Chapter 305: He has changed

Lu Qiaoshan was released from prison.

Bathed, hair dyed.

Lu Qiaoshan, in a suit and leather shoes, met the long-lost Zheng Zheng Jiemin in the office of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of National Defense.

"Qiaoshan, sit down quickly."

"Sigh, you've suffered after being locked up for so long."

Zheng Zheng Jiemin greeted him kindly and gently.

"I wouldn't dare. It is Qiaoshan who is incompetent and failed the Vice Minister's trust," Lu Qiaoshan said respectfully.

"After your incident, Li Guifen came to see me."

"I have been actively running around for your matter these past few days, but Mao Mao Renfeng made a mountain out of a molehill and insisted on using you to set an example."

"The trial was originally scheduled for next month, and the intention from above was to execute you by firing squad to set a precedent."

"I went to see the Generalissimo time and time again to plead for your merits, and he finally nodded, which is how I managed to fish you out of the gates of hell."

"Qiaoshan, to protect you, I have exhausted all my efforts,"

Zheng Zheng Jiemin said with a look of difficult emotion.

He also hadn't expected Lu Qiaoshan to be able to come back from the gates of hell.

And it was Yu Yu Jishi himself who gave the order.

Since that was the case, this favor naturally had to fall on him.

Lu Qiaoshan's eyes were slightly red, and he bowed ninety degrees: "Qiaoshan thanks the Vice Minister for the grace of saving my life; I will repay you with my death."

"Qiaoshan, how is your health? Can you still handle it?" Zheng Zheng Jiemin asked with a smile.

"I can handle it. I exercised every day in prison. Look at me, I'm full of vigor," Lu Qiaoshan shook his hands and feet and said with a loud laugh.

"Hmm."

"It's good that you have this spirit. Have you heard about the Jinhai matter?" Zheng Zheng Jiemin nodded and asked.

"What matter?" Lu Qiaoshan pretended to be confused.

"Students are rioting again. Several students are suspected of being poisoned to death by the Confidentiality Bureau, and Chen Chen Zhangjie's Garrison Brigade even opened fire."

"You have experience in dealing with students."

"I intend to transfer you back to pacify the student unrest. What do you think?"

Zheng Zheng Jiemin said.

"Vice Minister, don't worry, Qiaoshan will definitely complete the mission," Lu Qiaoshan hurriedly stood at attention and saluted.

"Do it boldly; if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you."

"Besides, there are some things you need to know."

"Chen Chen Jicheng has left Beiping, and Fu Fu Zuoyi is now all-powerful. The Generalissimo has hidden worries."

"When you go to Jinhai, make a big scene."

"Make Chen Chen Zhangjie unable to step down. Do you understand what I mean?"

Zheng Zheng Jiemin instructed.

"Understood," Lu Qiaoshan nodded.

"Hmm."

"Go."

Zheng Zheng Jiemin had originally wanted to mention the business in Jinhai, but then thought Lu Qiaoshan wasn't that kind of material, and Hong Hong Zhiyou had already gotten together with Anderson, so he could only give up the idea of making money.

……

Jinhai Station.

Wu Wu Jingzhong was playing with a snuff bottle.

Li Ya walked hurriedly into the Station Chief's office:

"Teacher, Lu Lu Qiaoshan has returned. He is hanging the title of Second Bureau Inspector stationed at the Garrison Headquarters, specifically sent over to suppress the protests."

"I heard that just today, he dealt with several officers who were ineffective in suppression."

"Thunderous means, great intensity."

"Indeed, thunderous means. He's back with the Imperial Sword."

"However, he's targeting students. If they make a fuss, they'll go back. He won't be able to stir up any big waves."

Wu Wu Jingzhong's demeanor was relaxed, without the slightest sign of tension.

"Teacher."

"In my opinion, targeting students is a fake; he's aimed at our Confidentiality Bureau."

"Last night, he had people arrest Xiao Little Yunxian and Tang Tang Dachun."

"And a batch of Confidentiality Bureau scattered personnel who were previously laid off."

Li Ya's brow was locked tight.

"So what?" Wu Wu Jingzhong raised his eyebrows and looked at him.

