"Let them go get bandaged up first."
"Okay, when they come back in a bit, you two keep an eye on them. Don't hit them too hard, just enough is fine."
The two policemen agreed with a sinister smile, and casually glanced into the room through the window a few times.
Don't get suspicious at this point. The thing is, when those petty thugs in the countryside get arrested, the police at the local station never shy away from saying they can't hit people. Of course, usually the police are too lazy to actually hit them; they just fine them and collect money. But if they encounter someone who's too arrogant to back down, they'll naturally have to teach them a lesson. Want to sue the police for assault? Go ahead and sue them wherever you want… If you really had connections, would you have time to fight in the streets every day?
Inside the room, Chen Chaojiang remained calm, as if he hadn't heard the conversation outside. He was cold and expressionless.
Xu Zhengyang thought to himself, "Damn it, I'm going to get beaten up today."
I think everyone has seen those ordinary household heating systems. The height of the heating pipes leading to the radiators is also something we all know—neither too high nor too low. If someone's hands were handcuffed to the heating pipes, they couldn't squat or stand properly, which was very uncomfortable. To squat, you had to raise both arms, and to stand, you had to bend over. In short, it was awkward.
"Chaojiang, come on, give me a hand. Take my phone out of my pocket, I need to call Uncle Zhongshan." Xu Zhengyang bent over and rubbed his buttocks against Chen Chaojiang.
Chen Chaojiang paused for a moment, then said calmly, "Why bother him?"
"Getting beaten is a small matter, but being fined is a big deal, didn't you hear me? Five thousand in fines!" Xu Zhengyang knew why Chen Chaojiang didn't want to bother Zhong Shan, because Zhong Shan used to often scold them and wouldn't let Zhong Zhijun fool around with them. Especially Chen Chaojiang. To be honest, apart from Xu Zhengyang and Liu Bin's parents, no one else's parents really liked him because of his personality.
Chen Chaojiang hesitated for a moment, then finally struggled to pull the phone out of Xu Zhengyang's pocket. It wasn't easy; the handcuffs had rubbed his pale wrists raw.
Xu Zhengyang took the phone, bent over, and put his face close to the radiator pipe to dial Zhong Shan's number.
"Zhengyang, what made you suddenly decide to call me?"
"Uncle, do you know anyone at the Nancheng Township Police Station? Chaojiang and I have been arrested. We might get beaten up and fined five thousand yuan in a bit," Xu Zhengyang said directly without wasting any words.
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a surprised question: "What are you two doing? I don't get along with Tian Youzi from the Nancheng Township Police Station..."
"Huh?" Xu Zhengyang was taken aback. How did Zhong Shan have a grudge against the local police station chief? He sighed inwardly at his bad luck, but still said aloud, "Uncle, do you know anyone here? Just let me know... It's nothing serious, I got into a fight with someone while eating at a restaurant in Futou Town."
Who started it?
"The other party made the first move."
"Oh, I'll make a call." Zhong Shan breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't a big deal, and since he was in the right, things would be easier.
Xu Zhengyang reminded him, "Uncle, the two people who were beaten are connected to the police at this police station. They were eating together. Oh, and a member of the joint security team was also beaten by the two of us."
"What?" Zhong Shan was clearly taken aback and complained, "What nonsense! Was the beating serious?"
"There's blood, but it's okay, I guess it won't even need stitches."
Zhong Shan paused for a moment, then said irritably, "I'll call Wu Feng and ask him to go check it out. He's fairly familiar with the area over there. I'm in the provincial capital right now, I can't get there..."
"Oh, then I'll call Director Wu," Xu Zhengyang said, but he was wondering to himself, "What did Zhong Shan go to the provincial capital for?"
He was, of course, unaware that Zhong Shan was now a rising star within the public security system, having played a pivotal role in cracking Hao Peng's drug trafficking ring. This case involved five provinces and seventeen cities, and most importantly, it implicated a drug trafficking gang in Beijing, making it arguably the largest drug trafficking case cracked by the public security department in recent years. Now that the case was solved, the provincial public security department naturally wanted this hero to go to the provincial level to report and give a presentation.
Whether he gets a promotion or not is uncertain, but a major commendation and a substantial reward are a certainty.
Xu Zhengyang called Wu Qun again and briefly explained the situation. Wu Qun scolded Xu Zhengyang, saying that he couldn't make it over from the city, but not to worry, he should give him face by making a phone call.
