The Beautiful County Magistrate
Chapter 151: Alright, I’ll Confess!

Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Alright, I’ll Confess!

Teng Ziyin fell silent, her eyes half-closed as she fixed her gaze on Xu Qianli.

As an officer of the City Disciplinary Inspection Committee, she had dealt with countless people—a few dozen each year at least. However, she had never come across anyone like Xu Qianli, who had been caught by the City Disciplinary Inspection Committee and yet remained calm and composed as if nothing happened.

In the past, she had encountered individuals who feigned composure, but once they faced her, they would betray themselves, intimidated by her presence.

Xu Qianli, however, was something else entirely. A mere Government Office Director, he not only showed no fear before her but even had the audacity to be arrogant. This was indeed a rarity.

For a moment, Teng Ziyin developed a strong interest in Xu Qianli.

Such insolence—this fellow must certainly have plenty of skeletons in his closet. If she could unearth all his wrongdoings, it would undoubtedly be a great achievement.

After giving it some thought, Teng Ziyin ordered her subordinates to handcuff Xu Qianli. Once they had shackled him and her subordinates had left the room, only the two of them remained.

"Now, can you talk?" Teng Ziyin said.

"I can."

"Only, I’m not sure what Deputy Secretary Teng would like to know?" Xu Qianli responded.

Teng Ziyin’s face contorted, and she raised her foot onto the bed, leaned down, and glared at him fiercely.

"You’re playing dumb with me!"

"You’ve been caught by the Disciplinary Committee. Don’t you know what you should and shouldn’t say?"

"Don’t waste my time, hurry up and confess all the things you’ve done!"

"Otherwise, don’t blame me for giving you a harsh punishment, letting you know that I, Teng Ziyin, am not so easy to talk to, and showing you why I am known as the bane of the Jiang City officialdom!"

Teng Ziyin menaced Xu Qianli, convinced that someone like him was no match for her.

Xu Qianli remained unruffled.

"Don’t get angry. I’m not deliberately mocking you. I just want to ask if you’re interested in my affairs or something else."

"I’m just a small fry. However, I am aware of some big shots who have done some particularly crafty business, and I think you might be more interested in those matters."

Teng Ziyin’s ears perked up, "What matters? Which big shot? Tell me about it."

"Let’s start with one person. This individual is a rich businessman from Zhongzhou City, worth a considerable fortune. Yet, he does not engage in honest business but instead looks for opportunities to conduct extremely lucrative and shifty deals."

"One time, I saw him visiting a leader’s home in Zhongzhou City. He was carrying a bag that accidentally opened, revealing a piece of Yuan blue and white porcelain inside, which must be quite valuable."

As Xu Qianli said this, Teng Ziyin’s eyes glittered even more brightly. "Quickly tell me who this person is, and which leader he was giving gifts to?"

During their conversation, Teng Ziyin moved considerably closer to Xu Qianli, the distance between their faces now less than half a meter.

She remained utterly oblivious to the fact that, as she bent over, the neck of her blouse was wide open. From Xu Qianli’s angle, the view was virtually unobstructed. He couldn’t help but swallow hard.

He had not expected that she, nearing forty, not only retained a beautiful face but had also maintained her figure remarkably well, with not a hint of sag. Her skin, exceptionally tight, large and white, was a rare sight—far too rare.

While gazing, Xu Qianli continued, "What’s the rush? I am in the midst of confessing. That leader is Director Zhou of the City Finance Bureau. If nothing has gone awry, that piece of blue and white porcelain should still be displayed somewhere in his house. As for the man giving gifts, I’m not sure if you’re acquainted with him. I recall his name seemed to be Du Zhigang."

Du Zhigang?

Teng Ziyin’s eyebrows immediately furrowed, a chill in her eyes as she glared vengefully at Xu Qianli, looking as though she wanted to devour him.

"You dare play me, Xu Qianli!"

"What’s the matter, you don’t know the severity of Teng Ziyin without me showing you some true colors, do you?"

"I’m telling you, you’re the first person who dares to slander me, and I must take you down hard!"

"Today, I have to dig out all your dirty secrets!"

"Not only your time mingling in the political scene of Jiang City, but even if you have ever peeked at the neighbor auntie taking a bath, I want you to spit it all out to me!"

Teng Ziyin was seething with murderous intent, as if she wished she could tear Xu Qianli to shreds.

It wasn’t for any other reason but because the Du Zhigang that Xu Qianli mentioned was her husband, Teng Ziyin’s husband!

What Xu Qianli did was despicable, to throw dirt on her of all people, utterly detestable!

Faced with Teng Ziyin’s threats, Xu Qianli said, "Vice Secretary Teng, don’t get angry yet, if I were you, I would think it’s time to make a call and check; maybe what I’m saying is true."

Upon hearing this, Teng Ziyin hesitated for a moment, then ran to the bathroom, closed the door, and fumbled to take out her mobile phone to make a call.

Xu Qianli lay on the bed waiting quietly, and before long, he faintly heard the sound of arguing coming from the bathroom.

After a while, the door of the bathroom opened, and Teng Ziyin came out, looking normal as if nothing had changed from her expression.

After coming out, Teng Ziyin looked at Xu Qianli with a sneer and spoke icily.

"I’ve already asked my husband, and there’s no such thing as what you mentioned!"

"Xu Qianli, as a national cadre under investigation by the City Disciplinary Inspection Committee, instead of honestly confessing your wrongdoings, you falsely accuse and slander my husband, you’re simply adding to your crimes!"

"I advise you to cooperate honestly and come clean about your issues, or else it won’t be good for you!"

Teng Ziyin started berating Xu Qianli as though her husband indeed was innocent.

Xu Qianli couldn’t help but laugh.

Teng Ziyin yelled, "What are you laughing at?"

"What am I laughing at?"

"Of course, I’m laughing because you’re so naive!"

"Do you think that by just contacting your husband, having him call the Director of the Finance Bureau to retrieve the vase, that you’ve settled things, that you’ve wiped your hands clean?"

"Don’t be ridiculous, that’s just too naive!"

Xu Qianli was saying this with a smug smile, acting as if he had Teng Ziyin completely figured out.

Teng Ziyin was inwardly startled; she had just called Du Zhigang to question him and got a positive response, which led to an argument. She then lowered her voice and asked him to clean up the mess quickly. Xu Qianli wasn’t supposed to have heard that, but he somehow knew exactly what she had done.

In other words, he had guessed, this guy was too clever, he might very well have a backup plan!

Thinking of this possibility, Teng Ziyin said, "Xu Qianli, do you have evidence? If you don’t, you’re just talking nonsense!"

Xu Qianli replied, "You want evidence, right? No problem, hand me the phone, and I’ll find it for you in a minute."

The phone?

Teng Ziyin hesitated for a moment but eventually opened her bag and passed Xu Qianli’s phone over to him.

Xu Qianli took the phone, powered it on, and after some fiddling, quickly handed it back to Teng Ziyin.

"Take a look for yourself, there are several clips, make sure you watch them carefully with your eyes wide open."