A bloody incident caused by a condom

page views:7 Publication date:2023-04-02

Volume One: Shocking
Conclusion of the Two Sessions – Chang Yuze's mission also came to a successful end.

During the Two Sessions, delegates from all over the country and domestic and foreign news media flocked to Beijing, the capital. To maintain social order and a good image for the capital, Chang Yuze and his colleagues fought on the front line of stability maintenance every day. In his spare time, Chang Yuze, like the delegates, listened attentively to the various proposals and government reports of the Two Sessions. Although he was not a formal delegate, he possessed a strong political awareness of participating in, understanding, and discussing politics. Every year after the Two Sessions, his unit would hold rounds of study sessions and meetings to thoroughly understand the spirit of the Two Sessions, making it easier to write materials later.

The National People's Congress closed on March 14th, and Chang Yuze and his stability maintenance team left Beijing in late March. The ten days or so after the meetings were for their final cleanup work, thoroughly eliminating all unforeseen unstable and dangerous factors, leaving no hidden dangers.

To prepare for the Two Sessions and maintain stability, Chang Yuze was stationed in Beijing shortly after the Spring Festival. Nearly thirty days have passed, and his longing for his wife and daughter has only intensified. Returning home today to reunite with them naturally filled him with immense joy.

Around 4 PM, Chang Yuze arrived back in his hometown—Guide City, a vibrant regional center situated on the Huanghuai Plain. He had passed through the northern suburbs on his business trip. Two years ago, Chang Yuze and his wife, Xu Hong, both had their eyes on a villa in Lishui Garden in the northern suburbs. A friend had developed it and offered them an internal price, so they bought it. However, the villa was far from the city center, making life inconvenient, and he and his wife rarely stayed there. The house was mostly vacant; in fact, the occupancy rate in the entire villa complex was very low. Only on weekends would Chang Yuze and his wife occasionally go there to share a romantic evening in the luxurious master bedroom.

After working for over a decade, Chang Yuze and his wife, through hard work and financial assistance from both sets of parents, purchased three properties. One was a small, 80-square-meter apartment funded by their work unit, currently vacant; another was a 150-square-meter commercial-residential property with four bedrooms and two living rooms, which they lived in and considered their home; and the third was a villa in the northern suburbs.

He had heard from the bureau that in response to the upcoming Two Sessions, provincial capitals and other major cities had increased public security measures, diverting some unemployed individuals to smaller cities. Guide City, located at the junction of three provinces, boasts convenient transportation, a large population, and has historically been a thriving commercial center, naturally attracting various types of people. He had heard that several habitual thieves had recently moved to Guide City, specifically targeting upscale residential areas; two burglaries had already occurred in Lishui Residential Area. Chang Yuze worried that his villa might also be targeted by thieves. Since there were no police signs outside his door, the thieves wouldn't discriminate. He happened to be passing by on his way home and decided to check the villa. Chang Yuze naturally wouldn't let his wife know about this, much less let her go to the villa to check. His wife was timid, and letting her know would only upset her.

According to the municipal government's plan, the northern suburbs were an urban leisure and tourism area, with large areas of undeveloped land near the North Ring Road, filled with flowers, trees, and shrubs, forming a green sea. Lishui Garden was nestled in this green sea. The environment here was beautiful; as soon as the car entered the community, there was a sense of natural tranquility and seclusion, a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Chang Yuze parked the car in front of the villa and first walked around to check it. He found that the doors and windows were properly closed. Then he opened the door and checked the inside. The appliances and furnishings in the living room were all normal, with no signs of a burglary. The wooden floor in the living room was gleaming, the tables and chairs were sparkling, and there was a faint scent of cleaning agents in the room, indicating that the villa had just been cleaned. After

checking the rooms on the first floor, Chang Yuze went up the spiral staircase to the second floor, first to the balcony, opened the window, and took a deep breath of the fresh air mixed with the scent of grass and trees.

Chang Yuze finally entered the extra-large bedroom, his favorite place in the villa, filled with a romantic and sweet atmosphere. Since the villa was far from the city center, he and his wife didn't plan to live there long-term, so the decor was simple, except for the master bedroom, which was elaborately and luxuriously decorated. His wife had chosen the color scheme and style, with a touch of European palatial decor; the curtains and decorations were pink, as was the luxurious wedding bed. Every time he and his wife slept in this bedroom, he felt like he was reliving their romantic wedding night. He always had inexhaustible energy and passion to pamper his beloved wife, and the two of them would repeatedly immerse themselves in a passionate love affair. Such blissful nights always made him feel that time flew by too quickly, and the night was too short.
A huge photograph hung in the bedroom—their wedding photo. Only this extra-large bedroom could fully express the boundless romantic love between him and his wife.

In a peony garden bursting with vibrant colors, a loving newlywed couple nestled together. The bride, in her pristine white wedding dress, nestled delicately in the arms of her tall, handsome groom. His strong hands gently encircled her slender waist. The newlyweds faced each other, gazing deeply into each other's eyes. The bride's pretty face was slightly tilted upwards, her rosy cheeks parted as if seeking a sweet kiss from her beloved, yet she seemed a little shy, her face flushed. This was one of Chang Yuze's favorite wedding photos. To capture this beautiful moment in the peony garden, the garden was specially cleared for half an hour so the photographer could capture the best shot.

Looking at this scene he could never tire of, Chang Yuze couldn't help but recall every sweet night he spent with his beloved wife, every beautiful feature of her snow-white, jade-like body. A warm current began to surge through his body; his body began to change, his breathing quickened, and his body was filled with restlessness and desire. He and his wife hadn't been intimate for nearly thirty days. He was a strong man, deeply in love with his beautiful wife. Even after many years of marriage, he still maintained the intense love he felt during their courtship. He frequently nourished his wife with his strength and love, allowing her to fully experience the most wonderful sexual pleasures in the world, letting his wife, this rare flower, bloom with her most beautiful colors at all times. He decided to bring his wife here tonight, to dedicate all the love and passion he had accumulated over the past few days to her. He could almost see the beautiful sight of his wife panting and moaning under his passionate onslaught. Thinking of this, he felt increasingly hot, his manhood swelling uncomfortably. He looked away, unable to bear it any longer.

Chang Yuze went into the bathroom, washed his face, and cooled down his burning desire. Then he lay comfortably on the soft Simmons bed, the pillows still seemingly exuding his wife's fragrance, making him feel intoxicated.

The early spring sun was exceptionally bright, dazzling even through the thin curtains. Chang Yuze felt the sunlight outside the window was ruining the hazy atmosphere of the room, so he got up and closed the inner pink curtains again. As he pulled the curtains closed, a wad of white toilet paper hidden under the hem caught his attention. Because the carpet was white and the curtains concealed it, the white toilet paper was very well hidden.

He and his wife had stayed here one night before the Spring Festival, and he remembered cleaning the bedroom thoroughly then; how could they have missed the toilet paper? He picked it up casually and noticed it was damp, a feeling that made him very uncomfortable. He opened the toilet paper and found a sheath inside. Inside the transparent sheath were some white, thick, snot-like liquid, emitting a disgusting, fishy odor.

Chang Yuze had a bad feeling and quickly opened the bedside table drawer, taking out the innermost box of condoms. This box of condoms was imported, unlike domestically produced ones; it was expensive. According to his colleagues, this style could maximize the pleasure for both men and women and was a favorite among European and American business elites. He traded several packs of Zhonghua cigarettes for two boxes from a colleague. He kept one at home and one in his villa, using them wherever he wanted. The one at home was almost empty, and the one in the villa had just been opened but hadn't been used yet. There were twelve in the box, and now only nine remained. The condom wrapped in the toilet paper was the same brand as the one in the box. This meant someone had used three condoms in the bedroom, thrown away two, and this one had just been hidden by the curtains. Chang Yuze felt dizzy. He couldn't imagine who would come to his bedroom, to his bed, and use the condoms he'd bought. He wasn't particularly worried about who used the condoms, but who used them on was the last thing he wanted to think about! This question pierced his heart like a sharp knife!

It was fucking disgusting!

Chang Yuze cursed inwardly, threw the condom and toilet paper into a trash bag, carried the bag downstairs, tossed it into the trash can outside the door, then pulled out a few tissues and frantically wiped his hands, as if the filth on the condom had contaminated his palms.

Without further hesitation, Chang Yuze drove away. He wanted to go home and ask his wife if she had been to the villa, or if anyone else had.

As he drove past the gate of the residential complex, the security guard saluted him. Chang Yuze handed him his access card and casually asked, "Is the security camera installed yet?" He remembered that when he bought the villa, the property management promised the complex would have the most comprehensive surveillance system in the city.

"It's being installed, boss, soon," the guard replied respectfully.

Chang Yuze knew this was just an excuse from the property management; once the house was sold, things would be difficult to handle later. Besides, there were few residents in the complex, and few people would care. Moreover, besides preventing bad guys, the surveillance system would also disturb those who didn't want their privacy exposed, and these people were even less concerned, perhaps even secretly resisting it.
Chang Yuze turned right, leaving Lishui Garden and heading home.

Thirty meters ahead, a tall utility pole on the left caught Chang Yuze's attention.

A camera was mounted high on the pole, its shiny black casing resembling the eye of some monster.

Chang Yuze's heart stirred; he quickly turned and drove towards the city traffic police brigade.

Upon arriving at the traffic police detachment, Chang Yuze went straight into the road condition monitoring center. When Xiao Wang, who was on duty, saw Chang Yuze come in, he quickly offered him a seat and poured him tea. He was very touched and nervous that his superior was coming to inspect the work after work.

Chang Yuze noticed Xiao Wang's nervousness and smiled, saying, "It's nothing, I just have a personal matter I need your help with."

Xiao Wang stood ramrod straight and replied, "Please give your instructions, sir." "

Are the surveillance cameras on Lishui Road activated?"

Xiao Wang quickly sat back down at his workstation, pulled up the temporary surveillance footage of Lishui Road, and on the display screen, the four large gold-plated characters "Lishui Jiayuan" on the gate of Lishui Community were clearly visible. "Sir, everything's fine."

"Do you have the surveillance records for the past month?" "

The records for the past month shouldn't have been deleted, but the earlier ones are definitely gone. Let me check." Xiao Wang buried his head in searching the surveillance records on the computer, and cautiously asked, "Sir, is there anything wrong?"

"A while ago, a friend of mine parked his car at the entrance of the community, and someone scratched it. The owner of that car was a jerk; they drove off without a word. It was just a scratch on the paint, and it wouldn't cost much to repair. The problem is that they sneaked away without saying a word, which is infuriating."

"That's it. Boss, we found it." Xiao Wang pulled up the surveillance footage from Lishui Road and asked excitedly, "Boss, when was your friend's car scratched? I'll pull up that date."

"My friend's car has been parked for a long time, and he can't remember the date. Why don't you start checking from February 22nd? You pull it up, and I'll check it myself. You should go about your business and not delay your work."

Chang Yuze left home for Beijing on February 22nd, which was the ninth day of the first lunar month. The 3rd, 6th, and 9th are auspicious days for travel.

Chang Yuze stared at the screen, carefully identifying each car entering and leaving the Lishui residential area. Because the cameras were too far from the entrance, they couldn't see inside the cars day or night, only the license plate numbers. Finally, Chang Yuze spotted a very familiar car! The video footage shows that on the evening of February 27th, the sixth day after he left home, a red Mazda with a license plate containing five sevens came to the residential area. It entered at 10 PM and left at 6 AM, meaning the red Mazda spent the night there. This luxurious red Mazda is his wife's car, bought at the end of the year before last. The license plate was taken from an old Santana; such a prestigious number was obviously obtained by Chang Yuze using his connections, otherwise, even spending tens of thousands of yuan wouldn't have been possible.

February 27th was a Saturday. On Saturdays and Sundays, their daughter doesn't go to kindergarten and often stays at her maternal grandmother's house. This means that on those two nights, his wife was free; she didn't have to be home with their daughter. However, Chang Yuze was very certain that his wife wouldn't stay alone in the villa. She only stayed there when they were enjoying marital intimacy. Even when cleaning the villa, she wouldn't go alone; she always brought a nanny, saying it was too big and spacious, and she was afraid to go in alone. But why would his wife sleep alone in the villa after only six days of his absence? Wasn't she afraid? Could it be that her friend borrowed her Mazda and then slept in his villa for one night? But how do you explain that dirty condom? Could it be that her friend forgot her condom and borrowed his to finish the task? Too many uncertainties, too many coincidences—all these factors combined point to one thing: that dirty condom is definitely suspicious!
Chang Yuze copied the surveillance footage to his USB drive, casually thanked Xiao Wang, and left the monitoring room and the traffic police station. The traffic police officers greeted him, but he ignored them and left blankly. Emerging from the monitoring room, Chang Yuze felt as if his feet were dangling in the air, his legs feeling soft and yielding. The scene before him was bizarre and surreal. He didn't even know how he stumbled back to his car.

He couldn't believe it, he didn't want to believe it—that his beloved wife was connected to that dirty condom! He and his wife had been in love for many years and were very loving after marriage. He was a model husband in the bureau, and his wife was recognized as a model police wife. They were role models for young couples in the bureau. His wife was beautiful and virtuous, with a university degree, a lawyer's license, a high-paying job, and a privileged background. She was free from the vulgarity, vanity, greed, and frivolity often associated with ordinary women. Chang Yuze was confident that even if all women in the world cheated on their husbands, his wife would never do so—that was a million times harder than winning the lottery. Chang Yuze even began to fantasize that those habitual thieves who had come from out of town must have sneaked into the villa, and that it was a male and female duo who had broken in. They entered the villa without touching any doors or windows, without using any high-end appliances, and without ransacking drawers or wardrobes for valuables. They simply made love in his bedroom, using his condoms, and then cleaned the bedroom spotless before leaving. But the sight of that unmistakably red Mazda shattered his ridiculous fantasy, forcing him to accept reality—a terrifying reality.

That filthy condom was the evidence!

Chang Yuze floored the accelerator, driving frantically back to Lishui Residential Area, back to the villa. He retrieved the garbage bag from the trash can; inside was the filthy condom. He took the condom and toilet paper from the bag and placed them on the dashboard, coldly and listlessly examining them.

The pristine white toilet paper unfurled slowly, like a pure white snow lotus in bloom. The filthy condom emerged from the flower's heart, revealing its exquisite, skin-like, transparent membrane. Deep within this membrane lay a thick, white sap, seemingly ripe, ready to overflow at any moment. An indescribable, nauseating stench slowly permeated the air, quickly filling the cramped car with its nauseating odor. This was truly the ugliest, filthiest thing in the world!

那肮脏的套子就象一颗燃烧弹，猛烈的燃烧起来，在他心中冲起滔天的火海。他猛的按动喇叭，小车发出刺耳的鸣叫声，然而小车一动也不动。他想立刻赶回家去，抓住妻子，大声质问她，为什么？为什么！如果回答是肯定的，最后就……是呀，最后怎么样？狠狠揍她一顿，和她一刀两断？离婚，这个字眼太可怕了，想都不敢想的字眼，已经超出他的心理承受能力，他不敢想象这样可怕的结局。

常雨泽陷入深深的痛苦中，他不明白到底做错了什么，要让他承受如此巨大的打击，他该如何处理如此可怕的现实。就象往日出差回来一样，他会直接回到家，做上一顿丰盛的饭菜，和妻女共享温馨的晚餐，然后在卧室搂着娇妻说不完的情话，做着永不知疲倦的美妙运动。他早已经把回程时间电话告知了妻子，妻子一定买好菜，等他回去掌勺。 His wife can't cook, so when he's away on business, the housekeeper cooks for him at home.

公安系统盛行大男子主义，都是警嫂给警察老公做饭，而常雨泽恰恰相反，他喜欢做饭，并且手艺不错，他不愿妻子洁白细嫩的小手被粗糙的果蔬磨砺，看着妻子美滋美味的享用他精心做出的饭菜，他心中洋溢着幸福的成就感。虽然局里许多同事因此对他颇有嘲讽，但是他毫不在意，我爱我妻，美丽娴淑的妻子就是我的最爱！

这个突然出现的可恶的套子却一下打乱了他的计划，破坏了他的心情，他不敢回家，不想回家，他害怕看见妻子，害怕面对那个可怕的问题，害怕听到她的回答。如果从她的热情里看出虚伪，他会非常非常伤心。他还没有想好，如果真是她做的事情，他该怎么处置她，狠狠骂她一顿？从谈恋爱至今他没有对她说过一句难听话；狠狠的揍她一顿？他更下不了手，平日里他宠爱她还不够。 However, he wouldn't cower in fear. He wanted to confront her directly, rebuke her, make her regret it, make her repent, and demand an explanation. What if she explained it was a misunderstanding? Impossible. The condom was a real condom, and the Mazda was a one-of-a-kind Mazda. Was there any need for you to doubt your judgment? There was no need, absolutely no need, Chang Yuze thought to himself, slamming his fist hard on the steering wheel. The car seemed unable to withstand the impact, trembling slightly. The condom slid off the dashboard and landed on the leather mat under the floor, a dirty, thick white liquid seemingly about to leak out. "Foreign products are of such poor quality," he thought. "It's been over twenty days, and this dirty liquid hasn't evaporated yet."

Chang Yuze carefully rewrapped the condom and put it in the small drawer. This was irrefutable evidence, evidence to convict her! His handsome face twitched in pain, his eyes flashing with fury. If it really was her, he wouldn't scold her, wouldn't hit her, but he would never easily forgive her, absolutely not!
The sun set, and the faint night quickly enveloped the earth. The city lights of Guide City began to twinkle, the well-arranged high-rises and bustling streets shrouded in a hazy interplay of light and shadow.

Chang Yuze drove aimlessly through the familiar streets. His warm, cherished home felt so foreign tonight; he was even afraid to go home. He didn't plan to go home for dinner; he just wanted to drink. He had many friends in the city, and naturally, many places to drink. Just as Chang Yuze was deciding who to call, his phone rang. The phone indicated it was almost out of battery; he guessed it would just be able to answer this call.

Wang Chengli, the captain of the public security detachment, called: "Brother, you're back without even saying a word? I've saved this drink for you, don't tell me you didn't want to drink my wedding wine."

Chang Yuze had worked with Wang Chengli for a while when he first joined the municipal bureau

. Wang Chengli was more than ten years older than Chang Yuze, very capable, and took good care of him at work, like a teacher and an older brother, a good friend. Wang Chengli had served in the army in his early years, and his wife farmed in the countryside. Later, Wang Chengli transferred to the public security system. He was capable and rose quickly through the ranks, from a local police station to the municipal bureau and then to the detachment captain. With his higher position came a broader perspective, and he no longer looked down on his burly rural wife. He started dating other women, all young and beautiful, with four regular girlfriends and many more temporary ones. Last year, his wife died suddenly from an illness, and the fourth mistress immediately became his legal wife. Wang Chengli was already over forty, while the fourth mistress was only in her twenties. The fourth mistress was originally a supervisor at a large hotel, very beautiful, and had a sweet tongue, making her Wang Chengli's favorite. Wang Chengli invested in opening a restaurant for her, Xiangyuan Hotel, specializing in farm-style cuisine. The food was authentic, reasonably priced, and the service was excellent, making it quite well-known in the city. Coupled with Wang Chengli's connections, the restaurant did very well; it was difficult to find a private room without advance reservations.

Everyone understood that in a workplace, a salary was fixed, while miscellaneous expenses were numerous. To live comfortably and get promoted quickly, one had to find ways to make money. Now that the government was cracking down hard, no one dared to openly accept bribes and make money; most people made money through borderline methods, such as investing or starting companies under relatives' names.

Chang Yuze also owned a foot massage parlor in the city, registered under a relative's name. Initially, he was just an investor, but later the partner withdrew, and he took over the business alone. The foot massage parlor, named Yujie Foot Massage and Health Center, had over forty private rooms. It wasn't a large or small business, considered average among its competitors in the city. Despite its small size, it had a good reputation and generated a net profit of fifty to sixty thousand yuan per month. This was enough to cover Chang Yuze's family's expenses. He never aspired to a career in business, much less become a millionaire.

Last week, Wang Chengli married Xiao Si. It was his second marriage, and his first wife had passed away last year. The bureau was worried about the negative impact and didn't want him to have a big celebration. So Wang Chengli held a small, private wedding, attended only by his colleagues and friends from his circle. Chang Yuze happened to be on a business trip in Beijing and couldn't attend. When Wang Chengli heard that Chang Yuze was returning from his business trip today, he immediately called him to come over for drinks.

"Brother Wang, where have you been? I just entered the city, I haven't even been home yet. Tell me, where are you going?"

"Where else would you go? Come to my place, Xiangyuan Hotel."

When Chang Yuze got married, Wang Chengli gave him a 3,000 yuan red envelope. With prices rising sharply in recent years, Chang Yuze returned 5,000 yuan. It wasn't about the amount of money, the sentiment was the most important.

When Chang Yuze arrived at Xiangyuan Hotel, everyone at the table was already there, except for him, the "distinguished guest." Chang Yuze had met all the people accompanying the guests before. There were entertainment venue owners, business owners, and people who worked in government offices—all Wang Chengli's comrades and friends. The only woman present was Wang Chengli's newlywed wife, Sun Lina. She wore a thin red sweater with a deep V-neck, her full breasts prominently displayed, her chest a patch of white, a sparkling diamond pendant adorning her slender neck. She wore light makeup, her red lips luscious, her eyes sparkling with affection. Having worked as a manager in a high-end hotel, her gaze was perfectly controlled, passionate but not coquettish. The woman in her early twenties was full of vitality and energy, and being newly married, transitioning from an underground relationship to the public eye, she exuded happiness and confidence.

"Why didn't your wife come?" Wang Chengli complained as soon as they met.

"She had something to do tonight and couldn't get away," Chang Yuze declined.

"This is my good brother, Chang Yuze, the head of the Complaints and Appeals Section of the Municipal Public Security Bureau," Wang Chengli began introducing his friend.
Chang Yuze shook hands with them all. He had met or heard of these people before. Guide City was so small; almost everyone with a bit of fame in the circle could be connected to someone.

Chang Yuze had met all of Wang's women before, and was even more familiar with her. He complimented her, saying, "Sister-in-law, you're so beautiful. If you were in a movie, you wouldn't be as successful as Fan Bingbing."

"Section Chief Chang is joking," Sun Lina laughed, her smile making her even more beautiful. No woman dislikes compliments.

"Brother, you're even more eloquent. Your wife isn't here, but she's truly beautiful. Even Li Jiaxin would be ashamed to death if she saw you." In the past, Chang Yuze often heard friends praise Xu Hong's beauty, saying she resembled certain movie stars. Xu Hong did indeed have star quality, and her elegance was natural and unadorned. Chang Yuze was often proud to have married a beautiful wife, but tonight, hearing someone praise her, he lost all interest and instead felt a sense of sarcasm. He sat down to drink and offer toasts.

The wine was good, the food was good, but Chang Yuze was in a bad mood. However, this was, after all, a friend's wedding banquet, and he couldn't show it no matter how bad his mood was. Chang Yuze drank and chatted, his glass flowing, and before long he'd finished a case of Mengzhilan liquor. Wang Chengli was known in the bureau for his enormous capacity for alcohol, and his friends were all the same; they drank the most from a case. Chang Yuze, though less, still drank seven or eight liang (350-400ml). At home, Xu Hong had laid down several rules for Chang Yuze: no smoking, moderate drinking, no gambling, and no whoring. The prohibition on alcohol didn't mean complete abstinence, but rather moderate drinking, not binge drinking. Chang Yuze usually listened to his wife, but today, in a bad mood, he ignored her rules and drank quite a bit. He was actually four or five liang (250-300ml) away from his drunken limit, but he was already showing signs of intoxication.

Wang Chengli was very happy; Chang Yuze's uninhibited behavior at drinking parties showed he was a true brother. Seeing that it was already 1:30, Wang Chengli worried that Xu Hong would complain about him getting Chang Yuze drunk before he even got home from his business trip, so he personally drove Chang Yuze home. When they arrived at the building, Wang Chengli wanted to escort Chang Yuze inside, but Chang Yuze insisted on staying inside, saying that a little alcohol wasn't a problem for him to climb the stairs.

Chang Yuze slowly walked up to the third floor, took out his keys, opened the security door, and stepped into his warm home, overwhelmed with emotion. If it weren't for that wretched trap, how cozy his home would be.

The lights in the living room were off, but the television was still on, playing a Hunan TV soap opera at a low volume. On the sofa diagonally opposite the television lay Chang Yuze's wife, Xu Hong. She wore light red pajamas, the pajamas reaching her knees, revealing her smooth, white legs, including her beautiful bare feet, like exquisite works of art sculpted by a master craftsman. She lay on the sofa, her head resting on an embroidered cushion, her slender body stretched out naturally. The cotton pajamas outlined her perfect curves, and her two delicate white hands were clasped together on her chest, making her breasts appear even more prominent. How captivating his wife was! Chang Yuze couldn't help but quietly walk to his wife, half-squatting down, gazing at her tenderly. She slept soundly, her long, black hair cascading down the cushions, its faint fragrance mingling with her elegant body scent. Her face, as white as jade, framed tightly closed red lips, a sweet smile playing at the corners—a knowing smile, a sweet smile. What was she smiling about? Was she smiling in her dreams? Would she dream of me? Overwhelmed by surging desire, Chang Yuze lowered his head and greedily kissed his wife's red lips.

Xu Hong awoke with a start, instinctively reaching out to push Chang Yuze away.

Chang Yuze removed her hand, then wrapped his arms around her delicate neck, kissing her even more forcefully.

Xu Hong realized it was her husband and stopped resisting, but the strong smell of alcohol on his breath repulsed her. She gritted her teeth, unwilling to let his sweetness penetrate any further. He was like a desert traveler, parched and starving for days, suddenly spotting a spring of nectar. He pounced on it, embracing it tightly, his greedy tongue licking her clenched teeth repeatedly, eagerly seeking an even more alluring spring. Xu Hong's husband's passion slowly hardened; her small hands wrapped around his neck, their lips meeting in a deep, passionate kiss. Under his wife's tender kisses, Chang Yuze's passion surged. He grabbed his wife's slender waist, ready to lift her up. Xu Hong, at 1.69 meters tall and weighing only about 100 pounds, maintained a perfect figure thanks to her consistent beauty and fitness routine, even after having given birth. Chang Yuze liked to carry his wife from the living room back to the bedroom, then forcefully toss her onto the soft, wide Simmons bed. His beautiful wife would often let out a soft, angry scream, filling Chang Yuze with a sense of accomplishment—the pride and satisfaction of conquering a beautiful wife. But tonight, he was still drunk, his legs unsteady.

"Honey, you've been drinking again," Xu Hong said playfully, while tenderly supporting him and helping him towards the bedroom.

"It's Cheng Li's wedding banquet, I couldn't refuse."

"Hmph, when you're drinking, you forget about home altogether. I called you four or five times and you didn't answer."
"My phone died, I forgot to charge it when I came."

Hearing his wife call several times warmed Chang Yuze's heart.

"Is Lulu asleep?" His wife was his precious darling, and his daughter was his little darling, but she was his greatest love, and the greatest love of the family.

"She's asleep. She's a little upset because you didn't come back and didn't answer her calls."

Lulu's room was next to the bedroom. Chang Yuze wanted to go see his daughter, but Xu Hong pushed him into the bedroom. "Don't disturb her, she's sleeping soundly."

Xu Hong made Chang Yuze a cup of hot milk and gave him two Haiwang Jinzun pills, watching him drink them all. Seeing his wife's deep concern, as natural as ever, without a trace of pretense or affectation, the unpleasantness from the villa gradually faded away.

Chang Yuze embraced his wife, gently caressing her breasts. His wife's body was like a masterpiece, a work of art he could never tire of, no matter how much he caressed her. Under her husband's caresses, Xu Hong's body grew hot, her nostrils flaring slightly as she let out alluring moans. Chang Yuze felt a certain part of his body swell intensely, preparing to enter his wife's hot body. However, the moment he touched her wet, sweet passage, a filthy image flashed into his mind. A foul-smelling liquid slowly flowed from the image, and Chang Yuze's hard penis instantly softened.

Xu Hong clearly sensed her husband's change and softly comforted him, saying, "Honey, you just got back from your business trip, you must be tired. Let's do it tomorrow, okay? I'll give you the most comfortable experience."

"Thank you, wife." The filthy image in Chang Yuze's mind hadn't completely disappeared, and this disgusting feeling affected his current mood. Even his wife's smooth, delicate body seemed somewhat dirty now.

Chang Yuze decided to voice his confusion. Eager to know the answer, he asked in a different way, "Have you cleaned the villa recently?"

"No, we just cleaned it before the New Year when we put up the couplets. You weren't home, and I haven't been to the villa. Is something wrong?"

Xu Hong's answer struck Chang Yuze's fragile heart like a hammer blow. He clearly couldn't admit her infidelity. Chang Yuze took a deep breath, suppressing his impending anger, and calmly said, "I heard several villas in the northern suburbs have been burgled. I'm worried our house might get burgled too."

"Really? Besides some appliances, there aren't many valuables in our villa. I'll go check tomorrow, just in case they really ransack it."

"Never mind, I'll go tomorrow. Go to sleep, honey."

"Ugh, you've made me all sticky down there, how can I sleep?" Xu Hong said reproachfully.

"Oh, okay, let your husband give you a little service."

Chang Yuze took a tissue and wiped away his wife's overflowing fluids. Xu Hong shyly pushed him away, but he insisted, so she gave in. Although still embarrassed, she felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

Chang Yuze, tormented by endless disappointment and anger, finally fell asleep.
On his first day back at work after his business trip, Chang Yuze first reported to his superior, Liu Fengdong, the director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Liu Fengdong attached great importance to the complaint and petition work. He delegated criminal investigation, public security, and traffic work to the deputy directors in charge, but personally oversaw the complaint and petition work. With the successful conclusion of the Two Sessions, there were zero petitions from Guide City to Beijing, indicating that the work of Chang Yuze and his petition and stability maintenance team was very successful. As long as the work was done well, reporting would be much simpler. Liu Fengdong casually praised Chang Yuze, saying he had worked hard on his long business trips and offered him two days off to spend more time with his wife and daughters.

Chang Yuze thanked his superior, saying he would arrange his work at the unit first before considering rest. Currently, all departments in the bureau are studying the spirit of the Two Sessions, the speeches of the ministerial and provincial leaders, and the work arrangements of the municipal party committee and government regarding the implementation of the Two Sessions spirit. These meetings were nothing more than reading from prepared documents and sketching in notebooks, with little substantive meaning.

Chang Yuze returned to his office, first reviewing recently issued documents and notices to get a general understanding of the bureau's and city's recent activities, and then convened a meeting with his department members. The Control and Review Department was a small department, unlike larger departments such as Criminal Investigation and Public Security. Being small, it had fewer tasks. Even while on business trips, Chang Yuze kept abreast of events happening in the department and the bureau, so he quickly arranged the work for the next few days, and the meeting ended quickly.

After finishing his work, Chang Yuze calmed down, plugged the USB drive into his computer, and slowly played the surveillance footage. He carefully examined each license plate number in the footage, focusing on the few tens of minutes before and after the red Mazda entered and exited the residential area. Suddenly, a Crown car with the license plate ending in 888 caught Chang Yuze's attention. That night, Xu Hong's Mazda entered the Lishui residential area at 10:05 PM, while the Crown entered at 10:33 PM. The next morning, the Crown and Mazda left the residential area at the same time, with the Crown in front and the Mazda behind. There's something wrong with this Crown! Chang Yuze immediately noted down the license plate number and called the vehicle management office to check who the owner of the car was.

The results came out quickly: the Crown belonged to the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) and was the official car of its director, Zheng Weihua. "That bastard!" Chang Yuze couldn't help but slam his fist on the table and curse. Chang Yuze knew a bit about Zheng Weihua; when he married Xu Hong, Zheng Weihua, as Xu Hong's superior, sat in the VIP section, and he and his wife had even toasted him. He never imagined that Zheng Weihua would now be the third party who ruined their marriage! However, Chang Yuze couldn't understand how his wife would have an affair with him. Zheng Weihua was in his fifties, with a very sleazy appearance: short and stocky, bald, with a bloated beer belly so large that his belt could barely be fastened, as if his pants might fall down at any moment. His fat face was full of fleshy, rough, and dark-skinned. He spoke loudly, had a high alcohol tolerance (he could drink a pound and a half without getting drunk), and was known for his vulgar language when drunk. He was also rumored to be extremely lecherous. Then again, which leader these days doesn't have that trait? Chang Yuze believed that although Xu Hong worked under Zheng Weihua, she was beautiful, elegant, and virtuous. With a father who was the president of the Municipal Intermediate People's Court and a young, handsome husband who was a section chief in the Municipal Public Security Bureau, she shouldn't be his woman, neither in terms of power nor family background. Xu Hong was like the ethereal Zixia Fairy, while Zheng Weihua was like the vulgar and despicable Bull Demon King; the two would never cross paths. However, those two videos were slowly eroding Chang Yuze's confidence.

Chang Yuze watched the surveillance footage several more times; the Crown appeared twice, entering with the Mazda and exiting with it. This already proves that the Crown doesn't just come and go from Lishui Community randomly; it has a purpose—it came for the Mazda! Look, it came in very fast, speeding in one after another, eager to see the Mazda. But when it left early this morning, it drove steadily ahead, like a powerful man, while the red Mazda followed closely behind, like a docile lover!

Chang Yuze slammed his fist on the keyboard, the computer screen displaying a jumble of images. He cursed several times, "Damn it, you bastard, you're asking for it."

Chang Yuze abruptly pulled open a drawer; it was empty. He remembered his pistol was in the armory; he hadn't carried a gun in a long time. He stood up and walked out of the office. He wanted to retrieve the gun, hold it to Zheng Weihua's head, and see what expression his ugly old face would have. Chang Yuze stepped outside, the cold wind in the corridor chilling him. He couldn't be so hasty. What could the surveillance footage prove? What could the vehicle prove? He could deny it outright; it wasn't conclusive evidence.

Chang Yuze finally made up his mind. He pricked his finger, took a drop of blood, and immediately drove to the forensic identification center. He handed several items to the chemical researcher, Xiao Liu: a condom he had brought from the villa the day before, the blood sample he had just obtained, and a tissue stained with his wife's vaginal fluid. The next morning, Chang Yuze intentionally removed the tissue he had used to wipe his wife the night before. Initially, he didn't plan to conduct a full test. He was conflicted, afraid of the harsh results. If he hadn't found new clues in the surveillance footage, he might have even considered throwing the condom away as a nightmare. However, the vivid images on the video once again deeply pierced his heart. He decided to investigate thoroughly and expose his wife's hypocrisy.

Chang Yuze gave the three items to Xiao Liu, instructing him to test them as soon as possible. He told him it was evidence left at a crime scene and to search for any remaining information. He also said it was a request from a good friend, and he shouldn't follow the bureau's standard procedures; confidentiality was crucial. He was to be notified immediately of the results.

Xiao Liu readily agreed.
Chang Yuze handed two items to Xiao Liu, asking him to test them as soon as possible. These pieces of evidence, along with the evidence from yesterday, were for the same case, and he should be notified immediately of the results.

Leaving the testing center, Chang Yuze was in a state of turmoil. Where to go? He couldn't concentrate on work. Should he go home? His daughter wasn't home; the house was quiet and empty. The Yujie Foot Massage Parlor was operating normally; it didn't matter whether he went or not. Feeling lost and confused, he drove out of the city towards the suburbs. Ahead lay Lanma County, his parents' home.

Chang Yuze had stayed in Guide City after starting work, while his parents still lived in their original county town. Chang Yuze's father, Chang Xianyi, was also a veteran policeman, now the deputy director of the Lanma County Public Security Bureau, in charge of logistics. His job was relatively easy; he was just waiting for a glorious retirement. Chang Yuze's mother, Song Lamei, is retired, but she has a cheerful and optimistic personality and enjoys participating in group activities. After retiring, she organized a Mulan Dance Troupe, composed of middle-aged and elderly women. Every evening, they dance in Mulan Square, performing slow and fast-paced dances, folk dances, Latin dances, and various other styles. They are uniformly organized and trained, creating a beautiful spectacle. Large crowds often gather around the square, forming a unique urban scene. The Mulan Middle-Aged and Elderly Dance Troupe has become famous, frequently invited to perform at major county events. The troupe has achieved excellent results in several dance competitions for middle-aged and elderly women held in Guide City. Song Lamei's efforts are indispensable to the troupe's success, but she is humble and doesn't boast of her achievements. She gave the title of troupe leader to the county magistrate's wife, only serving as the deputy troupe leader responsible for technical guidance. Chang Yuze also inherited his mother's dancing talent. During his university years, Chang Yuze's ballroom dancing became famous at the police academy, where female students all liked to dance with him. Chang Yuze loved dancing with Xu Hong. One was handsome, the other beautiful; their dance moves were perfectly synchronized, their steps flawless. Whenever they danced, the dance floor was their domain, and other dancers would unconsciously gather around them, admiring them. However, as work became increasingly demanding, and he drank more and more, his waistline grew thicker, and Chang Yuze's dancing gradually stagnated. He no longer enjoyed going out to dance; he realized it had been at least six months since he and Xu Hong had danced together. "Forget it," he thought, "just thinking about her makes me angry." Chang Yuze forcefully banished Xu Hong from his mind and focused on driving.

Returning to Lanma County, Chang Yuze felt a sudden sense of familiarity. He went to Lianhua Supermarket to buy some fruit, drinks, and desserts, and then to a bakery to buy two boxes of freshly made wife cakes. His grandmother lived with him, and the wife cakes were for her. His grandmother was over eighty, still quite robust, with good eyesight, though her hearing was a little poor. She loved to nag; Chang Yuze had spent his high school years listening to her nagging. Because his maternal grandmother doted on Chang Yuze, she would often ask him if he had eaten enough, if he was dressed warmly enough, and so on. At the time, Chang Yuze was very impatient with his grandmother's nagging, but now, looking back, he finds it incredibly heartwarming. Chang Yuze's home was on Minzhu Road, right next to the moat, a small, detached courtyard house. This courtyard house was over twenty years old; Chang Yuze had lived there since he was a child. There were several such courtyard houses along the moat. More than ten years ago, these courtyard houses were well-known residential areas in Lanma County, reserved for county-level officials and above. Now, high-rise buildings have sprung up along the moat, and the once neatly arranged courtyard houses are now hidden among the trees of high-rises.

As soon as his grandmother saw her grandson return, she started nagging, but he was no longer the main character; instead, it was Xiao Hong and Lulu. His grandmother kept asking why Xiao Hong hadn't come over and why she hadn't brought Lulu back. In fact, not only his grandmother nagged him about not bringing Lulu back, but even Song Lamei complained about him not bringing Lulu back. Chang Yuze and Xu Hong are both only children, and after their marriage, they only had one daughter, Lulu. All four of their grandparents adored Lulu and longed to see their granddaughter laughing and playing. Chang Yuze had to explain to his grandmother and mother that Xu Hong was busy at work and Lulu was in kindergarten, and that he had come back from a business trip to visit them. Hearing that Chang Yuze had just returned from a business trip, Song Lamei had another reason to criticize her son. Since he had just returned, he should spend more time with Xu Hong and Lulu, adding that Xu Hong had brought Lulu to visit them almost every week while he was away, and he shouldn't have come alone today; he should have waited until Xu Hong was free to bring her and Lulu together. From Song Lamei's tone, it was clear that she was very satisfied with Xu Hong as her daughter-in-law, and she thought it was her son's fault for not bringing his wife. Chang Yuze quickly apologized to his mother, promising to bring Xu Hong and Lulu on Saturday, which finally earned his mother and grandmother's forgiveness. Chang Yuze felt a pang of guilt; how could he expose Xu Hong's infidelity to his parents?

Xu Hong was a filial woman. She was devoted not only to her parents but also to her in-laws. Since she didn't live with her mother-in-law, she would visit her whenever she had free time, eagerly helping with housework, showing none of the spoiled airs often associated with daughters of officials. Song Lamei frequently praised her daughter-in-law to her friends, saying her son was fortunate to have married such a good wife. Chang Yuze knew that revealing the truth would be a devastating blow to his mother, and he couldn't even imagine how heartbroken she would be.

Chang Xianyi declined his lunch engagement and went home to have a family reunion dinner with his son. As usual, Chang Xianyi and his son Chang Yuze had a few drinks and even played a few rounds of drinking games. Ever since Chang Yuze entered police academy, Chang Xianyi had been teaching his son how to drink and how to socialize at drinking parties, with their dinner table as the training ground. Song Lamei strongly opposed their drinking, but knowing that drinking culture was crucial to her son's work, she turned a blind eye as long as they didn't drink too much. Now, Chang Yuze's alcohol tolerance had surpassed his father's, and he was quite adept at navigating social situations at drinking parties, while Chang Xianyi's tolerance had declined significantly. He was getting older, had high blood pressure, and dared not drink much anymore. Drinking and eating at home, without the pretense and formalities of official banquets, made Chang Yuze very happy. His mother's cooking was especially delicious, and his father's wine was particularly sweet. Chang Yuze ate until his stomach was bloated before stopping.

In the afternoon, Chang Yuze didn't plan to go home. He made an appointment with Feng Yan, wanting to find some fun to pass the time. Chang Yuze doesn't gamble, but he plays a card game called "Run Fast," where the wins and losses of a few hundred yuan are just for fun. Feng Yan is Chang Yuze's best friend; they were classmates from junior high to high school. Feng Yan now works at the county land bureau as the deputy director of the office. He's very good at networking and is highly regarded by the current director, so while his official position isn't high, his abilities are considerable, and he has many friends from all walks of life. Every time Chang Yuze returns to the county, he looks for Feng Yan. With just one phone call from Chang Yuze, Feng Yan immediately drops everything to come over. A few years ago, Feng Yan wanted to partner with someone to open a karaoke bar, but he was short of money, so he asked Chang Yuze to invest. Considering Chang Yuze's work background, Chang Yuze didn't invest but instead lent Feng Yan 200,000 yuan without even asking for an IOU. A friend like that is trustworthy, and Feng Yan, being loyal, repaid the 200,000 yuan that year and insisted on giving him 100,000 yuan in "phantom shares," resulting in annual dividends of over 100,000 yuan. Not only towards Feng Yan, but also towards other old classmates and friends like Chang Yuze, Chang Yuze was extremely loyal. If they were truly in trouble and asked him for help, Chang Yuze would do his best to assist them. If they urgently needed money, Chang Yuze would lend tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan. Money has a price, but friendship is priceless. With effort comes reward; the relationships with his core friends and classmates grew closer, and his circle of friends expanded significantly, not only in Guide City but also throughout the country.
When Feng Yan received Chang Yuze's call, he immediately arranged to meet him at a teahouse. He also brought along a Mr. Li, a real estate tycoon. Chang Yuze, accustomed to meeting billionaires, was unimpressed by these nouveau riche from small towns, exchanging only polite pleasantries. Mr. Li, a shrewd businessman, deliberately tried to ingratiate himself with Chang Yuze and Feng Yan, consistently losing to them at cards. During their conversation, Mr. Li mentioned real estate investment, saying he had his eye on a plot of land in the eastern suburbs and planned to develop it, inviting Chang to invest. Chang Yuze wasn't interested and politely declined. Feng Yan, however, was very enthusiastic and immediately asked Boss Li to take them to the eastern suburbs. In recent years, Feng Yan had been obsessed with investing and making money, wanting to invest in any business that was profitable. The real estate market had developed abnormally in recent years, with prices ridiculously high. Even Chang Yuze, a complete novice in the real estate market, felt that there were serious problems, and that the Great Leap Forward approach would definitely have serious consequences. However, not wanting to spoil Feng Yan's fun, Chang Yuze accompanied them on the drive to the eastern suburbs. The land Boss Li had his eye on was currently just a few dozen acres of wheat field, the wheat growing lush and green, indicating another bumper harvest. Boss Li pointed out the wheat field with great enthusiasm, as if skyscrapers were rising from the ground before his eyes. Feng Yan readily agreed, believing that once the land was approved, it would be a matter of counting money.

The afternoon passed in this way.

That evening, Feng Yan invited several old classmates for a gathering: Li Cheng from the hospital, Wang Weiguo from the Industry and Commerce Bureau, Xie Chengjie, a teacher from the county high school, Liu Fei from the Agricultural Bank, and Pan Hui, a transporter—all close high school classmates of Chang Yuze.

The restaurant was also owned by an old classmate named Liang Tianlei, who, after failing to get into university, struggled at home for many years before opening Liang San Farmhouse Restaurant. Their signature dishes were braised chicken in a clay pot, braised soft-shelled turtle, and wild vegetables from the fields. In the past two years, business had boomed, and their reputation had grown, attracting even some business owners from Guide City who drove there. Whenever classmates had a reunion, they would dine at Liang San Farmhouse Restaurant, taking turns paying the bill.

Chang Yuze enjoyed drinking with his old classmates; it relaxed him, and their shared high school life provided common ground, bringing back warm memories of that innocent era. High school lasts only three years, a small fraction of a person's life, but it holds immense significance for their growth. After graduating from high school, everyone faces completely different life arrangements. Those who pass the college entrance exam will have smooth sailing in their future, while those who fail will have to return home to farm or struggle to find employment. The fates of those who pass and those who fail are drastically different. Even among those who pass the exam, different universities or majors lead to vastly different fates in their work and career advancement after graduation. It can be said that for Chang Yuze and his classmates, high school was the most important watershed moment in their lives. The three years of high school, both dull and vibrant, provided them with a constant stream of memories. Looking back and reflecting on the present, they could only lament the fleeting nature of life. Chang Yuze and his classmates were in their prime, the golden age for achieving success and rising through the ranks. However, their conversations began to delve into the impermanence of life, because they discussed death and the untimely death of an old classmate.

Their classmate, Wei Baoli, from a different class in the same year, died in Africa earlier this year. China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has developed and constructed many projects in Africa. Wei Baoli was a supervising engineer for CSCEC's African branch. He went to Africa two years ago, and earlier this year, unrest broke out in his area. A group of bandits attacked his construction site, and he was unfortunately hit by a stray bullet and died far from home. After his body was returned to China, CSCEC held a memorial service for him, and his alma mater, the county high school, also sent representatives to attend.

Another classmate who died young resurfaced in their conversation: Xia Hua, a classmate of Chang Yuze. He was a top student in his class and a pre-selected candidate for Tsinghua or Peking University. Unfortunately, he underperformed in the college entrance examination and failed to even reach the undergraduate admission line. Devastated by his failure, he attempted suicide by setting himself on fire. He failed and was rescued, but suffered severe burns to his face, leaving him with a terrifying appearance. Remarkably, Xia Hua did not succumb to despair but instead went to Guangdong to work hard. Through his intelligence and hard work, Xia Hua quickly built a successful business, reportedly owning assets worth hundreds of millions by the early 2000s. Despite his success elsewhere, Xia Hua remained very low-key upon returning to his hometown, and few knew his background. During the 2003 Spring Festival, Xia Hua returned home and donated one million yuan to the Lanma County Hope Project and another million yuan to the county high school. This one million yuan donation was the highest individual donation since the establishment of the Lanma County Hope Project, and it was only then that his old classmates learned he was already a multi-millionaire. Due to severe disfigurement, he never appeared in public and rarely contacted his old classmates, except for Xie Chengjie, a neighboring villager and a close friend from junior high to high school. It is said that the Lanma County government specifically went to Guangdong to invite Xia Hua to invest in his hometown, and Xia Hua also intended to give back to his hometown. Just as he was preparing to return and make his mark, tragedy struck. In the summer of 2006, Xia Hua returned home to visit his parents and tragically drowned in a pond north of his village—a truly tragic loss. Unlike Wei Baoli, who was from another class and whose image wasn't as vivid in their minds, Xia Hua was their classmate. They could easily recall his voice and smile, and were deeply moved by his dramatic and tumultuous life.

"Those so-called peasant entrepreneurs the county promotes are nothing compared to Xia Hua. I met Xia Hua once, and he's the person I admire most!" Restaurant owner Liang Tianlei said in a muffled voice after taking a sip of wine.

"Xia Hua is a good person, truly a good person!" Xie Chengjie, his face flushed from drinking, teared up as he mentioned Xia Hua's name.
Chang Yuze's mood grew increasingly somber. Xu Hong's infidelity had already caused him immense pain, and now the story of Xia Hua was being brought up, making him even more uncomfortable. Chang Yuze's relationship with Xia Hua wasn't ordinary. In their senior year of high school, Chang Yuze had secretly pursued Xu Hong, but Xu Hong had no feelings for him, instead showing favoritism towards Xia Hua. Rumors even circulated that they had developed a rather intimate relationship. High school life is full of youthful restlessness. Relationships between the opposite sex are hazy, mysterious, and bittersweet. Looking at them with their mature eyes now, those past naiveties seem so ridiculous.

Of course, under the strict control of high school, any relationship between boys and girls ultimately ended without fruition. Xu Hong and Xia Hua's relationship also fizzled out under the pressure of the college entrance examination. Xia Hua is now buried deep underground, and Xu Hong has become Chang Yuze's wife as she wished. Chang Yuze should have let go long ago, but instead, he feels a tightness in his chest. He doesn't want to hear their names or stories again, whether it's Xu Hong or Xia Hua.

Seeing that Chang Yuze's expression was not good, Feng Yan understood that he and Xia Hua had a small grudge in the past, so he changed the subject, saying, "Old classmates, let's drink this glass, to mourn those in the underworld and to bless those who are alive. Why does this sound so awkward? Let's drink to our reunion, to our good health, and wish us to be rich every day, with money as firewood, BMWs as handcarts, and mistresses as maids."

The old classmates quickly adjusted their mood and began to drink and play drinking games in high spirits.

After drinking for a while, Feng Yan suggested going to sing karaoke.

Chang Yuze, feigning a headache, left the restaurant and went straight home. He wasn't in the mood and had no energy to sing. Back home, Chang Yuze asked his mother to make his bed; his old bedroom hadn't been moved.

Song Lamei asked, puzzled, "Aren't you going home?"

"Look at me now, how can you let me drive back?" Chang Yuze used a little trick; he knew this would convince his mother.

"Exactly, drinking is the easiest way to get into trouble. You don't need to go back tonight." Safety first, Song Lamei immediately complied with her son's wishes. "It's fine if you don't go back, but quickly call Xiaohong and explain. She called twice earlier, saying you didn't answer and she was worried sick."

"Oh, I was drinking with my classmates, and my phone was on vibrate, so I didn't hear it."

"Did you come back to drink on purpose to avoid Xiao Hong? She doesn't let you drink because it's for your own good. If it's business, a little drinking is fine, but why drink so much when we're all old classmates? Look at your dad, he's developed high blood pressure from drinking. If you don't take care, it'll be a big problem."

Song Lamei nagged her son while handing him a box of Haiwang Jinzun pills. "Xiao Hong bought this for your dad, telling him to keep taking it; it's good for him when he drinks. Here, have some too."

Chang Yuze called Xu Hong, telling her he'd had a few drinks with his old classmates, would be sleeping there that night, and would go back early the next morning. Normally, he would feel guilty for drinking too much, so he would be careful with his words and try to please her. But tonight, he was in a bad mood and, fueled by alcohol, quickly brushed her off. Xu Hong didn't mind, carefully instructing him to drink more water, cover his medicine well, and remember to take a few Haiwang pills. Chang Yuze responded to Xu Hong's concern with a few half-hearted words.

"Look at your attitude! Xiao Hong is concerned about you because she wants what's best for you. Don't take her words lightly." In Song Lamei's mind, Xu Hong was the perfect daughter-in-law, and her son should cherish her wholeheartedly.

