Chapter 46 Confrontation
◎ Knowing it is impossible, but still doing it◎
Zhao Xiangwan said: "That woman, she wanted to hit someone!"
When Zhang Yalan and Meng Annan heard this, their faces changed immediately.
With a "click", the car door opened at this moment. The three of them rushed to the door together, jumped out of the car quickly, and ran back desperately.
Although she had never met this woman before and didn't know whether she was going to hit anyone or who she was going to hit, she knew it was possible and still let the murder happen in front of her. As a student at the People's Public Security University, she couldn't get over this hurdle.
Fortunately, the three of them were wearing sneakers and had done adequate physical training, so they ran very fast.
The surrounding scenery quickly moved backwards, and at this moment everyone had only one thought in mind: stop the crime!
Zhao Xiangwan was the first to run to the hospital, as he had long legs. He saw the fiery red car starting to speed up. Following the direction of the car, Zhao Xiangwan saw a familiar figure.
Zhao Xiangwan stopped immediately.
Zhou Rulan! It's Zhou Rulan.
This female driver wanted to hit Zhou Rulan to death!
Adrenaline surged, body temperature rose, heartbeat quickened, brain worked rapidly, Zhao Xiangwan made a decision instantly. He raised his hands high, crossed them in front of him, formed a big "X", and shouted: "Back off! Back off!"
Zhao Xiangwan's movements were large and the sounds were loud.
It attracted the attention of everyone nearby.
Zhou Rulan, who was about to cross the street and turn right, stopped and looked up at the source of the shouting.
Zhang Yalan and Meng Annan also hurried over, waving their hands like Zhao Xiangwan, and shouting in unison: "Back off! Back off!"
When the police are handling a stampede, if a large crowd of people rush forward and someone falls, it is very easy to cause casualties. At this time, the people who maintain order can take the lead in shouting:
Back off! Back off!
The syllables are clear, the rhythm is strong, and the concise and clear instructions can be quickly accepted and executed by the crowd.
Sure enough, Zhou Rulan stopped and began to retreat quickly.
The sound of a car engine approached rapidly from afar.
The red car rushed towards Zhou Rulan like a flame!
Zhou Rulan became alert and dodged to the side, but the car came at her with great force, stepped on the accelerator suddenly, drove onto the sidewalk, and hit Zhou Rulan fiercely.
"ah--"
Passersby screamed and the timid ones covered their eyes and dared not look.
Zhou Rulan's arm was hit hard by the car's rearview mirror, and she stumbled and fell, lying on the ground.
“Gah!”
The car stopped and started to reverse.
Zhao Xiangwan grabbed two oranges from a roadside fruit stand and smashed them at the car.
“Bang! Bang—”
The orange hit the car's windshield, splashing yellow juice and blurring the driver's vision.
Zhang Yalan and Meng Annan followed Zhao Xiangwan's example and started smashing the fruits at random.
Oranges, apples, pears...
Fruit after fruit hit the car, and the rearview mirror was also smashed off.
The woman was probably a little nervous, and since her rearview mirror was gone, she couldn't see clearly when backing up, and the rear of the car crashed straight into the flower bed nearby.
"Bang!" After a loud bang, the woman did not bother to check the condition of the car. She quickly started the car and fled.
The rear bumper fell off, and the red car with scratches all over it fled the scene. Zhao Xiangwan rushed to Zhou Rulan who was lying on the ground and asked, "Are you okay?"
Zhou Rulan struggled to get up from the ground, holding her right shoulder with her left hand, and grinned, her face full of pain: "My right hand may be broken."
Passersby gathered around and denounced the owner of the red car.
"Where did this blind man come from, driving recklessly!"
"You hit someone and you dared to reverse? Do you want to kill him to count?"
"Girl, are you okay? Go to the hospital for a check-up."
"Yes, we'll call the police for you and you go to the hospital."
Zhou Rulan had a scratch on half of her cheek, blood was dripping from her forehead, and it hurt whenever she moved her right hand, but she endured the pain and looked at Zhao Xiangwan with a pale face: "Thank you!" She knew very well that the car was coming at her with great force and speed. If Zhao Xiangwan had not reminded her in time, she would have died if she had taken two steps forward.
