Chapter 395: Dust Settles, Mind at Peace

In the grey-brick, grey-tile prison in West City, the interrogation room's lights were on twenty-four hours a day.

The Shopkeeper sat on an iron chair, his hands cuffed to the armrests, and heavy iron shackles were also on his ankles.

His emaciated face showed no expression, his eye sockets sunk deep like two black holes.

Zhou Zhengwei sat opposite him, with a mottled wooden table between them.

On the table lay thick dossiers, with a pen and recording paper placed beside them.

"Zheng Bingkun." Zhou Zhengwei spoke his real name, his voice echoing in the empty interrogation room, "Your accomplices have all confessed. Now I give you one last chance."

The Shopkeeper didn't even lift his eyelids.

His jaw had been set back, but his speech was still not very fluent.

"I have nothing to say."

He had said that for three days.

From when he was brought in until now, besides basic information like name and age, he refused to say another word.

Zhou Zhengwei wasn't in a hurry either.

He lit a cigarette and smoked it slowly.

The smoke swirled upward in the light, blurring the view between them.

"You think that by staying silent we can't find out?" Zhou Zhengwei flicked ash from his cigarette, "Your ledger, your contact list, your secret hideouts—we have them all. Now I ask you, is this giving you a chance to seek leniency?"

The Shopkeeper finally lifted his head.

A flicker of mockery flashed in his eyes.

"Leniency? For someone like me, is there any possibility of leniency?"

"That depends on your attitude." Zhou Zhengwei stubbed out his cigarette, "Cooperating with the investigation, reporting and exposing—there is still a possibility."

The Shopkeeper laughed.

His laugh was dry and rasping, like sandpaper rubbing.

"Zhou Zhengwei, don't waste your thoughts. I, Zheng Bingkun, have lived over fifty years—I've enjoyed what I should have, seen what I should have seen. Having come to this point, I accept it."

He paused.

"But trying to get words out of my mouth is impossible."

Zhou Zhengwei looked at him, his eyes complex.

Such people are the hardest to deal with.

It's not that they aren't afraid of death; they have long been prepared for it.

"Take him away." Zhou Zhengwei waved his hand.

Two guards stepped forward and lifted the Shopkeeper up.

As they reached the door, the Shopkeeper suddenly turned his head.

"Where is Li Ping'an? Why didn't he come?"

"He's busy." Zhou Zhengwei said lightly, "Your case is now entirely in our hands."

The Shopkeeper's eyes flickered for a moment, seeming somewhat disappointed.

But he said nothing more, being led out of the interrogation room.

In the office of the Security Department of the Steel Rolling Mill, Li Ping'an was organizing documents.

On the desk lay several stacks of materials, all concerning the Shopkeeper's case.

From Xu Damao's initial discovery of the iron box, to the subsequent series of clues, and finally to the arrest.

He had carefully checked each document, ensuring nothing was omitted.

Wang Dahu pushed the door open and entered.

"Director, Zhou Zhengwei called from his side, saying the Shopkeeper still refuses to speak."

Li Ping'an didn't even lift his head.

"As expected."

He continued organizing the files, gathering the last few together, placing them in a kraft paper bag, and sealing the opening with a tamper-evident seal.

Then he signed his name on the seal.

"These, have someone send them to Zhou Zhengwei." He pushed the file bag over, "From today on, this case has nothing to do with us."

Wang Dahu was taken aback.

"Director, you..."

"The waters run too deep." Li Ping'an stood up, walked to the window, "Too many people are implicated behind the Shopkeeper, and the levels are too high. We just need to do our own duty; the rest should be left to those in charge."

He said it very calmly.

But Wang Dahu heard the implication in his words.

The Director is planning to withdraw.

"I understand." Wang Dahu picked up the file bag, "I'll deliver it myself."

Li Ping'an nodded.

After Wang Dahu left, he finally let out a long sigh.

The burden on his shoulders was finally lifted somewhat.