After hanging up the phone, Xu Zhengyang was already sweating profusely from exhaustion. He simply squatted down, raised his arm, and said to Chen Chaojiang, who was bent over, leaning against the wall with his buttocks sticking out and half-closing his eyes, "Chaojiang, you're not thinking of dealing with that policeman from earlier, are you?"
"Hmm." Chen Chaojiang nodded slightly, his face expressionless.
"Please don't..."
Chen Chaojiang smiled and said, "I'm not stupid."
"You left your cigarettes at the restaurant. Do you have any cigarettes on you?" Xu Zhengyang asked.
"It's in my pocket." Chen Chaojiang stuck his butt out.
Xu Zhengyang also endured the friction of the handcuffs, and with great effort, he reached into Chen Chaojiang's pocket and found the cigarette and lighter.
Chen Chaojiang also squatted down, and the two of them lit a cigarette, squatting and smoking awkwardly with their arms raised.
“Zhengyang, if there’s a fine…” Chen Chaojiang hesitated for a moment and said, “Could you lend me some money?”
"Mm." Xu Zhengyang nodded with a smile.
"You're rich now, everyone in the village knows that...sigh."
"Everything will be alright." Xu Zhengyang's smile was somewhat forced, unsure of what else to say.
Chen Chaojiang looked up at the snow-white roof with his slender eyes, exhaling smoke, and remained silent. He seemed to be thinking about something.
"Chaojiang, be down-to-earth... don't do anything excessive." Xu Zhengyang suddenly reminded him, but then felt that his words were not quite appropriate, so he sighed softly and took a puff of his cigarette.
"Are there gods watching from above?" Chen Chaojiang smiled. "I've heard you have connections with the local earth god."
Do you believe it?
"I don't believe it," Chen Chaojiang said seriously. "Even if I did, it wouldn't make a difference..."
Xu Zhengyang remained silent. Chen Chaojiang's words...were very practical. Because gods really couldn't bring any real benefits to everyone. If they could, perhaps the requests of the vast majority of people would simply be for material necessities and satisfaction. Like all the petitions recorded in the county register these past few days—so selfish and even unreasonable—that Xu Zhengyang wondered if the reason all the gods had perished was because they were driven to suicide by the desires of the people?
However, in some ways, this is not wrong, after all, people are selfish, and who would not want their wishes to come true?
"Don't do anything against your conscience, that's the bottom line," Xu Zhengyang said softly, his eyes narrowed.
Chen Chaojiang wore an indifferent expression and casually asked, "I'm not a bad person, right?"
"Mm." Xu Zhengyang smiled.
Just then, the door was pushed open from the outside, and Shen Haobing and Biaozi, with bandages wrapped around their heads, walked in menacingly.
Xu Zhengyang and Chen Chaojiang stood up at the same time, both of them looking calm, without a trace of panic or tension. Xu Zhengyang still squinted, staring at Shen Haobing and Biaozi; while Chen Chaojiang looked at the two of them with cold, narrow eyes, devoid of any warmth.
However... Xu Zhengyang and Chen Chaojiang's postures were really not very elegant, both of them with their buttocks sticking out and their bodies bent over.
"Damn it, you two were so arrogant just now!" Shen Haoqiang stepped forward and slapped Chen Chaojiang across the face.
Chen Chaojiang turned his head slightly, and the slap landed on the back of his head instead of his face. Then, Shen Haobing kicked him hard twice.
Then, Shen Haobing grabbed Chen Chaojiang by the collar. He pulled him close, his face menacing, and said, "Look closely, and remember me..."
Before he could finish speaking, Shen Haobing let out a scream, staggered back a few steps, and covered the wound on his forehead, which was wrapped in gauze, with his right hand. Blood was flowing out again, soaking through the gauze.
He never imagined that, under these circumstances, this young man with a zombie-like pale face would dare to attack—no, to step forward—and headbutt Shen Haobing hard in the forehead…
Biaozi rushed forward and kicked Chen Chaojiang hard in the waist. Chen Chaojiang was hit by the force and his body slammed into the wall, but he did not make a sound of pain. His pale face remained calm and his slender eyes were still coldly staring at the other party.
Shen Haobing also rushed forward and punched and kicked Chen Chaojiang.
