29. Never Let a Grudge See the Sunset

Upon hearing this, Xu Guodong immediately rolled up his sleeves, turned to his squad members, and shouted, "Did you hear that? You heard what Young Master Zhou said, right? Go and rally the men! Get everyone, and bring that truck from the courtyard too!"

The two officers behind him let out a roar and bolted to rouse the other squads. Captain Xu leaned in toward Zhou Hongyi and whispered, "I’m not sure who exactly Young Master Zhou intends to confront? What is the other party's status? Should we report this to the Commissioner beforehand?"

Zhou Hongyi figured Captain Xu was no fool, so he murmured, "A captain from the First Precinct, surname Ma. Bullying Fusheng is a slap in my face—it’s a slap in the face to our entire Second Precinct. Tell me, shouldn't we get even for this?"

Once Xu Guodong realized it was just a minor captain from another precinct—someone of equal rank whose background he was familiar with and who seemingly lacked any formidable backing—he knew the matter would be easy to handle.

"Young Master Zhou, just watch us. Men! Anyone not currently busy, grab your gear! We’re heading out for a scrap!"

When the word spread that Zhou Hongyi was looking for a fight and offering a pack of Three Cannons cigarettes to anyone who joined, with a hefty cash bonus for anyone who got injured, the Second Precinct erupted. Officers swarmed out in droves, clutching their batons with excited grins, as if competing for the chance to take a beating.

Xu Guodong even drove out the truck parked in the yard. The men piled on, rowdy and chaotic, while Zhou Hongyi sat in a separate sedan. Raising a cloud of dust, they sped directly toward the police station where Fusheng had previously worked.

The commotion outside caused Feng Jinxiong, who was trying to catch a nap in his office, to frown deeply. He rose from his sofa, threw open the door in annoyance, and cursed, "What the hell is going on? Can’t you all be quiet for one second?"

But after his outburst, he noticed the first-floor lobby of the station was completely empty. Where had all these bastards gone?

"Someone! Anyone! Is there anyone still alive here?"

Commissioner Feng shouted until his throat was raw. Only then did an old officer emerge from the archives, limping and carrying a baton.

"Commissioner... sir, they’ve all gone out. I wanted to follow, but my legs aren't what they used to be, and I missed the truck."

"Old Yan, you have polio, don't you? Where are you going with that baton?"

The old man in charge of the archives chuckled. "Squad Leader Zhou from the Special Operations Unit—Young Master Zhou—got bullied. He put out the word: anyone who goes to fill the ranks gets a pack of Three Cannons, and anyone who gets hurt gets a bonus. So, everyone followed him."

After saying this, Old Yan seemed to realize it sounded a bit improper and added, "Of course, we aren't going just for cigarettes and money. Someone bullied a brother from our Second Precinct, and that cannot stand. It’s an insult to you, Commissioner. We have to settle this score."

"What? They went to start a street brawl? Do they know what they’re doing? We are the police!"

By then, almost every officer from the Second Precinct had emptied out, cramming into the truck and charging toward the gates of the First Precinct. Of course, Zhou Hongyi wasn't foolish enough to start a fight without a plan; he had made a detour to No. 76 Jisi-Fier Road to send word to his brother-in-law.

Back at the First Precinct, a group of officers, still groggy from last night's drinking, were yawning over tea and newspapers. They gossiped about the girls they had met the night before and speculated on what the cafeteria would serve for lunch.

Ma Zhixin, Fusheng’s former captain, had no idea what was coming. He sat on his desk, boasting to his subordinates.

"Let me tell you, you haven't seen anything. The girls at the Half-Spring Garden are so tender you could squeeze water out of them! That was only because it was me; if anyone else had gone, they never would have brought out the best ones. Well? I didn't lie to you, did I?"

"Captain, you always have the most pull. Can we go again sometime? I drank a bit too much last night and didn't get my fill."

"Yeah, Captain, let's go again."

Ma Zhixin shook his head and said, "No problem. You all just show me some good work, land a few cases this week, and I'll take you again next week. Honestly, I didn't have my fill either. I ran into some idiot on the way out—what a bad omen!"

Hearing the word "idiot," his subordinates chimed in, "Yeah, that idiot Fusheng. Don't know what kind of luck he had to be specifically requested by the head of the Second Precinct's Special Operations Unit. I heard that squad leader is the brother-in-law of Director Ding at 76, and he even holds the title of Deputy Commissioner. He’s got quite a bit of power."

Ma Zhixin gave a disdainful smirk. "Director Ding’s brother-in-law? Bah! Don't flatter him. Director Ding probably can't even count how many women he has. Just because he’s a brother-in-law doesn't mean he can throw his weight around. The moment Ding finds a new favorite, this brother-in-law will be left out in the cold!"

"The Captain is right. He’s got no talent of his own; he only got that position through nepotism. Once his backer stops supporting him, he’s nothing!"

"Besides, only an idiot would recruit an idiot. If that Special Operations Unit is recruiting people like Fusheng, you can imagine what kind of useless sacks they must be."

"Hahaha!"

They laughed, but at that very moment, a chorus of shouting and the sound of smashing objects erupted from outside. The cacophony quickly surged toward them.

"Who is that? What’s all the noise?"

Ma Zhixin jumped off his desk and walked out of the office, only to be met by a group of unfamiliar officers, faces filled with murderous intent, flooding into the building.

Fusheng stood beside Zhou Hongyi. Seeing Ma Zhixin, he pointed and said, "Brother, that... that’s him!"

Zhou Hongyi narrowed his eyes, swung his baton, and shouted, "Ma Zhixin! You damn bastard, you dare touch my man? Today, I’m going to show you exactly why flowers are so red!"

"You... you’re from the Second Precinct! Do you know what you’re doing? We are the police, not thugs! Someone! Get the Commissioner!"

Ma Zhixin was shaken by their momentum. The officers from the Second Precinct looked like a pack of wolves with greedy glints in their eyes. They brandished their batons, knocking any officer who tried to block their path to the ground.

The First Precinct, caught off guard and confused, lost their momentum immediately and were overrun by Zhou Hongyi’s men.

"Thugs? If there’s any thug here, it’s you! Damn you!"

Zhou Hongyi strode forward, kicked Ma Zhixin squarely in the stomach, and sent him reeling backward, his body arching in pain.

"You... your moth—"

Before Ma Zhixin could finish his curse, the rubber baton in Zhou Hongyi’s hand whistled through the air and slammed into his cheek.

*CRACK!*

Ma Zhixin’s head spun, stars exploded in his vision, and a molar mixed with blood—a resident of his mouth for over twenty years—was knocked loose and clattered onto the floor.

That wasn't the end of it. Dazed by the blow, Ma Zhixin could only instinctively shield his head as Zhou Hongyi and his men swarmed him, kicking and stomping until he was howling in agony.