Volume 1: Gathering Storms Chapter 1: Midnight Fright (Part 1)

  This afternoon, Wang Guoqing, the secretary of the K Provincial Party Committee, sat in his office sorting out some materials. However, he couldn't calm down at all because one congratulatory call after another made his mobile phone ring non-stop. This was not surprising, as Wang Guoqing would soon take up a post in the Central Government and from then on would be making strategic decisions behind the scenes in Zhongnanhai, determining the outcome of major events. This was already an open secret.

  But Wang Guoqiang knew that now was not the time to celebrate. Before the formal appointment of the red-headed document, he still had to hold his tail tight and tighten his nerves. Because everything has variables.

  He simply turned off his phone, sank into the leather sofa, lit a cigarette, and quietly thought about the roads he had traveled over the years.

  A farmer's child, from a vocational school teacher to the provincial party secretary, many people are extremely envious and spread his experience as a legendary story of personal struggle. In fact, one's own affairs are only clearest to oneself. It can be said that this road has flowers, but more thorns; joy, but more pressure; success halo, but also failure pain.

  In Wang Qing's official career, it can be said that every step was precarious. To say nothing of the distant past, the incident in the winter of 1995 almost made him bid farewell to politics once and for all.

  In 1995, Shanyang City, located in the Central Plains, ushered in winter ahead of time. The red leaves on Fenghuang Mountain had turned yellow and withered, and some mountain peaks had already exposed their bald heads from the previous green tree clusters. The shallow ice had formed near the riverbank of the White Dragon River, although the sound of the big river flowing could still be heard in the middle of the river, but a mist was rising, making it impossible to see clearly. The tall French plane trees on both sides of the street were washed by the cold wind, and the leaves rolled up and fluttered to the ground. Even the most beautiful girls had no choice but to take off their skirts and wrap their slender figures in thick down jackets.

  It was a weekend, and Municipal Party Secretary Wang Guoqiang gave driver Wu Tianbiao the day off. This had basically become a habit, as this time was usually when Secretary Wang would be out alone. Wu Tianbiao was in high spirits, his 185cm frame walking down the street still turning heads. The desire for beauty is universal, and in this regard, there's probably no distinction between men and women.

  He lived in a house not far from the municipal government, which was a house of a fellow soldier who served in the South Sea Fleet. It was a 100-square-meter, two-bedroom, one-living room apartment on the first floor. The fellow soldier had used his connections in Guangzhou to go to the south last year and stir up trouble, so this house became Tianbiao's spoils of war. The fellow soldier was also a bachelor, and there wasn't much decent furniture in the house. However, after Tianbiao moved in, he brought in a set of fitness equipment, which looked quite eye-catching. He specially used one room to place these equipment, and on the walls of that room were posted photos of Schwarzenegger and Stallone, two muscular men who were Tianbiao's targets and motivation for working out.

  Next to the photo is a hand-drawn chart with Schwarzenegger's body measurements at his peak, including neck circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference, arm circumference, thigh circumference, and calf circumference. Next to it are his current data for comparison, to stimulate his exercise motivation. On the opposite wall hangs a huge mirror that he uses to admire his figure. When he returns home, he does 8 reps of each exercise with dumbbells and barbells, including bench press, deadlifts, rows, shoulder presses, and squats, doing 3 sets in total. It takes him an hour to complete the three sets, and he always ends up drenched in sweat. Today is no exception, despite the freezing wind outside.

  Although the dinner was simple, the protein and calories were very high. There were 8 eggs, half a catty of mutton, a cup of milk, a small bowl of radish, and a cup of protein powder. What he ate at home was strictly arranged according to the dietary plan for professional bodybuilders. As for eating out, it's hard to say.

  At night before going to bed, he usually flips through a few books on his bedside table, such as "US Special Forces Training Manual" and "Criminal Psychology". Deep down in his heart, he hopes to become a bodybuilding master or a public security detective one day. What can you achieve as a chauffeur, even if you drive for the municipal party secretary?

  At midnight, Wu Tianbiao was fast asleep. Suddenly, the phone rang loudly. He opened his sleepy eyes and was about to curse when he heard that it was Wang Guoqiang, the municipal party secretary, calling: "Secretary Wang..."

  "Come to Zui Ba Xian on Binjiang Road right now, we're waiting for you." From the tone of Wang Secretary's speech, although it was still the usual unquestionable tone, there was a hint of urgency.

  Wu Tianbiao got dressed in three minutes, a good habit he developed during his 3 years in the Marine Corps. He rode his "Suzuki King" downstairs and sped towards the "Drunken Eight Immortals" tavern under the guidance of moonlight and streetlights.

  In a dimly lit place next to "Drunken Eight Immortals", the car that Wu Tianbiao was most familiar with stopped - an Audi with license plate number 00001. Standing beside the car was someone he was also extremely familiar with - Wang Guoqiang, who ruled supreme in Shanyang City and had the final say in everything.

