Attending ex-girlfriend's wedding, arresting the groom's officer on the spot

Initially, Chen Gang gave Li Baochun 20,000 yuan to keep the peace. However, Li Baochun was greedy and his appetite grew. He kept increasing the amount he was extorting, from 50,000 to 100,000 yuan. In the end, he even demanded 150,000 yuan from Chen Gang, otherwise he would expose their relationship to the public and report Chen Gang for tax evasion to the tax bureau.

“My building materials company already has very low profit margins, and I have to support more than a dozen employees. I simply can’t come up with 150,000 yuan.” Chen Gang’s tone was full of helplessness and anger. “I discussed with Li Baochun whether he could ask for a smaller amount and pay him in installments, but he refused. He even came to my company every day to cause trouble, affecting my business, and even threatened to harm me and my family. I was really driven to the brink of desperation, which is why I had the idea of ​​killing him.”

The day before the incident, Li Baochun called Chen Gang, threatening to report him and ruin his reputation if he didn't have 150,000 yuan ready that night. Chen Gang knew Li Baochun meant what he said; if he was reported for tax evasion, his company would go bankrupt, and years of hard work would be lost. So, he pretended to agree to meet Li Baochun at 8 pm on the night of the incident at an abandoned factory on the west side of the Oriental Logistics Park, lying that he would give him the money, but in reality, he had already prepared to kill him to silence him.

At 7:30 p.m. on the night of the incident, Chen Gang drove to the Oriental Logistics Park, arriving early near the abandoned factory. He parked his vehicle on a secluded road, then put on a mask and hat, and carrying a pre-prepared iron bar and rope, entered the abandoned factory to wait for Li Baochun. Around 8 p.m., Li Baochun arrived at the factory as agreed. Upon entering, he immediately demanded to know where the money was. Chen Gang lied, claiming the money was hidden deep inside the factory, and asked Li Baochun to come with him to retrieve it. Taking advantage of Li Baochun's momentary lapse in attention, he struck him hard on the head from behind with the iron bar.

After being struck, Li Baochun collapsed to the ground, struggling to get up and call for help. Chen Gang then struck her several more times until she stopped moving. After confirming Li Baochun's death, Chen Gang, in an attempt to cover up his crime, took Li Baochun's cell phone, canvas bag, and other personal belongings to conceal the victim's identity. He then cleaned up some traces at the scene, took off his blood-stained shoes, put them in a pre-prepared plastic bag, and drove away from the scene.

“I originally intended to throw my phone and canvas bag into the river and burn my leather shoes, but I didn’t expect you to find me before I could do anything.” Chen Gang’s voice was full of remorse. “I know I was wrong and shouldn’t have killed someone in a moment of impulse, but I was really driven to desperation by Li Baochun. He not only extorted me but also ruined my life. I was confused for a moment and committed an unforgivable mistake.”

Zhang Hui pressed further: "Did you know that Li Baochun met with Zhang Hai at Qingya Teahouse the morning before he disappeared, and they even had an argument? What's your relationship with Zhang Hai?" Chen Gang shook his head: "I know Zhang Hai. He's in the renovation business. Our company has cooperated with him a few times on building materials, so we know each other, but we're not close. I didn't know about Li Baochun meeting with Zhang Hai at first. Later, Li Baochun called me and said that he had asked Zhang Hai for money, but Zhang Hai refused and they even had a fight. He said that if I didn't give him the money, he would cause trouble for Zhang Hai and make sure he had no peace. I didn't pay much attention at the time, but I didn't expect him to actually go to Zhang Hai."

Thus, the truth behind the murder at the Oriental Logistics Park was finally revealed. Chen Gang, having an improper relationship with Li Baochun's wife, was blackmailed and threatened by Li Baochun, and forced into a corner, meticulously planned this murder. Zhang Hai deliberately concealed the truth about his meeting with Li Baochun because Li Baochun not only borrowed money from him but also threatened to expose the bullying he suffered in elementary school, causing him shame in the industry. Zhang Hai chose to conceal parts of their conversation to protect his reputation, and it was not directly related to the case.

After the case was solved, Zhang Hui and his team finally breathed a sigh of relief; their days of hard work had finally yielded results. When Zhang Hui informed Li Baochun's parents of the outcome, the two elderly people were devastated but also expressed their gratitude to the police for their swift resolution. Li Li, due to her improper relationship with Chen Gang and her deliberate concealment of crucial clues in the early stages of the case, was reprimanded by the police and ordered to cooperate with the subsequent investigation. Chen Gang was criminally detained for intentional homicide and will face severe legal punishment.

In the criminal investigation team's office, Zhang Hui looked at the neatly organized case files. The bloodshot eyes were still clearly visible, but a sense of relief had crept in. He picked up his coffee, took a small sip, and saw that it was already bright outside. Sunlight streamed into the office through the window, dispelling the gloom of the past few days. This murder case, which transcended interests and emotions, had finally come to a close with justice. Zhang Hui and his team would continue to stand firm at their posts, safeguarding the peace of the community and preparing for the next challenge.

Subsequently, the police further verified the details of Chen Gang's crime, secured relevant evidence, and transferred the case to the procuratorate for review and prosecution. Chen Gang confessed to his crimes and was ultimately sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by the People's Court, and deprived of his political rights for life. Li Baochun's family gradually emerged from their grief and began a new life, and the suburban scrap metal market returned to its former order. However, the lessons learned from this murder case are worth pondering for everyone—momentary impulse and greed will ultimately come at a heavy price. Only by adhering to the bottom line of law and morality can one protect their own life.

On the morning of the third day after Chen Gang's arrest, just as dawn broke, a tight cordon was already in place in the suburbs. Criminal Investigation Division police cars were neatly parked at the entrance of the Oriental Logistics Park, their flashing lights standing out starkly against the gray sky. The air was thick with the chill of late autumn and the metallic smell of scrap metal. Zhang Hui, in his uniform, stood on a path on the west side of the logistics park, a crime scene investigation report between his fingers, repeatedly checking key data—this was where Chen Gang's vehicle had stopped, and also the starting point of his escape after committing the crime. "Attention all teams, the escort vehicle is about to arrive. Immediately confirm the cordon area, prohibit unauthorized personnel from entering, and preserve the original traces of the scene," Zhang Hui ordered into the walkie-talkie. Although the bloodshot in his eyes hadn't subsided, his gaze held a newfound composure. The tension of the past few days finally eased slightly as the scene identification and evidence preservation were about to be completed.

A few minutes later, the police car escorting Chen Gang slowly arrived. The door opened, and two police officers helped Chen Gang, who was handcuffed and shackled, out of the car. Chen Gang was no longer the composed building materials company owner he once was. His hair was disheveled, his face pale and haggard, and he wore prison clothes. His eyes vacantly scanned his surroundings. When his gaze landed on the abandoned factory building deep within the logistics park, his body trembled slightly, his steps faltered, and an undisguised fear was revealed. (End of Chapter)