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Chapter 118: A Lifetime Memory of That Gaze
He Jun sat on the sofa like a statue, his left hand propping up his head while his right hand fiddled with a pen. Phone calls came in one after another; often, before he could hang up one call, another would ring. He had no intention of reassuring those callers. They had often taken shortcuts, and this time, he wanted them to suffer a bit and learn to be more restrained.
Of course, He Jun knew that even if he did nothing, due to various influences, the final outcome would likely align with what many hoped for—a big deal would become a bigger issue. This would indirectly help Zhang Qiu, his only nephew, whom he did not want to see in any trouble, especially at such a crucial time as the upcoming college entrance examination. However, whether he could truly assist Zhang Qiu made He Jun anxious.
The situation in Beilan County was destined to be uneasy; the upper class was restless, scrambling to find connections and gather information. In the aftermath, people commented on He Jun's trust in Police Chief Wang Guodong, noting his selflessness and even his coldness. It was precisely because of this that He Jun gained recognition from higher-ups and advanced rapidly in his career.
The interrogation concluded quickly, with both Zhang Qiu and Jiang Xue cooperating actively throughout the process. Wang Hailong looked at the three statements laid out on the table; Zhang Qiu's and Jiang Xue's accounts were largely consistent. Liu Xiaolong's testimony was generally similar but had clear discrepancies regarding the details of the knife attack.
In both Zhang Qiu's and Jiang Xue's testimonies, they mentioned that Liu Xiaofei was the first to stab Zhang Qiu. In contrast, Liu Xiaolong's account was vague on this point, only stating that Jiang Xue stabbed Liu Xiaofei. When pressed for clarification during questioning, Liu Xiaolong claimed it was chaotic at the time and that when he looked over, Jiang Xue was repeatedly stabbing Liu Xiaofei.
Wang Hailong fell into deep thought; logically, he believed Zhang Qiu's account and his instincts told him it was true. However, evidence was necessary—witnesses could be sought for verification. Regardless of the circumstances, both Zhang Qiu and Jiang Xue bore undeniable responsibility for the fight. This included Liu Xiaofei, Liu Xiaolong, and a large group of others involved.
But these considerations were not important to Wang Hailong; adhering to the law was his principle. The real challenge lay in how to handle Zhang Qiu and Jiang Xue. Although Director He had distanced himself from the case, Wang Hailong had to take it into account. He Jun was not only Police Chief Wang Guodong but also someone who had helped him in the past. Moreover, He Jun had once saved him. Now, how could he handle He Jun's nephew?
In this case, saving Jiang Xue was certainly impossible; however, there was considerable leeway in dealing with Zhang Qiu. By following standard procedures, Zhang Qiu would have to bear legal responsibility; yet with some flexibility, he could potentially walk away unscathed—similar to what Wang Guodong had done for Liu Xiaolong during his tenure. But if he did that, wouldn't he become one of those people he had once despised?
Caught between gratitude and principle, Wang Hailong found himself in a dilemma. He stood up and paced back and forth in the room, constantly weighing different approaches.
Time passed slowly for those waiting for a resolution; it felt like centuries. Eventually, Wang Hailong led a meeting with the interrogation team to discuss and reach a final decision. Liu Xiaolong and Zhang Qiu were charged with participating in a brawl under Article 65(1) of the Criminal Procedure Law but were granted bail pending trial. However, Jiang Xue, who had wielded the knife, was sent to detention.
With assistance from relatives, Liu Xiaolong paid bail and guaranteed availability when called before leaving with family members. Despite her strong objections, Liu Xiaofei's mother reluctantly accepted this outcome for now.
Zhang Qiu's bail process was facilitated by He Jun; during the wait, Zhang Qiu followed He Jun to the director's office along with Wang Hailong, who had just interrogated him. The three walked down the hallway with their own thoughts until they entered the office where Wang Hailong called out: "Director He."
He Jun turned around to stop Wang Hailong: "You handled this matter well; don't carry any burdens in your heart."
"Director He," Wang Hailong began but hesitated as he faced someone who had shown him kindness while grappling with feelings of guilt for adhering to the law.
He Jun waved his hand earnestly: "Please don't feel pressured mentally. I entrusted this matter to you because I believe you can uphold justice. If I gave it to someone else, they might try to please me by doing what Wang Guodong did for Liu Xiaolong back then. If that happened, wouldn’t our department regress? So thank you for handling this."
He Jun's words brought tears to Wang Hailong’s eyes—a rare sight for such a tough man. Since joining the force, no one had ever valued him like this or cared about his commitment to justice so deeply. After struggling for over a decade just to make ends meet, he finally saw some success: "Director He, from now on, just say the word and I will repay you wholeheartedly—through fire and water without hesitation."
