Zhang's expression was one of disbelief. He stood there stunned for a moment before calling out, "Director Zheng, Director Zheng," but the call had already been disconnected.
Captain Li's expression changed instantly. He waved his hand and said, "Chief Zhang, there's no need to call again. Director Zheng is on his way." Without waiting for a reply, Captain Li turned and went into the room, yelling at his men, "What are you doing? Put your guns away!"
"Don't worry, Zhou, about your family's matter. Our leader has already given instructions to handle it carefully. Please wait a moment, our leader will be here in person." Hehe!
Captain Li's change of heart made his dozens of subordinates realize at once that these people had connections. Thinking about it, it made no sense; these days, who would dare to do something without a solid foundation? They're either crazy or powerful figures!
After shooing all his men out of the room, Captain Li invited Zhou Xuan and the others to sit down. Zhang Yong was still yelling, "Uncle Li, what's wrong with you? Why are you inviting them to sit? Break a few of his bastards' cries!"
Captain Li turned around and slapped him across the face. He yelled, "Shut up! You're just asking for trouble, you're lawless!"
Zhang Yong was stunned. The slap made his ears ring and his mind went blank. He couldn't think straight.
His father, Zhang, was also in a daze, still thinking about Director Zheng's fierce reprimand. He just couldn't understand why this group of people were Zhou Xuan's friends who beat up his eldest son. They shouldn't have any power or influence. Judging from Director Zheng's tone, he wouldn't have reacted like this even if he beat up his own father. He just couldn't figure out who Zhou Xuan and his group were!
At this point, Zhang was considering how to deal with the situation at hand. Based on his experience, Zhou Xuan's side was the most powerful. The robbery of the gun and assault on the police were the only things he could apprehend, but... how could he not know what Zhang Yong and Liu De had done? Over the years, that bastard son had committed countless despicable acts. Although there hadn't been any major cases, he'd been a constant source of petty crimes. Like this incident with Zhou Xuan's family, based on his past behavior, he would beat someone, then lock Zhou Tao up for two or three days, intimidate him, and then his family would scramble to find connections to bail him out. Once he was released, they would naturally swallow their anger and try to make the matter disappear.
But unexpectedly, they had clearly run into a brick wall!
Did the eldest son of the Zhou family make some powerful friends outside? That seems a bit far-fetched!
While Zhang was searching for Li, he thought to himself that Captain Li was truly a scoundrel. Just a moment ago they were acting like brothers, but the moment he received Director Zheng's call, he immediately turned on him. He sighed, realizing he couldn't blame Li; if it were him, he would have done the same. In this circle, who isn't like that? Besides, his own scoundrel son had done countless bad things. He remembered a classic line from a movie he'd seen the other day: "What goes around comes around!"
Zhang was considering what kind of bad outcome it would be and whether it could be salvaged to the greatest extent possible.
At this moment, the sounds of cars outside became mixed. One after another, it seemed that a lot of cars were coming.
Director Zhang knew that Director Zheng and his team had arrived. Based on his experience, the more cars that arrived, the more powerful and influential the other party was, and the worse his own situation would become!
The police officers outside had received orders from their superiors to clear out all unrelated personnel. They were then instructed to guard the main gate and prevent anyone from entering.
A dozen more chairs were placed in the hall, so Zhou Xuan and the others in the room naturally didn't make any noise.
Next, four or five distinguished middle-aged men entered the room, and Captain Li greeted them with a smile.
He recognized all of these people: the county party secretary, the county head, and Director Zheng, who were just following at the very back. It wasn't his turn to show his face.
However, the person walking at the very front wasn't from the county. Captain Li recognized him immediately. Then it dawned on him, and he was startled!
The person at the very front is Secretary Luo from the city!
Captain Li was increasingly surprised. Who exactly was behind Zhou Xuan?
Secretary Luo happened to be inspecting the county and was talking with several county leaders about the county's development when he received a direct call from the provincial government. The caller was the provincial party secretary himself, which startled and frightened him. He didn't know what was going on, only that a local police station had gotten into serious trouble.
Luo Shu's face turned ashen, and he immediately led the county's Party Secretary, County Head, and Public Security Bureau Chief to rush over in a flurry.
During the interrogation: Luo: "Hello, I am Luo Jiangcheng, the Party Secretary of the Municipal Committee. Comrade Xiao Zhou, please come to the lobby and we can talk more."
Zhou Xuan nodded and said, "Secretary Luo, hello!"
Luo Jiangcheng smiled slightly and invited Zhou Xuan and the others to the hall. While doing so, he glanced at Achang Ade, Fu Ying, and Wei Xiaoqing. Achang Ade's cold and murderous aura, and Fu Ying and Wei Xiaoqing's elegant yet unpretentious demeanor, made Luo Jiangcheng think to himself, these people are definitely not simple!
