Chapter 63: The Gunshot at the County Committee's Compound

  The pistol and Arabian dagger hidden under Bao Yuzhen's bed were discovered, and Bao Guoqiang was in a dilemma. He knew that the paper couldn't cover the fire. The Municipal Public Security Bureau attached great importance to this matter, and the scope of criminal suspects was so narrow that it wouldn't take long to investigate Bao Yuzhen. Bao Guoqiang knew the value of this dagger, and now the only way to save Bao Yuzhen was to let him surrender himself, which could also reduce his sentence. Otherwise, once the Public Security Bureau came to the door, not only Bao Yuzhen but also himself would be in trouble. Bao Guoqiang knew that some of the things he had done over the years had made many people uncomfortable, and if they were given this opportunity, it was likely that he would also capsize. Now, the only thing to do was to sacrifice the pawn to save the chariot. However, there was still a problem now - the pistol in the silk cloth needed to be handled.

  Bao Guoqing knew that his own son was a useless burden. Usually, he looked energetic and vigorous, but when it came to critical moments, if he encountered someone tough, things might not go well. If that were the case, according to our country's regulations on gun management, the problem of collecting this handgun would be even more serious than the crime of stealing this dagger. If by any chance, this gun was linked to other issues, it would cause even more trouble.

  Bao Guoqing thought for half a day, he had to find a way to contact his son, tell him that he had found the dagger and gun, and make an appointment with him to surrender at the public security bureau. At that time, Bao Yucheng would have the circumstance of voluntary surrender, which would definitely be taken into consideration when sentencing. It's possible that the public security bureau would cover up the incident and even expel him from his position, after all, no impact had been caused. However, the problem with the gun could not be acknowledged. Otherwise, this cover-up would be impossible to conceal. And in this matter, he would emerge as a leader with a strong sense of justice and righteousness, having made a great sacrifice for the greater good. This incident would become his political capital, bringing him a hundred benefits without any harm. Bao Guoqing thought of this and immediately picked up his pen to write a small note.

  "Come here for a moment, wife." Bao Guoqing rolled up the note into a small roll and put it in a small plastic bag. He sealed it with adhesive tape and set it aside.

  "What's the matter? Or I'll get you to bring up the rice first, and you eat some?" Bao Yucheng's mother walked out of the kitchen. The dishes had been ready for a long time, but Bao Yucheng's mother was already used to waiting for her son to come back before having dinner, and this time she was tidying things up in the kitchen.

  "Eat, eat, eat. All you know is eating! Look at this." Bao Guoqing tapped the red cloth package on the table with his hand: "Your son is going to go to jail!"

  "What's going on?!" Bao Yuzhen's mother saw the short knife and handgun on the table. Bao Yuzhen often brought guns back home, so she was already used to it.

  "What's wrong, do you know? This is what I found under his bed floorboard! The police station came for him tonight just because of this knife!"

  "Isn't it just a knife?" said Bao Yucheng's mother disdainfully. "If it was our son who took someone else's, let him return it and that's the end of it. What's the big deal?" Since marrying village cadre Bao Guoqiang, Bao Yucheng's mother had never suffered any grievances. In her opinion, if a child was a bit naughty, it didn't matter; even if they got into some trouble, no one would really hold it against them - otherwise, Bao Guoqiang wouldn't let them off easy.

  "You've spoiled this child! I'm telling you, our son has gotten himself into big trouble this time!" Bao Guoqing said in a flustered tone: "You know what? This dagger is made of gold! The things embedded on it aren't glass balls, they're all precious gems! You say he's stolen it back. If someone finds out, he might even get shot!" Bao Guoqing had to exaggerate the situation in order to make his wife understand its severity.

  "My goodness, what can be done? Either you quickly get rid of it!" Bao Guoqings wife was anxious now and hastily advised.

  "Throw? It's too late, it seems others have already suspected him, otherwise they wouldn't let him go to the Public Security Bureau. What if he throws it away, I might even become an accessory to the crime! Besides, this kid somehow got a gun from who-knows-where, that's the real problem! What if there's something wrong with the gun, by then it'll be too late to save my son!" Bao Guoqing said.

  Bao Yuzhen's mother was anxious, hurriedly sat down beside Bao Guoqiang, shaking his arm and urging: "Then you'd better think of a way quickly, we can't just watch our son get into trouble!" Bao Guoqiang only had one son, Bao Yuzhen, whom he spoiled rotten. Now that something had happened, as a mother, she was naturally worried.

  "I'm not thinking of a way? Later, you'll go send lunch to your son, think of a way to see him, and tell him no matter what, he can't mention the gun thing. In two hours, at 9 o'clock, let him confess and say that he saw the knife was pretty, took it back home to play with, didn't know it had such high value. At that time, I'll take the knife to the Public Security Bureau, maybe nothing big will happen. Even if there's a problem, let your son take all the blame, don't drag out other issues, just this knife, at most it's just a few years in prison, later I'll make some connections, and he can get out after one or two years. Tell him not to worry."

