"Director Tan, if this were last month, you would not only get your principal back, but also the interest. However, at this point, it would be remarkable to recover four-fifths of the principal. A few more hours, and you wouldn't get a cent back. To be frank, Jia Mingting and his group can no longer sustain their high-interest scheme and are already preparing to flee."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"Can we get more? At least the principal back."
Tan Feng asked unhappily.
"No, Director Tan. I've said all I can. If you don't listen, there's nothing I can do."
Chen Feng didn't want to continue talking with Tan Feng.
Smart people understand with a hint.
For the slow-witted, no amount of explanation helps.
"Alright, Town Chief Chen, I believe you. Losing some principal is better than losing it all. I'll take the gamble."
After speaking, Tan Feng immediately called the people from Jia Mingting's group.
Just as Chen Feng predicted, they refused to return the money at first.
Tan Feng quickly relayed the exact words Chen Feng had taught him. He explained there was an emergency in the family and he desperately needed the money, so even four-fifths of the principal would be acceptable. If they refused, he would have no choice but to call the police.
Upon hearing this, Jia Mingting's group, scared, quickly returned the money to Tan Feng.
Seeing the deposit confirmation on his phone, Tan Feng was deeply impressed with Chen Feng.
Chen Feng didn't delay, and immediately went to the provincial capital to find Zhou Kewang.
"Elder Zhou, please halt flights to and from Jiangcheng and the provincial capital, and do it quickly... otherwise, the situation will spiral out of control."
Chen Feng got straight to the point.
"What's wrong?"
Zhou Kewang looked at Chen Feng, utterly bewildered.
Chen Feng recounted Jia Mingting's fraud incident in detail.
"I understand, Chen Feng. I will handle this matter. You can go back."
Zhou Kewang replied evasively, his eyes shifting.
"Elder Zhou, are you not planning to handle this?"
Chen Feng probed.
"Chen Feng, you are not an outsider, so I won't mince words with you. It's best if you don't get involved in this matter. Let me put it this way: not only can you not manage it, but I can't either. The best course of action is to let Jia Mingting escape."
Zhou Kewang explained with a troubled expression.
"Elder Zhou, did I hear you correctly? You want Jia Mingting to escape?"
Chen Feng asked, his worldview shaken.
"Yes, let Jia Mingting escape. In the current situation, an escaped Jia Mingting is the best outcome!"
Zhou Kewang stated earnestly.
"Elder Zhou, I think I understand what you mean. You're implying that this incident involves not just Jia Mingting, but also influential figures from Jiangcheng, the provincial capital, and even the capital city. If Jia Mingting is caught, it could trigger a political earthquake, is that what you're saying?"
Chen Feng ventured.
"Precisely, Chen Feng. To be honest, I've heard about Jia Mingting's affairs for a long time. The reason I haven't intervened is that, frankly, I lack the power. In major political cases, no one has the capacity to interfere."
Zhou Kewang said, observing Chen Feng's expression.
"Elder Zhou, what you're saying makes a lot of sense. When a major political case breaks, whether it's exposed or not, in the end, those powerful figures will remain unharmed. They'll simply find a scapegoat to resolve the issue. Don't worry, I won't go against the natural order of things and insist on bringing Jia Mingting to justice. However, my suggestion is that Jia Mingting can flee abroad, but his money cannot! A portion of it must remain in the provincial capital. This money doesn't need to be returned to the investors; it should be confiscated. This way, the provincial capital will suddenly have a substantial sum of money, allowing many large projects to be initiated."
"Chen Feng, your idea is truly excellent. But the question is, will those influential figures permit it?"
Zhou Kewang inquired tentatively.
"We will only confiscate Jia Mingting's assets, not the influential figures' assets. They shouldn't have any objections."
"The way you put it, it seems quite feasible. But what if Jia Mingting decides to fight back desperately and refuses to hand over the money?"
Zhou Kewang asked with a worried frown.
"That's not a problem. While Jia Mingting loves money, he loves his life and freedom even more. You should immediately have the economic investigation department find Jia Mingting and give him an ultimatum: choose one."
Chen Feng calmly explained.
"Chen Feng, Chen Feng, I've underestimated you. You analyze people's minds very thoroughly. How about this: I'll discuss it with them, and a portion of Jia Mingting's money will be given to you."
Zhou Kewang said with a smile.
"Elder Zhou, I cannot accept this money. To be honest, I'm not targeting Jia Mingting to seize his wealth. I simply believe that if this person defrauds so much money and then flees abroad, it would be a great loss for the provincial capital. Regardless, the money must remain within the province."
Chen Feng stated directly.
"Chen Feng, you don't need to say more. You must accept this money. Whether you want to or not, you have to. Not only you, but I must also accept it."
Zhou Kewang said seriously.
"Elder Zhou, I understand what you mean now."
"Tell me, what do you understand?"
Zhou Kewang asked with interest.
"Elder Zhou, you mean that as long as the two of us accept the money, those influential figures involved in Jia Mingting's massive fundraising case will feel at ease and won't worry about anyone causing them trouble."
Chen Feng replied word by word.
"Yes, that's exactly it. Chen Feng, your political acumen is truly extraordinary."
Zhou Kewang said with relief and a smile.
"Elder Zhou, time is pressing. Please hurry and call the economic investigation department. If we're late, Jia Mingting will escape."
Chen Feng urged Zhou Kewang.
Zhou Kewang didn't hesitate and went directly to find the economic investigation department himself.
Chen Feng didn't linger in the provincial capital and drove back to Liangfang Town.
Along the way, Chen Feng felt a luxury car was following him. It had been tailing him from the provincial capital all the way to Liangfang Town.
At the entrance of Liangfang Town, Chen Feng stopped his car. The luxury car also immediately stopped.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Chen Feng went over to the luxury car to see who it was.
He was astonished. It turned out to be Fengdao Huizi.
"Miss Fengdao, it's you?"
Chen Feng was taken aback. He hadn't seen much of Fengdao Huizi since she went to the provincial capital to develop new energy vehicles.
"If I didn't come to see you, would you have gone to the provincial capital to see me?"
Fengdao Huizi asked with a hint of complaint.
"Miss Fengdao, I actually wanted to visit you in the provincial capital too. However, Liangfang Town is currently undertaking a major development project, and I've been too busy to leave..."
Chen Feng spoke the truth.
"Weren't you in Mingshan Town? Why are you suddenly in Liangfang Town? Liangfang Town doesn't seem as good as Mingshan Town."
Fengdao Huizi asked, confused.
"Alas, recently, because I dealt with the human trafficking incident in Wuli Village, Mingshan Town, and the fundraising fraud case of Jia Mingting, I offended quite a few people and was demoted to Liangfang Town."
"That's normal. The political arena in Japan is also like that. When you do your job conscientiously, you often offend people. But it's okay, no matter what, you are now the Town Chief of Liangfang Town, which isn't too bad a result."
Fengdao Huizi comforted Chen Feng.
"Miss Fengdao, thank you for your comfort."
Chen Feng gave an awkward smile.
"I didn't come here specifically to comfort you! Actually, I followed you to Liangfang Town this time to thank you properly."
Fengdao Huizi looked at Chen Feng with gratitude.