It must be said that Xu Zhengyang is a very good at timing.
In just one week, Xu Zhengyang forced Deng Qingfu to dig up many long-standing debts, even construction wages that he had forcibly refused to pay more than ten years ago, all of which were now dutifully repaid. A rough estimate suggests that these defaulted debts alone amounted to over seven million yuan owed by Deng Qingfu and the entire Jingniang Village and Jingniang Lake Tourism Company. Some of these creditors had even passed away due to accidents.
During this period, Deng Qingfu had the idea of dying together with Xu Zhengyang several times. He could sense that Xu Zhengyang was going to keep playing the good guy and tormenting him endlessly.
However, things didn't go as planned. Under the overwhelming and irresistible terror, Deng Qingfu was defeated, utterly devastated. Not only him, but also his confidants and the villagers of Jingniang Village who had always followed him and considered their misdeeds as a matter of course began to honestly atone for their sins. They tried every means to repay any debts they had incurred.
For a time, the company and the entire village were filled with panic, and a dark cloud hung over them, making them feel like a pile of loose sand.
Just after they had largely paid off their debts, the Fuhe City police, having gathered sufficient evidence and leads, launched a swift operation. They arrested Deng Qingfu and related personnel from the tourism company, as well as some villagers from Jingniang Village who were involved in various businesses within the Jingniang Lake tourist area. Simultaneously, Jiang Yuhe, the director of the Jingniang Lake Police Station, along with his instructor and three police officers, were taken into custody, and Wang Xiquan, the deputy director of the Bu County Public Security Bureau, was placed under investigation…
In a swift and decisive strike, the criminal gang led by Deng Qingfu was wiped out in an instant.
On the day the arrest operation began, Xu Zhengyang sat happily in his office on the second floor of Gu Xiang Xuan, sipping tea and listening to music. He was very satisfied with the series of methods he had adopted. Although they were a bit too ruthless, shocking, and unbelievable, they had at least saved many people from losses, and he had truly done a great thing. Xu Zhengyang knew that if he hadn't made Deng Qingfu and his gang pay off their debts beforehand, once they were imprisoned, every single debt would be completely ruined. Did they expect the government to repay them? Of course, if it weren't for Lord Xu Zhengyang, the City God, directing the ghost messengers, those debts would basically be dead debts anyway; Deng Qingfu and his gang never intended to repay them.
We all know that Xu Zhengyang is not a purely kind person; he always believes in not doing anything without a profit.
In this incident, Xu Zhengyang extorted a total of 1.7 million yuan in cash from Deng Qingfu. Furthermore, he had no intention of doing good deeds anonymously; otherwise, where would his faith come from? Therefore, every creditor who had been cheated and defaulted on by Deng Qingfu and his gang had a dream the night before their due payment. In the dream, an official from the City God's Palace appeared and told them that the City God had upheld justice for them, and that Deng Qingfu's men would come to repay the money the next day…
The creditors initially thought it was just a case of their imagination running wild, but to their surprise, they actually received the money the next day, money they thought they would never get back.
Amidst their surprise, confusion, and gratitude, they also remembered a sentence spoken by the messenger in their dream: "Heavenly secrets must not be revealed."
Before his arrest, large sums of money had been withdrawn from the personal and company accounts of some residents of Jingniang Village, raising significant suspicions. However, as the police investigated each transaction and confirmed that each sum was indeed for long-overdue debts, they were puzzled. Had Deng Qingfu and his associates suddenly had a change of heart? Or did they realize the police were targeting them and were hoping to mitigate their punishment?
In any case, the police cannot take back the money that has been used to pay off debts as confiscated property.
The most puzzling expense was Deng Qingfu's purchase of two wooden carvings, costing a full 1.5 million yuan. These were bought from Gu Xiang Xuan, the largest antique shop in Fuhe City. They were supposedly two Guanyin statues, carved by a Ming Dynasty court master over ten years, and were even believed to have been blessed and could ward off evil. Unfortunately, after buying them, Deng Qingfu threw them into the bottom of Jingniang Lake. His explanation was that he received instructions from a divine being in a dream that night, and that these were objects to bring good fortune and ward off misfortune.
This shows that this person has done too many bad things. It's no wonder he's suspicious and paranoid!
