The police arrived.
Sun Yaoguo, Ma Youwang, and other societal elements were all apprehended on the spot.
The franchisees who had been previously sent away were also summoned to Gao Fei's home to give their statements.
With two senior leaders present, and it being the day for the presentation of the "Home of Meritorious Service" plaque, the local police officers were followed by Lin Xiao, the precinct chief, and Bai He, a police superintendent from the municipal bureau, who also quickly arrived with their teams.
Under Gao Fei's apartment building, there were a total of twenty-three police cars, municipal buses, and military vehicles from the armed forces.
Reporters, drawn by the news, swarmed the building with their "long guns and short cannons."
The residents of the complex had surrounded the entire building, three layers deep and more!
Such a grand scene was rarely witnessed, except during important city meetings or when apprehending major fugitives.
Inside Gao Fei's home.
Ma Youwang and the other societal elements were merely fitted with silver bracelets.
As for Boss Sun, who declared, "In Fengyun City, I am the sky," his hands and feet were shackled.
Police officers from the precinct and the municipal bureau, in batches, began their on-site interrogations of Ma Youwang's group and the franchisees.
Gao Fei, as the concerned party, was present to listen.
His primary focus remained on Sun Yaoguo, who had been executed by firing squad eight years prior but had now mysteriously "resurrected" and reappeared.
After hearing about Sun Yaoguo's various crimes committed over a decade ago, Gao Fei's eyes widened.
The man's criminal history reminded him of the Sun Mouguo case in Km City, YN Province, from his previous life.
Although they shared the same name, their crimes were different!
The Sun Mouguo of his past life was an absolute scumbag, deserving of dozens of executions.
It wasn't until a nationwide crackdown that Sun Mouguo was exposed and met his deserved end.
The Sun Yaoguo of this parallel world, however, was a pure criminal, involved in racketeering, kidnapping, extortion, murder, and arson—a complete villain.
He had incited the franchisees to withdraw from the catering company's franchise.
Ostensibly, they sought the return of their franchise fees.
However, their ulterior motive was to obtain the exclusive secret recipe through this opportunity and then monopolize the barbecue industry in Fengyun City!
Sun Yaoguo, accustomed to profiting through illicit means, never imagined he would encounter such a formidable opponent in Gao Fei.
He certainly didn't anticipate that a high school student, newly enrolled in university, could consecutively earn three military commendations and be a valuable asset to the military.
This time, not only did he fail to acquire the secret recipe, but his eight-year-old "resurrection" was also brought to light.
...
After completing their statements and reviewing the footage captured by the cameras installed by Sun Yaoguo's subordinates,
Ma Youwang, Sun Yaoguo's gang, and the complicit franchisees were all taken back to the bureau by the police, awaiting prosecution.
The intrusion, occupation, and harassment of the "Home of Meritorious Service" by gang members and thugs.
Intimidation of individuals awarded military honors, and forceful commercial transactions.
This incident was no longer a simple criminal case.
In addition to Sun Yaoguo facing hefty fines and the unexecuted death sentence from eight years ago,
Ma Youwang and the twenty-three franchisees would face punishments more severe than standard criminal penalties.
As a group of individuals, with hoods over their heads and handcuffs on their wrists, emerged from the building.
Countless cameras focused on the more than thirty individuals, their flashes incessantly illuminating the scene.
Reporters quickly approached Superintendent Bai He, microphones in hand, and began questioning him.
"Superintendent Bai, what case occurred at Huayuan小区 today? Is it related to Gao Fei?"
"Superintendent Bai, is Gao Fei among those arrested? Has the online speculation that his catering company is a scam been confirmed?"
The questions from over a dozen reporters primarily revolved around whether Gao Fei had been arrested and if his company was involved in fraud.
Bai He, who was prepared before descending, faced the cameras and calmly responded, "Gao Fei is not among those arrested today, nor is his catering company involved in fraud.
Furthermore, the police wish to thank Comrade Gao Fei for helping us apprehend a heinous criminal.
The police will hold a press conference in three days to explain the specific results and process.
Regarding other matters, I have no further comment."
With that, Bai He departed with the police officers and the criminals in their vehicles.
The reporters who had been asking questions looked astonished at his reply!
Not only was Gao Fei not a fraudster, but he had also assisted the police in apprehending a criminal!
This shocking turn of events was comparable to a television drama!
As the reporters speculated about the identity of the criminal and how Gao Fei had apprehended him, a group of people emerged from the building.
Three golden-red "Home of Meritorious Service" plaques appeared first.
Following them were Battalion Commander Chen Anping, Deputy Mayor Zhou Dakang, and the focus of attention, Gao Fei.
The sound of gongs and drums echoed through the neighborhood once more.
Facing the flashing cameras, Commander Chen and Deputy Mayor Zhou placed red sashes on Gao Fei, and the three shook hands and posed for photographs.
While the photographers diligently carried out their work,
the reporters holding microphones stared blankly at the three gleaming plaques.
Two third-class merits and one second-class merit!
And the recipient of these military honors was merely a freshman who had just entered university and undergone three months of military training.
Three months, three military merits—truly formidable!
Once all the proceedings were completed, Gao Fei, Deputy Mayor Zhou, and Commander Chen began to accept interviews from the reporters.
The three only answered questions related to the military merits, deliberately omitting any mention of the criminals arrested earlier.
Even when reporters inquired, the three tacitly ignored the questions.
The onlookers from the neighborhood in the rear.
"Wasn't Gao Fei a fraudster? How did he help the police catch a criminal? What is going on? I can't figure out who the good guy is anymore!"
"Old Li, your brain is addled. Police Superintendent Bai just said that Gao Fei's company isn't a fraud. And one of those troublesome franchisees was a heinous criminal, whom Young Gao helped catch!"
"Young Gao isn't only not a criminal, but he's also an outstanding young man who has earned three military merits!"
In the span of a morning, the residents felt as if they had watched a complete crime blockbuster.
First, a group of aggressive societal elements came to cause trouble.
Then, two senior leaders from the city arrived to present the "Home of Meritorious Service" plaques.
Subsequently, the troublemakers were all arrested, and Yuanfei Catering Company was cleared of fraud.
Gao Fei, whom they perceived as a fraudster, was not only a helpful citizen who assisted in apprehending a criminal.
But also a meritorious individual who had received three military honors.
The continuous reversals stunned all the residents, this scene was as dramatic as a television series!
After Deputy Mayor Zhou and Commander Chen left with their entourage, the reporters also dispersed.
With the individuals who intended to withdraw from the catering company arrested, the entire matter was settled.
...
That evening.
Videos of Gao Fei wearing a red sash and posing for interviews next to the "Home of Meritorious Service" plaques circulated online.
Concurrently, there were videos of Ma Youwang and Sun Yaoguo's group of societal elements, wearing hoods, being apprehended.
Initially, the comment sections below the interview videos were filled with congratulations for Gao Fei.
The comment sections for the arrest videos were filled with questions about who had committed a crime and why the scene was so grand.
But as some netizens delved deeper, comparing the two videos carefully, they finally discovered discrepancies.
A news story that shocked the entire internet subsequently appeared on major websites.
"Outstanding Contemporary Youth Gao Fei, on the day he was honored with the 'Home of Meritorious Service' plaque, was arrested by Fengyun City police, solidifying his crimes as a fraudster."