Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Director Zhao gave an awkward smile and made a "please" gesture: "Please continue, I won't interrupt."

Director Li loosened his clenched fist, feeling mentally exhausted.

Damn it, why is it so hard to ask for leave?

These leaders are all as shrewd as monkeys.

If all else fails... should we just run away?

Anyway, the institute is in complete chaos right now, and nobody has time to deal with him.

But he suppressed the thought after it only lasted a second.

Running away should be a last resort, and should only be used as a last resort.

Otherwise, if they find out about you, you'll become a suspect and live a life of shame.

Director Li took a deep breath and continued to make up a story: "My wife said that my mother-in-law prayed for a child at Yuntai Temple, which is why she conceived triplets."

"And Director, you don't know, my father-in-law and mother-in-law had ten daughters in total, and my wife is the eldest."

Director Zhao raised an eyebrow: "Ten daughters? That's really..."

"They just wanted to have a son so that their family line wouldn't end up being wiped out, and they were afraid that when they died, there wouldn't be anyone to break the pot."

Director Li spoke with heartfelt sincerity, "For more than ten years, they have sought help from gods and Buddhas everywhere, and tried all sorts of folk remedies."

I'm finally pregnant this time, and it's triplets! How could I not be anxious?

What if there's one with a penis inside?

"Then my father-in-law's family will have an heir, and I'll be saved!"

Director Zhao remained silent.

He stared at Li Lei for a long time, as if trying to determine whether what he said was true or false.

Ten daughters, pregnant with triplets in her forties…

That's amazing?

He was shocked.

That makes thirteen children, right?

Li Lei's father-in-law is truly... indomitable.

But he soon discovered the vulnerability.

and many more…

Director Zhao narrowed his eyes. "Your mother-in-law is so fertile, so logically your wife shouldn't be any less. How come you and your wife haven't said a word to each other all these years?"

His gaze began to move downwards, landing on Director Li's crotch area, his eyes filled with a mixture of mockery, curiosity, sympathy, and undisguised contempt.

"It's not that you're infertile, is it?"

Li Lei's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

In a fit of anger, he snapped.

After all, the other party was the bureau chief, so he didn't dare to actually take action.

"Chief! What kind of look is that? If you won't grant me leave, fine, but you're looking down on me? That's a personal attack!"

Director Zhao put away his gossipy nature and adopted a righteous and stern expression: "Li Lei, you've misunderstood. I'm not looking down on you; I'm just...sympathizing with you."

He stood up, walked over to Li Lei, patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly:

"I know you're eager to have a child, and I understand that feeling. But Li Lei, is work more important, or having a child?"

What time is it now?

This is a crucial period for solving the case. As the head of the institute, how can you desert your post at the last minute?

Director Li gritted his teeth and remained silent.

"How about this?"

Director Zhao walked back to his seat, picked up his pen, and said, "I'll make you a promise. After your mother-in-law gives birth and we confirm whether the baby is a boy, I'll approve your leave for a month. Is that enough?"

Director Li's eyes widened.

Wait until the baby is born?

When will that be?

I'm afraid by then, the grass on the grave will be three feet tall...

"Director Zhao...you..." He was so angry that he could barely speak.

"clever?"

Director Zhao picked up the conversation, a smug look on his face, "I also think my suggestion is brilliant. It takes into account your family needs without interfering with your work—a win-win situation, isn't it?"

You big dummy!

Director Li clenched his back teeth, feeling his gums almost bleeding.

He figured it out: Zhao Jianguo, that scoundrel, just didn't want to approve his leave, afraid that if he ran away, there would be one less person to share the responsibility.

What do you mean by "wait until the baby is born" or "a month's leave"? That's all bullshit!

But he couldn't afford to break off relations.

The other party was the bureau chief, his immediate superior.

If things really fall out, it won't do him any good.

"it is good."

Director Li squeezed out the word through gritted teeth, "Then I'll wait."

Director Zhao gave him a "you're teachable" look and nodded with satisfaction: "Alright, you can go now. I reckon it won't be long before someone from the ministry comes down again."

Zhang Jianguo vanished into thin air inside the jeep. The ministry already knows and is furious. A new investigation team is on its way; prepare to receive them.

"it is good."

Director Li repeated the word again, then turned and left.

He stopped at the door and looked back.

Director Zhao had already lowered his head and started reading the documents, as if the confrontation just now had never happened.

Director Li clenched his fist and gently closed the door.

In the office, Director Zhao looked up at the closed door, a disdainful sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Do you really think I don't know what you're planning?"

"At this critical juncture, no one can escape. Three days and four nights, more than forty lives lost... This case has already alarmed the highest levels."

"Is your mother-in-law expecting her third child?"

Director Zhao shook his head, picked up the cigarette case, and lit another one. "I have more faith in the clues we found: the deceased, Yi Zhonghai, was pregnant with 10 babies."

Smoke rose slowly under the light.

"You're kidding me."

"Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened! Chief...something terrible has happened!!"

As Xiao Wang ran and shouted, he stumbled and rushed to the second floor. He saw Director Li just coming out of his office, his angry and sharp eyes making him stop what he was about to say and turn around.

Director Li was furious. He had just been cornered by Director Zhao, who not only refused his leave request but also nearly labeled him as "incompetent." He was seething with anger.

Upon hearing Xiao Wang's signature "death-announcing" opening remarks, his face instantly darkened.

"Xiao Wang!"

Director Li's voice was as cold as ice, "You—"

Hearing the commotion, Director Zhao pushed open the door and came out, frowning as he looked at the scene: "What's wrong? Why are you making such a fuss?"

He was clearly unaware of Xiao Wang's "special constitution".

Everyone else in the bureau knew about it, but no one dared to mention it in front of the bureau chief. After all, talking about such things was too superstitious and not something a policeman should believe or talk about.

Xiao Wang opened his mouth, looked at Director Li, then at Director Zhao, and suddenly realized that he had said the wrong thing.

Director Li took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He knew Xiao Wang didn't mean it, but that's just how the kid is; every time he hears that opening line, his temples throb.

"What's wrong now?"

Xiao Wang wiped his sweat and spoke rapidly: "Director, Chief, Xu Damao has vanished into thin air inside the detention center."

He paused, thought for a moment, and said, "Chief, we promised his father, Xu Fugui, that we would protect his safety... Now..."

Chief Li patted his chest and assured him, "Comrade Xu Fugui, don't worry, he's absolutely safe in our police station!"

Only one night had passed.

Director Li closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

He's become numb to this kind of news now.

Three days, more than forty lives lost. From shock to fear, from fear to anxiety, from anxiety to terror, from terror to the current sense of powerlessness.

What can the police do if an evil spirit wants to kill someone?

Stick a talisman?

Sprinkle black dog blood?

Seeking a master?

Those two "masters" are still performing "blessing" rituals on bullets at the guesthouse, but the guards say they're eating dog meat.

This looks completely unreliable!

"Okay, I understand."

Director Li opened his eyes, his tone eerily calm, "We promised Comrade Xu Fugui that we would protect his son, Xu Damao."

"But the evil spirits didn't agree, what can we do? They can't blame us."

Xiao Wang was stunned.

He hadn't expected the director to react this way.

Isn't that just being a scoundrel?

……