Subsequently, some of the more notable individuals among them were arrested by the local police station, some fined, others detained. This is understandable, given the legal necessity of punishing such a group incident. However, what the residents found unacceptable was that they had known and believed from the outset that Shen Haobing and his group had connections with the local police station and the town government.
Therefore, they feel very wronged and have suffered a great injustice.
Zhong Shan, a seasoned veteran who had worked in the township police station for over twenty years, understood the psychology of the people all too well. So when he went down to the grassroots to conduct investigations, he didn't say much, but intentionally or unintentionally, he stirred up the pent-up discontent and anger in the hearts of these people once again.
Zhong Shan's words were simple, roughly meaning that we will conduct further investigations into the facts you have reported; personally, from your perspective, it is our oversight that we failed to eliminate the perpetrators as soon as possible, leading to the oppression of the people, and I apologize on behalf of the government and the public security department; the local town government and township police station bear responsibility in this incident, and we will investigate...
This statement sounds a bit like official jargon, but it makes ordinary people feel like they have a powerful backer!
The fact that the captain of the county criminal investigation team stood on their side signifies what?
But then Zhong Shan poured cold water on the idea: "You shouldn't resort to violence and extreme measures to retaliate against evildoers. If you do, you'll be breaking the law and will be punished."
Every villager who was questioned felt a sense of regret and helplessness upon hearing this statement.
Zhong Shan then added: "It's understandable. The government and the law also emphasize humanity and take into account the wishes of the people. Public outrage is not an ordinary incident; there are many hidden reasons behind it. Therefore, we will also take this into account in law enforcement."
The villagers felt gratified and grateful.
Next, Zhong Shan, though not saying much, subtly alluded to Chen Chaojiang's attack that day. When discussing the injuries to Shen Haobing and his gang, Zhong Shan implied that they were also responsible. "Think about it," he said, "one person injured seven people? And these were all burly thugs who frequently got into fights. Who would believe that? Eighty percent of the time, their injuries were caused by you villagers during the subsequent ransacking and destruction of their homes and restaurants..."
Looking back, the villagers realized it was true. Although Chen Chaojiang's unparalleled bravery that day was still fresh in their minds, they had indeed attacked the injured guys when they ransacked their homes and restaurants afterwards. Who knows what happened in that brawl?
So they were a little confused.
Zhong Shan then took the opportunity to cite examples of other public incidents that had occurred elsewhere, and how the relevant departments handled them properly afterward.
The next day!
Villagers from Shilipu gathered at the entrances of the county government compound and the county public security bureau, holding banners and appealing for justice. The banners detailed the heinous crimes and oppression of the people by Shen Haobing and his gang, the so-called "Ten Tigers of Cizhou." Authorities immediately dispatched personnel to persuade them to disperse, and stated that if necessary, they would take strong measures such as dispersing the crowd or severely punishing the ringleaders.
However, the persuasion work went smoothly, and the people did not engage in any extreme behavior, thus preventing any conflict from occurring.
County Public Security Bureau Chief Zhao Qing and Criminal Investigation Team Leader Zhong Shan handed over the preliminary results of the police investigation to the county leaders.
The municipal and county governments are paying close attention to this mass incident.
Thus, the case of Chen Chaojiang's street assault was inexplicably downplayed in the eyes of many people within this mass incident that had drawn even greater attention from relevant departments. Subsequently, Chen Chaojiang was strangely categorized as one of the enraged members of the public in this mass incident.
Moreover, it is certain that at the time of the incident, some residents expressed strong dissatisfaction with Shen Haobing and his gang forcibly threatening and coercing them to agree to the demolition. Subsequently, Shen Haobing and his gang of thugs used violent means against the residents.
Well... after provoking public outrage, the people resolutely resisted their violence.
Police have intervened in the investigation of a criminal gang known as the "Ten Tigers of Cizhou." The municipal government has urged the Cixian County government and relevant departments to immediately launch a crackdown on organized crime in the county, resolutely eradicate the criminal gang, and protect the personal safety and rights of the people.
Given that some of the victims also engaged in excessive behavior during this incident, those who participated in ransacking homes, smashing restaurants, and assaulting rioters will be fined or criminally detained.
Chen Chaojiang was one of them, and was detained for seven days and fined 500 yuan.
Well then, Chen Chaojiang, who single-handedly and fiercely fought off several thugs, was categorized as one of the oppressed and kind masses. Meanwhile, his crimes were absorbed piecemeal by the villagers of Shili Pu. The law doesn't punish the masses, and it certainly doesn't punish the people who were originally victims.
