Chapter Twenty: Necessity in Coincidence

  Since "Mrs. Cai's big disturbance in the honey garden", Lu Zhong's work in striking and managing has been more smooth sailing, and the implementation of the "rescue" movement has made many speculators suddenly awaken to their mistakes and rejoin the socialist economic construction boom.

  Time flies, summer arrives, Tong Su has been gone for more than two months, still no news, Lu Zhong occasionally thinks of this girl who fell from heaven to hell, but can only sigh twice, after all, even if he wants to find her, he can't.

  This afternoon after work, a green motorcycle with a sidecar drove into the courtyard of the Industry and Commerce Bureau, spewing out black smoke, making everyone turn their heads and pinch their noses as they walked by.

  Two police officers on the train were wearing olive green new uniforms. Half a month ago, all public security systems in Wushan City changed their uniforms.

  It was Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao, the director of the Nanying Police Station, who came to find Lu Zhong.

  Lu Zhong and Old Hong were not familiar with each other, only hearing that this guy had a bad temper, nicknamed "Hong Er Deng". Seeing Hou Jianjun lead him over, Lu Zhong couldn't help but pause for a moment, and it had been some time since he last saw Hou Jianjun. He heard that someone had seen Hou Jianjun and Gao Zhi Kai traveling together in a jeep.

  Hou Jianjun's face was somewhat embarrassed, indeed, he had been intentionally keeping a distance from Lu Zhong recently.

  This is also an unavoidable thing, although the 615 case was cracked, Lu Zhengwei gradually faded out of the county bureau leadership, and it seemed that he had no intention of returning to the county bureau. Moreover, it's even more unclear what Lu Zhengwei was thinking, relying on Liu Baojun's dock, but Liu Baojun in the county is just a small role that can't be ranked, and with Qiu Dahua and Ma Weiguo, two strong figures who can't get along, it's simply like a mother-in-law not loving her son-in-law.

  Recently, due to the county's recruitment reform, Ma Weiguo publicly criticized Liu Baojun's work style and methods at the county party committee's expanded meeting. It seems that during the reform process, Liu Baojun seriously offended Ma Weiguo, who never put him in his eyes. At the cadre conference, he directly made it impossible for Liu Baojun to save face. From then on, which mid-level cadres in the county would still give him face?

  It is well known that Zhang Ju and Deputy Secretary Ma Weiguo are extremely close, while Lu Zhengwei and Liu Baogang have joined forces. Can Director Zhang still tolerate him? I'm afraid Lu Zhengwei will also be targeted by the Disciplinary Committee in the future.

  As for Lu Zhong himself, he also got into trouble. It is said that his work in the Strike Office was not thorough enough, and he even made a fool of himself with Old Cai from the Industrial and Commercial Bureau at Dongmi Garden. Although it seems like this matter has passed, in reality, it had a great impact on Old Cai. He will find it difficult to make progress or get promoted again, just as hard as ascending to heaven.

  So now there's a rumor going around in the county bureau that whoever gets close to Lu Gangtou will be unlucky, and Lu Gangtou is simply a jinx.

  Today, Hou Jianjun had no choice but to come. A month ago, a massacre occurred in Nanying, and until now, there is still no clue. It has made the local people nervous and frightened. Some people even spread rumors that "Erbai" was not dead, and this family was killed by him; some said it was the work of ghosts and monsters; others said that the killer was Zhang Zili, a northeast murderer who was being pursued. In short, there were all sorts of rumors and speculations.

  Hong Tao, the director of this police station, although he had handed over the case to the county's criminal investigation department, was under great pressure because he couldn't crack the case for a long time. After all, it was a case that occurred in his jurisdiction, and if it became an unsolved case, it would have some impact on his reputation. After thinking about it, he suddenly thought of Lu Zhengwei, who had solved the 516 big case, so he found Hou Jianjun, with whom he was familiar, to introduce him and come to Lu Zhengwei to ask for advice.