Xu Zhengyang squinted at him, his calm expression masking a burning rage. If it weren't daytime, he would have summoned a ghost to possess them and made the two of them kill each other... Yes, Xu Zhengyang was not a saint; he didn't have the magnanimity to endure such humiliation.
Just then, there was a loud knocking sound coming from the door.
Shen Haobing and Biaozi stopped fighting and turned to look at the door. Shen Haobing grinned and said, "Chief Tian, I'm afraid you'll have to forgive me for what happened today."
Director Tian's face was expressionless as he said, "That's enough. Wu Feng, the director of the Futou Town Police Station, just called me to ask for a favor... Who's this Xu Zhengyang?"
"That's me." Xu Zhengyang breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't get beaten up anymore, right?
"Oh." Director Tian nodded, then turned and said, "Don't hit this guy. We have to give Wu Feng some face."
One of the policemen following behind asked, "What about the fine?"
"They must be punished! How can we not severely punish these thugs who fight and commit malicious acts?" Director Tian said righteously. "If everyone can do whatever they want just because of connections, how can society be stable? Where is fairness? Serving the people will become empty words."
Xu Zhengyang cursed inwardly, "Shouldn't he have said that to Shen Haobing?"
Unbeknownst to him, Wu Feng, mindful of his own reputation, hesitated to tell Chief Tian about their close relationship during the phone call. He simply mentioned it was a friend's child and asked him to take care of him. As for Chen Chaojiang, Wu Feng didn't mention him at all. He didn't have a good impression of Chen Chaojiang either; the guy always had a stern face like a lord. If it weren't for Xu Zhengyang's influence, he would have kicked him out of the police station long ago. Chief Tian only gave a perfunctory agreement, thinking to himself, "I'll give you face so he won't get beaten up. If I just let Xu Zhengyang go, how will I explain it to Deputy Director Liao of the County Transportation Bureau, Shen Haobing's uncle? Deputy Director Liao just called too."
Shen Haobing and Biaozi both turned their heads, revealing ferocious smiles as they looked at Chen Chaojiang and Xu Zhengyang.
They understood what Director Tian meant; it seemed there was no need to pay too much attention to this guy named Xu Zhengyang, as long as they didn't hit him too hard.
"Hitting people is unacceptable," Xu Zhengyang said calmly, narrowing his eyes. "We need to investigate who is right and who is wrong. Shen Haobing struck first, so why don't we handcuff them?"
Director Tian seemed not to have heard what Xu Zhengyang said clearly. He turned his head and glanced at Xu Zhengyang in surprise, then sneered as if he found it amusing. Too lazy to pay attention, he walked towards the door.
Shen Haobing and Biaozi, with sinister smiles, walked towards Xu Zhengyang and Chen Chaojiang again.
Just then, a car horn sounded outside, and a Santana police car sped into the yard, braking and stopping in the yard directly opposite the house. The car door was suddenly pushed open, and Zhao Qing stepped out of the car with a sullen face.
"Director Zhao!" Director Tian stopped abruptly and raised his hand in salute.
Volume Two, Gong Cao, Chapter 84: So what if I bully you?
On the way to the Nancheng Township Police Station, County Public Security Bureau Chief Zhao Qing was still somewhat hesitant. After all, given his position, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to interfere in the law enforcement actions of a township police station over a minor matter like a fight.
He rose through the ranks from the bottom to his current position as bureau chief, so he was well aware of the petty shady dealings involving police brutality and the distribution of fines as bonuses. However, nobody cared about such minor issues. After all, how could those so-called local thugs and young hooligans not be taught a lesson? Besides, if every minor fight resulting in a headache or fever required legal proceedings, detention, or even imprisonment, prisons and detention centers wouldn't be able to accommodate everyone.
So when Zhong Shan called him, hoping he could go over there for help, Zhao Qing was a little annoyed. He said, "You want me, the bureau chief, to run around for such a trivial matter? Sergeant, aren't you making things difficult for me? Alright, don't be angry, I'll make a call right now."
Unexpectedly, Zhong Shan said very seriously, "Director Zhao, Lao Zhao, you should go there. No matter what, if you go in person, Xu Zhengyang will know what's going on and will have to accept your favor."
Zhao Qing said, "Do I really need to make him feel obligated to do me a favor?"
