Chapter 58: Waiting for Your Return

Tian Miao was so furious her liver ached. Li Peng had truly fallen so deep into the eyes of money that he was actually still complaining about Li Qi causing him a loss of twenty thousand yuan.

"I am Tian Miao, a reporter for the provincial newspaper, and I take full responsibility for every word I utter."

Upon hearing that Tian Miao was a reporter from the provincial level, Li Peng was startled at first, but his expression abruptly shifted, forcing a full-faced, obsequious smile.

"So you're a reporter from the province! Hello, reporter. Look at this, it's all my fault for not recognizing your profession. What are you doing following third brother around? He's nothing but an idiotic drifter who doesn't know a damn thing. Narrow-minded, selfish, utterly devoid of worldly wisdom, and willful. That person has not a single redeeming quality about him. If there's anything you want to know, you can just interview me directly. I am the head of moral education at Niuxin Town Middle School, and I represent Niuxin Town in welcoming your inspection and guidance at any time."

It had to be said that in those days, reporters still commanded very high status. Li Peng's sycophantic instincts were forcibly activated.

Watching Li Peng's instantly transformed expression, Tian Miao could only feel nauseated.

Li Qi shoved his eldest brother aside. How utterly shameful; kissing up to the powerful while bullying the weak and completely lacking any sense of shame or dignity—that was the exact description of someone like Li Peng. And to think he was actually a teacher.

"What on earth are you trying to do? Get lost if you have nothing better to do."

Li Peng flashed an ingratiating smile at Tian Miao, then turned back to look at Li Qi.

"I heard the mine rewarded you with ten thousand yuan. Give that money to me; I have an urgent and important matter to use it for."

Li Qi was utterly speechless.

"Do you even have a face? It's bigger than a baboon's ass. What you've got perched on top of your neck must be a tumor; your oversized head is kept functioning entirely by blood clots, otherwise it would just leak shit. The moment you open your mouth you ask for ten thousand yuan, do I owe you something? What the hell kind of urgent matter could you possibly have?"

Li Peng clenched his fists tightly. If he hadn't known he couldn't beat Li Qi, he would have made a move long ago. But right now, his wife and his father-in-law's family were waiting for him to bring the money back, so he had to endure his anger and explain:

"The day before yesterday, the police station went to the mine to make arrests, and your sister-in-law's younger brother, Du Ming, was wrongfully accused and inexplicably hauled away by the police station along with the others. Isn't that absurd? Such an honest, well-behaved kid, how could he possibly break the law? Your sister-in-law's parents came to me, asking me to find a way. My opinion is that the police station must have made a mistake. Let's first come up with some money to bail him out. Once the police station finishes their investigation and realizes their operational mistake, they'll naturally refund the money to me..."

Hearing this, before Li Qi could even speak, Tian Miao lost her temper first.

"I spit on that! What do you mean Du Ming was wrongfully accused? My colleague, provincial newspaper reporter Li Shi, carrying vital evidence, had clearly already escaped from the mine. As a result, this very Du Ming sent him right back into the lion's den—all for a mere hundred yuan! Do you have any idea that my colleague was nearly beaten to death because of this? And in order to gather evidence, I infiltrated a black coal kiln and almost died in there too. You could say that if not for this bastard named Du Ming, Li Shi would never have been so severely injured, nor would I have fallen into such danger. And yet, with a flick of your tongue, you call him innocent? You call it a police blunder? Do you believe me if I go straight to the police station to report you right now, and expose you at your workplace so you won't even have a job left? How are you people like you even fit to be a teacher of others?"

Tian Miao was genuinely furious. How could there be someone in this world so devoid of right and wrong? Truly both stupid and malicious.

Rebuked harshly by Tian Miao, Li Peng felt extremely unhappy. Yet, constrained by Tian Miao's identity, he did not dare to scold her. With his face flushing alternately red and white, he grabbed Li Qi.

"I don't care where you met this reporter; she has nothing to do with our family matters. Hurry up and give me the money, I have my own affairs to attend to."

Li Qi waved his hand and pushed Li Peng aside.

"Don't touch me. To be human at the same time as you and even share a blood relation makes me feel deeply apologetic. Did you not understand a single word of what Tian Miao just said? A degenerate like Du Ming deserves to rot in a prison cell. Let me tell you this as well: Du Ming's case has conclusive evidence, clear facts, and an extremely vile impact; he does not meet the conditions for bail pending trial at all. Tell your traitorous father-in-law to give up, because no one can bail him out. As for the money, it belongs to me and has nothing to do with you. Don't even dream of taking a single cent from my hands."

Li Peng's anger flared up as well. This ten thousand yuan wasn't just to rescue Du Ming; it was also the money he needed to go down south to buy a fake diploma—how could he possibly give that up?

"On what grounds? When Mom was still alive, she explicitly stated that I was the most promising child in the family, and all family matters should be centered around me. That ten thousand yuan at home must be given to me, otherwise you are being unfilial!"

Li Qi was laughed out of anger.

"What era is this, and you're still pulling out this kind of moral blackmail? If Mom said you should have it, go down there and ask her for it. When Mom was alive, you were already working—did you ever buy her a single pair of socks or a piece of meat to eat? After Mom passed away, did you ever burn a single sheet of paper for her? Raising you is less useful than raising a piece of braised pork head. Now you're bringing up our deceased mother to lecture me? Get the hell out of my sight right now!"

The more Li Qi spoke, the angrier he became. He lifted his leg and delivered a swift kick. How could Li Peng's frail physique withstand such a blow? Instantly, he turned into a rolling gourd, howling miserably as he tumbled from the hospital ward entrance all the way to the end of the corridor.

