Volume 1 Chapter 35: The Police Chief's Wine Shop

  As soon as he saw Lu Zhong get out of the car and walk over, Tan Qiang immediately stood at attention and gave a military salute, saying loudly: "Director!"

  Lu Zhong returned the courtesy, and then smiled and extended his hand, saying: "Tan Qiang, I've heard Hu Zi mention you before!" As he spoke, he shook hands with him, and then punched Tan Qiang's chest lightly, "Hmmm, a good young fellow indeed!" Just now, Wang Yuguo had quietly told him who the other person was.

  Tan Qiang smiled foolishly, apparently very used to Lu Ju's way of dealing with him.

  Behind the large courtyard fountain, several police officers in uniform quickly walked over, led by a middle-aged officer who was none other than Deputy Director Ma Kui-shan of Qinglong County Bureau, who led the team for this military training exercise.

  Du Xiaohu had contact with him, introduced Lu Zhong and Ma Kui to each other. Ma Kui held Lu Zhong's hand and smiled, "Director Lu, I've long admired your great name. This year, it seems that our Wushan area can produce a first-class model. After the turmoil ends, our Jizhou Province will only have you."

  The Provincial Public Security Department has decided to recommend Lu Zheng for the title of "National Public Security System First-Class Hero Model" to the Ministry of Public Security.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "I didn't do enough, I'm afraid it won't be reported, and it's just my regular job, nothing special."

  Ma Qiu Shan burst out laughing and said: "If it's a first-level cultivator, they won't be able to come down. If it's a second-level cultivator, I'll definitely capture them with my hands."

  As he spoke, Wang Yuguo, who was standing next to them, couldn't help but frown slightly, feeling somewhat displeased in his heart. He knew that the Guangning Bureau had produced a Lu Zheng, and some brother bureaus in the same system in this region were not convinced, especially the Qinglong Bureau, which had always been ahead of the other county bureaus in Wushan in various aspects of work. Last year, a people's police officer sacrificed himself to save someone and was posthumously awarded the title of Second-Class Hero, while Lu Zheng from Guangning was awarded the title of First-Class Hero by the province without even breaking a sweat, which made many people feel unhappy in their hearts. In the Qinglong Bureau, there were also some popular sayings circulating that looked down on the Lu Bureau.

  But if Zhang Zili was not shot dead, it is unknown how many more soldiers and civilians would have been killed, which cannot be compared to saving the drowning children.

  Wang Yuguo muttered to himself, but a smile was on his face as he shook hands with Ma Kui-shan and then hastily walked towards the sanatorium's office building.

  Lu Zhong's expression remained unchanged, and he chatted with Ma Kui Shan for a few sentences. Before long, Wang Yu Guo turned back, holding a bunch of keys in his hand, and whispered to Lu Zhong: "Director, I've got the key, it's building 3 at the back." Although he said it softly, Ma Kui Shan still heard it, which was intentional.

  The four-story building in front of the sanatorium's main courtyard is an ordinary stock therapy dormitory, similar to a guest house, with hundreds of double and quadruple rooms. It is a place for ordinary cadres and workers from the provincial trade union system and some large enterprises to enjoy welfare tourism and vacation therapy. In the second half of the sanatorium's main courtyard, there are four or five small villas scattered among the mountains and forests, which are used by leaders of the provincial trade unions and related state-owned enterprises for recuperation. Sometimes, leaders from outside institutions who come to Huangjin Haishang for therapy will also borrow them. The No. 3 building obtained by Wang Yuguo is one of these villas.

  This is the tradition left by Zhang Qingming. When Zhang Qingming came to the Gold Coast, he lived in a small villa in this sanatorium. Firstly, as the guardian of local security, the sanatorium also needs to maintain good relations with the local authorities and give him some face; secondly, he has an old classmate in the provincial trade union's logistics department who can talk nicely and has also contacted the sanatorium, so Zhang Qingming has the privilege of living in the villa. Of course, usually only when there are no big leaders from the provincial trade union or friendly unit leaders coming to the sanatorium for recuperation can Zhang Qingming move in.

  Since it's a traditional practice, it won't be easily changed. The nursing home wouldn't care if the current Guangning Bureau director is replaced or not. Director Zhang knows Wang Yuguang and has dealt with him several times before, so when he came to pick up the key, there was no fuss.

  Wang Yuguo intentionally called out to Ma Kui Shan, telling him that although they were both county bureaus, the Guangning Bureau was a level higher than the Qinglong Bureau.

