A collective gasp escaped the officers, sweat beading on their brows. Zhang Peng’s legs felt like jelly.
“Didn’t you say Yu Zeyang was dead? Yet here he is, perfectly alive!” Liu Yan, finding what she perceived as irrefutable evidence, demanded of Yu Zeyang with righteous indignation.
Zhang Peng and the others were struck speechless, a flicker of panic crossing their eyes.
“Zhang Peng, have I spoiled you too much? You dare do such a thing? Don’t you want to be a police officer anymore?” Zhang Qiang, his brow furrowed, roared at Zhang Peng, his voice a mixture of anger and disappointment.
When Yu Zeyang’s secretary had emerged from Zhang Peng’s office beaming, Zhang Qiang had sensed something was amiss and followed. He never imagined the man would be so audacious!
“I’m sorry, Captain, I’ll never do it again! It was all his fault, he forced me!” Faced with such an onslaught, Zhang Peng knew the game was up. He pointed at Yu Zeyang, pleading for mercy.
“Zhang Peng, you son of a bitch!” Yu Zeyang, who had intended to maintain a defiant stance, was furious that Zhang Peng had surrendered so quickly. His eyes blazed with rage.
“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to Er Zhu!” Zhang Qiang shot Zhang Peng a look of bitter disappointment, then nodded apologetically to Er Zhu. The thought of having such a scumbag on his team shamed him.
“I’m sorry, brother. The Yu family is too powerful; I really can’t afford to offend them.” Hearing Zhang Qiang’s subtle hint, Zhang Peng quickly understood. He unclasped the handcuffs while muttering apologies.
“As public officials, for abusing your power for personal gain, all of you are hereby dismissed!”
Zhang Peng started to apologize again, but Zhang Qiang’s words stopped him.
“Don’t do that, Captain. We truly know we were wrong. Please give us another chance!”
“Brother, I’m sorry. We are truly powerless. Please forgive us this once!”
“Waaah, I just got promoted, I don’t want to be fired!”
Hearing this, the other officers descended into panic. Some pleaded with Zhang Qiang, some looked at Er Zhu, and one even burst into tears. If they had known the outcome would be like this, they wouldn’t have gotten involved even at gunpoint.
“Fired? What right do you, a mere police captain, have to fire me? I’m Director Wu’s brother-in-law!” Zhang Peng, his shame giving way to rage, sneered. His eyes were filled with arrogance and disdain. He had admitted his mistake, but he hadn’t expected Zhang Qiang to push his luck. Clearly, he had been too lenient, making Zhang Qiang forget the vast difference between them.
“What? Director Wu’s brother-in-law?” Zhang Peng’s revelation sent a fresh wave of anxiety through Liu Yan. She glanced worriedly at Zhang Qiang, then at Er Zhu. She knew Director Wu of the police station; he was notoriously protective of his own. If Director Wu intervened, Zhang Peng would surely not be fired. But if that happened, he would undoubtedly hold a grudge against Er Zhu, and their fruit stall business would be in jeopardy.
“Er Zhu, perhaps you should say something. Let’s just let this matter go,” Liu Yan whispered to Er Zhu, her voice a mix of anger and helplessness.
Er Zhu merely glanced at Liu Yan, remaining silent. Zhang Qiang, too, was rendered speechless, angered but afraid to speak out. While he could dismiss other officers without issue, firing Zhang Peng was beyond his authority.
“Heh, why the silence? Weren’t you the one who was so eager to help others? Weren’t you the one who loved to right wrongs?” Seeing Zhang Qiang’s hesitant demeanor, Zhang Peng knew he had made the right gamble. He adopted a嚣张 (xiāo zhāng - arrogant) tone.
“Don’t worry, with me, Zhang Peng, around, no one can fire you!” Zhang Peng’s gaze flickered towards the trembling officers as he spoke, preparing to re-cuff Er Zhu.
“Let go of me, you idiot!” Hearing this, Yu Zeyang, as if finding his own backer, struggled violently, a look of contempt in his eyes.
Although Zhang Qiang was furious, he could only release Yu Zeyang, considering Zhang Peng’s connection to the director. He cast another apologetic look at Er Zhu. He had intended to rescue Er Zhu, but instead, he had only managed to make Er Zhu offend Yu Zeyang even more thoroughly.
Yet, Er Zhu remained calm, as if the entire situation had nothing to do with him.
“Zhang Qiang, what’s going on here?” As the handcuffs were about to be snapped onto Er Zhu, a male voice boomed from the doorway. Er Zhu looked up to see a portly man entering, a badge glinting on his shoulder. It was none other than Wu Zhengxiong, Director Wu of the police station.
“Brother-in-law, Zhang Qiang is obstructing my duty. Fire him immediately!” Seeing Wu Zhengxiong, Zhang Peng found his ultimate support and immediately lodged a complaint. Zhang Qiang wanted to fire him? He’d make him taste what it was like to be fired first!
“Director Wu, this man is colluding with Yu Zeyang and abusing his power for personal gain!” Zhang Qiang, fearing Wu Zhengxiong might actually dismiss him, quickly interjected.
“He’s lying! That’s a distortion of facts! He…”
*Slap!*
Zhang Qiang had barely finished speaking when a resounding slap from Wu Zhengxiong cut him off. Everyone stared in stunned silence at the clear handprint on Zhang Peng’s cheek. Only Er Zhu looked as if he had expected it all along. Because, in truth, he had. His composure stemmed not only from his faith in justice but also from the knowledge that Wu Zhengxiong owed him a favor. This man had sent intermediaries, Liu Changfa and Sun Jianguo, to him numerous times, but Er Zhu had been too busy to meet him. Therefore, even though he had been brought to the police station, he knew he would return safely.
“Brother-in-law, why are you hitting me? You should be hitting him! He’s the one obstructing my duty!” Zhang Peng was utterly bewildered. Cupping his cheek, he pointed at Zhang Qiang and shouted indignantly.
“Obstructing your duty? Who are you, don’t I know? It’s already generous enough to let you wear this uniform. And you’re still causing trouble? I’ll beat you to death!” Wu Zhengxiong’s anger surged as he looked at Zhang Peng’s foolishness. He yelled, raising his hand again. He had gone to great lengths to get to know Er Zhu, only for this idiot to ruin it! Such an utterly incompetent fool!
*Slap! Slap! Slap!*
Before Zhang Peng could react, Wu Zhengxiong’s palms descended. After a few blows, Zhang Peng’s face was swollen like a pig’s head, and blood trickled from his lip. The other officers, witnessing Zhang Peng’s惨状 (cǎn zhuàng - miserable state), saw their nascent sense of pride evaporate, replaced by a panicked fear. Yu Zeyang, meanwhile, had vanished at some point.
“Except for Zhang Qiang, all of you are dismissed!” Wu Zhengxiong swept his gaze over Zhang Peng and the others, his voice laced with fury. Zhang Peng and the rest grew even more frantic. Just as they were about to beg for mercy, Wu Zhengxiong spoke again, “Anyone who dares say another word will face more than just dismissal!”