The higher-ups were naturally unaware of this matter, but Police Chief Zhang Qing was fully aware of it. However, he didn't say anything. Anyway, Shen Haobing and his gang deserved it, and besides, he had to give Zhong Shan and Xu Zhengyang some face: "Hmm, Zhong Shan also said that the young man named Chen Chaojiang only acted out of gratitude towards Zhao Qing. He's a righteous and grateful young man, although a bit reckless and impulsive, his chivalry and bravery are truly admirable."
According to Zhong Shan, Zhao Qing once said to Zhong Shan in private while they were drinking: "Damn it, Shen Haobing's whole family, including relatives and friends, are all bastards!"
Xu Zhengyang could certainly check whether Zhao Qing had said that, but he was too lazy to check.
There's no need for that; the matter is already settled.
This mass incident was handled quickly, and the police investigation was very thorough. The so-called "Ten Tigers of Cizhou" criminal gang was eradicated; the village party secretary and village head of Shilipu Village were all dismissed and investigated, and several cadres from the town were also implicated and severely punished. In addition, the deputy director of the local police station and two police officers also lost their jobs in this incident.
When Zhong Shan coldly informed Xu Zhengyang of the outcome, Xu Zhengyang remained calm, squinting his eyes, and in Zhong Shan's eyes, genuinely feigned seriousness as he said, "This is what the people want!"
"I guess I went along with your nonsense!" Zhong Shan sighed helplessly and said, "Remember this favor. If you ever need my help in the future, don't make excuses or shirk your responsibilities."
“Uncle, you owe me more in terms of personal favors, don’t you?” Xu Zhengyang said.
"When did I owe you a favor?" Zhong Shan sneered and said, "I don't owe you anything. If you weren't... well, would you have this ability?"
"Uncle, you're cheating."
Zhong Shan blushed and sighed, saying, "Chen Chaojiang's matter has really gone too far. If Liao Yongxian and Shan Yaopeng hadn't been arrested, things would have been really difficult to handle... You should try to persuade Chaojiang more in the future. It's alright this time, but if it happens again, how can he be so lucky to have so many coincidences that are favorable to him?"
"Hmm." Xu Zhengyang nodded seriously this time, seemingly lost in thought.
Just as Zhong Shan said, Chen Chaojiang was absolutely lucky in this incident. Liao Yongxian and Shan Yaopeng have been brought down, so who would care about their reputation and speak up for them? Besides, the police have thoroughly investigated the crimes of Shen Haobing and his gang. They are simply heinous scum. Executing them would be too lenient. It's already good enough that they didn't take advantage of their misfortune.
Moreover, what satisfied Xu Zhengyang the most was that, although the punishment for Chen Chaojiang and those villagers was to be detained for a few days, in fact, these people had already spent enough time in the detention center by the time the incident broke out and was thoroughly investigated.
So when the outcome of the case came out, that was when they paid their fines and were released from the detention center.
These days, Xu Zhengyang spends his days at the Criminal Investigation Brigade and his nights at home with his parents, leading a relaxed and stress-free life. The events are unfolding as expected, and he's not worried about any unforeseen problems. If anything goes wrong, Xu Zhengyang is perfectly capable of handling it easily.
Because this is Cixian County!
This is Xu Zhengyang's territory in the truest sense.
Moreover, Xu Zhengyang was determined in this matter. He dared to act suddenly, enabling Zhao Qing and Zhong Shan to escape from prison safely, instead of choosing to proceed steadily and avoid suspicion or surprise, simply because he wanted to protect Chen Chaojiang.
When Xu Zhengyang saw Chen Chaojiang fight the ferocious mob like a lone wolf, he said to himself with unwavering determination, "Even if it's earth-shattering! I must ensure Chen Chaojiang's safety."
This so-called earth-shattering event was precisely what Xu Zhengyang had been worried about: attracting the attention of those with ulterior motives, who would then speculate and discover his divine identity. This would be extremely dangerous for Xu Zhengyang in his current situation.
However, sometimes, it's necessary to let go of concerns and worries!
Because there are things that Xu Zhengyang values even more than these.
For example, because of Xu Zhengyang, Chen Chaojiang disregarded any cost and fearlessly transformed from a lone wolf into a madman! He did something that made everyone admire him to the point of fear.
Volume 3, Judge Chapter 097: Come with me, monthly salary five thousand yuan
The sky was very blue and high; a few wisps of white clouds, like cotton wool, thinly obscured the warm sun.
Along the banks of the Fu River, the rice paddies are already tinged with a pale yellow hue—the rice ears are ripening during the flowering season. A cool breeze ripples through the paddies, creating waves of green and stirring the soothing yellow of the blossoms. Along the paths between the paddies, two or three villagers occasionally gather, standing or squatting, smoking and chatting about the favorable weather and thriving crops this year—another bountiful harvest…
On the riverbank, the grass on both sides is lush and green, and the trees are full of leaves. It is not yet time for the leaves to fall, and they are still green and vibrant. Not far away, the Fu River flows gently, and the reeds on the banks are lush. Birds chirp and fly out from the reeds, and chirp and fly in.
