Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Sending a Message Through Someone Else

Zheng Wuyang!
A notorious outlaw who wreaked havoc across three cities, leaving six dead and thirteen injured!
More importantly, in the previous life, Captain Li Chengping of the Criminal Police died alongside him.
At that time, the incident caused a huge stir in the provincial capital, and after Li Chengping’s death, he was posthumously honored as a martyr.
But now, Zheng Wuyang was captured by none other than myself, which meant that Li Chengping’s fate had been altered after my rebirth.
It was precisely because of this that Chen Yang was so moved.
However, upon reflection, Li Chengping was not the only one whose destiny had changed.
Huang Zhiyao, my own family, and even people from Licheng—all of them were affected.
Thinking this through, Chen Yang’s excitement gradually subsided.
After all, returning to life was a defiance of fate itself; why dwell on these things?

“Exactly! This guy is a retired special forces soldier, skilled beyond compare. Six people have died at his hands already, including two SWAT officers.
For you to single-handedly capture him is truly incredible. When we met this morning at the state-owned restaurant, I already sensed you were different, little brother. You didn’t disappoint me.”
Li Chengping said as he firmly patted Chen Yang on the shoulder.
Capturing Zheng Wuyang was definitely worthy of a collective second-class merit and an individual second-class merit.
After all, he was a top-tier criminal; the achievement was no small matter.

To be honest, when Li Chengping received the tip-off, the officers he brought along had prepared for the worst.
Zheng Wuyang was indeed formidable, but as long as he was caught—even at the cost of sacrifice—it would be worth it.
Who would have thought that without firing a single shot, a mushroom seller would manage to take him down?
This merit felt like a windfall, and they were genuinely grateful to Chen Yang.

“I just got lucky. Maybe he saw me as just a kid and didn’t take me seriously. Otherwise, how could I possibly stand against such a fierce outlaw? Especially since he still had this in his hand.”
Chen Yang handed the pistol over to Li Chengping.

“Haha, luck is part of strength, after all. Today, you really pulled off a great feat! No way—big brother has to take you to the state-owned grand restaurant for a proper drink, and we’ll have Director Lin come along to help foot the bill.”
Li Chengping laughed heartily.
Previously, Director Lin Guihong had promised a grand feast for everyone if Zheng Wuyang was caught.
As director, he couldn’t go back on his word. He insisted on paying the tab.

---

“Captain Li, forget the drinks—I have to rush home. I’m supposed to propose to my girlfriend tonight, and it’s already getting late.”
Chen Yang spoke anxiously.
If Zheng Wuyang hadn’t insisted on taking the bicycle Chen Yang bought, he wouldn’t have resisted at all.
He was willing to give him all the money on him; as long as it didn’t delay his proposal, nothing else mattered.
But that bastard was so damn annoying, insisting on the bike intended for Huang Zhiyao.
That’s why Chen Yang’s inner fire ignited; truthfully, everything he did was for Huang Zhiyao.
At this moment, nothing was more important than this matter.
If he couldn’t get back in time to propose, how would Huang Zhiyao see him? How would the other young intellectuals in the village view him? Even the entire village’s opinion would change.

“Is that so? Then come back to the station with me to make a statement. Once we’re done, I’ll drive you back. How about that?”
Li Chengping smiled.
Chen Yang knew this was inevitable.
Besides, with Li Chengping driving, it wouldn’t be too late; he could still make it back in time.
As a law-abiding citizen, he couldn’t refuse, so he nodded in agreement.
Li Chengping left one officer to watch the horse cart and personally escorted Chen Yang and the captive Zheng Wuyang back to the station.

When Director Lin Guihong heard the news, he dashed downstairs from his office.
When Li Chengping introduced Chen Yang, Lin gave him a big bear hug.
If circumstances hadn’t been special, Chen Yang might have thought Lin had some unusual inclinations.
After expressing heaps of gratitude, Lin ordered someone to make a ceremonial banner for Chen Yang.
No exaggeration—Chen Yang was the benefactor of the entire police station, and his honor had to be fully recognized.

“Comrade Chen Yang, the county has a clear policy: anyone providing clues about Zheng Wuyang gets a reward of one thousand yuan. Since you captured him single-handedly, the bureau has decided to reward you two thousand yuan. Here’s the two-thousand-yuan reward—please sign for it.”
In the office, Lin Guihong pulled out a thick stack of cash and handed it to Chen Yang.
For a dangerous criminal like Zheng Wuyang, Lin felt the reward was actually insufficient.
Remember, Chen Yang captured him alone, preventing injuries to officers.
In terms of merit and reward, Lin was the first to advocate for him.
If not for his wife strictly controlling the finances, Lin would have privately given Chen Yang even more.

---

Unexpectedly, Chen Yang took the money calmly, showing no hint of excitement.
Two thousand yuan—what a sum! Even Lin Guihong himself wouldn’t react so indifferently.
This kid was impressive—a real character!

“Thanks, Director Lin and Captain Li. I have one request: could you help me call Xiangyang Commune? Ask them to inform Wang Chuankou that I’m at the Public Security Bureau.”
It was already around 5:30 p.m., and the statement hadn’t been completed, so there was no way he could get home on time.
He wanted the commune folks to notify his family so they wouldn’t worry.

“No problem. I’ll contact the leadership at Xiangyang Commune right away.”
Lin Guihong said, immediately picking up the phone in his office to make the call.

Chen Yang was then taken by Li Chengping to give his statement. Naturally, he made the story sound more thrilling to highlight his own bravery...

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“Zhilin, where the hell is Chen Yang? It’s this late already and he’s not back?”
At Wang Chuankou, at Chen Yang’s home, Village Chief Li Zhiquan was questioning Chen Zhilin.
Important family members from the Chen household had arrived, yet Chen Yang was still nowhere to be seen.
The bragging had already gone around, and now the whole village was watching the spectacle.
If Chen Yang didn’t follow through as promised and was reported angrily by the educated youth Huang, he’d be in deep trouble.

“I don’t know either! He’s usually back by now!”
Chen Zhilin scratched his head anxiously. If Chen Yang didn’t return, it would be a huge embarrassment.

“Who’s Chen Zhilin?”
A voice called out from the yard, and everyone hurried outside.

“Comrade, that’s me. What’s going on?”
Chen Zhilin asked anxiously.

“Chen Yang asked me to relay a message: he’s at the county Public Security Bureau. Don’t worry!”
Upon hearing this from the commune official, Liu Minghua nearly fell backward...