  Indeed, with economic development, the political status of various provinces and regions (cities) has also undergone new changes. In Hebei Province, neighboring Beijing and the coastal open special zone, Wushan's political status has even subtly surpassed that of the provincial capital city. Within Wushan, without a doubt, Guangning is developing the fastest. From administrative positions, whether it be from the county committee and government or to various ministries and bureaus, compared to brother counties, naturally, it is a high-ranking and lucrative position.

  Qinglong is a remote and impoverished county in Wushan area, with inconvenient transportation.

  For the public security department, the director of Guangning County Public Security Bureau has a much greater power and control over resources compared to the director of Qinglong County Public Security Bureau. The gap is really immeasurable, and what's more, it's still expanding.

  Ma Qiu Shan heard Wang Yu Guo's words, his face slightly looked a bit ugly, apparently, he was not a rough person, but also didn't have much city manners, his emotions were written all over his face, no wonder as soon as they met, he said some sharp words to Lu Zhong.

  Wang Yuguo took the villa building, but Lu Zhong shook his head and said: "Return the key, we won't stay here today."

  Wang Yuguo was slightly taken aback and hastily agreed.

  Ma Kui Shan laughed dryly and said, "Does Director Lu have any other good places to go? I'd like to bask in the glory too." Apparently, he thought that Lu Zhong and Wang Yu Guo were of the same kind, so he deliberately showed off his prestige.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "We'll go to the Hongqi Road State-run Hotel to stay. After all, the Workers' Sanatorium is an external unit, you are here for military training, it's a legitimate matter, and it's normal to borrow accommodation after communicating with them. As for us observers, let's not take advantage of this. It's getting late today, so let's just leave it at that. Tomorrow morning, I'll come back to fetch the documents for study." Seeing that his words were not quite hitting the mark, he decided to separate and yield first. After all, they were all working, what was the point of inexplicably fighting? It wasn't worth it.

  Ma Qiu Shan's face slightly cleared up after hearing Lu Zhong's words, nodded and shook hands with him: "Alright then, tomorrow at 5 am, I'll be waiting for your arrival, Director Lu."

  Lu Zhong smiled and nodded, turned around, and got into the Jeep.

  Tan Qiang frowned and glanced at Ma Kui Shan, although he had not interrupted, but also heard that Ma Kui Shan was somewhat unfriendly, and what's with "five o'clock in the morning" and all that, whose army is it? Lu Ju, when you were trained by your ancestors, they even promoted you.

  However, he was after all the nominal subordinate of two bureau leaders, and it wasn't convenient for him to say anything. He just exchanged a glance with Du Xiaohu, both of their eyes had some smile in them, apparently they found this deputy director from Qinglong quite amusing.

  The jeep went ahead, and Tan Qiang and Du Xiaohu's motorcycle followed behind, buzzing away.

  Ma Qiu Shan shook off the hand that had just been shaken by Lu Zhong, the young director of Guangning Bureau. There was not a hint of anger in his words, nor could he see any depth or shallowness, completely different from Liu Director's fiery temper, who was also the deputy county head of this county. He himself was a soft nail and had been hit, it was really infuriating to say.

  ……

  Hongqi Road State-run Hotel is not far from the Border Defense Police Station, it is a two-story red brick building, with a wooden sign hanging beside the porch, in white characters on black background, written "Guangning County Nanying Township Hongqi Road Hotel".

  Pushing open the frosted glass door with a worn-out red wooden handle, he walked into the extremely narrow front desk area. The reception counter was similar to a bank counter, also with a glass window and a small window at the bottom. Seeing no one behind the counter, Du Xiaohu shouted: "Is anyone there? Is anyone there?" For a long time, no one responded.

  After a while, a middle-aged woman came out of the small room behind the reception desk, carrying a thermos from under the counter and pouring a cup of tea. She slowly blew away the hot air from the tea before looking up to ask: "Are you here for accommodation?"

  "Cut the crap!" Du Xiaohu scolded, "What's the point of coming here if you're not going to stay? What kind of service attitude is this? Where have you been running off to for half a day?" He had been with Lu Zhong for a long time, and his vocabulary was becoming increasingly modernized.

  The middle-aged woman had not lifted her head until now, but when she heard that the newcomer was a rascal, she made a "tsk" sound and said: "You love to stay or not..." She wanted to retort, but after seeing Lü Zheng and others leading the way, she swallowed back the rest of her words, coughed twice, and said: "Who are you people? Do you have an introduction letter? An ID card will also do."

