vstars Chapter 157 Showdown with the Smuggling Gang (4)
Chapter 157 Showdown with the Smuggling Gang (4)
Ding Xiangqun deliberately feigned ignorance, saying, "Director Han, this isn't a good idea; they're armed."
"Then you decide what to do."
Han Weiping hung up the phone immediately. "You bastard, you dare to play tricks on me?"
Ding Xiangqun waited for a while, then called Luo Xiong and told him to release the people. The matter was all settled, and there was no point in detaining Zhang Zheng and the others.
Qi Tongwei was relieved to receive a call from Zhang Zheng saying that everything was alright.
Huang Liansheng still refused to confess. Qi Tongwei was not in a hurry. He received news from the hospital that Huang Lianzhong was lucky and had been rescued, but he was in a coma. He would wake up after 48 hours, but if he did not, he would be in a vegetative state.
Armed police are guarding all exits of Shanghai. They have received orders to arrest Cao Xinwei immediately if he appears.
Cao Xinwei was driving away from Shanghai, about a kilometer from the exit, when he suddenly slammed on the brakes and stopped. He had received a call from Ding Xiangqun, who said that Han Weiping had ordered the armed police to arrest him.
He immediately turned and fled, it seems he needs to find another way to leave Shanghai.
Vice Mayor Cao Jinliang angrily called Han Weiping, "Han Weiping, what are you up to? What crime has my son committed that you want to arrest him?"
Han Weiping was also going to do it despite the difficulties, because once Cao Xinwei escaped, it would be very difficult to catch him.
"Mayor Cao, your son is suspected of smuggling. We need his assistance in the investigation. We ask for your understanding."
"I don't understand, what evidence do you police have to charge my son with smuggling? If you have no evidence, you are abusing your power, which is also a crime."
Cao Jinliang has lost his mind for his son. Now he only wants his son to escape Shanghai and China as soon as possible.
Han Weiping is under immense pressure facing Vice Mayor Cao's accusations. There is indeed no evidence to arrest Cao Xinwei, but if Cao Xinwei is released now, even if there is evidence, it will be difficult to bring him back from abroad.
"Mayor Cao, please don't get agitated. If your son hasn't committed a crime, we will definitely release him. This batch of smuggled goods is worth a huge sum, so we can only be extra cautious."
Han Weiping was determined to arrest his son, and Cao Jinliang was furious, his eyes blazing with anger. "Han Weiping, you're abusing your power! I will definitely report this to higher authorities and have you removed from your post!"
"Mayor Cao, I will write a detailed report on tonight's operation. I'm very busy right now, so I have to hang up."
Having come this far, Han Weiping had no choice but to confront Vice Mayor Cao head-on.
Cao Jinliang slammed down the phone, grabbed a water glass from the table, and smashed it on the ground, scattering ceramic shards everywhere.
His son's safety was the most important thing right now, so he immediately called his son, "Xinwei, where are you?"
Cao Xinwei hid in the raided Red Apple Club, saying, "Dad, don't worry, I'm safe now."
Hearing his son's voice, Cao Jinliang breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you have any way to leave Shanghai?"
"Dad, I have a way, don't worry."
"We must leave Shanghai as soon as possible."
Cao Jinliang sensed a huge danger; every extra day his son stayed in Shanghai filled him with anxiety.
"I understand, Dad. You should get some rest."
Cao Jinliang was in no mood to sleep; he still needed to use his connections to save his only son.
But Cao Xinwei is now in the mood to vent his anger at Hua Meigui for cheating on his father.
What a loving father and filial son!
Cao Xinwei smoked a cigarette, and Hua Meigui nestled in his arms. "Sister Hua, I'm leaving. You should go out and hide for a while too."
Hua Meigui took the cigarette from Cao Xinwei's hand, took a puff, and said, "Mr. Cao, are you just going to admit defeat like this?"
Cao Xinwei lit another cigarette. "I'll kill that madman Qi Tongwei sooner or later."
