Chapter 29: With Emotion and Righteousness

  Lu Zhong and Hou Jianjun walked over, but saw in front of the shop, a fierce woman grabbed an 8 or 9-year-old boy and wouldn't let go. On one hand she was slapping the boy's ears, on the other hand her mouth was viciously scolding: "Little thief, I'll beat you to death! You dare to steal my baozi! You dare to steal my baozi!..."

  "What's going on! Stop!" Hou Jianjun walked over with a stern face and asked, his police uniform causing the onlookers to make way for him.

  Seeing the police, a middle-aged woman wearing a white apron loudly shouted: "Comrade policeman, you've come just in time! This little thief, he's always stealing my baozi without any reason. My husband has caught him several times already, he's a habitual offender, hurry up and take him away!"

  "Stop talking nonsense! Let him go first! Otherwise, whether this kid is a thief or not, you can't just beat people up, do you know that's against the law?! Hou Jianjun heard the mistress ordering him around and didn't like her tone one bit, so he didn't respond with a good attitude either."

  The shrew was so frightened that she became somewhat spiritless, but still muttered and refused to let go, saying: "He's a thief, he'll run away if I let go! He runs faster than a rabbit!"

  "Let go!" Hou Jianjun frowned and scolded, the shrew was startled and her hand loosened involuntarily.

  That little boy suddenly drilled out of the crowd, but unexpectedly, a strong force came from his neck, and it turned out that he was caught by Lu Zhong.

  Lu Zhong rarely wears police uniforms except for work and law enforcement, which is also a habit cultivated since being in the army. Military uniforms and police uniforms have different meanings. After getting off work, one is just an ordinary person. If they still wear uniforms, if there's anything improper, it would be a smear on the military and police forces.

  Because he wasn't wearing a police uniform, this sly little boy didn't notice and tried to squeeze past him, but was caught by the man.

  The little boy seemed to understand the principle of not eating in front of a good man, and after being caught by Lu Zhong, he stopped struggling, only his dark eyes rolling around, wondering what kind of evil plan he was thinking of.

  Hou Jianjun did not expect that this kid almost ran away, but it was a bit embarrassing to come down from here, with all the anger in his belly, and only Lu Zhong was there, so he couldn't go up and give him a few kicks.

  "See, I told you he would run..." The shrew's voice grew smaller and smaller, but was being stared at by Hou Jianjun, who was somewhat intimidated.

  Lu Zhong looked at the child, although his clothes had patches and were obviously made from old clothes altered to fit him, he was clean and tidy, and his features were delicate, making a good impression at first glance. Lu Zhong said: "Alright, you're still young, so register your parents' names and home address, and tomorrow have them bring you to the office for questioning." He frowned again at the child, saying: "If you keep going like this, you'll end up in juvenile detention! They dare to steal things there, and can beat you to death!"

  A military background, after turning to work in the public security system, Lu Zhong's heart is actually very hard, and the child in front of him really lacks discipline.

  The shrewd woman was invigorated by these words and also saw that Lu Zhong and Hou Jianjun were in cahoots, so she hastily said: "Comrades, I know his family, it's not far from here, I'll take you there. The little scoundrel will surely tell lies, don't be fooled by him!"

  The shrewish wife and her husband ran this bakery together. Her husband had a kind heart, and never went to the child's home to reason with his parents, and even secretly gave him buns and bread to eat, which made her so angry that she was fuming. Today, with this opportunity, the shrewish wife wanted to thoroughly deal with the little scamp and his family.

  Lu Zhong glanced at his watch, it was past eight o'clock. It was still summer and the sky wasn't very dark. He gave Hou Jianjun a signal with his eyes, "Let's go take a look."

  Hou Jianjun naturally had no objection, turned around and said loudly: "Alright, disperse! What's there to see?"

  After driving away a few onlookers, the fierce woman led the way in front, with Lu Zhong and Hou Jianjun following behind her. However, they unexpectedly entered the same alley where Du Boguo was being sent away.

  "Uncle, let me go, please let me go." The little kid being pulled by Hou Jianjun's arm whispered pitifully. Hou Jianjun rolled his eyes: "Shut up!" If Lu Ju wasn't there, he would have hit him already.

  After passing the iron gate of the Commercial Bureau's family courtyard, I walked for more than 200 meters. The view in front of me suddenly opened up, and it was a large area of low-rise buildings that were all black, with only a few lanterns flickering, forming a sharp contrast with the brightly lit building across the street.

  Lu Zhong is a public security officer, familiar with the county town area. This bungalow district has been around for years, built after the founding of the country, originally for the families of employees from supply and marketing cooperatives, food factories, etc. Now these units have split and merged, it's unclear who should be in charge, but this residential district is already almost uninhabited, soon to be demolished.