Zhao Xiangwan waved his hands and said, "It's okay. Let's go to the hospital and get it treated."
Zhou Rulan took out fifty yuan from her pocket with her left hand and handed it to the fruit vendor: "I'm sorry for smashing your things just now."
The fruit stall owner took the money and said with a smile: "It's okay, it's okay. Good job, it makes me feel better!" This girl even knew to give herself money, she is such a good person.
Zhou Rulan looked at Zhao Xiangwan again: "Did you write down the license plate number?"
Zhao Xiangwan nodded. Zhang Yalan said angrily: "We also saw the woman's face. Don't worry, she can't get away!"
Zhou Rulan called the police immediately, and waited until the police arrived and testified at the scene before returning to the hospital for examination. Looking at her forehead covered with cold sweat and her determined eyes, Zhao Xiangwan secretly admired her.
Zhao Xiangwan and the other two accompanied Zhou Rulan to put a plaster cast on her right arm, bandage it, and treat the wound on her face, and then returned to Miao Hui's intensive care unit. When Wu Ruxin saw her sister, who had just been fine, suddenly become like this, she was so scared that her face turned pale: "Sister, what happened to you?"
Zhou Rulan simply explained what happened, and Wu Ruxin, who had taken a few criminal investigation courses, blurted out: "This is murder!"
She had been waiting early and was well prepared. If it hadn't been for Zhao Xiangwan's reminder, and if it hadn't been for Zhang Yalan and the others throwing fruits at her, Zhou Rulan would have been killed - this was clearly murder.
Who was that woman? Why did she kill Zhou Rulan?
Zhou Rulan asked Zhao Xiangwan: "Why did you come back? Why did you warn me?"
Zhao Xiangwan told her that the three of them had met the woman and detected something wrong through the "freeze reaction", so they returned to the hospital just in case. As for saving Zhou Rulan, it was really an accident. No matter who became the murder target of the beautiful young woman, Zhao Xiangwan would save her.
Zhou Rulan looked at Zhao Xiangwan deeply and said, "I'll remember your life-saving grace." She turned to look at Zhang Yalan and Meng Annan and said with a smile, "Thank you very much. Fortunately, you have good hearts and good skills, so I survived."
"Wuwu..." Wu Ruxin kept crying beside me.
Zhou Rulan sighed helplessly: "I'm fine, don't cry."
Wu Ruxin trembled as she touched her right arm. She cried as she looked at the cold plaster. "You said you were fine, but you almost got hit by a car! Who is so vicious that he dared to kill someone?!"
Wu Ruxin, who was afraid to watch a chicken being killed since she was a child, was actually a coward even though she studied criminal investigation. Seeing her mother still unconscious in the hospital bed and her sister almost being hit by a car, she could no longer control her emotions and began to cry.
Zhou Rulan's head was swollen from crying so much that she had no choice but to yell at her, "Stop crying! I'm not dead yet!"
When Wu Ruxin was yelled at by her sister, she immediately stopped crying and looked at her blankly.
Zhou Rulan said softly, "We should thank this person for coming forward. As long as we find the car and the person, and find out the whole story, and find the person who wants to kill me, we will have a clue. If we follow this clue, you think... maybe we can get to the bottom of it."
Although Zhou Rulan's words were cryptic, Wu Ruxin understood. She held back her tears, nodded, and said with a nasal voice, "Sister, I'll listen to you."
Zhao Xiangwan took the initiative to stand up this time: "Zhou Rulan, if the female driver is caught, I can participate in the interrogation and help you find out the real reason why she murdered you."
Zhou Rulan raised her eyes and met Zhao Xiangwan's gaze.
They are both tall and have a heroic spirit, but Zhou Rulan is a little more mature, with the demeanor of a tolerant and generous sister; Zhao Xiangwan still has a childish look in his eyes and a cold expression.
Zhou Rulan asked, "I heard that you are an intern in the City Bureau's Serious Crime Unit and are Captain Xu Songling's apprentice?"
Zhao Xiangwan: "Yes, I will be in the Serious Crime Unit 1 during the summer vacation."
Zhou Rulan nodded thoughtfully: "Okay, I understand."
