Chapter 2: Things Have Changed

  At this time, Rong Xue was cold and felt the warmth of Lu Zhong's big hand. Zhou Daqing's nose was sour, but he didn't know what to say for a while.

  "Has it been going well recently?" Lu Zhong asked with a smile.

  Zhou Daqing's face fell, and he said, "It's fine."

  Lu Zhong glanced at him and nodded slightly: "Alright, you wait a moment, I'll go take a look at home." He also said to Jiao Ke: "You keep Da Qing company for a bit."

  She walked back to the sedan and said to Gao Yanyan, who had rolled down the window: "The road is too narrow, the car can't get in. Why don't you ask Jiao Ke to take you to the reception hall to rest for a while?"

  Gao Yanyan said: "If it's not inconvenient, I'll get off and take a look at Uncle and Auntie too."

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "What's inconvenient? Let's go."

  The locust tree in the courtyard is bare, with snow piled up to the wall corner, and the black coal heap is distinct.

  It's now noon, looking at the hall of Linxi wall, the shadow of people is swaying, the iron chimney extending from the window is emitting black smoke, it seems to be cooking, but vaguely, the sound of quarrel comes, the doors and windows are all closed in winter, can't hear what they are arguing about.

  Following Lu Zhong's lead, Zeng Jiang quickly ran a few steps and lifted the thick cotton door curtain. Lu Zhong and Gao Yanyan entered the main room one after another.

  Her foster mother, Ma Cuihong, was bending over in front of the bright red stove, making pancakes. The oil was sizzling and crackling, when suddenly she looked up and saw Lu Zhong. "Ah!" she exclaimed, standing up straight. "Zhongzi?!" She took a few quick steps forward, grabbed Lu Zhong's hand, and her eyes welled up with tears again. "I've been thinking about going to see you these past few days, but your uncle has been busy nonstop, and I didn't dare go to Wushan by myself because I don't know the way and was afraid of getting lost..." As she spoke, she began to wipe away her tears. "You poor child, your fate is too bitter! But fortunately, you didn't end up in prison, that's a blessing. Listen to your aunt, come back home and find a job, live a stable life, and I won't have to worry every day..."

  Lu Zhong was initially perplexed, not knowing why Aunt Cuihong was crying again. As he listened to the conversation unfolding behind him, he gradually pieced together that news of his dismissal and investigation must have reached Aunt Cuihong's family, and it had likely been exaggerated in the retelling, making his situation sound even more severe. This truly proved the old adage: "Good news doesn't spread far, but bad news travels a thousand miles."

  The noise of Lü Xiao Ping and the man arguing stopped, then the door curtain was lifted, and Lü Xiao Ping walked out with red eyes, followed by a young man in police uniform. Lü Zhēn looked at him and felt somewhat familiar, but couldn't remember who he was.

  A young man named Zhang Weimin, who was once the secretary of the Guangning County Public Security Bureau office, served tea and poured water for Lu Zheng. His sister and Lu Xiaoping were close friends and often made fun of him and Lu Xiaoping.

  Zhang Weimin had already taken a liking to Lu Xiaoping, and since he saw that Lu Xiaoping was Director Lu's younger sister, he launched a fierce offensive. As a cultured person who looked quite spirited and had a particularly sincere attitude, he went to the department store where Lu Xiaoping worked every day to pick her up after work.

  Lu Xiaoping, who had just fallen in love for the first time, had never experienced anything like this before. The son of the former deputy director of the Industrial Bureau was not romantic, and Zhang Weimin's gentle offensive was completely unmatched.

  Yes, Lu Xiaoping had agreed to be with Zhang Weimin everywhere, but recently, Zhang Weimin's attitude towards her suddenly became cold and hot. Through various clues, Lu Xiaoping discovered that Zhang Weimin was very close to a new female police officer who had just transferred to the county bureau, and they even went to watch a movie together. Lu Xiaoping naturally made a big fuss about it, and for several days now, the two of them would quarrel whenever they met.

  "Brother Zhēng." Lù Xiǎopíng wiped away her tears and greeted him. Although Brother Zhēng had fallen, she herself had such a good job thanks to him, and all along, no matter how bad her attitude was in the past, he was especially kind to her, helping her whenever he could. People are all born with a conscience, and now Lù Xiǎopíng truly regarded Lù Zhēng as her own brother, and she didn't feel so cold about human relationships anymore.

  Zhang Weimin rolled his eyes and looked at Lu Zhong, forcing out a greeting: "Director Lu."

