1: Chapter 1: Checking Surveillance Footage!

[This work is the second installment of the 'Wild Ride Starting from Deputy County Magistrate' series, telling the story of the son of the protagonist Xu Tianhua from the first book. The first book is still in 'reflection' in the 'little dark room' due to special reasons.]

[The timeline of this work begins in October 2007, with Xu Tianhua serving as the Full-time Deputy Secretary of the Hanzhong Provincial Party Committee.]

[There are already two million-word political novels, both currently in 'reflection' in the 'little dark room'.]

Hanzhong Province, Hanzhou City No. 1 Middle School.

In the senior experimental class, the tranquility of the lunch break was shattered by a burst of shrill arguing.

"It must have been you who stole it! My hundred yuan was right there in the drawer, and it disappeared when I came back from lunch!"

Qian Fugui's round face flushed bright red, his finger almost poking at the tip of Zhou Yang's nose.

He was wearing a designer jacket today, the sneakers on his feet were the latest hot-off-the-market model, and a shiny digital watch was strapped to his wrist.

Zhou Yang stood up abruptly, the legs of his chair scraping harshly against the floor.

His eyes were slightly red, not from grievance, but from anger.

"Qian Fugui, stop making baseless accusations! I never left the classroom during lunch; I was sitting at my desk eating and studying the whole time."

"What evidence do you have that I stole your money?"

"Evidence? What more evidence do you need? You're the poorest one in the whole class and need money the most!"

"Who else could it be but you?"

Qian Fugui raised his voice a few notches, drawing side-glances from several classmates who had returned to the classroom after eating.

Zhou Yang took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm.

"Qian Fugui, although I am poor, I have backbone."

"Even though my parents are both workers, they taught me to be upright and honest."

"If you don't produce evidence today, it's slander!"

"Yo, you've even learned to use legal terms?"

Qian Fugui sneered: "What are you acting so high and mighty for with that poor, pathetic look? If you didn't steal it, then who could it be?"

"Could it be..."

His gaze swept around the classroom and suddenly stopped on a few empty seats in the back row.

Xu Weidong and Wei Yingying had not returned yet, and that little couple with parents working in the Provincial Government were nowhere to be seen either.

Qian Fugui's voice suddenly softened, but he remained stubborn.

"Anyway, not many people stayed in the classroom at noon. If it wasn't you, then who else could it be?"

Zhou Yang's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had grasped onto something.

"You're right, not many people stayed in the classroom at noon."

"Besides me, there were Xu Weidong, Wei Yingying, Wang Ming, and Li Jing."

"Why don't you suspect them?"

The classroom suddenly went quiet for a few seconds. Several students who had just walked in stopped in their tracks, watching this confrontation curiously.

Qian Fugui's expression became somewhat unnatural: "You... what nonsense are you spouting! How could Xu Weidong and the others..."

"How is it impossible? Didn't you say that anyone who stayed in the classroom could be a suspect?"

Zhou Yang's voice carried a hint of sarcasm: "Or is it that you only dare to bully children from working-class families like mine, and don't dare to provoke those whose parents are officials?"

"You!"

Qian Fugui was choked for words, his face flushing even redder.

Zhou Yang pressed his advantage: "Since you're so sure I stole it, fine! There's a camera in the classroom. Let's go find the teacher and check the surveillance right now!"

"Let's see what exactly happened at noon and where that hundred yuan went!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a burst of whispering broke out in the classroom.

Several students wore subtle expressions; there was indeed a camera in the classroom, but it was usually only checked during exams or in special circumstances.

Moreover, if they checked the surveillance, every move made in the classroom at noon would be seen clearly.

"Ch-check it then!"

Qian Fugui was already in a position where he couldn't back down, so he stiffened his neck and said: "I don't believe it, can I really be wronging you?"

"That hundred yuan didn't just grow legs and run away!"

"Fine, then let's go find Teacher Zhang right now!"

Zhou Yang said, turning to walk out of the classroom.

Just then, that little couple, Wang Ming and Li Jing, hurried into the classroom.

Wang Ming was tall and thin, wearing a pair of thin-rimmed glasses.

