Chapter 1: Death Spiral

  One

  Beautiful morning. {First release station} "If" "Look" "Small" "" "Say" "Net" (.sen.)

  Tang Zhengfei's mood was not clear.

  The bedroom of over ten square meters has been renovated, with soundproof and shock-absorbing soft structures wrapped around it. The windows are welded like a prison cell, I guess only a small fish could jump out smoothly. Next to the TV, a secret pinhole camera was also installed, "This is good too, the person taking notes is in a blind spot, even if they make a funny face, it can't be captured." Director Li, who is quite fat, is Ah Tang's senior, and he only knows how to crack jokes all day.

  2.

  The discipline inspection commission specifically asked A-Tong, who was borrowed to do idle things, to come and assist in the investigation. This case is presided over by Dou Jin, a standing member of the municipal discipline inspection commission, and the target is Niu Ankou, the director of Suzhou County Urban Management Bureau, who is suspected of violating regulations for collecting fees, embezzling public funds, accepting bribes and other illegal and disciplinary acts, and is currently under double regulation.

  The old cow in front of him no longer had the radiant glow of his former days. Tang Zhengfei knew that this was the result of not having slept well for two consecutive days. However, there was still no progress until now, and even if the evidence was conclusive, Lao Niu would claim ignorance, let alone the massive amount of money that disappeared like snowflakes in midsummer. Ah-Tang shook his head slightly, but this wasn't the main source of his frustration. The person sitting in the corner with their head hung low like a puppet on strings was the real cause of his unease.

  Dong Changwei was notorious for being able to get anyone to talk and obtain any confession. However, he forbade his daughter from dating Tang Jingyu. This old man had brought Tang Zhengfei in, but what kind of trickery was this? Tang didn't believe that Dong had any special abilities to crack big cases; the old man just got lucky sometimes. Today would probably be a tough day to collect debts. The whole day's chatter had all been superficial, avoiding the key points. This Dong fellow had fought in the Falkland Islands and served as an investigator, quite an impressive background indeed. It wasn't until evening that Tang Zhengfei glanced at the confession in front of him - a glorious history of the Niu family. Astonishingly, apart from his daughter being 24 and studying for her master's degree, his wife being weak and ill, and himself having anxiety attacks, there was nothing else remarkable about him. Director Li often came and went, only asking whether he wanted braised pork or tomato scrambled eggs.

  Tang Zhengfei yawned. Unconsciously it was already 12 o'clock.

  "Tomorrow will be the end of the case, Xiao Tang. After dinner, you and I will go next door to rest, and let Director Niu also take a break." said Dou Changwei slowly.

  "Oh, boss, thank you so much! You've really helped this old man out. I'm almost out of breath!" Old Niu held up his loose, belt-less pants with one hand and bowed repeatedly, a look of bliss on his face. This old fellow still knew how to make a gracious exit.

  Tang Zhengfei also understood that tomorrow, Vice Mayor Liu would be back from his European inspection tour, and if they continued to guard like this, it wouldn't work. What could he do? His younger brother-in-law wanted to protect his sister's husband, didn't he? In his heart, he could only purse his lips at Old Dong.

  Go to sleep outside. Turning back, I took a look at room 1608 of Suzhou Junyue, one of the special rooms for the discipline inspection committee. The only thing is that the amber-colored "6" looks a bit like "4".

  (Three)

  The night is cool as water.

  Tang Zhengfei is dreaming. It seems to have returned to the age of playing with Zong Dou and other playmates when he was very young, "One rotation is good, two rotations are bad, three rotations die quickly." "Nine little black men, lined up in a city gate."

  Without light, he couldn't see Lao Dong's face on the opposite side, but he himself was lying in bed unable to move. The children's rhymes were more interesting than Lao Dong.

  But Lao Dong still spoke up.

  "Young man, I know about you and Qianqian. I want to hear your side of the story." The dry voice seemed to be right next to my ear.

  "We are sincere, I don't want to say these words to you, I'm afraid of you. Qianqian's broken leg is a pity. I dare not face her and can't bear to see her. Sorry, I'm very sleepy, my words are incoherent..."

  "You have a death spiral, you can't fool me. Young man, I believe you. Just don't appear in Qianqian's life again from now on. It's almost time, let's go together."

  What's going on, Tang Zhengfei didn't understand. In his dream, he thought his IQ was not even as good as a pig's. But it couldn't be helped, the old hole had disappeared, and along with it, Tang Zhengfei's lucid dreaming had also vanished...

