A small matter in the countryside

  "Hello, who is it?"

  "Zhū Gāngjiàn, how many kilos of fake liquor did you drink at noon? You dare to argue with the municipal bureau leaders! I think you've worn this police uniform for long enough! If you want to be unlucky, don't drag me down with you! Song Bureau said so, and now we're going to the county for inspection work. You wait, if I get reprimanded, I'll definitely not let you off!"

  A storm of scolding came from the phone receiver, it was the voice of County Bureau Director Zhou, Zhu Gangjian's chubby face turned red and white in an instant, wiping sweat with a handkerchief non-stop, all the wine had come out.

  Put down the phone, Zhu saw Liu Ziguang still wearing handcuffs, suddenly furious: "What are you doing? Open the handcuffs quickly!"

  The joint defense team members looked at each other in dismay, not knowing which verse Zhu was singing. They hesitated and opened the handcuffs. Only then did Zhu's expression change, and he stretched out his two hands to shake hands with Liu Ziguang: "Ah, sorry about that, I didn't know you were Director Song's friend, it was a misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding, haha."

  Liu Ziguang also smiled and said: "Zhu was too polite, it's also my fault, I was in a hurry and didn't make myself clear."

  Zhu Zong's hearty slap on the thigh: "Ah, no need for polite words, we're all family here. Tonight at Dahe Wine House, I'll treat you to dinner."

  Liu Ziguang smiled and pulled out a cigarette for Zhu Suo, lit it for him, and gestured to Ma Chao to offer cigarettes to the joint defense team members. After everyone lit up, the atmosphere had become quite harmonious.

  "Director Zhu is too polite, I'll definitely come tonight, about my brother Wang Zhijun's matter, you see..."

  Zhu Zongchang furrowed his brow and said seriously, "I wasn't around the office for a while, so I'm not very clear about some things. Let me put it this way: after I've reviewed the case files, I'll give you a satisfactory answer right away."

  Liu Ziguang nodded and said: "Alright then, I'll trouble Director Zhu with this."

  "It's all our own people here." Zhu Suo Chang politely asked Liu Ziguang to sit down and have some tea, but he declined with a smile, and took Ma Chao, Zhang Jun and Wang Zhijun's brother-in-law downstairs from the police station.

  Back in the car, Ma Chao said with a puzzled expression: "Just now he was still arrogant and wanted to catch us, how did he become one of our own people in the blink of an eye? Zhu Suo's face really changed quickly."

  Liu Ziguang smiled and said: "We have someone upstairs, of course it's our own person. If we didn't make that call, probably several of us would have to spend the night in the cell."

  Wang Zhijun's brother-in-law couldn't contain his excitement and asked: "Big Brother, do you really know the leaders of the Municipal Bureau?"

  Liu Ziguang said lightly: "Mm, a bit of coming and going."

  "That's great, my second brother can finally come out."

  Liu Ziguang smiled and nodded: "That's for sure." He took out 300 yuan again and gave it to Ma Chao, "Go buy two purple Nanjing and send them over to them."

  Ma Chao's eyes widened in surprise: "Aren't we superior to them, why do we still need to give them cigarettes?"

  "One code for one code, you really don't understand, just follow brother's words and it will be fine." Liu Ziguang said.

  "Who can make you spend money, I'll do it!" Brother-in-law pressed Liu Ziguang's hand holding the money, insisting on paying himself, but he couldn't win over Liu Ziguang. Ma Chao took the money and quickly got off the car and ran away, buying two packs of cigarettes at a tobacco hotel next to the police station and wrapping them in newspaper to send upstairs.

  Five minutes later, Ma Chao came down, with a look of disdain on his face: "Those little brats from the joint defense team really have the nerve, just give it to them."

  Liu Ziguang said: "It's a good thing if he is willing to take it. If I'm not mistaken, Zhijun will come out soon."

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, five minutes later, Wang Zhijun appeared at the gate of the police station with a bundle on his back. He looked much thinner than when he was in Zhi Cheng Garden and his spirit was also very weak.

  The four doors of the Jetta car opened at the same time, and four people walked out to meet Wang Zhi-jun. Wang Zhi-jun's eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over, his hands tightly grasping Liu Zi-guang's hand, his voice choked with emotion: "Brother Liu!"

  "Hello, Brother-in-law, Zhang Jun, Ma Chao."

  Liu Ziguang reached out and took over the quilt roll on Wang Zhijun's back, waving his big hand: "Nothing's wrong, go home!"