"Those scattered personnel once followed me to participate in intercepting Fu Fu Zuoyi's military supplies in Baoding."

"And Xiao Little Yunxian, the head of the opera troupe."

"When we were hiding Yuan Yuan Peilin, the troupe head was in the know."

"Also, I used Xiao Little Yunxian's brother in the woodshed to provide cover for Yuan Yuan Peilin."

"If these people give false testimony against me, Yuan Yuan Peilin's death will be firmly pinned on my head."

"Especially that Tang Tang Dachun."

"He was originally a sharp weapon I controlled, the liaison with the Yancheng mole. If this person talks nonsense, I won't be able to wash myself clean even if I jump into the Yellow River."

Li Ya said with depression.

"Look at the stupid things you've done. Now you know how to panic?"

"You had a Yancheng mole, why didn't you report it?"

Wu Wu Jingzhong slapped the table and pointed at him.

"Teacher, I..." Li Ya was speechless.

"I think you're doomed."

"Think carefully about how to pass this hurdle," Wu Wu Jingzhong said with a cold eye.

Last time Li Ya made a report to Fu Fu Zuoyi, Lu Qiaoshan was locked up for almost half a year. No one could endure that kind of anger. This time, he was afraid he would peel a layer of skin off Li Ya.

Li Ya's brow locked, and he was truly panicking.

After the Three People's Principles Youth League was banned, Jiang Jianfeng hadn't given him any instructions.

In some respects, he had already become an abandoned pawn.

Without Jiang Jianfeng's protection, and with a pile of "evidence," Lu Qiaoshan wouldn't kill him.

"This damn guy, he was standing at the gates of hell, and he still let him escape back."

"Heaven wants to destroy me."

Li Ya said with hatred.

"Is it Heaven?"

Wu Wu Jingzhong's heart skipped a beat.

First Li Li Erbao was poisoned and silenced, then someone used public opinion to try to replace him and Chen Chen Zhangjie, and Lu Qiaoshan happened to come back.

All of this seemed too coincidental.

No, this was very likely a meticulously planned trap.

"Teacher."

"I also heard that Lu Qiaoshan arrested Mu Liancheng's former butler, Pang Qing... and also called Mu Miss Wanqiu in for questioning."

"I'm afraid he's not just targeting me, but you too."

Li Ya raised his eyebrows and looked at Wu Wu Jingzhong, saying unhurriedly.

"There's such a thing?" Wu Wu Jingzhong's eyes rounded, and he shouted sternly.

"Absolutely true."

"If you don't believe me, ask Hong Zhiyou. Isn't he close to Mu Miss Wanqiu?"

"That Lu fellow is now a mad dog; he bites whoever he catches."

"Teacher, if we don't fight back, I'm afraid the Confidentiality Bureau will be wiped out by him."

Li Ya's mouth curled into a cold sneer.

"Isn't it just that little matter of Mu Liancheng, that dog traitor?"

"You send people to watch him first."

Wu Wu Jingzhong smiled as if he didn't care.

"Go, bring Secretary Hong to me," he said again.

"Secretary Hong is not in the office," Li Ya said.

"Hmm," Wu Wu Jingzhong waved his hand.

……

Garrison Headquarters, Inspection Team office.

Lu Qiaoshan was bowing his head to work, and a thick stack of materials was piled on his desk.

Cough, cough.

Suddenly, a sharp pain in his chest made him unable to help but cough violently.

Lu Qiaoshan only felt a fishy sweetness in his throat. He covered his mouth with a handkerchief. After the coughing subsided, he looked at the large patch of blood on the handkerchief, and his pale complexion became even more gloomy.

From the first time he was recorded by Li Ya, and after his position as Deputy Station Chief and his future were ruined, he had been holding back anger in his heart, and his health had followed suit.

Then to Beiping.

Then to losing Qian Qian Siming and being reported by Li Ya and imprisoned.

He had fallen into the hands of this villain Li Ya three times.

Plus the successive blows of being cheated out of his family fortune by Lin Lin Sufang and the pain of losing his son.

Lu Qiaoshan's health had long since collapsed.

Especially during these six months in prison, suffering every day without sleep, unable to get nutritional supplements, and cut off from medicine, his various illnesses worsened, and he had long since reached the point of exhaustion.

