Chapter 575 - 575: I'll Take You Back to the Provincial City
Zhang Xia was so keen to ingratiate herself with Lu Xiaoli because her husband had been an assistant police officer for seven to eight years without being made permanent. She finally seized this opportunity because she wanted to "leap through the dragon's gate" as a carp transforms into a dragon, so she was the one most eager for the Zhang family to establish a marriage connection with Lu Xiaoli. However, she never anticipated that Zhou Guiting, whom she had never taken seriously, would have a status so much more significant than Lu Xiaoli's. One was merely the daughter of a city deputy director, but the other was the sole beloved daughter of a provincial department director—the disparity in status was simply too vast. Moreover, crucially, after this incident, Lu Jiangong, that deputy director, would likely be unable to continue in his role. And their Zhang family would lose everything they currently possessed because of this incident—that was the cost!
Liu Changping coldly observed the people of the Zhang family and said in a deep voice, "I do not know how the daughter of a deputy director could lead you to abandon your wife and child so callously, but my daughter, Liu Changping, is certainly not inferior to anyone. If you do not want her, there will naturally be others who do! Rest assured, from now on, my daughter will have nothing whatsoever to do with the Zhang family!"
After Liu Changping had finished speaking, he turned and went back to the hospital room, picked up the little girl by the bed, and softly said, "Xiao Ding Ding, how about Grandpa takes you back to the provincial city?"
The little girl, Ding Ding, was still somewhat frightened. She looked at Liu Changping, then at Zhou Guiting on the bed, and said in a low voice, "Can… can my mom come with us?"
These words immediately made Liu Changping's eyes moisten again. Seeing Liu Changping not responding, Ding Ding hurriedly said, "Grandpa, my mom can earn her own living, I don't eat much, and won't consume much food… we won't be burdening you much..."
It seemed she was afraid Liu Changping would not be willing to take Zhou Guiting with them, which is why she said such things. Yet, these words were like needles piercing Liu Changping's heart. He gently wiped the tears from the corner of Ding Ding's eyes and said, "Don't worry, grandpa will take you both back to the provincial city. Moreover, for the rest of your lives, no one will dare to bully you and your mother again!"
Zhou Bolong, standing nearby, shouted loudly, "Damn it, Old Liu, don't worry. If anyone dares to bully this poor mother and daughter again, I'll be the first to put an end to them!"
These two old partners had been through life and death together for many years and had served together in Eastern Province. Although they weren't in the same system, the bond between them was truly deep. Zhou Guiting was the only child of Liu Changping in his life, and thus, she was like a daughter to Zhou Bolong!
Holding the little girl tightly, Liu Changping finally turned to look at Ye Qing and said softly, "Ye Qing, thank you!"
Ye Qing looked at Zhou Guiting and Xiao Ding Ding, shook his head, and said, "I've also done a good deed. As long as they can have a better life from now on, I'll be at peace."
Liu Changping smiled. He was very pleased with Ye Qing's words, which greatly changed his view of Ye Qing. Previously, he had felt Ye Qing was a bit stubborn and impulsive, but now he saw clearly that although Ye Qing was occasionally impulsive and stubborn, he was genuinely kind-hearted and clear about his grudges and gratitude, which Liu Changping greatly admired.
"By the way, how did you find them?" Zhou Bolong asked.
"It's a long story, but to put it simply, it was seventy percent luck and thirty percent effort!" Old Wang Ba immediately perked up and swaggered over, exaggeratingly recounting their experiences after arriving in Xishan City.
Listening to Ye Qing's recounting of the events after arriving in Xishan City, Zhou Bolong exploded three times and cursed seven times. There was also an instance where, had Liu Changping not stopped him, he probably would have taken a gun and gone out to shoot someone. Despite his temperament, Liu Changping's face also turned extremely grim as he listened to Ye Qing's words.
After hearing Ye Qing's words, Liu Changping slammed his fist onto the table nearby and roared, "What a Lu Jiangong! What a Zhang Jun!"
"Damn it, I should have dealt with him just now!" Zhou Bolong panted heavily beside him, angrily said, "Old Liu, what should we do? If you can't do it, I'll do it myself. Damn it, allowing these beasts to live, is simply a disgrace to our country!"
Liu Changping was accustomed to Zhou Bolong's temper. He glanced at Zhou Bolong and said, "Old Zhou, haven't you changed that temper of yours over all these years?"
"Change what? Damn it, how can you sit still when faced with something like this?" Zhou Bolong retorted angrily. "I'm puzzled, you're in your fifties or sixties, finally have a daughter, and she's been bullied like this, you can still sit still?"
"This isn't a battlefield, we can't just act out of loyalty!" Liu Changping turned his head to look at Zhou Guiting who was still unconscious on the bed and clenched his fists slowly, saying, "However, anyone who owes my daughter, I will definitely make them pay back a hundredfold!"