The next phone call immediately stirred Chang Yuze's emotions. It was Lulu calling, and hearing his daughter's innocent voice, Chang Yuze immediately became excited.

"Daddy, you've been drinking again."

"Daddy didn't drink, just a little bit, a little bit, you know?" "
Daddy's lying. Can you not come back if it's just a little bit? Doesn't Daddy want to tell Lulu a story?"

"Daddy will definitely tell one tomorrow. What story does Lulu want to hear? The story of Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf or the story of Barbie Princess?"

"Hmm." Lulu thought for a while, "I'll tell you tomorrow. Daddy, you go to sleep first, goodnight."

Chang Yuze heard Xu Hong's voice mixed in on the phone. She told Lulu to talk less and let him go to sleep early.

"Goodnight, baby."

"Goodnight, Grandma." Xu Hong taught her to say it again.

"Goodnight, Lulu. Come with Mommy and Daddy on Saturday. Grandpa and Grandma miss you." Song Lamei was overjoyed to hear her granddaughter's voice.

Chang Yuze finally fell asleep. The bedding was new, dried until soft and smooth, and lying on it felt like being in his mother's arms—warm and comforting.

This room recorded Chang Yuze's entire youth. The walls still bear the certificates he received from middle school to university, as well as portraits of his former idols, the Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong and the Little Tigers of Taiwan. However, the best spot on the wall wasn't for his idols, but for his goddess's photo. Xu Hong was his goddess; he fell deeply in love with her the moment he first saw her in high school. He pasted every photo of her he could find on the wall so he could gaze at her as he slept. After successfully winning her heart, he led her into this small room, letting her admire her beauty and pouring out his longing for her. It was in this room, on this wooden bed, that she accepted his declaration of love and gave him her virginity, thus beginning their intimate relationship. Now, the walls are adorned with even more of her photos, forming a series, from her youthful, innocent photos in middle school to their current warm family portrait. These photos bear witness to how their love deepened step by step. But a filthy condom shattered all the goddess's beautiful image. The goddess evolved from a naive, beautiful young girl into an elegant and beautiful married woman, and then suddenly degenerated into a lustful, wanton woman. Although it wasn't on the wall now, Chang Yuze's eyes already held this nauseating image.

Why, why? Wasn't my love for you enough? Wasn't my struggle and effort for you enough?

Xu Hong, why did you betray me? Why did you hurt the one who loves you most? Wasn't my love for you enough?!

Tears blurred his vision. Xu Hong's beautiful figure was like a stone thrown into water, stirring up ripples that he couldn't see clearly.

Chang Yuze lay on his back, letting the hot alcohol slowly dry the tears on his face.

The light was on, and he slept quietly. The light prevented him from falling asleep early; he was afraid of dreaming, afraid of encountering even more terrible things in his dreams.

The door opened softly, and Song Lamei walked in. She was worried because the light in her son's room was still on.

"Why aren't you asleep yet? The door's unlocked, the light's on."

"Nothing, just trying to sober up," Chang Yuze said insincerely.

Song Lamei sat down by her son's bedside and asked softly, "Have you been having any troubles at work lately? You seem a little unhappy."

"Oh, nothing, I'm fine."
"You must have had a fight with Xiao Hong, right?"

Song Lamei placed her hand on her son's head and gently stroked it. From childhood to adulthood, whenever her son encountered setbacks, she would always use this gesture to comfort and encourage him.

"Mom, what are you thinking? I have absolutely nothing to do with her."

"That's good. Don't say I didn't remind you. Don't argue with Xiaohong. I won't take your side. To be honest, all my friends praise Xiaohong. Xiaohong comes from a good family, she's the daughter of a high-ranking official, and she's a college graduate and a lawyer, but she's not arrogant at all. When she comes to our house, she always rushes to help me with chores. Sometimes she even dances with me in the evenings. When she dances, the whole audience watches her. It's quite a scene. She has a sweet tongue. She keeps calling my old friends 'Auntie, Auntie.' All the old friends in the dance troupe like Xiaohong."

Song Lamei and Xu Hong have a very harmonious relationship. Song Lamei has never said anything bad about her daughter-in-law. She always thinks her daughter-in-law is better than her son. She has always treated Xu Hong like her own daughter. Xu Hong has never complained to Chang Yuze about her mother. Since their marriage, they have never had a single unpleasant argument. They are a model of family harmony. Chang Yuze is very satisfied with this. But today, the fact that his mother was so affectionate towards Xu Hong made Chang Yuze feel very uncomfortable. He was afraid that the harm his parents would suffer after Xu Hong's shameful affair was exposed would be too much for them to bear.

After listening to his mother's words, Chang Yuze tried to explain casually: "Mom, I just came back to have a few drinks, it's not that serious, is it? Xu Hong and I are fine, I'm fine at work, how many times do I have to tell you before you understand?"

“It’s best if nothing’s wrong, so Mom doesn’t have to worry. You haven’t inherited any of Mom’s good qualities, but you’ve inherited all of Dad’s bad ones. You’re just like your dad, you tend to keep things to yourself and don’t like to tell Mom. You were like that when you were little, and you’re still like that now. You’re all grown up now, and Mom can’t watch over you every day anymore. You need to learn to protect yourself when you encounter difficulties. If you’re really wronged, don’t always keep it to yourself. No matter what happens, don’t forget that you still have a family, and Mom and Dad will always support you.”

Chang Yuze looked up at his mother. Although she had been retired for several years, her capable and carefree temperament hadn’t faded at all. She was always an optimist and never worried about tomorrow. Looking at his mother’s loving eyes, Chang Yuze felt a lump in his throat and quickly lowered his head again, trying to find an excuse to send his mother away.

“Mom, you still love to nag. It’s a good thing I didn’t inherit this good habit from you. Nobody likes a nagging woman. I’m going to sleep now, Mom, you can go now.”

“What’s wrong with nagging? Mom’s nagging is for your own good. Which woman doesn’t nag? A woman’s nagging is for her man’s good. I’m not saying anything more, go to sleep.”

Chang Yuze finally fell asleep. This night might be his last peaceful and sweet sleep, because tomorrow he would have to face that painful reality again.

Lulu loved listening to stories. All children love listening to their parents tell stories. When Chang Yuze was little, he loved snuggling up to his father and listening to him tell stories about the People’s Liberation Army fighting the Japanese invaders. Even now, the memory is still very warm. Even with endless cartoons on TV, children still retain the natural instinct to listen to their parents tell stories before bed. Chang Yuze was away on a business trip, and Xu Hong told stories to their daughter at home. Now that Chang Yuze was back, the glorious task of telling stories naturally fell to him.

Tonight, Chang Yuze told his daughter the story of “Snow White.” He had told this story several times already, and little Lulu always listened quietly.

“What is a stepmother?”

Lulu asked a new question. She always asked questions while listening to stories.

"She was the king's second wife."
"Why did the stepmother harm Snow White?"

"Because the stepmother wasn't Snow White's biological mother. She was a bad woman, so she didn't like Snow White."

"Daddy, I only want Mommy, not the stepmother. The stepmother is bad."

"Silly child, Mommy and Daddy only have you

as our precious child. Mommy and Daddy will always love you and will never give you a stepmother." Chang Yuze felt a pang of sadness. His daughter was the most precious treasure in his heart, and he would always cherish her. Even if she hurt him because of her heartlessness, he would never transfer that hurt to his daughter. Lulu fell asleep, turning over in her crib, her little mouth making a couple of gurgling noises, as if she were eating a lollipop in her sleep. Looking at her small, adorable face, Chang Yuze smiled knowingly, kissed her delicate cheek, tucked her in with the blanket, and returned to his bedroom.

After showering, Xu Hong changed into a sexy nightgown and turned around in front of the bed, asking, "Is it pretty? This dress is awful, it shows all my chest, and the skirt is so short, it doesn't even cover my thighs! Look." As

she spoke, she intentionally or unintentionally lifted the nightgown, revealing glimpses of her pubic hair at the end of her two smooth, white thighs. This was her most blatant display of affection to her husband, perhaps the limit of her self-respect.

The sheer nightgown had a cutout in the middle, and she wasn't wearing a bra underneath, her firm, full breasts peeking out and pushing the fabric high. If it were any other day, faced with his wife's blatant seduction, Chang Yuze would have pounced on her like a wolf, pinning her down and ruthlessly "ravaging" her. But at this moment, Chang Yuze felt no excitement; instead, a restless anxiety pounded in his chest:

that day, in the villa, perhaps she had also dressed like this, standing before that ugly old man for him to admire. No, not only that, there might be even more disgusting things. Chang Yuze pounded his head hard, trying to stop himself from imagining those filthy scenes, but the disgusting condom wouldn't leave his mind; it was deeply rooted in his heart, stabbing him with pain.

Xu Hong snuggled up to him uneasily, touching his forehead: "Honey, what's wrong?"

Chang Yuze irritably brushed her hand away, giving an awkward smile and saying, "Nothing, just a little tired these past few days."

Xu Hong quickly burrowed into the covers, withdrawing her alluring body, and teased in a lighthearted tone, "I was planning to treat you after you've been gone so long, but now you're making excuses to avoid me! Don't blame me for being unreasonable, though; tomorrow when you want it, I won't give it to you for free." Perhaps

due to her strict upbringing, Xu Hong's understanding of sex was somewhat conservative. During their courtship, even after several years of being in a relationship, she still kept their interactions limited to kisses and hugs, not letting him cross that final line. A few months before their wedding, she half-heartedly gave herself to him in his cramped apartment. On their first night together, unprepared, she became pregnant and they had to marry when her belly was only slightly showing. From then on, Xu Hong seemed to develop a fear of sex. She always had to use a condom and thoroughly clean herself afterward. This also made her hesitant to fully engage in sex, always half-heartedly responding to her husband's desires. She always waited for her husband to take the lead, as if sex was something only he enjoyed. She never admitted to wanting to have sex with him, even when he could clearly sense her burning desire. She subconsciously viewed it as unclean and shameful, as if doing so meant admitting to being promiscuous. Tonight, she was able to actively display her alluring body to him, a significant improvement. But was this improvement self-taught or something she had been trained in? Chang Yuze still preferred her former innocence and shyness.

The night was deep and quiet. The bedroom was utterly silent, the air conditioner running quietly, its warm air filling every corner. Xu Hong was fast asleep, curled up like a cat, her back to her husband, her smooth, white back displaying a beautifully flowing line. Chang Yuze lay quietly, eyes wide open, wide awake. That wretched condom kept flashing before his eyes. His wife slept so peacefully and beautifully; she didn't seem guilty at all. Could the condom be his imagination? But then there were those two security cameras in the neighborhood. Zheng Weihua's car and her car left one after the other—he couldn't believe it was a coincidence. The test results would be out tomorrow. He hoped the scientific evidence would prove his wife's innocence. He believed she was innocent. Then, he could make up for it, caress her properly, and have sex with her three hundred times. Or, he could buy some Viagra; one pill could last an hour or two, and that should bring his wife to orgasm. Chang Yuze comforted himself, pulling his wife into his arms.
Xu Hong didn't wake up, only instinctively shifting her body to snuggle closer to him. The two drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.

The genetic test results came back, the result Chang Yuze least wanted to see.

The condom had the secretions of two adults: a woman's vaginal fluid and a man's semen. The stains on the tissue were also a woman's vaginal fluid, and the blood on the card belonged to an adult man. According to the genetic testing results, the vaginal fluid on the condom and the vaginal fluid on the tissue belonged to the same woman, while the semen and blood belonged to two different men. Xiao Liu returned the tested condom and other items to Chang Yuze, who threw them into the trash can without even looking at them. The results were enough; the condom was irrefutable evidence of Zheng Weihua's adultery with his wife.

Chang Yuze left the lab with a livid face. He tried to hide his involvement, not wanting Xiao Liu to discover his connection to the evidence, but the immense hatred in his heart controlled his emotions. He couldn't remain calm; he only wanted to get back to his unit as quickly as possible, retrieve his service weapon, and then kill the two adulterers!

Chang Yuze successfully retrieved his service weapon and magazine from the armory. As he signed the requisition form, the custodian, Xiao Zhang, smiled and asked him, "Section Chief Chang, going on another business trip?"

"Yes," Chang Yuze replied expressionlessly.

Chang Yuze drove to the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) and parked outside the gate. He carefully inspected his firearms and ammunition. He hadn't fired a gun in over a year; the last time was during a shooting range practice session where he fired five rounds. He took a Type 64 pistol from its holster, gently stroked the cold barrel, removed the golden bullets from the magazine, wiped them clean, and then loaded them back in one by one. He had previously participated in several major arrest missions with the bureau's leaders, and before each operation, they would require them to carefully inspect their firearms. The coldness of the weapons would reduce their pre-battle anxiety and unease. Chang Yuze's mind gradually calmed down. He recalled what his superiors had said: firearms are a double-edged sword; they are the most powerful weapons in the hands of officers, but they can also cause the most serious mistakes. Therefore, every bullet in the gun must be carefully considered: when to fire, who to fire at, which part to shoot, and why. Years ago, Chang Yuze made a mistake, accidentally killing a criminal—a familiar criminal. Although the criminal was innocent, and although the bureau didn't hold him accountable afterward, even awarding him a commendation, he still couldn't forget it. If history could repeat itself, he certainly wouldn't have fired that bullet in a panic. Chang Yuze placed his fully loaded pistol on his lap, smoked two cigarettes in a row, and finally calmed down, abandoning the idea of a violent solution. The evidence he had gathered wasn't sufficient yet; if he rashly killed them, the whole truth might be covered up. He decided to first investigate their crimes, gather all the evidence of their adultery, and force them to confess and repent in the face of irrefutable evidence before sentencing and punishing them!

Chang Yuze drove to the underground shooting range of the Municipal Public Security Academy, fired all seven bullets from the magazine onto the target, and looking at the bullet-riddled, human-shaped target, his anger was somewhat soothed. "Zheng Weihua, you bastard, just you wait, I'll show you what I'm capable of!" Xu Hong, sigh, you shameless woman, you'll regret what you've done!

Chang Yuze began investigating Zheng Weihua, the culprit, and started by gathering evidence against him. Chang Yuze had many friends, including several in the financial system, who should know something about Zheng Weihua, but this kind of gossip-based investigation was unscientific, relying on a single source, and its accuracy was too low. Chang Yuze thought of whistleblower letters, the most practical way to find out if an official had committed crimes. Liu Fengdong, the director of the Public Security Bureau, was also the secretary of the Municipal Political and Legal Committee, and handling complaints and reports within the city's public security, procuratorate, and judicial systems was one of his responsibilities. As Liu's right-hand man and the head of the Public Security Bureau's Complaints and Appeals Section, Chang Yuze was very familiar with the complaint and report departments of the procuratorate and the court. Chang Yuze also had a good personal relationship with Hu Jieji, the deputy director of the Petition Bureau, and could easily access the complaint and report materials from the Petition Bureau. The only problem was that he wasn't very familiar with the Discipline Inspection Commission, making it difficult to obtain complaint materials from them.

Chang Yuze quickly accessed the online complaint materials from the public security bureau, procuratorate, court, and petition office, searching for materials related to Zheng Weihua. He carefully examined each one, hoping to find useful information. Like any supervisor in any organization, Zheng Weihua had numerous complaints—more than a dozen letters—covering all aspects of his work and life. These included allegations about work arrangements, personnel appointments, performance evaluations, fund disbursements, approvals, bribery, and his lifestyle. Some even mentioned him having dinner with someone on a particular day. The materials primarily accused Zheng Weihua of illegally amassing wealth. His methods were covert; he didn't openly embezzle or accept bribes, but rather secretly received kickbacks when operating loan projects, earned investment returns through real estate investments, and issued high-interest loans through guarantee companies, among others. These complaints were not very detailed, merely listing possible illegal incomes and relying heavily on speculation. This was normal, as the complainants hadn't personally participated in Zheng Weihua's illegal activities. If the disciplinary committee or procuratorate wanted to investigate Zheng Weihua, these complaints and materials would ultimately uncover his criminal activities. Chang Yuze had been handling complaints and appeals for a long time and knew very well that the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Procuratorate wouldn't take action against Zheng Weihua because of this. There were too many online whistleblower letters; almost every unit leader received several. Those officials who were arrested because of whistleblower reports all had special reasons: either they had offended their superiors; or the whistleblower was real-name and persistent, and the impact was too great to be ignored; or they were just unlucky and ran into trouble. In fact, none of these materials reporting Zheng Weihua's economic crimes moved Chang Yuze; only a whistleblower letter from the Procuratorate caught his attention.

The whistleblower letter was only a few sentences long: "Zheng Weihua has taken another man's wife, kept multiple mistresses, embezzled public funds, and committed heinous crimes. We implore the government to deal with the first evil official and the first lecherous official of the China Banking Regulatory Commission as soon as possible! A righteous citizen's tearful accusation! For details, contact [QQ number]."

Chang Yuze felt that this was the whistleblower letter he was looking for. He immediately opened a backup QQ account, searched for the whistleblower's number, and found the name of the number, "Don't believe me, I'm wearing a hat." Chang Yuze's eyes lit up; this was it. His intuition told him he had found the right person. This whistleblower must have a deep-seated hatred for Zheng Weihua.

"Don't believe me, I'm wearing a hat" was not online.

Chang Yuze wrote a message on the message board: "I'm from the procuratorate. We have seen your whistleblower materials and hope to communicate with you directly."

Chang Yuze waited patiently. Half an hour passed, and Brother Bie Xin came online, but rejected Chang Yuze's message: "I didn't report anyone."

"Didn't you want to report Zheng Weihua, the director of the China Banking Regulatory Commission? Isn't the QQ number on the report yours?"

"Where did you see it?"

"I saw it on the procuratorate's reporting website."

"Who are you?"

Chang Yuze was about to say he was from the Public Security Bureau, but then thought it inappropriate and immediately replied, "I am Jia Ting'an, the head of the Complaints and Appeals Section of the Procuratorate."

"Why should I believe you?"

"I'm in a meeting outside. Wait a moment, I'll call you when I get back to my office."

Chang Yuze immediately drove to the procuratorate, barged into Chief Jia's office, exchanged a few pleasantries, and asked to borrow the reporting hotline—it was a small matter. There were two telephones on Jia Ting'an's desk, one was his office phone, and the other connected to the procuratorate's reporting hotline. Jia Ting'an was seven or eight years older than Chang Yuze, but the two were very familiar with each other and had drunk together many times. Who was Chang Yuze? The son-in-law of the court president and a confidant of the Public Security Bureau chief. Of course, Jia Ting'an was willing to make such a friend. Since it was a minor matter, Jia Ting'an immediately handed him the complaint hotline on his desk. Even if he had something else to do, he wouldn't refuse; it was just a phone call.

Jia Ting'an was very experienced. He excused himself to go to the restroom and left the office. Chang Yuze had been in charge of complaints and appeals for many years and knew the tricks of the trade. Complaint hotlines often involved private matters.

Chang Yuze immediately turned on his computer and contacted Brother Bie Xin. Fortunately, Brother Bie Xin's icon was still flashing.

"I'm back in the office now. Go to the procuratorate's website; there's a complaint hotline there. You can call."

"Okay, please wait a moment."

About three minutes later, the complaint hotline rang. It showed a local landline number. It seemed that Brother Bie Xin was also very cautious, using a shared phone instead of his own cell phone.

Chang Yuze picked up the phone: "Are you Brother Bie Xin? This is Jia Ting'an from the procuratorate. Now you believe me?"
The other party didn't reply, seemingly listening, and then hung up.

Two minutes later, Brother Bie's window flickered, and a QQ icon appeared showing someone crying loudly with tears streaming down their face. Then, a few words appeared: "Oh, Your Honor! Oh, Party! Oh, Government! Oh, Procuratorate! You've finally shown your power! You've given this ordinary citizen hope!"

"Don't say that," Brother Bie replied. "Our procuratorate is a unit that serves the people. We will definitely handle any issues raised by the people."

"You don't know, I also sent a complaint letter to the Discipline Inspection Commission before, and no one has paid any attention to me. I thought officials all protected each other. They say setting up a hotline for ordinary people to report corrupt officials is just a way to fool the people."

"Your thinking is a bit one-sided. The Discipline Inspection Commission (DIC) also handles public reports. All whistleblower complaints, accusations, and reports sent to the DIC are taken seriously. However, the DIC and the Procuratorate have a division of labor. Generally, reports involving officials violating discipline are handled by the DIC, while cases involving officials breaking the law are handled by the Procuratorate. Based on the report against Zheng Weihua of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), our Procuratorate believes he may be involved in illegal activities, so we decided to investigate him ourselves, which is why we started accepting your report. We take your report very seriously and want to launch an investigation, but your report is too brief. In fact, your report has no positive impact on our investigation."

Most people are unclear about the procedures for handling reports by the DIC and the Procuratorate. Chang Yuze's explanation was impeccable. Sure enough, Brother Bie Xin dispelled his concerns and began to answer honestly.

“I’m just an ordinary employee, it’s impossible for me to know too much about Zheng Weihua, but I know that he leads a dissolute life, taking advantage of female subordinates and keeping mistresses. Everyone knows that officials who keep mistresses are not good officials, and the more mistresses they keep, the more money they embezzle. Only your government can find out exactly how much money he embezzled.”

“Why didn’t you say anything when I called you just now?” Chang Yuze changed the subject, he was quite curious about this.

“Your procuratorate definitely has recordings. I don’t want anyone to recognize my voice, and I certainly won’t show my face. I’ve heard that some corrupt officials have very strong connections; they can get their reports directly shown to them. Zheng Weihua is a powerful figure in the city, and he might even have accomplices in your procuratorate. What I’m talking to you about now might end up on Zheng Weihua’s computer in a few minutes. Think about it, if Zheng Weihua finds out I’m reporting him, how can I stay at my job? He’ll eat me alive. Unless your government starts investigating Zheng Weihua and he goes to trial, I will definitely testify in court.”

“Please rest assured, our procuratorate is a specialized department for trying corrupt officials, and our staff are all qualified and disciplined. At the very least, I, Jia Ting’an, will ensure the personal safety of all witnesses.”

“Hopefully, but safety comes first. Don’t let your report backfire and cause you trouble.”

“Are you also an employee of the China Banking Regulatory Commission?”

“Yes. I reported him because I can’t stand this bastard.”

Chang Yuze understood Bie Xin’s caution. He worked at the China Banking Regulatory Commission and was Zheng Weihua’s subordinate. He certainly wouldn’t dare let Zheng Weihua know he was reporting him, as there were many cases of whistleblowers being retaliated against by the accused after their information was leaked. However, Chang Yuze disagreed with the reason for his report: “I can’t stand Zheng Weihua.” Judging from the tone of his voice when talking about Zheng Weihua, he hated him intensely. If Zheng Weihua hadn’t hurt him, he wouldn’t have used such extreme language and behavior. As for how Zheng Weihua hurt him, one could infer from Zheng Weihua’s lecherous nature that he might have also violated his wife. Therefore, Chang Yuze felt he had found the right person. This Bie Xin was in the same boat as him and should have a lot of Zheng Weihua’s private information, including, without a doubt, the scandalous affair between Zheng Weihua and Xu Hong. What Chang Yuze needed to do now was to get the part of the scandal involving Xu Hong out of him.

"You need to provide specific materials, the more specific the better. For example, if you're reporting his corrupt lifestyle and keeping multiple mistresses, you need to have facts or evidence of him keeping mistresses. With this concrete evidence, our procuratorate can follow the clues to investigate his illegal and criminal acts, and finally prosecute him on both tracks, until he is convicted." "
Hmph, everyone on Earth knows that Zheng Weihua keeps mistresses. Go ask the China Banking Regulatory Commission, everyone knows who he keeps."

"Rumors and concrete evidence are two different things. The government cannot arbitrarily investigate a division-level cadre based on rumors. Only by finding concrete evidence of his crimes can we deal with him according to the law. I hope you can provide evidence in this regard. If you don't have concrete evidence and it's just hearsay, then your report is not very valuable. I suggest you go back and continue to collect evidence of Zheng Weihua's crimes, and then report to the procuratorate." "

Who says I don't have concrete evidence? I've also investigated Zheng Weihua privately. I know exactly how many mistresses that bastard has, how many mansions he owns, and which mistress lives in which mansion."

Chang Yuze's heart was racing; he had gotten to the crucial point.

"How did you determine that a certain woman is Zheng Weihua's mistress? How did you determine that a certain house is Zheng Weihua's illegal property?"

"Zheng Weihua frequently sleeps at his mistresses' houses. Aren't these women who frequently sleep with him considered his mistresses? Each of these women owns a house, and Zheng Weihua takes turns living in them. I don't have the authority to investigate who owns these houses, but even if Zheng Weihua isn't the owner, he definitely paid for them. He's willing to spend money on women. Think about it, with Zheng Weihua's salary, how could he afford multiple luxury homes, how could he support so many mistresses? These mistresses are all stunning beauties, adorned with gold and silver, driving private cars, and living at an exceptionally high standard. People at the China Banking Regulatory Commission know that Zheng Weihua is a womanizer and has amassed countless fortunes."

"You keep saying he has multiple mistresses. What are their names, where do they live, what do they do? Can you provide that information?"

"Yes, of course I can. First, tell me, if it's found that he's guilty of embezzlement, how many years will he be sentenced to?"

"How he's sentenced is up to the court. The sentence will be determined based on the amount of money he embezzled, accepted bribes, and obtained illegally. However, once his illegal activities are discovered, he'll definitely be removed from his post first. You've seen it yourself; any corrupt official who's been convicted can never recover. You don't need to worry about him retaliating against you."

"I'm not afraid of his retaliation. He's over fifty; a few years in prison and he'll be a man in his sixties or seventies, not far from death."

"Tell me, who is his mistress? What's her name?"

"Okay, let me start with his mistresses. The five 'flowers' of the Banking Regulatory Bureau—haha, wrong name, five 'silver flowers'—Zheng Weihua's five most favored mistresses. Zhou Xiaoyan, Finance Department, lives in Villa 15-3, Mingtai Community; Xu Na, Supervision Department, lives in Villa 6, South Row, Forest Peninsula; Zhao Ying, Office Director, lives in Villa 28, Nordic Style Community; Xu Hong, General Affairs Department, lives in Villa 12, Lishui Garden; Xie Yalin, Information Department, lives in Building 2, 15th Floor, Block C, Tianhe Community."

Chang Yuze's worst fears came true. Xu Hong's name appeared in Zheng Weihua's list of mistresses. Even though he was mentally prepared, he couldn't suppress his anger, because it came from another man's mouth, as if this man were sitting across from him, chatting glibly about Xu Hong and Zheng Weihua's affair. It seemed his wife's ambiguous relationship with Zheng Weihua wasn't something that had happened overnight, but rather something that had been going on for a long time. Everyone in the Banking Regulatory Bureau already knew, but he, the husband, had only just discovered it.

Of the other four women, Xu Na and Zhao Ying, and their husbands Chang Yuze, were all acquainted, except for Zhou Xiaoyan and Xie Yalin, whom he didn't remember well. Xu Na's husband, Chen Jiaming, was the owner of Xingya Group, worth tens of millions, and a well-known young entrepreneur in the city. Xu Na was considered a wealthy woman. She was Xu Hong's closest colleague, and the two often went shopping and got their hair done together, including going to the gym and dancing in the evenings. Xu Na was a year older than Xu Hong and had a son who had just started elementary school. Their families had a good relationship, had met up several times, gone on road trips together, and dined together at the Gudao Scenic Area. Chang Yuze's impression of Xu Na was that she was beautiful, had a strong personality, loved socializing, loved designer brands, and lived a luxurious life. It was rumored that she was somewhat frivolous, but of course, this was just a rumor; Chang Yuze didn't care much about other people's private lives. Zhao Ying's husband, Guo Zhong, is the deputy director of the rural credit cooperative. He's known for his steady and reliable work ethic and has a good reputation within the system. Zhao Ying, a woman from Qingdao, has the typical Shandong personality—warm, straightforward, and quick-witted. She enjoys helping others. When Chang Yuze and Xu Hong got married, she helped Xu Hong with everything. Chang Yuze has a very good impression of her, and both he and his wife call her Sister Zhao.

Chang Yuze is very puzzled. How could such outstanding women as his wife, Xu Na, and Zhao Ying all be willing to submit to an older man? "Which of these five women is Zheng Weihua's number one mistress? Zhou Xiaoyan?"
"No. Let me clarify, the five women are not listed in any particular order; it's just my typing habit."

"From your observation, which woman is Zheng Weihua closer to?"

"You mean which one is his most favored mistress?"

"Yes."

"I haven't investigated that detail yet. To Zheng Weihua, all five women are his darlings; he can't bear to neglect any of them. Rumor has it that Zheng Weihua has created a schedule for his five mistresses to sleep with, taking turns from Monday to Friday."

"As investigators, we need to focus on the key points first. You say all five women are Zheng Weihua's favorites, in no particular order, but there must be differences in age and appearance, right? Who's the prettiest? Who's the youngest?"

"Asking who's the prettiest really puts me in a bind. I've seen many beautiful young women, and my standards are quite high. In my opinion, these five women are all top-tier beauties. They have beautiful faces, great figures, and elegant demeanors. They were all carefully selected by Zheng Weihua and brought into the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC). Each one is stunning; otherwise, how could they be called the CBRC's five silver flowers? As for age, they're all in their twenties or thirties, the golden age of womanhood, ripe like juicy peaches. For mature beauties like these, a slight age difference makes little difference. Let me think... let me think... if there really is a difference, according to our CBRC's internal scoring, Xu Hong is the prettiest among the five silver flowers. Xu Hong's father is a high-ranking official; she's a natural-born second-generation official." She possesses the elegant demeanor of a noblewoman, not only with good temperament but also natural beauty—fair skin, tall figure, and a top lawyer. People in the legal profession are very rational, so she also has a touch of aloofness. You could say she's the swan of our banking regulatory bureau, every man's dream girl. However, some people in the unit also say Xie Yalin is the most beautiful, a Hangzhou beauty, exceptionally pretty, and besides, she hasn't had children yet; her dress and mannerisms are no different from a recent graduate. If you were to ask who Zheng Weihua trusts and values most, Xu Hong and Xie Yalin wouldn't rank; it would definitely be Zhao Ying. Zhao Ying is the oldest, the most capable, and was personally brought over from Qingdao by Zheng Weihua. She's been sleeping with him the longest; as the saying goes, "time reveals true feelings."

While Brother Bie Xin was rambling on online, Chang Yuze was deeply troubled. His wife's beauty and elegance had once been his greatest pride, but now it had become his greatest shame. If Hong weren't so beautiful, perhaps Zheng Weihua wouldn't have seduced her, and she wouldn't have become his mistress. It seems a philosopher's words are true: a beautiful wife is not a man's pride, but rather a potential cuckold's horns.

"Are all five women married?"

"Four are married, one may not be."

"Do their husbands know?"

"Maybe they do, maybe they don't, who knows? I've never heard of any of their husbands causing trouble for Zheng Weihua. Besides Zhou Xiaoyan and Xie Yalin, the other three are all wealthy women, and their husbands are prominent figures in society. They probably turn a blind eye for fear of damaging their reputation."

"What does your workplace think of Zheng Weihua?"

"What opinions do they have? They all just cower in fear. He's the top dog in the unit, who dares to say a word against him? Zheng Weihua hasn't slept with their wives, so they don't complain. Except for me, who still has a conscience and can't stand this bastard ruining other people's wives and destroying their marriages. By the way, there might be a few people in the bureau who have a problem with Zheng Weihua, those deputy directors. They're all eagerly waiting for Zheng Weihua to step down so they can take his place, take over his mistresses, and sleep with them. They're all stunning beauties, who wouldn't be tempted?"
Chang Yuze saw that Bie Xin was getting more and more agitated, and his language was becoming increasingly vulgar. Seeing that he couldn't provide any more useful information, he said, "Let's stop here for today. You continue to monitor Zheng Weihua in your unit and see what other illegal activities he may have. Our procuratorate will be investigating Zheng Weihua, and we hope you can continue to provide valuable information. Remember, our investigation is conducted in secrecy. Don't tell anyone else, not even your family."

"Don't worry, Section Chief Jia, I wrote the whistleblower letter all by myself. No one else in the world knows about it, and I won't gossip. But I have a question: you won't be working with the Public Security Bureau to investigate Zheng Weihua, will you?"

"No, our procuratorate has full investigative and interrogation powers. We only submit officials who have violated laws and regulations to the court for trial when the evidence is conclusive. Zheng Weihua is the head of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, a division-level cadre, so we will definitely be very careful in our investigation of him. What are your thoughts on the Public Security Bureau?"

"No, no, I'm just worried that too many people will easily leak information, and it wouldn't be good if Zheng Weihua found out beforehand."

"Don't worry, when he finds out, that's when we'll arrest him. May I ask how I can contact you in the future? What's your name?"

"Just leave me a message online to contact me. I won't tell you my name yet, just call me Xiao Bie."

"Okay, that's all for today. Goodbye, Comrade Xiao Bie."

"Goodbye, Section Chief Jia." Brother Bie sent a handshake icon.

Chang Yuze also sent the same icon. In a sense, he should shake his hand and thank him; he had convinced him that Hong's relationship with Zheng Weihua was common knowledge within the China Banking Regulatory Commission. Chang Yuze wasn't particularly interested in investigating Zheng Weihua's mistresses. Almost every man in officialdom had a mistress; the absence of one at private gatherings indicated a lack of taste in his official duties. If it weren't for Xu Hong, even Zheng Weihua's affair with a big star wouldn't have attracted Chang Yuze's attention. But now it was different. Xu Hong's infidelity had become Chang Yuze's biggest worry. He couldn't understand how his wife could be attracted to such a vulgar and ugly old man. His wife's refinement shouldn't have anything to do with Zheng Weihua; her infidelity was very unusual. Had she been drugged by him? Or did this filthy old man truly possess something special, making his wife so deeply entangled?

Chang Yuze decided he had to investigate thoroughly, and the clue lay in the five "silver flowers" of the China Banking Regulatory Commission.

Chang Yuze began investigating Zheng Weihua, first driving a Volkswagen Santana without police markings from the traffic police station—a common vehicle that wouldn't attract attention. These are illegally parked vehicles impounded by the traffic police. The owners abandoned them for various reasons; there are over a dozen such vehicles in the North Ring Road parking lot. A new, high-definition Sony long-range camcorder, the latest model, was borrowed from the criminal investigation team. It can capture very clear photos and videos even in low light conditions.

With thorough preparation, Chang Yuze began his first day of surveillance.

Chang Yuze left his workplace early and drove to the diagonal opposite the entrance of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC). This position offered the best vantage point, allowing him to see the CBRC office building's main entrance and most of the area in front of it. Chang Yuze sat quietly in his car, smoking, carefully observing the activity across the street. It wasn't yet closing time, and the CBRC compound was quiet, with few people moving around.

Just past 5:30, half an hour before closing time, Xu Na was the first to emerge from the office building. It was fortunate that Chang Yuze had arrived early; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to capture her on camera. She was dressed like an office lady: a black miniskirt, a purple shirt with a floral bow at the collar, black stockings and high heels, chic short hair, and a small orange handbag in her delicate hand. Like a swan, she held her long, white neck high, her pretty face tense, her two long, beautiful legs striding in a straight line as she walked unblinkingly towards her Seville. She got in, started the engine, and sped out of the Banking Regulatory Bureau gate, leaving the security guards scrambling in panic. Xu Na's personality had always been like this: arrogant and domineering.
The second to leave early was Zhou Xiaoyan. She was twenty-eight or twenty-nine, the tallest of them all, about 1.73 meters. She wore a deep red V-neck, three-sleeved dress, sheer stockings, and black mid-heeled boots, which made her legs appear even longer and her hips more shapely. Her long, jet-black hair flowed naturally behind her as she walked, highlighting the whiteness of her face. Her features were striking, with a large, sexy mouth reminiscent of American star Angelina Jolie. She wore two large earrings; the camera's resolution was so high that even the small diamonds on her earrings could be seen through the car window. Her demeanor exuded the star quality of a top model. Her car was a white Honda.

It was nearly six o'clock, time to leave work. The employees of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) began to leave the office building, some on bicycles, others in cars. One has to admire Zheng Weihua's good taste; the women working at the CBRC, whether middle-aged women or young girls, were all quite attractive, especially the "Five Silver Flowers" that Brother Biexin mentioned—they were truly exceptional women, one in a hundred. Xu Na and Tong Xiaoyan left work early, and the remaining three beauties appeared one after another in the crowd of people leaving get off work. Their outstanding appearances made them easy to distinguish at a glance.

Xie Yalin is 1.62 meters tall and petite. She wears a soft, pink, short-sleeved chiffon blouse and white capri skinny jeans, paired with beige high-top lace-up casual shoes, revealing a glimpse of her fair, jade-like calves between the shoes and the hem of her jeans. Her face, neck, arms, and all exposed skin are very white—not a pale white lacking sunlight, but a bright, lustrous white. Her features are exquisite: an oval face, a pointed chin, and large, adorable eyes. A small white bag hangs from her shoulder, and she walks with a light and cheerful gait. She is like a beloved little princess. She doesn't own a car; she rides a small electric scooter. As she passes the gate, she greets the security guard. She is such a charming girl; you would never guess she is already married.

Xu Hong, needless to say, was the top beauty of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, Chang Yuze's most beloved wife. She wore a soft, lotus-colored chiffon strapless dress, draped with a chic black knitted cardigan, a pink bow belt, and a long skirt that reached past her knees. She wore mid-heeled black leather shoes and plain stockings, her long, slender legs as smooth and delicate as ivory. Her slightly wavy black hair cascaded naturally over her slender shoulders, and her round, fair face, like that of a star, exuded the confidence of a wise woman and the elegance of a noblewoman. Chang Yuze was stunned, mesmerized. He was very familiar with his wife; he had caressed every inch of her beautiful body. But now, seeing her, he suddenly felt that her beauty far exceeded his imagination. He was now a voyeur, observing from the sidelines. He felt that every man who saw a wife's elegant demeanor would be deeply captivated by her, like a teenager's fervent worship of their idol, their heart trembling even at the sight of a mere glimpse of their idol. Chang Yuze was filled with deep remorse. He had shown his wife far too little care and affection in the past. If he had stayed by her side every moment, perhaps she wouldn't have had the chance to cheat. But now, her pure and innocent body had been defiled by that ugly old man, and he could never wash away the shame upon her. Chang Yuze's hands trembled. His wife's figure disappeared from the camera lens. When he caught her again, she had already gotten into her red Mazda and sped away. Chang Yuze even had a sudden impulse to follow her in his car to see where she went. If she obediently came home, he would cook her a delicious dinner as usual, dine with her, and spend a warm and romantic evening with her. But if his wife came home on time tonight, what if he went on his business trip? Would she still secretly fool around with that old man? She definitely would. She was like a kitten that had stolen some fish; she wouldn't easily let go of the delicious treat she had once tasted. "We can't be soft-hearted. We must be ruthless and catch them red-handed for their infidelity. We must punish them severely. A man can live without money, but he can't live without dignity!"

Chang Yuze gripped his camera tightly and continued observing.

Zhao Ying was the last to leave, reflecting her composed work ethic. She wore an apricot-colored fitted long trench coat, a plain silk skirt, and mid-heeled black leather shoes. Her attire reflected the maturity and composure of a middle-aged woman. She was the oldest, probably thirty-seven or thirty-eight, and her figure was slightly plump—not just full-figured, but rather voluptuous. In her youth, she had a pointed chin and thin cheeks, but now, her fuller figure made her face naturally round, as fair and approachable as a full moon. From the belt of her trench coat, it was clear that her waist was not bulky at all, but still supple and flexible. Her hair was styled in a high bun, which visually elongated her figure, making her waist appear even slimmer. With her slender figure, long legs, full breasts, and curvaceous hips, every gesture exuded the elegant and confident charm of a mature woman. Chang Yuze recalled the impression she had given him: dignified, generous, kind, and warm. Seeing her made you unconsciously want to get close to her and trust her. No one would have imagined that such a dignified and generous mature beauty was the old lecher's most loyal mistress—what a pity. Her car was a Nissan, and she drove slowly and steadily away from the office.

All five "silver flowers" had left; Zheng Weihua hadn't gone with any of them. He was still holed up in his office, preoccupied with some shady business. The Crown was parked at the entrance of the office building; his driver was ready to greet his boss. Soon, Zheng Weihua got downstairs, sat in the back, and the driver started the car, leaving the Banking Regulatory Bureau.

Chang Yuze started his Santana, pulling up behind the Crown, about five or six car lengths behind—the perfect distance. Too close, and Zheng Weihua would become suspicious; too far, and he might lose track of the car. The Crown drove east along Huanghe Road, then through several traffic lights to the Harbor Hotel. The Crown car pulled up in front of the hotel. Two middle-aged men in suits stood at the door to greet him. One of them bowed and opened the car door for Zheng Weihua, his expression extremely respectful. Chang Yuze adjusted the focus and took a picture of them both. It was dinnertime, and Zheng Weihua was definitely going to a dinner party; she wouldn't be out for a while.

Chang Yuze drove away, bought two bottles of Wanglaoji herbal tea and a bag of dry bread at a roadside shop, quickly ate his fill, and then parked the car outside the Harbor Hotel, waiting quietly for Zheng Weihua to come out. The Crown car was parked downstairs; focusing on the Crown meant focusing on Zheng Weihua. Chang Yuze turned on the car stereo, and Dao Lang's weathered voice rang out, "The First Snow of 2002." Love, ah, what a wonderful thing, making men strong and women crazy. Unfortunately, that age of being crazy for love is gone forever. The dream girl he once pursued so passionately is now a mother, and that mother is no longer the pure and innocent girl she once was, but an unfaithful and adulterous woman. Chang Yuze didn't know if there would still be love between him and Xu Hong. If this hadn't happened, their relationship would still be rock solid. But the affair was like a sudden flash flood, instantly washing the rock away from its place. Feelings, that long-lost feeling, returned to Chang Yuze. He was busy at work, socializing with friends and colleagues after work, and when he got home, it was just for eating and sleeping. Even his intimacy with Hong in bed felt like a routine. Except for his obedient daughter, who filled him with boundless affection, he now knew he could be angry, disappointed, hateful, and calm; he still had a rich emotional life.
"Daddy, are you coming home for dinner?" The phone rang. It was the landline at home. It was his daughter, Lulu, calling. Hearing her innocent voice, Chang Yuze felt a warmth in his heart, even though he knew his wife had taught her to say that.

"Daddy has to work overtime and can't come home. Be good at home, baby."

"Okay, Daddy."

"Were you happy at kindergarten today?"

"Yes."

"What nursery rhyme did the teacher teach you?"

"My good mother." Lulu sang on the phone, "My good mother, coming home from work, after a long day of hard work, how hard she works."

Chang Yuze and Xu Hong both love to sing. Although they haven't had professional training, they sing just as well as those with music majors. They are both excellent singers at school and at work. Lulu has clearly inherited her parents' talent in singing; she sings with style and a pleasant voice. Chang Yuze was moved by his daughter's singing, his eyes stinging, tears welling up. He is very dedicated and always does his best to complete the work assigned by his superiors. He is often away on business trips, and when he returns, he often works the night shift with his superiors. Although his hard work is nothing compared to his colleagues in the criminal investigation department, his working hours and workload are relatively high in the logistics department. He was ambitious; he wanted to accomplish as much as possible while he was young and achieve more. He knew he devoted most of his time to work, neglecting his wife and daughter, for which he felt guilty. His wife's understanding and support at work had once moved him, and if it weren't for the condom, he would still be moved by it. But now, his appreciation for her support had cooled. His daughter's song, filled with concern for her father's hard work, deeply touched him. Although the lyrics only mentioned the mother, he heard the care and comfort in her voice. He thought that even if he worked hard, he would be happy because his daughter understood.

"Have you eaten?" Xu Hong asked on the phone.

"Yes."

"Drink less alcohol, come home early."

"Okay."

If only this damn condom weren't here, he wouldn't be eating dry bread. Now he was sitting with his wife and daughter, enjoying a comfortable dinner and happy family life.

Chang Yuze hung up the phone and couldn't help but light another cigarette. He had quit smoking, but in the past few days he had started smoking heavily again, quickly returning to more than a pack a day. He couldn't stop; before, it was his mouth that wanted to smoke, now it was his mind. Cigarettes could calm his angry brain, and calmness was a state he needed to maintain. Only a calm mind could help him quickly gather evidence against the adulterous couple.

At 8:25, Zheng Weihua's driver came out of the hotel, started the Crown, and parked it in front of the hotel. Then Zheng Weihua and his group came out of the hotel. They had drunk quite a bit; one of the men in a suit was flushed and unsteady on his feet, while Zheng Weihua remained unfazed. Zheng Weihua exchanged a few pleasantries with them, got into the Crown, and drove off.

The crucial moment had arrived, and Chang Yuze followed closely.
The car stopped halfway through the journey. The driver got out, and Zheng Weihua took the driver's seat and drove away alone. He could still drive, so he wasn't too drunk.

The Crown arrived at Mingtai Residential Area and stopped in front of a villa, Zhou Xiaoyan's residence.

Zheng Weihua parked the car in the garage, walked to the villa's door, and rang the doorbell.

The door opened, and Zhou Xiaoyan, with her long, black hair loose, stood in the doorway in pajamas and slippers. She wasn't wearing makeup, not a single trace of powder or rouge, yet her captivating beauty was undeniable.

Zheng Weihua put his arm around her slender waist and led her inside, behaving like a loving couple.

Undoubtedly, Zhou Xiaoyan was Zheng Weihua's mistress; Chang Yuze's goal in following her had been achieved. According to the property registration information from the housing authority, the villa belonged to Zhou Xiaoyan, but with her income, she couldn't possibly afford it; it was undoubtedly a gift from Zheng Weihua. Zhou Xiaoyan's parents were workers at the city's fertilizer plant, which had gone bankrupt years ago, and their income was insufficient to support their daughter's luxurious lifestyle. Zhou Xiaoyan, a vocational school graduate, didn't have a proper job after graduation. She worked as an insurance agent, a telecommunications salesperson, and a deposit collector for the Agricultural Bank of China. Her work skills weren't outstanding, but she had a pretty face and a model-like figure. Coupled with her extremely outgoing personality and casual relationships, she met several successful men over the years, had intimate relationships with them, and even lived with some, though never married. Later, Zheng Weihua took a liking to her and directly got her into the China Banking Regulatory Commission, making her his mistress.

Chang Yuze had achieved his investigation goal and was about to drive away, but curiosity got the better of him. Zhou Xiaoyan was a fashionable and beautiful girl, while Zheng Weihua was a decrepit old man. Would she truly love him? Chang Yuze couldn't resist getting out of the car, choosing a spot, and peering into the room with his camera. The darkness concealed his figure, allowing him to focus on his surroundings. Zheng

Weihua had already taken off his shirt and was lying on the long sofa in the living room, leaning against the cushions, watching television. The huge LCD TV was showing a South Korean idol drama, probably the one Zhou Xiaoyan had just watched. Zheng Weihua picked up the remote and switched to the military channel, which featured analysis of the North Korean situation.

Zhou Xiaoyan made a cup of tea and brought it to Zheng Weihua, placing it on the coffee table in front of him. Zhou Xiaoyan also sat on the sofa, leaning against Zheng Weihua, and grabbed the remote, switching back to the drama channel. Zheng Weihua seemed annoyed by her changing the channel and lightly slapped her buttocks. Zhou Xiaoyan immediately swayed her hips, pretending to pinch and bite him. Zheng Weihua pulled her close, pressed her down, and kissed her lips. Zhou Xiaoyan pushed him away, frowning and pouting, feigning disgust, perhaps because she disliked his strong smell of alcohol. Women seem to dislike the smell of alcohol on men, and Chang Yuze knew that if he had been drinking, he could forget about kissing his wife; he would have to brush his teeth before anything could happen.

At 9:20, the living room lights went out, and the two went upstairs hand in hand. Their bedroom was on the second floor. The bedroom light was on, but the curtains obscured the view, making it impossible to see what was happening inside.

Ten minutes later, the bedroom light went out, replaced by a dim red ambient light. At this moment, Zheng Weihua was probably asleep, embracing his mistress's beautiful body, perhaps making pre-sleep activities under the influence of alcohol.

Chang Yuze put away his camera and drove away.

The next day.

Chang Yuze went to the entrance of the Banking Regulatory Bureau again, waiting

for Zheng Weihua to come out. Zheng Weihua was a good leader, waiting until all five of his mistresses had left work before leaving. He didn't bring a driver, driving himself straight to Villa No. 28 in the Nordic-style residential area. He had just arrived home when Zhao Ying arrived in her Nissan. She had left work early to buy groceries. Opening the trunk, she found several large bags full of vegetables, fruits, two bottles of red wine, some seasonings, and a black bag containing something alive and moving.
Zheng Weihua helped her carry the things inside. Standing together, Zhao Ying looked taller than Zheng Weihua. This already proved the relationship between Zhao Ying and Zheng Weihua, but Chang Yuze wasn't in a hurry to leave. He wanted to observe them more closely.

Since it wasn't completely dark yet, Chang Yuze couldn't get close enough, so he went to a building opposite the villa and observed them from the third-floor stairwell. The angle was perfect there. The stairwell was quiet. The Nordic-style residential area was located in the suburbs, with inconvenient transportation, so the occupancy rate wasn't high.

Chang Yuze picked up his camera, adjusted the focus, and observed carefully.

Zhao Ying was cooking in the kitchen. She was wearing simple home clothes, a yellow apron, and her sleeves were rolled up, revealing her fair arms—she looked like a beautiful housewife.

Chang Yuze then realized that the black food bag he had seen earlier contained a turtle. The turtle lay in an aluminum basin filled with water, occasionally poking its head out, unaware of the tragic fate that awaited it.

Zhao Ying deftly and skillfully prepared the turtle, slicing it into pieces and washing it in a basin of water. She then placed the cleaned turtle and seasonings into a ceramic pot to simmer slowly. According to folklore, turtle is highly nutritious, and Zhao Ying's act of cooking it for Zheng Weihua showed genuine care and concern. This didn't seem like a purely physical relationship, but rather the tender care of a wife for her husband. Chang

Yuze felt a pang of jealousy. He doted on his wife, forbidding her from using the kitchen and making her cook all the meals, yet his devotion hadn't earned her fidelity. While

Zhao Ying cooked in the kitchen, Zheng Weihua watched the news in the living room. They looked like a loving couple, without a trace of the secrecy and guilt often associated with adultery.

Zhao Ying was married; her husband was tall and thin, wore glasses, was refined and handsome, and far more pleasing to the eye than Zheng Weihua. Zhao Ying is brazenly having an affair with Zheng Weihua here. Isn't she afraid her husband will catch her in the act?

This world is in chaos, truly in chaos.

The phone rang. It was Xu Hong calling. "Honey, are you working overtime tonight?"

"Yes, I can't get away."

"Okay then. Take care of yourself, don't go hungry."

"I know."

Chang Yuze sighed deeply. If only it weren't for that damned Zheng Weihua, he would be home early, sharing dinner with his wife and daughter. He had already eaten dry bread yesterday, and today was the same. But the object of his hatred was at his mistress's house, enjoying her beautiful body and attentive cooking.

The meal was ready: two dishes and a soup.

The two adulterers sat at the table to eat. Zhao Ying frequently served Zheng Weihua food, soup, and rice, making Chang Yuze jealous. Even Xu Hong rarely served him like this at the table. Such thoughtful gestures went beyond the scope of a mistress, even surpassing the affection of a loving couple.