  He stepped into the bungalow area with one foot deep and one foot shallow, and just two days ago, there was a heavy rain. This bungalow area is an earthen path, and it has formed puddles. Lu Zheng and Hou Jianjun's feet were muddy, but fortunately, after walking for only a few steps, the fierce woman pointed to a low-walled courtyard made of bricks and said: "It's this house."

  The wooden fence door was a bit rotten, and it might be kicked open with one foot. Hou Jianjun pushed the door open from inside and shouted: "Is anyone there? Police!"

  A three-room tile house, the walls are uneven and seem somewhat dangerous, feeling like they're about to collapse. The lights inside are off, but it sounds like someone is talking.

  "Come out one by one! It's the Public Security Bureau!" Hou Jianjun yelled impatiently.

  "Who's that! What a ghostly cry!" A woman's scolding voice rose from the house, soft and gentle, pleasant to hear, and very familiar.

  Lu Zhong was stunned for a moment, this voice? As expected, the plastic strip curtain was lifted, and a familiar figure emerged. It was Wei Xiangxiu, wearing a full set of olive green police uniform. Her facial features were clear and bright, her breath was strong and charming, and the white collar made her face look even whiter. The prominent chest pushed up the police uniform, and only she could perfectly showcase that kind of feminine charm and elegance as a policewoman.

  When she saw Hou Jianjun and Lu Zhong, Wei Xiangxiu was stunned for a moment, then her eyes turned to the little boy tightly holding Hou Jianjun's arm, as if she understood something. Her face sank like water: "Xiao Dong, what good deed have you done again?"

  The little boy lowered his head, very afraid of Wei Xiangxiu's appearance. On the way just now, he had thought of breaking free from Hou Jianjun's hand several times, but now he didn't dare to say a word.

  Lu Zhong coughed and turned to the owner of the baozi shop, saying: "Sister, come to the police station tomorrow and go to the Public Security Bureau to listen to the news. We will notify you of the results at that time."

  The shrew saw a female police officer coming out of the house and was also startled, no longer daring to say anything else, vaguely answering a few times before hastily leaving.

  Hou Jianjun let go of the little boy and stood aside with his hands on his shoulders, this is a matter for the local authorities, there is Director Lu, he cannot interfere.

  His gaze wandered over Wei Xiangxiu's plump, full breasts, which were subtly outlined under her police uniform, and her slender long legs. Finally, his eyes landed on Wei Xiangxiu's pink plastic slippers, which were tucked into the green police pants with a thin red silk trim. The transparent short stockings wrapped around her delicate feet, giving off an air of simple elegance and softness that made Hou Jianjun's breathing quicken uncontrollably. He cursed to himself, wondering what it would feel like to touch them.

  Hou Jianjun and Wei Xiangxiu had interacted more than once, and he had even flirted with her before, but this little vixen was too arrogant, not giving him a good face at all. Hou Jianjun's thoughts had also faded away. However, at this moment, standing in front of Wei Xiangxiu's house, looking at her neat police uniform and the warm home atmosphere perfectly combined, Hou Jianjun couldn't help but feel some lustful thoughts again, starting to fantasize about pinning down this little vixen wearing a police uniform and ravishing her.

  Hou Jianjun's words were stuck in his throat, but Wei Xiangxiu suddenly pulled out a willow branch from somewhere and started beating the little boy Xiao Dong on the head, shouting "I told you not to study well! I told you not to study well!"

  Xiao Dong didn't dodge either, lowering his head and letting her hit him.

  "That's enough!" Lu Zhong frowned and stopped her, thinking that this person couldn't be judged by appearance alone, and had a violent tendency. Looking at her strength, it wasn't just for show.

  Wei Xiangxiu didn't dare move again and said with a stern face: "Go in, stand together with your brother, he didn't take good care of you, he's also at fault!"

  Xiao Dong lowered his head and entered the house. At this time, the light in the east room lit up, but the hall and west room were still pitch black.

  "Director, I will take good care of him, I know that I have tarnished the reputation of the bureau. Tomorrow, I will definitely write a profound self-criticism." Wei Xiangxiu looked at her toes, sincerely acknowledging her mistake, but her beautiful eyes sparkled with waves, and those who knew her understood that she must be plotting something.

  "It's not that serious, I heard it's not the first or second time they've stolen. Just return the money to the person, apologize sincerely, and don't do it again in the future. If you do it again, the nature of the offense will change."

  Lu Zhong said, and then gave Hou Jianjun a wink, turned around and wanted to leave.

  "You've come all the way, come in and sit down! My husband is also here, he's been saying that he wants to meet Director Lu, there's an important matter to report to Director Lu." Wei Xiangxiu said hastily.

  Lu Zhong knew that Wei Xiangxiu's husband had a labor dispute with the unit, and he thought it was also to tell him about this matter. However, since Wei Xiangxiu is a person from the bureau, if she can be helped, she will be helped, and she cannot be ignored because of Zhang Qingming's relationship.

