're talking nonsense!"
Ren Yuanpeng's face turned red with embarrassment when his true intentions were exposed.
"Qin Yu, why are you here?"
Ah Long frowned when he saw Qin Yu and asked. This time, Ren Yuanpeng was clearly here to take over his dance hall. He didn't want to involve Qin Yu.
"So, you're all in this together. This arson case must be related to you two. Take them to the police station."
Ren Yuanpeng's face hardened when he heard they knew each other. He sternly ordered.
"Hey, don't cuff me, I can walk. Some things shouldn't be done lightly. Damn, you dare to hit me!"
The police officers rushed forward. Qin Yu gave Ah Long a look to not resist, but Mo Yongxing suffered. He had never been handcuffed before. As soon as he threatened them, a police officer slapped him on the back of the head.
"Be quiet."
Ren Yuanpeng watched the scene with satisfaction. Once they were at the police station, he had his ways to make them confess to the arson. Thinking about the Dream Dance Hall soon belonging to him, his fat face glowed with satisfaction.
"What's going on with Wang Ming? He's been out for so long and hasn't returned. His subordinates are unreliable, letting people in so easily. When I become the director, I'll have to adjust his position." Ren Yuanpeng waved his hand, and the group filed out, getting into the police car and speeding away.
At a corner outside the dance hall, a police car was parked, with four or five police officers inside, including the squad leader Wang Ming.
"Li Zi, are you sure that call was from the big boss?"
"Captain, I'm sure it was the big boss's call. We have the number of the big boss's office in the bureau. How could I be wrong? And the voice was unmistakable."
Wang Ming took out a pack of cigarettes, handed them to the others, lit one, and took a deep puff. After a moment of thought, he said, "If it was really the big boss's call, these two young men's identities are not simple. Director Ren might be in trouble this time!"
After finishing the cigarette, Wang Ming took out his phone, got out of the car, and dialed a number.
"Leader, I have some news to tell you, ..."
Wang Ming told the person on the phone about the dance hall incident, especially the identities of the two men and the call from the big boss. He then hung up, a pleased look on his face.
Wang Ming was a local, and his backer was actually another deputy director in the bureau. When he was just a police officer, that director was the chief. Later, when the director became a deputy director, he promoted Wang Ming to squad leader. However, like him, his leader had no significant background. Competing for the director's position was impossible against Ren Yuanpeng. But the events of tonight might be a turning point. Since Ren Yuanpeng took over, he hadn't heard his leader laugh heartily in a long time. In the phone call, his leader was full of laughter, praising him and making promises.
...
The siren-blaring police car soon arrived at the police station. Ren Yuanpeng led the group to the interrogation room, and police officers respectfully called him "Director Ren" along the way.
"We're not criminals, why are you taking us to the interrogation room!"
"Not criminals now, but soon you will be. What's the difference?"
A police officer behind them pushed Qin Yu, Mo Yongxing, and Ah Long into the interrogation room. The other subordinates were taken to other rooms for questioning.
The three sat on the chairs. Qin Yu glanced at Mo Yongxing and chuckled. The back of Mo Yongxing's head was red, clearly indicating he hadn't been quiet in the car and had received some rough treatment from the police.
"What are you laughing at? It's because of your mess. Damn, I've never been hit by anyone except my father. If I don't tear this police station apart, I won't believe it!"
Mo Yongxing shouted at Qin Yu, his tone hostile.
"Oh, big talk. Tear apart the police station? Once you're here, be quiet and confess. You might get leniency."
A police officer entered the room. He was one of Ren Yuanpeng's trusted subordinates, secretly instructed by Ren Yuanpeng to make these people confess to the arson, using any necessary means.
"Bullshit, I said I didn't set the fire. Ren, do whatever you want to me, but leave these two out of it!"
Ah Long knew the police's tactics well. His brother and the proud-looking young man might not be able to handle these tactics, so he tried to draw the attention to himself.
"Officer, we're not criminals yet. Can we at least make a phone call?"
Qin Yu narrowed his eyes. He understood the principle of not fighting a losing battle and planned to call Secretary Wang.
"Phone call? You can't make any calls until you confess. How do I know you're not contacting your accomplices?"
"Hey, you're just a small police officer. Don't cling too tightly to someone's leg. Be careful, or you might get hurt when they fall!"
Mo Yongxing, annoyed, mocked the police officer.
"Ah, a tough one, huh?"
The police officer stood up and walked toward Mo Yongxing. As he approached, he kicked Mo Yongxing's chair, causing him to fall to the ground.
"Officer, think carefully before you do something you can't take back!"
Qin Yu's face was stern. Mo Yongxing had only come to pick him up and was now caught in this mess. If he got hurt, how could he explain it to Miss Mo?
"Qin Yu, don't talk. Let him hit me. Damn, I don't believe he can kill me today. If he does, I'll cripple his legs!"
Mo Yongxing's eyes were almost on fire, his face twisted in anger. As the young master of the Mo family, he had never been treated like this. Being kicked and falling to the ground was a great humiliation.
"Don't get cocky. This is a police station, not your gang's territory!"
Just as the police officer was about to kick again, a black shadow pounced, knocking him to the ground. It was Ah Long, who, despite being handcuffed, used his height to knock the police officer down.
Ah Long couldn't stand being bullied. He didn't know Mo Yongxing, and this incident had nothing to do with him. But as a man of honor, he couldn't stand by and watch Qin Yu's friend suffer. He raised his fists and punched the police officer's face.
Seeing Ah Long's help, Mo Yongxing stood up and kicked the police officer in the stomach. The officer let out a muffled groan, blood trickling from his mouth, and curled into a ball, clearly in pain.
The commotion inside the room caught the attention of the police outside. They rushed in, led by Ren Yuanpeng. Seeing the situation, his eyes flashed with a glint of satisfaction, and he shouted, "This is outrageous! Attacking a police officer in the police station!"
Ren Yuanpeng was secretly delighted. Now, regardless of the arson case, if he could confirm the charge of assaulting a police officer, he wouldn't have to worry about their compliance.
"What's going on? Why are there so many people in the interrogation room?"
Just as Ren Yuanpeng was gloating, a voice came from behind him.