My Nightclub Landlady

If the great Secretary called the director of a police station in person, that would mean he regarded him as important. Basically, he had to do it without really saying anything. If someone dared not to obey, they would be summoned to present themselves before a disciplinary committee after a few days to discuss their "work ethics". Light offenders would be transferred to another post, while more serious offenders could be removed from office or "retired" early.

"One moment, please."

Qin Feng put down the phone and opened the door to the corridor. The policemen guarding the exit nervously raised the electric batons in their hands, just in case.

Li Faxian was smoking a cigarette at the far end of the hall, shaking his head. What the h.e.l.l was Qin Feng up to?

"Li Faxian, come in here," Qin Feng raised his eyebrows and smiled mischievously. "Someone"s looking for you."

"Me?" Li Faxian pointed at himself with a confused face. "What tricks are you playing?"

He was loathe to come forward, in case Qin Feng took him as a hostage too.

Zhang Dali was also confused, came forward to take two steps, shouting, "Qin Feng, what did you do to Dapeng? You know, he"s…"

"He"s fine, don"t worry." Qin Feng leaned on the doorframe and turned back to Li Faxian. "Can"t you answer? If you don"t pick up the phone, there will be consequences..." he trailed in a singsong tone.

Li Faxian shook himself and took a few steps forward before stopping and asking nervously, "Who"s calling?"

"Said they"re from the Munic.i.p.al Party Committee Secretary"s office. Asked for you."

"Munic.i.p.al Party Committee…?" Li Faxian blinked. "What do they want me for?"

He looked at Zhang Dali and humphed, "It can"t possibly be from Director Jia. What are the odds he just happened to be having tea at the Munic.i.p.al Party Committee"s Office right now? Bah."

Although he was confused, Li Faxian was afraid to keep the party secretary waiting for long, and hurriedly commanded, "Put your hands up and stand by the door. I"m coming in."

"No problem. Might as well string me back up on the torture rack…" Qin Feng simply sat down with his back to the wall near the door and started picking his fingernails, seemingly forgetting that he was supposed to be under arrest and awaiting arraignment.

Li Faxian"s heart gradually relaxed, but he still had Zhang Dali and a few other good cops accompany him inside.

Seeing Zhang Dali come in, Jia Dapeng, looking very much like a catastrophe victim, started squeaking, "Dali, Dali, help me!"

"Don"t worry, I"m here. He won"t get any closer to you." Dali kept a threatening eye fixed on Qin Feng, in case he made any sudden moves.

Li Faxian hesitated before picking up the telephone on the table. "h.e.l.lo? This is Director Li Faxian."

"Listen here, hurry up and release the person called Qin Feng immediately! Then apologize to him and ask for his forgiveness. Rescind any warrants or police actions taken against the Free Man Bar, then write a detailed - detailed! - report. Someone from the Munic.i.p.al Party Committee"s office will pick it up early tomorrow morning."

The voice in the telephone was deep, with a clear timbre, and the breath was calm. It was the voice of a man who had seen the bigger workings of the world.

Li Faxian listened with a stunned face. He had no idea who the h.e.l.l this person thought he was.

Since it was not Jia Quan"s order, he had no need to listen to it. After working in Tianhe City for such a long time, Li Faxian"s sense of self-importance rose like a high tide. He looked down upon all officials and bureaucrats, whatever their t.i.tle or jurisdiction. They were all nothing to him. In front of Director Jia Quan, everyone was reduced to nothing but a yes-man.

Even though Li Faxian"s own position was not particularly high, he was still Jia Quan"s right-hand man. In Tianhe, especially in administrative circle, almost everyone knew this. n.o.body dared to cross him.

"Who the h.e.l.l are you? Write a report? Who gave you the right to order me?" Li Faxian humphed with icy disdain and said, "No one in Tianhe tells me what to do! Was this Qin Feng"s stupid idea? Getting one of his riff-raff buddies to impersonate a high official? Do you a.s.sholes think I was born yesterday? You don"t even wanna know how many other dirtbags tries this dumb trick on me. You better not try my patience any further; say another word and I"ll have you arrested too! The Munic.i.p.al Party Committee Office? Well I think you are from the Toilet Office, and how do you like that? Hah!"

Ordering him to back down and apologize in his own territory was a joke. Nothing but a direct call from Jia Quan could make him do it.

Munic.i.p.al Party Committee Office? Pah! He really couldn"t make that c.r.a.p up. So the mighty Secretary of the Munic.i.p.al Party Committee Office was engaging in social activities now! Who came up with this s.h.i.t?

