Chapter 96: Heart as Hard as Iron

The next day, Yan Jun, with his hands behind his back, arrived early at the room's door and asked, "How is it? Has he confessed yet?"

The disciplinary inspection officer in charge of the door shook his head and said, "Director Yan, something's wrong!"

"What's wrong?" Yan Jun's face darkened as soon as he heard this.

"Zeng Yi hasn't said a single word. He's lying on the chair, fast asleep, and we can't wake him up no matter what!"

Yan Jun, upon hearing this, thought to himself, "This is unacceptable." The key to the disciplinary committee's investigation was to deprive the suspect of sleep. How could they let someone sleep through the night with all the equipment they had? He pushed the door open and walked in.

Several high-wattage light bulbs were all turned on, shining directly at Zeng Yi, who was sitting on the chair. Yan Jun felt a wave of heat as soon as he entered, and the bright lights made it hard for him to open his eyes. Because of Zeng Yi's poor attitude the previous day, Yan Jun decided to skip the usual gentle persuasion and went straight to the hard tactics. However, when he approached, he was surprised to see Zeng Yi sleeping soundly in the chair, snoring loudly, looking quite relaxed. Anyone else would have their skin dry and crack from the intense light, but Zeng Yi's face didn't even turn red.

The two disciplinary inspection officers stood up, "Director Yan, you need to think of a solution quickly!" These two had been up all night, trying every method, but they couldn't wake Zeng Yi. Their eyes were red, and they were exhausted.

Yan Jun thought to himself, "I'll see if I can't wake you up." He raised his hand and shouted, "What are you doing! There's no entertainment in the room, how can Zeng Expert think clearly in such a dull and boring environment! Go, bring in a sound system!"

The two disciplinary inspection officers exchanged glances, thinking Yan Jun was ruthless, and quickly went to find a high-wattage sound system.

Yan Jun looked at Zeng Yi's sleeping face and thought, "You little brat, just sleep for now, you'll regret it soon." He pointed at the sound system, "Play some music for Zeng Expert to relax his mind. Only when the body and mind are happy can one think clearly!"

He pressed the button, and the sound of a suona (a traditional Chinese wind instrument) filled the room, but Zeng Yi continued to snore loudly.

"Turn the volume up to the maximum, Zeng Expert likes it loud!"

Yan Jun shouted twice, but the two officers, who were right next to him, couldn't hear him. Finally, Yan Jun went over and turned the volume to the maximum himself.

When the music changed, the sound of a drum almost made Yan Jun's heart jump out. The power of the high-wattage sound system was truly formidable.

After several high-decibel "cheerful" songs, Zeng Yi finally showed signs of waking up.

Yan Jun pressed the button and turned off the sound system, thinking, "You little brat, even if you're as tough as a pig, I can still wake you up. Pretending to sleep is a childish trick, and I have plenty of ways to deal with you!"

"Did you sleep well last night?" Yan Jun sat in front of Zeng Yi, lit a cigarette, and slowly smoked it.

Zeng Yi squinted and sat for a while to adjust to the bright lights. Seeing Yan Jun, he said, "Director Yan, good morning. Have you had breakfast?"

"Stop pretending, little brat!" Yan Jun flicked the ash off his cigarette, "I don't need you to worry about my breakfast. Think about your own problems instead. Did you think of anything after a night of thinking?"

"Director Yan has had breakfast, but I haven't!" Zeng Yi stretched, "Shall we talk about it after I eat?"

Yan Jun waved his hand, and his subordinates went to prepare breakfast. "Don't worry, our disciplinary committee ensures that you are well-fed. We can afford a few meals! After you eat, quickly confess your problems. The sooner you confess, the sooner you can be free and sleep comfortably in your own bed!"

Soon, breakfast was brought in. There were only four slices of bread, baked as hard as stones, with no moisture.

Zeng Yi picked up a slice, broke it into pieces, and slowly chewed it.

Yan Jun asked deliberately, "How is it? Does this Western breakfast suit your taste?"

"The bread is well-baked. Although it's a bit burnt, it aids digestion, reduces greasiness, and is effective for treating chronic stomach problems."

Yan Jun had intended to mock Zeng Yi but found himself at a loss. He thought, "You little brat, keep pretending. I bet your stomach won't have much grease left soon."

After finishing one slice, Zeng Yi patted his hands and said, "It's too dry, I won't eat anymore!"

Yan Jun sneered inwardly, "Dry is good. Don't think that just because you can pretend to sleep, we can't deal with you. From now on, you'll have dry bread three times a day, plus the high-wattage lights. I'll see how long you can hold out. When you want water, I won't even give you a drop, and we'll see if you confess or not."

