章 185: 185
During working hours, the streets became crowded with people, and many onlookers gathered on both sides of the road.
The police had cordoned off the area near the shop, and investigators were inside collecting evidence.
Yi Feng was being questioned by an officer named Zhou Guofeng.
"Mr. Yi, have you offended anyone recently?"
"Someone daring to burn down your shop with gasoline, almost affecting the neighboring stores as well, this feud isn't small," asked Zhou Guofeng, as a younger officer took notes beside him.
Yi Feng earnestly replied, "In my business dealings, I've always been honest and abide by the law, paying every tax due, without offending anyone. In business, we believe in harmony bringing wealth. I really haven't offended anyone."
"Really no one? Are you sure you don't want to think again, recall? It could really help our investigation to at least have a direction, a range of suspects. If you say it like this, we don't even have a suspect," Zhou Guofeng pressed.
Pretending to think hard, Yi Feng then turned his head toward the Xingye Computer Store across the street, saying, "If there really were any grudges, the Xingye Computer Store across might have some, since my business has been doing better. That owner has been complaining all the time."
"But as I've said, it's the customers' choice whom they want to patronize. I'm running a business; I can't just drive customers away, can I?"
"Alright, thank you for your cooperation. We will go and make some inquiries nearby," Zhou Guofeng said with a smile.
"Xiao Liu, come with me for the inquiry."
The officer named Xiao Liu smiled, "Sure thing, boss."
The two left to make further inquiries nearby.
At that moment, Wang Tie approached Yi Feng, whispering, "Brother Feng, why didn't you directly tell the police that Zhao Xingyue is a very suspicious person?"
Yi Feng smiled slightly, replying, "Wang Tie, are you being naive? If I directly tell the police that, they're likely to invite Zhao Xingyue for a 'tea' session. Given Zhao Xingyue's character, would he admit to such a serious crime as arson?"
"If Zhao Xingyue adamantly denies everything and is then released, knowing we don't have any evidence, what then?"
Wang Tie suddenly realized, "Right, without evidence, we really can't say it was definitely Zhao Xingyue."
"So, what do we do?"
Yi Feng glanced in the direction of the police, speaking softly, "Let them conduct their routine inquiry first. Zhao Xingyue will definitely get nervous."
"After the police leave, we'll go over and then like this…"
Yi Feng leaned in to whisper a few words to Wang Tie.
Wang Tie asked in surprise, "Brother Feng, can this really work?"
"If the arsonist really is Zhao Xingyue, then it will definitely work," Yi Feng nodded.
"Alright, I'll get ready!" Wang Tie said, turning to leave.
Inside Xingye Computer Store, Gao Hongxing was happily eating a bun, "Haha! I don't know what bad luck Yi Feng ran into, but someone actually set his store on fire last night! Haha!"
"Boss, I was drunk last night, did you see who set the fire?"
Zhao Xingye was inwardly nervous but maintained a calm demeanor, "I was drunk too, didn't see anything."
After setting the fire the night before, Zhao Xingye sobered up quite a bit, feeling somewhat regretful and nervous.
To avoid suspicion, he chose to go to work as usual the next day. Disappearing suddenly would make it easy for the police to target him.
He had been wondering if he left any traces last night but thought there probably wasn't any evidence and that he should be safe.
"Hehe, if I see that guy, I should treat him to a meal, right boss?" Gao Hongxing laughed.
"Eat your breakfast and stop talking nonsense!" Zhao Xingye snapped irritably at him.
Gao Hongxing shrank back, puzzled why the boss wasn't happy about such good news.
Then, two police officers entered the store.
"Is the store owner here?" Zhou Guofeng glanced at the two and asked calmly.
"Ah, yes, hello officers, I am the owner of this store, Mr. Zhao. Please, have a cigarette," Zhao Xingye offered cigarettes in a friendly manner.
"We don't need cigarettes, we're here for an inquiry," Zhou Guofeng declined.