Zhao Xiangwan reminded her: "The driver was a very beautiful woman who looked to be in her early thirties. However, because she was wearing heavy makeup, her age could not be determined accurately. It was estimated to be between 30 and 40. This was probably her first time doing something like this and she was very nervous. She recognized you and knew you were in the hospital and would be released shortly."
Zhou Rulan listened carefully, a cold light flashed in her eyes: "Female, recognized me, and committed murder with a purpose. Okay, I will find her out!"
[My mother jumped off the building for no apparent reason, Wu Jianshe rummaged through the house, and a woman I didn't know drove a car into me - all these things put together, the story behind it must be very complicated! Could it be that...my mother didn't commit suicide? But was it murder?]
Zhou Rulan fell into deep thought. Zhao Xiangwan heard everything clearly and suggested, "Since someone is trying to murder you, I suggest you apply for police protection and have someone watch over you 24 hours a day. It might be safer."
After a pause, Zhao Xiangwan looked at Zhou Rulan deeply, and said meaningfully: "You are a police officer, you should believe in the power of the organization."
Zhou Rulan took a deep breath and said, "Okay!"
She had been thinking the wrong thing before. She always felt that family disgrace should not be made public and was thinking about investigating and collecting evidence in private. However, after escaping the brink of death today, Zhou Rulan changed her mind.
This matter is too big, and individual power is too small to handle it.