After dinner, Zheng Weihua and Zhao Ying left the villa together and strolled along the quiet paths of the neighborhood. Hand in hand, they looked like a loving couple, or perhaps more like a father and daughter. Zhao Ying was well-preserved, with fair skin, and appeared several years younger than her actual age, while Zheng Weihua, dressed casually, looked more like an old man. In the soft twilight, the tall, fair-skinned daughter held the hand of her short, stout father as they wandered through their own neighborhood. However, the daughter's clothing was somewhat revealing; without a bra, her two full, snow-white breasts almost burst from her clothes. The neighborhood had few residents, and even fewer pedestrians, especially at night. They walked and talked, hand in hand, intimately connected, resembling a loving older man and younger woman.
Chang Yuze couldn't believe Zhao Ying would be so shameless. Wasn't she afraid of being seen by acquaintances, or discovered by her husband? Perhaps the darkness concealed her shame, allowing her to stroll openly with her old lecher in the neighborhood.

Enough was enough. Chang Yuze wasn't going to watch any longer. Just as he was about to leave, he saw Zheng Weihua turn and walk to the low holly bushes on the left, urinating shamelessly on them. The sound of his urination could be heard several meters away, and his disgusting swaying of his hips afterward was even more repulsive. How could such a vulgar man seduce elegant women like Xu Hong and Zhao Ying? Was it all due to women's base nature—elegant on the outside, lewd on the inside?

On the third day, Zheng Weihua slept in Zhou Xiaoyan's room.

On the fourth day, Chang Yuze caught Xie Yalin and Zheng Weihua having an affair.

Xie Yalin is from Hangzhou. After graduating from university, she and her boyfriend, Wang Kai, both joined the Guide City Banking Regulatory Bureau. They got married last May Day, and on their first day of marriage, they were arrested and detained by the police. Wang Kai had defrauded others of money to speculate in stocks, but his investments were wiped out, leading to a lawsuit and a ten-year prison sentence. Xie Yalin's apartment in Tianhe Community was their marital home. Wang Kai had only speculated in stocks to pay off the mortgage, resulting in losses, imprisonment, and his newlywed wife being taken advantage of by his boss.

Zheng Weihua finished work, went to a hotel for a banquet, and after a satisfying meal, drove to Tianhe Community. Chang Yuze's surveillance was already highly skilled; when Zheng Weihua parked his car in the community, he had already chosen his observation position.

A light was on in a room on the west side of the twelfth floor. This room was a study, and Xie Yalin was sitting at her desk reading. She was reading very carefully; it wasn't a novel, because she was occasionally taking notes. From this angle, only her beautiful profile could be seen: long hair cascading over her shoulders, her delicate face tracing the most beautiful curves, and a red lace-trimmed halter-neck dress. Under the light of the small lamp, her lotus-root-like arms shimmered white. She didn't look like a young woman; she looked more like a beautiful student who loved learning. She sat quietly, immersed in the joy of studying. Such a warm feeling was rare. However, a moment later, an ugly person shattered this beautiful scene. Zheng Weihua entered the living room and turned on the living room light. He seemed to be a regular in this house; turning on the light and changing slippers were natural and skillful for him. He turned off the living room light, strolled into the study, and walked behind Xie Yalin, who was still quietly reading. His large hand rested on Xie Yalin's delicate shoulder, and he leaned down to kiss her. Xie Yalin seemed to dislike his snorting breath and tried to push him away, letting him kiss her. Zheng Weihua, seemingly spurred by the alcohol, wrapped one arm around her arm and slender waist, and used the other to hold her head, allowing him to kiss her. She finally couldn't resist his strength and endured his embrace, kissing her passionately for four or five minutes. Her initial resistance turned into a warm response, her small hands hooking around his neck. Zheng Weihua swept the alluring Xie Yalin up in his arms, lifting her from the chair. His lips were still pressed against hers; her nightgown barely covered her lower abdomen, her two fair legs bent and stretched in the air. He kissed her passionately, like a newlywed couple returning home after a long separation. Chang Yuze felt a moment of daze. It seemed like it had been a long time since he had kissed Xu Hong so passionately. Was it that he couldn't carry her anymore, or that he no longer wanted to repeat such tender actions?

The study light went out, and a moment later, the bedroom light came on.

How could such a pure and beautiful girl willingly let a pig-head defile her? Why didn't she resist to the end?

Following Zheng Weihua by car every day was too tiring, so Chang Yuze changed his method, using a mobile phone locator to track and monitor him. The bureau had acquired a new device last year—a mobile phone locator, supposedly the latest signal tracking device invented in China, even more accurate than the most advanced GPRS positioning system in the United States. This locator was only the size of a laptop, very convenient to carry in a handbag. Just enter the phone number, and as long as the phone was powered on, it could lock the owner's location with an accuracy within a few meters. For example, even if the phone was hidden in a dense forest, as long as it was powered on, this locator could directly find its hiding place. Unfortunately, the locator also had drawbacks; the accuracy decreased with distance. At several kilometers, the accuracy was only a few meters; at tens of kilometers, it was only tens of meters; and beyond a hundred kilometers, the accuracy was even less accurate, with a positioning range of several hundred meters. Therefore, this type of locator is suitable for location and search within the city. It's still in the trial production stage, with very limited output, and is only being used in some public security systems. The bureau purchased this locator to help criminal investigators solve cases. However, Chang Yuze discovered a better use for the mobile phone locator: locating petitioners in Beijing.

High-tech gadgets are indeed different; they greatly facilitated Chang Yuze's work. As soon as these petitioners entered Beijing, Chang Yuze could quickly find their whereabouts, even if they hid in secluded alleys, they couldn't escape the precise location of the mobile phone locator. Whenever these petitioners were sound asleep in their simple huts, Chang Yuze and his team would knock on the door and enter. Seeing them appear out of nowhere, the petitioners would all show expressions of surprise and confusion. Their whereabouts were unknown, and their residences were very hidden; how could they have been found? For work purposes, Chang Yuze asked the bureau chief for permission to borrow the locator. He got used to it and didn't return it to the criminal investigation team.
Chang Yuze started using a GPS tracker to monitor Zheng Weihua, and the results were surprisingly good. The tracker acted like a car navigation system; whether Zheng Weihua was at work, in a hotel, at a mistress's house, or driving, the tracker could display his location on an electronic map of Guide City. Chang Yuze no longer had to eat dry bread; he could leave work on time and go home for dinner as usual. Only after his wife and daughters were asleep would he secretly turn on the tracker to check which mistress Zheng Weihua had slept with that night. Based on his observations over the past few days, the time Zheng Weihua spent with his mistresses was uneven: three days a week with Zhou Xiaoyan, two days with Xie Yalin, and one day with Zhao Ying. Xu Na and Xu Hong were still unaccounted for. Chang Yuze hoped he would never witness his wife's affair with Zheng Weihua, but this thought was so weak it couldn't withstand scrutiny. He thought that perhaps it was because he had been home these past few days and hadn't gone on business trips that his wife dared not go out and cheat. Every night, seeing Zheng Weihua philandering with different mistresses, Chang Yuze would be consumed by rage. When he wasn't watching, was his wife also sharing sexual pleasure with Zheng Weihua like these mistresses? Since returning from his business trip, he hadn't had even a few minutes of satisfying sex with his wife. Whenever he was tempted by his wife's beautiful body, his erection would plunge into her warm, moist flesh, and just as he was about to unleash his full power, a dirty condom would suddenly appear in his mind. Images of Zheng Weihua's intimacy with his mistresses would instantly flood his thoughts. A thought would sprout like bamboo shoots after rain, unstoppable from the hard soil: was his wife also intimate with Zheng Weihua? His passion would instantly subside like an over-swelling tide, and his once-hardened weapon would slowly soften, finally being helplessly pulled out of the crumpled condom. His wife's once alluring, snow-white body suddenly lost its appeal. He no longer thought of caressing her, but of deep disgust. It was as if that filthy condom had fermented and rotted within him, constantly emitting a nauseating stench. Faced with his disappointed erection, Chang Yuze always brushed it off by saying he was too tired. Fortunately, Xu Hong didn't show any dissatisfaction, occasionally teasing him playfully, and still showing him warmth and care in daily life. Was his wife's behavior feigned? It didn't seem so. He had known his wife for over ten years, from when they met to their marriage; he knew her personality and behavior intimately. She was genuine with him, not deliberately hiding anything. But how could he explain the condom in the villa?

Chang Yuze secretly resolved to find out the truth, no matter what.

That night, Chang Yuze turned on the tracking device and entered Zheng Weihua's phone number. It showed he was sleeping in Zhao Ying's bed. Chang Yuze then entered Zhao Ying's phone number; indeed, the two numbers overlapped. This was a true overlap, meaning the two were very likely in bed together. Zheng Weihua was having an affair with Zhao Ying tonight, but what about his other mistresses? Were they alone in their rooms, or were they out having affairs with other men? Chang Yuze entered the phone numbers of each woman: Xie Yalin, Xu Na, and Zhou Xiaoyan. All three women were in their own houses; none were out. Did this old bastard Zheng Weihua have such great charm that his mistresses would all "remain chaste" for him? Xie Yalin's husband was in prison, and Zhou Xiaoyan was unmarried; it was understandable that they would "remain chaste" for Zheng Weihua. But Xu Na? She had a husband; didn't she sleep with him? Chang Yuze, on a sudden inspiration, entered another phone number—Xu Na's husband, Chen Jiaming. The number showed he was located in the Kaiyuan Community in the southwest of Guide City. The couple lived in the same city, yet slept in separate rooms; this couple was truly interesting. Chang Yuze then entered another phone number—Zhao Ying's husband, Guo Zhong. The number showed Guo Zhong wasn't home either; his location was on Binhe Road, a street lined with bars. This couple was also interesting; the wife slept with her lover, while the husband went to a bar. Chang Yuze became interested; he wanted to observe these men and women closely to see if he could glean any unusual clues.

Chang Yuze excused himself, saying he had work to do, and got up from beside his fragrant wife. He drove around checking things out.

Xie Yalin was still quietly reading in her study, her figure in her pajamas beautiful and charming. She was an ambitious girl; her diligent studies suggested she was preparing for postgraduate entrance exams or professional title exams. Chang Yuze felt a little sorry for her; such a lovely, obedient girl should be nestled in her parents' arms, not being kept by an older man and sexually assaulted by him every few days.

Zhou Xiaoyan was curled up on the sofa watching TV, her alluring slip dress revealing her beautiful breasts and snow-white legs. She held a bag of sunflower seeds, cracking them incessantly. She was engrossed in the Korean drama, occasionally chuckling. A fluffy white pet dog climbed all over her, sometimes playfully licking her hand or mouth. This woman seemed quite content with her life as a kept woman.

Xu Na's house was a detached villa, large with many rooms, luxuriously decorated. Several rooms in the villa were lit, indicating Xu Na was clearly inside, though not in the living room or bedroom. Xu Na's son lived with his grandparents, while Xu Na and her husband lived in the large villa. Such a large villa, with only Xu Na as the sole female occupant tonight, always felt rather lonely. Xu Na wasn't a woman who could bear loneliness; her husband's absence meant she wouldn't be indifferent, unless she herself had a story to tell.

Chang Yuze walked around the villa, carefully observing each window. In a gym, Chang Yuze saw Xu Na and a young man, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, tall and handsome, with a clean, slightly dark complexion and refined features, resembling a sunny college student, or more specifically, a sports school student. He was naked, wearing only tight shorts that clung to his genitals. His limbs were long and powerful, his body filled with well-developed muscles—the result of years of fitness training. His muscles weren't filled with abnormal, savage strength, but rather were well-proportioned and elegant. Xu Na was completely naked, lying on the exercise bed like a beautiful little white lamb. The length of the exercise bed was just right, allowing her small, fair, bare feet to protrude. She had just finished exercising, her body glistening with fragrant sweat, shining like pearls under the bright lights. Xu Na was a woman who paid special attention to maintaining her appearance; even in her thirties, her figure remained as slender as a young girl's. However, compared to Xu Hong, she had a more deliberate, bony physique due to dieting, while Xu Hong possessed a naturally plump and radiant beauty. The sunny young man was giving Xu Na a massage. His technique was skillful, moving from her waist to her hips and inner thighs, manipulating her body with ease. Xu Na enjoyed it; her body was relaxed. As the investigation deepened, more and more was learned about Xu Na. She was no ordinary woman; a well-known socialite in the city, with countless men falling at her feet. Tonight seemed to confirm this. Xu Na wasn't just a pitiful woman being played with by men; she also had a queenly nature, capable of seducing handsome young men. She had high standards for men; even in college, a sunny, handsome man like him wouldn't lack for the attention of pretty girls. Now, he was just her personal trainer, but certainly not just a trainer. Before Chang Yuze arrived, they had already done their foreplay; now, the main event was about to begin. Xu Na was aroused. She reached out and pulled down the boy's shorts, slowly guiding his already erect penis into her body—directly, without even needing to put on a condom. Xu Na, like an insatiable, noble queen, cheered and kept directing and correcting the boy's movements: "Harder, harder, a little more force! Oh, like that! Don't stop! Faster, faster! Ah!" Chang Yuze put away his camera; he didn't need to watch the next scene anymore. She would definitely drain every last drop of energy from the boy. What was the relationship between this man and Xu Na? Was she keeping him as a mistress? If so, Xu Na and Zheng Weihua could only be considered equal lovers. He played with women, she played with men; neither of them lost out.
Following the locator's guidance, Chang Yuze arrived at a building in the Kaiyuan residential area. The locator showed that Xu Na's husband, Chen Jiaming, was in a room on the fourth floor, west side. The room was dark, with no lights on; everyone inside was asleep. No problem, this wouldn't stump Chang Yuze. Chang Yuze called over the community security guard, showed him his police ID, and said he needed to investigate several households in the building. He asked the guard to introduce the residents' information; this was a secret investigation and the residents couldn't know about it. The security guard, obeying orders, quickly brought out the neighborhood's roster and introduced each resident. The owner of the apartment where Chen Jiaming lived was Zhao Leilei, a very beautiful young woman who worked at Xingya Group, drove a Honda, dressed fashionably, and lived alone. Friends and family rarely visited, except for a middle-aged man who looked like a boss who occasionally stayed at her place at night.

Chang Yuze understood; Zhao Leilei was undoubtedly Chen Jiaming's mistress. Xu Na and her husband were a real pair of clowns; she kept men, he kept women, and they each did their own thing at night. They lived a carefree life, but Chang Yuze couldn't stand it. He felt disgusted by such a promiscuous and filthy lifestyle. If even sex between husband and wife couldn't remain pure, what was there to cherish about their relationship?

Chang Yuze arrived at his final stop: the Blue Moon Bar on Binhe Road. The GPS tracker showed Guo Zhong was still inside drinking. Who was he drinking with—friends or women? Zhao Ying didn't come home tonight. He must know who his wife slept with. Knowing his wife was in bed with another man yet remaining indifferent shows he's lost his masculinity. Chang Yuze felt a pang of sorrow, sorrow for such an "impotent" man. If it were him, he would immediately rush over, catch the two adulterers red-handed, and give them a good beating.

Chang Yuze suddenly became interested in Guo Zhong and wanted to meet him. Chang Yuze entered the bar, slowly searching for him amidst the loud music. Guo Zhong was sitting in a secluded spot, drinking with two scantily clad girls. The two girls, one on each side, were charming and alluring; they were the bar's hostesses. Blue Moon was an upscale bar; the girls there were all attractive and young, mostly seventeen or eighteen years old, perhaps even students. Seeing Guo Zhong chatting happily with the two girls, Chang Yuze abandoned the idea of meeting him. He was a heartbroken man, here to find solace in prostitutes. Chang Yuze found an empty table, ordered a beer, and sat quietly, watching the bar's performance. To be honest, using the word "watch" to describe his current state of mind was too much of a stretch, because he had no mood for appreciation whatsoever. Even if Uncle Zhao brought Xiao Shenyang to perform, it wouldn't bring him any joy. Here, he felt a sense of shared suffering with Guo Zhong, as if he could almost feel the agonizing pain of his wife's affair. A pretty girl with bright red lipstick and a strapless top approached, wanting to drink with Chang Yuze, but he shooed her away like a fly. He just wanted to drink alone, silently experiencing his heartbreak.

The performance ended, and Guo Zhong left, taking a woman with him; they had already agreed on a price.

Chang Yuze secretly followed them.

Guo Zhong took the woman to the Golden Coast Express Hotel and booked a room.

This area was under the jurisdiction of the Shunhe Road Police Station. The station often conducted nighttime raids, catching casual lovers to earn extra money. Sometimes they even used sting operations, ensuring a steady income every night. Every police station has its own ways of making money, even though these methods are all flimsy. Chang Yuze called Chief Jiang of the Shunhe Road Police Station, instructing him to lead a team to check the rooms at the budget hotel. Upon receiving Chang Yuze's call, Chief Jiang immediately led his team to the Golden Coast Budget Hotel. They were all seasoned pros at room checks, and they caught four couples having casual sex in the hotel, including Guo Zhong and his partner.

Guo Zhong was the deputy director of the rural credit cooperative, a man of considerable standing. If he were caught soliciting prostitution and brought to the station, his reputation would be ruined. Guo Zhong pleaded repeatedly, hoping to pay his way out of trouble. Director Jiang, of course, wouldn't give him that chance and insisted on registering his ID card, address, and workplace information.

At this moment, savior Chang Yuze stepped forward. "Isn't this Director Guo? What are you doing here?"

Guo Zhong recognized Chang Yuze and saw him as a savior. He quickly grabbed Chang's hand, his face beaming, and said, "Section Chief Chang, what a coincidence! You have to help me out, brother. It's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. I had a few drinks with a friend and couldn't drive, so I got a room to sober up. I was resting when this young lady pushed open the door and said she wanted to come and talk to me. I refused and was about to send her away when the police officers arrived. It's really a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding." He had already taken off his clothes, leaving only his underwear. The bar girl was also completely naked, wearing only a towel. If they had stripped naked in the time it took to talk, no one would believe there was no problem.

Chang Yuze seized the opportunity and said, "Director Guo is my friend. Please give us face and go take care of other things."
Director Jiang and his men left, and the young lady hurriedly put on her clothes and ran away.

Guo Zhong wiped the sweat from his brow, changed his clothes, offered Chang Yuze a cigarette, and said with lingering fear, "Thanks to Section Chief Chang today. If it weren't for him, I'd be in deep trouble. I'm definitely treating you to this drink, brother. Section Chief Chang, you must do me the honor."

"Director Guo, don't be so polite. We're old acquaintances. We've been drinking together at the same table at least four or five times."

"That's right, four or five times is a lot. I remember getting drunk two or three times. Section Chief Chang, you have a huge capacity for alcohol."

The two started chatting, becoming more and more relaxed as they talked. Actually, Chang Yuze and Guo Zhong didn't have much interaction. Their drinking sessions mostly took place at their wives' gatherings.

"Your sister-in-law often praises you to me, saying that Section Chief Chang is young and promising, with a limitless future. By the way, Section Chief Chang, what brings you here today?"

"You know, the bureau is currently conducting the 'Guide Christmas Eve' operation, and the bureau has sent people to accompany the subordinate stations to conduct night patrols. Tonight, I happen to be in charge of the Shunhe Road area. Director Guo, what brings you tonight? Aren't you afraid your wife will find out? Is she not home?"

Faced with Chang Yuze's questioning, Guo Zhong stammered, "I secretly came out to drink behind your sister-in-law's back. She's probably asleep right now. I'll go back after a while."

Sure enough, as Chang Yuze expected, Guo Zhong denied that his wife hadn't come home all night.

The two silently smoked, neither speaking, creating an awkward silence for several minutes.

Chang Yuze decided to get straight to the point and break the deadlock. "Director Guo, there's something I'm unsure whether to say. If I don't, I'll feel uneasy, but if I do, I'm afraid Director Guo won't like it."

"Section Chief Chang, please speak freely. We're old acquaintances; what can't we say?"

"I've heard that Zheng Weihua from the Banking Regulatory Bureau is unethical, having affairs with female subordinates in the bureau."

"Don't listen to rumors. Which leader doesn't have some gossip?"

Chang Yuze had originally wanted to have a deeper conversation with him; they shared similar pain and hoped to collaborate on finding evidence against Zheng Weihua to bring him down. Instead of showing any righteous indignation, he actually went out of his way to protect the adulterer. Chang Yuze was furious and bluntly said, "Director Guo, this probably isn't just baseless. A few days ago, one of my colleagues from the traffic police team was doing a nighttime check, mainly for drunk driving. He stopped Zheng Weihua's car. Zheng Weihua had been drinking a little, but luckily he wasn't driving. A woman was driving, and there were only the two of them in the car. My colleague said that the woman looked a lot like your sister-in-law." In reality, this never happened; Chang Yuze made it all up.

Upon hearing this, Guo Zhong couldn't hide his rage any longer. Feigning indignation, he said, "Really? You can't be mistaken, can you? Your sister-in-law hasn't gone out for dinner with anyone from her workplace these past few days. I need to go back and question her properly. If Zheng Weihua is really as bad as Section Chief Chang said, I'll cut ties with him too. Brother Chang, thank you for tonight. I have to hurry back so your sister-in-law doesn't wake up and cause me trouble again."

Chang Yuze sneered inwardly. Zhao Ying and her lover were fast asleep, not getting up until dawn. He was still deceiving himself, still afraid to face reality. He called himself a respectable man. Chang Yuze had photos of Zhao Ying and Zheng Weihua being intimate on his camera, but seeing Guo Zhong's attitude, he didn't want to show them to him. Since he rejected the scandal from the bottom of his heart, it meant he had no intention of pursuing the adulterous couple. Seeing Guo Zhong's hurried departure, Chang Yuze felt a pang of sorrow. Was this even a man? Had he lost all his backbone? Judging from his appearance alone, Guo Zhong, in his forties, was tall, with a square face, large ears, and fair skin. His hair was neatly combed, and he exuded the air of a scholarly official from the financial sector. Successful men like him, with their charm and career, were most attractive to women; Zhao Ying couldn't possibly not like such a husband. Guo Zhong looked handsome now, and in his youth, he was probably an even more dashing and charming man. Zhao Ying's willingness to give up the comfortable life in the big city to work with him in a remote small county must mean she genuinely loved him. Unfortunately, a once handsome and promising young talent had now degenerated into a hypocritical and worldly-wise old official in his life of success.
After Zheng Weihua left, Chang Yuze stayed in the room, smoking two more cigarettes, thinking seriously. If it were him, even if someone told him that his wife and Zheng Weihua had spent the night together in a car, he wouldn't accept it. However, there was one thing he would never do like Guo Zhong, a coward. If he had solid evidence, he would severely punish that adulterous couple!

Adultery is a shameful act. Guo Zhong is unwilling to admit his wife's affair. Xie Yalin's husband is currently in prison and certainly doesn't know the details of Zheng Weihua and his wife's relationship. What about Xu Na's husband, Chen Jiaming? There's no concrete evidence of Xu Na and Zheng Weihua's affair yet, so their relationship cannot be fully confirmed. Even if evidence is found, Chen Jiaming probably won't admit it. He's a well-known businessman and likely won't admit Xu Na cheated on him. Investigating Zheng Weihua through these cheating men is unlikely to work. What if he investigates Zhao Ying and Xie Yalin directly? That's probably even less likely. They are both Zheng Weihua's mistresses. From the investigation these past few days, it seems their relationship with Zheng Weihua went beyond mere lust; they've developed deep, distorted affairs. If they know he's investigating their lovers, they won't help him and might even inform on him. If Zheng Weihua and Xu Hong know their affair has been exposed, they'll be more cautious, making it even harder for him to gather evidence.

To catch a thief red-handed, and an adulterer caught in the act, Chang Yuze was determined to investigate thoroughly, to find all the evidence of their infidelity, and then decide how to punish them. However, his current investigative methods had shortcomings. First, he couldn't follow them every day, even with the help of a tracking device; he would be away on business trips at any time, and those trips were the best time to catch them in the act. Second, he was still confused about his wife's infidelity. Why did she cheat on him? Why would she willingly become that old man's mistress? What made that ugly old adulterer able to seduce her? Did he really have something special about him that could bewitch his wife? How did he win her vindication? How did their affair develop?

These questions deeply troubled Chang Yuze. He thought about how to resolve these doubts every moment, and he wanted to investigate anyone connected to Zheng Weihua. He desperately wanted to find a breakthrough, to find even the slightest clue about his wife's affair with Zheng.

On Saturday afternoon, Chang Yuze took his wife and daughter to the city forest park. He had made this promise to Lulu a few days ago, and he couldn't break his promise to his daughter. As Chang Yuze was preparing to leave with his wife and daughter, his well-behaved daughter asked again if her older brother Chen Sheng was coming. Xu Na's son, Chen Sheng, was two years older than Lulu. Despite his young age, he had a big brotherly demeanor. He liked Lulu very much and always gave in to her. They had had a lot of fun together on previous trips. Both families had only one child, and little Chen Sheng liked Lulu as his little sister, while Lulu liked Chen Sheng as her older brother. Chang Yuze asked Xu Hong to contact Xu Na and ask if she had time to go to the park together. Xu Hong dialed Xu Na's number and received a positive reply.

Chang Yuze and his wife and daughter drove to the park entrance first, bought tickets, and waited for Xu Na's family to arrive.

The sun was shining brightly today, and the park was packed with people, especially children. Aside from teenagers, most were families with children. Many had their own cars, and the parking lot was almost full.

A moment later, Xu Na's Seville arrived in a flash. Seeing a spacious spot in the parking lot, she immediately rushed in, domineeringly occupying the middle position. This spot was reserved for other uses by the park; Chang Yuze had also tried to park there but was stopped by park security. When Xu Na's Seville drove in, the security guard rushed to stop her, but Xu Na was driving too fast, and the Seville was already parked before the guard could stop her.

Xu Na got out of the car nonchalantly and locked it.

"No parking here," said the security guard, a man in his forties or fifties.

"This is a parking lot, where is parking prohibited?" Xu Na looked down at the guard arrogantly.

"This is...this is a leader's car from my workplace; sometimes they need to park here." Xu Na's attire and demeanor didn't seem like those of an ordinary person, and the guard hesitated.

"You must be your General Manager Huang. He won't blame you if he sees my car. You can go now, hail another car." Xu Na acted like the park's leader, leaving the stunned security guard behind and walking towards Xu Hong as if no one else was there.
Xu Na's son, Chen Sheng, had already seen Lulu and ran towards her quickly.

Chen Sheng was wearing overalls and a shirt, with his shiny black hair combed up, looking like a handsome young master from the Republican era.

Lulu was wearing a yellow and white checkered ladylike dress with a small collar, and a large bow in her black hair, making her look delicate and stylish. Lulu inherited her mother's good looks, with good complexion and temperament, and looked beautiful in anything she wore.

The two children started laughing and chatting as soon as they met.

Xu Na walked straight to Xu Hong, affectionately hooked her arm around Xu Hong's, and turned to Chang Yuze with a smile, saying, "Officer Yuze, you're very dedicated! You dare to go on a business trip for a month or two and not come back, leaving my good sister alone at home. Aren't you afraid she'll be snatched away by a handsome guy?" She stared directly into his eyes as she spoke. Although her words were teasing, her aggressive demeanor made Chang Yuze feel a little uncomfortable, perhaps because she was used to being assertive at work.

Before Chang Yuze could react, Xu Hong laughed and defended him, saying, "Sister Na is talking nonsense again. Yuze hasn't been away on business for that long. He's been back for over ten days, just busy at the bureau and hasn't reported to you yet."

Chang Yuze shrugged, glanced around as if looking for someone, and laughed, "With a handsome guy like me standing here, how dare those so-called handsome guys in Sister Xu's eyes come over? They'd be ashamed to death."

Xu Na stared intently at Chang Yuze, scrutinizing him for a while, seemingly trying to see how handsome he was, then burst into laughter, "Xu Hong, your husband is even cuter without his police uniform, and his dry humor is hilarious."

"Him? He's old enough to be a father figure. Even if he's handsome, he's an old handsome guy." Xu Hong gave her husband a tender look, pulled Xu Na towards the park entrance, and asked, "Why isn't Brother Jiaming here? Should we wait for him or go in first?"

“He’s a very busy man, always on the go. Let’s go in first, and he can come find us later. Look, the two kids can’t wait.”

Chen Sheng and Lulu were already running hand in hand towards the park entrance.

Chang Yuze was still a little uncomfortable with Xu Na’s eyes and questions, and took a step to catch up with the two children. Xu Na didn’t let him go, casually tossing him a bulging bag, “Handsome guy, you should show some manly manners and carry my drinks.”

Taking children out is always a hassle; the bag was full of food, drinks, and supplies. Lulu had one bag, Chen Sheng had one bag, and now both bags were on Chang Yuze’s shoulders. Being able to serve a beauty was worth the effort, although Chang Yuze didn’t have this thought, it didn’t mean other men didn’t.

Xu Hong and Xu Na, both beautiful married women, instantly became stars the moment they appeared at the park entrance. Xu Hong wore a royal blue and yellow polka-dot floral print dress with ruffled sleeves; the adorable polka dots and soft, romantic ruffles combined sweetness and elegance. A woven belt, like a work of art, accentuated her waist, making her figure appear even more graceful. The round neckline subtly revealed her collarbone, showcasing a charming, feminine allure. Xu Na wore a camel-gray European-style pleated A-line skirt paired with an elegant pink blouse with a delicate leather belt, mid-heeled shoes, a diamond-encrusted watch on her left wrist, and a stylish handbag in her right—the epitome of a sophisticated lady. However, today's activity was a stroll in the park, not a business dinner; her high heels were sure to suffer.

The men nearby began to steal glances at them. These men were often middle-aged, married, and had experienced married life. Now, they were strolling in the park with their wives and children. Seeing beautiful, graceful women like Xu Hong and Xu Na, and secretly comparing them to their own wives who had become haggard, they felt a pang of jealousy. So, they would steal glances at the two beautiful women, avoiding their wives' eyes.

Upon entering the park, the two children ran around joyfully like birds released from their cages. Although they had played here many times and were very familiar with many of the attractions and rides, they were still having a great time. Hearing his daughter's continuous laughter, Chang Yuze felt a warmth in his heart, and the shadow left by the trap slowly melted away. Boys are generally more mischievous, and Lulu was particularly active. She and Chen Sheng climbed high and low, daring to do some things that looked dangerous. At this point, Chang Yuze had to exert himself to keep up and ensure their safety. Xu Na and Xu Hong, on the other hand, strolled arm in arm along the park's paths as if they were shopping.
Halfway through their visit, Chen Jiaming hurriedly arrived to join them. Xu Na gave her husband a good scolding when she saw him. Chen Jiaming, with his good temper, listened to his wife's rant with a smile and explained that he had just seen off a certain leader. Chang Yuze and Chen Jiaming were quite familiar with each other, exchanged a few pleasantries, and began their park visit.

Chang Yuze felt that today's park visit was the most depressing one he had ever had. In the past, every time he went out to play, he was relaxed and happy, even if he was exhausted and his back and legs ached at the end, his heart was still full and joyful. But today, he couldn't find that feeling; the lingering shadow of the trap was tormenting him at every moment.

The roller coaster was the most thrilling. Lulu had ridden it once last year and wanted to ride it again today. Lulu sat in Xu Hong's lap, and Xu Hong sat in Chang Yuze's lap. The three of them experienced the thrilling ride on the roller coaster. As the roller coaster sped up and down, his wife and daughter screamed. They were scared and instinctively moved towards the safest place. Chang Yuze held his wife tightly, clearly feeling her trying to snuggle closer to him. Faced with unknown danger, she had chosen him, believing him to be her greatest support. However, Chang Yuze felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. Why didn't she think of me when she was fooling around with Zheng Weihua? Why didn't she think of her husband, the closest and most reliable person to her?

In the park, there was a clear pond with a huge artificial rock in its center, shaped like a heart. This was the park's meaningful "Heart-to-Heart Stone." Many couples visiting the park liked to take photos in front of it. Chang Yuze and Xu Hong always took several photos in front of the Heart-to-Heart Stone whenever they visited, and this time was no exception. Both families brought digital cameras and gave each other licenses. Xu Na and Chen Jiaming were showing off their affection in front of the "Love Stone." Xu Na lifted Chen Jiaming's head, and their lips met. Little Chen Sheng jumped up and down, shouting, "Daddy, Mommy, give me a kiss!" What a model couple! Chang Yuze sneered inwardly. He knew their true nature: at night they slept with their respective lovers, and during the day they flaunted their marital bliss. What was the point of such a hypocritical married life?

When Chang Yuze and Xu Hong took a photo together, Xu Na was in charge of taking the picture. This woman had a sharp eye; she could spot even the slightest imperfection.

"Chang Yuze, get closer to Xu Hong, yes, just like that, hold her tighter, tighter, you hear me? Hold her tight, just like when you two first fell in love. Chang Yuze, smile, a sweet smile, make your expression natural. Or, like your older brother and I, give her a kiss. Ha, I never thought Officer Yuze, who's handled guns and arrested criminals, wouldn't even have the courage to kiss his wife in public. You kissed Xu Hong so passionately at your wedding, but you can't do that today."

Chang Yuze followed Xu Na's instructions perfectly, striking poses and trying his best to express his sweet affection, but he still couldn't meet Xu Na's expectations. Xu Hong, noticing her husband's shyness, beckoned Lulu over. Chang Yuze, with one arm around his wife and the other around his daughter, finally presented a genuinely sweet and harmonious family of three to Xu Na.

The two children, perhaps finding the love stones in the pond more interesting, ran hand-in-hand to the stones as couples came to take pictures, asking their mother to take their picture too.

Seeing the two adorable children, Xu Na burst into laughter, blurting out to Xu Hong, "Xu Hong, look how destined my son and Lulu are! Why don't we have Lulu marry my son when they grow up?"

Xu Hong, sensing the children's childlike innocence, laughed and said, "They're just kids, they wouldn't think about destiny. As for who they marry when they grow up, that's up to them."

"Don't worry," Xu Na continued, "my son has a really good temper. Lulu will definitely be fine as my daughter-in-law. Look, my son's temper is just like his father's; he's a master at sweet-talking people."

The two women chatted and laughed, capturing several meaningful photos of the children. Wherever there are children, there is laughter.

Lulu found the most fun place in the park: the parrot training center. The bird trainer directed several parrots to practice fetching money with their beaks. No matter where a visitor sat, as long as they held up a banknote, the little parrots would fly over and snatch it away. This is truly a money-driven society; even the adorable little birds have been trained to reek of money. The children loved the show, eagerly raising their coins. The two women, their childlike wonder awakened by the little parrot, happily played with the children.

While they were at it, the two men went outside to chat.
Chen Jiaming took out a cigarette and offered it to Chang Yuze. Chang Yuze hesitated, then didn't take it.

Chen Jiaming immediately said, "Brother, have a couple of puffs to satisfy your craving. Quitting smoking is just about taking a couple of puffs when you feel like it, and quitting when you don't."

Chang Yuze smiled, took the cigarette, and lit it.

The two men chatted slowly, from commodity prices to real estate, then from real estate to financial policies, and finally, Chang Yuze steered the conversation towards Zheng Weihua.

"I heard Zheng Weihua is very powerful in the financial system, and he's well-connected with several banks."

"He's the director of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), the financial regulator; banks definitely wouldn't dare offend him."

"I also heard he's very domineering in the CBRC, and his word is law."

"Which unit's leader isn't like that? You can't achieve great things without a domineering aura."

"I heard Zheng Weihua's character isn't great, and his relationships with women are rather chaotic."

"Brother Chang, you've also worked in the officialdom, so you should be familiar with this. These days, which department head doesn't have one or two mistresses?" "

Xu Hong and her sister-in-law both work at the CBRC; having a leader like that is a real headache." Seeing that Chen Jiaming was always beating around the bush, Chang Yuze decided to get to the point, but his tone was very relaxed and humorous, so as not to let Chen Jiaming notice anything amiss.

Chen Jiaming chuckled confidently and said, "Don't worry, brother. I'm fairly familiar with Zheng Weihua. I own a company in the financial industry, so I have dealings with Zheng Weihua both professionally and personally. Zheng Weihua has a mistress at the China Banking Regulatory Commission named Zhou Xiaoyan, which almost everyone in the city's financial industry knows. Many people say that Zheng Weihua's womanizing ways started with Zhou Xiaoyan. There are no other women at the China Banking Regulatory Commission besides Zhou Xiaoyan. Even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow, let alone a leader of a unit. Even if you gave him the guts, he wouldn't dare to mess around at work." Xingya Group has a subsidiary called Yinying Pawnshop, and the pawnshop industry belongs to the financial industry. Chen Jiaming's relationship with Zheng Weihua is through this pawnshop.

Seeing that Chen Jiaming flatly denied Zheng Weihua's promiscuous nature, Chang Yuze knew that asking further would only cause trouble, so he laughed twice and used the excuse that the children had finished playing to leave the topic unfinished.

The two children were very excited, playing at every amusement park they visited until dusk, when the park was about to close, at which point they reluctantly left.

Xu Na suggested they have dinner together; Xu Hong had treated her last time, so this time she would host the dinner at the Yindu Hotel, at the buffet on the first floor. The restaurant sold snacks, including Indian roti, which the two children loved.

Chang Yuze had a nanny who usually ate with them, but when they ate out, she would take care of herself. Xu Hong called the nanny and asked her to cook dinner for herself that evening. After hanging up, Xu Hong smiled and whispered to Chang Yuze, "She's planning to have some alone time at home too."

The nanny was a young woman in her early twenties who had worked for them for two or three years; she was diligent and intelligent, and well-liked by the family. Before the Spring Festival, one of their pedicurists had started a relationship with the nanny, and the two young people quickly fell in love. Chang Yuze and Xu Hong were a very generous couple, allowing their nanny to bring her boyfriend to their home whenever she wanted. When they weren't home, they could enjoy their time together, but absolutely no nanny was allowed to let her boyfriend stay overnight.

The Yindu Hotel's buffet had abundant ingredients and good taste, though it was a bit pricey. There weren't many diners, which was perfect, creating a quiet atmosphere.
The two families found a spacious table for eight and ate slowly, chatting as they went.

Xu Na and Xu Hong were very close; the two women talked about everything, seemingly having endless things to say. Xu Na was more proactive, often engaging in lively discussions while Xu Hong listened quietly, occasionally offering her own opinions. The women mostly talked about clothing and beauty, leaving the men with little room to join the conversation. The two children ate and played, laughing and making a ruckus.

Chang Yuze carefully looked after Lulu, feeling a surge of happiness.

Lulu was beautiful, cute, and well-behaved; the restaurant staff all adored her, playing with her and holding her. Chang Yuze felt his daughter resembled her mother very much, sharing the same generous and cheerful personality. My wife was known for her vivaciousness and enthusiasm in high school. She was beautiful, generous, and of noble birth, yet she was never pretentious or affected. She was extremely compassionate and always tried to help classmates in need. She was very popular with her classmates; girls liked her for her warmth, loyalty, and approachability, while boys liked her for her beauty, generosity, and lack of affectation. Even now, more than ten years later, all the alumni from the graduating classes of Lanma High School still speak highly of Xu Hong, remembering her vividly. Frankly, when Chang Yuze and Xu Hong married, many classmates and alumni, both acquaintances and strangers, envied Chang Yuze; he had married their dream girl. After graduating from university and starting work, Xu Hong's personality changed slightly. She was no longer as impulsive and impulsive as she had been in her youth, but rather more rational and composed. This change in personality might be related to her profession as a lawyer. Lawyers need rational thinking and composure under pressure when defending clients in court; the law has given her a more restrained beauty.

It's a pity that while Xu Hong was slowly cultivating her inner beauty, she was also slowly changing, becoming hypocritical, indulging in base desires, and yearning for and obsessed with the immoral lifestyle of extramarital affairs. He and Xu Hong were once hailed as a perfect match, but that perfect match had begun to show obvious cracks.

The two little ones were too tired from playing and fell asleep after eating a little something. During their trip, they had eaten quite a few snacks, and by the time it was time for a proper meal, they were too full.

Their current life was leisurely and comfortable, lacking exercise, and their diet was mostly rich and fatty, so they usually only ate a little at each meal. Faced with the sumptuous buffet, Chang Yuze and the others simply chose a few items and finished eating.

At this moment, Xu Na had a new idea, "Xu Hong, it's still early to go home, let's go upstairs and dance for a while."

There was a dance hall on the second floor of the Yindu Hotel. Chang Yuze and Xu Hong used to dance there, but in the past two years, he had become lazy and hadn't danced there since.

Xu Hong glanced at Chang Yuze and said embarrassedly, "We've been running around all day and we're all exhausted. The children are all asleep. How can we dance with them? Let's go back and rest."

“What’s so tiring? Shopping doesn’t involve walking more than going to the park. The kids are asleep, so it’s a good opportunity for our husbands to relax and take them home.” Xu Na turned her gaze to Chang Yuze and teased, “Officer Yuze, you’ve been back for over ten days. A couple more hours of intimacy with Xu Hong won’t hurt, will it? Let her dance with me for a bit. Dancing is good for women, it’s good for fitness and body shaping. You don’t want your angelic daughter to become a fat woman with a thick waist and legs, do you?”

“Dancing is her hobby, her freedom, I won’t interfere.” Chang Yuze smiled and avoided Xu Na’s gaze. This woman’s gaze was like a nail, unbearable.

“Besides, you’re all sweaty, how can you go into a dance hall?” Xu Hong sensed that her husband wasn’t entirely willing and wanted to refuse Xu Na’s suggestion.

“I’ll go get a room. Let’s go upstairs, take a shower, and get all dolled up before we go. We haven’t danced in days, so why don’t you dance with your sister for a while? See how supportive your husband is? He’s willing to take Lulu home first.” Xu Na was efficient and decisive. As she spoke, she called over a hotel staff member, gave him a gold card, and told him to get a room for a few hours at the front desk. After making the arrangements, Xu Na pulled Xu Hong towards the elevator, turning back to say, "Thank you both, husbands. Please take the child home. My dear husband, please pay for the meal. You two go ahead, I'll take the girl home after dancing."

Chen Jiaming was clearly used to his wife's way of doing things, and said helplessly to Chang Yuze, "Women are all like this, when they're crazy, they're crazier than anyone else. Let's go, brother, let's go home."

When the two reached the parking lot, Chen Jiaming said earnestly, "Actually, it's good for women to have something to do. If a woman has nothing to do outside, she'll cause trouble at home. We men are often out and about, and if women don't check up on us, they trust us. We should also trust our own women. That's how couples work out their relationship."
Chang Yuze didn't agree with Chen Jiaming's words. Both husband and wife were keeping mistresses—was that considered mutual trust? But he didn't refute it directly, just casually agreed a few times, and drove away.

Lulu slept soundly, not waking up the whole way. Back home, Chang Yuze placed Lulu in her crib, took off her little dress (which had a few mud stains), and noticed some dirty marks on her arms and body; she had played too wildly in the park and was covered in grime. Chang Yuze filled the bathtub with water, tested the temperature—it was just right. Then he gently placed his porcelain-doll-like daughter into the tub, supporting her with his large hands. He had often taken her to the baby bathhouse when she was just a few months old. Lulu was still asleep, her limbs flailing naturally in the warm water, a charming smile on her little face.

Looking at his adorable daughter, Chang Yuze felt a sweet warmth in his heart, overflowing with the happiness of fatherhood.

He was deeply grateful to his wife for bringing him such a lovely little angel. The hardships his wife endured during pregnancy were self-evident, but the pain of childbirth remained vivid in his memory. His

wife had only been hospitalized the day before delivery. The head of the obstetrics and gynecology department, Dr. Wang, asked his wife how she planned to give birth—a cesarean section or a vaginal delivery? His wife immediately replied, "Vaginal delivery." Her baby's position was normal; a vaginal delivery was possible. However, considering the pain of natural childbirth, Director Wang asked his wife several times to confirm her choice. Chang Yuze, not wanting his wife to suffer, also suggested a cesarean section. His wife firmly stated that natural childbirth would preserve her beautiful body and that babies born naturally are healthier.

His wife's choice deeply moved Chang Yuze, who resolved to stay with her throughout the entire labor process.

Generally, husbands are not allowed in the delivery room during childbirth, but Director Wang made an exception for the couple, allowing Chang Yuze to accompany his wife.

Those hour in the delivery room were a heart-stopping one. Chang Yuze, wearing sterile clothing, held his wife's hand tightly, constantly encouraging and comforting her. His wife's screams of excruciating pain pierced his heart like knives. Before entering the delivery room, he had prepared many touching words and comforting jokes, hoping to distract his wife and reduce her pain. However, what actually happened far exceeded his expectations; a woman's childbirth is like a life-or-death struggle, filled with indescribable shock. In this extremely tense moment, he couldn't utter a single word. He could only hold his wife's hand tightly, silently supporting her. He secretly vowed in his heart that in this life, he would always love his wife, care for her, and cherish her, never letting her suffer even the slightest pain, never letting her shed a single tear of sorrow.

Now, he still kept his promise, but the person he made that promise to had become unrecognizable, no longer caring about her loving husband, no longer caring about her warm family, only seeking her own dirty carnal desires!

Lulu felt comfortable after her bath, her smile deepened, and her sleepiness deepened.

Chang Yuze held his daughter in his arms and slowly fell asleep. His daughter was everything to him. No matter how his wife changed, no matter how his family changed, at least he still had his precious daughter, whom he cherished as his life.

Regardless, Xu Hong was still Chang Yuze's wife, and Chang Yuze still had to "pay his dues" to his wife upon returning from his business trips. However, whenever he was about to charge into battle, that inexplicable image would suddenly pop into his mind, mocking and humiliating him, making his erect penis as limp as an overnight oily stick, drooping with every thrust. He had to banish this disgusting image from the depths of his mind. The test results showed that the semen in the image belonged to a stranger, and according to the investigation, this stranger was undoubtedly Zheng Weihua. However, this evidence was missing one crucial element: Zheng Weihua's semen had to match the one in the image.

Chang Yuze decided to take a risk and go directly to the room where Zheng Weihua and his mistress had just made love to collect evidence.

Chang Yuze borrowed a master key from the equipment department. Now, the 110 emergency hotline has become too broad, and some elderly people call 110 when they can't open their own doors. When the 110 officers arrive, they find the door is simply locked from the inside. The police can't just force it open, so they have to call a professional locksmith. Later, these kinds of calls became more and more frequent, so the police station commissioned a locksmith to make a master key specifically for 110 officers. This master key uses a national invention patent and can open almost all security doors on the market.
Using a GPS tracker, Chang Yuze confirmed that Zheng Weihua had slept at Xie Yalin's house the previous night. This morning, after reporting to work, Chang Yuze immediately left his workplace and drove to Xie Yalin's house. He carried a GPS tracker with him, which showed that Xie Yalin and Zheng Weihua had already left home and gone to work; they wouldn't return early unless there were special circumstances. Chang Yuze quickly entered the building, went to Xie Yalin's door, took out the master key, opened her security door, and went inside.

This was a new house, simply yet tastefully decorated. On the living room wall hung Xie Yalin's wedding photo; her husband had a straight nose, tender eyes, and thick, dark eyebrows—a handsome young man. They were very happy; in every wedding photo, they were embracing or gazing at each other, radiating tenderness and affection. It was a pity that this happy groom, before even spending his honeymoon with his bride, was arrested and imprisoned, now suffering in jail, while his beloved bride was enjoying the company of an older man every night.

Chang Yuze didn't linger in the living room, going straight into her bedroom. Her bedroom still retained the strong atmosphere of their wedding night. A large double bed was adorned with bright red bedding, and pink curtains were parted, letting in bright light. Festive decorations adorned the bedside tables and dressing table. On the bedroom walls also hung Xie Yalin and her husband's wedding photos, the two embracing sweetly and lovingly. Sadly, in the wedding photos, the groom's gaze naturally falls on the romantic bed, as if he wants to witness his and his beloved wife's intimacy every night. Unfortunately, now he can only see his wife having sex with an old and ugly lover every night. If the groom could truly see it, how angry and heartbroken he would be when that old and ugly man ravages his bride on his wedding bed. Chang Yuze was somewhat confused, wondering if Xie Yalin still deeply loved her husband. If she didn't, she should have taken down their wedding photos long ago; if she still loved him, she shouldn't have let the groom witness such heartbreaking scenes every night.

Let Xie Yalin, that frivolous woman, handle these troubling matters; Chang Yuze has his own things to do. Chang Yuze found the trash can in the bedroom, opened it, and carefully inspected it. Inside were several sheets of toilet paper and fruit peels. Suppressing his nausea, Chang Yuze unfolded each sheet of toilet paper, only to be disappointed. There were no condoms, nor any semen or saliva-like substances. Actually, Chang Yuze's main purpose in sneaking into Xie Yalin's house was to find condoms. If he found them, he could have them tested again and compare the results with those from the condoms in his villa. If the results matched, he could confirm Zheng Weihua's adulterous relationship with his wife. Even now, Chang Yuze still clung to a very faint hope that his wife hadn't had a relationship with Zheng Weihua. Last night, Zheng Weihua clearly stayed with Xie Yalin. Could it be that they only slept together and didn't have sex?

Chang Yuze didn't believe that this lecherous old man wouldn't be tempted by the soft, tender beauty from Jiangnan, so he went into the bathroom to search again. Xie Yalin was a diligent and clean girl; the bathroom was spotless, without a trace of odor or litter. On the sink were several bottles of women's shampoo and a few men's toiletries, all frequently used. The men's toiletries were undoubtedly Zheng Weihua's. For an old, ugly man like Zheng Weihua, using any grooming products would be a waste.

Chang Yuze opened the wardrobe to check. Inside hung Xie Yalin's clothes: bras, panties, and pajamas, mostly her usual items. A sexy pink slip dress hung on the very top; it must have been the one Chang Yuze saw Xie Yalin wearing that night. She probably wore it often; it still seemed to carry her faint scent. On the other side of the wardrobe hung men's clothes, several large red boxer briefs particularly conspicuous—undoubtedly the dirty old man's.

Chang Yuze opened the bedside table, searching drawer by drawer. Several medications were found, including a long-acting female contraceptive pill. Chang Yuze had read the instructions before and intended for his wife to use it. However, his wife was worried about side effects and insisted he use a condom. Actually, the long-acting contraceptive pill was easy to use; one pill provided contraception for a month, with no impact on health or sexual pleasure. After stopping the medication, physiological function returned to normal. Zheng Weihua refused to use a condom and instead had Xie Yalin take the long-acting contraceptive pill, seemingly wanting to achieve maximum pleasure. As a man, Chang Yuze deeply understood this; no matter how thin the condom, it felt like a shackle on his penis, restricting his passion and power. During intimacy with his wife, he always felt a barrier between them, lacking the sensitivity and depth of flesh-on-flesh contact. Ultimately, without the satisfying penetration, he couldn't experience the great sense of accomplishment of conquering his beloved.

