Chapter 25: Zhang Heng Alone

At this moment, another police officer stepped forward. Seeing this, the first officer remarked to his colleague:

"Hey, look at this. This guy actually pulled out his police ID, and it’s from Beijing, no less. You don't think he’s carrying a fake, do you?"

The second officer didn't say a word. He took the ID from his colleague's hand, examined the exterior, flipped it open to inspect the inside, and then looked at Zhang Heng, asking, "Young man, are you certain this is your identification? Do you have any other documents?"

Zhang Heng gave a calm smile, nodded, and replied, "Officer, we Beijing police generally don't disclose our identities while on an assignment unless absolutely necessary. If you need to verify my credentials, I am happy to return to the station with you to file a report. But before we go, may I ask a favor? Please let me send my fellow Beijing officer to the hospital; he has been injured."

Zhang Heng gestured toward the back of the van where Liang Song was lying.

"Wooo..."

Just then, the siren of an ambulance wailed as it pulled up.

The officer looked at the approaching ambulance and said to Zhang Heng, "Fine, that’s acceptable. But I also want to see the ID of this so-called colleague of yours."

"Understood," Zhang Heng said. He turned, walked to the back of the van, opened the door, and retrieved Liang Song's police ID from his pocket. He brought it back and handed it to the officer.

By this time, two medical personnel had arrived with a stretcher. After checking Liang Song's ID, the officer turned to the medics and said, "Officers, please, could you attend to the person in the van first? Thank you."

The two medics moved toward the van, with Zhang Heng following closely behind.

"What happened to the person in the vehicle?" one of the medics asked Zhang Heng.

"Officer, it’s like this: my colleague was struck by a javelin-like projectile. He has been bleeding non-stop and has lost consciousness," Zhang Heng explained.

As the two medics lifted Liang Song onto the stretcher and prepared to move him to the ambulance, one of the police officers spoke up: "Comrade, here is what we’ll do. Leave me your phone number. You take him to the hospital for emergency treatment first, and you can handle the medical expenses for now; I’ll settle it with you later."

"Understood. Please, go ahead."

"135..."

After the officer dictated the number, one of the medics dialed it. Once it rang through, the officer allowed them to load Liang Song into the ambulance, which then sped away.

Seeing the ambulance leave, the elderly man on the ground began to wail loudly: "Oh, officer! He hit me! I’m in so much pain!"

A police officer chuckled and said to the old man, "Alright, sir, there’s no need to put on a show here."

The other officer stepped forward and added, "Exactly. Old man, you claim he hit you, but where is your proof? Look at yourself—you don't have a scratch on you, and your clothes are perfectly clean. Aren't you just being a nuisance?"

"That won't do, officer! Tell you what, have him give me 500, and I’ll settle this privately. Besides, he already said he was willing to pay 500 to settle it earlier," the old man insisted stubbornly.

"Oh, you want 500, do you? Very well, let’s go to the station to file a report first. We can lock you up for a few days afterward," one of the officers replied with a smile.

Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, "Old man, stop trying to scam people! He didn't hit you at all!"

"Grandpa, have you lost your mind wanting money like this?"

"My goodness, you see all sorts of people these days..."

Seeing the crowd turning against him, the old man began to panic.

"Well? You still aren't leaving? Fine then, come with us to the station and spend a few days behind bars," the officer pressed.

"I’m leaving! I’m leaving!" The old man scrambled to his feet and hurried away.

Once the old man was gone, the officer turned to the crowd: "Everyone, disperse now. Nothing more to see here, please move along."

The onlookers gradually melted away.

Once everyone had left, the officer turned to Zhang Heng: "Officer Zhang, please wait here for a moment."

"Understood."

The other officer then asked Zhang Heng, "Where did you get this vehicle? Can you tell me?"

"Officer, should I speak the truth, or...?"

"You had better tell the truth."

"This vehicle was assigned to us by Director Shang and the Department Chief of our Municipal Public Security Bureau for today’s arrest mission."

As Zhang Heng spoke, the second officer walked a short distance away to make a phone call.

"Wait just a moment," the remaining officer said to him.

The officer on the phone walked to the front of the van and read the license plate number out to the person on the other end. After finishing, he hung up and walked back, shaking hands with Zhang Heng.

"My apologies, Beijing officer."

"What?" the other officer asked, confused. "You're saying he's a police officer from Beijing?"

"Could it be anything else? I called our Municipal Bureau Director directly. He answered, and after hearing the license plate number I gave him, he ordered us to bring this Beijing officer to the Municipal Bureau immediately."

"Oh! A Beijing officer! Welcome, welcome!" The other officer also stepped forward to shake Zhang Heng's hand.

Zhang Heng did not refuse, shaking hands with both of them.

"Officer Zhang," one of them said, "the Municipal Bureau has ordered us to escort you there. Let’s head out now."

"Understood," Zhang Heng replied with a nod.

The three of them walked toward the patrol car. As they approached, one officer asked the other, "What about this van from the Municipal Bureau?"

"Tell you what—you stay here and wait. I’ll escort Officer Zhang to the bureau, and you can call a tow truck to bring the van in. That was the Director's order."

"All right, understood."

The officer headed toward the van, while Zhang Heng and the other officer got into the patrol car. They drove off in the direction of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

As they reached an intersection, the driver's phone rang. He had to steer with one hand while reaching for the phone with the other.

"By the way," the officer asked after answering, "do you want the number for that ambulance? I can text it to you."

"Not for now," came the reply. "I’ll let you know when I need it."

"Understood."

He hung up and continued driving Zhang Heng toward the Municipal Public Security Bureau. This time, the police siren lights remained off.