  ……

  Drive back to Zhu Wangzhuang, see King Daign standing at the door with her head raised in expectation from a distance. The Jetta drove all the way to the front, the car door opened, and Wang Zhijun rushed out, shouting "Mother!" with tears in his eyes.

  "Second child, you're back." Wang's wife couldn't believe her eyes, her hands trembling with uncertainty. Country folk aren't good at expressing their excitement, so she simply turned around and shouted towards the courtyard: "Old man, second child is back!"

  Principal Wang and Sister Wang heard the shouting, hastily ran out of the yard, and indeed saw Wang Zhijun standing alive in front of them. Principal Wang was so excited that he couldn't speak, and Sister Wang quietly took off her glasses and wiped away tears.

  The joyful noise startled the old Zhu family next door, and a window on the second floor opened, revealing a chubby, ruddy face that looked over suspiciously. Liu Ziguang noticed this person, pointed at him with his finger, and gave a fierce laugh.

  No matter what Old Zhu's family thinks, they first welcomed Wang Zhijun into their home. Several men moved stools to sit down and smoke while discussing matters. Wang Danni and Wang Dasao were busy preparing dinner, today is the good day that Erhai regained his freedom, so everyone must have a good drink.

  Wang Zhijun puffed on his cigarette and recounted what had happened to him after he was taken away. It wasn't too bad, just being locked up without being released. He heard that the Zhu family had pulled some strings to keep him in for another two days and fine him some more money, to take down a notch the prestige of the Wang family. If Liu Ziguo hadn't come, who knows how many more days he would have been locked up.

  In the remote and impoverished countryside of Dahexiang, the village chief is like an emperor, and the head of the police station is like a local tyrant. As long as things don't get out of hand, nothing will happen. Moreover, disputes over homestead land are common in rural areas and are often unclear and hard to resolve. If the police intervene, it's hard to say who's right or wrong. The cost and outcome of appealing to higher authorities may not be better than silently enduring, so most of the time, villagers choose to tolerate.

  Luckily, Liu Ziguang knew the leader of the municipal bureau. With just one phone call, without even saying anything, the problem was solved. The case was closed and although it was impossible to cancel the detention record, the person was released on the spot. The fine was also dropped.

  The son was rescued by Liu Ziguang, Principal Wang was very excited, with tears streaming down his face, and thanked him repeatedly. Wang Zhijun's eyes were also shining brightly, holding Liu Ziguang's hand and saying: "Liu Ge, no need to say anything else, I don't have a brother, from now on you are my own brother!"

  Liu Ziguang also grasped his hand tightly and said, "Good brother, no need to say more. When we were standing guard at the entrance of the community, I knew you were a kind-hearted person. This younger brother of mine, I accept him!"

  Principal Wang continued: "Second child, you won't dare to fight again in the future. This time, you lost because of Liu Ge's help. Next time, it won't be so easy."

  "Father, must we endure having someone with the surname Zhu squatting over our heads and defecating?"

  Principal Wang waved his hand: "Alas, bear with it for a while and the storm will pass, take a step back and the sea and sky will be vast. It's not that I'm spoiling you, but really can't win against others. You're our only child, if something happens to you, just listen to your father this once."

  Wang Zhijun was puffed up and didn't speak, Liu Ziguang chuckled and advised: "Master Wang, Zhijun, you two don't need to be angry, what's Zhu's family anyway? I'll deal with them later, absolutely one reform, never again."

  As they chatted, the sky turned dark. Sister Wang went out and bought five catties of pork, two fish, and two bottles of Yanghe Daqu wrapped in paper boxes. Mother Wang also prepared two chickens, some green vegetables and tofu at home. The kitchen was filled with the aroma of wine and meat, a rustic and authentic farmhouse dish that made people's fingers move involuntarily.

  But Liu Ziguang took out his mobile phone and looked at it for a moment, saying: "You guys eat first, I'll go take care of something. Ma Chao, drive the car and follow me."

  As soon as he heard this, Principal Wang became anxious, and Wang's wife also ran out of the kitchen with a rolling pin in her hand: "This child, why don't you stay for dinner? I've made fried eggs and pancakes."

  Liu Ziguang said: "Never mind, leave the wine for me and come back to drink it later."

  Unable to dissuade him, he could only watch as Liu and Ma Chao drove away. Wang Zhi-Jun curiously asked Zhang Jun: "Where is Big Brother Liu going?"

  "We had an appointment with Director Zhu at the police station for a drink, how can we miss it?" Zhang Jun replied.