  Although Hou Jianjun followed Lu Zhong throughout the 516 case and admired his detective skills, he had seen Lu's previous rough and awkward image. So in Hou's heart, he didn't idolize Lu like some rumors in the bureau, nor did he think that Lu's involvement would guarantee a solution to the case. However, since Hong Tao was on good terms with him and used both soft and hard tactics, Hou finally couldn't resist and reluctantly brought Hong over.

  He also knew that Lu Zhong would definitely have a number in his mind about his recent movements, so he sat there, just smoking and not saying much.

  Lu Zhong listened to Hong Tao talk about the case, but did not look at the materials brought by Hong Tao, and smiled: "I still won't look, can't violate discipline."

  Hong Tao hastily smiled and said: "You are a leader of the bureau, it doesn't matter."

  Lu Zhong waved his hand and said, "Let's go take a look at the scene anyway."

  Hong Tao was taken aback, it's been over a month since then, what else is there to see at the scene? But rumor has it that although Lu Zhengwei has a bad temper and likes to argue with people, his detective skills are top-notch, and some people in the countryside even say he has a "heavenly eye". If Lu Zhengwei is investigating the case, it's bound to be different from others.

  So Hongtao was overjoyed and asked: "Then, Commissar, when will you have time?"

  Lu Zhong stood up: "Let's go now, let's go see."

  Hong Tao was stunned again, but he did not expect Lu Zhengwei to be so swift and decisive.

  Lu Zhong smiled: "Perhaps, it's time." Having hidden outside for so long, he was waiting for an opportunity to strike back at the county bureau, and now, perhaps that moment had arrived.

  Hong Tao and Hou Jianjun looked at each other in dismay, unsure what Lu Zhong meant by his words.

  ……

  Hou Jianjun drove, Hong Tao sat in the back seat, and Lu Zhong sat on the sidecar. The three-wheeled motorcycle sped straight to Nanying.

  Nanying coastal area, the Golden Coast and Sliding Sand Court are located within Nanying. In recent years, Wushan's economy has developed rapidly, introducing some foreign-funded enterprises. As summer arrives, more and more people come to the Golden Coast for leisure from Wushan. Nanying, relying on the sea and eating seafood, is already the first town in terms of economic strength in Wushan, which cannot be compared with Tonglu's departure.

  Returning to the south camp, Lu Zhong was also lost in thought, silent all along the way.

  In Hou Jianjun's view, Lu Zhong's silence was aimed at him, and he couldn't help but resent Lu Zhong, feeling a little uncomfortable.

  The Zhao family, who had been exterminated, was at the east end of Nanying Village. At this time, the sun was setting and the red clouds were all over the sky, it was already dusk.

  The murder case has been going on for more than a month, and the scene has long been lifted, but Zhao Lao's home is still in ruins, with broken walls and tiles, and a gloomy wind is blowing.

  Lu Zhong carefully examined the scene, going east and west in Zhao Lao Si's house, Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao followed behind him, not knowing what he was looking for, nor dared to speak, fearing that they would interrupt his thinking.

  "Alright! Let's go next door and take a look." Lu Zhong had been tinkering for over an hour, and Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao were both getting bored to the point of yawning. As soon as they heard about changing locations, they hastily headed out to ask around, which was more interesting than standing around here doing nothing.

  The eastern neighbor is a newly built three-room house with red brick walls, green iron gates, and red couplets on either side of the gate, indicating that this family is newlywed and relatively affluent.

  There are flowers and grasses planted in the yard, which is not common in rural areas. Usually, villagers like to plant some vegetables in their yards, or at most, two cherry blossom trees, all of which are related to food.

  Under the windowsill, there was a young boy with a bare upper body, similar to a small calf, who was planing wood with a plane. Seeing Lu Zhen and the other two enter, the boy stood up and greeted them: "Hong Suo'er? You're so free?"

  Hong Tao knew him, especially after the murder next door, it was not the first or second time he came to his house. The young man was a newcomer who moved in a few years ago, named Wang Erqiang, a carpenter with some skills, and his wife was a famous beauty from Balian Village.

  Hong Tao smiled and said: "Erguang, come, this is Lu Zhengwei from the county bureau, he wants to ask you a few questions."

  Wang Mujin hastily wiped his hands, looking a bit constrained as he came over, even daring not to raise his head, with a very rustic appearance.

