Chapter 1031 - 528: They’re a Bit "Shrewd"! (Part 2)

"This case has been handled by our department from the beginning to the end. As for the provincial office, we’ve only given them brief updates over the phone a few times. They actually don’t know much about the details."

"With the way Director Hou and the others sat there during the meeting just now, they must be quite embarrassed..."

Mr. Chen heard this, and the corners of his mouth moved slightly, as if he wanted to smile, but it ultimately turned into a complex expression.

He flicked the ash from his cigarette, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of deeper meaning: "Hey, don’t overthink it."

"When higher authorities come down, their purpose is to ensure we’re on track and to bear responsibility with us, otherwise, why invite them? Is it really just a social call?"

"Besides, we’re all aware of the manpower and resources we’ve invested in this case from start to finish."

"The work done to this extent is already quite solid."

"Inviting comrades from the provincial office was originally to leverage their authority to further confirm the reasonableness of our conclusions and enhance the timeliness of our handling. However—"

He paused slightly, shook his head, with a hint of helplessness and alertness in his tone:

"Who would have thought that the few people who came down, each one sharper than the last."

"Especially Jiang An, looking young and unassuming like a simple scholar, but what happened?"

"He doesn’t say much, yet every word hits crucial points. The three issues he raised, while okay to discuss privately, once brought to the table, they indeed revealed lapses in our work."

"These aren’t just detail issues; they pertain to the rigorousness of the investigation procedures."

At this time, Mr. Qin said, "Mr. Chen, I’ve interacted with Jiang An before."

"Last year, at the Provincial Criminal Investigation Summit Forum, we were in the same discussion group. This guy has a very solid professional foundation and a sharp perspective. He doesn’t seem like someone who plays mind games."

"But the key points he highlighted today indeed indicate that there were oversights and inadequacies in our preliminary investigation stage."

As the words fell, Deputy Director Chen Guan flicked the cigarette butt out the window and then rolled up the car window.

His tone was steady yet carried a subtle hint of pride, as he said slowly, "Anyway, this case is now nearly reaching its end."

"Even if they come to investigate, they won’t find anything new."

"I’ve long said, as long as we revalidate all evidence before three o’clock and organize them into impeccable files, then even if they want to disagree, they won’t have a reason to rebut, right?"

He paused slightly, with a faint, nonchalant smile, "I think handling it this way is quite good."

"Initially, Director Wu from the Petition Bureau made his point so clear at the meeting, yet they still pretended not to understand?"

"I say, that’s simply deliberately playing dumb."

"I don’t believe if they personally visit the scene again, they’ll be able to unearth anything new."

At this moment, Director Wu’s car was slowly driving back to the office entrance.

As soon as the car stopped, he saw through the window—the victim’s family had come again.

Still the same five people, standing quietly outside the gate of the Petition Bureau, like silent statues.

Director Wu instinctively removed his glasses and rubbed his swollen brow with his fingertips, exhaustion almost seeping from his forehead.

The driver beside him asked quietly, "Director Wu, should we go in or...?"

Director Wu put his glasses back on and looked up, noticing that the family had already recognized his license plate and were approaching the car.

He sighed lightly, his voice filled with resigned fatigue: "You see, now we can’t leave even if we wanted to."

"If we turn around and leave now, what would it look like?"

"Let’s go in. I’ll go down and talk to them in a bit."

The driver responded and slowly drove the car toward the gate.

Sure enough, as the car got closer, the family members surrounded it.

Director Wu opened the car door and stepped out with slightly heavy footsteps.

As soon as he appeared, anxious voices surged from all around: "Leader, what’s the situation with this matter?"

"Leader, you need to give us an answer!"

"When will the truth be uncovered?"

...

Faced with a string of urgent questions, Director Wu did not immediately respond. He stood silently for two seconds, seemingly gathering strength, then raised his hand gently to signal for everyone to be quiet.

"Everyone, please stay calm for now. I fully understand and sympathize with your feelings."

He tried to keep his voice peaceful, "I just returned from a meeting at the Municipal Public Security Bureau, specially convened to discuss this matter."

"A meeting? So what was the outcome?"

One family member urgently stepped forward, "Was the perpetrator found? Is there a truth yet?"

Then, Director Wu cleared his throat, raised his volume to address the gathered crowd, saying: "Everyone, please be quiet for a moment, I am here to solemnly deliver an important message to you."

"Regarding this case, the higher authorities attach great importance to it."

"To ensure the investigation’s rigor and the credibility of the conclusions, we’ve specially invited an experienced forensics expert group from the provincial public security department to professionally review and oversee the entire case process."

"Therefore, you can rest assured about the final conclusion."

"Currently, the experts have fully intervened, conducting an in-depth and thorough investigation and case review."

"Once there is any progress or result, we promise to promptly inform everyone at the earliest possible time."

"So, we hope you can remain patient and cooperate with our work."

"The provincial expert group? Who are the members of the expert group? Can we know the list? We request to see the expert group! We have information to report face to face!"

The calls from the crowd grew louder, emotions more urgent.

Faced with increasingly sharp questions, Director Wu frowned deeply, his expression extraordinarily grave.

He straightened his back, responding: "We fully understand your feelings, but right now, the expert group is racing against time, working with all their might on various tasks. Any external interference could affect their judgment and progress, so we earnestly request you to give them the necessary space and time."

He paused briefly, glanced over the crowd, and said: "Here, I can solemnly promise everyone with my personal role and reputation—once the expert group forms any formal conclusions or interim information, we will undoubtedly inform the public without reservation at the earliest opportunity. Please rest assured on this point."

"Alright, we’ll tentatively trust you this time."

In the crowd, a man with glasses and a refined demeanor took over the conversation, asking, "Then may I ask Director Wu, where exactly is the expert group currently working? Is it set up inside the Municipal Public Security Bureau?"

Director Wu nodded slightly, intentionally steering the topic towards a specific location: "Yes, the Municipal Public Security Bureau is currently the main office location for the expert group, and related investigations and analyses are concentrated there."

His answer seemed direct, but it was strategic, intending to divert the crowd gathered at the Petition Bureau’s entrance towards the Municipal Public Security Bureau, thereby easing the pressure and tension on site.

Soon after, Director Wu’s black official car slowly drove into the courtyard, leaving the family members present to talk quietly among themselves, with varied expressions.

Soon, a few gathered to the side, lowering their voices to quickly discuss.

In no time, they reached a consensus to head directly to the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Two white private cars then started and drove away from the Petition Bureau.

In the car, the man with glasses pushed his frames up and calmly analyzed, "We’ll directly go find the leaders sent down by the provincial office."

"The fact that the province formed a special expert group to intervene inherently sends an important signal—the case might have doubts, or there is a need for higher-level review."

He turned to look at his companion beside him, "If the facts are clear and undisputed, why bother to mobilize forces and send special personnel from the provincial level here? Don’t you agree, Huang?"

The young man known as "Huang" nodded in agreement, "You’re right."

"Usually, you’re closest to Baozi, you care most about his affairs."

"We all think we should directly approach the expert group to report what we know and communicate clearly with them."

As the conversation ended, the vehicle quickly turned at the intersection, accelerating along the straight street towards the Municipal Public Security Bureau.