Actions speak louder than words. Seeing the crowd gathering, Chen Meilan decided to share all the photos and sincerely said, "I'm sure many of you have children. If your child gets hurt at school, you must learn from me - take photos immediately, take your child to the hospital for examination, and communicate carefully with them. Ask whether they were bullied or just fell. You must maintain open communication with your children, otherwise you'll end up in situations like today where your child gets beaten and the other party tries to shift the blame."
Too much time had passed for Ma Yuan to accept responsibility. She blurted out, "Director's wife, how can you prove my child beat your son?"
"Yuhan just admitted it herself, and many people witnessed it," Chen Meilan replied calmly and steadily.
Ma Yuan laughed mockingly, "Maybe the child was intimidated into confessing, coerced through threats or inducements."
Zou Jie could no longer stay silent and stepped forward: "I'll testify. Ma Yuan, your Yuhan just admitted that her cousin was the one who hit him. You should apologize. Look at these photos - see how badly Little Lang was beaten? What's worse is that your child did it deliberately. Your husband Wang Gang used to be Yan Zhao's subordinate. Did you deliberately instigate the children to beat Yan Zhao's son because of some work-related grievance with his father?"
As a former police family member with a daughter herself, Zou Jie suddenly realized while speaking that this was a serious matter. She left the counter and went to the first-floor reception to make a phone call directly to Director Zhang Chao, intending to ask him to come over.
"How cruel must someone be to beat a child like this?" someone asked while looking at the photos.
Another person said, "This can't be resolved with just an apology - they need to pay medical expenses!"
"If someone dared to beat my child like this, I wouldn't want medical expenses - I'd want to kill their child," someone else added.
Seeing that she couldn't deny it anymore, Ma Yuan deliberately pushed Wang Yuhan forward and said, "Director's wife, go ahead and file a police report. Let the police handle it. My Yuhan is only 5 years old, and her cousin is just 12. In my view, it was just children rough-housing and an accident. But since you're the director's wife with connections, go ahead and have the police arrest them and throw them in jail."
Someone immediately responded, "Throwing a five-year-old in jail? Is the police director crazy?"
"So the police director's children are untouchable now?"
Just one comment was enough to shift the crowd's opinion again.
Ma Yuan's nephew Xu Xiaoliang was 12 years old. The reason she dared to act this way was because she knew that no matter what a primary school student did, even if they killed someone, they wouldn't face criminal charges.
Otherwise, would she have deliberately instigated the children to find a high place to push Little Lang down?
If Yan Zhao couldn't prove it, the beating would go unpunished, and she would have gotten her revenge.
If it was investigated, the worst outcome would be a police report, but the police wouldn't take action against children, so it would still go unpunished.
However, this was just her angry thinking when the beating happened. Taking a step back, she definitely didn't want the incident to come to light, which is why she transferred her daughter to a different school after one semester.
If the incident came to light, it would be seen as retaliation against a superior. Wang Gang was a police officer who needed to continue working in the police system. Even if the job didn't pay well, it gave him status and allowed his wife Ma Yuan to earn money on the side.
For example, with pagers - any businessman who knew Wang Gang had to buy pagers from him to stay in his good graces. These were the benefits that came with the job.
In a marriage, one person has to play good cop while the other plays bad cop. Ma Yuan naturally had to deny everything, but Wang Gang had to play the good cop and actively work to resolve the situation.
He had been upstairs the whole time, and as soon as the incident broke out, he had already called several familiar colleagues and friends to come help mediate the situation.
After making the calls, he came downstairs, clasped his hands and said, "It's all a misunderstanding. Chen Manager, I'm truly sorry. How could my child have beaten your child? Don't worry, I will severely punish Yuhan, beat her, educate her. We must pay compensation and apologize. Let me buy some toys for your child..."
Then, seeing the large crowd, he added, "Everyone, please disperse. It's not a big deal. I'll make amends, apologize, and pay the medical expenses for Chen Manager and Director Yan's child."
With the incident involving a police director's beaten son, no one wanted to leave.
"They should pay medical expenses - look how badly injured the child is," someone said.
Another person said, "Young man, you're being reasonable. An apology is definitely needed." The crowd didn't leave, but because of Ma Yuan's shrewishness, they found Wang Gang easy to talk to and considered him a reasonable person.