What remained was the internal security work of the Steel Rolling Mill.

That was his proper duty.

The next morning, the sound of practicing fists rang out again in the Xi Kua Yuan.

Li Yaozong assumed a horse stance, his little face solemn.

Xiao Nuanqing also stood behind her brother; although she was still wobbling, she could now hold the stance for a short while.

Li Ping'an stood aside watching, a slight smile lifting the corner of his mouth.

Mornings like this are what he wants.

After finishing their training, the father and son tidied up, pushed the bicycle out.

Just as they reached the Central Courtyard, they ran into Sha Zhu.

He was also about to escort He Xiao to school.

"Yo, Brother Ping'an, good morning," Sha Zhu grinned, "I heard you earned another great merit? Did you catch that… Shopkeeper?"

Li Ping'an smiled.

"Just my duty."

"Alright, your duty is no small thing," Sha Zhu pushed his cart outward, "Now that the villains are caught, we ordinary folks can finally sleep soundly."

In the Alley, a few neighbors were washing up by the basin.

Seeing Li Ping'an, their gazes were somewhat complicated.

There was admiration, curiosity, and something indescribable.

Li Ping'an pretended not to see.

After seeing the child off, he rode his bike to the Steel Rolling Mill.

On the road, passing an intersection, the breakfast stall owner Lao Zhang Yuan called out from afar.

"Li Chief, two fried dough sticks? Freshly fried, still crisp!"

Li Ping'an stopped, bought four fried dough sticks.

Lao Zhang wrapped the dough sticks while lowering his voice.

"Li Chief, you really are something," he gave a thumbs up, "I heard that Shopkeeper is a high official; you said catch and you caught him, impressive."

Li Ping'an took the dough sticks and paid.

"All thanks to the organization's power."

The remark sounded official, yet it was also true.

Without Zhou Zhengwei's orders and the cooperation of so many, he could not accomplish anything alone.

Upon arriving at the Steel Rolling Mill, the guard at the gate stood at attention and saluted, his eyes now showing genuine respect.

Previously they respected his position; now they admire his character.

Li Ping'an nodded, pushed the cart inside.

In the office building, colleagues he met gave him extra glances, intentional or not.

Some people greeted him proactively, their tone warmer than before.

Some people dodged and pretended not to see.

Li Ping'an treated everything with a calm mind.

He returned to the office, handling daily paperwork.

Arranging patrols, inspecting security, dealing with violations…

They were trivial tasks, but he performed them meticulously.

This is his life.

Calm, orderly, steady.

In the Siheyuan, news of Li Ping'an capturing the Shopkeeper had already spread wildly.

There were several versions.

Some said Li Ping'an stormed the enemy nest alone, taking down over a dozen by himself.

Others said the Shopkeeper had actually been captured earlier, a trap set by Li Ping'an, Lure the Snake Out of the Cave.

Still others claimed Li Ping'an had a bigger backer; otherwise how could he dare seize a high official like the Shopkeeper.

In the Front Courtyard, Yan Bu Gui was watering the Chrysanthemum Stamp.

Liu Haizhong crossed over with his hands behind his back.

"Lao Yan, have you heard? Ping'an earned merit again."

Yan Bu Gui adjusted his glasses.

"How could anyone not hear? The whole street is talking. I say, Lao Liu, how is Ping'an so lucky? Suspended for months, returned and got a promotion. Now he captured a top spy, this merit…"

He shook his head, not finishing.

But the meaning was clear.

Envy, jealousy.

Liu Haizhong sighed.

"Comparing oneself to others drives one mad. We, as First Elders in the courtyard, deal with trivial matters. Li Ping'an catches big shots."

In the Central Courtyard, Yi Zhonghai sat on his doorstep smoking an economy cigarette.

Jia Zhangshi came out of the house, and upon seeing him, hurried over.

"First Elder, how much reward do you think Li Ping'an will get this time?"

