Chapter Seventeen Provoked Again

  Du Xiaohu stood by, staring blankly as Lu Zhong helped Tong Susu spread out new bedding. He didn't know where this beautiful girl had suddenly popped up from, and he had originally wanted to lend a hand, but this beautiful girl was very strong-willed and wouldn't let him touch her things, saying that except for Zhongzi, all men were dirty.

  Isn't Brother Ting a man? Little Du thought inexplicably.

  A very ordinary flat house farmhouse, the overpass house is the kitchen, but Lu Zhong and Xiao Du basically don't cook.

  Lu Zheng usually sleeps in the east house, and the east house also has a guest room function. There is a glass tea table surrounded by a circle of beige fabric sofas. Against the wall, there is a TV cabinet with a 14-inch black-and-white TV inside.

  Tong Su smiled and said: "Zhuangzi, you guys live a very comfortable life." Indeed, she didn't expect that these two soldiers would know how to enjoy themselves. Not only was there a TV in each room, but also earlier Lu Zhuang had told her that the outhouse outside had showers, and the black round cylinder on top of the outhouse was for heating water.

  "What are you meddling with? Ah, right, profiteering! You've made a fortune, haven't you?" Tong Susu said, her eyes scanning back and forth between Lu Zhen and Du Xiaohu. She thought to herself that this little Du must be making money off of them, looking at how sly he was, not like a good person. Lu Zhen was too honest, always getting taken advantage of.

  Du Xiaohu would be shocked if he knew what Tong Susu was thinking in her heart.

  "Alright, you should get some rest now." Lu Zhong helped Tong SuSu make her bed and tossed a white shirt at her, saying: "There aren't any women's clothes, so after you take your bath, change into this one."

  Tong Su nodded and saw Lu Zhēn and Xiao Du turning to leave. She hesitated for a moment, "Zhēnzi, can you stay and chat with me?"

  Lu Zhong knew she was certainly agitated today, and smiled: "Alright." He gave a nod to Xiao Du, and Xiao Du went out, closing the door behind him.

  Lu Zhong turned on the TV, sat back on the sofa, and it was time for "Huoyuanjia". The TV was fighting with a loud noise, Lu Zhong thought for a moment, then went over to turn off the TV.

  Tong Su sat on the edge of the bed, her posture elegant and sensual, her slender white legs crossed to form a beautiful curve that made one's heart flutter. She bit her lip and said: "Zhengzi, can you go to my brother-in-law's place tomorrow and bring out my things? I don't want to go back, I'll stay with you for a while." Then she added hastily: "Don't worry, I'll pay you rent, I just think that staying in the guest house is too expensive, and I don't have a unit to give me an introduction letter. And although I have some money, it's what you lent me, it's my savings from all these years of studying and working, I want to use it to go to the city and ask around, see if I can help my dad in any way, even if it's just a little bit." As she said this, her eyes reddened again.

  At the beginning, Tong Su said that she wanted to stay for a while, and Lu Zhong instinctively wanted to refuse. However, after listening to Tong Su's words until the end, he couldn't say no. He sighed and said: "You can just stay here, but as for your father's matter, I think it's best if you don't make any rash moves. Otherwise, not only will you not be able to help, but you'll also cause more trouble!" His tone became serious: "This is something you must listen to me about, this isn't a joke."

  Tong Su's eyes reddened again and she said: "But, but I just can't keep watching from the side."

  Lu Zhong thought for a moment and said: "Alright, I'll help you ask around from the side later. You know what I do, it's better than you blindly worshiping Bodhisattva."

  Tong Su knew about her father's situation and couldn't intervene, so she lightly wiped the corner of her eye and nodded. In her heart, however, she knew that Lu Zhun was just making an empty promise - how could he possibly have any way to find out what was going on in the city?

  Lu Zhong thought for a moment and said: "You, take a break for a while, and then you still have to find a job. You can't give up on your life just because of Uncle's affairs."

  Lu Zhong stood up, saying, "Alright, you can rest assured now. I'll help you find out about your stuff." He could feel Tong Su's affection towards him, and Lu Zhong naturally began to think of her as one of his own, having the idea of protecting and taking care of this childhood friend.

  ……

  The next day, Lu Zhong went to Tong Su's sister's place to pick up some things. As he passed by the county committee compound, he saw County Magistrate Liu smashing walls with a loud "bang bang". Lu Zhong was stunned for a moment, and it seemed that his words had indeed struck a chord in Liu's heart.