  Bao Guoqing gritted his teeth and said, then took out a small plastic bag: "If you really can't see Bao Yucheng, go find Deputy Director Tan and ask him to help send some food in for the kid. When the time comes, put this plastic bag under the food and hide it. When my son finds something, he'll know what to do." Bao Guoqing was also forced into a corner, and now the only way out is to take the initiative before the Public Security Bureau figures things out.

  Bao Yuzhen's mother could only nod in agreement now, she was at her wit's end.

  Bao Yu's mother had just left, and Bao Guoqiang was thinking about how to deal with the handgun in Bao Yucheng's red cloth package when the sound of a motorcycle suddenly came from outside the door. Bao Guoqiang didn't know what was going on, he thought of hiding the gun, but then thought that if it was the public security bureau who had arrived, it would mean that Bao Yucheng was a soft egg and had already told them where the knife was hidden. In that case, hiding the gun would only implicate himself. It would be better to put everything out in the open, making it clear that he had just found it and was planning to hand it over, so as not to affect himself when the case was closed. If it was someone else, he could simply put the package in a drawer and then go answer the door. He would deal with things after sending the visitor away.

  Thought of a countermeasure, Bao Guoqing didn't move from his spot. He just sat on the sofa waiting for him to take a look at the situation.

  The sound of rapid footsteps echoed outside the door, and Bao Guoqing immediately recognized it as Bao Yuchen's footsteps. But he hadn't even gone to the public security bureau yet, so how did this kid get out? Bao Guoqing suddenly felt that things were not going well. If he had run out, then they would have to quickly make him understand the severity of the situation and figure out a way to resolve it. They had to try to take control of the situation as much as possible. Otherwise, the problem would be difficult to deal with.

  Bao Guoqing was just about to open the door when it swung open. Bao Yuchen rushed in hastily, slamming the door shut behind him.

  "Dad, something's happened! I have to run quickly!" Bao Yuzhen said as soon as he entered the house and saw Bao Guoqiang standing inside.

  At this time, Bao Guoqiang was no longer nervous. It seemed that Bao Yucheng had escaped, and if so, taking him to surrender would still leave room for a turn of events.

  "What's the panic? I've found all those things! They're on the table!" As he spoke, Bao Guoqing pointed to a red cloth package on the tea table.

  "How did you find this place?" Bao Yuchen looked very flustered.

  "Ah, you! You're trying to escape, aren't you? I just dug up these things, and you thought you hid them so cleverly? If the police come knocking on our door, do you think you can still run away? Alright, listen. At this point, your only option is to surrender. As for that gun business, I don't know what's going on, but let me tell you, even if they kill us, we can't reveal a single thing! At most, you'll be inside for two years, and I'll find a way to get you out!" Bao Guoqing said calmly.

  "No way, Dad! I won't go to jail, you know? This dagger belongs to Bao Yulin, but somehow it became French and even a military officer. And this dagger is extremely valuable, if this gets out, the provincial government will be shocked too. Right now, the case is still being supervised by the municipal bureau, last night I was already fingerprinted, once they verify my fingerprints in the city, I won't be able to escape." Bao Yuchen said hastily.

  "What? This matter is so troublesome?" The deputy captain of the criminal police team didn't tell him in such detail, only saying that something very important had been lost and it had become a foreign-related case. Bao Guoqiang knew that once it became a foreign-related case, things would get out of hand, but how did it involve Bao Yulian?

  "I just ran out and knocked out our clerk, Old Zhang, and grabbed his gun. Now I'm back to grab some money and take this knife with me, or else I'll be in trouble!" Bao Yuchen didn't have any ideas at the moment, he was used to letting Master solve problems whenever something happened. He didn't know that the blow he dealt Old Zhang had caused internal bleeding in his skull, and now his life was hanging by a thread.

  "What?!". Bao Guoqing knew that now this matter had no way to end well. Originally, it was just a theft, the operation was reasonable, and it might not even be necessary to go to jail. But now, his own foolish son had messed everything up.

  "Dad, how much money do you have left on you? Give it all to me. I'll think of a way to run abroad and come back after a few years." Bao Yuchen thought it was simple, just wanting to flee once something happened.

  "You, you're really muddled!" Bao Guoqing also didn't know what to say at this time: "You speak so lightly, the world is so big, where can you run? The country will catch up with you sooner or later. Even if you run abroad, you don't speak a foreign language, how can you make a living? Even if you sell this knife, how much money can you get? You'll have to come back sooner or later anyway! Besides, do you think it's that easy to run away?"

  "What's to fear? Bao Yulin was able to pass himself off as a French officer and return, why can't I? Hand over the knife, if not, this knife is worth a lot of money, enough for me to use for a lifetime." Children who have grown up in a greenhouse since childhood think simply, without considering the consequences. But on the other hand, if he had thought that far ahead, he wouldn't have taken Bao Yulin's Arabian dagger.

