376: Chapter 376 How can we get Sun Tao back to China?

Zhou Jianping lowered his head slightly, a hint of bitterness showing on his face.

"Secretary Qin, we've used every method and resource at our disposal, even enlisting a local Chinese organization, but Sun Tao is determined not to return..."

After giving his report, Zhou Jianping sighed. "We're truly out of options. Sun Tao has Australian citizenship, and we can't just go there and arrest her."

Qin Chuan nodded slightly.

Everything was as expected.

He knew Director Zhou and the others didn't have much hope.

It would be best if they could summon Sun Tao back, of course, but if not, he would handle it himself.

"Director Zhou, since you've done your best, leave this matter to me."

Hearing this, Zhou Jianping felt a weight lift from his heart, and his pressure lessened significantly. The two then chatted for a while about other details of the case.

Leaving the Haicheng District Branch, Qin Chuan pondered his next move. He already had a rough plan in mind for how to proceed.

Sun Tao's parents were both former officials with fairly high ranks. Her father was the Director of the Transportation Bureau, and her mother was the Deputy Director of the Education Bureau.

They were both retired now. Her mother had been retired for over ten years, and her father for several. They hadn't moved abroad because, besides Sun Tao, they had two sons. One was currently working within the system as a forty-something-year-old division-level official. The other was in business, running a medium-sized company.

Starting with her parents was the best approach.

Qin Chuan waved his hand and said, "Xinglong, let's go meet Sun Tao's parents. Hongtai Huating Community, Villa No. 45."

Wei Xinglong nodded and drove toward the destination.

"Secretary Qin, are you planning to have Sun Tao's parents act as lobbyists to convince her to return and cooperate with the investigation?"

Qin Chuan nodded. "Yes. If her parents step in, it will be more effective than anyone else."

"But will her parents cooperate? Her father is a retired cadre at the bureau level. If he doesn't cooperate, there's not much we can do to him."

With his bureau-level rank, it wasn't as if they could just use coercive measures.

Someone who retired from that position still held a certain amount of influence and a network of contacts; they couldn't be handled like an ordinary citizen.

Qin Chuan smiled easily, sounding very confident. "It's certainly impossible to get him to cooperate voluntarily, but what if we force his hand?"

Forcing a bureau-level official to submit!

Wei Xinglong was stunned!

This was domestic soil, and they couldn't use extreme measures. How did Secretary Qin plan to force him? He couldn't afford to play with fire, or he might get burned. The reopening of this case was already a hot topic in the media; any negative news would surely lead to overwhelming coverage.

Sensing Wei Xinglong's concern, Qin Chuan said, "Don't worry, I have a way. Just rest easy."

Thirty to forty minutes later, they arrived at the Hongtai Huafu Community. Since they were in a police car and both were from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, they passed through without hindrance and stopped directly in front of Villa No. 65.

Looking at this small villa worth at least twenty or thirty million, Wei Xinglong thought to himself: 'Is he really this blatant? A retired cadre living in such a nice house?'

The two got out of the car. Qin Chuan walked to the door and rang the bell several times. Soon, a middle-aged woman in a nanny's uniform opened the door.

"Who are you? Who are you looking for?"

Qin Chuan directly showed his ID. "Criminal Investigation Bureau. We're looking for Director Gong Yanshi."

The nanny hesitated, wanting to say Old Mr. Gong wasn't in, but seeing they were from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, she didn't dare lie. "Please, follow me in."

The villa wasn't very large, being a townhouse. She settled the two in the living room and served hot tea before heading upstairs.

Within two or three minutes, a man in his sixties or seventies came down. This was the retired bureau-level cadre, Director Gong Yanshi.

He likely already guessed the purpose of Qin Chuan's visit, as the internet was currently flooded with news regarding the 'Shanhe University Poisoning Case'.

"I am Director Gong Yanshi. Who are you two, and what business do you have? Let's get straight to the point."

After speaking, he sat down on the sofa with a casual air, showing none of the nervousness of an ordinary citizen. On the contrary, his presence seemed to overshadow both Qin Chuan and Wei Xinglong.

Qin Chuan didn't waste words either, getting straight to the point. "Director Gong Yanshi, I am the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee for the Criminal Investigation Bureau, surnamed Qin. Our purpose is simple: we want you to convince Sun Tao to return from Australia and cooperate with our investigation. We have some matters we need to question her about again."

Director Gong Yanshi gave a cold laugh. "Do you think that's possible? My daughter hasn't committed a crime. I can ignore this request of yours."

Qin Chuan said solemnly, "Are you really not going to convince your daughter to return and cooperate with the investigation?"

Director Gong Yanshi met him head-on. "Why should I convince my daughter to come back? I have no such obligation. If that's all this is about, you can leave. Don't disrupt my life."

Heh.

Refusing the easy way and choosing the hard way.

Then I'll have to have a proper talk with you.

Qin Chuan's expression turned cold. "Director Gong, what I dislike most is threatening others, but with your attitude, I have no choice."

"According to the information I have, your corruption is extremely severe. You've accepted a total of over 300 million in massive bribes and assets. A portion of that money was given to Sun Tao, allowing her to live a life of material luxury abroad."

"Bullshit!" Director Gong Yanshi reacted violently, almost jumping up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Such baseless slander! I can sue you and hold you legally responsible!"

Qin Chuan remained perfectly calm and began to detail Director Gong Yanshi's corruption, case by case.

At first, Director Gong Yanshi looked disdainful, but gradually, his expression changed. Qin Chuan was hitting every mark; it wasn't fabricated at all.

This...

Director Gong Yanshi's face turned slightly pale. He quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. The powerful aura he had radiated just moments ago had completely vanished.

Not only did he detail Director Gong Yanshi's corruption, but he also mentioned the corruption of his wife and son. After finishing, Qin Chuan said, "Director Gong, your entire family is corrupt. You could all spend the rest of your lives working sewing machines in prison."

Director Gong Yanshi wiped his sweat again. He was a smart man and knew what he had to do.

"Secretary Qin, I will convince my daughter to return and cooperate with the investigation immediately. About what you just said..."

Qin Chuan waved his hand. "I'll give you two days. Within two days, Sun Tao must appear before me. If you can do that, I can temporarily keep your corruption matters confidential."

"Good, good. Thank you, Secretary Qin. I will definitely make sure my daughter returns."

Walking out of the villa, Wei Xinglong gave Qin Chuan another look of admiration. He thought to himself that Secretary Qin Chuan was incredible; Director Gong Yanshi was completely under his thumb.

As for keeping the corruption confidential, Wei Xinglong didn't quite believe it. Secretary Qin Chuan hated evil with a passion; as soon as Sun Tao returned, Director Gong Yanshi would likely be arrested immediately.