Chapter 232 Another secret
Liu Zhiye sat behind the desk, flipping through Lu Buping's information with an expressionless face.

Then, he threw the information on the table and looked coldly at Lu Buping who was sitting opposite him.

With a "pop" sound.

Lu Buping was frightened by the sudden voice and his eyes quickly turned to Liu Zhiye who was about to interrogate him.

He was nervous, not knowing what charges and consequences he would face, but he tried his best to stay calm and prepare for the next interrogation.

Liu Zhiye looked at Lu Buping who was pretending to be calm and couldn't help laughing. He said, "Lu Buping, I think you know why we want to arrest you, right?"

Lu Buping pretended to be confused and responded helplessly: "Director Liu, I really don't understand what you are saying. I am an honest man and never have conflicts with others. I really don't understand why you want to arrest an honest man like me."

Liu Zhiye looked at Lu Buping, who had an extraordinary appearance, a fair face and no beard, and was well-mannered, quite like a teacher. He nodded secretly in his heart. Just looking at his appearance, at first glance, he did seem to be a good person.

If Deng Tiezhu had not stepped forward to expose his theft, Liu Zhiye really could not believe that this seemingly gentle and polite man would do such a despicable thing.

Liu Zhiye stared at the other person and asked, "Do you know me?"

Lu Buping swallowed his saliva and nodded, "I know him. Who in our factory doesn't know Director Liu of the Security Department?" He paused and added, "Especially us workers, we are very familiar with Director Liu."

Liu Zhiye sneered and said concisely: "Since you know me, you should know my style of doing things. Let's get straight to the point. You'd better answer honestly whatever I ask you."

Lu Buping nodded quickly and responded: "Yes... yes!"

Liu Zhiye looked at him and asked seriously, "Someone reported that you stole things from the factory and sold them. Is this true?"

Lu Buping shuddered when he heard this, thinking to himself that it was indeed because of this matter. However, he didn't know what evidence the Security Department had.

He denied it and said, "Director Liu, I am innocent. I come from a well-off family and there is no need for me to steal things. Besides, what kind of stealing is worth taking such a big risk?" He looked panicked and his eyes flickered as he spoke, as if he was avoiding something.

Liu Zhiye narrowed his eyes slightly. He noticed the uneasiness in Lu Buping's eyes, but he couldn't help but agree with what he said.

Logically speaking, Lu Buping's family was well-off. His son and daughter were both regular employees of the Red Star Factory. They had stable jobs and good pay.

Lu Buping is a level 6 worker. Together with the wages of his two children, his family of four has a monthly income of more than 130 yuan, making them a high-income family.

According to common sense, such a person would not choose to take risks and steal; but Deng Tiezhu reported him for theft. If he had no evidence, would Deng Tiezhu dare to frame a good person like this?

Liu Zhiye interrogated the other party again: "But someone can prove that you stole the copper castings from the workshop and sold them at the scrap yard. He saw clearly when you sold them and what you sold. How do you explain this?"

When Lu Buping heard this, beads of sweat immediately flowed down his face. He was so flustered that he had to play dirty and refused to admit it. He gritted his teeth and said, "I must have recognized the wrong person. I have never stolen anything. It's not me, it's definitely not me." After saying that, his face flushed and he rubbed his hands nervously.

Liu Zhiye said expressionlessly: "It doesn't matter if you don't admit it. We have sent people to the purchasing station to investigate and collect evidence. If you admit it now, we can still give you leniency. Once we find out, it will be too late for you to admit it!"

He turned and left the interrogation room. After Liu Zhiye and others came out, Lu Buping suddenly collapsed in his chair, looking regretful. It was really a momentary misstep that led to eternal regret.

It's too late to say anything now. He may face going to jail. Even after he gets out, he will lose his job and his children will be affected by him. They haven't married yet, so what should they do in the future?

Liu Zhiye waited in the security department for a while, and then Xiao Li came back with Yan Jiecheng.

When Liu Zhiye saw Yan Jiecheng, his face was full of confusion. Seeing this, Xiao Li explained the whole story in detail.

Liu Zhiye laughed when he heard this and said, "Hey, what a coincidence!" Then he said to Yan Jiecheng, "Brother, take a closer look later to see if this is what this person is selling to you."

Yan Jiecheng hadn't expected that it was Liu Zhiye who was handling the case, so he was completely relieved and said positively: "Hey, Brother Liu, just hold it! I will definitely show you the truth."

