Platoon Leader Zhang curled his lips and gave Han Qingsong a sideways glance, “Do you think that I’m just going to take your word for it? Who knows if you’re merely trying to spread your good name just because you did something like that?”
Han Qingsong stepped forward and asked, “Are both Han Qinghua and Zhao Jianshe under your jurisdiction?”
Platoon Leader Zhang raised his eyebrows, “Who are you?”
“This is the Han Qingsong you are looking for,” Someone next to him said faster than the others.
That was Han Yonglu, the Deputy Leader of the Production Team of Shanzui Village. Although he and Han Qingsong shared the same surname, their blood relations were dated back up to several centuries. Therefore, they weren’t close and could be considered ‘very distant relatives’ at best. However, the relationship between Han Yonglu and Han Yongfang was less than five generations, so they were more familiar with each other.
He had a son named Han Qingfeng, whose name bore the same meaning as Han Qingsong, but neither of the two families were willing to change it, so they both continued naming their sons as such(1). The two even joined the army together. But it was a pity that Han Qingfeng was demobilized back to the village after his 3 years of service and returned to the village whereas the other remained in the army.
(T/N: After checking the story’s progress, there has actually been no other mention of another ‘Han Qingfeng’. Hence, I’m changing it to our ML since the descriptions and the timelines fit him and will make another clarification should there be a new development in the future. The following paragraphs wouldn’t make sense if it weren’t for the adjustment.)
Even though there was some dissatisfaction, not being able to criticize the higher ups of the military and merely being capable of wallowing up in jealousy, it was a given that Han Yonglu had rather envious and negative opinions about Han Qingsong.
It wasn’t until Han Qingsong changed his career and returned home that he finally let go of his decade-long dissatisfaction.
However, it was quite unpleasant to know that Han Qingsong became the Director of the Public Security Bureau.
At this moment, Platoon Leader Zhang came to make the arrests and immediately ordered the Head Secretary and the Security Director to actively cooperate with the investigation.
Han Qingyun glanced at Han Yonglu, dissatisfied, “Uncle, why are you so eager?”
Han Yonglu smiled and said, “This is the exemplary attitude of an officer— of course we must actively cooperate.”
Platoon Leader Zhang snorted and with a wave of his hand, several people surrounded Han Qingsong, “Take him back for questioning.”
The faces of Han Yongfang and the others changed, “Platoon Leader Zhang, you are going too far. No matter what, Han Qingsong is still the Director of the Commune Public Security Bureau. If you want to ask him anything, just do it. You don’t have the authority to take him away.”
Platoon Leader Zhang arrogantly said, “I’ll say, Head Secretary, do you truly not understand or are you pretending not to understand? In this era, the army is in charge of everything, do you understand? Now, the Military Commission holds power over all and the Military Propaganda Team is in a higher position than the Worker Propaganda Team and the Farmer Propaganda Team. Besides, since all the Propaganda Teams and the Commune are all managed by the Military Commission, what is a mere Public Security Bureau Director? We, the X Army, are in charge of all affairs in the province.”
Han Qingyun said unconvinced, “The Third Brother is also from the X Army.”
“Tsk, what kind of soldier is a soldier who has changed his career? He is not a soldier if he has changed his job!” Platoon Leader Zhang waved his hand and said with great temperament.
Though, based on the situation, it didn’t seem like he was unaware of who Han Qingsong was.
Han Qingsong, who had been silent all this time, suddenly asked, “Have we known each other before this?”
Platoon Leader Zhang snorted immediately, “Impossible! How could I ever know a demobilised soldier? Impossible.”