kingnovel Chapter 2261 Performing in the Street
Chapter 2261 Performing in the Street
Zhou Zhenghang was very weak. He swayed and could only stand up with the help of two men beside him.
He raised his hand, which was covered in a thin layer of sweat, and slowly cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Cui Chong.
His voice was hoarse, and every word he spoke revealed his exhaustion: "Officer Cui, what brings you to this humble subject?"
Cui Chong strode up to him, stopped, and slowly scanned his face and body with his gaze, remaining silent for a long time.
The sunlight was just right, shining on Zhou Zhenghang's face. You could see the fine lines at the corners of his eyes and the mud spots, but there was no sign of panic.
He lowered his eyes slightly, his breathing was a little rapid, and he was enduring physical discomfort.
One of the waiters couldn't bear to watch any longer and stepped forward half a step, whispering, "Officer Cui, look at our boss's condition. He's probably exhausted and injured. Could you please allow him to rest first?"
Cui Chong shifted his gaze from Zhou Zhenghang and glanced at the shop assistant: "Are you sure he's your boss?"
Upon hearing this, the men surrounding Zhou Zhenghang were all stunned.
The crowd fell silent for a moment.
The kind man who had helped Zhou Zhenghang earlier stepped forward and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Cui Chong.
"Officer Cui, what you're saying is strange. He's Manager Zhou from Baixing Teahouse!"
We all know each other from this street, we see each other all the time, how could we mistake one for the other?
“Yes, Officer Cui,” someone chimed in, “We’ve been frequenting the teahouse these past few days, and we know Manager Zhou quite well. There’s no mistake, it’s him! Is there some misunderstanding?”
Everyone chimed in, offering their own testimonies for "Zhou Zhenghang".
Zhou Zhenghang slowly raised his head, a hint of gratitude in his eyes, and bowed to the people around him once again to express his thanks.
"Thank you all for speaking up for me. I believe that Officer Cui has always been fair and just, and there must be a reason for his question today."
Looking at his composed demeanor, Cui Chong's lips curled into a half-smile, but his eyes remained cold: "What happened to you, looking so disheveled? Where did you come from?"
Zhou Zhenghang sighed softly, raised his hand and slowly touched the arm exposed under the tattered sleeve. The bruises and welts were particularly noticeable against his pale skin.
His movements were very gentle, and his tone carried a sense of relief: "Actually, I originally planned to report to the authorities once I felt a little better."
"Officer Cui, to tell you the truth, I've been kidnapped these past few days!"
"what?"
"Kidnapped?"
There was an uproar.
"How is this possible? Ever since the Prince of Zhennan and his consort came to Youcheng, the city has been very safe and secure. People even dare to sleep with their doors open at night. How could bandits suddenly appear?"
"Yes, I've been traveling between the academy outside the city and the city every day lately, and I haven't heard of any kidnappings. Hasn't everything been peaceful inside and outside the city?"
Everyone chimed in with their own words, their tone filled with surprise and confusion.
Outside the crowd, not far away by the roadside, stood an inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage with its curtains drawn low, completely obscuring the view inside.
Inside the carriage, Huo Changhe poured Yan Ruyu a cup of tea.
Yan Ruyu listened to the discussions outside, a silent sneer curling at the corner of her lips, her eyes full of disdain.
“She certainly knows how to fabricate stories,” she said softly. “She can craft a flawless narrative and even knows how to use other people’s opinions to corroborate her own claims.”
Huo Changhe picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and smiled slightly: "A fake is a fake. No matter how eloquently it is described, it will never become the truth."
We'll wait patiently and see what other tricks he has up his sleeve.
Yan Ruyu's gaze fell on the figures moving outside the car window.
On the street, Cui Chong raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet.
The noisy discussion gradually subsided, and everyone's eyes were focused on "Zhou Zhenghang," waiting for him to continue.
Cui Chong's gaze remained sharp as it fell upon Zhou Zhenghang's face.
"Since you were kidnapped, where are the kidnappers? Where are they hiding? Tell us the truth!"
Zhou Zhenghang slowly shook his head, a hint of embarrassment and lingering fear on his face, and his tone became heavier: "Officer Cui, they... are not ordinary bandits."
Officer Cui raised an eyebrow: "If they're not bandits, then who are they?"
“They’re specifically targeting ordinary people,” Zhou Zhenghang said, his voice strained. “They’re not just after money; they have other motives.”
These words sparked another round of discussion among the crowd, and the astonishment on their faces deepened.
Cui Chong raised his hand again to stop the crowd's discussion, his eyes fixed on Zhou Zhenghang: "Then tell me, what exactly is their purpose?"
Zhou Zhenghang hesitated for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the crowd of onlookers, seemingly unsure of what to do.
"Officer Cui, this matter is a long story, and there are some details that are not convenient to discuss in public. Why don't we go into the teahouse to talk about it in detail?"
Cui Chong looked around and saw that more and more people were gathering, crowding the entrance of the teahouse. Even passersby stopped to watch the excitement.
He withdrew his gaze, his tone resolute: "No need, let's say it here, so that everyone can hear and bear witness."
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with anticipation, and they all moved closer.
Seeing this, Zhou Zhenghang stopped insisting.
A quick-thinking waiter ran into the teahouse and soon brought out a chair.
"Master, please sit down and talk."
Zhou Zhenghang slowly sat down, took a deep breath, and slowly began to speak.
"The story begins three days ago. I was checking accounts at the teahouse when the waiter handed me a letter, saying it was sent by an old friend."
He paused, recalling the scene: "That old friend's surname was Lin. I met him when I was doing business in another city when I was young. Later, he returned to Shanghai, and we rarely kept in touch."
When I opened the letter, I saw that he had met a merchant from the south in Shanghai who had a batch of excellent pre-Qingming Longjing tea, of superb quality and at a fair price.
The merchant wanted a large quantity of goods, which he couldn't handle alone. He wanted to partner with me to buy them and transport them to Youcheng to sell, hoping to make a profit.
"I thought this was a good thing. Pre-Qingming Longjing tea has always been in high demand in Youcheng, and my old friend is always reliable and wouldn't cheat me, so I agreed."
Zhou Zhenghang raised his hand to wipe the thin layer of sweat from his forehead and continued, "We agreed to meet at the city gate on the 30th. He will bring his merchants over, and we will discuss the details of the transaction in person."
Someone in the crowd whispered, "Pre-Qingming Longjing tea, that's a really good tea. No wonder Manager Zhou was interested."
Why would you choose to meet in a place like that?
Zhou Zhenghang heard the discussion and sighed softly: "I also thought that place was remote at the time, but my old friend said that the merchant did not want to make a fuss, for fear that the news would leak out and someone else would intercept the deal, so I didn't think much of it."