"I didn't say anything else," Li Yang said, his eyes darting around. Damn, I only muttered something quietly and they heard me? These policemen have incredibly sharp ears!
"Oh. Let's eat then, it's on me~" Yu Shunmin didn't pursue the matter further, knowing that Li Yang wouldn't say anything even if he did.
“Okay, you treat this time, I’ll treat next time~” Li Yang didn’t stand on ceremony and let the police chief treat him.
The waiter on one side was sweating. My god, this guy is something else! He just casually asked the bureau chief to treat him. He's way more powerful than our boss. Our boss used to beg and plead with him to come and dine and dash, but he wouldn't come. These waiters were all from the neighborhood and had been working here for a while. They all knew someone like Yu Shunmin, someone who needed special treatment. Although Yu Shunmin hadn't even noticed them.
"Director Yu, sir, what would you two like to order?" the waiter asked cautiously.
"Bring me your best dishes, I'm not picky," Li Yang said, waving his hand.
The waiter nodded immediately, gave Li Yang a humble smile, and kept his eyes on Yu Shunmin. "Director Yu, you haven't said anything yet."
Yu Shunmin nodded to the waiter and said, "Alright, let's do it his way!" The waiter was surprised again. Who was this guy? He was so powerful that the bureau chief was really treating him.
"Okay. Please wait a moment!" The waiter immediately bowed and left, returning to the counter. The owner grabbed him and asked him a series of questions, then personally went to the kitchen to instruct that all the other dishes be moved aside and served to this table first.
Which chef dared to utter a word? The boss gave the order, so they got right to work. They immediately prepared several of the restaurant's signature dishes.
"Speak, what did you call me here for?" Li Yang picked up his water glass, took a sip, and looked at Yu Shunmin.
"Are you really not going to let Liu Ziheng and the others off the hook?" Yu Shunmin asked bluntly.
"What do you mean? You're having an affair with him?" Li Yang glanced at him and asked.
"Bullshit~ I've wanted to cripple that bastard for a long time. The Shuangqiao Police Station is a notorious scumbag in our branch. Led by Liu Ziheng, there isn't a single good guy in the station. They bully men and women, and they're capable of all sorts of filthy things. But we've all just put up with it and haven't been able to do anything. Do you know why?" Yu Shunmin was so angry that he was puffing out his beard and glaring at his face. Uh, it seems like he didn't even have a beard.
"Why?" Li Yang had guessed part of it, but he still asked.
"Because his uncle is the district head of Shuangqiao District. No matter how much trouble he causes, as long as no one dies, or even if someone does die, his uncle can keep it under control. Tell me, which of us soldiers dares to mess with him?" Yu Shunmin said painfully. Although he wasn't as wicked as Liu Ziheng, he still had a conscience. He couldn't bring himself to do those beastly things like bullying men and women, so he loathed Liu Ziheng and his gang, especially since he was the captain of the criminal investigation team, and the police station was in their jurisdiction. It was truly a painful situation for him.
"I see. It seems you've already received the warning?" Li Yang nodded slightly. Just as he had guessed, Liu Ziheng's arrogance stemmed from having powerful backers. And these backers were quite influential.
"It wasn't a warning, but someone hinted at a compromise, a peaceful resolution to the dispute. They asked what your demands were!" Yu Shunmin said in a low voice. Clearly, such a disgraceful compromise during an internal power struggle was not something to be publicized.
"I said I want to sleep with Liu Ziheng's sister~ Is that okay?" Li Yang also leaned closer to Yu Shunmin and lowered his voice.
"Pfft—" Yu Shunmin spat out a mouthful of water, almost choking himself to death. He stammered, "You, you're kidding me?"
"I'm serious!" Li Yang said with a stern face. Damn it, you're allowed to go out and bully men and women, doing all sorts of bad things, taking that hammer down there and ravaging other people's daughters, but I can't even ravage Liu Ziheng's sister?
“Liu Ziheng doesn’t have a sister, he’s his only son, and she’s his precious darling. His fierce mother is very protective of him. Otherwise, would Liu Ziheng be like this? Would he dare to be so arrogant? When something happens, his mother can grab the district chief by the collar and throw a tantrum. Do you think an ordinary person could do that? Sometimes I feel sorry for District Chief Sun. I don’t know how painful it must be for him to have such an older sister and such a nephew!” Yu Shunmin shook his head with a wry smile.
"What are you worried about? She's not your older sister. Does he really not have a younger sister?" Li Yang shoved Yu Shunmin. "Don't you have any principles? Stop spouting nonsense."
"Really not? Liu Ziheng lost his father at a young age. His mother, Sun Furong, is a formidable woman, incredibly shrewish. She single-handedly raised her younger brother, who is more than ten years younger than her, and her son, even supporting her brother through university. Now he's an official, which is truly remarkable. However, her temper is something most people can't match. This District Chief Sun is also a filial son; his older sister is practically like a mother to him, and his nephew is almost like a son. All these years, Sun Furong and Liu Ziheng have relied on him for survival." Yu Shunmin rambled on for a while, answering far more questions than Li Yang had asked.
