Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

The incandescent light in the interrogation room of the Guangming Branch Bureau was so bright it made one's eyes dizzy.

Cheng Du tossed his phone onto the table; the screen was lit up, displaying a text message he had just sent to Ding Yizhen: "The person's been detained, the stuff's destroyed, nothing's going to happen, don't worry."

A moment later, the phone vibrated. It was a text message from Ding Yizhen: "Very good, Young Master Zhao does not want to see any more noise."

Du Cheng grinned.

As long as you cling to the Zhao family, even if you make a huge mistake in the sky in Handong, someone will patch it up for you.

He was in a good mood and even hummed a little tune.

Zhang Xiao was handcuffed to the interrogation chair, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, her eyelids drooping.

"Still not going to tell, huh?"

Cheng Du walked over, reached out and patted Zhang Xiao's cheek, his voice light and airy.

"It's alright, we have plenty of time. As long as you admit to illegally trespassing on the construction site and stealing trade secrets, I'll send you back to see your grandmother."

Upon hearing the mention of her grandmother, Zhang Xiao suddenly opened her eyes and let out a low growl like a wild beast.

"How dare you mention my grandmother?"

"Oh, you've got some energy." Cheng Du chuckled, turned around and sat back in his chair, crossing his legs. "Keep going, let's see how long you can last."

"In this small area of ​​Guangming District, my degree is the law, and I can write whatever I want."

"Take some measures against him. I want to see the signed and fingerprinted statement by tomorrow morning."

After saying that, Cheng Du turned and walked out of the interrogation room, completely ignoring the muffled groans coming from behind him.

……

Xingfuli Community.

The wind blew in through the broken doorway, making the calendar in the living room rattle loudly.

The old lady, standing on a stool, shakily took the black action camera down from the top of the bookcase.

The old lady then returned to her bedroom and pulled a camphor wood chest out from under the bed.

A camphor smell wafted out.

At the bottom of the box was an old military uniform, faded from washing, with wear and tear on the collar.

That was the old man's most treasured possession, left behind in his life.

The old lady put on the military uniform, which was a bit too big, making her figure appear even more hunched.

She picked up a needle and thread, and by the dim light of the lamp, carefully sewed the deformed, mud-stained medal onto her left breast.

Even if it gets bent from being stepped on, it's still a first-class merit.

Even if it's covered in mud, it's still stained with the blood earned with lives.

The old lady touched the slightly protruding lump, and finally couldn't hold back her tears, which dripped onto her clothes.

"Old man, someone is bullying Xiaozi."

"I'll go ask around; is there any place in this world where justice is served?"

It's still raining.

The old lady, with the action camera tucked into her arms, walked step by step into the night.

……

Two o'clock in the morning, at the provincial military compound.

The rain showed no signs of letting up. The sentry stood in his post, his posture as straight as a pine tree, rainwater streaming down the brim of his helmet.

In the distance, a hunched figure slowly moved through the heavy rain, approaching the warning line.

The sentry gripped his Type 95 rifle tightly with alertness.

"stop!"

The sentry shouted a warning, raising his gun slightly, "Military restricted area, no approaching."

The old lady stopped in her tracks; rainwater soaked her white hair, which streamed down her cheeks.

She didn't speak, but with trembling hands, she pulled a red booklet from her bosom.

Then, she straightened her back, which was no longer upright, and slowly raised her right hand to give a military salute that was not standard but extremely solemn.

The sentry paused for a moment.

By the light of the guard's lamp, he could make out the old man's attire.

It was an old-fashioned military uniform from the last century. Although it was worn, the top button was fastened tightly.

Shift your gaze downwards.

The sentry's pupils contracted sharply.

On his left chest, a gold medal hung crookedly.

There is a clear footprint on it.

Those were the patterns on the soles of leather shoes, with black silt embedded in the golden five-pointed stars, as if veiling the medal in black gauze.

The medal was severely deformed, with a dent in the middle.

How did you step on it?

What kind of deep-seated hatred, what kind of vicious foot, could stomp on a piece of metal like that?

The sentry's fingers unconsciously gripped the butt of his rifle, his knuckles turning white.

"Auntie," the sentry's voice trembled slightly, "this is...?"

"I want to see your leader."

The old woman's voice was hoarse, revealing a resolute determination born of despair: "I am a family member of a martyr, and I have been wronged."

The sentry took a deep breath, turned around, and picked up the walkie-talkie.

"Platoon leader! There's an emergency at the east gate! Quickly!"

Less than two minutes later, the platoon leader on duty rushed out with two other men.

Upon seeing the martyr's certificate and the trampled medal, the platoon leader's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

This is not just an insult; it's a slap in the face to all soldiers.

"Ma'am, please come in and take shelter from the rain." The platoon leader helped the elderly woman up, then turned and yelled at the communications officer, "Call the operations duty room! Find Regiment Commander Zhou, who's on duty today!"

……

Operations duty room.

Shen Zhongzheng was using red and blue pencils to perform calculations on the map.

The red telephone on the table suddenly rang.

Shen Zhong put down his pen and answered the phone.

"I am Shen Zhong."

On the other end of the phone, Zhou Weiguo's voice was somewhat hurried, even carrying an barely suppressed anger.

"Boss, there's an old lady who says she's been unfairly oppressed and is asking the military region to help her."

Shen Zhong frowned slightly: "If you have a grievance, go to the Public Security Bureau or the Petition Office. What are you doing at the military region?"

"Boss...that's...that's..." Zhou Weiguo stammered, seemingly unsure how to describe it.

"She was carrying a martyr's certificate and a first-class merit medal," the staff officer said through gritted teeth. "The medal was covered in mud and shoe prints, and it was deformed from being stepped on."

"They said the police made an illegal arrest and even insulted the martyrs."

Snapped.

The red and blue pencil in Shen Zhong's hand broke in two.

The temperature in the office seemed to drop several degrees, and Zhou Weiguo felt a chill run down his spine.

"Take him to Reception Room Number One."

Shen Zhong threw the broken pen into the trash can, his voice eerily calm, "I'm coming right away."

Five minutes later.

Reception Room No. 1.

When Shen Zhong pushed the door open, the old lady was holding a cup of hot water, her whole body still trembling.

Upon seeing the gold star on Shen Zhong's shoulder, the old lady put down her cup and was about to kneel down with a thud.

"Boss! Do this for me!"

Shen Zhong reacted quickly and grabbed the old man's arm.

"Sir, you mustn't." Shen Zhong helped the old man back to his chair. "This is the military base. What grievances could you possibly have? Please sit down and tell me."

His gaze fell on the medal.

The golden surface was covered with scratches, and the red five-pointed star in the middle was dented from being stepped on, with black mud still stuck to it.

That is the soul of a soldier, that is the glory earned with one's life.

Now they are being trampled on like trash.

Shen Zhong reached out and gently touched the cold metal with his fingertips.

His hands were steady, but Zhou Weiguo noticed that the veins on Shen Zhong's neck were bulging.