Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 28: Capture Liu Xiaolong
At the barbecue place on East City Road in Beilan County, several people dressed in shirts and long pants were gathered around a table filled with various skewers, with plates overflowing with peanuts and edamame. On the ground nearby lay a dozen empty bottles. Among this group, one person stood out—dressed in a black shirt with long brown hair, he seemed out of place. Surrounding them were two other tables occupied by ordinary-looking people with different hairstyles.
Liu Xiaolong, his face slightly flushed, was feeling quite pleased with himself. Since the nationwide urban renovation campaign began, he had quickly gained power due to his unique advantage as the brother-in-law of Police Chief Wang Guodong. He had helped many developers resolve the troublesome issue of stubborn residents. The developers valued Liu Xiaolong's connections, so whenever they encountered problems during relocation, Liu Xiaolong was their first choice.
After he had physically confronted a man, several households signed agreements almost immediately. The leaders at the Relocation Office praised him highly and invited him to dinner with his brothers. Originally, the dinner was set at a restaurant, but Liu Xiaolong insisted on bringing everyone to the barbecue place. He felt that only here could they enjoy the camaraderie and lively atmosphere of the streets.
With someone treating, Liu Xiaolong brought nearly all his brothers along. Earlier that afternoon, he had received a call from his younger brother about ten brothers he had sent to help out. By now, they hadn’t returned any messages, and he had no idea where they were having fun. However, Liu Xiaolong was not worried; he was riding high on his success and believed that even real tough guys wouldn’t dare touch him because of his connection to Wang Guodong. With so many people around Liu Xiaofei, he felt completely at ease.
Sitting next to Liu Xiaolong was Zhao Zhonghua, the director of the Relocation Office, who was balding and quite rotund. His face was flushed from drinking as he said, "Those people are just foolish. Can they really change what has been decided from above? The urban renovation is an unstoppable trend." He took another swig of alcohol and sighed contentedly before continuing, "But these folks still need my little brother's help."
"Sure," Liu Xiaolong readily agreed, also flushed from drinking. He took a hearty bite of a skewer and chewed while saying, "This is nothing; Director Zhao, just say the word and I’ll be there!"
"Great! With you helping out, our work will be much easier. You won’t miss out on the benefits," Zhao Zhonghua said with a smile that squinted his already small eyes almost shut. The relocation work he oversaw had plenty of opportunities for profit, but there were always those who refused to sign and wanted to take advantage of the situation. Calling in the police would have negative repercussions; sometimes it required leveraging some social influence.
While they were laughing and chatting, no one noticed a black Santana car parked some distance away as its door opened and four men stepped out.
The man leading the group was Wang Hailong. He had been watching from inside the car for quite some time, waiting for Liu Xiaolong and his crew to drink heavily before making his move. Although he was a police officer, there were over twenty rowdy individuals on the other side who had been drinking; it was uncertain whether they might act impulsively. He understood deeply how crucial this operation was for him—it was all or nothing. Therefore, he could not afford any mistakes.
With Liu Xiaolong and his companions thoroughly intoxicated, it was an opportune moment to act. Wang Hailong approached Liu Xiaolong without him noticing until he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Are you Liu Xiaolong?" Wang Hailong asked.
Startled by the interruption while holding a skewer in hand, Liu Xiaolong turned to see someone he didn’t recognize and raised an eyebrow in inquiry. "Who are you?"
"Wang Hailong" chuckled, "Heh heh, I'm a police officer. You need to come with me."
"Liu Xiaolong" pushed away the hand on his shoulder with an angry gesture and retorted, "Who are you trying to fool? I don't have time for your jokes. Can't you see I'm drinking? Look over there, that's 'Director Zhao' from the 'Relocation Office.' We're discussing serious matters." As he spoke, "Liu Xiaolong" pointed at "Zhao Zhonghua," who was sitting next to him.
"Wang Hailong" glanced at "Zhao Zhonghua" before returning his gaze to "Liu Xiaolong." He pulled out his badge from his jacket pocket, opened it for "Liu Xiaolong" to see, and said sternly, "This is my badge. You are suspected of involvement in an intentional injury case. Please come with us to assist in the investigation."
Only then did "Liu Xiaolong" believe that "Wang Hailong" was indeed a police officer. In a panic, he looked at "Zhao Zhonghua" and said, "Director Zhao, this..."
"Zhao Zhonghua" sensed something was off. He recognized police credentials and understood their working style. If they wanted to take someone away, it would be difficult to stop them. He looked at "Wang Hailong" and asked, "Why are you arresting him?"
"Police work is not something you should question," "Wang Hailong" replied curtly.
Feeling frustrated but unable to show it, "Zhao Zhonghua" thought about how this situation didn't concern him directly. If it escalated and involved him, it wouldn't be good. Moreover, everyone knew that "Liu Xiaolong" was related to "Wang Guodong." Previously, when "Liu Xiaolong" had been arrested, nothing had come of it. Understanding this, "Zhao Zhonghua" said to "Liu Xiaolong," "Brother, just go assist with the investigation. Cooperate well; nothing will happen. Don't worry."
"Liu Xiaolong," also understanding the situation despite being drunk, realized that causing trouble with the police wouldn't end well. He figured that once at the station, his brother-in-law would find a way to get him out. With that thought in mind, he obediently extended his hands.
"Wang Hailong" took out handcuffs and secured them on "Liu Xiaolong's" wrists. Seeing this, some sober brothers jumped up and rushed over with beer bottles in hand. The other sober friends followed suit, and soon "Wang Hailong" and his three colleagues were surrounded by a group of swaying individuals holding beer bottles.
"What do you want!" "Wang Hailong" shouted angrily while placing his hand near his waist. Normally, he wouldn't carry a firearm. Although new regulations allowed for it, carrying a gun was both a safeguard and a hassle. He had brought his service weapon during the previous arrest of "Liu Xiaofei," but hadn't had the chance to take it off before being assigned a new task. The other three officers quickly drew their expandable batons and pepper spray from their waists as well. At the same time, "Wang Hailong" activated his body camera.
The atmosphere became extremely tense, and chaos seemed imminent. The unrelated patrons who had been watching with interest moments ago scattered in all directions. Even the shop owner and staff found corners to hide in, afraid to show their faces. Everyone felt a thick scent of gunpowder in the air.
Comment 0 Comment Count