Jin Ziliang spoke, his tone indifferent: "Oh, it's Captain Zhong! I remember last year, your criminal investigation team came to my unit to learn combat guidance and physical training. We met once. I didn't expect you to remember me."
A person of Zhong Qitao's rank was definitely a nobody in front of Jin Ziliang. If it weren't for that combat guidance last year, Jin Ziliang would have no recollection of Zhong Qitao at all.
Zhong Qitao quickly nodded: "Yes, yes, that's me! Ah, I really learned a lot from Commander Jin during those few days of combat guidance! No wonder the core leaders all praised Mayor Jin so highly; he's truly capable. I've been thinking about when I can go and get some guidance from you again!"
He became more and more respectful as he spoke.
Jin Ziliang appeared very magnanimous: "Alright, you're welcome anytime."
Zhong Qitao nodded repeatedly. Being able to establish a relationship with Jin Ziliang would be very beneficial to his career development.
Then, he looked at the man struggling at Jin Ziliang's feet.
He cautiously asked, "Commander Jin, what...what's going on?"
Jin Ziliang shrugged, his expression grim, and said, "This guy has some nerve! He's bullying my brother because his uncle is your deputy director, and he claims his uncle is the chief of staff of some armed police detachment!"
He then gave a brief account of the situation.
"What evidence do you have! Don't talk nonsense without evidence!"
This Xin Zhida, still thinking about evidence!
Then, he screamed in pain.
It turned out that Lu Chen, who had already backed out the wheelchair, suddenly raised his foot and stomped hard on Xin Zhida's right knee.
The stomp caused Xin Zhida's face to twitch.
Zhong Qitao was enraged, glaring at Lu Chen: "What are you doing?"
Jin Ziliang coldly asked, "What am I doing? What did my brother do?"
Jin Ziliang's brother?
Upon hearing this, Zhong Qitao immediately became obedient: "Ah, no... I didn't do anything!"
"Xin Zhida, you want evidence? I am the evidence!" Jin Ziliang sneered.
Then, Xin Zhida jolted, letting out another scream.
It turned out that Jin Ziliang had also raised his foot and stomped hard on the back of his left knee.
This stomp made Xin Zhida's eyes water with pain.
Jin Ziliang smiled and asked Zhong Qitao, "Captain Zhong, what did I do?"
Zhong Qitao could only manage a bitter smile. He stammered, "No... I didn't do anything."
He had originally wanted to help Xin Zhida, but now he could only sigh inwardly that Xin was a bad guy. He hadn't messed with anyone, he'd offended Commander Jin's brother!
Who was this Jin Ziliang? Even the deputy director and chief of staff, let alone the municipal party secretary and the military district commander, would have to treat him with respect.
Besides, as the commander of a special operations division, Jin Ziliang is truly a devil in the military! He doesn't bully others, so who would dare to bully him?
He's incredibly loyal; anyone who bullies his brothers is as good as dead.
However, having some connection with Xin Zhida, Zhong Qitao hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, forcing a smile: "Commander Jin, I know Xin Zhida is in the wrong. Don't worry, I definitely won't protect him! But if I kill him, it won't be good to be seen. How about I act as a mediator? You name your terms, and if he meets them, we'll release him, okay?"
"That's a good idea," Jin Ziliang said lazily. "However, my brother will name the terms. If my brother is satisfied, then I'm satisfied. If my brother isn't satisfied, Xin Zhida isn't leaving!"
He then looked at Lu Chen and Gong Jiu, asking, "Chen, Jiu, what do you think?"
Lu Chen and Gong Jiu exchanged a glance. They'd already put Xin Zhida through a lot; continuing wouldn't be worthwhile, especially with so many police officers around! They couldn't very well kill this bastard, could they?
Both nodded.
Zhong Qitao crouched down, patted Xin Zhida's shoulder, and sighed, saying, "Mr. Xin, you know you've offended someone you shouldn't have! Just accept your bad luck and do as Commander Jin says, okay?"
Xin Zhida's face was ashen, his eyes filled with resentment. But what could he do? He could only tell himself that revenge is a dish best served cold! He said in a hoarse voice, "Fine, as long as... as long as it's not too excessive, I accept it!"
Next, an ambulance was called to take the poor, almost charred bald-headed A Dao and his injured subordinates to the hospital for treatment. They were in a terrible situation; they had followed the wrong boss.
After discussing it, Lu Chen and Gong Jiu offered very simple terms.
First, the demolition compensation is 1.5 million yuan, which can roughly buy a mid-sized apartment in Yunzhou City with a similar size to the original house. Second, the compensation for mental distress, injury, medical expenses, etc., adds up to 2 million yuan. Third, Su Qing is released, and he is forbidden from having any further relationship with her.
A total of 3.5 million yuan! That seems like a lot, making Xin Zhida wince. But actually, Lu Chen and Gong Jiu weren't really asking for an exorbitant amount. The torment, displacement, and suffering that Gong Jiu's family had endured recently was all caused by Xin Zhida! 3.5 million yuan is nothing compared to that.
Lu Chen originally wanted more, at least 5 million yuan, but Gong Jiu refused. What's his, he'll take; what's not his, he won't take.
