Chapter 252: Framed

**East Ping County Public Security Bureau.**

As Li Dong and his group entered the police station, a police officer in the lobby asked, "What can I help you with?"

"We're here to see someone," Li Dong replied. "Where is Li Chengyuan right now?"

"Li Chengyuan?" The officer seemed a bit puzzled.

Li Dong reminded him, "He just got brought in, the fish seller from the market."

"Oh!" The officer immediately remembered. They don't arrest many people in the county each day, and today had been particularly slow. Naturally, he knew about the fish seller who had just been brought in.

He sized up Li Dong, then glanced at the few people standing behind him, including Zhou Haidong and Wang Cheng. The officer's eyes flickered with recognition, and he smiled, "That's a case for the Criminal Investigation Team. He should be in the interrogation room on the second floor."

"Interrogation room?" Li Dong's eyebrows furrowed, his tone growing colder.

The officer, sensing Li Dong's discomfort, cleared his throat and explained, "Don't misunderstand. The so-called interrogation room is actually just a small office. The Criminal Investigation Team usually handles cases there."

Li Dong nodded, "Thank you!" 

Without further ado, he led the group straight to the second floor.

The officer downstairs watched them go, his mind spinning. He mumbled to himself, "Could Chen Li have caused some trouble?"

It was clear that Li Dong and his group were not ordinary visitors. The officer had welcomed hundreds, if not thousands, of people into the lobby, but this group made him feel an unusual pressure. Especially the men behind Li Dong, like Wang Cheng, who gave him the feeling that they were scrutinizing him, similar to how his drill instructors used to eye recruits for faults in the army.

Shaking his head, the officer decided not to think too much about it. After all, it had nothing to do with him. Even if Chen Li had offended someone, it wasn't his problem. The detectives in the Criminal Investigation Team were notorious for their arrogance, and a little setback might do them some good.

---

**Second Floor, Interrogation Room.**

When Li Dong arrived, the door was open.

As the officer downstairs had said, the interrogation room was quite different from what Li Dong had imagined—it was just a small office. The only difference between this and a regular office was that it lacked a computer, but otherwise, it had the same desks and sofas.

Li Dong immediately spotted Li Chengyuan, who was standing beside a desk, smiling apologetically. Behind the desk sat a man in his forties, dressed in plain clothes, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. The man, clearly disinterested, asked, "Is there anything else you want to confess?"

Li Chengyuan forced a smile, "Officer Chen, I've told you everything I know. You can see I'm still confused about all of this."

The man, addressed as Officer Chen, flicked the ash off his cigarette and snorted, "Whether you're confused or not, this is still a crime, got it?"

"The report is done, just sign here."

Li Chengyuan sighed, picked up the pen, and was about to sign when he heard someone behind him call out, "Dad, are you okay?"

Li Chengyuan put down the pen and turned to see Li Dong, immediately relaxing, "I'm fine. What are you doing here?"

"You're here, how could I not come?" Li Dong responded, then turned his gaze to the middle-aged officer, "Are you the one responsible for my father's situation?"

Chen Li raised an eyebrow; this wasn't a very polite way to ask. He glanced at Li Dong and his group, then back at Li Chengyuan, before coldly replying, "Is this a place you're allowed to be in? If you want to see someone, wait in the lobby!"

Li Dong responded coolly, "Let's not get off-topic. I asked you, what law did my father break, and what right do you have to detain him?"

Chen Li's expression darkened, sensing something was off. Normally, an average citizen would be terrified by his stern look, but these people seemed unafraid, even confident.

However, he wasn't too worried. After all, the son of a fish vendor couldn't be that influential. The young man was likely just ignorant and reckless.

Ignoring Zhou Haidong and the others, Chen Li replied impatiently, "Whether a law was broken is not for you to decide! Li Chengyuan is suspected of illegally selling a state-protected endangered wild animal. You seem like an educated person, so you should know that's illegal."

Li Dong glanced at him, then turned to his father, "Dad, tell me what happened."

Li Chengyuan, who had been stewing in frustration, quickly explained the situation when Li Dong asked.

After listening, Li Dong pieced together the events.

It was actually quite simple. Early that morning, when Li Chengyuan had just set up his stall, a farmer from the countryside approached, claiming to have wild-caught fish to sell.

This wasn't unusual at the market. Often, farmers or traders from the countryside would sell fish to vendors at lower prices.

Li Chengyuan didn't think much of it, and since wild-caught fish were popular, he bought the entire net full of fish from the farmer.

The fish were of various kinds—bighead carp, catfish, and others. Li Chengyuan didn't bother to sort them out, as the price was cheap, so he took them all.

But something strange happened—before Li Chengyuan could make a few sales, Chen Li arrived with two others and arrested him, claiming that he was illegally selling a protected species.

Specifically, a *Andrias davidianus*, also known as a Chinese giant salamander or baby fish.

This creature is very rare in East Ping and not well-known to most people.