  Lu Zhong nodded at him and turned his head to talk to Ma Cuihong. The little couple was having a tiff, he wouldn't ask more questions.

  Who would have thought that Lu Xiaoping's brothers were not around, and Lu Zhong came. She felt like she had a backing now, just like her own brother. Wiping away tears, she said: "Zhongzi brother, Zhang Weimin is not a good person. On the one hand, he's dealing with me as his object, on the other hand, he's unclear about his relationship with female colleagues in the public security bureau. Brother, don't you think this is a problem with his style?"

  Zhang Weimin's face slightly flushed, he pulled down Lu Xiaoping's arm, with some anger, "Don't quarrel randomly outside, are you not thinking of me finishing this or what?"

  "This isn't an outsider, it's all my family! Zhēngzi (brother) is just like my own brother! You used to run errands for him before, didn't you? If he were still in Guǎngníng now, would you dare spend money like this? He would have already scolded you, it's a matter of style and character!"

  Zhang Weimin was so angry that he couldn't take it anymore, and being scolded by her in front of so many people made him even more furious. Suddenly, "slap", he slapped Lu Xiaoping's face, and then both of them were stunned.

  Lu Xiaoping covered her face and stared at him in surprise.

  "What are you doing hitting my little Ping? You bastard!" Ma Cuihong was furious, she had always been gentle, but the characteristic of rural women is to protect their children, especially their most beloved daughter, being beaten by her fiancé in front of her own eyes? And with outsiders present, did her daughter still want to save face? Did she herself still want to save face?

  Ma Cuihong picked up the broom and swept it towards Zhang Weimin, "Get out, get out, don't come looking for our Xiaoping again, you inhuman thing!"

  "Auntie, listen to my explanation, I didn't do it on purpose... Ahh!" Zhang Weimin dodged and weaved but still got hit a few times. The pain made him stretch out his hand to grab the broom, but he accidentally almost pulled Ma Cuihong down. Ma Cuihong stumbled, luckily being caught by Lu Zheng who reacted quickly.

  "What's wrong with you?!" Lu Zhong, who was already confused by this sudden change, was getting a bit angry. No matter what, he should have been more careful around the elderly. If he hadn't reacted quickly, Aunt Cuihong would have really gotten hurt.

  Zhang Weimin's heart was also guilty, but it had already come to this, and he didn't know how to end it. He felt that things with Lu Xiaoping were over anyway, and recently, he had been liking the new colleague Xiao Zhang more. Since it had come to this, he might as well be ruthless and speak coarsely: "What's going on? I didn't do it on purpose, what's wrong?!"

  But his eyes flickered, and he didn't dare to meet Lu Zhong's gaze. Although he knew that Lu Zhong had fallen and might even have to go to prison, in front of this former "Director Lu", he still felt a little intimidated and afraid.

  Gao Yanyan frowned and said: "You little comrade, are you from the Public Security Bureau here?"

  "Yes, what's wrong?" Zhang Weimin looked up at Gao Yanyan with a disgruntled expression.

  Lu Zhong had already left the Guangning public security system for almost a year, but at this time, he couldn't help feeling that his former subordinate's behavior was a great shame, and wondered how it could bring honor to himself.

  Suddenly seeing this foolish appearance, Zeng Jiang walked up two steps, his face cold and scolding: "Your bureau chief is Ma Yuewu, right? How does he manage you all? This is the high-ranking official from the Municipal Organization Department and the newly appointed Magistrate of Luchuan County, Lu Xian. What are you doing in Magistrate Lu's home? Beating people? Or beating Magistrate Lu's mother? Is this still a public security bureau? It seems that Ma Yuewu has also reached his limit!"

  Zhang Weimin was scolded and turned around, not showing weakness on his face, retorting: "Who the hell are you? Our Ma Bureau..." Suddenly he froze, recalling the meaning of Zeng Jiang's words.

  "What's going on with Director Gao? And County Head Lu?" Zhang Weimin looked suspiciously at Gao Yanyan and Lu Zheng.

  Zeng Jiang waved his hand, "You, hurry up and get out, go find Ma Yuewu to admit your mistakes. As for Ma Yuewu's problem, the organization will investigate."

  Zhang Weimin vaguely knew that he might have gotten into trouble and naturally couldn't stay any longer, so he hurriedly mumbled something and quickly ran away.

  Ma Cuihong scolded Zhang Weimin for being ungrateful, saying she had treated him like a half-son and he had forgotten her kindness. Lu Zhong could only persuade from the side, "You're old now, don't get angry and hurt your body."

