Chapter 34: Extorting Lu Qiao (Please Favorite, Please Recommend)

On the balcony.

Wu Jingzhong stared with grim, icy eyes as the car disappeared into the darkness.

"Chou'er, change the carpet."

Mrs. Kang called out, then walked onto the balcony carrying tea.

"Old Wu, this Secretary Hong is getting bolder and bolder."

"He actually dared to ask you for money."

Mrs. Kang did not understand politics; what annoyed her was that Hong Zhiyou had come to their own doorstep to extort them.

One thousand US dollars.

Just thinking about it made her heart ache.

"You're a woman, what do you know?"

"Don't talk about one thousand; even if it were five thousand, I would be happy to give it to them."

"Small-minded people who love money are not scary."

"What's scary are those who want nothing, but want... your life."

Wu Jingzhong sighed heavily with his hands behind his back.

"What does that mean? I don't get it." Mrs. Kang pouted, displeased.

"A while back, there was a meeting at the Beiping Pacification Headquarters."

"Ma Hansan told everyone a joke about the Ministry of Military Orders."

"He said Lieutenant General Liu Fei and Guo Rugui of the Third Department tore into each other, accusing the other of being a Red."

"Can you guess the reason Liu Fei and Deng Wenyi, one of the Thirteen Guardians, used to report Guo Rugui?"

Wu Jingzhong leaned back slowly in his recliner, turned his head, and asked with a smile.

"What reason?" Mrs. Kang asked curiously.

"They said Guo Rugui's sofa had patches on it, and that Guo Rugui actually wasn't corrupt!" Wu Jingzhong laughed.

"That is quite strange; in this day and age, where is there a general who isn't corrupt?" Mrs. Kang said dismissively.

"Indeed."

"In the end, the Generalissimo and Bai Chongxi both came out and gave them each a slap on the wrist."

"The Generalissimo said we cannot treat all honest people as Reds, while Bai Chongxi said Liu Fei is extravagant and couldn't possibly be a Red."

"This matter is not simple."

"The corrupt are definitely not Reds, but the uncorrupt might be."

"Now do you understand?"

Wu Jingzhong sighed and looked at his wife with a smile.

"If you put it that way, Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng are definitely not Reds."

"They are quite greedy, and their methods for raking in money are ruthless."

Mrs. Kang suddenly realized and began to laugh.

"Hong Zhiyou is definitely not."

"As for Yu Zecheng..."

Wu Jingzhong gazed into the pitch-black sky in the distance, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Hong Zhiyou drove to Lu Qiao's mansion.

He did not rush to get out of the car.

Dealing with Wu Jingzhong required intuition.

Wu Jingzhong had learned that Lu Qiao participated in the secret meeting with Yang Wenquan and Zhang Si, yet he only had Director Xiao detain him and kept it a secret.

This showed that Old Wu did not want to kill Lu Qiao.

With the tape in hand and the Boatmen's Guild eliminated, Lu Qiao would be fish on the chopping block for him to handle as he pleased in the future.

If it were handled publicly.

According to the house rules, even if Lu Qiao wasn't executed by firing squad, he could forget about being an official.

Then the higher-ups would send someone else to take the position.

This was something Wu Jingzhong did not want to see.

Hong Zhiyou understood immediately.

His role could only be that of a peacemaker, helping Lu Qiao find a reasonable way out.

This would not only demonstrate the Station Chief's majesty but also teach Lu Qiao a lesson, while incidentally making him owe a massive favor.

Having figured it out, Hong Zhiyou rang the doorbell.

Inside the hall.

Lu Qiao, his wife, and several servants were already under the control of Xiao Guohua.

Hong Zhiyou walked into the living room with his hands in his pockets.

Lu Qiao, as if seeing a savior, shouted:

"Secretary Hong, what is going on here?"

"On what grounds are Director Xiao and his men detaining me!"

"Director Xiao." Hong Zhiyou gestured.

Xiao Guohua led his men out.

"This is too much."

"I am a field-grade officer; they detain me without any reason—what do they want?"

"I want to call Director Zheng!"

Lu Qiao clamored.

"It's useless, the phone line has been cut." Hong Zhiyou spread his hands, saying helplessly.

"Secretary Hong, what exactly did my Old Lu do?"

"It's terrifying in the middle of the night like this."

Li Guifang asked in a panicked, tearful voice.

"That's right, there has to be a reason to arrest someone; what is this supposed to be?" Lu Qiao demanded.

"A reason?"

"Brother, you're in big trouble."

Hong Zhiyou shook his head with a sigh and turned on the tape recorder.

After listening.

Sweat poured down Lu Qiao's face, and his entire spirit collapsed.

At the secret meeting.

Although he did not express support for killing Wu Jingzhong, he was indeed a participant.

Especially his words targeting Hong Zhiyou, which were very explicit.

"Brother, you, you must believe me, this is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding." Lu Qiao was completely rattled and panicked.

"I understand."

