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Ten minutes later, the intersection became bustling with activity. Ambulances and police cars arrived, their lights flashing and sirens blaring. The parents' black luxury cars also pulled up at the scene. Notably, Yin Bingsong had come as well. He was there in a supporting role, as the child of a powerful family had been involved in the accident, and people like him were always the busiest in such situations.
Yin Bingsong stood beside a middle-aged man in a black cashmere coat, whispering to him. The man frowned, silent, occasionally glancing at the young man and woman locked in the police car.
With so many witnesses and video evidence, not to mention the dense network of surveillance cameras at the intersection, the facts were undeniable: drunk driving and speeding were indisputable. No one could overturn this.
Du Li had fainted due to the intense shock but quickly regained consciousness. Surprisingly, she didn't cry, shed tears, or break down. Instead, she remained eerily calm and did something that even Yi Leng found shocking.
She walked over to the mangled remains of the small truck's cab and told the traffic police, "This is my husband." Then, from the unrecognizable body, she retrieved his wallet and phone but left the keys behind.
"Take our house keys with you. Remember the way home," Du Li said softly. She picked up the phone, found her husband's boss's number, and called to inform him of the death.
The boss of the waste collection company arrived, the body was taken away, the scene was investigated and cleared, and The perpetrator were taken away by the police. The intersection returned to its usual calm at dawn. No one would remember that tonight, a husband and father had left this world.
Wu Yumei, fearing that Du Li might do something drastic, insisted on taking her home. In times like these, people need warmth the most, and everyone naturally followed.
Du Li and Xiao Li's home was a rented one-bedroom apartment in the Shipyard New Village, about thirty square meters in size. It was clean and tidy, with walls covered in awards. On the dining table was a paper box containing a birthday cake. A young boy crawled out of bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes as he looked at the group of strangers.
"Where's Dad?" the boy asked.
"Dad had an accident. You'll have to be strong from now on," Du Li said, not lying to the child. Their son was already twelve years old, and the awards covering the walls proved he was a bright child. Telling him that his father had gone on a long trip wouldn't fool him.
The boy, still not fully awake, nodded vaguely, not yet processing what had happened. "Mom, let's wait for Dad to come back before we eat the cake."
Standing outside the door, Wu Yumei and Xie Wenxia couldn't hold back their tears.
Du Li hugged her child, still not crying. She invited everyone in, saying, "Our home is small and simple, so we don't have many chairs. Let's celebrate Dad's birthday together."
The box was opened, revealing an ordinary cake, the cheapest kind from the bakery. On it was written, "Happy Birthday, Dad," along with a small drawing of a person. Three candles were lit, but no one sang. There was only a long moment of silence.
Du Li said, "Let's wish Dad a safe journey."
The child had already understood what had happened, but the shock was so great that he couldn't even cry. His mother's hollow stare frightened him even more.
Wu Yumei pulled everyone aside and said, "Don't all stay here. I'll keep watch. You can come back during the day to take shifts. I think Du Li isn't doing well."
Although Du Li had only worked for them for one day and was merely an employee, no one objected. This family was too pitiful, and everyone wanted to help in any way they could.
With the family's breadwinner gone, no one could sleep. Wu Yumei, having also lost her husband, empathized deeply with Du Li's pain. She stayed by Du Li's side, asking if there were any relatives who could come for the funeral.
Du Li shook her head. "We don't have any family. My husband's parents passed away, my father is gone, and my mother remarried long ago. We don't keep in touch with other relatives."
As Du Li recounted the story of how she and her husband had fallen in love while working in Shenzhen, Wu Yumei's tears flowed freely. Unknowingly, she fell asleep at the table, only to wake up later feeling a blanket draped over her.
Du Li went out alone and sat on the cold steps until dawn.
In the morning, Xiao Hong arrived with breakfast to take over the watch. Du Li, who hadn't slept all night, looked haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She went to the traffic police station to handle the aftermath, and Wu Yumei, worried that she might not be able to cope, asked Old Huang to accompany her.
Yi Leng took Du Li to the traffic police station, but the officer handling the case wasn't there. A colleague said the case was complicated and that the forensic report wouldn't be ready for a while. They were told to go home and wait for further notice.
The perpetrator had been driving a luxury car worth millions. A young, reckless drunk driver speeding and causing a death would, according to traffic laws, face three to seven years in prison. The perpetrator should have been detained, but when Yi Leng asked about it, the officer said, "I'm not the case handler. I don't know the details."
Yi Leng could guess that The perpetrator's side was trying to find a way to escape legal punishment. Fortunately, he had recorded videos and taken photos last night, making it harder for The perpetrator to get off easily.
"I have firsthand evidence that can be submitted to the police," Yi Leng said, showing the video on his phone. The officer glanced at it and said, "Wait until Officer Zhang returns."
Yi Leng sat at the traffic police station, waiting for the responsible officer to return. He called the number listed on the notice board, but no one answered.
In the distance, someone pointed at them, and then a man approached, asking Yi Leng, "Are you Li Danfeng's family?"
