Chapter 398: Chapter 285: Sudden Accident! Corpse!
Zhengyang City is a city rich in mineral resources and thriving in industry.
However, unlike Sunzhou... Zhengyang City specializes in heavy industry!
Steel mills, mining companies, and manufacturing plants are everywhere.
Sun Zhongmin could accurately describe the mining sites, which basically confirmed that what he said was true, and he had indeed been to Zhengyang City.
"Do you know about insurance fraud?"
Sun Zhongmin suddenly spoke up, addressing those around him with lingering fear in his voice.
Insurance fraud....
Xu Liang paused for a moment, then spoke: "Insurance fraud underground?"
Sun Zhongmin nodded repeatedly, clicked his tongue, and said.
"Yes, exactly underground insurance fraud!"
"Back then, I was introduced by a coworker to the mine, and when I went down the shaft, I saw with my own eyes someone using coal to crush a person to death... The one who was crushed was just a kid, not even twenty years old, very taciturn!"
"At that time, the mine was about to conduct controlled explosions, and everyone was evacuated, but I left something underground..."
"So I rushed back to get it before the explosion, but unexpectedly saw the killing process as soon as I got in!"
As he spoke, a serious expression appeared on Sun Zhongmin’s face, and he said in a deep voice:
"I hid in a corner, not daring to make a sound, and only dared to run out after everyone had left."
"Later, when the mine checked the headcount, someone realized that the kid hadn’t come out from the shaft, and a controlled explosion would leave no chance of survival."
"Family members came to cause a fuss, so the mine owner settled it privately by paying them off... "
Sun Zhongmin paused again, then spoke once more:
"But those so-called family members... they were the murderers I saw!"
Xu Liang understood.
Insurance fraud underground is not uncommon these days.
In essence, it involves luring you into the mine under the guise of being fellow countrymen, working for a few months, then killing you and staging it as an accident to claim compensation from the mine owner.
The mine owner often chooses to pay to cover things up, while keeping it quiet.
"I told the mine owner at the time, but the owner insisted it was an accident and refused to investigate anything, even got angry."
"I called the police, but when they saw the collapsed mine, they told me to find evidence first and then report again."
Sun Zhongmin sighed, "A living human life gone just like that, without even an investigation..."
"Eventually, I realized the fellow countryman who brought me into the mine might have had the same intention, so I didn’t dare to stay any longer. I quickly collected my wages and ran."
Considering it this way...
Dark.
Very dark!
So dark, a life lost, and even the police have grown accustomed to such incidents...
Therefore...
"Lawyer Xu, I don’t recommend you go to Zhengyang City, that place is very sinister," Sun Zhongmin began to speak.
He was genuinely advising, not secretly hoping Xu Liang would fail.
But...
"A lawyer does not have the luxury of picking and choosing cases."
Xu Liang smiled.
In the legal profession, to make a name for yourself, you must dare to take on the cases others wouldn’t dare!
Seeking stability? Fine, civil disputes are stable, but handling them all your life means you’ll never rise to prominence!
"But..."
Zhao Shui and Qi Tao frowned.
"There’s no ’but.’ As long as it’s within the Eastern Country, the law applies," Xu Liang shook his head, countering them.
Then he glanced at Yang Ruoxi and Su Yu beside him, hesitated a little.
"If you both are still following me and if the situation is off and dangerous... leave immediately, do not linger."
Upon hearing this.
Sun Zhongmin realized he couldn’t persuade them, so he changed his approach, saying:
"Lawyer Xu, why don’t I go with you?"
Go with him...
Xu Liang paused again, was about to refuse, but clearly, Sun Zhongmin wasn’t giving him the chance to refuse.
Xu Liang said helplessly:
"The firm only hires lawyers and security, not thugs."
Joking aside, Sun Zhongmin was clearly gearing up for the job of a bodyguard.
In Zhengyang City, should something happen... Xu Liang might not even have to speak before Sun Zhongmin rolls up his sleeves and pulls out a knife!
Is this a security guard?
Isn’t this a thug?
The firm only recruits top-notch lawyers, not top-notch thugs!
What if people think his firm is some underworld organization...
"Security is for safety protection, isn’t it?" Sun Zhongmin muttered.
Zhao Shui and Qi Tao exchanged glances, their eyes showing they were tempted as well.
Xu Liang was alarmed, and immediately said: "Old Sun, you know Zhengyang City, come with me tomorrow."
"But it can only be you, no one else!"
Sun Zhongmin was immediately overjoyed and then looked vigilantly at Zhao Shui and Qi Tao.
Zhao Shui sighed internally.
Too bad, the chance for heroics was snatched by Sun Zhongmin the straightforward!
Maybe... he and Qi Tao could give Sun Zhongmin a laxative tonight so he can’t go tomorrow, allowing them to replace him?
But Xu Liang said only one person could follow, what if he went and found Qi Tao there too....
Zhao Shui thought this over, but clearly, Sun Zhongmin understood their thoughts, as he let out a cold snort and internally planned how to keep the two locked up tomorrow.
The three now looked at each other, their eyes filled with caution and scheming.
Three middle-aged comrades.
At this moment, brought down by Xu Liang’s single sentence, now embroiled in intrigue and deceit!
Indeed, a lawyer can be such a disruptive influence!!!
Xu Liang smiled with satisfaction, disappearing without a trace, concealing his achievements and reputation.
Come the evening.
They went out to dinner at a restaurant, and ultimately Yang Ruoxi commented the skills were not as good as Xu Liang’s, persuading Xu Liang to open a restaurant, and she would invest as the proprietress.
Xu Liang didn’t take the bait and left the restaurant with the others, returning to the firm.
The firm had ample rooms to accommodate everyone’s rest.
