Chapter Forty-Eight: Does Advising Someone to Reform Invite Divine Retribution?

The rotating light cast colorful specks that flickered in and out, and then suddenly, a loud “bang!” was heard as Zheng Nange smashed a bottle against the television.

As everyone stood up, Zheng Nange grabbed another bottle and smashed it onto the floor.

No one dared to move in shock.

“You little brat, you really don’t know when to quit!”

Just as the burly security guard charged forward, everything went black for a moment, as if his face was about to be flattened!

“Uncle Lu…”

Lu Chuan withdrew his hand and sighed deeply.

In fact, “Uncle Lu” was only in his thirties. A retired special forces soldier, he was Zheng Qun’s driver, brought in from the provincial authorities. Several times when Zheng Nange took the Zhou siblings out at night, Lu Chuan followed closely. Surveillance was his specialty, flawless and meticulous.

Zheng Qun wasn’t too worried about his son and the pudgy Zhou Ye; the real concern was Zhou Luoyao, the cherished treasure of both the Zheng and Zhou families. Zheng Qun doted on her like his own daughter.

So, Zhang Yadong was lucky that Zhou Luoyao didn’t let her two brothers tell Zheng Qun about the harassment.

Earlier, Lu Chuan had been drinking tea in the hall when he heard from the security guards that a commotion was happening on the third floor. He followed quietly from a distance and also called Zheng Qun.

Seeing the opposing side about to lay hands on Zheng Nange, Lu Chuan knocked the big guy down with a single punch, then applied a reverse arm lock that made another guard’s joint audibly crack… leaving only screams of agony behind.

Those screams sent chills down the spines of all the onlookers.

…

One after another, police cars tore through the night sky of Wuzhou City, speeding toward Baodu.

The boss, Wei Deshun, along with a group of managers, came out to meet them.

“I just called Director Luo. You arrived quickly!”

The lead officer smiled, “Once everyone was here, we came right over.”

Wei Deshun was taken aback; the man speaking was a mid-level official!

He glanced at the several Iveco vans and smirked, “Then hurry up. I wonder who’s backing those guys upstairs.”

The mid-level officer turned and gave a signal. The rear doors of the vans swung open with a “whoosh,” and teams clad in camo and armed to the teeth poured out like a storm.

“Seal off all entrances and exits, move out!”

Wei Deshun watched the agile figures rush into the city’s entertainment district, utterly dumbfounded.

“What is this about!?”

“We received a tip-off that there might be organized illegal silver trading activities here!”

The sound was like a blunt instrument striking with a muffled thud in the chilly night.

…

…

That night, the Wuzhou City police gained a substantial haul. Zheng Nange and the others finished giving their statements and were taken away by the formidable driver Lu Chuan.

Guan Xiaomeng came out wearing a jacket, took it off, and handed it back to Lin Cheng softly. “Your clothes.”

“Keep it. It’s cold. Go home early,” he replied without a word of scolding or sighing, as if nothing had happened.

Was he still the same mischievous boy from before?

Guan Xiaomeng gave a sad smile. “Oh, okay. What’s your number? I’ll return it to you later.”

Lin Cheng smiled back, “Sure.”

Guan Xiaomeng stood quietly, a bit at a loss. “...I’m really clumsy. I want to make money, but I also want to hold onto the most important things...”

Her gaze carried the pure clarity of a schoolgirl, a naturalness and grace that seemed out of place in such a setting.

Lin Cheng chuckled, “In a way, I’m just here to drink with people too. Today, I want to make those three happy.”

“...How can I thank you?”

“You’re still young. There are definitely other paths you can take. Why not give it a try?”

“I will.”

Lin Cheng thought to himself: Trying to reform someone—what a thunderclap that would be. Hopefully, I’ll get through this unscathed.

“You must try. You’re still young. Don’t give up.”

“I’ll remember. I’ll also remember you.” Guan Xiaomeng’s eyes reddened.

Lin Cheng asked where she lived; she said in town, but currently renting somewhere remote.

Better to teach a person to fish than give them a fish. With that in mind, Lin Cheng added, “If it’s convenient, I’ll come by your place one day to get a better understanding. Maybe I can help.”

“No need, thank you,” Guan Xiaomeng politely declined, thinking, What help could they really offer?

She didn’t know what would happen after Baodu was sealed off, how her younger brother’s tuition and living expenses would be managed...

“I can offer you some advice based on your situation. When I see you, I just feel you don’t belong there. You may not believe in yourself, but please believe me.”

To walk through the world, the best stance is to observe others’ fates without rashly interfering with their causes and consequences.

Lin Cheng didn’t know why he said such things—ignorant, arrogant, and tinged with the foolish kindness of one who speaks without hardship.

Guan Xiaomeng nodded, as if it took great effort to do so, and asked Lin Cheng for his contact details.

No one had ever placed such straightforward warmth and respect so gently upon her deepest wounds before.

Guan Xiaomeng watched Lin Cheng’s retreating figure, feeling as if a grand performance had just been pulled down like a curtain, as if a giant eraser had wiped away the twinkling lights...

…

Late at night in the city’s Weijia residential compound, the guard watched a convoy of police vehicles roar past, muttering to himself: Wonder what’s happened this time?

When he saw the party secretary’s Audi arrive at the gate, he lifted the barrier.

An oppressive tension gripped the back of his neck—a kind of invisible energy...

Zheng Nange, Zhou Ye, and Zhou Luoyao slunk into the house, dejected.

Zhou Ye made a bit too much noise changing shoes, so Zhou Luoyao quickly pressed a finger to her lips: “Shh—”

Zheng Qun heard the door open and came downstairs, still holding a book.

Zheng Nange felt his hairs stand on end. “Dad!”

The Lin siblings didn’t dare lift their heads.

Zheng Qun nodded at them, “Oh, you’re back,” and headed straight to the living room.

The three sat on pins and needles. Zheng Qun rarely lost his temper, which made this moment all the more terrifying.

Zheng Nange spoke up, “Dad, did I get you into trouble?”

Zheng Qun smiled with satisfaction, “Ha, you’re starting to care about me. Seems like hanging out with Lin Cheng is good for you.”

Zheng Nange cursed inwardly—this mess was all because of Lin Cheng meddling.

“Dad, I... I was a little impulsive today.”

“Admitting your impulsiveness is a good thing,” Zheng Qun said gently. “Next time you do something, think about how you’ll handle the aftermath.”

“Actually, it was because Lin Cheng had a friend who was bullied, so we helped out.”

Zheng Qun smiled, “Standing up for friends isn’t wrong, but you can’t lose your head. The owner of this entertainment district has connections everywhere, and those people in the private room have their own backgrounds too. The thing is, if you can invite the gods, you should also be able to send them away. That’s something you need to consider. But hey, who doesn’t make a few enemies in their lifetime?”

“Dad…”

Zheng Qun nodded, “Go to sleep.”

After washing up, Zheng Nange lay in bed, feeling the immense, invincible presence of his father.

Zheng Qun stood silently by the window, gazing into the deep night sky. Because of the accidental involvement of Lin Cheng and Zheng Nange and the others, he had made a shrewd move.

The forces entangled in Baodu were complex and well known at the provincial level. Director Luo of the city bureau was always playing the peacemaker at the Changwei meetings—this was Zheng Qun’s way of shaking the mountain to warn the tiger.

Yan Jun from the province wanted to turn Wuzhou into his own downfall, so Zheng Qun had to respond accordingly.

Only those caught in the midst of it could understand the peril involved.