Yi Leng nodded.
The man, in his thirties, was well-dressed and composed. He was clearly a representative from The perpetrator's side. Sure enough, he asked Yi Leng and Du Li to step aside for a talk. The four of them walked to an open area in the traffic police station's parking lot.
The man offered Yi Leng a cigarette, but Yi Leng declined.
"What's done is done. Try to look on the bright side," the man said calmly, lighting a cigarette for himself. "If you have any demands, you can tell me. My surname is Wang, and I'm here specifically to handle this matter."
Yi Leng replied, "Compensation should be paid, and the law should be enforced. Drunk driving and speeding resulting in death isn't just a violation—it's a crime. You should understand that."
Wang nodded. "Of course I understand. That's why I'm here to talk to you. We've already reached an agreement with Mr. Zhang. Now it's up to you. You're right—we should handle this according to the law. But within the bounds of the law, I also need to secure the best outcome for us. The person is gone, but the widow and orphan still need to live. How about this: you write a letter of understanding, and one hundred thousand yuan will be transferred to you immediately."
Du Li remained silent.
Wang continued, "The perpetrator is a young girl, not even an adult yet. She has a long life ahead of her. Being accommodating benefits everyone. Don't you agree?"
Yi Leng narrowed his eyes. "Who said the girl was driving? It was clearly a young man in his early twenties. I'd recognize him even if he were ashes. I have photos and videos from the scene. Would you like to see them?"
Wang stared intently at Yi Leng. This unexpected evidence caught him off guard. As a middleman specializing in handling traffic accidents, he was used to dealing with such cases smoothly. But the current situation was beyond his control, meaning the original plan wouldn't work. He needed to consult with his superiors before proceeding.
After the tragedy last night, The perpetrator had called his father, a seasoned veteran who immediately sprang into action, arranging everything accordingly. The young man spun a tale, convincing the girl with him to take the blame. When the police arrived, both of them got into the police car together, with the girl pretending to be too scared to speak and the boy pointing the finger at her.
Of course, the police wouldn't immediately conclude that the girl was the driver. Both were taken in for blood alcohol tests, pending further investigation.
This created room for maneuvering. The The perpetrator's father mobilized all his social resources to orchestrate a rescue. Initially, they had planned to claim that the surveillance cameras from the bar to the intersection were all conveniently under maintenance. But such tricks, which might have worked a decade ago, now only insulted the public's intelligence. Instead, they selectively tampered with the footage—some cameras were "broken," while others were "functional but unclear," failing to capture the driver's face clearly.
Their plan was to admit to the charges of drunk driving and speeding, which were undeniable, but to shift the blame onto the girl. Since she was only seventeen and didn't even have a driver's license, pinning the responsibility on her would allow for a lighter sentence due to her being underage. They could manipulate the case to result in a suspended sentence, meaning she wouldn't have to spend a single day in jail.
First, the girl had to be willing, and her parents had to agree. The necessary incentives had to be provided, and the traffic police had to be properly handled to avoid causing them any trouble.
The easiest part was actually dealing with the victim's family. The perpetrator's side had already investigated: the truck owner was a small-time boss running an illegal pig farm in the suburbs, using the truck to collect food waste from city restaurants to feed his pigs. Since this business was illegal and subject to heavy fines, there was room for negotiation. They could simply promise to replace the truck with a new one.
As for the deceased, the pig farm owner said he was a migrant worker with no relatives, struggling to make ends meet with his family of three. Such people were either easy to deal with or extremely difficult, but overall, they wouldn't be harder to handle than the others.
Being able to resolve the previous issues so quickly indicated that this was no ordinary family. What Yi Leng didn't know was that the driver, Gao Xiaopan, was twenty-three years old and had just graduated from university. He had joined the Jiangwei District government as a staff member with a public institution position. While his current status seemed modest, he came from the prominent Gao family of Jiangwei.
Thirty years ago, the Gao family were poor fishermen. They had produced two successful members: one was Gao Ming, the chief engineer of the shipyard group, who had risen from an ordinary worker to a technician, then to an engineer through sheer determination. With only a high school diploma, he had earned a self-taught bachelor's degree and a master's in engineering. His technical and managerial skills were respected by everyone in the shipyard.
The other was Gao Ming's cousin, Gao Peng, also a legendary figure. Starting as an ordinary worker, he had risen to workshop director through hard work and boldness. Later, he ventured into business, building a massive enterprise group worth hundreds of millions, with connections in both legal and illegal circles. He was one of the most powerful figures in Jiangwei.
Gao Xiaopan was Gao Peng's only son. As the saying goes, "A tiger father often has a dog son." Gao Peng knew his own success couldn't be replicated and didn't expect his son to take over his empire. So, he had planned early for his son to secure a stable government job. Unfortunately, his son's academic qualifications were lackluster, making it nearly impossible to pass the civil service exam. They had settled for a public institution position, planning for him to gain some experience, then join the military for a stint, and finally enter the legal system. This carefully laid-out path was now disrupted by a car accident.
