Chapter 389: Zhang Zong Is Dead

"What does that mean, Ruan Wei? Speak clearly," I asked.

"Zhang Zong is already dead," Ruan Wei said, looking at me.

"What? When did he die?"

"A few days ago, he hanged himself in the office," Ruan Wei said.

"Why would he hang himself?"

"This? I guess it's like this: Kong Shi only told Zhang Zong about taking his son Lei Lei away from Jinling, and Kong Shi only consulted Zhang Zong on how to capture you all at Qi He Kuang. As a result, when you arrived at Qi He Kuang, you all ran away. From where did the leaked information come?"

Kong Shi could only suspect Zhang Zong.

Kong Shi also told me and Liu Shiru about Zhao Xiaohua's reaction, that during the New Year he hid you all in Da Heng Group,

Kong Shi at that time still didn't believe what Zhao Xiaohua said,

We interrogated Zhao Xiaohua again,

Zhao Xiaohua repeated the matter of you living in Da Heng Group.

So Kong Shi suddenly understood that the one who leaked information to you was Zhang Zong.

We quickly captured Zhang Zong.

We tried to get from Zhang Zong the information on where you went, but Zhang Zong had hanged himself in the office.

He must have realized that if he were captured by us, living would be worse than dying, so it would be easier to just kill himself.

So he chose suicide.

After hearing Ruan Wei finish speaking,

My heart suddenly felt uneasy.

As for Zhang Zong, I truly don't know what to say.

Should I say I hate him? He helped us at a critical moment,

Or say I miss him? He, however, devised a plot to frame me.

Human nature is truly complex.

Sigh, back then he made a plan to kill us, also for profit.

Now he helps us also for profit.

He is a selfish person. That he could end his own life is also worthy of admiration.

He didn't want to fall into Liu Shiru's hands, fearing the information would be exposed; this protected us and also protected Xiao Shitou.

Liu Shiru would never know that Xiao Shitou is his son. Otherwise, with his double-dealing, he would truly endanger Xiao Shitou.

He also died to protect Xiao Shitou.

Sigh, death is death, all settled.

From the time I met Zhang Zong until today, more than twenty years have passed. This person is truly hard to evaluate; he's neither a good man nor an absolutely bad one.

Regardless, he helped me, and at the most critical moment.

All he did was for his own son, hoping Xiao Shitou would be safe.

In fact, he would never understand before death that Xiao Shitou is not his biological son.

Life is like that, forever full of drama.

If Zhang Zong knew that Xiao Shitou wasn't his biological child, what would happen?

Would he still help us? Would he die?

He did many things for himself. Back then, he abandoned Zhou Wei and Xiao Shitou and ran away,

Running away for twenty years, he neglected both their mother.

There was no talk of any familial affection.

Growing old, he suddenly felt the importance of his son, wanting to return to his roots.

And immediately wanted to acknowledge Xiao Shitou.

For his son, he devised a plan that would put us in mortal danger.

The plan failed, and he again had his foot in two boats, betraying Kong Shi and Liu Shiru.

He defected to us.

Such a person, for profit, can betray anyone at any time, regardless of any gratitude or kinship they may have.

They can betray all.

People like this are truly the most hateful.

The shameful Zhang Zong died in this way.

He has completed his whole life, a life of scheming,

Hmph, in the end it's all empty.

When the day comes that I reach Zaocheng, I will definitely tell Zhang Zong that Xiao Shitou is not his biological son at all.

Let him die; even underground he won't be at peace. This counts as his retribution, I guess.

"Zhang Zong, he's already dead; what about Da Heng Group?" I asked.

In fact, I wanted to ask about Xiao Shitou.

I don't want to say it outright; I don't want Ruan Wei to know that Xiao Shitou acknowledges Zhang Zong as his father.

"Zhao Xiaohua is the chairman of the group; it turns out that all the people Zhang Zong promoted in the group have been dismissed.

Oh, right, there's someone called Xiao Shitou, I heard he's Zhao Ge's adopted son, and Kong Shi has already arrested him. That's all I know.

Kong Shi detected your communications, learned that Zhao Ge ran to Sijiucheng. So I came with men to Sijiucheng to capture you.

But the villa you rented turned out to be vacant.

So Liu Shiru then had me send people around here to gather information and look for your whereabouts. Unexpectedly, I ended up getting Zhao Ge caught again," Ruan Wei said helplessly.

Xiao Shitou was caught by Kong Shi,

This is something I didn't anticipate.

Xiao Shitou has no idea about our information at all. Even if Kong Shi captured Xiao Shitou, he couldn't learn any of our information from him.

It's just making Xiao Shitou suffer.

This child's fate is indeed miserable.

There's no time to think about this now.

I must act faster; only then can I rescue Xiao Shitou.

I then lifted my head and looked at Ruan Wei,

"Ruan Wei, you understand that you're now in my hands; don't even think of escaping. Do exactly what I say."

Ruan Wei nodded,

"Zhao Ge, I'm following your orders. I only ask one thing now: have that Lao Wai guy untie the rope. I need to pee. I'm about to burst."

"Lao Wai, untie the rope. Let him pee," I said to Lao Wai.

"It won't be tied again, will it?" Lao Wai asked.

"No. Rest assured, this brother Ruan keeps his word," I said.

Lao Wai untied the rope once more.

Ruan Wei darted to the restroom like a rabbit.

I asked He Zuming, "How's your note‑taking, Mr. He?"

"I only recorded the gist. The detailed content wasn't noted," He Zuming said.

"I recorded it on my phone," Ding Li said.

"That's fine. In a moment I'll have Ruan Wei help us. I also need to ask him what crimes Liu Shiru has committed; these will be evidence."

After a while, Lao Wai brought Ruan Wei over,

Ruan Wei sat down,

"Ruan Wei, you said you'd listen to me, so go ahead—tell everything you know, especially about Liu Shiru and the crimes he's committed over the years," I asked.

"Zhao Ge, that Liu Shiru is a ruthless person and has a good relationship with the Zhou Family; should we just not mention him?" Ruan Wei said.

"Do you still have the right to refuse, Ruan Wei? If you're sensible, just say everything you know. Otherwise, if Lao Wai moves again, there'll be no point."

"Brother, don't trouble me any more," Lao Wai said smugly from the side.

"Alright, Zhao Ge, Lao Wai, may I speak? We're all familiar now, all friends. Don't make things difficult for me."

"I'll say everything," Ruan Wei said pitifully.

"Fine, go ahead," I said, taking a drag of my cigarette.

Ruan Wei said, "Liu Shiru, that guy has a murder on his hands; he personally killed someone in the south.

I saw it with my own eyes, and that person was his first partner after he arrived in the south; they quarreled over profit.

Liu Shiru, in a rage, killed him,

After killing the partner, Liu Shiru poured the corpse into a building wall.

I know all of this.

"Zhao Ge, everything I'm saying is true. If you don't believe me, I'll take you to dig up the body," Ruan Wei said emphatically.