Chapter 137: The Chain of Evil

The old man was one of the first to dive into business during China’s economic reform and opening up. Although his business ventures hadn’t been particularly successful over the years, he had amassed a considerable network.

Yang Min, on the other hand, was highly skilled in his trade.

At the start of their partnership, they merely helped others secure insurance payouts. For example, they would bribe doctors to reclassify illnesses, extend hospital stays, and manipulate the strict conditions of insurance policies, earning a small commission in the process.

This type of business didn’t bring in much money, so the old man began searching for other opportunities.

One day, he saw a news report about a poor person who committed suicide because they couldn’t afford exorbitant medical bills. It struck him as a waste; if the person had taken out a life insurance policy and then waited for it to become effective before committing suicide, their family could have received a large payout.

With a flash of inspiration, he thought about turning the lives of the poor into money. How mutually beneficial and socially beneficial it would be.

There were so many poor people in the world who were willing to sell their kidneys or livers for a meager sum of money. But with insurance, all they needed to do was cut off a finger and they could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars, all legally.

Thus, they began recruiting poor people, buying insurance policies for them, and once the insurance was active, having doctors amputate their fingers or remove an eye. For the poor, losing a finger or an eye was insignificant compared to the fortune they could gain, which could lift them out of poverty.

“Getting rich always comes at a cost. They’re just paying in a different way!” the old man said earnestly.

The business grew bigger and bigger. To ensure they fooled the claims adjusters, they bribed some employees within the insurance companies. Once familiar with the business processes, they rarely failed to collect the insurance money. It wasn’t much different from running a regular business.

Unknowingly, their team had grown very large. The old man didn’t even recognize many of the members, and the projects multiplied as they had to support so many people.

“Sigh, you’ve ruined everything,” the old man shook his head and sighed.

“Exchanging lives for money, don’t you feel any guilt?” Lin Dongxue said disdainfully.

“Exchanging lives for money? Is that how you see insurance? They volunteered, okay!”

“Did the deceased also volunteer?”

“The deceased? I’ve never touched life insurance. I told you, the team got so big, many deals had nothing to do with me.”

“You shirk responsibility so easily!”

“I know you misunderstand our industry, but we’ve been creating GDP. We’ve revitalized the entire insurance sector. Have you ever seen bacteria? Most people think bacteria are bad, but without them decomposing bodies and fertilizing soil, would we have such a beautiful Earth today? We’re like bacteria, working unseen to build this city and make it thrive. Besides, if it’s not prohibited by law, it’s permitted. No one regulates…”

“Ugh! Fraud is a crime!” Lin Dongxue interrupted him.

“Fine, let’s agree to disagree, shall we?”

“Take him away!” Lin Dongxue picked up the phone. People like him were beyond saving, thinking they were benefiting the world despite their heinous acts.

As the police dragged him away, the old man struggled and shouted, “I said, can’t we agree to disagree? A gentleman can get along with others despite differences. Why impose your laws on me!”

Lin Dongxue felt both angry and amused. Xu Xiaodong remarked, “Such sophistry. ‘Why impose our laws on him’? Laws protect and constrain everyone!”

A few days later, Lin Qiupu returned from a business trip. Walking into the office, he was stunned by what he saw. The place was packed, with policemen handcuffed to suspects filling the lobby and a long line crouched against the wall. Every room was full of suspects giving dejected statements.

To make it easier to find colleagues, they all wore police uniforms.

Lin Dongxue suddenly appeared before Lin Qiupu, looking sharp in her uniform. She saluted and smiled, “Back, brother?”

“Which gang did you take down?”

“The insurance fraud case! We arrested a total of 305 suspects, including gang members and clients found through their records.”

“Well done!” Lin Qiupu patted Lin Dongxue’s shoulder with pride. “Do you want any reward?”

“Sigh…” Lin Dongxue sighed. “Let me take a few days off when the case is over.”

“Alright, I’ll give you one day off!”

“Just one day? So stingy!”

“Haha, where’s Chen Shi?”

Lin Dongxue looked around, “I asked him to help out, where did he run off to again?”

Chen Shi had gone to the rooftop to escape the noise, accompanied by Peng Sijue, who also couldn’t stand the chaotic atmosphere. They smoked together, enjoying the sunny day and the cityscape stretching into the distance, filling them with a sense of pride.

Especially since they had just protected this city.

“It’s going to be busy now.”

“Yeah, probably until the New Year.”

“Well, I’m not concerned. I’m not a cop; I deserve a break.”

“Old Chen, have you heard the saying? No drop of rain thinks it caused the flood. When the chain of evil is long enough, so long that the whole picture can’t be seen, everyone involved feels innocent.”

“Profound words.”

“That’s exactly it. Most of these people think they’re just doing a job, even a job beneficial to society. They don’t feel any guilt.”

Chen Shi looked at the distant, model-like cityscape. “Do you think evil will ever disappear?”

“No, as long as there is light, there will be shadows. Crime has existed since the birth of private property.”

“Why does crime exist? If humans are social animals, why do we harm each other?”

“Half of human nature is animalistic—greedy, selfish, lazy; the other half is godlike—noble, selfless, diligent. This duality exists in everyone, with the balance shifting due to individual and environmental differences.”

“When animal nature overpowers godly nature, people fall into depravity.”

“Exactly!”

They flicked away their cigarette butts. Chen Shi always found intellectual pleasure in these conversations with Peng Sijue. They could talk for hours about society and the universe without ever tiring.

As they were about to light another cigarette and continue their chat, Lin Dongxue’s footsteps approached.

Lin Dongxue stomped her feet and scolded, “Everyone’s busy, and you two are hiding up here!”

“I’m not a cop. What does it matter to me?”

“I’m a forensic doctor. Investigations have nothing to do with me!”

“You’re driving me crazy! Get down there now! At least bring everyone some water. Many haven’t had a sip all morning.”

“This girl has gotten bold, daring to boss around even you, Captain Peng.” Chen Shi smiled at Peng Sijue.

“Wonder whose influence that is.” Peng Sijue smiled back.