  "Bao Yuzhen! You're thinking too simply!" Bao Guoqiang was helpless, all along he knew that his son was a good-for-nothing person, but thinking that life is just like this, with his own protection and as the years went by, he thought Bao Yuzhen would understand things a bit more, and he had paved the way for him, it shouldn't be difficult to move forward, who knew he would be so disappointing, really can't do anything about him.

  "You don't even think about it, all these years, what have you done besides stealing and cheating? Can you compare to Bao Yulin? If you had his abilities, I wouldn't have thought of sending you to the army for training back then! Originally thought that becoming a police officer would make you better. Who knew this time you'd mess up so badly, how can I clean up after you?"

  "Dad, just stop talking and hurry up to give me some money so I can leave!" Bao Yuchen was too lazy to listen to Bao Guoqiang's preaching. Besides, he needed to buy time now.

  "Alas, you're really brainless! You've caused trouble and now you want to run? If you want to run, be smarter about it! Don't you think that riding a motorcycle back home in this big compound wouldn't be noticed by anyone? I'd be in trouble if I let you get away with this. I could even be charged with harboring a fugitive! You should know that as long as your dad has power, we can find a way to deal with this, no matter what. Even if you have to spend a few years inside, consider it a lesson. Once you're out, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life. But if even I fall, then there really won't be anyone who can help you. Listen to me and come with me to turn yourself in!"

  As soon as Bao Guoqing finished speaking, Bao Yuzhen knew that he had made up his mind to send him to prison. He was not willing to go to prison. Since it's come to this, he might as well go all out. Bao Yuzhen stopped talking and pushed Bao Guoqing away, taking a step back to the edge of the tea table, reaching for the Arabian dagger and pistol on the table.

  Bao Guoqing suddenly became anxious, his knees softened and he knelt on the ground: "Child, just listen to your father's words. I won't harm anyone, let alone you. You can't escape like this, and you're dragging our whole family down with you!"

  "Get out of the way!" Bao Yuchen said viciously, stretching out his hand: "Give me the key to the five-drawer cabinet!" Bao Yuchen knew that in addition to money, there were also some jewelry and accessories in the five-drawer cabinet at home. These things were all given by people who came to ask his father for favors during ordinary times.

  "Even if I give you money, it's useless. Foreign countries don't recognize RMB. Besides, you can't escape like this!" Bao Guoqing was being stern. Because he knew that as long as Bao Yucheng wasn't sentenced to death, there would be room for maneuver in any situation. But if he let him escape today, it would be impossible to clean up the mess afterwards.

  Bao Yuzhen didn't care about that much, he directly came up and touched Bao Guoqings waist, he had to find the key.

  Bao Guoqing was disappointed at this time, he knew that he could no longer persuade his son. For himself and for the sake of his son's future, Bao Guoqing steeled himself and took advantage of Bao Yucheng searching for the key on him to grab the ashtray from the table and hit Bao Yucheng on the back of the head. Bao Guoqing hoped that he could knock Bao Yucheng unconscious with one hit, even if it meant making him stupid. Bao Guoqing had thought it through, and when the time came, he would say that Bao Yucheng felt guilty towards his parents and had done it to himself.

  Suddenly, the back of his head was hit by Bao Guoqing, and Bao Yucheng only felt a dizziness. A warm flow flowed down from the back of his head. Bao Yucheng knew that he was bleeding. At this point, Bao Yucheng's anger rose to his gallbladder. Without thinking, he loaded the pistol in his hand and pulled the trigger at Bao Guoqing.

  With a crisp "crack", the bullet pierced Bao Guoqing's collarbone and hit the sofa. Bao Guoqing fell to the ground on the spot.

  Bao Yuzhen was also frightened by this gunshot. He knew that in the county committee compound, a gunshot would soon attract people to come over.

  Bao Yuzhen suddenly got up from the ground and stood up, wanting to run.

  "Wait, take the money from the five-drawer cabinet and leave, don't lock the door." Bao Guoqing said as he struggled on the ground. He understood that at this point, he could only let his son escape. This was also good, as long as he himself didn't die, then it would be a classic case of "great righteousness destroying family". As for Bao Yuchen, he could only rely on his luck. As for not letting him lock the door, the reason was simple: Bao Guoqing didn't want to really be at home.

  Bao Yuzhen hastily took out the money and jewelry from the five-drawer cabinet, put them in a bag, and then ran out. Just as he was about to leave the door, Bao Guoqiang said: "Child, this road is chosen by yourself, don't blame me, never say that you took money from home."

  Bao Guoqing knew that the 50,000 yuan in the five-drawer cabinet was unaccounted for. Now his own situation was not as good as letting Bao Yucheng take it away, otherwise, there would definitely be a problem with this.

  Bao Yuzhen didn't say a word, nor did he know what to say. Or maybe he just hadn't thought about saying anything else. But he still followed Bao Guoqiang's words and didn't lock the door.