Chen Meilan observed all this and secretly gave a thumbs up to the married couple Wang Gang and Ma Yuan.
The incident happened suddenly - they should have been at a loss for what to do.
But the couple's tacit understanding and crisis management skills were impressive. One acted fierce while the other reasonable, and they quickly managed to suppress the crowd's anger.
By now, some were saying, "Just apologize quickly and be done with it."
Others added, "An apology is enough. It's just children fighting, and the director's wife isn't short on money - she just wants to see the right attitude."
Chen Meilan wanted more than just an attitude, but the shopping mall with its crowd of onlookers wasn't the best place to handle this matter. The case shouldn't be decided by well-meaning but thoughtless spectators and rubberneckers, so she was preparing to leave with her child.
Wang Gang gave Ma Yuan a stern look. He actually hadn't wanted to beat the child for revenge - it was all Ma Yuan's idea, and it was her sister's child who did the beating. He had simply acquiesced at the time, and after one semester, he quickly transferred Wang Yuhan to another school, never thinking this matter would resurface.
Now they had to pay medical expenses and apologize - what a hassle.
Both working at the police bureau, they were colleagues in a superior-subordinate relationship. Wang Gang kept looking around for Yan Zhao, wanting to treat him to a meal first, give some gifts, then apologize and make amends.
However, he couldn't find Yan Zhao anywhere, and by this time, Chen Meilan was already leaving with her child.
"Manager Chen, tomorrow at the Guoguang Grand Hotel, I'll arrange a dinner where Xiaoliang and Yuhan can apologize to Little Lang," Wang Gang called after her.
Chen Meilan replied decisively, "No need. I will file a police report and let the police handle this matter."
Ma Yuan thought this was perfect and couldn't help winking at her husband: sure enough, Chen Meilan wanted to file a report.
If she really filed a report, in Wang Gang and his wife's view, she would be in the wrong.
After all, it was just a minor children's fight. As subordinates, they were offering apologies, compensation, and toys - if she refused all that and insisted on involving the police in a children's matter, wouldn't that constitute a superior retaliating against subordinates?
So the couple followed from the fourth floor to the first floor, with Wang Gang deliberately pleading along the way: "Manager Chen, please don't file a report. They're just children - what's the point?"
"Yes, I'll have Yuhan apologize, give Little Lang a proper apology, okay?" Ma Yuan chimed in.
Chen Meilan just listened without responding - she had no need to speak with the couple.
However, when they reached the first floor, they ran into Zou Jie, who was standing with a tall man.
Zou Jie said, "Meilan, this is Director Zhang from our city bureau. Why don't you tell him about what happened with the children?"
Not many people knew that Zhang Chao was pursuing a relationship with Zou Jie.
If Yan Zhao had sought Director Zhang's help for his son, Zhang wouldn't have come so quickly, or even shown up at all - he would have just told him to follow procedures and resolve it legally.
But when Zou Jie called him about something, he came immediately to make a good impression on her.
After the introduction, Zou Jie continued, "Being a police family member has always been a high-risk occupation. Meilan, when you're wronged, you need to tell their leaders. They must apologize and make amends. Otherwise, who would dare marry a police officer? Who would dare have children with them? When police officers make enemies during cases, and those people take revenge on their children - what have we become? Are we punching bags for criminals?"
Chen Meilan had never met Zhang Chao before. Looking up, she saw a middle-aged man in his mid-forties, tall and imposing, completely different from the refined Sun Nutao, appearing very authoritative.
This was Yan Zhao's superior leader.
Zhang Chao reached out to hold Chen Meilan's hand: "You can make any requests you have, just tell me."
Chen Meilan had originally planned to report the matter and take it to the public security bureau. Now that she had met the big chief, she should state her demands: "Chief Zhang, we don't need apologies because the ones at fault are not the children but the adults. You, Chief Zhang, understand better than anyone that Yan Zhao's work has touched the interests of certain people, which is why they did this."
Zhang Chao didn't know Wang Gang, a small-time policeman, but he nodded: "If the investigation confirms the facts, we will handle that policeman seriously."
Wang Gang didn't expect such a small matter to catch the attention of the city bureau chief. His face turned pale, and he almost fell backward.
