sbdcsierra Chapter 9 Gu Qingzhou, do you know how serious your crime is?
Chapter 9 Gu Qingzhou, do you know how serious your crime is?
Police station.
The atmosphere in the interrogation room was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
The overhead incandescent light was blindingly bright, illuminating the entire room without a single shadow.
The four walls were painted snow-white and had no decorations, except for a huge one-way mirror embedded in the north wall.
Gu Qingzhou sat on the "tiger chair," looking idly at the one-way mirror.
He knew there must be a lot of people standing behind that glass.
They are now watching his every move with wide eyes.
In front of the "tiger bench" was a cold metal table, with nothing on its surface.
Two burly policemen sat opposite him, neither of them speaking, just staring straight at him.
Outside the interrogation room.
Footsteps and the static of walkie-talkies could be heard coming from the corridor, indicating that there were still a large number of heavily armed police officers on guard outside.
Gu Qingzhou sat on the iron chair with her hands on her knees, behaving very obediently.
However, his brain was already working at lightning speed.
Almost an hour has passed since I was arrested.
During that hour, apart from the white-shirted policeman asking him a few questions on the street, no one else spoke a single word to him.
However, no one handcuffed him or imposed any other restraints.
Therefore, Gu Qingzhou now roughly understands the intentions of those above.
It's highly likely that someone complained to Interpol, and then Interpol or other international organizations eased the pressure on the domestic authorities.
However, since the authorities only arrested him and not Shen Zheng and Shen Yao, it means that the authorities will not take drastic measures.
"Damn it, we've been way too arrogant these past two months." Gu Qingzhou scratched the back of his head. "Looks like I'll have to tone it down a bit in the future."
Two months ago.
Gu Qingzhou took Shen Yao and Shen Zheng to Oman.
Because Omani customers had previously placed orders with their steel mill.
Moreover, Oman is undertaking a large-scale infrastructure project, which requires a large amount of building materials.
His products are of good quality and the prices are competitive.
Gu Qingzhou felt this was a good opportunity.
But after going there, I found that the market competition was too fierce.
Large European and American companies have long since divided up the market; a small, unknown factory like his simply cannot squeeze in.
I spent several days in Oman, but didn't manage to close a single deal.
Just as Gu Qingzhou was about to head home, she ran into a local named Abdullah.
Abdullah was the Houthi rebels' front man, specializing in procuring various urgently needed supplies for them.
This includes a large quantity of weapons and ammunition.
However, the international community maintains very strict control over the Houthi rebels, with arms embargoes, economic sanctions, and diplomatic isolation... Abdullah has not been able to buy weapons for a long time.
Lacking weapons, the Houthi rebels suffered repeated defeats on the front lines at the hands of government forces and the Saudi-led coalition, and were forced to retreat to the mountains.
After learning about this, Gu Qingzhou took the initiative to find Abdullah.
Tell him you have a way to get weapons.
Abdullah didn't believe it at first; how could this incredibly young-looking Easterner possibly have the ability to obtain weapons?
But he was desperate and had no other choice.
Why don't you give it a try?
But when he witnessed Gu Qingzhou's modified "gas cylinder" collapse a wall, he immediately knelt down.
Gu Qingzhou added tail fins and a simple guidance device to the gas cylinder, and it was transformed into a mortar shell.
Then Gu Qingzhou stuffed the gas cylinder into a thick steel pipe and launched it out in a spectacular fashion.
God!
What kind of amazing move is this?
When did gas cylinders become usable as artillery shells?
Abdullah, as if grasping at a lifeline, immediately placed a large number of additional orders.
After tasting success, Gu Qingzhou became bolder.
He carved rifling inside a steel pipe to make a gun barrel.
He then helped the organization set up a production line for hand-crafting guns and ammunition, with the raw materials provided by him.
After acquiring a large number of weapons, the organization immediately launched a counterattack and recaptured a significant amount of territory.
Gu Qingzhou simply moved the "R&D base" to Beiyemen.
Local production
Sell locally.
Gu Qingzhou then handcrafted another "Flying Motorcycle" inside the "Research and Development Base".
This is a modified civilian drone that can carry two small bombs and has a range of four to five hundred kilometers.
There were also rifles, mortars, howitzers...
However, since none of the Houthi rebels knew how to operate drones, Shen Yao became their instructor.
Shen Yao, that internet-addicted girl, flies drones like she's playing video games, and has even personally participated in several operations.
Shen Zheng then helped train a group of soldiers for the Houthi rebels, teaching them the tactical skills he had learned in the special forces.
