Chapter 67

"Money is not the issue, don't ask. I, I'm leaving." Zhao Mingbang turned, pulled open the toilet door, and was about to leave when he hesitated for a moment and said, "I told the investigation team it was a misunderstanding. At that time, Du Xiaohu didn't intend to draw his gun, and I didn't see him draw it." After saying this, Zhao Mingbang walked out.

Gao Zhikai slowly slumped against the wall. With Zhao Mingbang's retraction, his own account was worthless. This incident was indeed bizarre; if not for his own experience, no one would believe that Du Xiaohu really intended to shoot him.

Unless Du Xiaohu was a lunatic, but Du Xiaohu was a very healthy, normal person with no bad habits, and he was a very capable police station chief.

Even Peng Hongjun wouldn't believe it, so after Zhao Mingbang retracted his statement, Peng Hongjun was extremely angry, feeling that he had been used as a pawn.

Why did Old Zhao retract his statement?

Not for money? Then why?

Was he threatened or intimidated? Did Old Zhao have something to hide?

After a moment of daze, Gao Zhikai slowly walked out of the toilet. Unexpectedly, Lu Zheng was talking to Hou Jianjun in a low voice as they passed by him.

"Lu Zheng, stop!" Gao Zhikai shouted and quickly followed.

Lu Zheng turned and looked at him calmly.

Seeing no one around, Gao Zhikai lowered his voice and said menacingly, "Do you think this is over? I'm telling you, Lu Zheng, your dirty deeds can't be hidden. Want to kill me? I'll make sure you end up in jail, I will!"

Lu Zheng looked at him calmly for a while and said, "I was just about to tell you, this isn't over. I'll settle the score with you for what happened to Hu Zi."

Lu Zheng's voice was very calm, but for some reason, Hou Jianjun felt a slight tingling on his scalp, as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake.

Lu Zheng walked past Gao Zhikai, and Hou Jianjun hurriedly followed.

Gao Zhikai watched their backs, his face dark and stormy. He then turned around, thinking that he should still investigate why Old Zhao retracted his statement. This matter couldn't be easily brushed aside by Lu Zheng!

...

The back garden of Dong Mi Yuan was elegant, with warm spring breezes. The flower beds, built with lime, were already showing signs of green.

The main hall was filled with a sumptuous table of dishes, and the wine was the boss's prized Moutai. Lu Zheng was going to the Party School for training the next day, and rumors were spreading that this training might be the end of his political career, and he would soon be under investigation by the city's Discipline Inspection Commission.

However, the boss didn't avoid suspicion and insisted on hosting a farewell dinner for Lu Zheng at home.

Perhaps only at this moment could one see who was close and who was distant, and who were true friends. Lu Zheng happily accepted the invitation and also brought Hou Jianjun along.

The boss's wife was dressed beautifully and accompanied them.

The atmosphere at the table was somewhat somber. The boss really didn't know what to say to Lu Zheng. He couldn't congratulate him on his promotion, nor could he offer words of comfort about overcoming adversity, as everything was just rumors.

So the boss could only drink with Lu Zheng and Hou Jianjun, chatting about trivial matters and the local scenery of Wushan.

Hou Jianjun, perhaps feeling the somber atmosphere, suddenly said with a smile, "Speaking of which, Chief, there are many beautiful women in the city. You should consider your lifelong happiness."

The boss immediately laughed and chimed in, "Yes, yes, Xiao Mao has a few sisters in the city. Let her help you find a match."

"Xiao Mao?" Hou Jianjun looked surprised, but he was actually pretending. He glanced at the boss's wife and thought she was indeed as docile as a cat.

Being teased in front of everyone had become a routine. Old Wang coughed and pointed to the boss's wife, saying, "My wife's surname is Mao, and her name is Mao Yunzhu."

Hou Jianjun exclaimed, "Ah," and seeing Lu Zheng frown slightly, he didn't continue the topic but said earnestly, "Brother Wang, Sister, rest assured. As long as I'm in Guangning, I'll definitely take care of you. Gao Zhikai won't become chief this time." As long as the Du Xiaohu case remained unresolved, Gao Zhikai would definitely be affected and would have to continue to keep a low profile for a while.