Ma Yuan also realized she was in fear, as when bullying others, she only sought momentary pleasure and vented her anger. At that time, who would have thought that Chen Meilan would take photos and store ultrasound images, every time going to the hospital to authenticate the injuries? This kind of meticulous approach is something ordinary people simply cannot do, or rather, no one can do it.
Now it's over; her husband's future might really be in jeopardy.
For Ma Yuan, the sky was about to collapse.
But Chen Meilan's demands were far from over. Now that she had caught the city bureau chief, she had to resolve this issue thoroughly today.
She said: "Handling Wang Gang is something your police station should do, and I can get any police station to do it for me. But Chief Zhang, have you thought about whether the children were instigated by adults? As a policeman, harboring resentment and instigating children to hit others—is that person just making a mistake, or is it a crime, even a case of knowingly breaking the law?"
"If the facts are true, then yes," Zhang Chao replied, pressed by Chen Meilan's every word.
He thought to himself that Yan Zhao's work style is tough, and his wife is no less so.
Chen Meilan then asked: "Do you think someone who knowingly breaks the law, even commits a crime, can raise children well?"
"If the facts are true, then no," Zhang Chao continued.
This is the highest-ranking leader of the city bureau. He has seen countless victims' families and mediated numerous cases, but he has never encountered a victim's family as calm as Chen Meilan.
She was calm and rational, making him a bit amazed. This female comrade is particularly reasonable.
People like reasonable people, so although Chen Meilan pressed on step by step with harsh words, Chief Zhang felt that this female comrade was indeed excellent, just like Zou Jie.
"So I have a request. For the sake of the child, the child named Xu Xiaoliang must be taken in by the public security organs for legal custody and education..." Before Chen Meilan finished, Zhang Chao immediately realized the severity of this female comrade's request. He said: "Custody and education will be recorded in the child's file, which is very detrimental to a child. A 12-year-old child, once recorded in the file, will face significant problems in future education and employment."
Custody and education means going to a juvenile reformatory, not as a juvenile delinquent, but it will be recorded in the file. Currently, the country is considering abolishing it.
Because children under 14 still have a bright future and life. A single mistake shouldn't leave a mark on their file, affecting their entire life in education and employment.
Chen Meilan didn't want compensation or apologies, but her demand was a disaster for one family.
A 12-year-old child, if recorded and subjected to custody education, would ruin his life.
"But I only have this one request. Because I don't believe Wang Gang's family has the ability to educate the child. I ask the government to at least take the child away, educate him for ten days or half a month, even just a week, but it must be custody education," Chen Meilan calmly said.
Turning back, she pointed to Little Wang and Little Lang, and continued: "This also has educational significance for my children. They are the children of police officers. If they break the law, the consequences and impact are more severe than ordinary children. So I beg you, even if it's just a week, please have the public security organs take custody and educate that child."
Zhang Chao stood still, watching Chen Meilan walk away from him.
Zou Jie added: "Even just a week of custody education would be truly good for the child."
Good? Ma Yuan didn't think so.
Her nephew was only 12 years old. If he went through custody education, even for a week, his life would be ruined.
And now, she wanted to cry but couldn't. She now had to face the fact that when her sister found out about this, knowing she had ruined her son's life, she wouldn't forgive her.
Yan Zhao had been following slowly behind to avoid meeting the leaders.
Chen Meilan and the two children reached the car, and he arrived too.
The couple didn't speak, and the children were well-behaved.
But the adults' actions, setting an example, taught them two things: first, if they were bullied, they could find an adult to solve the problem. Second, even if they were the children of police officers, if they broke the law, they would also be subject to custody education. Little Wang and Little Lang had seen and heard it all, which was the best education.
As for those who, because Yan Zhao had touched their interests, wanted to instigate their children to hit others.
Even if Chen Meilan couldn't get Xu Xiaoliang into a reformatory, she would never easily compromise.
She would keep raising this demand, letting the matter ferment fiercely within the police system, making those people understand that acting out of momentary anger could ruin their children's future.
So now they just had to wait for Wang Gang and his wife to come begging and pleading.
For their child's future, they would surely seek relationships, find people, and offer gifts to beg for leniency. The bigger the commotion, the more people who knew about it, the better it was for Chen Meilan.
