Chapter 29 A Generous Donation!

Mu Xin dodged to the side, and the gasoline canister flew past his shoulder, slamming onto the ground with a clang. The lid flew off, and gasoline spilled everywhere.

Almost instantly, three police officers rushed up and pinned Jimmy to the ground.

They didn't shoot him on the spot, out of respect for Tom.

Mu Xin didn't mind; he didn't want Jimmy to die here and dirty his Water Plant.

Jimmy's face was pressed into the dirt, his hands were twisted behind his back, and the handcuffs clicked shut with a snap.

He struggled to lift his head, his face covered in dirt and grass clippings, his eyes bloodshot and filled with hatred.

"Mu Xin! You son of a bitch!" Jimmy shrieked hysterically.

"You think you've won? Just you wait! The Williams Family won't let you get away with this! My dad won't let you get away with this!"

Tom Carter crouched down, leaned close to Jimmy's ear, and whispered something.

Mu Xin didn't hear what Tom said, but he saw Jimmy's body stiffen abruptly; the expression on his face shifted from rage to fear, and then from fear to despair.

Then, Jimmy clamped his mouth shut, no longer shouting or struggling.

He went limp on the ground, as if his soul had been sucked out of him.

Tom stood up, walked over to Mu Xin, and extended his hand: "Mr. Mu, I apologize for the scare."

"We have the suspect in custody, and we will proceed according to legal protocol from here on."

Mu Xin shook Tom's hand: "Chief, thank you. If it weren't for you tonight, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

"It's my duty." Tom's expression was complex. "Protecting the public safety of Oxford Town is my responsibility."

He paused, then added: "No matter who the suspect is, I will enforce the law impartially."

Mu Xin looked into Tom's eyes, seeing a kind of desperate resolve in them.

He knew that when Tom said this, he had already prepared to completely sever ties with his own family.

"Chief, rest assured." Mu Xin patted Tom on the shoulder. "The donation tomorrow morning won't be a penny short."

Tom took a deep breath and nodded.

"Take the suspect back to the Police Department," Tom said, turning to the officers behind him. "Interrogate him overnight and secure the evidence."

The four officers escorted Jimmy and the three thugs toward the patrol cars.

Jimmy's steps were unsteady, like an old man on the verge of death.

When he reached the door of the patrol car, he suddenly turned back and looked at Mu Xin.

In that glance, there was hatred, unwillingness, despair, and a sort of indescribable… sorrow.

Mu Xin did not avoid his gaze, but simply looked at him calmly.

Then, Jimmy was shoved into the patrol car, the door closed, and the police lights turned on, flashing red and blue in the night.

The two patrol cars slowly drove out of the Water Plant and disappeared into the night.

Tobias stood beside Mu Xin, watching the direction the patrol cars had gone, remaining silent for a long time.

"Mr. Mu." Tobias's voice was somewhat choked up. "Thank you."

"Thank me for what?" Mu Xin turned around and looked at Tobias.

"Thank you… for letting me see this day." Tobias's eyes were red-rimmed. "The person who bullied me for over twenty years has finally received the fate he deserves."

"This is just the beginning," Mu Xin said indifferently. "Jimmy is only the first."

"The people who covered for them next—not a single one will get away."

"But that's Richard Miller's business. Our current task is to run the Water Plant well, increase the population of Oxford Town, and build up the industries."

"Leave the rest to the law."

Tobias nodded, wiped the corners of his eyes, and took a deep breath.

"Mr. Mu, you are right. We still have many things to do."

Mu Xin looked up at the sky; the moon had shifted to the west, and the stars were beginning to fade.

Dawn was approaching.

At ten o'clock the next morning, the courtyard of the Oxford Town Police Department was filled with patrol cars.

These were not the dilapidated old patrol cars, but twelve brand-new Ford Explorer police interceptors, each painted with the Oxford Town Police Department's black-and-white livery, the light bars on their roofs gleaming in the sunlight.

This was the shipment Mu Xin had arranged to be brought in overnight from a Ford dealer in Cincinnati.