Lu Zheng brought him here, and he knew it was to show his loyalty.

The boss felt a bit relieved upon hearing this.

Lu Zheng looked at Mao Yunzhu and said, "Sister, rest assured, I'll get this matter resolved for you."

Mao Yunzhu smiled and sipped some wine, her face flushed and even more beautiful. She said softly, "It's nothing. Running a restaurant is all about serving people. Don't take it to heart, Chief Lu." In fact, the boss and Mao Yunzhu were a couple with a significant age difference, and Mao Yunzhu might not be much older than Lu Zheng.

Hou Jianjun laughed and said, "Chief Lu always keeps his word. Brother, Sister, just wait and see!" He then slapped his forehead and said, "Where were we? Don't get sidetracked, Sister. The women you introduce to Chief Lu should be as beautiful as celestial beings, or they won't be worthy of him."

Mao Yunzhu smiled and said, "Alright, I'll make sure to find the right match. I promise Chief Lu will be satisfied."

Lu Zheng smiled but couldn't help thinking of Wei Xiangxiu. It had been a long time since he had seen her, and he didn't really miss her. Was it going to be like this in the future, with their relationship as indifferent as water?

The three people beside him had no idea that this highly intelligent and emotionally intelligent Chief Lu was preoccupied with a marriage proposal. If they knew what Lu Zheng was thinking, they would be shocked, their jaws dropping to the ground.

...

Walking out of the back door of Dong Mi Yuan, Lu Zheng and Hou Jianjun strolled down the long street of the county town, where the streetlights were shining, and the town was becoming increasingly prosperous.

"Chief Lu, can you give me a hint about what's really going on with this trip to the Party School?" Hou Jianjun hesitated and asked. Since helping Lu Zheng with the Zhao Mingbang matter, Hou Jianjun felt he had become one of Lu Zheng's true confidants. In the past, he wouldn't have asked such questions.

Of course, Lu Zheng wouldn't ask how Hou Jianjun handled the Zhao Mingbang matter, and Hou Jianjun wouldn't bring it up either.

Lu Zheng smiled and handed Hou Jianjun a cigarette, saying, "Jianjun, work hard. In short, I won't end up in jail."

Hou Jianjun smiled, thinking it was good. Lu Zheng's age was a huge advantage. As long as he wasn't truly defeated, he would eventually rise again.

Lu Zheng took a puff of the cigarette and said, "After Hu Zi recovers, I'll have him leave Guangning. In the future, when I come back to Guangning to visit old friends, it will be just you few."

Hou Jianjun was taken aback and felt even more puzzled. Du Xiaohu was a regular police station chief. Could Lu Zheng's word alone make him leave? This wasn't something that could be explained by friendship or loyalty. It seemed more like Du Xiaohu was his subordinate or servant.

Of course, considering that Du Xiaohu would kill for Lu Zheng, the job transfer wasn't surprising. Moreover, if Du Xiaohu stayed in Guangning, facing Gao Zhikai every day, it wouldn't be appropriate.

Lu Zheng glanced at Hou Jianjun, knowing that this time, for Du Xiaohu, he had likely crossed into the gray or even black areas. But thinking about it, it didn't matter; he wasn't a saint, after all.

He had only recently realized why he wanted to change the world. In his previous life, no matter how much money he made, he couldn't resist the powerful state machinery. The more money he made, the more he felt the injustice from those in power and the red-topped merchants.

He wasn't a saint with a grand vision for the world. Changing the future order of society was merely a form of revenge for the unfair treatment he had suffered in his previous life.

Of course, to some extent, his reborn self might have become more noble, with more thoughts and reflections. After experiencing a cycle of life and death, his thoughts would naturally differ from those of ordinary people.

But Lu Zheng didn't want to admit this.

Looking back at the brightly lit street, Lu Zheng smiled lightly. He would come back, definitely!