Xu Zhengyang and Chen Chaojiang strolled leisurely along the riverbank, which was shaded by green trees and grass, towards the village.
They didn't ride a motorcycle; instead, they took a bus from the county town to the intersection of Futou Town, got off, and walked back. Xu Zhengyang didn't go back to the village last night; he stayed at the county public security bureau because Chen Chaojiang was being released from detention this morning, and he wanted to pick him up early and go home with him.
After being released from the detention center, Xu Zhengyang took Chen Chaojiang to the Cizhou Shopping Mall on the main street of the county town and bought him all new clothes, inside and out. The reason given was to get rid of the bad luck and start a new life. It wasn't that Xu Zhengyang felt guilty and wanted to make amends with money, but rather that Chen Chaojiang had lost his job as a community security guard at the police station. Xu Zhengyang figured Chen Chaojiang must be feeling disappointed, so he bought him new clothes under the guise of warding off bad luck, which was also a way of encouraging him to start his life afresh.
Chen Chaojiang neither refused nor expressed any gratitude. He simply said softly after getting on the bus, "I will pay you back."
The clothes, shoes, and belt cost a total of over seven hundred, which wasn't much money for Xu Zhengyang in his current state. However, Xu Zhengyang didn't offer any generous advice about not having to pay it back. He knew Chen Chaojiang's temperament and also had to consider Chen Chaojiang's extremely cold-hearted facade in his current impoverished situation. So Xu Zhengyang said, "Pay back my ass! Buy me a better outfit when you earn some money later..."
Chen Chaojiang nodded.
Xu Zhengyang added, "Don't think too much about it. I'll talk to Uncle Zhongshan later and arrange for you to be transferred to Huaxiang Police Station."
Wu Feng, from the Futou Town Police Station, couldn't stand Chen Chaojiang's temperament anymore. Coupled with his frequent absences and this latest incident, Wu Feng swallowed his pride and told Xu Zhengyang that Chen Chaojiang couldn't come to the Futou Town Police Station after his return. Xu Zhengyang didn't express any dissatisfaction; people should always understand each other, and Chen Chaojiang's actions had indeed put Wu Feng in a difficult position.
After hearing Xu Zhengyang's suggestion, Chen Chaojiang didn't say anything, remaining coldly silent the whole way, seemingly lost in thought.
Walking slowly along the riverbank, Xu Zhengyang took out a cigarette and handed one to Chen Chaojiang, then lit one for himself.
Chen Chaojiang suddenly asked, "Zhengyang, how much money do you have right now?"
"Hmm?" Xu Zhengyang paused for a moment, then smiled casually and said, "A few million, I guess." He wouldn't deliberately hide anything from Chen Chaojiang. He would never say such a thing to the other villagers. Although everyone in the village knew that his family was rich now, casually uttering the words "a few million" would shock them to the point of astonishment.
Even Chen Chaojiang was slightly taken aback when he heard Xu Zhengyang give such a nonchalant answer. He then sighed and said, "Lend me 300,000."
"No problem." Xu Zhengyang said without hesitation. "When do you need it?"
Chen Chaojiang thought for a moment and said, "Let's see, probably in about half a month."
"Hmm." Xu Zhengyang nodded, then asked, "What's it for?"
"I want to buy a big truck. The kind with a self-dumping bucket for hauling sand and gravel." Chen Chaojiang took a deep drag on his cigarette, looked south at the lush reeds along the Fu River, and said softly, "It's quite profitable. If you do a good job, it should take about two years to pay you back."
Xu Zhengyang waved his hand and said calmly, "No."
Chen Chaojiang was stunned.
“Chaojiang, your personality… isn’t suited for this kind of thing.” Xu Zhengyang said very seriously, “Money is not a problem, even if we lose money, it doesn’t matter, but I don’t want you to be discouraged, and I don’t want you to be under too much pressure.”
Xu Zhengyang understood that when Chen Chaojiang was secretly investigating Shen Haobing's background a few days ago, he had been wondering how those so-called "Ten Tigers of Cizhou," these idle and lazy guys, made money, especially since... he'd heard they made money incredibly quickly. However, after Chen Chaojiang actually learned where those people's money came from, he realized he couldn't do it. First, he didn't have any connections; second, he wasn't the type to directly bully others.
