Chapter 43

PS: Thank you for the support from '_Vivian'! Please vote for the Three Rivers! Please collect! Please recommend!

On Changning Road, people were bustling about, and Yang Jie learned from chatting with Xiao Yue Deng that she lived at the old tractor station of the Agricultural Machinery Bureau. Her parents used to be employees of the tractor station, but after it went bankrupt, they both lost their jobs and now run a bicycle repair stand on Changning Road.

After work every day, Xiao Yue Deng would help her parents at their repair stand. Liao Kai knew the time Xiao Yue Deng finished work and the small path she often took to Changning Road, so he would ambush her in the alley. In the past, he would only verbally tease her and then let her go, but this time, he actually got serious.

Yang Jie dropped Xiao Yue Deng off at her parents' repair stand and was about to leave when two police officers in uniform emerged from a nearby convenience store and blocked his way.

"Are you Yang Jie? Someone just reported to the police station that you injured him. Please come with us to the police station!" Zhang Liye looked at the well-dressed Yang Jie, puzzled as to why he would provoke Liao Kai. He frowned and took out his handcuffs.

"Comrade police officer, I was with Director Zhang and Director Zhou from the County Party Committee Office at the Wuhe Hotel, receiving a delegation led by County Chief Xiao from Luosang County. I just came from the Wuhe Hotel and have been with the hotel's receptionist the whole time. I haven't been in any conflict. Are you sure you have the right person?"

Yang Jie didn't expect Liao Kai to actually report him. It seemed that Xiao Yue Deng was right; Liao Kai would use any means necessary. When brute force didn't work, he would resort to underhanded tactics. No wonder he was so cooperative earlier; he was waiting for this moment to frame him.

"Which unit are you from?" Zhang Liye, still holding the handcuffs, looked at the young man in front of him, hesitating.

"I am Director Yang Jie of the Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the County Party Committee. Here is my work ID." Yang Jie took out his work ID and handed it to Zhang Liye. "After work at noon, I accompanied Director Ma from the Government Office, Director Zhang, and Director Zhou from the County Party Committee Office to receive Deputy County Chief Xiao Yashong and his delegation from Luosang County. I just left the Wuhe Hotel. How could I have been in a fight?"

After checking Yang Jie's work ID and confirming his identity, Zhang Liye saluted him. "Comrade Yang Jie, our Chengguan Police Station just received a report from Fan Shaozheng, who said that you hit him with a brick ten minutes ago, and there are two witnesses. If you didn't hit him, why would he falsely accuse you? Moreover, two witnesses saw you hit him. Regardless of the situation, since the victim reported it and named you, we need your assistance in the investigation. Please come with us to the police station. We also need to verify the situation to ensure there's no mistake."

Seeing the hesitation on Yang Jie's face, Zhang Liye smiled. "Comrade Yang Jie, since a report has been made and the victim is seriously injured with witnesses, we must investigate. Additionally, if you were with the young lady from the Wuhe Hotel, she can also come with us to provide her testimony."

The two police officers had come to the repair stand on Changning Road to arrest Yang Jie, assuming he had no background. However, they were surprised to find out that Yang Jie was a county official and had been with the County Party Committee Office's directors at noon.

This made Zhang Liye uneasy. He knew the severity of the situation but also understood the power dynamics. Yang Jie was just a small director, a section-level official, while Liao Kai's father was the county party committee's vice secretary, and his godfather was the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, who oversaw the police. Zhang Liye would rather offend Yang Jie than Liao Kai.

Yang Jie didn't expect the police officer to insist on taking him to the police station. Although he was annoyed, he couldn't argue with the legal process. "Alright, I'm having a phone installed in my dorm. The technician will come at noon. I'll call a friend to watch over it so he doesn't make a trip for nothing."

"No problem, there's a public phone in the convenience store. You can make your call there. We'll verify the situation with the young lady," Zhang Liye said, pointing to the convenience store they had just come from, indicating that Yang Jie should go inside to make the call.

"Brother Zhang, why does the name Yang Jie sound so familiar? I feel like I've heard it somewhere before," the young police officer, who was following Zhang Liye, said, pulling him aside as Yang Jie entered the convenience store.

"There are many people with the same name. The Yang surname is quite common in Wuhe County. It's not surprising if you've heard it. Let's focus on the task at hand. Young Master Liao is waiting at the police station," Zhang Liye replied, a bit impatiently, and then walked to the repair stand to call Xiao Yue Deng over.

