Chapter 53: Merit and Reward

Zhang Wenhao never expected that his affairs would alarm Lei Zhanzun. In his heart, he owed Lei Zhanzun a great debt, and he hadn’t imagined that a mere minor injury would prompt Lei Zhanzun to rush over as soon as he heard the news.

Lei Zhanzun first inquired about Zhang Wenhao’s condition, and after learning that he was all right, asked for the details of the incident. When he finished listening, Lei Zhanzun was stunned. After a long pause, he raised his thumb at Zhang Wenhao and exclaimed, “Good lad, you’ve truly inherited your father’s mettle.”

Embarrassed by his words, Zhang Wenhao lowered his head. Lei Zhanzun whispered a few words to Zhang Xingping, then said aloud, “I’m going to speak with the police and get a clear understanding of the specifics. While I’m at it, I might as well chide them a bit. I really have no idea what those people are doing. An A-class fugitive sneaks into Jiangcheng, and they don’t get the slightest wind of it. If it hadn’t been for Wenhao, and those criminals had succeeded, where would they put their faces? I’ll go see what they have to say for themselves!”

Zhang Xingping hurriedly pulled him back. “Enough, Zhanzun, let’s not argue with them about that. As long as Wenhao’s safe, that’s all that matters.”

“You’re too honest,” Lei Zhanzun said, pointing at Zhang Wenhao. “Do you realize the trouble Wenhao cleared up for them? And the credit he earned for them? Never mind the reward policies at the various crime scenes; even just the city and provincial bureaus should grant Wenhao a bonus. If we keep quiet now, tomorrow when the news hits the television, Wenhao’s name won’t even be mentioned. They’ll take all the credit for themselves. For what Wenhao did today, the province can’t deny him a reward. He might even receive some special treatment in the college entrance exams.”

“Uncle Lei,” Zhang Wenhao interjected as soon as he realized Lei Zhanzun was about to fight for his recognition. “I really don’t want this to become a big public spectacle. If the news blows up and it’s all over the papers and TV, I won’t be able to take it. Our lives would be thrown into chaos.”

“That’s right,” Zhang Xingping added. “If this gets out, Wenhao won’t be able to live like a normal person for at least half a year or more. There are only three months until the college entrance exams. It’s not suitable to publicize this.”

“True,” Lei Zhanzun nodded, then continued, “But we can’t let this slide quietly either. I’ll fight for the internal police reward for you. Remember back when we fought over credit with the Seventh Company? We held the position for a whole day and night, risking our lives, and then the higher-ups rotated the Seventh Company in and pulled us out to rest. The enemy launched their counterattack less than two hours after they took over, and when victory was declared, they got all the merit. You think I was happy about that? I can forgo the recognition, but the benefits they received from headquarters had to be shared with us.”

He grinned triumphantly. “Do you remember when I drove over to the Seventh Company and hauled away sixteen crates of grenades? Their company commander, Meng Qingzhu, looked like a scorned housewife.”

Zhang Xingping recalled those days and grinned as well. “Meng Qingzhu was utterly dejected. Headquarters only gave them twenty crates in total.”

Lei Zhanzun laughed. “Those were the real gains. What’s rightfully ours, we must fight for.”

With that, Lei Zhanzun turned and strode out. Song Huafang watched him go, a little worried. “Xingping, is this really appropriate?”

Zhang Xingping smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. Zhanzun knows what he’s doing.”

Lei Zhanzun had come to Jiangcheng on personal business that day and wasn’t in uniform. None of the investigating officers recognized him. The highest-ranking officer in Ren’ai Hospital was Wang Cheng, director of the High-tech District Sub-bureau. Lei Zhanzun found him in the hospital corridor, reporting to his superiors over the phone.

“Chief Liu, I’ll immediately assign personnel and personally escort Li Chunyang and his accomplices to the city bureau for interrogation.”

