As Yang Zhiguo recounted the events, Zhang Anjiu's expression turned grim.
"Alright, I understand, Old Yang. There must be some misunderstanding. I'll send someone over right away."
...
"I know your status, but this isn't the military. Here, I call the shots."
"Quite the attitude. I'll say this, you won't be able to take me away today. Try me if you don't believe me."
"Boss, why waste words with him? See if he's still so arrogant once he's inside. Even the toughest bone will have to behave then."
"What, is the authority given to you by your superiors to intimidate people with your bluster? If you want cooperation with the investigation, we have nothing to say. But if you want to use your position to oppress people, we won't stand for it."
Wu Zheng entered from outside and overheard this, his expression immediately soured.
Gu Xingdong, being suspended, was not in uniform. Wu Zheng, however, had just come from the barracks. Facing the uniform, the other party's tone inevitably softened.
"When did we oppress people? What, is he still justified after beating someone into serious injury?"
"If you're not oppressing, what are you holding in your hand? A toy? Do you want me to take out what I have on me and show you?"
The other party was immediately choked to the point of blushing and sputtering. He glared at Wu Zheng, speechless for a long time.
As the two sides were in a stalemate, three or four more people entered from the doorway. They first glanced in Wan Liansheng's direction, then quickly approached Gu Xingdong and Wu Zheng.
Apologetically, one of them said, "Gentlemen, I am Zhou Changbai, the deputy director from the city. This is all a misunderstanding. Our Director Zhang immediately sent me over after receiving a call from your leader, saying that it's imperative to clarify things. This is absolutely not an arrest, merely cooperating with an investigation back at the station. It won't take long, just a routine explanation of the situation."
Wu Zheng's expression softened slightly upon hearing him. He turned to look at Gu Xingdong, who nodded.
Wan Liansheng's expression was not good, but he said nothing. Everyone walked outside together.
"What's going on? Why were they taken away?" Li Xiulan watched the receding figures of the group, her heart filled with anxiety.
"Mom, don't worry, Xingdong will be fine," Chen Lishu comforted her, then stood up. "Sister Xiaoyue, come out with me."
Li Xiulan, worried, said, "Lishu, where are you going in your condition?"
"Mom, don't worry, I'll be fine and will be back soon."
After speaking, Chen Lishu walked out with Zhao Qiuyue.
In the sweltering heat of August, the scorching sun baked the cement road, and even through the soles of their shoes, the heat could be felt.
Chen Lishu and Zhao Qiuyue arrived at the provincial newspaper office. After registering in the lobby, she went straight to Zou Liang's office.
"Chen Lishu? Why are you here?" Zou Liang, seeing her condition, quickly offered her his office chair.
Chen Lishu did not stand on ceremony and sat down.
"Zou Liang, to be frank, I've come to ask for a favor."
Then, Chen Lishu explained the entire situation.
"The people should be arriving at the city bureau soon. I hope you can personally go there and conduct a follow-up report. The headline should be 'Soldiers Can Bleed But Not Weep.' Please finish the article today. Consider it me owing you a favor. Furthermore, no matter the cost, I want this report to be published in the most prominent place in the newspaper tomorrow morning."
Since the Jiang family wanted to play, she would play with them, but the consequences would be something they could not bear.
"Alright, I'll take people over now." Zou Liang understood the gravity of the situation. With his keen reporter's instinct and Chen Lishu's request, he immediately grabbed his work ID, called another colleague, and hurried away.
At the city bureau, Yang Zhiguo arrived almost at the same time as Gu Xingdong and Wu Zheng. As soon as Zhang Anjiu saw him, he rushed forward with a smile, "What's the big deal that requires you to come here in such a manner?"
"Can't be helped, you know my temper. I only worry about a couple of things. My subordinate got a bit carried away and hit someone a couple of times, so I'll discipline him behind closed doors. But if anyone touches my people, that's absolutely impossible."
Yang Zhiguo glanced around as he spoke. "Why isn't the other party here? I originally intended to smooth things over, as we did indeed act a bit too harshly. If the matter was suppressed, it would be over. But now, the higher-ups have stated that since our internal disciplinary action is concluded, we must pursue the other party's legal responsibility."
"Commander, Cheng Yi, Jiang Chengyi is still in the hospital with serious injuries and probably cannot come," Wan Liansheng quickly explained when he heard that the situation was turning bad.
"Cannot come?!" Yang Zhiguo's eyes suddenly narrowed. "How could he go to the Military Region compound in the first place? As long as he has a breath left, he must come to me. Otherwise, why should my people come to cooperate with an investigation? What's the point of cooperating if the involved party isn't present!"
Saying this, he beckoned Gu Xingdong and Wu Zheng and turned to leave.
"I'll go right away. We'll carry him here if necessary." In this situation, even the bureau chief had to show respect. Wan Liansheng dared not delay and turned back to fetch someone.
Thinking of the director's gaze, he also felt some regret. If not for his wife being too difficult at home, even taking their son back to her parents' home, he wouldn't have... alas, it was too late to say anything now. He had to find a way to rectify it.
"Since everyone is here, let's begin. I don't mean to steal the spotlight, but this matter needs a conclusion. Old Zhang, tell me, according to your regulations, is trespassing a crime?"
Yang Zhiguo spoke first.
Zhang Anjiu's face darkened. This wasn't stealing the spotlight? Fine, given Yang Zhiguo's temper, being a foil was acceptable.
"It certainly is."
Jiang Chengyi and the old Mrs. Jiang instinctively looked at Wan Liansheng, who could only hang his head like a quail.
At this moment, running into the line of fire meant his job was over. Even for his brother-in-law's sake, he wouldn't sacrifice his own future.
"I was present at the scene. If I hadn't rushed back in time, who knows what would have happened to their wife and children. Now, the old lady is also traumatized, and their pregnant daughter-in-law is confined to bed, unable to get up... This is the fact of the matter. I am a witness. How do you wish to proceed? Through the normal legal process, or will we handle it from our end? However, you should know that if we handle it, the nature of the crime completely changes: assaulting a soldier and their family. You should carefully consider the consequences."
Old Mrs. Jiang and Jiang Chengyi's faces turned ashen.
They thought that by causing a little trouble, they could bring down Gu Xingdong, and with the Public Security Bureau and Deputy Director Wan Liansheng on their side, they were confident. However, they never imagined that Yang Zhiguo's attitude would be so resolute and unyielding.