Chapter 39

The first to arrive at the accident scene were Tan Jiaxing and Wu Lianghai from the Yunshan team. They first helped the injured onto the ambulance and covered the bodies of the deceased with raincoats. The offending vehicle was blocked by the crowd and could not escape, but the driver refused to get out of the car for inspection. Seeing no brake marks on the road behind the Cayenne, Tan Jiaxing suspected the driver had been drinking.

Since the deceased lived in a nearby village, some villagers rushed to the scene. Tan Jiaxing, fearing they might act irrationally, quickly notified the command center via radio, requesting two police cars for support. The reinforcements included Ma Guoqing from Huahuo Police Station, who was a familiar face.

Ma Guoqing had been shot in the stomach and could have taken more time off, but he couldn't stay idle. He insisted on returning to work right after being discharged from the hospital. The station took care of him, letting him work one day and rest for three. It was his turn to work the night shift today, and he brought his team over upon receiving the command center's order.

Last month, Ma Guoqing had handled a drunk driving case where the drunk driver found a scapegoat to clear his name and even insulted the police. Ma Guoqing was so angry that he almost hit the guy. He never expected that the person in the Cayenne this time was the same person.

Ma Guoqing felt deeply guilty. If he had been more determined to deal with the guy back then, even if he couldn't bring him to justice, at least he could have given him a warning to prevent him from being so arrogant. Then, two innocent people, including a three-year-old child, wouldn't have died on the street tonight. This accident, which could have been avoided, had destroyed a family.

After learning he didn't have cancer, Ma Guoqing's personality had subtly changed. He used to be a people-pleaser, avoiding conflict, but now he saw things differently. What was the point of life if not to be at peace with oneself? If he didn't bring the offender to justice today, even heaven would be outraged.

He found Wu Lianghai to discuss the matter, saying the offender had been involved in a drunk driving accident last month and was likely drunk again this time. They needed to find a way to bring him to justice.

Wu Lianghai, an experienced traffic police officer, said, "The driver of the Cayenne is not an ordinary person. We need to gather evidence quickly, or they'll smooth things over before we can act."

Easier said than done. The offender refused to get out of the car. Should they break the door and drag him out? Tan Jiaxing stood by the Cayenne's window, repeatedly urging the person inside to come out, but the person inside ignored him, continuing to smoke and laugh, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol wafting through the open sunroof. It was clear he was drunk.

On the other side, Ma Guoqing glanced at the agitated crowd and said to Wu Lianghai, "Old Wu, we can't use force in our uniforms, but if the crowd decides to take action, we can't stop them."

Wu Lianghai nodded in agreement. They were discussing how to mobilize the crowd when someone shouted, "Isn't that Captain Wu? Take this call from Chief Wang."

Sun Zhonghai had finally reached the traffic police leadership and hurried over with a phone. Wu Lianghai, reluctantly, went to take the call.

Seeing the situation deteriorating, Ma Guoqing rushed to the crowd. At that moment, Liu Hando approached, ignoring Ma Guoqing and heading straight for the Cayenne. He walked to the passenger window, lifted a concrete block with a sharp corner, and smashed the glass. The glass was reinforced and had a layer of anti-explosion film, but Liu Hando's strength was immense, and the concrete block had a protruding piece of rebar. After a few hits, the glass shattered and fell into the car.

Liu Hando opened the door and dragged out the passenger, a tall, thin man in a fitted white shirt and pink pants, with a golden Hermès belt buckle and Ray-Ban glasses. He also had a nose ring, a face that begged for a beating.

The man was defiant, quickly recovering from his shock and trying to hit Liu Hando. Drunk people are strong, and even with a bloody nose from a straight punch, he kept charging forward, cursing. Tan Jiaxing stepped in with pepper spray, and Liu Hando landed two heavy punches, finally subduing the man. The two women in the back seat screamed, and the crowd, seeing someone take the lead, surged forward like a tidal wave.

