Siheyuan: Sizhu starts blindly and takes a new path

Chapter 262 Zhao Hongcheng Knows What Happened

Let’s go back to a month ago, when the police went to the hospital to investigate Bang Geng, another person involved in the incident, Fu Xiaoqiu, had been limping to work for many days.

Zhao Hongcheng was about to go to a meeting with his briefcase when he ran into Fu Xiaoqiu limping towards him. The young man's usual upright posture was gone, and his right leg was obviously not strong enough, and the corners of his mouth twitched with every step he took.

"Hey, what's wrong with Master Fu?" Zhao Hongcheng pushed his gold-rimmed glasses with a playful smile on his face, "Did you upset Master Fu again?" He deliberately moved closer to Fu Xiaoqiu and lowered his voice, "Could it be because you drank the old man's good wine?"

Fu Xiaoqiu's face turned pale, and he subconsciously took a half step back. His right leg went weak and he almost fell down. He held onto the wall and forced a smile: "Director Zhao, you are joking. I... I fell down while exercising..."

Zhao Hongcheng narrowed his eyes behind his glasses. He noticed that when Fu Xiaoqiu said this, his fingers unconsciously grabbed the hem of his Zhongshan suit - this was a small move he made when he was lying. What was even more suspicious was that Fu Xiaoqiu's eyes were erratic and she never dared to look him in the eye.

"Oh, so that's how it is. By the way, you haven't told me the result of the fight between Li Yuanchao and Jia Geng last time." Zhao Hongcheng asked casually, and suddenly reached out and patted Fu Xiaoqiu's right leg, "Let me see where you're hurt?"

"Li Yuanchao... stop!" Fu Xiaoqiu dodged as if he was scalded, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead. This extreme reaction made Zhao Hongcheng's heart skip a beat - this didn't seem like an injury caused by ordinary corporal punishment.

There were footsteps at the end of the corridor, and Fu Xiaoqiu was relieved: "Director Zhao, I have something else to do..." and was about to slip away.

Zhao Hongcheng grabbed his arm with such force that Fu Xiaoqiu grimaced in pain. He leaned close to the young man's ear and spoke in a voice as gentle as a venomous snake: "Xiaoqiu, has Li Zhenhua...looked for your father recently?"

Fu Xiaoqiu's pupils suddenly contracted, and his lips trembled and he couldn't speak. This reaction completely confirmed Zhao Hongcheng's guess. He let go of her hand, and with a smile, he straightened Fu Xiaoqiu's collar: "Give my regards to Commander Fu."

In the office of the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry, Zhao Hongcheng held the telephone receiver, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the desk. The dusk outside the window gradually deepened, casting a half-bright and half-dark shadow on his profile.

"Lao Chen, it's me." He lowered his voice and asked, "How is Qin Huairu these days?"

Director Chen from the Equipment Department's voice echoed over the phone: "Director Zhao, she asked for sick leave because her son was injured in a fight and she needs to take care of him..."

Zhao Hongcheng frowned, and the tip of his pen spread a blob of ink on the note paper: "Is the injury serious? Which hospital is he in?"

"I heard he is in the People's Hospital." Director Chen's voice suddenly became unclear, "However... there have been many strangers in the steel mill these past two days, and some have even come to the factory to retrieve files..."

The pen broke in Zhao Hongcheng's hand with a "snap". He smiled calmly and said, "Really? What file did you call?"

"I don't know about that. I don't manage the archives department. They have been ordered to shut up." Director Chen hesitated, "Director Zhao, the new equipment our factory applied for..."

"Let's put it aside for now." Zhao Hongcheng suddenly hung up the phone, veins popping out on his forehead. "Pa!" He slapped himself, "Why would I be so obsessed as to instigate a fight between Li Yuanchao and Jia Geng? This time, I've provoked a powerful enemy for the Zhao family."

Zhao Hongcheng picked up the phone again and called Zhao Hongying. After the call was connected, Zhao Hongcheng took a deep breath and his tone became unusually respectful: "Sister, it's me..."

"Hongcheng, what's the matter?"

Zhao Hongcheng's fingers twisted the telephone cord unconsciously: "Sister, I may have offended Li Zhenhua."

There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone. After a full half minute, Zhao Hongying finally spoke, her voice as cold as ice: "What exactly is going on?"

Zhao Hongcheng told Zhao Hongying about how he used the fight between Li Yuanchao and Jia Geng to vent his anger for Zhao Hongying, "Sister, the old man loves you the most, can you...?"

"Shut up! I asked you to vent my anger, not to provoke Li Yuanchao." Zhao Hongying suddenly lowered her voice, "Do you know what position Li Zhenhua has just been promoted to? Deputy Commander of the Military Region!" She almost squeezed out the rest of the words through her teeth.

Deputy Minister Zhao sat slumped on the Huanghuali armchair, his skinny fingers tightly gripping the receiver, veins popping out on the back of his hand. He dialed seven or eight numbers in succession, his voice trembling every time he spoke:

&34;Lao Zhou... is me... the one who doesn't do well in my family...&34;

&34;Political Commissar Li...what do you think about this matter...&34;

"Chief of Staff Wang, we have known each other for many years..."

After each call, the old man would cough violently, and a layer of thick phlegm with blood soon accumulated in the spittoon. Secretary Xiao Zhang stood by with medicine in his hand, but did not dare to disturb him - he had never seen the old leader lose his composure like this.

After more than a dozen phone calls, Vice Minister Zhao finally stopped. He closed his eyes and said in a very soft voice: "Wait and see if these old guys can help."

Finally someone replied. Commander Wan said that he and Li Zhenhua had agreed that Li Zhenhua would not pursue the matter any further. They should find a place to sit down this Sunday and the Zhao family should apologize properly.

Li Zhenhua stood in front of the window of the military district office, with his back to the door and his hands behind his back. Outside the window were soldiers training on the playground, and neat slogans could be heard faintly. He stared at the national flag fluttering in the distance, his eyes colder than the north wind.

"Commander, the Zhao family's gift list has arrived," Secretary Wang reported quietly, holding a gold-stamped envelope in his hand, "In addition to the usual cigarettes and alcohol, there is also..."

"Just leave it there," Li Zhenhua interrupted without turning his head.

Secretary Wang put down the envelope and was about to leave when he suddenly heard a crisp "click" sound - the Hero fountain pen in the chief's hand was broken, and the ink splashed on the officer's woolen coat like a pool of blood.

&34;Chief...&34;

"Go check Zhao Hongcheng's recent actions in the Ministry of Industry." Li Zhenhua turned around with a gentle smile on his face, "Find out who brought out the evidence against Li Huaide, and also check Zhao Hongying."

After Secretary Wang left, Li Zhenhua took out a file from the safe. He opened the first page and found a copy of Banggeng's medical record. The diagnosis of "splenectomy" was glaringly red. He gently stroked the photo on the second page - it was a photo of Li Yuanchao when he was a child. If he hadn't been lucky, his son would have really become a murderer. Not to mention his own promotion, his son would have lost his life. Would this be forgiven by just apologizing and paying compensation? If it really was forgiven, anyone could step on the Li family in the future.

"Zhao Hongcheng..." He whispered the name and suddenly took out a military dagger from the drawer. He placed the tip of the knife against the Zhao family gift list and slowly cut a hole in it.

The phone suddenly rang. Li Zhenhua picked it up and heard the hearty laughter of General Wan: "Old Li, on Sunday at Zhengyanglou..."

"I will be there on time," Li Zhenhua replied with a smile.