Chapter 40: The Two Sides of Self-Interest

  In the following days, Lu Zhong began to promote the construction of Guangning Civil Police Responsibility Zone and Joint Defense Security Responsibility System, seemingly busy but in fact his heart was not on this.

  Lu Zhong would rather see himself making waves in economic and political reforms. After all, at this early stage of transitioning from a planned economy, from the central government to local governments, there are still fierce debates over whether to prioritize capitalism or socialism, and many issues have yet to reach a point of no return.

  For the direction of economic reform, Lu Zhong has many ideas. If it can be successfully promoted in Guangning, it may become a benchmark for the future and influence many people and things to come.

  But Lu Zhong's current position has also determined that he cannot touch the core thinking of economic reform, and can only make repairs within the public security system.

  Lu Zhong also knew that many problems that appeared on the public security front line in later generations were caused by the larger environment and could not be changed by the public security system itself.

  Now, Lu Zhong can only try his best to make his current job outstanding and hope to find an opportunity to leave the public security system.

  That noon, Lu Zhong received a letter and a phone call.

  The letter was written by Liu Xiaohui. She went to Zhao Zhuang's rental house to find Lu Zhong two days ago, but unexpectedly, Lu Zhong had moved away. The neighbors on the left and right had no contact with Lu Zhong and Du Xiaohu, and they didn't know where Lu Zhong had moved to either. Helpless, Liu Xiaohui wrote a letter and left it at Lu Zhong's neighbor's place.

  Du Xiaohu went to hand over the house to the landlord last night and just received this letter.

  Because Lu Zhen concealed his police identity for convenience when investigating the case with Liu Xiaohui for the first time, and later went to No. 1 Middle School to ask her out for dinner twice, but since he didn't mention his work, he didn't explain much either, only telling her that he had retired from the army and joined the county public security bureau.

  Liu Xiaohui then cautiously asked about the serial murder and dismemberment case involving Principal Zhang, but Lu Zhong evaded the question, taking advantage of their long-unseen friendship, which didn't feel quite right.

  Liu Xiaohui had originally hoped to have a big gathering in the summer, but this wish fell through. The playmates of those years now all have their own careers and are busy with them. Even Bi Xiaoguang, who is a student at Beida, did not return during the summer vacation. It's said that he was helping out with some news evaluation project at a certain newspaper in Beijing.

  Liu Xiaohui left a message saying that Meng Wenzhong had returned, and she also contacted several Nanying playmates working in Guangning County to gather at Dongmi Garden tomorrow.

  Liu Xiaohui said "tomorrow", but it was yesterday, Lu Zhong had long forgotten who Meng Wenzhen was, but not being able to attend this gathering also made him feel a slight regret.

  Those who grew up with their buttocks exposed, companions, classmates, and comrades-in-arms are indeed the most simple friendships. After entering society, people of all shapes and sizes have more or less entanglements in terms of interests.

  Just after putting down Liu Xiaohui's letter, Lu Zhong received a call from his mother.

  My mom's usual style, concise and not open to debate: "Your uncle is having surgery in a few days, you go back to Beijing tomorrow, and come with me to Los Angeles."

  Lu Zhong knew that the relationship between the Lu and Han families had not been harmonious for the past two years, so this time when he went to America, he might be the only representative of the Lu family.

  My grandfather was strict with his children and never spoiled them. My mother had to make her own way in life, while my eldest uncle, Han Ping, is a worker and the director of a workshop in an ordinary glass factory in Chunjiang City, Northeast China.

  My uncle's eye disease is very serious, and with the current domestic medical technology conditions, forced surgery would have a probability of over 80% to leave sequelae. So my grandfather used his own manuscript fees to pay for my uncle's surgical expenses in the United States.

  Lu Zhong knew that he should go this time no matter what.

  Although China and the US are currently in a honeymoon period, with increasingly frequent exchanges between the two peoples, but as a member of the royal family, I'm afraid that when my uncle is stabbed by someone, there will be no relatives who can accompany him except for his wife.

  My mother's identity is even more special, but my mother has always been tough and daring to act. My eldest uncle was about to have surgery, so she naturally wanted to go accompany him, but it seemed that she could only stay in the US for a few days.

  Lu Zhong thought for a moment, these days are not important things, just call Secretary Qiu to say hello, of course, no need to mention going to the United States. Passports and other things, Mom will definitely help herself handle them.

  Just then, a knock at the door was heard from outside. Wang Yuguo poked his head out and asked, "Director Lu, there's a girl named Lu Xiaoping looking for you. Do you know her?"

  Lu Zhong hummed in agreement, "It's my sister."

  Wang Yuguo then closed the door and presumably went to call the guard room at the entrance of the courtyard to let people in.

  About ten minutes later, there was another knock at the door. Lu Xiaoping first poked her head out to take a look, then stuck out her tongue and slipped in through the gap under the door.

  A neatly tailored new blue uniform, set off her fair and delicate face, with slightly wide pant legs, revealing a pair of white stockings and black patent leather shoes that showed off her slender ankles. This outfit made Lu Xiaoping look very stylish and radiant, she now works at the department store, and the uniform is the work attire for the sales staff.

  "Brother Zhēn." Standing in front of Lù Zhēn's office desk, Lù Xiǎo Píng suddenly felt awkward, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, feeling a bit at a loss.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Xiao Ping, you must have something on your mind, sit down." He stood up and walked over to the long sofa under his office desk, gesturing for Lu Xiaoping to sit beside him. As for Lu Xiaoping, Lu Zhong didn't have any particularly bad feelings towards her. At her core, she wasn't a bad person, but she had many shortcomings, such as being self-interested and vain, which were common flaws in many ordinary girls.

