Pulling the Rug Out and Striking at the Heart

Over the past few days, Zhu Jianping had watched Cai Xiaobo and Shao Mingbao drop by the brigade commander's office at every opportunity, either sucking up together or taking turns. He began to feel that if he did not step up his game, he would soon be replaced.

He silently warned himself that he could not keep drifting along without accomplishing anything.

He had to suck up too!

He had to do something that would show the commander both his usefulness and his loyalty.

And so, he set his sights on certain people.

Tao Guozheng, Jin Min, and Zhu Xiangmin were off-limits, and Sun Qifa, the principal of Second Middle School, seemed difficult to touch too. But taking down Fatty Li? That would be a piece of cake.

He casually arranged for someone to invite Li Xiugui out for some entertainment, ostensibly to discuss enrolling a child at the school as a nonresident student.

The result-even though Li Xiugui cautiously chose his usual haunt, the Golden Coast bathhouse, he still could not escape the scripted fate of being arrested for soliciting prostitution.

"Whatever you have to say, let's discuss it back at the brigade. Don't let outsiders enjoy the show."

Seeing that Shao Mingbao was about to lose his temper, Zhu Jianping hurriedly tried to soothe him in a low voice.

Shao Mingbao swallowed his anger, snorted, and stepped aside.

Forget it. We're both working for the commander. The bigger picture comes first.

I'll settle things with Zhu later.

Just then, a police officer approached with a strange expression and whispered a few words into Zhu Jianping's ear.

Zhu Jianping turned in surprise and spotted a pale, thin, bespectacled middle-aged man among the arrested men and women, staring at him with panic and pleading in his eyes.

What a fucking disaster!

Zhu Jianping turned back as though nothing had happened and said apologetically to Shao Mingbao, "Shao, now that I've thought it over, I did go a little too far. How about this-you take them away!"

Shao Mingbao gave a cold smile and said bluntly, "Cut the fucking crap. Tell me, which big shot did you accidentally snag?"

Zhu Jianping put an arm around Shao Mingbao's shoulders and whispered, "Jiang Song, the husband of Jin Min, director of the county government office. Shao, what are we supposed to do about this?"

Shao Mingbao gave him a sidelong glance. "Do whatever you want. I'm not the one who arrested him. What's it got to do with me?"

Zhu Jianping sighed. "I took the hit for you here. Besides, you showed up too. Procedurally speaking, this was a joint operation."

Despite Zhu Jianping's shamelessness, Shao Mingbao was not angry at all. He simply took out his phone and called the brigade commander.

"Commander, it's Shao. There's a situation I need your instructions on. Here's what happened..."

Zhu Jianping suddenly realized what he was doing, but it was too late. He could only stand beside him, glaring helplessly with regret written all over his face.

After Shao Mingbao finished his report, the commander's amused voice came through the phone. "Bring them back immediately. Remember, no favors for anyone, no matter who asks. And Shao-well done!"

Shao Mingbao put away his phone and raised his eyebrows triumphantly at Zhu Jianping.

Hear that? The commander praised me. He said I did a great job.

Scheme all you like, Zhu. In the end, you still handed me all the credit.

Ever since taking Shao Mingbao's call, Zhou Yi had not stopped smiling.

This incident once again proved his theory that "even a pair of underpants or a sheet of toilet paper has its uses."

Even more satisfying was that his "underpants" and "toilet paper" had now learned to take the initiative.

Arresting Li Xiugui was a slap in the face to the leadership of Dongji Second Middle School.

Arresting Jiang Song was a slap in the face to Jin Min, director of the county government office.

Ah, now that felt good!

Excellent. Everything was excellent, except for that clueless idiot Zhu Jianping.

"It's the middle of the night. Why are you pacing around instead of sleeping?" Guo Dongmei could not help scolding her son as he wandered back and forth through the living room.

"Going to sleep now, going to sleep now," Captain Zhou replied meekly before scurrying back to his bedroom.

