Chapter 129: A Dilemma of Loyalty and Affection

This story is entirely fictional.

Wu Zhengzhe tried calling Chi Zhaoming, but the call could not get through.

Wu Zhengzhe also found it difficult to call Du Juan directly. He knew only too well how much pain Du Juan had endured after the previous upheaval, and how hard life had become for her. He had watched it all with his own eyes and felt every bit of it in his heart.

What he should do now left Wu Zhengzhe in an agonizing dilemma. If he acted from the standpoint of the law, he would undoubtedly lose the brother who had grown up alongside him. But if he went against his conscience, then although both he and Chi Zhaoming might escape unscathed, his actions would make him no different from Ma Shengwei. Wu Zhengzhe was torn by a fierce inner struggle. Faced with the choice between justice and brotherly affection, he hesitated.

Scenes from his childhood with Chi Zhaoming flashed before his eyes like frames of film, one after another:

Chi Zhaoming selling the eggs from his family’s hens to help pay their school fees…

Playing with that luminous commemorative badge alongside Chi Zhaoming…

Catching fish and shrimp with Chi Zhaoming in the creek…

Climbing trees with Chi Zhaoming to catch crows…

Leaving their hometown together to join the army…

Celebrating after they were both admitted to military college…

Playing with Chi Xiyu like a child…

He scrolled through his phone and saw the song “Brothers,” which Chi Zhaoming had written shortly after returning to civilian life.

Several brothers, all of us,
Clung together from childhood.
Catching fish and shrimp
In the little river,
Chasing wild ducks
Around Lotus Seed Lake.

In those years of plain tea and simple meals,
We depended on one another every day.
Dressed in rags and tattered clothes,
Our faces still shone like flowers.

We went to school together,
Yet loved to skip class and roam.
Newton meant nothing to us,
And Galileo could stand aside.

We sighed when the college entrance exam
Left us at the foot of the mountain.
We mourned the dreams
That never came true.
Our bodies and hearts were covered in scars,
Weariness written across our faces.

Perhaps it was fate’s arrangement,
But you and I never parted.
We encouraged one another as brothers
And never once let each other down.

Carrying the ideals
We have never forgotten,
We journeyed through endless wind and rain.
Military college tempered our will;
The furnace forged our passion.

We sang of gardenias in bloom
And stepped onto the stage of growing up.
We laid aside our uniforms
And faced the tide, beginning anew.

Let us weave garments from our dreams
To add color to our future;
To shield our brothers from wind and rain,
To give our brothers better days;
To risk our lives for our brothers,
And let them live in peace and freedom…

By the following day, Ma Shengwei still had not received a reply from Wu Zhengzhe. Growing impatient, he called him.

Because he had stayed up late, Wu Zhengzhe did not wake until the phone had been ringing for quite some time. He opened his eyes groggily and saw Ma Shengwei’s number on the screen.

When he answered, Ma Shengwei’s cold voice came through the phone.

“You’ve had enough time to think. Have you made your decision?”

“I…” Wu Zhengzhe hesitated.

“It seems you still haven’t chosen. Fine. I’ll be waiting for you in the presidential suite at Zhizhen Bar. I have another solution. If you’re interested, come by.”

Wu Zhengzhe put down the phone and went to the private room at Zhizhen Bar. Ma Shengwei was already waiting for him.

“You finally came.” Ma Shengwei wore an evil smile.

Wu Zhengzhe glanced around the empty room, hung his bag on a coat rack in the corner, and sat down on the sofa.

“You said you had another solution. Let’s hear it,” Wu Zhengzhe said.

“Do you really want to hear it? You’d better think carefully,” Ma Shengwei replied.

“You can tell me first. It won’t be too late for me to decide afterward.”

“Your brother, Chi Zhaoming, embezzled public funds, didn’t he? The owner of that money is actually a friend of mine. He originally wanted Chi Zhaoming to help produce a promotional advertisement. But when my friend was preparing to commission the work, he discovered that the money had already been withdrawn from the card. That was how we found out your brother had misappropriated the funds.

“Since he is my friend, however, everything can be settled if you let that man, Lü Jiahui of Duhao Company, off the hook. We won’t pursue the matter, and you can receive a large sum of money—enough to keep you rich and free from worry for the rest of your life. Your brother will be able to sleep soundly at night as well. What do you think?”

Ma Shengwei looked at Wu Zhengzhe.

“Your terms are certainly tempting. It sounds like a win-win arrangement. Your little brother gets away with bearing several lives on his conscience and can continue living beyond the reach of the law. As for me, I get to learn what life is like for the wealthy.” Wu Zhengzhe gave a helpless laugh.

“Exactly. It’s a win-win situation, and an excellent outcome for both you and Duhao Company.” Ma Shengwei smiled without warmth.

“I don’t think this is really about Duhao Company. It’s about your little brother, Lü Jiahui, isn’t it, Director Ma?” Wu Zhengzhe asked.

Ma Shengwei’s heart gave a violent jolt, as though something had struck it. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to know about his younger brother. If people discovered that Lü Jiahui was his brother, they would also discover that Ma Shengwei was not the real Ma Shengwei.

“What exactly are you implying?”

“You know perfectly well what I mean. During the campaign against crime that year, after serving two years in prison, you took advantage of an unexpected opportunity to impersonate Ma Shengwei and enroll in the Kyoto Police Academy. After graduation, your career advanced smoothly, and eventually you were appointed to Dahe.”