...
As for Gu Xiao, although he hadn't arrived yet, that day he personally called Yan Wei. Firstly, to discuss the time and accommodation arrangements. According to him, these matters didn't need Yan Zhao's arrangement and would be handled by Yan Dongping.
Secondly, according to his secretary, Xiping Airport was particularly chaotic. It was said that last month, many foreign businessmen had their wallets stolen, and some drug addicts and motorcycle gangs would ride motorcycles to snatch bags.
Gu Xiao's original words were: "I heard Yan Zhao works at the Xiping City Police Bureau. Yan Wei, ask him if he can guarantee my personal safety on this trip?"
This was actually a challenging reproach.
Because Yan Wei is Su Wen's son, now he had to ask the old man for investment, begging for money like a beggar.
And Yan Zhao, also Su Wen's son, having served in the army for twelve years and now working at the police station, in Gu Xiao's view, was responsible for the chaotic airport security.
These things were naturally told by Yan Dongping to Yan Dongxue, who then informed Gu Xiao.
They were once the offspring of landlords, and now Yan Dongping is at the bottom of society. He smokes opium and steals chickens and dogs, but as soon as he opens his mouth, he talks about social issues.
Hooligans are like this; they don't strive for progress, getting worse and worse, and they blame the social environment.
But Gu Xiao is in the opposition party in Singapore, and his impression of China's national conditions is not good. He likes to hear such things the most.
"Ask Yan Zhao for me. Can he guarantee my safety? If not, I will prepare for the possibility of being stabbed as soon as I land, but I will still come because I must see your mother, even if it's just her ashes. And you brothers are the best proof that Su Wen's life in China was in vain." With that, the refined Mr. Gu hung up the phone.
Yan Wei then called Yan Zhao, expressing empathy: "Third Brother, the airport's security is indeed chaotic, and I know it's not your responsibility, but can you think of a way to manage it? If not, I'll apply to the city for police forces to focus on improving airport security."
It's not just Gu Xiao. Although the city is constantly seeking investment and inviting merchants from all over the country, even from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, to feast, due to insufficient police forces and the 1990s being like this, the security is indeed chaotic. Many merchants come, feast, and then leave.
Even if you drink yourself into gastroparesis and offer the most favorable conditions, one bad apple spoils the bunch. If a motorcycle gang robs a bag, who would still want to invest in your place?
"No need, I'll think about it," Yan Zhao said.
"No ambition, are we really bringing shame to our mother?" Yan Wei sighed and hung up the phone.
After hanging up, Yan Zhao saw Chen Meilan entering the bedroom to fetch rice and asked him, "Is something wrong?"
Yan Zhao then laid out the situation to Chen Meilan.
The airport was in Jinan, where the security was not under Yan Zhao's jurisdiction. Jinan was indeed the most chaotic area in Xiping City. The main issue was not police inaction but the presence of the train station and airport, coupled with rapid social development. Now, everyone had a pager, and small hoodlums each had a motorcycle. They would ride motorcycles to snatch bags and cut hands, known as the "motorcycle gang," which needed to be addressed with special measures and strict crackdowns.
However, every matter has a process. To open a green light for Gu Xiao alone, what about other cases?
Yan Wei made a call, and the city bureau dispatched police forces to ensure better security when Gu Xiao arrives.
But the police forces were still from various districts. Not only would it cause a stir, but it would also be a temporary fix. Once the police forces withdrew, Jinan would still be chaotic.
So, Yan Zhao had to consider if there were other ways to resolve this.
"I have a solution, but starting tonight, you have to sleep with me in the same bed," Chen Meilan said, patting her pillow lightly.
It was already very hot, and sleeping with Yan Zhao was refreshingly cool.
Yan Zhao was caught off guard by Chen Meilan's suggestion. It was broad daylight, and he couldn't just push the sun down the mountain. Since it was summer vacation, the two boys were playing and reading in the courtyard. Although Xue Mingfang had moved to 271, he was used to the military lifestyle and treated this place as his own, often coming and going without knocking.
"Stop joking," Yan Zhao turned to leave.
He blushed easily, and his ears turned red.
Yan Zhao's wooden demeanor made Chen Meilan laugh. Just as she was about to tease him further, a woman knocked on the gate outside: "Meilan, are you in?"
