Chapter 394

Hao Qiang brought two young police officers, still riding the sidecar motorcycle, and rushed to the new Suxi Town.

This was the first time I had seen Hao Qiang since he was discharged from the hospital.

He seemed to have an inexhaustible amount of energy, like a newborn calf, kicking his hooves and frolicking all day long. He seemed to have fully recovered his health, and there was no sign of illness. Instead, a lot of ruddiness had been added to his originally dark and thin face.

Hao Qiang had an ailment, and it was an ailment that was hard for a man to speak of. Liu Hongyan had once told me about this.

Men and women are the same; one must have a balance of yin and yang to live. If it is lacking, one will surely become haggard. In the past, Hao Qiang looked like he was in top physical shape, capable of killing a cow with one punch. But I knew this was all superficial; without pleasure, a man is just strong on the outside but weak on the inside.

The Hao Qiang standing before me now had a much better complexion. A hint of a man's aura was faintly revealed.

Men all have an aura; a man without an aura is not a man. Just like women; a woman lacking charm is not called a woman.

A man's aura is a feeling, a feeling that spreads from the bottom of one's heart. It conveys a kind of wisdom, a kind of security, a kind of joy that can convince people.

"I've always said I wanted to go thank you. I just never had the time." Hao Qiang saluted me. Raising his hand to the brim of his cap, it was standard and imposing.

He was now a National Outstanding Police Officer; in the entire Hengyue City, there were only four.

Central Province liked to grasp images, and Hengyue City was keen on setting examples. The power of an example is infinite; the halo on Hao Qiang made many people in the police force envious.

Hao Qiang had the seriousness and rigor of a soldier; even when standing casually with us, his upright posture stood out from the crowd, making people feel his difference.

I blessed Liu Hongyan in my heart; this man was a man worth entrusting her life to.

"Are you in good health?" I asked.

"Very good," Hao Qiang patted his chest and said: "With your care, County Magistrate Chen, it wouldn't be possible for me not to be good."

I laughed and patted his shoulder: "Your health is your own; what care can I provide? Could I possibly cut myself in half and give it to you?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I suddenly felt ashamed, remembering that I had kissed his wife when Township Head Hao passed away; my face felt like it had been scorched by fire, burning hot.

Hao Qiang didn't notice my expression; he put his feet together and asked: "County Magistrate Chen, you called me here, what's the matter?"

I pointed to the large area of buildings and said: "I want to find a new nest for you all."

Hao Qiang laughed, looked at Yue Bai on the side, and said with a sheepish smile: "We don't have money."

Yue Bai rolled her eyes at him and said: "It's good that you understand. Station Chief Hao, you say your Public Security Bureau fines so much money every year; why are you so reluctant to take out a few tens of thousands?"

Hao Qiang's face turned red, and he said: "Town Mayor Liu, you know, our fines all have to be turned over to the finance department; how would we dare to keep them privately?"

"Isn't there a rebate?"

"That little bit of money isn't even enough for handling cases."

"You tell me, our Suxi Police Station catches gambling fines every year, no less than a hundred thousand, right? And fines for fighting and brawling, and other messy fines; how much is there in a year! Where is the money? Where did it all go?" Yue Bai said relentlessly: "Some of your fines aren't even receipted; do they also go to the finance department?"

Hao Qiang became awkward. Anyone who has been fined knows that the Public Security Bureau generally doesn't issue receipts for fines. If you encounter someone who is serious and insists on a receipt, it's simple: double the fine.

Hao Qiang's face turned red with anxiety, and he argued: "Town Mayor Liu, if our police station fines someone, we definitely issue receipts."

"Is that so?" Yue Bai's voice wasn't high, but one could hear the mockery in her words.

"I swear on my Party spirit," Hao Qiang said loudly.

I couldn't watch them argue, so I stopped their debate.

"Everyone is a cadre; we are all one family. It's good to help and understand each other." I mediated. Both of these people were my subordinates, and both had intricate relationships with me. I didn't want to hurt either of them.

Yue Bai heard the meaning in my words, curled her lips, and said: "Anyway, you are the leader; you have the final say. I have no opinion."

After speaking, she took Xuelai and wanted to leave.

I stopped them and said: "Town Mayor Liu, I still have something to discuss with Station Chief Hao. Let's all have a meal together tonight."

Yue Bai hesitated for a moment and said: "No problem, I'll tell Lao Qian to arrange it."

The Suxi Town Party and government office hadn't fully moved over yet, so Lao Wang from the cafeteria was still staying at the old township government.

Qian Youyu was a thoughtful person; he wanted to invest in the Suxi Hotel. The hotel was still under construction, but he had already started training hotel personnel, from management to waiters, and even all the kitchen staff.

Qian Youyu had a principle: the people participating in the training this time were mostly girls and wives from Yuetang Village and Laoyingzui Village. He invited a high-level chef from Hengyue City to be responsible for training the young people from the two villages who were interested in working in the kitchen. Therefore, it was convenient to come to the new Suxi now. And they could eat food from a big hotel.

Once Yue Bai and the others left, I said to Hao Qiang: "I want to transfer you to handle a matter."

Hao Qiang didn't hesitate at all and said: "Good. You tell me, what matter to handle."

I tapped the table and said: "Do you know Qilin Villa?"

"I know."

"Help me investigate what the background of this Qilin Villa is."

Hao Qiang hesitated for a long time and said: "I am from the Suxi Police Station; I can't investigate it."

"Territorial jurisdiction?"