Coming to Jinhai this time.

He wanted to use his last breath to fight one last time.

To send Li Ya, Wu Wu Jingzhong, and Yu Zecheng all to the guillotine, to avenge his son, and if he could fulfill his beautiful dream of being a Station Chief, he would die without regrets.

"Inspector Lu, Hong Hong Zhiyou of the Confidentiality Bureau is here. Should I see him or not?" Peng Peng Chengtao walked in, his demeanor much more respectful than before.

He wasn't stupid.

Before, Old Lu came here to be stationed to get promoted and get rich.

This time he came back, he was carrying the Imperial Sword to kill people.

Whoever touched his brow was seeking their own death.

"Hong Hong Zhiyou?"

"How was Miss Mu's interrogation?" Lu Qiaoshan said in a deep voice.

"She did admit that Station Chief Wu and Mu Liancheng had contact, but she is unclear about whether there was bribery or if things were sent," Peng Peng Chengtao said.

"I see. You go down first. Don't be in a hurry to release the person; I still have to personally interrogate her again. Call him in," Lu Qiaoshan thought for a moment and said.

Hong Hong Zhiyou walked in and said with a loud laugh:

"Brother Shan, long time no see."

"I knew you were destined for great wealth and would definitely be able to turn bad luck into good fortune. And here you are, promoted and back to kill."

"Brother, sit," Lu Qiaoshan stood up and led him to the sofa.

"Sigh, ups and downs, rises and falls."

"Gao Sheng is out of the question. Killing is definitely going to happen—a few people must die. If the knife doesn't see red, I'll be failing the Generalissimo's heavenly grace."

"Honestly, Jinhai only has you with a bit of human touch."

"During my time in prison, your sister-in-law was helped by you quite a bit. Thanks."

He raised his hand and poured good tea for Hong Hong Zhiyou.

"Sigh, it's shameful to say."

"I'm doing okay in Jinhai, but in Jingling, it really doesn't work. Sister-in-law came to me, and I looked for people at the time... but you, Brother Shan, are a lucky person with your own heaven-sent protection."

Hong Hong Zhiyou said with a look of guilty emotion.

"You have heart, you have heart. Brother appreciates it," Lu Qiaoshan patted his shoulder and said.

While he was in prison, he knew who was really doing things and who was faking it.

"Coming back this time, why not hang out at the Confidentiality Bureau?"

"The office on the third floor is still being kept for you. If you go there, we can still drink coffee and chat when we're free," Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"Confidentiality Bureau?"

Lu Qiaoshan, who had been full of smiles, instantly became gloomy and serious, pointing at Hong Hong Zhiyou:

"Except for you, there isn't a single good person in that place."

"Li Ya doesn't need to be mentioned; he must die."

"As for the Station Chief, his means of playing Tai Chi aren't necessarily that clever. I'll put it here: for the sake of past relations, he'd better resign voluntarily, and he can still preserve some dignity."

"Otherwise, it's hard to say."

"As for Yu Zecheng, hehe..."

Lu Qiaoshan let out a dry laugh.

"No, Old Lu, aren't you here to deal with the students?"

"Why are you turning your blade against your own people?"

Hong Hong Zhiyou furrowed his brow and said.

"Your own people? Brother, won't your conscience hurt when you say that?"

"You're all getting rich, living in comfort one by one."

"And me? My son is dead, half a lifetime of family fortune has vanished. Do you have no idea what you did in the middle of all this?"

Lu Qiaoshan tapped the table and said with a stern look.

"I'm telling you, dealing with students is a side job."

"The main thing is to deal with the Jinhai Station's corruption, collusion with the Reds, and other matters."

"One by one, they must be cleaned up."

"This is the meaning of the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Affairs Bureau. Once there is evidence, just arrest and interrogate. Everyone can go eat cockroaches in the Shutun Prison for me."

"Just a moment ago... I talked to Chen Chen Zhangjie; he must be honest."

He waved his finger, his tone becoming increasingly majestic and arrogant.

"Understood. Brother Shan, you are the true Imperial Envoy this time," Hong Hong Zhiyou nodded and said.

