Chapter 102

Of course, he also knew that now was not the time to make a move; he would have to find a good opportunity. He would let Ji Tao and Zhang Kaishan know who the real boss of Shangjun County was.

Luo Ming'an entering the detention center caused Jin Taihe to lose face. Not only was it embarrassing, but his younger sister ran to his house every day to cry and complain, which also made him very annoyed. Of course, there was also some heartache; after all, she was his sister, and he had always treated Luo Ming'an as his own son. How could Jin Taihe feel good with him in the detention center?

However, with Luo Ming'an now locked up in the county, Jin Taihe was at his wit's end. Although he had been getting closer to Xu Liangxi and Tao Yan during this period, how could a deputy township head in his fifties truly be valued by them? It was impossible for others to help as if it were their own business.

Therefore, Jin Taihe hated Lei Ming to the bone. These days, he was always finding excuses to pick on Lei Ming, criticizing him for no reason at all.

However, Lei Ming had long been mentally prepared, and he didn't take these things to heart at all. He regarded Jin Taihe's criticisms merely as the venting of a loser.

It wasn't just Jin Taihe; Lei Ming also heard rumors within the Public Security Bureau that Tao Yan had said that as long as he was in the position of Public Security Bureau Chief for one day, Lei Ming would stay put at the Menghuling Township Police Station; he should never dream of being transferred back to the county seat.

After hearing this news, Lei Ming knew that Su Xinghui must have played a role. Otherwise, the procuratorate would not have approved the arrest this time, and Tao Yan would not have been able to retaliate so lightly, only venting with such harsh words about never transferring him back to the county seat.

Lei Ming had previously been the deputy captain of the county bureau's public security brigade, but because his personality was too upright and he didn't know how to give gifts or build connections, he had offended Tao Yan and was exiled to Menghuling Township. In any case, Lei Ming didn't count on Tao Yan transferring him back, so after hearing such words, he just laughed it off.

That afternoon, Lei Ming specifically called Su Xinghui, inviting him to the police station for a drink. Su Xinghui agreed and went over when it was time to get off work.

Lei Ming lived in a bachelor dormitory at the police station. He had the cafeteria cook make a small hot pot, stewing fish head with tofu, and there was also a plate of peanuts, a plate of orchid beans, and the fried meat balls unique to Menghuling that could be put into the hot pot. Of course, there were also green vegetables like Chinese cabbage and garland chrysanthemum that could be added.

As soon as Su Xinghui arrived, Lei Ming picked up a bottle of Shangjun Daqu and poured a bowl for each of them into two large coarse porcelain bowls, emptying the bottle. He handed a bowl to Su Xinghui and said, "Come, Little Su, let's drink. We don't have those small cups you have at the township government here, so we'll just use these!"

Su Xinghui took the bowl and laughed, "Fine, this bowl is great; it's refreshing to drink from!"

Lei Ming had been a soldier, and he liked bold men who drank from large bowls. Su Xinghui's straightforwardness made him feel even more favorably toward him. He laughed heartily, "I didn't expect a college student like you to be so straightforward. Come, take a sip!"

The two of them raised their bowls together and took a sip of wine.

Lei Ming put down his bowl, picked up his chopsticks, and pointed at the hot pot, "Come, eat. The master chef in our cafeteria has pretty good skills, it's just that this place is a bit shabby. Don't mind my poor hospitality!"

This place was indeed very simple. The police station's bachelor dormitory was very small, with each room being at most seven or eight square meters. Lei Ming had placed his desk horizontally in front of the bed, using the desk as a dining table. He sat on the bed himself, and the only chair was given to Su Xinghui.

Su Xinghui laughed, "Director Lei, your conditions here are already much better than mine. I still share a dormitory with another person."

Lei Ming knew about the township government's bachelor dormitories; they were indeed two people to a room. He nodded, ate a chopstick of fish, and then said, "Little Su, thank you for what happened this time!"