Shooting Li Qi a venomous glare filled with bitter hatred and realizing that there was no way he could get money from Li Qi today, he flicked his hand in anger and stomped down the stairs.

Tian Miao happily hooked her arm around Li Qi's.

"That kick you delivered was so handsome! Does my little brother have a girlfriend? How do you think this older sister measures up? Little Li, do you want a wife?"

Li Qi was defeated right then and there, his ears burning red as he broke free from Tian Miao's arm.

Tian Miao chuckled softly.

"Not mad anymore, are you?"

Li Qi shook his head helplessly.

"Some people's intelligence is genuinely abnormal, but because they can take care of themselves in daily life, you can't tell at first glance. My eldest brother is precisely that kind of creature. Getting angry at people like that is purely punishing oneself with someone else's mistakes. From now on, I'll walk around him whenever I see him."

Finding his remarks amusing, Tian Miao looked at him with an adoring gaze, acting completely infatuated.

Unable to bear Tian Miao's dripping-with-affection gaze any longer, Li Qi pulled her along toward the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

The two arrived at the bureau and waited for a long time before finally seeing Huang Guohua.

Huang Guohua's expression was heavy.

"There is immense resistance within the city regarding the arrest of Wang Yue. Many high-ranking officials have made phone calls to intercede, and Political Commissar Zhou has been kept busy dealing with them. Right now, we have three confessions, including Cheng Mofeng's, so Wang Yue's crime of hiring a hitman cannot escape him. However, regarding the matter concerning your kidney, the evidence is insufficient. Liu Mingming is extremely cunning, insisting that he knew nothing about your condition and maintaining that the loss of your vital signs was due to a nurse's error, completely cutting himself loose from the situation. Furthermore, a call just came down from the province demanding that we release Liu Mingming immediately. I estimate someone will be here shortly to bail him out."

At this point, Huang Guohua's expression darkened. Every single one of them knew what Liu Mingming had done, but the current evidence simply wasn't enough to hold him.

Tian Miao voiced Li Qi's train of thought, causing Huang Guohua to perk up.

"This method is brilliant! I will immediately dispatch men to the hospital and the Health Bureau to seal and retrieve the records."

Li Qi suddenly interjected, "But Liu Mingming will still be bailed out, won't he?"

Huang Guohua shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Without sufficient evidence at present, coupled with pressure from the province, we can only let him go home for now. After all, Liu Mingming is known as the 'First Blade of the North', enjoying enormous fame in the fields of kidney and liver transplantation, and he maintains very close relationships with many high-ranking officials. Such a talent—if the 203rd Hospital doesn't want him, many hospitals down south or even overseas would gladly find a place for him. I heard that the First People's Hospital of New York City even sent him an invitation letter."

Li Qi gave Huang Guohua a sideways glance. What time was it, and he was still dropping memes...

Fearing that Li Qi would be disappointed, Huang Guohua said resolutely, "Your train of thought is exceptional. Trust me, we will find sufficient evidence within three days. When that time comes, we will definitely bring Liu Mingming to justice!"

Li Qi smiled and said nothing. In matters like this, he trusted no one.

After Huang Guohua left, Li Qi said to Tian Miao, "You've interviewed Liu Mingming before—do you know his home address?"

Tian Miao was taken aback. "What are you planning to do? Don't act rashly. Finding evidence is only a matter of time; don't do anything foolish."

Looking into Tian Miao's eyes, Li Qi said earnestly, "The social strata you come into contact with are higher than mine. The various insider dealings you know about must also be much more numerous than what I'm aware of. Do you think that if someone in the province or even in the capital of Hua Guo wants to protect Liu Mingming, what is the probability that he will ultimately be convicted?"

Tian Miao fell silent. Precisely because of the environment she inhabited, she knew much better than Li Qi that above a certain tier in Hua Guo, the law simply did not apply. Since ancient times, there had been the saying that punishments do not apply to high officials and scholars. Although slogans about everyone being equal before the law were chanted nowadays, this was still Hua Guo, and in certain respects, it remained deeply traditional.

She could only say in a tiny voice, "You can't sacrifice yourself just to punish a monster. It's not worth it, truly. Your future will be vast and colorful; besides, you still have me. You promised me you wouldn't take risks anymore."

As she spoke, the rims of Tian Miao's eyes grew red once more.

Li Qi gave her a sideways glance. "What on earth are you imagining? Did you think I was going to sacrifice myself to take him down? I'm not a fool. Just give me his address, and leave the rest to me."

Half-doubtful, Tian Miao flipped through her address book and found Liu Mingming's residential address.

It was right beside the Taihe Municipal Government building, a place locals called the Military District Command, famously known as the Mayor's Mansion. It had originally been built to house resident generals of the garrison before being transferred to local jurisdiction; unless one possessed power and influence, it was utterly impossible to move in there. There were even guards stationed at the intersections.

Li Qi remembered it now. In later generations, because the property rights remained in the hands of the military, that area was never redeveloped, ultimately turning into a prime, tranquil location right in the center of the bustling city, where a small courtyard was eventually hyped up to over five million yuan. Later on, several businessmen from the south came and leased those courtyards, opening up the famous Western restaurant and cafe street.

He was extremely familiar with the terrain there.

Knowing Liu Mingming's address, Li Qi wasted no time. Telling Tian Miao to stay put at the Public Security Bureau, he prepared to head out. He figured that Liu Mingming would most likely attempt to flee tonight, and he, for one, would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen!

Just as Li Qi got up to leave, Tian Miao suddenly grabbed his arm.

"I'm going back to the guesthouse we stayed at last time! I'll wait for you to come back!"