When the investigation into Deng Qingfu's case was in its mid-stages, Pang Zhong, the director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, was already prepared to face pressure from certain quarters. When he first received some clues from Xu Zhengyang, Xu Zhengyang mentioned that Deng Qingfu had powerful backers. Later, after the investigation revealed Deng Qingfu and his gang's numerous misdeeds and heinous crimes, Deng Qingfu knew that it was not just the protection of a deputy director of a county that allowed him to be so rampant.
Sure enough, on the fourth day after Deng Qingfu's arrest, he finally provided the police with some materials and evidence.
The video footage shows some officials from Shibu County, several officials from the city, and even two figures from the province indulging in pleasure at the Jingniang Lake Tourist Resort.
This matter... seems to have blown up quite a bit.
However, after reviewing the video and materials, Pang Zhong couldn't help but say with a hint of sarcasm, "Fortunately, among the incriminating evidence Deng Qingfu has, it's only these officials; there are no people from the public security, procuratorate, or judicial systems in the city or province, otherwise..."
“I do remember that last year this person suggested that our municipal bureau could have a unified holiday trip, which would be to Jingniang Lake.” Deputy Director Xiao Hanjun said with a somewhat gloomy expression, “I refused at the time, which was during a critical period in the case of Hao Peng’s major drug trafficking gang in Cixian County.”
"So we're lucky, otherwise someone from our municipal bureau would have been dragged down by Deng Qingfu too." Pang Zhong seemed to be joking, but his voice was actually very calm and slightly cold.
Xiao Hanjun remained silent.
...
Deng Qingfu once said: "Our government is very rich, so we should find ways to make money off our government."
So he would bribe leaders of certain government departments, and then these departments would organize group trips during statutory holidays, within permitted limits. This money was much easier to earn than from private companies and tour groups; for every penny spent, five cents would be reimbursed by the treasury, with one cent ending up in the hands of officials. Three-tenths ended up in Deng Qingfu's hands.
After learning about this, Xu Zhengyang cursed Deng Qingfu in his heart as an idiot and a good-for-nothing! No wonder he failed to win over a more powerful backer. He's such a miser, he doesn't give a penny. At least when you make money, you should split it 50/50. He's an official, and you're a businessman. Logically speaking, you wouldn't lose out if you gave him two-thirds.
With his small-farmer mentality, he's definitely got the makings of a gangster—all brawn and no brains.
If it were me… Xu Zhengyang thought to himself, well, if it were me, I wouldn’t give those officials a single penny.
What no one expected was that this major organized crime case, which was solved relatively quickly, would once again shock the nation. Fuhe City, a city that could only be considered a third-tier city, shocked the country in less than a year due to three major cases...
First, there's the Hao Peng drug trafficking gang case; second, there's the Zou Mingyuan cultural relic smuggling case; and third, there's this organized crime case.
Actually, compared to many other criminal gangs across the country, this case of dismantling a criminal organization wasn't particularly large, and its nature wasn't anything special. The reason it caused such a sensation was entirely due to the astonishing result that occurred after the crackdown on Deng Qingfu's criminal gang:
This case involves the largest number of people, including a large number of family members, men, women, young and old, and even three generations of grandparents and grandchildren who have been arrested and imprisoned. What is thought-provoking is that in one village, more than half of the families have members involved in organized crime.
Putting that aside, what is even more shocking is that after the incident, almost all the perpetrators confessed to their crimes in the same way.
An unnamed leader from the Hebei Provincial Public Security Bureau, in an interview with reporters, stated: "This is an extremely rare case nationwide. Driven by profit and money, people have lost their moral compass, and the greedy side of human nature has been laid bare... We cannot understand or imagine that more than half the families in a village live in crime every day, yet remain so indifferent and ignorant of the law..."
It is certain that, if it weren't for the need to avoid the case becoming too serious, the consideration of the principle of "the law does not punish the masses," and the need to prevent the spread of public opinion, everyone in the village, except for the ignorant children, would bear responsibility!
Even those who did not personally participate in illegal or criminal cases are suspected of harboring criminals.
Of course, the so-called "law does not punish the masses" and considerations of human relationships actually mean that some villagers were genuinely forced or feared Deng Qingfu's power.
