Yang Jian’s words left Hong Ying speechless, forcing her to plead with Liu Ming.
“Honey, please cooperate with them, or they’ll beat you to death.”
“Alright, I’ll talk.”
Liu Ming had already realized that these people were capable of killing, and continuing to resist would either result in his death or a lifetime of immobility.
Yang Jian produced paper and a pen, instructing him to write down the detailed events of that night and sign it with a thumbprint.
Knowing that this might send him to jail, Liu Ming had no choice but to bow to reality. Compared to permanent disability, he preferred prison.
After reviewing Liu Ming’s statement, Yang Jian discovered that seven people had participated in the attack on Gao Daqiang, including an excavator operator. None of them could be spared.
Seeing his cooperation, Yang Jian presented Hu Yunfei’s statement for him to sign.
Liu Ming, not recognizing Hu Yunfei’s handwriting, assumed the other party had conducted thorough investigations prior to today. He understood that they were determined to capture the Pan Wenbin gang.
As Liu Ming hesitated again, Biao Biao fiercely struck his ankle with a club.
A scream caused Hong Ying and their child to burst into loud sobs.
Liu Ming trembled with pain.
“Sign it, or we’ll break all your limbs.”
“Sign it, honey, please sign it quickly.”
Hong Ying couldn’t bear the atmosphere any longer, crying out for Liu Ming to sign. She believed that as long as he wasn’t crippled, Pan Wenbin’s connections might prevent him from going to jail.
Reality was harsh. Liu Ming once again lowered his stubborn head, trembling as he signed and thumbprinted the document.
Just as Liu Ming thought his nightmare was ending, Liang Liang suddenly produced a switchblade and severed his left Achilles tendon.
Liu Ming let out a howl and fainted.
Hong Ying shrieked like a madwoman, “Why? Why did you cripple him? He already cooperated with you!”
Even Yang Jian was surprised; he hadn’t instructed Liang Liang to do that.
Liang Liang wiped the blood from Liu Ming’s wound and said, “Why? Because he’s too ruthless. If he’s not crippled, he’ll seek revenge on all of us. If the law can’t punish him this time, more people will be bullied by him. I’m eliminating a potential threat.”
Yang Jian had to admire Liang Liang’s foresight.
Their objective achieved, it was not wise to linger. The three smashed Liu Ming and Hong Ying’s phones, destroyed their landline, the building’s surveillance system, and its hard drives. Confident that no evidence remained, they left in haste.
Hong Ying, watching her husband bleed profusely, tied a strip of cloth around his wound. She then took their child and drove to use a public phone to call an ambulance and notify Pan Wenbin.
Upon receiving the news, Pan Wenbin rushed to the hospital. Liu Ming had already been taken to the emergency room, so he could only get information from Hong Ying.
“Brother Bin, Liu Ming has been crippled. His left hand and foot were broken, and his left leg’s Achilles tendon was severed.”
Hong Ying, holding her child, trembled uncontrollably. The events of the day were too terrifying.
“Do you know who did it? I’ll kill their entire family.”
Pan Wenbin, nearly forty, had lost his usual composure. Liu Ming was not only his relative but also his capable subordinate. Without him, Pan Wenbin wouldn’t have his current business or status. As a top figure in Xinhe, he could not let this insult stand.
“Brother Bin, don’t think about revenge yet. We need to deal with the aftermath. They’ve investigated some of the things you and Liu Ming have done over the years and forced Liu Ming to sign confessions. If they hand this material over to the police, both of you will go to jail.”
Hong Ying’s words shocked Pan Wenbin. “What material do they have?”
“I don’t know. They didn’t show it to me. Liu Ming absolutely refused to sign at first. Judging by his reaction, they must have a lot of evidence. But these people were prepared to kill, so Liu Ming had no choice but to sign and give his thumbprint.”
“How could this happen? Do you know who they are?”
Pan Wenbin was losing his mind. If their past actions were exposed, they would face life imprisonment, if not the death penalty.
“There were three people in our house. They looked very young and wore masks. They claimed to be acting on behalf of Gao Daqiang and forced Liu Ming to write down the details of the attack on Gao Daqiang.”
Hong Ying clearly didn’t know who Gao Daqiang was.
“Gao Daqiang? Xiao Zhou, quickly notify Hu Yunfei to come here immediately. He’s very familiar with Gao Daqiang. Find out who is acting on his behalf. We must find those three people tonight, no matter the cost, and retrieve the material.”
Pan Wenbin knew his time was running out. By morning, the material that could doom him might be at the police station. He immediately instructed his driver to contact Hu Yunfei.
Liu Zhuang was not far from Chengguan, about ten minutes away. Hu Yunfei arrived at the hospital and, seeing most of the company members there, knew something major had happened.
“Yunfei, Liu Ming was just crippled. Three people were involved. They are likely relatives or friends of Gao Daqiang. They have some material on me and Liu Ming and forced Liu Ming to sign and give his thumbprint. You need to go find Gao Daqiang right now and find out who those three people are. No matter the cost, get that material back.”
Pan Wenbin clearly didn’t suspect Hu Yunfei of betraying him.
“Brother Bin, Gao Daqiang is in this hospital. I’ll go find him now.”
Hu Yunfei immediately realized that the three people who had kidnapped him and his son that evening were responsible. He hadn’t expected them to act so quickly. Fortunately, they hadn’t exposed him, or Pan Wenbin would have killed him by now.
“He’s also in this hospital? That’s great. I’ll go with you.”
Pan Wenbin was in a race against time; revenge was no longer the priority.
Along with Pan Wenbin’s subordinates, the group of five arrived at the bone and joint department of the People’s Hospital.
It was only eight in the evening, and Gao Daqiang was not yet asleep. He was lying in bed reading a book, with Yang Hui sitting beside him, peeling an apple.
The sudden intrusion of Hu Yunfei and his entourage startled both of them.
Yang Hui pointed the fruit knife at them. “What do you want? This is a hospital. If you dare to commit violence, I’ll fight you!”
“Sister-in-law, please don’t misunderstand. We’re not here to fight. Put the knife down quickly.”
Hu Yunfei quickly explained.
Yang Hui was skeptical, but she lowered the fruit knife, though she still held it tightly. She had practiced martial arts for a few years, but after getting married, she had neglected her training and knew she couldn’t handle these men.
“Da Qiang, are you feeling better? I’m here to apologize. You were beaten that night, and your house was demolished, but it was Liu Ming who privately brought people to do it. I truly didn’t know beforehand, or I would have stopped it.”
Hu Yunfei knew that to find out the relationship between those three people and Gao Daqiang, he had to admit his mistakes, apologize, and gain Gao Daqiang’s forgiveness.