Chapter 225: Standing Up for His Wife
Wu Zhuoyue contacted his uncle Zou Jianfeng and explained Zou Xuri’s situation clearly. Zou Jianfeng called his older brother Zou Jianling and they both went to the police station. They spoke in the office, where Zou Xuri was also present. Zou Jianfeng felt a pang of heartache seeing his son beaten so severely.
"Where is Xie Chenyan?" Zou Jianfeng asked, furrowing his brows so tightly a fly could be caught.
"They have already left," Wu Zhuoyue explained, "Uncle, Xie Chenyan is easier to handle since she’s an employee at the textile factory. The more troublesome one is Yi Roujing."
"Dad, do you know that bitch?" Zou Xuri asked incredulously.
"A nurse at the employee hospital of the food factory. She was here today to inspect goods on behalf of the hospital," Zou Jianfeng replied, surprised that the seemingly gentle and attractive girl could be so ruthless in her actions, "It’s the first time I’ve seen her."
"The Provincial Public Security Department personally issued a bravery commendation banner, and before you and Uncle arrived, I made a phone call to a friend at the provincial office. It seems it was because Yi Roujing saved a VIP’s life. The saved person contacted the Provincial Public Security Department directly and asked them to award the banner," Wu Zhuoyue said.
"And due to this incident, the city directly named Huaixi County to arrange work for Yi Roujing. It was probably at that time that Yi Roujing met County Magistrate Lou. I heard from a colleague that Yi Roujing knows Lou Wenjian because she previously reported a case of someone mistreating a martyr’s family," Wu Zhuoyue continued.
The director of the textile factory, Zou Jianling, was taken aback, "Liu Guangliang’s son Liu Youning?"
Wu Zhuoyue hadn’t expected Zou Jianling to know and nodded.
"Currently, Liu Youning is being raised by our textile factory employee, Liu Guangmei. Almost everyone in the factory knows about this," Zou Jianling said, though he hadn’t expected this matter to be connected to the person who beat up his nephew today.
"However, at that time, it was Lou Wenjian who personally handled the case. I’m not sure if Lou Wenjian was empathically involved because he has a military background too or if he already knew Yi Roujing," Wu Zhuoyue explained.
"If Yi Roujing has a close familial relationship with County Magistrate Lou, and if this matter were to be handled officially, Xiuri will be prosecuted. The best solution is to resolve it privately," Wu Zhuoyue suggested to Zou Jianling and Zou Jianfeng.
"Why should I be prosecuted when I’m already so miserable? She should be the one facing justice," Zou Xuri said venomously.
"Let’s settle this privately," Zou Jianling said.
"Uncle—" Zou Xuri protested.
"If we really want to regain face, it should be done in secret; there’s no point in doing it openly," Zou Jianling said calmly, "Besides, we don’t necessarily have to do it ourselves. Just leak the matter of Yi Roujing’s involvement in diverting the compensation for Liu Guangmei’s brother’s family. They hate Yi Roujing more deeply than we do."
The financial conflict, compared to today’s events, is much more serious.
"Big Brother is indeed wise," Zou Jianfeng said, his eyes lighting up.
Upon hearing this, Zou Xuri calmed down, "Uncle, when the time comes, I want to personally beat that bitch, isn’t she pregnant? I’ll personally cut her child out—"
Knock knock—the knocking interrupted Zou Xuri’s cruel words, which displeased him.
"Come in," said Wu Zhuoyue, as a young police officer entered, "Captain Wu, someone is here looking for you. He says it’s about today’s matter and claims to be Yi Roujing’s husband."
Zou Xuri’s eyes lit up as he stood eagerly, "Let him in, I want to—"
Ding Ancheng headed to the door as the young officer knocked and opened it. He brushed the young policeman aside and entered.
Standing at six-foot-one, with a strong physique and handsome features, Ding Ancheng’s chilling demeanor silenced Zou Xuri instantly. Zou Xuri realized he was no match for this man, given their vast differences in stature.
"Comrade Wu Zhuoyue, may I sit in your office for a while?" Ding Ancheng asked, closing the door before waiting for an answer.
Wu Zhuoyue recognized Ding Ancheng at a glance. Although the County First Middle School and the police bureau had little to do with each other, he had seen this man in the director’s office before. The impression Ding Ancheng left was so extraordinary that Wu had inquired afterward, learning that he was Ding, a teacher from the County First Middle School.
Wu Zhuoyue didn’t pay it much heed at the time, as they were in different systems and it didn’t concern him.
To meet again in his own office, Wu Zhuoyue felt that the unfolding of this event was slipping beyond his control.
"Ding, I didn’t expect you to be Comrade Yi Roujing’s husband. The last time I saw you was in Director Xiang’s office," Wu Zhuoyue greeted with a smile, subtly warning Zou Xuri not to speak carelessly by highlighting Ding Ancheng’s unusualness.
Ding Ancheng sat in the chair opposite Wu Zhuoyue’s desk, right beside Zou Jianling.
"Director Xiang requested my help last time," Ding Ancheng didn’t elaborate, a smile on his lips but with a cold edge.
"Were you the one who hit my pregnant wife?" Ding Ancheng asked Zou Xuri bluntly, his eyes deep and unreadable.
Meeting Ding Ancheng’s gaze made Zou Xuri feel as if a fierce predator was targeting him, causing him to shiver in fear and look away, "I-I was the one who was beaten," he stammered.
"It’s because my wife is skilled," Ding Ancheng said with a cold laugh, "How does the Zou family intend to resolve this matter?"
These words were directed at Zou Jianling, "Director Zou, what do you say?"
Zou Jianling felt a shock; this was their first meeting, yet the man seemed to know him.
"It’s my nephew’s rash nature. This incident is his fault. We were just discussing this with Comrade Wu. We will compensate Comrade Yi Roujing and Comrade Xie Chenyan for all their losses, and make my nephew offer a sincere apology. We hope you can be generous and forgive him this time, there won’t be a next time," Zou Jianling responded sincerely.
"This outcome is acceptable," Ding Ancheng replied, "I’ll accept it on behalf of my wife."
Hearing this, Zou Jianling breathed a sigh of relief, and Zou Jianfeng’s eyes showed satisfaction.
Zou Jianfeng, somewhat condescending, began to critique Yi Roujing’s actions, "Actually, Comrade Yi Roujing was also somewhat rash this time. My son..."
"Rash?" Ding Ancheng’s light laughter interrupted Zou Jianfeng’s words, "Compared to Director Zou’s procurement of scrap machines from the Red Star Machinery Factory seven years ago, which resulted in worker fatalities, my wife has been more than steady."
The mention of this incident drained the color from Zou Jianfeng’s face instantly.
Not only Zou Jianfeng but also Zou Jianling, who knew nothing of this face, and Wu Zhuoyue’s body went rigid; he had participated in the investigation as a police officer back then.
"Wh-who are you, really?" Zou Jianfeng panicked.
Zou Jianling quickly picked up the conversation, "Ding, the matter from back then was thoroughly investigated and concluded by the authorities. How do you know about it?"