It was just wishful thinking, of course, and it wouldn't be simple. The phone call from the provincial government made him uneasy, and the person there had subtly implied that everything had to be handled properly. He needed to be more aware; his pressure came from even higher up.
These words still unsettled Luo Jiangcheng. The higher-ups in the provincial government were obviously higher up; where did they come from? He, the municipal party secretary, was only a department-level official, fifty-four years old this year. At most, he could serve one more term as deputy secretary in the province before retiring, or he might remain as municipal party secretary until retirement. Both outcomes would be good for Luo Jiangcheng. He had no higher ambitions; at his current position and age, he sought stability, not outstanding achievements. He preferred no achievements to risky ones, and a peaceful retirement to the second line was paramount. But this current situation could potentially affect his future!
How could Luo Jiangcheng not be alarmed?
After sitting down in the hall, there weren't even seats available for the county's leaders; Director Zheng stood behind the county party secretary and the county head.
Luo Jiangcheng then inquired about Zhou Xuan's details.
Zhou Xuan recounted the whole story to Luo Jiangcheng, and Luo Jiangcheng grew increasingly furious as he listened, eventually slapping his thigh hard and coldly shouting, "Outrageous!"
The county officials were all trembling with fear; in such a situation, they didn't even have the right to interrupt. At the very back, Director Zhang was ashen-faced and trembling. Judging from Secretary Luo's expression and words, he knew his future was ruined. Luo Jiangcheng thought for a moment, then sincerely said to Zhou Xuan and the battered Zhou Tao beside him: "Xiao Zhou, I've basically figured out what happened. Don't worry, as a city leader, I guarantee I'll give you a satisfactory answer!"
After saying that, he turned to the county officials behind him and said, "Now, you guys, in front of Xiao Zhou, give me a solution."
I'm posting 12,000 words today, the third update of the day. I owed 1,000 from yesterday's 9,000, so I'm making up for it today. I originally wanted to post more, but I'm just too tired, haha. I'll continue tomorrow, but I can guarantee at least 10,000 words a day. I hope you guys will give me your monthly votes. Thank you for your support!
Volume One: The Lotus Buds Just Begin to Emerge, Chapter Seventy-Nine: Removing the Fuel from Underneath
While the leaders inside were awkwardly discussing the outcome, Zhou Shangnuan and the others each had their own mindset.
Achang, Ade, and Wei Xiaoqing naturally didn't take it seriously; this result was exactly what they expected, and they weren't surprised at all.
Fu Ying was secretly pondering the background of Zhou Xuan's friend. She saw that A Chang had made a phone call after leaving, and in less than half an hour, the county leaders rushed over. This was not something an ordinary person could do. She had also heard Zhou Xuan say that Miss Wei, who was somewhat at odds with her, was his friend's niece. From Wei Xiaoqing, she could see that she had a noble and imposing aura, an aura that Fu Ying was very familiar with!
Zhou Xuan's younger brother, Zhou Tao, was initially frightened, genuinely terrified by these people. But now, seeing the people who had wronged him hiding far behind the crowd, and Liu Erwa and Zhang Yong being kicked to the ground by their sister-in-law, while the county party secretary and county head—big shots usually only seen on television—were all hanging their heads, muttering about how they would be severely punished.
Zhou Tao glanced at her brother Zhou Xuan, whose face was sullen and who remained silent. Director Zhang stood straight like a child being punished by a teacher, his forehead covered in sweat!
Is this still the brother he remembers? The steady, unassuming brother?
No longer! Zhou Tao knew that after that beautiful prostitute came to their door, his brother would never be the ordinary brother he used to be. But he still believed one thing: no matter how his brother changed, his love and pain for them had never changed!
At this moment, Zhou Xuan was no longer thinking about how to avenge his younger brother and parents, but was determined to move his whole family to Beijing. Perhaps he did not want to or would not bully others, but the weak would definitely be bullied. This world does not speak for the weak!
They've had their fight, and their anger has been vented. They'll handle the rest themselves. With Brother Hong providing pressure from above, Zhou Xuan isn't worried at all about how the county will handle things.
Zhou Xuan finally said to Luo, "Secretary Luo, we won't say any more about this matter. How to handle it is a matter for the town and county. My brother is injured, so we'll take our leave now!"
Secretary Luo stood up and smiled as he saw him off. "Xiao Zhou, we can chat more another time. As for the matter you've handled, please reassure your family. There will definitely be a satisfactory answer. Hehe, I'll arrange two cars to take you home."
Zhou Xuan shook his head, pointed to Xi and the two Hummers beside him, and said, "Thank you, Secretary Luo, we drove here ourselves!"
Achang and Ade drove the car to the entrance, Zhou Xuan helped his younger brother into the car, and then Fu Ying and Xiao Qing also got into the car. The two Hummers drove out of the police station's parking lot one after the other.