Chapter 7

Yan Hongfa immediately looked at Bao Feiyang, because he knew that the so-called "mayor's plan" was actually Bao Feiyang's plan. At this moment, he had completely pinned his hopes on turning the tide on Bao Feiyang, to see what brilliant strategy Bao Feiyang could come up with.

"My uncle believes that the Hongxing villagers blocking the Ninghai artery, Zhu Shanhe played the role of a catalyst and accelerant. The one who can truly incite the villagers to act must be someone else," Bao Feiyang said. "So he asked us to shift our focus from Zhu Shanhe and find the person who incited the Hongxing villagers to take to the streets! Then, through this instigator, we can trace the mastermind behind the scenes."

Li Yifeng shook his head lightly. The instruction from Bao Guoqiang was too vague. It sounded reasonable but was not practical. To put it bluntly, it was just "correct nonsense." If there was ample time, Li Yifeng could treat Bao Guoqiang's words as a guiding principle for work. Through meticulous investigation, he could trace all the clues and find the instigator behind the villagers.

However, time was very tight. Including today, there were only four days and seven or eight hours left until the Zhongtian City Two Sessions on May 16th. In such a short time, it would be difficult to trace the instigator, let alone the mastermind behind the instigator.

"It's tough!" Li Yifeng shook his head and said, "Hongxing Village is in the western suburbs, and this case falls under the jurisdiction of the Western Suburbs Public Security Bureau. Without the approval of the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Party Committee, it would be difficult for the Municipal Bureau to intervene. To persuade the Party Committee to agree to the Municipal Bureau's involvement, I need sufficient evidence and reasons. This back and forth will take a lot of time. Moreover, this matter is significant. Even if I have sufficient evidence and reasons, Director Du and other members of the Party Committee may not approve my request. Furthermore, we need to consider whether there will be any leaks during the Party Committee's discussion, and whether the instigator behind the villagers will go into hiding after receiving the news..."

Yan Hongfa's expression also became very serious. Although he was not familiar with criminal investigation work, the logic Li Yifeng presented was very clear.

"Uncle Li, if I tell you that I know who incited the villagers, would it make things easier?" Bao Feiyang looked at Li Yifeng calmly.

"What? You already know who the instigator is?" Li Yifeng was shocked, his eyes fixed on Bao Feiyang.

Yan Hongfa was also startled, looking at Bao Feiyang in disbelief.

"I know!" Bao Feiyang said with certainty.

Li Yifeng did not speak, only scrutinizing Bao Feiyang's face to see if he could find any trace of lying. After a long while, he slowly nodded, "It seems you really do know."

"Of course, I really do know!" Bao Feiyang laughed and asked, "Otherwise, why would my uncle call me over?"

Hearing this, Li Yifeng was finally at ease. He had always been puzzled as to why Bao Guoqiang would involve a student like Bao Feiyang in such a significant matter. If Bao Feiyang knew the mastermind behind the incitement of the Hongxing villagers, then everything made sense.

"Who is it?" Li Yifeng asked.

"The village committee chairman of Hongxing Village, Gong Dali!" Bao Feiyang said, revealing the answer he already knew. This Gong Dali, relying on his position as village committee chairman, had been tyrannical and oppressive, committing all sorts of evil deeds. In this road-blocking incident, a considerable number of Hongxing villagers were forced to act under the threat of Gong Dali.

"How did you find out?" Li Yifeng asked, his expression unchanged.

"A classmate from the dorm next to mine is from Hongxing Village. I overheard it by chance in the cafeteria last night," Bao Feiyang said confidently, repeating the lie he had already fabricated. "Then I told my uncle. My uncle asked me to gather more detailed information. Today at noon, I found an excuse to invite this classmate for a drink. After getting him drunk, I got the information out of him. He said that Gong Dali, under the guise of seeking justice for the villagers, sent his subordinates to go door-to-door to call people out to block the road. He said that if anyone dared not to go, their entire family would be forced to leave Hongxing Village and never return. Then I came to the airport to tell my uncle."

Hearing such detailed information from Bao Feiyang, Li Yifeng had no more doubts.

"This reckless bastard! He's really blind, daring to harm the mayor!"

With a "snap," Li Yifeng, in a fit of rage, broke the fishing rod in his hand into two pieces.

Bao Feiyang and Yan Hongfa watched in amazement, marveling at Li Yifeng's strength.

"The information you provided is very useful!" Li Yifeng threw the broken fishing rod into the pond, stood up, and said, "I will immediately make arrangements to arrest Gong Dali."

"Uncle Li, don't rush," Bao Feiyang grabbed Li Yifeng's arm, "Let's discuss it further."

