Chapter 17: Unforgivable

Zhang Jun was held tightly by Liu Yujie and, for a moment, could not break free. He had long been utterly disappointed with this family, but due to work obligations, he couldn’t escape immediately, leaving him feeling helpless.

“Which precinct is Yuda at?” Zhang Jun had no choice but to ask. “If I get the chance, I’ll try to help him.”

“Right here in our district, at the Renmin Road Police Station,” Liu Yujie wiped her eyes as she spoke, “I have no other choice. My mother called me several times begging. I can only beg you to help. Please help Yuda! He never really suffered before. If he’s actually detained, what will become of him?”

Zhang Jun pondered quietly. He and Liu Yujie were not yet divorced; Liu Yuda was her brother, his brother-in-law. Letting things slide wasn’t right. If Liu Yuda was indeed detained, it might affect his own future.

“So, what exactly happened? You have to tell me the truth if I’m going to help. The police aren’t fools; deception won’t work,” he said.

Only then did Liu Yujie stop crying and relate everything in detail. “Yuda was naive; someone tricked him. They said it was just promoting some therapeutic device, and if he helped connect a wire, he’d get a two-thousand-yuan commission. He was blinded by greed and helped out. It turned out those devices were smuggled goods, substandard quality. The seller ran off, the buyers caught Yuda, accused him of fraud, and beat him up. Yuda said it wasn’t his fault and refused to be bullied, so he fought back.”

Hearing this, Zhang Jun thought it was not difficult to resolve. “Was the beating serious?”

“I went to the police station once and saw them both — their faces were bruised and swollen.”

“Who was the buyer?”

“The Third Municipal Hospital. The one who hit him is a procurement director there.”

“I’ll handle it when I have time.”

“Zhang Jun, can we go to the police station now? How will Yuda spend the night there? Please, I beg you.”

“Why don’t you ask Zhou Wenbin? Aren’t you close to him?”

“Zhang Jun, right now I’m only asking you, and in the future, only you. You have to believe me—I’m not a frivolous woman. Zhou Wenbin likes me, but he’s never succeeded! I’m not a woman to be trifled with.”

Just then, her mother’s call came again, pleading for Zhang Jun and his wife to save their beloved son.

Under his wife’s persistent pleading, Zhang Jun accompanied her to the Renmin Road Police Station.

Zhang Jun knew no one inside. Though he was the secretary to Governor Ma Hongqi, he couldn’t openly use the governor’s name to intervene.

Upon arrival, he inquired with the officer in charge of the case.

The officer said the matter could only be settled through mediation between the parties involved. If both sides agreed to forgive and drop charges, it would be easy to resolve.

In the detention room, Zhang Jun saw Liu Yuda. The boy was as thin as his sister, looking like a stray dog. His eyes were scratched, his nose swollen, hair disheveled like a bird’s nest, and his clothes wrinkled in a lump, radiating a profound sense of misery.

At the sight of Zhang Jun, Liu Yuda cried out, “Brother-in-law!”

Zhang Jun patted his shoulder, unsure what to say.

Liu Yuda’s father and mother, Liu Jingquan and Jiang Meizhen, also arrived at the station. One begged Zhang Jun for help, the other clung to her son sobbing.

Zhang Jun considered how best to handle the matter.

Coincidentally, a vice president from the Third Municipal Hospital was also at the station to deal with the case.

As soon as the vice president saw Zhang Jun, he immediately approached with a chuckle. “Secretary Zhang, hello! What brings you to the police station?”

Zhang Jun felt he was somewhat familiar but couldn’t recall the name, so he said, “Oh, I’m here to handle my brother-in-law’s case.”

“Secretary Zhang, which brother-in-law?”

“Liu Yuda.”

“Oh, Liu Yuda is your brother-in-law! What a situation—a flood hitting the dragon king’s temple!”

“And you are?”

“Secretary Zhang, I’m Jiang Changxing. I went to see Governor Ma this afternoon, but he wasn’t in. I asked you to help schedule the next meeting.”

“Oh, right, Comrade Jiang Changxing, hello. What are you doing here?”

“One of our hospital’s procurement directors—he’s the one who fought your brother-in-law. I’m here to handle the matter.”

Jiang Changxing called over the procurement director, pointing at him while saying, “Secretary Zhang, this is Zheng Yadong, our procurement director. Yadong, this is Secretary Zhang, Governor Ma’s secretary.”

Zheng Yadong’s face was heavily bruised; his swollen lips made his speech slurred. Originally scowling angrily, he forced a smile when he realized who Zhang Jun was and shook his hand. “Secretary Zhang, pleased to meet you.”

Zhang Jun shook Zheng Yadong’s hand and said, “I know my brother-in-law. He’s usually honest and has never broken the law. This time he was deceived and is also a victim. I apologize for the trouble and property loss caused—an inadvertent mistake.”

Zheng Yadong glanced at Jiang Changxing, awaiting his advice.

Eager to curry favor with Zhang Jun, Jiang Changxing smiled without hesitation. “It’s a small matter, really! Just a misunderstanding. Yadong, you and Secretary Zhang’s brother-in-law are now acquainted through this fight. Shake hands and consider yourselves friends!”

Zheng Yadong understood that since Liu Yuda was Zhang Jun’s brother-in-law, pursuing legal action would be difficult. Insisting on prosecution would offend Zhang Jun and yield no benefit.

Being sensible, he agreed to Jiang Changxing’s proposal.

Zhang Jun called Liu Yuda over and said calmly, “Yuda, you’re lucky today to meet the understanding Director Jiang and Director Zheng. They realize you’re a first-time offender and won’t pursue responsibility. You’d better thank them.”

Having suffered enough, Liu Yuda just wanted the matter closed and to go home. He bowed to thank the two men.

Jiang Changxing told the investigating officer, “This case has nothing to do with Comrade Liu Yuda. He’s also a victim. The real culprits are those fraudsters. Please be sure to capture them.”

Thus, Liu Yuda’s case was settled.

Jiang Changxing then asked Zhang Jun, “Liu Yuda is injured. Would you like him to have a checkup at our hospital? We will cover all expenses.”

Zhang Jun examined Liu Yuda’s injuries and deemed them minor. “He and Zheng Yadong both fought and have injuries. His aren’t serious. No need for hospital examination.”

After the case was closed, Jiang Changxing accompanied Zhang Jun out, smiling warmly. “Secretary Zhang, I’ll visit you another day.”

Zhang Jun nodded in understanding.

The Liu family returned home with Zhang Jun, all praising him for saving Liu Yuda.

After the commotion of the night, the Liu family finally left.

That evening, Liu Yujie was as gentle as flowing water, determined to give Zhang Jun an experience of bliss he had never known.

Zhang Jun saw through everything; whether divorced or not, he would savor what he could now.

A good woman cannot be wasted, nor should a bad one be let go, right?