As for asking Xin Zhida to release Su Qing, that was Lu Chen's own suggestion, without asking Gong Jiu's opinion.
Gong Jiu remained silent.
What could he do but feel the pinch? What goes around comes around; you always have to pay the price.
Xin Zhida signed four checks totaling 3.5 million yuan for Gong Jiu and agreed to release Su Qing. He was pretty much tired of this woman anyway. Besides, being beaten so badly and having to pay 3.5 million yuan in compensation was a huge blow; it would definitely become a nightmare. Seeing Su Qing would remind him of her, so letting her go was a good thing.
Of course, Lu Chen didn't forget to have the stall owner tally up the losses, making Xin Zhida pay 2,374 yuan in compensation. This was Xin Zhida's fault; if he didn't pay, who would?
Finally, Zhong Qitao drove Xin Zhida away, and all the police withdrew.
Lu Chen then asked, "Brother Liang, this hasn't put you in a difficult position, has it?"
Jin Ziliang rubbed his nose. "What's so difficult about it? Anyone who messes with my brother is no match for me, I'll beat them all up! Don't worry, those guys won't dare complain, at most they'll curse me a few times in their hearts, heh!"
As he spoke, a surge of heroic spirit emanated from him, making him seem overwhelmingly domineering.
Jin Ziliang glanced at Li Xiaozhi as he spoke.
Li Xiaozhi, on the other hand, never dreamed that the man she had taken a liking to would actually be a division commander! Suddenly, she became somewhat reserved, avoiding Commander Jin's gaze.
Jin Ziliang, shameless as ever, walked over, grinning, and said, "It's okay, Xiaozhi, just treat me like a man, not a superior!"
Li Xiaozhi rolled her eyes at him: "I don't treat you like a superior, nor like a man, I... I just treat you like a drinking buddy!"
"Alright, alright!" Jin Ziliang quickly said, "Then treat me like a drinking buddy, come on! Let's keep drinking!" Then, he raised his voice, "Boss, clear the table, another case of Luzhou Laojiao, and another pot of braised pig's trotters!"
The boss, having recovered his losses, naturally agreed happily: "Sure thing! The pig's trotters are coming!"
As the boss shouted, a somber figure walked away.
Gong Jiu stared blankly at that figure, wanting to chase after it, but not doing so.
Lu Chen said calmly, "What's so good about her? Vain and greedy, she abandoned you to climb up to a real estate tycoon. Now she's reaping what she sowed! It would be best if she got robbed by thugs the moment she stepped outside. Besides, she's definitely already lost her virginity to that Xin Zhida, her body is tainted, she's meaningless! Choose one from those eight beauties, I guarantee she'll be devoted to you!"
Gong Jiu trembled slightly, her hands gripping the armrests tightly.
Lu Chen added, "Don't go after her. This woman, tainted by her body, doesn't deserve your love anymore!"
Gong Jiu suddenly roared, "You don't know anything! She…she gave me her first time. I don't mind! I…I'm going to ask her what she's thinking now!"
With that, she pushed her wheelchair and chased after her.
"Tsk tsk, you're really provoking him," Jin Ziliang said, shaking his head.
Lu Chen scratched his head: "I'm provoking him to make him face reality and realize what he really wants. This idiot, he's got his cake and eat it too! Look, I have eight trees!"
"Damn it!" Jin Ziliang yelled, annoyed. "What did you say?"
Lu Chen jumped in surprise and quickly corrected himself: "No, no, no, I have seven trees!"
What followed was a drinking contest between two men and eight pretty girls, who knows how they even managed to drink.
Anyway, in the end, there were empty bottles all around, Lu Chen was completely drunk, and the girls were drunk too.
Lu Chen vaguely heard Jin Ziliang's drunken voice making a phone call: "Hey, your boss's drunk, at Fuqi Road... this food court, send a few guys to take us back! Oh, and... two male soldiers, eight female soldiers... there are so many trees here, uh... no... so many girls..."
Then, he didn't know how much time had passed, but Lu Chen felt himself being lifted up from the table and carried to a car.
Along the way, there was a cacophony of voices, many girls chattering drunkenly, some talking about Nie Rong, others about other trees.
His head seemed to be resting against someone's chest, so big, so soft, so bouncy, so comfortable. So comfortable, he couldn't help but rub against her, making the girl giggle.
That laughter was clearly Nie Rong's.
Then he passed out again, knowing nothing more.
When Lu Chen opened his eyes, he saw a large bedroom, filled with a wonderful fragrance, especially the natural scent of women. He sat up, looked around, and was immediately horrified. Looking down, he screamed.
Damn, where am I? Why is it so erotic?
He himself was lying on a large, round, pink bed, completely naked, not even wearing underwear. Oh no, he'd had a morning erection! And on the bed lay two girls, both wearing only underwear.
Those snow-white, soft bodies, those fiery and stimulating curves, almost made Lu Chen unable to resist pulling them over.
One of them was Nie Rong.
Under the bed, on the thick carpet, lay several more girls, crisscrossed. Some were still wearing underwear; others were completely naked. And the worst of them, not only naked, but also with their legs spread wide open.
This sight terrified Lu Chen!
He scratched his head and quickly started counting.