Li Jing had her hair in a ponytail and had some small freckles on her face.

They had evidently heard part of the conversation outside the door, and their expressions were a bit nervous.

"Zhou Yang, wait a moment!"

Wang Ming stepped forward quickly and grabbed Zhou Yang's arm.

"We're all classmates, let's talk things over properly. There's no need to go as far as checking the surveillance, is there?"

Li Jing also chimed in: "That's right, maybe Qian Fugui just misplaced his money. Why not look for it again?"

Zhou Yang shook off Wang Ming's hand and said coldly: "This isn't about the money anymore; it's about my reputation."

"Qian Fugui accused me of stealing money in front of the whole class; this matter must be cleared up!"

Seeing this, Qian Fugui became emboldened: "Wang Ming, Li Jing, why are you stopping him? Do you have something to hide?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Li Jing's face turned red instantly: "We just think that classmates should be understanding of each other..."

Qian Fugui immediately retorted relentlessly: "Understanding? Why didn't he show understanding for me when he was stealing my money?"

Zhou Yang ignored them and strode out of the classroom.

Qian Fugui hesitated for a moment, then followed.

Wang Ming and Li Jing exchanged a look, both seeing the anxiety in the other's eyes, but they had no choice but to follow.

Just as they walked out of the classroom door, Xu Weidong and Wei Yingying walked up from the staircase corner.

Xu Weidong was wearing a simple dark jacket; he had a tall, upright stature, and there was a sense of composure beyond his years between his brows.

Wei Yingying wore her hair in a simple ponytail; her skin was fair, and she was holding a physics exercise book in her hand. Clearly, the two had just finished discussing some problems.

Xu Weidong stopped Zhou Yang and asked calmly: "What's wrong? Why such a rush?"

Zhou Yang quickly recounted the incident and finally emphasized: "I must prove my innocence."

"Xu Weidong, you were in the classroom at noon too; you know I didn't steal any money, right?"

Xu Weidong nodded and said: "I did see you sitting at your desk eating and studying the whole time; you never left."

Wei Yingying also said softly: "I can testify to that."

Qian Fugui's expression became even more unnatural, but he still refused to back down.

"Th-then what? Maybe he did it when you weren't paying attention..."

Xu Weidong immediately looked straight at Qian Fugui and said: "Qian Fugui, have you thought about how you'll handle it if we check the surveillance and find out it wasn't Zhou Yang who took it?"

"If it wasn't him, then who else could it be!"

Qian Fugui was already somewhat frantic and speaking without thinking.

"Could it be you guys?"

As soon as these words left his mouth, he froze for a moment.

Several classmates who had followed them out of the classroom gasped; who didn't know that Xu Weidong's mother was the school's vice principal?

Moreover, rumors said his family background was not simple, although no one could clearly state what it was.

Wei Yingying's parents were rumored to work in Yancheng. Although no one knew exactly what they did, being able to transfer their child from the capital to Hanzhou meant they must be extraordinary.

Xu Weidong's expression didn't change, but his eyes darkened slightly.

"Are you sure you want to say that?"

"I... I didn't mean that..."

Qian Fugui's momentum weakened significantly. His family had suddenly become wealthy by catching the wind of the era; naturally, he dared not bare his fangs at people whose backgrounds were unclear.

If they were just faking it, that would be fine, but he was afraid the other party might be a real dragon.

By then, not only would he be in trouble, but his family would suffer as well...

Just then, Zhou Yang had already turned around and continued walking towards the teachers' office.

He paid no more attention to anyone's dissuasion, his back showing a sense of determination.

"It's over, it's over..."

Wang Ming muttered, fine beads of sweat already appearing on his forehead.

Li Jing pulled on his sleeve, her face turning pale as she said: "What should we do? If we check the surveillance, at noon we..."

"Stop talking."

Wang Ming interrupted her, looking at Xu Weidong and Wei Yingying with a complex look in his eyes.

Xu Weidong sighed and said to Wei Yingying: "Let's follow them too; after all, we are also parties involved."

Wei Yingying nodded, and the two walked towards the teachers' office.

Wang Ming and Li Jing hesitated for a moment, then had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow.