Chapter 5: Scraping with the Fascia Knife

Her sole purpose was clear: to find the killer as quickly as possible and rescue her father.

“Good.”

Without wasting a word, Zhou Lu nodded and immediately began mobilizing the security team.

Soon, ten vehicles set off from the company headquarters, heading toward a residential complex in the mountain city.

As the cars pulled up outside the complex, twenty figures dressed in black suits lined up neatly.

“Miss!”

The coordinated call made the old security guard’s heart skip a beat.

Looking at the group who had once fought alongside her father to build their empire, Tang Jianing leaned against the car door.

“Ten minutes. I want those two old folks brought before me.”

No sooner had she spoken than the security team sprang into action.

“Zhou Lu, you come along too. Make sure they’re only detained, not prosecuted.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The group advanced into the complex in a formidable procession. Tang Wanwan narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the neighborhood.

Though not a luxury estate, the complex’s prime location and excellent construction meant the starting price was around 8,400 yuan per square meter.

Considering the couple’s pension and their son’s monthly salary, they could barely afford the mortgage.

Yet Tang Jianing’s gaze was filled with doubt.

According to the company’s people, Chi Ziqi’s brother was a good-for-nothing loafer.

Could such a man be trusted to pay the mortgage regularly every month?

Ten minutes wasn’t long. Soon, two figures clad in pajamas appeared before Tang Wanwan.

“Miss, we’ve brought the people.”

Zhou Lu gestured toward the terrified elderly couple, then stepped aside.

Tang Jianing’s eyes flicked between them before settling on Chi Mingcheng.

“Do you know me?”

“N-no, we don’t!”

The couple had been peacefully watching TV in the living room when a man in a black suit burst in without warning, immediately threatening and intimidating them.

The damned lawyer beside them kept advising how to strike without crossing the line into criminal charges.

Though they hadn’t been physically harmed much, the psychological terror was nearly overwhelming.

“Do you know the Tang Group?”

“Yes!”

Living in the mountain city, how could they not know the Tang Group?

The conglomerate’s influence was everywhere—from real estate and large supermarkets to logistics and even essential goods like rice and oil.

It was an undisputed giant.

“I am the heir of the Tang Group, the only daughter of Tang Liqian, the current head of the company.”

Such a status, nearly unreachable to ordinary people, only deepened Chi Mingcheng’s fear.

For common folk, wealth and power meant absolute danger.

Especially for those of their generation, who still harbored some old-fashioned, feudal ideas, Tang Jianing’s identity was akin to a deity.

“I’m here because I have a few questions. I believe you’ll answer them, won’t you?”

“Yes, please ask!”

“Don’t be so nervous. Let’s just chat like neighbors.”

Tang Jianing smiled lightly, but Chi Mingcheng couldn’t bring himself to smile.

Late at night, a major company’s heir shows up with a crowd to drag him out of his home, and she calls it small talk?

Even if you told ghosts such nonsense at a graveyard, they wouldn’t believe it!

“Did you buy this house with a mortgage or pay in full?”

“Mortgage.”

“I remember the price wasn’t cheap. How much was the down payment?”

“230,000 yuan.”

“Tsk, that monthly payment must be quite a burden.”

“Not really, just over 3,000 yuan a month.”

Listening to Tang Wanwan’s questions, Chi Mingcheng’s heart gradually eased.

From his perspective, he hadn’t offended the Tang Group. The issue seemed focused on the property developer or management.

He was merely caught in an unfortunate situation.

“When did you buy this house? Do you remember?”

“Six years ago.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Wanwan turned away, her tone light but cruel.

“Too stubborn. Time for a little scraping with the fascia knife.”

Around six years ago was when this complex first went on sale. As the sole heir of the Tang Group, Tang Jianing was sensitive to the housing prices and bank policies.

Based on the prices and interest rates then, the monthly mortgage should have been at least 4,500 yuan.

Over 3,000?

Did he think banks were charitable institutions?

Two burly men produced fascia knives from the trunk. Fear once again clouded Chi Mingcheng’s eyes.

He had seen these tools before; just carrying one nearly cost him his life. If they applied even a little pressure to his mouth, his twilight years would surely turn into a silent tragedy.

“I’ll say anything you want!”

Driven by fear, Chi Mingcheng blurted out quickly, desperate to avoid the knife.

Tang Jianing leaned against the car door, her smile deepening.

“I’m not in the mood to listen now. Let’s try two minutes of scraping first.”

The two strong men pinned Chi Mingcheng against the car door, the glinting fascia knife inching toward his lips.

“One last time—did you buy the house with a mortgage?”

Hearing the question, Chi Mingcheng responded at lightning speed.

“No, Liao Wenjie paid in full!”

At the familiar name, Tang Wanwan waved the crowd aside.

“Liao Wenjie from Liao Distillery?”

“Yes, that’s him!”

Though not a big brand, Liao Distillery, with a heritage spanning generations, possessed two century-old brewing secrets.

Their baijiu was sold across several neighboring provinces.

While their business couldn’t match the scale of the Tang Group, they wielded considerable influence in the mountain city.

With Chi Mingcheng’s confession, Tang Jianing’s bold suspicion was likely confirmed.

Zhou Lu glanced at Tang Jianing’s dark expression, hesitating before finally asking,

“Miss, why?”

Tang Jianing cast a cold look at the elderly couple, then spoke slowly.

“Seven years ago, twenty-four-year-old Chi Ziqi graduated from university and returned home to start a life with her boyfriend.”

“Dreaming of a bright future, she forgot that her older brother was already at an age when money was needed for a house and marriage.”

“Her natural beauty was her greatest bargaining chip.”

“After extensive investigation, photos and videos eventually reached Liao Wenjie.”

“Though we don’t know how much money Liao Wenjie paid, I imagine the so-called bride price was astronomical!”