"Alas, my daughter and son-in-law had a bit of an incident," Xie Ming sighed. "They were beaten up by some ungrateful country bumpkin. I'm here to handle it." He shook his head and sneered, "There are always people who don't know their place. I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget."
"What kind of lesson do you plan to teach him?" Zhou Yi asked sarcastically, a ruthless glint in her eyes.
"Heh, I'll lock him up for ten or twenty years. Once he's in prison, I'll have plenty of ways to make him wish he were dead. Daring to challenge me..."
*Slap!*
A sharp crack echoed. Before Xie Ming could finish, Zhou Yi slapped him with all her might.
"Pfft!"
Xie Ming's mouth twisted to the side, and he spat out a mouthful of blood along with two teeth.
"Xie, you're asking for death!" Zhou Yi was furious and raised her foot to kick him again.
"What are you doing?" Xie Sisi cried out in shock and fear, reaching out to stop Zhou Yi.
"Get lost!" Zhou Yi roughly shoved her arm away. Still not appeased, she slapped Xie Sisi's face, leaving a bright red palm print that left her stunned. "This little slut is also involved. If anything happens to Xiao Fan, I'll have your face disfigured!" Zhou Yi's vicious words made Xie Sisi tremble and stumble backward.
"Director Zhou, what are you..." Xie Ming recovered and guessed her intention. It was just a small country doctor, and it was worth her making such a fuss?
"Xie, you behave yourself. If Xiao Fan gets even a single hair out of place, I won't let you off!" Zhou Yi pointed at Xie Ming and yelled.
"What's going on?" Wu Tao happened to witness this scene, his expression turning incredibly grim. When he came out, he saw a crowd of police officers watching the spectacle. Cai Ying was even smiling, showing no intention of intervening. Previously, the Xie father and daughter had been arrogant and overbearing, and everyone had seen it but could do nothing. Now, Zhou Yi had appeared and delivered two immediate slaps. Seeing the Xie father and daughter get their comeuppance, they were more than happy, so why would they step in?
"Stop!" Wu Tao knew he couldn't order anyone around, so he walked over alone and shouted at the unrelenting Zhou Yi.
"Uncle Wu!" Xie Sisi burst into tears, her eyes streaming. She rushed into Wu Tao's arms. The red slap print on her face was shocking and looked incredibly painful. Seeing his niece beaten like this, Wu Tao could only brace himself and step forward. "Director Zhou, you're hitting someone in broad daylight, and in a police station..."
"I hit her, so what? Arrest me if you dare." Zhou Yi didn't back down, holding out her hands. "Come on! Arrest me!"
"Cough, Sister Zhou, please calm down first."
"Yes, we in the real estate association are all with you."
"I'll call Director Li. He'll definitely give us justice." A group of bosses positioned themselves to support Zhou Yi.
Wu Tao was about to explode with anger. He was still fuming, and they were telling Zhou Yi to calm down? Was there no law? But he also knew that those who stood with Zhou Yi were not to be trifled with. If they were all arrested, it would be a huge problem.
Zhou Yi's confidence was well-founded. Xinghe Real Estate was one of the top enterprises in Yunqing City and the number one taxpayer in Shimen Town. Borun Medicine, though not small, paled in comparison. Slapping Xie Ming wouldn't bring her any trouble. At worst, she'd have to pay some money, and she had plenty of it!
"Did you arrest Xiao Fan? Where is he?" Zhou Yi asked, her back straight, her eyes not straying.
"He's a suspect in a serious assault case. Director Zhou, you'd better not abuse your status, or you might get implicated too." Wu Tao tried to scare her.
"I wish you'd lock me up with Xiao Fan. I admit it now: Xiao Fan and I are accomplices. Arrest me." Zhou Yi's demeanor was haughty, and she didn't take Wu Tao seriously at all.
"You!" Wu Tao was both angry and helpless. Cai Ying watched from behind, grinning. "Serves you right! You've run into a tough one!"
"Director Zhou, please do not interfere with the investigation of the criminal police team," Wu Tao said firmly. "Today, even if God himself came, he couldn't save Lin Fan!"
As soon as he finished speaking, an Audi sedan sped to a halt in front of the police station. Wu Tao's eyes narrowed. He had been in criminal investigation for over a decade. While he couldn't claim a photographic memory, he always remembered people or things that warranted his attention. If he wasn't mistaken, this was a government vehicle from the Municipal Party Committee.
Zhou Weiguo, usually poised and unhurried, was in a frantic rush as he and Tian Mengyao stepped out of the car.
"Secretary-General Zhou." Xie Ming's heart sank. Why was he here? And who was next to him? Why did it look like Zhou Weiguo was very respectful towards her?
"Dad, did you call Secretary-General Zhou?" Xie Sisi's eyes lit up.
"I..." Xie Ming thought to himself, "While I have some acquaintance with him, it's unlikely I could get this big shot to come!"
"Uncle Zhou~" Xie Sisi walked forward, her voice tinged with grievance and familiarity, and greeted him.
"You are..." Zhou Weiguo raised an eyebrow. He didn't recognize her at first due to the large slap mark on her face.
Xie Sisi covered her left cheek. "Uncle Zhou, are you here to help us?" Her eyes were full of expectation.
Tian Mengyao then asked, "Who are you?"
"I... I'm the daughter of the chairman of Borun Medicine. That's my dad," Xie Sisi pointed to her father standing by the wall. "Uncle Zhou, the boss of Xinghe Real Estate is bullying us and beat me and my dad. They even want to release a suspect. You must give us justice."
Upon hearing this, Tian Mengyao immediately turned to look at Zhou Weiguo. Zhou Weiguo took a deep breath and looked at Xie Sisi. "Is Jin Zhe your husband?"
"Yes, yes, Uncle Zhou, what's wrong?" Xie Sisi replied timidly, feeling inexplicably confused.
"Cai Ying!" Zhou Weiguo shouted. He might not remember others, but he had a deep impression of this police station chief who dared to defy his arrangements.
"Present!" Cai Ying, who was dazed, snapped to attention instinctively.
"Arrest her!" Zhou Weiguo pointed at Xie Sisi.
"Yes, yes." Upon hearing the Secretary-General's command, Cai Ying didn't hesitate and went to apprehend her.
"Uncle Zhou..." Xie Sisi's eyes shimmered with disbelieving tears.
"Secretary-General Zhou." Seeing this, Wu Tao immediately asked, "Is there some misunderstanding?"
"Misunderstanding?" Zhou Weiguo chuckled, as if hearing the biggest joke in the world. The beloved daughter of Minister Tian was beaten, and there was still a misunderstanding? Anyone involved should be arrested without fail, not a single one shall escape!
"Did you arrest Lin Fan?"
"Yes?" Wu Tao instinctively replied.
"You can stop being the head of the criminal investigation team for now." Zhou Weiguo waved his hand, his expression filled with disappointment.
"I, I..." Wu Tao pointed at himself, seemingly unable to believe his ears. Even Secretary-General Zhou didn't have the authority to dismiss him! Only in the next second, when he saw the anger in the other party's eyes, did he realize something was terribly wrong. This wasn't just Zhou Weiguo's decision; it was decided by some irresistible force, a force even the entire Municipal Party Committee couldn't resist.