Another medication was Viagra, imported directly from the US, in a bottle of thirty pills; there were still a dozen or so left. The other medicine was a traditional Chinese medicine, presented in a small, gourd-shaped celadon bottle, about two sections high. The porcelain was exquisite, gleaming with a jade-like sheen. A painting depicted an elderly man with a youthful face and white hair sitting on an ivory bed, surrounded by nine stunningly beautiful dancers in semi-nude dresses. Each woman gazed at the elderly man with seductive expressions, seemingly seeking his favor. The bottle was inscribed with the four characters "Peng Zu's Elixir." The cap was a wooden stopper, clearly made of extraordinary wood, with a small, lifelike dragon coiled at the top. The wood grain was fine, and the bottle felt heavy. It emitted a delicate fragrance. Opening the stopper revealed a semi-transparent bottle, through which, through a faint bluish light, could be seen filled with about a dozen, roughly the size of peanuts, containing black pills. A gentle shake released a rich medicinal aroma. Peng Zu is a legendary immortal in Chinese mythology, the progenitor of longevity and the originator of sexual techniques. It is said that even at the age of one hundred, Peng Zu could still sleep with nine women at night. It seemed this bottle of "Peng Zu's Elixir" was the aphrodisiac that old bastard Zheng Weihua was taking.
Chang Yuze searched the bedroom but found nothing of value, so he strolled into the study. He had been there twice in the evenings and had seen Xie Yalin quietly reading, leaving a deep impression on him. The study contained a computer, a desk, and a bookshelf filled with books, mostly for study and work. Several books sat on the desk, the top one being finance for her postgraduate entrance exam; it seemed Xie Yalin was studying diligently every night for that. Chang Yuze noticed a delicate bookplate tucked inside one of the books. He casually opened the book, pulled it out, and saw a line of elegant handwriting written vertically: "Husband, I will always love you!" Below the exclamation mark was a heart drawn in red pen. Chang Yuze was slightly moved. Xie Yalin wasn't a vulgar woman who craved pleasure; she had ambition and was devoted to love. Perhaps there were unspeakable reasons why she was willing to be Zheng Weihua's mistress.

Chang Yuze couldn't bear to disturb this lovely girl who hadn't lost her purpose in life any longer, so he hurriedly left. Even after walking a long way, he was still thinking about the book, "Husband, I will always love you!" If it were Xu Hong, would she be thinking those words while having a tryst with her lover?

Chang Yuze, in one fell swoop, searched Zhao Ying and Zhou Xiaoyan's rooms again, still finding nothing of value, but he did discover some interesting phenomena. All three women's bedrooms had several pairs of men's underwear, baggy red underwear, mostly boxer briefs, indicating that Zheng Weihua had a fetish for red boxer briefs. All three women's rooms had at least one sexy pink slip dress. Zhao Ying and Zhou Xiaoyan's bedrooms had several more sex toys, including vibrators and dildos, and Zhou Xiaoyan's room also had several pornographic DVDs. All three women's rooms had Viagra, birth control pills, and even a traditional Chinese medicine, but no condoms, indicating that Zheng Weihua didn't like using condoms during intercourse.

It's said that some corrupt officials always carry condoms and Viagra in their briefcases. Zheng Weihua would definitely carry Viagra, birth control pills, and elixirs with him. Since Xu Hong is Zheng Weihua's mistress, they must have had sex more than once, and certainly not just once at his villa. Why did they only use a condom last time at the villa? Did he forget to bring birth control pills? If so, his filthy fluids have already penetrated his wife's body many times before. His wife's body is no longer pure; it has been soaked through with filthy fluids! Thinking of this, Chang Yuze's heart felt as if it had been pierced into pieces by a sharp blade, the pain indescribable. Chang Yuze secretly vowed to catch this adulterous couple in the act and then teach them a lesson!

Chang Yuze then contacted Brother Bie Xin again. Since he had reported Zheng Weihua, he must have more information.

"Section Chief Jia, your procuratorate's investigation is very fast. Are you about to arrest Zheng Weihua?"

"We have obtained some evidence, but we're far from arresting him. The evidence you provided is very valuable. We've verified that his lifestyle is indeed problematic; he has long-term improper relationships with several female subordinates. As a Party cadre, he has lost the basic qualities of a Party member."

"Can he be convicted of having affairs?"

"No, this only shows that he has an immoral lifestyle and problematic conduct. We can discipline him, but it doesn't rise to the level of a crime. Only if we find he has committed crimes such as embezzlement and bribery can he be convicted. Also, the witnesses you provided aren't very accurate. Through our investigation these past few days, we've found that only Zhao Ying, Xie Yalin, and Zhou Xiaoyan had improper relationships with Zheng Weihua. We haven't found anything wrong with Xu Hong and Xu Na." "

Impossible! These five women are all Zheng Weihua's mistresses; they've all slept with him. Did you check the address I provided last time?"

“Yes.”

Brother Bie Xin sent a frustrated emoji and said, “I’ve been secretly collecting evidence against Zheng Weihua for three or four years, and it’s only in these years that I’ve confirmed he has several mistresses. You’ve only been investigating for a few days? A mistress is a mistress, and she’s different from a wife. You can have sex with a wife every day, and nobody can stop you. But it’s different with mistresses. They can only have sex behind their husbands’ backs. They can only have sex when they have the chance, and they have to wait it out. The two women you mentioned, Xu Hong and Xu Na, are like that. They have to do it behind their husbands’ backs, when their husbands aren’t around. Besides, your investigation is too narrow. Men and women don’t need to be at home to have sex, nor do they need to stay up all night. A prostitute can finish in half an hour, anywhere, on the sofa or the table. You should investigate Zheng Weihua comprehensively. His car, his hotel room, his office—wherever there’s a mistress with him, they could be having sex anytime.”

“You’re right. Our investigation time was indeed a bit short, and our methods were rather limited. Our procuratorate is also a bit anxious; we want to arrest this corrupt official as soon as possible so he can cause less harm to society. We hope Comrade Xiao Bie can provide more clues in this regard.”
“Of course! I’ve hated this bastard for a long time. I’ll do anything as long as he can be arrested soon.”

"However, asking us to investigate his office seems a bit unrealistic. Don't you think it's outrageous to have a mistress in the office? Zheng Weihua probably wouldn't have that kind of guts."

"We can't judge a corrupt official like Zheng Weihua with normal eyes. What we consider impossible is often the most likely scenario. Zheng Weihua probably finds it more exciting to have a mistress in the office. 'I'm the head of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, all the women in the Commission are my women. I can do whatever I want with them, wherever I want. He treats the Commission like his harem.'"

"That last sentence is probably just your imagination. Women of good character like Xu Hong and Zhao Ying wouldn't just casually have affairs with their superiors at work, would they?"

"What kind of cultured woman? Bullshit! She's just a slut in bed! The first time I saw Xu Hong, her elegant demeanor made me worship her to the point of prostration; she was practically my dream girl. Back then, just one glance from her would make me happy for half a day, and a single word from her would keep me awake with excitement. I was so infatuated with her that I couldn't eat or sleep properly. But then, when I saw her screaming in bed being fucked by Zheng Weihua, I realized she wasn't my dream girl at all. She didn't deserve it; she was just Zheng Weihua's mistress, a shameless slut!"

"Did you see Xu Hong and Zheng Weihua in bed with your own eyes? Where? Can you give me more details?"

Chang Yuze's heart tightened, and he typed rapidly on the keyboard, eager to know the shocking details.

"Forget it, I don't want to say too much about her. After all, she was my dream girl, and it's sad to talk about her. You guys should investigate. You'll see Zheng Weihua sleeping with many women. By the way, let me remind you, Zheng Weihua's mistresses aren't just the five beauties from the Banking Regulatory Bureau. He has other mistresses outside as well, so don't miss any."

Seeing that Brother Bie Xin was unwilling to talk, Chang Yuze didn't press him, afraid that pressing him too hard would arouse his suspicion. Anyway, he would have a chance to get the details out of him later. Chang Yuze followed up, asking, "Does he have any other mistresses? Where are they, and what are their names?"

"These women all work outside the China Banking Regulatory Commission. Their relationship with Zheng Weihua is unusual. As for whether they are mistresses, I haven't investigated thoroughly enough to confirm. I won't mention their names to avoid wrongly accusing innocent people. There's one woman I'm certain is Zheng Weihua's mistress—a female college student in Zhengzhou. Zheng Weihua only got her last year; she's incredibly new to him. I heard she's very beautiful, and Zheng Weihua goes to Zhengzhou almost every month to meet his college student mistress."

Chang Yuze thought to himself that he shouldn't approach Zheng Weihua's local women to avoid alerting him, while women from out of town would be easier to approach, especially a college student with little experience. So he asked, "What's this college student's name? Which school does she attend, and what's her major?"

"I don't know her exact name, but I think her surname is Ma. She studies at Zhengzhou University, I heard she's in the art department, and apparently she's the most beautiful girl in the art department. Everyone knows that girls in the arts are all pretty. Chief Jia, your procuratorate won't go too far to investigate, will it?"

"As long as we can find evidence of Zheng Weihua's crimes, we'll go even if it means going abroad. Don't worry, our procuratorate is determined and confident in finding out all of Zheng Weihua's crimes and will ultimately bring him to justice."

"That's great! I'm so happy to hear Chief Jia say that. I believe in the power of the country, I believe in the power of the Party, and I'm sure they'll clean up these corrupt officials."

Chang Yuze chatted with Bie Xin for a few more minutes, then said goodbye and logged off. Through this conversation, Chang Yuze felt that Bie Xin trusted him more and seemed more willing to reveal information, but he still held back. He didn't reveal the details of witnessing Zheng Weihua and Xu Hong's adultery. No rush, take it slow. Chang Yuze believed that in the end, he would reveal all the secrets he knew, including all the information he had about Xu Hong and Zheng Weihua's affair.
Just as Chang Yuze was preparing to further investigate Zheng Weihua, an urgent telegram from the Municipal Letters and Visits Bureau disrupted his plans: a woman surnamed Xu from Xiezhuang Village in the suburbs had secretly left home, presumably to petition in Beijing again. This woman surnamed Xu was a persistent petitioner, having petitioned multiple times before.

Chang Yuze immediately went to the Municipal Letters and Visits Bureau, where Hu Jieji, the deputy director in charge of intercepting petitioners and maintaining stability in Beijing, Fang Jinshan, the deputy district head of Zhaoling District in charge of letters and visits, and Liu, the township head of the suburbs, had already prepared a car, ready to depart at any time.

Starting in 2007, in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and to create a stable and harmonious new image for the capital, relevant central government departments required all provinces and municipalities to strengthen their petition work. Adhering to the principle of handling petitions at the appropriate stage and resolving them locally, all localities were required to attach great importance to this issue and effectively address public petitions. Problems raised by the public must be resolved at the local level; petitioners must not be allowed to bypass higher levels of government or travel to Beijing to petition. Any local government found to have neglected petition work, leading to petitions in Beijing, disrupting social order, and damaging the capital's image, would be severely punished, with its principal leaders being held accountable.

In response to the central government's call, Guide City specifically formulated the "Guide City Petition Work Management Regulations." The regulations have two key features: First, a veto system for supervising leaders. If a county or district-level government's handling of petitions is inadequate, leading to petitioners traveling to Beijing and being accepted by relevant central government departments, the county or district-level party and government leaders will be deemed unqualified for the year. Second, a high-profile petition and stability maintenance working group was established in Guide City, with the city party secretary as the group leader, the mayor as the deputy group leader, and the heads of each district, county, and bureau as the leaders of their respective executive groups. Based on the city's petition and stability maintenance group, a Beijing interception and stability maintenance sub-team was established, composed of personnel from the petition bureau, the public security bureau, and the Beijing liaison office. The director of the city's petition bureau served as the team leader, and team members were drawn from these three units. Because the director of the petition bureau had many duties and could not personally go to Beijing to direct the interception and stability maintenance work, the Beijing interception and stability maintenance work was effectively handled by Deputy Director Hu Jieji, the public security bureau by Chang Yuze, and the Beijing liaison office by Director Gao Hongsheng.

The Beijing interception and stability maintenance process is as follows: Upon discovering a petitioner has entered Beijing, the relevant township or district leaders immediately send the petitioner's information to the Beijing Petition and Stability Maintenance Team and simultaneously travel to Beijing. After receiving information about the petitioner's arrival, the Beijing Petition and Stability Maintenance Team dispatches personnel to stake out the gates of various central petition offices. If the target is spotted, they are immediately persuaded to go to the Petition Training and Education Center. After training and education, the relevant district or county leader who traveled to Beijing takes the petitioner back to their place of residence.

Volume Two,

Chang Yuze, while not directly responsible for the education and repatriation of petitioners, plays a crucial role. Because some petitioners have a weak legal awareness and overly extreme views, they may even violently resist when interceptors try to stop them from petitioning. Since general government staff lack law enforcement power, they cannot take coercive measures against these stubborn petitioners. Beijing, the capital, is a hub for foreigners. If foreign visitors witnessed the local government's brutal enforcement of the law, it would severely damage the capital's image and national dignity. Therefore, it is only natural for uniformed police officers to handle such incidents, transforming it into normal law enforcement by the police rather than brutal enforcement by government personnel.

Due to the Guide Municipal Government's high regard for and effective measures in handling petitions, no petitioners have attempted to cause trouble in Beijing for several years, earning it the title of an advanced city in petition work from the provincial government for consecutive years. Consequently, other cities in the province frequently visit Guide to learn from its advanced experience in petition management. The city's top leaders are well aware of the success of its petition work, especially its effective interception and stability maintenance work in Beijing. In year-end evaluations, members of the Beijing interception and stability maintenance team are awarded honors such as city-level advanced individuals and model workers. These members are also key candidates for promotion and advancement. It can be said that the Beijing interception and stability maintenance work is a highly coveted position for various departments, with everyone vying to get in. For several years, Chang Yuze's position in the Beijing Interception and Stability Maintenance Team has remained rock-solid. Chang Yuze is very grateful for Director Liu's trust in him and has been diligent and conscientious in his work, always returning victorious from calls to duty. He wants to repay his superiors' trust with outstanding performance.

Upon arriving at the Municipal Letters and Visits Bureau, Chang Yuze immediately got to work, taking out his mobile phone's GPS to locate the woman surnamed Xu. It showed she was over 100 kilometers due north. A little over an hour earlier, a train bound for Beijing had just departed from the train station. Judging from the time and location, the woman surnamed Xu was highly likely on that train. Her purpose was undoubtedly to petition in Beijing.

The interception and stability maintenance team had been resting at home for half a month when they received the report and immediately set off. They traveled in a high-end minibus, spacious and comfortable inside.
Inside the vehicle, Township Head Liu briefly briefed them on the situation of the woman surnamed Xu: she was from Xiezhuang Village in the suburbs of the city, in her forties, a farmer who occasionally did odd jobs, and barely literate. Some time ago, she had sued the township government over a demolition dispute, losing both cases. Dissatisfied, she petitioned higher authorities, first at the city level, then at the provincial level, and now she was heading to Beijing. Township Head Liu muttered, "The house has already been demolished, and the compensation has been received. Why is she still petitioning? Other villagers are accepting it, but she's stubborn. She neglects her family affairs and only focuses on petitioning. Even if the higher authorities agree, they won't compensate her much more. What's the point? She suffers herself and drags several leaders down with her. She's really asking for trouble!"

The car entered the highway, moving faster and more steadily, the air conditioning blowing a gentle, soothing breeze.

Director Hu, always in high spirits, started telling jokes in the car, making the young people in the car laugh non-stop.

Wang Xiaodan was Chang Yuze's subordinate, always accompanying him on business trips to Beijing. She was usually the one to handle difficult female petitioners. She was a pretty girl with a round face, a touch of baby fat, fair skin, and a pretty ponytail. She loved to laugh, and when she did, her big eyes would squint into crescent shapes, making her look very cute. She wore a well-fitting summer police skirt and a long tie. Her attire was very formal, but the uniform didn't give her a serious or composed feeling; instead, it exuded a unique charm. She had been working for less than two years, and upon joining the municipal bureau, she was affectionately called "Police Flower" by her younger colleagues. Now, the police system is not like it used to be; the proportion of women is increasing, but those with exceptionally good looks still don't want to work in the police force. Her father was a wealthy private coal mine owner in Yongbao County. She could have had a much better job, perhaps in another government department, but she aspired to be a police officer. She attended police academy and, through her father's connections, was directly assigned to the municipal police bureau after graduation. Director Liu favored Wang Dan, assigning her to an administrative position in the control and interrogation department—a relatively easy job. Because Beijing needed a woman for its interception of petitioners, Wang Xiaodan began accompanying Chang Yuze on patrol. She was gentle and didn't dare raise her voice at unreasonable petitioners; Chang Yuze often helped her out.

Wang Xiaodan was a stunning beauty on the bus, and everyone enjoyed making her laugh.

Director Hu told a little joke: Two dumplings got married. On their wedding night, the groom returned to the bridal chamber after seeing off the guests, only to find a meatball lying on the bed. He hurriedly asked, "Who are you? Where did the bride go?" The meatball shyly replied, "Oh, you're so annoying! You don't recognize me after I took off my clothes!"

District Chief Fang also told a little joke: When the father went to work, his three-year-old son suddenly complained to his mother, "Mom, yesterday when you weren't here, Dad took the maid upstairs..." The mother stopped her son from telling anyone. That evening at dinner, the mother gently said to her son, "Little darling, didn't you have a story to tell Dad? Now you can tell it." So the son slowly recounted, "Yesterday Dad took the maid upstairs to do the same thing you and Uncle Wang did when Dad was on a business trip..."

Township Chief Liu also told a true joke that happened on Xiaoxiaoxian, which reportedly made Li Yong laugh so hard he fell over! A couple was playing a guessing game about food names; the wife acted out the names while the husband guessed. The word "steamed bun" appeared on the screen. The wife described it: "Round, white, and edible." The husband: ...scratched his head, unable to think of anything. His wife continued describing: "It's white and soft, you even ate it last night!" The husband, seemingly frantic, blurted out, "Milk!"

These little jokes, though slightly risqué, were witty but not vulgar, eliciting bursts of laughter in the car. Wang Xiaodan laughed the sweetest and most beautifully.

Director Hu urged Chang Yuze to tell a joke as well. Chang Yuze feigned a headache, leaning back in his seat to doze off. He couldn't laugh at all; his mind was filled with his wife's dirty affair with her boss, his chest brimming with incomprehension and anger. Just before he left, his wife, who was at work, called to see him off. Although her words were still full of deep concern and tenderness, he sensed another meaning in her tone—a relaxed, smug tone. He was away on a business trip; she was finally free; she could once again freely fool around with her lover.

Throughout the journey, Chang Yuze remained preoccupied and unsmiling.

Upon arriving in Beijing, the interception and stability maintenance team checked into the Xinquan Hotel. Director Gao of the Beijing Liaison Office had been waiting for them at the hotel for some time. He treated everyone to a simple dinner before they went to their rooms to rest. The Xinquan Hotel was the municipal government's reception center in Beijing. Most city officials on official business in Beijing, especially those handling interception, stayed there. Of course, leaders from various city departments wouldn't stay there, as they considered it too low-class.

The train arrived in Beijing in the afternoon, by which time the central petition offices were almost closed. The woman surnamed Xu couldn't possibly go straight to the petition office after getting off the train; she would stay overnight and go to the petition office the next day. Her cell phone was dead, and the signal was lost, so the interception team couldn't locate her whereabouts and had to wait until the next day.
Early the next morning, Chang Yuze and the others had a quick breakfast and drove to the State Petition Office at No. 9 Xihuangchenggen, Xicheng District. They arrived early, but many more had arrived even earlier. A line hundreds of meters long stretched outside the petition office. These were petitioners from all over the country, young and old, men and women, their clothes often shabby, but without exception, they were all radiant, their eyes blazing with passion and fervor, like devout believers arriving at a holy site, about to face divine light.

Township Head Liu carefully examined the line; the woman surnamed Xu was not among them. However, the appearance of Chang Yuze and his group caused a slight commotion. Chang Yuze was dressed in a police uniform, a common sight for interceptors. In fact, Chang Yuze and his group were not alone; there were interceptors from other provinces and cities, like secret agents in a movie, vigilantly searching everything around them, as if anyone could be their target. The line

was too long, and people were frequently moving in and out, so Chang Yuze and his group split into several groups, monitoring different parts of the line and contacting each other by phone if anything happened.

At 10:10 a.m., Township Head Liu urgently called to report: the woman surnamed Xu had appeared! She emerged from a small alley and squeezed into the petitioners' line.

Township Head Liu greeted the woman surnamed Xu as if she were a relative, approaching her and grabbing her arm, saying, "Sister Xu, why have you come to Beijing again? Didn't we agree at home that the township would definitely handle your matter?"

"You officials say one thing and do another! It's been years since I got my house sorted out, and no department has given me a place to reason with them. I'm coming to Beijing anyway; I refuse to believe there aren't honest officials in the world!" The woman surnamed Xu was very agitated, speaking loudly, as if she wanted the whole of Beijing to hear her.

"We'll handle it, we'll handle it when we get back. Our township officials are here to serve the people; the people's affairs must be handled well. Come on, let's go home first. Don't you think that even if you come to Beijing to petition, Beijing will just send the case back to the local authorities for processing?" Township Head Liu said as he and another district official grabbed the woman surnamed Xu's arms and pulled her out, their car parked on the side of the street.

"You can't pull me! I know the law! You have no right to do this! I haven't broken the law! I have freedom! I can come to Beijing whenever I want!" The woman surnamed Xu resisted fiercely.

"Don't cause trouble here. Look at your appearance, you're bringing shame to our hometown by coming to Beijing. You say it's illegal for me to pull you, but the police came with us. It's not illegal for the police to pull you, is it?" Township Chief Liu snatched the handbag from the woman surnamed Xu and handed it to Chang Yuze.

Chang Yuze took the handbag and saw that it contained thick stacks of printed materials, two packets of instant noodles, and a sausage. She must have rushed to Beijing and didn't even have time to eat, just eating instant noodles when she was hungry. Chang Yuze felt both pity and hatred for this disheveled rural woman. Why couldn't she resolve her problems in the city instead of coming all the way to Beijing?

In fact, she probably had no idea about the petitioning process. Even if she submitted her petition to the State Bureau for Letters and Visits, it would still be returned to the original location for resolution after acceptance. In other words, the petitioner's problem would still have to be resolved in their hometown, and the petition would just go through a long detour and end up back where it started. But the trouble lies in the State Bureau for Letters and Visits' acceptance. Once the State Bureau for Letters and Visits accepts the petition, it means that the local government does not attach enough importance to the petitioning work, has not properly resolved the problems raised by the masses, and that the government departments are not doing their job well. Local leaders are most afraid of their superiors being dissatisfied with their work. Therefore, no matter which local government, they are very wary of petitioners going to Beijing and try every means to prevent them from doing so. The interception method used by Chang Yuze and his group is considered relatively mild. It is said that some places simply resort to force, directly grabbing petitioners going to Beijing and forcibly taking them back to their hometowns.

In the end, the woman surnamed Xu could not resist the strength of several men and was put into a Jinbei van. The door closed, and her screams were no longer heard.

Like a pebble thrown into water, the procession stirred a few ripples in the ranks of petitioners, only to quickly return to calm. On this street, several cat-and-mouse games of interceptors and their captors played out daily; people had long since become accustomed to it, numb to it.

The woman surnamed Xu was taken to a large courtyard near the Xinquan Hotel, which housed a temporary training class for petitioners run by Guide City in Beijing. This class was used to conduct ideological work with petitioners who came to Beijing and persuade them to return home. Director Gao was in charge of the daily operation of the training class, while Director Hu was responsible for conducting ideological work with the petitioners. Of course, the training class employed dedicated personnel and instructors, and these individuals handled the specific tasks.

The interception operation was successfully completed, and District Chief Fang was very pleased. That evening, he hosted a banquet for the Beijing interception and stability maintenance team. District Chief Fang treated everyone to a meal; Director Gao had booked the Hongguang Hotel, specializing in Xinyang cuisine. Director Gao was quite familiar with the owner, and he usually entertained guests at this hotel for a more modest meal.
The hotel staff all recognized Director Gao and his party, and upon their arrival, they were led to a luxurious room.

The liquor wasn't a famous brand, but it was good liquor—Songhe Daqu, a government-supplied special brew, aged for at least twenty years.

The daytime interception work was intense and stressful; drinking after work was the best way to relieve stress.

Hu Changgao and his associates had long-term collaborations and were all acquaintances. District Chief Fang had also visited Beijing several times and had interacted with them, so they quickly got into the swing of things, playing drinking games and having a lively time. Unlike Director Gao and Director Hu, who were in high spirits and won every bet, Chang Yuze was clearly in low spirits, losing repeatedly to his opponents in the drinking games.

"Brother, don't think about anything while drinking; thinking about things while drinking is the worst thing for your health," Director Gao said, noticing Chang Yuze's troubled expression.

"Brother, you've only been away from home for a day; are you already thinking about your pretty sister-in-law again?" Director Hu joked.

Gao Hongsheng and Hu Jieji were both older than Chang Yuze, and privately they both called him "brother."

"Look at what you're saying, Brother Jieji. I'm not newly married, we're an old married couple, what's there to miss? Let's stay here for a few months and see who wants to go home first."

"That's true, if we really stay here for a few months, you might miss your sister-in-law, but I'll miss your sister-in-law."

"Which sister-in-law does Director Hu miss, the second or the third?" Township Head Liu interjected quickly.

"Mind your manners, mind your manners, there are women here. Come on, Section Chief Chang, I'll drink six cups with you. Alcohol is a good thing, once you drink, you don't think about anything." District Chief Fang also challenged Chang Yuze. That's how drinking is, the more you play hard to get, the more others want to drink with you. They

played a game of rock-paper-scissors for six cups, and Chang Yuze drank four in a row. The last two were only given to him by District Chief Fang.

Director Gao sat to Chang Yuze's left and whispered in his ear, "Brother, you're not usually like this. Old Hu and I can't possibly win against you. Did you and your wife have a fight?"

"Section Chief Chang and his wife have a very good relationship. They would never fight," Wang Xiaodan interjected. She had met Xu Hong before; she was beautiful, elegant, and kind. She thought Section Chief Chang and Xu Hong were a match made in heaven.

"Young lady, you don't understand. Marriage is complicated. A good relationship doesn't guarantee you won't argue. Take my sister-in-law and me, for example. We've been married for over twenty years, and we've argued more than a hundred times. Now we're old, and our tempers haven't changed. Who knows, some small thing could spark another big fight, haha. But we're a couple who make up before we get out of bed; we don't hold grudges." Director Gao lectured Wang Xiaodan with his life experience while comforting Chang Yuze. "No couple is without arguments. Everyone encounters troubles in their life. The key is to argue, then make up, then argue again. That's how a couple can grow stronger through the ups and downs."

"Hongsheng, I heard you always grab a knife first when you argue with your sister-in-law. Looks like you're quite something, knowing how to strike first," Director Hu teased Director Gao. Director Gao's wife is very strong and has a fierce appearance. She is the deputy director of the Family Planning Commission. Although she is nominally in a deputy position, she is actually more powerful than the top leader. Director Gao is a bit afraid of his wife. He would rather stay in Beijing than go home. Because of this, Director Hu often jokes about him.

"Brother Hu is absolutely right. My relationship with my wife wasn't built on fighting; the more we fight, the closer we get," Director Gao said, mocking himself as he turned the conversation to Chang Yuze. "Brother Yuze, don't follow my example in this regard. Your wife and I are used to arguing, so a fight is nothing to us. But it's different with your wife. You're so loving that even a little argument is painful. So, if you ever have a disagreement with her, you'd better explain things to her quickly. She's really wonderful—beautiful and understanding. If you argue with her, Lao Hu and I won't help you."
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Hongsheng. My wife and I are really fine. I'm not feeling well today. I probably caught a cold when I came, and I left the window open last night, so I guess the wind got too strong,"

Chang Yuze thought to himself. He realized he wasn't experienced enough, not shrewd enough. His thoughts were always written on his face, unlike Director Gao and Director Hu, who always had a smiling face, like a Buddha, no matter the situation.

Chang Yuze forced himself to stay awake and keep them company, but he drank more and more until he finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell asleep against the sofa armrest. In his dazed state, Wang Xiaodan took him back to the hotel.

Wang Xiaodan made Chang Yuze a cup of water, gave him some medicine, and said, "Section Chief Chang, have some water. I brought some cold medicine; take it first."

Chang Yuze, though drunk, was still alert. He took the tea and pills, thanking her, "Thank you. Go back to your room and rest."

"If you feel unwell, just call me. I'll come get you some water." The air conditioning was on in the room, and Wang Xiaodan carefully pulled a blanket over Chang Yuze. As she left, she turned back and smiled, saying, "Remember to take your medicine."

Chang Yuze felt a warmth in his heart. Wang Xiaodan reminded him of Xu Hong. Every time he came home drunk, he would be scolded by Xu Hong, but at the same time, she would take meticulous care of him. Unfortunately, such sweet feelings would be hard to find again.

Chang Yuze knew he hadn't drunk enough; the alcohol was just starting to take effect. Normally, this would be his peak drinking time, but for some reason, the effects were coming on quickly despite the small amount. Chang Yuze drank several cups of green tea, but couldn't suppress the strong effects of the alcohol. His mind was filled with the sordid image of his wife's infidelity. In the past, before bed, Chang Yuze would always make a passionate phone call with his wife, flirting and adding a touch of sweetness to their dreams.

Now, what was his wife doing? Was she watching TV, putting Lulu to bed, going to the gym, or fooling around with that bastard? Chang Yuze dialed a number on a whim.

The number he dialed wasn't his wife's, but a friend in Beijing, Xu Anning. A few years ago, Chang Yuze had participated in a postgraduate program for young police officers organized by the Public Security University, and Xu Anning was a classmate he had met in that program. Xu Anning works at the Ministry of Public Security and currently holds the rank of Second-Level Police Inspector. He is a very outgoing person. Having worked at the Ministry of Public Security for a long time, he has handled many major cases and often explains and analyzes them for his students in class. Xu Anning has a clear mind and strong logical reasoning ability, always able to analyze complex cases thoroughly. During his studies, Chang Yuze consulted him on many issues, and Xu Anning was very enthusiastic, helping him analyze and solve problems with great enthusiasm. Sometimes he would offer very unique suggestions that could not be found in the textbooks.

After completing their studies, the two remained in frequent contact and maintained a good friendship.

In recent years, Chang Yuze, responsible for intercepting petitioners and maintaining stability in Beijing, had even more opportunities to meet with Xu Anning. Xu Anning was about ten years older than Chang Yuze, whom Chang Yuze respectfully called Brother Xu. The two were close friends despite their age difference, and often went out for drinks together in private.

"Brother Xu, are you home? Want to come out for a bit?"

"Back in Beijing again. Okay, where are you? I'll come find you."

"Let's meet at that bar again."

"Okay, I'm coming now, wait for me."

Sanlitun, Moonlight Bar—this was a place the two often met. The music there was soothing, and the clientele was mostly middle-aged men from the political and business worlds, so it wasn't too noisy.

Chang Yuze and Xu Anning were old friends; after a brief exchange of pleasantries, they ordered two drinks and began to chat.

Xu Anning immediately noticed Chang Yuze's unwell expression and asked with concern, "Brother, you don't seem to be doing well. You look exhausted. Is something wrong?"
"Brother Xu, I've indeed run into a headache, a big problem."

"If you don't mind, you can tell me about it. Maybe I can help you analyze it."

Chang Yuze didn't want to hide anything from Xu Anning. He was a very trustworthy friend. Xu Anning's insight into society and life, his composure despite his high position, and his carefree and easygoing personality were all admirable qualities.

Over cigarettes and red wine, Chang Yuze recounted his wife's infidelity, even including details that made him feel ashamed. Xu Anning listened quietly, his expression changing with Chang Yuze's story, sometimes surprised, sometimes angry. After Chang Yuze finished recounting the whole story, he remained silent for a long time.

"It seems you've really run into some trouble. I never imagined your sister-in-law would do something like this. I even attended your wedding banquet. Your sister-in-law is beautiful, has a bachelor's degree, and comes from a privileged family. You two seemed like the perfect couple, without a doubt. I've met her a few times, and she always struck me as dignified and elegant, not the frivolous type. It's truly incomprehensible."

"I'm also very confused. What went wrong? I'd like you to help me analyze it and come up with a solution."

"Even a wise judge can't settle family disputes. I can't offer you any good advice," Xu Anning smiled kindly. "If it were a case, I could use my seniority to help, but I'm powerless to resolve the conflict between your sister-in-law."

“Then you can at least give me some advice!”

Xu Anning said sincerely with a smile, “That’s possible! My advice to you is just one sentence: ‘Stop it here, treat it as a nightmare, let it pass.’”

Chang Yuze shook his head. He understood what Xu Anning meant; he hoped he would prioritize family harmony and not dwell on his wife’s momentary infidelity. However, he couldn’t do it.

First, he wouldn’t forgive Hong’s infidelity. If Hong had been raped, he wouldn’t be as angry, because it wasn’t consensual. But the fact was, she willingly slept with another man, and in her own bed at home. This meant she hadn’t thought of him at all when she was having sex with that other man.

Second, he didn’t believe his wife had only made a momentary lapse in judgment, that it was just one instance of infidelity. If she could sleep with another man at home, she probably did it many more times elsewhere.

Finally, he didn’t believe his wife would suddenly realize her mistake and stop. In the days he was home, judging from her behavior, she deliberately concealed the affair. She tried her best to act as if everything was normal. Since she wouldn’t confess, it meant she would continue.

Therefore, his immediate priority was to carefully analyze the causes and consequences of his wife's infidelity, find concrete evidence, force her to admit her shameful act, and make that old scoundrel confess and submit to the law.

Xu Anning slowly sipped his wine and said calmly, "I knew you'd react this way; you won't give up. Everything has a cause and effect. Since your wife cheated, there must have been a long period of gradual change beforehand; otherwise, she wouldn't have betrayed your relationship of over ten years. Brother, first look for the reasons within yourself. Did you and your wife have any arguments or conflicts recently, causing your relationship to sour?"

"No, we haven't argued once since we got married. I usually pamper her very much, and I feel that she cares about me a lot, asking about my well-being and being very considerate."

"Did you do something to betray her, and she found out? Hehe, brother, you're young, handsome, and successful; you have a lot of charm with women."

"Brother Xu, you've wronged me. You know, in our line of work, we're exposed to a lot of entertainment venues, and we've seen countless beautiful women. But apart from casual encounters with women while bathing or singing, I've never slept with a prostitute, let alone had a mistress. To be honest, Xu Hong is incredibly beautiful; in my eyes, she's the most beautiful woman in all of China. Compared to her beauty and elegance, even those big stars seem vulgar. I've never done anything to betray her, and she's told me she absolutely trusts me." "

So, you and your husband haven't experienced any relationship crisis and deeply love each other. Then, what about physically? To put it simply, women are like wolves in their thirties and tigers in their forties, and your wife is at that prime. Are you perhaps a little lacking in stamina in that area, unable to satisfy her needs?" "That's impossible. You could say my stamina is a little less than it was in my twenties, but it hasn't decreased much in that area. We make love once or twice a week, and I can usually bring her to orgasm. She's never complained about it." "Do

you travel frequently for work?"

“I’ve had many petitions in Beijing in the past two years, and I’ve traveled for work quite a bit more often, but each trip is relatively short, at most a month or so. And when I get home, I make it up to her extra. I don’t think she’s the kind of woman who can’t handle a month.”

“Based on this analysis, your sister-in-law’s infidelity isn’t due to a crisis in your marriage; in other words, it’s probably not caused by you. Her infidelity might be due to her own factors, such as being frivolous, vain, greedy for wealth, obsessed with power, or succumbing to the authority of her superiors.”

"No, you could say she doesn't have any of those flaws you listed, Brother Xu. She's of excellent character, dignified, and not greedy. In the past, during holidays, when people came to my house with gifts, whether it was expensive cigarettes and alcohol or sealed money, she would always throw them away. My friends and colleagues all know this. She's also not obsessed with power. She often tells me to work diligently, do good deeds, and that if I could get promoted, great, but if not, I wouldn't regret it. She studied law and worked as a lawyer; she likes to be meticulous and follow the law. As far as I know, she's never been afraid of anyone; her motto is that the law is above all else.

I've known her since middle school, and I know her very well. Her parents are my..." My parents-in-law are both retired military officers, which makes her the child of a high-ranking official in my small hometown. She grew up in very privileged circumstances, and her upbringing was very strict. Despite being the child of high-ranking officials, she has no arrogance or haughtiness. In middle school, she was a popular figure among teachers and classmates. When she was a lawyer, she represented clients in several cases, and the opposing lawyers all said she was very eloquent and not to be trifled with. Because of her legal background, she is very rational and principled, and she loves to debate. If we have a disagreement at home, I always lose. Putting aside my doting on her, I simply can't win an argument with her.

"It seems the problem might not lie with your sister-in-law, but with her boss. You must have investigated him, right? You couldn't have come up with nothing."

"Yes, I did a preliminary investigation, but the more I investigated, the more confused I became. A fat, ugly old man, yet he simultaneously possessed five of his most beautiful subordinates, Xu Hong being just one of them. These five women were all infatuated with him, and in terms of sexual desire, they could practically do whatever they wanted with him. What charm does he possess that makes five women so devoted to him as his mistresses?"

"Hehe, this is yet another story of a corrupt official keeping a mistress. According to relevant statistics, 95% of the corrupt officials investigated in recent years had mistresses. The remaining 5% of corrupt officials did have mistresses, but their private lives were particularly well-hidden, and their mistresses were not exposed or investigated. It can be said that 100% of corrupt officials have mistresses, and 100% of officials who keep mistresses have illegal income. The salary paid by the state is absolutely not enough to support a mistress; a mistress is the most expensive luxury. In reality, few corrupt officials are young and handsome; they are mostly old and fat scumbags. Their charm in attracting mistresses is not based on their physique or looks, but on the power they hold. The power they hold can bring money or positions to their mistresses."

"I believe that. Zheng Weihua is definitely a corrupt official, and he must have illegal income. He can afford to keep five, maybe more, mistresses; the money he spends must be considerable. He's worked in the financial system for many years and has strong connections. Some loan projects in the city that others struggle for half a year to get approved, he can handle with just his connections. He must have received a lot of kickbacks in the process. However, Xu Hong isn't an ordinary woman. She has no reason to covet the little power he wields. First of all, she's not short of money. My salary and our side income total nearly a million a year, enough for her to live a high-class life. And she has no desire for more money." Her life was comfortable but not extravagant; secondly, she wasn't lacking in power—her father, my father-in-law, was the president of the city court, a very influential figure in the city, far more powerful than her superiors. She had never been bullied or had to curry favor with anyone. Besides, I worked in the public security system and knew some people; in Guide City, no one in the underworld or the legitimate world dared to mess with us; thirdly, we had been in a loving relationship for many years and had never had any conflicts. I had never done anything to betray her emotionally or sexually. Why would she betray me and fool around with that old man? I just don't understand!

"Brother, you need to calm down and step outside your narrow-minded thinking. Don't blame yourself, don't look for the cause in yourself and your wife; instead, look for the cause in your wife and her boss. From what I understand, your wife is a woman who values self-cultivation; she wouldn't easily give herself to another man, much less willingly become someone's mistress. Therefore, the biggest suspicion now lies with her boss, Zheng Weihua. It's likely that Zheng Weihua actively seduced your wife, then gradually dulled her senses. Your wife, caught up in the thrill of the affair, went from being wary to letting her guard down, unknowingly becoming his mistress. When we investigate cases, we often start with the criminal's motive. For Zheng Weihua, his motive was lust. Lust is a man's nature; you and I both like beautiful women, which is understandable. However, when a man's lust swells to an unlimited extent, problems arise. Such a man, once he sets his sights on a woman and has the opportunity to be with her, regardless of the woman..." "No matter his status, he'd want to touch anyone, he'd dare to touch anyone. You've seen the news circulating online, about a lowly township official who, driven by lust, dared to embrace Song Zhizuying, who is a major general, many times higher in rank than him.
Judging from your investigation, Zheng Weihua is probably just that kind of audacious lecher. When he saw his beautiful sister-in-law, all he saw was desire, no reason. Your position at the Public Security Bureau, and your sister-in-law's father being the court president, were irrelevant to him at that moment. And since his sister-in-law happens to work under him, this provided him with ample time and opportunity to commit the crime. He must have devised a very clever method, either by seducing her in one go or gradually, eventually making her his mistress."

Xu Anning's analysis was enlightening for Chang Yuze. These past few days, he had been deeply remorseful, always feeling that his negligence had led to his wife's infidelity. After hearing Xu Anning's analysis, he felt relieved. He understood that the culprit was none other than that bastard Zheng Weihua. However, Chang Yuze still had one question that puzzled him: how could his wife, so outstanding, so easily give herself to that older man?

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Xu. I've been in so much pain these past few days, but after your analysis, I finally understand. The root cause lies with that bastard Zheng Weihua. However, I'm still puzzled. Xu Hong is excellent in every way, practically a perfect woman. How could she have any flaws that bastard could exploit?"

Xu Anning didn't directly answer the question, but instead brought up another case: "You should know about the first major case in our public security system last year, right?"

"Yes." Chang Yuze was quite familiar with it; the municipal bureau had even issued a special document for all officers to study. In 2009, Zheng Shaodong, the former member of the Party Committee and former Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Public Security, was placed under investigation for his involvement in the Huang Guangyu case, later dismissed from his post, convicted of embezzling and accepting bribes of 30 million yuan, and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve. His mistress, Wang Fei, the "first policewoman" of the Ministry of Public Security, was also placed under investigation.

"Leaving aside other details of the case, let's focus solely on the relationship between Zheng Shaodong and Wang Fei. Wang Fei was already quite famous when she first worked at the Shantou Public Security Bureau, known as the 'Number One Police Flower' of Shantou. Many wealthy men in Shantou, including several rich second-generation heirs, were interested in marrying her. However, Wang Fei didn't stay in Shantou to be a wealthy housewife; instead, she became involved with Zheng Shaodong, climbing the ranks of the public security system with him, eventually becoming the 'Number One Police Flower' in the Ministry of Public Security. From a purely practical standpoint, marrying a rich second-generation heir would certainly have been better for Wang Fei than being Zheng Shaodong's mistress. Why didn't she?

We've all learned Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Human needs are progressive, from bottom to top: physiological needs → safety needs → social needs → esteem needs → self-actualization needs. Most women hope to marry a wealthy husband and live the life of a rich housewife directly. However, a small number of women have their own ideas and prefer to achieve their wishes through personal effort. For them..." "Doing what you love brings a great sense of accomplishment. Wang Fei is such a woman. As Zheng Shaodong's mistress, she rose to prominence in the public security system, fulfilling her highest need in life—self-actualization.

I guess my sister-in-law is also like that. She doesn't like to rely on her father's power; she hopes to develop herself through her own efforts. In her workplace, she hopes to achieve results and gain the appreciation of her superiors. You and your father-in-law are external to my sister-in-law; you don't directly affect her sense of accomplishment, but her superiors do. I guess Zheng Weihua might have gradually closed the distance between himself and my sister-in-law through work, slowly eliminating her wariness, and their relationship grew closer until it eventually developed into a romantic relationship. Think back to when we were young; no matter how much our parents praised us, it wasn't as good as a teacher saying 'good' to us."

Chang Yuze's thoughts gradually cleared up, and Xu Anning seemed to have touched on the key point, recalling his wife's past behavior, which perfectly matched his analysis. Xu Hong is currently the deputy section chief of the Comprehensive Section of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), in charge of legal affairs. She is extremely conscientious in her work, never using her position for special privileges, and is never late or leaving early. She always finishes any unfinished work by working overtime. She is very happy when a case is successfully completed, sometimes even showing it off to her superiors. She always completes the tasks assigned to her by the bureau with utmost dedication. She has an excellent reputation within the CBRC; everyone in the Guide City financial system who has had contact with Xu Hong speaks highly of her. She earns recognition not through connections or good looks, but through her solid work performance.

Previously, Chang Yuze did not value his wife's work, believing it was too easy and merely something to do. Therefore, he never encouraged her at work, often telling her to quit and that he would support the family. Xu Hong was like a very obedient primary school student. The status and wealth brought to her by her husband and father were insignificant. Every affirmation and praise from her leader made her extremely happy. Zheng Weihua was like a wicked teacher with ulterior motives. He took advantage of his subordinates' trust in their leader and slowly extended his evil hand, eventually violating the obedient "good student".

Xu Anning continued, “For men, looks aren’t the most important thing. A man’s charm lies in his strength, and power is the greatest human power. Power is like a magic potion that can transform a slovenly old man into a handsome, charismatic, and charming figure. Beautiful women are infatuated with heroes, and they flock to successful men with power and influence. To you, Zheng Weihua is an ugly, vulgar old man, but to your sister-in-law, he might be a sophisticated and charismatic lover. Zheng Weihua’s ability to possess five beautiful female subordinates isn’t solely due to force; he must have his own strengths and talents.”
“Brother Xu, do you think I should investigate Zheng Weihua further to see how he seduces women?”

“Brother, can you give me some advice?”

“Brother Xu, please speak.”

"Stop here, don't investigate any further. Your wife is walking a tightrope right now. If you lend her a hand, she might land safely; otherwise, your love will be shattered. I think she loves you deeply. Her affair with Zheng Weihua might have been a momentary passion. After the passion fades, she'll value your happy family more."

"You mean I'm just being cuckolded, and I can't even investigate?"

"You've been in officialdom for so many years, you should understand the current state of society. The entire bureaucracy is rife with corruption. Which official doesn't have some filth in their ass? Which official isn't lecherous? It's said that high-ranking officials pick and choose, while lower-ranking officials play along, each enjoying their own pleasure. I know you're clean-living and haven't picked up any lecherous habits, but you can't guarantee that other men are like you. Your wife met Zheng Weihua at the China Banking Regulatory Commission. If she were in another unit, she might have met Qian Weihua or Sun Weihua. Look at the recent corruption cases involving officials at all levels. Behind every corrupt official are one, several, or even dozens of mistresses, and behind every mistress is at least one family. Every time a corrupt official is punished, it often means that several or dozens of families will suffer. You can't blame Zheng Weihua, and you certainly can't blame your wife. You can only blame the dirty culture of officialdom. It's the entire social atmosphere that has corrupted people. Can you fight against the whole society?"

Chang Yuze remained silent, silently drinking his foreign liquor, his mouth bitter. But he couldn't bring himself to willingly wear that green hat; it wasn't in his nature.

The daily interception work was the same—tense and tedious.

In his spare time, Chang Yuze turned on his computer, opened his dedicated QQ account, and saw that Brother Biexin's icon was grayed out; he wasn't online. Chang Yuze typed, "Any new information?", wanting to see if he was invisible, but after thinking for a long time, he didn't send it and deleted it.

Utterly bored, Chang Yuze tentatively typed the keyword "official green hat" into Baidu. He wanted to understand why wives of officials, like his wife, were so fond of having affairs. Search results quickly appeared online, including a popular article, "Why are officials the main group of 'green hat' victims?"

The article started with a short story: Last night, a group of friends were having tea together. Just after ten o'clock, a friend in officialdom wanted to leave, saying he had to go home to his wife. We teased him, asking if he was afraid of his wife. He replied that if he went home any later, he was afraid his wife would cheat on him. We burst into laughter, but he said with a serious face, "These days, almost all officials are cuckolded, and the higher the position, the greater the chance of being cuckolded. Even mayors are cuckolded, let alone us. So, it's best to be careful. Don't be fooled by their affectionate behavior in public; it's all an act. Behind their backs, their wives are cheating on them—that's what officials' wives love to do most these days." After saying that, he hurriedly went home.

The article begins by citing historical examples: Throughout China's thousands of years of history, this has been a glorious tradition. Leaving aside other officials, whose private lives are rarely recorded in history, emperors were arguably the highest-ranking officials in Chinese history. Their power was unparalleled, and the wealth and luxury enjoyed by women who married them were the envy of all women. However, looking at Chinese emperors, very few were spared from being cuckolded. Even Qin Shi Huang, the founding emperor of China's feudal era, is said to have been born out of wedlock; the last emperor of the feudal era, Guangxu, is said to have been born after an affair with Empress Dowager Cixi; the last emperor, Xuantong, couldn't even keep his last wife and insisted on divorce; and even Li Shimin, the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, one of the most glorious dynasties in Chinese history, a remarkably shrewd emperor celebrated in Chinese history, couldn't escape the fate of being cuckolded (Empress Wu Zetian had an affair with her son). How much more so for other emperors? Throughout China's feudal era, this was true for emperors of both the most glorious periods. This perhaps fully demonstrates that officials were indeed the main group experiencing cuckoldry. If emperors suffered such a fate, then officials below them were certainly even less likely to escape it.

The article then discusses the realities of society, analyzing why officials are the primary group to be cuckolded. The main reasons are as follows:
First, officials treat their homes like "hotels," with their wives entertaining clients there. Many things in China cannot be discussed well in the office, but can be discussed well at the dinner table, in teahouses, bathhouses, or nightclubs. Therefore, Chinese officials spend little time working in the office but have many dinner parties. Consequently, officials rarely go home for meals or tea, resulting in many people going to teahouses in the morning, bathhouses in the afternoon, and nightclubs in the evening. The popularity of teahouses, bathhouses, and nightclubs is mainly driven by officials, perhaps in response to the call to stimulate domestic demand and promote consumption. Therefore, some officials simply set up their workplaces in bathhouses. However, this turns their homes into "hotels" they rarely visit. Even when they do return, they lack the energy to care for their wives, as their energy is focused on the outside world, leaving their wives alone in these "hotels." Lonely wives can't simply stay with their husbands while they entertain guests at these "hotels." The officials' boast of "flags fluttering outside, the red flag at home never falling" likely stems from the fact that the red flag at home probably provides similar nourishment.

Secondly, officials keep mistresses outside, and in return, their wives keep male lovers at home. Nowadays, officials without mistresses or lovers are as rare as pandas. According to statistics from the disciplinary inspection department, 95% of fallen officials were related to mistresses or lovers. But we live in an era of gender equality. If your husband keeps a mistress or lover outside, can't my wife find a male lover to keep? Especially nowadays, couples emphasize "marrying someone of equal social standing." If an official husband is having affairs, his wife isn't going to back down either. It's a zero-sum game: you have a mother as a backer, I have a father. You dare to keep a mistress, have a lover, or frequent prostitutes? I dare to hire a gigolo. There are many such examples; everyone knows plenty if they look closely.

Thirdly, some officials willingly accept being cuckolded for their own promotions. The unspoken rules of officialdom are money and women, but some leaders are willing to have both. They take your money and also have their eyes on your wife. Some officials grit their teeth, not only giving money but also persuading their wives to be subservient to their superiors. Other officials have long had affairs with their subordinates' wives, but the subordinates, for the sake of their own careers, turn a blind eye and willingly accept being cuckolded. Even Chiang Kai-shek, for the sake of his political future, sent Soong Mei-ling to the United States at the last minute. So why shouldn't today's officials accept being cuckolded for their own careers?

Fourth, the likelihood of a couple both being in official positions is even greater. A former official in Zhejiang aptly put it: "Men advance by using money, women by using sex." When both husband and wife are in officialdom, both wanting to climb the ladder, and both exploiting unspoken rules, being cuckolded becomes commonplace. For example, a former deputy secretary and organization minister in Xuzhou, Jiangsu, sexually harassed over 100 female officials in the city who wanted promotions, even paying for their hotel rooms and demanding their company. He even made her bite his nipples until they bled, forcing her to smile obsequiously. This certainly includes situations where both husband and wife are in official positions.