Hao Qiang nodded and said: "If County Magistrate Chen wants to investigate this, why not call the County Bureau's Criminal Police Team?"

"The boss of Qilin Villa is afraid he knows them," I said, encouraging him: "You are not fighting alone; I have assigned someone to you."

"Who?"

"Lao Mo from the detention center."

When Hao Qiang heard this, he laughed and looked at me carefully, saying: "Lao Mo has spent his whole life in the detention center and has never handled a case. Does he understand?"

"Only those who don't understand dare to handle it," I said. I didn't want to continue entangling; having Hao Qiang handle this case was a long-held idea of mine.

Hao Qiang had always stayed in Suxi, dealing with farmers for the past few years. Farmers are timid people; apart from some petty thieves, major criminal cases almost didn't exist.

People who are police officers all want to handle a few major cases. Hao Qiang was no exception; although he was beating around the bush, I could already see his excitement in his eyes.

"County Magistrate Chen, you've pointed your finger at me. If I decline again, I wouldn't know how to act. Besides, as police officers, as long as the higher-ups need us, we absolutely obey orders."

"Good!" I reached out and patted his shoulder again, telling him in a low voice: "Wait patiently for a few days; your Director will talk to you personally."

Hao Qiang nodded, and a layer of solemnity suddenly appeared on his face.

"I don't know if our Director will let me go," he said hesitantly.

"Rest assured!" I laughed: "The mountain man has his own clever plan."

Hao Qiang still wanted to ask, but I waved my hand to interrupt him: "Let's go out for a walk and see what our new Suxi has become."

Leaving the town government gate, we walked side by side on the Welcoming Avenue; a gust of wind blew, raising dust all over the sky.

A small car braked directly in front of us, and Deng Hanyu climbed out of the car, shouting loudly: "Chen Feng, it really is you."

I laughed: "What wind blew our Team Leader Deng here?"

Deng Hanyu laughed: "It's not that the wind blew me here, it's that it blew you here. I've been in Suxi for almost two months, and I've never seen even a shadow of you. You tell me, who exactly did it blow?"

I tossed him a cigarette and said: "Old Deng, what are you doing in our Suxi? And staying for so long?"

Deng Hanyu smiled bitterly: "Chen Feng, you kid, you look at people with two eyes, do you know that?"

I looked at him suspiciously, waiting for the rest.

"You sent Guo Wei to the United States to look at the port, but you let me come to Suxi; did I offend you?" Deng Hanyu didn't say this seriously; he had a playful look on his face. I could see his satisfaction and pride.

I complained: "Brother Deng, don't wrong me. When did I ever invite you to Suxi?"

"You didn't invite me. Our old man gave a death order. I must help you."

"The old man?"

"Old Secretary Guan. Besides him, who else can command me?" Deng Hanyu had an "I fear nothing" look: "The old man said that he promised you he would come to Suxi to invest. We studied it for a few days and decided to invest in your Suxi's water plant and electricity, and another part is the urban construction infrastructure of the Suxi New Town."

"Very good!" I said: "Thank you, Old Secretary, and thank you, Brother Deng."

Deng Hanyu had a teasing smile: "Don't thank me yet. Let me make it clear to you. This is an investment behavior; investment must have a return."

"Return! Definitely a return." I laughed. Deng Hanyu and the others solved my heart's trouble. To be honest, when we planned to build the town, we only thought about building a simple rural town and didn't consider issues like water, electricity, and gas at all.

Guan Peishan, however, could see the shortcomings we had, and at the most critical moment, he gave me ammunition. Never mind a return; even if he wanted me to pick a star for him, I would find a ladder without hesitation.

"I am now half a contractor, leading a group of people to dig sewers for you every day. Chen Feng, look at how you're going to answer to me."

"How does Brother Deng want me to answer?"

"You figure it out." Deng Hanyu shouted to a group of people from afar: "Zhao Dequan, you son of a bitch, why aren't you coming over yet."

Then I saw Zhao Dequan running over happily, first nodding and bowing to me with a smile, then asking Deng Hanyu: "Boss, what are your orders?"

"Orders my ass. You listen to me, take your people, work hard, and finish the sewer project in half a month. If you can't finish it, go die." Deng Hanyu shouted loudly.

"Rest assured, Boss. I guarantee to complete the mission." Zhao Dequan looked at me, wanting to say something but stopping.

"Why aren't you rolling away yet," Deng Hanyu scolded: "Come to me tonight and collect this month's salary."

Zhao Dequan thanked him profusely; after walking a few steps, he turned back and said to me in a low voice: "Leader, I caught a wild rabbit; do you want to taste it?"

Deng Hanyu on the side heard it, kicked him, and cursed: "You son of a bitch Zhao Dequan, I eat the pig-swill-like food from your house every day, and you don't bring out such good things. Is County Magistrate Chen your father? As soon as he comes, I'm afraid you'd hate not being able to bring your wife to County Magistrate Chen!"

"My wife is old; County Magistrate Chen doesn't want her," Zhao Dequan laughed: "Boss, do you think my wife is a beauty?"

"Roll!" Deng Hanyu laughed and scolded: "Zhao Dequan, you are a shameless thing. If it weren't for the fact that your wife cooks for me every day, I would have destroyed you with one kick today."

Zhao Dequan walked away laughing; I looked at his back, filled with emotion.

Deng Hanyu looked at Hao Qiang standing beside me, pulled me a few steps away, and whispered: "How about we go to Qilin Villa tonight to play a round?"