Hua Meigui relied on the Cao family for survival, so of course she didn't want her support to crumble.
"President Cao, I'll be waiting for you to come back."
Suddenly the phone rang. It was Old Qiu calling. "Xinwei, things are very tense right now. You'll probably have to hide for a few more days."
"Old Qiu, hiding for a few days is fine. I'm just afraid things might change if I delay. Once Huang Liansheng speaks up and the police issue an arrest warrant for me, it will be even more difficult."
After thinking for a moment, Mr. Qiu said, "You still need to leave Shanghai first. Once you're out of Shanghai, we can send you to Hong Kong anytime."
"Alright, Mr. Qiu, let me think of a way."
After hanging up the phone, Cao Xinwei hugged Hua Meigui and said, "Sister Hua, can you help me think of a solution?"
Rose exhaled a puff of smoke. "President Cao, why don't you dress up as a woman and get away with it?"
Cao Xinwei thought this was a good idea. "Sister Hua, let's discuss this further."
Shanghai Airport.
After receiving Han Weiping's phone report, Secretary Zhu took the last flight back that night.
At the crucial moment, he specifically requested the central leadership to complete the smuggling case before taking office. The central leadership agreed and instructed the General Administration of Customs to intervene, determined to curb this smuggling trend.
When Han Weiping received Secretary Zhu's call, he felt like he had a strong backer again, and the pressure on him was greatly reduced.
"Secretary Zhu, it's so good to have you back!"
Secretary Zhu laughed heartily, "Director Han, you've worked hard, and so have all the comrades. I'm back now with the Central Committee's imperial edict. You must thoroughly investigate this smuggling case. No matter who's involved, anyone who violates Party discipline or state law will be dealt with according to the law, without any leniency."
"Yes, Secretary Zhu."
The news of Secretary Zhu's return to Shanghai spread quickly the next day, and the General Administration of Customs intervened, causing Shanghai officials involved in smuggling to tremble with fear.
Cao Jinliang received the news last night. He smoked in his study all night and knew very well that he had lost. Secretary Zhu had deliberately played a trick of feigning indifference to lure him in.
No matter how strong his connections are, they cannot stand against the interests of the entire country. Once the national interests are harmed, anyone involved will face certain death.
With his nephew Yuan Gang dead, he could conveniently pin all the blame on him, the only way to protect his son.
Secretary Zhu acted swiftly, with the Industry and Commerce Bureau, the Tax Bureau, and the Procuratorate all mobilized simultaneously. Yuan Gang's Kaihui Trading was shut down, and all companies under the control of Fabric King Huang Liansheng were seized.
In the morning, Qi Tongwei ate a basket of steamed buns, two fried dough sticks, and a bowl of porridge. After finishing his meal, he continued to interrogate Huang Liansheng.
Huang Liansheng didn't sleep all night. It wasn't that he wasn't allowed to sleep, but he just couldn't. His son and younger brother were both in the hospital, and he had lost 30 billion yuan worth of goods. Any man would probably find it hard to bear.
Qi Tongwei handed him a bottle of water. "Mr. Huang, have some water. You've rested for a night, let's continue our conversation."
Huang Liansheng, sporting two black eyes, was so angry he wanted to curse. "Damn it, you slept soundly last night."
"Captain Qi, I've told you everything I needed to say. I truly knew nothing about the smuggling."
Qi Tongwei lit another cigarette for Huang Liansheng, "Mr. Huang, have a cigarette to perk yourself up."
You're a pretty good person, Huang Liansheng always felt that Qi Tongwei had ill intentions and wanted to devour him until there wasn't even a bone left. If he knew that his younger brother was injured by Qi Tongwei, he would probably jump up and fight to the death.
Qi Tongwei yawned; the hotel bed was still not as comfortable as the one at the Peace Hotel.
"Mr. Huang, I have some fantastic news for you. The central government has spoken, and the General Administration of Customs has officially intervened. All your companies have been seized."