Chapter Forty-Nine: If You’re Not Satisfied, Challenge Me One-on-One

The police officer beside him seemed to sense Liu Weidong’s anxiety and snorted.

“Scared? We still have half an hour to get to the precinct. If you confess before entering the interrogation room, it’ll count as surrendering yourself.”

Liu Weidong remained silent.

Such tactics were too crude, meant only to intimidate those who had never been inside before.

Seeing Liu Weidong completely ignoring him, the officer pulled out handcuffs, about to cuff him. At that moment, another policeman ahead cleared his throat, and the officer put the cuffs away.

When the car arrived at Yongchuan Precinct, Liu Weidong glanced at his watch: 11:10. After getting off, he was taken directly into the interrogation room, where the interrogator was an old policeman.

“Liu Weidong, do you know why you’ve been arrested?”

Liu Weidong shook his head. The old policeman slammed the table.

“Liu Weidong, we don’t just come to your house at midnight without solid evidence. You’d better confess honestly; resisting will only make things worse. You exploited the disaster, incited village leaders to clear land to grow medicinal herbs, subcontracted collective land, and illegally cut and stole timber for profit.

This is blatant defiance of national policy—classic profiteering. We have witnesses and physical evidence. Don’t think just because you know a few people, we won’t touch you. Better be honest now to save yourself the trouble.”

Liu Weidong immediately understood—it was that bastard Li Baotian again causing trouble for him.

But he held Li Baotian’s secrets tightly—was this fool crazy?

“Officer, ever since the disaster hit Team Two, I’ve been borrowing money and materials everywhere, just so the villagers wouldn’t starve. Is that a crime?”

“Don’t twist the facts. Your family was known as the poorest in Team Two. It’s been less than a month, and not only have you bought a house in the city, but you’ve also bought a lot of stuff. And you still dare claim you didn’t enrich yourself at the public’s expense?”

Liu Weidong laughed bitterly. “You haven’t even looked into how I earned the money, and you’re arresting me just because I’m rich? Your ‘evidence’ is all from informants, right? How about we have a face-to-face confrontation right now?”

The old policeman slammed the table and stood up, grabbing a baton to deal with Liu Weidong. Just then, the interrogation room door opened, and a young officer came in, whispering a few words to the old policeman, who scowled and put away the baton.

“Take him to the detention center first. Tomorrow morning, we’ll gather evidence separately. Once we have solid proof, let’s see who dares to protect him.”

Meanwhile, as Liu Weidong was being taken to Yongchuan Detention Center, Lou Yanru was cycling back to her maternal home within the city.

She first called Wang Li, then found Li Tie, the deputy director of the oil and fat factory.

Although both said they would immediately contact Zhao Lijun, the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, Lou Yanru was still uneasy. She wanted her mother to try other channels to help.

Lou Yanru’s return surprised not only Song Qian but even Lou Yanhua, who kept looking out the door for a long time.

“Sis, why did you come back alone? Where’s my brother-in-law?”

“Mom, Weidong was taken by the Yongchuan Public Security Bureau. Please think of something. He didn’t do anything wrong; he must be framed.”

Song Qian was stunned. “Liu Weidong was taken by the police? Did they say what for?”

Lou Yanru wiped away tears. “Something about a truckload of tree seedlings. It’s true he helped the production team buy them, but that’s not illegal, right?”

Song Qian’s eyes widened. “These days, you can’t even avoid trouble, and Liu Weidong just walks right into it. Did he make a profit from buying those seedlings?”

Lou Yanru was even more aggrieved. “What profit? He even advanced three thousand yuan for the production team. I don’t know which damn scoundrel is behind this.”

Song Qian sighed and sat on the sofa.

“Yanru, you always say Mom doesn’t care about you, but when have you ever listened to me? Your father hasn’t been exonerated yet, and now Liu Weidong is in trouble again. What if this affects your political review for the college entrance exam? Have you thought about the consequences? Only you two silly girls believe him. Why would he refuse such a good job as an engineer at the factory? He’s just afraid of exposing himself. You can plagiarize knowledge, but you can’t fool people forever. How could a guy who didn’t even finish middle school possibly know so much?”

Lou Yanhua chimed in, “Brother-in-law is really amazing. He helped me write songs, helped my sister write novels, even tutored us in high school. He’s not pretending…”

Song Qian glared at Lou Yanhua and snapped, “You shut up! I’m telling you, Yanru, you better divorce that jinx Liu Weidong, or don’t blame me for disowning you.”

Lou Yanru had originally come to her mother for help but received this response. She cried on her way back home, sitting on the kang stove and wiping her tears, utterly lost.

She decided to return to Team Two tomorrow to find Wang Jianguo. As for the college entrance exam the day after, Lou Yanru no longer cared. Her husband was in trouble; how could she focus on exams? Her heart wasn’t that strong.

Liu Weidong stepped down from the police car, shaking his head as he looked at the rusty iron gate of the detention center.

He never imagined that after his rebirth, he would face such a scenario. In his previous life, he had never dealt with the police.

After handing over his belongings, signing paperwork, and receiving his number, Liu Weidong clutched his quilt as the guard led him to the door of Cell No. 3.

As the iron gate opened, a strong smell of foot odor hit his nose. A bald man on the kang glared at the door, dozens of bald heads gleaming under the light.

“Everyone lie down, keep it down at night. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I’ll skin them alive.”

The guard pushed Liu Weidong inside, and the gate slammed shut.

The large kang was packed, dozens lying side by side. Liu Weidong clutched his quilt, looking around. A bald man sitting at the head of the kang spoke up.

“Newcomer, why are you here?”

Liu Weidong leaned against the door but kept his head away from the small window—not because of experience, but from years in business, he knew attacks from behind were the most dangerous.

“You talking to me? I don’t know why—maybe I didn’t dip my dumplings in vinegar.”

The man at the head laughed. “Damn, you talk tough? With that pretty face and new military uniform, you’re either a gigolo or a damn hooligan. I hate rich brats like you the most.

Take off that uniform; I’ll keep it for you. Got any cigarettes? Hand them over quick; it might make things easier for you.”

Liu Weidong chuckled. “You think I’m scared? Want my uniform? I don’t have any cigarettes, and even if I did, I’d keep them for myself. You baring your teeth like that—is that a challenge? If you’re not satisfied, jump down and fight me one-on-one.”

When it came to fighting, Liu Weidong wasn’t afraid. Back in the days of village brawls, he dared to charge into bayonets wielding his sickle, not blinking when the blades drew blood. Why fear these starving bald heads?

Here, it was simple: either you get knocked down or you knock someone else down. Nothing else mattered.

He had eaten well and rested well outside; why fear these guys who barely had enough to eat?

The bald man at the head saw Liu Weidong’s swagger and exploded, “Damn, you just got in and already want to start a riot? Beat the shit out of him!”