Chapter 823: A Reliable Ally Gained!

The case of Meng Haibo being poisoned into a vegetative state came to a temporary halt following the street-side shooting of Hao Hongbiao.

However.

Tang Ye knew clearly in his heart.

The case must absolutely not end just like this.

Who exactly killed Hao Hongbiao?

There were still many crimes Hao Hongbiao had committed previously that could not simply be written off.

Yet Tang Ye also understood that, for the moment, there were not many ways to continue the investigation further.

If he were in Hanzhou, he would be the local kingpin, and he would have Wan Ming as a tool;

But now that he had arrived in Yanzhou, the situation was different.

Although he had a good relationship with Xing Zhijun, Xing Zhijun could absolutely never charge into battle without any reservations like Wan Ming.

Tang Ye's tenure working in Yanzhou was only two years.

Whereas, Xing Zhijun.

Barring special circumstances, he would likely continue working in Yanzhou indefinitely.

Therefore, Xing Zhijun had to have a sense of proportion in his actions and would not make enemies everywhere.

However, Xing Zhijun was grateful to Tang Ye in his heart.

Because his participation in this case had left an impression on Municipal Party Secretary Liu Mingyuan.

As the "top leader" of Yanzhou, Liu Mingyuan certainly knew of the problems existing within the local area.

With the successive incidents of reporter abuse and shootings in Zhangping County, if nothing unexpected happened, Liu Mingyuan had likely already begun brewing a crackdown on organized crime in his mind.

And in the future, at certain critical moments, Xing Zhijun might just become a reliable candidate in Secretary Liu's mind, to be entrusted with heavy responsibilities.

"County Magistrate Tang, although I haven't spent much time with you, I am truly impressed by your ability to get things done. Especially with the interrogation of Zhang Yong; finding a breakthrough based solely on twenty-four train tickets was truly eye-opening!"

Tang Ye secretly found it amusing, feeling that Xing Zhijun was making a bit too much of a fuss.

One had to know, he was a disciple of the master detective Gu Laotou.

Back in Hanzhou, he was a renowned interrogation expert.

"I just happened to be a blind cat that bumped into a dead mouse. Old Xing, the scene where you pulled your gun and went head-to-head with Wang Kang at the highway exit—my hair stood on end watching it at the time—I really didn't expect you to have such courage!" Tang Ye smiled modestly, then complimented Xing Zhijun.

"I was forced by the situation at the time! Looking back now, I actually feel a bit of lingering fear. But since the matter has already happened, the higher-ups seem to have forgotten about this episode and haven't even mentioned it, which actually makes me feel quite surprised." Xing Zhijun drank a glass of beer and said self-deprecatingly.

"Rest assured, the leaders above have already begun to be on alert. For Wang Kang to dare point a gun at you, the nature of it is too vile. A person like that is not fit to be a Police officer at all." Tang Ye's tone deepened as he said this seriously.

A thoughtful expression appeared on Xing Zhijun's face: "Wang Kang was one year ahead of me, and he had excellent grades back when we were in the police academy. He was also full of ideals and ambitions at the start, but later he encountered quite a few setbacks, and his personality gradually changed."

Tang Ye couldn't help but ask: "Setbacks?"

Xing Zhijun nodded slightly and explained:

"Back then, he once participated in a smuggling case and was shot three times while executing the mission.

He originally thought he would be promoted for this, but instead, he was transferred out of the Major Crimes Unit and assigned to be a neighborhood patrol officer.

If it were me, I wouldn't be able to accept that result either.

From then on, he was like a different person.

In order to change his fate, he pursued his current wife.

His wife is the daughter of the former Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee; she had been married once before and is eight years older than him."

After hearing this, Tang Ye sighed: "The change in Wang Kang before and after is indeed quite significant."

A flash of coldness crossed Xing Zhijun's eyes, and he said with a tone of disdain: "Abandoning one's bottom line for the sake of power is what I have always looked down upon him for. Now that Zhangping County is in such a foul state, it has a direct connection to him as the Deputy County Magistrate in charge."

Tang Ye understood now.

Xing Zhijun and Wang Kang were originally in a competitive relationship,

and belonged to a relationship of mutual contempt.

"The problems in Zhangping County will be solved sooner or later. We must trust the Municipal Party Committee."

After this experience, the relationship between Tang Ye and Xing Zhijun became much closer.

For Tang Ye, he finally had one more reliable ally in the public security, procuratorate, and judiciary camp.

Handling certain matters in the future would also be more convenient.

……

Early in the morning, Tang Ye knocked on Jiang Rou's door.

Jiang Rou rubbed her sleepy eyes and said listlessly: "Uncle, it's only five something, can you not torment me? I'm so sleepy I can't open my eyes."

Tang Ye said with a smile: "Get up quickly, we're going for a run."

"Run? I'm not running! I still need to sleep."

Jiang Rou walked toward the bed subconsciously.

Just as she was about to collapse onto it, she was grabbed by Tang Ye and dragged straight into the bathroom.

Tang Ye squeezed toothpaste for her and drew hot water, saying: "Wash up quickly, I'll wait for you for ten minutes. If you can't keep up with my pace of life, I'll have your dad arrange for someone to take you back to Hanzhou."

As soon as Jiang Rou heard she was being sent away, she gave a start, and her soul returned to her body.

Although unwilling, she still picked up her toothbrush and started brushing.

A moment later, Jiang Rou changed into light sportswear, followed Tang Ye out the door, and began to run.

Half an hour passed, and Jiang Rou gradually couldn't keep up with Tang Ye's pace.

She held her waist, panting as she complained: "Can you slow down? I feel like my lungs are about to pop out!"

Tang Ye turned around, marching in place, and said with a smile: "If you feel particularly tired, you can return to Hanzhou at any time—once you go back, you'll have people waiting on you every day, and you can do whatever you want."

Jiang Rou waved her fists viciously: "Provoking me again! Fine, if you want to run forward, then run forward; I won't admit defeat! If I beg for mercy from you again, I'm a dog!"

Seeing the stubborn ruthlessness erupting in Jiang Rou's eyes, Tang Ye felt secretly pleased.

In Tang Ye's eyes, Jiang Rou was a very special existence.

It could be said that he had watched her transform step by step.

Although the college entrance examination was over, Tang Ye always felt that Jiang Rou should not slack off just yet.

"Have you thought about what you want to do after entering university?"

"Study hard, and then have a romance?" Jiang Rou replied through gritted teeth while panting heavily.

Tang Ye shook his head with a wry smile: "I suggest you make a career plan first; starting from now, you need to think clearly about what kind of person you want to become in the future."

Jiang Rou was silent for a few seconds, then said: "Becoming a civil servant like you is actually quite nice."

Tang Ye laughed in spite of himself: "That is indeed a good career plan.

However, you must know that civil servants will become a popular and sought-after profession in the future, and it is not something you can achieve just by shouting a few slogans.

If you want to be a civil servant, you not only need a good brain but also a strong physique, so from now on, you must insist on exercising every day."

If Jiang Rou were to become a civil servant, having her father as a backer would make pursuing this path much easier than it would be for the average person.

Jiang Rou's body was exhausted, yet she was always bickering with Tang Ye.

However, deep down, she approved of Tang Ye.

She actually enjoyed every little moment spent with Tang Ye.

Otherwise, there would have been no need to travel thousands of miles from Hanzhou to find him.

Isn't the happiest thing in the world just being with the person you like?

Bathed in the morning light, with the morning breeze blowing, running side by side with someone you admire—how is that not a kind of romance?