In Li Yifeng's view, the information provided by Bao Feiyang was crucial, but that was all. After telling him the information, his task was complete, and the rest was up to Li Yifeng. However, he did not expect Bao Feiyang to want to get involved. He did not want to pay attention, but then he remembered the extraordinary maturity and competence Bao Feiyang had shown in analyzing the situation. He sat back down on the bamboo chair and said, "Feiyang, what do you think we should do now?"

Bao Feiyang, not being modest, said, "Uncle Li, first, I think you shouldn't personally handle the arrest of Gong Dali to avoid alarming him. However, the entire case must still be under your control because if we get Gong Dali to talk, it might implicate some big figures. Without you in charge, others might not dare to investigate further."

Hmm! To think of this, the young man in front of him was indeed not simple!

Li Yifeng nodded, "How should we solve this problem?"

"Didn't the Political and Legal Affairs Commission recently issue a document to clear up old cases?" Bao Feiyang asked.

"Oh? You even know about that?" Li Yifeng was surprised. "The Political and Legal Affairs Commission did issue such a document last month. I came to Sai Shang Grassland to arrest a fugitive from an old case."

Actually, Bao Feiyang had heard this information from Yan Hongfa at the airport and was now using it.

"Then, does the Municipal Bureau have any plans to send people to the various districts and counties to supervise the clearance of old cases?" Bao Feiyang asked.

"Good kid, you're really thinking this through," Li Yifeng couldn't help but laugh. What kind of brain does this kid have? He's barely in his early twenties, yet he has so many ideas. This idea of his is much better than the plan I had in mind. By using the pretext of supervising the clearance of old cases, I can go to the western suburbs without arousing suspicion from others in the bureau. Then, I can form a special task force with trusted subordinates in the western suburbs and quietly take action against Gong Dali.

Bao Feiyang smiled mischievously and said, "I heard that there are signs of a resurgence of prostitution, gambling, and drug activities in the western suburbs. If you go to the western suburbs to clear up old cases, you can also crack down on these ugly phenomena!"

"Alright! Good kid, I didn't expect you to be so devious! You really have a lot of ideas!" Li Yifeng patted Bao Feiyang's shoulder hard, making Bao Feiyang wince in pain.

Since Gong Dali was involved in inciting the villagers to block the road, at this critical moment, the mysterious mastermind would definitely be keeping an eye on him. If anything happened to Gong Dali, the mastermind would surely be informed. However, if Gong Dali were arrested during a police crackdown on prostitution and gambling, even if the mastermind received the news, it wouldn't raise too much suspicion. After all, police crackdowns on prostitution and gambling are common, and even if caught, it would only result in a fine and a few days in jail. No wonder this kid dared to stop me and ask for a discussion; he must have already planned out this nearly perfect strategy!

"Brother Yan, what do you think of my idea?" Since they were discussing it, Bao Feiyang had to consider Yan Hongfa's feelings. After all, there were still many variables in the coming days, and many things would require the mayor's driver, Yan Hongfa, to handle.

"I think it's great, no problem!" Yan Hongfa thought for a moment and answered seriously. From his perspective, Bao Feiyang's plan was meticulous and perfect. Even if the mayor's praised "mature and promising" Zhou Shugang were here, he might not have any objections.

"Then it's settled!" Li Yifeng looked at his watch, "We shouldn't delay. I'll go back and ask the director to send me to the western suburbs to supervise the clearance of old cases. I'll contact Xiao Yan when there's progress."

"Oh, right," Li Yifeng handed Bao Feiyang a business card with his office and home phone numbers and a pager number, "Feiyang, if there are any new developments, you can contact me anytime."

"Okay, I understand." Bao Feiyang put the business card away and made another request, "Uncle Li, I have one more favor to ask."

"What is it? Go ahead and say it." Li Yifeng looked at his watch again.

"I'm currently in my senior year, in the graduation internship phase. I'm very interested in the mysterious criminal investigation work. I was wondering if you could arrange for me to intern at the Western Suburbs Public Security Bureau for a few days?"

"You're studying ceramics, and you want to intern at a public security bureau? That's not a match!" Li Yifeng glared at Bao Feiyang.

"It doesn't matter whether it's a match or not. I just want to follow you and see the process of clearing up old cases," Bao Feiyang said with a smile.

Li Yifeng pondered for a moment. Although Bao Feiyang was young and not a criminal investigation major, he was quick-witted and full of ideas. Having him join the special task force might lead to unexpected results.

"Alright, I can agree to that now," Li Yifeng said, "Tomorrow, bring your school's internship letter directly to the Western Suburbs Public Security Bureau and find Captain Fang Xuewen of the Criminal Investigation Team. I'll head back to the bureau first, and we'll discuss the other details tomorrow."

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