  Lu Xiaoping saw Lu Zhong's smile, and the nervousness she had when knocking on the door gradually faded. It seemed that Brother Zhong really didn't mind her previous bad attitude towards him. Yes, mom was right, Brother Zhong was a big-minded person and wouldn't bother with a little girl like herself.

  Someone knocked gently on the door and a young secretary in her early twenties came in, poured hot water into Lu Zhong and Lu Xiaoping's cups before retreating.

  Lu Xiaoping was taken aback when she saw the young secretary come in, and after he left, she suddenly let out a soft "ah" and asked: "Is it him?" She then quickly asked Lu Zhong: "Zhongzi brother, is his name Zhang Weimin?" In fact, there was no need to ask, as Lu Xiaoping had already confirmed that this young man was indeed the person she knew. He was the older brother of one of her close friends, and their whole family treasured him like a precious gem. Her friend, Xiao Hong, would often boast about how talented her brother was, and now he had entered the county public security bureau's office, how impressive and remarkable!

  "Who would have thought that it was actually the waiter who served tea to Brother Zhēnzi? Just now, looking at this guy's expression, he must have also recognized himself, but didn't dare to talk to me."

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Do you know Little Zhang? It seems like his name is Zhang Weimin..." Lu Zhong really couldn't recall his name. This young man had just been assigned to the Public Security Bureau for less than a month and seemed to be He Liansheng's protégé.

  Lu Xiang said that, Lu Xiaoping couldn't help but giggle and say: "You don't even know what his name is? Then isn't this water poured in vain? Isn't serving you for nothing?"

  Thinking of Xiaohong's condescending attitude when she introduced her brother to me, it was obvious that she was teasing me and thought I wasn't worthy of her brother. Although I always joke around with Xiaohong and don't take it seriously, every time this happens, I feel a little annoyed in my heart.

  Today, I finally vented my anger. Tomorrow, when I see Little Red, if she brings up her brother's words to provoke me again, I can counterattack her and say, "What's so great about your brother? Can't he just obediently pour tea for me?"

  Thinking of this, Lu Xiaoping almost laughed out loud, feeling extremely relieved in her heart.

  Lu Zhong looked at her big eyes full of smile, slightly strange, but didn't ask, just said: "Xiao Ping, are Aunt and Uncle doing well?"

  Lu Xiaoping snapped back to reality and hastily said: "Uh, they're all pretty good..."

  Before he could finish speaking, there was another knock at the door. A police officer came in and whispered a few words into Lu Zhong's ear. Lu Zhong nodded slightly, and the officer turned and left.

  Lu Xiaoping was about to speak when the phone on her desk rang again. Lu Zhong got up to answer it.

  Listening to Lu Zhong giving orders over the phone, instructing the command center to take immediate action and capture the "Hao Sanjun gang of thugs", it seemed like on the phone that more than 200 armed police, public security police, joint defense troops and militia had already surrounded and controlled more than 20 suspects from the gang. The command center called to request action.

  Lu Xiaoping imagined that at this moment, tens of miles away, teams of armed police officers were waiting in ambush, ready to pounce on the sound of a single order from Zhenzi Ge, and with lightning speed, they would arrest and kill people. This kind of power, which held the strength of the national machine, was truly breathtaking and left one unable to calm down.

  It was then that Lu Xiaoping realized that it wasn't easy for Lu Zhong to find time to see her.

  Lu Xiaoping sometimes knows how to observe the situation and follow the trend. As soon as Lu Zhong hung up the phone, she stood up and said hastily: "Zhongzi brother, you're busy with your own things, I'll leave now. I came just to tell you that today is my birthday, we're having dinner at home tonight, and my mom asked me to invite you. If you have time, come over."

  Lu Zhong exclaimed, "Your birthday? After today, you'll be eighteen, right?"

  "Yes." Lu Xiaoping nodded happily, she didn't think that Lu Zhong still remembered how old she was. To know that he is 22 years old this year, she only found out a few days ago when she asked Ma Cuihong.

  Lu Zhong said: "I should give you a gift in advance, but I have something to do these days and need to prepare ahead of time. Let me go out and come back, then I'll make it up to you."

  Lu Xiaoping didn't have much hope before she came, actually she just wanted to take the opportunity to see Lu Zhong make the new title "Zhongzi Ge" a reality, as for her so-called birthday today, originally thought that Zhongzi Ge wouldn't have time to accompany this little kid.

  "Alright, thank you, Brother Zhēnzi. Then, I'll take my leave." Lù Xiǎopíng stood up to bid farewell.

  Lu Zhong hummed and said, "I'll have someone send you out."

  What Lu Xiaoping did not expect was that the person who sent her was Zhang Weimin.

  The county bureau's large courtyard was bustling with cars and people coming and going, the police officers wearing uniforms had serious faces, another police car whizzed out amidst the sound of sirens. The old willow tree in front of the office building was perhaps the only warm scenery in this courtyard, apart from that, the entire courtyard was oppressive and stern.

  When sending Lu Xiaoping to the gate of the hospital, Zhang Weimin finally couldn't help but ask: "Xiaoping, do you know our Director Lu?" He had noticed his sister's beautiful and lovely friend for a long time, and naturally remembered her name. It's just that men sometimes, in front of women who attract themselves, will put on an air of reserve and pride.

  Lu Xiaoping was disdainful in her heart, thinking "aren't you capable?", nodded slightly and turned to leave with quick steps.

  Zhang Weimin cursed in his heart, "Damn it!" But immediately after, he had to hurry upstairs. Now that the office is writing articles and preparing materials, he can't get involved, his main job is to serve the leaders and serve the conference room, so he naturally has to keep a close eye on whether the big boss needs someone to serve him.