Chapter 42

As the sky outside darkened, the fluorescent light tube in the living room flickered a couple of times before finally lighting up, casting a silver glow.

It was six thirty. The color TV in the red cabinet began to play the cheerful melody of "Black Cat Police Chief." Since December 1980, every Sunday at six thirty, the animation program on the central channel had become a sea of joy for children across the country.

Sitting on the soft sofa, Lu Zheng hummed along with a smile, "Ahaha, Black Cat Police Chief..." He really loved the current era.

Hou Jianjun, Wang Yuguo, Hong Tao, and Wei Qingxian, who were sitting in a circle, were all very surprised. It was hard to imagine that Director Lu had such a side.

Wei Qingxian, like the other deputy directors except Hou Jianjun, had no personal relationship with Lu Zheng. Today, it just happened to be his turn to be on duty at the bureau. When Lu Xiaohu ran into Wang Yuguo, he politely asked, "We're going to have a pot bottom for Director Lu, Director Wei, are you coming?"

To everyone's surprise, Wei Qingxian was very enthusiastic and got into the car without a second thought.

Like Hou Jianjun and Wang Yuguo, the young director's financial situation also surprised Wei Qingxian, but he wouldn't ask more.

Perhaps only Hong Tao, the chief of the Chengguan police station, who was straightforward, wouldn't think too much about these issues.

Wei Qingxian was the deputy director and head of the disciplinary inspection group, which was newly established at the beginning of the year. In reality, it had no real power. Even the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which had been established only six years ago, replacing the Central Supervisory Commission that was abolished during the turmoil, had limited power.

After the founding of the country, party rectification and anti-corruption campaigns relied on movements, and the disciplinary inspection agencies basically didn't play their due role. Now, the disciplinary inspection committees were still a novelty, so although the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had significant power, the local disciplinary inspection committees were almost like decorations.

Take Guangning, for example, a relatively developed county, but many tasks that should be handled by the disciplinary inspection committee were scattered among various departments, with the police taking up a large part. Investigating economic issues of the heads of county-level departments was the responsibility of the police's economic crime investigation unit.

Wei Qingxian, as the head of the county police disciplinary inspection group, was just a nominal position. He had never taken the initiative to handle disciplinary violations unless Lu Zheng gave him a heads-up.

Wei Qingxian was almost fifty and knew he had no more room for advancement. However, he was enthusiastic about power and wanted to hold onto it as long as he was in his position. So, he had been looking for an opportunity to talk to Lu Zheng and build some comradely feelings. Today was a good chance.

"Director Lu, this cigarette is hard to get, right?" Wei Qingxian held the Hongtashan cigarette Lu Zheng gave him and enjoyed puffing out smoke rings.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "They're all from my sister. She's been doing business for a few years and has become quite wealthy. She loves me the most, and all these things are her gifts."

Everyone laughed, thinking to themselves, "So that's how it is."

Wei Qingxian had investigated Lu Zheng and knew that his adoptive parents' eldest sister was indeed doing business elsewhere. He didn't know that this sister wasn't the same as the one he was thinking of. He thought, "If I had known that doing business could be so profitable, I would have started years ago. But now that I'm getting older, I don't have the courage to fight anymore."

The others in the room probably had the same thought at that moment.

Hou Jianjun sighed and said, "I thought about doing business at the beginning of the year, but I didn't know what to do. Besides, our police department doesn't allow us to take unpaid leave. Otherwise, you might not see me here now."

Everyone laughed, knowing that Hou Jianjun was telling the truth.

In the coastal developed cities, the wave of unpaid leave to start businesses was getting higher and higher. Now, those who made money from business were more envied and respected than those on fixed salaries in government agencies. When young women chose their partners, they would definitely prefer wealthy individual entrepreneurs over government employees.

Lu Zheng said with a smile, "Jianjun, look at the long term. In this society, someone has to provide services, right? We can't be all about money." He chuckled inwardly, thinking that Hou Jianjun had also considered starting a business. No wonder he was always marginalized because of him.

Wang Yuguo stood up and said, "I'll go help in the kitchen."

The sound of cooking could be heard from the kitchen, where Du Xiaohu and Jiao Lei were busy.

Lu Zheng gestured, "No need, Xiaohu's cooking is pretty good." He then asked Wang Yuguo, "Who lives upstairs, downstairs, and next door? Are Old He and Old Wang around?" He was referring to Deputy Directors He Liansheng and Wang Yi. Then, Lu Zheng waved his hand and said, "Forget it, don't call them. A true friendship is like water, no need for drinking and eating."

Wang Yuguo smiled and swallowed his words.

Lu Zheng indeed didn't like drinking and eating, but in such situations, he couldn't avoid having a few more drinks. They clinked glasses and toasted until around nine o'clock, when Wang Yuguo and Wei Qingxian finally said their goodbyes. Wang Yuguo lived in the nearby police family building No. 1, and although Wei Qingxian had been allocated a house, he still lived in the family building of the department store where his wife had been assigned last year. So, Jiao Lei also got up and drove Wei Qingxian home.