"Oh, so he lost his father when he was young. No wonder he's so ill-mannered and keeps ruining other people's daughters. Didn't his mother give him another sister? What a failure!" Li Yang sighed.
"Damn! Sun Furong, I swear, most men couldn't handle her. I even suspect that Liu Ziheng's father was crushed to death by Sun Furong!" Yu Shunmin blurted out a sarcastic remark.
"You're really too mean. But it seems you, Sun Furong, are quite the same as Sister Furong! Since Liu Ziheng doesn't have a sister, and I'm that kind of person, I really can't retaliate. But I can't just back down like this, can I? Tell Liu Ziheng that from now on, if I show up in Shuangqiao District, he'll have to give me a wide berth. Otherwise, I won't let this go." Li Yang snorted coldly. He had to teach this bastard a lesson.
"That might be a bit difficult, but let me ask," Yu Shunmin said, taking out his phone and going outside to contact the people there. Although he was annoyed with them, he couldn't start a fight without orders from above. Disrupting the plans would mean the end of his political career.
Chapter 826: Gunshots
"Sir, the food is here—" The owner led three or four waiters up with beaming smiles, and a row of delicious and hearty dishes were laid out.
"Hmm, not bad. It's not gutter oil, is it?" Li Yang took a sniff; it smelled quite nice.
"Ah? Sir, you must be joking. I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare use such a thing! Director Yu would smash up my shop!" The shop owner trembled and hurriedly explained.
"Why would I smash up your shop?" Yu Shunmin happened to come over and overheard.
"Oh dear, Director Yu, I was just joking. Your distinguished guest asked me if this is gutter oil. Even if I let my own family eat gutter oil, I wouldn't dare to give it to you two!" the boss said, sweating profusely.
"I was just joking, boss, please don't mind. The food was good. This is a tip, thank you all for your hard work." Li Yang took out a stack of hundred-yuan bills and gave one to each person, saying with a smile.
"Aren't you going to thank this gentleman?" The boss's eyes lit up immediately. What a big spender! So rich, yet he still has Director Yu treating him to a meal. What a big spender and a big shot.
"Thank you, sir!" the waiters said excitedly.
"Go down," Li Yang said casually, waving his hand.
"Thank you, sir!" The waiters bowed and scraped.
"Director Yu, sir, please enjoy your meal." The boss led the waiter away, and upon returning to the counter, his face darkened. He coughed and said, "You've all struck it rich today!"
The waiters exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with dissatisfaction and anger, but they immediately reached into their pockets, each pulling out a fifty-yuan note and placing it on the counter, forcing a smile as they said, "May the boss also prosper!"
The boss was in a much better mood when he saw the few hundred yuan. "Damn it, you're working for me and you don't want to work here if you don't give me a commission?"
"Did they agree?" Li Yang asked casually as he ate a piece of seaweed.
"Agreed. That was quick an agreement, I'm starting to suspect that District Chief Sun is using this as an opportunity to teach his nephew a lesson." Yu Shunmin's mood improved; who wouldn't be happy to have solved their problem? He dared not offend Li Yang, nor dared to escalate the conflict with Sun Zi's side; wasn't he, Yu Shunmin, caught in the middle? Being caught in the middle isn't pleasant. Even most women can't handle a threesome, let alone a man?
"I doubt they'd dare refuse. Don't worry, Director Yu, since you've spoken, I won't cause them any more trouble. Let's drop the charges then!" Li Yang picked up his glass, filled two glasses, handed one to Yu Shunmin, clinked glasses, and said, "Come on, cheers!"
Yu Shunmin's eyes widened instantly. Staring at the full glass of Wuliangye, he felt a burning sensation in his stomach. "Damn, Li Yang, you're too ruthless! Who pours wine from a water glass? And fills it to the brim? And then toasts? I'm speechless!"
"Thank you for your care, Director Yu. I will need your help again in the future. I'll drink this first as a sign of respect." Li Yang didn't give Yu Shunmin a chance to hesitate. He picked up his wine glass and gulped it down in one go, revealing the bottom of the glass, which was completely empty.
Yu Shunmin's face was contorted with misery, as if his mother had just died. Seriously, which government employee can't drink? They're masters of freeloading; refusing a drink when offered is the height of an idiot. He, Yu Shunmin, could hold his liquor for a pound or two, but that was always a slow and steady affair, wasn't it? This cup was well over three ounces, and I was on an empty stomach! I'd been busy all day with your business, hadn't eaten a single grain of rice, and now, downing three ounces of baijiu, I had to drink it!
But Li Yang, that bastard, had already finished his drink first, leaving Yu Shunmin with no choice but to grit his teeth, pick up his glass, and gulp it down. Damn it, if you don't have this kind of reckless courage in a critical moment, what kind of soldier are you? What kind of cop are you? Damn it, even if I drink myself to death and vomit blood, I'll drink it all today!
"How about that? Pretty brotherly, right? Pretty manly, right?" Yu Shunmin slammed his water glass down, his breath reeking of alcohol.