Chapter 10 Raging Waves
In August 1992, on an ordinary day, fine rain with a hint of coolness was falling on the southern city of Jiangchuan. It was almost the beginning of autumn, and the air was getting more and more humid. The hot and long summer in Hunan seemed to be over, but the mature and rich autumn was still far away.

On such a drizzling day, if there is nothing urgent, people would rather stay indoors all day. Therefore, the streets and alleys of Jiangchuan City are much less noisy than usual, and some government agencies are even more idle. Often, a newspaper and a cup of strong tea are enough to spend the whole day.

Of course, Jiangchuan City Public Security Bureau is not among them.

As an agency system responsible for maintaining social order and preventing and investigating crimes, the Jiangchuan Municipal Public Security Bureau is extremely busy every day, especially some grassroots police officers, such as Xiao Zhao, who is in charge of reception. She had just started work today and had not yet eaten the soy milk and fried dough sticks she bought when a young man ran in.

At that time, Xiao Zhao was frightened by the appearance of this young man. He was pale, ragged, his hair was covered with dust, and his clothes were stuck with pieces of black dirt. Especially his left trouser leg was torn, and the flesh inside could be faintly seen. The trousers had been stained dark brown with blood, which was shocking to see.

Xiao Zhao immediately went up to him and said, "Young man, are you here to report a crime at the police station?"

The boy shook his head and said, "I'm looking for Ji Zhong."

After a pause, he continued, "I am his nephew, my name is Zhang Yunqi."

Ji Zhong is the deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, a high-ranking official. Xiao Zhao did not dare to neglect this young man who claimed to be the deputy director's nephew, but he was a little unsure of the truth of his words, so he poured him a cup of hot water and said, "Wait a minute, I'll call you."

Zhang Yunqi nodded and said thank you.

Not long after leaving, Xiao Zhao came back with a warm smile on her face: "Young man, please come this way. Director Ji is waiting for you in the office."

Zhang Yunqi immediately stood up and said, "Please lead the way."

Arriving at Ji Zhong's office, he knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Zhang Yunqi pushed the door open and walked in. The office was quite large, with a layout that bore traces of the old times. There was a large crimson bookcase at the back. Ji Zhong was sitting in an office chair reviewing official documents. When he saw Zhang Yunqi, even though he had been immersed in officialdom for many years and had good self-control, he was startled for a moment. He stood up and said, "Xiao Zhang, what's wrong with you?"

Zhang Yunqi tried to speak calmly: "Uncle Ji, I'm fine. This happened because people from the Fengyang County Tobacco Control Office blocked us in Zoujiaao last night."

Ji Zhong frowned, "Did the Tobacco Control Office block you?"

Zhang Yunqi nodded: "Yes, my brother has been captured by them. When I escaped, I accidentally fell and got a little injured."

Last night, after he rolled down the mountain road, the people from the Tobacco Management Office chased him for seven or eight miles. He ran so hard that his lungs were about to explode, and he finally jumped into the river to escape.

After climbing ashore, he thought for a long time. Now his elder brother had been captured and the situation was urgent. He had to worry that people from Fengyang County Tobacco Control Office would go to Yunxi Village to capture him. His mother had a bad heart and she didn't know what might happen if she knew his elder brother had been captured!

Unfortunately, his family was poor and he couldn't find a relative who could handle this matter. Finally, after thinking about it, he thought of Ji Zhong. At the moment, only Ji Zhong could help him turn the tide!
So he dragged his injured leg and walked to Fengyang County, not daring to go into the city. He stopped a car on the side of the road and then came to the Jiangchuan City Public Security Bureau.

Zhang Yunqi knew that this was not what Ji Zhong wanted to hear. What Ji Zhong wanted to hear was how the Tobacco Control Office arrested his two brothers last night, so he told Ji Zhong everything that happened.

Ji Zhong pondered for a while before saying, "Now the whole country is vigorously promoting the development of market economy. Logically speaking, your market economy behavior cannot be simply characterized as speculation. The government generally does not encourage or oppose it. After all, it has contributed to the prosperity of the local economy. If there are no special circumstances, the Fengyang County Tobacco Control Office will not do such a thing, right?"

As expected of an official, he pointed out the key to the problem in one sentence. When the incident happened last night, Zhang Yunqi thought that someone was retaliating behind his back. The first person who popped into his mind was Zhao Siping!

