Chapter 333: Zheng the Brute

Looking at the vigorous departure of Lawyer Bai, Lin Dongxue expressed her disdain: “He’s shameless to the extreme. Brother, have you seen what they’re saying online? He comes up with any excuse to get people off the hook—intermittent mental illness, split personality, even claiming hot pot seasonings contain aphrodisiacs. It’s just shameless.”

“Alright, let’s not get too emotional while investigating. Aren’t there enough people cursing him online already? It’s seven now, I’m going to see Li Min. Are you coming?”

“I’ll go with Chen Shi.”

Hearing his sister casually mention Chen Shi, Lin Qiupu felt a sudden pang. His sister would eventually grow up and be taken away by another man. He said cautiously, “Be careful when you ride in his car back tonight…”

“He’s not a bad guy, and besides, can’t I take care of myself?” Lin Dongxue waved her hand dismissively and went upstairs.

Throughout the journey, Lin Qiupu was conflicted about this issue. Arriving at Li Min’s place, he composed himself and knocked on the door. Li Min, a skinny middle-aged man, immediately asked upon opening the door, “Police?”

“How did you know?” Lin Qiupu hadn’t worn his uniform.

“Zheng Guohao got someone killed? He still owes me a million, you know. I have an IOU. Will I be compensated after his property is auctioned?”

“How did you know…” Lin Qiupu was beginning to understand, “Lawyer Bai told you?”

“Yes, he just called me, said you suspect it was me. He also said if I get sued, his law firm can take the case, but he wants a referral fee.”

“That’s utter nonsense!” Lin Qiupu was visibly agitated, “Who allowed him to leak details of the investigation? I’ll have him held legally responsible!”

“Officer, you suspect me? I was working at the supermarket at one in the afternoon!” It seemed Lawyer Bai had told him everything.

“We are still investigating; no one is suspected yet. We just wanted to know more about the situation…” Lin Qiupu noticed a girl peeking from the bedroom, “Is someone else home?”

“My daughter.”

“Then let’s talk somewhere else.”

Li Min put on a brown jacket and left with Lin Qiupu. They sat down at a nearby snail noodle stall. Li Min offered a cigarette, but Lin Qiupu declined and began questioning, “What do you do for a living? And how do you know Zheng Guohao?”

“Ah, don’t get me started on that beast! I manage a supermarket, the big one up front. I was planning to secure a distributorship for beef jerky from Zheng Guohao’s company, sell it in the supermarket for some extra profit. So I invited Zheng Guohao, ah, Zheng the brute, for a meal to discuss the distributorship. I brought my daughter Tingting, some colleagues, and their families. We had a great time until Zheng got a bit drunk. I helped him to my place since it was close. He wanted something sour to sober up, so I went out to buy him some soda…”

Lin Qiupu interrupted, “You’re a single father?”

“Yes, Tingting grew up with me.”

“Why would you leave your daughter alone with him while you went out to buy drinks? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

“I… I was afraid she might run into bad people outside.”

Lin Qiupu saw through his lies and sternly advised, “You better tell the truth.”

Li Min’s lips trembled, and his cigarette fell to the ground. Covering his face, he burst into sobs, “I’m not a good father! Actually, that day at the dinner, Zheng already showed a special interest in Tingting, asking her to visit his house sometime. He talked to her the most. Knowing how pretty Tingting is and wanting to ingratiate myself with Zheng, I let Tingting stay home to keep him company. But when I came back… I heard Tingting crying. Her clothes were torn by Zheng. I was so angry, I didn’t care about his manager or CEO titles. I grabbed a kitchen knife, thinking of castrating him, then killing him. Zheng begged for mercy on his knees and offered to settle privately, promising me a million.”

“Did he suggest that figure, or did you?”

Under Lin Qiupu’s intense gaze, Li Min finally admitted, “It was me!”

Indeed, a father willing to settle such matters privately must be weak and greedy.

Li Min explained, “I thought, Tingting has already been violated by that beast, what’s the use of a lawsuit? Such things would tarnish not his reputation, but ours. How would Tingting ever get married? Who would want her?