Ma Guoqing signaled the auxiliary police not to intervene, but shouted, "Everyone, don't be impulsive, don't damage the car, don't hit anyone."

This only reminded the crowd, who started smashing the car. The Cayenne swayed like a boat in a storm, the women screaming as the crowd grew more excited, like they were on a high.

Liu Hando dragged the drunk driver to the police car. "Officer Tan, make him blow!"

Tan Jiaxing took out the breathalyzer, and Liu Hando recorded the process on his phone. The crowd also started recording. The man refused to cooperate, but Liu Hando yanked his nose ring, causing him to scream in pain and submit. The breathalyzer showed 318 milligrams of alcohol, three times the legal limit for drunk driving!

"Kill him!" the crowd roared.

Someone jumped on the Cayenne's hood and smashed the windshield with a wooden stick. Others slashed the tires with knives, and more people punched and kicked the car. The police, traffic police, and auxiliary police tried to calm the crowd, but to no avail.

Sun Zhonghai was in a panic. Not only had he failed to handle the matter as instructed by Mr. Xia, but Young Master Xia's life was also in danger. Moreover, the person who smashed the car and dragged Young Master Xia out was the new driver he had brought from the company to take the fall!

After blowing into the breathalyzer, Young Master Xia was immediately handcuffed and taken to the police car by Ma Guoqing. Drunk driving is a criminal offense, especially when it results in a fatality. The evidence was clear, and he was in for a rough time.

The crowd continued to damage the Cayenne. Ma Guoqing and Wu Lianghai decided to take the offender away first. As the police car drove off, Ma Guoqing called out, "Liu!"

Liu Hando turned around, and Ma Guoqing, in the car, saluted him.

Liu Hando instinctively returned the salute, then realized he was no longer in uniform, feeling a wave of melancholy.

The two women in the back of the Cayenne were dragged out by the crowd but not harmed. Instead, the car continued to be damaged. Someone took out a lighter to set the car on fire, but the police finally intervened, dispersing the crowd with the help of reinforcements. By then, the Cayenne was a mess, with shattered glass, a damaged body, and slashed leather seats.

The two women, wearing short skirts and long legs, looked like they had been picked up from a nightclub. They were crying and about to leave when Tan Jiaxing stopped them. They were witnesses and couldn't be let go.

The police found drugs, alcohol bottles, and condoms in the Cayenne. These animals had been partying in the car before the fatal crash, and they deserved to be punished!

Liu Hando quietly left the scene, disappearing into the night. At a secluded intersection, he got on Ma Ling's motorcycle.

"What happened?" Ma Ling asked.

"Big deal. A guy was drunk driving, hit someone, and refused to be arrested. I dragged him out and helped your dad. He even saluted me," Liu Hando said, somewhat proudly.

"Why didn't you go to the police station to give a statement?" Ma Ling asked.

"Come on, I smashed the Cayenne's window. I can't afford to pay for it. I'll keep a low profile," Liu Hando chuckled.

"You're shameless. How's your new job?"

"It's okay, six thousand a month, with all the benefits. But I beat up the boss's son, so I might lose it," Liu Hando said nonchalantly, though he was actually quite upset. He had finally found a job he liked, and it was gone in an instant.

"You, with your bad temper. But you did the right thing. I would have done the same. I even scolded Bian Xiangqiang this afternoon. Li Jie told me he deliberately provoked you," Ma Ling said.

Liu Hando laughed. "If I hadn't lost my temper and hit the instructor, I wouldn't have been discharged early and wouldn't have met you."

"Smooth talker, shameless." Ma Ling lightly hit him and started the motorcycle, taking Liu Hando back to Iron Slag Street. As they passed Mei Jie's ten-yuan leisure shop, the women sitting outside saw them and exchanged glances, deciding not to greet Liu Hando.

At No. 108, Liu Hando got off the motorcycle, ready to share a moment with Ma Ling, when suddenly the headlights of another motorcycle appeared. It was Huo Lei and Huo Ying, who greeted them warmly, "Brother Dong, Sister Ling."

