Chapter 2867 You're a Scapegoat

"Let him come to my office. I need to have a good talk with him," Qin Feng said calmly.

“Okay, I’ll go inform him. By the way, Mayor, how did your talks with Jiang Longjun go? Have there been any changes?” Chen Guohua asked, because he had received a notice from Zhang Xinming and Qin Feng that they were going to have a meeting.

"Let's discuss this matter in a meeting once everyone has arrived," Qin Feng said calmly.

Chen Guohua realized from Qin Feng's expression that something bad had definitely happened, but since Qin Feng didn't say anything, Chen Guohua didn't press further and left Qin Feng's office with a heavy heart.

After Chen Guohua left, Qin Feng sat on the sofa and fiddled with the tea set on the coffee table, starting to brew Kung Fu tea. His hands were making tea, but his mind was not on the tea at all.

Just as Qin Feng finished brewing a pot of tea, Zhang Xinming led Ding Wenbo in.

"Mayor, Vice Mayor Ding is here," Zhang Xinming reported at the door, where Ding Wenbo was standing.

Ding Wenbo walked in, and Zhang Xinming closed the door and left.

Qin Feng never looked up from beginning to end.

"Not coming in? You've already come all the way back from the airport, why are you afraid to walk from the door to the sofa? Sit down, this tea is good, your brewing skills are pretty good today, it's just right, have a taste." Qin Feng poured a cup of tea and placed it on the seat next to him.

"Qin Feng, what exactly do you mean? What crime have I committed? Why are you sending people to arrest me? You have to give me an explanation today, or I won't let this go." Ding Wenbo plopped down in the spot Qin Feng had designated and questioned him.

"So what do you want to do? Go to Jiang Longjun to complain about me or go to the provincial level to complain? Do you dare? If you really dared, you wouldn't have obediently come back with Chen Guohua. So don't say these useless things. If I didn't have a firm grip on you, I wouldn't dare to have someone bring you back directly."

"You're quite smart, obediently coming back. If you hadn't cooperated today, I would have had no choice but to have them take you back. You know, things have gotten out of hand, and that's what I want to see."

"Take a sip and see how it tastes," Qin Feng said, pointing to the tea in front of him.

Ding Wenbo was rendered speechless by Qin Feng's words, and his previous arrogance disappeared.

Ding Wenbo naturally understood these principles, and of course he dared not complain, since he had something to hide. The reason he came in and questioned Qin Feng first was simply to take the initiative in the following conversation, but he did not expect that Qin Feng would see through him so easily.

"Mayor, I admit I don't dare to make a big deal out of this, so I had no choice but to obediently come back with you today. But you can't do anything to me. Do you have any direct evidence of my illegal or criminal activities?" Ding Wenbo said while drinking tea, trying to slowly regain control of the conversation.

"If that's the case, why are you running?" Qin Feng looked up and asked Ding Wenbo.

Qin Feng's question left Ding Wenbo speechless.

"When did I run away? I'm just going to Shanghai for a medical check-up," Ding Wenbo retorted stubbornly.

"Last night you gave me all your assets and begged me to forgive you. This morning you took your wife and headed to Shanghai. Do you think I should suspect you're planning to run away?"

"And... you seem so confident today, it looks like someone gave you confidence last night, right? Was it the Yang family or Shao Hongli?" Qin Feng asked Ding Wenbo with a smile.

Ding Wenbo's expression changed; he hadn't expected Qin Feng to guess even this.

"I don't know what the mayor meant by that."

"Let's not beat around the bush. I just came back from Jiang Longjun's place. Jiang Longjun asked me to stop investigating the project." Qin Feng finished speaking and observed Ding Wenbo.

Upon hearing this, Ding Wenbo showed no surprise whatsoever; instead, he wore a smug smile.

Qin Feng immediately confirmed his suspicions from Ding Wenbo's expression. The reason he said those words to Ding Wenbo was to verify his previous guess about the whole matter.

"It seems you already knew about this news. If I'm not mistaken, it was Shao Hongli who called you last night, right?"

Ding Wenbo remained silent, slowly sipping his tea. He was indeed fearless now. Qin Feng's statement that Jiang Longjun forbade Qin Feng to investigate further had also given Ding Wenbo information, which meant that Shao Hongli's promises to him were true.

"Shao Hongli wants you to find a way to get to Shanghai as soon as possible, and then someone there will find a way to arrange for you to leave the country, right?" Qin Feng asked again.

Ding Wenbo remained silent, knowing full well that Qin Feng was testing him.

"It seems you are indeed fearless, no wonder you are not afraid of me doing anything to you. Indeed, with Jiang Longjun protecting you, who dares to do anything to you in Shazhou?"

"But Vice Mayor Ding, have you ever thought about this: if Jiang Longjun is protecting you, why would Shao Hongli arrange for you to flee the country?" Qin Feng asked Ding Wenbo.

"And why is it you who's running, and not Shao Hongli? Logically, if anyone should be running, it should be you running with Shao Hongli. Why is that?" Qin Feng asked again.

After listening to Qin Feng's words, Ding Wenbo's lips moved slightly, but he calmly continued drinking his tea. People in this position still have this much composure.

"There is only one answer: Jiang Longjun only wants to protect Shao Hongli, not you, and Shao Hongli lets you escape in order to protect himself."

“This project is so big, and the investigation has gone on to this extent. It’s basically right up to your doorstep. Even if Jiang Longjun stops my investigation now and lets the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection take over, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection still has to come to a conclusion on this matter, and someone has to take the blame.”

"And the project contractors I've locked up are still there. The evidence against them is irrefutable. The reason they haven't implicated you yet is because they think you can still save them. But once they realize you can't save them, do you think they'll implicate you?"

"So regardless of whether Jiang Longjun stops the investigation, you are at great risk, and someone has to take the blame for this, so you are the perfect scapegoat."

“As soon as you run away, all the blame will be placed on you, and Shao Hongli will be completely safe. Even if I want to use this to my advantage, there's nothing I can do.”

"You fled to take the blame for Shao Hongli. You became a fugitive, while he remains the executive vice mayor and may even rise through the ranks with the support of the Yang family and Jiang Longjun. And you? You're adrift in a foreign land, living under an assumed name, never to see the light of day again, unable to return home, living a life like a rat abroad..."

"Stop talking..." Ding Wenbo interrupted Qin Feng, unable to bear it any longer. Ding Wenbo looked at Qin Feng with a livid face.