Shuangling: Braving the Rapids

In the past few days, two more cases of poisoned alcohol causing death have occurred in Yanghe City. The TV and newspapers are full of Zhang Laifu's wanted poster, causing panic throughout the city.

With nowhere to hide, Zhang Laifu obtained a fake ID and fled south overnight. His escape had many consequences; everyone who had been associated with him was brought into trouble and was summoned for questioning by the police.

Early in the morning, Cheng Dong, who was rushing home, bumped into members of the joint inspection team at the store entrance.

"Comrade, hello!" A uniformed officer showed his identification and stopped Cheng Dong. "My surname is Guo, and I'm from the Market Supervision Bureau. We have a case here that requires your cooperation in the investigation."

Seeing the three police cars with their flashing lights outside the shop, Cheng Dong couldn't help but feel nervous. He composed himself, forced a smile, and said, "Please have a seat, sirs. I'll make you some tea..."

Before he could finish speaking, another police officer with a buzz cut ran up behind him. His face was cold as he said sternly, "We're here on a case! Not for tea! Open the door and let us in for inspection!"

In front of so many police officers, Cheng Dong dared not say "no." After hesitating for a moment, he took out his keys and walked to the store entrance. Even though Cheng Dong had good composure, otherwise, if his hands had been shaking, he probably wouldn't have been able to even insert the key into the lock.

The roller shutter door had barely opened a crack when Officer Guo and his men rushed in. Cheng Dong opened his mouth to say something, but the crew-cut officer grabbed his arm and pulled him aside: "Your name is Lao Cheng Dong? Hand over your ID card, business license, and all your communication devices!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Dong felt a chill run down his spine: "Boss, can you tell me what happened? I'm a businessman, and I haven't done anything illegal!"

"Don't call me leader! My surname is Liao, and I'm the head of the city's criminal investigation team. Someone reported you for selling counterfeit alcohol. Do you have anything to say?" Captain Liao was the commander-in-chief of this operation. He spoke simply and directly, clearly a seasoned investigator.

"Report a crime?" Cheng Dong scratched his head, then stomped his foot and said, "Officer Liao! I've always been honest and trustworthy in my business. Who on this street doesn't know that I, Er Dong, am the most trustworthy person? If you don't believe me, you can go and ask around..."

"Stop talking so much. First, do you recognize the person in the photo?" Captain Liao threw a photo at Cheng Dong's face.

"This...this is Zhang Nao! Oh, no, it's Zhang Laifu!" Cheng Dong blurted out, then tentatively asked, "He's been delivering wine to my house. What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the wine?"

Cheng Dong has been driving these past two days and hasn't been paying attention to the news at all. However, judging from the situation, it's not hard to guess that Zhang Laifu has gotten into trouble.

"Since you admit to having business dealings with him, I'm glad you're being honest. Let's be frank, this guy is suspected of selling counterfeit alcohol and is wanted by the police. You need to seal up all the alcohol he's distributing right now!" Seeing that Cheng Dong wasn't hiding anything, Captain Liao simply laid it all out.

"I'll definitely cooperate!" Cheng Dong patted his chest, then changed the subject, saying, "However, Zhang Laifu has basically sold out of his beer, and besides... besides, I've had that beer a few times. It's not a big brand, but it's not fake either!"

Cheng Dong has been in business for a long time, so he can definitely tell if the liquor is fake. He had checked every batch of goods before and there were no problems. But he never expected that Zhang Nao would trick him into stuffing fifty cases of liquor into his warehouse just the day before yesterday.

"What are you talking about, beer?" Captain Liao narrowed his eyes and said loudly, "Beer only costs a few dollars, why would you bother counterfeiting it? I'll just ask you one question: did that person sell you any liquor?"

Captain Liao hadn't rested for several days in order to catch Zhang Laifu. Now that he had finally found a suspected hiding place for the goods, he certainly wasn't going to beat around the bush and say anything pointless.

"I absolutely never sent any liquor! All transactions have records, I'll find them for you right now!" Cheng Dong patted his chest and assured him.

Seeing Cheng Dong speak with such conviction, Captain Liao's expression became somewhat complicated. Just as he was about to speak, Officer Guo from the Market Supervision Bureau came over and handed him a receipt—the very same liquor order that Zhang Laifu had given to Tingting the day before.

Captain Liao's face instantly darkened. He waved the receipt in front of Cheng Dong's eyes and roared, "Didn't you say you never bought any liquor from Zhang Laifu? Look at this!"

Cheng Dong hadn't expected to be proven wrong so quickly. Pointing to the delivery slip, he hurriedly explained, "Officer Liao, please listen to me. I went out of town to pick up goods yesterday afternoon. It must be Zhang Nao..."

"Lao Chengdong! Stop making excuses!" Captain Liao glared at him, waving his hand. "Are you trying to say that Zhang Laifu delivered the goods without your permission yesterday because you weren't there? We found the written record in your shop! Even if you weren't there, you can't clear your name! Hand over the goods right now, or you won't even be able to confess in the police station!"

Captain Liao is a veteran detective who has arrested hundreds, if not thousands, of suspects. He simply doesn't believe Cheng Dong's claims.

In his view, the other side was merely putting up a last-ditch effort. At this point, no matter how Cheng Dong explained, it was useless; he insisted that Captain Liao find the batch of poisoned wine.

Cheng Dong was incredibly frustrated. It was like having mud stuck in his crotch—even if it wasn't shit, it was still shit!

"Officer Liao, believe it or not! I genuinely haven't seen this form before. If someone is framing me, can't I at least say a few words in my defense?"

Even Cheng Dong himself found these words unbelievable. But he had to defend himself, after all, he wasn't Zhang Laifu's accomplice!

As Cheng Dong was arguing with Officer Liao, a commotion suddenly broke out at the store entrance. He turned his head and saw Tingting pushing and shoving with law enforcement officers as she tried to rush inside.

"Boss! Boss!" Xue Tingting was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. She shouted at the top of her lungs, "Don't plead guilty! Just say you don't know anything and are trying to pin the blame on me! It's my fault...it's my fault for messing things up..."

Twenty minutes earlier, Tingting overheard neighbors talking about someone dying from poisoned liquor outside the steamed bun shop. The young girl immediately sensed something was wrong and ran into the shop. She intended to go to the warehouse to open the boxes and check the goods before reporting Zhang Nao's matter to the boss, but when she got there, she found that the police had surrounded the shop.

Tingting was frantic, pacing back and forth. When she inquired, she discovered it involved Zhang Laifu selling counterfeit alcohol, nearly fainting from shock! At that moment, a flurry of thoughts raced through the girl's mind. She initially wanted to run away, but then heard that Cheng Dong had been detained by the police. In a moment of impulsiveness, she rushed in, even getting into a scuffle with the officers…

Hearing Tingting's desperate screams, Cheng Dong was somewhat bewildered. Captain Liao, being an extremely shrewd man, immediately pulled Tingting aside for private questioning. He didn't know what trick he used, but within a few questions, he found out the whereabouts of the warehouse keys.

When the warehouse door opened, Cheng Dong was completely dumbfounded. Inside, fifty boxes of counterfeit liquor were neatly stacked!

As they were talking, Officer Guo and the others rushed in and then quickly carried it out. Wow! This time they caught them red-handed!