More than half of the villagers remembered that in their dreams, officials from the City God's Palace had told them: "If it weren't for the City God's benevolence and compassion, a village like yours, with its numerous crimes and corrupt morality, should have been destroyed by divine calamity long ago..."
Yes.
Xu Zhengyang was indeed extremely annoyed by this; it was an entire village!
Prostitution, drug trafficking, running casinos, jointly sheltering criminals, and even colluding like members of a small kingdom, arresting gamblers who escape from casinos, arresting tourists who have had conflicts with any villager, beating, scolding, detaining... squeezing out any business from neighboring villages in the Jingniang Lake scenic area, exclusively enjoying the benefits brought by the unique geographical advantages, and ignorantly acting as a protective umbrella for heinous criminals.
Driven by self-interest and infected by malice, people's conscience is gradually lost, becoming taken for granted and taken for granted.
Enraged, Xu Zhengyang ordered the ghost messengers to ask each villager, "If it were your own daughter, forced into prostitution at a resort or bathhouse, how would you feel? If it were your family member, lured into gambling, losing everything, kidnapped, or even murdered, how would you feel? If..."
What they received, besides fear, regret, and pleas for mercy, was a numb silence.
In the early autumn of that year, Xu Zhengyang drove his white Audi A4 back and forth in this wealthy village for more than two hours.
Then, Xu Zhengyang received a phone call and drove to the western suburbs of Fuhe City, to that courtyard house nestled against the mountains and beside the water.
Volume 4, City God Chapter 192: A Step Away, A World Apart
In early autumn, the sky is high and the clouds are light. The afternoon sun still feels a bit scorching.
The trees on Xiaowang Mountain are still lush and green, and the banks of the Qinghe River at the foot of the mountain are covered with green grass. The Qinghe River flows gently, creating an atmosphere of peace, comfort and tranquility.
Inside the courtyard house, in the living room of the main hall, an old man and a young man sat facing each other on the sofa, both slightly bowing and frowning in thought.
Between the two players was a square wooden table, on which a dozen or so chess pieces were scattered. The game was in its late stages, and if either side made the slightest mistake, the outcome of the game for both black and red would be decided.
However, the elderly man was unaware that the young man he was playing against had already given him several moves in handicap since the beginning of the game.
Poor Xu Zhengyang had a very tiring game of chess. He had to play cautiously and steadily, and also subtly give the old man a few moves' worth of space without him noticing, ultimately allowing the old man to win. It was incredibly mentally taxing… Xu Zhengyang now knew that his chess skills had improved dramatically since his last game with the old man. He was no longer the impetuous young man he once was, charging in recklessly like a daredevil.
Xu Zhengyang, who appeared to be frowning and deep in thought, was actually thinking to himself with self-admiration: "I'm thinking five steps ahead of me. My strategy is excellent. Victory or defeat is in my hands. It's clear that I can be called wise when it comes to chess. Although in real life, I'm far from being shrewd and calculating."
The old man was unaware that Xu Zhengyang could easily defeat him.
The old man felt that he had been careless and underestimated Xu Zhengyang because he hadn't taken Xu Zhengyang seriously and had been chatting while playing chess, which allowed Xu Zhengyang to take advantage of the situation.
This shows that people can't deny getting old.
The game was essentially won. The old man straightened up, leaned back on the sofa, and smiled as he looked at Xu Zhengyang, who was frowning and deep in thought, searching for a solution.
Suddenly, the old man said calmly, "He who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present."
"Hmm." Xu Zhengyang raised his head slightly, smiled sheepishly at the old man, then lowered his head again, continuing to frown and ponder.
"The matter at Jingniang Lake went a bit too far."
Xu Zhengyang straightened up, looked at the scattered chess pieces on the board, and said with a hint of regret and helplessness, "I lost, sigh." He sighed, as if he had just remembered the old man's words. Then he said with a simple smile, "Grandpa, you're not angry that I indirectly used your prestige to bully someone, are you?"
The old man smiled and shook his head.
"I'm quite lucky. I got to know Bingjie and you, so a high-ranking official like Director Pang was willing to help me. That's why I can use your connections to bully others..." Xu Zhengyang scratched his head a little embarrassedly. "Am I too greedy for money?"