The dealer initially said it would take at least two weeks to gather twelve vehicles, but Mu Xin added a $200,000 rush fee, making the dealer pull stock from across three states, and they were delivered to Oxford Town by flatbed truck before dawn.

As for the money, Mu Xin processed it through the Water Plant.

Of course, it was a down payment, and the remaining balance would be paid upon delivery tomorrow.

Dozens of cardboard boxes of various sizes were also laid out in the yard, containing body cameras, communication equipment, bulletproof vests, tactical flashlights, batons, and handcuffs.

Every piece of equipment the police could possibly need was the latest model, and every brand was the best available on the market.

Tom Carter stood in the center of the yard, wearing a crisp police uniform, his hair neatly combed, his expression a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Standing behind him were eleven police officers; including himself, that made twelve people—the entire force of the Oxford Town Police Department, all present.

Everyone's expression was about the same: dumbfounded, unable to believe what was before their eyes.

They had been police officers their whole lives and had never seen such a spectacle.

A Chinese international student had overhauled the entire Police Department's equipment overnight.

And it wasn't a loan, nor a rental—it was a donation, a donation of real, hard cash.

Mu Xin stood in front of the yard, next to a table that had been moved there temporarily, with two checkbooks and a pen placed on it.

Jessica stood to his left, holding a folder containing the donation agreement and the equipment list.

Victoria stood to his right, wearing a well-tailored dark grey suit and skirt, her hair pinned up, revealing a section of her fair, slender neck.

She held a calculator in her hand, performing a final check of the figures.

"Chief Carter." Mu Xin picked up the pen, scribbled a few lines on the checkbook, tore it off, and handed it to Tom.

"This is for the equipment purchase, 1.25 million US dollars. Please sign for it."

Tom took the check, his hand trembling slightly.

1.25 million US dollars.

In all his years as Chief of Police, the largest budget he had ever handled was only 50,000 US dollars for office expenses.

Now, Mu Xin had casually handed him 1.25 million.

"Mr. Mu… this…" Tom's voice trembled slightly. "Are you sure? This is so much money…"

"I'm sure." Mu Xin nodded. "This equipment is urgently needed by your Police Department."

"New cars, new communication equipment, new bulletproof vests—they will improve your work efficiency and protect your safety."

"Police work is dangerous. You protect Oxford Town, and I will protect you."

This was said quietly, yet it was heard clearly by every police officer present.

Mu Xin was not dispensing charity; he was investing.

Investing in public safety, investing in people's hearts, investing in the future of Oxford Town.

"Additionally, this is a special training fund." Mu Xin tore off another check and handed it to Tom.

"500,000 US dollars. How you use it is up to you."

"You can use it to hire outside instructors for training, send your officers for advanced study at the State Police Academy, or buy training equipment and materials."

"This money is not counted toward the equipment purchase; it is entirely for the Police Department to allocate as it sees fit."

Tom took the second check, his hand shaking even more violently.

A 500,000 US dollar training fund.

This meant he could have every single officer in the entire Police Department receive systematic, professional training.

They could learn the latest law enforcement techniques, crisis negotiation, and counter-terrorism and riot control.

They could become stronger, more professional, and safer.

"Mr. Mu…" Tom took a deep breath, struggling to keep his voice steady.

"I don't know what to say. On behalf of all the officers of the Oxford Town Police Department, thank you for your generous donation."

"You're welcome." Mu Xin smiled. "Chief, I only have one request."

"Please, go ahead."

"This equipment must be used where it counts. The new cars must be used for patrols, responding to calls, and protecting the safety of the residents."

"The new equipment must be used to improve enforcement efficiency and protect the lives of the officers."

"Do not waste it, do not let it sit idle, and do not let it become mere decoration."

"Understood!" Tom stood at attention and gave Mu Xin a standard police salute.

The officers behind him also saluted in unison.

Twelve police officers, standing in front of twelve brand-new patrol cars, saluting a Chinese international student in his early twenties.

This scene had never occurred before in the history of Oxford Town.