  It was Lu Xiaoping who, after all, worked outside and quickly wiped away her tears, saying: "Mom, Zhēngzi brother is here, look at the guests, don't say these things, it's embarrassing."

  Lu Zhong said: "Yes, auntie, don't get angry for him, calm down and have dinner with Xiaoping later. I'm going to Qinglong, just passing by to see you. It's getting late, we'll leave now. Next time you go to Qinglong, my brother's place, give me a message. Give me my brother's address, when I arrive in Qinglong and get a contact number, I'll pass it on to him."

  "What are you going to Qinglong for?" Ma Cuihong asked with concern, and then said: "Your brother and sister-in-law are all good, if you have something to do in Qinglong, you should find them." Lu Xiaoping and Ma Cuihong were both emotionally excited just now, and Zeng Jiang's speech was also fast, so they didn't hear clearly what Zeng Jiang said.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "I'm going to Qinglong to be the county magistrate."

  Ma Cuihong was stunned for a moment, and then helplessly said: "You kid..." She felt that the older Zuo got, the more he loved to joke around, but seeing him still as cheerful as before, she couldn't help but feel slightly relieved.

  Ma Cuihong saw that Lu Zhong seemed to be in a hurry, so she didn't detain him. She let Lu Xiaoping write down the work unit and home address of his eldest brother and sister-in-law in Qinglong, and handed it over to Lu Zhong.

  Lu Zhong glanced over, his older brother Lu Xueyou was a worker at the canning factory of Qinglong County Food Company, and his sister-in-law Ai Fang was an employee of the reception office of Qinglong County Committee.

  Lu Xiaoping followed Lu Zhong and others out, but asked: "Zhongzi brother, did you really go to Qinglong as the county head? Is it the main one or the deputy?" She had more contact with Lu Zhong than her mother, understood Lu Zhong better, knew that Lu Zhong was very capable, if he really went to Qinglong to be the county head, she wouldn't feel surprised.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "Exactly." Lu Xiaoping was a child at home, so there was no need to introduce her to Gao Yanyan and Zeng Jiang.

  Lu Xiaoping was overjoyed: "I knew those rumors about you going to jail were false." However, she could tell that Gao Yanyan and Zeng Jiang seemed to be high-ranking officials, so she was a bit restrained, but in her heart, she was truly delighted - Brother Zhēng's official position was getting bigger and bigger.

  Lu Xiaoping saw the three of them off to the entrance of the alley, and then she also saw the black sedan with a curved streamline that was shining with metallic luster under the sun outside the alley. There were also three people standing beside the car, Jiao Lei, Zhou Daqing and Zhang Weimin, all of whom she knew.

  She also saw Zhang Weimin smiling and trying to approach him, but Lu Zhong and others had already gotten into the car. Then, the car turned around, Zhang Weimin dodged and bowed his head with his hands in front of his forehead, as if saluting, saying something, but from the outside, it was impossible to see what was going on inside the car.

  A black sedan pulled up beside Lu Xiaoping and stopped, the window rolled down to reveal Lu Zhong's smiling face: "Xiaoping, let's head back. You can come play at Qinglong another time."

  Lu Xiaoping hesitantly agreed, and the sedan immediately drove away. Zhang Weimin only then came running over, panting, looking at the car that was gradually disappearing into the distance, his face as ugly as could be.

  Just came out and saw Jiao Ye and Zhou Daqing, with a very stylish car parked beside them. Zhang Weimin came over to chat for a couple of sentences, but suddenly it was like a bolt from the blue. From Jiao Ye's mouth, I found out that Lu Zhong not only didn't fall from power, but instead got promoted to be the county head of Qinglong County, and the woman who accompanied him was actually the deputy director of the municipal party committee's organization department.

  Next, Zhang Weimin was in a daze, and even he himself didn't know what he was doing. He only knew that he had gotten into big trouble and needed to think of a way to make up for it.

  Until he watched the sedan disappear, Zhang Weimin's three souls and seven spirits seemed to have returned gradually. He was so regretful that he couldn't help but give himself a big slap on the head, what was the point of running wildly after the car like an idiot?

  Then, Zhang Weimin saw Lu Xiaoping shaking hands and preparing to go home. Zhang Weimin's eyes lit up, and he hurried over. He was about to speak when Lu Xiaoping's face sank, saying: "Zhang Weimin, if you don't want me to mention your name every day in front of Zhengzi, then get out of here!" After finishing speaking, she turned around and left with quick steps.

  The corner of her eye glanced at Zhang Weimin behind her, whose good deed was almost peeing his pants, and Lu Xiaoping only felt an unspeakable relief in her heart.