"Huh?" Zhu Liqiang paused, looking at the two men in hats beside him.
The two men in hats were also a little surprised. How did Zhou Yan know?
It was indeed Wang Qi who had implicated Zhou Erwa Restaurant, claiming Zhou Yan was a regular customer.
However, they had checked Wang Qi's accounts and found no purchase record from Zhou Erwa Restaurant. Wang Qi's explanation was that he hadn't kept some records, insisting that Zhou Yan frequently bought diseased pork from him.
The Wang Laowu noodle stall incident had a significant impact, and several textile factory workers who regularly ate his noodles were arguing about it.
Zhou Erwa Restaurant was located near the textile factory entrance. After Wang Qi reported it in the detention center, the center took it very seriously and immediately contacted the health station to investigate; the routine inspection was just a side effect.
"Zhou Yan, how do you know it was Wang Qi who reported you? Could it be that you really bought diseased pork from him?" Zhu Liqiang asked in a deep voice.
The two men in hats were also staring at Zhou Yan, blocking his escape route from both sides.
"Zhou Yan wouldn't really use diseased pork, would he?"
"No! It's rare to find such a delicious restaurant!"
The customers were starting to worry.
"I never bought any diseased pork from Wang Qi. On the contrary, I discovered and reported him selling diseased pork." Zhou Yan said, pulling up his collar to cover his mouth and nose, looking at Zhu Liqiang. "Because I am the sharp-eyed masses!"
"Ah! You! It's you!" Zhu Liqiang's eyes widened, staring at Zhou Yan in shock.
"Director Zhu, what's wrong?" Two epidemic prevention workers and two men in hats looked at him questioningly.
Gao Tianlei, who had just finished explaining the situation and entered the restaurant, saw Zhou Yan with his collar pulled up and saying those words, and exclaimed in surprise, "It's you!"
The Wang Qi diseased pork incident was thanks to the report from the sharp-eyed masses which led them to successfully dismantle the illegal gang headed by Wang Qi.
This case was handled brilliantly; their epidemic prevention station received an award.
He had been wanting to thank this member of the public, but he never expected to run into him here.
Wait a minute…
Isn't Zhou Erwa Restaurant the one Wang Qi reported for using diseased pork?
What's going on here?
The customers were also a bit confused.
Zhou Yan said he reported Wang Qi?
Then why did Wang Qi report him?
"I know! Wang Qi is retaliating! He's deliberately framing Zhou Yan and Zhou Erwa Restaurant!"
A customer slammed his fist on the table.
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly understood.
That makes sense.
Aunt Zhao, who had been building up her emotions and was ready to unleash her fury, suddenly held back, staring blankly at Zhou Yan, still somewhat bewildered.
Zhou Yan lowered his collar, looked at Gao Tianlei, and smiled, "Station Chief Gao, I reported Wang Qi and got him arrested. Can he turn around and implicate me, getting me arrested too? Don't I have valid suspicions that Wang Qi is acting under orders to retaliate against me and frame Zhou Erwa Restaurant?"
The two men in hats, led by Deputy Director Xia Ji, looked at Gao Tianlei and asked, "Station Chief Gao, what's going on?"
"This young comrade is the helpful citizen who reported Wang Qi for selling diseased pork last week, which is why we were able to bring Wang Qi and Wang Laowu to justice. However, last time he..." Gao Tianlei briefly explained the situation to Xia Ji.
The matter was naturally clear.
Zhou Yan was the helpful citizen who reported the diseased pork vendor; now Wang Qi had turned the tables on him. The reason was self-evident. Wang Qi, without providing any concrete evidence, accused Zhou Erwa Restaurant of using diseased pork without any proof, clearly intending to retaliate.
He's trying to drag Zhou Erwa's nascent restaurant down with him!
Zhu Liqiang was already regretting it. Such a clean and hygienic restaurant, with such a righteous young owner, almost had its hard-earned reputation and goodwill ruined because of a criminal's false accusation!
"So Wang Qi was reported by Zhou Yan! That guy has been selling diseased pork, causing terrible trouble for the people of Suji."
"Wang Laowu was also implicated because of this. If it wasn't for Zhou Yan, we might still be eating Wang Laowu's diseased pork noodles!"
The customers in the restaurant applauded, looking at Zhou Yan with admiration.
Aunt Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, turned her face away to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, and smiled, saying, "I knew it! It was that brainless bastard Wang Qi who was talking nonsense. His heart is as black as swill."
The rest was simple.
Because of the informant's identity regarding the diseased pork, and because Wang Qi had no concrete evidence, and no evidence related to diseased pork was found at Zhou Erwa Restaurant.
