Secretary Liu's gaze was as calm as a deep pool, but Zhong Te felt as if an invisible giant hand was gripping his throat, and every word weighed heavily on his heart.
“The law…the law is supreme.” Zhong Te’s voice was hoarse, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Since the law is so powerful, why arrest people without a warrant? Why use such brutal methods?" Secretary Liu's tone was flat, yet it made Zhong Te's legs go weak.
He wanted to defend himself, to say how arrogant and provocative Zhang Cheng was, but the words were swallowed back by that mountain-like gaze, and he couldn't utter a single word.
“This police uniform you wear was given to you by the people. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.” Secretary Liu picked up a white porcelain cup, his fingertips gently stroking the rim. “Zhong Te, I once thought you were a promising talent.”
"Uncle...I...I was wrong! I have let you down!" Zhong Te lowered his head abruptly, overwhelmed with shame.
“Having grudges is normal. But to be blinded by hatred and use public office to vent personal grievances is utterly foolish.” Secretary Liu put down his cup, his voice turning colder. “I’ll ask you one more time: do you even deserve to wear this police uniform?”
Zhong Te suddenly looked up, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes, then said firmly, "Uncle, I can! I promise I will never take revenge for personal grudges again, and I will definitely be a qualified policeman!"
Secretary Liu looked at him, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashing in the depths of her eyes, but in the end she simply waved her hand dismissively: "Go out."
Zhong Te felt as if he had been granted a pardon and turned around in a panic.
"etc."
Zhong Te paused in his steps.
"From now on, address me by my job title at work."
“Yes… Secretary Liu.” Zhong Te practically fled the office.
With a bandage wrapped around his forehead, Zhang Cheng sat on the back of Zhao Daming's motorcycle, bumping along as they arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative.
Zhao Daming gave a few instructions and then left in a hurry.
Inside the supply and marketing cooperative, Zhang Jianhao and his team had already packed the offerings.
"Brother, what's wrong with your head..." Mo Qijing came up to him, but when she saw the wound on Zhang Cheng's forehead, she paused.
"It's nothing, just a minor bump," Zhang Cheng waved his hand. "Where's Director Zhao?"
"Director Zhao has been going to the municipal party committee a lot these past few days. Everyone in the company is saying that he's probably going to be promoted." Mo Qijing lowered her voice.
Zhang Cheng nodded: "That's good."
"Brother, everything's ready. Shall we head back to the village?" Zhang Jianhao leaned closer.
“Go back.” Zhang Cheng turned to Mo Qijing. “Sister, I’m in a hurry to go back. I’ll treat you to dinner another day.”
"Okay, be careful on the road."
The group picked up their carrying poles and left the supply and marketing cooperative.
More than four hours later, the setting sun was like blood, and the outline of Zhangjia Village appeared in the distance.
At the village entrance, Aunt Hua was chatting with someone when she spotted them with sharp eyes.
"Er Gouzi! Er Gouzi and the others are back!"
Aunt Hua jogged up to greet them, her gaze sweeping over their brand-new suits and leather shoes. Then she noticed the wound on Zhang Cheng's forehead, and her smile faded slightly: "This is... you've made something of yourself, but the road wasn't very safe?"
"Auntie, where's Yangyang?" Zhang Cheng changed the subject.
"Zhao Zhiqing is with them, at the village committee. Hasn't Big Head come back?"
"The shop is busy."
"It's good to be busy, it's good to be busy." Aunt Hua sighed, then was amused by Li Fuguo showing off his new clothes.
Upon entering the store, Zhang Cheng asked in a low voice, "Auntie, where is Shengzi...?"
The smile on Aunt Hua's face vanished completely. She pointed to the back of the village and said, "He died a violent death outside and couldn't enter the ancestral hall, so they built a shed on the hillside behind the village."
"Let's go see Shengzi first."
The thatched hut was simple, with a thin-skinned coffin sitting in the center, not yet sealed.
Several elderly women stood guard, and when Zhang Cheng and his group came in, they silently offered incense.
Zhang Cheng accepted it and, along with Zhang Jianhao and the others, respectfully bowed three times.
Shengzi was young and died tragically. His funeral hall was deserted, and his parents were nowhere to be seen—the white-haired do not send off the black-haired.
After exchanging a few words with the villagers who were keeping vigil, Zhang Cheng led his men, his steps heavy, toward Shengzi's house.
The courtyard gate was ajar, and the faint sound of weeping pierced his heart like needles.
Shengzi's parents sat in the main room, with several old aunts wiping away tears beside them.
"Uncle, Aunt." Zhang Cheng's throat tightened, and he walked up to the two of them and knelt down with a "plop".
Zhang Jianhao and the others also knelt down in unison.
Shengzi's father's eyes were bloodshot and red. He swayed and was supported by others. He stared intently at Zhang Cheng, his lips trembling. After a long while, he finally managed to utter a hoarse voice: "Ergouzi... my son... just like that, gone..."
"Uncle, I'm so sorry!" Zhang Cheng kowtowed deeply. "Shengzi died for me. From now on, I will take care of you two!"
He took out two thousand yuan from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.
Shengzi's father looked at the wad of money, then suddenly raised his hand and opened it: "I don't want your money! I only want my son!"
"Uncle!" Zhang Cheng handed over the money again, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "This is what Shengzi deserves, and it's what I should do. Take it and live well, otherwise Shengzi won't have peace of mind down there."
Shengzi's mother was already crying her heart out.
The atmosphere inside the room was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
Zhang Cheng kowtowed a few more times before standing up under Shengzi's father's complicated gaze: "Uncle, Aunt, let's go to the mourning hall to help out first."
Shengzi's father waved his hand weakly.
After leaving Shengzi's house, Zhang Cheng walked with his head down, just as he ran into the old village chief who had rushed over after hearing the news.
The old village chief looked at Zhang Cheng with a complicated and worried expression: "Er Gouzi, tell me honestly, what kind of business have you been doing in the county? Shengzi... how did he get beaten to death?"
Zhang Cheng briefly recounted the attack on the national highway, omitting the details of his revenge.
The old village chief was horrified and sighed repeatedly, "This world... sigh!"
At this moment, Li Qiming also came over and his eyes lit up when he saw Zhang Cheng and the others in their outfits.
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