Wang Cheng hung up, beaming. As long as he delivered Li Chunyang and his men to the city bureau and their identities were confirmed, the credit would be his. It hadn’t been easy—two decades of an unremarkable career had earned him only a sub-bureau directorship. There had been no major incidents under his watch, but also no achievements to distinguish himself. He’d thought this was the ceiling of his career, but tonight fortune had smiled on him. Among all four district bureau chiefs in Jiangcheng, who had ever captured a notorious national felon like Li Chunyang?

Lei Zhanzun clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re the director of the High-tech District Sub-bureau, right?”

Wang Cheng eyed him. “And you are?”

Ignoring the question, Lei Zhanzun asked, “So far, how many police departments in the affected areas have offered rewards for Li Chunyang? What’s the total sum?”

“Who are you?” Wang Cheng frowned at the rude middle-aged man before him. “Are you authorized to poke your nose into internal police matters?”

Lei Zhanzun frowned as well. Who does this little sub-bureau director think he is? Getting all puffed up just because he’s excited about his supposed promotion?

“I’m a relative of Zhang Wenhao,” Lei Zhanzun replied coolly. “Ninety percent of the credit for capturing Li Chunyang and his accomplices belongs to Zhang Wenhao, ten percent to the other two who were shot. You police officers just cleaned up afterwards. Are you saying all the credit belongs to you?”

Wang Cheng was irritated. The arrest happened in my jurisdiction by my people, so the credit is mine. How can you take that away with a few words?

“I understand how family members feel,” Wang Cheng replied, his expression dismissive. “Of course, the reward will be given as it should. But there’s a bit of a complication. You see, Li Chunyang never committed any crimes in Jiangcheng before, so the city bureau never issued any reward for him. As for other areas, that’s beyond our jurisdiction. Even if you caught him here, it was the Jiangcheng police who made the arrest, and the handover will also be handled by us. Why would other areas give you the reward?”

Lei Zhanzun’s face darkened, but Wang Cheng tried to placate him. “Still, you don’t need to worry. I’ll do my best to secure a reward for him. Even if the other jurisdictions don’t pay, I’ll persuade the city bureau to grant a cash award—at least thirty or fifty thousand yuan, no less.”

“Thirty or fifty thousand?” Lei Zhanzun narrowed his eyes and stared coldly at Wang Cheng. “Are you trying to brush us off like beggars, or are you just being shameless? Have your city bureau chief Liu Xiyun come and speak to me in person!”

Wang Cheng curled his lip. “You want Chief Liu to speak to you personally? Fine, call him yourself.”

“Fine, you said it.” Lei Zhanzun nodded, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number.

Liu Xiyun was the head of the Jiangcheng City Bureau. The military district’s base was in a county-level city under Jiangcheng’s jurisdiction. Military and police often worked closely together, so Lei Zhanzun and Liu Xiyun were acquainted. Lei Zhanzun called Liu Xiyun directly. “Old Liu, catching Li Chunyang must have you over the moon, right?”

On the other end, Liu Xiyun was stunned, then exclaimed, “Ah, Commander Lei, your information is really something! I only got the news three minutes ago, and now you’re already calling me.”

Lei Zhanzun chuckled. “Get over to Ren’ai Hospital right away. I have something to discuss with you about this case.”

Liu Xiyun was even more surprised. Lei Zhanzun was from the military district, and although his rank far exceeded Liu’s, even if the armed police were involved in a criminal case, the military rarely intervened. What could Lei Zhanzun want to discuss about the case?

Hearing no response from Liu Xiyun, Lei Zhanzun grew impatient. “Hurry up and get over here. You’ll know when you arrive. Don’t dawdle.”

With that, he hung up.

Wang Cheng, standing by, thought Lei Zhanzun was putting on a show for him and watched with utter disdain. When Lei Zhanzun finished his call, he said, “When Liu Xiyun arrives, tell him to find me in the ward.” With that, Lei Zhanzun turned and headed back.

Wang Cheng snorted, thinking, “Why stop now? Why not say you’re calling Obama? Since I’m in a good mood tonight, I won’t stoop to the level of a petty braggart like you.”