Chapter 10 (1/2)

Chief? Kick Him to the Curb!

Long Bing’s appearance was moving yet shocking at once to Xia Lei. She kicked a Police Team Leader to the ground immediately – before even speaking a word!

Li Qing-Hua stared blankly, then snapped back to himself, flustered and shouting in exasperation “Is this a revolt? Cuff her!”

Police officers ran at Long Bing.

Long Bing swiftly lifted the skirt of her dress. A flash of her snow-white thighs could be seen as a handgun she had strapped to her thigh fell easily into her hand. She had it pointed at Li Qing-Hua’s head in the next second.

The police officers froze in their tracks. Li Qing-Hua’s face looked drained of blood.

Long Bing spoke with ice in her voice, “Cuff me? You’re not qualified.” Her voice grew harsh and commanding, “Move back, all of you! Release him!”

“You… If I may ask… Who are you?” Li Qing-Hua was no fool. A woman who could brazenly point a gun at the police was not an ordinary person – she must be someone with backing. He dared not make any false moves before figuring out her background. Li Qing-Hua’s attitude took a 180 degree turn.

Long Bing was unmoved. “You’re not qualified to know my identity.”

“Well then, we have a problem. This guy here has been arrested for extortion, and this is a serious crime. Even if he has some backing, he still has to answer to the law, doesn’t he? Do you mean to just take a criminal out of the police station with no explanation?” said Li Qing-Hua.

Long Bing looked at Xia Lei. “Did you really do it?”

“He’s lying. I didn’t.” Xia Lei pointed at Li Qing-Hua. “But he used his position and authority to extort sexual favours. He also enables his nephew, Chen Chuan-Hu to commit crimes. He has a monopoly on projects and does illegal demolitions, which are economic crimes.”

“Rubbish!” Li Qing-Hua was overcome by anger and he grabbed a chair and made to smash it on Xia Lei’s head.

“Stop!” Jiang Ru-Yi suddenly shouted, “What Xia Lei said is true! I saw the video of you and that woman!”

Li Qing-Hua froze. The chair he held stopped mid-swing above his head.

Xia Lei looked at Jiang Ru-Yi in astonishment. He knew that she had just thrown her career and future away by doing that.

A faint, strange smile appeared on Long Bing’s lips. “No wonder you arrested him. Was it to get your hands on that video?”

“Nonsense!” Li Qing-Hua fought down the rising despair and panic. He glared at Jiang Ru-Yi. “Jiang Ru-Yi, do you know what rubbish you’re spouting? Where did you see this video?”

“I…” She had spoken in a rush when she saw Li Qing-Hua try to bash Xia Lei’s head in with a chair. Now, faced with Li Qing-Hua’s wrath, her courage shrivelled and the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat.

Li Qing-Hua put the chair down and continued to put pressure on Jiang Ru-Yi. “Think about it, Jiang Ru-Yi. You are an officer of the North Police Station. Are you taking the side of a criminal?”

“I…” Jiang Ru-Yi lowered her head, too afraid to meet Li Qing-Hua’s fierce gaze.

Long Bing patted Jiang Ru-Yi on the shoulder. “Is what you said true, miss officer? Don’t be afraid, if what you say is true I can guarantee that he won’t be your Chief anymore in five minutes. You have no need to fear him.”

All eyes turned to look at Long Bing. Dismiss a Police Chief in five minutes? What sort of outrageous claim was that?!

Jiang Ru-Yi looked at Xia Lei and seemed to gain courage. “I watched the video on Xia Lei’s Baidu Cloud Drive. Xia Lei has been unfairly accused,” she said.

“Jiang Ru-Yi!” Li Qing-Hua’s humiliation fuelled his anger. He charged forward, his hand outstretched in a slap intended for her cheek.

Long Bing moved her arm and the gun in her hand pressed against Li Qing-Hua’s forehead. “Try moving again and we’ll see what happens.”

Li Qing-Hua dared not move and he broke out in cold sweat. In his head, his mind raced, trying to guess the identity of this woman but he could find no answers.

Long Bing opened her black clutch and took out her phone, then dialled a number. “Hello, Uncle Li? Could you call the Anti-Corruption Department of Hai-Zhu City and ask them to take care of the matter of North Police Station’s…” She covered the phone microphone, looked over at Xia Lei and asked, “Right, what’s this guy’s name?”

“Li Qing-Hua. He’s the Police Chief of Hai-Zhu North Police Station,” supplied Xia Lei.

Long Bing uncovered her microphone and continued, “His name’s Li Qing-Hua. Sexual favours, corruption, bribery and some work-related offences. There’s proof.” There was a pause and she spoke again, “Mm. Tell them to be quick, I’m in a hurry.”

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. “Who the hell is she? She just called like that to make the Anti-Corruption Department in Hai-Zhu City do her bidding? She’s so young! She doesn’t look like she could be high-ranking,” thought Xia Lei.

Long Bing put her mobile phone back into her clutch and looked at Xia Lei. “Five minutes. Five minutes and you leave with me.”

“Okay.” Xia Lei replied, his heart full of gratitude.

“Hahaha…” Li Qing-Hua guffawed. “What are you trying to pull? Five minutes? The Anti-Corruption Department you spoke of is at least half an hour’s drive away from here! You’ve revealed yourself, huh! You’re pretending to be some big shot because you want to rescue Xia Lei, aren’t you? Ha! You’re just here to stir up trouble!”

Long Bing said nothing. She looked at her watch.

“What are you standing around for? Cuff the three of them!” roared Li Qing-Hua.

The police officers looked at each other but did not move.

Li Qing-Hua targeted Jiang Ru-Yi again, shouting, “Jiang Ru-Yi, I command you to delete the video! Right now!”