The Second People's Hospital of Nanbin City is the best orthopedic hospital in the local area, but at this moment, Chen Yaoyang's face is as dark as water, and Wu Min's eyes are swollen from crying.
The doctor told them that Chen Huanrui's kneecap had been shattered, and it would take at least a year to heal. Otherwise, it might lead to a limp. Chen Huanrui lay on the hospital bed, in a deep sleep. Despite taking sedatives, his face was pale, and his brows twitched occasionally due to the pain.
"Zhang Zhili is too ruthless! I told you we had done enough already. We should have just taken care of him at once... but you insisted he was mentally ill, and we should let him be!" Wu Min said tearfully.
"I was afraid of the consequences of killing someone back then!" Chen Yaoyang gritted his teeth, and his phone suddenly rang. After listening to his subordinate's report, he frowned.
"Zhang Zhili has some nerve! He actually crippled the son of the Li family and Baoge!"
Wu Min instinctively asked, "Then isn't he..."
"Huang Wuye stepped in to take responsibility for him!" Chen Yaoyang furrowed his brow.
Wu Min was puzzled, "But he just recovered from his mental illness not long ago. How could he know Huang Wuye?"
"I don't know. I suspect it's because of Tang's connections! Tang's family has a relative who is a director, which carries some weight!" Chen Yaoyang suddenly laughed again. "It's really beyond comprehension. Relying on a slight acquaintance with Huang Wuye, he dared to cripple Baoge's son!"
"He's doomed without me lifting a finger!"
It was the first time Wu Min heard of Baoge and couldn't help asking, "Who is Baoge?"
"The Southern Mole, the Northern Laowu, invincible among the Thirteen Guards. The leader of the Thirteen Guards is He Jinrong. He cooperates with local aristocrats in Han Dong's Thirteen Cities, acting as a white glove for the aristocrats. There are thirteen capable subordinates under the Thirteen Guards, which is where the Thirteen Guards came from."
"The power of each branch of the Thirteen Guards is backed by the strength of Huang Wuye. When combined, it forms an immense force. It is the most powerful underground force in our Han Dong Province."
"Baoge is arranged by He Jinrong to act as one of the Thirteen Guards, serving as a white glove for the Zhou family in Nanbin City!"
"My good nephew said that Tang's family is a benefactor to him, am I an enemy? He ruined my son, so I'll ruin Tang's family and crush him to death!" By the end, Chen Yaoyang couldn't help but grit his teeth.
"With my son's career ruined, and the Zhou family offending Yanbin, the antique business won't be easy to manage. They're planning to withdraw their investment!" Wu Min dared not imagine how angry Chen Huanrui, who was usually so ambitious, would be when he woke up and heard this news.
"Speaking of which, she suddenly remembered something: 'Huanrui said Zhang Zhili has befriended a woman, which is why he asked Hai Ge for help. Shouldn't we investigate that woman?'"
"Yanbin is the kind of playboy who has many women around him. What kind of background could that woman have? I've asked around, and Hai Ge's outburst doesn't have much to do with her. It's mainly because Yanbin doesn't like Huanrui's style!"
"That's true, Zhang Zhili can get whatever he wants, so he could know any noblewoman! If he's getting a woman, it's probably just to spend money to have someone speak for him."
"But speaking of which, I'm also worried. Huanrui is working with the Zhou family like this, could he be pushed out to take the blame one day?" Wu Min lowered her voice.
"Don't worry, the Zhou family is deeply rooted. As for offending Yanbin's Bo Gu Cheng, it doesn't matter much. There's still Tianyuan Ge! Tianyuan Ge serves the wealthy, and as long as one can have a place in Tianyuan Ge, the Zhou family will reinvest!"
"When Tianyuan Ge gets a new owner, I'll go to fight for Huanrui at the reception!"
"Who is the new owner?"
"I don't know yet! It's quite mysterious!"
"Let's not talk about that. You stay with your son. When he wakes up, tell him I will make Zhang Zhili suffer a hundred times over and regret what he has done!"
Tang Yanran and Zhang Zhili didn't speak on the way home. Just as they arrived downstairs, Zhang Zhili received a call from Shen Hong, asking him to help treat a friend's illness.