Zhang Qiu watched this scene unfold before him as if it were a historical drama. It reminded him of how Hu Yanzhuo was tied up on Liangshan while Song Jiang donned his general’s robe; Hu Yanzhuo wept tears of gratitude as he pledged loyalty to Song Jiang. However, now bandits had become officials; it was no longer an era defined by righteousness alone.
Uncle has quite a way of winning people's hearts. Zhang Qiu suddenly felt that his uncle's years of honesty seemed more like a form of lurking. Like a giant insect in the desert, hiding itself and waiting to deliver a fatal blow to its prey. Isn't that what Wang Guodong is doing?
He Jun walked up to Zhang Qiu and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Nephew, will you blame me for what your uncle is doing?"
Zhang Qiu forced a bleak smile, his expression somber as he shook his head slightly. "I won't blame you. What you're doing is reasonable and legal. I understand that being released on bail is a form of care for me."
Wang Hailong, sensing the mood, said, "He Bureau, I'll go handle some matters now and won't stay here with you."
He Jun nodded as Wang Hailong exited the office.
He Jun asked Zhang Qiu, "What do you think about that girl..."
"Jiang Xue is my girlfriend. No matter what happens, please take good care of her. Even if it’s against the rules, I hope you can look after her. This is my only request." Qiu Wan looked up at He Jun, his eyes filled with sorrow, resembling a mother who had lost her child, which made He Jun's heart ache.
"Don't worry. I won't break any rules; I'll make sure everything is in order."
"Can I go see her?" Zhang Qiu looked at He Jun with eager eyes.
He Jun swallowed hard and shook his head slowly. "You can't see her until the court makes a ruling; family members are not allowed to visit."
"Not even for a brief meeting? Where are you taking her?"
"She'll be held in detention... No!" He Jun suddenly corrected himself. "It should be in the custody center. After the court's ruling, you can visit." On this principle issue, He Jun showed his clear distinction between public and private matters. Seeing his uncle's demeanor made Zhang Qiu feel somewhat resentful.
"Then I'll head back first." Qiu Wan left without looking back.
He Jun wanted to call out to Zhang Qiu but opened his mouth and ultimately didn't say anything. Perhaps it was better for Zhang Qiu to have some time alone; growing up requires experiencing certain things.
As Zhang Qiu exited the police station, the bright sunlight hit his face, forcing him to squint to adjust to the sudden brightness. He took deep breaths, truly appreciating the value of freedom for the first time. Being released on bail meant he was just a hair away from losing his freedom entirely. But Zhang Qiu couldn't feel happy at all; he was out, yet Jiang Xue was locked away.
Thinking about the prison life Jiang Xue would soon face filled Zhang Qiu with self-loathing. That knife should have been plunged into himself; it should have been him lying in the hospital while Liu Xiaofei was the one imprisoned.
But now, his enemy was carefree outside while the woman he loved was about to embark on a path no one would willingly choose. The pain in between could only be imagined; how could one truly fathom it?
Zhang Qiu was heartbroken, crying uncontrollably outside the police station, drawing curious glances from passersby. Her sobs were heart-wrenching, and she was completely unaware of the crowd that had gathered around her. An elderly woman with gray hair, thin but well-dressed, approached and gently asked, "Child, why are you crying so sadly?"
Zhang Qiu looked up at the old woman and replied, "I feel terrible inside," before continuing to cry.
The old woman glanced at the large banner on the building that read "Maintain Stability, Combat Crime, Protect the Public, Duty-Bound," then looked back at Zhang Qiu and encouraged her, "Child, there’s nothing in this world that can’t be overcome. I’m a living example; back in the sixties, I endured unimaginable suffering, but look at me now. Everything gets better with perseverance."
Instead of calming down, Zhang Qiu cried even harder. At that moment, several on-duty police officers rushed out of the building and shouted to the crowd, "Disperse! Move along! Don’t gather here!"
As soon as the police spoke, the crowd scattered like birds taking flight. However, some people remained nearby to watch, even pulling out their phones to record.
One of the officers crouched down in front of Zhang Qiu and advised her, "You should go home. Crying here isn’t good for you or us."
Zhang Qiu gave a cold laugh, looked at the officer speaking to her, and walked away.
After she had gone quite a distance, the officer who had spoken to her stood there in a daze. His colleague waved a hand in front of his face and asked, "What’s wrong with you?"
"I will never forget that look in her eyes; it was so cold. I felt like I had fallen into an ice pit..." The officer spoke as if answering a question but also as if he were talking to himself.
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