PDLP Chapter 34 "Lilacs" - Freedom
Chapter 34 "Lilacs" - Freedom
There were four people sitting in Lin Xiaoqiang's bread cart.
Besides Lin Feng, "private investigator" Chen Weiguo also arrived. Lin Xiaowen, who insisted on coming along to see what was going on, was also there.
As night deepened, the bread truck sped through the streets of Shenzhen. Looking at the dazzling lights outside the window, everyone felt a little excited.
As they approached the bar street, the van caught up with the tail of the Iveco convoy.
The piercing siren suddenly blared!
The convoy ahead flashed a dense array of red and blue lights, making the area extremely bright!
The doors of the Iveco van swung open, and fully armed police officers poured out. Wearing bulletproof helmets and black combat uniforms, and carrying weapons, they stormed into the Ben Se Bar.
The armed police moved with clean and efficient tactics, instantly forming a combat formation and controlling all entrances and exits. A large number of uniformed police officers followed closely behind.
"Police! Surprise inspection! Everyone, put your hands on your heads and squat down!" The roar from the loudspeaker drowned out all the music and noise.
Customers who had just walked nearby were stunned, roadside vendors were dumbfounded, and pedestrians stopped to watch.
Inside the bread truck, Lin Xiaowen watched as if she were watching a blockbuster movie.
Chen Weiguo's eyes lit up: "Wow, even the armed police have been deployed... What a show of force!"
Lin Feng reminded Lin Xiaoqiang: "Drive slowly, don't stop."
The van slowly glided past the bar entrance. Lin Xiaoqiang parked the van next to the barbecue stall across the street and turned off the engine.
The four people got off the bus and stood in front of the barbecue stall.
The barbecue stall owner greeted us warmly, "Hey folks, back for barbecue again! Welcome!"
Lin Feng turned his head and ordered, "Boss, grill up some meat skewers, chicken wings, pork skin, and other goodies for us, enough for four people."
"Alright! Fellow villager." The barbecue vendor grilled skewers while watching the police operation across the street.
Faint sounds of shouting, screaming, and things clashing could be heard coming from the True Colors Bar.
A muffled clap of thunder boomed in the sky, and soon it started to rain.
Before long, the first group of people were brought out.
The first one was A Biao. This once domineering thug leader was now bleeding from the corner of his mouth and covered in ash. He was dragged out by two armed police officers and pulled towards the police car like a dead dog in the drizzle.
He had previously served time in prison for intentional assault, so this was a "return to familiar territory".
Following closely behind Ah Biao were the bald, tattooed man who had stopped Lin Feng backstage that night, the man chewing gum, and the henchman playing with a metal Zippo lighter. One by one, they were escorted out by the armed police.
Their eyes were glazed over, soaked to the bone by the rain, and their usual arrogance was gone.
The second group brought out were "Blackie" and his men, who were Zhao Xiaohu's confidants and in charge of running the gambling tables.
Following behind were a group of gamblers, mostly businessmen, who now lost both their money and their lives.
Next, the third group consisted of several women dressed scantily and heavily made up. They were led into the police car by the policewoman, heads bowed and looking utterly disheveled.
Behind me were some dejected male customers. I am sworn enemies of gambling and drugs!
A few minutes later, Zhao Xiaohu came out.
He was barefoot, his floral shirt was unbuttoned, and his hair was a mess. Two people were holding him down, one on each side, forcing his head down and preventing him from straightening his back.
As he reached the bar entrance, he suddenly struggled to stand up and looked around.
The rain soaked his hair and face, and he saw Lin Feng.
At that moment, Lin Feng, standing outside the cordon, was smiling and staring at him, raising his hand and gently patting his cheek.
A few weeks ago, the person who was high and mighty slapping his face and stepping on his barbecue was now being held down like a dog.
Zhao Xiaohu's eyes were wide open and bloodshot.
He was then shoved into a prison van by the armed police, and the door slammed shut.
"They've caught them! They've really caught them!"
"Even Tiger, who once ruled the area, has met his end!"
"Serves you right!"
The crowd of onlookers were buzzing with discussion.