  Article 4

  What a terrible dream! When Tang Zhengfei was shaken awake, the white bed sheet that was dazzling to his eyes made them ache.

  "Young people sleep well, just look at them setting up a tent." Director Li's big flat face was only two inches away from Tang's small white face.

  Nima doesn't set up a tent, is a pervert, and goes to make out with someone. Usually, Tang Zhengfei would definitely throw a pillow at him; last night's dream was too realistic, it felt like every word and sentence was still etched in his mind, but what if Qianqian found out about it? Shouldn't he kill himself? It's not right to have such dreams during such busy times. Tang Zhengfei comforted himself like this.

  "Stop staring, he's hired."

  "What? How is this possible? You used a forbidden technique?" Tang Zhengnai almost bit his toothbrush in half.

  "No. He's already finished writing it all down."

  "I want to see him again, he's changed so much. It's impossible."

  "He's fallen ill and has been sent to the hospital for a re-examination. I reckon the days ahead will be better. The original records are being organized, but compared to these, you should take a look at last night's camera footage."

  Tang Zhengfei was full of doubts. The old Creative Video (CV) in front of him connected to the DV, and the scene from Room 1608 last night appeared before his eyes.

  Still backlit, the stout Director Niu leaned against the headboard of the bed at an angle to the camera, his eyes unclear, only two black holes visible, his cheeks twitching involuntarily. It's strange, he's so tired, why doesn't he sleep? The deadline for re-issuance was 3:30 am, and Director Niu finally spoke up, his speech not slow, his lips trembling as if eager to finish what he knew. "Damn it, next time I'll definitely bring a voice recorder, the Discipline Inspection Commission is even worse than an internet cafe... but at this speed, even a mid-level stenographer like me would have trouble keeping up." Tang Zhengfei thought to himself. By 3:50, Director Niu had stopped talking, seemingly exhausted, and the screen was immediately cut off.

  "I want to see the original transcript, such an entry speed is unbelievable, often can't be written by a clerk."

  "Not now, Commissar Du instructed, until the case is closed, evidence will not be shown."

  "This won't work and that won't work, the discipline inspection committee has intimidated people into a state of nervousness, is that all right?"

  "As long as anti-corruption efforts don't stop, everything is fine." Dou Changwei quietly walked in, holding several breakfasts.

  "But he is also a son and a husband, and has a daughter about the same age as Dou Qian. Is this outcome not too cruel?"

  Lao Dong looked at Tang Zhengfei with a hint of a smile, 3 seconds later, his gaze finally shifted away from the eye contact, "Cruel? Alright, Director Tang, give all the subsidies for handling the case over the past two days to Niu's family as emergency medical expenses and rehabilitation fees. Those who have been removed from their posts do not enjoy medical insurance. I mean, all of it, now."

  (5)

  The case is closed.

  Ah Tong was delighted to see the original transcript, although it was just a glimpse, he saw that the handwriting was meticulous and had some flavor of clerical script and running script, strangely familiar.

  Niu Ju was unable to speak again, he had amnesia. Tang Zhengfei also looked at him with a dazed expression, disheveled hair, and several whorls. The doctor's explanation was that continuous extreme anxiety caused mental amnesia.

  The district head behind Niu's downfall even brought down Liu, the vice mayor, and also took down around a dozen other officials.

  Dong Changde has become a favorite of the CCDI again, but his eyes are still empty and his speech is still weak.

  However, Tang Zhengfei was a bit apprehensive. Lao Niu's words that day weren't entirely false, and it might not be impossible to make emotional progress with some more time. Who would have thought that in the end, things would take such a drastic turn? Seeing Lao Dou made him feel even more that he was unfathomable, so he tried his best to avoid going around him.

  Article 6

  Another overtime day. Tang Zhengfei finished checking the last volume of documents. Thinking about playing Borderlands with Zhuangzhuang and his girlfriend from the Bureau, he couldn't help but smile. Thinking that he would soon be transferred out of the Disciplinary Committee made him even more overjoyed.

  A slender white hand pushed open the office door.

  "Mr. Dòu, why are you still out so late?"

  Lao Dong came in, still with star-shaped blood vessels all over his eyes. Lao Dong looked at Tang Zhengfei, a stiff smile spreading from the corner of his mouth. Tang Zhengfei felt a chill run down his spine.

  "Xiao Tang, there's something I've known all along, cough... "

  "What's the matter? Please speak."

  "...and there are three spirals on your scalp too."

  Tang Zheng felt a burning sensation in his stomach, as if he was about to throw up. He remembered the words on that transcript, which seemed to be his own.

  It really seems like it...