27: Chapter 27 Who exactly are you?

Qin Ruoxi smiled slightly and comforted her, "Don't worry, we'll be fine. You should go back first so your family doesn't worry."

The waitress hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded and turned to walk away quickly.

Everything that had just happened was witnessed by a few people at another table not far away.

The man leading them, a middle-aged man with dark skin, was none other than Police Chief Wang Dezhao of the Beijiang County Public Security Bureau.

"Chief Wang, should we go over? I'm worried Mayor Qin might be in danger."

Police Chief Wang Dezhao pondered for a moment before saying, "Don't be hasty. Let's wait until the other side arrives before we act."

Sure enough, not long after, several black sedans screeched to a halt at the entrance of the farmhouse restaurant.

The car doors opened, and over a dozen burly, fierce-looking men stepped out. Leading them was a man in his fifties wearing a black suit with a sinister gaze—it was Li Jingming, the leader of the local gang.

Li Jingming scanned the scene, his gaze landing on the blond youth, and he frowned. "Xiaofei, what happened? Who hit you?"

Li Fei immediately pointed at Qin Ruoxi and Xiao Bei, gritting his teeth as he said, "Dad, it's them! Not only did they hit me, but they also have no respect for you!"

Li Jingming's expression darkened as he looked coldly at Qin Ruoxi and Xiao Bei. "You've got some nerve, daring to hit my son and insult me? Do you know who I am?"

Qin Ruoxi rolled her eyes and said, "Oh? Who are you? I honestly have no idea."

Li Jingming scoffed. "My name is Li Jingming. Everyone in this area gives me some face. Since you've provoked my son today, don't think you'll be leaving here unscathed!"

Qin Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with sarcasm. "And here I thought you were someone important. Turns out you're just a thug leader?"

Li Jingming's face turned livid at Qin Ruoxi's words, a flash of cruelty crossing his eyes.

He sneered and waved his hand. His dozen or so subordinates immediately swarmed forward, surrounding Qin Ruoxi and Xiao Bei.

"You foul woman, your mouth is quite sharp," Li Jingming said sinisterly. "But you've messed with the wrong person today. Boys, teach her a lesson for me!"

Seeing this, Xiao Bei immediately stepped in front of Qin Ruoxi, his gaze stern as he whispered, "Sister, please step back."

Just as Li Jingming was about to make his move, a majestic shout suddenly came from behind: "Stop! Let's see who dares to act recklessly here!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Police Chief Wang Dezhao walking over quickly with several police officers, his expression grave.

Li Jingming's expression shifted slightly at the sight, but he quickly returned to his arrogant demeanor.

"Yo, isn't this Police Chief Wang? What a coincidence, bumping into each other here today," Li Jingming said sarcastically.

The two were old acquaintances; Police Chief Wang Dezhao had targeted him many times in the past.

Police Chief Wang Dezhao gave him a cold look and said in a deep voice, "Li Jingming, what are you trying to do by bringing so many people here to cause trouble? Do you have no regard for the law?"

Li Jingming scoffed, looking unconcerned. "Police Chief Wang, that's a pretty heavy accusation. I'm just here to pick up my son and teach two blind fools a lesson. How does that count as causing trouble?"

Police Chief Wang Dezhao frowned and shouted sternly, "Enough nonsense! In broad daylight, harassing a girl and threatening others, and you still dare to make excuses? Men, take them all back!"

Several police officers immediately stepped forward, preparing to detain Li Jingming and his men.

Li Jingming's face darkened at the sight, and he shouted, "Police Chief Wang Dezhao! You dare touch me? It's not like you don't know who's behind me. If you dare arrest me today, you won't be keeping your position as Chief tomorrow!"

Police Chief Wang Dezhao scoffed, unfazed. "I don't care who you are. If you break the law, you must face the consequences! Take them away!"

Seeing that Police Chief Wang Dezhao wasn't buying his threats, Li Jingming's expression grew even uglier. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! Very well! Police Chief Wang Dezhao, just you wait!"

Just then, Qin Ruoxi stepped forward and said indifferently, "Li Jingming, didn't you say you had someone behind you? If you have the ability, call them over. I'd like to see who is backing you."

Li Jingming was taken aback. He looked Qin Ruoxi up and down and sneered, "Ignorance is truly fearless. Fine, since you want to see, I'll let you witness it!"

After saying this, he took out his phone and dialed a number, his tone filled with a hint of respect: "Hello, Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan, it's me... I've run into a bit of trouble here. Police Chief Wang Dezhao wants to arrest me. Could you please..."

A low voice came from the other end of the line: "Give the phone to him."

Li Jingming triumphantly handed the phone to Police Chief Wang Dezhao and sneered, "Police Chief Wang, Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan wants to speak with you."

Police Chief Wang Dezhao took the phone. After hearing the voice on the other end, his expression shifted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan, this is Police Chief Wang Dezhao."

On the other end of the line, Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan spoke with a hint of reproach: "Comrade Wang Dezhao, don't concern yourself with today's matter. Give me some face and let him go."

Police Chief Wang Dezhao glanced at Qin Ruoxi and then said firmly, "Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan, Li Jingming is suspected of gathering a crowd to cause trouble and organizing criminal forces. He has already broken the law, and I cannot bend the law for personal gain."

Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan clearly hadn't expected such a response from Police Chief Wang Dezhao, and his tone immediately turned cold: "Police Chief Wang Dezhao, what is the meaning of this? You're not even listening to me anymore?"

Just as Police Chief Wang Dezhao was about to respond to Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan, Qin Ruoxi reached out and took the phone: "Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan, is it? I am Mayor Qin."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan's slightly impatient voice: "Qin Ruoxi? Which Qin Ruoxi? I don't care who you are; Police Chief Wang Dezhao must follow my orders today, or he will face the consequences!"

Qin Ruoxi sneered, her tone suddenly turning icy: "Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan, you certainly have a grand sense of authority! You don't even put the words of Mayor Qin in your eyes anymore?"

The other end of the line went silent instantly, followed by a flurry of chaotic sounds, as if a chair had been violently shoved back. Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan's voice became stuttering: "M-Mayor Qin? H-how are you there? I... I didn't realize it was you just now..."

Qin Ruoxi said coldly: "Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan, you are to come to 'Shanshui Renjia' in Bishi Town immediately. I want to see how you've been serving as Deputy County Magistrate, daring to openly shield criminal forces!"

Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan's voice trembled so much it was almost incoherent: "Mayor Qin, this is a misunderstanding, I... I'm coming right away. Please, don't be angry..."

Hearing the panicked voice of Deputy County Magistrate Ni Siyuan on the other end of the phone, Li Jingming's heart immediately sank.

He vaguely sensed that something was wrong, but for the moment, he couldn't quite grasp the situation.

He frowned, looked at Qin Ruoxi, and asked with a tentative tone: "Who... who exactly are you?"