"Greed is human nature," the old man laughed. "You've got guts to extort money from someone like Deng Qingfu."
"Ahem." Xu Zhengyang looked increasingly embarrassed. "It's inevitable that people will think I'm using your reputation to tarnish your image..."
The old man picked up the purple clay teapot that was placed on the wide side of the sofa, took a few sips of tea, and said calmly, "Those are all minor matters, nothing to worry about."
"Oh," Xu Zhengyang said, feigning ignorance.
"You don't know what happened after that?" the old man asked with a smile, clearly knowing the answer in his heart.
Xu Zhengyang chuckled and said, "I really admire the police in our city. I just made a small talk with Director Pang, and they arrested Deng Qingfu and the others so quickly. I feel really bad, as if it wasn't because Deng Qingfu and the others broke the law, but because they offended me. Out of respect for you, Director Pang ordered this to be done to vent my anger."
The old man was amused by Xu Zhengyang's insincere words and was not angry. He said, "Stop being so glib. The one who's standing up for you isn't Pang Zhong, it's that other person, isn't it?"
Xu Zhengyang stopped pretending to be stupid, scratched his head and said, "Actually, it's not really about avenging me. There's an old saying that you reap what you sow. Deng Qingfu and his gang did a lot of bad things, and God saw it. Now, their retribution has come."
The old man leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest, looking somewhat tired.
Xu Zhengyang stopped talking and reached out to place the red and black chess pieces one by one.
He knew that the old man finally believed that Xu Zhengyang did not possess any extraordinary abilities, but rather that behind him stood a being that should not exist in reality, but only in legends—a god.
"Tell it!" The old man suddenly opened his eyes, his divine light shining brightly, exuding an incomparably sharp and domineering aura. "This world has no need for the existence of gods."
"Why?" Xu Zhengyang, still bent over and fiddling with the chess pieces, simply looked up and asked the old man with a calm expression.
"I told you."
“Oh.” Xu Zhengyang lowered his eyelids and said softly, “But there are many people who need the existence of a god.”
"Like you?"
"It's not just me."
The old man took a deep breath and squinted as he said, “The so-called gods should be above the nine heavens, not involved in the mundane world, and not disturbing the people with ghosts and gods… If many things in the historical records are true, then the interference of ghosts and gods in worldly affairs can only result in wars, devastation, and rivers of blood.”
"It's not... that serious, is it?" Xu Zhengyang smiled. "Actually, it's partly my fault. It didn't want to interfere in personnel matters, but it was just indulging me."
"You admit it?"
Xu Zhengyang seemed extremely embarrassed and said awkwardly, "I didn't do anything bad, nor did I intend to become a king or a tyrant. I'm an honest man. It's just that I sometimes see things that I can't stand, so I just want to do good deeds..."
Is there anything else?
Xu Zhengyang gritted his teeth, looked at the old man with a serious expression, and said, "Grandpa, please don't mind me saying this. There's another reason. Since I have this good fortune, luck, and backing, why shouldn't I hurry up and get rich? At least, at least I can get closer to Bingjie's status and your family's standing."
"Hmm." The old man nodded, his face expressionless, a hint of displeasure flashing in his half-closed eyes.
"You won't object, will you?" Xu Zhengyang asked tentatively.
The old man paused, not answering Xu Zhengyang's question, but instead said, "Your life is already very good. You don't need the existence of a god to tell it where you came from and where you're going back to."
"Oh." Xu Zhengyang nodded and said, "Grandpa, I have a question for you."
"Um."
"If one day you could become a god, would you be willing to uphold justice in the world?"
The old man smiled and shook his head, saying, "In this world, there is something called law."
Xu Zhengyang said with a serious expression, "Grandpa, you probably didn't think of this, but in the hearts of many ordinary people, people like you, and some other great figures who have existed in this world and still exist today, are like gods... At least, people think that people like you are omnipotent."
The old man didn't feign modesty; instead, he nodded to show that he understood Xu Zhengyang's words and said calmly, "So, apart from looking at the big picture, I won't personally get involved in the details below, nor can I handle that kind of concern."
If this were to appear in newspapers or make the news... I wonder if people would go crazy?
"Would you call this seeing through everything?"