“Are you writing a novel? Someone as talented as you would be wasting his gift if he didn’t become a novelist. But without evidence, who would believe you?” Ma Shengwei calmly countered.

“Whether anyone believes me or not, the law will. Facts are facts, and you can’t deny what lies before you. Do you remember how I used a few days of leave to shake off Xiao Jinq’s surveillance? Do you know where I went? I went to the place where you grew up. If I hadn’t obtained conclusive evidence, would I have drawn my sword in front of you?” Wu Zhengzhe declared righteously.

“Draw your sword in front of me? And what happens after that? You still have to see whether you can walk out of this room.” Ma Shengwei seized Wu Zhengzhe by the collar and burst into laughter.

“Then let’s see how you plan to stop me from leaving.” Wu Zhengzhe shook off his arm.

The moment Wu Zhengzhe stepped out of the private room, several plainclothes officers blocked his way. One of them pressed the muzzle of his service pistol against Wu Zhengzhe’s head.

“What are you doing?” Wu Zhengzhe shouted angrily.

Without explanation, the plainclothes officers forced him down onto the sofa.

Wu Zhengzhe watched Ma Shengwei stride away. All he heard was Ma Shengwei ordering, “Take this man to the interrogation room and question him thoroughly!”

Rage filled Wu Zhengzhe’s eyes, but he was powerless as the handcuffs were fastened around his wrists.

The officers searched his bag and found a plastic packet containing white powder. One of them smashed the pinhole camera hidden inside with the butt of his gun until it lay shattered on the floor.

Wu Zhengzhe realized that matters had taken a disastrous turn. He had probably brought the trouble upon himself. He regretted acting so impulsively and spouting that nonsense about drawing his sword.

Xiao Jinq searched everywhere for Ma Shengwei, but could not find him.

At Zhizhen Bar, Xiao Jinq ran into Leng Junfeng and learned that Ma Shengwei had just left.

After leaving the bar, Ma Shengwei finally breathed a sigh of relief. That unlucky fool had been like a thorn lodged in his heart, but it seemed he would be completely removed today.

Ma Shengwei went to the parking lot, got into his car, and lowered the window.

He called Jin Yan and asked about Xiao Yi’s condition in the hospital. When he learned that Xiao Yi was already able to get out of bed and walk, Ma Shengwei smiled.

After ending the call, Ma Shengwei received a message saying that Wu Zhengzhe had been taken to the Narcotics Division for questioning. He muttered to himself, “Trying to draw your sword against me? You were practically begging to die. What a pity to waste such talent. Wu Zhengzhe, I gave you a chance, but you didn’t know how to accept it. An ant trying to shake a tree—how could that ever be easy?”

Ma Shengwei was in a state of triumphant exhilaration. He called Jin Yan again.

“If Xiao Yi’s condition has improved, let her rest properly. Why don’t you come to our villa and enjoy some time in our little paradise? I’ll go to the hospital first to see my precious daughter, then come pick you up. Send me the address.”

“At a time like this, you still have the mood to talk about such things? I’m not in the mood. You’d better hurry and settle the matter with my husband. Otherwise, we’ll never have peaceful lives again. Don’t disregard what I’m saying,” Yang Lihua warned Ma Shengwei.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Nothing is a problem for me!” Ma Shengwei was beginning to lose himself in his own triumph.

“Look at you, so pleased with yourself. Don’t get too arrogant. My husband has a way of making people uncomfortable,” Jin Yan said.

“Hahahaha! That’s hilarious. Anyone who makes me uncomfortable even once will spend the rest of his life feeling uncomfortable. That’s a profound saying from the Empress Dowager. You know Wu Zhengzhe, don’t you? He made me uncomfortable at the bar just now. And what happened? I immediately made him uncomfortable in return. The Narcotics Division is not a pleasant place to stay. By now, they’re probably questioning him through the night.” Ma Shengwei let out several cold laughs.

When Xiao Jinq left Zhizhen Bar, he saw Ma Shengwei in the parking lot and quietly hid behind his car.

He listened to every word of the conversation and recorded it on his voice recorder.

Xiao Jinq was so furious that his lungs felt ready to burst. Several times he wanted to draw his pistol and kill the enemy he hated to the bone right there in the street. But there were too many pedestrians, and he managed to retain a measure of calm and restraint.

After hearing everything, Xiao Jinq understood Wu Zhengzhe’s predicament. He had to reach the interrogation room of the Narcotics Division at the Dahe Police Bureau.

Ma Shengwei arrived at the hospital and went upstairs to Xiao Yi’s room. He saw Dai Yunjiu, from Zhizhen, sitting beside the bed, but he did not enter.

Yunjiu held Xiao Yi’s hand. Seeing the waxen pallor of her face, he felt a surge of tenderness and pity.

Ma Shengwei knew that Xiao Yi was in love with Dai Yunjiu, Zhizhen’s underling, and that the child she had miscarried had been Yunjiu’s.

He also knew that Yunjiu was the operator brought over from MC by Gao Yating of HZ Entertainment. Yunjiu was handsome and capable, and Xiao Yi clearly adored him, so Ma Shengwei had never voiced a word of opposition.

Ma Shengwei also knew that Xiao Yi’s path in love was destined to be difficult. He understood Gao Yating’s character all too well. She was a woman who dared to love and hate with equal intensity. Even Leng Junfeng, whose appearance was so cold and severe, became completely submissive before her and dared not overstep himself in the slightest.

Ma Shengwei said nothing. He simply stood to one side in silence.

To be continued.