  Then she saw Tan Qiang again, and a smile squeezed out on her chubby face: "Tan Su'er, your friend?"

  Tan Qiang didn't know her, but had come over a few times to inspect the fire prevention and anti-theft work, and didn't want to talk to her much, so he just nodded in greeting.

  Lu Zhong knew that the service staff in state-run units usually had their noses up in the air, and their attitude towards ordinary guests was like driving pigs and sheep. When they saw people wearing police uniforms coming in, the front desk staff barely gave a smile. The county committee's guest house used to be even worse than this.

  Du Xiaohu wanted to scold her again, but Lu Zhong coughed and said, "Tiger, forget it. Yu Guo, come and register."

  Jeeps and motorcycles were abandoned in the courtyard of the border station, with several people walking over.

  Although the middle-aged woman kept waving her hand and saying no need, Wang Yuguo still showed her the documents and said: "Book four double rooms." After calculation, Lu Ju took one room, he and Du Xiaohu, Tan Qiang, Jiao Lei occupied two rooms, Wei Xiangxiu took one room, just four rooms.

  Tan Qiang smiled and waved his hand, saying: "Three rooms will do, let's open three rooms. I'll go to my place with Hu Zi to squeeze in, there's room to live." The current cadres are still very mindful of reimbursing public expenses, especially since Tan Qiang is an active-duty armed police officer. Since there's a place to squeeze in, there's no need to spend the government's money unnecessarily.

  Wang Yuguo saw Lu Zhong nodding, so he opened three rooms and went upstairs with Jiao Yue carrying the key to check the room.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said to Tan Qiang and Du Xiaohu, "First go to my room and sit for a while. After we've all changed into casual clothes, the Red Flag Road has changed a lot, I want to take a walk." It's estimated that they will be staying here for one or two days, Lu Zhong and Wang Yuguo both brought spare clothes.

  Du Xiaohu's face turned sour and he scratched his head, saying: "Zhengzi brother, what should I do?"

  Tan Qiang chuckled and patted him on the shoulder: "Wear mine, I think our heads are about the same size, come on, let's go try it out and see if there's one that fits you."

  Tan Qiang and Du Xiaohu walked away laughing, while Lu Zhong and Wei Xiangxiu went upstairs one after the other.

  The second floor double room, the bed was tidy and clean, after all, it's a new building, the environment is still good. The sheets, quilts and white ceramic tea cups on the table were all new, slippers and electric kettle were neatly arranged under the table, which were just replaced by Wang Yuguang's order to the service staff.

  Lu Zhong had just finished changing into his casual clothes when a light knock at the door was heard from outside. Following Lu Zhong's "come in", the sound of footsteps, Wei Xiangxiu walked in.

  She wore a light blue denim outfit, Wei Xiangxiu looked pure and sexy. The originally loose jeans should have been tailored by her, turned into straight pencil pants, tightly wrapping her slender long legs, soft and curved buttocks, that kind of smallness and plumpness, can almost drive men crazy. Black high-heeled shoes, every step, as if stepping on people's hearts, making one's heart itch.

  Lu Zhong glanced at her a few times, smiled and said: "Finally bought new clothes? It's quite good-looking." In private, Lu Zhong was always very relaxed. The police flower in the bureau was indeed pleasing to the eye.

  Wei Xiangxiu was taken aback, she didn't expect the usually serious and stern but also hot-tempered Director to say something like that. She couldn't help but let out a giggle and said in a sweet voice: "Director, do I really look good?"

  Lu Zhong suddenly remembered that this was a rose with thorns, always smiling and curved, but didn't know how many twists and turns it would take to kill someone. He coughed and put on a serious face, "You're always laughing and joking around, but I don't see you working hard!" In fact, after spending some time together, Lu Zhong had gradually changed his opinion of Wei Xiangxiu, although sometimes her coquettishness was headache-inducing, her work ability was still quite strong, she was the business elite of the bureau, a rare good hand.

  "I'm still not diligent enough? Serving you, the leader, every day, and yet I don't exist in your eyes." Wei Xiangxiu's words were laced with double meaning, her charming voice filled with teasing.

  Recently, the food company suddenly came forward and resolved the retirement procedures for her husband He Dabiao, providing a guarantee of 40% of his salary and also providing free medical care. At the same time, the food company also communicated with an external unit to arrange a part-time job for He Dabiao that he could take or leave, in fact, He Dabiao was able to continue earning a salary, and the guaranteed salary plus the new unit's salary was even higher than his previous income.