The officer directing the operation at the scene shouted into his walkie-talkie: "Apprehend all suspects, inventory and seal off the premises, and make sure to collect and secure all evidence!"
Police lights flashed wildly, and sirens blared deafeningly.
The once arrogant "Ben Se Bar" on Dongyuan Road has its doors sealed with white tape, announcing the end of an era in the rainy night.
Lin Feng sat back down at the small table at the barbecue stall and started gnawing on a chicken wing.
Lin Xiaoqiang and Chen Weiguo, two veterans, high-fived each other in celebration, feeling indescribably happy!
Lin Xiaowen, standing to the side, gazed at Lin Feng with adoration, muttering to herself, "This is what happens to those who offend Brother Feng."
After a while, a small door on the side of the bar opened, and some of the customers who had been screened were allowed to leave.
In the crowd, a tall, thin figure carrying a guitar stood out.
Tang Lei stood at the bar entrance, staring blankly at the sealed door. Everything had changed so quickly, it felt like a lifetime ago.
The guitar on his back was heavy; he was about to return to his rented room.
"Teacher Tang."
A familiar voice came from behind.
Tang Lei turned his head and saw Lin Feng standing a few steps away, holding an umbrella in his hand.
"It's dawn."
Upon hearing these three words, Tang Lei's previously gloomy face finally broke into a smile.
Lin Feng pointed to the barbecue stall behind him: "Teacher Tang, are you hungry? Come and have something to eat with us."
"Walk!"
Lin Feng pulled over a plastic stool from the side, and Lin Xiaoqiang, Chen Weiguo, and Lin Xiaowen moved over, the five of them squeezing around a small table.
"Boss, another twenty skewers of lamb, twenty skewers of beef, ten skewers of chicken wings, and a dozen beers," Lin Feng said, looking at Tang Lei after ordering the food.
"Teacher Tang, the barbecue I brought you a few weeks ago was from this place. It's a pity that Zhao Xiaohu trampled it. Today, let's eat our fill and get our revenge."
"Okay! Let's eat our fill!" Tang Lei put his guitar aside, ready to celebrate with a hearty meal.
Plates of grilled skewers were served one after another, filling the air with their aroma. Lin Feng raised his glass, and Lin Xiaoqiang and his sister, Chen Weiguo, and Tang Lei followed suit.
"Come on, let's celebrate Zhao Xiaohu getting what he deserves—a lifetime in jail! Cheers!"
Several glasses clinked together, and amidst laughter and chatter, everyone tilted their heads back and drank.
Tang Lei had been suppressed for too long and hadn't felt this carefree in a long time.
He raised a glass to himself: "Celebrating freedom!"
After another toast, Tang Lei, finding drinking from a glass not satisfying enough, picked up a beer bottle and started chugging.
He downed a bottle of beer in one gulp.
After finishing his drink, he burped and let out a long, drawn-out breath. It felt like he'd been holding his breath for two years.
Lin Feng opened a few more bottles, and the group chatted amongst themselves.
Lin Xiaoqiang recounted how he and Lin Feng collected evidence after their last encounter with Zhao Xiaohu, how Chen Weiguo took photos at the bar, and how Lin Feng organized them to report the matter to the provincial inspection team.
Tang Lei was repeatedly shocked by them, drinking one glass of wine after another.
At first, he saw Lin Feng as just a fervent college student music fan. The once-unthinkable hope of the arrogant Zhao Xiaohu gang was thus brought down by Lin Feng and his companions.
As Lin Xiaoqiang recounted the story, Tang Lei's gaze towards Lin Feng subtly changed.
"Teacher Tang, please drink slowly!" Lin Feng poured him another cup.
Tang Lei raised his glass to Lin Feng and said, "Don't call me Teacher Tang anymore. Just call me by my name, or... call me brother if you like."
Lin Feng smiled and said, "Okay, Brother Lei."
After the two finished their drinks, Lin Feng took out a business card from his shirt pocket and handed it to Tang Lei.
"By the way, Brother Lei, I have another identity."
Tang Lei took the business card, which read: Lin Feng, General Manager of Fengchi Digital Studio.
Tang Lei's eyes widened.