"Are you done eating?" Yan Jun asked insincerely, "Since you're done, think about your problems carefully and write them down!"

"Director Yan, I was brought here without knowing anything. How can I confess?" Zeng Yi sat there, catching his breath. He wondered who came up with such a cruel idea. Eating a piece of dry bread under the intense light was not easy.

"Let me remind you again. Think carefully. Has anyone paid you a large sum for a diagnosis? Has anyone hinted that you should give special attention to the health base project?" Yan Jun looked at Zeng Yi coldly, "Confess all these issues thoroughly to the organization!"

Zeng Yi shook his head, "Didn't I already tell Director Yan yesterday? Yuan Wenjie asked me to help him, but I refused!"

"Put away your tricks. I've seen them all. Don't think you can get away with this. If the organization is investigating you, they must have sufficient reasons and evidence!"

"Yes, Zeng Expert, you should recognize the reality and not be lucky. The organization is giving you a chance to reform. Don't disappoint their good intentions. Resisting will do you no good!"

The two disciplinary inspection officers immediately began their psychological tactics, alternating between good cop and bad cop.

Zeng Yi yawned. Last night, he fell asleep listening to their rhetoric. This kind of talk wouldn't even convince a child.

Zeng Yi had heard about the disciplinary committee's methods long ago. On the way here, he had already planned his response. As a skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, it was easy for him to control his body. A pinch and a squeeze, and he fell into a deep sleep. No matter what they said, he remained silent. He didn't believe they could keep him locked up forever. When they couldn't find any issues, he would see how these people, who were fighting for Yuan Wenjie, would deal with the situation.

Yan Jun continued to persuade and trick Zeng Yi, but soon he heard Zeng Yi's snoring again, which made him furious. "Fine, if you like sleeping, I'll make you sleep comfortably."

"What's wrong? Why is the room so dark?" Yan Jun's face darkened, "How can Zeng Expert write his confession in such darkness? Go, add two more lights to make the room brighter. Don't make it look like we can't afford the electricity!"

The two disciplinary inspection officers immediately added two more high-wattage light bulbs, shining directly at Zeng Yi.

Outside the room, Yan Jun called the manager of the guesthouse, "Turn on the heating system."

The manager was stunned, "Director Yan, it's so hot outside. Turning on the heating will make it unbearable!"

Yan Jun shouted, "Do as I say. Do you want to be responsible for hindering our investigation?"

The manager had no choice but to go and have the large boiler turned on to start the heating.

With the high-wattage lights and the heating, the room became like an oven. The two disciplinary inspection officers sat for a while and were drenched in sweat, fleeing the room, "What's wrong? Why turn on the heating in such hot weather?"

Yan Jun was sitting in the courtyard of the guesthouse, under a big tree, drinking tea leisurely. Hearing the question, he said, "Bad luck, the guesthouse is repairing the heating system! When Zeng Expert wakes up, tell him to be understanding. It's beyond our control!"

The two officers looked at each other, thinking, "This is bad. We don't know if we're wearing down Zeng Yi or ourselves. In that big oven, we'd be cooked in eight minutes, let alone eight hours."

Originally, the disciplinary inspection team had nine people working in three shifts. Now, they had to change every twenty minutes. Even with such frequent changes, the disciplinary committee members felt they couldn't bear it. But Zeng Yi, sitting on the chair in the room, slept soundly. If not for the slight snoring, he would look like a dead person. Strangely, his forehead had no sweat, and despite the intense heat and high-wattage lights, his body felt cold to the touch.

A day passed, and the disciplinary committee members were afraid. They went to Yan Jun, "Director Yan, this can't go on. It could be fatal!"

The disciplinary committee was different from other departments. Their capability was judged by their ability to solve major cases. If they couldn't solve anything, their ability was seriously in question. Not only would they not be promoted, but they might lose their jobs. That's why Yan Jun was so desperate and used such harsh methods.

However, if the person under investigation died, it would be a major issue. These disciplinary committee members had families, wives, and children. None of them wanted to die with Zeng Yi. Seeing Yan Jun's extreme measures, they were all afraid.

"What are you complaining about? I see Zeng Expert sleeping quite comfortably."

Yan Jun gritted his teeth. He was also afraid, but he had no choice. The situation had reached a point where he had to push through. If Zeng Yi didn't confess, he would be in a very difficult position. "I don't believe that even if you're made of iron, we can't wear you down. We have nine people, and you're just one. There will be a time when you can't hold out."

Persistence is victory!

Yan Jun comforted himself, thinking that perhaps in a few seconds, the stubborn Zeng Expert would give in.