I really don't want to be an official if I transmigrate into Qi Tongwei's life.

Chapter 16 Key Witness

Zhao Donglai had no choice but to go downstairs. The security guard, seeing the police uniform, obediently opened the gate.

This is the state-owned factory where Duan Xiaojun works. After retiring from the military, he was assigned here as a security guard.

Qi Tongwei came here to find Hu Tiezhu, who was also a security guard and a key witness in Duan Xiaojun's murder case.

When Zhang Zheng, the deputy captain of the criminal investigation team, was investigating, Hu Tiezhu testified that Duan Xiaojun was on duty with him on the night Duan Hong and Lu Biao were killed, and did not go out all night.

This gave Duan Xiaojun an alibi.

However, when it was Yang Ming's turn to investigate as the criminal police captain, Hu Tiezhu suddenly changed his story, saying that he had fallen asleep between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. at the time of the incident and did not remember whether Duan Xiaojun had gone out.

In this way, Duan Xiaojun's alibi was no longer available, and Yang Ming concluded that Duan Xiaojun was the murderer.

Security room.

Hu Tiezhu walked in timidly. He was almost forty, the age when he had elderly parents to care for and young children to raise.

Zhao Donglai introduced, "Hu Tiezhu, don't be nervous. This is Prosecutor Qi Tongwei. He has a few questions for you."

Qi Tongwei observed that Hu Tiezhu's left hand was trembling, and his whole demeanor seemed to be under tremendous pressure.

"Hu Tiezhu, please sit down. I'll just ask you a few simple questions, like we're having a casual chat."

Hu Tiezhu swallowed hard and sat down nervously.

Please speak.

Qi Tongwei had a friendly and amiable expression, unlike those serious prosecutors.

How old are you this year?

39 years old

Qi Tongwei thought for a moment, "Your eldest child should be in junior high school by now."

"Large junior high schools, small primary schools"

Hu Tiezhu's voice trembled slightly.

Your wife works here too.

"No, she stays home taking care of the children and farming."

Are your parents at home in good health?

My mother has been ill, and my father takes care of her at home.

"So, you're under a lot of pressure. You have two elderly parents to support, and your children will need a lot of money for high school and college."

When money was mentioned, Hu Tiezhu suddenly became sensitive.

"My child's grades aren't good. He'll start working after junior high. He won't need much money, and I have siblings who can take care of our parents."

Qi Tongwei smiled, a smile that made Hu Tiezhu very uneasy.

"You were also assigned to this factory after joining the army."

"Yes"

"It seems you're in the same situation as Duan Xiaojun. What do you think of him normally?"

Hu Tiezhu immediately stammered, "We're more than ten years apart in age, and we don't usually play together."

"According to your colleagues, Duan Xiaojun is a very loyal and honest person who never cheats or shirks his duties; everyone likes him very much."

Qi Tongwei made this up on purpose, hoping to trick Hu Tiezhu.

"Yes, Xiaojun is a very loyal person, and everyone likes him very much."

Hu Tiezhu hurriedly echoed.

"Hu Tiezhu, lying and perjury are also crimes."

Suddenly, Qi Tongwei stood up angrily, "If Duan Xiaojun didn't kill anyone, then you are his murderer!"

"I didn't, I didn't, I really don't know anything, please, officer, let me go!"

Hu Tiezhu was so anxious that he was drenched in sweat and knelt on the ground.

Zhao Donglai pulled him up in one go.

Qi Tongwei continued his aggressive questioning, "Hu Tiezhu, this is a matter of life and death. This is your first time testifying, so why are you saying that Duan Xiaojun has been with you the whole time?"

Hu Tiezhu burst into tears, "I was afraid the factory would find out I said that while I was sleeping at night."

"So, what punishment have you received?"

Qi Tongwei stared at him intently, like a hunter eyeing its prey.

Look me in the eyes and tell me.

"Officer, I really don't know anything, please let me go, I beg you."

Hu Tiezhu knelt down again, and Zhao Donglai couldn't pull him back.

Qi Tongwei sat down with a smile. "Hu Tiezhu, I didn't expect a grown man like you to be such a good actor. It's a waste of your talent not to be an actor."

"Stop playing the victim with me. If you took the money, you should either not use it and bury it in the ground, or if you take it out and use it, the source of the money is unclear. That's the evidence."

"If Duan Xiaojun is killed because of your perjury, you will be suspected of manslaughter, which carries a minimum sentence of ten years in prison."

Hu Tiezhu collapsed to the ground, muttering repeatedly, "I don't know anything, I don't know anything, I don't know anything."

Going to jail had a significant impact on people born in the 90s; no one wanted to bear the stigma of being a convict.

"Hu Tiezhu, I suspect you changed your story because you were threatened by someone. That person has a lot of influence in both the legitimate and underworld circles, so crushing you is as easy as crushing an ant for them."

"Or they threaten you with your wife and children; you're just an ordinary person, a nobody, and have no choice but to submit."

"Actually, I understand you. If you can't even protect your own family, what kind of man are you?"

"Think it over carefully. Let's stop here for today. Good will prevail over evil, and I'll prove it to you."

After seeing Qi Tongwei leave, Hu Tiezhu lay on the ground and cried.

Ye Xuan was puzzled, "Why didn't you ask anymore? I felt like he was about to tell me just now."

"If he doesn't confess willingly and then recants in court, he'll end up losing more than he gains," Qi Tongwei explained.

What you just said sounded like a made-up story to me.

"Art imitates life; a story might just be the truth."

Qi Tongwei opened the car door and started the car.

Ye Xuan fastened her seatbelt. "According to you, the other side has connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds, so aren't you afraid?"

Qi Tongwei backed the car out. "What am I afraid of? I have no ties. Even if the King of Heaven himself breaks the law, I'll bring him down."

Ye Xuan gave a thumbs up, "Ambition!"

"A man like me is dangerous; never fall for me."

Ye Xuan punched him on the shoulder in anger, "Narcissistic men are all sick!"

Just as Zhao Donglai stepped out of the state-owned factory gate, his pager went off.

"Tongwei, find a phone booth and stop for a bit, I need to make a call back."

There's a post office right in front of us.

"Donglai, we're waiting for you at that rice noodle shop. We didn't eat breakfast and we're starving!"

"Ok"

After parking the car on the side of the road, Qi Tongwei led Ye Xuan into the rice noodle shop.

"Boss, a bowl of rice noodles, with an extra portion of beef, an extra portion of pork intestines, and a fried egg. Whatever you want, please order, don't be shy."

"Boss, I'm the same as him."

Qi Tongwei found a table and sat down, looking at Ye Xuan with surprise, "Your figure doesn't support eating this much."

You mean I've gained weight?

Ye Xuan was so angry she wanted to hit someone.

"That's not what I meant. Your figure, like Yang Guifei's, is exactly what men love."

"roll"

Two bowls of rice noodles were quickly served, and Qi Tongwei wolfed them down. Ye Xuan grew angrier and angrier, and put the eggs and pork intestines into Qi Tongwei's bowl.

Qi Tongwei ate with even greater relish.

What a heartless man.

Ye Xuan found the rice noodles tasteless and bland.

Did I tell you to open the door?

Three men, in their early twenties, stormed in and kicked over a stool.

"Brothers, my business is small, I've only been open for a few days, please give me some more time, I'll make up the difference next month."

The boss rushed over with a smile.