Chapter 12: The Water Flows, But the Canal Remains Unfinished (Part 8)

Hou Weidong noticed a smile cross the officer’s face as he examined the graduation certificate. A thought struck him: many graduates from the Political Science and Law Department of Shazhou College had gone on to work in the public security, procuratorate, court, and justice sectors. The officer’s tone had been quite warm when mentioning Shazhou College; perhaps he, too, was an alumnus.

This realization relaxed Hou Weidong considerably. He recounted the sequence of events, keeping the core facts truthful but omitting the detail that he had struck first. He claimed only that the woman had been pestering him. He knew this was a minor incident, and the outcome depended entirely on how the officer chose to handle it. He made up his mind: If this officer tries to make a mountain out of a molehill, I will bring up my father. My father has some reputation in Shazhou, and that might still carry weight.

Officer Luo said sternly, "You haven’t explained the details of the fight clearly. Start over." Seeing that Hou Weidong had managed to injure three or four men on his own, Officer Luo knew he was no stranger to brawling and decided to give him a lesson.

"Stop holding back," Officer Luo said, pointing toward another room. "They will tell the truth soon enough. If you lie, you’ll have a hard time explaining yourself today."

The phrase "snakes and rats in the same hole" was often used to describe collusion between police and local toughs, preying on society and dominating a region. Hou Weidong had often heard his father and older brother, both in public security, discuss this during casual chats, so the concept was not unfamiliar to him. However, he had never experienced it firsthand. Now, facing a young police officer with a decent enough appearance, he was left speechless. He deliberately played the weak card, slumping his head and remaining silent.

At that moment, the civil patrol officer known as Hunchback walked in, smiling. "This kid can really fight. Boss Jia had so many people and still couldn’t pin him down. Boss Jia is shouting for medical expenses."

Officer Luo looked at Hunchback without expression. "Tell Boss Jia to come here." Hunchback nodded and scurried out.

Boss Jia entered the duty room and pulled out a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes. "Brother Luo, have one." Officer Luo took a cigarette and placed it in his mouth, speaking calmly. "Let this matter drop. Go back to doing business; that’s the proper thing to do." Boss Jia was a seasoned operator. He rubbed his face and said, "Several of us were injured. We need some compensation for medical costs. Even swallowing a peppercorn requires a breath of air; we can’t just let this kid beat us for free."

Officer Luo’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t push your luck. I know exactly what kind of trouble you’re up to. This is my friend. Stop talking nonsense here." Boss Jia was quick to read the room. His expression instantly brightened. "So he’s Brother Luo’s friend? What a misunderstanding, like the flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple." He tossed a cigarette to Hou Weidong. "Brother Luo’s friend is my friend. Feel free to visit the video room anytime; it’s all free."

After Boss Jia and Hunchback left, Officer Luo turned to Hou Weidong, who looked somewhat surprised. "Are you heading to Jiayang?"

"Yes, the 4:30 bus."

Officer Luo stood up and poured Hou Weidong a cup of water in a paper cup. "When you’re traveling, don’t be so impulsive. Places like bus stations and wharves are particularly complex. If you’re not careful, things can escalate into a major incident. Don’t think that because you can fight, you’re invincible. Even a hero cannot withstand two fists."

Hou Weidong knew this young officer had helped him and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Officer. I will definitely be more careful in the future." He didn’t understand why the officer’s attitude had shifted so positively. He wanted to ask but hesitated.

Officer Luo smiled. "No need to wonder. I am your senior brother. I graduated from the Political Science and Law Department of Shazhou College in ’89."

"So you are my senior brother." Hou Weidong set down the paper cup, his tone warm with gratitude. "May I ask your surname?"

Officer Luo replied casually, "Why so formal? My name is Luo Jinhao."

Hou Weidong was pleased. His judgment had been correct; this officer was indeed from the Political Science and Law Department of Shazhou College, and a notable figure at that. He said happily, "So it’s Senior Brother Luo. I’ve heard your name for a long time."

