Back To The 80s-Chapter 534 - 526: Caught in the Net_1

Guo Huaqiang saw the items, his face paled like ash. When had these appeared in his house?

Ding Guihua, holding Xinxin, was so scared that she dared not even cry.

Shen Heng waved the gold earring and paper at Guo Huaqiang. "Anything else to say? Take him away!" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

At this point, Ding Guihua put Xinxin aside and lunged forward, crying out, "You can’t take my son away, what has he done wrong? You cannot!"

Shen Heng and the other officers did not give Ding Guihua a hard time, urging Guo Huaqiang to explain quickly.

Guo Huaqiang glanced at his daughter, who was crying in fright, then at Ding Guihua. He consoled her, "Mom, take care of Xinxin at home. I’ll go clarify things and be back soon."

...

Upon reaching the police station, Guo Huaqiang didn’t hesitate to cooperate fully with Shen Heng and confessed everything.

He found out that Lu Zhanguo and his team were going to Cat Mountain from Chen Qiumei and Gu Weimin.

He had not revealed to Gu Weimin and his wife that he wanted to harm Lu Zhanguo; it had just come out unintentionally during the conversation.

Later, he disposed of the hunting gun from Cat Mountain, which was not the one used by Luo Renliang.

After Guo Huaqiang’s clear confession, he asked Shen Heng, "Can I see Lu Zhanguo?"

Shen Heng frowned, looked at his watch—it was already past eleven at night—and tried calling Lu Zhanguo.

To his surprise, Lu Zhanguo was still by the phone. He arrived half an hour after receiving the call.

Once colleagues, now one of them was a lower-ranked prisoner.

Lu Zhanguo sat across the interrogation table and quietly watched Guo Huaqiang.

Guo Huaqiang looked at Shen Heng, his voice suddenly hoarse. "I’d like to speak with Lu alone."

Shen Heng nodded and left the room.

"What do you want to say to me?" Lu Zhanguo was the first to break the silence, he asked.

Guo Huaqiang’s handcuffed hands quivered slightly." Was it you who made a case with the commander, so that Zhang Lijun got transferred to the Arms Division? I heard that position was originally intended for me."

Lu Zhanguo was surprised and shook his head. "I had no part in anyone’s transfers."

Guo Huaqiang clearly did not believe him. "By academic qualifications, I’d attended junior high school for a year more than Zhang Lijun. By qualifications, as a political officer, I was better suited for the position in the Arms Division. It was all pretty much settled. But then you returned from the military region, and everything changed. If it wasn’t you who interfered, then who was it?"

"I don’t know where you heard this news from, and I don’t have that much influence. I couldn’t determine your postings. Zhang Lijun was assigned to the Arms Division based on an overall assessment. His excellent military qualities, good soldier ethos—Zhang Lijun did well in all these areas over the years. And you, after you became an instructor, how many times did you conduct morning exercises? Every time when there was a training exercise, you volunteered to stay behind to avoid training, you think the higher-ups don’t know about this?" Lu Zhanguo said sternly.

Guo Huaqiang was still unconvinced. "I am a political officer. I just need to do my main job well."

Lu Zhanguo sighed disappointingly. "You always blame others for your mistakes. When there’s trouble in your household, you push the blame onto Xiangmin. Haven’t you ever thought about that your family situation also factors into political assessments? It is not that if you act pitiful every day, people should feel sorry for you. You did not try to improve the relationship between Xiangmin and your mother, but acted ignorant, even hiding in the barracks dormitory for peace. What do you think others think of all this? How can you bring peace to the wider community if you cannot bring peace to your own household? Haven’t you ever thought about it?"

"I never realized all this recent trouble you’ve caused was due to the arrangements for the demobilization. You intentionally brought Xiangmin closer to us, and even found Gu Xiaobei’s parents from the countryside. What were you thinking?"

Guo Huaqiang, constantly questioned by Lu Zhanguo, lowered his head in shame, but he was still not convinced.

Lu Zhanguo looked at Guo Huaqiang. Although he had lowered his head, he still seemed a bit rebellious. "When you did all these, I bet you forgot the oath under the military flag."

Guo Huaqiang slowly raised his head, a faint echo in his ear: I am... I swear... to serve the people wholeheartedly, to obey discipline... never to betray the army, to defend the motherland until death!

Lu Zhanguo looked at the painful expression on Guo Huaqiang’s face, almost distorted. Saying no more, he got up and left.

...

Gu Xiaobei was woken up by the need to pee in the middle of the night. Getting ready to get out of bed, he found that Lu Zhanguo had returned at some point and was lying on the kang bed wide awake.

"You scared me! Why are you back so late at night and not sleeping, just staring into space?" After patting his chest, Gu Xiaobei got up to use the restroom.

When he came back, he saw Lu Zhanguo still lying in the same position, his eyes open. He quietly lay down beside him and gently asked, "Is something troubling you? What happened?"

"The perpetrator of the attack on us during our visit to Cat Mountain has been caught," Lu Zhanguo murmured.

"Isn’t that good news? Why can’t you sleep then?"

"They were all my comrades at one point. But after one misstep, they kept making mistakes and led themselves into a dead end. It hurts in my heart," Lu Zhanguo said with a hint of sorrow.

Gu Xiaobei didn’t know how to respond, so he comforted, "Wherever we are, there will inevitably be the good and the bad among people. We’re bound to come across one or two people and situations that upset us. Let’s just move on."

Lu Zhanguo thought for a moment but did not tell Gu Xiaobei about Gu Weimin and Chen Qiumei. He wanted to handle this matter himself, not put Gu Xiaobei in an awkward situation, and finally be blamed for being undutiful.

Gu Xiaobei continued softly, "Go to sleep, tomorrow is Sunday. Let’s go back to the small courtyard and have a meal together."

Lu Zhanguo reached out to ruffle Gu Xiaobei’s hair. "Alright, let’s sleep now."

...

Ding Guihua spent the night cuddling Xinxin in fear. Early the next morning, she took her child to Gu Weimin’s house.

Gu Weimin was brushing his teeth. Upon hearing that Guo Huaqiang had been taken away by the police, he was so shocked that his toothbrush fell out of his mouth.

"What exactly happened?" Chen Qiumei asked anxiously as well.

Ding Guihua replied through tears, "I don’t know what happened. The police searched our house and found a pair of gold earrings."

Gu Weimin had a bad feeling. It seemed that real trouble had broken out this time.

Chen Qiumei still tried to look concerned and said, "It’s fine, it’s fine. It may just be a misunderstanding?"

Ding Guihua cried, "What are Xinxin and I going to do if something really has happened?"

"Don’t cry now. Maybe Qiangzi will return in a couple of days," Chen Qiumei optimistically comforted.

After sending Ding Guihua away, Gu Weimin anxiously said to Chen Qiumei, "Quick, wash up. Let’s go find Xiaobei."

Chen Qiumei said in a huff, "What for? Besides, we should go after lunch, don’t expect that girl to make breakfast for you."

"You have such a big heart. Look at what time it is, and you’re still thinking about eating!"