  When I came back at night, Tong Su was gone, leaving only a note saying she went to Wushan.

  Two days later, Lu Zhong finally discovered that an envelope containing money in his bedroom had disappeared. It was probably taken by Tong Su, who took it without asking and didn't even leave a note, which could be considered as stealing.

  Lu Zhong didn't get angry, there was probably around 1,000 yuan in the envelope, which can be considered a huge sum of money in this era. Tong Su felt that she saw hope and thought that she could use this money to help her parents. The note left behind was too ashamed to mention taking the money, Lu Zhong could understand that mentality.

  From a high and mighty princess to a thief who steals money, what a cruel blow it is for this once proud and strong girl?

  More than half a month has passed, and there is still no news from Tong Su, but the changes in the county committee's guest house are changing with each passing day. The newly opened gate is gradually taking shape, and the first light box in Guangning County has been set up, attracting many eyeballs.

  On a cloudy afternoon, Lu Zhong sat in his office studying how to help an accused "speculator" get off scot-free. Since he took over as deputy director of the Strike Against Bribery Office, apart from handling several cases involving corrupt officials and power-abusing units, for those clever and self-employed smugglers, he was extremely lenient. Of course, it's not possible to openly shield anyone, but he could tolerate them with a very tolerant attitude. In fact, these people were all capable individuals.

  The case in front of us involves a private melon seed workshop from another place, which is now facing a very difficult situation. Because it employed many workers, under the reflection of the masses, it was shut down by the local government.

  Hiring workers is a characteristic of capitalists, and the relationship between factory owners and workers is one of exploitation and being exploited. Shouldn't this phenomenon not appear in socialist countries?

  In fact, if the melon seed workshop is in Wushan, as a coastal open city, there are special policies that are still very inclusive to private enterprises. However, the current Republic has not yet unified its ideology, and it's unclear how this reform and opening up should proceed or what theoretical basis supports it. These issues have not been settled. Therefore, even within a province, a city, or a county, policies can vary greatly depending on the leader's stance and personal preferences.

  Who let the melon seeds be born in a place where leaders are both red and expert? So when they heard about "public outrage", the workshop was quickly sealed off, the factory director was arrested, and documents were sent to brother counties and cities asking for cooperation, confiscating goods sold by that workshop.

  In fact, Guazi Workshop is very small, and its products are mainly sold to nearby Wushan City. The main target of the text is also related areas and departments in Wushan.

  The suspect involved in the case in Guangning County was a second-hand dealer who resold the melon seeds. In Lu Zhong's eyes, this person was the general agent of the melon seeds in Guangning, according to later accounts.

  Lu Zhong also thought to himself, although the melon seed factory wasn't big, its sales concept was quite advanced and had some significance.

  Just as he was thinking of ways to help the scalper, the office door was knocked open and a tall and sturdy policeman, Sun Jie, deputy director of the Public Security Bureau, walked in.

  Recently, cadres in the local government, regardless of whether it's necessary or not, like to wear police uniforms. No other reason, this red collar blue police uniform will soon be out of date if not worn. Starting last year, the capital public security has changed into new uniforms, and this year they started changing for first-tier cities. From a political standpoint, Wushan is not considered a first-tier city, but as a coastal open city, it has its own special characteristics. There's news that next month, the Wushan public security system will change out of these blue police uniforms and wear olive green new uniforms.

  However, after Lu Zhong arrived at the Industrial and Commercial Bureau to "sit in office", he often wore casual clothes during working hours. Even several civil police officers who followed him from the Public Security Section had similar habits, preferring to show up in plainclothes. They would only change into uniforms when going out to enforce the law. In the words of the political commissar, most of the cases they handled now were internal disputes among the people, so wearing casual clothes made them more approachable to the public.

  So seeing Sun Jie walking in spiritedly, Lu Zhong was taken aback for a moment. A police officer, still wearing his uniform, looked like he meant business.

  Sun Jie's face didn't look good, and after sitting down shoulder to shoulder with Lu Zhong, he drank a few mouthfuls of tea before saying gruffly: "Commissar, Gao Zhikai said you have to hand over your gun."

  Lu Zhong was slightly stunned, but not because Gao Zhi Kai had made another joke, but because of Sun Jie's tone. Previously, although Sun Jie, the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau, also supported his work, their relationship couldn't be described as particularly close. But today, from the tone of his words, when Gao Zhi Kai wanted to take away his gun, he was actually quite indignant.