One month ago.
Their warehouse was attacked by international mercenaries, and they were almost wiped out.
Gu Qingzhou realized that having products alone was not enough; she also needed the power to protect herself.
So he asked Shen Zheng to recruit people to become their overseas employees.
They are nominally employees, but in reality, they are security personnel.
In just over two months, they signed orders worth nearly 100 million yuan.
No wonder the US military-industrial complex is so powerful.
This line of work is truly incredibly profitable.
Gu Qingzhou reviewed the events that had occurred during the two months of summer vacation and re-examined her current situation.
Fortunately, they've only arrested him so far; they haven't touched Shen Yao or Shen Zheng.
And there's such a large commotion.
Helicopters, armored vehicles...
It's obvious that it's just for show.
So there is no immediate danger.
The real danger comes from outside.
Gu Qingzhou's biggest worry right now is that those two rascals, Shen Yao and Shen Zheng, will do something foolish.
Shen Yao is alright, even though she's a girl addicted to the internet.
But he's quick-witted and reliable in crucial moments.
As for Shen Zheng?
Gu Qingzhou got a headache just thinking about it.
That guy is all brawn and no brains, all brawn and no brains.
Having spent several years in the military, I developed a mindset of "solving problems with force".
So he got arrested.
That big idiot probably has other ideas.
For example, "prison break".
A prison break?
Are you kidding me!
What if he really gets carried away and pulls a prison break or execution?
Then those three would really be dead.
Thinking of this, Gu Qingzhou couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
But there was nothing he could do but pray that Shen Yao could control her troublesome brother.
I don't know how much time has passed.
A steady set of footsteps finally came from outside the interrogation room.
Then the interrogation room door was pushed open.
The middle-aged policeman who had brought Gu Qingzhou to the interrogation room earlier walked in.
As soon as he entered the room, the two policemen sitting opposite Gu Qingzhou immediately stood up.
The middle-aged policeman waved his hand, gesturing for them to sit down.
Then, he sat down opposite Gu Qingzhou, staring straight at her across the cold metal table.
Gu Qingzhou was also sizing him up.
White shirt, Level 3 Police Supervisor, Deputy Director-General level.
It has quite a background.
The middle-aged man in the hat spoke, his voice deep and authoritative, "Let me introduce myself first. My surname is Yan, you can call me Captain Yan."
Gu Qingzhou's heart tightened.
But he remained expressionless and nodded obediently, "Hello, Captain Yan."
Captain Yan stared at him for a few seconds before asking, "Tell me, what did you do this summer?"
Gu Qingzhou answered honestly, "I'm working part-time to save up for tuition and doing some small business on the side."
"Small business?" Captain Yan sneered. "Going to the Middle East is considered a small business? What kind of small business could make you earn over a hundred million US dollars in just two months?"
Gu Qingzhou immediately protested her innocence, "I'm innocent! I'm only selling legal and compliant civilian products. If you don't believe me, go check my export orders at customs; they're all steel pipes, gas cylinders, and small motorcycles..."
"And even if I did sell nearly $100 million worth of products, I'd still be a long way from being a true tycoon."
"When did your goods become so valuable?"
"A mere $100 million order makes them an international arms giant?"
"Isn't the international arms trade measured in billions of dollars? I remember we exported to Pakistan a while ago..."
"Heh..." Captain Yan interrupted him, sneering, "Don't be modest. You signed a $100 million order in just two months. Your sales volume is larger than that of an entire country. Calling you a tycoon wouldn't be an exaggeration."
"And you said you're selling consumer products? They're all 7.62mm inner diameter, with wires, right?"
Gu Qingzhou opened her mouth, but was immediately speechless.
He was definitely in the wrong for pulling the wire through the steel pipe, and there's no way to deny that.
But he quickly adjusted his strategy, saying, "The steel pipe with the cable was indeed my fault, but gas cylinders are civilian products, aren't they?"
Squad Leader Yan stared at him. "Only your gas cylinder can collapse a building if it explodes. Did you stuff miniature mushroom eggs inside the gas cylinder?"
"It's a misunderstanding, this is absolutely a misunderstanding." Gu Qingzhou quickly waved his hands. "It's just an ordinary gas cylinder. I just added a little tail fin and guidance device to make it fly more steadily. As for its power, that's determined by the nature of the gas cylinder itself, it has nothing to do with me."
"A drone with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers is also a misunderstanding?" Captain Yan rubbed his throbbing temples. "Okay, even if all of the above are misunderstandings, what's the meaning of you forming a mercenary force overseas?"