Fifth, the trend of older husbands marrying younger wives has become fashionable in officialdom, but how can this fashion stop the older woman's allure? Many officials today, after achieving success, discard their wives, hence the popular saying in official circles: "A man is in his prime at forty, but promotions and wealth lead to his wife's death." Therefore, for some officials, the best outcome is for their wives to die naturally; otherwise, they will be kicked out of the game by their so-called husbands. These "successful" officials, relying on their power, status, and ability to amass wealth, marry young and beautiful women. Thus, it's quite normal for some officials to marry two or three wives in their lifetime. For example, a vice president of a court in Guangdong married his third wife, a young and beautiful doctoral student, at the age of 53. But being an official isn't for life; it's only a few years or a decade of glory. During this time, you either end up in prison, or you're lucky enough to retire peacefully. These young wives are certainly no pushovers. They married you back then not because you, old man, had any charm, but because they were after the resources you controlled. Now, you're in jail, damn it, you ruined my youth! Now, cheating on you is a sign of respect, kicking you out is perfectly normal, because I've set my sights on another old official. Even if you're lucky enough to retire or step down, your glory days are over, you've lost your resources, and you're just living on a fixed salary. Especially since your "little brother" is no longer useful. I'm still young, your "little brother" can't satisfy my "little sister" anymore. Cheating on you was your own choice back then; you should have foreseen this day. We often see old men being beaten by their wives, and nine times out of ten it's the fault of an older man marrying a younger woman. After

carefully reading the entire article, Chang Yuze compared himself and his wife, and felt the article was a bit far-fetched. The analysis of the reasons was too simplistic and arbitrary. In his case, his wife's infidelity didn't seem to be related to any of these reasons. If we had to pinpoint a possible reason, his frequent business trips might be one. However, his trips weren't very long, at most thirty days or so. Besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder; every time he returned from a business trip, his wife was especially gentle with him, and their nights were always passionate, far more exciting and stimulating than when they were home for many days. His wife didn't complain about his business trips; on the contrary, she was very supportive of his work. If his long-term business trips were the cause of his wife's infidelity, he could have changed jobs, stayed at his workplace every day, and spent every night with his wife. In fact, Xu Anning's analysis is more scientific. His cuckoldry wasn't caused by his infrequent meetings with his wife, but rather by the corrupt and lecherous official Zheng Weihua, who used treacherous schemes to impose it on him. The culprit was that bastard!

Real life is very complex, far more so than what's written online.
Chang Yuze, after careful consideration, gained a more unique understanding of Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory mentioned by Xu Anning. Zheng Weihua was the head of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, wielding unparalleled power within the bureau and enjoying immense influence in the city. He repeatedly secured major loans for key municipal projects and agricultural projects. Secretary Qin of the Municipal Party Committee held him in high regard, often inviting him to internal meetings of the Standing Committee. His wealth was immense, likely laundered and freely available. His daughter had obtained US citizenship, and his wife had settled in the United States. From these aspects, it seems his life's needs had reached the level of self-actualization, the highest level of human desire. Yet, why didn't he pursue higher goals, instead indulging in the most basic physiological needs?

Maslow stated that sex is a physiological need, a lower-level need. Instead of advancing in his career, Zheng Weihua returned to his roots, frantically pursuing sex. Work ceased to be work; it became playing with sex—high-quality sex, and more sex. Consider the provincial and ministerial-level officials who committed crimes. They wielded immense power, dominating their provinces or regions. Their high positions meant they had undoubtedly reached the highest level of human needs—self-actualization. Why didn't these officials elevate their needs further, instead indulging in the most basic physiological needs? Which of these officials didn't have several or even dozens of mistresses? Which didn't compete with each other to see who had the most and the highest-class mistresses? Is Maslow's hierarchy of needs flawed? After reaching self-actualization, one reaches the pinnacle, and after that, one returns to the starting point—physiological needs. Physiological needs and self-actualization form a cycle, moving from the lowest to the highest level and then back again, an endless loop.

Yes, it must be so. Humans cannot escape their nature. The lowest level of physiological needs is actually the highest level of social needs, and the highest level of social needs is essentially the lowest level of physiological needs.

When he arrived at this absurd conclusion, even he couldn't help but laugh. It was so ironic. Those corrupt officials spoke so grandly on stage, but in reality, they were utterly despicable. Their lofty ideals were no longer "serving the people," but had degenerated into "serving beautiful women."

Chang Yuze received a phone call from Gao Min, saying goodbye. She was going to Guangzhou to study that day.

Gao Min was his family's nanny. She came to live with them when Lulu turned one year old. Her family was from a rural area in Lanma County. She had dropped out of high school in her second year because her family had to support her two younger brothers' education. The girl was pretty, diligent, and hardworking. Her initial job was mainly to take care of little Lulu, but she was very diligent, doing cleaning, laundry, and cooking—she practically worked as a full-time nanny. Chang Yuze initially paid her 1,300 yuan a month, including room and board, but seeing how sensible and hardworking she was, he increased it to 2,000 yuan a month. This salary was the highest among nannies in Guide City. Chang Yuze and Xu Hong both adored Gao Min, treating her like a younger sister rather than a servant. Lulu also adored her aunt, and Gao Min was responsible for picking her up from kindergarten. Chang Yuze had already planned to stop using Gao Min as a nanny once Lulu started elementary school, finding her a proper job and helping her find a good boyfriend to build a happy family.

However, this plan was thwarted. At his shop, Yujie Foot Bath and Health Center, there was a male technician named Zhang Feng who took a liking to Gao Min and pursued her frequently. This young man was also from a rural background, with an average appearance, short stature, and a dark, thin build, but he was a good person, honest, and possessed superb foot massage skills. He was also very charming, and somehow managed to win Gao Min's heart. Soon, the two established a romantic relationship and entered a passionate phase. Zhang Feng loved Gao Min very much. Hearing that she was a high school student and had always been bothered by not being able to go to university, he was determined to help her fulfill her dream of attending university. He helped her contact a vocational school, not a regular university, but anyone could attend as long as they paid, yet she would still receive a college diploma upon graduation. He paid her tuition. Earlier this year, Xiaomin had already expressed her desire to go to university. Chang Yuze thought that even if she had such an idea, it would be in the fall before she could actually do it, as he assumed universities typically started in August or September. He was surprised to find that vocational schools were very flexible with their admissions, accepting everyone regardless of when they applied.

The young woman had a bright future, which was cause for celebration. Chang Yuze was very pleased and encouraged her to study hard, obtain her diploma as soon as possible, and find a good job. Chang Yuze then called his wife, asking her to give Xiaomin a gift. Xu Hong said she had already done so, giving Xiaomin 5,000 yuan for living expenses. It seemed she fully supported Xiaomin's choice; neither of them were stingy in this regard.

With the nanny gone, who would look after Lulu? Both Chang Yuze and Xu Hong were busy with work, and Gao Min had been picking Lulu up and dropping her off at kindergarten. In fact, Xu Hong's job is relatively easy, with flexible working hours. However, she adheres to work discipline and is never late or leaves early unless there are special circumstances.

Chang Yuze and Xu Hong were both concerned about their daughter's transportation to and from school. After much discussion, they finally settled on one solution: having Lulu's maternal grandmother take over the responsibility of picking her up and dropping her off. Lulu's maternal grandmother was retired and had plenty of time. Lulu's grandparents doted on her, taking her to their home whenever they had time, providing her with the best food, toys, and clothes, buying her whatever she wanted—spoiling her beyond measure. Chang Yuze and Xu Hong had insisted on keeping Lulu with them because the grandparents spoiled her so much; they feared that the grandparents would indulge her princess-like temper, hindering the development of her well-rounded personality. Chang Yuze and his wife were quite open-minded about raising their daughter; they loved her but didn't spoil her, hoping she could grow up happily and healthily. However, worrying was useless now; they didn't have the time to care for her, so they had to leave it to the grandparents.
The nanny was gone, and Lulu was living with her grandmother. Chang Yuze thought of another problem: his house was empty, with only his wife alone. She had once brought her lover to the villa; would she bring him to their current home? The villa was like a hotel to him, a place he stayed occasionally for leisure. But their current home was different; it was their real home. His household registration, his ID card, his public address—it was all this house. It was his true home, every inch of it filled with his scent. If, by any chance, that shameless woman brought her lover home, slept with him in his bed, and left his filthy scent behind, I cursed him and his ancestors! A raging fire suddenly ignited in Chang Yuze's heart. His eyes blazed with fury, his face flushed crimson, and his fists clenched. He couldn't let them succeed!

Chang Yuze took a deep breath, trying his best to calm himself, and dialed his wife's number.

"Honey, missing me?" His wife's sweet, coquettish voice sent a shiver down Chang Yuze's spine.

"Where are you?"

"In bed?"

"Whose bed?" "

Ugh, of course it's our bed."

"Are you alone?"

"No, there's a handsome guy next to me, hehe."

Damn it, Zheng Weihua is old and ugly, and you call him handsome! Chang Yuze suddenly regretted calling his wife so rashly. He should have prepared beforehand, called the landline first to check if she was home. Now she was answering on her cell phone, and the GPS was too far away to pinpoint the phone's exact location, so he couldn't verify if she was with Zheng Weihua. Chang Yuze's suspicions grew stronger, and he decided to continue questioning: "Where's Lulu? She's not staying at our parents' house, is she?"

"Not yet. Mom picked her up this afternoon, and I went to pick her up again to let her sleep at home. The kindergarten keeps a record of Lulu's activities every day; I need to give her feedback."

"Where's the little one? Let her call for her dad."

"She's already in bed."

Sure enough, this was exactly as Chang Yuze had imagined. The nanny was at school, their daughter was asleep, and only his wife was home. He wanted to have an affair, and no one would know. She was flirting with him on the phone, while the old lecher was probably already groping her snowy body.

"Wife, let's video chat, I want to see you."

"Hmph, I won't let you have that easy. When you're home, I want to feed you, but you only eat a couple of bites and then lose your appetite. Now that you're away on a business trip, you're bothering me again."

"Good wife, let your husband see you. If I can't see my beautiful darling wife, I won't be able to sleep well." Chang Yuze's rare sweet talk felt unnatural, as life had been too mundane for so long. There was a computer in his study with a webcam. He used to video chat with his wife on QQ when he was away on business, but lately he rarely used it; he just called her.
"Just a moment," his wife said, hanging up.

Chang Yuze immediately opened his laptop, opened QQ, set up the webcam, and waited for his wife to come online. His QQ name was "Sunshine," and Xu Hong's was "Rainbow." The sun was shining; they were just waiting for the rainbow after the rain. This intermittent wait made Chang Yuze extremely anxious. If that old adulterer was really in his house, he could only see his wife through the video, nothing else. Would there be any traces of his affair on his wife's body or face? Even if there were, she would cover it up so he couldn't see the truth. Just as

Chang Yuze was suffering, his wife came online. The video window shook for a moment, then returned to normal, and two beautiful faces appeared in the window.

Xu Hong was holding Lulu and smiling at him. Lulu was wrapped in a thin blanket and sleeping soundly.

Seeing his daughter, Chang Yuze's heart was instantly filled with warmth, sweeping away his previous anxiety and vexation.

"Wasn't she asleep? Why did you bring her out?"

"Hmph, I know what you're thinking. I've already taken a backseat at home. You've only been thinking about your precious daughter since you went on your business trip."

In the video, his wife was holding their daughter, looking very sweet and warm. Chang Yuze regretted his earlier unfounded suspicions that his wife was having an affair at home. Now it seemed that his wife was still the beautiful woman who loved and cared for her family. Perhaps, as Xu Anning analyzed, his wife was merely seeking the thrill of an extramarital affair and had lost her way. Essentially, she was still a quiet and dutiful housewife. He believed that as long as he continued to care for her, she would surely sever her relationship with Zheng Weihua and automatically return to the right path.

Relieved of his psychological burden, Chang Yuze was immediately radiant, his words as sweet as honey, spouting romantic phrases from movies and novels, making his wife's eyes sparkle with tenderness. Finally, the two ended their sweet talk with a flying kiss in the video call.

Director Gao invited Chang Yuze to dinner, hosted by Boss Qiao of Weiyuan Security Company. This Mr. Qiao had invited Chang Yuze many times before; he wanted to take over the interception business of petitioners from Guide City in Beijing, but Chang Yuze disagreed with this approach and had always refused his invitations.

Weiyuan Security Company provides services for receiving and escorting petitioners back to their hometowns. Several cities and prefectures have partnered with Weiyuan, where interceptors hand over intercepted petitioners to the company for management. After brief training and education, Weiyuan then escorts these petitioners back to their hometowns.

Chang Yuze is well aware of the operating methods of these security companies. Their security operations are mostly irregular, often skirting national laws and policies. The company's members are largely composed of unsavory characters, including street thugs. These individuals are of low quality, handle problems crudely and violently, and are prone to using force. He has heard that some petitioners have been beaten by security personnel during their stay with these companies.

Chang Yuze believes that interception work should be handled like reception work, with the government taking the lead throughout. The government should not subcontract its work to third parties. Security companies are profit-driven, and their objectives differ from the government's. Therefore, their methods are completely different. The government focuses on persuasion and education when dealing with petitioners, while security companies use crude and violent methods, which easily infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of petitioners. Although some petitioners acted radically and seriously disrupted public order, this is precisely why the government needs to patiently educate them. The process of educating petitioners should be gentle and gradual, rather than resorting to force, forced detention, or forced repatriation.

For several years, Chang Yuze has adhered to this principle. Whenever petitioners from Guide City were intercepted in Beijing, they were housed in training programs. Besides restricting their illegal petitioning activities, their daily meals and other activities were guaranteed. Furthermore, during the training and education process, instructors helped petitioners analyze the pros and cons, identify the root causes of their problems, and even mobilized the municipal government to help them resolve their issues. Therefore, there are not many stubborn petitioners from Guide City; their problems are generally resolved after one or two visits to Beijing, and they no longer appear in the ranks of petitioners.

In recent years, regulating and abolishing local government offices in Beijing has gradually risen to the agenda of central leadership. During this year's Two Sessions, relevant central leaders clearly stated that the organizational structure of local government offices in Beijing should be reduced as soon as possible, and their activities in Beijing should be comprehensively standardized. The Beijing office of Guide City has also been impacted by this. Although it's not yet time to abolish the office, the atmosphere is tense, and Director Gao has already begun preparations for its withdrawal: First, the number of staff and expenses must be reduced. This will impact the various costs incurred in controlling petitioners. While personnel costs can be reduced, rent is a fixed expense. Furthermore, without training courses, how will the detained petitioners be resettled?

Secondly, Director Gao was also considering his future. He had served as the director of the Beijing liaison office for over ten years, and was extremely familiar with the ways of doing things in Beijing. No successive city leaders had replaced him, precisely because of the special nature of the liaison office's work and his unparalleled abilities and connections in Beijing. However, this year's Two Sessions saw the central government taking serious action against local liaison offices in Beijing. The number of liaison offices would decrease, their operational authority would diminish, and their rank would decline. Director Gao knew very well that if he waited a few more years, by the time the liaison office had to be abolished, he would be past his prime. Rather than ending up in disgrace, it was better to respond to the central government's call now and return to his hometown with dignity. With his current performance and abilities, he could at least find a good job. Before the Lunar New Year, when he returned home to report on his work, Director Gao had already begun his lobbying efforts. Relevant city leaders were quite satisfied with his achievements and reportedly planned to appoint him as the second-in-command of a certain department.

It could be said that Director Gao's body was in Beijing, but his heart was in Guide. He had long wanted to clean up the affairs of the liaison office and return home to assume his new position with a light heart. The training courses must be abolished in the future. If they are abolished, how will the petitioners who come to Beijing be resettled? This is one of the most troublesome issues for Director Gao. Director Gao is eager to cooperate with Weiyuan Company, aiming to clear up the matter of petitioner resettlement as soon as possible.

According to the work structure of the Beijing Interception and Stability Maintenance Team, Deputy Director Hu of the Letters and Visits Bureau is in charge of all work and is the boss, followed by Director Gao of the Beijing Liaison Office. Chang Yuze is only third in rank. Logically, this matter shouldn't be his concern. However, Hu Jieji and Gao Hongsheng are both seasoned officials and worried about potential problems with petitioners in Beijing. Therefore, they unanimously recommended that Chang Yuze be responsible for assessing Weiyuan Company's capabilities and deciding whether to cooperate with them.

Chang Yuze also understands the current situation. The abolition of the Beijing Liaison Office is inevitable. If they want to maintain the current interception standards, the resettlement of petitioners must be handled by security companies. Therefore, he accepted Weiyuan Company's invitation to a banquet.

The meeting was held at a Donglaishun restaurant in Chaoyang District.

Director Hu did not attend, saying he had business to attend to that evening and had already met with Boss Qiao, so there was no need to see him again. Only Boss Qiao from Weiyuan Company, Director Gao, and Chang Yuze were present, each accompanied by a female companion.

Chang Yuze brought Wang Xiaodan, who was dressed up for the evening, wearing a light pink, elegant pleated dress. The upper part of the dress featured a retro-style shirt design, with two symmetrical small pockets and pleats on the shoulders showcasing her cuteness and carefree spirit, while the pleated hem exuded a graceful and charming femininity as she walked. Her ponytail was undone, and her slightly curled long hair cascaded over her shoulders. A touch of light red lipstick made her adorable baby face appear exceptionally alluring.

Director Gao brought his mistress, Su Rou. Su Rou wore a navy blue casual tutu skirt, paired with a light-colored blouse and a metallic belt. The flowing hem perfectly outlined her round and pert buttocks. Her long, ink-black hair and eyes that seemed to both pout and smile exuded a noble and adorable princess-like aura. Su Rou was a waitress at the Heaven on Earth nightclub. She possessed a naturally beautiful face and spoke fluent, soft Beijing dialect. Frankly speaking, whether in terms of looks or temperament, she far surpassed the top hostesses at Heaven on Earth. According to Su Rou, she studied flight attendant training in Beijing. After graduating, she failed to get a flight attendant job, so she temporarily worked as a waitress at Heaven on Earth. Chang Yuze and Director Gao had visited Heaven on Earth several times. Director Gao was immediately captivated by Su Rou's beauty upon their first meeting. Afterward, he always booked her private room whenever he went to Heaven on Earth, trying every means to get close to her. In the end, it took him a great deal of effort to finally win her over.

Boss Qiao was young, in his early twenties, with a buzz cut, strong limbs, and a smile typical of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and江湖义气, a code of honor among江湖江湖人士) on his face. His companion was Miss Duan, the deputy general manager of Weiyuan Company. Miss Duan was tall and athletic, with a healthy tan, boyish short hair, and wore a stylish pleated faux denim miniskirt and a contrasting striped t-shirt. If it weren't for her pretty face, one would easily mistake her for a handsome young man.

Boss Qiao had already arranged a private room. Director Gao arrived first, followed by Chang Yuze. Boss Qiao warmly invited Chang Yuze and Wang Xiaodan to take their seats, speaking in fluent Northeastern dialect: "Brother Chang, Sister-in-law Chang, please have a seat."

Before Chang Yuze could even sit down, he corrected his grammar: "Boss Qiao, let me introduce you. This lady is Wang Xiaodan, my colleague." Afraid that Boss Qiao might mispronounce her name and offend Wang Xiaodan, he glanced at her, noticing she wasn't angry, only her cheeks flushed slightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I thought Brother Chang and Miss Wang looked like a perfect couple. Haha, I'll apologize to Miss Wang later and punish myself with a drink. I'm Xiao Qiao, not really a boss, but Chang Yuze calls me Xiao Qiao, and I feel comfortable with it."

Northeasterners are known for their eloquence, and although Boss Qiao was young, he had been in the business for a long time and was very eloquent. He quickly livened up the atmosphere, and the three ladies stopped being reserved, introducing themselves, chatting and laughing, and starting to drink.

The ladies drank beer, and the men drank Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

After a few rounds of drinks, the three men subtly split into two groups: Boss Qiao and Director Gao, and Chang Yuze. Chang Yuze knew perfectly well that Director Gao and Boss Qiao were close, and he intended to bring them together so that he would take over Weiyuan Company. Chang Yuze also understood Director Gao's predicament; if the petitioner training program were removed, he could live a more carefree life in the Beijing liaison office and could leave Beijing to return home at any time. But while he understood, Chang Yuze wasn't a fool at drinking parties. No matter how skillfully the two women worked together, he always had an excuse to refuse their drinks.

At this point, Su Rou and Miss Duan joined in the urging, and beautiful women are always a formidable enemy at drinking parties, especially Su Rou. She was beautiful, and her persuasive skills were top-notch; her soft, sweet voice was irresistible to any man. Chang Yuze began to fend off their pleas, struggling to keep up.

Seeing that Chang Yuze had drunk several cups unjustly, Wang Xiaodan worried he might get drunk, so she offered to help him, inviting the two girls to drink with her instead of baijiu (Chinese white liquor). Normally, Wang Xiaodan was very discreet about drinking baijiu when they ate and drank together, never touching it. Tonight, she made an exception and drank baijiu, which immediately surprised Chang Yuze. This gentle and lovely girl dared to drink baijiu from their large men's teacups! Although she was given a discount each time, she still drank about four or five liang (200-250ml) after a few cups, and her face quickly turned rosy, making her even more charming and adorable. Wang Xiaodan stepped in to help Chang Yuze out of the awkward situation, and the two girls dared not offer him any more drinks. They seemed frightened by Wang Xiaodan's drinking prowess, especially Su Rou, whose mouth gaped open in an alluring "O" shape when she saw Wang Xiaodan downing baijiu.

Chang Yuze ended the dinner early and went straight to the point, asking Boss Qiao to take them on a tour of Weiyuan Company. Chang Yuze had heard that some security companies were actually shell companies, renting a few simple houses as their offices. When petitioners entered these security companies, dozens of people were crammed into one room, with extremely poor living and eating conditions—frankly, worse than prison. Chang Yuze was wary of Weiyuan Company; if it was like those shell companies, he absolutely wouldn't cooperate with them.

"Brother Chang, it's too late today, let's go see it during the day tomorrow."

"Xiao Qiao, why don't you take Section Chief Chang to see it? That's just how he is; he's very serious about his work. Let him thoroughly inspect your company so he can report to his superiors," Director Gao said, trying to smooth things over.

"Alright then, thanks for your hard work, Brother Chang." Boss Qiao led the way in a Hyundai SUV, with Chang Yuze and Director Gao following behind.

They drove south along Xidawangzan Road, then turned southeast onto Dayangfang Road, heading towards the suburbs. After driving for more than half an hour, they were getting further and further away from the city center, and Boss Qiao still showed no sign of stopping.

Director Gao, worried that Chang Yuze might find the distance too far, explained to him, "You know, the housing prices in the city center are terrifyingly high. When they open a company, they definitely have to choose a place with cheap rent. Security companies like theirs are basically all outside the Fifth Ring Road."

Chang Yuze understood. In the years he had lived in Beijing, housing prices had skyrocketed, becoming unattainable for most. Security companies weren't like those in the finance or IT industries, where they would flock to places with cheap rent.

Their car drove into an urban village, filled with densely packed, low-rise houses. After turning several corners in the messy, narrow streets, the car stopped in front of a large iron gate. This was the address of Weiyuan Company, their newly rented office space; the old location had been abandoned.

The meeting was held at a Donglaishun restaurant in Chaoyang District.
Director Hu did not attend, saying he had business to attend to that evening and had already met with Boss Qiao, so there was no need to see him again. Only Boss Qiao from Weiyuan Company, Director Gao, and Chang Yuze were present, each accompanied by a female companion.

Chang Yuze brought Wang Xiaodan, who was dressed up for the evening, wearing a light pink, elegant pleated dress. The upper part of the dress featured a retro-style shirt design, with two symmetrical small pockets and pleats on the shoulders showcasing her cuteness and carefree spirit, while the pleated hem exuded a graceful and charming femininity as she walked. Her ponytail was undone, and her slightly curled long hair cascaded over her shoulders. A touch of light red lipstick made her adorable baby face appear exceptionally alluring.

Director Gao brought his mistress, Su Rou. Su Rou wore a navy blue casual tutu skirt, paired with a light-colored blouse and a metallic belt. The flowing hem perfectly outlined her round and pert buttocks. Her long, ink-black hair and eyes that seemed to both pout and smile exuded a noble and adorable princess-like aura. Su Rou was a waitress at the Heaven on Earth nightclub. She possessed a naturally beautiful face and spoke fluent, soft Beijing dialect. Frankly speaking, whether in terms of looks or temperament, she far surpassed the top hostesses at Heaven on Earth. According to Su Rou, she studied flight attendant training in Beijing. After graduating, she failed to get a flight attendant job, so she temporarily worked as a waitress at Heaven on Earth. Chang Yuze and Director Gao had visited Heaven on Earth several times. Director Gao was immediately captivated by Su Rou's beauty upon their first meeting. Afterward, he always booked her private room whenever he went to Heaven on Earth, trying every means to get close to her. In the end, it took him a great deal of effort to finally win her over.

Boss Qiao was young, in his early twenties, with a buzz cut, strong limbs, and a smile typical of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and江湖义气, a code of honor among江湖江湖人士) on his face. His companion was Miss Duan, the deputy general manager of Weiyuan Company. Miss Duan was tall and athletic, with a healthy tan, boyish short hair, and wore a stylish pleated faux denim miniskirt and a contrasting striped t-shirt. If it weren't for her pretty face, one would easily mistake her for a handsome young man.

Boss Qiao had already arranged a private room. Director Gao arrived first, followed by Chang Yuze. Boss Qiao warmly invited Chang Yuze and Wang Xiaodan to take their seats, speaking in fluent Northeastern dialect: "Brother Chang, Sister-in-law Chang, please have a seat."

Before Chang Yuze could even sit down, he corrected his grammar: "Boss Qiao, let me introduce you. This lady is Wang Xiaodan, my colleague." Afraid that Boss Qiao might mispronounce her name and offend Wang Xiaodan, he glanced at her, noticing she wasn't angry, only her cheeks flushed slightly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I thought Brother Chang and Miss Wang looked like a perfect couple. Haha, I'll apologize to Miss Wang later and punish myself with a drink. I'm Xiao Qiao, not really a boss, but Chang Yuze calls me Xiao Qiao, and I feel comfortable with it."

Northeasterners are known for their eloquence, and although Boss Qiao was young, he had been in the business for a long time and was very eloquent. He quickly livened up the atmosphere, and the three ladies stopped being reserved, introducing themselves, chatting and laughing, and starting to drink.

The ladies drank beer, and the men drank Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

After a few rounds of drinks, the three men subtly split into two groups: Boss Qiao and Director Gao, and Chang Yuze. Chang Yuze knew perfectly well that Director Gao and Boss Qiao were close, and he intended to bring them together so that he would take over Weiyuan Company. Chang Yuze also understood Director Gao's predicament; if the petitioner training program were removed, he could live a more carefree life in the Beijing liaison office and could leave Beijing to return home at any time. But while he understood, Chang Yuze wasn't a fool at drinking parties. No matter how skillfully the two women worked together, he always had an excuse to refuse their drinks.

At this point, Su Rou and Miss Duan joined in the urging, and beautiful women are always a formidable enemy at drinking parties, especially Su Rou. She was beautiful, and her persuasive skills were top-notch; her soft, sweet voice was pleasing to any man. Chang Yuze began to fend off their offers, struggling to keep up.

Seeing that Chang Yuze had drunk several cups unjustly, Wang Xiaodan worried he might get drunk, so she offered to help him, inviting the two girls to drink with her instead of baijiu (Chinese white liquor). Normally, Wang Xiaodan was very discreet about drinking baijiu when they ate and drank together, never touching it. Tonight, she made an exception and drank baijiu, which immediately surprised Chang Yuze. This gentle and lovely girl dared to drink baijiu from their large men's teacups! Although she was given a discount each time, she still drank about four or five liang (200-250ml) after a few cups, and her face quickly turned rosy, making her even more charming and adorable. Wang Xiaodan stepped in to help Chang Yuze out of the awkward situation, and the two girls dared not offer him any more drinks. They seemed frightened by Wang Xiaodan's drinking prowess, especially Su Rou, whose mouth gaped open in an alluring "O" shape when she saw Wang Xiaodan downing baijiu.

Chang Yuze ended the dinner early and went straight to the point, asking Boss Qiao to take them on a tour of Weiyuan Company. Chang Yuze had heard that some security companies were actually shell companies, renting a few simple houses as their offices. When petitioners entered these security companies, dozens of people were crammed into one room, with extremely poor living and eating conditions—frankly, worse than prison. Chang Yuze was wary of Weiyuan Company; if it was like those shell companies, he absolutely could not cooperate with them.
"Brother Chang, it's too late today, let's go see it during the day tomorrow."

"Xiao Qiao, why don't you take Section Chief Chang to see it? That's just how he is; he's very serious about his work. Let him thoroughly inspect your company so he can report to his superiors," Director Gao said, trying to smooth things over.

"Alright then, thanks for your hard work, Brother Chang." Boss Qiao led the way in a Hyundai SUV, with Chang Yuze and Director Gao following behind.

They drove south along Xidawangzan Road, then turned southeast onto Dayangfang Road, heading towards the suburbs. After driving for more than half an hour, they were getting further and further away from the city center, and Boss Qiao still showed no sign of stopping.

Director Gao, worried that Chang Yuze might find the distance too far, explained to him, "You know, the housing prices in the city center are terrifyingly high. When they open a company, they definitely have to choose a place with cheap rent. Security companies like theirs are basically all outside the Fifth Ring Road."

Chang Yuze understood. In the years he had lived in Beijing, housing prices had skyrocketed, becoming unattainable for most. Security companies weren't like those in the finance or IT industries, where they would flock to places with cheap rent.

Their car drove into an urban village, filled with densely packed, low-rise houses. After turning several corners in the messy, narrow streets, the car stopped in front of a large iron gate. This was the address of Weiyuan Company, their newly rented office space; the old location had been abandoned.

Wang Xiaodan, a well-behaved girl, how could she possibly compete with this boyish guy? Chang Yuze was about to refuse when Boss Qiao's eyes lit up, and he agreed, saying, "Sister-in-law Gao is more knowledgeable; everyone loves watching a beauty contest. Section Chief Chang, let Officer Wang and Manager Duan have a go, just for everyone's entertainment. I have all the equipment here; I guarantee no one will get hurt."

"Okay, let's compete! Who's afraid of who?" Wang Xiaodan, however, abandoned her quiet and cute image and began to stretch her wrists and ankles, seemingly preparing for the challenge.

At that moment, Chang Yuze suddenly thought of his wife again. He felt that Wang Xiaodan's behavior was familiar and endearing. Her indomitable spirit and fearlessness were very much like his wife's. No matter what difficulties she encountered, his wife would always say in a very relaxed tone, "What's there to be afraid of? I can definitely do it."

Su Rou seemed particularly happy, quickly running to fetch the boxing gloves, distributing them to the two women, and then diligently helping Wang Xiaodan put them on.

Seeing Wang Xiaodan's flushed face, Chang Yuze wondered if she had drunk some liquor and was perhaps a little tipsy. He gently advised her, "Wang Xiaodan, don't compete. It doesn't matter who wins or loses."

Wang Xiaodan smiled sweetly and said, "Section Chief Chang, you have to have faith in me." She lifted her long skirt to her hips, tied a knot to make it easier for her to walk, revealing her fair thighs. She pulled her long hair back into a ponytail, kicked off her high heels, and with her bare white feet, she confidently stepped onto the sparring ground. The sparring ground was covered with rubber mats to prevent falls.

Miss Duan, on the other hand, simply and deftly put on her boxing gloves, strode onto the stage, and smiled at the beautiful Wang Xiaodan, saying, "Little sister, don't cry if it hurts."

"I've fired real guns before, do you think I'm afraid of pain?" Wang Xiaodan retorted without backing down.

The two girls quickly got into the swing of things.

"Manager Duan, Miss Wang, this is just a game, not a real fight. It's a friendly competition. You can use boxing and wrestling, but no kicks." Boss Qiao announced the rules, then said to Chang Yuze, "Section Chief Chang, you be the referee. Stop them when you think they've had enough."

"Okay." Chang Yuze didn't say much, but kept a close eye on Wang Xiaodan, a strange worry creeping into his heart. What's wrong with this girl today? She's gotten carried away after a few drinks.

The match began, and the difference in skill was immediately apparent.
Miss Duan, being a seasoned fighter, was agile and powerful. Wang Xiaodan struggled, dodging and parrying, and quickly took several punches. One of Miss Duan's straight punches was particularly strong, striking Wang Xiaodan's cheek with a sharp "smack," instantly turning her face red.

"Stop! No need to fight anymore. Miss Duan is strong." Seeing Wang Xiaodan clearly at a disadvantage, Chang Yuze immediately called for a stop.

Wang Xiaodan seemed not to hear, brushed aside Miss Duan's fist, grabbed her wrist, and slammed her heavily to the floor with a back throw.

Enraged by Wang Xiaodan's throws, Miss Duan got up and unleashed a flurry of punches.

Wang Xiaodan seemed to have found a trick: if her punches couldn't beat her, she'd use throws. She endured a few punches, then used a leg-swing to throw Miss Duan to the ground again.

"Stop, end it," Chang Yuze called again.

However, the two girls were truly enraged, ignoring the referee's calls to stop, and continued their fierce fight. The situation gradually turned around. In close combat, Wang Xiaodan had the advantage, skillfully using judo techniques such as "arm locks" and "neck chokes," giving Miss Duan no chance to punch, and pinning her to the rubber mat for most of the time. The two women began to tire, their punches and throws becoming weaker, and they tangled together, rolling on the rubber mat.

Seeing the situation was turning against them, Chang Yuze and Boss Qiao rushed over, each grabbing one woman and pulling them apart.

After the two women separated, they both calmed down. Miss Duan first admitted her mistake to her boss, then shook hands with Wang Xiaodan and made peace. Wang Xiaodan also felt she had acted very unladylike, and said

to Chang Yuze in a coquettish tone, "I'm sorry, boss, please criticize me when we get back." It wasn't an apology, but more like a pout. Boss Qiao repeatedly apologized to Chang Yuze, who politely reciprocated. Director Gao, fearing the two sides might hurt each other, quickly mediated, having Su Rou bring drinks from the car to calm the two girls down.

Boss Qiao, seeing that his beloved "general" hadn't shown the expected fighting spirit, looked somewhat embarrassed, his earlier pride gone, and even his enthusiasm for further encouragement greatly diminished. Chang Yuze chatted briefly with Boss Qiao, then, feeling there was no need to learn more, said goodbye and drove back to their base with Director Gao.

On the way back, Director Gao asked Chang Yuze, "Brother, what do you think of this place?" He had been with them the whole time and knew the situation perfectly well; this question was completely unnecessary.

Chang Yuze understood that Director Gao and Director Hu were both seasoned officials, playing coy in this matter, trying to pass the decision-making power to him to avoid responsibility if problems arose later. That's how officialdom is; no matter how close someone is in private, they'll avoid anyone whose interests might affect their career. Chang Yuze wasn't going to be a fool and pass the buck back to them: "You and Brother Jieji are both familiar with Boss Qiao, and you both know the strength of Weiyuan Company. If you've decided, I'll definitely agree. This job in Beijing is the three of us doing. If we succeed, I'll share the credit; if there's trouble, I won't back down."

Although Chang Yuze didn't have a high opinion of Weiyuan Company, he had no choice but to do something against his will.

Director Gao chuckled dryly, "Brother, you're right. The three of us are comrades in arms, sharing the credit and the burdens together. When we get back, let's talk to Lao Hu again about how to restrain Weiyuan Company if we're going to cooperate with them. We need to carefully consider the contract terms."

Halfway there, Director Gao parted ways with Chang Yuze. He wasn't staying at the camp; he and his mistress, Su Rou, had their own separate home. As Su Rou left, she kept praising Wang Xiaodan, saying that Sister Xiaodan was her idol and that she should practice with her more often so she wouldn't get taken advantage of if she encountered bad guys at night. Wang Xiaodan had sobered up considerably and reverted to her demure and obedient demeanor. She vehemently denied her earlier supernatural abilities, responding coquettishly that she had simply been drunk.
While driving, Chang Yuze jokingly criticized Wang Xiaodan: "You usually seem like a well-behaved girl, but I never expected you to be so fierce when you get angry. You threw that Miss Duan, who's fought in Wulin Feng, around like she was lost. Your judo is really good, where did you learn it?"

"I learned from the judo coach at school. You didn't know, did you? I had a black belt in judo at school. I dare to spar with boys, so why would I be afraid of that little girl?"

"I didn't realize a delicate young lady like violence. Aren't you afraid your boyfriend will find out and not dare to marry you?"

"No, I'm very gentle with the people I like. I only get angry when I'm upset."

"Did that Miss Duan make you angry? I saw you calling her 'Sister Duan,' very affectionately."

"Didn't that small-time boss surnamed Qiao make you angry? He dared to say that we police officers don't have real skills, only good looks. He dared to laugh at you, which is laughing at me."

"Don't be so impulsive in the future. We're here to work, not to fight with people."

"Understood, Section Chief Chang."

Her voice still held resentment and dissatisfaction, but Chang Yuze didn't press further and silently drove off.

Arriving at the Xinquan Hotel, the car stopped, and Wang Xiaodan opened the door and got out first.

"Ouch!" Wang Xiaodan cried out in pain as soon as her foot touched the ground.

"What's wrong?" Chang Yuze came over to check, and by the car's headlights, he noticed some redness and swelling on her right ankle. Chang Yuze squatted down, pinched her foot, and gently shook it.

"Ouch!" Wang Xiaodan cried out again, "I sprained my ankle."

"I'll take you to the hospital to get it checked out." Chang Yuze said, helping her into the car.

"I'm not that delicate. It's not like I broke any bones. I'll

be fine after a good night's sleep." Wang Xiaodan insisted on getting out of the car. "Alright then, observe her tonight. If it's still not better tomorrow, you must go to the hospital. I'll help you."

Chang Yuze put his left arm around her waist, letting her hook her right arm around his neck, and slowly walked towards the hotel. He noticed how slender and supple her waist was, and how light her body was.

She lived on the third floor, and usually walked up, though there was an elevator, it hadn't been used in a long time and was broken.

"I'll carry you," Chang Yuze said without thinking, squatting at the top of the stairs.

Wang Xiaodan nimbly climbed onto his broad back, her small hands tightly wrapped around his neck, whispering, "Thank you, Section Chief Chang."

Wang Xiaodan was very light, probably a little over ninety pounds, and Chang Yuze carried her effortlessly. She hugged him tightly, her heart pounding, her soft breasts brushing against his back through the thin fabric of her clothes with the rhythm of the stairs.
At the turn of the stairs, she whispered in his ear, "Sister-in-law must be very happy." Her soft breath brushed against his ear. Her breath carried the scent of wine and her own body fragrance, smelling mellow.

Was his wife happy? Wang Xiaodan's words confused Chang Yuze greatly. If his wife was happy, why would she seek the thrill of infidelity? He worked tirelessly for her and his beloved daughter, hoping to bring them happiness. He used to be incredibly confident; their family was the happiest in the world. His wife was virtuous, his daughter obedient, and his career was flourishing. But then, a sordid situation arose out of nowhere, and cruel reality shattered his confidence and happiness. His happiness was like a beautiful soap bubble blown by his daughter, growing larger and more dazzling, until suddenly, with a soft "pop," the beautiful bubble burst, vanishing into nothingness.

Chang Yuze escorted Wang Xiaodan back to her room, gave her a few words of advice, and turned to leave. He didn't notice that Wang Xiaodan's round face was flushed again, as if she had drunk half a jin of liquor. He returned to his room, lay on the bed, and his mind was still grappling with a question about happiness and unhappiness: Was his wife happy? Was his life happy?

Late at night, Chang Yuze was resting in bed when he was groggily awakened by a phone ringing. An unknown number. Who was being so annoying, disturbing his rest? He answered the phone impatiently, "Who is this?"

"Brother, it's me." A timid voice came from the other end of the line.

The caller was Zhang Feng, Gao Min's boyfriend. After Zhang Feng started dating Gao Min, he called Chang Yuze "Brother" along with her, but he rarely called Chang Yuze directly.

"Zhang Feng, what's up?"

"Xiao Min asked me to remind you before she left. She said tomorrow is her birthday, and she said Brother will definitely remember, just in case you're busy and forget."

Tomorrow was Xu Hong's birthday, and Chang Yuze, of course, remembered it perfectly. Several days throughout the year hold special significance for Chang Yuze: Valentine's Day, his wife's birthday, and their wedding anniversary. On these days, Chang Yuze would always present his wife with a bouquet of red roses and spend a romantic candlelight dinner with her. But this year, he felt extremely conflicted. She had betrayed him, she had hurt him; could he still offer her his blessings against his will?

However, not wanting outsiders to interfere in their marital relationship, he made an excuse, saying, "Thank you for reminding me, but I'm in Beijing now and can't go back. Let's talk about it when I get back."

Zhang Feng seemed not to understand and stammered, "How about, brother, I buy a cake for you and take it to your wife. Just say it's something you asked me to do. Xiaomin told me that you and your wife are good people, and to run errands for you if needed."

Chang Yuze remembered Xu Anning's words. His wife might have made a mistake in a moment of confusion. He should have faith in their years of marital love and give her a chance to correct her ways. If he adopted a cold and indifferent approach now, it might push her further into the abyss. If he helped her, she might see the error of her ways and slowly return to the right track in life. Thinking back to their sweet married life, how nostalgic it was! Chang Yuze decided to follow Xu Anning's advice and give his wife the same tenderness as before, hoping to pull her back onto the wrong track as soon as possible.

"Alright then, go to the florist tomorrow and order eleven roses for your sister-in-law. I'll pay you back when you get home." Eleven roses symbolize loving only one person for life, and Chang Yuze hoped these eleven roses would awaken his wife and restore her chastity and fidelity.

He woke up to another clear, bright day in beautiful Beijing.

It was his wife's birthday; Zhang Feng should have bought the roses by now.

By noon, his wife should have received the roses. If she had, she would have called back immediately, and her call would surely be sweet.
By evening, the eleven roses must have been delivered to her. What would her expression be upon receiving them? She would surely be very happy and delighted. But why didn't she react to the roses? Why didn't she call him to thank him? That's the most basic reaction! Had she become so used to this that she no longer felt the taste of love? It must be that Zhang Feng hadn't given her the roses yet; otherwise, she wouldn't have ignored his call.

Chang Yuze immediately called Zhang Feng, twice, but Zhang Feng didn't answer. Was he still busy at the shop and couldn't answer? But it was already dark; why hadn't he delivered the roses yet? Had he forgotten about his important business because he was only focused on making money? Chang Yuze immediately called the shop, and they said Zhang Feng had already left early, at five o'clock, in a hurry. He must have rushed off to buy and deliver the roses, but flower shops were everywhere; surely he could find one too? From buying to delivery, it could be done in an hour. Why hadn't he delivered the flowers to his wife yet?

As he went to bed, Chang Yuze still hadn't received a call from his wife. She must not have received the roses; otherwise, she would have called him back. He called Zhang Feng again, but still no one answered. This guy was so unreliable. Xiao Min was much more trustworthy. If she had handled this, she would have delivered the flowers by noon, unlike him who rushed to buy and deliver them after work.

For over ten years, his wife had received roses from him every year on this day. Today was an exception; she hadn't received any. His wife must have been very upset on her birthday. Chang Yuze wanted to explain to his wife, but he wasn't sure how far Zhang Feng's flower-sending situation had progressed. Plus, that dirty condom kept popping up and interfering with his thoughts, so he was a little annoyed and lazy. He'd also had a few drinks that night, and eventually fell asleep in bed.

The next morning, Chang Yuze called Zhang Feng again, but still no one answered. Chang Yuze got impatient and called the shop, angrily saying that if Zhang Feng didn't come to work on time that day, he'd be marked absent and fined! During

the day, Chang Yuze was busy with his interception work, and he hadn't had time to call his wife to inquire about the roses. It wasn't until after 1 p.m., while he was having lunch with colleagues, that his wife called. Her voice was tender and loving: "Honey, thank you for the roses, I received them, they're so beautiful!"

"Zhang Feng sent them, right? What's wrong with him? He's a day late."

"Yes, don't be angry with him. He apologized to me. He said the shop was too busy yesterday, he got off work too late, and forgot to buy the flowers, so he rushed to deliver them today. I just saw him off." "

Busy with business? That's just an excuse. I told him the day before yesterday to buy eleven roses for me and deliver them to you on your birthday, which was yesterday. I'll pay him back when I get home. He must have been playing around last night and forgot what I told him to do."

Chang Yuze was genuinely angry and scolded Zhang Feng harshly on the phone. He was very meticulous and couldn't stand others being careless or trying to fool him. Actually, he had forgotten that it was Zhang Feng who reminded him of his wife's birthday a day in advance.

"Hehe, my dear husband, don't be angry. I love you, I'll always love you! You're so busy in Beijing, yet you still remembered to send me flowers. I'm already so happy. Even though it's a day late, it doesn't matter to me at all, because I know you think of me every day. Please don't blame Zhang Feng. This young man is very honest. He was sweating profusely when he brought me the flowers, and he kept apologizing. He works hard at the store, so let's not make a fuss. Husband, thank you for the roses. I love you. I'm kissing you!"

Chang Yuze's phone was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for his wife's kiss to be heard. The young people at the table listened intently. Wang Xiaodan had a blissful expression on her face and couldn't help but say, "Section Chief Chang, you and your wife are so romantic!"

Chang Yuze's face flushed slightly, and he quickly said to his wife, "Happy birthday, honey. I have to go now, bye-bye." He then immediately hung up the phone.
The food on the table was delicious, and Chang Yuze wolfed it down, quickly finishing his lunch. If drinking weren't prohibited during work hours, he would have loved to get drunk. From the phone call, he could truly feel his wife's deep love for him. Just as Xu Anning had said, his wife was only temporarily lost; as long as he persistently used love to influence her, she would surely see the light.

As for Zhang Feng's mistake, it didn't matter anymore. If it weren't for Xiao Min, he would just be a shop assistant. Getting angry with him was beneath him, and besides, it was Zhang Feng who offered to deliver the flowers—a significant contribution. The good outweighed the bad. Chang Yuze then called the store manager, asking her not to punish Zhang Feng, even if he didn't have to come to work for half a day.

After finishing his lunch, Chang Yuze prepared to take a short nap when Zhang Feng called, at just the right time.

"Brother, I see a few of your numbers on my phone. Is there something you need? I left my phone at the shop and didn't bring it with me."

Chang Yuze's anger, which had just subsided, flared up again, and he immediately replied unhappily, "How did you handle the things I assigned you? Your sister-in-law's birthday was yesterday, and you're only delivering it today!"

"I'm sorry, brother, there were some special circumstances last night, and I couldn't deliver them." Zhang Feng's words were hesitant, still trying to cover up his mistake.

"Your sister-in-law called just now, saying you apologized to her, that the shop was busy, and you got off work too late and forgot to buy flowers."

"No, brother, I always remember what you asked me to do. Business was really busy yesterday. I didn't finish working on Sister Zhang's flowers until five o'clock. When I saw it was getting late, I rushed out to buy flowers. I was in such a hurry that I even forgot my phone."

Chang Yuze didn't want to listen to his rambling anymore: "Alright, it's all in the past, don't mention it again. You go ahead and get busy."

"Yes, brother, someone was calling me to work, so I changed into my work clothes and went over. I really did buy them. The first shop was expensive and wouldn't bargain, so I ran to another shop to buy the flowers. By the time I got to my sister-in-law's workplace, she had already finished work, and I, I..."

Chang Yuze was getting annoyed; why bother explaining when he'd clearly missed the deadline? His voice rose. "Stop talking! You made a mistake, that's it. What's there to explain? I'm not blaming you! It's just that the task I gave you was special—you had to deliver the flowers to your sister-in-law on her birthday. What's the point of delivering flowers after her birthday? Didn't I make it clear to you on the phone? I'll pay you back when I get back. Running around to several shops for a few flowers is just a waste of time. Remember that next time, be more efficient, and don't let it happen again!"

There was silence on the other end of the line. Chang Yuze guessed Zhang Feng was probably reflecting on his actions, regretting that he'd missed his boss's business for a few dollars. As for whether he would eventually realize his mistake, Chang Yuze didn't care and didn't want to waste his precious time on him. Just as he was about to hang up, Zhang Feng's slow, deep voice came through: "I'll resign." This was unlike his timid tone earlier; this was a decision made after careful consideration. However, he was just an employee in the store; Chang Yuze was the boss. If a boss could reprimand an employee and the employee dared to quit, where would the boss's authority be?

"What do you mean? Did I say something wrong, or did I wrong you?"

"I was wrong. The boss is always right." Zhang Feng was determined to leave, his tone desolate. "Brother, you have been incredibly kind to me. I can't repay you. If I ever have the chance, I'll work for you again." What

kind of nonsense is this? This kid just quits like that. Yes, he's now the shop's top technician, welcomed at any store. But if Zhang Feng dares to blackmail him with that, Chang Yuze will definitely fire him without hesitation. As for the great favor Zhang Feng mentioned, Chang Yuze doesn't care. Before, when Zhang Feng worked on a construction site, the foreman owed him wages. It was Chang Yuze who helped him get his back pay. Chang Yuze didn't consider it a big deal, thinking it was just his job, a small favor. After thinking it over, Chang Yuze still wanted to persuade him to stay. If he got angry and left over such a small matter, what would his wife think? How would he explain it to Xiaomin? He was just a laborer; he'd have
to work hard everywhere. He couldn't be so petty. "Zhang Feng, I didn't realize you were so stubborn. You can't stand a few harsh words. I'm really worried about Xiaomin. How will she live with you in the future? A real man should have some tolerance. Don't flip tables and throw chairs at the drop of a hat. If you're unhappy working at the shop or the pay is too low, just say so. If you think I criticized you or was too harsh, I apologize, okay?"

"No, no, no, brother, please don't apologize to me. I can't accept that."

"Then what do you mean? Xiaomin just started school, and you're already quitting. Your sister-in-law and I have wronged you."

"No, no, you've been so good to me, brother. I have nothing to say. It's just that I want to go somewhere else, maybe to Guangdong."

Gao Min was attending a technical school in Guangzhou, and Zhang Feng was probably going there to see her. The two were deeply in love, and it was only natural for them to want to be together. Thinking of this, Chang Yuze said, "Since you want to go see Xiao Min, I'll agree. I'll call the shop and settle your wages first. If you don't have enough for the trip, just let me know."

"Thank you, brother. You're such a good person. But...?" Chang Yuze didn't know what was wrong with Zhang Feng today; he was inexplicably angry and stammering. After a moment's hesitation, he added, "I think you're working too hard and are too pitiful." He hung up immediately after saying this.

Hearing the beeping sound of the disconnected phone, Chang Yuze was stunned for a long time. What did he mean? Was he making fun of him? Was he pitiful? Forget it, he didn't want to worry about it. Let him stay or leave as he pleased. Just as Chang Yuze was about to call the store to have the accountant settle Zhang Feng's wages, Manager Lu called him.

"Boss, Zhang Feng resigned. He said he'd already reported it to you, and he doesn't even want to calculate the remaining wages. He's in a hurry to leave. I noticed something's wrong with him; his eyes are red, like he's just been crying."

"How could this be?" Chang Yuze was confused. His impression of Zhang Feng wasn't like this before—honest, hardworking, and with a good temper. Even if you scolded him, he'd just smile sheepishly. "Forget it, let him go if he wants to. Calculate his wages, and if he doesn't want to collect them, just deposit them into his account." His wife had just brought him a rare moment of good spirits, and he didn't want Zhang Feng to ruin it.

Zhang Feng had completely ruined his lunch break.

Chang Yuze simply lit a cigarette, turned on the TV, and watched the news channel. It was broadcasting the rescue efforts in Yushu, Qinghai. These past few days, all the news channels in China had been filled with sorrow; the devastated scenes of Yushu were heartbreaking. Even their work of intercepting petitioners was affected. Those petitioners seemed to be moved by the tragic scenes of life and death in Yushu, and unanimously slowed their pace of petitioning in Beijing. Faced with such sorrow, people's thinking became calmer and more composed; they seriously considered how pointless their petitioning was. China has suffered numerous disasters in recent years, and it is sincerely hoped that the people of Yushu can recover from their grief, strive for progress, and create a better new home.

