Zhao Zhengyong stared at the two stacks of brand-new 100-yuan notes on the table, his eyes first widening in astonishment, then burning with rage.
"Zhang Cheng, this is bribing a public official! For this alone, I can put you in jail!"
Zhang Cheng chuckled and glanced at him.
"Officer Zhao, how much is a regular police officer's monthly salary? Thirty? Forty? No, I heard it went up, eighty? Or one hundred?"
His tone was calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure.
"A hundred yuan a month isn't enough to get you anywhere in the police station. You think I'd bribe you?"
Zhang Cheng's smile deepened.
"Two thousand yuan is enough for you to buy a 100-square-meter apartment. Are you really going to refuse it for that little bit of salary?"
“I will not be corrupted by money! Take your stinking money and get out!” Zhao Zhengyong’s neck turned bright red.
"not enough?"
Zhang Cheng pulled out another stack of ten-yuan notes from his pocket and tossed them onto the table, placing them alongside the previous stack.
"Add another two thousand. That's enough for house renovations and getting married. If you refuse again, I'll have to find someone else. There are more than just you at the Jiefang Street Police Station."
He made a gesture as if to take the money back from the table.
"etc!"
Zhao Zhengyong's Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes flickered, and his voice was somewhat hoarse.
"What do you want me to do? I won't do anything illegal or disorderly!"
Zhang Cheng curled his lip.
"Four thousand yuan is enough for you to commit murder and arson, and you're talking about breaking the law?"
"You!" Zhao Zhengyong trembled with anger, his eyes reddening as he stared intently at Zhang Cheng.
"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore."
Zhang Cheng toned down his jest; he had his reasons for choosing Zhao Zhengyong. This man was the most suitable.
Zhao Zhengyong was breathing heavily, his teeth clenched.
"Speak, what do you want me to do?"
Zhang Cheng stepped forward slowly.
Zhao Zhengyong instinctively stepped back, but then realized his identity as a police officer, his face burning with embarrassment, and he forcibly stopped.
Zhang Cheng leaned close to Zhao Zhengyong's ear, his voice barely audible.
The astonishment on Zhao Zhengyong's face deepened.
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he blinked, somewhat incredulous: "That's it?"
"That's right, it's that simple. Help me this time, and I won't bother you again."
"Okay!" Zhao Zhengyong practically spat out the word through gritted teeth.
"Then I'll take my leave." Zhang Cheng turned around with satisfaction and strode away.
The moment the door closed, Zhao Zhengyong leaned against it, panting heavily, his back soaked with sweat. He stared intently at the four thousand yuan on the table, as if he were staring at a ferocious beast ready to devour him.
Four thousand yuan!
He rushed forward, grabbed the money, his fingers trembling. After struggling for a moment, he opened a drawer, stuffed the money into a rusty tin biscuit tin, and sealed it tightly.
Outside the tenement building, Zhang Cheng glanced back at the small window on the second floor, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Zhao Zhengyong was Zhong Te's most trusted henchman at the Jiefang Street Police Station.
Zhang Cheng never liked being passively attacked. In his pre-rebirth field battalion, the motto was: Charge! Charge! Defeat all enemies!
This time, we must give Zhong Te a hard time in the county.
It's not impossible to strip him of his tiger skin.
So what if he's Secretary Liu's prospective son-in-law? Those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those in power. If he really pulls off a few major cases, Secretary Liu won't have it easy either!
After leaving the tenement building, Zhang Cheng turned into the Funing County Daily office.
He found a young reporter, handed him three hundred yuan and a note, and whispered a few words. The reporter hesitated at first, looked at the money, then at the contents of the note, his expression shifting several times, before finally nodding.
After finishing his business, Zhang Cheng went straight to the county hospital.
Xiao Tao and Zhang Weiguo are still there; we need to go check on how Xiao Tao's leg injury is recovering.
The inpatient department on the third floor of the hospital.
Zhang Weiguo yawned, while Xiao Tao stared blankly at the ceiling.
Eight days have passed, we've talked about everything we could, and my bones are practically rusting from exhaustion.
"Brother Weiguo, when can I be discharged from the hospital?" Xiao Tao asked weakly.
"The doctor said you need to rest for another month or two." Zhang Weiguo also looked distressed.
The ward door was pushed open.
Their eyes lit up at the same time.
"Nurse Liu, what's good to eat today?" Zhang Weiguo stood up abruptly.
Liu Yihan approached with a smile and placed the lunchbox on the bedside table: "Pork and chive dumplings."
She opened the lunchbox, and a delicious aroma wafted out.
"Nurse Liu's cooking is amazing!" Xiao Tao took the dumplings and ate them with gusto.
"By the way, Zhang Cheng hasn't come to see you today yet?" Liu Yihan asked casually.
"No!" Zhang Weiguo replied vaguely.
"elder brother!"
Xiao Tao suddenly looked excitedly towards the door.
Liu Yihan quickly turned her head and saw Zhang Cheng walk in wearing a sharp suit. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and then she giggled.
"Zhang Cheng, you, as their older brother, have finally remembered to come and see them?"
Zhang Cheng stepped forward and smiled, "I've been busy lately, just got back from the village. Nurse Liu, how is Xiao Tao recovering? Is he ready to be discharged?"
"The recovery is going well. If conditions permit, I suggest staying a few more days."
"Brother, let me be discharged from the hospital! I'm going crazy from being cooped up here!" Xiao Tao wailed.
Liu Yihan blinked, turned to Xiao Tao, and feigned grievance: "Is it because my cooking is too bad that you can't stand it?"
"Huh? Nurse Liu, that's not what I meant..." Xiao Tao said anxiously.
Liu Yihan chuckled: "Just kidding, look how anxious you are."
She then looked at Zhang Cheng and said, "By the way, Zhang Cheng, my brother-in-law has been talking about you a lot lately."
"Director Zhou wanted to see me? What's up?"
"How would I know!" Liu Yihan's eyes darted around. "You should go check on him; he should be in his office. I have something to do, so I'll be going now!"
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