  ……

  It wasn't until midnight that the Jieda car returned to Zhuwangzhuang, and Old Wang's family was still awake, waiting for Liu Ziguang. The car door opened, and a strong smell of alcohol wafted out. Ma Chao jumped out of the driver's seat to help Liu Ziguang, but he waved his hand to stop him.

  "Seven or eight people wanted to take me down, and they still owe me some." Liu Ziguang got out of the car, his footsteps slightly floating, but his eyes were crystal clear.

  "How much did you drink?" Principal Wang asked with concern.

  "At least three catties, no less! The police station sent eight people, and we had Brother Guang alone. Twelve bottles of mouthful cellar wine in iron boxes, Brother Guang drank with each of them one by one, and finally they all ended up under the table, while Brother Guang was fine," Ma Chao still had an excited and worshiping look on his face when talking about the fierce battle at the dinner table earlier.

  "This child, how can he drink so much, his body is going to be ruined." Wang's wife was heartbroken and rushed into the kitchen to boil some hot water.

  Liu Ziguang, however, seemed to be in a good mood, walked into the main room and sat down on a chair. He called Wang Zhijun over and said: "Zhijun, everything has been arranged at the police station. Tomorrow I'll have someone come over to clean up. If we don't beat those four bastards surnamed Zhu, I won't withdraw my troops."

  Wang Zhijun was deeply moved, Liu Ge risked his life to drink with those guys for his sake, having such a loyal brother is simply the blessing of one's past life.

  "Brother, you sit down and I'll go get some hot tea for you to sober up."

  Wang Zhi-jun was holding a cup of hot tea, Ma Chao was carrying a basin of water from the kitchen, but saw Liu Zi-guang sitting in a chair, already snoring loudly and fast asleep.

  The whole family suddenly fell silent, and Wang Danni took out the bed sheets and quilts she had prepared for her son's wedding from the cabinet, spread them on the kang in the main room, and several people helped Liu Ziguang take off his shoes and outerwear, and lifted him onto the bed with a flurry of hands.

  ……

  "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" A loud crowing of a rooster woke Liu Ziguang from his dream, and before he knew it, the night had passed and the sky was bright. He couldn't remember how much wine he had drunk the night before, but he did recall that he and Old Zhu from the police station had become sworn brothers, just like real siblings. These local tyrants weren't people who could be easily intimidated or bought off; they needed to know their place. Anyway, Liu Ziguang's boasts had been so over-the-top that he had thoroughly impressed Director Zhu and the others, and from now on, the Wang family would no longer be bullied in the village like they were last time.

  Got out of bed, put on shoes and walked to the door, a gust of fresh air hit my face, the emerald green grass leaves were covered with sparkling dew drops, the fragrance of the mud was refreshing, the chimney of Wang's kitchen was still smoking, and the sound of pulling the bellows came from inside, it seemed that Mrs. Wang got up even earlier than me.

  As I walked to the door, I found that the Jetta car parked outside had been completely renovated. The mud was wiped clean, and the white paint surface was spotless and shiny. Looking back, Wang Zhijun was holding a cloth, rubbing the body of the car with great effort.

  "Zhi-jun, you're up so early," said Liu Zi-guang.

  "Brother, I couldn't sleep, so I got up to wash the car."

  "Hmm, can't sleep? That's good. Today we settle our scores and grudges. You go ahead with your business first, I'll make a phone call."

  Saying that, Liu Ziguang took out his mobile phone and first dialed a number for General Gao.

  "Hello Gao Zong, I'm Liu Ziguo, something came up these past few days and I need to take a leave of absence, just giving you a heads up."

  Gao's attitude was as usual: "Nothing's wrong, you just focus on your work, everything is normal in the company."

  Make another call to the security captain under him, now both captains of the Zhicheng Garden Security Department were promoted by Liu Ziguang and listened to his words, not paying attention to Captain Bai.

  "Little Li, gather the brothers, except for those on duty, bring everyone along and wait for my notice."

  "Alright, Liu Ge." came a prompt and cheerful response from the other end.

  "Hey Xiao Shuai, it's your brother Guang. Are you awake? If not, splash some cold water on your face! Listen up, I'm giving you an hour to gather all the brothers who can be reached. Meet at Zhi Cheng Garden, there's something that needs to be taken care of."

  "Brother, are we finally going to make a move on Old Fourth?"

  "Not Old Four, first move four small fish, for your brother Zhi Jun to vent."