Moreover, Qin Feng didn"t seem that powerful. He couldn"t possibly know anyone at the Munic.i.p.al Party Committee Office. With contacts in such lofty places, why would he be wasting his time in a place like the Free Man? He had a lot of talent, but even he couldn"t reach the heavens, could he?

"Alright, suit yourself. But remember what you said."

That was it. The caller hung up right there.

Li Faxian threw down the handset. "Humph. What the h.e.l.l was that? I ain"t scared!"

Qin Feng"s heart went out to Li Faxian. He silently prayed for him, wondering if he could at least live through the night.

Then, a bright light shone through the window.

Qin Feng stood up and realized those were the headlights of Sister Flower"s red car.

She hurriedly jumped out of the car. Seeing Qin Feng through the window, she immediately rushed toward him. Li Faxian barked, "Stop her! Don"t let her get close to Qin Feng!"

Seven or eight policemen rushed to block the front door of the station to prevent her from coming in.

Qin Feng"s face became deathly serious as he stared at Li Faxian. "You"ll be dead soon, Director Li. Why not repent your sins?"

Li Faxian disdainfully humphed, "Spare me your empty threats. You should know your little act of holding Jia Dapeng hostage has been monitored and recorded. I"d love to see you explain your way out of that one! I can have you sentenced to three to five years in prison just for that!"

"You should take care of yourself first," Qin Feng humphed. "I"d keep my ears open if I were you. You"ll probably be receiving a very important phone call pretty soon."

Through the doorway, he heard Xiao Jinhua"s anxious cries: "Qin Feng! Qin Feng, are you all right? Are you okay? They"re giving you trouble, are they?"

"I"m all good. I can"t go out yet, but I"ll be out in a minute. It"s pretty comfy in here, actually. I think I might move in…" Qin Feng chuckled. "It"s nice and safe; no need to worry about being attacked. The outside world is so dark… I can really see myself relaxing here for a while."

Qin Feng peeped through the doorway and said to Sister Flower, her worried face going in and out of view behind the throng of cops blocking her way, "Wanna join me? It"s like a vacation! We can just leave all the s.h.i.t for Zhao Jun to deal with. He was having a walk in the park getting us to do everything for him; I wanna see how he does when has to do the dirty work on his own!"

Sister Flower stared at him blankly. "What? What the h.e.l.l are you talking about?"

"Hehe, I"m just kidding," Qin Feng said. "Was the Free Man closed up?"

"To h.e.l.l with it. They called me and said they found some drugs or whatever, so they shut the place down for now. I can"t be bothered with it right now. If you won"t come out of here, nothing will matter anymore. Even if the Free Man burns to the ground, I wouldn"t care."

Sister Flower"s reverberated in Qin Feng"s eardrums for a long time. He was moved nearly to tears, but kept watching her with a serious face, and saw a trace of uncertainty in her tired eyes.

He asked himself nervously, is this love?

Really?

Xiao Jinhua must have realized what she said, as she quickly added, "You"re like a brother. You are so good to me, to the Free Man. Everyone can see your dedication. Anything that happens to you, happens to the whole Free Man. Zhao Jun may have given up, but even if there is still just a glimmer of hope, I will not give up until you come out safely!"

Qin Feng felt impa.s.sioned. If he could really replace Xiao He in her heart, make up for that wound in her heart, he would be happy.

Caring for her was no bother at all for him. He would give her everything, as if she were his own sister.

"Sister Flower, don"t be afraid; I will not let you down. As long as I still breathe, I will always be by your side to support you, take care of you, and protect you."

Qin Feng disregarded what Xiao Jinhua had said. Her face said it all. He did not think there was any taboo in it. Emotions are only natural; they rule over everything people do. He thought one should always say what is one"s heart.

"Oh, give me a break!" Li Faxian spat contemptuously. "Can you be any lamer? You can"t even protect yourself, but you still think you can look after her? Well, I"ve never met an idiot like you!"

"Really?" Qin Feng coldly growled. "Believe it or not, but you"ll be kneeling at my feet and begging to let me out of here by the end of the day."

After hearing this, Li Faxian was stunned at first, as if he had a bit of difficulty in comprehending the sounds that went in his ears. After a second of quiet, he and all the policemen around him burst out in uproarious laughter, as if they heard the most hilarious joke of the year. Yet Zhang Dali and Jia Dapeng weren"t laughing, their faces somber.

Amidst the mirth, Li Faxian"s mobile phone rang. The laughter slowly died down in the face of the upbeat little melody.

A wide grin spread across Li Faxian"s features as he glanced at the screen.

A high-pitched voice seemed to penetrate the entire station building:

"h.e.l.lo, Director Jia."