"Officer, are you mistaken? I was the one who reported the incident; I'm the victim!" Chen Yang said calmly.
"Hmph!" Chief Yan sneered, saying disdainfully, "I only saw you take Yue Lei hostage and beat him severely!"
Chief Yan's real name was Yan Jinlong, a distant cousin of Yan Huiming. Because of his kinship with the Yan family and his connection to Yan Songshan, the deputy district head and director of the Public Security Bureau of Cangshui District, he became the deputy director of Hongguang Police Station at a young age. Yue Lei and Yan Huiming were childhood friends, and Yue Lei's unbridled arrogance in the Hongguang Road area was undoubtedly due to Yan Jinlong's protection.
When Yan Jinlong heard from the command center that someone had called the police at the Hengxiang intersection, he guessed it was probably related to Yue Lei. He deliberately delayed his response, only to find Yue Lei being firmly restrained at the scene.
"I acted in self-defense," Chen Yang argued. "There were over a dozen of them surrounding me, all carrying controlled knives. If I hadn't struck first, I wouldn't be alive!"
"Stop talking nonsense!" Yan Jinlong, who had just been drinking at the station, was already annoyed by the sudden call to duty, so he yelled at the auxiliary police officers, reeking of alcohol, "What are you all standing there for? Cuff them!"
Chen Yang's eyes narrowed, a ruthless glint appearing in them. In his previous life, Chen Yang was a prodigy, skilled in political maneuvering, but he knew little about the darker aspects of life at the bottom of society. After his rebirth, Chen Yang had tasted the bitterness and sweetness of life, witnessing all sorts of people trying to take advantage of him.
Just like this incident, he inexplicably got into trouble with Yan Huiming, and the man wouldn't let him off the hook. All he wanted was to buy an apartment, and Yan Huiming actually sent thugs to cause trouble. Now even the police are twisting the truth. Even a clay idol has some temper, and Chen Yang was truly enraged this time.
As that famous comedian from later generations said, "I can tolerate someone defecating on my neck; if it's dry, I'll handle it; if it's diarrhea, I'll wipe it up." But this is like having dysentery on someone's neck! How can this be tolerated?
When Chen Yang released Yue Lei, Yan Jinlong had already put away his service weapon. The distance between them wasn't far, and Chen Yang was confident he could subdue him immediately.
Seeing the auxiliary police officers closing in, Chen Yang gritted his teeth, about to strike, when another voice rang out.
"Stop!" Hearing Guan Weiping's familiar voice, Chen Yang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and his clenched fists, ready to strike, quietly relaxed. Following the address Chen Yang had given him over the phone, Guan Weiping arrived at the alleyway entrance in his car. Before he even stopped, he saw Chen Yang surrounded by a group of police officers, along with a dozen or so thugs watching the commotion. He quickly got out of the car and intervened.
"Which unit are you from?" Guan Weiping's voice carried a hint of authority.
Yan Jinlong glanced sideways at Guan Weiping's license plate. Although it bore the "K" plate of a provincial government agency, the license plate number was quite prominent, clearly indicating it wasn't a high-ranking official vehicle. Rongcheng was the capital of Southeast Province, and numerous cars with "K" plates were on the road daily. Vehicles from key provincial departments and provincial universities also used "K" plates, but the influence of each was vastly different.
Guan Weiping's nearly new Buick Regal belonged to the Provincial Party Committee Office, and its license plate number wasn't particularly conspicuous. Some people are quite particular about their cars, seemingly as if it relates to their status and reputation. But at Guan Weiping's level, such trivial matters don't bother him. Even if he drove a beat-up Xiali to a lower-level city, wouldn't the Party Secretary and Mayor still treat him with the utmost respect? The Party Secretary's Audi might even have to clear the way for his old Xiali!
This trip was a last-minute arrangement; the small motorcade had already dispatched several of their better cars, but he didn't care and just brought his Buick Regal. Unexpectedly, he was looked down upon by a mere deputy director of a police station.
Yan Jinlong glanced at Guan Weiping and asked sarcastically,
"And which unit are you from?"
"I am Guan Weiping, Deputy Director of the Provincial Party Committee Office. What's going on here?" Guan Weiping said calmly.
"You call yourself the Deputy Director of the Provincial Party Committee Office?" Yan Jinlong pointed at Guan Weiping's nose and sneered, "If you're the Deputy Director of the Provincial Party Committee Office, then I'm Fang Hongda! Does the Deputy Director of the Provincial Party Committee Office ride in this beat-up car? What are you trying to prove?"
Guan Weiping smelled the rudeness in Yan Jinlong's words and the strong stench of alcohol on his breath, and frowned, his tone becoming stern:
"Comrade, which unit are you from? The province has repeatedly issued orders prohibiting drinking during working hours, and the Provincial Public Security Bureau has even issued a special ban on alcohol. Haven't you received them?"
"Oh, oh, oh! You've gotten addicted to pretending to be a big shot, haven't you?" Yan Jinlong glanced at Guan Weiping disdainfully and said, "I'm warning you! The police are on duty. If you say another word, I'll handcuff you too!"