  The current management of firearms is not strict, and can even be said to be lax. Not to mention local areas, but also in the military, it's common for retired soldiers to take back a large number of bullets. In addition, militia reservists are widespread, so guns are not something that ordinary people cannot access, let alone the public security system.

  County bureau deputy directors and police station chiefs are all equipped with guns, but Lu Zhong's gun is always given to Du Xiaohu to carry. Several auxiliary police officers temporarily assigned to the law enforcement team also have a Type 54 pistol.

  Lu Zhong listened to Sun Jie's words and naturally, Gao Zhi Kai didn't want to take back the Five-Four pistol from the law enforcement team, but rather his own sidearm.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Are you here to collect the gun?"

  Sun Jie certainly didn't come to collect Lu Zhuang's gun, although in the past, he couldn't say that he had much respect for this superior, but he also cooperated with Lu Zhuang's work. After all, it was a matter of shared honor and benefit. If the Public Security Bureau did well, the head would have more authority when speaking at the bureau, and the brothers in the Public Security Bureau and colleagues from other departments would stand together with straighter waists.

  Especially after Lu Zhong cracked the 615 case, Sun Jie and his colleagues all felt proud, and were even more indignant about Lu Zhong being squeezed out.

  Now, Gao Zhikai is coming to collect Lu Zhuang's gun again. Sun Jie was even more furious. How could Gao Zhikai, who doesn't manage the Public Security Bureau and isn't the head of the department, come over and order him to hand over his gun in a condescending manner?

  Sun Jie's anger was not just because of Lu Zhong, but also largely due to the struggle for power. After all, the Public Security Bureau is in charge of gun distribution and supervision, and Gao Zhi Kai is not even a deputy leader, yet he inserted himself into the matter with an authoritative tone, which made Sun Jie very displeased.

  After all, Gao Zhikai was a local leader, and Sun Jie didn't dare to confront him head-on, so he came to Lu Zheng's place to see what Lu Zheng meant.

  He also had the idea of making trouble, with the temper of this young political commissar in the past, he might have killed his way back to the bureau and quarreled with Gao Zhikai until dawn, and gave him a bad breath.

  So when Lu Zhong asked, Sun Jie's face was full of anger and grievance. "Leader, how dare I? Even if Gao Zhi Kai pressures me, I won't do such a despicable thing! Not to mention you're our leader, even if you weren't, as long as I'm in the Public Security Bureau for one day, no one can take your gun away! And what is Gao Zhi Kai anyway? If it wasn't for you solving the case and saving his skin, he would have blood on his hands! Are you worthy of a gun? Can he control that?"

  Lu Zhong nodded slightly, not saying yes or no. If it were in the past, he would have definitely stormed back to the office and settled accounts with Gao Zhi Kai. Of course, his former self would not have escaped after cracking a big case either.

  Sun Jie didn't expect Lu Zhong's reaction to be so calm, and he felt a little disappointed. He asked again with some persistence: "Commissar, what do you think we should do?"

  Lu Zhong said calmly, "What can be done about it? You tell Gao Zhi Kai that I said so. The gun, I won't hand it over, and he has no right to interfere. If Ma Yuewu wants me to hand over the gun, let him come find me himself." Ma Yuewu is currently in charge of the Public Security Bureau, Lu Zhong's meaning was clear and straightforward, completely disregarding Gao Zhi Kai's provocation.

  Sun Jie was stunned again, looking up at Lu Zhong, this... was this still his former leader?

  Lu Zhong knew that although he was forced to leave the Public Security Bureau, after all, he was a leader in the bureau and couldn't appear like a soft persimmon, or else anyone who wanted to bully him would do so, and no one would take him seriously.

  In official circles, when you need to be soft, be soft; but when you need to be hard, you must be hard.

  I wasn't soft before, I was blindly hard, so although the cadres in the organization saw their own headaches, they all looked down on me.

  Sun Jie hesitated and asked with a hint of reluctance: "So, I'll just go back now?"

  Lu Zhong raised his eyelids and said, "Mm, let's go back. Just tell Gao Zhikai what I said."

  Sun Jie scratched his head and left with a sullen expression, unable to figure out how the stubborn Political Commissar suddenly had the demeanor of a stable and calm fisherman.