Director Wang suddenly trotted toward the entrance. When he got there, he snapped to attention with a pop and raised his hand in a salute.
“Reporting, Chief! Wang Meng, Director of the Xinjian Road Police Station, responding to a call. Please give your orders.”
Holy crap, he actually ran into the big boss here. Thank goodness he hadn’t started off with rough enforcement. Wang Meng couldn’t help but feel relieved.
“Mr. Lin, what’s going on?” Peng Tao waved his hand casually and walked inside instead.
“Mr. Lin?” Wang Meng was confused. He turned around, following Peng Tao’s steps, and then his eyes went wide.
There was Peng Tao, standing in front of Lin Hai, slightly bowing, looking incredibly respectful—like a subordinate treating their leader.
Whoa, what was going on? The whole room was stunned.
Then they looked at Lin Hai. A full police chief was standing right in front of him, but Lin Hai didn’t even lift an eyelid. He just sat there in that chair without moving, crossing and uncrossing his leg even more smugly.
Damn, Wang Meng finally got it. A man who could make the公安局 director so respectful—this young man’s identity was definitely no ordinary thing.
No wonder he was so arrogant, daring to beat these people right in front of the cops. The guy had real backing. He was genuinely badass.
If he had treated this guy like an idiot just now, he would have been the real idiot.
While feeling relieved, Wang Meng also felt a little proud.
Damn, how was he so smart? How was his judgment so spot on?
“Chief Peng, nothing much really. I just ran into a bunch of idiots who insisted on crying and begging to kneel before their big brother here. They absolutely refused to get up. I was so worried about it. Look, they still won’t get up even now.”
Pfft!
Gong Zhen and his crew nearly coughed up blood from anger.
Who the hell was crying and begging to kneel before you? They wanted to get up. The question was, could they?
“Chief Peng, I’m Gong Zhen from the court. We were just eating here, and this kid beat all of us for no reason. You have to help us get justice!” Gong Zhen wailed at Peng Tao.
“Gong Zhen?” Peng Tao was puzzled. He looked closely, and sure enough, that pig-head was indeed Gong Zhen.
“Mr. Lin, what’s this about?”
Before Lin Hai could speak, Liu Hongju ran over.
“Chief Peng, don’t listen to his nonsense. Here’s what really happened…”
Liu Hongju decided to go all in. He could tell that Chief Peng seemed very respectful toward his son’s classmate. Since he’d already made enemies with Gong Zhen, there was no need to hold back anymore.
“Chief Peng, that’s exactly what happened. Gong Zhen and his people were pushy and aggressive, bullying us ordinary folks, and they even injured my son. Little Lin had no choice but to fight back.” Liu Hongju gave a vivid, slightly exaggerated account of the events.
“Dean Gong, is that true?” Peng Tao’s tone turned cold after hearing the story.
Gong Zhen looked a bit uncomfortable. After all, they were in the wrong today. That’s what happens when you’re used to bullying people all the time.
“Chief Peng, regardless of the details, the fact is that this kid hurt people with his fists. You can’t just let him off! Otherwise, don’t blame me for reporting this to Mayor Wang!”
Lin Hai heard this and couldn’t help but laugh to himself. This Gong Zhen was such an idiot.
With all these people here, you’re actually going to openly threaten a公安局 chief? Where was Peng Tao supposed to put his face?
Not only would Peng Tao not help you, but even if he wanted to, those words made it impossible. Otherwise, word would get out that Chief Peng was afraid of some deputy dean.
Sure enough, as soon as Gong Zhen said that, Peng Tao’s face darkened.
“Hmph, Wang Meng, take this whole bunch of troublemakers back to the station for a thorough investigation!”
“Yes, sir!” Wang Meng acknowledged the order, eyes gleaming with excitement, and charged over with his officers.
Damn, he actually got to personally arrest a court deputy dean. Just thinking about it was thrilling.
Gong Zhen panicked when he saw this.
“Chief Peng, what are you doing? We’re in the same system here! Tell them to let go!”
“In the same system? Then you should follow the law even more. Consider this a lesson. Don’t go looking for trouble anymore! Take them away!”
An officer came over, grabbed Gong Zhen by the arm, and started dragging him out.