  "Alright, go take a look." Lu Zhēn made a gesture of entering the house.

  Wei Xiang's pretty face immediately showed a happy expression, and she led the way in front of her. As a police school graduate, she had undergone strict training and had a elegant and dignified police demeanor, with a unique sense of sensuality as she walked with a swinging hip and lifted foot.

  Lu Zhong quickly entered the house, staring at Wei Xiang's buttocks, Hou Jianjun finally came to his senses, but after thinking for a moment, he didn't follow in, instead pacing to the gate of the courtyard and waiting.

  "Chen Biao, Chen Biao!" In the hallway, Wei Xiangxiu turned on the light and shouted towards the west room, but there was no response. She went over to push open the door, and a strong smell of alcohol immediately hit her in the face. Even Lu Zhong, who was standing in the center of the hallway, couldn't help but wrinkle his brow.

  "All day long, all he knows is drinking!" Wei Xiangxiu sighed and said to Lu Zhong: "Director Lu, come in."

  Wei Xiang's pointing was naturally at the east house, but Lu Zhong entered the house and couldn't help but pause for a moment. On the bed sat two elderly people, the old man puffing on his pipe with a scowl on his face, while the wrinkled old woman counted her cards with her legs crossed. It seemed that both of them were still in good spirits, as when Lu Zhong entered the house, they both looked over at him alertly.

  There was nothing like a decent decoration in the room, Xiaodong and another slightly older boy stood in front of the red cabinet against the wall, lowering their heads and secretly looking over here. These two little rascals were naturally standing on punishment.

  "Dad and Mom, this is our department's Director Lu!" Wei Xiangxiu raised her voice slightly, not knowing if the two old people were hard of hearing.

  "Director Lu, this is my father-in-law and mother-in-law."

  The old man seemed not to have heard Wei Xiangxiu's words and quickly turned his head to smoke by himself. The old lady, however, jumped down from the ground in an instant, rolled her eyes to size up Lu Zhong, and asked loudly: "Are you a leader? Have you come to solve our family's Biaozi problem?" Apparently, this was an old cunning person.

  Wei Xiangxiu quickly came to Lu Zhong's rescue, loudly saying in the old lady's ear: "Mom, Director Lu is not Biaozi's leader and has no control over him. He just came to take a look at the situation."

  The old lady said loudly: "Then, is he your leader?"

  It turned out that this old lady was hard of hearing. After saying a few words, Lu Zhong had to raise his voice when talking to her, as if he were shouting.

  The old lady quickly began to wipe away tears: "You're Xiangxiu's leader? Then, you must give Xiangxiu plenty of praise! This girl is great, kind-hearted and even more so! She hasn't taken advantage of our family's wealth for a single day, yet she's suffered hardships! Look at her, this child, in order to save money, doesn't even have a spare set of clothes. Luckily, the public security bureau issues uniforms, otherwise, this child would be left with nothing!"

  Lu Zhong couldn't help but feel frustrated and didn't know what to say, thinking that it wasn't that serious.

  The old lady kept talking and boasting about Wei Xiangxiu: "Originally, my husband and I were from Cuizhuang Village, but my daughters-in-law drove us out and no one takes care of us! I've really raised a group of ungrateful people!"

  "Xiangxiu, my fourth daughter-in-law is really good. She knew we were driven out and without saying a word, she brought us and our fifth child into the city. But taking care of this whole family must cost her so much money! In the city, everything costs money. If it weren't for us being a burden, Xiangxiu wouldn't have to live such a hard life!"

  As she spoke, the old lady began to wipe away tears and sobbed: "Look, look, our seven people, young and old, are crowded together like this. My son Biaozi and Old Five live in the west house, and my daughter and I live in this house. There's no place to put your feet! Xiangxiu, you might as well let Mom die!" As she spoke, she slapped the bed and cried out again.

  Lu Zhong was stunned, he had known that Wei Xiangxiu's family was having a hard time, but he really didn't expect it to be this difficult. Wei Xiangxiu invited him in, actually just wanting him to see the situation at her home with his own eyes, what important matter did Biaozi have to react to? It was purely an excuse.

  It's even more unexpected that Wei Xiangxiu is actually a sentimental and righteous person. Biaozi was originally a driver for the business bureau, and this year, being a driver is a pretty sought-after profession. Someone like Wei Xiangxiu would definitely have conditions when getting married. But unexpectedly, disaster struck, and not only did Biaozi get into a car accident, but he also lost his job. Yet, Wei Xiangxiu didn't divorce him, instead she brought his parents to live with them, and it seems like she's even supporting her younger brother-in-law, which is truly admirable.

  When Lu Zhong bid farewell, Wei Xiangxiu saw him off. Lu Zhong didn't say much to her, just nodded and turned around to leave.