Chapter 846

Zheng Zheng Zelong grew more terrified the more he thought about it. Although prices on the mainland were cheap and rent and renovation hadn't cost much, this shop had consumed all his savings. If it were shut down, he'd truly be reduced to begging—and even that might not be possible here.

The manager noticed Zheng Zheng Zelong seemed off, his face filled with concern; after all, finding such a high-paying job wasn't easy.

"Boss, are you okay?"

Hearing the manager's voice, Zheng Zheng Zelong turned his head, like a drowning man grabbing the last straw—he seized the manager's wrist.

"Zhang Xing, Sun Hexin was arrested. I was close to him—could I be implicated? Will Da Da Shijie be shut down?"

Zhang Xing froze, then startled. "You were close to Sun Hexin—did you do anything illegal?"

Zheng Zheng Zelong shook his head like a rattle: "No no no, I'm a law-abiding businessman. How could I do anything illegal?"

Zhang Xing exhaled deeply: "If you didn't break the law, why would they shut down our shop?"

Zheng Zheng Zelong's lips moved. Gathering all his courage, he said: "Back in Xiangjiang, the newspapers always reported that here it's a dictatorship with no human rights—just a tiny mistake and you're dragged out and shot."

Zhang Xing's mouth dropped open. For a moment, he couldn't grasp what Zheng Zheng Zelong meant.

While he remained silent, Zheng Zheng Zelong panicked, wondering if he should rush home to pack and flee—then Zhang Xing spoke.

"Boss, we're a society ruled by law. Whoever breaks the law is sentenced—or executed—only after a court trial, and defendants have the right to hire lawyers. How could anyone just be dragged out and shot for a minor mistake?"

Zheng Zheng Zelong perked up: "Really?"

"Of course it's true."

Zhang Xing didn't know how to explain it. Though Xiangjiang and the mainland were separated by only a stretch of water, Britain's indoctrination of Xiangjiang had been remarkably effective.

"Let me give you a real example." Zhang Xing suddenly remembered Zhou Andong's lawsuit against the media: "You know the Jiangzhou Yugong Group, right?"

"Of course!" At the mention of Jiangzhou Yugong Group, Zhang Xing grew interested. "Jiang Jiang Xiaobai is famous in Britain, wildly popular—but exports are limited. There's none in Xiangjiang. I heard it's only served at high-end wine dinners."

"After coming to the mainland, Jiang Jiang Xiaobai and Jiang Xiaomei ads are everywhere. I rushed to buy some and drink it. The taste is incredible—no wonder your British princess likes it."

Zhang Xing knew Jiang Jiang Xiaobai was exported because Jiangzhou Yugong Group advertised it heavily, but he didn't know the British princess drank Jiang Jiang Xiaobai—or that Jiang Jiang Xiaobai had become a new favorite among Britain's upper class solely because of her.

"Some domestic media published false reports about Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Yugong Wine, severely damaging Jiangzhou Brewery's reputation. Chairman Zhou Andong sued those media outlets in court."

"In the end, the media lost the case. They paid damages and published public apologies for a month. Boss, you must know—we have no private media in our country."

"If what you say were true—that it's a dictatorship with no human rights, that people are just dragged out and shot at random—how could Zhou Andong possibly have won this case?"

Zheng Zheng Zelong listened and found it logical. His anxiety eased considerably, and the urge to flee vanished.

"As long as they don't shut down Da Da Shijie, I'll pay any fine."

Zhang Xing soothed his frightened boss and also reminded the waitstaff to clean up the blood on the floor. No matter what, Da Da Shijie couldn't close—he didn't want to lose such an easy, respectable, high-paying job.

………………

At the municipal bureau, the conference room also served as the command center for this arrest operation—all leaders were present.

The walkie-talkie on Tan Tan Zongwei's conference table continuously relayed reports from each arrest team.

Less than an hour later, the large-scale arrest operation ended. Thirty-seven core members of Sun Hexin's gang were captured; six others remained missing. But these six did not include Sun Hewen, Qi Qi Damin, or two other core members.

"Clap clap clap…"

Loud applause filled the conference room. Aside from minor resistance during Sun Hexin's arrest, all other teams completed their missions smoothly. Everyone's tense nerves relaxed, and stern faces broke into smiles.

Tan Tan Zongwei picked up a cigarette from the table and lit it. "Now we just wait for news from Beijing police."

That morning, they'd confirmed Sun Hewen and Qi Qi Damin were heading to Beijing with two others.

But Zhao Jin had sent no updates—they could only watch as Sun Hewen and his group boarded the plane.

When Meng Tong Huai Zhi notified him of the arrests, he immediately contacted Beijing police to assist in capturing Sun Hewen and his men.

But so far, no news had come. They could only wait patiently.

Time slipped away. The room's light dimmed; someone turned on the conference room lights.

At that moment, two female officers entered, carrying boxed meals.

"Leaders, you must be hungry—please eat."

"Oh my!"

One leader opened the bag and pulled out a boxed meal.

"Xiao Li, you brought this just in time—we were about to starve."

Tan Tan Zongwei called out: "Everyone, eat first. We don't know when Beijing police will respond."

They were truly famished, shoveling food into their mouths.

………………

In Zhenxing Village, a militia member stood before the collapsed courtyard wall, on the verge of tears.

"Wang Quan, you bastard! I told you to aim carefully, aim carefully—and you still missed! You blew down my courtyard wall and gate!"

Wang Quan protested: "How's it my fault?"

The militia member snapped: "You fired the cannon—whose fault is it if not yours?"

Wang Quan shouted: "I fired the cannon, but the shell went off course—what's that got to do with me?"

"…"

The militia member opened his mouth but couldn't think of a reply.

Bian Bian Zhenghe laughed: "Enough. We'll rebuild Bai Shu's house these next two days—while we're at it, we'll fix your wall too."

The militia member finally looked satisfied, muttered something, turned, and spotted the gap-toothed monkey crouching nearby.

The fellow's eyes darted wildly, looking shifty and sneaky. The militia member kicked him.

"Fucking bastard—thinking of running? If your eyes keep rolling like that, I'll gouge them out and stomp them like bubbles."

The gap-toothed monkey stared blankly. He'd been sitting quietly—why had he been kicked?

Why him and no one else? This was so unfair.

Then he heard the militia member's words and nearly cried. When had his eyes been rolling? He didn't even notice!

This was false accusation. Oh heavens, this world is so dark—please send a divine thunderbolt to split open this darkness and let me see the light.