Chapter 85

Just in three days, the murder case was solved, and the Criminal Investigation Team of our city's Public Security Bureau has once again achieved a remarkable feat!

This news was seen by He Ping on the front page of the Qingshan Morning News on Children's Day. The report highly praised the dedication, diligence, and intelligence of the police officers in the Criminal Investigation Team. Under the leadership of Captain Zhao Chengli, they meticulously investigated, boldly deduced, and swiftly acted, locking down the suspect in just two days and apprehending him. They then spent another day collecting evidence such as the murder weapon and bloodstained clothes, and recorded a complete confession from the suspect, thus perfectly concluding the case.

"Unbelievable, truly unbelievable," He Xiangdong said at the family lunch table, shaking his head and frowning, with a piece of food hanging from his chopsticks about to fall. He hurriedly put the chopsticks in his mouth, chewed a couple of times, and continued, "I never thought it would be Old Zhang. I just can't understand it, really can't understand it."

"You say, what kind of conflict could there be between Old Zhang and Jiang Deming that would lead to such a deadly situation?" Yin Xiulan was also puzzled. Old Zhang was just an ordinary worker at Qingshan Machinery. After being laid off, he came to Dongfang Hardware as a security guard and recently resigned for no apparent reason, without even finding a new job. How could he be involved with a government official and end up killing him in his home?

He Xiangdong shook his head and said, "Who knows? When Old Zhang was laid off, Jiang Dezhi hadn't even acquired Qingshan Machinery yet. His layoff was entirely due to poor management and lack of skills, and had nothing to do with Jiang Dezhi. If he had any grievances, they wouldn't be with the Jiang family. I think he might have been a bit dissatisfied with me. At Qingshan Machinery, he was a senior, but he had to work under me, a young upstart, which naturally caused some resentment. But he had no connection with the Jiang family at all."

Both He Xiangdong and Yin Xiulan looked puzzled, discussing the murder case involving Old Zhang and Jiang Deming. However, He Ping seemed indifferent, continuously shoveling rice into his mouth. The case was concluded smoothly and quietly, without causing any significant ripples. Zhao Chengli didn't come to him, nor did he investigate He Xiangdong. He only came to Dongfang Hardware to inquire about Old Zhang's character as part of routine procedures. As for how the case was ultimately concluded, it had nothing to do with He Ping.

In short, with Old Zhang's arrest, his days were numbered. In this era, criminal law was quite severe. For intentional murder, unless there were very special circumstances, the sentence was almost always death. The police had completed their investigation, and the next step was to transfer the case to the prosecutor, who would then file a lawsuit with the court. After the death sentence was handed down, it would be reviewed by the higher court, and once approved, the execution would follow. Old Zhang's ultimate fate would be a bullet.

He Ping didn't know what Old Zhang had confessed to the police, but it was clear that he hadn't mentioned the plot to frame He Xiangdong, which ultimately failed and drove him to madness. Jiang Dezhi was not investigated, and the only people who knew about the situation in his family were the Jiang family members and the deceased Jiang Deming. The case involving Old Zhang and Jiang Deming did not implicate anyone else. With Jiang Deming's murder and Old Zhang's arrest, the matter was concluded.

He Ping was finally at ease. The incident of He Xiangdong being framed was over. Whether it would happen again in the future was something he couldn't predict. The course of history had already changed due to He Ping's rebirth, sparing He Xiangdong from imprisonment. The failed frame-up had left Jiang Dezhi and Old Zhang in a state of panic, leading Old Zhang to kill Jiang Deming. Now, his only remaining enemies were the Jiang family. He Ping wasn't in a hurry; he had plenty of time to toy with them.

After the uneventful Children's Day, another weekend arrived. He Ping and Dong Dapeng once again visited the Jinlong Club. This time, they were familiar with the route and didn't linger in other parts of Dongguan. They went straight to the basement of the Jinlong Club, where Uncle Long, Li Yutang, and others were already waiting. Unlike the last time, when they were skeptical and teasing, this time they were quite enthusiastic about He Ping and Dong Dapeng.

The two badges He Ping had given them last time had been sold to a gold shop, and the results were beyond their expectations. Not only were they made of real gold, but they were also quite heavy. The gold shop owner was impressed by the craftsmanship and offered a high price of over 2,000 for each badge. One was Li Yutang's salary, which he used to support his family, while the other, after covering the costs of repairing the billiard hall and the medical expenses of the group, still left a considerable amount. They had been living well and comfortably for the past few days.

More importantly, the reputation of the Jinlong Gang had completely collapsed. Everyone now knew that the Jinlong Gang had been taken down by a single person. Although the details were unclear, the injuries they all brought home could not be hidden. With their own efforts to spread the news, the Jinlong Club finally stepped down from its position as the top gang. Their personal relationships and status in their own homes had also significantly improved.

"Brother Yutang! Everything settled?" After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, He Ping got to the point. This visit to the Jinlong Club was to pick up Li Yutang. With this agent, he could now solve many things he couldn't handle before. Moreover, Li Yutang's combat skills were a pleasant surprise. Although they weren't a real gang, Uncle Long and the others, as local informants, would be a valuable source of information, knowing any developments in the area first.

"No problem, everything is settled, and we can leave anytime," Li Yutang said, looking spirited. Since being discharged from the military, he had been in a daze, with his skills going to waste as he could only do odd jobs. This was a great source of pain for him. Although he had the support of Uncle Long and the others, his inner turmoil had never been resolved. Now, He Ping had given him a chance to use his skills, and Li Yutang seemed to be glowing with renewed vigor.

He Ping nodded and said to everyone, "Last time, we didn't have the time, and the atmosphere wasn't good. This time, we must have a proper gathering, and it will also serve as a celebration for Brother Yutang. Let's go together, and I'll treat you all to a meal at Tianhua!"

Roar! Everyone was excited. What was Tianhua? It was the highest-end restaurant in Qingshan City, open to the public. With their salary levels, they could afford it, but going there once would make their monthly living difficult. Even Uncle Long, who was in business, only went there when entertaining important guests. When He Ping said he would treat them, they naturally didn't want to miss this opportunity.

For He Ping, it was even less of a concern. The money for the treat wasn't his. The sanctions against Zhang Dabiao and Zhang Xiaomei included taking all their money, valuable items, and bank cards, which He Ping had completely looted. He had even forced Zhang Dabiao to reveal the passwords. Now, He Ping was a small-time tycoon.

[PS: First update of the day!]