Chapter 85 - 82: Fishing
Chapter 85: Chapter 82: Fishing
When the officer on duty heard the Hailufeng Company’s farm was involved, his expression turned grave and he immediately asked for details.
It took the on-duty officer over twenty minutes to get the whole story from the sobbing Zhou Xiuqin. He paid no mind to the time—already past eleven at night—and picked up the phone to dial Director Yang Chenggang’s number.
RING... RING...
"Hello... Xiaowu, what’s the emergency?"
"Yang Institute, it’s a major incident! You need to come to the station right away. It’s a case concerning the Salt Town Eel Farm..."
"The Salt Town Eel Farm? You mean the one belonging to the Hailufeng Company?" The voice on the other end of the line instantly rose a few notches.
"Yes."
"I’ll be there right away..."
Less than twenty minutes later, a black Toyota Corolla appeared at the police station’s entrance. Director Yang Chenggang pushed open the car door and hurried out.
Before he arrived, three officers who lived in Magong Town had already been notified and had gotten there first.
Among them was Officer Old Zhou, the one who had previously persuaded Cai Wen’s family to leave. He was also a distant relative of Zhou Xiuqin. Looking at the case notes taken by the on-duty officer, Old Zhou burst out cursing:
"That clueless brat! He’s hopeless! Sister Xiuxian, you did the right thing. He’s completely obsessed with money. Things haven’t reached the point of no return yet, otherwise it’d be three years minimum."
As soon as he walked in, Yang Chenggang heard Old Zhou’s voice and called out, "Old Zhou."
Old Zhou leaned in and said in a low voice, "Yang Institute, I think this could go either way. That kid Da Niao..."
"Qingmin, don’t say any more. Let Director Yang handle this severely!" Zhou Xiuqin interrupted Old Zhou’s well-intentioned words, her expression resolute.
Yang Chenggang looked at Zhou Xiuqin’s tear-reddened eyes, unsure how to respond for a moment. He then glanced at Old Zhou.
Old Zhou was also a bit surprised. He then asked, somewhat uncertainly, "Sister Xiuxian, have you thought this through? If he’s prosecuted to the fullest, Da Niao will get at least three years."
However, Zhou Xiuqin, her face ashen, just sat numbly on the metal chair. With a look of helplessness and grief, she said, "You’ve helped him so many times. Has he ever once turned over a new leaf? I’m scared! I’m scared that if he keeps going down the wrong path, he’ll end up getting shot by a firing squad... If he’s locked up for a few days and then let out, he’ll never change. When he commits another crime, will you still be able to protect him?"
Such is a parent’s heavy heart.
Zhou Xiuqin knew her son all too well. He’d done his fair share of petty theft around town in the past. How many times had she apologized to others? How many times had she paid them back? How many times had she begged people for forgiveness?
This time, she had made up her mind. Even if it meant severing their mother-son relationship, she was going to send her son to prison.
"Sigh! Alright, then," Old Zhou sighed helplessly.
"In that case, let’s make the arrest." Yang Chenggang had originally planned to do Old Zhou a favor, but since Zhou Xiuqin herself had decided to uphold justice over family ties, he certainly had no objections.
Soon, the red and blue lights of a police car were flashing on the only main street in Magong Town.
Da Niao, still at home dreaming of striking it rich, was shaken awake from his sleep.
"Who is it?" Da Niao’s eyes were heavy with sleep. He opened them to a blurry scene, unable to process what was happening for a moment. "What’s going on?"
After a dozen or so seconds, he was fully awake. Staring at the handcuffs on his wrists and at Old Zhou and the others beside him, Da Niao was still bewildered. "Uncle Qingmin? What are you guys doing? Why are you arresting me?"
"Alright, stop playing dumb. You’ve been found out," Old Zhou said, his face a mask of disappointment.
"What are you talking about? Don’t frame an innocent man..."
Old Zhou fought the urge to slap him. "What were you doing near the Hailufeng Company’s Salt Town Farm this evening? Do I need to remind you?"
"Th-that..." Cold sweat instantly beaded on Da Niao’s forehead. He immediately started begging, "Uncle Qingmin, for my mom’s sake, can’t you let me off the hook just this once? I’m begging you..."
Old Zhou had already discussed it with the few officers in the know. They would conceal the fact that Zhou Xiuqin had filed the report, instead claiming it came from a police informant. This would preserve a final shred of dignity for the mother and son.
Therefore, he was determined to play the bad guy. He rebuked him sternly, "Enough. This case is being overseen by the Municipal Bureau. I’m just a beat cop. I can’t help a master thief like you."
"I... I..."
"Take him away!"
Zhou Xiuqin sat to one side without a word, tears streaming down her face as she watched her bewildered son. But she still didn’t regret her decision.
Besides the dozen or so bottles of wastewater from the refrigerator, the police also packed up and took everything from Da Niao’s room: his phone, computer, USB drives, books, and other similar items.
If they were going to prosecute him to the fullest, they needed ironclad evidence.