Du Xiaohu, who couldn't hold his liquor, had already gone to bed, but he had the good habit of not snoring, only occasionally mumbling in his sleep.

In the living room, only Lu Zheng, Hou Jianjun, and Hong Tao were left.

Both Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao had been promoted by Lu Zheng, making them his loyal subordinates.

However, in the political arena, no matter how close the relationship, many things couldn't be said directly. So, when they talked about Qiu Dahu and Ma Weiguo, Lu Zheng and Hou Jianjun were very reserved, while Hong Tao occasionally let out a few blunt comments.

For example, when talking about Ma Weiguo's son, Hong Tao cursed, "If it were me, I'd beat that little brat to death. Ma Weiguo raised such a son, he's not a good person."

Hou Jianjun smiled but didn't say anything, thinking that if Lu Zheng really detained him for fifteen days, the matter wouldn't be over.

But now, Secretary Qiu valued Lu Zheng, and it seemed that a big leader in the provincial department also favored him. Even if Ma Weiguo became the county magistrate, Lu Zheng wouldn't fear him.

However, Lu Zheng had no background, and Secretary Qiu was getting old, while Ma Weiguo was in his prime. This wasn't a good situation.

But Hou Jianjun had already made a mistake and didn't want to think too much. He would just follow Lu Zheng. Although Lu Zheng was known as a "living bandit" and seemed rough, he was very shrewd. He must have a plan for the future.

"Director Lu, does Liu Baojun still have a chance?" Hou Jianjun had wanted to ask this for a long time. He saw that Lu Zheng was very close to Liu Baojun, which he couldn't understand. Now, with no outsiders around, he hoped Lu Zheng would reveal his intentions so he could know how to treat Liu Baojun.

He had heard that Liu Baojun and Secretary Qiu had a big conflict. Was the rumor wrong?

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "He has a chance."

Hou Jianjun exclaimed, "Ah," realizing that the rumor was indeed wrong. It seemed that Secretary Qiu also favored Liu Baojun. After Ma Weiguo became the county magistrate, Liu Baojun might become the deputy county magistrate and the second-in-command of the government, used by Secretary Qiu to balance Ma Weiguo.

However, Hou Jianjun didn't know that Lu Zheng meant something entirely different. His understanding of "having a chance" was completely wrong.

After a few more words, Jiao Lei returned from driving Wei Qingxian home, and Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao got up to leave. Lu Zheng saw them off to the door, turned on the corridor light, and watched them go down the stairs. When he heard them reach the first floor, he turned off the light and was about to go back inside when the door opposite opened, and two little boys rushed out, shouting, "Sis, hurry up, hurry up."

Then, a charming and sexy policewoman, with a graceful figure and light steps, walked out. Her every move exuded a captivating charm. She was none other than Wei Xiangxiu, the flower of the Guangning police bureau.

Lu Zheng was slightly surprised to see her, realizing that she lived next door.

Wei Xiangxiu knew she lived on the same floor as Lu Zheng, but when they actually met, her expression was somewhat unnatural.

Since they returned from Gold Coast, they hadn't been alone together, and the total number of words they had exchanged was probably less than ten, all for work purposes.

"Director Lu," Wei Xiangxiu greeted him softly.

Lu Zheng, seeing Wei Xiangxiu with her two little brothers, suddenly came to his senses and asked, "Where are you going?"

Wei Xiangxiu, who wanted to leave quickly, had to stop and said, "We're moving. We still have a lot of things in the old house."

Lu Zheng exclaimed, "That's not close. Do you have a lot of things?"

Before Wei Xiangxiu could answer, the older boy said, "We have a lot of things, but it's okay. I can ride a tricycle, which my sister borrowed."

The younger boy tugged at the older one's sleeve and whispered, "Bro, don't talk to him, he's a bad guy." Clearly, he still remembered the time Lu Zheng caught him.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Wei Xiangxiu scolded her brother sternly.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "It's okay." After a moment's thought, he said, "How about this? I have a car downstairs. I'll take you. We can bring everything in one trip and save some effort."

After that incident, Lu Zheng felt a bit guilty. After all, Wei Xiangxiu was forced by her circumstances, and he hadn't helped her earlier, which was a mistake in his work. He had pushed her into a shameful situation. Wasn't he responsible?

From how she treated her disabled husband, her younger brother, and her in-laws, Wei Xiangxiu seemed to be a good person who had taken a wrong path.

Now, seeing that she had a house and was no longer clinging to him, even avoiding him, she clearly wasn't the type to seek wealth and status through her body. Otherwise, why would she let go of such a big catch?

Regardless of what happened that day, this girl was truly pitiful and deserving of sympathy.

Moreover, what if it really happened? Could he pretend nothing happened?

Perhaps because of the subtle sense of intimacy, Lu Zheng now saw Wei Xiangxiu differently.

Hearing that Lu Zheng would drive them, Wei Xiangxiu quickly said, "No, no, it's okay." She hurriedly went down the stairs, followed by the two little boys.

Lu Zheng shook his head and turned back into the house.

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