  Wu Tianbiao slowed down the car and stopped in front of the Audi. Before either of them could speak, he caught a whiff of strong alcohol and a faint smell of blood. Under the dense shade of the French parasol tree, there was an unspeakable horror.

  "Director Wang..."

  "Xiao Wu, big trouble has been encountered."

  "What's wrong? Secretary Wang!"

  "Alas, to make a long story short. Today was really terrible, several old friends gathered together at night because it's the weekend, so I didn't call you and drove myself. After it ended, on such a wide road, a woman riding a motorcycle crashed into our car. I got out of the car and took a look, just this one crash, and she was dead."

  "Where did it happen? I'll go take a look in a bit."

  Xinshan Yangtze River Bridge.

  "Good!"

  "Xiao Wu..." Wang Guoqing wanted to speak but hesitated.

  "Secretary Wang, I understand, I will handle it well."

  "That's too kind of you, I didn't misjudge, your character is indeed reassuring to the organization!" Wang Guoqing was a little choked with emotion.

  "Secretary Wang, the entire city needs you, you can't get into trouble. I haven't started a family yet and don't have any attachments. I'm just a driver, there's nothing to be sorry about." Wu Tianbiao was surprisingly generous with his words. He continued, "Secretary Wang, before and after the incident, did anyone see anything?"

  "It's very late, probably no one will see."

  "Is there a surveillance camera in that place?"

  "I'm not sure about this."

  "Alright, we can't use the Audi now. I'll take you back on my motorcycle first. I'll take full responsibility for this matter, so don't worry at all and go back to rest well."

  After sending Wang Guoqing back, Wu Tianbiao rode his motorcycle back to his own home. He sat at home for a while, drank half a bottle of white wine, and then splashed some on himself. Then he went out and walked to the "Drunken Eight Immortals" wine tower downstairs. He drove the Audi car to the scene of the accident, shone it with a flashlight, and found that the scene was really unbearable.

  A woman, with half of her skull shattered, left arm obviously fractured, intestines spilled out from her abdomen, a large puddle of brain tissue and blood on the ground. She was not at fault, clearly still in the right lane. From the car's brake marks, it can be seen that the speed at the time would not have been less than 140 miles per hour. Wu Tianbiao took another close look, the car had obviously hit the woman riding a motorcycle while speeding, and the woman may not have died immediately, the car had driven forward for a distance before reversing to crush her thoroughly.

  Wu Tianbiao felt a bit suffocated, damn! Can this be done by human? However, according to his understanding, Wang Guoqiang can definitely do such a thing because he is the municipal party secretary.

  Wu Tianbiao stretched out his arms and expanded his chest, took a few deep breaths, and only then did he calm down slightly.

  He went to the nearby public telephone booth and dialed a call to Ma Benche, the captain of the Municipal Traffic Police Brigade. Captain Ma was his iron brother, and it was also because of this relationship that he stood out among the 4 deputy captains under the inquiry of Secretary Wang and became the youngest brigade captain in Shanyang City's history.

  At that time, Ma Benzheng felt that this matter could be settled thanks to Wu Tianbiao's help. Because he only spent 200,000 yuan, which is not considered a lot of money. More importantly, he also pulled in his relationship with Secretary Wang, and he was full of confidence in his future career prospects. Of course, he would never forget Wu Tianbiao for the rest of his life.

  Captain Ma heard that it was Tianbiao, and jokingly said: "Is Commander Wu? It's the second half of the night, is there a lady who can't be taken down, and I'll have Old Horse come out personally?" Because he was a driver, friends were used to calling Wu Tianbiao Commander Wu.

  "Speaking of which, I bumped into someone."

  "Really?"

  "Can this be a joke?"

  "Where are you now?"

  "At Binjiang Road's Xinshanyang Bridge, which is where the incident occurred."

  "Wait for me, I'll be right there."

  Before long, a police car quietly stopped in front of Wu Tianbiao.

  The captain of the horse team looked at the scene and patted Wu Tianbiao's shoulder, saying: "Brother, this time you've gotten yourself into big trouble."

  "I know, drunk driving, speeding, and going against traffic flow can be fatal."

  "How many years?"

  "Even if it's handled well, it'll probably take three to five years. If not, in a situation like yours, it'll take ten or eight years."

  "Whoa!"

  "By the way, is there a camera here?"

  "Look, isn't that it?" Captain Ma pointed and said, "This is the dead order of Wang Shuji from the Municipal Party Committee. Every key location must be installed, no blind spots are allowed in the city."

  "My god! I have a question for you, can you erase what's recorded on this camera?"

  "A stab in the back for one's own brother!"

  "It's enough."

  "Little brother, things have come to this point, since you're here, just calm down. You can take this dead woman to the hospital now. After arriving at the hospital, call 110 again and show a proactive attitude."

  It was already early morning, with a pale moonlight, and a mist rising from the White Dragon River, shrouding everything in mystery.

  Wu Tianbiao lit a cigarette, took a deep drag and flicked it to the side of the female corpse. He nodded at Captain Ma, then carried the stiffened body of the woman into the car and drove away.