"Anything else?" Lu Qiaoshan leaned back on the sofa, looking at him with a smile that wasn't a smile.

"Miss Wanqiu's old servant said she was summoned by your people."

"Brother Shan."

"We're our own people. Miss Wanqiu has been unwell recently. Give me some face and let me take her back," Hong Hong Zhiyou smiled.

As he spoke, he handed over a bundle of US dollars.

"Brother, I'm not playing this game this time," Lu Qiaoshan smiled and actually pushed the money back.

With his current health, money was no longer of much use.

He had been tied down by this stuff for so long in the past, and now that he could finally let go, how could he be bound again?

"The situation is turbulent right now. Sister-in-law still needs to spend money on daily necessities."

Hong Hong Zhiyou added another small stack of US dollars.

"Don't trouble yourself with this, Brother," Lu Qiaoshan remained unmoved.

His son was dead.

He didn't have much time left either.

His parents didn't have many years left either, and he didn't expect Li Guifen to remain a widow for him.

Since that was the case, why leave money for her to benefit someone else?

"Alright."

"About Miss Wanqiu..." Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"I said, we are brothers."

"I still have to give you this bit of face. Follow me."

Lu Qiaoshan stood up and went to the interrogation room.

Inside, Miss Wanqiu was sitting on the electric chair, trembling and wiping her tears with a silk scarf:

"Officer, I'm just a small woman. How could I possibly know about the matters between my uncle and Station Chief Wu?"

"I was seriously ill at the time, and my uncle could even abandon me without a word."

"Do you think I could know anything?"

"You..." Peng Peng Chengtao was just about to ask a question when Lu Qiaoshan walked in.

"Old Peng, you go down first," Lu Qiaoshan instructed.

"Hong Zhiyou." Seeing Hong Hong Zhiyou, Miss Wanqiu was overjoyed.

"Don't be afraid," Hong Hong Zhiyou smiled slightly.

"Miss Miss Wanqiu."

"I'll ask you a few questions."

"Station Chief Wu and your uncle..."

Lu Qiaoshan had just opened his mouth when Miss Wanqiu said: "Inspector Lu, I... I really don't know about the matters between them."

Lu Qiaoshan smiled gently, took out a small tape recorder, and pressed it: "Don't be afraid."

"I'm not asking about their transactions."

"How many times have they met?"

"Where did they meet?"

"Miss Wanqiu, answer truthfully," Hong Hong Zhiyou reminded her faintly.

"I know of three times."

"The first time was at my house."

"The second time was at the Donghai Tea House. My uncle asked me to go eat with them at the time, but I didn't go."

"The third time was also at home; they had a meeting on the roof."

"I'm not clear about what exactly they talked about."

Miss Wanqiu said truthfully.

"Very good."

"During the military mediation period, did your uncle and Wu Wu Jingzhong meet?" Lu Qiaoshan said.

"I can't remember," Miss Wanqiu said.

"Don't worry, think slowly. I believe you can figure it out," Lu Qiaoshan said.

Miss Wanqiu looked at Hong Hong Zhiyou.

The latter nodded slightly.

"I remember now, it seems they met once."

"My uncle was a classmate of the then-Military Mediation Director, Deng Ming."

"He met with Deng Ming."

"It was probably the day before he met General Deng that Station Chief Wu came to see my uncle."

Miss Wanqiu thought for a moment and said.

"Are you sure?" Lu Qiaoshan was overjoyed.

"Sure," Miss Wanqiu nodded.

"Snap!"

Lu Qiaoshan stopped the recording, nodded, and whispered with a sinister smile: "So that's it. I was wondering why the Reds knew the personnel list of the Shangquan Club so clearly."

"Ma Kui really died unjustly."

"Miss Miss Wanqiu, you may leave," Lu Qiaoshan said.

"Thank you, Division Chief Lu," Miss Wanqiu bowed and said.

"Why be so polite? We're our own people, just routine questioning."

"I might have to look for you later, so please cooperate," Lu Qiaoshan smiled.

"Okay," Miss Wanqiu nodded.

"Brother Shan, thanks. Shall we gather at the Hongfu Tea House tonight? Since you're here, I have to welcome you," Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"No, no."