Zhou Rulan did not hesitate and reported everything to Wang Xiaoquan of the Provincial Department: "If my mother committed suicide, then Wu Jianshe must be involved. If my mother was murdered, then Wu Jianshe is even more involved! I suspect Wu Rulie is Wu Jianshe's illegitimate son, and I also suspect that he is the mastermind behind today's hospital murder. But I have no evidence and no way to investigate, so I can only report the situation to you and ask you to help investigate."
汪曉泉聽完，表情嚴肅地點頭：“你放心，苗慧是省廳幹部，是一位盡職盡責的好同志，她出了事，我們都很同情，一定會将原因查個水落石出。你是周江勇烈士的女兒，又是人民警察，竟然有人敢在光天化日之下襲警，絕不能姑息。我立馬組織專班，對此事進行調查！”
周如蘭立定、敬禮：“謝謝！”
汪曉泉嘆了一口氣：“這件事情，因為涉及到你繼父武副廳長，恐怕你要承受一定的壓力。希望你能夠堅持住，也請你相信組織是公正的。”
周如蘭非常清楚這個後果。
她五歲喪父，六歲有了武建設這個繼父。武建設雖非血親，但在戶口本上卻是扶養她長大的繼父。
周如蘭是烈士子女，她的學業、工作都會有組織關照，周如蘭并沒有得到武建設多少指引、幫扶，但外人不知道啊，都會覺得周如蘭之所以有今天都是因為有個副廳長繼父的緣故。
現在周如蘭舉報武建設，子告父、沒良心、白眼狼……等等議論湧上來，周如蘭必定會承受巨大的心理壓力。
更何況，武建設位高權重，是省公安系統有名的工作狂、廉潔典範、道德楷模，告他有私生子？告他指使人謀害女兒？誰信！
周如蘭深吸一口氣，眼神堅毅：“我不怕。我要的是公道，如果我錯了，那我道歉，任由組織處分。如果我對了，也請組織公正處理。”
汪曉泉內心很沉重。
好好的一個家，省廳工會評出的五好家庭，人人稱羨。結果現在苗慧昏迷、武建設被女兒舉報，唉！怎麽就成了這個樣子？
周如蘭道：“我有個請求，尼桑公爵肇事逃逸一案，請交給市局重案一組，由許嵩嶺隊長負責。我在大學的時候就聽過他的名號，最是鐵面無私、公正廉明。他與武建設平時沒有什麽來往，由他審理，我更放心。”
汪曉泉點頭：“好！”
市局接到任務，将周如蘭被撞一案定性為謀殺未遂，重案一組正式接手，由刑偵支隊隊長許嵩嶺帶隊偵查。
許嵩嶺接到這個案子的時候有些奇怪，對彭康副局長說：“只是謀殺未遂，還輪不到我們重案組接手吧？”
彭康嚴肅地對他說：“這是省廳汪副廳長直接給我下的命令，要的就是你鐵面無私，不管是誰，不管涉及到誰，都不要怕，只管查、只管抓！”
許嵩嶺有點警惕：“彭局，你給我交個底，到底為什麽省廳這麽重視？”
彭康猶豫了一下，起身關上門，确認無人聽到，這才壓低了聲音說：“被撞的人，是金蓮湖派出所的周如蘭，你知道吧？”
許嵩嶺“啊”了一聲，“那個姑娘？我記得她，很優秀、很負責的一位女警，特別擅長檔案整理，我還想着把她調到重案組來呢。”
彭康擺了擺手：“你別打她的主意，她的背景深得很。她生父是緝毒警察、周江勇烈士，母親是刑事技術中心的苗慧，繼父是省廳副廳長、我的頂頭上司武建設。”
許嵩嶺肅然起敬：“周江勇？我知道他！為緝毒英勇犧牲，授予一等功，在公安系統內進行表彰。苗慧，那我更熟，刑事技術中心骨幹技術人員。沒想到，周如蘭是他們的孩子！”
停頓片刻，許嵩嶺皺眉道：“周如蘭的繼父武副廳長不是專管全省刑事案件偵查嗎？他女兒出了事，為什麽不是他下令，而是汪廳長下令？這裏頭是不是有什麽不對？你得和我先交個底。”
本着“瞞上不瞞下”的官場原則，彭康壓低了聲音：“這件事，汪廳長懷疑與武建設有關。苗慧跳樓自殺一事你知道嗎？周如蘭向組織舉報武建設，所以……”
許嵩嶺驚住，擡手狠狠地捶了彭康一記：“好家夥，你就這麽坑我？武副廳長一句話，我立馬就得下課，你倒好，把這事兒給攬了下來。”