“Peng Tao, don’t go too far! Let me go, or I swear I’ll complain to Mayor Tang about you!” Gong Zhen couldn’t stand up, so his legs dragged on the ground as he yelled at Peng Tao.
“Chief Peng, who’s threatening to complain to Mayor Tang about you?” Just then, a voice came from the entrance.
Everyone turned to look, and a young man walked in.
“Oh, if it isn’t Secretary Hou! I’m Gong Zhen from the court. You’ve come at the perfect time. You—”
“Xiao Lin, you’re not done yet? Mayor Tang is waiting,” Hou Xianpin said, ignoring Gong Zhen completely as he walked straight up to Lin Hai.
“This…” Gong Zhen was truly dumbfounded now.
Peng Tao treated this young man with respect, and now Secretary Hou was being just as polite to him? And from what he said, Mayor Tang was waiting for him?
Who the hell was this guy?
As stupid as Gong Zhen was, he finally realized it: this young man who had beaten him had incredibly deep connections. He had really stepped on a landmine this time.
No wonder the guy didn’t hold back at all when hitting him. He simply had nothing to fear.
A strong sense of regret suddenly welled up in Gong Zhen’s heart.
“Brother Hou, I’d love to get back quickly and have a drink with Mayor Tang, but these people said I can’t leave unless I kneel and apologize.” Lin Hai pointed at Gong Zhen and shrugged helplessly.
“Oh? Is that so, Deputy Dean Gong?” Hou Xianpin’s tone was calm, impossible to read.
But Gong Zhen didn’t see it that way. He knew that secretaries like this, even if their official rank wasn’t high, were not people he could afford to offend.
If one of them happened to say just a couple of bad things about him in front of Mayor Tang someday, he might not last long as deputy dean.
“Ah, Secretary Hou, no, no, no. A guest of Mayor Tang’s—how could I dare to keep him here? He can leave anytime. Absolutely anytime,” Gong Zhen quickly said.
Hou Xianpin smiled slightly, then turned and nodded his head toward Lin Hai.
“Let’s go. Deputy Dean Gong has spoken. You can leave anytime.”
Only then did Lin Hai stand up and walk over to Gong Zhen.
“Dean Gong, I really can leave? I haven’t knelt down and apologized yet,” Lin Hai said, putting on a frightened act.
Apologize, my foot! Gong Zhen was so angry he wanted to bite Lin Hai.
“No need to apologize. It was all a misunderstanding. All a misunderstanding,” Gong Zhen waved his hands repeatedly.
“Oh, so it was a misunderstanding.” Lin Hai nodded as if suddenly understanding.
“Hey, Uncle Liu,” Lin Hai suddenly turned to Liu Hongju. “After this is over, do you think they’ll come after you for revenge? I mean, Deputy Dean Gong has such a high rank, and he doesn’t really seem like the forgiving type, does he?”
Gong Zhen nearly spat blood again. How did he not seem like the forgiving type?
“No, no, no. This matter is over. Old Liu, don’t take it to heart. We’ll continue our relationship as before.”
“Oh, okay.” Liu Hongju nodded blankly.
“Oh, well that’s a relief,” Lin Hai said. Then he turned and started walking out with Hou Xianpin and Peng Tao.
“Hey, wait a minute!” Gong Zhen quickly stopped them.
Damn, you guys leaving so easily is all well and good, but these cops were still holding his people.
“What? Something else?” Lin Hai asked, confused.
“Uh, Chief Peng, since it’s all a misunderstanding and we’ve cleared the air, how about calling off your men?”
Before Peng Tao could respond, Lin Hai walked over.
“Smack!” Another slap landed right on Gong Zhen’s face.
“You idiot! Sure, we cleared up the misunderstanding, but the fact that you injured Liangzi isn’t settled yet. You think you can just hit people for free? You people are way too fucking bullying!”
Gong Zhen covered his face, his chest about to explode from anger.
Damn, take a look at what you’ve done to all of us, and you’re still saying we’re the bullies? Who’s bullying who here?
Lin Hai didn’t care what Gong Zhen thought. He swaggered right out.
“Liangzi.” As soon as he got outside, Lin Hai called Liu Liang over.