If it weren't for the "K" license plate on the Buick Regal, Yan Jinlong would have already ordered the auxiliary police to arrest Guan Weiping as well. With Yan Songshan backing him, his behavior was always arrogant and domineering. From beginning to end, Yan Jinlong didn't even glance at Guan Weiping. After saying this, he spat a thick wad of phlegm on the ground and roared at the auxiliary police officers:
"Are you all just sitting around doing nothing? You're so slow at handcuffing someone! Why aren't you doing it yet?"
Seeing the auxiliary police officers about to grab Chen Yang again, Guan Weiping panicked. He took two steps forward and blocked Chen Yang's path, shouting loudly:
"Who dares to do it?"
He was joking. Secretary Fang was hosting a banquet for Chen Yang at his home tonight. If Chen Yang were arrested and taken to the police station in front of him, Guan Weiping would lose all face. What use was he if he couldn't even handle this small task assigned by his superiors?
"Oh ho! You're asking for it, aren't you?" Seeing Guan Weiping's blatant disregard for propriety, Yan Jinlong couldn't help but get angry.
Initially, Yan Jinlong saw Guan Weiping arrive in a car with a "K" license plate. Although the license plate wasn't particularly prestigious, anyone who could afford such a car was at least a member of the system. Therefore, despite his harsh words, Yan Jinlong had no intention of making things difficult for Guan Weiping. He only wanted to get Chen Yang arrested and taken to the station as quickly as possible; there, he could do whatever he wanted.
Unexpectedly, Guan Weiping was determined to protect Chen Yang at all costs. Yan Jinlong's stubborn temper flared up, and fueled by alcohol, he stepped forward and pulled out handcuffs, saying,
"You are suspected of obstructing official business. Come with me to the station!"
With that, he aggressively reached for the handcuffs to cuff Guan Weiping.
Guan Weiping trembled with rage. As a provincial party secretary, a deputy director-level official, when had he ever suffered such humiliation? The driver of the limousine, seeing the situation escalating, tried to rush over to protect Director Guan, but was stopped by the security guards on the perimeter. Just as Guan Weiping was about to suffer a loss, he suddenly saw a figure flash before his eyes.
When he looked again, Chen Yang was already blocking his way. Chen Yang grabbed Yan Jinlong's hand holding the handcuffs, twisting four fingers upwards, causing Yan Jinlong to involuntarily squat down, writhing and crying out in pain. Chen Yang then flipped his wrist, pulling Yan Jinlong up and sharply towards him, assuming a lunge stance. Yan Jinlong was pulled against his will by a strong force, lunging towards Chen Yang. Chen Yang slightly sidestepped, then delivered a powerful elbow strike with his right hand, slamming it heavily into Yan Jinlong's back.
With a thud, Yan Jinlong collapsed to the ground like a log without uttering a sound.
The entire process was lightning fast. If military personnel were present, they would have immediately recognized that Chen Yang used only two moves: the first was a small grappling technique to subdue Yan Jinlong, and the second was a direct "stepping elbow strike" from military boxing.
Before anyone could react, Yan Jinlong had been knocked to the ground by Chen Yang's powerful blow, motionless and his fate unknown. Seeing this, the auxiliary police officers quickly drew their stun guns and shouted to rush to Yan Jinlong's aid.
Meanwhile, Chen Yang calmly picked up the handcuffs that had fallen to the ground, cuffed the unconscious Yan Jinlong's hands behind his back, then leisurely pulled his service pistol from Yan Jinlong's waist, placed one foot on Yan Jinlong's face, and casually toyed with the police pistol.
The initially restless auxiliary police officers, upon seeing that Yan Jinlong's gun was in Chen Yang's hands, involuntarily took a step back, their eyes filled with apprehension. They wanted to escape, but Yan Jinlong was still in Chen Yang's hands—their direct superior. Anyone who ran away today would surely be fired by Yan Jinlong. So, the situation immediately became tense.
Chen Yang turned to Guan Weiping and said,
"Director Guan, I'm really sorry to have troubled you! How to resolve this matter is up to you!"
Guan Weiping's expression was somewhat grim. He hadn't expected to get into such trouble just by picking someone up. However, the exact cause of the incident was still unclear, but he had witnessed the law enforcement officers drinking during working hours and engaging in brutal enforcement. Furthermore, he had almost been handcuffed by Yan Jinlong himself, only to be rescued by Chen Yang. Therefore, Guan Weiping couldn't blame Chen Yang too much. He nodded slightly and took out his phone to look up a number.
The solution to this matter ultimately rests with the leaders of the public security bureau, but deciding which level to approach requires careful consideration.
Chen Yang then turned to the auxiliary police officers and the thugs, including Yue Lei, and said calmly:
"All of you, stay put! Put down your weapons and keep the scene as it is! Anyone trying to slip away, my bullets don't have eyes!"
With that, Chen Yang snapped the bolt back, chambered a round, and pointed the muzzle at the crowd as if calling roll.
A series of cracking sounds rang out as police uniforms from the auxiliary police officers and steel pipes and machetes from the thugs were scattered on the ground.
Chen Yang's gaze finally settled on the pale-faced Yue Lei, making him feel uneasy. Yue Lei had indeed considered fleeing in the chaos, but now, seeing the dark muzzle of Chen Yang's gun, he quickly ducked into the crowd, afraid to make a move.
At this moment, Guan Weiping dialed the phone and said calmly:
"Director Kan? This is Guan Weiping..."