Chapter 80: The Disdained Brother‑in‑Law Becomes the Last Lifeline

Li Jimin turned around and saw Chen Zhiguo, the county Public Security Bureau criminal police captain, and felt suddenly embarrassed.

"Captain Chen, why are you in the town? A younger family member acted recklessly and caused trouble; I'm here to see if I can…"

"I'm on duty in the town to inspect public order; which of your younger relatives?"

Chen Zhiguo's expression was solemn, his gaze like a torch.

Li Jimin had to tell the truth: "It's my nephew, Lin Yueqiang. He got into a clash at the tavern and accidentally injured someone; he's a youngster, impulsive…"

Chen Zhiguo's face darkened: "Secretary Li, as a town leader you should set an example. I'm about to conduct an interrogation; the victim has seven stitches on the head and is still under examination—this is no minor matter."

Li Jimin was choked into silence and could only grit his teeth and follow Chen Zhiguo into the interrogation room.

Lin Yueqiang saw Chen Zhiguo and turned even paler.

He had heard of the county criminal police captain's reputation in town; it was said he handled cases with iron resolve and impartiality, and several well‑connected people in the county had been brought down by him.

Facing Chen Zhiguo's interrogation, Lin Yueqiang started out defiant, but was soon left speechless by the questions.

In his desperation, he suddenly recalled that Lu Qingshan seemed close to Chen Zhiguo, having once seen them eat together.

"Captain Chen!"

"Yes, yes!" Lin Yueqiang nodded repeatedly, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, "My sister is Lu Qingshan's wife! Ask my brother‑in‑law; he'll definitely prove I'm not like this normally! It was all caused by drinking!"

He clutched this lifeline anxiously, speaking while furtively glancing at Li Jimin's expression.

Li Jimin heard this and a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face.

He hadn't expected his nephew to invoke Lu Qingshan's name, the brother‑in‑law he had once looked down upon.

Chen Zhiguo gave no response, merely ordered someone to make a call to the village.

At that moment, Lu Qingshan was at home playing with Xiao Xue.

Jin Hu lay in the corner of the kang, occasionally shifting closer to Xiao Xue, nudging her little hand.

Xiao Xue giggled, scratching Jin Hu's chin with her tiny finger.

"Daddy, Jin Hu likes it when I scratch here; look, it squints its eyes, looks so comfortable!" Xiao Xue exclaimed excitedly.

"That's because Xiao Xue's fingers are the gentlest."

Lu Qingshan indulgently pinched his daughter's nose, "Even the fierce Jin Hu has been tamed by you."

Jin Hu seemed to understand his owner's words, lifted his head and let out a "woof," then blissfully squinted his eyes, allowing Xiao Xue to pet him.

"Jin Hu is not fierce at all! He's the best dog!"

Xiao Xue defended herself, hugging Jin Hu's neck and planting a kiss; Jin Hu obediently accepted the affection, his tail wagging wildly.

At that warm moment, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard, followed by Zhao Laonian's frantic knocking: "Qing Shan! Is Qing Shan at home?"

Lu Qingshan rose to open the door; Uncle Laonian, panting, stood outside: "Qing Shan, the town police station called, saying your brother‑in‑law was fighting in a tavern and is now in custody! They want you to go right away!"

Lin Yue'e was tidying dishes in the main house kitchen when she heard it; the spoon in her hand clanged to the floor: "What happened to my brother?"

Uncle Laonian shook his head: "I don't know the details; they just said the assault was serious, urging the family to go quickly!"

"Alright, thank you, Uncle, we'll go right away," Lu Qingshan replied.

Lin Yue'e panicked, helplessly: "Qing Shan, what should we do now?"

Lu Qingshan's expression remained calm; he rose and gently squeezed his wife's hand: "Don't worry, we'll go right now."

After Uncle Laonian left the yard, Lu Qingshan told Lin Yue'e: "Go fetch a thousand yuan for me; we'll decide later based on the situation."

Lin Yue'e nodded and hurried to the hidden compartment under the kang to get the money.

Lu Qingshan lifted Xiao Xue and put a thick cotton coat on her.

"Daddy, what's wrong with uncle? Why is mother crying?" Xiao Xue asked naively, her small hand stroking Lu Qingshan's cheek.

"Uncle ran into some trouble and accidentally hurt someone; we're going to help him."

Lu Qingshan kissed his daughter's forehead, fitted Xiao Xue's cotton hat, tied a scarf around her, revealing a pair of large, black‑grape‑like eyes.

Village chief Zhao Yongnian, aware of the situation, asked Zhao Laonian to bring the mule cart over.

Lu Qingshan mounted the mule cart, cradling Xiao Xue, pulling Lin Yue'e, and sped toward the town.

Along the way, Lin Yue'e's tears kept falling as she twisted her fingers in her sleeve: "I have no idea what trouble Yueqiang caused; he's been reckless since childhood, his temper is too fierce…"

Lu Qingshan grasped Lin Yue'e's cold hand: "Don't worry, I'm here."

Lin Yue'e looked at her husband's resolute profile and inexplicably felt at ease.

Compared with the idle Lu Laizi of the past, the current Lu Qingshan seemed a different person—calm and composed in crises, earning unforced trust and reliance.

Upon arriving at the police station, Lu Qingshan first settled Xiao Xue, letting her and Lin Yue'e wait in the outer room, while he went straight to find Chen Zhiguo.

Xiao Xue sat obediently on a long bench, her big eyes curiously scanning the coming and going police officers.

"Mom, the police officer's hat is so pretty," Xiao Xue whispered to Lin Yue'e.

Lin Yue'e, nervous, held her daughter's small hand and forced a smile: "Yes, the police protect everyone's safety."

Lu Qingshan adjusted his collar and went straight to look for Chen Zhiguo.

In the duty room, Li Jimin was talking with Chen Zhiguo; when Lu Qingshan entered, his expression grew a bit awkward, and he subconsciously straightened his back.

"Captain Chen," Lu Qingshan nodded.

Chen Zhiguo, upon seeing Lu Qingshan, slightly softened his expression but remained stern: "Qing Shan, you arrive just in time."

"Secretary Li," Lu Qingshan also nodded to Li Jimin, his tone even and neither servile nor overbearing.

Li Jimin was somewhat surprised to find that the former "Lu Laizi" before him now appeared so steady and natural.

"Qing Shan, you need to understand the seriousness. The victim has seven stitches on the head; preliminary diagnosis shows no life‑threatening danger, but the corner of the right eye is injured, posing a slight risk of visual impairment. The family is very emotional, insisting on pursuing the matter to the end."

Lu Qingshan nodded: "Thank you, Captain Chen, for handling this impartially. May I first meet the victim's family to understand their demands?"

Li Jimin interjected: "Qing Shan, your brother‑in‑law really caused a big disaster this time; the victim is the squad leader of Lujiatun!"

Lu Qingshan pondered briefly: "Secretary Li, don't worry; I'll first talk with the other side's family."

Chen Zhiguo nodded slightly: "Alright, I'll take you there."

Just out of the police station gate, Chen Zhiguo said in a low voice: "Your brother-in-law's situation is not good; after drinking he got into a fight and even injured someone with a bottle, which counts as a malicious injury case."

Lu Qingshan shook his head: "I usually have nothing to do with him; today I will think of a way, and I won't cause you trouble."

Chen Zhiguo glanced at Lu Qingshan, nodded: "That's good."

On the way to the ward, Lu Qingshan already had a plan in mind.