Yi Zhonghai glanced at her.

"What, you also want to earn merit?"

"I don't have that ability," Jia Zhangshi pursed her lips, "I'm just curious. With such a huge contribution this time, shouldn't the factory reward him a hundred or eighty bucks?"

Yi Zhonghai gave no reply.

He was thinking of something else.

Li Ping'an's rise had completely altered the power structure of the Siheyuan.

Previously the three First Elders could still speak up, now…

He shook his head and stamped out the cigarette butt.

In the back courtyard, Xu Damao was sunbathing at his own doorway.

He is now a "model of public security", and his stride even carries a breeze.

Wang Cuihua came out of the house and whispered, "Damao, don't be too flamboyant. Li Ping'an this time again achieved a great merit, we…"

"What about us?" Xu Damao glared, "His merit is his business, my being a model is my business. The well water doesn't disturb the river water."

Though he said that, he actually had doubts in his heart.

Li Ping'an climbed higher and higher, and his "model" status seemed increasingly insignificant.

In the Sha Zhu Family, Ma Dongmei was cooking.

"Zhuzi, do you think Ping'an this time is really about to fly high and prosper?"

Sha Zhu was peeling garlic and, hearing that, scoffed.

"Fly high and prosper? He never even considered that. Haven't you seen that he still does the same every day—delivering kids, going to work, getting off work. Whatever needs to be done, he does it."

"That's true." Ma Dongmei nodded, "Ping'an is a steady person."

In the evening, Li Ping'an returned home from work.

As soon as he entered the Alley, a few neighbors surrounded him.

"Ping'an, I heard you captured a spy?"

"Was it especially dangerous?"

"Tell us about it!"

Everyone chattered, all curious.

Li Ping'an smiled.

"There's nothing much to say, just normal work."

He tried to leave, but was held back.

"Don't go, Ping'an, tell us. Our courtyard has a talent like you, everyone's face lights up."

Li Ping'an helplessly gave a brief explanation.

It was all things that could be spoken, and the process was greatly simplified.

Yet even so, the crowd kept exclaiming in amazement.

"My god, you even fought someone?"

"I heard that the Shopkeeper knows martial arts?"

"Ping'an, you also know martial arts?"

Li Ping'an waved his hand.

"It's all in the past now. Everyone disperse, it's time to cook."

He pushed through the crowd and returned to Xi Kua Yuan.

He closed the door, and the world became quiet.

Lin Xueqing was cooking in the kitchen, and hearing the noise she came out.

"What's happening outside?"

"Nothing." Li Ping'an took off his coat, "The neighbors were curious and asked a few questions."

Lin Xueqing looked at him, her eyes gentle.

"Ping'an, this time… is it really over?"

Li Ping'an nodded.

"The case has been handed to Political Commissar Zhou; from now on it's none of my business. I'll just take care of the factory's security, and the rest I won't inquire about."

Lin Xueqing let out a sigh.

"That's good. These days, I've been worrying day after day."

Li Ping'an walked over and put his arm around her shoulder.

"I made you worry. It won't happen again."

At dinner, the family of four sat around a small table.

The dishes were simple, but they ate with peace of mind.

Li Yaozong chattered about school matters, while Xiao Nuanqing clumsily ate with a spoon, making a mess all over the table.

Li Ping'an watched them, and a warm current rose in his heart.

This is the life he wants to protect.

Calm, warm, real.

Night grew deep.

Li Ping'an stood in the courtyard, gazing at the star-filled sky.

The Shopkeeper's case was over.

But his life kept going.

Tomorrow, the sun will rise as usual.

He still has to take the child to school, and go to work at the factory.

He also has to live his days in this Siheyuan.

From afar came a faint dog bark.

Nearby, the lights of each household gradually went out.

The night in Four Nine City was peaceful and profound.

Li Ping'an took a deep breath, turned and went back inside.

Tonight, I should be able to get a good sleep.

And the story of this city continues.