  This was very considerate of He Dabiao, because according to the document issued by the State Council in 1982, workers like He Dabiao who were disabled but not due to work-related injuries could only be allowed to retire if they had completely lost their ability to work or could no longer perform their original duties and the unit did not have any lighter jobs to assign them and they also did not meet the conditions for retirement.

  He Dabiao got drunk and crashed the company's truck, causing significant economic losses. According to regulations, he could have been held accountable and fired. Instead, not only was he allowed to resign, but he was also arranged another job. The food company is indeed very generous.

  Weixiangxiu was happy and bought several sets of clothes, but the good times didn't last long. He Dabiao got into a fight with his coworkers after only a few days back at work, and in a huff, he said he wasn't going to go anymore and went back to his old ways of drinking every day, making Weixiangxiu so angry that she was fuming. However, since the car accident, the two of them have been talking less and less, and now they're basically like strangers. He Dabiao's situation is no longer Weixiangxiu's concern, except economically, their household is becoming increasingly strained.

  Weixiangxiu now only hopes to get a set of housing as soon as possible, move out from the dangerous house that has been leaking everywhere since that rainy day, other things will be easy to say, after all, her current salary treatment can support this big family, at least they have enough food to eat.

  The house, Wei Xiangxiu couldn't help but feel anxious every time she thought about it. The new residential building of the Public Security Bureau had been completed, and in a few days, the bureau would issue the list of assigned houses. However, from Wang Yuguo's side, not even half a message could be gathered, perhaps there really was no chance anymore.

  Now there are only two people, Wei Xiangxiu and Lu Zhong. Wei Xiangxiu wanted to say something else to Lu Zhong, but at this time, another knock on the door came from outside, Wang Yuguo and Jiao Kai walked in after changing into casual clothes, Wei Xiangxiu had to swallow the words that were already on her lips.

  "Alright, go out and take a walk." Lu Zhong waved his hand.

  Although Lu Bureau's style was still rough and even had a bit of a rogue air about it, the three people present knew that Lu Bureau was not simple, and was very not simple.

  ……

  It's already early autumn, and the shops on both sides of Hongqi Road are in a state of semi-closure, even if they haven't closed yet. However, at the end of the street, there is a seafood market with many stalls, vendors shouting loudly to sell pipi shrimp, crabs, and various fish. Now that transportation of seafood products is inconvenient, the prices of coastal seafood are extremely cheap.

  In September, there aren't many Pipi shrimp, but Du Xiaohu likes them. At a seafood stall, he gave the owner 5 yuan, and she enthusiastically told him how lively her Pipi shrimp were, with lots of meat and seeds. She quickly grabbed a bunch and put them on the scale, giving him a full 5 catties.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "Back at the hotel, did the service staff give you steamed buns?"

  Tan Qiang hummed and said, "They dare not to give us steam!" Then he felt that in front of Lu Bureau, he shouldn't be like a local snake, so he smiled awkwardly and said, "Director, let's go to the music tea house, I know the boss there, we can listen to songs, drink beer, eat seafood, and it will be elegant too?"

  Lu Zhong smiled: "Still elegant? You call this burning the lute and cooking the crane? Come on, let's find a small restaurant."

  After dinner at a small restaurant, the six of them still decided to go to the music tea house for some beer. By then, it was already getting dark outside and the colorful light bulbs strung up outside the music tea house had all lit up.

  A group of people walked in.

  The tea house has a large space, but it's also very simple. The floor is made of cement and there are over ten wooden tables and chairs surrounding the empty area in the middle. The central empty area might be the dance floor.

  The waitress at the door was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, wearing a white shirt and plaid skirt, looking very delicate. When she saw Tan Qiang, she busily greeted him and led Lu Zhen and others to sit at the large table by the window.

  Summer has passed, and this music tea house is probably over its business season, empty and deserted without a single customer.

  Behind the counter, a dual cassette deck was playing a popular Taiwanese song that was all the rage on mainland streets: "Jiǔ gān tǎng mài wú, jiǔ gān tǎng mài wú..."

  This is a story about an anti-Japanese veteran and a little girl.

  An anti-Japanese veteran had his vocal cords cut by the enemy's bayonet during a charge, becoming mute. He later went to Taiwan and made a living by collecting empty bottles, with walls in his home stacked one after another with empty wine bottles. Unable to speak, he could only blow out the sound "jiu gan tang mai wu" on his sheng.

  He raised an abandoned baby he found while picking up trash, and that baby grew up to be the little girl.

