A Divine Farmer

Chapter 268 - I Have a Hunch

“I don't need you to tell me how to do my job,” Officer Chang said, casting an annoyed glance at Zhang Xiaolong. “First, let's get the injured to the hospital. You'll have your chance to explain at the station. Cuff him.”

The directive was clearly meant for another officer, who promptly grabbed a pair of handcuffs and approached Xiaolong. But with a slight move, Xiaolong evaded the attempt to handcuff him.

”You're resisting arrest?” Officer Chang drew his gun, his voice thundering, “You've hurt a lot of people. If you resist now, I can shoot you on the spot, and it wouldn't be a problem.”

“Really? Go ahead and shoot!” Xiaolong stood firm, unyielding. “You're ready to shoot without even knowing who's in the right. Should I suspect you're in cahoots with the owner here, looking to silence me? But do you think it's that simple? If you believe shooting me is justified, then by all means, do it. I'm curious to see how you'll get away with killing a man without any repercussions.”

Officer Chang's face turned a shade of green with rage. He had intended to intimidate Xiaolong with his weapon, not expecting him to be so defiant, even turning the tables and threatening him instead.

However, Chang knew he couldn't actually pull the trigger. Capturing Xiaolong and giving him a beating would be a disciplinary breach at worst, but shooting without cause could cost him his life.

Despite appearances that Xiaolong was involved in the brawl, that alone wasn't grounds for lethal force. Otherwise, being a cop would be far too simple.

“Regardless, you were part of that brawl. It's only right to detain you and take you in for questioning to get to the bottom of this,” Officer Chang said, softening his tone, realizing that a hard approach wouldn't work with Xiaolong.

“Fine, I'll go with you. But I insist on filing a complaint against this factory. They've been dumping untreated, toxic wastewater into the river, polluting the villages along the banks. If it's not addressed immediately, it's tantamount to murder,” Xiaolong declared with gravity.

Officer Chang nodded, “Alright, I've got the picture. But we have protocols to follow here. You'll need to put on these handcuffs first.”

Zhang Xiaolong realized that Officer Chang was merely going through the motions. Yet, with the situation having escalated, he was curious about Huang Zhigang's connections that allowed him to act so brazenly. Without resistance, he let the officer cuff him and escort him to the station.

As the car pulled away, Huang Zhigang let out a sinister chuckle, “Once you're inside, you'll get a taste of what's coming to you.”

“It seems Boss Huang's influence reaches into the police force itself. You won't have to lift a finger this time; that kid will fall in line,” Mr. Chen remarked with a smile.

“To ensure our partnership continues smoothly, we can't have him causing any more disruptions,” Huang Zhigang said, glancing at the injured workers on the ground. “Those of you who are hurt, take time to heal and rest. You'll receive your regular wages, the factory will cover your medical expenses, and there will be a bonus for everyone at the end of the month!”

The workers' morale soared at the news, with some even applauding Huang Zhigang.

“Okay, those of you who aren't injured, get moving. Check for any signs of sabotage and let's get back to work as soon as possible!” Huang Zhigang commanded.

Half an hour later, someone reported back to Huang Zhigang, “Boss, the machines are fine. It looks like the wastewater pipe is clogged.”

“What? The pipes are underground; how could they get blocked?” Huang Zhigang muttered in frustration.

It was just wastewater, not like a household toilet that could get clogged with anything. And with the pipes buried, how could anyone have tampered with them? Even if they wanted to repair them, they wouldn't know which section was blocked. Would they have to excavate the entire pipeline and clear it? That could delay work for days.

”Alright, explain to me why you went into the factory and assaulted the workers,” Officer Chang demanded in the interrogation room.

“I don't know how many times I have to tell you,” Zhang Xiaolong insisted, “I didn't assault anyone. You can check the factory's surveillance footage or examine those people's injuries. I never had any weapon, and the injuries were caused by tools and metal objects. I was merely avoiding their attacks. You can easily verify this, yet you continue to hound me. What exactly are you implying?”

“There's no video footage inside the factory, and you've been quite sly with your timing, always striking in the blind spots of the surveillance cameras. But do you really think you can get away with it? You're seriously underestimating our capabilities,” Officer Chang said with a cold laugh.

“Really?” Zhang Xiaolong was unfazed. “I've already informed you that the factory has been dumping toxic wastewater into the river. Not only did you fail to shut down the factory, but you also didn't question anyone from there. Instead, you arrested only me. How does that make sense?”

A hint of mockery crossed Officer Chang's face. “We're the police; we deal with criminal offenses. Environmental violations like wastewater pollution aren't our concern. Once we've dealt with your assault case, you can take your complaint to the appropriate authorities.”

Zhang Xiaolong smiled. “So, what's your plan for resolving this issue?”

“It's straightforward. Assault requires compensation. You'll need to cover the victim's medical bills, lost wages, and nutritional costs, as well as issue a public apology. If they forgive you, then it's all good. But if they decide to sue, the courts will have to settle it,” Officer Chang explained, noting Zhang Xiaolong's change in demeanor.

“Really?” Zhang Xiaolong pressed on, “So if I drop the issue of the toxic wastewater, will that make things easier?”

“In principle, yes,” Officer Chang replied, not wanting to corner him. “Originally, this didn't need to be so drastic. Everyone could have continued on, but now that it's come to this, if they don't press charges, great. If they do, you'll still have to pay for medical expenses.”

“Can I make a phone call now?” asked Zhang Xiaolong.

“Looking for help?” Officer Chang chuckled. “No, forget those little schemes. Just sign this document admitting you assaulted those people and agreeing to compensate for the damages, and I'll let you go. Until then, don't bother thinking about anything else.”

“Fine,” Zhang Xiaolong replied coolly, “Let's see how long you can hold me.”

Officer Chang chuckled, “Don't fool yourself into thinking that just because you refuse to confess, there's no way to convict you. There are plenty of witnesses at the scene, and you've injured numerous people. Whether you admit it or not, we have enough to charge you. And with your stubborn refusal to admit guilt, it wouldn't be hard to put you away for a year or two. Go ahead and be obstinate if you wish.”

“Really? Unfortunately, your so-called evidence hasn't even been properly investigated; it's worthless,” Zhang Xiaolong narrowed his eyes, resting them. “I've got a feeling that you won't be wearing that uniform for much longer.”