Young men love speed and excitement, and Gao Xiaopan was relatively restrained, opting for a low-key M3 instead of a flashy Ferrari or Lamborghini. He rarely drove it, but last night, after drinking too much at a gathering with friends, he had driven too fast and caused a major accident.
Wang Jinhai returned to the company and reported to Gao Peng, saying the other side was being difficult. The widow and orphan seemed to have found someone to back them up.
"Let them name their price. Whatever they ask, we'll pay," Gao Peng said.
His son couldn't afford any mishaps. If the charge of traffic Crime of causing an accident stuck, it would mean up to three years in prison. Even a suspended sentence wouldn't help, as his political career would be ruined. The carefully planned life path for his son would have to be redrawn, potentially leading him down a wrong path. That was unacceptable.
The other side had video evidence, which was ironclad, but money could move mountains.
Wang Jinhai went into action again. He found out that the person backing the victim's family was from Yumei Restaurant. After scouting the scene, he quickly devised a plan.
The main target now shifted from Du Li to Huang Pihu, the restaurant cook who held the video evidence. Wang Jinhai visited the restaurant in the afternoon to speak with Yi Leng privately.
"I can tell you've been around the block. Let's be straightforward. Name your price, and let's see if I can meet it," Wang Jinhai said.
Yi Leng replied that he wasn't in a position to name a price. The victim's family would have to decide.
"A man in his prime is gone. It's natural for the family to struggle with acceptance," Wang Jinhai sighed. "The deceased's monthly salary was three thousand yuan, totaling thirty-six thousand a year. According to national standards, the compensation is calculated based on the previous year's urban per capita disposable income multiplied by twenty years. But we won't go by that standard—it's too low. We'll base it on his salary: twenty years would be seven hundred and twenty thousand yuan. Let's round it up to eight hundred thousand. Ask the family if they can accept that."
Yi Leng said he could relay the offer.
Wang Jinhai added, "This compensation isn't coming from the insurance company. The insurance only covers the mandatory liability part. So, this money is coming from our side. Just to be clear, the payment won't be made in one lump sum. You hand over the video and provide a letter of understanding, and we'll pay half upfront. The other half will be paid once the case is settled."
Yi Leng nodded. He had experienced things far more brutal and helpless than this. Not every injustice in the world could be righted. Besides, he wasn't representing himself here. He had to act in the best interests of Du Li and her son, securing the maximum benefits for the widow and orphan.
"I'll wait for your reply. But I must remind you, this is like Demolition compensation. The sooner you agree, the more you get. Some people think they're clever by holding out, but in the end, they get nothing," Wang Jinhai said before leaving with his briefcase.
Yi Leng went to Du Li's rented apartment in the Shipyard New Village. The place had been set up as a simple mourning hall, with Li Danfeng's portrait hanging on the wall, an incense burner and offerings on the table, and paper money burning in a basin. Du Li and her son, Li Chen, sat in sorrow, with Xie Wenxia keeping them company.
Li Danfeng didn't have many acquaintances in the area. The pig farm owner had just left, leaving behind last month's salary and a condolence payment of five thousand yuan for the funeral expenses. As an unregistered temporary worker without social security, this was already more than generous.
The crematorium had been arranged. There would be no memorial service—just a direct cremation. No cemetery plot had been purchased yet; the ashes would be stored temporarily. All these arrangements were being handled by colleagues from the restaurant.
Yi Leng explained the situation. Du Li said she wasn't ready to discuss this yet. Her husband's body wasn't even cold, and they were already haggling over his life as if it were a business transaction.
Xie Wenxia advised, "Sister, sometimes you just have to swallow your pride. Listen to me—you can't fight against the powerful. The Gao family has money and influence. The longer you wait, the more they'll slash the compensation."
Yi Leng was surprised. "Sister Wenxia, you already know The perpetrator is from the Gao family?"
Xie Wenxia said, "In a place like Jiangwei, there are no secrets. The license plate with four sixes—everyone knows it's the Gao family's car. But as for who was actually driving, no one dares to say. Speaking out of turn will get you in trouble with the Gaos."
Hearing this, Du Li had to take the matter seriously. She handed the decision-making power to her son, saying, "Son, you're an adult now. Help Mom make this decision. A drunk driver killed your dad. Now this family wants to shift the blame and have us hand over the evidence. They'll pay us eight hundred thousand in compensation. Otherwise, we get nothing."
Li Chen, a sixth-grader, asked his mother, "If we don't hand over the evidence, will that bad person go to jail?"
Du Li said yes.
Without hesitation, Li Chen made his decision: he would rather forgo the eight hundred thousand and hand over the evidence to ensure the bad person went to jail.
Yi Leng asked the boy why he made that choice.
Li Chen said, "If he's in jail, he won't be able to drive and kill someone else's dad."
Du Li hugged her son tightly, tears streaming down her face.
Xie Wenxia also wept, and even Yi Leng turned his face away, ashamed of his own pragmatism and worldliness. A twelve-year-old child understood a truth that a group of adults couldn't grasp. What had happened to this world?