  Hong Tao was saying: "Go, first give us some water to drink, we're dying of thirst..." Before he could finish speaking, Lu Zhong had already handcuffed Wang Mujiang with a shiny pair of handcuffs and said: "It's him, he's the murderer."

  Hong Tao was stunned and subconsciously reacted: "This, how is this possible?"

  Hou Jianjun was also confused, with a puzzled expression on his face.

  Lu Zhong's tone was very calm, but with an unspoken majesty, "Wang Erqiang, confess and you will be treated leniently!"

  Hong Tao couldn't help but blurt out, "Comrade Director, are you mistaken?" It was rare for someone to openly question their leader or colleague during an investigation, and it wasn't that Hong Er Dang was being reckless, but rather he just couldn't understand what was going on.

  Yes, rural homicides, relatives, neighbors and others who have a close relationship with the victim will be listed as key suspects for investigation.

  But the problem is that Wang Mujiang has been carefully investigated and there are no suspicious circumstances at all.

  This young man is capable of making money, living a happy life, and is willing to help others. He is generous and has a normal relationship with the victim Zhao Lao Si's family, neither too close nor too distant. After visiting many people, no one has ever seen any conflict between the two families, let alone any rumors or gossip about romantic relationships. There was simply no motive for murder.

  Lu Zhong ignored Hong Tao's nonsense and stared at the little wooden craftsman.

  Xiao Mujiang's face turned pale with fright: "I didn't kill anyone, you, don't wrong me." He looked at Hongtao for help: "Hong Erge, what's going on?"

  Lu Zhong sighed and said: "Although Zhao Laosi's words are hurtful and revealing others' secrets, you don't have to kill him."

  Xiao Mu Jiang suddenly lifted his head and looked at Lu Zhēn: "What did you say?" His tone was already unspeakably terrified.

  Lu Zhong said: "Do you know what I'm talking about?" Then he ordered Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao: "Search his home, there must be clues."

  At this time, Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao had already seen the inappropriateness, although they were full of question marks, but also followed Lu Zhong's words, entering the house to rummage through the boxes, however, after searching for a long time, the two men found nothing. In the end, it was still Lu Zhong who exerted his strength, dismantling the small wooden workshop, the stove and the kang in both rooms. Finally, in the west room's kang hole, they found a blood-stained kitchen knife.

  Lu Zhun took out the vegetable knife wrapped in a plastic bag and showed it to Xiao Mujiang, who was handcuffed beside the well. Xiao Mujiang suddenly collapsed to the ground, staring at Lu Zhun in terror: "How did you know? How did you know..." He kept repeating these two sentences over and over again, muttering to himself.

  Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao were shocked, and Lu Zhengwei was also too godly? The case that had tormented the county bureau's elite to the point of desperation, he just moved his little finger and caught the murderer?

  Rumors in Hong Tao's ears, somewhat legendary Lu Zhong, so, apart from admiring Lu Zhong even more, I feel that it is reasonable to some extent.

  But Hou Jianjun's heart was turbulent, if the 615 case couldn't completely change Lu Zhong's image in his mind; then now the facts are in front of him, he can't help but re-examine, what kind of person is Lu Zhong after all.

  Lu Zhong was very calm this time, unlike 615. It was just a lucky break, nothing special. This case didn't give him the same sense of accomplishment as 615 because he knew who the killer was as soon as he saw the case.

  This case occurred several months ago in the previous life, but it became a unsolved homicide case until ten years later. Wang Mujiang was arrested for raping and killing a young woman, and he finally confessed to the massacre that year.

  Wang Mujiang indeed got along well with his neighbor Zhao Lao Si, but Zhao Lao Si had a strange habit of liking to eavesdrop, especially on Wang Mujiang and his beautiful wife's sounds, which was very tempting. However, this inadvertently allowed Zhao Lao Si to discover Wang Mujiang's secret, it turned out that despite Wang Mujiang's small size, he was actually impotent in bed.

  Zhao Lao Si was a man with a very strict mouth, but one time he and Wang Mu Jiang drank together, got drunk, and spoke jokingly of Wang Mu Jiang. From this, the seeds of his own demise were sown.

