141: Chapter 141 Wu Zhanmu

Hao Hong was well-informed and replied immediately, "Hah! That unlucky guy. He'd been an acting deputy bureau chief for nearly half a year, and just as he was about to drop the 'acting' tag and become a real deputy, a document came down from above—our town's police bureau was downgraded. One deputy chief position was eliminated. If he were already a full deputy, he could've been transferred elsewhere, but now things are awkward. His administrative rank is just a section-level captain, though they gave him the title of General Captain."

He added in a low voice, "He's become a total laughingstock!"

Hao Hong watched Lin Ning rub his chin in thought. Still unable to understand, he asked, "How did 'Sea Rat' get mixed up with him? That man is so arrogant; how could he look at a piece of trash like that, let alone help him out?"

Lin Ning shook his head. "I don't know either."

The only connection Lin Ning could think of between them was 'Red Names.'

He Changcheng was either the 'umbrella' or the head. The people at the Coal Yard West Area were committing crimes, and it certainly wasn't some 'minor matter' like running a casino or organizing prostitution; their names were so red they were turning black.

Were Wang Hao and them acquaintances, or even in the same gang? No, he was only in the 'light red' category, which meant—those people had a use for his shady dealings!

Targeting him must have been someone else's idea given to Wang Hao, either to please He Changcheng or to get some leverage over him.

Hiss...

Had he indirectly saved this dumbass?

Just as he was thinking, Lin Ning's phone rang.

It was the guard from Hulin Residential Compound.

"Mr. Lin, Wang Zehai and Lyu Ailan, whom you said to remove from your visitor list yesterday, are making a scene here. They're insisting on coming in. What do you think?"

Lin Ning tsked in annoyance. This was really...

"Give them the phone."

A moment later, a wailing voice came through the phone, "Waaaah... Lin Ning, your brother has been arrested! Come out quickly and tell Bureau Chief Bai to release him! This is a family matter; how could you let them arrest him? Come out now, your brother is so scared, you..."

The woman was rambling, alternating between pleading and complaining, making Lin Ning's head throb.

"Shut up!" Lin Ning barked. Once there was nothing left but sobbing on the other end, he asked.

"What are the charges for Wang Hao's arrest?"

"They said it's picking quarrels and provoking trouble and the crime of false accusation and framing. You..."

Lin Ning had no interest in listening further and asked with a cold sneer, "The person he tried to attack and frame was me, and now you want me to ask someone to bend the law to bail out a piece of scum? I don't know where you get the nerve to be so thick-skinned, but I'm warning you—when ties are severed, they stay severed. Don't harass me or my mother. Otherwise—"

Lin Ning's voice turned sinister as he said, "I don't have the power to make people bend the law, but I can make sure he gets the maximum penalty within the scope of the regulations!"

"Haha... thank you for giving me such happy news. As a word of advice, instead of wasting time bothering me, you'd better find a good lawyer!"

He hung up the phone immediately.

Hao Hong asked excitedly, "He's been arrested? Serves him right! Hahaha! No kidding, you really had that villainous vibe just now!"

Lin Ning rolled his eyes.

Recalling his earlier deduction, he cursed inwardly, "I might have actually saved that idiot."

"By the way," Lin Ning asked, "when did Wang Hao's previous captain die in that car accident?"

At the mention of this, the smile faded from Hao Hong's face, and he sighed.

"It was during May Day." Hao Hong had been on good terms with the man, so he felt even more sorrowful.

"He took three days off for May Day to take his wife and kids to visit her family in a town under Manduhan. As soon as they arrived, his unit urged him to come back for something. He drove back alone and was hit by a fully loaded truck on the road."

"His second child was only seven months old. It's really..." He poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp. "The coal yard was decent enough; it was counted as a work-related death, so the compensation was quite substantial."

Lin Ning nodded. Anyone who drove knew that trucks didn't brake, so one always had to be careful around them.

"But his wife has gone mad. She insists it wasn't a traffic accident but that someone murdered her husband. She goes to the police station every day to beg for an investigation."

Lin Ning's eyes twitched. He hurriedly asked, "Why does she say her husband was murdered? Is there evidence? Did the police file a case?"

"No, there's no evidence at all, so how could they file a case? She just says Wu Zhanmu told her to be careful lately because there might be danger. What use is a single sentence like that?"

Lin Ning pursed his lips. "Why did Wu Zhanmu say to be careful? Did he say what the danger was?"

"No. If there were clues, wouldn't the police have investigated?"

Not necessarily, Lin Ning thought as He Changcheng's face flashed through his mind.

"What kind of person was Wu Zhanmu?"

Hao Hong sensed something was wrong and looked at Lin Ning suspiciously. "Why are you asking all this?"

"Just answer me. Why so many questions?" Lin Ning didn't want to involve him.

"You probably saw Wu Zhanmu before. Back when we were seniors in high school, there was a patriotic speech, and he came on stage as a veteran. He retired after being injured in the line of duty. He looked rough, but he was meticulous and upright..."

Lin Ning remembered who he was now—that tall, sturdy Mongolian veteran. Back then, Lin Ning was just a scrawny kid and had been quite envious of the man's physique.

Wu Zhanmu had stood on stage with a crutch, recounting the hardships and passion of standing guard at the border and carrying out missions. The stories, especially the one about fighting the Indians hand-to-hand, had made the hearts of all the students boil with excitement.

He still remembered the man's proud yet simple words: "Why should I be afraid? Behind me are all my brothers and sisters. If I die, they will avenge me, and the Eternal Heaven will welcome me home!"

Lin Ning looked down.

Three seconds passed.

When he looked up again, his eyes were slightly red.

His masseter muscles were like cables on a winch, tightening inch by inch until veins and sharp angles stood out.

Seeing Lin Ning radiating fury, Hao Hong's expression also turned cold and stern.

"Was he really murdered?"

Lin Ning looked at him, his eyes still burning with anger, neither confirming nor denying it.

"I'll find someone to look into it. He was a soldier; he must have sensed something was wrong. Don't go around saying anything; wait for my news. Understand?"

Lin Ning's tone was very solemn.

Hao Hong met his gaze, set down his teacup, and said in a low voice, "I understand."

"Should we go ask his wife? Maybe there's something..."

"No!" Lin Ning interrupted him.

His wife was most likely being watched. Anyone going to see her would not only be exposed but would also put her in danger.

Moreover... Lin Ning was soft-hearted and couldn't bear to see the tragic sight of a widow and an orphan, especially the survivors of a hero. He wouldn't be able to handle it. He would wait until there were results...

"Don't mention Wu Zhanmu's affairs outside, and don't say much even if you see his wife!" After warning Hao Hong again, Lin Ning drove away immediately.

He circled around the town twice and then drove around the outskirts a few times; no one was following him.

Lin Ning looked at the main gate of the Coal Yard West Area from a distance.

He rolled down the window and lit a cigarette.

The wind was strong; it took three tries with the lighter to get it lit.

He took a drag and slowly exhaled.

The smoke was torn to shreds by the wind until nothing remained.

He took out his phone and opened the memo app.

He created a new file.

Title: [Wu Zhanmu].

The cursor blinked steadily.

He paused for a moment.

Then he began to type—

May Day, died in a car accident. His wife said he told her to be careful lately before he died.

Suspicious associates: He Changcheng, Zhao Gaoshu, Qiu Ren, Li Xiaoqiang...

He put down his phone, started the car, and reversed.

In the rearview mirror, the gate of the Coal Yard West Area grew further and further away.