"Yes, of course, officers, I'll fully cooperate!" Zhao Xingye said with a smile, though his hands were shaking as he put the cigarettes back in the pack, his heart racing.
Zhou Guofeng cleared his throat and asked, "The computer store across was burned. You must have seen it, right? Have you noticed anything unusual about that store recently?"
"Ah, I really don't know about that, I've had little to do with them," Zhao Xingye quickly responded.
"Oh? Is that so? Mr. Zhao, where were you when the store was set on fire?" Zhou Guofeng raised an eyebrow, having heard from Yi Feng about his complaints, and now hearing Zhao claim they had little interaction, his professional instincts were aroused.
"Uh, we were just drinking outside the store last night, me and my employee, Gao Hongxing. We both got terribly drunk, and later my wife had to pick us up," Zhao Xingye defended.
"Really? Until what time did you drink? Did you see anyone acting suspiciously?" Zhou Guofeng continued to probe.
Zhao Xingye shook his head, "We were too drunk to see the road, let alone notice anyone."
"Yeah, officer, we got so drunk last night we couldn't even clean up. We still need to tidy up before we can welcome customers," Gao Hongxing added, chewing on his bun and pointing to the pile of garbage and bottles at the door.
Zhou Guofeng looked back to see the pile of bottles and leftovers, clearly from the night before, and Zhao Xingye still reeking of alcohol.
"Alright, we'll continue our inquiries nearby and won't disturb your business," Zhou Guofeng said, turning to leave.
Watching the police leave, Zhao Xingye's anxiety eased, but his palms were sweaty and his legs trembled.
Guilty individuals inevitably feel nervous under police interrogation, but Zhao Xingye managed to maintain composure in front of the officers.
As the police disappeared from the door, he wiped the sweat from his forehead, relieved, and turned to Gao Hongxing, "Go on, clean up."
Gao Hongxing reluctantly set down his half-eaten bun and complied.
Just as Zhao Xingye was about to drink some water to calm his nerves,
"Zhao Xingyue, it was you, wasn't it!"
Suddenly Yi Feng's voice rang at the door.
Turning around, Zhao Xingye saw Yi Feng storming in "furiously."
"Zhao Xingyue, it was you who set the fire!" Yi Feng accused, staring intently at him.
Zhao Xingye's gaze shifted away, visibly panicked and guilty, yet he bluffed, "Yi, I'm warning you, don't slander me, or I'll sue you for defamation!"
After facing the police's questions and now Yi Feng's accusation, Zhao Xingye began to lose his composure.
Yi Feng noted Zhao Xingye's reaction, growing more certain of his guilt.
"Zhao Xingyue, stop denying it. Who else could it be?!"
"If you don't compensate for my shop, this isn't over!" Yi Feng pretended to be agitated, grabbing Zhao Xingye by the collar.
Zhao Xingye scoffed, pushing his hand away, "Yi, do you have any evidence? Don't splash your dirty water on me!"
"If it wasn't you, who else could it be? Zhao Xingyue, if you don't pay for my shop, this isn't over!" Yi Feng glared at him.
Zhao Xingye smirked, straightening his collar, taunting, "Evidence? Do you have any? If not, why are you shouting? I'm telling you, it wasn't me. Go find someone else and don't cause trouble here, or wait for a lawyer's letter!"
He was confident that without evidence in Yi Feng's hands, neither Yi Feng nor the police could touch him.
Just as Yi Feng was about to respond, Wang Tie burst in, excitedly shouting, "Brother Feng! Why are you here? There's a major discovery!"
Yi Feng turned and asked, "Wang Tie, what's the major discovery?"
Wang Tie handed the digital hard drive to Yi Feng, exclaiming, "We found the surveillance system's hard drive! Thankfully, it wasn't burned! It definitely has footage of the arsonist!"
Zhao Xingye's face turned pale, feeling his world spinning, as if falling into an abyss.
There was surveillance, and the digital hard drive wasn't destroyed!
Disaster!
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