99: Chapter 99 Fighting

The smoky air of the barbecue restaurant, wrapped in the scent of cumin and chili, drifted through the spring night.

Xu Weidong picked up a slice of grilled beef and placed it on the plate in front of Mu Ruxue.

Mu Ruxue was focused on a chicken wing, completely unaware of the speck of chili powder on the corner of her mouth.

"Wipe it off."

Xu Weidong handed her a tissue and pointed to the corner of his own mouth.

Mu Ruxue froze for a moment, then realized what he meant. Her face flushed slightly as she took the tissue and wiped her mouth hastily.

"Is there still some left?"

Xu Weidong looked at the spot still remaining at the corner of her mouth, smiled, reached out, and gently wiped it away with his thumb.

Mu Ruxue's face turned even redder. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

"Comrade Weidong, you're making me shy."

"What's there to be shy about?"

Xu Weidong withdrew his hand, his expression natural.

"Didn't we do this when we were kids?"

"Is that the same?"

Mu Ruxue looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Childhood is childhood, and now is now."

Xu Weidong looked at her with a smile in his eyes. "What about now?"

Mu Ruxue's heart raced under his gaze. Just as she was about to say something, a loud bang suddenly came from the next table.

It was the sound of a table being overturned, followed immediately by a woman's scream and a man's crude cursing.

"Fuck you, you don't know what's good for you, huh?"

"Let go of me! Who are you! I don't know you!"

Xu Weidong's expression changed, and he stood up immediately.

Mu Ruxue also stood up nervously, grabbing his sleeve. "Comrade Weidong..."

"Don't be afraid."

Xu Weidong patted her hand, took out his phone, and quickly dialed a number.

The phone rang twice before being answered. "Old Wang, I'm at the old barbecue spot in the west of the city. There's a fight here. Bring some people over, quickly."

Xu Weidong spoke quickly but clearly. "Understood!"

On the other end of the line, the newly appointed Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun didn't say a word and hung up.

Xu Weidong put away his phone. Instead of rushing over recklessly, he walked quickly toward a group of concerned onlookers at a nearby table.

"Brother, what's going on?"

Xu Weidong asked a middle-aged man wearing a jacket. Seeing that his demeanor didn't seem like that of an ordinary person, the middle-aged man immediately told him what he had seen.

"At that table over there, three girls were eating. A guy went over to hit on them, and one of the girls turned him down."

"The guy probably felt embarrassed, so he started cursing. The girl talked back, and he started hitting her."

"The other two girls went up to help, but the guy's accomplices kicked them to the ground. Now five men are surrounding that first girl and beating her. They're being brutal!"

A young man with glasses nearby added, "That girl looks like she's only in her early twenties. She's covered in blood from the beating; it's too tragic."

Xu Weidong frowned deeply. Just as he was about to ask something else, he suddenly heard more intense commotion over there.

"Take her away! Drag this bitch out!"

Several men were holding the beaten girl and dragging her toward the restaurant entrance.

The girl struggled desperately but couldn't break free. Her face was covered in blood, her hair was disheveled, and she was making whimpering sounds.

Her two companions were on the ground; one was clutching her stomach and couldn't get up, and the other was holding her leg and crying.

Other customers in the restaurant were either hiding far away or holding up their phones to film, but no one dared to step forward.

A thought flashed through Xu Weidong's mind—he couldn't wait any longer. He took a deep breath and strode toward the group of people.

Mu Ruxue called out "Comrade Weidong" from behind, but he didn't turn back.

"Stop!"

Xu Weidong's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.

The men were stunned for a moment and turned to look at him.

The leader was a bald man in his thirties, wearing a gold chain around his neck, and reeking of alcohol.

He looked Xu Weidong up and down. Seeing that he was dressed ordinarily and didn't look like he could fight, a disdainful smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Who the fuck are you? Mind your own business."

The others also gathered around, their gazes fierce; they were clearly drunk.

Xu Weidong ignored their attitude and fixed his gaze on the beaten girl.

The girl's face was swollen, the corner of her eye was split, and blood covered half her face. The look she gave him was filled with desperate pleading.

"Let her go."

The bald man was stunned for a moment, then exchanged glances with his accomplices, and they all laughed at once.

"Let her go?"

The bald man took a step forward and pointed at Xu Weidong's nose. "Who the fuck are you? You dare to interfere in my business?"

A young man with dyed yellow hair nearby chimed in, "Big brother, is this moron drunk? Running over here alone to play the hero?"

"I think so."

Another tall, thin man sneered, "He should go take a piss and look at his own reflection."

Xu Weidong didn't move, nor was he angered by their attitude. He just looked at the bald man and said, word for word, "I am Xu Weidong, Director of the Changyuan County Public Security Bureau."

"I am warning you now: release her immediately."

The air was silent for a second.

The bald man blinked, then suddenly burst into even louder laughter.

"Hahahaha! He says he's the Director of the Public Security Bureau?"

The yellow-haired guy also laughed, "You're killing me. The Director of the Public Security Bureau coming to a barbecue stand for skewers? Do you think you're in a TV show?"

The tall, thin man was even more dramatic, clutching his stomach and pretending to vomit. "Damn, I thought he was someone big. Turns out he's just a poser."

"Had too much booze? You dare to impersonate a public official?"

Xu Weidong ignored their mockery and scanned the men.

Of the five men, four were clearly drunk, their eyes unfocused, and they couldn't even stand steadily.

The bald man was slightly more sober, but his face and neck were flushed, the alcohol going to his head.