Ever since receiving the notification call from the Public Security Management Brigade, the fury in Jin Min's eyes had not faded.

Just a couple of days earlier, she had been gleefully mocking her friend's husband for getting arrested for soliciting prostitution. Now her own husband had ended up in police custody for exactly the same reason.

Even more infuriating was that they knew perfectly well Jiang Song was Jin Min's husband, yet refused to show her any consideration. They had slapped him with five days of administrative detention and a five-hundred-yuan fine.

It was not a major incident, and the fine was not much. The real problem was how disgraceful it was.

She did not know how she would face her colleagues and superiors from now on.

From what she had learned, Li Xiugui, the dean of students at Second Middle School, had also been arrested.

Moreover, when the police entered the Golden Coast, they had gone straight to the third floor without searching any of the others.

What did that mean?

It meant that the Public Security Management Brigade's operation had a clear direction, a specific target, and a deliberate purpose.

The answer, then, was already obvious.

After a brief silence, Captain Zhou of the Public Security Management Brigade had finally bared his fangs.

Jin Min was not the only one to reach that conclusion.

Tao Guozheng, Zhu Xiangmin, Sun Qifa, Yang Mei, Gao Yongsheng, Song Chengquan, Li Wenli, and everyone else keeping a close eye on the matter all agreed: this had to be Zhou Yi's retaliation!

"Doesn't our Public Security Management Brigade have any dignity?"

Those words still rang in their ears.

The facts proved that Captain Zhou did care about his dignity!

And anyone who had failed to show Captain Zhou respect had better prepare to lose every last shred of their own.

On the morning of Tuesday, July 26, the Dongji County Public Security Bureau held an expanded meeting of its Party committee leadership.

Along with the Party committee members, the heads of the various departments attended.

Naturally, that included the commanders of the criminal investigation, public security management, patrol, and economic crime investigation brigades.

There were two items on the agenda.

The first concerned Zhou Yi.

Following instructions from the relevant higher-level municipal departments, they were to make thorough preparations and careful arrangements, providing full support and cooperation for publicity about Comrade Zhou Yi's exemplary deeds.

At the meeting, Director Lei Ming showered him with praise, repeatedly emphasizing that Zhou Yi had brought distinction and honor to the Dongji County Public Security Bureau and was its pride and glory.

The second item concerned the female student who had jumped from a building at Dongji Second Middle School.

In a grave tone, Lei Ming said, "The municipal bureau leadership called me yesterday afternoon. They said that Minister Ding Zhenqian, a member of the Municipal Party Standing Committee, has issued clear instructions regarding this incident: the public security authorities must handle the school violence involved in accordance with the law."

At this point, he turned toward Executive Deputy Director Song Chengquan and said pointedly, "Chengquan, I want your full attention on this. Make sure it is investigated thoroughly and handled properly. Understood?"

Song Chengquan's heart jolted. He hurriedly nodded. "Rest assured, Director. I'll have Yaohua review the case again immediately. If there are any new developments, I'll report them to you right away."

One discreet gaze after another settled on Captain Zhou, who had lowered his head to drink some water.

Everyone knew that this second agenda item also concerned Zhou Yi.

Captain Zhou might refrain from striking, but once he did, he unleashed a whole combination.

Only last night, he had arrested Li Xiugui and Jiang Song to teach them a lesson. This morning, he had brought the Municipal Party Standing Committee and municipal bureau leadership into play to put pressure directly on Song Chengquan.

Yet none of them found this outcome particularly surprising.

After all, this was the man who had arrested Xie Zhaolong twice. Surely this counted as standard procedure for him!

Zhang Liping was watching Zhou Yi too.

That night, Zhou Yi had told him, "Evil cannot triumph over good, and the law stands above all." Yet judging by the present situation, this looked far more like "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"!

Deputy Director Zhang sighed inwardly. He did not know when it had happened, but the young man had become someone he could no longer read or understand.