A night passed uneventfully.
...
...
The next day.
June 13th.
Eight o’clock in the morning.
Xu Liang got up to wash up, asked Su Yu to organize some contracts that might be needed, then went to Yang Ruoxi’s room to wake the lazybones.
Once everything was ready.
Everyone gathered on the first floor, only...
"Where are Old Zhao and Old Qi?"
Xu Liang suddenly wondered, he only saw Sun Zhongmin on the first floor, while Wang Feiyu should be organizing their tasks.
As for sleeping in... after the case, it’s commendable that these two can sleep through the night, let alone sleep in!
Finally, Xu Liang directed his gaze towards Sun Zhongmin.
Then saw Sun Zhongmin, his expression unchanged, say:
"Oh, the two of them had an upset stomach last night."
An upset stomach?
Xu Liang showed doubt, but didn’t think too much about it.
"Then let’s go first."
After speaking.
Xu Liang got into the back seat, Wang Feiyu sat in the driver’s seat, and Sun Zhongmin took the passenger seat.
Wang Feiyu did not hesitate, stepping on the accelerator directly, and the car sped towards the highway.
Meanwhile, Sun Zhongmin watched the passing scenery through the window, his gaze fixed on the area near the toilet at the law firm.
For a long time.
Sun Zhongmin’s face appeared with a simple smile, and he thought to himself:
’Old Zhao, Old Qi...’
’Sorry!’
’But the competition between top-notch thugs has always been like this!’
Thinking this, Sun Zhongmin happily turned back and sat calmly in the car.
Soon, the car stopped at the airport.
Around one in the afternoon.
A plane carrying four people flew towards Nanhai Province!
...
...
The development speed of Nanshan Province is not as quick or average as Lanshan Province.
But wise mountain folk have their own plan.
The leaders decided to first develop one of the city districts and treat the other districts as blood bags, constantly pumping blood into them!
But this led to resource scarcity in the peripheral city districts, looking much the same as decades ago.
Zhengyang City is one of the blood bags.
Only it has been drained the most severely!
"Police resources are not abundant; there are even contract police officers, with some positions vacant without leaders."
"But the region coincidentally is very large, with rich resources, attracting a bunch of arrogant real industry enterprises, even heavy industry bosses!"
At two-thirty in the afternoon.
After landing, Xu Liang stepped onto the land of Zhengyang City, he stood outside the airport, looking at the barren land with much sentiment.
These days, it’s difficult for heavy industry bosses not to have blood on their hands!
Big fish eat small fish, you kill me, I butcher you, originally Sunzhou had one steel plant that was troublesome enough.
But in Zhengyang City...one can only say it’s a ’common enterprise!’
Such bold people are everywhere, and with insufficient police, official resources are scarce.
The atmosphere speaks for itself.
"No need to say more, let’s first go check out Run Dong Weaving Plant at Yangshan Gully."
Xu Liang dismissed his thoughts, took his team, and flagged down a taxi by the roadside.
After getting in, Sun Zhongmin stared hard at the driver, fearing this was a ’car bandit,’ ready to take action at any moment.
The driver just felt his back turn cold, pressing the accelerator down repeatedly.
The journey, originally half an hour, was done in seventeen minutes, and he didn’t even employ the usual taxi tricks of taking a longer route!
Yangshan Gully.
Though it’s called a ’gully,’ in fact, it’s a barren flatland.
No trees, not much grass, only barren land and rubble.
And here, a run-down steel factory stands, but gives off the feeling of toppling over at any time.
Inside the factory, there was no sound of machinery operating.
Xu Liang paused, then stepped into the textile plant.
"Knock knock~ is anyone there?"
The tin door was knocked, after a long time, the door was pushed open.
A man pulled open the door, with a towel on his shoulder, looking suspiciously at Xu Liang.
"Who are you looking for?"
"I’m looking for someone named Zhang Shan, he made a cooperation intention call with me yesterday," Xu Liang said.
Zhang Shan...
The man paused, then showed surprise, quickly said:
"The factory manager is in the dormitory, come with me."
After speaking, he led the way forward, but.....his steps were uneven.
Xu Liang paused, realizing the man actually had a limp, problems with his leg.
The man seemed a little embarrassed but still said: "Our factory relies on craftsmanship for a living, as long as the hands work!"
"Moreover, many people have some problems.....Old Zhang doesn’t mind us."
While speaking.
He led them to a simple dormitory area, made up of various container houses joined together.
"We’re here, Old Zhang should be inside," the man said carelessly.
Xu Liang nodded and knocked on the door.
"Bang bang bang~!"
The tin door was knocked, giving off a crisp sound.
But unfortunately...
Xu Liang waited for a long time, no movement came from inside.
They exchanged glances, Xu Liang frowned slightly, pressed the door handle lightly.
"Click!"
The door was locked from the inside, it was clear someone should be in there.
"Knock knock knock~!"
Xu Liang knocked on the door again, but there wasn’t even the sound of breathing inside.
Moreover, as the door gap widened from knocking... faint traces of foul odor wafted to Xu Liang’s nose.
This is...
"It’s bad."
Xu Liang said with a blank expression, then stepped back a few paces, and suddenly rushed forward.
"Boom!!!"
The tin door instantly bent out of shape, twisted by brute force!
"Click!"
The door opened.
The dusk light illuminated the dark tin room inside.
Old furniture, filthy bedding, yellowed notebooks...
Drawing closer, a decaying odor rushed into the nostrils.
And...
A figure hung in the air, eyes starting to bulge from decomposition, thin shadow....
This person is...Zhang Shan?
The man beside suddenly gasped in shock, falling to the ground.
"Factory manager!!!!"