Ye Qing looked at the two figures capable of shaking the whole political scene of Pingnan Province and started to feel sorry for those who had bullied Zhou Guiting. With these two unleashing their fury together, who could withstand their rage?
The quiet in the room did not last long, as Feng Yumin came in knocking, and said to Liu Changping and Zhou Bolong, "Commander Yue, Director Liu, the Secretary of the Xishan City Committee, Shao Yihua, has arrived. Would you like to see him?"
Liu Changping and Zhou Bolong exchanged a look, the latter spread his hands and said, "Damn it, what are you looking at me for? I'm here to support you. I don't care about anything else."
Liu Changping smiled and said, "Please let him in!"
Actually, Shao Yihua had already been there for over half an hour. After all, the arrival of the commander of the Provincial Military Region and Head of the Provincial Police Department in Xishan City meant that Shao, as the city's Party Secretary, could hardly stay seated. Moreover, he had already begun to grasp the scope of the hospital incident. This incident occurred on his watch, and his absence could have escalated the situation. Despite being the Party Secretary, he dared not offend Director Liu Changping, let alone Zhou Bolong, a standing committee member of the provincial party.
Having arrived, Shao Yihua further understood the details of the situation and knew both authorities were already infuriated. At this moment, he dared not act rashly, deciding instead to let Feng Yumin report his presence. However, Ye Qing was in the midst of briefing Liu Changping and Zhou Bolong about Zhou Guiting. Feng Yumin hadn't even had a chance to knock when he heard Zhou Bolong furiously scolding someone inside. Shao Yihua didn't dare enter at such a moment and hastily stopped Feng Yumin, waiting for Zhou Bolong to calm down. This wait turned into over half an hour.
When Shao Yihua entered the ward, observing the situation, he quickly said, "Congratulations, Director Liu!"
Then, he looked towards Zhou Bolong and said, "The arrival of Commander Zhou and Director Liu in Xishan City truly honors all its citizens!"
"Thank you, Secretary Shao!" replied Liu Changping, his expression gradually settling back to its usual calm; he rarely displayed his emotions. Had it not been for extreme anger, he would not have lashed out in front of so many!
"Hmph." Zhou Bolong merely glanced at Shao Yihua, too disdainful to speak.
These thanks left Shao Yihua slightly embarrassed; they seemed polite on the surface. But with Liu Changping's daughter being treated miserably in Xishan, this gratitude sounded rather grating, as if thanking him for poorly handling his subordinates.
Shao Yihua looked at Ye Qing and Old Wang Ba beside him, more surprised by their backgrounds. While Feng Yumin was left outside, how could these two people, with uncertain identities, stay inside the room with these two powerful leaders? Moreover, they were even seated, favorably treated!
Of course, Shao Yihua could not question Liu Changping about these matters. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the leaders, he invited them to stay at a hotel arranged by the city.
Liu Changping did not decline; his elaborate arrival was primarily for his daughter, and secondly, to address issues within the Xishan police department. Since Shao Yihua had not offended him, there was no reason to disrespect him.
Zhou Bolong, looking at Zhou Guiting, said, "Staying at a hotel isn't suitable given her current condition."
Shao Yihua responded, "We can let Miss Liu continue her hospitalization. I will arrange for specialists to treat her. Moreover, this is one of the city's best hospitals, with excellent conditions all around; it's best for her to stay here."
"Let's not," interjected Old Wang Ba with a grimace. "The hospital might be good, but the people aren't!"
Shao Yihua frowned and looked at Old Wang Ba, unsure of his status or how to address him. Given Wang Ba's shabby appearance, he certainly wasn't one of the major leaders. With three big leaders conversing, how could he casually interfere?
"What's wrong with the people here?" Zhou Bolong surveyed the surroundings and said, "Don't worry, I can deploy military forces to guard this place. Damn it, let's see who's bold enough to cause trouble!"
"Commander Zhou, you misunderstand," said Wang Ba with a smile. "Just now, the hospital director commanded that no one should treat or change Miss Liu's medication, or they would be fired on the spot. Look, the medicine Miss Liu is using was changed by a good samaritan, but that person has already been fired. Don't you see, continuing to stay here is just delaying Miss Liu's recovery?"
Wang Ba's statement was clearly provocative. With these three figures present, many would eagerly offer treatment to Ye Qing. By bringing this up, Shao Yihua's expression instantly became extremely awkward. He originally thought the problem was limited to the police department, but now even the hospital was involved.
"Damn it, is this some kind of rebellion?" Zhou Bolong exclaimed angrily. "Which director? Damn it, bring him to me now!"
Liu Changping remained silent, merely turning to look at Shao Yihua.
Shao Yihua, not daring to meet Liu Changping's gaze, quickly turned to someone behind him and said, "Go get Zhou Benyong for me!"
Three minutes later, Director Zhou Benyong walked into the ward with a gloomy face. He had just ordered that nobody should treat or change Zhou Guiting and the others' medications, aiming to please Lu Jiangong. But having now realized Zhou Guiting's status, he knew his career was utterly doomed.