"Someone reported to the police station that Yang Jie hit someone, but Yang Jie says he was with you the whole time and didn't hit anyone. Can you provide a witness statement for him?" Zhang Liye looked at the girl in front of him, with her oval face, willow-like eyebrows, fair skin, and tall, curvy figure, a true beauty.

They say beauty brings trouble. Zhang Liye immediately understood why Liao Kai, the playboy of Wuhe County, would want to cause trouble for Yang Jie. It was likely all because of this girl.

"Who's spreading lies! I was with Yang Jie the whole time. He didn't fight anyone! I can testify for him," Xiao Yue Deng, who grew up in the complex environment of the tractor station, was street-smart and knew how to adapt. She immediately put on an indignant expression.

Women are natural actors. Xiao Yue Deng's anger was directed at Liao Kai, making it very convincing. Zhang Liye began to wonder if Liao Kai and Yang Jie were rivals for Xiao Yue Deng's affection, and she favored Yang Jie, which is why Liao Kai was framing him.

Once this idea took hold, Zhang Liye's mind automatically filled in the gaps, imagining Liao Kai hitting Fan Shaozheng to frame Yang Jie. He knew that the young master didn't play by the rules.

"Brother Zhang, I remember who Yang Jie is! He's the one who brought in 80 million US dollars in foreign investment for the county. Wasn't that the big news in the city recently?" Xiao Tang suddenly slapped his hand and excitedly told Zhang Liye.

Xiao Yue Deng's heart skipped a beat. As a receptionist at the Wuhe Hotel, she knew more than Xiao Tang. Seeing Zhang Liye's sudden change in expression, she smiled. "You didn't know about Yang Jie? He's a talent personally brought back by Secretary Zhou from the city. He graduated from the Economics and Management Department of Peking University. His father is our county's war hero, Yang Xinhua. He made a significant contribution to the county's investment drive. Everyone at the Wuhe Hotel knows him."

Yang Jie finished his call and came out of the convenience store, looking at the confident Xiao Yue Deng, the excited Xiao Tang, and the strangely expressioned Zhang Liye, feeling a bit confused. "Alright, I've made the call. The technician is setting up the phone in my dorm, and someone is watching over it. Let's go to the police station."

In the office of the Chengguan Police Station, Liao Kai sat in the chief's chair, his feet on the desk, while Chief Wen Peng stood beside him with a smile, as if the office belonged to Liao Kai.

"Young Master Liao, Old Zhang is one of us. You can rest assured. He'll bring the person back soon," Wen Peng, who was promoted by Luo Song, now needed the support of Secretary Guo of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission after Luo Song's downfall.

Liao Kai, the only son of Secretary Liao and the godson of Secretary Guo, could help Wen Peng keep his position. Even if Wen Peng had to call Liao Kai "father," he would do it, let alone just helping him arrest someone.

"Old Wen, Fan Shaozheng's nose is completely ruined. The hospital's injury report will be ready soon. Once we have the report showing he lost his sense of smell, it will be considered a disability. How you handle the case legally will be up to you!" Liao Kai's eyes flashed with a hint of malice, thinking about how Yang Jie had ruined his plans, making him grind his teeth in anger.

Wen Peng, hearing Liao Kai's words, smiled lightly. If it were just a minor injury, the maximum sentence would be three years. However, if the victim was disabled, such as losing their sense of smell, the sentence would be much harsher, typically between three to ten years.

In the past, during strict crackdowns, causing disability could result in the death penalty. With Liao Kai's connections, reducing a sentence was not difficult, let alone increasing the severity of the charge.

"Young Master Liao, Yang Jie deserves ten years in prison for offending you. Ten years is a light sentence. Once Old Zhang brings him back, I'll make sure to teach him a lesson and show him the consequences of offending Young Master Liao!" Wen Peng, showing no sense of justice, eagerly prepared to assist Liao Kai.

"Chief, we've brought the person back, but Yang Jie has a witness who says Fan Shaozheng wasn't hit by him. Moreover, Yang Jie's background is not simple. He is the director of the Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the County Party Committee, and his father is our county's war hero, Yang Xinhua." Zhang Liye knocked on the door and entered the chief's office, looking at Liao Kai and the fawning Chief Wen Peng, and quickly reported in a low voice.