Chapter 450: The Kind-Hearted He Daqing

Li Xiangxiu gave He Yuzhu a wink, and the two walked out of the cold, damp cellar one after the other.

She got straight to the point: "Zhuzi, this matter with Mei Feng is a bit tricky. If it goes to interrogation, where you caught the person, why you were tailing Zhou Hao... there are loopholes everywhere."

He Yuzhu also realized the problem and frowned tightly: "Then what should we do?"

Li Xiangxiu pondered for a moment and said in a low voice: "It would be best to send him to the Ministry of Heavy Industry and have it handled together with that espionage case. However, you must make your story consistent from beginning to end so no one can pick out any flaws."

He Yuzhu mused for a moment and nodded: "What you say makes sense. I heard from Tian Dan that Deputy Bureau Chief Zuo is extremely biased toward Zhou Hao. If we send Mei Feng to the Municipal Bureau and 'an accident' happens, we'll be in trouble. I'll just hand the person over to Secretary Liu—I don't believe that doing a good deed can turn me into a bad guy!"

Li Xiangxiu nodded.

He Yuzhu did not hesitate; he went home and dialed Secretary Liu's number.

A familiar voice came through the receiver.

"Who is this?"

He Yuzhu told the truth and briefly explained the situation.

Secretary Liu realized the severity of the problem and replied very decisively: "Bring him to me immediately. Oh, and bring this Li Xiangxiu you mentioned as well; let her explain the case to me in detail."

"I'll be there right away!" He Yuzhu said.

He Yushui ran into the house, saw Shen Guizhi tidying up the bowls and chopsticks on the table, and said loudly: "Mom! Dad is being unreasonable, he won't give me money, he spent it all on these!" As she spoke, she dumped a pile of colorful paper folding flowers from a cloth bag onto the kang with a clatter.

Shen Guizhi was stunned for a moment and looked at He Daqing, who had just entered the room: "His father, what kind of mood are you in? Why did you buy so many paper folding flowers?"

He Daqing looked at He Yushui and shook his head helplessly: "Years ago, I catered a full-month celebration for a family. The hosts were kind; after I finished a dish, they let me set aside a portion to take home. I've always remembered that kindness. Now that family has fallen on hard times, with only a woman left raising two eight or nine-year-old children, relying on selling these to get by. I... I spent fifty yuan to buy them all out, just to repay the favor from back then."

He Yushui curled her lips on the side and added fuel to the fire: "Dad even asked her to send these things to the factory to sell!"

Shen Guizhi's face sank immediately, and she stared at her husband: "I can understand spending fifty yuan to help someone. But if you use your official position to give her the green light, that's going too far."

"It's almost the New Year, isn't it?" He Daqing quickly apologized with a smile, "The factory is holding a party, and these things are perfect to be given out as small gifts. I really am following the rules; I didn't use any special privileges."

"He Daqing," Shen Guizhi's voice turned cold, "Do you not want to live a proper life with this family anymore? If you really have other intentions, I will divorce you and live with Zhuzi and Yushui."

"Guizhi, I just felt sorry for the mother and her two children..."

"There are many pitiful people; can you pity them all? Is it because I've been pregnant these days that you can't hold yourself back and your mind has started to wander?" Shen Guizhi stared at him fixedly.

He Daqing's face turned bright red, and he glanced at He Yushui, who was pricking up her ears: "The child is still here, why are you saying things like that!"

"You did something shameless, yet you're afraid of me saying it!" Shen Guizhi did not back down.

He Daqing scratched his hair and said: "I really didn't think that much at the time; I just felt that I should do it! If I didn't... I wouldn't be a real man!"

"I remember now," Shen Guizhi suddenly sneered a few times, "It must be that woman surnamed Bai, right? You even praised that woman, saying she was beautiful, generous, and bold. If you ask me, you just thought she was a rich person from a big family back then, and you were just a cook who could only look up to her. Now the tables have turned, and you're looking down on her, and your vanity is starting to swell, isn't it?"

"Guizhi, it's not like that." He Daqing sighed heavily, "I just saw her and those two children shivering in the wind... they were a bit pitiful."

Seeing that the two were arguing more and more fiercely, He Yushui hurriedly interrupted: "Mom, I spent over two million of my brother's money this time. Do you think he'll hit me if he finds out? We keep a record of everything!"

"You brat!" Shen Guizhi's attention was successfully diverted, and she reached out to poke her daughter's little head, "You spendthrift, spending your brother's money every day with a group of kids. Let's see how you'll live on your own in the future; you'll end up on the streets!"

"I... I've spent more than this before, and my brother didn't say anything." He Yushui shrank her neck and laughed, "Chen Xueru used to give us things for free often!"

"She runs a shop, why would she give you things for free?"

"Chen Xueru likes my brother," He Yushui's eyes sparkled, "I don't think she would ask my brother for money."

Shen Guizhi was startled: "That won't do! Wouldn't that make your brother a kept man?"

He Yushui laughed secretly—she had successfully diverted the conflict.

Ministry of Heavy Industry, Bureau Chief's office.

Secretary Liu poured a cup of tea for both He Yuzhu and Li Xiangxiu.

The two held their enamel mugs and took a few sips before they finally warmed up.

Li Xiangxiu gave a brief report on the recent situation in the bureau.

He Yuzhu added: "Secretary Liu, Tian Dan has captured the most spies in these past few years. You must help her; we cannot let her be wronged..."

Secretary Liu smiled and said: "I have long been aware of Comrade Tian Dan's situation. However, for now, we must let her suffer a little grievance—we need to use her to keep that Zhou Hao steady."

"I understand!" He Yuzhu finally relaxed.

Li Xiangxiu added: "Secretary Liu, according to the results of my investigation, the murderer of Xiao Geng is very likely Lao Liu, who is by Zhou Hao's side. We must carry out an arrest as soon as possible."

Secretary Liu nodded: "I will arrange for people to do it immediately."

Municipal Bureau, Deputy Department Chief's office.

Lao Liu stood in the shadows, his expression uncertain: "Team Leader Zhou, I always feel... that a net is tightening. It's time to think about an escape route."

Zhou Hao, however, smiled and pressed his cigarette butt into an enamel mug filled with cigarette stubs: "Lao Liu, you're overthinking it. Tian Dan is still locked up, which shows they haven't suspected us yet. The resume Mei Feng made is ruthless enough; the average person won't see any flaws."

"Team Leader Zhou, we've been interrogating Mei Feng and have had so much contact with him, why hasn't anyone questioned us?"

Zhou Hao leaned back in his chair, the corners of his mouth curling up: "Why did Deputy Bureau Chief Zuo specifically choose a deputy director of a police station to investigate this case? Isn't it obvious that he doesn't want her to find anything? To put it bluntly, they are still considering my connections. Tian Dan went against me and was locked up; who else would dare to manage this matter?"

Lao Liu lowered his head and said resolutely: "Team Leader Zhou, once things are exposed... you can push everything onto me. I am willing to die for you."

Zhou Hao was stunned. He stood up, walked over to Lao Liu, and hugged him: "It's worth it to have a brother like you in this life. But don't worry, we won't have any trouble."