While Chang Yuze was feeling sentimental, a sentence suddenly popped into his mind, "I think my older brother is too hard-working and pitiful." Chang Yuze pondered this carefully, becoming increasingly confused. If Zhang Feng said he was working hard, he could somewhat accept it—someone like him, frequently traveling for work and unable to reunite with family, did seem somewhat hard-working. But what about Zhang Feng, a migrant worker who worked over ten hours a day in the shop, sometimes finishing very late at night, and washing customers' smelly feet every day? Wasn't he working even harder? As for Zhang Feng saying he was pitiful, Chang Yuze was even more confused. He had heard that Zhang Feng had lost both his parents at a young age and was raised by his uncle. He hadn't even finished junior high school before starting work, lacking any skills and relying entirely on manual labor on construction sites, running around looking for work. If he found a good foreman, he could get full pay, but if he encountered a dishonest contractor, he wouldn't even get his hard-earned money back. It was Chang Yuze who took pity on him and let him learn foot massage techniques at the shop. Although he was now a top-notch foot massage therapist, earning two or three thousand yuan a month, he was still not out of the ranks of the laboring masses who sold their physical labor. Chang Yuze, on the other hand, was a minor government official with a respectable and easy job and a considerable annual income. He was definitely better off than Zhang Feng, so how could Zhang Feng say he was more pitiful?

There was definitely something fishy about those words. Chang Yuze resolutely dialed Zhang Feng's number: "Where are you? Still at the shop?"

"No, I'm outside, going back to my place. I need to pack my things."
"Zhang Feng, honestly, how have I treated you?"

"Brother, I'll say it again, you're my savior. I can never repay you in this lifetime."

"Damn it, stop trying to sweet-talk me. I just helped you with a small favor. Don't flatter me like that. Spit out your nonsense. I want the truth, your honest opinion, understand?"

"Last night, I really did go to deliver flowers to your wife. Why I didn't deliver them isn't my fault."

"Can you explain yourself clearly? You're confusing me."

"Last night, I saw something I shouldn't have seen. I don't know what to do. If I don't tell you, I'll be letting you down, and if I do, I'll be letting Xiaomin down. Xiaomin always tells me how good your wife is to her, even better than a sister. I can't afford to offend either of you, so I'd better leave."

"What is it? Tell me quickly, stop beating around the bush!" Chang Yuze was getting impatient. He had a bad feeling again; Zhang Feng must have seen something he shouldn't have last night that was related to his wife. "Is it related to your sister-in-law giving you roses?"

“Yes.” Zhang Feng began to recount how he delivered roses to Xu Hong last night. “Last night, I got off work a little late. By the time I went to the florist to buy the roses, it was getting dark. I didn’t know if my sister-in-law was home yet, so I called her beforehand to ask if she was home. She said she had some work to do at her workplace and had to work overtime, asking me what it was about. I wanted to surprise her for my brother, so instead of bringing her flowers, I took a taxi directly to her workplace. When I arrived, I saw that she had already left work and was standing at the gate. I asked the taxi to stop, and just as I was about to get out, a car drove out and stopped right next to my sister-in-

law. She opened the car door and got in. I thought it was probably one of her colleagues driving her, so I didn’t pay much attention. The car drove very fast, and just as I was about to open the door, it drove away. It was a bit dark, and I could only vaguely see…” The driver was a chubby man, and my sister-in-law was sitting next to him. I vaguely saw that the driver had one hand on the steering wheel and the other on my sister-in-law's body. She was wearing a short skirt that day, just covering her thighs, so I couldn't tell whether the man's hand was on her skirt or her thigh. I felt that thighs are a woman's private parts, and men shouldn't touch them casually. When I massage clients, I only massage their calves; I never dare to massage their thighs unless they ask me to. My sister-in-law's thighs should only be touched by my older brother; it's illegal for other men to touch them. I remember once riding a crowded bus and accidentally bumping into a woman's buttocks when it stopped. The woman immediately screamed and called me a pervert. But when that man touched my sister-in-law's thigh, I saw that she didn't seem to care and remained seated calmly on the bus.”

Zhang Feng paused here.

Chang Yuze immediately pressed, "Is that all?"

"Brother, don't be angry. If you don't want to hear it, I... I won't say anything more. Just pretend I didn't say anything." Zhang Feng probably realized the seriousness of his words, or perhaps sensed the hidden anger in Chang Yuze's voice, so he became fearful again. "Stop

talking nonsense! I'm not angry. You hurry up and tell me everything you saw and heard, don't leave out a single word! Did you remember the license plate number of that car?" "

I didn't remember it clearly, I only remember the last three 8s. That car looked impressive, probably a good car."

Damn it, I'm going to kill you all! It was undeniable that the car was a Crown, and the driver was Zheng Weihua himself. Chang Yuze gritted his teeth and ordered, "Continue!"

"Okay, I'll continue. I thought about it and felt something was off, so I had the driver secretly follow the car. The car didn't take my sister-in-law home; instead, it drove to Fuyuan Bakery. My sister-in-law didn't get out, and neither did the driver. The car just stopped by the roadside. A few seconds later, a server ran out of the bakery carrying a large cake box. The server came to the car, the driver opened the front window, took the cake inside, handed the server some money, closed the window, and the car drove away again. I thought, my sister-in-law must have ordered the cake in advance; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so quick. Today is my sister-in-law's birthday. My brother only told me to send her flowers, not to buy her a cake. She must have bought it for herself, I thought.
The car drove off again, turning several streets before finally arriving at Peninsula Coffee. The car stopped in front of the shop, and the driver got out. The driver was short and fat, and half..." The bald man, not young either, looked to be in his early fifties, like an old man, but he had a very imposing air about him, wearing a white shirt and shiny leather shoes; he must be a big boss or a high-ranking official. I saw that when my sister-in-law came in, the old man was right next to her, his hand on her waist. My sister-in-law pushed his hand away and glanced back, as if afraid of being seen.

Seeing this, I knew that my sister-in-law and that old man's relationship was definitely not ordinary. I was very angry. My brother-in-law is so good to my sister-in-law, educated, and works in the police force; how could my sister-in-law be so close to another man? Besides, that man was old and ugly, while my sister-in-law is as beautiful as a fairy; how could she be interested in that old man? I was so angry that I wanted to go and beat the old man up, but what was my status? What right did I have to interfere in my sister-in-law's affairs? Besides, my sister-in-law was just having a meal with that old man; I didn't even want to help my brother-in-law. There was a reason.

They were eating inside, and I waited outside. I didn't dare go in to give my sister-in-law the flowers, afraid she'd be unhappy.

They chose a private room, a window seat, so I could see them perfectly. The cake box was already open and on the table. The cake was huge; my sister-in-law and her husband couldn't possibly finish it. Last time, when Ruili from the shop had her birthday, the cake they bought wasn't even this big, and it took seven or eight of us to finish it. The old man stuck a ring of small candles around the cake, lit them all, and then turned off the lights. The cake was really beautiful. My sister-in-law started blowing out the candles, and I saw she looked very happy. I wondered if she didn't like flowers but preferred cake. My sister-in-law started cutting the cake. The old man and my sister-in-law both held the knife blade and cut around on the cake. Then, my sister-in-law cut a piece for the old man and even used a small fork to pick it up and feed him. The old man also fed my sister-in-law some, all white and fluffy. Cream smeared on my sister-in-law's face, but she wasn't angry; she was still smiling.

A little while later, a flower girl came into the private room, and the old man bought a flower for my sister-in-law. I saw that she was even happier, and she even kissed the flower a few times. I was annoyed, thinking, "My brother asked me to bring you a whole bouquet of flowers, which isn't worth as much as that old man's single flower. Why didn't you wait for my brother's flowers?" They ate a few bites of the big cake and then stopped, starting on the other dishes. They ate and talked, and my sister-in-law seemed very happy, smiling the whole time. They ate for over an hour, and then came out.

My sister-in-law held the flower in her hand; the big cake was just left there—too wasteful. The old man walked ahead, and my sister-in-law followed behind him, carrying the man's black briefcase, just like she was out eating with my brother. "Brother, that old man seems to know my sister-in-law quite well. Have you ever seen someone like that before?"

"He's her boss, the director of the China Banking Regulatory Commission."

"No wonder my sister-in-law ate with him, he's her direct superior."

"What kind of boss is he? He's just a minor director. I'll deal with him when I get back!"

Chang Yuze's fierce, almost murderous tone terrified Zhang Feng. He didn't dare to speak for a long time, and only continued under Chang Yuze's orders.

"While my sister-in-law was eating at the shop, I was standing under a tree across the street. The taxi driver didn't want to wait and drove off, leaving me standing there like an idiot with a bouquet of flowers. It looked so awkward. When my sister-in-law finished eating and came out of the shop, I wanted to run over and give her the flowers, but she was standing very close to that old man. If it was just a meal and nothing more, it would be fine for me to give her the flowers. But if there was something going on between her and that old man, I would just be making a scene. I saw my sister-in-law and that old man drive away again, so I quickly hailed a taxi and followed them. I'd decided that I'd wait until the old man took my sister-in-law back to my older brother's house..." I just delivered the flowers directly to his house. The car drove around in circles, going through traffic lights and turning corners; the minivan driver almost lost track of it. The minivan driver got annoyed and didn't want to take me anymore. I told him, "Just keep following me, I'm not short of money." The minivan driver then asked me, "Hey boss, you're not a cop, are you? Are you doing surveillance? Are there gangsters in that car ahead? If you're arresting criminals, don't drag me into it; my whole family depends on me for a living." I told the minivan driver, "My wife is in that car ahead. I need to see where she's going. Drive faster, don't lose her." "Brother, please don't blame me for talking nonsense; I couldn't think of any other way, so I just made up a lie to appease the minivan driver."

"It's okay, I know, keep going."

"When the driver heard this, he got excited and said to me, 'Boss, don't worry, I guarantee I won't lose him.' Drivers have sharp eyes; even when I couldn't see the old man's car anymore, the driver spotted it from afar and sped off, catching up instantly. In the end, the car still didn't go to the older brother's house; it drove to some neighborhood called Beiyuan. The sign was written in a very messy way, I couldn't recognize it, but I could find the place." "
That's Beiyuan Neighborhood."

Chang Yuze had thoroughly investigated Zheng Weihua's background. He owned an apartment in the Beiyuan residential area, which was his real home, where he and his wife lived. His wife now resided in the United States, leaving the apartment vacant, conveniently providing him with opportunities to meet with his mistress.

"Oh, I remember, Beiyuan Residential Area. After the car drove in, I was afraid of losing it, so I asked a taxi to go in too. This residential area is very upscale, and the security guards are very strict, not allowing taxis in. The taxi driver didn't want to wait for me outside, afraid I'd be lazy about paying, so he let me pay first. After I gave the driver the change and settled the bill, when I entered the residential area, the car was gone. There are many buildings inside, and I wandered around but couldn't find the car. Is my sister-in-law still in that car? Did she go back to that old man's house with him? I wasn't sure, and I didn't dare to ask around, so I was about to go back. At this moment, I saw the old man wearing baggy shorts walking towards the entrance of the residential area, so I secretly followed him.

The old man went into a small pharmacy on the street, only two storefronts. I pretended to buy medicine and followed him in. The old man seemed to be a regular customer; the shop owner even greeted him. Goodness, the old man bought a bottle of Viagra, which the shop owner said was imported directly from the United States." "Damn, a bottle of thirty pills costs 1500 yuan. You really have to spend money on everything. I've tried it before; one Viagra pill can keep you hard for two or three hours. That old man needs thirty Viagra pills at once; he could go on for several nights and still not finish them. The old man bought the pills and immediately walked back to the neighborhood. Before he even got home, I saw him unscrew the bottle and swallow one pill, without water. That old man is really something!

I followed him from a distance and saw him enter a building. The light in the west-facing apartment on the first floor came on, and I saw the old man standing inside. It must be his home. I didn't see his wife inside. The old man then turned off the living room light and went inside. Then the light in another room came on, but there were curtains, so I couldn't see who was inside. The main light stayed on for a while and then went off, turning into one of those red nightlights. Shops have those red lights too; you can sleep with them on without it bothering you. This room must be where the old man sleeps. He just took a Viagra pill; he's definitely doing his business in there now. Brother, I really can't imagine...is his wife..." Yes, she was inside. I was furious! My sister-in-law's actions were so shameful! Xiaomin always told me how much my brother doted on my sister-in-law, how he always cooked for her at home—where in the world could you find a man like that? I was so angry I wanted to rush in and teach that old man a lesson, but I was afraid I'd misjudged him. Besides, who am I to interfere in someone's official business?

I didn't go back to sleep; I hid under the building opposite the old man's house, secretly observing what was happening inside. I decided that even if I had no right to interfere, I had to see clearly and tell my brother; I didn't want him to suffer in silence. After most of the night, the light in that house came on three times, each time for two or three minutes. I guessed the person inside might be getting up to pee. I was going to stay up all night; I didn't believe the person wouldn't come out at dawn, and once they did, I'd know it was my sister-in-law. At 4:30 in the morning, the security guards from the neighborhood came to patrol. They caught me, took me to the guardhouse, and said I hadn't come from anywhere legitimate. "He's a thief, they're taking him to the station." I was terrified and quickly explained that I was there to deliver flowers to my girlfriend, it was my first time there, but I couldn't find her house, so I was just wandering around aimlessly. The security guards saw the flowers in my hand and believed me. They didn't take me to the station, but they wouldn't let me stay any longer, saying that the area was full of government employees, and if something happened, it would be a big problem. Hearing that, I didn't dare stay any longer and quickly left.

I never saw if my sister-in-law was sleeping at that old man's house, but something still felt off. Even if she wasn't sleeping with that old guy, eating with him, a man and a woman, didn't feel right. In my hometown, a woman like that would definitely be considered a slut, disreputable. Anyway, my sister-in-law did something wrong to my brother. Brother, please don't blame me, I'm very angry. As soon as I left that neighborhood, I threw all the flowers I bought for my sister-in-law in the trash. You're so good to your sister-in-law, and she still ate with an old man behind your back. She doesn't deserve your flowers!"

"You did a good job! That slut doesn't deserve it! She's involved with that old bastard. You didn't need to wait until dawn; the result would have been the same anyway. She slept with that old bastard last night!"

Chang Yuze had investigated the bedrooms of Zheng Weihua's mistresses and found aphrodisiacs, traditional Chinese medicine pills, and Viagra. He figured the apartment in Beiyuan Community probably had similar things; he probably ran out of Viagra last night and had to buy some. As for Zhang Feng's guess that Zheng Weihua took multiple Viagra pills at once, that was because he hadn't read the Viagra's instructions. The instructions said that you should only take one pill a day, and two or three pills a day is already very powerful. If you dared to take multiple pills at once, you'd probably puncture your pants with an erection. Xu Hong must have stayed up all night with that old man. Thinking about his beautiful and elegant wife being pressed under that ugly, pig-like old man's fat body and ravaged all night, Chang Yuze was filled with regret. Why didn't he kill that old bastard last time, sparing him another humiliation and harm? Xu Hong, Xu Hong, you shameless woman, you're getting more and more despicable!

"My brother is rich and powerful, and good-looking too. How could my sister-in-law do such a thing? It can't be. She must have gotten off the bus early and gone home to sleep when I wasn't looking." Thinking this, I picked the bouquet out of the trash can, cleaned it, and took it back to my place. No matter what, I had to finish what my brother had asked me to do. I hadn't slept a wink all night, and fell asleep as soon as I got into bed.
I didn't dare sleep too long, so I set my alarm for eight o'clock; I usually sleep until ten. As soon as the alarm rang, I quickly got up, went downstairs to eat two steamed buns, picked up the flowers, and prepared to take them to my sister-in-law. I thought she must be at work right now. Running around in broad daylight with a huge bouquet of flowers would look a bit silly, so I found a black plastic bag to put them in. When I arrived at my sister-in-law's workplace, the gatekeeper wouldn't let me in. I said I was my sister-in-law's wife... My sister-in-law was a relative from my hometown, delivering something to her. The doorman told me to wait while he made a phone call inside. He came back and told me my sister-in-law wasn't at work. I asked if she hadn't come to work or had gone out. The doorman said he didn't know, maybe she hadn't come, and told me to leave. I waited outside, my legs aching from standing, but my sister-in-law still hadn't appeared. I wanted to call her to ask where she was, but I didn't remember her phone number; I'd left my phone at the shop. I thought, if she wasn't at work, she must be at home. I knew my brother's phone number, so I called his house, but no one answered. I figured she must have gone out on something and would go home after work. So

I went downstairs to my brother's building and sat by the flowerbed, waiting and waiting. Around one o'clock, my sister-in-law finally came back. I saw she was holding a flower in her hand, which was... The flower the boss gave her. My head suddenly spun. My sister-in-law definitely didn't go home to sleep last night. Whether she slept at the old man's house, I didn't see her, so I didn't dare say anything.

When she got home, I followed her upstairs and gave her the flower. She was so warm and welcoming, inviting me to sit on the sofa, offering me a bottle of Wanglaoji herbal tea, and asking if I had eaten. Brother, putting everything else aside, my sister-in-law is so good to Xiaomin and me; I feel it would be heartless to say anything bad about her. Then, she mentioned wanting me to wash her feet and massage her back, saying the bed was too soft last night, causing back and leg pain, and she hadn't come yet. I noticed she still looked sleepy, like she had just woken up. I understood; if things go on for too long, both men and women will feel back and leg pain. That old man bought a bottle of Viagra last night; if she took it… Ten or eight lumps, and it wouldn't go down all night. My sister-in-law must have been with that old man all night. I'm starting to doubt it; my sister-in-law is so healthy, how could she handle that? That old man is in his fifties or sixties, how could he last all night? Even a man of iron couldn't take it. Hearing my sister-in-law's words, I got really angry. If I weren't just a wage earner, I would have taught my sister-in-law a lesson, slapped her twice, and seen how ashamed she was. Cheating on my brother's behalf, getting hurt by some random man, and then expecting me to massage her back and legs—I feel ashamed. However, I didn't dare to lose my temper in front of my sister-in-law. I'm just a wage earner, my brother is the boss, and my sister-in-law is the boss's wife. A wage earner arguing with the boss's wife is just asking for trouble. I said okay, I'll go back to the shop right now and wait to serve my sister-in-law. After saying that, I left without even taking my herbal tea.

All the way there, I kept thinking about whether I should tell my brother. If I did, I didn't see my sister-in-law sleeping with that old man, and what if I was wrong and wronged her, causing my brother embarrassment? I'd feel guilty for the rest of my life. But if I didn't tell, I always felt it was wrong for my sister-in-law to go out to eat with another man behind my brother's back. What if she really was having an affair with that old man, and my brother didn't know? Wouldn't that be a huge loss for him? When I got back to the shop, before I even changed out of my uniform, Manager Lu yelled at me, saying I was late and would be fined 100 yuan! I was furious. I was late because I was doing something for my brother, why was I being fined? Manager Lu's voice grew even louder when I explained, saying the boss couldn't find me and was angry, so he was giving me a heavy fine. I didn't believe him, so I took my phone out of the cabinet and saw several missed calls from my brother. I knew he must be anxious to find me, so I quickly answered. But all I got was a harsh scolding, and he wouldn't even listen to my explanation. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Why make things difficult for myself? Why should I meddle in my brother and sister-in-law's business? My sister-in-law likes to cheat, and my brother is willing to be cuckolded—what does it have to do with me, a mere employee? The

more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I figured I should just quit. That way, I wouldn't have to see my sister-in-law's shameful smile later, and I wouldn't feel guilty towards my brother. Zhang Feng talked more and more, full of complaints, seemingly even more heartbroken than his boss. Chang Yuze listened patiently to his grievances, understood his distress, and said apologetically, "Brother knows he was wrong and apologizes, okay?"

"No, no, brother, you don't need to apologize to me. Just understanding is enough."

"Are you still planning to quit? Should I apologize to you when I get back?"

"No, brother, I acted impulsively just now. It's all over now. As long as you still want me, I'll continue working for you. When I said I was going to see Xiaomin, it was just out of anger. If she knew I secretly went to see her, she wouldn't talk to me." "

That's good. Go home and rest. Don't come back to the shop this afternoon. I'll call the shop and let them know you've worked hard. What you saw last night, besides me, no one else knows, right? You didn't tell Xiaomin, did you?"

"Don't worry, brother, I'll only tell you. I wouldn't tell anyone else, not even if you killed me."

"That's good. Keep it a secret."
"How should we deal with that old man? Maybe I should throw some bricks at his house in the middle of the night to teach him a lesson. I know where he lives."

"You don't need to worry about that. I'll handle it when I get back."

"Brother, don't be angry. Let me say something. I think your wife has been deceived by that old man. Why don't you call her and talk to her, tell her not to go out to eat with that old man anymore?"

"It's not time to confront her yet. A woman like that has no shame. If I tell her, she definitely won't admit it."

"How could your wife not admit it? I'll testify." "Just ask your sister-in-law why she didn't come home to sleep last night, and you'll have everything."

"You're thinking too simply. If she didn't sleep at home, she could say she slept at Lulu's grandma's. Why would I ask her parents, checking up on their daughter? You can't testify either. If you do, she'll definitely say you framed her. In terms of eloquence, you and I combined can't beat her. Okay, I know how to handle this. Remember, you know the truth, but don't tell anyone. Go back to work at the shop tomorrow, pretend nothing happened."

"I understand. The more I think about it, the worse it gets. My sister-in-law is Xiaomin's idol. Xiaomin always says how wonderful she is, beautiful and virtuous, but...sigh! I don't want to see her anymore. Just hearing her name makes me angry." Everyone in the shop says my sister-in-law is prettier than a movie star, and that she and my brother are the most perfect couple in the world. But she cheated on my brother by spending the night with an old man. If I see her again, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back my anger. My brother treats you so well, and you're so beautiful, why did you sleep with an old man! "

Xu Hong, why did you betray me? Why did you willingly sleep with that old lecher? On your birthday, your husband gave you roses of true love and wished you a happy birthday, but you were fooling around with your lover while he was celebrating! Your shameless behavior is intolerable. Don't tell me how much I hate you; even a lowly worker like me despises you!" Chang Yuze wished he could fly back right now and tear those two scoundrels to pieces.

"Brother, I understand your feelings. Those two will definitely be punished. It's not that they won't be punished, it's just that their time hasn't come yet!" "If you really want to help your brother, then cheer up and keep working at the shop. When you see your sister-in-law, speak to her as usual, but don't let her suspect anything. Wait for me to get back, and I'll definitely teach that bastard a lesson."

"Okay, I'll do whatever you say, brother."

That afternoon, Chang Yuze stayed in the hotel, unwilling to go out. He called Director Hu, saying he had a headache and wanted to sleep a little longer. He closed the doors and windows tightly, covered his head with a blanket, and with all his might, roared, "Xu Hong, you stinking woman!" After cursing

, he threw off the blanket, tears streaming down his face.

The sun set over the Forbidden City, and the hazy night slowly drew back, the streetlights of the streets and alleys instantly lighting up, creating a different kind of Beijing. The beautiful city of Beijing was like a mature and alluring noblewoman, shedding the solemnity and prosperity of the daytime, donning the veil of night's allure, revealing the naked desires of the metropolitan nightlife.

Chang Yuze drove, squeezing into the sea of cars, drifting with the current. The vehicles in front and behind were all rushing to get to their destinations, trying to squeeze into any available space, but he moved indifferently. He didn't know where he was going, didn't know what he was going to do, seemingly wanting to squander the entire night in the torrent of his car.

After an unknown amount of time, his car finally stopped. He realized he had arrived at Houhai, a famous bar street in Beijing. Chang Yuze stopped the car and strolled along the lanes of Houhai. A damp, slightly fishy night breeze gently caressed his face. Outside the glittering street shops, women solicited customers—some were real prostitutes, but most were bar promoters. Like shop salespeople, they excitedly hawked their wares, seemingly ready to shower customers with cash the moment they entered. Chang Yuze disliked this excessive enthusiasm and didn't want anyone interfering with his choice. He shook off several overly enthusiastic women and finally chose a small, unassuming bar, stepping inside.

The bar was quiet, with only a few customers sitting in small groups, mostly young people, many in pairs. A girl sat on a high stool at the bar, holding a large guitar and playing cheerful songs; she was probably the bar's resident singer.
Chang Yuze found a secluded spot, ordered a few bottles of Carlsberg, and slowly sipped, quietly contemplating the singer's... The soothing singing was like a lullaby, not to put him to sleep, but to immerse him in sweet, distant memories.

Since his senior year of high school, he had given Xu Hong red roses every birthday, a tradition that had lasted for over a decade.

The first birthday roses were for her senior year, when she had just turned eighteen. Senior year was filled with the pressure of the college entrance exam, and academic life was monotonous and oppressive. Xu Hong, however, was naturally optimistic and, disregarding the obstacles and pressure, held a grand birthday party. Her parents loved her dearly and, to make her eighteenth birthday meaningful, specially booked a small banquet hall at the Mulan Hotel as the venue for her birthday party. Xu Hong made all the decisions for the entire party; her parents were only responsible for coordinating the venue and settling the bill.

That night, all those attending her birthday party were her classmates, boys and girls like her. At school… Many classmates knew Xu Hong, but she didn't invite many; only about twenty attended her party. Chang Yuze was among them, just one of those twenty-odd, an ordinary student. He was a student leader, tall and handsome, and very popular with girls, but she didn't see him as special, nor did she harbor any romantic feelings for him. However, Chang Yuze had secretly fallen in love with her and was determined to pursue her. At that time, middle school rules were very strict; even the slightest budding romance between boys and girls was a huge mistake, and almost every year there were cases of young lovers being expelled or forced to leave school. As a student leader and a prospective graduate, he naturally wouldn't ruin his future. He wanted to express his love for Xu Hong, but he could only do so subtly.

He spent over a hundred yuan to buy eighteen roses from a flower shop. In that small county town, giving roses wasn't very common, and eighteen roses were the entire stock of that small flower shop. Holding the roses, surrounded by his close friends, he bravely walked up to Xu Hong, presented them to her with both hands, and said affectionately, "Xu Hong, these roses are for you on behalf of the whole class. May you always be as beautiful as a rose." At that time, he didn't have enough courage; even expressing his love required using the name of the whole class.

He still remembers clearly how her face flushed as brightly as a rose when she received the vibrant roses. At that moment, he was convinced he had fallen deeply in love with her, and her beautiful smile would be etched in his heart forever. After

graduating from high school, they both went to university. He was admitted to the provincial police academy, and she was admitted to East China University of Political Science and Law. He was in a three-year junior college, and she was in a four-year bachelor's program. However, neither their academic backgrounds nor the distance between them could hinder their passionate love. He frequently wrote her letters and made phone calls, gradually deepening their relationship. He loved her so passionately and deeply, but her feelings blossomed so slowly; she hesitated to express her love clearly. Perhaps that's just how girls are—they need persistent effort from the boy to finally break down their defenses.

Two days before her birthday in his first semester of university, he specially asked his class teacher for a few days off and took an overnight train to Shanghai. He called her, saying he was in Shanghai with his teacher for a practical activity and happened to be there on her birthday, so he wanted to attend her birthday dinner. At that time, neither of them had cell phones, so they couldn't call directly; they used the landline in her dorm. When he told her his idea, she hesitated to answer. At that moment, he was anxious, fearing she would refuse. Finally, he received her affirmative reply.

Her first birthday was peaceful and joyful. She didn't invite many classmates, just had a small meal with her three roommates at a Hunan restaurant off-campus. When he entered the private room with bright red roses, he saw a surprised and shy face and three faces filled with envy and admiration. He only gave her one sentence, "Happy Birthday!" He traveled all the way to Shanghai to present her with a bouquet of red roses; his deep affection was unspoken.

At her birthday party, he met her three roommates, three good friends: Lin Dongping from Wuhu, Cai Ying from Ningbo, and Lan Jiani from Shanghai. Lan Jiani, in particular, was a clever and mischievous girl who later helped him a great deal.

On her second birthday, he came to Shanghai again as promised, but this time, he was fully prepared. Lan Jiani helped him plan a crazy and romantic proposal. That birthday night, she was celebrating in her dorm. When the lights went out and she blew out the candles on her cake, she suddenly realized that everything around her seemed to have fallen into darkness; all the lights in the girls' dormitory were out. "What happened? A power outage? Xu Hong, your breath was so powerful! You blew the whole girls' dormitory out of power!" Lan Jiani feigned surprise, opened the window, and pulled Xu Hong to look outside.

In the darkness of the night, a cluster of small red lights illuminated the ground below the girls' dormitory, forming a large heart shape. Standing in the very center of this heart was a handsome young man—Chang Yuze. Later, Lan Jiani described how Xu Hong was instantly captivated by that moment. Shock, surprise, joy, and panic overwhelmed her; her bright eyes quickly filled with tears. A simple sound system was already on. Chang Yuze gazed up at a small window on the fifth floor of the girls' dormitory, looking at Xu Hong with deep affection. He raised the microphone and softly said, "Tonight is Xu Hong's birthday. I want to send her Jacky Cheung's 'Blessing,' wishing her eternal happiness."
To prepare for such a romantic night, Chang Yuze had diligently practiced Jacky Cheung's songs. He already possessed a good voice, and with his dedicated practice, he had mastered Jacky Cheung's classic hits. At that time, Chang Yuze had become a renowned love song prince in the police academy, and he always chose "Blessing" as his first song, all for this one night. That night, with that one song, he poured his life's passion and devotion into it. His voice was exceptionally beautiful, even surpassing Jacky Cheung's original album. So much so that all the girls in the School of Political Science and Law's dormitory opened their windows, applauding and screaming for him.

Xu Hong seemed stunned by Chang Yuze's frenzied actions, simply leaning against the windowsill, gazing at him, unable to move or speak. At this moment, Lan Jianni deliberately teased, "Chang Yuze, sing another one! Xu Hong thinks it's not passionate enough."

Chang Yuze then sang another song, "I've waited until the flowers have withered," the scene still breathtaking.

Which girl hasn't dreamed of one day having a handsome boy perform a passionate and romantic love story for her?

Lan Jianni was also moved to tears, saying emotionally to Xu Hong, "Xu Hong, are you a blockhead? Hurry up and show your love, are you really going to watch Chang Yuze's roses wither away?"

The girls in the dormitory all applauded for Xu Hong.

Tears streamed down Xu Hong's face, her body trembling. Finally, she broke free of her inner turmoil, pushed open the door, ran downstairs, and threw herself into Chang Yuze's arms.

That night, Chang Yuze kissed Xu Hong for the first time. Her tears were bitter, her kiss sweet.

The two confirmed their relationship. Every year thereafter, without fail, he would send her a bouquet of fiery red birthday roses. However, this year's birthday roses troubled him particularly. He had mustered all his courage and deep affection to present her with the roses, hoping, as Xu Anning had analyzed, to win back her heart after her infidelity. But in the end, she responded with a decisive move, shattering his roses into pieces. A woman who has cheated is like a wild horse that has broken free; it's impossible to win her back, impossible! Chang Yuze opened bottle after bottle of beer, trying to get drunk as quickly as possible.

At that moment, the music subtly changed, and a boy with a microphone stood at the bar, singing "You Are My Rose" with a female singer. This was an interactive activity organized by the bar; customers could hire a singer to accompany them for a small tip. The boy's singing voice wasn't great, but he sang with great emotion. He gazed tenderly at a girl in front of him, who held a rose and sang along with him, turning her head back with a loving look. It was obvious they were a couple. "

You are my rose, you are my flower,

you are my lover,

you are my longing. You are my rose, you are my flower,

you are my lover, the rose I will love forever.

No matter how strong the wind and rain, I

only love this one rose." Hearing this song, Chang Yuze's mood began to turn agitated, his face contorted in pain. In his heart, those once vibrant roses were falling and withering, petal by petal. The boy, of course, had no idea of his feelings and continued singing with complete passion, probably believing his lover was also enjoying his performance. In reality, he was tone-deaf, singing off-key several times. If his lover appreciated him, it was only his shameless courage. In fact, very few people in the entire bar were willing to listen to him sing. Men and women alike ignored him, whispering amongst themselves, seemingly trying their best to avoid the noise of his awful voice.
The boy continued singing off-key "The Rose," deliberately raising his voice to drown out the female singer's accompaniment, as if to prove to his girlfriend how deep and true his love was.

Fueled by alcohol and the sadness of past memories, Chang Yuze's mood reached its breaking point. Finally, he lost control, slamming his hand on the table and yelling at the boy and the singer, "What the hell is that song! Stop singing!"

The boy was startled by the sudden noise, immediately stopping his singing and looking towards the source of the sound with a mixture of fear and confusion. Chang Yuze was sitting in a somewhat secluded spot, dimly lit, and he couldn't immediately see who it was. The entire bar fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on Chang Yuze, with a few even cheering. The boy's singing was terrible; he was simply speaking the truth for them.

The female singer at the resident concert spotted Chang Yuze immediately and quickly came over, apologetically saying, "I'm sorry, boss, I didn't sing well, I disturbed you."

She was wearing a white dress, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, and she had a pure and pleasant appearance.

After shouting, Chang Yuze's mind cleared up a bit, and he also responded apologetically, "I'm sorry, I drank too much, I apologize."

At this moment, the boy also saw Chang Yuze clearly. Although he was tall and handsome, and had a presentable appearance, he was all alone. The boy thought, "So what if he's a big boss? No entourage, no bodyguards, just an ordinary person." Suddenly emboldened, he squeezed past him, saying unhappily, "Hey, buddy, who did you just call me? What's wrong with me singing a song?"

"Young man, I've had too much to drink. I said something inappropriate earlier, please forgive me. I'll treat you to a drink." Chang Yuze also felt it was impolite to interrupt the man's declaration of love.

"Don't be like that, I can afford a drink. I was singing halfway through when you yelled at me and interrupted me. There has to be an explanation." As the boy spoke, his girlfriend grabbed his hand and pulled him back forcefully. She didn't want him to cause trouble. Bars are full of all sorts of people, and conflicts are most likely to occur there. Chang Yuze looked respectable; he might be someone important. Looking at the empty beer bottles all over his table, she knew he frequented entertainment venues. It was best to avoid people like that. However, the boy, eager to regain face in front of his girlfriend, pressed his advantage, shoving the microphone in front of Chang Yuze and saying relentlessly, "Didn't you just say I didn't sing well? Here, take the microphone, sing for everyone here, and see what kind of superstar you are! Friends, what do you think of my suggestion?"

The boy deliberately incited the surrounding guests, wanting to see Chang Yuze make a fool of himself and humiliate him. He saw that Chang Yuze was drunk and probably couldn't sing at all. Watching a spectacle seems to be in the nature of Chinese people. As soon as the boy finished speaking, several young people chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, they didn't sing well, you should perform!"

Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit tense, the resident singer gently flattered Chang Yuze, "Brother, how about I sing a song with you? The Relief Bar is a place for friends to relax and have fun. If you have something to be happy about, we'll all be happy together. If you have something to worry about, let me share your burden."

Chang Yuze found the girl to be understanding and likable, and not wanting her to be implicated, he decided to sing a song with her. As for the boy's provocation, he didn't care at all. Even if he had accomplices helping him, he didn't care. He knew several leaders of the Xicheng District Public Security Bureau, and he didn't believe there was anything he couldn't handle in this small bar.

Chang Yuze snatched the microphone from the boy's hand. "Kid, I'll show you why old ginger is spicier." He continued, "Young man, I'll make a fool of myself. Perhaps you're a student or starting a business, seeing only beauty and hope in everything. But roses aren't just beautiful in bloom; they also have the sorrow of withering and falling."

Sigh, what's wrong with him tonight? A little setback, and he's starting to get all sentimental.

Holding the microphone, Chang Yuze slowly stood up, gazing into the distance, his expression hazy. At the edge of his vision was a small window on the fifth floor of a building. A beautiful girl stood before the window, so beautiful and serene. Years ago, he had held the microphone just like that, gazing lovingly at Xu Hong in that small window on the fifth floor. How beautiful and captivating she was then, like an untouched fairy, someone he could admire for a lifetime. Alas, only a little over a decade later, that fairy had become a harlot in bed!
"Little sister, let's sing 'Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Roses'." Back then, this song was his signature song that made the police academy girls scream.

The guitar girl gently stroked the strings, and a melancholic melody began. "

Xu Hong, back then, I held roses in my hands, gazing at you with deep affection, vowing in my heart to send you a bouquet of birthday roses every year, until the day we both grow old. If I'm lucky enough to still be able to send you flowers, I'll place one last bouquet of red roses on your grave, so that you'll have roses to accompany you for the rest of your life. "

Chang Yuze, with tears in his eyes, sang emotionally:

"The past is like the wind, my infatuation is hard to understand . I send you

off with wine, but I can't send away your hazy figure

...

I've already planted

nine hundred and ninety-nine roses for you.

From the day we parted,

nine hundred and ninety-nine

roses have withered, and I'm already haggard

. A thousand vows have vanished with the flowers."

As the song went on, the window at the end of his vision, the woman inside, became fainter and fainter, until finally, like the withered roses in his heart, she turned into smoke and disappeared.

The birthday rose incident served as a wake-up call for Chang Yuze, shattering his unrealistic fantasies. He knew that simply calling his wife to deepen their relationship wouldn't salvage her infidelity. A woman who had cheated was like a cat that had tasted fish; you couldn't expect her to be a vegetarian forever. Chang Yuze was frantic, wanting to return home as soon as possible to deal with the immense humiliation his wife had inflicted on him. He had decided: either confront her directly or continue gathering evidence against her; he was determined to take action.

That noon, Chang Yuze suddenly received an urgent telegram from Director Liu Fengdong, ordering him to temporarily put aside his affairs in Beijing and immediately go to the Provincial Public Security Bureau. Chen Jun had gone to the Public Security Bureau to petition, and their complaint had been accepted. Liu Fengdong instructed Chang Yuze to report to Director Lü at the Provincial Bureau and cooperate with him in handling the matter, ensuring that Chen Jun's case remained at the Provincial level and prevented from escalating further.

Chen Jun's story was somewhat similar to Chang Yuze's, but entirely different in nature.

Chen Jun, a man in his thirties from Suinan County, Guide City, was a successful distributor for a well-known liquor brand, making him a prominent figure in the county's wholesale and retail market. His wife, Yan Fang, was a policewoman in the county's Public Security Bureau, a beautiful and youthful woman, widely recognized as the bureau's "flower of the police." The couple, a perfect match in terms of wealth and looks, were deeply in love and had a son. Their family of three lived a happy and fulfilling life.
However, disaster struck unexpectedly.

Yan Fang, already beautiful, gained even more allure after marriage, gradually attracting the attention of her superior, Chen Jiahao, the director of the Suinan County Public Security Bureau. Chen Jiahao, lusting after Yan Fang's beauty, frequently approached her under the guise of discussing work. Initially, Yan Fang was unsuspecting, believing her superior was simply concerned about her work, and thus did not reject his advances. Finally, one night while she was on night shift, Chen Jiahao, under the influence of alcohol, forcibly took advantage of her. Heartbroken, Yan Fang cried all night. Yan Fang thought a lot. She didn't dare offend the bureau chief, and she didn't want to lose her happy family. In the end, she decided to suppress this humiliation. She naively thought that the bureau chief was just drunk and would regret it afterward and wouldn't bother her anymore. Who knew that Chen Jiahao had tasted the sweetness of success? Not only did he not let her go, but he also plotted to keep her for a long time, often arranging for her to work the night shift and raping her repeatedly.

Chen Jun was focused on his business and often came home very late. At first, he didn't notice the changes in his wife's mood. Over time, the rumors about his wife and Chen Jiahao soon reached Chen Jun's ears. At first, Chen Jun couldn't believe that his beloved wife would betray him, but he felt that his wife's behavior had been somewhat abnormal recently. So, while his wife was working the night shift, he secretly followed her, determined to find out what was going on. He caught her red-handed.

Chen Jun didn't explode on the spot, but returned home in anger. He wanted to find out first, and when his wife returned home, he would question her about why she had betrayed him. Yan Fang then recounted to her husband the humiliation she had suffered these past few days. Upon hearing that his wife had been raped and sexually assaulted by Chen Jiahao, Chen Jun was enraged and wanted to fight Chen Jiahao to the death. Yan Fang knelt down, pleading with her husband, afraid of the bureau chief's authority and fearing that a public outcry would cause even greater harm to their family. At his wife's desperate pleas, Chen Jun temporarily swallowed his anger, only instructing his wife to be more vigilant and not give Chen Jiahao any opportunities.

However, Chen Jiahao was Yan Fang's superior, and as long as she remained under his control, she would never escape his grasp. Chen Jiahao continued to harass Yan Fang, and if she resisted, he would escalate his humiliation. Chen Jun, unable to bear it any longer, stormed into Chen Jiahao's office to confront him. Chen Jiahao, of course, denied everything, berated Chen Jun, and had his men throw him out.

Seeing that his wife's shame could not be redressed and her dignity could not be protected, Chen Jun lost all interest in running his business and decided to report Chen Jiahao to higher authorities. Last autumn, Chen Jun reported Chen Jiahao to the Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, respectively, accusing him of abusing his power to rape his wife.

Upon receiving Chen Jun's report, Chang Yuze immediately reported it to the bureau chief. Liu Fengdong was furious and took the matter very seriously. He summoned Chen Jiahao to the municipal bureau, severely criticized him at the meeting, demanded a deep self-criticism, a written guarantee that he would no longer harass Yan Fang, and apologize to Yan Fang's husband. Yan Fang was also transferred from the county bureau to a police station in the suburbs. Although this was tantamount to a demotion, it prevented Chen Jiahao from contacting her, which was a form of protection for her. Thanks to Liu Fengdong's handling, the matter was temporarily suppressed, and Chen Jun was basically satisfied, promising not to report to higher authorities again. However, Chang Yuze felt that the bureau's handling was insufficient, the deep-seated contradictions were not resolved, and the problem might continue to escalate. Chen Jun's renewed petition confirmed his earlier premonition.

Chang Yuze received a call from the bureau chief and immediately took a high-speed train to the provincial department to report to Director Lü of the Complaints and Appeals Department. Director Lü, a kind-looking old man in his fifties, was directly in charge of the provincial department's petition handling. From a professional standpoint, he was Chang Yuze's direct superior, and Chang Yuze had reported to him many times, giving Chang Yuze a very good impression.

Director Lü had someone retrieve Chen Jun's complaint materials and give them to Chang Yuze. The petitioner, Chen Jun, had already left; his complaint materials remained in the provincial department's petition office. Director Lü had already commented on the materials, instructing the Guide City Public Security Bureau to investigate and handle them promptly. Chang Yuze

found an empty office, sat down, drank tea, and slowly flipped through the complaint materials page by page, growing increasingly angry. This Chen Jiahao was utterly lawless; not only did he want to seize someone's wife, but he also wanted to get rid of her husband!

It was time to leave work, and the provincial department staff gradually left the office to go home, leaving only Chang Yuze and an empty room.

It only takes a little over two hours to travel from Zhengzhou to Guide City. In the past, Chang Yuze would have been eager to return home, hopping on the high-speed train and speeding back to his warm home. But now, he felt a sense of estrangement from home. Apart from his daughter, who was his greatest concern, everything else in the house seemed cold and indifferent.

"Sigh, I'll stay in Zhengzhou for one night and have a few drinks with a friend."

Just as Chang Yuze was about to make a call, he subconsciously noticed the GPS tracker. He thought, "We're relatively close to Guide City; I should be able to monitor Zheng Weihua."

Chang Yuze entered Zheng Weihua's phone number into the tracker, and the result overjoyed him.

The tracker showed that Zheng Weihua was in Zhengzhou, in a car, slowly driving northwest along Nanyang Road. According to Brother Bie Xin, Zheng Weihua had a college sweetheart at Zhengzhou University. The new campus of Zhengzhou University was in the northwest, and Nanyang Road was the best route to the new campus. It was currently after class, and Zheng Weihua must be going to pick up his little sweetheart!

Chang Yuze immediately sprang into action, calling his good friend Liu Yuemin from the Provincial Public Security Department's Police Supervision Division to ask him to find a car. Liu Yuemin was also a good friend Chang Yuze had made during his studies at the Police University. Liu Yuemin had already left the Provincial Public Security Department, but upon hearing that Chang Yuze urgently needed a car, he immediately contacted the department's motorcade to find him one. A moment later, Chang Yuze drove an Audi from the Provincial Public Security Department and sped off after Zheng Weihua.

Zhengzhou's overall strength was still far from the standard of a metropolis, but its traffic congestion was already comparable to those of major cities. It was rush hour, and Nanyang Road was crammed with cars, one after another, barely faster than walking. Fortunately, the Audi was equipped with an siren, and Chang Yuze activated it without hesitation. Amidst the piercing siren, the Audi finally squeezed through the congested traffic and sped forward at a relatively faster speed.

When Chang Yuze arrived at the south gate of Zhengzhou University's new campus on Science Avenue, the GPS locator showed that Zheng Weihua's car had already stopped. Outside the gate, along both sides of Science Avenue for over a hundred meters, dozens of luxury cars, such as Mercedes-Benz and BMWs, were parked. It was vaguely visible that most of the drivers were well-dressed, overweight middle-aged or elderly men—wealthy or powerful successful men, undoubtedly there to pick up their college sweethearts. Zheng Weihua was one of them. Night fell, the streetlights dimmed, and Chang Yuze, unconcerned about being spotted by Zheng Weihua, slowly drove past the luxury cars. When he passed a silver-gray 7 Series BMW, the GPS indicator flashed intensely, indicating that the target was inside that car. This BMW had a Zhengzhou license plate, clearly borrowed temporarily after arriving in Zhengzhou.

Chang Yuze parked his car diagonally in front of the BMW, took out his camera, chose the right angle, adjusted the focus, and carefully observed.

Zheng Weihua was alone in the car. He leaned back in the driver's seat, holding his phone to his ear with his left hand, listening intently. A wide grin spread across his face; he was clearly very happy, probably talking to his lover and telling her how much he missed her. His right hand was on his groin, seemingly rubbing it. Whether it was from the discomfort of the car ride or the discomfort of his erection, it was hard to tell. Like a soldier sharpening his weapon before battle, he prepared to fight bravely in bed.

Chang Yuze suddenly had a disgusted thought: did this old lecher do the same when he was having an affair with his wife, talking to her while rubbing his filthy genitals? Chang Yuze really wanted to rush over, handcuff this old lecher, and beat him up, to prevent him from further assaulting the young female college students. Chang Yuze suppressed his anger, silently telling himself not to get angry, to stay calm, and let this old lecher be arrogant for a few more days. Once he found evidence of his adultery with his wife, he would give him the most severe punishment!

Groups of college students entered and exited the gates, chatting and laughing freely, so carefree and relaxed. Today's college students are well-off, with the time and money to indulge in their appearance. The girls were dressed very fashionably, looking youthful and beautiful in the hazy night.
Groups of female college students weren't the targets of luxury cars; only the meticulously made-up, beautiful girls walking alone from the gates were the men's pets. These solitary girls each possessed the elegant air of privileged individuals, their faces as stunning as Korean pop stars. They walked with model-like steps, swaying their slender waists, gracefully strolling in front of numerous luxury cars, carefully searching for their old flames. When the car doors opened for them, they immediately bent their slender waists and elegantly climbed into the vehicles. Facing the older men inside, men who could be their fathers or grandfathers, they smiled radiantly, showing no shame or remorse for their shameful behavior.

One beautiful girl after another arrived, and one luxury car after another sped away.

When the luxury cars were almost all gone, Zheng Weihua's college student lover finally emerged from the gate.

Although she had just stepped out and was still quite a distance from Chang Yuze, in the dim light of the night, Chang Yuze immediately noticed her, her appearance giving him a sense of awe. Other girls were beautiful, their beauty could always be described; they were all pretty, but they lacked distinctive features. She was different. Her skin was as white as jade, radiating a white glow even in the night. This was one of the highlights of Chang Yuze's special affection for his wife; no matter how much sun she basked in, her skin always remained as smooth and delicate as milk. This girl was tall, over 1.7 meters, a stunning model on the runway. She wore a sleeveless dress with ethnic-style floral prints, the neckline deep, revealing glimpses of her snow-white cleavage. Her ivory neck was graceful and long, and her long, black hair cascaded naturally over her shoulders. As expected of an art student, even her gait was elegant, her two long, slender, white legs shimmering in the night.

She carried a small white handbag in her left hand and a cell phone in her right. Perhaps Zheng Weihua had already pointed out the location and license plate number; she walked out of the school gate, her eyes fixed straight ahead, heading straight for the BMW.

Seeing his lover approach, Zheng Weihua quickly rolled down the window, waving to her while glancing at her sideways, his fat, old face plastered with a lewd grin. These older men were all discreet; none of them brazenly stood outside their cars to greet their lovers, instead hiding inside, waiting for their college student lovers to crawl in.

She quickly slipped into the car, sat in the passenger seat, and closed the door.

Seeing his lover enter, Zheng Weihua eagerly pulled her into his arms, kissing and groping her. She was a little shy, feigning a struggle before giving in, obediently leaning into his embrace, pouting her red lips, letting the old lecher pluck at her.

Having satisfied his urges, Zheng Weihua started the BMW and sped away with his beauty.

They returned to Jinshui District and went to the Green Garden Western Restaurant on Weiwu Road. It was a relatively upscale restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere. Zheng Weihua, with his arm around his lover's waist, gentlemanly led her into the restaurant, up to the second floor, and chose a window seat where they could dine while enjoying the view of the bustling street.

Their window seat also made it easy for Chang Yuze to spy on them.

Western restaurants emphasize quiet elegance, coupled with a touch of romance, so unlike the noisy, bustling scenes of hot pot restaurants, this place was filled with attractive young men and women, dining in pairs or small groups. In the dim light, the difference between Zheng Weihua and his lover was striking: one was a sleazy, short, fat, and vulgar old man, the other a graceful and youthful college student.

Chang Yuze couldn't help but recall the beautiful days that had passed. He and his wife would sit in a Western restaurant, sipping sweet French red wine, slowly savoring the paper-thin marbled beef, and softly discussing the touching scenes from movies. His wife couldn't hold her liquor; two or three glasses of red wine would flush her cheeks, and her lips would turn a deep, rosy red, as if coated with lipstick. After dinner, back in their cozy room, he loved to capture his wife's fiery lips in a deep French kiss. After a few minutes of passionate kissing, his wife's body would go limp, and she would lie shyly on the bed, letting him take her as he pleased. All that was gone, those romantic times. Chang Yuze took a sip of Mengniu pure milk and chewed on an egg yolk pie.
His wife loved Western food; it seemed all girls loved authentic Western cuisine. A few days ago, on his wife's birthday, Zheng Weihua, that filthy beast, had enjoyed a romantic Western meal with her. After the meal, they returned home and began a night of sordid activities. Thinking this, Chang Yuze's anger flared up again. He had to gulp down an entire bottle of green tea to temporarily extinguish it.

An hour and a half later, Zheng Weihua and his lover finished their meal, drove to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, parked the car, and went straight into the hotel elevator. He went upstairs to his room, which Zheng Weihua had already booked. This was a five-star hotel, with rooms starting at over a thousand yuan.

Chang Yuze went to the hotel reception, flashed his police ID, and requested to see the guest's check-in records.

The receptionist hesitated and consulted the lobby manager. The young and handsome lobby manager politely told Chang Yuze, "Sir, our hotel is a designated foreign-related hotel by the provincial government. Our guests' stays are protected. If you want to see a guest's information, I must ask the general manager for his permission."

High-end foreign-related hotels have such privileges; guests can do whatever they want inside—prostitution, gambling—as long as they don't commit murder or arson, generally the police won't come to inspect.

Chang Yuze understood this principle and said with a smile, "Young man, I understand. Actually, my matter is very simple; I just need you to find out which room someone is staying in. You don't need to ask your superiors, and I don't need to report to the leaders of the Public Security Bureau. We're both on official business; reporting back and forth only adds trouble to my work."