"I'm getting old, and I can't handle greasy food. I'm fine eating work meals at the Garrison Headquarters," Lu Qiaoshan said.

"Brother Shan, are you staying here too?"

"I have a quiet old house on Taishan Road. Why don't you move in first?"

Hong Hong Zhiyou asked tentatively.

"Your sister-in-law is in Jingling, and I'm fine staying in the guest room alone. Don't trouble yourself, Brother," Lu Qiaoshan still refused with a smile.

"Alright," Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"By the way, go back and give Li Ya a message: tell him to prepare a few more sets of thick clothes and quilts," Lu Qiaoshan instructed.

"What do you mean?" Hong Hong Zhiyou didn't understand.

"You'll know when the time comes," Lu Qiaoshan said.

"Good, I'll wait to see a good show."

Hong Hong Zhiyou took Miss Wanqiu and walked out.

From afar, he heard Lu Qiaoshan ordering Peng Peng Chengtao: "From the moment they stormed the grain market, they were bandits and robbers. Why waste words? Just kill them."

……

"Is he... is he going to take action against the students?" Back home, Miss Wanqiu said.

"Yes."

"Lu Qiaoshan has changed."

"He doesn't want money, he doesn't want houses; he's back to risk his life."

Miss Wanqiu also looked puzzled: "Indeed, Lu Qiaoshan used to think about promotion and wealth."

"Logically speaking, if the Generalissimo really gave him special privileges, according to his character, he should be looting as much as possible, trying to do the job beautifully, and seeking a promotion."

"Also, the feeling he gives people this time is very different."

"How is it different?" Hong Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Very calm."

"As if he has seen through the hustle and bustle of the red dust, and at the same time, makes people feel terrified—a terror from the depths of the soul."

Miss Wanqiu analyzed with a woman's unique perspective.

"You're right, he has become more and more terrifying."

"Everything in the world, except for life and death, is just dust."

"Perhaps..."

Hong Hong Zhiyou thought for a moment, stood up, walked to the telephone, and dialed a number:

"Hello, Sister-in-law, it's me, Hong Zhiyou."

"Why didn't you come with Brother? I heard the news and prepared a house for you immediately."

"Yes, I saw Brother Shan today. His complexion is very bad, and he's been coughing."

"You say Jinhai is so chaotic right now, and Brother Shan just came out of prison. Without a good place to stay, without nutritional taste, and without anyone to take care of him, how can that work?"

"I was thinking of arranging it for him, but he doesn't want it."

……

"Oh, is that so?"

"That is indeed a troublesome matter. I know people at the St. Maria Hospital in Xiangdao. Why don't we find a time and have a foreign doctor there take a look?"

"Alright."

"Don't be too sad. I'll try my best to persuade Brother Shan."

"I won't disturb your rest anymore. Goodbye."

Hanging up the phone.

Hong Hong Zhiyou looked at Miss Wanqiu: "Lu Qiaoshan suffers from severe heart disease and tuberculosis. His heart disease has flared up several times, and according to Li Li Guifen, he almost died in prison."

"Perhaps this is the reason he has taken everything lightly and only wants revenge."

"Indeed. If a person isn't even afraid of death, what else would they be afraid of? Hong Zhiyou, he won't investigate you, will he?" Miss Wanqiu said with concern.

"It's entirely possible."

"He's investigating the Station Chief, which is actually investigating me. Once Old Wu falls, I won't get any good results either," Hong Hong Zhiyou answered affirmatively.

"Then... then my answer today." Miss Wanqiu was shocked.

"It doesn't matter."

"These are all small matters; the Station Chief still has this bit of preparation," Hong Hong Zhiyou hugged her and comforted her softly.

Miss Wanqiu was ill.

There was no elegance tonight.

Hong Hong Zhiyou hugged her like a cat and fell asleep.

Just as he closed his eyes, about to sink into a dream.

BIU.

BIU.

DA-DA!

Gunshots erupted throughout the city.

"Hong Zhiyou, it seems to be over at Beiyang University. Will Hong Xiaohui be in danger? You hurry and find someone to contact her; be careful not to be targeted by Lu Qiaoshan," Miss Wanqiu was also startled awake and said with concern.

……

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 306 =====