As Chen Tichuan walked towards the restroom, he was thinking about the shock and changes brought about by Cheng Jemin. He couldn't help but admire how his old classmate had become a seasoned and cunning veteran in the political arena. However, this was just one side of him. What was rare and precious was that Cheng Jemin could still treat him with such sincerity, which was a rare and valuable friendship indeed.
Just as he was feeling a warm sensation in his heart, he ran into an angry Niu Deli. Chen Tichuan thought to himself that it was truly a narrow path for enemies, as he could even bump into this face-saving guy while going to the restroom. He decided to defuse the situation, as he wasn't in the mood to tangle with Niu Deli. He couldn't afford to embarrass his brother in front of Director Meng. After hesitating for a moment, he said gently, "Director Niu, you've misunderstood..."
"Brother Niu, what's going on? Is someone causing you trouble?" A man in a police uniform, adjusting his belt, walked out of the restroom and asked casually.
"Director Zhao, you came just in time. This guy is like a sticky plaster, clinging to me everywhere. Look, I even ran into him in the restroom!" Director Niu complained, looking aggrieved.
The policeman glanced at Chen Tichuan, then patted his shoulder and said, "So, you're looking for trouble, huh? Come with me to the police station."
"Comrade police officer, I came here to eat, you've misunderstood..." Chen Tichuan tried to explain while struggling to free himself from the grip.
"Someone like you? Coming here to eat? You're making me laugh!" Niu Deli sneered at Director Zhao, "Old Zhao, just leave this guy to you. I'll toast you a couple of glasses later."
"No problem, Director Niu, you go back to the room, I'll handle the rest," Director Zhao said, pushing Chen Tichuan, "Let's go, we'll sort this out at the police station."
Chen Tichuan was about to protest when Director Zhao pushed him hard, sending him into the corridor. Two more policemen emerged from a nearby room and quickly sandwiched Chen Tichuan between them.
"This guy is causing trouble, take him back to the station and see if there's anything else," Director Zhao said loudly, waving his hand.
Although Chen Tichuan was more composed than the average person, he was still a young man just starting out in society. The situation made him both angry and afraid, and his voice grew louder, "I'm not causing trouble, I really came here to eat."
"Did you come here to eat? Ha, you should take a look at yourself in the mirror. With your scrawny appearance, you think you deserve to eat here? You're just ruining the city's appearance!"
Chen Tichuan felt a surge of anger. He wanted to slap the man's rough, dark face, but the two young policemen held him firmly in place.
Just as he felt utterly humiliated, he heard someone say, "What are you doing? What did my friend do wrong that you're taking him away? I think you're really lawless!"
"Hey, there's someone standing up for you!" Director Zhao looked at the young Cheng Jemin with a sly smile, poked him, and waved his hand, "I suspect you two are accomplices, take them both for investigation!"
Cheng Jemin, seeing Chen Tichuan with his arms pinned, was furious. He had heard that the security situation in the small county was poor, but he didn't expect the police to be so reckless. He decided to take a tough stance and stepped forward, "I think you're breaking the law. Let's go, right now!"
Director Zhao had intended to tease the two young men, but he didn't expect one of them to follow him without a word.
Does this guy have some powerful connections? Zhao, though fearless, didn't want to kick a hornet's nest. But after some thought, it didn't seem likely. If this guy had strong backing, how could Niu not pay him the construction fees? These two young hotheads really think they can get their money back with just their passion? They're too naive!
"Let's take them for an investigation!" Director Zhao waved his hand, and his subordinates pushed Cheng Jemin and Chen Tichuan out.
Director Niu, seeing Director Zhao working so hard for him, was delighted and followed, "Old Zhao, hurry back, we're waiting for you to start the meal!"
"Sure, I'll be back soon. Let's have a good drink," Director Zhao smiled at Niu Deli, then kicked Chen Tichuan's buttocks, "Don't dawdle, move it!"
"What are you doing? I'll tell you, Director Cheng is a guest invited by Director Meng." Xiao Hu walked over from the corridor, shocked by the scene.
"Director Meng? Ha, who are you trying to fool? Director Meng? Why don't you call him Secretary Gao?"