"At that time, we weren't brothers yet, but you didn't take action against me, and you even sent word to save my life."

"I remember this."

Hong Zhiyou pointed to his chest.

In an instant, his expression became troubled:

"But assassinating a general and betraying one's own side—there's no way to explain this to the Station Chief."

"If this tape is sent to Boss Dai's desk, guess whether Zheng Jiemin would dare to save you."

"Thump!"

Lu Qiao's body went limp, sliding off the sofa and collapsing onto the floor.

"Zhiyou, Zhiyou!"

"We are our own people, we are brothers; you are a magnanimous man, you must help our Old Lu."

"He was just confused, blinded by Zhang Si."

"His, his heart is loyal to the Station Chief and the Party-State."

"I beg you."

Li Guifang grabbed Hong Zhiyou and knelt directly before him.

"Sister-in-law, don't humiliate me like this."

"This matter was handled personally by Director Liu."

"If it weren't for thinking of Brother Shan, I would have avoided this, and I wouldn't be here now."

Hong Zhiyou hurriedly pulled her up.

"Brother, I know the Station Chief; he is someone who kills without blinking."

"You are smart and have a sharp mind."

"Quick... quickly think of a way for me."

"As long as I don't have to eat a lead bullet, anything will do."

Lu Qiao was completely flustered, his legs trembling as he begged.

"Brother Shan, before I came, I argued strongly on your behalf."

"In the recording, you only said to consider it long-term, and didn't truly state your position."

"That night, you turned against Zhang Si, which shows your heart is still with the Jinmen Station."

"Fortunately, the Station Master is merciful; he, the old gentleman, felt compassion."

"Otherwise, would he have let me come?"

Hong Zhiyou slowed his tone to comfort him.

"Sigh!"

"As long as you're not dead, it's fine."

"Is that... is it a demotion, or the Water-Tunnel Prison!" Lu Qiao let out a breath, his face full of dejection and a bitter smile.

"Brother, you still don't understand."

"Why it was me who came."

"I am the Wealth-Bestowing Boy; you have to burn incense and worship Buddha."

Hong Zhiyou raised an eyebrow, hinting.

Lu Qiao opened his eyes wide, and with a pained expression, nodded: "I understand... I understand."

"Guifang, bring out the things Secretary Hong sent last time," he shouted.

Li Guifang retrieved them.

"Not a single cent touched, returned perfectly intact," Lu Qiao said respectfully.

"Hey!"

"Brother, if you're going to talk like that, I'm leaving right now."

Hong Zhiyou threw his hand out, extremely indignant:

"What do you mean, insulting me?

"You are a Colonel, the future Deputy Station Master; I'm still counting on you to look after me, yet you make it seem like I'm blackmailing you.

"Now, who in the station doesn't want you dead? Only I, your younger brother, hope you live a long life.

"This money of yours is for..."

"Forget it, my words carry little weight; since that's how you see me, I'll just go."

Hong Zhiyou pointed upward, turned around, and walked away in a huff.

Lu Qiao's expression changed drastically.

If he left, whether it was Liu Xiong or Ma Kui, whoever replaced him would tear him to pieces.

"Brother, wait."

"I was wrong."

"It was me using a petty mind to judge a gentleman; I am not a decent person."

"Guifang, why aren't you going quickly!"

Lu Qiao grabbed Hong Zhiyou to apologize, while ordering Li Guifang.

Very quickly.

Li Guifang brought out several more gold bars and thousands of US dollars.

Hong Zhiyou glanced sideways and shook his head slightly.

Li Guifang added more.

Hong Zhiyou still did not state his position.

Added more.

Added more.

It kept increasing until it reached twelve thousand US dollars, thirteen gold bars, eight hundred silver dollars, plus a crate of opium.

A box of jade, gemstones, and gold and silver bracelets.

"Brother, that's about enough."

"There's a saying, what is it? Anything that can be solved with money is not a problem."

"Just treat it as losing wealth to avoid disaster."

"Stay at home for now, don't think about anything, eat well and sleep well."

"When the time comes, I'll give you an errand."

"If you handle it well, your younger brother guarantees you'll be safe."

Hong Zhiyou packed the boxes while giving instructions.

"Brother!"

"My life and your sister-in-law's life are all in your hands now!"

Lu Qiao, like a drowning man, tightly gripped Hong Zhiyou's hand, not daring to let go for a long time.

He trusted Hong Zhiyou.

To outsiders, Hong Zhiyou was a playboy blinded by greed.

But that night, Hong Zhiyou had risked his life to save him, ignoring past grievances, and silenced the killer in front of Ma Kui.

Lu Qiao knew that regardless of whether Hong Zhiyou was slick and cunning or had other motives.

His desire for him to stay alive was sincere.

He was also the only person he could trust at the moment.

Today I had a bit of writer's block, so it's a bit late.

Thank you to all the big bosses for the monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, follows, and reading along. I love you all... although it's very cheesy and not fresh, I still have to insist on giving you all a little kiss every day.

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(End of this chapter)