"You can't use the phone without booking a room! You'll have to pay if you do!"
"Money!" Zhang Cheng growled.
Brother Dao quickly rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a handful of loose banknotes and coins.
Zhang Cheng grabbed two yuan and slammed it on the counter. He then snatched the telephone and dialed a number with trembling fingers.
"Beep...beep...click".
It's connected!
Zhang Cheng's tense heart relaxed slightly.
"Who is this?" came Director Zhao's familiar voice from the phone.
"Director Zhao, it's me, Zhang Cheng! Does the supply and marketing cooperative still have any firecrackers?"
"Firecrackers? We still have some in stock. What's up?"
"Could you do me a favor and open the door at the supply and marketing cooperative right now? I need to buy firecrackers urgently! It's extremely urgent!"
"Okay! Don't rush, I'll be right there!"
"Thank you for your help, Director Zhao!"
"You little brat, why are you being so polite with me!"
After hanging up the phone, Zhang Cheng immediately turned to Cheng Agou: "You, go to the supply and marketing cooperative right now! Bring out all the firecrackers for me!"
"Yes!" Although Cheng Agou was puzzled, he carried out the order without hesitation and rushed out of the hotel.
Zhang Cheng took a breath, picked up the phone again, dialed the paging service, and called Zhao Daming.
Not long after, the call came back.
"I am Zhao Daming, who is looking for me?"
"Brother, it's me!" Zhang Cheng glanced at the hotel sign. "I'm at the Da Hong Huo Hotel! How much cash do you have on hand? Lend me all of it!"
Without hesitation, Zhao Daming on the other end of the phone replied, "Okay! I'll go home and get it right away! I have two or three thousand, and if that's not enough, I'll borrow more!"
"Enough! Hurry up!"
After hanging up the phone, Zhang Cheng leaned against the counter, waiting quietly, his chest heaving violently.
A dozen minutes later, a piercing roar of a motorcycle came from afar.
Zhao Daming rushed into the hotel in a flurry of activity.
"Brother, here's the money!" He glanced at Brother Dao and Liu Zhongren, and without asking any questions, he directly stuffed a heavy cloth bag into Zhang Cheng's hand.
Zhang Cheng handed the bag to Brother Dao, his voice icy cold and devoid of any warmth.
"Go to the supply and marketing cooperative. If you don't have enough money, you can buy on credit and put it on my tab!"
"Remember my words, let the sound of firecrackers resound throughout Funing County!"
"Yes!" Brother Dao took the cloth bag, turned around, and disappeared into the night.
"Brother, what exactly happened?" Zhao Daming asked, frowning as he looked at Zhang Cheng's pale face.
"Brother, take me to the rented room behind the clothing store."
"With your injury... can you ride a motorcycle?"
"I can't worry about that anymore!"
"Walk!"
Without saying another word, Zhao Daming bent down, hoisted Zhang Cheng onto his back, and strode out.
Liu Zhongren was left standing there, looking completely bewildered.
Motorcycles sped through deserted streets late at night.
"Brother! What happened?!" Zhao Daming shouted at the top of his lungs, the sound of the wind filling his ears.
"Zhang Jianhao and his men bought guns!" Zhang Cheng's voice pierced through the wind and slammed into Zhao Daming's mind.
"What?!"
Zhao Daming's hand trembled, and the front of the car tilted slightly.
"Where did you get that gun?!"
"A trafficker from Shenzhen!"
A Shenzhen resident? Zhao Daming's eyes sharpened instantly; this was a big deal!
Soon, the motorcycle braked suddenly and stopped downstairs in front of the rented house.
As Zhang Cheng got out of the car, the excruciating pain in his abdomen made his vision go black, and cold sweat instantly soaked his clothes.
With Zhao Daming's help, he climbed the stairs step by step, gritting his teeth.
He knew that Zhang Jianhao and the others had most likely already left, but what if they had?
Light was still shining through the window of the rented room!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Zhang Cheng raised his hand and pounded on the door with all his might.
The door wasn't locked.
It opened immediately upon hearing the call.
"elder brother!"
A thin figure was about to walk out when he saw Zhang Cheng at the door. He turned pale with fright and lowered his head abruptly, like a child who had done something wrong.
It's Xiao Tao.
"Where are Zhang Jianhao and the others?" Zhang Cheng's voice was as cold as ice.
“…” Xiao Tao stammered, unable to utter a single word.
Zhang Cheng was so angry that his chest felt tight, and he wished he could kick him.
"Waaah..." Xiao Tao's eyes instantly reddened, and he cried out in a sob, "Brother! Gang Ge and the others... they won't let me go with them... Waaah!"
Hold!
Zhang Cheng cursed under his breath and suddenly turned to look at Zhao Daming.
"Brother! Get back to the station immediately! Conduct an emergency drill in your capacity as the police station chief!"
Zhao Daming's lips twitched violently.
Conducting a drill in the middle of the night? If this gets out, the punishment will be lenient!
But looking into Zhang Cheng's bloodshot eyes, he only said one word.
"Can!"
How do you want to act?
Zhang Cheng's voice was frighteningly calm.
"The target of the exercise is the Guoyun Hotel."
"Exercise details..."
"Suppress and wipe out armed bandits!"
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