Yan Zhao immediately went out.
It was Cui Min, who entered the courtyard and said, "I have good news for you. Do you know where Gu Xiao will stay when he arrives? It's the Dongfang Hotel. Today, a man named Yan Dongping booked the room for him."
Gu Xiao was here just to visit relatives, wanting to meet Yan Zhao and see Su Wen's ashes.
Staying near Yanguan Village was both convenient and quiet. When Yan Dongping booked the room, he naturally chose the Dongfang Hotel as the best option in the area.
Chen Meilan hadn't expected it but found it reasonable.
"Our Yuanyuan and the 'Return to the City' crew are featured in 'Popular Movies' this issue. Have you seen it? I'll arrange for a copy to be placed in the room," Cui Min added.
In fact, not only was 'Return to the City' featured in 'Popular TV,' but Yuanyuan was also going to be in 'Popular Movies' this month, with a dedicated page about her, the young star with two roles.
If Yan Zhao heard about this, he wouldn't approve.
He was particularly averse to involving children in adult matters, especially those related to Gu Xiao.
But Chen Meilan was more than willing: "That would be great!"
With Gu Xiao's thirty thousand, Chen Meilan's main achievement was the TV series 'Return to the City,' but the effect wasn't good. It hadn't finished filming or aired, only a few sample episodes, which couldn't be broadcast on TV. It could only be shown to Gu Xiao.
With reports in two authoritative magazines as a foundation, Gu Xiao would know that although the series hadn't aired, it was already well-known. Without her saying anything, he would understand the achievements and significance of her using his money.
Seeking money on one's own, like Yan Wei now, is both without face and substance.
Participating in a meeting organized by the Propaganda Department, a group of private entrepreneurs asking for investment, Chen Meilan wasn't afraid and believed she could handle it. But if Gu Xiao knew her capabilities and the layers of relationships involved, he might invite her for a private talk.
If that happened, perhaps she could secure more investment.
"I'll go buy the new magazines now and arrange them before he arrives," Chen Meilan said immediately.
Cui Min smiled and said, "Just two magazines, do you think I can't buy them?"
As a major shareholder of 271, Cui Min also benefited from Chen Meilan's investment, so she was even more enthusiastic about this matter.
As she was about to leave, Cui Min saw Little Lang and suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Meilan, someone recently approached Lao Liu, saying a man surnamed Wang asked for a favor, wanting Lao Liu to talk to Yan Zhao about their child hitting yours. They want to pay five hundred yuan in medical fees to settle it privately, just asking you not to involve the police and avoid their child being taken in for education. Is the child seriously injured?"
It had only been three or four days since Chen Meilan caught Wang Gang and his wife.
Chen Meilan had reported the case and made a reasonable request for Xu Xiaoliang to be taken in by the police for three days of education. Three days of education wasn't a big deal, but being taken in meant a record, making him a juvenile offender.
Wang Gang and his wife were seeking help everywhere, now causing a city-wide stir.
Chen Meilan, who had the evidence, showed the photos to anyone who asked for a favor and uniformly replied, "We only follow the reporting procedure, not accepting mediation or private settlement."
After looking at the evidence, Cui Min sighed, lowered her voice, and glanced at Little Lang in the courtyard, adding, "I heard that family also approached Zhou Xueqin, who seems to have business dealings with them. Zhou Xueqin is the biological mother, so if she agrees to settle, it could be troublesome."
If Cui Min hadn't reminded her, Chen Meilan wouldn't have thought of this.
Zhou Xueqin produced pagers, and Ma Yuan sold them, forming a supply-demand relationship.
It was easy for the police to investigate such relationships. Obviously, Wang Gang's family had found Zhou Xueqin, hoping to persuade Chen Meilan through her.
But Zhou Xueqin's consent was irrelevant; Chen Meilan was the child's guardian.
Not to mention that Zhou Xueqin wouldn't dare to discuss this with Chen Meilan and Yan Zhao, even if she did, Chen Meilan was eager to see how angry Little Wang would be if she suggested settling privately.
Thinking of this, she said, "If Zhou Xueqin wants to settle privately, let her come and talk to Little Wang and Little Lang herself."
As a biological mother, she probably wanted the children to hate her, right?