Officer Luo looked surprised. "You know me?"

"Of course. Senior Brother Luo was the captain of the campus discipline patrol. After you graduated, Wu Weiguo took over as the student captain. When Wu Weiguo left, I became the student captain. Wu Weiguo and Section Chief Hu often mentioned you."

"That little rascal Wu Weiguo didn’t even say hello after graduating. Where was he assigned?"

"He was first assigned to Hunan. I heard he later resigned and went to Shenzhen."

Officer Luo suddenly remembered something. "Today is July 1st, the day of departure from school. Why did you come to Shazhou?" He tapped his finger. "It must be because your girlfriend is here."

Hou Weidong’s face grew slightly embarrassed, and he briefly explained the reason.

Hearing that he had been rejected at the door, Officer Luo burst into laughter, his face crinkling like a rotten persimmon. There was a childlike innocence in his demeanor, vastly different from his earlier seriousness. "Hou Weidong, we are destined to meet. I also went to visit my girlfriend right after graduation, but it was even worse for me. I was blocked outside the door. There’s a saying at Shazhou College: graduation is the grave of love. Have you heard it?"

Hou Weidong said helplessly, "I thought I was an exception."

"The world is fair to everyone; there are no exceptions," Officer Luo teased. He looked up at his watch. "It’s four o’clock. You should prepare to catch your bus. I’m at the Wujin police station. Come find me if you have time, little junior brother."

A dark green figure swayed into view. A police officer reeking of alcohol entered the duty room.

The officer who entered was at least over one meter eighty tall, broad and imposing. Standing in the doorway, he blocked the entrance to the duty room completely. Hou Weidong, at one meter seventy-five, was of average height in Shahe, but in the presence of this officer, he felt a wave of pressure.

"Director Wang, you’re here," Officer Luo called out, setting aside an old copy of Reader magazine. He didn’t stand up, leaning back in his chair and tapping his fingers lightly on the desk.

The stout officer glared at Hou Weidong, his tongue stumbling over his words. "Where did this little brat come from? I heard he beat up Boss Jia Liu." Officer Luo said calmly, "Director Wang, this matter has been resolved. It’s a minor dispute; there’s no problem." The stout officer was clearly drunk. He swayed over to Hou Weidong. "One against many. Let’s see if you have the skill for that."

Director Wang’s name was Wang Bo, the deputy director of the Wujin police station. He was a seasoned operator who was very close with small vendors like Boss Jia Liu near the station, receiving considerable gifts from them every year. He had drunk with the station heads at lunch earlier, and feeling dizzy and disoriented as he left the restaurant, he encountered Wu Bing, who was bleeding from the nose. Learning that someone was causing trouble at the station, he rode the wave of his drunkenness to the duty room.

He raised his hand and slapped toward Hou Weidong.

Hou Weidong stepped back, and the slap missed. He clenched his fists, ready to fight back if Director Wang continued his assault. If I die, my balls face the sky; what is there to fear?

This duty room was Director Wang’s territory, and he was accustomed to beating people here. He hadn’t expected this person to dodge, so he flew into a rage. Tall and heavy, he stepped forward, blocking the narrow exit of the duty room. He grabbed a rubber baton hanging on the wall and raised it, preparing to smash it down on Hou Weidong.

Luo Jinhao knew that Director Wang liked to beat people, but to wield a solid rubber baton without asking for reasons was too tyrannical. He punched the table with a fist and shouted sternly, "Wang Bo, what are you doing?"

Wang Bo and Luo Jinhao had always been outwardly polite but inwardly hostile. Wang Bo turned his head, emboldened by alcohol. "What the hell are you yelling for, kid?"

Luo Jinhao pointed at Wang Bo’s nose. "If you have the guts to hit him today, I’ll go to Director Duan. We’ll settle the affairs of the bus station once and for all." Wang Bo hadn’t expected Luo Jinhao to be so强硬 (strong) suddenly. He knocked the rubber baton against the table, making a "thud, thud" sound, and said with a sidelong glance, "What do you mean?"