What do we do now?

That was the question Tao Guozheng, Jin Min, and Zhu Xiangmin were all pondering.

They had never fought such a frustrating battle in their lives.

Why?

Because they did not dare make a move against him.

But he dared make moves against them.

Song Chengquan had called and told them plainly that he could no longer hold the line. Once a criminal investigation was formally opened, their daughters would no longer be able to escape criminal liability.

At best, the outcome would be short-term criminal detention; at worst, a fixed-term prison sentence.

And that was something they could not accept under any circumstances!

What could they do?

Jin Min and Zhu Xiangmin both turned to Tao Guozheng.

After all, his father-in-law had once chaired the municipal Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Though long retired, he still had his network of connections.

Deputy Minister Tao slowly crushed his cigarette in the ashtray and said expressionlessly, "I'll put up forty thousand. You two contribute thirty thousand each. We'll pool a hundred thousand yuan and send it to him."

Jin Min and Zhu Xiangmin exchanged a glance, then asked hesitantly, "What if he won't take it?"

Tao Guozheng looked at them as though they were idiots and said with absolute confidence, "He will!"

At six that evening, Shen Mo returned home after selling scrap and was greeted by the aroma of food.

Looking at the table laden with sumptuous dishes, then at his father's kindly smile, Shen Mo felt as though none of it could be real.

"Mo, don't just stand there. Wash your hands and come eat."

"These are all your favorite dishes. I spent the whole afternoon making them."

"Try this pork knuckle. See if your dad's cooking has gotten rusty."

"Well? Is it good?"

The warmth and care he had gone without for so long soothed Shen Mo's battered body and heart. Tears streamed down his face as he ate mouthful after mouthful.

If only Mom were still here too. How wonderful it would be for the whole family to sit together like this, sharing a meal in happiness!

"Mo, there's something I need to tell you. The parents of those three students who bullied you sent us a hundred thousand yuan. They also promised to arrange a job for me at the Culture Bureau. I was thinking we should stop pursuing the case and settle it privately. What do you think?"

Shen Mo's hand froze around his chopsticks. In his daze, he seemed to hear his own heart shattering.

"Consider that money repayment for raising me these past eighteen years. From now on, I have no father like you, and you have no son like me!"

Those were the last words Shen Mo said to Shen Yaqing in that home.

The following morning, Shen Mo went to the legal affairs brigade of the Dongji County Public Security Bureau and submitted a written request to withdraw his application for criminal reconsideration.

Zhou Yi's expression was grim, but he did not stop Shen Mo.

He could not forget the young man's heart-rending sobs over the phone the night before.

"Zhou Yi, I don't have a home anymore. I have nothing left..."

Nor could he forget the helpless figure outside the phone booth last night, crouching on the ground with his arms wrapped around his shoulders.

Seeing the commander's dark expression, Shao Mingbao, who already knew the inside story, could not help looking vicious. He said quietly, "Commander, should I round up ten or twenty street punks..."

Zhou Yi waved a hand, signaling Shao Mingbao to shut up.

Since this was Shen Mo's decision, he would leave Shen Yaqing alone for the time being.

Zhou Yi had to admit that his opponents had pulled the rug out from under him with impressive skill.

But they should not forget that his real target had never been Tao Manru, Zhu Lili, or Meng Yao. It was Tao Guozheng!

You pull the rug out from under me.

I'll strike straight at your heart!

And so, on August 1, Army Day...

A sudden piece of news shook all of Dongji County.

Zhao Dahai, former deputy general manager of Dexing Mining Co., Ltd.; Jiang Yixiang, head of the cultural affairs section at the County Culture Bureau; and Liu Fuxing, a deputy principal staff member at the County Environmental Protection Bureau, filed a report under their real names with the Anping City Discipline Inspection Commission, accusing Tao Guozheng, executive deputy head of the County Party Committee Organization Department, of taking bribes and selling government posts.