Chapter 91: Turning Spears into Jade?

At ten minutes to three, Zhang Xiaoya, accompanied by Huang Xiaojing, sat in a tea room near the courtyard’s artificial pond at Qingming Yaju. Zhang Xiaoya glanced at her watch and said to Huang Xiaojing: “Xiaojing, tell the tea girl to prepare the tea and wait for Chang Huaqiang.”

Just after three, a soft knock came at the tea room door. Zhang Xiaoya checked her watch and whispered, “Come in.”

The door opened silently. A slender hand gestured inward, and a man in his forties, exuding authority, stepped inside.

“Strong Brother, you’re punctual as always. Please sit.” Zhang Xiaoya’s husky, magnetic voice rang out.

Chang Huaqiang smiled faintly, pulled out a chair, and sat down. “Director Zhang, get to the point. What do you want to discuss?”

Zhang Xiaoya brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “Hehe, Strong Brother, don’t be so serious! I’m just an outsider in Zizhen City, and I’ve always looked up to you as an elder brother. If you’re this stern, I won’t know how to speak anymore!”

She smiled with a touch of playful reproach. Chang Huaqiang couldn’t maintain his cold expression. He shifted slightly to sit more comfortably as the tea girl entered with the teaware and leaves.

Zhang Xiaoya waved her hand. “You may leave. I’ll brew this tea for Strong Brother myself.”

Seeing her unusually humble posture, Chang Huaqiang thought inwardly: This Zhang girl has real vision. If it weren’t for Zhang Shaojie stirring up trouble, I’d have no excuse to move against them!

He laughed heartily. “Fine! Then today I’m in your debt, little sister.”

Zhang Xiaoya smiled faintly, sat at the main seat, and began brewing tea…

Her movements were as refined as a professional tea master’s. Soon, a cup of aged pu’er tea, fragrant with depth, was placed before Chang Huaqiang by her delicate, boneless hand.

Chang Huaqiang glanced at the teacup and smiled. “Little sister Xiaoya, your name suits you—so elegant! But this brother of yours came from humble roots; I know little of such things. Still, I know one thing: this tea isn’t meant to be drunk without reason. You owe me an explanation.”

She knew he meant the death and injury in the Chang family—especially how his younger brother nearly lost his life. No one could simply pretend nothing had happened.

She had expected Chang Huaqiang wouldn’t let it go. Unfazed, she smiled gently. “Strong Brother, it’s true Shaojie was in the wrong. But I’m not here today just to offer empty apologies. No amount of sweet words will change anything.”

She straightened her posture, unintentionally accentuating her already alluring chest. “I’m here to mend fences with you. If things continue like this, neither of us will be able to stop it—and the people watching us will seize the chance to crush us both. Strong Brother, you know what I mean: we’re all sheltering under the same roof. Today, I’m being completely open with you.”

“My proposal: First, I’ll have Li Jun confess. The witnesses who turned against us will retract their statements—this matter will not involve Hua Zhong. Second, the gunman who shot Hua Fei, Ling Wei, is already dead. I’ll provide one million yuan in your name as support for Hua Fei’s elderly parents. Third, I know you’re negotiating for the Yinxing Road land. I’m willing to voluntarily relinquish Snow Wolf Valley’s claim to that plot—as an apology to Hua Zhong.”

She looked at Chang Huaqiang. “Strong Brother, are my terms sincere enough?”

Chang Huaqiang studied the teacup before him. “Hehe, little sister Xiaoya, you’re well-informed. That land isn’t just claimed by Snow Wolf Valley. I want a smooth project launch, free from messy distractions. You’ll need to help me with that. Also—the three brothers who were with Hua Zhong were injured by Ling Wei. You must settle their affairs too. Hua Zhong’s still in the hospital, and I have no time to handle this.”

Zhang Xiaoya understood: Chang Huaqiang had agreed to end the conflict—but had just handed her a new challenge.

She feigned thoughtfulness, then, after a pause, spoke as if making a monumental decision: “Fine. I accept.”

She lifted Chang Huaqiang’s teacup with one hand. He smiled silently and took it. She then raised her own cup and lightly tapped it against his. “Strong Brother, from now on, Zizhen is yours.”

———

Meanwhile, Li Jun, detained at the city’s Drug Enforcement Unit, suddenly reported to the officers that he had critical information to relay to Captain Lu Haoxuan of the Criminal Investigation Team.

The Drug Enforcement Unit took this seriously and immediately contacted Lu Haoxuan, who promptly drove to the city bureau.

In the interrogation room, Lu Haoxuan stared at Li Jun. Li Jun looked up at Lu’s stern face, pale and visibly trembling. He gritted his teeth: “Captain Lu, I’ve heard you’re Zizhen’s top detective—no wrongful convictions ever pass through your hands. But, but—”

He hesitated, visibly torn.

Lu Haoxuan didn’t rush him. He exchanged a glance with Gu Changzheng, who immediately pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and offered it to Li Jun.

Li Jun reached out and took it. Lu Haoxuan noticed his hand shaking uncontrollably.

“Li Jun, I can tell you now: we’ve confirmed that Long Guangsheng’s death has nothing to do with you. You were framed. But whether you participated in the drug trafficking ring led by Zhang Shaojie—you know the truth. How deeply you were involved, we’ll uncover. What you must do now is trust the government, trust the law. Don’t make another wrong choice. Otherwise, you’ll sink deeper—with no way back.”

Lu Haoxuan saw the fierce struggle in his eyes and spoke to warn him.

Li Jun sucked hard on the cigarette, the ember flickering dimly like a star in the dark.

“Huh—!” Li Jun suddenly let out a long, weary sigh.

Gu Changzheng glanced at Lu Haoxuan, ready to speak—but Lu Haoxuan’s unwavering gaze silenced him. He swallowed hard and held his tongue.

“Officer Lu, there’s something I need to tell you alone,” Li Jun suddenly said.

Gu Changzheng protested: “That’s against protocol!”

“Changzheng, step out. Turn off all recording equipment,” Lu Haoxuan ordered firmly.

Gu Changzheng opened his mouth to argue, but Lu Haoxuan’s resolute stare forced him back. He reluctantly stepped out, his unease deepening.

“I don’t want to die,” Li Jun said once the room was empty. “I know many things about the Zhang family—but I never handled the drug trafficking at Snow Wolf Valley. Now someone wants me dead. I can’t trust anyone here. That’s why I came to you.”