彭康并沒有介意被打，神情依然嚴肅：“苗慧當年是警隊一支花，溫柔、漂亮、善良，不知道有多少人喜歡她。後來她嫁給周江勇，兄弟們心服口服。不為別的，周江勇外型出色、能力出衆、熱心盡職，如果不是他在一次追緝毒販的任務裏身中數刀而死，哪裏輪得到他武建設？”
許嵩嶺打趣了彭康一句：“你也是當年的追求者之一？”
彭康“嗯”了一聲，“這都是年青時的事，我也不怕你們知道。苗慧出事，誰也沒有想到。我們都以為她嫁給武建設、當上領導夫人，應該過得很幸福，哪知道……她現在昏迷不醒，我們這些老朋友都心裏不舒服，就算汪廳長不說，我也想找人查一查武建設！”
說到這裏，彭康冷笑道：“咱們做刑偵的，誰不知道，妻子出事，80%與丈夫有關？苗慧好好的為什麽跳樓？多半是武建設那小子不幹人事！你就說，這個案子你接不接吧？”
許嵩嶺和苗慧不熟，但也聽說過她的名號。她主導建設的刑事技術中心，引進國內最先進的DNA檢測技術，為破案提供了有利的支持。聽到彭康的話，許嵩嶺點頭道：“接！苗處是個好人，不能讓她不明不白地跳樓。”
彭康重重地拍了許嵩嶺的肩膀：“這件事，就交給你們了。車牌號已經有熱心群衆提供，司機也有目擊證人，先把人抓起來再審。”
許嵩嶺立定、敬禮：“是！”
原本以為很快就能把司機抓到，沒想到遇到了阻礙。
對方車速很快，逃逸準備充分，再加上從報警到布局追蹤有時間差，交警沒有第一時間連人帶車抓捕到位。
車牌是套牌，這條線索斷了。
紅色尼桑公爵轎車在國內沒有銷售，應該是從港城買來之後，直接開回內地，根本不知道購買人是誰。問遍了星市所有汽車銷售商，竟然都不知道這輛車。
許嵩嶺叫來趙向晚：“抓緊時間，讓季昭畫像。”
這一回，趙向晚親自與季昭溝通交流，畫像工作更加順利。
“大波浪，瓜子臉，眉毛畫得細長，睫毛很長，不知道是不是假的，鼻梁中央有一點點下凹，線條并不是直線，鼻頭有點尖。戴誇張的大圓環耳環，塗了粉紅色指甲油，低領上裝，露出大片胸，穿着有些暴露。”
趙向晚慢慢說，季昭慢慢畫。
一點一點，直到整張臉呈現在畫面上，趙向晚興奮站起：“對，就是她！”
雖然只有一面之緣，但因為女人行為舉止讓趙向晚警惕，所以觀察得非常仔細，這也讓季昭的畫像一次到位，連修改都不需要。
許嵩嶺立馬将畫像備份，發放到各區派出所，請求協查此人。
等了兩天，依然沒有消息。
這就有點奇怪了。
按理說，這個女人長得這麽漂亮，又開這麽豪華的汽車，應該非常招人眼。怎麽就沒人知道她是誰？
別說許嵩嶺，就連重案組其它人都有些焦急。
有了畫像，怎麽就找不着人呢？
朱飛鵬提想到一個可能性：“如果，這個女人并不是星市人呢？她的車從港城開過來，在星市套牌，撞完人就走。”
許嵩嶺一拍大腿：“請交管部門協查！分配人手到附近修車店走訪，我去申請A級通緝令。”
通緝令是公安機關通令緝拿在逃犯罪嫌疑人的法律文書，包括A、B兩個級別。A級是在全國範圍內發布的級別最高的通緝令，主要适用于情況緊急、案情重大或突發惡性案件。B級通緝令是公安部應各省級公安機關的請求而發布的緝捕在逃人員的命令。
A級通緝令簽發，繞不開武建設。
武建設把彭康叫到辦公室，喝斥道：“你們這是在做什麽？只是一起交通肇事案，怎麽就敢動用A級通緝令？多少大案、要案等着我們偵破，你這不是占用公安資源嗎？我告訴你，彭康，不是覺得自己是公安局副局長，就随意使用手中權利。”
武建設面色陰沉，有一句話雖然沒有說出來，但彭康聽明白了：我能讓你當局長，也能讓你下課！
彭康微不急不忙地解釋：“武廳長，雖然表面是交通肇事，但實際上卻是謀殺未遂。有群衆舉報，那輛紅色尼桑一直停在醫院門口，看到周如蘭出來之後突然加速撞擊，把周如蘭撞倒之後再次倒車準備碾壓。如果不是有群衆幫忙，恐怕周如蘭已經被碾壓致死。
是，我知道，周如蘭是您女兒，您不願意為親人開綠燈，不願意搞特殊化，但周如蘭可不只是您女兒，她還是人民警察，是我們的好同志。大庭廣衆之下公然襲警，性質惡劣、影響巨大，請您同意簽發A級通緝令。”
武建設擡起眼睛，盯着彭康，一言不發。
彭康毫不畏懼，與他目光相對。
兩秒之後，武建設淡淡道：“如蘭是我女兒，我自然關心她。既然你覺得這不算特殊化，那我同意了！請務必将兇手緝拿到案，審個一清二楚。”
彭康擡頭挺胸，敬了個舉手禮：“是！保證完成任務。”