  The old soldier gradually grew old, the little girl gradually grew up, the old soldier became old and withered, wrinkled, white-haired, weak and frail; the little girl grew into a beautiful young woman, entered the music world, and became a singing star.

  The old soldier was afraid that people would know about his relationship with her and tarnish her bright appearance, so he resolutely left the little girl and wandered away by himself.

  The little girl was heartbroken and searched for him everywhere, which led to the creation of this popular song.

  "What a familiar voice, accompanied me for many years of wind and rain, never need to recall, will never forget. Without heaven there is no earth, without earth there is no home, without home there is no you, without you there is no me. If you had not raised me, given me a warm life, if you had not protected me, what would my fate be..."

  "It was you who raised me up, accompanied me to say my first words, gave me a home, and let me share it with you. Although you can't speak a word, you understand the black and white, true and false of the world even more; although you can't express your true feelings, you devoted your enthusiastic life. From afar comes the familiar sound of your voice, reminding me of your kind heart. When will you return to my side again? Let me sing with you once more... Wine is sold out, wine is sold out..."

  The female singer's voice has great penetration power, almost shouting, using her life force to shout. This is a story of love and being loved, a scream of youth and gratitude!

  Sitting by the window in a tea house, Lu Zhong listened to this familiar melody, slightly distracted. Sometimes he thought he had already blended into this era, but always inadvertently, something would touch his heart and make him think of some people, some things.

  "Director, would you like to have a beer?" Tan Qiang asked with some expectation. Just now at the small restaurant, because Lu Zhong said no drinking during meals, nobody ordered any wine. Now, everyone naturally hoped to have a couple of drinks with Director Lu. A banquet without wine is not a real banquet! It's a Chinese tradition that after drinking together, relationships can be taken to the next level.

  Lu Zhong nodded slightly and said, "Less is better."

  Tan Qiang was overjoyed and turned back to shout at the little waiter, asking him to bring up ten bottles of Wushan beer.

  Lu Zhong poured a cup of wine, since the leaders were all full, it was natural that from Wang Yuguo down to Du Xiaohu, Tan Qiang, Jiao Ke, and Wei Xiangxiu, each person had a full cup placed in front of them.

  Everyone has worked hard, I hope our Guangning Public Security frontline work will take a new step every month! He lightly sipped a mouthful, starting with Wang Yuguo, the five people including Wei Xiangxiu all gulped down.

  When drinking with leaders, it's no longer a matter of whether you can drink or not, but often a must-drink issue.

  Lu Zhong smiled and raised his glass, saying: "Come on, I'll toast you." This time, he downed it in one gulp. After Wang Yuguo and others followed suit with a few more gulps to finish the second cup, he said: "From now on, just do as you please." In a drinking setting, if a leader and his subordinates drink glass for glass until they're empty, whoever drinks as much as the other is not considered casual or lacking in dignity. On the contrary, people will look down on him.

  But Lu Zhong was clearly different, except for the first cup of wine that showed a bit of leadership majesty, afterwards whether everyone toasted together or someone toasted alone, Lu Zhong would finish it in one gulp.

  Tan Qiang had several cups of strong wine down his throat, and was already flushed with a red face. He was the kind of person who would blush after just a few drinks, but in reality, he had a very high tolerance for alcohol. At this time, he raised his thumb and said: "Director, you are truly an iron man! Your capacity for drink is also top-notch!"

  Du Xiaohu pouted, "Tan Ge, your skills are far inferior!"

  Except for Lu Zhong, everyone else was laughing.

  At this moment, a person hastily walked in through the back door and said from afar, "Tan Suo'er, why didn't you give me advance notice that you were coming?"

  Tan Qiang turned around and waved his hand at him, meaning this has nothing to do with you.

  Who knew this guy was a social butterfly, he had already walked over, smiling and saying: "Are you all friends? Don't be polite today, it's on me...", but the last "ah" suddenly changed tone and became an exclamation.

  He stared blankly at Lu Zhong, and then he also saw Du Xiaohu rushing towards him with a bad smile.

  Lu Zhong couldn't help but laugh, it turned out to be an acquaintance, Wan Dewu, who had been caught by Du Xiaohu's "strike force" for reselling electronic calculators. After a good scolding, he was let off with a warning and wasn't able to catch the seller who had provided him with the goods, so he was given administrative detention as punishment.

  Tan Qiang frowned and said: "Lao Wan, you should focus on what you're doing and stop messing around with everything!"

  Wan Dewu hastily replied with a "yes, yes", wanting to leave but not daring to.