Since his rebirth, I can't say how good a person he is, but he is basically kind to others. The only person he has a conflict with is Zhao Siping. Zhao Siping has repeatedly threatened to retaliate against him. In addition, his brother is Zhao Qiren, the director of the Tobacco Control Office, so it is very likely that he did it.

Zhang Yunqi did not hide anything and told Ji Zhong all about his grievances and speculations with Zhao Siping. After listening to it, Ji Zhong had already made up his mind about the matter. Zhang Yunqi came to him, and he must have hoped that he would come forward to solve this troublesome matter. However, he did not say that he would help, nor did he say that he would not help. He took a sip of the teacup and asked, "Xiao Zhang, how old are you this year?"

"16."

"You are so young."

"Uncle Ji, do you want to say that I am childish?"

Ji Zhong thought that this young man was quite straightforward and said with a smile: "You can't say that. In fact, I can feel that you are a very smart young man."

Zhang Yunqi was not stupid enough to think that Ji Zhong was praising him. It was obvious that there was something else behind his words. However, at the moment, his mind was full of the safety of his eldest brother who was captured. He really didn't want to beat around the bush with Ji Zhong, so he said, "Uncle Ji, if you have anything to say, just say it directly."

Ji lit a cigarette, leaned back in his chair, and said with a smile: "Xiao Zhang, you started selling flue-cured tobacco in early July, right? During this period, you and my daughter have a very good relationship."

"Yes." Zhang Yunqi did not deny it.

"You know what? I was a criminal police officer. When I was young, I was on the brink of life and death. So my family is the most important thing to me. Ji Ling is my only daughter. I hate it when people use my daughter to build relationships!" At this point, the smile on Ji Zhong's face disappeared. He stared at Zhang Yunqi and said, "Let's leave it at that. I believe the Fengyang County Tobacco Control Office will handle it."

Zhang Yunqi did not shy away from the question: "Uncle Ji, Ji Ling and I are good friends, pure good friends. Even if you are unwilling to help me, you don't have to doubt this."

"That's good, maybe I'm overthinking it."

Ji Zhong picked up the phone on the desk: "Xiao Zhang, you have an injury on your leg. I'll ask the driver to take you to the hospital."

This is an eviction order.

Zhang Yunqi has realized that if he leaves this office, it will be difficult for him to see Ji Zhong again, let alone rescue his elder brother who has been captured.

It must be said that the old ones are the wisest. After all, he is facing an adult who has been immersed in the officialdom for many years. There is no right or wrong in the adult world, only interests! This sentence cannot be said to be universally applicable, but it is applicable in certain situations, such as at this moment.

Ji Zhong won’t release the eagle unless he sees the rabbit!

Thinking of this, Zhang Yunqi said to Ji Zhong: "I just got a minor injury, no need to go to the hospital, Uncle Ji, I have something else I want to talk to you about."

Ji Zhong didn't expect Zhang Yunqi to insist. This was not something a smart young man should do. He smiled and put down the phone: "It is still necessary to go to the hospital for a check-up, but you can tell me the matter first."

Zhang Yunqi took out a newspaper from his pocket, put it on the desk in front of Ji Zhong, and said, "Uncle Ji, have you been investigating this case recently?"

Ji Zhong glanced at Zhang Yunqi before picking up the newspaper on the table. The front-page headline of the newspaper was about a high school girl who was raped and murdered in Jiangchuan City some time ago. The police have initially identified the suspect in this case, but have not caught him yet. The criminal seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth.

This case is a rare major criminal case of female student abuse in Jiangchuan City in recent years, which has caused a very bad impact on the society. The Municipal Party Committee has ordered the Municipal Public Security Bureau to catch the suspect within ten days. As the deputy director in charge of criminal investigation, Ji Zhong is under great pressure. If he cannot give an explanation to the Municipal Party Committee and the people of the city as soon as possible, it is very likely to affect his career. But what he doesn't quite understand is what does Zhang Yunqi mean by suddenly mentioning this case?
Ji Zhong shifted his gaze from the newspaper to Zhang Yunqi's face and asked, "What do you think about this case?"

Zhang Yunqi said: "I have no idea, but I know where the murderer is hiding."

"what?"

Ji Zhong's pupils suddenly contracted!
******
(End of this chapter)