Furthermore, Zhou Yan has a stable pork supplier, butcher Zhang Laosan, and all of this can be verified.
Therefore, the health station announced on site that Zhou Erwa Restaurant did not use diseased pork, clearing Zhou Yan's name and effectively supporting him.
"Comrade Zhou Yan, your report protected the lives of the people. I will apply for an award for you when I get back." Gao Tianlei shook hands with Zhou Yan and left with Zhu Liqiang.
Deputy Director Xia Ji and another man in a hat gave Zhou Yan a brief inquiry, signed the papers, and prepared to leave.
"Zhou Yan, checkout." Zhou Weiguo approached and said to Zhou Yan.
Xia Ji noticed his empty left sleeve, his slightly limping left foot, and the gleaming badge on his chest. Suddenly remembering something, he tentatively asked, "Are you Comrade Zhou Weiguo?"
"Yes, I am." Zhou Weiguo nodded, took out sixty cents and handed it to Zhou Yan.
"Uncle, don't give it to me. We're like family, a bowl of noodles shouldn't cost money." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"Family should pay too. If you don't accept it, I won't come again." Zhou Weiguo stuffed the money into his hand, smiling, and said, "Protecting the safety of the people, well done."
"It's my duty." Zhou Yan straightened his back.
"I'm leaving." Zhou Weiguo turned and left.
"Take your time." Zhou Yan said to his retreating figure.
Xia Ji glanced at Zhou Yan twice, then followed towards the door.
"Commander Xia, who is he?" his subordinate asked in a low voice.
"A new town party committee member took office today, concurrently serving as the head of the armed forces department. His name is Zhou Weiguo." Xia Ji watched the figure riding steadily and quickly, one hand on the handlebars, and said softly, "A first-class wartime hero, a living legend."
"It's him!" His subordinate's eyes also showed admiration.
The two epidemic prevention workers who followed out also showed admiration upon hearing this.
"Is the owner of Zhou Erwa Restaurant his nephew?" one of them muttered softly.
The other three glanced back at the restaurant's sign, remaining silent.
But they all knew that from today onwards, this small, privately owned restaurant wouldn't be something anyone could mess with.
…
The factory opens at eight o'clock, and the customers in the restaurant quickly finished eating and went to work.
"Zhou Yan, you're really amazing." Zhao Hong looked at Zhou Yan with admiration. So many officials were surrounding him today, but Zhou Yan didn't panic at all and resolved the matter himself; others should thank him.
"It's nothing." Zhou Yan waved his hand.
"When did you report Wang Qi? Did you report Wang Laowu too? How come I've never heard you mention it?" Aunt Zhao pressed Zhou Yan for answers.
"I just happened to see him that day when I went out. I thought his flesh looked a bit off, and I happened to run into the deputy director of the epidemic prevention station, so I reported him. I also reported Wang Laowu." Zhou Yan grinned. "I was just doing a public service."
Aunt Zhao nodded. "That's really well done. You have to be upright and honest in your actions, otherwise people will talk behind your back all the time! Like Wang Qi and Wang Laowu, they'll be cursed and beheaded for the rest of their lives."
"Aunt Zhao's advice is right. I learned from you. I can't tolerate any injustice; I have to be an honest person." Zhou Yan nodded in deep agreement.
"Exactly." Aunt Zhao raised her chin with a hint of pride.
"When Momo wakes up, you break off a piece of dough from the leftover dough in the bowl and cook it for her. I'm going out for a bit." Zhou Yan pushed his bicycle out.
"Where are you going?"
"To see Grandma. I still don't know what kind of official Uncle became."
Zhou Yan replied without turning around, hopped on his bicycle, and rode off.
…
Town Library.
An old man in a Zhongshan suit, sitting behind a desk at the entrance, pushed up his reading glasses, chuckled, and shook his head: "Are you a silly kid? You need to find 'A Letter to My Wife' to write a love letter? Are you going to jump into the Qingyi River or hang yourself from a tree? Words are short, but feelings are deep; you young people won't understand, and you don't need them."
"Old man, that's not how it works…"
The old man continued:
"When you greet someone, you don't say 'hello,' you say: 'Long time no see, dear friend, I've been thinking of you constantly.'"
"When you receive her letter, say: 'Receiving your letter has brightened my mood, as if I were meeting you again.'"
"Don't say goodbye when you finish writing; say: 'The paper is short, but the feelings are long; words cannot express my deepest affection.'"
Zhou Yan immediately sat down on the stool beside the table, took out a pen from his breast pocket, and pulled a notebook from his pocket: "Master, please continue."
This guy is the real prince of love letters!