走出武建設的辦公室，走廊一陣風吹來，彭康感覺後背冷嗖嗖的，這才意識到自己剛才緊張到後背冒汗。武建設的眼睛似乎有千鈞之重，讓他完全不敢生出反抗之心。如果不是有為苗慧讨公道的信念支持，恐怕他已經敗下陣來。
“叮鈴鈴……”
辦公室裏，電話鈴響了起來。
武建設接起電話，聽到那邊傳來汪曉泉的聲音，嘴角浮現出一個嘲諷的笑容：“好，沒問題，我接受組織的監督。”
晚上，武建設換上便裝，來到醫院。
苗慧身體機能在慢慢恢複，但依然昏迷不醒。
周如蘭與武如欣一左一右守在病床邊，寸步不離。武建設的到來，讓姐妹倆一下子緊張起來，同時站起。
“爸。”聲音弱弱的，這是武如欣。
“爸。”聲音冷靜，帶着一絲疑惑，這是周如蘭。
武建設點點頭，走到苗慧身邊，伸出手輕輕撫上她的額頭，眼睛裏滿是深情。
周如蘭與武如欣同時屏住呼吸，緊緊盯着他的一舉一動，生怕他突然拔管。姐妹倆那充滿提防的眼神，讓武建設的臉一下子便沉了下去。
武建設收回手，看着周如蘭：“你在緊張什麽？”
周如蘭有些艱難地咽下一口口水：“沒，我沒緊張。”
武建設的目光從她臉上掠過：“我與你母親夫妻近二十年，早已休戚與共。她好了，我才會好，大家才會好，這個道理，我想你應該懂得。”
周如蘭“嗯”了一聲。
“我們當警察的，随時都可能被犯罪份子盯上，生命安全受到威脅。但懲惡揚善是我們的職責，再害怕也要迎難而上。至于行兇撞你的人，現在已經發布A級通緝令，一定會把她抓捕歸案，你放心。”
武如欣的眼裏透出一絲光彩：“爸，A級通緝令嗎？那太好了！”
周如蘭卻很淡定：“謝謝爸。”
武建設看了她一眼，臉上毫無波瀾：“你向汪曉泉舉報我了？”
周如蘭心跳陡然加快，愣愣地看着眼前威嚴無比的繼父，半天沒有說話。
武建設泰然自若：“清者自清。我從一名小小刑警坐上副廳長這個位置，不知道背後有多少人舉報過，我不怕。苗慧自殺，引來省廳上下各種議論，更難聽的話我都聽過，這些不算什麽。你懷疑如烈是我的兒子……可有想過這件事情的後果？”
周如蘭終于找到自己的聲音：“我想過的。”
武建設眼睛一眯：“你雖不是我親生，但六歲起便叫我一聲爸，我與你有父女之誼。怎麽也和那些長舌婦一樣，懷疑起這個來了？”
周如蘭悄悄後退半步，身體接觸到病床床沿，感覺與母親貼在一起，這才尋找到對抗的底氣：“爸，媽媽自殺，總得有個原因！”
武建設：“苗慧是你媽媽，你們倆感情一直都很好。你大膽假設，我不怪你。你背後舉報我，我能理解。只是……”
他的語氣突然加重：“如果我能自證清白，你當如何？”
周如蘭的心髒越跳越快，唇抿得越來越緊。身體再一次後移，緊緊貼住床沿，她啞着聲音道：“如果是我錯了，我道歉。”
武建設的笑容裏透着冰冷：“道歉？沒有絲毫證據就敢舉報撫養你十幾年的父親，錯了只需要輕飄飄一句道歉，那還要我們警察做什麽！”
周如蘭被他逼出一份韌勁，努力挺起腰杆，大聲道：“那你要怎樣？”
武建設：“污我清白，這是不孝；質疑弟弟身份，這是不慈；母親還在昏迷之中，你卻偏要挑起內鬥。周如蘭，你不如你親生父親。”
周如蘭的心似被尖刀刺入，鮮血淋漓。
雙腿酸軟，再也支撐不住她站穩，一屁股坐倒在病床上。身體觸碰到苗慧的身體，蓋在被褥下的、沒有絲毫意識反映的身體。
從小到大，周如蘭都以周江勇為榜樣。
她記得父親高高舉起她，咧開嘴笑得燦爛無比。
她記得父親每次下班回來，要先洗幹淨手臉，才會來抱她。
她記得父親那雙極亮的眼睛裏，滿是歡喜與疼愛。
母親只要看到父親，眉眼就會變得彎彎，眸子裏的愛意滿得快要溢出來。身邊人都告訴她：你父親，是個英雄！你父親，即使身中數刀，依然忍着劇痛将罪犯抓捕。你父親，如果去演電影，絕對比那個誰更有名！
周如蘭知道自己模樣像父親，她也以父親為榮，努力成為像父親一樣、被所有人記住的英雄。
武建設太了解她，太知道這一刀要往哪裏紮。
刀光劍影。
武如欣吓得小臉煞白，呆若木雞。
周如蘭右手打着石膏、用繃帶吊在脖子上，只有左手能動。左手漸漸向後，撫過母親被褥下的雙腿。苗慧很怕癢，如果是過去，她肯定要笑着躲閃。可是現在，她絲毫知覺都沒有，一動不動。
為了母親，必須鼓起勇氣。
周如蘭深吸一口氣，擡頭看向武建設。眼前的武副廳長，穿着簡單的短袖白色襯衫，卧蠶明顯、眼角有紋、鬓生白發。原來，脫下那身威嚴的制服，他也不過是個普通的中年男人。
一念起，壓力漸消。
