Chapter Forty-Two: Out of Luck

Director Zhao stepped out and called out, and immediately two police officers entered. One of them held an electric baton, smirking as they closed in on Zhang Ye.

“Be careful, this kid is tough,” Du Feng warned from behind, taking a few steps back.

“Be smart and take what's coming to you, kid. Otherwise, there’s worse in store,” Director Zhao threatened, stepping aside to let the two officers with electric batons approach.

Crackling sounds filled the air. Heeding the warning, the slightly plump officer acted cautiously. After all, Zhang Ye had twisted Li Tao’s arm earlier, proving he wasn’t to be underestimated. The officer exchanged a look with his partner. When they had Zhang Ye surrounded, he suddenly lunged, stabbing the baton toward him.

Zhang Ye’s expression didn’t change, but he extended a leg, kicking the plump officer’s foot aside. The officer staggered, thrown off balance, and Zhang Ye leapt away.

In that instant, as Zhang Ye jumped clear, the other officer couldn’t react in time. His outstretched electric baton jabbed right into the plump officer’s face. The plump officer, already falling, instinctively thrust his own baton forward, which jabbed into his colleague’s stomach.

A flurry of crackles erupted. The two officers, struck by each other's electric batons, slumped to the ground, dazed and unable to move for a long while.

“You dare assault police? Believe me, I’ll shoot you dead right here!” Director Zhao’s face darkened. He quickly drew his pistol, flicked off the safety, and pointed it at Zhang Ye, his voice seething with rage.

He was truly furious. To be so brazen within a police station! Over the years, despite helping Du Feng with shady matters, he had also cracked many cases and was a fearsome figure in Li Hua County, having dealt with countless tough characters. Yet now, to be bested by a mere youth like Zhang Ye was intolerable. Never had he encountered such audacity.

At that moment, Zhao truly considered pinning an assault charge on Zhang Ye. The procedures would be a hassle, but with some effort and manipulation, it was by no means impossible.

“Director Zhao, you’re in trouble. Bringing unauthorized people into the interrogation room, abusing your authority… Oh, and drawing your gun to threaten an upstanding citizen—just thinking about it gives me a headache,” Zhang Ye said with a smile, as hurried footsteps and Guo Xiangqing’s faint voice could be heard from outside.

“Hmph, I don’t care if I’m in trouble, but you’re definitely finished,” Zhao sneered, turning to Li Tao, who was gripping his hand in pain. “Go, cuff him to the iron chair. With my gun on him, he won’t dare try anything.” Having been humiliated, Zhao Youquan had no intention of letting Zhang Ye off easily. He planned to put him through every torture device available, and whether or not to actually press charges would depend entirely on his own mood.

Seeing the anger on Director Zhao’s face and the gun in his hand, Du Feng felt a surge of joy. He shouted, “Ha! Let’s see how you act tough now, kid. That gun isn’t just for show. But first, take a taste of my baton!” He raised his baton, ready to strike. Though he usually relied on his father’s power to bully others, he rarely got the chance to actually lay hands on someone. Now, gripping the baton tightly, he felt a thrill of excitement.

Bang!

Just then, the interrogation room door was suddenly flung open, slamming hard against the wall. A group of people strode in, and a commanding voice rang out: “Who dares lay a hand on him?”

“Zhang Ye, are you alright?” Guo Xiangqing cried out, rushing to his side, supporting him as tears streamed down her face.

“Xiao Ye…” Wang Mengzi, who had been anxious and worried for a long time, finally saw that he was whole and unharmed. Relieved, she threw caution to the wind and embraced him tightly, as if afraid that letting go would mean losing him forever.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. You know me—I never get the short end of things,” Zhang Ye reassured Wang Mengzi, then turned his gaze to the newcomers.

At their head was a middle-aged man with two streaks of mustache at the corners of his mouth and narrow, shrewd eyes. He was followed by two uniformed officers whose rank appeared equal to, if not higher than, Director Zhao’s.

The interrogation room was dim, and when the newcomers first entered, their silhouettes gleamed in the light. After a moment, Director Zhao recognized them, his face instantly turning pale. “Director Du…” Only then did he realize he still held his gun. He hastily put it away, looking bewildered, not sure what was happening.

“Dad, what are you doing here?” Du Feng, still gripping his baton and wearing a fierce expression, was surprised to see the middle-aged man. He thought his father had come to avenge his supposed injuries, and his spirits soared. Putting on a show of indignation, he cried, “Dad, you’re finally here! It was this kid who injured me. You have to teach him a harsh lesson—make sure he does a few years behind bars, so he knows what happens when someone messes with our Du family.”

At the word “Dad,” Du Jun’s heart sank. When Du Feng finished speaking, his face changed dramatically, cold sweat instantly coating his brow as he shot a fierce glare at his son.

He had been utterly ruined by his own son.

“Oh? Then I’d like to know what happens to those who cross the Du family,” Yuan Yuqing remarked as she entered at a leisurely pace, a faint smile on her lips but an icy glint in her eyes.

“That’s obvious—they either pay up, or get beaten and thrown in jail…” Because the light was behind them, Du Feng didn’t see his father’s expression and blurted it out.

“Beast!” Director Du, furious and realizing the consequences of Yuan Yuqing hearing such words, slapped his son hard, no longer caring about his feelings. His job now came first.

“Dad, what are you doing?” Du Feng was stunned and protested angrily.

“Excellent. So this isn’t the first time such things have happened, is it? I hear today’s incident was because of you. I won’t even ask how you managed to waltz into the interrogation room. We may not be in the same department, but I’ll be sure to report everything that happened here to your chief.” The last words were addressed to Du Feng’s father, Du Weiguo. He was the deputy director of the public security bureau; above him was Chief Ye Qidong.

“Director Yuan, let me explain—I had no idea any of this was happening beforehand. It was all my son’s fault, and I promise a thorough investigation, no favoritism whatsoever.” With that, his expression hardened, and he bellowed, “Arrest those corrupt officers inside at once!” He even personally cuffed his own son’s hands behind his back.

PS: Guilty as charged—after a long and tiring day, I’m really not at my best, and only just managed to update this chapter… Also, things are busy at home as the month ends, so updates may be a bit irregular. I should still manage two chapters a day, but if not, I’ll make it up next month when things settle down…