"Hey, girl, are you coming with me on your own, or do I have to cuff you?" Officer Lewis shoved the middle-aged man aside and walked toward Evan Irving, the silver, glinting handcuffs hanging from his belt looking especially conspicuous.

Evan Irving bit her lip tightly. The little girl had a heart full of justice, but when facing such thugs and scoundrels, all she felt was humiliation, indignation, and, above all, helplessness.

"What, regretting it now? Scared? Let me tell you, it's too late!" As Officer Lewis spoke, he reached out to grab Evan Irving.

Chapter 0010: The Fence-Sitter Sways with the Wind

"Take your filthy hands off me, don't touch me! I'll walk on my own!" Evan Irving shouted angrily, her voice loud and flustered, waving her hands like an angry little lioness.

Henry Walker sat across from Evan Irving. Through the dim light, he could clearly see the tears already shimmering in the girl's eyes.

"Well, aren't you spicy! Just my type! I've been feeling irritable these days, and I need a spicy girl to cool me down."

Thomas Thompson somehow produced a toothpick, picking his teeth as he squinted at his prey. His drunken body was as light as a feather, swaying in the wind, barely able to stand, yet he staggered over with a grin.

The elderly vendor with graying hair and the two peasant men eating at the table dared not say a word in the face of these two troublemakers, though they were clearly angry. The student Jack, however, shot up like a young bull!

"You two are shameless enough, but coming out to scare people is just wrong!" This absurd statement suddenly broke the silence of the night, ringing clearly in everyone's ears.

Officer Lewis and Thomas Thompson, who were about to take Evan Irving away, turned around almost simultaneously, four eyes staring in the direction of the voice.

"This world is full of all kinds of birds. Brother, have we been too quiet lately, so much so that these stray cats and dogs have forgotten who we are?" Officer Lewis looked at Henry Walker standing in the shadow of the lamp, sneering with contempt. The handcuffs on his belt jingled even louder.

Thomas Thompson, his drunken eyes hazy, felt that the figure looked familiar, but couldn't quite place it. Still, he was used to being a bully in Xihezi Township, and after hearing Officer Lewis's words, how could he back down now?

"You're right, brother. This kid is young and reckless, doesn't know what's good for him. Let's take him back too and teach him a lesson."

"This has nothing to do with him. I'll go with you." Evan Irving, seeing that these two were dragging someone else into it, suddenly shouted, afraid that the person speaking up for her would get hurt.

"Well, little girl, I've heard of heroes saving damsels, but never seen a girl protecting a guy! Are you protecting him because he's your lover? If that's the case, then I definitely have to take him away!" Officer Lewis cursed obscenely, then lunged behind Henry Walker, twisting his arm back.

"Let go of me! Thomas Thompson, you sure are impressive!" Henry Walker shook off Officer Lewis's hand and shouted angrily at Thomas Thompson.

That sudden outburst startled Thomas Thompson awake. His dazed eyes focused, and in the dim light, he looked carefully at the face twisted with anger.

"Who the hell are you to talk to me like that, you little punk? Do you believe I'll slap you right now?" Officer Lewis, seeing it was an unfamiliar face, became even more arrogant, threatening even more to please Thomas Thompson.

Henry Walker didn't even look at Officer Lewis's provocation. He stared coldly at Thomas Thompson, his icy gaze making Thomas Thompson's spine tingle.

Even though his brother-in-law had already sidelined this new Party Secretary, and the guy was just a figurehead, after all, he was still the top official in the township. Thomas Thompson couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive.

"Sec... Secretary Wang, wh-what are you doing here?" Thomas Thompson forced a smile, stammering out the words.

"Why am I here? I came to see you show off! I always heard how capable you are, Thomas Thompson, but never knew exactly how. Now I've finally seen it for myself!" Henry Walker sneered coldly, standing up from the small stool.

Officer Lewis, who was walking toward Henry Walker, immediately stopped in his tracks when he heard this. The scene he had witnessed by chance that afternoon flashed vividly in his mind.

He had brought a cup of tea to welcome back Director Carter from a call, only to be shocked to see a clear slap mark on Director Carter's chubby face! Startled, he wanted to ask what had happened, but after hesitating for a long time, he didn't dare.

After William Carter with a dark face entered the office, he finally learned the reason from George Brooks, who had gone on the call with Director Carter. He had heard that the new Party Secretary was just a puppet, but this incident suddenly made him feel that things in Xihezi Township might be about to change!