Chapter 1266: The Dust Settles

Chen Shijie said to Wang Zhen and Zhao Fusheng with a pained expression.

Wang Zhen frowned. The village chief's son—he hadn't expected the mole to be the old village chief's son. The old man was upright, but he had fathered such a beast.

Zhao Fusheng was calm, not finding it strange. He had suspected earlier that the mole might have had contact with him; otherwise, how could he have passed accurate information to the drug dealers?

As for whether it was the village chief's son, Zhao Fusheng hadn't thought about it.

In such a remote and impoverished place, life was too hard. Selling others out for money was common.

Not to mention a place like this—even in big cities, how many could guarantee they'd stay true to themselves in the face of huge interests?

"By the way, how many were caught this time?" Zhao Fusheng asked Chen Shijie. He hadn't gone along. After the police and military arrived, aside from Zhang Qian acting as a guide, the Future Security people had stopped participating. So Zhao Fusheng wasn't clear on the specifics.

Chen Shijie sighed. "Drug dealers, plus their informants in the county town—dozens of scumbags. Honestly, when I saw those kidnapped women, I wanted to shoot those bastards!"

Zhao Fusheng and Wang Zhen exchanged glances. Neither spoke, but they could imagine the gang had done terrible things to those poor women.

"If you ask me, drug dealers and human traffickers should all be shot," Wang Zhen said indignantly.

Chen Shijie shook his head. "It's not that simple. Drug dealers are one thing—sentencing is complicated. As for traffickers, they're despicable, tearing families apart. But think: if our law made it a one-size-fits-all death penalty, wouldn't those already heartless traffickers kill the children? In other words, under the current system, at least the kids are alive..."

Wang Zhen was taken aback, then sighed and fell silent.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head helplessly. Chen Shijie's words might be somewhat biased, but there was some truth. Traffickers were already inhuman and devoid of conscience; if pushed to the wall, they might harm the children to save themselves.

"Alright, this matter is settled. You two can go back," Chen Shijie said to Zhao Fusheng and Wang Zhen.

He paused, then continued, "I'm planning to stay here."

"You?" Zhao Fusheng raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Why are you staying?"

He really hadn't expected Chen Shijie to stay in Xichuan, or rather, in Beitong County. Was the guy crazy? This was the poorest county in all of Xichuan.

Wang Zhen was also puzzled, but his reasoning differed from Zhao Fusheng's. He smiled at Chen Shijie. "Are you staying to continue investigating with the Provincial Public Security Department?"

He assumed Chen Shijie meant staying to work on the case.

After all, Chen Shijie was from the Public Security Supervision Bureau and the first police officer to investigate this case.

Chen Shijie shook his head seriously. "No, I've already reported to my superiors. I plan to stay in Beitong County. The situation here is complex, and I think this is my opportunity."

Though not very familiar with Wang Zhen, Chen Shijie trusted his character through recent interactions. As for Zhao Fusheng, their friendship spoke for itself.

"You want to start from the grassroots?"

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then quickly caught on and asked Chen Shijie.

He didn't understand the intricacies of officialdom, but he knew that Beitong County's current situation was a golden opportunity for many.

For example, if a rich man lost a thousand yuan, he might not care—it was a tiny fraction of his wealth. But if a poor man lost a thousand yuan, it would be catastrophic—it was all he had.

Chen Shijie had no connections. Cao Jianguo was in the Narcotics Control Bureau, high-ranking, but Chen Shijie was only a section-level cadre. Relying on Cao's patronage would take too long.

After all, having your future controlled by others was no long-term solution.

"Yes. Beitong's conditions are poor, but I think there's opportunity. If I achieve results, Director Cao can speak for me," Chen Shijie said through gritted teeth.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. From that perspective, Chen Shijie's thinking was correct.

Some people always felt they were pearls buried in dust, never appreciated. But why should others appreciate you? Why would those in power invest resources in you for no reason?

Was everyone your father?

The biggest problem with modern people was that they always demanded something without considering what they brought to the table.

To such people, Zhao Fusheng wanted to say just four words: "Have some shame!"

…

…

Everyone had the right to choose their own future. Zhao Fusheng respected Chen Shijie's choice.

On second thought, this move could benefit him. Since he planned to invest in Beitong County, having Chen Shijie in the political-legal system meant having an ally.

He didn't ask Chen Shijie to favor Future Group's business—just ensure a fair competitive environment.

Often, a fair environment was more useful than an insider. The latter could be defeated by stronger connections, while the former let everyone compete on their own merits.

Zhao Fusheng didn't hide this from Chen Shijie and told him on the spot.

Chen Shijie's eyes lit up. Having worked in ministry agencies and learned from his undercover stint, his intuition told him Zhao Fusheng had offered a great opportunity.

After all, what mattered most to a poor county like Beitong?

Economic development, of course.

The poorer a place, the stronger its desire for economic growth. If Chen Shijie could bring Zhao Fusheng, a major investor, to Beitong, it would boost the county's economy and add to his own political achievements.

Though from the police system, Chen Shijie knew that officials with labels like "economically savvy" and "capable" advanced faster in officialdom.

At just twenty-six, he was already a section-level cadre. His future was bright.

A week later, when everything had calmed down, Chen Shijie's new appointment came through.

Deputy Secretary of the Beitong County Political and Legal Affairs Committee and Director of the County Public Security Bureau.

He didn't get the top political-legal post because he was too young—promoted to section level only about a year ago, during his undercover mission. A deputy department-level promotion would violate organizational rules.

Chen Shijie himself admitted he needed time to hone himself.

Privately, he explained to Zhao Fusheng that the new Political and Legal Affairs Committee secretary was an old cadre nearing retirement. When the time came, he could step up naturally.

Zhao Fusheng had no objections. He planned to invest in Beitong County anyway. The only issue now was transportation.

And he intended to let Beitong County solve that itself.

…

…

"So you brought us all the way from the capital just to investigate a case?"

In a restaurant in Dongyang City, Jiang Wen and Yu Feihong stared at a sheepish Zhao Fusheng, their expressions priceless.

Wang Zhen had left earlier to teach at Dahong Village. Zhao Fusheng waited for the negotiation team Zheng Yao had sent and took the chance to explain everything to Yu Feihong and Jiang Wen.

Hearing the almost novel-like truth, both were dumbfounded.

"Yes, because someone from the Beitong County Public Security Bureau was involved in the case. Wang Zhen and I felt unsafe, so after much thought, I asked my high school classmate for help. He used to work in the Ministry of Public Security's Supervision Bureau," Zhao Fusheng said with a smile.

"That Xiao Chen?" Jiang Wen exhaled. "I thought he seemed odd. You said he was a partner interested in investing in movies, but I don't recall any investor like him in the industry."

"Exactly. I also found it strange—he always seemed mysterious," Yu Feihong nodded.

Neither had expected the quiet Xiao Chen to be a policeman, and that Zhao Fusheng and his college roommate had uncovered a drug trafficking ring to avenge a senior.

Thinking of this, Jiang Wen's eyes lit up. "Fusheng, I have an idea."

Zhao Fusheng was puzzled. Before he could speak, Yu Feihong laughed and said to Jiang Wen, "I know what you're thinking."

Now Zhao Fusheng was even more confused. What was with these two?