The train driver in the courtyard

Inside the wooden house.

The white paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling flickered twice, their dim yellow light casting shifting shadows on people's faces.

Old Cat had been keeping his eyelids drooping since the interrogation began, almost as if he were asleep. He opened his eyes when he heard that the enemy agent was Chen Xingyi.

He looked at Li Aiguo.

Li Aiguo's expression remained unchanged, his face still stern, and he continued, "Why do you think Chen Xingyi might be Dieter?"

"Sir, may I have a cigarette?" Deputy Section Chief Zhou seemed to be struggling with his conscience as he raised his hand.

Li Aiguo took out a box of Daqianmen cigarettes and handed it to him. The railway soldier took it, pulled out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it for him with a match.

After taking two deep drags on his cigarette, Deputy Section Chief Zhou's brows relaxed before he spoke.

“Chen Xingyi was transferred from another place and has a rather complicated background. I have also reviewed his file and found that the family section had been altered.”

The old cat looked at Li Aiguo again.

Chen Xingyi is the second brother of Li Aiguo's wife. According to the meteorological station's regulations, records of Li Aiguo's personal relationships need to be sealed. This matter was handled by Lao Mao.

Li Aiguo nodded and encouraged him, "You're very thoughtful. Is there anything else?"

Encouraged, Deputy Section Chief Zhou's spirits lifted: "Chen Xingyi's standard of living exceeds his salary level."

"Ok?"

“Boss, it’s not that I like gossiping behind people’s backs,” Deputy Section Chief Zhou said in a low voice, “Chen Xingyi is just a junior technician, and his wife is a regular worker, yet they can afford a TV and a bicycle. Also, he once hosted guests at home, and there were small yellow croakers on the table! If you investigate now, you’ll definitely be able to find out the truth.”

Small yellow croaker. Wasn't this the one I gave to Chen Xingyi a few days ago?

This brother-in-law is an honest man; he actually used it to treat guests.

Now look what happened, I've been sold out.

For a moment, Li Aiguo didn't know whether to call him honest or foolish.

"Any more?"

“Isn’t this enough?” Deputy Section Chief Zhou said loudly, “Chen Xingyi must be Dieter; only then could he have so much money.”

After saying that, Deputy Section Chief Zhou, as if trying to cover up something, added, "Sir, please don't say that I leaked it."

"Don't worry, even if Chen Xingyi finds out, he won't have a chance to cause you any trouble." Li Aiguo smiled, stood up, picked up the record, had Deputy Section Chief Zhou sign it, and hurried back to work.

"Thank you so much. I didn't expect that Consultant Li's case investigation skills were so top-notch." Deputy Section Chief Zhou complimented him verbally, but inwardly he felt a surge of disdain.

This is what a fool is.

With this level of skill, they think they can even make a stamping machine? It's just pure luck.

Deputy Section Chief Zhou strolled out of the interrogation room and saw Chen Xingyi waving to him, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.

To be honest, he had a good impression of Chen Xingyi. He was an honest, hardworking man, and he valued Chen Xingyi, the deputy section chief, highly.

He wouldn't have pushed Chen Xingyi out to take the bullet unless absolutely necessary.

If you have to blame someone, blame Chen Xingyi for being unlucky.

After returning to the technical section, Deputy Section Chief Zhou quickly closed his office door, sat down, and lit a cigarette.

He wasn't excited about escaping death; instead, he sensed that something was amiss.

"Could Chun Yue really be planning to sell those documents?"

Thinking of this, Deputy Section Chief Zhou couldn't help but stand up, wanting to go home.

But after thinking about it, he sat back down.

The investigation team hasn't confirmed that Chen Xingyi is Dieter yet, and if he leaves now, it will be too conspicuous.

"We'll have to see if Li Aiguo takes the bait."

After making up his mind, Deputy Section Chief Zhou picked up the newspaper and started reading.

After Deputy Section Chief Zhou left, Lao Mao didn't bring Chen Xingyi over directly. Instead, he asked, "Aiguo, you don't actually think Chen Xingyi is Dieter, do you?"

When Section Chief Qin heard this, he was puzzled: "Why can't Chen Xingyi be Dieter?"

Old Cat pointed at Li Aiguo: "That's my second brother-in-law." "Huh?!"

Although Section Chief Qin did not know Li Aiguo's specific identity at the weather station, seeing his relationship with Lao Mao, he understood that Li Aiguo was definitely not an ordinary person.

In particular, Li Aiguo also holds the title of National Model Worker.

For someone like this, the organization must have already thoroughly investigated his family members, relatives, and even colleagues.

Chen Xingyi could not possibly have any problems.

Then the only one who could be in the problem is… Section Chief Qin’s expression changed, and he exclaimed, “Zhou Risheng is a suspect?”

Li Aiguo also reviewed the transcript again, straightened up and said, "He is highly suspicious."

"How to say?"

"Look, the time of Sunday's rise is recorded so accurately. If it were you, could you be accurate to the minute?"

"Impossible, I never check the time when I work overtime," Section Chief Qin shook his head.

Old Cat stroked his chin and commented, "Deputy Section Chief Zhou seems very shrewd, but he's just copying from the book. His behavior is the same as many Dieters who have just received training. They memorize various coping strategies and then use them directly without any changes."

Section Chief Qin agreed with Lao Mao's opinion, but still had doubts: "Zhou Risheng is a technician, and precise timing may just be his habit."

“That’s certainly a possibility, but accusing Chen Xingyi of being Dieter is enough to show that he has a problem.” Li Aiguo didn’t wait for the two to ask any questions this time, and continued, “If it were you, would you point out that your colleague is a suspect in Dieter and provide such sufficient evidence?”

The moment this question was asked, both Old Cat and Section Chief Qin's expressions changed several times.

You have to understand that being suspected of a crime here is a huge offense; even being associated with it could result in serious trouble.

This is also the real reason why many leaders and technicians refuse to answer this question.

People have a conscience.

Besides, what if the person accused isn't Dieter? How can they continue to work together as colleagues?

Only those with ulterior motives would provide specific names in an attempt to shift the blame.

“I see now, Patriot, your question is a trap,” Old Cat couldn’t help but say.

Li Aiguo nodded in agreement.

Of course, this method works for those Dieters who haven't received any training.

If you run into those experienced players, they'll see through you in no time.

Now that the target has been identified, opinions differ on how to proceed.

Section Chief Qin felt that they should arrest the person directly.

Old Cat, on the other hand, was thinking of using Zhou Risheng to catch a big fish, figuring out who Zhou Risheng's superior was, since Zhou Risheng couldn't be touched for the time being.

Li Aiguo also knew that Lao Mao was worried about something else, namely Professor Ji Huai.

Ji Huai's accomplice has not shown up, which is a thorn in Lao Mao's side.

If Zhou Risheng is related to this person, then the significance goes far beyond the loss of a confidential blueprint.

However, there's no way to tell Section Chief Qin about these things.

Seeing that both of their eyes were on him, Li Aiguo nodded in agreement with Lao Mao's opinion.

“Play the long game and catch the big fish.”

If you want to catch fish, especially big ones, the most important thing is to be willing to use bait.

"There are people ahead of me, how come it's my turn?" Chen Xingyi was in line when two railway soldiers pulled him out of the queue and headed towards the interrogation room.

The technicians were all somewhat surprised to see this.

"No way, Chen Xingyi is actually Dieter!"

"Impossible. Chen Xingyi is an honest man. How could he possibly do such a thing?"

"If it weren't for Chen Xingyi, they would have arrested him directly. Didn't you see those railway soldiers raising their guns?"

(End of this chapter)