Su Xinghui said, "Director Lei, don't be so polite with me. It's mainly because I also hate Crazy Luo; he should be punished by the law. You didn't do anything wrong in this matter, so why wouldn't I help you?"

Lei Ming laughed heartily again, "Fine, I won't be polite with you. You shouldn't be polite with me either. Don't call me Director Lei anymore; it sounds awkward. I'm a few years older than you, so just call me Brother Lei."

Su Xinghui was not one to be pretentious. He raised his wine bowl and said, "Fine, Brother Lei, then let's have another drink!"

Lei Ming happily raised his wine bowl and had another drink with Su Xinghui.

Su Xinghui put down his wine bowl, ate a piece of tofu, and asked, "Brother Lei, how often do you usually go home?"

Lei Ming said, "Usually once every two weeks. Don't look at Menghuling as being poor; the number of public security cases is no less than in the county seat, so I can't go back too often."

Su Xinghui nodded. He was clear about this; the people in Menghuling were tough, and because it was poor, there were many hoodlums and ruffians. Moreover, the gambling culture here was rampant, and gambling brought about many other harms, spawning many other public security cases. Therefore, Lei Ming was quite busy here.

Su Xinghui asked again, "Brother Lei, where does your wife work? What grade is your child in?"

Lei Ming said, "Your sister-in-law is a salesclerk at the county department store, and your nephew is seven years old this year, in the first grade."

Su Xinghui said, "Then it's not a good thing for you two to be separated all the time. You've been in Menghuling for two years now, right? After the New Year, it will be three years. When will you be transferred back to the county seat?"

Speaking of this, Lei Ming's expression dimmed. He raised his wine bowl and said, "Let's not talk about this. Come, have a drink!"

Seeing that his expression was off, Su Xinghui asked after drinking, "Brother Lei, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

Lei Ming forced a laugh, "Nothing, it's just the leaders letting me get more training here in Menghuling."

In fact, Lei Ming was an open-minded person who could adapt to work anywhere. If he were alone, he wouldn't mind staying in Menghuling for a lifetime. However, Su Xinghui's words stirred up his longing for his wife and son, and thinking of them, he still felt a bit uncomfortable.

Su Xinghui tentatively asked, "Which leader? Tao?"

Lei Ming had opened up by now. He laughed, "Don't worry about who it is. Let's two brothers have a good drink and not talk about these disappointing things. I think staying in Menghuling is not bad either; Menghuling is getting better and better now. Come, drink!"

The two had another drink. Su Xinghui didn't ask any further, but he already had an idea in his mind. It must have been Tao Yan who had made the harsh remarks. Now that Lei Ming had offended Tao Yan, and Tao Yan had absolute control within the Public Security Bureau, it would indeed be very difficult for Lei Ming to get ahead as long as Tao Yan was there.

The police station cafeteria chef's skills were indeed good; the fish head and tofu hot pot he made was delicious, and the fried meat balls were also authentic. The two were drinking more and more happily, and soon, more than half of the wine in front of them was gone.

Su Xinghui asked, "Brother Lei, I heard you were a soldier before? What year did you join, and where did you serve?"

Lei Ming said, "I served in the 163rd Division, joined in '78, and was in Yuedong Province at the time."

Su Xinghui became interested as soon as he heard this, "So, did you fight in a war?"

Lei Ming nodded, "Yes, I fought in the self-defense counterattack in my second year of service."

Su Xinghui said, "Really? Can you tell me some stories about your battles?"

Speaking of this, Lei Ming opened up. He talked about some stories from the self-defense counterattack. When he reached the exciting parts, Su Xinghui would toast him. Before long, the wine in the bowls was finished, and Lei Ming opened another bottle and poured it into the two bowls.

After talking for a while longer, Lei Ming's expression became dim again. He sighed deeply and said, "I consider myself lucky. Of those comrades who went to the battlefield with me, at least several out of ten didn't come back!"

Su Xinghui was silent. He knew how tragic that war was; Lei Ming being able to return was indeed lucky enough. He silently raised his wine bowl and had a drink with Lei Ming.