Xu Weidong knew he was no match for these men. As a Director, he spent more time in the office than at the training ground; if it came to a real fight, he would only end up getting beaten.

But he could still try to stall them until Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun arrived.

He couldn't just watch the people being bullied like this, could he?

"Think carefully."

Xu Weidong's tone remained calm, but it held a hint of pressure.

"The entire county is currently conducting a Crackdown on Organized Crime. You should know how serious it is to beat others in a public place."

"Even if you escape today, what about tomorrow? What about the day after?"

"The surveillance cameras are recording, and there are so many witnesses. Where can you run to?"

The bald man's smile stiffened.

Xu Weidong continued, "I don't know you, and I don't know where you're from."

"But you all have families, right? Parents? Wives and children? If this matter blows up today and you end up in prison for a few years, what will your families do?"

The tall, thin man sobered up a bit and tugged at the bald man's sleeve. "Big brother, maybe..."

"Maybe my ass!"

The bald man shook off his hand and glared at Xu Weidong. "Stop trying to scare me, you fuck! Director? Director my ass! Today, I'll let you know the consequences of being a busybody!"

He grabbed a beer bottle from the table next to him, smashed it against the edge of the table with a crack, and advanced toward Xu Weidong, holding the sharp, broken half of the bottle.

Mu Ruxue screamed, "Comrade Weidong!"

Just then, the sound of police sirens blared. "Don't move! Police!"

"Nobody move! Put your hands up!"

Seven or eight police officers rushed in through the door. Leading them was Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun, holding a gun, his face full of murderous intent.

The bald man froze in place, and the broken beer bottle in his hand clattered to the ground.

Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun rushed over in a few steps and kicked him to the ground. The police officers behind him swarmed forward and pinned the other four men down as well.

"Director Xu, are you alright?"

Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun looked at Xu Weidong nervously. If this boss really got hurt, a few lives wouldn't be enough to pay for it!

Xu Weidong shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Check on that young woman first; she's seriously injured. Call an ambulance."

"Yes!"

Several police officers went to check on the three girls' injuries. The bald man was pinned to the ground, finally completely sober. He lifted his head, his face deathly pale, and looked at Xu Weidong.

"You... you really are the Director?"

Xu Weidong looked down at him, his gaze calm. "I told you just now."

The bald man's lips trembled; he wanted to say something, but couldn't get any words out.

The yellow-haired guy and the tall, thin man were also pinned to the ground, all of them shivering like chaff.

They finally realized that the young man who looked so gentle just a moment ago was truly the Director of the Public Security Bureau.

It was over... completely over!

The sound of the ambulance approached from afar. The beaten girl was carried onto a stretcher, and her two companions were helped up and got into the vehicle together.

As they were leaving, the blood-covered girl struggled to turn her head to look at Xu Weidong, her lips moving.

Xu Weidong nodded at her, signaling her to rest easy.

Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun walked over and asked, "Director Xu, how should we handle these guys?"

Xu Weidong glanced at the men on the ground and said in a calm tone, "Take them back and do what needs to be done."

"Picking quarrels and provoking trouble, intentional injury, attempted assault on an officer—punish them for all crimes combined."

"Investigate to see if they have any criminal records; if they do, deal with them severely."

"Yes!"

Several police officers escorted the bald man and the others out. As the bald man passed by Xu Weidong, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to his knees, but he was dragged out by two officers.

The crowd of onlookers burst into enthusiastic applause.

"Director Xu, well done!"

"The Public Security Bureau, truly awesome!"

"I told you, the reason why public security in Changyuan County is so good now is because of people like Director Xu!"

Some people held up their phones to take pictures, others gave thumbs-up, and some even rushed up to shake Xu Weidong's hand.

Xu Weidong waved his hand, signaling everyone to calm down, and then turned to walk back to his table.

Mu Ruxue was still standing there, her eyes red. Watching him walk over, she suddenly threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.

"You scared me to death..."

Her voice was muffled, carrying a hint of tears. "That bottle, it was so sharp, what if..."

Xu Weidong gently patted her back and said, "It's alright. I calculated the time."

"Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun and the others were on their way; stalling for a little longer was enough."

In reality, Xu Weidong had also underestimated the madness of this group. He hadn't expected that, with the Crackdown on Organized Crime ongoing, anyone would still dare to act like this.

Of course, he had indeed calculated the time.

Mu Ruxue looked up, her teary eyes fixed on him. "How did you know when they would arrive?"

"There is a police station nearby. I didn't expect them to be so bold and audacious."

"With a police station so close by, they still dared to commit a crime in public. It seems that I, as the Deputy Director of the Crackdown on Organized Crime Office, have been derelict in my duties!"

Mu Ruxue was stunned for a moment, then buried her face in his chest again, hugging him even tighter.

The people around them watched this scene. Some whistled, some jeered, but mostly there was good-natured laughter.

Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun stood at the entrance, watching this scene. He chuckled twice and waved at his subordinates, saying, "Let's go, let's go. Don't disturb Director Xu."

The police cars drove away one by one, and the barbecue restaurant gradually quieted down.

The owner walked over, trembling, and said, "Director Xu, um... are you still going to eat? This meal is on the house today, to help you calm your nerves."

Xu Weidong shook his head. "Charge whatever it costs."

"Grill some more food. The stuff from before has gone cold."

"Alright, alright!"

The owner, feeling relieved, scurried back to the kitchen.

Mu Ruxue lifted her head from his arms. Her face was a bit red, but her eyes were still bright. "Comrade Weidong."

"Hmm?"

"You were incredibly handsome just now."

Xu Weidong smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

Mu Ruxue's face turned even redder, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.