  After killing Zhao Lao Si's whole family, Wang Mu Jiang later discovered that he could only ** when abusing and raping women. Also because of the case of exterminating his household, he luckily got away with it, and the evil hidden in his heart was gradually triggered, finally embarking on the dark path of rape and murder.

  In the previous life, this case was reported ten years later because it was a case in Guangning and the Nan Ying extermination case was a suspected case before Lu Zhong left the public security system, so Lu Zhong had detailed reports of this case, leaving a deep impression.

  But now and the past are two different worlds, Lu Zhong knew that many things would be different. Not to mention the butterfly effect caused by his own actions, even for the same person, there were many different choices in one's life. Especially for murder cases, many times it was just a moment of impulse, with various factors adding up, that could lead a normal person to commit murder. And in Guangning County, he may have already influenced many people and events, some of which might not have occurred otherwise.

  It wasn't until after learning that Zhao Lao Si's family was killed that Lu Zhong didn't dare confirm whether the murderer was Wang Mu Jiang or not, until he had a conversation with him and deceived him, only then did he confirm that Wang Mu Jiang was indeed the murderer.

  It's just that kind of thing, and it can't be said naturally. So when Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao asked about their doubts in their hearts, Lu Zhong only responded vaguely, such as discovering that Wang Mujiang's cloth shoes had the special red soil mark of Zhao Lao Si's family, etc., which made Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao feel enlightened. Although, it is really unknown what kind of special red soil Lu Zheng said, and why there would not be this kind of red soil in Wang Mujiang's home.

  ……

  That night, Wang Mujiang was thrown into the Nan Ying police station to make a statement. The next day, Hong Tao took him to the county seat and invited Lu Zhong to go to the county bureau to explain the case. As for Hou Jianjun, he had something to say last night and didn't want to get involved.

  Lu Zhong didn't actually want to go either, he had already made a phone call to Li Xiangyang and asked him to help sound out the situation with County Secretary Qiu Dahua.

  Li Xiangyang is now particularly close to Lu Zhong because of the relationship between his nephew Qingbai and Lu Zhong, and Lu Zhong also knows. Li Xiangyang was brought up by Qiu Dahai, so he can talk to Qiu Dahai more or less.

  Qiu Dahua had always been at odds with Ma Weiguo and Zhang Qingming. He had long wanted to promote his own people in the county bureau, but under the current system, the position of county bureau chief was not something he could control single-handedly. So, he had always kept a close eye on Ma Yuewu, who was neither black nor white, and now that he had emerged, Qiu Dahua would likely use him to weaken Zhang Qingming's influence in the county bureau. Although he couldn't match Zhang Qingming in power, as Qiu Dahua's proxy, he would ultimately stand on the opposite side of Zhang Qingming.

  This chess piece has gradually revealed its value through these cases, hasn't it?

  I just don't know when I'll be able to play chess myself, but as someone who has lived two lives, I have enough patience.

  So, Lu Zhong didn't want to join in the excitement today, but he couldn't resist Hong Tao's enthusiastic invitation. Thinking that it had been a long time since he last appeared at the county bureau after beating Gao Zhi Kai, he decided to go back and show off his presence, so he gladly agreed.

  However, Lu Zhong did not go with Hong Tao to report on the case, but instead went to the Public Security Section in a leisurely manner. The old subordinates of the Public Security Section were very friendly when they saw Lu Zhong's visit. In the days when Lu Zhong was not at the county bureau, they only remembered the good things about the political commissar. The political commissar was indeed strict, but when he was around, no one dared to bully the Public Security Section. Now, however, the people from the Criminal Investigation Division were all arrogant and looked down on others.

  Lu Zhong and Deputy Director Sun Jie were chatting when a young police officer rushed in, saying that Director Zhang had summoned them.

  Lu Zhong arrived at Zhang Qingming's office, where Gao Zhi Kai, Ma Yuewu and Hong Tao were all present. Gao Zhi Kai looked very displeased, while Ma Yuewu smiled and nodded at Lu Zhong.

  Zhang Qingming once again re-examined Lu Zhong, every time he was about to forget Lu Zhong and thought he was no longer important, this guy would suddenly make a strong counterattack. It seems that I need to look at him from a different angle, this young man is not simple!

  Gao Zhikai's eyes were filled with resentment and venom, once again, he was slapped hard on the ear by Lu Zheng.

  Originally these days were busy, didn't go provoke you, you actually don't know life and death, then don't blame me. Gao Zhikai thought hatefully.

  If Lu Zhong were a snake, Gao Zhi Kai believed he had already grasped its seven inches.

  After Lu Zhong went to the Strike Office, Gao Zhi Kai also paid attention to his every move. Through a friend from the Industrial and Commercial Bureau, he unexpectedly discovered that Lu Zhong handled some speculators very leniently. It seemed that he had taken advantage of many benefits. His insider at the Industrial and Commercial Bureau had already agreed to come out as a witness and make an anonymous report.

  It's just that there have been too many cases recently and I've been too busy to bother with Lu Zhong, who would have thought that once again I'd be stepped on by him.

  Gao Zhikai made up his mind, and in two days he would get the evidence ready, and then make some appropriate moves. This time, he was determined to thoroughly defeat Lu Zheng and send him to prison.

  Listening to Zhang Qingming's words of encouragement to Lu Zhong, Gao Zhi Kai felt even more piercing in his ears, but he slowly closed his eyes. A man who was about to die, what was the point of arguing with him?

  ……

  Lu Zhong and Hong Tao walked out of Zhang Qingming's office together, coming to the stairwell turn, Hong Tao glanced at his watch, it was past 11 o'clock, and smiled: "Commissar, I'll treat you to lunch."

  Lu Zhong made a downward motion with his hand and said, "Go to the cafeteria to eat, I have meal tickets. Today is Wednesday, the day when the cafeteria improves its food, so the dishes won't be bad."

  "That's impossible." Hong Tao shook his head like a rattle drum, and he was not only convinced of this young commissar, but even had some admiration for him.

  Two men were talking and came to the second floor. A young man wearing a linen shirt hurried out of the interrogation room, Lu Zhong and Hong Tao couldn't help but take a few more glances at him. Hong Tao whispered: "The hands of the criminal police are really black." Looking at this young man, he even walked with some difficulty.

  Lu Zhong smiled wryly, the routine of interrogation was something he had become numb to, and it wasn't something he could change for the time being.

  However, when the young man hastily passed by them and went downstairs, Lu Zhong was stunned for a moment, with an inexplicable feeling that something was wrong. He immediately knew what was wrong because he smelled a hint of blood, and it was absolutely not the kind of blood smell from minor injuries caused by beating, but rather the pungent smell that could only be smelled on the battlefield.

  "Hey, stop right there!" Lu Zhong shouted.

  The young man's back paused for a moment, but he continued to hurry downstairs quickly.

  "Halt!" Lu Zhong chased after him, and Hong Tao immediately knew something was wrong, following close behind.

  Suddenly, the young man turned around abruptly, and the black muzzle of his gun was aimed at Lu Zhen and Hong Tao. At that moment, Hong Tao was stunned, but he felt a great force coming over him, and he fell to the side with a loud "bang" sound, landing on one side.

  The "boom boom boom" sound made Hong Tao's head dizzy and swollen, the distance was too close, the corridor structure was very narrow, the sound couldn't spread out at all, it was like an explosion in his ear.

  The gunfire was urgent and short, only lasting a few dozen seconds. Hong Tao shook his head, then discovered Lu Zhong standing beside him, holding a Type 54 pistol that looked very familiar, as if it were his own gun.

  The young man was lying in the corner of the first and second floors, his chest covered in blood, apparently shot dead by Lu Zhen.

  Hong Tao could hardly believe his eyes, and it took him a while to come back to himself. In that brief moment when the young man's shoulder moved, Lu Zhong had already become alert, pushed him away, and even pulled out his gun.

  "You've been hit, stay still." Lu Zhong's voice was right next to his ear, and it wasn't until then that Hong Tao realized his arm was throbbing in pain, with blood gushing out at intervals.

  At this time, chaotic footsteps came from all directions, and Lu Zhong shouted: "Quickly, call an ambulance."

  Hong Tao suddenly felt extremely nauseous and his vision went black before he fainted.

  ……

  Hong Tao slowly opened his eyes to find everything around him a snowy white. He was lying in a hospital ward, and Lu Zhong was looking at him with concern.

  "Director, what's going on?" Hong Tao wanted to sit up, but Lu Zhong laughed and stopped him, saying: "You just lie there for now. The bureau is in a mess, I have to go back. I don't know what's going on either, I'll go ask around for you."

  Hong Tao was already in his thirties, but he was teased by Lu Zhong's joke and his face turned bright red. He knew that just now, the political commissar had saved his life.

  In the evening, Hou Jianjun came to the ward to see him, and Hong Tao only knew what had happened.

  The young man who was shot dead in the bureau was actually the number one wanted criminal of the Ministry of Public Security - Dongbei Zhang Zili. This person's whereabouts were mysterious and even more troublesome than Erwang, he had killed no less than thirty military police officers in the three provinces of Northeast China, but recently suddenly went silent, the Ministry of Public Security judged that he might have left the country, and early on issued a document to the various provinces within the country, ordering them to conduct a thorough investigation.

  But he didn't think, he came to Guangning.

  Zhang Zili had a forged letter of introduction from a certain unit in Northeast China, and he swaggered into the Guangning County Party Committee's guest house. Originally, he was very low-key, going out late and returning early, but he happened to offend the criminal investigation team. In fact, he had already kept quiet, but the criminal investigation team openly bullied outsiders and directly put him in handcuffs on a police car.

  In the interrogation room, Zhang Zili was originally also enduring it, but the criminal police were too ruthless, and under unbearable circumstances he fought back. Two criminal police officers had their throats cut by something unknown, later analysis suggested that it should have been a shattered glass cup.

  Zhang Zili touched one of the criminal detectives' guns again before leaving, and if Lu Zhong hadn't discovered it, he might have disappeared quickly once more.

  Hong Tao listened to Hou Jianjun's account and couldn't help but take a cold breath: "Heavens, Zhang Zili?!"

  Hou Jianjun laughed and said, "Isn't that so? This murderous devil king, I didn't think he'd be finished off by Director Lu's single shot. He's unlucky to have run into our Director Lu." Unconsciously, the tone of his address towards Lu Zheng had changed a lot, perhaps even he himself hadn't noticed.

  Hong Tao licked his tongue and said, "I heard that Lu Zhengwei was like cutting grass when he killed Vietnamese devils in the army. When Zhang Zili met him, he was still a tender shoot."

  Hou Jianjun nodded in agreement: "That's also true." He didn't notice the grammatical error in Hong Tao's sentence, and the political commissar in his twenties became "he" (an honorific term usually used for older people), which Hou Jianjun found perfectly normal.

  Everyone has a hero complex, it's just that in peaceful times, heroes are hard to find.

  Hou Jianjun suddenly chuckled and said, "The political commissar has made another achievement. The bureau has already reported to the municipal bureau and provincial department. The investigation team from the provincial department should arrive tonight. However, Old Zhang and Gao Zhikai are in trouble."

  Hong Tao nodded, the suspect was confused and detained, but then killed two police officers and escaped. This report, I don't know how Gao Zhikai wrote it, anyway, Hong Tao shook his head: "Ignorance is bliss?"

  "Hmph, what's this 'ignorance is bliss' nonsense? The provincial hall sent two people to the county bureau two months ago, demanding that every police officer in each station receive a photo of Zhang Zili and memorize it. But Zhang Qingming didn't take it seriously, and now look what's happened. He's just been too comfortable for too long, and now he's asking for trouble." With that, he coldly laughed twice: "Do you think the provincial hall sent an investigation team to give us credit?" As soon as Zhang Qingming was in trouble, Zhang Ju became "Old Zhang" "Zhang Qingming" in his mouth.

  Hong Tao somewhat looked down on Hou Jianjun's self-interest and remained silent.