The Beautiful County Magistrate
Chapter 370: Lu Xingtian’s Handle!

Chapter 370: Chapter 370: Lu Xingtian’s Handle!

Wu Kai nodded and quickly left the room.

Inside the room, only Xu Qianli and Feng Jiang were left.

Without beating around the bush, Feng Jiang knelt down in front of Xu Qianli, right through the iron bars.

Not only did he kneel, but Feng Jiang also incessantly kowtowed.

"Secretary Xu, I was wrong, I was really wrong, horribly wrong!"

"I should never have lost my head and attacked you; I shouldn’t have set you up."

"I have deeply reflected on my actions during this period and regret what I did initially."

"But I know that it has already happened and even if I regret it, it’s useless."

"I only ask you for one thing, Secretary Xu, please show mercy and spare my life, will you?"

"As long as I can survive, even if I have to spend my lifetime in prison, I will accept it."

Feng Jiang directly stated his request; he wanted Xu Qianli to save his life.

He was well aware that the crimes he had committed were enough to warrant execution many times over, but if Xu Qianli was willing to intervene, there might still be a sliver of hope.

It just depended on whether Xu Qianli was willing to agree.

Xu Qianli said, "Let’s not talk about whether I can help you; even if I can, why should I help you?"

Expecting me to save him, this guy must be joking, but why should I?

Feng Jiang suddenly lifted his head, looking at Xu Qianli with intense emotion, and whispered, "I wouldn’t expect you to help me for nothing, Secretary Xu. If you spare me, I can tell you a secret!"

"A secret, what secret?"

Xu Qianli’s ears perked up; this guy used to be a major figure in Zhongzhou City, and now, in his desperation to save his own life, his so-called secret surely wasn’t simple.

Feng Jiang continued, "I know you have taken down both Lu Chen and Fang Xiong, and you are already at odds with Mayor Lu. With your current position, it is hard to confront him, but I can help you."

"Help me?"

"How can you, a prisoner, help me?"

Xu Qianli found it utterly laughable that a prisoner thought he could be of any help.

Feng Jiang said, "I know secrets about Mayor Lu, or rather, I have leverage over him!"

What, leverage over Lu Xingtian?

Xu Qianli’s expression became serious.

He knew what it meant if what Feng Jiang said was true.

As Feng Jiang stated, because of the issues with Lu Chen and Fang Xiong, he had become mortal enemies with Lu Xingtian, and sooner or later, they would have a direct confrontation.

With his current position, it really wasn’t easy to go head-to-head with Lu Xingtian.

But if he had leverage over Lu Xingtian, everything would be different; he could take the initiative.

But was what Feng Jiang saying true?

Seeing Xu Qianli’s silence, Feng Jiang said, "Secretary Xu, you must be doubting whether I’m telling the truth. How about this—I give you the item first, and then you can help me? Anyway, my case isn’t settled yet, and they won’t decide so soon. You’ll have plenty of time to verify the authenticity of the item."

"Where is the item?" Xu Qianli asked.

"It’s in the villa I sent you, just inside the entrance on the left side there is a flower pot, the tile underneath it can be opened, and that’s where it is."

"As for what it is, you’ll know when you see it."

Feng Jiang frankly disclosed the location of the item without any concealment.

Xu Qianli couldn’t help but be a bit suspicious.

If Feng Jiang really had leverage over Lu Xingtian, why was he only bringing it out now, and why did he have to make a deal with him?

Subtly, Xu Qianli felt that something about this was very problematic, but he could not tell exactly what was off for the moment.

Ignoring those concerns for the time being, Xu Qianli asked, "You previously promised Wu Kai that if I came to see you, you’d reveal where the embezzled money was hidden. Was that true?"

Feng Jiang looked perplexed.

"Embezzled money? I didn’t know about that."

"Secretary Xu, although I’ve made some money over the years, my expenses were heavy, and I hardly saved anything. It was just a few million in assets, which were all confiscated. Where would I have any embezzled money?"

"Oh, right, I understand now. Outsiders have been spreading rumors that I’ve hidden tens of billions. Those are all lies, not to be believed."

"Other brainless people might believe it, but how could you, Secretary Xu, believe it?"

Feng Jiang spoke as though he was stating a fact.

Xu Qianli didn’t believe Feng Jiang’s nonsense, but since he was unwilling to speak, he didn’t bother to ask further and quickly left the room.

Wu Kai had been waiting outside, and when he saw Xu Qianli coming out, he quickly went up to him, "How did it go, did that guy confess?"

Xu Qianli shook his head slightly.

"I asked him, but he refused to talk and claimed he had no money."

"However, he mentioned that he had leverage over Lu Xingtian and told me the exact location, asking me to retrieve it."

"Kai, I feel like there’s something odd about this, as if there’s a trap set for me to fall into."

As he pondered over the whole sequence of events, the more Xu Qianli felt something was off, as if someone had indeed set a trap for him.

Wu Kai chuckled and pointed inside the room.

"Just him, a guy who’s been in prison, set a trap for you?"

"Come on, save it, he doesn’t have that capability."

"I think it’s very straightforward; he just wants to live and is specifically asking for your help. And that so-called leverage over Lu Xingtian is a favor to you."

"You’ve been too paranoid lately, used to seeing everything as a scheme."

"I say why overthink it? Just get the item first, and see if it’s real."

"If it’s real, and it really is leverage over Lu Xingtian, that’s great."

Wu Kai got more and more excited as he spoke.

Xu Qianli had taken down Lu Chen and Fang Xiong before, and Wu Kai had been involved.

Especially when they went to arrest Fang Xiong, he went together with Xu Qianli.

If Lu Xingtian were to go after Xu Qianli, Wu Kai would be the next target.

Now, there’s a chance to get hold of Lu Xingtian’s leverage; it’s definitely a good thing.

Xu Qianli stopped Wu Kai’s words, temporarily cast aside his doubts, and went straight to the city with two female bodyguards.

The villa Feng Jiang had given was the only upscale villa community, which was easy to locate. Xu Qianli entered the community and quickly found the address.

A two-and-a-half-story Hui-style building with an elegant courtyard in a prime location like Zhongzhou City was undeniably upscale.

Passing through the courtyard and entering the house, Xu Qianli moved aside the flower pot on the left, gently tapped the tile underneath, and found it was hollow.

After prying open the tile, there was indeed a box inside.

It wasn’t very large; Xu Qianli took it out and laid it on the ground, opening it to find a few items inside.

A USB drive, a uniquely styled key, and a piece of paper covered in numbers.

Three items; the USB drive was nothing unusual, definitely containing some data.

But what were the key and the piece of paper all about?