"Is this the guest invited by Secretary Gao? What law has he broken that requires such treatment by the police?" A voice filled with anger came from behind Xiao Hu.
Director Zhao had only meant to make a joke, but he didn't expect someone to take him up on it. Feeling his authority challenged, he couldn't help but curse, "When I talk, you don't answer, you're a mute..."
Before Director Zhao could finish, he was cut off.
As the chief of the police station in Daoxuan County, Zhao Qingyi, though not a high-ranking official, held a key position and had a complex network of relationships.
He immediately recognized the man who had spoken, who was none other than Meng Zhengguo, a member of the county party committee and director of the county party office. Not only was he a trusted confidant of Secretary Gao, but his position as a member of the county party committee also outranked the police chief, who was not yet the head of the political and legal affairs committee.
Oh my God, am I courting death by licking a cat's ass?
"Director... Director Meng, I couldn't recognize you, I'm sorry. This is all a misunderstanding!"
Seeing the man suddenly become submissive, Meng Zhengguo was furious. How could the police's behavior tarnish Daoxuan County's reputation!
He looked at Zhao Qingyi with disgust and quickly approached Cheng Jemin, "Director Cheng, I wasn't careful, and you almost suffered an injustice. I'm truly sorry. Are you okay?"
Zhao Qingyi's attention was now entirely on Meng Zhengguo. Seeing the high-ranking Director Meng being so polite to the young man, he realized he had stepped on a landmine.
Damn it, Niu Deli has caused me a big problem. If the higher-ups investigate, I might lose my power in this county.
Chen Tichuan smiled, "Director Meng, let's have dinner later. The chief said that Brother Jemin and I are suspected of causing trouble. We should cooperate with the police and go to the station to understand the situation."
"Director Meng, it's a misunderstanding. Let's go have dinner quickly," Zhao Qingyi said, frustrated by his flustered subordinates.
Meng Zhengguo, being no fool, knew that the position of director of the county party office wasn't easy. This position gave him the advantage of understanding people's psychology. He believed that the more stubborn a person was, the easier it was to deal with them. Those who were slippery like eels were harder to handle.
Now, he thought, the only way to deal with this stubborn young man was to use a combination of persuasion and coercion. On one hand, he needed to remind him that he was being lenient for Cheng Jemin's sake, and on the other hand, he needed to win him over. From Cheng Jemin's attitude, it was clear they were close friends. This way, he would gain both authority and trust.
Meng Zhengguo ignored Chen Tichuan's insistence and focused on Cheng Jemin, "Director Cheng, let's go have dinner first. I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer." He rubbed his hands, "Secretary Gao will be here soon. If he doesn't see you, I'll be in trouble."
Cheng Jemin, seeing Meng Zhengguo's dilemma, smiled, "Director Meng, a little injustice to me is no big deal. Let's go see Secretary Gao."
"Thank you, Director Cheng, for your understanding," Meng Zhengguo said, then turned to Chen Tichuan, "Chen, don't worry, I will give you an explanation. Let's have dinner first. I'll toast you three glasses to calm your nerves."
The series of events left Chen Tichuan in awe. He had already seen Director Niu wiping his sweat when Meng Zhengguo scolded Director Zhao.
Niu, who seemed like a mountain to him, had been a formidable obstacle. He had run himself ragged and worn out his mouth trying to overcome this mountain. Who was this Director Meng to scare Niu like this?
Seeing Niu Deli's state, Chen Tichuan felt a sense of satisfaction. Although he didn't know Director Meng's background, anyone who could scare Director Zhao to the point of being speechless must be a high-ranking official in the county. In the past, he would have had to go to great lengths to meet such a person, but now they were being so polite to him.
Chen Tichuan, with his business acumen, quickly said, "Director Meng, thank you for coming to help. I should be the one toasting you three glasses later."
"Ha ha ha, no need for thanks. A friend of Director Cheng is a friend of mine. If you keep this up, I'll feel like you're being too formal," Meng Zhengguo shook Chen Tichuan's hand firmly and smiled at Cheng Jemin, "Director Cheng, let's go, Secretary Gao will be here soon!"
As Cheng Jemin and his group walked towards the private room, Zhao Qingyi glared at Niu Deli, "Niu Deli, you've really screwed me over this time!"
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