周如蘭緩緩站起，傲然而立：“母親向來堅強，到底是因為什麽跳樓？我想您作為她的枕邊人，也想知道原因。我是她的女兒，是凝着她骨血的孩子，想要為她讨一個公道，并不為錯。”
她的嘴角漸漸上揚，一個美麗的笑容浮現在臉上：“明知不可為，而為之。我的親生父親，也是這樣的人。我一直以他為榜樣，我相信他也會為我驕傲。”
武建設被她的笑容刺痛，眉頭緊皺：“多少人眼紅我的位置、盼着我們家分崩離析。汪曉泉和我平級，早就想把我位下馬，換他的親信上位。你倒好，偏偏在這個時候給他遞上刺刀，愚蠢！”
周如蘭道：“我不在意官位權勢，我只想要一個公道。”
武建設長嘆一聲，擡手揉了揉眉心，語重心長地說：“先前我擔心影響到你們的心情，所以很多事情都瞞着。現在既然你這麽想要一個公道，那我就告訴你吧。”
武如欣站在一旁，感覺到姐姐變得強大無比，足以與父親抗衡，內心生出崇拜之情，剛才急跳的心漸漸平複下來。可是聽到父親說要告訴她們關于母親的消息，一顆心又提了起來。
武建設從口袋裏取出一份化驗單，遞到周如蘭面前：“醫生在你母親的血液裏檢查出抗抑郁的藥物成分，我也在家裏翻出一瓶安非他酮。這段時間你們都忙，我感覺到你母親失眠、情緒低落、總愛忘事。唉！也怪我粗心，還以為她是更年期到了，有些情緒波動很正常，哪知道會發展到自殺……”
周如蘭沒有接那份化驗單。
武如欣卻動作迅速地拿了過來，飛快地浏覽，不知道為什麽竟然松了一口氣：“爸，你怎麽不早跟我們說？害得我和姐猜來猜去的。”
武建設慈愛地看着武如欣，擡起手輕輕拍了拍她腦袋：“這些負面情緒，我不想傳遞給你們。”
從情感上說，武如欣不希望父親是壞人。現在既然母親的自殺行為有了合理的解釋，她便很快接受這個結果，轉過臉看向周如蘭：“姐，你看這……”
周如蘭卻很冷靜，壓根就不相信眼前這張又輕又薄的化驗單。
如果沒有醫院門口被撞一事，恐怕周如蘭還會相信。但是經歷過生死之後，周如蘭對武建設已經産生警惕。
武建設如果查出苗慧有抑郁症，他早就到處宣揚，以洗脫自己的罪名，何至于現在才拿出化驗單？什麽叫在家裏翻出藥瓶？恐怕自己回家的時候，正碰上他在布置現場吧？
主管刑偵大案的武副廳長，想要為妻子自殺找個理由，實在是太容易。
沒有證據，不能輕舉妄動。周如蘭垂下眼簾：“我上班之後只有周末回家，也沒有關心她的身體。唉！說起來我也有錯，抑郁症患者最需要親人撫慰，只可惜……”
武建設是什麽人，聽弦知音，順着周如蘭的話開始自我檢讨：“是，可惜我工作太忙，沒有多關心你媽，竟然讓她有了輕生的念頭。”
武如欣淚如雨下，哽咽道：“我也不好，我期末考試期間事情多，一個月沒回家了。”
武建設輕嘆：“過去的事情，就讓它過去吧。我們一家人齊心協力，共度難關，希望你媽媽能夠快點醒過來。”
“嘀、嘀、嘀！”
儀器發出輕響。
Zhou Rulan glanced at Miao Hui, whose face was pale and eyes were tightly closed, and then looked at Wu Jianshe, who looked regretful. The closest thing to each other in the world is husband and wife. When you love her, you are affectionate with her; when you don't love her, you are like strangers.
Wu Jianshe said to Zhou Rulan, "Rulan, since we have resolved our differences, you should stop complaining to Wang Xiaoquan. We are a family, so why make things so tense? You also work in the public security system. If I have any problems, you will also be tarnished, which will be bad for your future."