"I'm off." Ma Ling nodded at them and rode away.

"Didn't we interrupt anything, Brother Dong?" Huo Ying asked with a mischievous smile.

...

At Huahuo Police Station, the bruised and battered Young Master Xia was thrown into a holding cell. Even handcuffed, he was still arrogant, shouting that he would make Ma Guoqing lose his job and tear down the police station.

Ten minutes later, Chief Meng Xiangguo rushed in. Seeing him, Young Master Xia cried out, "Chief Meng, let me out!"

Meng Xiangguo ignored him and instructed the officers, "If he gets any more arrogant, take him to the water tap to sober him up."

Young Master Xia, still drunk, slammed against the bars and shouted, "Meng, I'll f*** your mother! We've had drinks together, haven't we?"

Meng Xiangguo sternly said, "Handle it according to the law. No one is to show favoritism." He walked away, hands behind his back. Deputy Chief Hu Tiejun approached and said, "Chief Meng, a reporter from the Morning News is here to interview about the drunk driving case."

"Refuse the interview," Meng Xiangguo said.

"The Xia family has called," Hu Tiejun showed his phone.

"Don't answer. We'll deal with it tomorrow," Meng Xiangguo walked away.

Hu Tiejun understood. The situation had escalated, and the traffic police had already gathered evidence. No one could protect Young Master Xia. The Xia family would have to use their connections, but the station leadership couldn't take the blame.

...

Sun Zhonghai rushed to the Shangshangshui villa, knocked on a gate, and was led inside by a servant. Xia Baishi, in his pajamas, was sitting on the sofa, his wife crying beside him. Seeing Sun Zhonghai, she cried out, "Little Sun, you must save Zhouzhou at any cost!"

Xia Baishi asked, "Zhonghai, what happened?"

Sun Zhonghai replied, "It was manageable at first, but a group of hooligans at the scene smashed the car. If I hadn't coordinated with the police to protect Young Master Xia, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Xia Baishi frowned. "Contact your acquaintances at the Propaganda Department and have them suppress the news in the newspapers and on TV. We can't let this become a public issue. This is a big deal, and it might be hard to handle. Zhonghai, you need to work hard."

Sun Zhonghai straightened up. "Mr. Xia, I will do my best!"

"Alright, go ahead," Xia Baishi waved him off.

Sun Zhonghai felt relieved and left the villa. He didn't tell Xia Baishi that the new driver he had brought to take the fall had dragged Young Master Xia out of the car and beaten him. If he had, he would be the first to suffer. Now, he had to focus on rescuing Young Master Xia and make up for his mistake.

As for the new driver, Liu, who had betrayed him, no matter who recommended him, he would be fired immediately, with no leniency.

---

---

Sun Zhonghai rushed to the Shangshangshui villa, knocked on a gate, and was led inside by a servant. Xia Baishi, in his pajamas, was sitting on the sofa, his wife crying beside him. Seeing Sun Zhonghai, she cried out, "Little Sun, you must save Zhouzhou at any cost!"

Xia Baishi asked, "Zhonghai, what happened?"

Sun Zhonghai replied, "It was manageable at first, but a group of hooligans at the scene smashed the car. If I hadn't coordinated with the police to protect Young Master Xia, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Xia Baishi frowned. "Contact your acquaintances at the Propaganda Department and have them suppress the news in the newspapers and on TV. We can't let this become a public issue. This is a big deal, and it might be hard to handle. Zhonghai, you need to work hard."

Sun Zhonghai straightened up. "Mr. Xia, I will do my best!"

"Alright, go ahead," Xia Baishi waved him off.

Sun Zhonghai felt relieved and left the villa. He didn't tell Xia Baishi that the new driver he had brought to take the fall had dragged Young Master Xia out of the car and beaten him. If he had, he would be the first to suffer. Now, he had to focus on rescuing Young Master Xia and make up for his mistake.

As for the new driver, Liu, who had betrayed him, no matter who recommended him, he would be fired immediately, with no leniency.