With red eyes, Zhong Te lunged at Zhang Cheng, his hand aimed straight for his collar.
Zhang Cheng's eyes turned cold, his body shifted slightly, and his right hand moved with lightning speed, grabbing Zhong Te's wrist and thrusting his right knee upwards.
"Bang!"
Zhong Te let out a muffled groan, arching his body like a boiled shrimp in pain, his face contorted.
Director Yu's face darkened, and he shouted sharply, "Stop!"
Zhang Cheng released Zhong Te, took two steps back, and shrugged: "Director Yu, it wasn't me who caused this trouble. What is Deputy Director Zhong doing?"
Director Yu turned his gaze to Zhong Te, his voice icy: "Deputy Director Zhong, what are you trying to do?"
Zhong Te clutched his stomach, gritting his teeth: "Director Yu, I suspect it! It was him, Zhang Cheng! He colluded with Wang Huanchun and his men to deliberately lure the villagers of Jin Village into the experimental base and then release the poison gas!"
Director Yu's face was so dark it could drip ink, and he cursed inwardly: You think you're so smart! Are all the others blind?
The gas leak and the accidental death were due to his dereliction of duty.
But compared to uncovering the Japanese stronghold in Jincun, this dereliction of duty has a lot of room for maneuver.
He couldn't bear the stigma of harming the villagers.
Of course, he could say he was unaware of the situation and that it was all done by Zhang Cheng and Wang Huanchun.
But is that even a fool's idea?
"Deputy Chief Zhong!" Director Yu said sternly, "When handling cases, evidence is essential!"
Zhao Daming spoke up at the opportune moment: "Director Yu, there's a toxic gas leak at the experimental base. We need to notify the province to send experts as soon as possible. Let's go back to the county first."
"That makes sense." Director Yu nodded. "Leave a few people to guard this place and prevent other villagers from wandering in. The rest of you, return to the county!"
The villagers of Huangdian Village looked at each other in disbelief. Their village of over 300 people was gone just like that.
"Those damned Japanese devils!"
"Yes! If it weren't for those damned bastards, the villagers of Jin Village wouldn't have died!"
"I'll march on that island nation sooner or later and take my revenge!"
Director Yu walked slowly to Zhang Cheng's side and patted him on the shoulder with a complicated expression: "If you need anything in the county in the future, come to me. I'll help you if I can."
"Thank you, Director Yu."
Director Yu shook his head and walked away.
Zhao Daming followed behind him, without saying another word to Zhang Cheng.
Zhong Te swung his wrist, glaring at Zhang Cheng with venomous eyes.
A group of about a hundred people left Jin Village along the path.
Zhang Cheng mingled among the villagers of Huangdian Village.
There were police officers all in front of them, so the villagers didn't dare to speak loudly and just muttered in hushed tones.
"Ergouzi, what's going on in Jin Village? Why are there so many Japanese soldiers?"
"Sigh, most of the people in Jin Village migrated from the north. I heard that when the Japanese surrendered, many of them who didn't have time to escape hid in the crowd."
"The prince and his men are really ruthless; they killed them all in one go."
"Shh! Don't talk nonsense! That's a poison gas leak, what does it have to do with the Prince?"
"Who cares? I'll go back and set up memorial tablets for the prince and the others!"
Zhang Cheng remained silent the entire way.
More than two hundred lives were lost in Jincun. This is a huge matter. If we are not careful, the entire Funing County will be shaken.
However, if handled properly, it may not be a bad thing.
It all depends on how the leaders in Funing County play this game.
More than an hour later, Zhang Cheng returned to Zhangjia Village.
"Er Gouzi, what's going on in Jin Village? There are guns and cannons everywhere!"
As soon as I entered the store, the old village chief came up to me, looking anxious.
Zhang Cheng briefly explained the situation.
Upon hearing this, the old village chief was filled with emotion. He walked out of the shop, faced the direction of Jin Village, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, your righteousness is truly admirable!"
At this moment, Li Xingshan, leaning on his cane and supported by Li Hongzhuang, slowly walked over.
Last time at the ancestral hall, he was thoroughly choked by Zhang Cheng.
At this moment, Li Xingshan looked at Zhang Cheng, his cloudy eyes swirling with emotions.
"Zhang Ergouzi, is there a fight breaking out in Jin Village?"
The old village chief quickly stepped forward to help him up, trying to ease the tension between the two: "Grandpa, Er Gouzi really gave our Zhang family village chief a lot of face this time he went to Jin Village! There are quite a few Japanese soldiers hiding in Jin Village..."
As Li Xingshan listened, his gaze towards Zhang Cheng grew increasingly complex. Finally, he sighed deeply and gave a thumbs-up: "As expected of someone from my Zhangjia Village! Bold and ruthless!"
He was also a shrewd old man, and with just a few words, he guessed that Wang Huanchun and his men had traded their lives for each other, cutting off the Japanese army's lifeline.
"Er Gouzi, those old guys are gone. Now that you have the ability, don't forget to take care of their descendants."
“Grandpa, I understand.”
"Hmm!" Li Xingshan smiled and nodded when Zhang Cheng called him "Grandpa." "You've made something of yourself. There's nothing more I can teach you. Just one more thing: in this world, besides blood relatives, there are fellow villagers. When you're away from home, help out your fellow villagers. Don't worry, those boys, I watched them grow up, they're all good kids, they won't be ungrateful."
Zhang Cheng listened quietly.
Even without Li Xingshan saying it, he had always done it this way.
These days, hometown sentiment is very strong.
Li Xingshan waved his hand, and with Li Hongzhuang's support, turned and left.
After some thought, the old village chief decided to go to Wang Village. Wang Huanchun's righteousness made him feel that the relationship between the two villages should be eased.
After everyone had left, Zhang Cheng turned around and went back to the consignment shop.
When Shi Yangyang saw him come in, a smile spread across her face, her two dimples appearing and disappearing: "The water's boiled, why don't you wash up?"
"Yes, I should take a shower." Zhang Cheng was indeed dirty and tired.
More than half an hour later, Zhang Cheng changed into a brand-new Zhongshan suit and sat on the rattan chair with a little discomfort.
These pants were made by a tailor at Shi Yangyang's request.
Originally, Shi Yangyang wanted to make him a few sets of thin cotton-padded jackets.
The trouser maker said that Zhang Cheng's status was different now, and he could not dress casually, so he had three sets of Zhongshan suits made.
Zhang Cheng touched the pocket on his chest and thought that it would look even better if he put a pen in it.
Shi Yangyang moved a small stool and sat behind him, then gently massaged his shoulders.
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