Zhong Shan said, "Director Zhao, I, Zhong Shan, have never lied, have I? I've never acted recklessly, have I? You can trust me on this matter; there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. To be honest, the fact that I, the police station chief, was able to become the county criminal investigation team leader and solve such a major case is all thanks to Xu Zhengyang's help..."
"Old Zhong, the more I listen to you, the more confused I get?" Zhao Qing asked, puzzled.
"There are some things I can't say, but you'll be right to listen to me this time. Just give me some face and help Xu Zhengyang, okay?" Zhong Shan's words were a bit too serious.
Zhao Qing was quite helpless about this. Zhong Shan had never asked him for anything in return, and besides, fighting wasn't a serious matter that violated any principles, so he had no choice but to agree. After thinking about it, he realized that Xu Zhengyang was indeed a rare talent. If he could help him and let him know he was doing him a favor, then if the county bureau encountered any difficulties with a case in the future and needed his help, Xu would have to repay the favor and wouldn't refuse. Last time he invited him to dinner at the hotel, the kid ran away halfway through, showing no regard for his position as the county public security bureau chief. Moreover, when he offered to make him a formal, officially employed police officer, the kid refused.
Anyone else would probably be thrilled to have such a great job.
The fact that Xu Zhengyang opened an antique shop in the city, and judging from Zhong Shan's words, it seemed to be quite profitable, only made things more puzzling and unfathomable. If he could afford to open an antique shop, it meant he was already financially well-off, so why would he need to work as a security guard at the rural police station?
However, judging from his appearance, he was quite composed. Although he had a seemingly honest smile on his face, Zhao Qing could tell that this kid was truly neither arrogant nor humble, and showed no signs of nervousness whatsoever.
Xu Zhengyang was originally in Zhao Qing's very good impression, but today he suddenly got into this fight... and was even arrested by the police station. He's not just an ordinary thug; he's at least a member of the joint security team who worked at two different police stations for a few days.
This made Zhao Qing feel somewhat angry and annoyed with Xu Zhengyang.
How should I put it? It could be considered a case of loving someone so much that you hate them so much.
However, when he arrived at the Nancheng Township Police Station and saw the two men inside with bandages wrapped around their heads, looking extremely vicious, his anger flared up instantly. Of course, this anger wasn't the same as his earlier annoyance with Xu Zhengyang. Anyone could see that these two men with bandages were the ones beaten by the young man handcuffed to the radiator pipe, grinning foolishly at the newly arrived Director Zhao. Oh, and there was another young man, pale-faced and thin, with sharp, arched eyebrows. Most striking were his long, narrow eyes, which gave off an icy aura.
Zhao Qing vented his anger on the tall, burly man with bandages wrapped around his neck.
Zhao Qing recognized this man, Shen Haobing. In Cixian County, he and a few cronies were known as the so-called "Ten Tigers of Cizhou," and they had done all sorts of things, such as forcibly contracting construction sites and dominating the market. If it weren't for the fact that no one had reported them and there wasn't sufficient evidence, and that most people in the county bureau had to give some face to Deputy Director Liao of the Transportation Bureau, they would have brought them to justice long ago.
Moreover, four of the so-called "Ten Tigers of Cizhou" have already been arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned under Zhao Qing's strict orders.
So as soon as Zhao Qing saw Shen Haobing, he knew without asking who was responsible for today's fight.
"What's going on?" Zhao Qing ignored the salute from Tian Baotun, the director of Nancheng Township Police Station, and stepped into the room. He coldly glanced at Shen Haobing and Biaozi, and then focused his gaze on Xu Zhengyang.
Xu Zhengyang's憨厚 smile vanished, replaced by a calm expression. Although he knew Zhao Qing was actually asking him the question, with the police and the station chief present, Xu Zhengyang naturally wouldn't rush to plead his case. Zhao Qing's arrival gave Xu Zhengyang a clear idea of what was going on. He didn't believe he was lucky enough to coincidentally run into Zhao Qing here for something else; nine times out of ten, it was Zhong Shan who had called and asked Director Zhao to intervene.
"Fighting and brawling, injuring people..." Tian Baotun didn't know why Director Zhao looked so bad today. He thought that something had gone wrong at his police station and upset Director Zhao. He never imagined that Director Zhao had come because of this young thug who was handcuffed to a radiator pipe.