"Okay! Let's stop talking nonsense and go identify this criminal suspect now." Liu Zhiye patted him on the shoulder.

"Okay!" Yan Jiecheng said readily.

So, several people came to the interrogation room, and Liu Zhiye slammed the table to wake up Lu Buping who was in a daze.

"Lu Buping, look who this is?" Liu Zhiye asked. Lu Buping raised his head and saw Liu Zhiye standing in front of him, scolding him with a serious expression.

When Yan Jiecheng saw his appearance, he immediately pointed out: "Brother Liu! That's right, it's the things he sold at our scrap collection station."

Lu Buping's pupils shrank as he recognized Yan Jiecheng. This was the employee of a recycling station where he once sold scrap. The two of them dealt with each other frequently and were quite familiar with each other.

Liu Zhiye pointed at the scrap castings that Xiao Li brought in and asked, "These were found at the scrap collection station, but they are products produced by our factory. What's your explanation for this?"

Seeing that there were witnesses and evidence, Lu Buping could not deny it and had to confess: "I stole these things. Director Liu, I know I was wrong. Considering that this is just my first offense, please be magnanimous and forgive me this time!"

Liu Zhiye reminded Yan Jiecheng to leave first, then sat down and said, "I heard that you went to the scrap collection station to sell things more than a dozen times and made illegal profits of dozens of yuan. This is not your first offense."

Lu Buping's face froze, and he had no choice but to say, "Yes...it's like this."

Liu Zhiye frowned and shouted, "That's right, explain it to me clearly, I think you are not honest!"

So Lu Buping confessed the problem reluctantly.

Liu Zhiye looked at Lu Buping's confession quietly. He always felt that something seemed wrong, but he couldn't explain it clearly.

For several months, Lu Buping worked hard to sell dozens of yuan, which seemed a lot, but it was insignificant compared to their family's income. Why did he take such a huge risk and steal state property just for those dozens of yuan?

Unless, he stole much more than that, and he also sold things in other places.

Thinking of this, Liu Zhiye's eyes condensed and he said in a cold voice: "Lu Buping! Let me ask you, have you only sold things at this scrap collection station? Have you ever sold them anywhere else?"

Lu Buping collapsed upon hearing this, thinking, "Are you a devil? How could you guess this?" He couldn't believe that Liu Zhiye was so powerful. It was not easy to fool him.

"It's really...really gone!" Lu Buping said in a low voice.

"Really? Do you want me to send someone with your photo to all the scrap collection stations to see if there are any other clues?" Liu Zhiye said threateningly, "If we can find anything, you'll be in trouble. The consequences of aggravated crimes are no joke!"

The last bit of hope in Lu Buping's heart was shattered, so he gave up resistance and said, "I confess. I admit that I have sold things at other scrap collection stations."

Liu Zhiye thought: "I told you, it's not that simple!"

He shouted sternly, "Tell the truth quickly. Which scrap collection stations have you been to for transactions, what have you sold, and how much property have you illegally obtained?"

Lu Buping wiped his sweat and said honestly: "I have been to Beixinqiao and Dongzhimen..."

Lu Buping had to confess the places and items where he had sold the stolen goods. Over the years, he had sold more than 3,000 kilograms of copper castings and other items, earning nearly 400 yuan in illegal income.

This person is definitely a cunning parasite hiding in the Red Star Factory. If no one had reported him, we don’t know how much damage he would have caused to the factory!
The situation has developed to this point, and it has evolved from a case of "hooliganism" into a large-scale theft case.

However, in less than one morning, the case was solved, which was really unexpected and cause for celebration.

Liu Zhiye asked Xiao Li to bring the confession to Lu Buping for signature. He suddenly asked: "Since your family is not short of money, why did you steal these things? What did you use the money from selling things for?" This question is thought-provoking.

Hearing this, Lu Buping paused and turned pale. He stammered, "I have a fierce wife at home who usually keeps a tight rein on me. I'm short of money, so I had no choice but to steal."

Liu Zhiye nodded, as if he understood, "It's really inconvenient for a man to be without money! Although the means are not bright, I can understand it."

"Well, have you spent all the four hundred dollars? Is there anything left?"

Lu Buping said cautiously: "I don't have much money left, and I spent it all!"

Liu Zhiye pretended to be curious and asked, "Hey! You spent a lot of money. Tell me what you did?"

Lu Buping's forehead was covered with cold sweat again, and he stammered, "Drinking, smoking... and so on."

(End of this chapter)