After greeting Tang Yanran, Zhang Zhili went to Baixian Drunken Restaurant as agreed.
In the reserved private room, only Shen Hong was present. He greeted Zhang Zhili warmly, pulling him into his seat and smiling brightly:
"Zhang, my friend, you are truly talented! Mayor Liu's headache has been completely cured. He was still clamoring this morning about treating you to a meal in gratitude!"
"I only thought you were good at appraising antiques, but I didn't expect your medical skills to be so extraordinary. With you as a friend, I've gained an extra life and an extra purse to boot!" Zhang Zhili laughed heartily, "Brother "Come on, let's have a few drinks while others haven't arrived yet!" Shen Hong raised his glass, clinking it with Zhang Zhili's, and downed it in one gulp.
After drinking a few more rounds, Shen Hong became enthusiastic and patted his chest, saying, "Zhang, my friend, I don't play games. If you ever need anything, just come to me. As long as you don't bully others, no one will dare to bully you!"
Zhang Zhili hesitated for a moment before saying, "Shen, I actually have something I'd like to ask for your help with."
Shen Hong put down his glass and raised his chin, "Go ahead!"
"My father, Chen Wenshan, and my mother, Wu Yuan, died in a home invasion three years ago. Although the culprit was brought to justice, I recently discovered that there might be something suspicious about it. I want to see the investigation files from back then. Would that be possible?"
Shen Hong had already thoroughly investigated Zhang Zhili's background and trusted him because his family background was clean, and he had skills. He dared to call Zhang Zhili his brother. Also, knowing that Zhang Zhili's parents were no longer alive, he felt inclined to care for him. But when he heard Zhang Zhili mention something suspicious, he was somewhat surprised.
"Do you have any evidence?" Shen Hong asked with a serious expression.
"Well, there are some clues, but not enough to call it evidence. So I want to see the backgrounds of those involved in the robbery to verify the clues I have!" Zhang Zhili didn't hide anything.
"Although it's not exactly in line with the rules, I can make it happen! Don't worry, I'll go back and get the files, and someone will deliver them to you!" Shen Hong agreed straightforwardly, without any official tone.
After a few more words, Shen Hong's phone rang. He answered it and reported his location.
"Zhang, if your parents' deaths were not accidental, as you suspect, then today's distinguished guest might be someone you should get close to."
Zhang Zhili was taken aback, "Who?"
"The leader of the special task force for cracking down on organized crime and eliminating evil, Ke Wen! If it wasn't the work of petty thieves, it was likely organized. Ke specializes in the organized underground organizations in Nanbin for the past decade or so, big or small."
"Some of the information he knows is even clearer than ours in the Security Bureau," Shen Hong added.
Zhang Zhili nodded, indicating that he understood.
Just as they were talking, the door of the private room was pushed open, and a slender, tall middle-aged man walked in confidently.
Ke Wen greeted Shen Hong with a handshake and a smile, "Old man, you're already drinking!"
With just one sentence, he revealed his unusual relationship with Shen Hong.
"Zhang Zhili, this is Ke Wen, the specialist sent by our province. Ke, this is Zhang, my friend," Shen Hong introduced with a smile, "Don't be fooled by his young appearance. Mayor Liu's headaches, even Mr. He Songmang couldn't do anything about, but he managed to cure them. Mr. He even admires him a lot!"
Zhang Zhili extended his hand, smiling, "Mr. Ke, nice to meet you."
As they shook hands, Zhang Zhili's smile seemed forced, and he felt a sense of unease within him.
"You seem very skilled," Ke Wen said with a smile, but there was a hint of vigilance in his eyes.
"I've been practicing continuously," Zhang Zhili replied ambiguously, trying to hide his inner discomfort.
"How long have you been doing this?" Ke Wen asked, his eyes sharp as they stared at Zhang Zhili.
"For about five years," Zhang Zhili replied, feeling nervous, his throat a bit dry.
"You must have accumulated a lot of experience in such a long time," Ke Wen's words carried a hint of teasing.
Feeling uneasy, Zhang Zhili's heart sank, feeling like he was being scrutinized by Ke Wen. He felt somewhat uncomfortable.