Li Chengyuan, naturally, didn't recognize it. But Chen Li somehow managed to pick out a *Andrias davidianus* from the pile of fish. Whether it was truly a *Andrias davidianus*, Li Chengyuan, despite his years in the fish business, couldn't be sure.

Since Chen Li insisted, and being a police officer, Li Chengyuan didn't dare to argue.

The *Andrias davidianus* is a national second-level protected animal. Whether wild or farmed, it's illegal to buy or sell them without a permit.

That's how Li Chengyuan ended up at the police station without even packing up his stall.

After hearing the whole story, Li Dong knew something was wrong—this was clearly a setup!

How could it be such a coincidence that as soon as his father bought the fish, the police arrived?

Moreover, in such cases, it would usually be the Bureau of Industry and Commerce that got involved, not the Criminal Investigation Team.

Chen Li's rapid arrival at the market strongly suggested something fishy was going on. Li Dong couldn't believe it was a mere coincidence.

Another suspicious point was that *Andrias davidianus* is almost unheard of in East Ping. Even Li Chengyuan, a veteran in the fish trade, didn't recognize it. How did Chen Li, a police officer, recognize it so quickly, and even manage to find it in a pile of fish? Was he some kind of clairvoyant?

A cold glint flashed in Li Dong's eyes as he stared at Chen Li, "Officer Chen, right? May I ask you a few questions?"

Chen Li exhaled a puff of smoke and frowned, "What do you want to ask?"

"How did you know my dad's stall had a *Andrias davidianus*?"

"Someone reported it."

"Who reported it?"

"Is that any of your business?" Chen Li glanced at him sideways, clearly irritated.

Li Dong smiled lightly, unfazed, and continued, "Then let me ask you this—how will my dad's case be handled?"

"A fine and detention."

"How much of a fine, and how long will the detention be?"

"One or two thousand yuan, considering it's your dad's first offense. He'll be detained for a month at most."

Li Dong's smile widened. A fine of one or two thousand yuan and a month's detention—this was no small punishment for a regular vendor. One or two thousand yuan was roughly a year or two's profit for them.

As for being detained for a month, that was even worse. The New Year was less than a month away, which meant Li Chengyuan would have to spend the holiday in detention.

Chen Li glanced at Li Dong and snorted, "I've told you everything you need to know. Now, get out!"

Li Dong ignored him, questioning, "Isn't the way Officer Chen handles cases a bit unprofessional? Are you the only one who can decide this?"

Chen Li's eyes widened, and he shouted, "Who are you to tell me how to do my job? Get out now, or I'll charge you with obstructing justice!"

"Nice try with that accusation," Li Dong chuckled but didn't back down. Instead, he pulled out his phone and made a call.

Chen Li was annoyed but didn't stop him. After all, he wasn't completely clueless after years of being a detective. It was normal for people to try and pull strings, and if this young man had connections, he might still have a chance to smooth things over.

But if his connections weren't strong enough, then he could forget about mercy. The fine might even double, and the detention could be extended. It all depended on the situation.

Li Dong spoke quietly on the phone for a few moments before hanging up. He then motioned to his father, "Dad, sit down. Standing is tiring."

He pulled the nervous Li Chengyuan down

 onto the sofa. Li Chengyuan, though he knew his son's business was doing well, was still a small-timer at heart, deeply ingrained with the notion that the authorities were not to be trifled with.

In his mind, even if his son's business was successful, it wouldn't end well if they crossed the police.

Li Dong didn't bother reassuring him, simply calling out to Li Lan, "Xiao Lan, come sit. We'll be going home soon."

Chen Li's expression darkened. This kid was really bold.

But he kept silent. If they were so confident they'd be going home soon, then the phone call or someone arriving would happen shortly.

Whatever the connection was, it would become clear soon enough. This brat was so cocky—if his connections were strong, so be it. If not, he'd have a lot to answer for!

The interrogation room fell into silence.

Time passed slowly. Chen Li smoked several cigarettes, growing more impatient. "You've got some nerve. Are you messing with me?"

"Let me tell you, if no one shows up, you won't be leaving either!"

Just as he finished speaking, a voice shouted from outside, "Chen Li!"

Chen Li jolted in surprise, looking towards the door. He quickly stood up and greeted, "Director Niu, what brings you here?"

The man, referred to as Director Niu, was a balding man in his fifties. He glared at Chen Li but ignored him, turning instead to Li Dong with a smile, "Mr. Li, what a rare guest!"

Li Dong stood up, offering his hand with a smile, "Director Niu, it's been almost a year, hasn't it?"

"Just about. Mr. Li, you're a busy man. No time to visit old friends," Director Niu joked as he shook hands with Li Dong.

Director Niu knew Li Dong very well. Just last year, Li Dong had been a small-time supermarket owner in East Ping, constantly seeking their help and not daring to miss a single holiday gift.

But then Li Dong had moved to the provincial capital, Pingchuan, and in just over a year, the name of his company, Yuanyuan, was so well-known in East Ping that Director Niu was tired of hearing about it.