Gu Qingzhou immediately retorted, "What mercenaries? They're just my overseas employees. You know how chaotic it is overseas; armed robberies happen all the time. It's normal for my employees to carry weapons for self-defense to protect company property, isn't it?"
"Oh?" Captain Yan's eyes widened, his voice suddenly rising. "When did armored vehicles, military aircraft, and speedboats equipped with naval guns become weapons of self-defense?"
Gu Qingzhou was stunned.
Armored vehicles, airplanes, and speedboats equipped with naval guns?
He swallowed hard and asked cautiously, "Um... sir, are you sure you're not mistaken? I really haven't sold any of these things."
Yan, the detachment leader, pulled a stack of photos from the folder and threw them on the table.
The photo shows a small speedboat with a cannon mounted on the bow and several fully armed personnel standing on the deck.
On the side of the speedboat, a line of English letters is painted: QINGZHOU INDUSTRIAL SECURITY
Gu Qingzhou looked closely and her face turned green.
Isn't this the "maritime patrol boat" that Shen Zheng mentioned to him some time ago?
At the time, Shen Zheng said that their warehouse in Yemen was near the sea and pirates often appeared there, so they needed some ships to patrol the sea.
Gu Qingzhou thought it made sense, so he approved a sum of money for Shen Zheng to purchase several speedboats.
As a result, this guy directly bought an armed speedboat weighing several hundred tons?
"This isn't a warship," Gu Qingzhou explained, forcing a smile. "It's a patrol boat that our company purchased to protect the warehouse from intrusion. As for the cannons on it... they're for self-defense."
"Self-defense?" Captain Yan tossed out another photo. "And this one?"
The photo shows an old airplane with missiles hanging under its wings and the same markings painted on its fuselage.
Gu Qingzhou felt like she was about to faint.
"So this is also self-defense?" Captain Yan's voice was as cold as ice.
Gu Qingzhou took a deep breath and forced a smile, saying, "Boss, please let me explain. You know it's quite chaotic over there, and our warehouse is near the border, frequently attacked by unidentified individuals. To protect the lives of our employees and the safety of company property, we purchased some... um... defensive equipment. But this equipment is for defense only; it will never be used to attack others."
Captain Yan laughed in exasperation. "So you call airplanes and speedboats defensive equipment?"
"To be precise, it's deterrent self-defense," Gu Qingzhou said seriously. "Think about it, if someone wants to attack our warehouse, they won't dare to come when they see that we have speedboats and planes. This is subduing the enemy without fighting, which is the highest level of defense."
Captain Yan stared at him for a long time, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.
"Kid, do you think we're easy to fool?"
"No," Gu Qingzhou quickly shook her head. "Leader, I'm telling the truth."
Captain Yan was too lazy to waste words with him, so he pulled out a stack of documents from the folder and slammed them on the table.
The first photo is a close-up of the inner wall of a steel pipe, where four right-handed spiral lines can be clearly seen.
The second photo shows a gas cylinder with a tail fin and a simple guidance device attached to its rear.
The third photo shows a "flying scooter" with two small bombs mounted under its belly.
The fourth photo shows a robotic dog carrying a light machine gun on its back.
The fifth photo shows a small speedboat, with the bow cannons clearly visible.
The sixth photo is of an airplane, and surprisingly, it can carry missiles under its wings.
The seventh, the eighth, the ninth...
A series of photos were laid out on the table, all of them showing products that Gu Qingzhou 'sold' or 'purchased'.
Commander Yan pointed at the photos, his voice as cold as ice, "Kid, tell me, what are these?"
Looking at these photos, Gu Qingzhou knew she was completely unable to clear her name.
But he still wanted to make one last attempt, saying, "Boss, these things are indeed related to me, but my original intention was really good. I just wanted to make some money, I didn't expect it to turn out like this."
"Make some money?" Captain Yan stared at him. "Make a hundred million, maybe?"
Gu Qingzhou hesitated for a moment, but still honestly confessed, "Not a hundred million, just... eighty or ninety million."
The interrogation room was silent for several seconds.
The two staff members exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
This seemingly naive college student actually earned eight or nine thousand yuan in just two months?
Who would believe it if I told them?
Captain Yan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "So now do you realize how serious your mistake is?"
"I know," Gu Qingzhou lowered her head, "but I really didn't mean to."
"Not intentional?" Captain Yan sneered. "You modified gas cylinders into artillery shells, rifled steel pipes, and converted drones into bombers. And you still have the nerve to say it wasn't intentional?"