Seeing that Chang Yuze's request wasn't demanding, the lobby manager agreed. The waiter gave him Zheng Weihua's room number: room number six on the twelfth floor, a deluxe double room. This old lecher really knew how to enjoy himself; the bed was over two meters wide—he and his mistress could roll around in it without falling off.

Yuze booked another room diagonally opposite Zheng Weihua's, and through the room's observation mirror, he could see Zheng Weihua's door perfectly. Chang Yuze set the alarm for 5 a.m. the next morning, drank half a jin of strong liquor, and went to bed. Without that half jin of liquor, he wouldn't be able to sleep all night. Zheng Weihua and his lover were having an affair in the room. The scene was unmistakably lewd. He couldn't help but think of his wife, imagining his beautiful wife being led into the room by this ugly old man, like this female college student, and forced onto the bed, repeatedly violated. He was furious. He suddenly thought of Zhang Feng. On his wife's birthday, Zhang Feng had secretly observed Zheng Weihua from outside the house. Did Zhang Feng feel the same way? Yes, he certainly didn't. Zheng Weihua wasn't violating his lover; he was only conjuring up those obscene scenes, scenes that only excited him. Lost in thought, the alcohol took effect, and he quickly fell asleep.

The next day at five o'clock, the alarm rang precisely.

Chang Yuze quickly washed his face and began his investigation, monitoring the locator's indicators and observing the activity in the opposite room. Time passed slowly, but there was still no movement from Zheng Weihua's room. It was already past eight o'clock, and Zheng Weihua still hadn't left the room. Didn't he feel hungry after a night of passion with his mistress? Didn't he want to eat breakfast?

At 8:40, a waiter brought Zheng Weihua two breakfasts. This old lecher is a real piece of work; he can't even be bothered to go down for breakfast.

The door opened, and the girl who came to collect the breakfast was there. She was wearing pink pajamas, her face still flushed. She was tall, her pajamas barely reaching her knees, her slender legs smooth as jade. Last night, because of the darkness, Chang Yuze only noticed her good figure and pretty face; now, "pretty" didn't even begin to describe her—"absolutely stunning" was more fitting. Not only was Chang Yuze amazed by her beauty, but the waiter who brought the breakfast was also stunned, forgetting to even take the tray out. Her looks truly lived up to her title as the most beautiful girl in the art department.

"Thank you," the mistress said, taking the breakfast from the waiter, before returning to her room, her small foot gently tapping the door shut behind her. Her voice was melodious and pleasant.

Chang Yuze saw the waiter walk a few steps before turning back to look, hoping for one last glimpse of the beautiful woman in her pajamas. That old lecher must have been exhausted from the night before, too lazy to even pick up breakfast; he was probably still in bed. But having a beautiful woman serve him at his bedside was probably a royal indulgence he was eagerly anticipating.

An hour later, Zheng Weihua and his mistress finally emerged from their room and left the hotel one after the other. The woman wore light makeup, her clothes were neat, and she appeared composed, reverting to her youthful, beautiful, pure, and elegant college student persona.
Confirming that Zheng Weihua had driven away, Chang Yuze immediately called the floor attendant and asked her to open Zheng Weihua's room. Chang Yuze flashed his identification, telling her he was on a case; the guest in this room was a drug trafficking suspect being investigated by the police, and he needed to search the room. He had already spoken to the hotel manager yesterday; this was a secret operation, and no one could be informed.

The attendant immediately opened the door and let Chang Yuze in.

The room remained exactly as they had left it. Pajamas and towels lay scattered haphazardly on the large Simmons bed. On the small coffee table sat a half-finished glass of milk, the leftover breakfast, and a few fruit peels.

Chang Yuze emptied the trash can, but found no condoms. He searched the trash can in the bathroom, but still found nothing. He even turned the bed upside down, under the bed, but still couldn't find any. Not even tissues stained with the liquid were found.

There were spare condoms in the room, but they were intact and untouched.

Chang Yuze was certain that Zheng Weihua's trip to Zhengzhou to meet his lover couldn't have been without sex, without ejaculation, without leaving behind his sordid evidence. The test results could only prove one thing: like with those mistresses at the Banking Regulatory Bureau, Zheng Weihua didn't like using condoms. His filthy fluid was directly ejaculated into his lover's body, and then she would wash it off in the bathroom.

Chang Yuze hadn't intended to disturb Zheng Weihua's lover, but now that he couldn't find what he wanted, he had to confront her directly.

Chang Yuze first checked the landline in the room, finding several call records but no cell phone numbers. He immediately went downstairs, drove off, and tracked them. The GPS showed that Zheng Weihua was taking his mistress back to school. Zheng Weihua had left earlier and should have arrived at school before Chang Yuze, but for some reason, he stopped for a few minutes along the way, allowing Chang Yuze to catch up.

When they were about 500 meters from the school, the BMW pulled over. The girl got out, blew a kiss to her lover, and walked along the sidewalk towards the school. She had a handbag slung over her shoulder and was carrying a white food bag containing some fruit. The BMW's earlier stop was because she was buying fruit.

The BMW turned around and drove back. Chang Yuze sped up, parked the car, got out, and stood on the sidewalk, waiting for her to catch up.

The girl seemed relaxed and graceful, her demeanor elegant and poised. She appeared to be a pure and beautiful college student. Who would believe, without seeing it with their own eyes, that just last night she had allowed a filthy, lewd old man to take advantage of her? By day, she was a sacred and inviolable beautiful college student; by night, she was a despicable mistress of a corrupt official, selling her body. Modern girls really know how to live, managing to balance studies and entertainment.

As the girl approached, Chang Yuze greeted her, "Hello, Miss Ma."

The girl hesitated for a moment: "You're looking for me?"

"Yes. I'm from the Public Security Bureau. I need to discuss a case with you." Chang Yuze casually flashed his badge, not letting her examine it closely.

Hearing that it was the Public Security Bureau, the girl became nervous, but managed to remain calm, saying softly, "I'm a student, I've never left the campus, how could I be involved in any case?"

"Last night you and Zheng Weihua checked into the Crowne Plaza Hotel and stayed together. Zheng Weihua is a major corrupt official, suspected of serious economic crimes. If you're not afraid of being overheard, I'll question you here. To avoid affecting your studies, I suggest you come with me."

Chang Yuze struck at the girl's weak spot. Her face turned pale instantly, her bright eyes filled with terror. This was her biggest fear. Although she hadn't committed a crime, and although it wasn't uncommon for female university students to work part-time, being kept by someone was still shameful. If her classmates found out, how could she face them? If Zheng Weihua really was a major corrupt official, investigated and sentenced, she, as his lover, could be implicated, making the scandal even bigger.
Chang Yuze had anticipated the girl's psychology and didn't explain further, simply turning to walk towards the car. Sure enough, the girl was frightened, dared not resist, and obediently followed behind.

Chang Yuze got into the driver's seat, and the girl opened the car door and sat in the back. As soon as she got in, she couldn't help but sob softly, explaining, "I don't know him well. He lied to me. I only dated him once."

Chang Yuze drove away, calmly saying, "Our Public Security Bureau has a clear understanding of your situation with Zheng Weihua. Zheng Weihua committed a crime, and you were close to him, so you're definitely involved. However, considering you're still a student and in school, as long as you cooperate, we will consider it carefully and try our best not to affect your studies. However, if you deliberately conceal the facts of the case and help Zheng Weihua evade responsibility, then you will face severe legal punishment, possibly a prison sentence of several years or even decades. Your precious youth will be spent in prison."

"No, no, no, officer, I'll tell you everything. I'll tell you everything I know. I won't protect him at all. I have nothing to do with him. Please don't put me in jail." The girl finally understood what fear was and covered her face, crying bitterly.

Chang Yuze remained unmoved. To find evidence of Zheng Weihua's crimes as quickly as possible, he had to harden his heart. To intensify the girl's panic and fear, Chang Yuze deliberately activated the siren while driving. When the piercing alarm sounded, the girl cried even harder.

The car sped towards the Public Security Bureau. When they arrived at the entrance, Chang Yuze pulled over and turned to the girl, saying, "I see you're still a student, naive, and inexperienced in society. You must have succumbed to temptation and been deceived by Zheng Weihua. So, I've decided to give you a chance. I won't take you into the Public Security Bureau yet, because once you're in the interrogation room, you'll definitely have a criminal record, and your university file will be stained."

Hearing this, the girl immediately raised her tear-streaked face, excitedly saying, "Thank you, officer! Thank you so much! I was so stupid, deceived by that big bad guy Zheng Weihua! I hate him so much! Officer, I promise I'll listen to you!" "Yes, I'll do whatever you tell me to do, brother."

Chang Yuze adjusted his seat, took out his notebook and pen, and facing the girl, said in a pretentious manner, "Zheng Weihua, who's keeping you, is a major embezzler, probably embezzling tens of millions. Our provincial public security bureau is investigating him. Judging from the amount he embezzled, he'll likely face either the death penalty or life imprisonment. He's greedy, lustful, and leads a corrupt life, keeping over a dozen mistresses; you're just one of them. According to Chinese law, after a corrupt official is sentenced, all women connected to him will be implicated, ranging from minor punishments to imprisonment. I'll take your statement now. If you answer well, I'll let you go, and your name might not appear in the case anymore. Otherwise, you'll see me in court."

"Thank you, Officer. I'll answer carefully." Ma Qianqian wiped her tears with a wet wipe, then cautiously flashed a charming smile at Chang Yuze, asking ingratiatingly, "Officer, may I know your name?"

"You don't need to know my name yet. Just answer what I ask, understand?" This girl seemed innocent, but she was actually quite mature. She knew her beauty was her most powerful weapon, and she wanted to use her pitiful appearance to gain the officer's sympathy. Unfortunately, Chang Yuze wasn't buying it, and tapped her on the tail with the tone characteristic of interrogating a criminal.

The girl began to answer the questions honestly: "Ma Qianqian, female, 21 years old, from Xigong District, Luoyang City. Both parents are employees of a large state-owned enterprise. She is an only child and is currently a junior at Zhengzhou University, majoring in hosting and performing arts."

Her answers went smoothly until Chang Yuze asked when she started being Zheng Weihua's mistress. Ma Qianqian stammered, "I just met him, only half a month ago."

"I hope you answer truthfully. If you give false testimony, I won't help you anymore. In the end, not only will I not be able to exonerate you, but I may also increase your punishment."

Chang Yuze's harsh words tore through her defenses, and she dared not hide those unspeakable things anymore: "I met him at the Spring Sugar and Wine Fair last year. At that time, I was an image ambassador for a winery. I did the part-time job not to earn money, but to increase my social practice activities. Zheng Weihua saw me and took the initiative to talk to me, saying that he was the head of the bank and had a wide social network. He wanted to be friends with me."
"He and you are not friends, but in a sugar daddy relationship. How much does he give you every month?" Chang Yuze tore through her veil of pretense once again. Judging from her family background—both parents work, she's an only child, so she shouldn't be short of money for university.

"Give me five thousand yuan a month."

Five thousand yuan a month to support a stunning female university student? What's wrong with universities these days? What's wrong with university students these days? Willing to sell their dignity for a mere few thousand yuan? Of course, Chang Yuze wouldn't let this issue cause him unnecessary worry; that's the education department's business, not his concern. He only cared about his own problems.

"How will the money be transferred? Cash or bank transfer?"

"To my card."

"Besides sending you money every month, does he give you any other valuable gifts?"

"Sometimes when we go shopping, he buys me nice clothes and jewelry, but I never buy anything expensive."

At this moment, Chang Yuze noticed an "LV" logo on her small bag. This wasn't a cheap knock-off. "Your LV bag was also bought for you by Zheng Weihua, right?"

"Yes, this bag costs over three thousand yuan. I definitely wouldn't buy it myself."

Chang Yuze suddenly took a deep breath, because his anger flared up again. His wife also had an LV bag. With her income, buying a few LV bags wouldn't be a problem. But she once said that the bag was a gift from her company. She must be lying. No company would give out LV bags worth several thousand yuan as employee benefits. It must have been that lecherous old man who gave it to her! Chang Yuze suppressed his anger and continued his interrogation: "Besides that, did he give you money or gifts in any other way?"

Ma Qianqian hesitated for a moment, lowered her head, and dared not speak. Chang Yuze immediately reminded her loudly: "Speak quickly!"

"He, he, to encourage me to spend more time with him, gave me another thousand yuan as pocket money for each time I spent with him."

"To be precise, was it a thousand yuan for spending a night with him, or a thousand yuan for having sex with him?"

"A thousand yuan for each time I had sex with him." Ma Qianqian's head drooped to her chest, her voice barely audible.

"This girl is despicable! What's the difference between a thousand yuan a time and prostitution? This old lecher is a real piece of work, treating a pretty art student like a prostitute!

" Chang Yuze was truly enraged, cursing her mercilessly. "Ma Qianqian, don't you think your behavior is an insult to your image? A thousand yuan for a single encounter, what's the difference between you and those prostitutes? You have an image, you have class, you're beautiful, and you're an art student. A few thousand yuan is enough to keep you. Don't you think you're selling yourself for too low a price?" Chang Yuze was genuinely angry and didn't hold back in his insults. He had seen many mistresses of officials and big bosses; most were women with only minor attractiveness. Women with both education, looks, and class were extremely rare. Ma Qianqian was one of those rare beauties, yet she lowered herself for a few thousand yuan, willingly becoming a prostitute for this old lecher's lust.

"No, no, I'm not that kind of woman. I'm not after those few thousand yuan. I've never lacked money since I was little. My parents doted on me. Although their salaries weren't high, they could easily cover my college expenses. I didn't follow Zheng Weihua for his money. I wanted to be a host at the provincial TV station. He said he was a leader in the China Banking Regulatory Commission and had strong connections in the province. He was also close friends with the leaders at the provincial TV station. He promised to send me to the provincial TV station after I graduated. That's why I agreed to be his mistress."
This is yet another big-breasted, brainless woman who sacrifices herself for art.

"Don't you think he's just trying to fool you? He's just the head of a small unit in a small city. Even in his hometown, he might not be able to get by. In the provincial capital, he's nothing. Does he really have the ability to get you into the provincial TV station?"

"I used to doubt him too, but once, he took me to dinner with a leader from the provincial TV station, and that leader promised to get me a job there after I graduated."

She's a college student, how can she be so naive? The provincial TV station is a huge organization with many departments and offices. Even a small department head can become a big leader. It's not impossible for Zheng Weihua to know someone like that, but the key is that the provincial TV station is the propaganda window for the entire province. Not everyone has the ability to get someone in, let alone become a host. Forget it, the allure of ideals is unimaginable. Revolutionaries can sacrifice their precious lives for their ideals, so she can certainly sacrifice her body for hers. Enough of this nonsense, let's focus on our own problems. Chang Yuze then asked a crucial question: "Did you have sex with him last night?"

"Yes."

"How many times?"

"Twice." Ma Qianqian hesitated for a moment, then added, "Three times."

Zheng Weihua was over fifty and overweight; doing it three times in one night seemed a bit exaggerated. Perhaps it was because of the frequency and short duration, getting tired in a minute or two.

"How long did it last each time?"

"Several tens of minutes, or maybe more than an hour." Ma Qianqian seemed particularly embarrassed by these questions, so she hesitated again and said, "Officer, can I not answer these questions?" "

These are all details of Zheng Weihua's crimes. The more detailed your answers, the more it will help you mitigate your sentence later." Chang Yuze was skeptical of Ma Qianqian's answer. Doing it three times in one night, each time for more than an hour—even if he were ten years younger, he would find it difficult to do such a high level of intensity.

"Does Zheng Weihua ejaculate every time?"

"Yes."

"Please answer accurately? Does he ejaculate or not?"

"He ejaculates."

"I checked the room you and Zheng Weihua slept in last night, and I didn't find any condoms. Did you dispose of the used condoms?" Chang Yuze's purpose in following Zheng Weihua was to obtain the used condoms. He still had doubts about the previous test results. Although he was certain of his wife's infidelity, he still wanted to rule out the condoms in the villa, because the villa was, after all, his house, his home. He didn't want his wife to have fallen so low as to invite a wolf into the house.

"Condoms? What condoms?"

"The condoms Zheng Weihua used when you had sex." What's wrong with college students these days? They don't even know basic physiological knowledge. "
We didn't use condoms." Sure enough, this girl had a pure and pretty face, but her essence was cheap and promiscuous. She was too lazy to even use condoms during sex.

"Why didn't you use them?" Chang Yuze was very disappointed, having wasted a whole night and returned home without condoms.

“I wanted him to use it, but he just wouldn’t. He said I was just his mistress, and husbands and wives don’t use condoms when they have sex.”

This made Chang Yuze even more ashamed. He and his wife only used condoms during the time they were trying to conceive; otherwise, they always used them. In this respect, he was inferior to Zheng Weihua. That bastard was just nakedly pursuing the greatest lustful pleasure.

“How does he ejaculate without a condom? Where does he ejaculate?” Chang Yuze asked a disgusting question.

Actually, it was pointless to ask such a question. Without a condom, he would naturally ejaculate. But Chang Yuze was disgusted. He couldn’t understand it. His wife might have satisfied the old bastard’s lust in this way, and this proud and beautiful female college student in front of him had done the same. Did this vulgar and ugly old man really have such charm that he could make women as excellent as his wife and Ma Qianqian offer their bodies to him, and be so lewdly for him?

"Shoot inside me." Ma Qianqian answered honestly again, burying her head between her legs in embarrassment, her fair ears turning bright red.

"Have you thought about it? Without protection, aren't you afraid he'll give you an STD?"

"I thought about that, but he said he's very clean, without a single disease, and has a checkup every year, with all his indicators being good. I don't completely believe him, so I always wash it thoroughly, and I won't let it in if it's not clean."

Chang Yuze understood what she meant; she always washed "it" clean, not "him."

"Aren't you afraid he'll sleep with prostitutes and then sleep with you? Those prostitutes aren't clean."

"Impossible. He said he never sleeps with prostitutes, even if they pay him. He said he has plenty of mistresses, all respectable and beautiful women from good families, and he hasn't had enough of them. He's not interested in prostitutes at all."

Thinking of the five beauties from the Banking Regulatory Bureau, that old lecher wasn't lying.

"What if you get pregnant after he ejaculates inside you?"

"No, I wash it out with water every time he ejaculates inside, and then I take birth control pills afterwards."

"If he doesn't commit a crime, are you planning to let him keep you as his mistress?"

"No, I've already decided that once I start working, I'll break off all contact with him and regain my freedom."

"Didn't he say he'd recommend you to a TV station after you graduate? He has strong connections; the station's leaders are his good friends. Will you still dare to leave him then?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead. I'll think about the future later," Ma Qianqian said, and this was probably her true feeling.

"Do you think Zheng Weihua loves you?"

"Loves me? I don't know. Every time he comes to Zhengzhou, he just wants me to have dinner with him, then we have sex. Occasionally he'll take me to other places, go shopping, and buy me things. He's very sweet-talking, always praising me as his favorite. I think he really loves my body."

"Do you love him?"

"No." Ma Qianqian answered crisply, "He's older than my father. How could I love him? It's just a transaction between us."

Yes, there was no affection between him and her; it was purely a naked transaction of ideals, work, and flesh. But what kind of transaction did his wife have with him? Was it also purely a transaction of lust? She needed stimulation, and he gave her that stimulation? Chang Yuze suddenly lost interest, but forced himself to continue.

"How did your first time with Zheng Weihua happen?"

"Last year, about ten days after the National Sugar and Wine Fair, one afternoon I suddenly received a call from Zheng Weihua. He said he was having dinner with leaders from the provincial television station that evening and invited me to attend. Actually, I had received many invitations from high-ranking officials and wealthy businessmen before, all of whom were more powerful and richer than him, but I had never been tempted. I knew these men were only after my looks and had no good intentions. I had never attended such banquets because they were shady and ambiguous. But that time, I was tempted because I really wanted to develop my career as a program host, and he said the leaders from the provincial television station were his close friends and might be able to help me realize my dream. So I went.

That night, I met Zheng Weihua. At first, he didn't seem to be in a hurry." He chatted with me happily, asking about my family and studies, like an elder caring for a younger person—very kind and approachable. He even told me that at the banquet later, I should call him "uncle" and pretend to be his niece, so that through this connection, he could get his friends at the TV station to help me get a job there. Honestly, I was genuinely touched. He didn't ask me to be his mistress or girlfriend; that kind of relationship really bothered me. I immediately called him "uncle" a few times, and he was very pleased, smiling broadly.

That evening, at the banquet were a high-ranking official from the provincial TV station, a high-ranking official from the provincial radio and television bureau, and a woman I never expected—a female host from the provincial TV station's entertainment channel. I've watched many of her shows; she's beautiful, has a great voice, and is incredibly talented at improvising—she's practically my idol. I was so happy to see her at the banquet. She wasn't arrogant at all; she called me "little sister," which almost made me faint. While drinking, I noticed she was very protective of the leader from the broadcasting bureau, and the two of them were very close. That's when I realized she was the leader's mistress.

During the meal, Zheng Weihua repeatedly praised my appearance and voice, saying I was more than qualified to be a host on the provincial TV station. He even said I was his distant niece, a relative, so he asked the leaders of the provincial TV station and the broadcasting bureau to give me special treatment and support. At the time, the leader from the provincial TV station also said I was... "That's fine. We can consider getting you into the provincial TV station in the future. As for whether I can become a host, that depends on my future performance." I believed them immediately. They weren't making an exorbitant demand; they were being honest. And with that female host from the provincial radio station as a role model, I knew Zheng Weihua wasn't lying to me.

In my excitement, I unknowingly drank several glasses of red wine. Feeling a little dizzy, I went outside the private room for some fresh air. At that moment, Zheng Weihua followed me out, approached me, and whispered, "I'll help you get into the TV station, help you become a host, and I'll give you plenty of face by making you my relative. I haven't said you're my lover, but you need to know what my true feelings are: I like you.

" After hearing what he said, I sobered up a bit. I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch, and Zheng Weihua wouldn't help me for no reason. He must be like other men, trying to get close to me because I'm pretty. But being a TV host is my biggest dream in life, and it's so attractive. If I had the chance, I would definitely try. However, I have a boyfriend who loves me very much, and I love him too. I can't do anything to betray him. Besides, Zheng Weihua is too old and ugly. He's older than my father, shorter than me, has a big belly, is bald, and speaks very vulgarly when he's drunk. He's really disgusting. I didn't agree at the time.

Then I went back to drinking, outwardly socializing with them... With a forced smile, I was actually in deep pain. Before, when I saw news about the unspoken rules between female celebrities and directors, I thought it was just something online, vague and unreal. I never imagined it would happen to me so soon. My feelings were incredibly conflicted. Without realizing it, I drank a few more glasses of red wine. I never expected red wine to make me so drunk; I was so dizzy I could barely stand.
The banquet ended. I still hadn't agreed to Zheng Weihua's request. Zheng Weihua didn't force me; he remained smiling, very kind and caring, and drove me back to school.

On the way, Zheng Weihua told me that at the wine and spirits fair, he was immediately captivated by me at first sight, and he had fallen deeply in love with me, a love that was unwavering. He's willing to do anything for me as long as I'm happy. Even if I disagree to be his mistress, he'll still try his best to help me get into the TV station. He also said that he works in Guide City and only comes to Zhengzhou for short periods each month. Even if I become his mistress, he won't neglect me every day. Whether I go to school or do other things, everything will continue as usual. He won't interfere at all, and I'll still be free. He added, "Look at that host just now. She's very famous now, a big star. But why is she famous? Why is she a big star? It's because the leader of the broadcasting bureau promoted her. Without a powerful figure to take care of you, no matter how beautiful, capable, or hardworking you are, you'll end up achieving nothing."

All along the way ... He talked on and on, while I remained silent. As we approached the school gate, he said one last thing to me: he hoped I would spend the night with him, even just once, to satisfy his love for me. I thought and thought. I knew, everyone knew, that the entertainment industry had unspoken rules; it was normal for actresses to sleep with directors and bosses. Which female celebrity in China didn't become famous by sleeping with men? I had seen that female host with my own eyes; she was glamorous on stage, but offstage she was flirting with her old lover. I gritted my teeth and finally agreed to his request. When I woke up, I was already in his bed, naked, my body already possessed by him. From then on, I stayed with him.

"Didn't he say he'd only let you accompany him once?"

"That's what he said at the time, but later he'd come to see me every few days. I couldn't resist him, so I started to satisfy him and become his mistress."

"Does Zheng Weihua come to see you often?"

"Yes, last year when our relationship was just established, he came almost twice a month, staying for two or three days each time. This year he comes less often, about two or three days a month."

"Do you know that Zheng Weihua has other mistresses?"

"Yes."

"How did you find out?"

"He told me."

"Isn't that strange? He says he really likes you, but at the same time he boasts about having other mistresses. Aren't you disgusted?"

"Why would I be disgusted? I'm not his wife."

Chang Yuze was stunned. A mistress and a wife are indeed different. Why do men love to find mistresses after marriage? Mistresses have so many advantages: young, beautiful, and they don't get jealous.

"Actually, he's very good at understanding women's psychology. Women are naturally prone to jealousy and envy. When he told me how his other lovers loved him, cared for him, obeyed him, and how excited and pleasurable they were when they made love with him, I no longer thought he was ugly or unattractive. I even found him very charming. I would do whatever he asked, and sometimes I would take the initiative to care for him when he wasn't feeling well. It was like the feeling I had when I fell in love with him. At that time, I would think that his other lovers all looked very beautiful, some even more beautiful than me. So many beautiful women loved him and obeyed him, so I must love him too, obey him too, and serve him wholeheartedly to make him happier and pamper me even more."

"Wait, how do you know his lovers are all beautiful? Have you met his other lovers?" Chang Yuze's heart clenched. If he compared his wife to Ma Qianqian, his wife was superior in both temperament and appearance. Although she was younger, his wife's natural beauty and mature charm were several times better than that of a naive young girl like her.

“I’ve never seen them in person, only in photos. Once, Zheng Weihua took some candid photos of me and saved them in his notebook. In his notebook, I saw candid photos of other women, all very beautiful. Zheng Weihua said these women were his favorites.”
Chang Yuze thought for a moment, then resolutely took out a photo of his wife from his briefcase. The photo clearly showed his wife’s flawless face: large, expressive eyes, alluring red lips, rosy cheeks, a smooth, jade-like forehead, and soft, silky hair. These details made up his wife’s perfect appearance. Chang Yuze deliberately put this photo in his briefcase so he could look at it before going to bed at night, or gently kiss her, and sleep better.

“Do you see this woman?”

"So beautiful!" Ma Qianqian exclaimed sincerely upon seeing Xu Hong's photo. "I didn't look closely at the time, I can't remember clearly, but I think I am. Aren't you investigating Zheng Weihua? Is this woman also his lover?"

"Yes," Chang Yuze replied weakly, his heart slowly sinking into an endless, chilling abyss. One piece of ruthless evidence after another shattered his fragile illusions. He was forced to endure the painful blows time and again: his wife had cheated on him, and the lover was an ugly old man.

"Has Zheng Weihua ever told you the names of other lovers?"

"No, he never mentions other women's names in front of me. Except during sex, he'll talk about other women's good points, like whose breasts are the biggest, whose moans are the most alluring, but he never says their full names, only things like Xiaoying or Xiaolin."

"Has he ever mentioned a name called Xiaohong?"

"How could I remember clearly? As soon as he touches me or talks about her, I get excited and can't remember anything else."

"Don't you feel disgusted when he talks about other women during sex?"

"At first, I felt disgusted, but later I got used to it. Not only did I not feel disgusted, but I also got excited faster and felt more stimulated. He's the best at flirting."

So this is the old lecher's flirting technique. It seems I'm really out of touch. It seems I've never used such flirting techniques with my wife during sex, let alone mentioning other women's names in front of her. Even thinking about other women feels like a sin. Is this how my wife was seduced by the old lecher's various flirting methods? Chang Yuze felt more and more saddened as he thought about it.

Seeing Chang Yuze's gloomy expression, and realizing her answer wasn't detailed enough and hadn't satisfied him, Ma Qianqian quickly said, "Zheng Weihua also told me that he has very high standards. He doesn't even look at ordinary pretty women; he only plays with top-tier women. Every top-tier woman he sets his sights on ends up becoming his devoted lover. The woman in your photo is so beautiful; she must be a top-tier woman, Zheng Weihua's favorite mistress."

"What is a top-tier woman? Did Zheng Weihua ever say what the criteria were?"

"Zheng Weihua did. I remember this very well. He said a top-tier woman must meet sixteen criteria: fair skin, big eyes, round breasts, slim waist, perky buttocks, long legs, a loud voice, and lots of wetness."

This old lecher really knows how to play with women; his summary of the characteristics of beautiful women is incredibly insightful. Chang Yuze compared his wife's body to these wonderful features one by one. She truly met the sixteen criteria for a top-tier woman. His wife usually spoke very rationally, but her moans when she was close to climax were truly intoxicating; this was probably the "loudness" the old lecher had mentioned. Chang Yuze then realized that he hadn't paid enough attention to his wife. He had only been considerate and doting on her, but he hadn't really analyzed her carefully, failing to discover and summarize her many good qualities. Women love to hear flattery; if he praised his wife's virtues in bed, she might be more easily aroused.

Chang Yuze continued with his questions: "You said you have a boyfriend?"

"Yes."
"You and Zheng Weihua went to hotels repeatedly, did your boyfriend ever find out?"

"No."

"Never at all?"

"Yes."

"How did you manage to lie to your boyfriend?"

"I never lied to my friend. Although Zheng Weihua kept me as a mistress and took my body, my heart still belongs to my friend, and I still deeply love her. During the day, I studied with my friend, went shopping, and ate at street stalls. Only on those few days each month, late at night, did I go to a hotel with Zheng Weihua."

"You often stayed out all night, did your roommates notice?"

"No, they thought I went to hotels with my friend."

"Did Zheng Weihua know you had a boyfriend when he kept you as a mistress?"

"Yes."

"Didn't he object to you dating your boyfriend, including having sex?"

“At first, he ignored me and didn’t interfere with my freedom, but later he started restricting me. Last winter, one time, I went to see him late at night, and he found out I had just been with my friend. He was very disgusted, dragged me into the bathroom, and made me wash for an hour or two before he went in. He likes to kiss my genitals; he can detect even the slightest odor. From then on, he demanded that I use a condom when I have sex with my friend, and that the latter half of each month be exclusively for him. I can’t have any physical contact with my friend because he usually comes to see me in the latter half of the month.”

“Did you do as he asked?”

“Yes, I was afraid he would be unhappy.”

That old lecher is a real piece of work. Other people’s real boyfriends have to be restricted to certain times when they have sex, but he can come and pamper her anytime. Other people’s legitimate boyfriends have to use condoms when they have sex, but he can ejaculate inside her whenever he wants.

“But now I don’t have to do that anymore,” Ma Qianqian said sadly.

"Why?"

"My friend and I broke up."

"Why did you break up with your friend? Did your boyfriend find out you cheated on him and no longer want to date you?"

"No, my friend still loves me. He never knew about my relationship with Zheng Weihua. I broke up with him first."

"Why did you break up with your boyfriend first? Don't you love him anymore?"
"No, no, I love my friend very much. We started dating in our freshman year. He's very handsome, tall and strong, and the main attacker on the department's volleyball team. He dotes on me. My friend and I had agreed that after graduation, we would both stay in Zhengzhou or go back to Luoyang, and we would get married. But that bastard Zheng Weihua didn't give me a chance and forced me to break up with my friend. He's a complete jerk!" Ma Qianqian was heartbroken when she talked about breaking up with her boyfriend, and she covered her face and cried.

Chang Yuze pulled a tissue from the car's tissue box and handed it to her, asking sympathetically, "How did he pressure you?"

"At the beginning of this year, right after I returned to school, one Sunday, I went to Xuchang with a friend. Zheng Weihua suddenly arrived in Zhengzhou and called, asking me to stay with him. I explained to him that I was out of town and couldn't get back that night. Besides, I was with my friend and couldn't just leave him behind. He kept calling to urge me, and I was afraid my friend would find out, so I turned off my phone. The next day, I rushed back to apologize, letting him toy with me in every way he wanted. But he was still not satisfied, convinced I had slept with my friend the night before and didn't care about him anymore. He confronted me, saying he loved me too deeply and couldn't tolerate my body belonging to another man. He said my body could only belong to him alone, and he wanted me to break up with my friend, or he would break up with me. He also said he could endure the pain of missing me, but he absolutely couldn't tolerate another man entering my body. I know he's lying!"

"And that's how you broke up with your boyfriend?"

"Hmm. I'm afraid I won't be able to go to the TV station." Ma Qianqian covered her face with her hands again and burst into tears.

Chang Yuze knew how passionate the feelings of lovers could be, but that hateful old lecher had used despicable means to cruelly tear this loving couple apart. Chang Yuze took out another tissue, handed it to her, and asked softly, "Since you love your boyfriend so much, why don't you secretly see your friend behind his back?"

"His methods are despicable; I don't dare to fight him."

"What methods does he use?"

“That night, he forced me to break up with my friend. I cried for a long time, and finally hardened my heart and agreed. But that wasn't enough. He took out a razor and shaved my genitals clean, saying it was to make me show my resolve. He also said he liked fair-skinned, clean-cut women, and that I would be his exclusive 'white tiger' lover from now on. That bastard is so despicable. He messed with my genitals, how could I dare to be intimate with my friend again? If my friend saw what my genitals looked like, he would definitely know. So I hardened my heart and broke up with my friend. My friend is still in great pain, asking me why I don't love him anymore. I couldn't answer him, so I could only harden my heart and say that I had found a new boyfriend. That bastard Zheng Weihua also said that he has my friend's phone number, and if I lie to him, he will call my friend anytime. That bastard has too many tricks up his sleeve. I'm afraid of him and dare not disobey him.”

Chang Yuze began to recall the details of his wife's body. In that area, there was a layer of fine and soft downy hair. He loved to touch that area; it was soft and smooth, and the silky smooth feeling was especially comfortable. Hearing Ma Qianqian's words, he began to feel inexplicably nervous, fearing that one day his wife's precious pubic hair would also disappear.

"You still love your friend, right?"

"Yes, I love him very much. However, since I've chosen to break up, I can't linger. Women have to learn to be strong too." Ma Qianqian, tears streaming down her face, asked again, "Officer, that woman you showed me earlier, did you also investigate her?"

"Yes."

"Does she have a boyfriend?"

"She has a husband; she's married." "

Did that bastard Zheng Weihua also monopolize her, not allowing her to have a relationship with her husband, making her body only for his enjoyment?"
Chang Yuze took a deep breath and calmly replied, "No, her husband can have sex with her freely."

"That woman can have a husband, why can't I have a boyfriend?" Ma Qianqian was plunged into deep confusion and pain.

Chang Yuze didn't answer her question. He couldn't let her influence him, he couldn't follow her emotions. He had to conduct his investigation. He continued, "Now answer my question: do you prefer having sex with your boyfriend or with Zheng Weihua?"

"Well, of course I prefer having sex with my boyfriend because I love him. But, if it's just about sex, that bastard Zheng Weihua is better."

"He's better? What do you mean?"

"He can bring me to the highest orgasm."

"You mean his sexual ability is exceptionally strong?"

"Yes, I can hardly believe it. He's an old man, yet his strength during sex is no less than a young man's, and he's more experienced and his techniques are more sophisticated. He says he has many lovers, and he often has sex with them, honing his skills. He boasts that once a woman has slept with him, she can't live without him." "

Tell me specifically what sexual techniques he uses. This could also be considered evidence of his corrupt lifestyle."

"I can't really describe the specifics, but he lasts a long time during sex. My friends usually ejaculate in ten minutes, at most half an hour, but he can last for tens of minutes each time, sometimes more than an hour. During that time, he'll kiss me, caress me, and whisper sweet nothings in my ear, quickly bringing me to orgasm. When he ejaculates, it's even more powerful, like a fountain, giving me a very high. Because of this, I'm in a lot of pain. Even though I don't love him, my body craves this kind of intense stimulation."

"Is he taking Viagra? It's impossible for an ordinary person to be that powerful. By the way, I heard he also has some kind of magic aphrodisiac. Have you seen him take it?" Chang Yuze didn't believe her words. A normal person couldn't possibly be that powerful unless he relied on aphrodisiacs. But any aphrodisiac has toxicity, and in the end, it will drain a person's energy, which is what is called excessive indulgence, leading to death from exhaustion. He hoped that this was the fate of that old bastard Zheng Weihua.

"I know he has drugs, but I've never seen him take them. He never takes them in front of me. But he's always very intense. Like last night, he tormented me three times in one night. I could barely take it anymore; my legs were weak, and I didn't even have the strength to walk." Her words clearly revealed her as a lustful woman whose desires were satisfied, not a trace of the noble and innocent image of a female college student.

"Does he have any perverted demands? Or any perverted methods?"

"Yes, he usually speaks very seriously, like a high-ranking official, but he's very perverted when it comes to sex. I usually see him at night, but he prefers to have me during the day. He says he can see better during the day and it's more exciting. He likes to kiss my genitals, so he always shaves my pubic hair clean, saying it's prickly if it's not clean enough. His actions aren't those of a normal person; they're those of a beast. Sometimes, I even feel like I'm becoming more shameless by joining him."

This Zheng Weihua is a real bastard, a pervert among perverts!

"Could you say that Zheng Weihua gives you a stronger feeling, and if you had to choose between your friend and him, you would definitely choose him?"

"No, I can't say that. I love my friend, and no one can replace that. Maybe human nature has two sides. Emotionally, I love my friend, and I'm willing to give my love to him without reservation. But physically, my body will involuntarily choose that bastard. I'm conflicted. Sometimes, I feel like I'm pathetic, giving myself to an ugly old man for vanity. But when I see he has many women, some of whom are even prettier and more aloof than me, I feel balanced. Aren't all women like that? They all want a respectable life, they all want to pursue intense pleasure."
"Do you still want to maintain a relationship with him?"

"No, no, I want to break off all ties with him, immediately. He's a corrupt official; he deceived me." Ma Qianqian said this with righteous indignation, showing her unwavering determination.

"Aren't you afraid your job at the provincial TV station will fall through?"

"I don't care anymore. Opportunities can be regained, but if I go to jail, I'll have no future."

Looking at the beautiful and elegant female college student before him, Chang Yuze felt a pang of heartache. Those who lack self-respect will be destroyed by heaven. He, too, had once been a rising star on the university campus. Back then, the economy, technology, and culture weren't as developed as they are today, but they learned real knowledge, at least how to be a good person. Look at now, material wealth is abundant, but social morality is utterly corrupt. University campuses are no longer paradises of learning; they've become high-class brothels. Some female college students aren't thinking about how to study well, but how to marry well and become someone's mistress or concubine. However, this Ma Qianqian wasn't blindly foolish; she knew how to weigh the pros and cons, which gave Chang Yuze some solace.

Chang Yuze said earnestly, "Actually, everyone knows that society is very complex nowadays, and the entertainment industry is very dark. Women who want to become famous have to pay a high price, including selling their bodies. However, I think people should still adhere to a bottom line and not sell their dignity without principle. If a person has no dignity, what's the difference between them and an animal? It's good to have ideals, but if you use any means to achieve your ideals, then you lose the true meaning of pursuing them. Since you have the ideal of becoming a host, you might as well consider other paths. There are many talent shows in society, such as the National Host Competition, which is more suitable for you. Although it may be darker inside, at least it is aboveboard in form. As long as you can keep a calm mindset and focus on participation and training, you might unexpectedly succeed. If you don't change your mindset and only want to rely on marrying a rich man or a high-ranking official to achieve your career, you may eventually lose yourself and become a corrupt official's mistress that everyone curses."

Sigh, what's wrong with her today? So much nagging and trembling. Who is she? Just that old bastard Zheng Weihua's mistress. Why bother about her growth? " Consider it saving a wayward girl," Chang Yuze thought to himself with a self-deprecating smile.

"Thank you, officer. You're a good policeman. I've read many posts online saying how annoying the police are, but meeting you today has shown me that those rumors are just that—rumors."

"There might be a very few bad apples in the police force, but the vast majority of officers are good comrades. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, I hope you will seek help from the police immediately. Okay, get out of the car here. My investigation of you is over. Go back to school. I hope it won't affect your afternoon classes. Remember to keep it a secret. You absolutely cannot tell him that the Public Security Bureau is investigating him. If he hears even a whisper of it, it will definitely be because of you, and I will summon you again. At that time, I won't be so polite to you!"

"I promise I will keep it a secret. I know what to do. I won't say a word to him." Seeing that she was easily let go, Ma Qianqian's mood immediately improved. As she opened the car door and prepared to get out, she turned back and smiled, "Officer, can I tell you my name and leave you my phone number? I can thank you later, right?"

Chang Yuze thought for a moment and said, "My surname is Song. I only use my phone number for investigations, so I can't leave it to you. I'll give you a QQ number. If Zheng Weihua bothers you again in the future, you can contact me." "This QQ account was temporarily created by him when he was talking to Brother Bie Xin. Besides Brother Bie Xin, Ma Qianqian is the second friend on this QQ account."

Chang Yuze drove straight to the gate of the Provincial Public Security Bureau. The car was borrowed by the Provincial Public Security Bureau, and the guards recognized it. Without checking, they immediately let him in.

Ma Qianqian stood by the roadside, waving goodbye to Chang Yuze, watching his car drive into the gate of the Public Security Bureau until it was out of sight before turning and leaving.
"Section Chief Chang, where are you? I'm coming to Zhengzhou to pick you up." A warm voice came from the phone.

Chang Yuze glanced at the number; it was Chen Jiahao, the director of the Suinan County Public Security Bureau. His connections were excellent; he'd only been at the Public Security Department for a day, and Chen already knew. Considering his connections at the Municipal Bureau, his information network was understandable. However, Chang Yuze wasn't impressed with him; in fact, he felt a bit disgusted. If they used to be able to drink together and call each other brothers, now there was only resentment. His actions were despicable—not only had he committed adultery, but he'd also tried to subdue someone with violence. Chang Yuze skipped the pretense and directly refused: "I'm sorry, Director Chen, I'm currently on the highway with a friend from the Public Security Department. Let's discuss the details at the Municipal Bureau." "
Upon hearing Chang Yuze say he was with people from the Public Security Bureau, Chen Jiahao made up a few words and quickly hung up, not daring to call back.

Chang Yuze boarded a bus and returned to Guide City, first going to the bureau to report the situation to his superiors.

Liu Fengdong frowned after reading Chen Jun's complaint letter, clearly dissatisfied with Chen Jiahao. This kid didn't know what was good for him; he had already warned him last time, but he disregarded his authority and continued as before. Now, someone had filed a formal complaint with the Public Security Bureau. He wondered how to plug this huge loophole.

"What do you think of Chen Jun's attitude?" Liu Fengdong knew Chang Yuze's way of doing things and knew he had already contacted Chen Jun.

"Not good. Judging from his tone, he's definitely going to pursue this to the end. His business is doing well, and now he's put aside his business to focus entirely on this complaint. I doubt a little money or an apology will appease him."

"That Chen Heipi, he doesn't know his place. He's become arrogant just because he has a little power. We have to teach him a lesson this time!" Chen Jiahao's face was as black as the bottom of a pot; everyone in the bureau called him "Black Face" in private, only the bureau chief dared to call him "Black Skin. "

Liu Fengdong threw the complaint letter heavily onto his desk, impatiently lit a cigarette, and paused on the table. Chang Yuze, sensing the situation, quickly lit a cigarette for his superior. He wasn't addicted to cigarettes, but he always carried cigarettes and a lighter in his pocket so he could offer his superior a cigarette or a lighter at any time. Liu Fengdong took a puff, feeling a little better, and waved for Chang Yuze to leave, "Go home first. You must be tired from your business

trip. Spend more time with your wife and daughter when you get home." After leaving the office, Chang Yuze didn't go home immediately, but went to Yujie Foot Massage and Health Center, his private business.

When Chang Yuze arrived at the store, the tall and beautiful receptionist immediately bowed to him, first sweetly saying, "Hello, boss!" Then she took his arm and led him upstairs, carefully asking, "Boss, would you like to go back to your office first or relax a bit?" Chang

Yuze doesn't come to the shop often, but the employees all know he's the real boss.

The greeter is named Li Jing; she's young, beautiful, has a great figure, and a sweet tongue, making her very popular with male customers. Yu Jie's shop isn't large, but it's well-managed and offers high salaries, which is why it can retain truly talented people. Otherwise, a pretty girl like her wouldn't condescend to work as a greeter in a foot massage parlor.

"Thank you, Li, don't mention it," Chang Yuze said, pulling his arm out of her crook and smiling. "I'll go back to my office now. Remember not to call me boss in front of others."

"Yes, boss." The greeter suddenly realized she had called him by the wrong name again and gave Chang Yuze a gentle smile.

Chang Yuze couldn't bring himself to get angry at such a sweet girl. He was afraid that if others knew the store belonged to him, it would have a bad influence, so he usually forbade his employees to call him "boss." But then he thought, he was being overly cautious; didn't they all respectfully call every customer who came to the store "boss"?

The store had three floors. The first and second floors had private rooms for foot massages, while the third floor was relatively quiet and housed the office. The office was Chang Yuze's private room, like a luxury hotel suite. The outer side was for work, and the inner side was a small suite with a bed for temporary rest. Although he rarely came, the room was always spotless.

Seeing the boss arrive, the store manager, Lu Wenfeng, quickly came over to report and asked a waiter to bring a pot of tea, which she personally poured for him. Wen Feng is from Hubei, a girl from the mountains, a member of the Tujia ethnic minority. Approaching forty, she doesn't look her age; perhaps the beautiful mountains and rivers are the best environment for her. Plus, she's outspoken and straightforward, with a personality more like a woman in her twenties. The younger girls in the shop listen to her obediently and call her Sister Lu. She started working at a young age, having worked for others and owned her own shop, accumulating rich social experience. She's particularly knowledgeable about the foot massage industry, as she's a skilled technician herself. Under her management, Yu Jie's business has flourished year after year, significantly increasing Chang Yuze's revenue.
Chang Yuze hasn't treated her unfairly, giving her an annual salary of 100,000 yuan and respectfully calling her Sister Lu in private. Chang

Yuze rarely comes to the shop; Lu Wen Feng manages it all. At the end of each month, she reports the shop's profits to Chang Yuze. This time, Chang Yuze came to the shop... Once inside, she would give a more detailed report, mentioning how many new employees had joined, how many had left, the number of female technicians and male technicians this month, and so on.

After quickly summarizing the staff situation, Lu Wenfeng called over the accountant, Aunt Li, to report on the financial matters. She was clever; she held considerable power in business management, but when it came to accounting, she left it to the accountant. Aunt Li knew Chang Yuze's mother-in-law; she was an older accountant who had retired a few years ago and had nothing to do. When Chang Yuze first took over the store, they were short of an accountant, so he hired her. She only needed to come to the store for an hour or two each day to do the accounting; he felt more comfortable having someone he knew managing the money. Aunt Li came in, holding the reports, and read out each item of income and expense. That's how accountants are; they like to use dry numbers to communicate.

Actually, Chang Yuze didn't care much about these things. He wasn't there to hear how much money he'd made, but to see Zhang Feng. After finally listening to their reports, Chang Yuze offered a few perfunctory compliments, quickly saw them off, and then had someone call Zhang Feng over.

Zhang Feng was working, giving a customer a pedicure. Hearing the boss call him, he didn't move, instead having a clerk relay a message to the boss to wait until he finished. This kid's something else, daring to disobey the boss's orders! However, Chang Yuze was quite satisfied. Employees should have a professional spirit; the customer is king, and no matter the situation, you must serve the king first.

After Chang Yuze finished two cigarettes, Zhang Feng finally walked in, rubbing his hands together. He was wearing a costume-like uniform. Since most foot massage technicians were women, the uniforms were custom-made to fit women, while the male technicians' uniforms were modified versions of the women's uniforms, so they didn't fit men very well.

Zhang Feng was short, dark-skinned, and thin. His smile was憨憨地 (simple and honest), resembling Xu Sanduo (a character from a Chinese folktale known for his simple-mindedness), no, more like Sha Gen (a character from a Chinese folktale known for his simple-mindedness). The service industry requires a smile when facing customers, but his smile was more like a grimace. His face appeared to be smiling, his mouth seemed to be smiling, but his skin remained taut, stiff, and expressionless. This contrast was incredibly awkward. Zhang Feng said he had suffered from facial paralysis as a child, which had disrupted the nerves in his face, making it impossible for him to smile. In short, Zhang Feng's appearance was far from pleasing, yet he was exceptionally popular. Many female customers specifically requested his services, praising his skill and meticulous work. As the women said, Zhang Feng's work was like embroidery—meticulous and dedicated.

Chang Yuze knew that Zhang Feng had only been in the foot massage industry for six months. He used to be a construction worker, purely manual labor. The reason he had become the shop's top technician in such a short time was because he had put in far more hard work and effort than others. When he first entered the shop, he didn't know how to do foot massage. To improve his skills, he apprenticed with the female technicians, washing and massaging their feet day and night, learning their techniques. These girls had rich experience, which combined to form a valuable teaching material. As a result, his foot massage skills improved rapidly, and he gained more and more customers, with many regulars even booking appointments for his services.

When Zhang Feng was pursuing Gao Min, Chang Yuze encouraged her to accept him because he saw his fighting spirit. A man who wants to achieve something must have perseverance and willpower. No profession is inherently noble or lowly; every profession can produce an expert. If Zhang Feng could master the foot massage industry, he might achieve great things in the future, at least enough to open a shop and earn a living.

Zhang Feng entered with a sheepish smile and said, "Boss, did you just arrive?"

This was obvious; Chang Yuze had been waiting for him for the time it takes to smoke two cigarettes. "Yes. Finished."

"Sister Sun also asked for a pedicure after the massage, so it took longer."

"How are you doing here?" Chang Yuze asked with concern.

"It's much better than working on a construction site. Thank you, boss."

"There are no outsiders here, so stop calling me 'boss,' just call me 'big brother.'"
"Yes, big brother." "

I was wrong to lose my temper with you last time, I apologize."

"No, no, big brother, don't say that. I'm just short-tempered, it was my fault. I'll never say anything like quitting again."

At this moment, Chang Yuze asked Zhang Feng to close the door and began asking him about private matters. Zhang Feng recounted what he had seen that night. Chang Yuze sighed inwardly; the truth would eventually come out, and no one could stop it. His wife's affair had slowly spread, first to her colleagues, then to him, then to Zhang Feng, and who knew how many more people would find out next.

Chang Yuze casually asked him, "What do you think?"

"Brother, don't be offended by what I'm about to say, or I won't say it."

"Go ahead."

"I often hear people in the shop say that officials these days like to do this—the men play with pretty women, and the women play with young men."

What kind of nonsense was this? Chang Yuze was immediately enraged: "Do you think I'm that kind of person?!"

Zhang Feng trembled in fear and quickly explained, "Brother, I didn't mean to talk about you, it was just a casual remark. If you don't like it, just pretend I farted, I didn't say anything."

"Don't be nervous, I'm not angry with you, I'm not a petty man. I'm just confused as to why your sister-in-law would do such a thing."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Feng immediately said seriously, "Sister-in-law is a good person, it definitely wasn't her choice, that old bastard must have lied to her! Think about it, why did that old man invite sister-in-law to dinner when brother was away on a business trip? If brother were home, sister-in-law definitely wouldn't have gone out with that old man. Brother, why don't you talk to sister-in-law and have her report the old man for rape? I'm a policeman, I can just arrest that old bastard and interrogate him, see if he dares to take advantage of sister-in- law again."

