53

They used to be comrades who lived and died together. Now, to avoid trouble, they pretended to be strangers in public and only met privately from time to time.

"Some things, someone has to do!

Besides, I'm alone, with no attachments. I'm the most suitable one!"

There was a trace of bitterness on Director Jing's firm face, but it quickly disappeared. He returned to being that cold, strict, and intimidating head of the Revolutionary Committee.

"Enough, let's not talk about this. It's rare for us to meet, let's talk about something else.

This time, I came back with my wife to visit family. My godson was kidnapped by traffickers, but luckily, a young educated woman named Freya from the Red Bull Team stepped in and helped. That's the only reason my son escaped. Otherwise, I don't even want to think about what could have happened."

"I heard something about that. I was planning to help you investigate secretly, but then I found out the kid had already been saved.

So, are you asking me to take care of her privately?

You don't need to worry. Even if you didn't say anything, I'd still look out for her."

"Aiya, after all these years, you're still so impatient. That Freya doesn't need you to take care of her. That girl is tough! You probably couldn't even last four moves against her!" Mr. Zhao made a face and gave him a thumbs-up.

"She's that good?" Director Jing raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised.

"Of course. I lasted only three moves against her, and she even hit me with her whip. That whip on her waist is really something. I still feel the pain now, but weirdly, there's no mark!"

Mr. Zhao opened his shirt to show him, and sure enough, there were no marks.

"A few days ago, there was a big operation. You must've heard about it, right?

She's the one who led us there, and during it, she even saved me again!"

Thinking about that day, Mr. Zhao still felt a chill run through him.

"What are you really trying to say? Are you just here to brag about her?"

Director Jing frowned, confused. His old comrade was still the same, always missing the point.

"Uh... actually, I wanted to say that she's the biological granddaughter of Commander Lu. And she used the credit from this incident to help clear her grandfather's name!"

Mr. Zhao scratched his head and finally got to the main point.

"That's great. Now the old leader can rest easy."

"No, wait. What I mean is, after being cleared, Grandpa Lu might even get reinstated as commander!

Freya has a powerful background, and she's very capable on her own too. You don't know this, but she can make smoke bombs. Just one tiny bomb can knock out a whole group of people!"

Mr. Zhao couldn't help getting off track again.

"Get to the point!" Director Jing rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"The point is, she's no ordinary person. And her husband, even though he's disabled now, is mentally tough. Plus, he's backed by the whole Lu family. He's definitely going to do something big in the future.

I just don't want you to accidentally cross the wrong person, so I came to remind you!" said Mr. Zhao.

"Alright, I got it."

The memory ended. In truth, it had only flashed through Director Jing's mind in an instant.

"Okay. You can first explain the situation roughly, and we'll follow up with a proper investigation."

"My sister was forced by Daxing recently to serve the woman he brought back from outside. She refused, so he and his mother beat her badly.

She was so angry she came home to tell me. We went to their house to see if it was true. If it was, we had to stand up for her.

But when we got to the house this morning, the front door was wide open, and the bedroom door wouldn't open no matter how we knocked. We were worried something bad had happened, so we broke in.

And we saw them lying on the floor with almost no clothes, about to do that kind of dirty thing."

Brian's eyes turned red with emotion. He clenched his fists as he got angrier the more he spoke.

"My sister married Daxing over ten years ago. She worked hard, never talked back when scolded, never hit back when beaten. She respected his parents and gave the Daxing family three children. She was completely obedient to Daxing.

Except during the New Year, they didn't even let her visit our family.

And how did Daxing repay my sister?

He cheated on her while still married. He shamelessly brought this other woman into their home to humiliate my sister. That woman is even pregnant with Daxing's child.

All of this—the neighbors can testify. Director Jing, please help my sister get justice."

Around them, others started talking.

"That's right. Daxing would always beat his wife and kids whenever something didn't go his way."

"Yeah, and Madam Zhou isn't a good person either. She falsely accused my family of stealing her chicken a few days ago!"

"Biyun is a good woman. It's a pity she married into the Daxing family."

…

"My family has been poor peasants for three generations. My father was even a heroic martyr who died for our country.

Director Jing, don't listen to their nonsense. This is all slander.

They say Biyun came to your house? Where is she? I don't see her. Do you dare call her out here to confront me?

Hmph. She clearly ran off with some man!"

Daxing's face showed a flash of panic, but he quickly took a deep breath and calmed down.

He put on an innocent face and looked at Director Jing.

Biyun had already been sold by him. Whether she was alive or dead, he didn't know.

There was no way she could come back now.

He spoke with a tone full of grievance and anger, as if he had been wrongly accused.

"Director Jing, don't believe what they say. They're lying and trying to frame me.

I'm innocent. I never did anything like that.

I was drugged, yes, drugged! That's the only reason I ended up with Widow Zhaya. I don't even know how it happened!"

Director Jing, however, was unmoved. He looked coldly at Daxing, his eyes full of disdain.

From what his old friend had been saying, he already knew Daxing had sold his wife of over ten years just to protect his own reputation. The Brian family had kept quiet about it for that reason alone.

It was precisely because he knew the Brian family was involved that he came to check things out himself. It was a favor for the Lu family. Otherwise, a high-ranking director like him wouldn't have taken time for such a petty domestic matter. He was a busy man.

"You're that sure Biyun didn't go back to the Brian family?"

"Of course I'm sure! I saw her run off with some man!"

"Then why didn't you stop her?" Director Jing quickly caught the flaw in his story.

"I… She was already ruined. I didn't care anymore. Let her run if she wants!" Daxing's eyes flickered as he replied, clearly guilty.

"Daxing, you heartless bastard! You were cheating with another woman and now you're trying to blame my sister?"