Well, it's mostly about those who forcefully contract out the transportation of materials and earthwork for construction sites, and then subcontract the work to others to make a quick buck; there's also the work of maintaining security in small markets and trade markets, or simply collecting protection and management fees, etc.
Fortunately, while learning about these situations, Chen Chaojiang also learned that running a freight truck with a large vehicle could be quite profitable.
Moreover, he knew that Xu Zhengyang had money and could borrow it to buy a car. Of course, he didn't expect Xu Zhengyang to have so much money.
Chen Chaojiang remained silent.
“I’m short-handed at my shop, why don’t you come and help me out?” Xu Zhengyang sighed. “Chaojiang, you know I don’t mean anything by it.”
"Hmm." Chen Chaojiang nodded. Then, with a slightly self-deprecating smile, he asked, "How much salary will you pay me?"
Xu Zhengyang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. He knew that Chen Chaojiang wasn't bothered by his words and said with a smile, "Two thousand a month, are you satisfied?"
"do what?"
"Watch the shop." Xu Zhengyang flicked away his cigarette butt and said, "The shop is full of valuable things, I'm just afraid someone might be tempted."
Chen Chaojiang frowned: "The work is easy, but the salary is too high."
“Just tell everyone it’s 800, so that none of you guys will want to come work for me and I won’t be able to afford to pay you.” Xu Zhengyang laughed it off, then said seriously, “This job isn’t easy, and it can be quite dangerous sometimes.” Xu Zhengyang was obviously trying to make Chen Chaojiang feel a little better and not be too grateful to him.
Chen Chaojiang remained silent and said nothing more. A monthly salary of two thousand yuan was considered quite high for the vast majority of people in the village. You see, Cao Gangchuan, Zhang Hao, Liu Bin, and the others worked themselves to the bone every day on the construction team, and even now that the wages for laborers had increased, they only earned six or seven hundred yuan a month.
As for words of gratitude, Chen Chaojiang wouldn't say them; given his personality, he couldn't express them—that would be too pretentious. He would simply keep them in his heart. It was enough for him to know the extent of his gratitude.
As they approached the village, Xu Zhengyang pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to Chen Chaojiang, saying, "This is five thousand. Take it back to your uncle and aunt first. There have been a lot of rumors circulating in the village these days, and your uncle and aunt must be feeling uneasy... I've already spoken to Uncle Zhongshan, and he won't mention your detention in the village. Just tell them you're working at my shop, and this is an advance on your wages."
Chen Chaojiang hesitated for a moment before taking the document and said, "So you had this planned all along. But weren't you arrested too?"
"I'm fine." Xu Zhengyang shook his head and said, "Let them say what they want. Oh, just go back and say that when the police came to your house, they were there to investigate some things about me." This was the truth. Xu Zhengyang knew perfectly well that the news of his arrest had already spread, but the news of what Chen Chaojiang had done had not reached Shuanghe Village, which was dozens of miles away. The rumors about Chen Chaojiang were basically just guesses made by those gossipy women.
Moreover, Xu Zhengyang knew that given his family's current circumstances, neither he nor his parents would care about the rumors circulating in the village. As the saying goes, this world is realistic; people don't value your dignity, they only value your achievements, and Xu Zhengyang's current achievements, at least in Shuanghe Village, are number one. The rumors that circulated when he was detained in Fuhe City a few days ago were mostly due to the jealousy of some villagers. Once he returned to the village safely, the rumors would naturally disappear.
Of course, there are still rumors in the village that he was able to return safely because he must have bribed the officials, and that all the ill-gotten gains his family had made were spent because of this. Well, it doesn't matter, let whoever wants it, it doesn't matter.
Even her mother, Yuan Suqin, scoffed at these rumors. In her words, "Let people say whatever they want. Our new house is almost finished, isn't it? Construction didn't stop even when you had the accident. Once we move into our new house and buy a car, they'll be green with envy."
Reality always proves things more than your vehement denials.
Chen Chaojiang, however, was different. His family was poor, and his parents were deeply disappointed in him. The villagers made him and his family the targets of their daily ridicule: "What good is being tough and fierce? With that dead-man-like attitude, he'll never amount to anything. Look at Han Dashan, he used to be a good-for-nothing hoodlum, notorious for his bad deeds, but look at him now..."
So if Chen Chaojiang's parents knew that their son had a job with a high salary, they would probably be very pleased.
Chen Chaojiang put the money in his pocket, and when he reached the village entrance, he suddenly smiled and said, "Zhengyang, why don't you just say I'll be your bodyguard?"
"What? Are you upset? Are you trying to be sarcastic?" Xu Zhengyang laughed.
"I'm not very good at talking, but I know what I'm doing." A hint of embarrassment and apology flashed in Chen Chaojiang's eyes.