Zhou Rulan suddenly understood. No wonder Deputy Director Wu was interested in talking to her so much today, it turned out that he was waiting for her here!
"Dad, since it's not your fault, then you don't have to worry about the investigation. You've been through so many ups and downs over the years, so you're not afraid of a simple paternity test, are you?"
Although Zhou Rulan's words were gentle, there was a sense of alienation in her politeness, which made Wu Jianshe very unhappy.
Wu Jianshe took a step forward, and was within arm's length of Zhou Rulan. He narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "You, must be my enemy?"
Wu Ruxin's breathing paused.
Zhou Rulan was not afraid. She held her head high and stood still: "No, I am not your enemy. I just want to know the truth."
Wu Jianshe raised her voice: "Rulie is the orphan of my comrade-in-arms. He was still a baby when I brought him back. You have watched him grow up little by little. He is taller than you now. He is already sixteen years old, a half-grown boy. As his sister, you are not afraid of hurting his feelings by questioning his identity?"
Zhou Rulan clenched her fists tightly and encouraged herself silently: "I have this suspicion, and I need confirmation!"
Wu Jianshe sneered: "Just because of your foolish suspicion, you want to force me and Rulie to do a paternity test? Do you know that this is an insult to my character! It is a contempt for Rulie's feelings!"
Zhou Rulan's palms felt painful from being pinched by her fingertips, but this helped her keep her mind clear.
"Yes! I have my reasons for suspecting that Rulie is your biological child. Living in the same home, you can always tell something. It was obviously your mother who raised Rulie, but he looks, looks, and has a temper that is more like you. Xinxin and I both went to nearby schools and have excellent grades, so why did Rulie send him to the best boarding school? Rulie's biological father passed away, but he must have relatives on his mother's and grandparents' side. Why didn't any of his blood relatives come to visit him until he was sixteen years old? Not a single letter, a single phone call, or a single package?"
"You!" Wu Jianshe felt his authority was challenged for the first time when he was questioned in public. He was so angry that he couldn't control his emotions for a moment and slapped the man in the face.
“Bang!”
There was a crisp sound, and several fingerprints appeared on Zhou Rulan's pale face in an instant.
Wu Ruxin was so scared that she rushed over and hugged Wu Jianshe's arm, begging, "Dad, please don't hit my sister! My sister was hit by a car and her injuries haven't healed yet. She is still a patient."
Zhou Rulan slowly raised her left hand and stroked her left cheek, with a compelling light flashing in her eyes.
From childhood to adulthood, no one has ever touched her.
Zhou Rulan is well-behaved and sensible. She is considerate of her mother's difficulty in remarrying and never argues with her younger brothers and sisters. She is very much like an elder sister. How could such a child, whether Miao Hui or Wu Jianshe, who usually never say a harsh word to her, hit her?
Wu Jianshe felt a little regretful after giving the slap, but he always valued the authority of his parents. He coughed, broke away from Wu Ruxin's hand, and looked a little vacant.
"Uh... Rulan, I'm your father! How can a daughter question her father's character? If you have any doubts, tell me in private. It just so happens that the Provincial Department's Criminal Technology Center has introduced DNA testing equipment, so it's not difficult to check. Why do you have to make it known to everyone? When the results come out, how will you face me and your brother?"
Zhou Rulan sneered and leaned forward slightly, showing her tough side in front of Wu Jianshe for the first time: "Don't worry, the organization will supervise everything. If the facts prove that I am wrong, then I will naturally leave this home."
Wu Jianshe said disdainfully: "Can you leave this home? You were born and raised here, and I arranged your job for you. Do you think you can get away from it all?"
Zhou Rulan was successfully irritated by him and shouted: "I can apply to be a drug-detecting police officer at the border, and be an excellent drug-detecting police officer like my father!"
Wu Jianshe looked at her deeply, his eyes full of mockery: "Okay, it's a deal."
Zhou Rulan nodded heavily: "It's a deal!"
Wu Ruxin looked at this and then that, tears welling up in her eyes. She said weakly, "Don't, don't. Dad, don't force me; sister, don't be angry..."
Zhou Rulan and Wu Jianshe looked at each other, the tension was strong and ready to explode.
Wu Jianshe suddenly smiled and said, "Okay, very good." Then he turned and left.