Lack of education is indeed lack of education, thinking too simply. If Xu Hong were willing to admit the truth, things would be much easier. Chang Yuze knew his wife's personality very well; she had willingly cheated, and she would never easily confess to such a shameful thing unless there was irrefutable evidence. My wife studied law and is a lawyer. Lawyers are inherently prone to sophistry; even in cases with irrefutable evidence, lawyers will try every means to overturn it, let alone the fact that there is no solid evidence of "catching them in the act."

Chang Yuze shook his head and said, "Things aren't as simple as you think. Adultery isn't a crime, but it's uglier than a crime. Your sister-in-law used to be a lawyer; she certainly won't confess without being asked, unless you can catch them in the house, or better yet, film them having an affair in bed."

"It's not that complicated, brother. In my hometown, if any wife dares to be unfaithful, we'll lock the door and beat her up. First, we'll deal with the woman inside, then we'll take care of the other man outside. After a few fights, nothing will be a problem."

"It's different in the city. We have to be civilized. Randomly beating people is illegal, even if a husband beats his wife. We police need evidence to solve cases. I can only deal with them if I have evidence. So, I want you to do me a favor."

"Brother, please say it. It's not really a favor; I'll do whatever you ask."

"My job is quite busy; I often travel for work. You know, your sister-in-law's boss, that old bastard, always tries to seduce her when I'm on business trips. I want you to help me monitor them."
"Surveillance? How do you surveillance?"

"Every day after your sister-in-law gets off work, you secretly follow her and see where she goes and what she does all night. The key is whether she's with Zheng Weihua."

"Survey my sister-in-law?" Zhang Feng was stunned for a moment, scratched the back of his head, and said embarrassedly, "That's not a good idea."

"How have I treated you?"

"My life was given to me by my older brother, and I can never repay him in my lifetime. I'm afraid Xiaomin will be unhappy if she finds out. Xiaomin often tells me how good your sister-in-law is to her."

"So you're just going to watch that bastard bully your sister-in-law and insult your older brother? Xiaomin is studying in another city, and she won't know anything if you don't tell her. Besides, if Xiaomin knew the truth, she would support you."

Zhang Feng blinked, thought for a moment, and immediately made up his mind, saying firmly, "Okay, I'll listen to my older brother. What should we do?"

Seeing that he had persuaded Zhang Feng, Chang Yuze took the mobile phone locator and camera out of his briefcase and taught him how to use the equipment.

Zhang Feng's eyes lit up; these high-tech gadgets were an eye-opener for him.

"My sister-in-law and her boss both have cars; I can't keep up with them when I'm running errands," Zhang Feng raised a new question.

"Can you drive?"

"Back home, I've driven a small tractor and a motorcycle. We also have electric bikes at the shop."

"That won't do. Look at those private detectives in the movies, they all use cars to follow people. You need to learn to drive a car. Starting tomorrow, you'll go to driving school, Xinda Driving School. I'll talk to Principal Sun and get you some extra lessons. It's easy to learn; you'll learn in a few days. Once you've learned, I'll borrow a car for you and leave it at the shop. Then I'll get you a driver's license from the vehicle management office. If you're quick to grasp things, you'll be driving smoothly on the road in a week."

"That's not a good idea. I still have to work at the shop; I'm too busy. Besides, even Manager Lu doesn't get this kind of treatment—a small shop assistant like me. I can't afford it." Zhang Feng's eyes lit up with excitement, and he kept scratching the back of his head. This "private car" treatment made him feel overwhelmed and he didn't dare accept it.

"I've already thought it through. I'll promote you to assistant manager, mainly responsible for external affairs. You won't have to work night shifts, just day shifts. You'll have a fixed salary of five thousand a month. If the shop's regular customers still want you to do foot massages, that's up to you. You can do it if you want, and no one can force you if you don't. I also have a reason for giving you a car: to pick up Lulu. In the morning, Lulu's grandma or her mother will take her to school, and you'll pick her up after school in the afternoon. Before Xiaomin left, she was in charge of picking up and dropping off Lulu, and now you'll take over half of Xiaomin's shift. However, I can't finalize this yet; I need to get Lulu's grandparents' approval. That way, you can drive legally, and the people in the shop won't suspect anything."

Seeing how much his boss valued him, Zhang Feng was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice trembled as he said, "Brother, please don't give me a raise or a promotion. Letting me pick up and drop off Lulu is already too much of a favor. I promise to complete the task you've given me!"

"Don't give me any slogans. If I give you more money, you should take it; if I promote you, you should take it. You're the shop's top technician now, so these benefits are what you deserve. Alright, enough nonsense. I'll talk to Manager Lu in a bit and have her announce your new position. Remember, tomorrow go shopping and spend some money on some decent clothes. Don't dress like a ragpicker anymore."
"I'll do whatever you say, brother."

"Also, you can't be so impulsive. You need to learn to be calm and collected, especially not in front of your sister-in-law. You absolutely can't let her find out I'm spying on her."

"Yes, yes, brother's advice is right, I'll remember it."

Chang Yuze then patiently taught Zhang Feng how to operate the camera and locator until he could operate them independently, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. This problem was finally solved. Next, he had to pull himself together and go home to face his wife.

Chang Yuze had already called his wife; he was back from his business trip and would be home for dinner that evening.

He went to Walmart and bought some fruit and snacks. His daughter loved Hsu Fu Chi Sachima and Want Want Milk. He also bought two ice creams; his daughter liked them, and so did his wife. Sometimes, the two would fight over a single ice cream, mainly because his wife didn't want their daughter to eat too much and get an upset stomach.

Chang Yuze carried the large bag of groceries home. As soon as he opened the door, he saw his daughter jump off the sofa and run towards him barefoot.

"Daddy, Daddy, you're back!"

Hearing his daughter's clear voice, Chang Yuze felt a warmth in his heart, and the fatigue of the past few days vanished.

Chang Yuze put down what he was holding, picked up his daughter, and kissed her delicate face several times. "Baby, Daddy missed you so much!"

Lulu pushed his face away with her little hands, pouting and saying unhappily, "Daddy's beard is prickly. Daddy won't scratch my face, you lazybones!"

Chang Yuze touched his chin; it was indeed a bit prickly. He usually trimmed his chin every morning, but these past few days he was probably a little tired and lazy. "Lulu's right, Daddy is a lazybones. Daddy will scratch my face now."

Chang Yuze carried his daughter to the sofa, took out a piece of Sachima (a type of Chinese pastry), unwrapped it, and fed it to her. He gently stroked her fine hair, his face full of fatherly satisfaction. His daughter had a small braid with two small red pom-poms at the end, making her look very cute. His wife must have braided it; she was a minimalist and would never use anything fancy to express beauty.

The cartoon "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" was playing on TV. In recent years, many TV channels have competed to broadcast this animated series. His daughter has watched many episodes and still enjoys them immensely.

"You're back, honey," his wife said, peeking out from the kitchen with a sweet smile. She wore an elegant dress and a yellow apron, her long hair tied back, and her delicate white hands held a spatula.

"You're back," Chang Yuze forced a smile. At home, he was always the one cooking; when he was away on business, Xiaomin cooked; now his wife was practicing cooking. In the past, he would have been incredibly excited, rushing into the kitchen to praise his wife, giving her a deep kiss, then taking the spatula from her and doing all the cooking for her. His wife would then sit obediently on the sofa, waiting for him to serve the food.

But tonight, Chang Yuze wasn't interested in anything his wife did; cooking was simply her duty.

Chang Yuze changed his clothes, washed his hands and face, and sat back on the sofa. He picked up his daughter and watched the story of the little sheep bullying the big bad wolf with her, seemingly oblivious to the splattering oil noise from the kitchen.
"Lulu, tell Daddy, which little sheep do you like? Happy Sheep or Pretty Sheep?"

"I like Lazy Sheep the most."

"Why do you like Lazy Sheep? Can you tell Daddy?"

"Lazy Sheep is so cute! He loves to sleep in and drools. Just like Ma Feixiang in our class, he always drools and makes the teacher wipe it for him. The big bad wolf wants to eat Lazy Sheep the most. He's captured him in his wolf den several times and put him in a pot to boil, but Happy Sheep and Boiling Sheep rescued him."

Children's inner world is so different from adults'; it's full of childlike innocence. Someone like Lazy Sheep, who's lazy, timid, and cowardly, wouldn't be wanted in any workplace.

"Daddy, can you buy me another Lazy Sheep? I'll put him on my bedside table so the Big Bad Wolf won't catch him, and I'll protect him."

Chang Yuze had bought his daughter a series of Pleasant Goat dolls before, including Pleasant Goat, Pretty Goat, and the Big Bad Wolf, but he didn't seem to have Lazy Sheep. He didn't mind buying all the sheep from the village if his daughter liked them.

"Okay, I'll definitely buy them for you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Daddy." Lulu gave her father a sweet kiss on the cheek.

"Was Lulu well-behaved at kindergarten today?"

"The teacher gave me a little red flower and called me a star baby!" Lulu raised her little face proudly.

Next to the coffee table was a kindergarten curriculum booklet, which listed the children's activities and the teachers' comments. Chang Yuze opened the app and saw the teacher's latest comments:

"Lulu's performance this week was still excellent. She has strong self-care abilities, is hygienic, washes her hands by herself, puts on and takes off her indoor shoes by herself, and is not picky about food, eating quietly. Her language expression ability is very strong; she can proactively express her thoughts to the teacher. She has a strong sense of rhythm and music; she can quickly sing along to the nursery rhymes the teacher has taught her. Lulu is also a loving and kind child. When she sees other children crying, she comforts them and wipes their tears. Lulu is wonderful! I believe Lulu's parents have done a good job in raising her, and Lulu will definitely grow up smart and healthy." The comments were signed by the teacher of Class 3.

Seeing his daughter so sensible and adorable, Chang Yuze smiled contentedly. He knew that he was usually busy with work and rarely had time to tutor his daughter; it was his wife who truly guided her. Perhaps Xiaomin had also been a great help to Lulu. Chang Yuze's greatest wish was for his daughter to grow up happily. He figured his wife would dedicate more time to raising their daughter, and this thought lessened his resentment towards her slightly; at least she was a good mother. In fact, his wife had many virtues, and their daughter inherited many of them from her mother: intelligent, beautiful, lively, optimistic, and compassionate. If it weren't for her infidelity, Xu Hong would have been a perfect wife and mother.

His wife's voice came from the kitchen, interrupting Chang Yuze's thoughts, "Chef, don't just watch TV, come and give me some pointers." She hadn't been cooking for long and was inevitably flustered.

Chang Yuze strolled into the kitchen, which was filled with the rich aroma of meat.

A small earthenware pot sat on the gas stove, simmering something inside, the aroma of meat wafting from it. On another burner sat a wok, scrambled eggs with tomatoes. A plate of celery and lily bulbs, already cooked, sat on the countertop. Next to the wok was an illustrated cookbook, and his wife was reading it while cooking. They had a modular kitchen, and usually, Chang Yuze kept all the pots, pans, and spices neatly arranged. But now, his wife had made a complete mess.

"Hurry up, the eggs are a bit overcooked," Chang Yuze said.
"Come help me, honey,"

she said. He reached for the spatula in her hand, but she wouldn't let go, softly saying, "Stand behind me, take my hand, and teach me step by step."

Helpless, Chang Yuze stood behind his wife, taking her smooth hand in his right, and quickly flipped the spatula, the oil sizzling in the wok. His wife nestled naturally into his arms. He smelled her delicate fragrance mingled with the aroma of vegetables and meat—this was probably the taste of life.

"What's stewing in the casserole?"

"I won't tell you, you'll find out soon," his wife said smugly, seemingly wanting to surprise her husband.

In reality, the casserole didn't bring Chang Yuze any surprise; instead, it brought him a feeling of unease.

The casserole contained stewed pigeon with codonopsis and yam. Chang Yuze was familiar with cooking and knew that these three ingredients were nourishing, kidney-tonifying, and aphrodisiac. He knew why his wife had made this dish for him. During his last business trip, he hadn't satisfied his wife's desires while she was home. Perhaps she felt he was too weak, so the first dish she made upon his return was to help him recover. This disgusted him greatly. He even wanted to shout angrily, "You shameless woman! Do you know why your husband doesn't want to satisfy you? It's because you did dirty things! Just thinking about your filthy, smelly body makes me lose all interest in you!"

Of course, Chang Yuze didn't explode at the dinner table. He composed himself and calmly reprimanded his wife: "This dish is a complete failure. You put in too many goji berries; there's a layer floating on top, thicker than hot pot oil in a restaurant. It's unappetizing. Just three or five goji berries would have been enough. And look at the pigeon; you definitely didn't clean it properly. There are still some small feathers on the skin. Just looking at those feathers makes me nauseous. You didn't stew it long enough either; the meat is still stuck to the bone, and it's all chewy. As for the pigeon soup, you put in too much salt. It's so salty it's unbearable. Codonopsis is slightly bitter, and yam is sweet. You should have just used less salt to mask the fishy smell. I bet you poured in half a bag of salt."

Hearing her husband's criticism, Xu Hong's smile froze. She wanted to explain—this was her first time stewing a clay pot—but she didn't argue with her husband, adopting the posture of a humble student seeking advice.

A good mood is crucial when eating. If you're in a good mood, even the simplest food tastes sweet; if you're in a bad mood, even the most exquisite delicacies will make you lose your appetite. If it weren't for his wife's infidelity, how happy Chang Yuze would have been tonight! His beautiful wife would have cooked a delicious meal for him, and his adorable daughter would have clung to him

affectionately—wasn't this the epitome of family bliss? In fact, Chang Yuze had tried his best to control himself. He deliberately suppressed his irritability, forced a smile, and ate dinner with his wife and daughter

. He even drank most of the bright red and intensely salty pigeon soup; otherwise, his wife's expression might have been even worse. Lulu was asleep, a sweet smile on her face. Tonight, Chang Yuze had told his daughter "The Little Mermaid." She was too young to understand the characters and plot, but she listened intently, her bright black eyes fixed on her father. The fairy tale was too long; even though Chang Yuze had condensed it considerably, his daughter fell asleep before finishing it. Chang Yuze kissed his daughter's little face, then turned and went to the bedroom, where he had to face his wife, who was even more detestable than an old witch.

As soon as Chang Yuze took off his clothes and lay down on the bed, his wife's hot body snuggled against him, and she whispered in his ear in a sour tone, "Honey, are you a storyteller? You told Lulu such a long story."

"Lulu wouldn't sleep, she kept her eyes open listening to me. I just managed to get her to sleep. You're not jealous of our daughter, are you?"

"Hmph, no woman can steal my husband, hehe, not even my daughter." Xu Hong chuckled softly, wrapping her limbs around him like an octopus, her soft, warm red lips close to his. "Kiss me."

Before Chang Yuze was ready, she had already kissed him forcefully. His wife's nimble, delicate tongue and intoxicating fragrance immediately seduced him, making his blood slowly boil. Just like Ma Qianqian had said, she didn't love Zheng Weihua, she even hated him, but her body involuntarily submitted to him because he could bring her more intense pleasure. Chang Yuze was the same way. Even though he felt a deep aversion to his wife, his body remained deeply entwined with hers—a spontaneous, instinctive reaction honed over a decade of physical intimacy.
When they separated, slightly breathless, their bodies were burning hot.

Xu Hong nuzzled her husband's cheek and whispered, "Husband, do you see? I put the roses you gave me on my bedside table. Every night I look at them. They're a testament to our love. I keep thinking that far away, my beloved husband is there, loving me, watching over me from afar. I long for you every day, hoping you'll come back soon, hoping you'll come back to cherish me!"

Chang Yuze turned over, embracing his wife. He saw the bouquet of fiery red roses, arranged in an elegant vase, each rose tightly clustered like a blazing torch. Yes, these red roses were his testament to his love for his wife. The fact that she placed them on her bedside table, where she could see them every night, meant that she loved him too. A warm current began to flow through his body; he was aroused. His manhood was erect, like a hateful instrument of torture. He wanted to punish his wife severely, to punish her for pursuing desire without fulfilling her duties.

Xu Hong noticed her husband's reaction and responded with even more allure, extending her soft fingers to gently grasp it, as if caring for a chubby kitten, slowly stroking it until it grew stronger.

At this moment, no more words were needed; only actions could express his thoughts. Chang Yuze rolled over, pinning his wife beneath him, his legs forcefully parting her long, white legs.

"Wait a minute." Xu Hong skillfully pulled a condom from the bedside table, untied it, and without even looking, precisely located the mushroom-shaped head, carefully slipping it on.

The condom was cold and damp, like a hateful shackle, instantly binding Chang Yuze's fiery passion. He felt as if his wife had poured a bucket of cold water over his head, extinguishing all his desire. A jumble of thoughts suddenly flooded his mind. Had his wife ever so skillfully used a condom on that old philanderer? Oh, probably not. That old man didn't like condoms. His wife was probably completely unguarded, letting his filthy, ugly thing penetrate her unchecked, and then excreting a pool of filthy fluid deep within her!

Chang Yuze's once firm and majestic member slowly lowered its proud head, its thick waist gradually thinning and softening. The white condom wrapped around it was like an adult's raincoat on a child's body, covering its head and feet, wrinkled and excessively large.

Xu Hong gently touched it a few times, and it became even more frightened, seemingly trembling, growing softer and softer until it finally hung straight down. The condom, like its shed skin, hung limply on its head, as if it might fall off at any moment. Seeing that she couldn't lift it no matter what she did, Xu Hong chuckled and said, "It's so weak. Honey, I made you some pigeon soup tonight, you'll feel better if you drink more of it."

Chang Yuze was already annoyed, and hearing his wife's apparent mockery only made him angrier. He immediately changed the subject, saying, "You know what? I almost made a mistake the other day. I'm really upset about it."

"What mistake?"

"I almost fired Zhang Feng."

"Why? It wasn't because he was late delivering the flowers, was it? Didn't I already explain to you that he forgot because the shop was busy?"

"No, he hasn't forgotten. I wronged him. Today, when I went to the store to check the accounts, Zhang Feng explained the reason to me. He said that on your birthday night, he went to your workplace to deliver flowers. He called you in advance, and you told him you had to work overtime."

"Yes, I was planning to work overtime that night, and he called me too, but he didn't mention delivering flowers, and I didn't think about it that way."

"He said that when he delivered the flowers to your workplace, you had already left in a car." Chang Yuze didn't explicitly say that she had taken Zheng Weihua's car; he couldn't bring himself to say it.

“Yes, that night, Xu Na invited me to Tian Dai Li Ren for a spa, so I didn’t work overtime or go home, I went straight to Tian Dai Li Ren.”

“You didn’t even bother to eat dinner?”

“Tian Dai Li Ren has a buffet. Since you weren’t home, it didn’t matter whether I ate my birthday dinner or not. Zhang Feng, that guy, couldn’t find me, couldn’t he call my cell phone?”
“Yeah, that’s why I said he’s stupid, he even forgot his cell phone when he went out. He didn’t remember your number, and he didn’t send you flowers, so he called our house, and then our parents’ house, but he couldn’t find you.”

Chang Yuze knew that his wife wasn’t sleeping at home or at her parents’ house, so no matter whether Zhang Feng made such a call or not, he could fool her.

Sure enough, Xu Hong's answer was flawless: "I had a long spa treatment, and I waited for Xu Na, but she never came. It was past midnight when I finished. I wanted to go home to sleep, but suddenly I was afraid to go home. Xiao Min is gone, Lulu isn't home, and I'm sleeping alone in this empty house. I feel lonely. It's my birthday, and for the first time, my husband isn't home. That night, I suddenly understood what loneliness meant. I miss him terribly and hope you can fly back from Beijing and hold me as we sleep. I really want to hear my husband call..." "A phone call? No flowers, at least it should be my husband's call. But I waited and waited and didn't hear from you. I guess you must be too busy with work. I've decided not to go home. I'll sleep in a room at the Tian Dai Li Ren (a women's club) for the night. Don't get the wrong idea, Tian Dai Li Ren is a women's club, there are no men there."

His wife's answer was exactly what Chang Yuze expected. She cleverly concealed the fact that she wouldn't be coming home. He couldn't very well go back to that beauty salon for a checkup, could he? Beauty salons aren't hotels; guests don't need to register their IDs when staying overnight, and even if he did go for a checkup, they certainly wouldn't find anything.

She seemed unwilling to linger on the topic, immediately kissing his lips and saying affectionately, "My dearest husband, I know you've been upset about not sending me flowers sooner. Thank you for your love. As long as you think of me, I'm content. You know, that noon, I received roses from Zhang Feng on your behalf. I was overjoyed! I put them in a vase on my bedside table, and every night I fall asleep looking at them. You know, husband, this is the fifteenth birthday rose you've given me. It's been fifteen years, and you still love me like you do your first love. I'm the happiest wife in the world."

Chang Yuze turned to look at the roses again; in the dim night, they seemed to burn even redder. But the roses only burned with the essence of his love, not a single molecule of his wife's. All she gave him were beautiful lies. His eyes blurred, tears choked his vision, and in a trembling voice, he asked, "Xu Hong, I love you so much, why... why did you humiliate me with that pot of stew! Don't you feel ashamed!"

He wanted to question her about why she betrayed him, why she dared not tell the truth, why she had to fabricate another lie to deceive him. But the words caught in his throat; he changed the subject, forcibly shifting his anguish to the stew in the clay pot. He couldn't bring himself to ask. He truly couldn't face reality. If his wife honestly admitted it, he would be driven mad with pain, then he would grit his teeth and consider accepting reality. But if, by any chance, his wife denied it and continued to lie, it would mean her love for him had changed, that she might no longer love him. This would be even more painful than her infidelity.

I am a brave man. If the enemy is a cruel foe, even if their bullets are already loaded, I will charge forward fearlessly, fight them, and kill them! But she's my wife, my wife of over ten years. I can't treat her cruelly now. I want her to bow her head before me, admit her mistakes, and beg for my forgiveness! Just you wait, I will never let you get away with this!

"I'm so sorry, honey, please forgive me. It was my fault. I was so careless and didn't understand how you felt." Xu Hong gently wiped away her husband's tears and said with pity, "I know you're exhausted from your business trip. You're not eating or sleeping well, and you have to deal with work pressure, so your health is easily damaged. This soup was recommended by Sister Zhao Ying. She said that ginseng, yam, and pigeon are all nourishing and can help men recover. She also said that turtle is even better, but I think turtle is too fishy and difficult to cook, so I only made stewed pigeon for you. Honey, please forgive me. I didn't mean it. I really didn't expect it to hurt your pride. I believe you're the best. I'll practice my cooking skills in the future and make sure to cook your favorite dishes and take good care of your health..."

Chang Yuze felt increasingly cold as he listened, feeling his wife's words becoming more and more emotional. He wanted to hear her true feelings, but she kept changing the subject, her transitions and fluent speech were so natural that even a prepared script couldn't compare. Although his wife was nestled in his arms, he felt the distance between them growing ever wider.

That morning, the Municipal Public Security Bureau held a bureau meeting to convey the spirit of the provincial public security bureau chiefs' meeting. The main leaders of all departments under the bureau attended. Such meetings were usually quite relaxed; documents were read aloud and the meeting ended.

With more than ten minutes to go before the meeting was scheduled to begin, the heads of each department and a few deputy heads had all arrived. The order of attendance was generally as follows: the heads of each department arrived first, followed by the deputy directors in charge of their respective departments, and finally the director. Since the leaders hadn't entered yet, the atmosphere inside was quite lively, and those who arrived early could freely discuss various topics.
Chang Yuze went to the restroom, leaving through the main entrance and returning through the side entrance. Just as he entered, he heard Zhu Kun telling his jokes. Zhu Kun was the captain of the first brigade of the Criminal Investigation Detachment, young and capable, having solved several major cases, and with strong connections. He was the most likely candidate to become the next detachment captain. He was a big mouth, fond of telling jokes, sometimes without regard for the occasion, often embarrassing people. Normally, he and Chang Yuze had a decent relationship; they'd drunk together before and had no major conflicts. But this time, his joke deeply wounded Chang Yuze's heart.

Zhu Kun picked up Chang Yuze's hat and said vividly, "Section Chief Chang's hat looks a little different today. Why is it green? Did you have too much paint at home?"

Hearing this, everyone in the room laughed, their laughter suggestive and unrestrained. Because Chang Yuze had entered through a side door, neither Zhu Kun nor anyone else saw him.

Seeing the enthusiastic reaction from his comrades, Zhu Kun became even more emboldened, lifting Chang Yuze's police hat and shaking it. His comical performance drew even more laughter from the room. Their laughter was like a steel knife piercing Chang Yuze's heart. As a man, nothing could be more infuriating than this!

Chang Yuze immediately flew into a rage, lunging forward and throwing a punch at Zhu Kun on the back of the neck, yelling, "Who the hell are you calling a cuckold? Who's being cheated on?!"

Zhu Kun hadn't noticed Chang Yuze had entered and was standing behind him, and he never expected a joke to provoke such a strong reaction. Without a word, he threw a punch. He wanted to apologize to Chang Yuze immediately, but the punch made him too embarrassed to back down. He turned around and yelled back at Chang Yuze, "Are you crazy? Can't I even joke with you?"

"Who do you think you are? Why are you joking with me? Are you the one being cheated on, coming here to laugh at me?!"

Chang Yuze was furious and lunged forward, throwing punches.

"Who's being cheated on knows best. Chang Yuze, don't push your luck!"

Zhu Kun also lunged at Chang Yuze, but he was always in the wrong and didn't dare to really fight back, mostly parrying rather than retaliating.

When their colleagues saw that things were getting out of hand, they quickly came over and separated the two.

Director Liu Fengdong and several deputy directors were entering the meeting room when they witnessed the heated fight between the two men. Enraged, he immediately issued a stern warning: each of them would have their monthly bonus deducted, receive a departmental reprimand, and be expelled from the meeting to reflect on their actions outside.

Chang Yuze left the meeting room, returned to his office, sat down, took a deep drag on his cigarette, and began to calm down. He realized he had been somewhat emotionally unstable. Zhu Kun was known for his loose tongue; he dared to say anything. He was probably just joking. He wouldn't know that Chang Yuze was investigating his wife's infidelity.

Chang Yuze began to regret his actions. This outburst would only make the department look at him differently, and what he had been keeping hidden might now be exposed. Being cuckolded is the greatest shame in a man's life; no normal man wants to hear others discuss his wife's infidelity.

Wang Xiaodan entered the room, made Chang Yuze a cup of hot tea, and placed it on his left. This girl was meticulous and diligent. Besides accompanying Chang Yuze to Beijing to handle the interception work, she took on the role of office secretary upon returning to the unit, organizing materials and cleaning for him. No sooner had Chang Yuze returned from Beijing than she followed him back to Guide.

"Section Chief Chang, calm down. Everyone in the bureau knows what kind of person Zhu Kun is—a big mouth who dares to say anything."

"You all know what happened at the meeting just now?"

"Yes, it spread very quickly; everyone in the bureau knows. Section Chief Chang punched Zhu Kun hard." Wang Xiaodan raised her eyebrows proudly as she spoke of her leader's bravery.
"You all know why I fought with him?"

"Yes, everyone in the bureau says Zhu Kun is a jerk, asking for it. Section Chief Chang and his wife are a model couple in the bureau, incredibly loving, yet he dared to laugh at Section Chief Chang. Isn't that jerk? Maybe his wife cheated on him." Wang Xiaodan appeared quiet and reserved, but her teeth were sharp when she spoke.

Chang Yuze was intrigued and asked, "Have any other people in the bureau been gossiping about me behind my back?"

"I often travel with you on business trips, so I don't know much about what's going on in the bureau," Wang Xiaodan said with a smile. "However, if I hear anyone daring to talk about my wife behind her back, I'll be the first to beat them up! Others may not know how much my wife loves Section Chief Chang, but I know that she blew kisses to him on her phone, and the ringing almost broke the phone."

When Wang Xiaodan teased Chang Yuze, she was as mischievous and cute as a girl next door, her eyes sparkling. The leader in front of her was no longer a leader, but a considerate and kind older brother. Her eyes were full of blessings for their loving relationship, and also anticipation, perhaps waiting for her true love to appear.

Chang Yuze felt a pang of sadness, somewhat unable to meet those innocent eyes. He forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Xiaodan. You can go back to your work now; I'll stay here for a while. Who knows what rumors will spread in the bureau after Zhu Kun's big mouth? If anyone spreads rumors, you have to report it to me immediately."

"Don't worry, leader, upholding your honor is my duty. I'll not only report to you, but I'll also give that rumor-monger a good slap! Hehe." Wang Xiaodan laughed as she left. In her heart, Section Chief Chang and Xu Hong were a match made in heaven, their intimacy unmatched. Anyone spreading rumors about their relationship deserved a slap.

After Wang Xiaodan left, Chang Yuze couldn't calm down, his mind racing. Was Zhu Kun's remark unintentional or just a baseless accusation? He had been investigating his wife's affairs secretly, without anyone else in the bureau's involvement, so no one could possibly know. But then he suddenly thought of Xiao Liu at the testing center. He had asked Xiao Liu to test condoms before. Had Xiao Liu inadvertently let it slip? He had instructed Xiao Liu to keep it a secret, believing Xiao Liu wouldn't intentionally spread the word about the condoms, but there was a possibility he might accidentally mention it, or someone might overhear. Zhu Kun was in criminal investigation and frequently interacted with the lab; he might have heard about the condom testing.

Chang Yuze thought about it more and more, and the more anxious he became. What if his wife's infidelity became known throughout the unit? How could he work normally after that? How could he face his colleagues?

Chang Yuze smoked one cigarette after another, racking his brains, but he couldn't come up with a solution.

Wang Xiaodan came in again to deliver a message, saying the director wanted him to come over.

By this time, the bureau meeting had ended.

Chang Yuze entered the director's office and saw Director Liu Fengdong leaning back in his chair, resting with his eyes closed.

"Boss, you wanted to see me?"

Liu Fengdong opened his eyes, didn't speak, but with a stern face, casually pulled a cigarette from the pack—he had a habit of taking a few puffs before speaking.

Chang Yuze quickly lit a cigarette for the bureau chief, then sat down on the sofa diagonally opposite him with his head down. There was nothing to argue about; he'd just have to wait for his superior's criticism.

"Chang Yuze, your performance has disappointed me greatly."

"Yes, sir, I was wrong." Chang Yuze lowered his head.
"The bureau has always had high hopes for you, given you opportunities, and wanted to promote you as soon as possible. Even for that job in Beijing, people at the provincial and municipal levels had put in a good word for me, asking me to take care of you. Did I take care of you? No, I've been putting you in charge for the past few years. It's true, your work has always been conscientious, and you haven't brought shame to the bureau. But your performance at the meeting today was pure nonsense!

Everyone in the bureau knows Zhu Kun is a big mouth, prone to making silly jokes. Can't you, a section chief, even handle a joke? If you can't keep your composure as an official, you shouldn't be an official; you should step down as soon as possible. In front of so many people in the meeting..." He punched me right in the face! Don't you have any respect for your colleagues? Do you think you'll rise to a higher position or have a powerful backer? Speaking of backers, Zhu Kun's connections are no worse than yours. Everyone who gets to attend meetings in the bureau has connections; without them, you can forget about sitting at the table.

You're an educated person; you should be a well-mannered cadre. There's always been prejudice against our public security system, with people thinking we're all brutes who like to use knives and guns, preferring to resort to violence rather than thinking. That's utter nonsense. Our public security department is also keeping up with the times. Entering the public security system... There are more and more college students now, and master's and doctoral students are no longer a rarity. Do you know why the bureau is focusing on cultivating you? It's not because you have powerful connections, but because cadres like you fit the national guidelines for selecting cadres. To put it bluntly, the cadre team needs to be revolutionary, younger, more knowledgeable, and more professional.

Look at you! You act without any composure, punching someone over a joke. What will the other people in the bureau think of you when you're evaluated? They'll say you're opportunistic, lack moral character, are too arbitrary in handling problems, like to resort to violence, and have poor organizational discipline. Don't you think about that? "Your future? Everyone jokes with each other. Everyone in the bureau knows how good your relationship with Xiaohong is; you two are the city bureau's model couple year after year. Everyone in the bureau knows you spoil Xiaohong, not letting her do laundry, not letting her cook, you take on all the chores that women should do. But love shouldn't be like this. If someone says something unpleasant about your wife, you hit them."

Liu Fengdong never showed mercy when scolding people. When he criticized Chang Yuze, he was ruthless, staring at him with wide, fierce eyes, unwavering in his reprimands, leaving him no chance to retaliate. Of course, anyone who dared to contradict him to his face received even more severe reprimands.

Chang Yuze grew increasingly agitated, feeling wronged by the bureau chief's criticism. The bureau chief valued him highly and had never reprimanded him so harshly before. Finally, unable to control his emotions, he bravely raised his head while the bureau chief changed cigarettes, looking directly into the bureau chief's piercing eyes, and said painfully, "Sir, things aren't as you think. Zhu Kun wasn't laughing at me; he deliberately exposed my shortcomings!"

Liu Fengdong was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"Xu Hong did something shameful behind my back, and Zhu Kun somehow found out. He deliberately mocked me at the meeting!"

Now, Liu Fengdong was completely bewildered. He saw Chang Yuze's eyes brimming with tears; this didn't seem fake. "Don't rush, don't rush, tell me slowly. You said Zhu Kun was telling the truth, not joking. You mean Xiao Hong really cheated on you?"

Chang Yuze's pent-up anger, like the Three Gorges Reservoir overflowing its warning line, suddenly burst forth. He choked back tears as he recounted the hidden story of discovering and testing the condom, but he still held back, not telling everyone what happened afterward.

After listening to Chang Yuze's account, Liu Fengdong looked incredulous. His eyes darted around as if in thought, then he said in a deep voice, "To be honest, you have all the physical evidence you mentioned. From a police investigation perspective, physical evidence is paramount. As long as the evidence is complete, a confession or no confession is sufficient for conviction. What can I say? I'm just puzzled... Xiao Hong doesn't seem like that kind of woman. I know your father-in-law; he's a very rigid old man who values face more than money. With a father like Lao Xu, Xiao Hong should have a good upbringing. She's a law student; she should be very cultured. She shouldn't have done such a thing."

"Yes, that's why I wanted the leader to judge this. What did I do wrong to Xu Hong? Why did she seduce her man behind my back? Don't I love her? Isn't my income enough for her? Am I not good enough for her? Did I do anything to betray her?" Chang Yuze's tears welled up in his eyes.

The bureau chief didn't answer, taking several deep drags on his cigarette.

"Sigh, times have changed. You young people dare to think and do anything, I can't say anything. You'll have to solve this yourselves. Who is that man? Have you found out? Any suspects?"
"I'm investigating, and I'm pretty sure."

"He's not from our bureau, is he? If he's from the public security system, you better let me know, or I'll skin him alive!"

"He's not from our bureau, nor from the public security, procuratorate, or court. He's from Xu Hong's workplace, but I haven't confirmed it yet." "

That's good. Did you talk to Xiao Hong?"

"I didn't talk to her. She definitely wouldn't admit to something like this."

"That's true. Does your father-in-law know?"

"No, I haven't told anyone, not even my parents. If my boss hadn't criticized me today, I wouldn't have wanted to bother him."

“You can’t say that. Whether it’s official business or personal matters, if you have something bothering you, the fact that you’re willing to talk to me shows you respect your superiors. Although I can’t help you with this kind of family matter, at least I know why you acted that way. You weren’t just throwing a tantrum; you’re still a good comrade.” Liu Fengdong changed the subject and said, “I’m telling you, you’d better keep it from your father-in-law for now. Don’t let him know. He seems very refined on the surface, but he’s hot-tempered at heart. He might actually dare to shoot someone. It’s best if you have evidence now. If you don’t have evidence, you absolutely mustn’t say anything. If your father-in-law finds out you said his daughter was unfaithful, he won’t let you off the hook. You’re a police officer too; you must gather evidence. Catch the thief red-handed, catch them in the act, especially in this kind of situation. Don’t say anything unless you’re absolutely certain.”

“I know, sir. I will investigate step by step until I catch that bastard myself.”

“Since things have come to this point, if I were to advise you to let things slide, I'd be talking nonsense. Whether you investigate or arrest, you must be careful about your methods and the consequences. Don't let things get to the point where I can't clean up the mess.”

“I'll follow the leader's instructions.”

“What are you going to do next, I mean, with Xiao Hong?”

“The conflict between Xu Hong and me is irreconcilable. I'm a man, and she's cheated on me. How can I face anyone after this? I need a divorce. I can't live with her anymore.”

“Young man, don’t be so impulsive. Everyone has their ups and downs in life. If there’s a problem, find a way to solve it. Once the problem is solved, life goes on, doesn’t it? I think Xiao Hong is a pretty good girl. Except for this one thing, she’s excellent in every other way. Even if you find another one, she might not be as good as Xiao Hong. That’s how society is now. Girls don’t value themselves and just let their husbands worry about them. Besides, you and Xiao Hong have Lulu, and your little family is doing well. You can’t just break it up like that. You’re a good person, but you’re too straightforward. You can’t just act impulsively. You need to be flexible. Otherwise, you’ll suffer a lot in the end. You’re a man. You should prioritize your career and not lose sight of the bigger picture.”

Chang Yuze understood what the director meant. He didn’t want him and Xu Hong to divorce. He was the director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and Xu Hong’s father was the president of the Municipal Court. They had worked together in Guide City for many years and were old friends. Personally, he would lean more towards Xu Hong. However, Chang Yuze was certain that his superiors were definitely on his side regarding Xu Hong's infidelity.

"Sir, I can't give you an answer to this right now. Let's take it one step at a time. If Xu Hong behaves well and repents, we might continue our relationship; otherwise, it's definitely a divorce."
"Alright, you two should handle this yourselves. But one thing: if your father-in-law gets involved, or if he finds out, you must tell me. I'll talk to him; he won't disregard my reputation and lose his temper with a junior like you."

"Thank you, sir. This matter is too big for me; it could change my life. I'm still too inexperienced in society and not mature enough in handling problems. I'll report to you frequently, and ultimately, I'll let you decide how to handle it."

The phrase "let the leader decide" was Chang Yuze's way of flattering the bureau chief. The bureau chief rarely interfered in personal matters outside of work. Chang Yuze would ultimately resolve this matter; he didn't want anyone to interfere with his actions, including the bureau chief.

Chang Yuze's words pleased Liu Fengdong. He said with concern, "Frequent reports aren't necessary. Just let me advise you when you're unsure. This isn't a small matter; you must treat it with utmost care. It's inevitable to have emotions, but you can't bring them into your work. I'll reduce your punishment; the disciplinary notice will be waived, and you'll still get your bonus. I won't let that bastard Zhu Kun off easily; he'll be punished to the fullest extent!"

"Thank you, sir."

"No need to thank me. No man would swallow this kind of thing. It's understandable to get a little angry. Actually, I just thought that Zhu Kun might have been joking when he said that. Only you know best what's on the condom when you had it tested; even the lab technician wouldn't dare suspect it's your wife's."

"Yes, I considered that too. Zhu Kun was probably just guessing, saying it casually to make fun of me."

"Alright, I understand. I won't let it spread throughout the bureau. Zhu Kun, or anyone else, whoever it is, they all have to shut up! No jokes allowed! Such talk affects the morale of our police officers and the image of the police force. Don't worry, there won't be any rumors about you in the bureau. Anyone who dares to utter a sound will be skinned alive. Tomorrow I'll make it clear at the meeting that anyone who can't control their mouth will be dealt with by me. As for your emotions, you can manage them yourself. If you're not feeling well, I'll give you a few days off to relax."

"No need, leader. I'm doing very well at work now, and my emotions have recovered. I can go back to work normally without any problem." "

Okay, you can go now. It's all over. When Zhu Kun comes over later, I'll give him a good lesson."

Chang Yuze left the bureau chief's office with a "thank you" from the bottom of his head. With the bureau chief's word, there was no way his scandalous affairs could be spread in the unit anymore. He could go to work normally and concentrate on investigating that old bastard.

That evening, Wang Chengli and Jin Qingsong, the captain of the criminal investigation branch, tried to persuade Chang Yuze to have Zhu Kun drink with him and apologize in person. Zhu Kun, having likely been severely reprimanded by the bureau chief, repeatedly apologized to Chang Yuze at the dinner table, begging for his forgiveness. He explained that the bureau chief had already made a strong statement: if he didn't maintain a good relationship with Chang Yuze and Chang Yuze didn't forgive him, he would be dismissed the next day.

Chang Yuze and Zhu Kun didn't have any deep-seated grudge; he simply felt Zhu Kun's joke had gone too far. Now, seeing the bureau chief's harsh criticism, he wisely accepted the situation. With Zhu Kun's persuasive drinking and apologies, Chang Yuze quickly forgave him. The two clinked glasses eight times, laughed heartily, and the unpleasantness of the day vanished.

The group, all quite drunk, went to the Howton Bath Center to sober up. It was owned by Jin Qingsong's friend, and since it was outside of working hours, there was no need for others to gossip.

In the sauna, Wang Chengli and Chang Yuze were drenched in sweat. After a bath and a steam, their effects had subsided considerably.

At this point, they were the only two in the sauna.

Wang Chengli asked, "Brother, there's no one else here. Tell me, did you and your wife have a fight?"
"Yes, we had a little fight. What did you hear about me at the station?" Chang Yuze wasn't planning to tell anyone about his wife, even though Wang Chengli was his good friend.

Wang Chengli smiled and said, "I haven't heard anyone talking badly about you behind your back. You know I'm a very easygoing person and don't like listening to idle gossip. You and your sister-in-law are a model couple, role models for the young officers in our bureau. If anyone says you and your sister-in-law are having conflicts, I'll be the first to disbelieve it. However, I felt something was off about your fight with Zhu Kun today. You're a cultured person, usually very refined, and you don't easily lose your temper, much less get into fights with colleagues in the bureau. Zhu Kun's joke made you angry, I think there's something wrong here, you must have been provoked by someone."

"Was Zhu Kun joking? Has he said that before?"

Wang Chengli smiled again, "He's joked about you before, and not just Zhu Kun, there are plenty of people in our bureau who joke about you behind your back."

"Why?" Chang Yuze was a little confused. After working for so many years, it seemed like he was only thinking of asking this question today.

“Brother, you might not understand yourself, but only your older brother would tell you these things. Don’t you think your behavior at the Municipal Bureau is a bit unusual? In the Municipal Bureau, there are no section-level cadres like you and me who don’t have mistresses. Even if they don’t have a steady mistress, they still like to play around with women. Don’t even mention cadres, even ordinary police officers like to find one or two prostitutes they like. The only one in the entire bureau who doesn’t like to play around with women is you, and you are the youngest section chief in the bureau, the most promising section chief. I know you truly love your wife, but others don’t think so. Because you are too unique, you easily become the focus of your colleagues’ conversations. Some people even want to see you make a fool of yourself, hoping you will have family conflicts, so they can laugh at you.”

Chang Yuze thought for a moment and quickly understood the reasoning. He was a rising star in the bureau, but he didn’t think his work style and lifestyle were wrong: “Everyone has their own way of living. If they want to see me make a fool of myself because of this, then let them laugh.”

"Because you often travel to Beijing for business and rarely attend bureau meetings, your colleagues like to make jokes about you at those meetings. Nobody takes jokes seriously, and I didn't think it was necessary to defend you. However, lately I've felt something's changed; their discussions about you have taken a certain tone."

Chang Yuze immediately tensed up: "Brother Chengli, tell me, who said what?"

"A while ago, when you were on a business trip in Beijing, I overheard some different things from some of the guys in our bureau. The traffic police said that when you came back from your last trip, you checked the surveillance footage at the traffic police station, and the camera was right on the road to your villa. Then someone from the criminal investigation department said they saw you asking Xiao Liu from the lab to test a condom for you. One person saying it isn't much, but two people saying it together is problematic, and condoms are something that easily leads people to think that way. Besides, today you got into a fight with Zhu Kun, and afterwards I heard from people in the office that the director called you and Zhu Kun in for a reprimand, but he didn't seem angry with you." "I heard they've revoked your fine, but they reprimanded Zhu Kun severely, almost suspending him. This is puzzling. You were the one who started it, and Zhu Kun never actually retaliated. Even if Zhu Kun was wrong, he was just joking. To hit someone over a joke—how can you say your fault is greater? Everyone in the bureau knows the director wants to promote you, but given his temperament, he definitely won't openly protect you. So, putting all these clues together, it's easy to think of your problem."

Wang Chengli is usually carefree and a bit rough around the edges, but he's a veteran police officer; he analyzes problems meticulously and clearly.

Chang Yuze knew he could no longer hide his wife's affair. After a moment of silence, he sighed deeply, "Brother Chengli, I really can't bring myself to say this."
"Is your wife really having problems? Zhu Kun wasn't joking today?"

"Yes. No man could stand this. Let alone Zhu Kun, even if those deputy directors dared to laugh at me to my face, I'd make them lose face."

"That's true, no one could stand this. But, I don't think your wife is that kind of person. Don't wrong her."

"Am I just being nosy and deliberately trying to frame myself?"

"It's not that I don't believe you, it's just unbelievable. Your wife is a cultured woman, elegant, from a good family, and you two have a deep relationship. She has no reason to do such a thing." "
Yes, not only Brother Chengli can't understand it, but I can't understand it either. What did I do to wrong her that she would cheat on me!" "

Who is it? Have you found out who it is?"

"I've basically figured it out, just need to finish the investigation."

"The condom is evidence, and there's also CCTV footage?"

"Yes, these are physical evidence, and I also have witnesses."

"So you're saying there's no doubt about it. Have you talked to your sister-in-law?"

"No. Do you think she'll confess without being asked?"

"That's true, your sister-in-law is very concerned about her reputation."

"I'm waiting for an opportunity, to catch them red-handed before settling the score with them."

"Brother, I'm not making fun of you, but I always feel that you intellectuals are too fussy. I'm a roughneck, and I like to do things the rough way. If this happened to me, I'd go home and give the woman a good beating, beat her until she confesses, and then settle accounts with that jerk. I'd have to give those two a good beating first, vent my anger, and then, once I'm in a better mood, we can talk about the solution. I'm not bragging, but you know your sister-in-law. She used to be a social butterfly, associating with all sorts of people. But ever since she came to me, I've made it clear to her that being my woman means she has to behave herself and get rid of all her male friends. There's no such thing as friendship between men and women; if there is, it's not friendship. Before we got married, she tried to throw a tantrum and I beat her up, but I eventually made her obedient. At home, I only need to glare at her, and she won't even flinch. If she doesn't serve me well, I'll punish her. If she dares to cheat on me, I'll skin her alive."

"Maybe. My approach is more direct, while mine is a bit more verbose. I don't think fists can solve the problem; the key is to find out the cause and effect of her infidelity."

"There's no excuse. A woman cheating is a heinous crime, and it's a man's right to discipline her. Are you afraid of your father-in-law? Don't worry, he's a respected figure in our city. If his daughter cheated, he definitely wouldn't dare protect her."

Chang Yuze completely agreed. His father-in-law was a good person, upright, and had strict family discipline. If he knew Xu Hong was cheating, he would have severely punished his daughter without Chang Yuze's intervention. The entire public security, procuratorate, and judicial system knew about it.

"What a joke! Do you think I'm a coward? If I wanted to teach her a lesson, nobody could stop me. At worst, I'd just quit my job. But I don't think the time is right. I'll settle things with them after I've gotten to the bottom of this."

"Sigh, if I'm not mistaken, you're too attached to your sister-in-law. You can't bring yourself to do it. A man will feel restless if he doesn't act in this situation, and that will make him sick. Tell me, who's that coward? I'll find you a few buddies to help you vent your anger."

"Thanks, Brother Cheng. I can find people to help me vent my anger, but I don't want to make a big deal out of it right now, lest I alert them."

"Alright, whatever you want. Take my advice, there are plenty of good and beautiful women out there. Don't just think about your wife. She's cultured, elegant, and beautiful, but what good is beauty if she still ends up cheating on you? So, stop adhering to the rules. If you see someone suitable, develop a relationship with one or two. These days, who in officialdom doesn't have a mistress or two? If you had a mistress to help you relieve your pent-up desires, would you still be so angry with Zhu Kun? Since your wife can keep a man, you should keep a mistress too. Or, let your sister-in-law find you someone."

"No, no, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm really not in the mood right now. Even the most beautiful woman doesn't excite me." No matter what, Chang Yuze still couldn't let go of his wife. Whether in the past, present, or future, Xu Hong was the most beautiful woman in his heart, the woman he cared about the most, because he had poured more than ten years of deep affection into her.
Zhang Feng had completely entered a new work mode. He practiced driving at the driving school during the day and monitored Zheng Weihua at night using a GPS tracker to see which mistress's house he was sleeping at. Although Zhang Feng wasn't particularly bright, he was extremely diligent. To quickly familiarize himself with the terrain of Guide City and accurately record Zheng Weihua's movements, he bought a map of Guide City. He meticulously marked every driving route Zheng Weihua took after work, which hotel he dined at that night, and which mistress's house he slept at, adding the date on the map.

His efforts paid off; in just a few days, Zhang Feng achieved new successes. He discovered a new brothel for Zheng Weihua—the Dijing Garden residential complex. Another mistress of Zheng Weihua might be hiding in this complex. As for her identity, Chang Yuze no longer had the time to investigate in detail. The five "silver flowers" of the Banking Regulatory Bureau were already keeping him busy enough. He needed to focus on key leads and had no time for other minor details. Furthermore, he didn't intend for Zhang Feng to delve deeper into the investigation. In fact, Chang Yuze didn't want Zhang Feng to get too involved; after all, it was his business. He only had him monitor Zheng Weihua's movements every night; he had no intention of letting him know any other information.

Every morning, Zhang Feng would give Chang Yuze a detailed report on Zheng Weihua's activities the previous night. At this time, Chang Yuze would temporarily put aside any meetings or other tasks to listen attentively to Zhang Feng's report, thinking as he listened to see if he could extract any useful information. Sometimes, he would even point out any oversights in Zhang Feng's actions and teach him how to improve his investigative work.

Human nature seems to have a dark side, and the seemingly dull and honest Zhang Feng gradually developed a strong interest in this ambiguous and exciting voyeuristic activity. When reporting to Chang Yuze, his descriptions became increasingly excited, sometimes even improvising: "When I was a child, my uncle raised a big boar. Sows from the surrounding villages would come to mate with it. The boar was very horny; it wanted to mate with every sow it saw. I liked to stand by and watch. The boar was strong, and it made the sows scream. The older sows were better off and could hold on, but the young sows couldn't handle it; they would collapse after just one round." "The boar is incredibly lewd. Even when the sows are on their knees, he won't let up. He'll step on them, press them down, and fuck them hard. The sows scream in pain, as if they're being killed. Sometimes, the sows are

so exhausted from the boar's fucking that their hooves tremble and they can't even get up. My uncle would tell me to find a cart and take the sows to someone else." Hearing this, Chang Yuze bluntly told him to shut up. The story this kid was telling sounded so awkward. Was he trying to say that Zheng Weihua, that bastard, was like that boar, wanting to fuck every woman he saw, changing brides every night? If that's the case, what are wives? Just like those slutty sows?

Chang Yuze only told Zhang Feng to shut up; he wouldn't criticize him for it. Whether a person is serious or not depends on their enthusiasm. Right now, Zhang Feng is highly enthusiastic about this spying job, working very seriously and diligently. This is exactly the effect Chang Yuze wanted, so he naturally wouldn't discourage him.

Chang Yuze originally didn't intend to interfere with Zhang Feng's actions, letting him maintain his current state and continue his secret surveillance. However, something unexpected happened, driving Chang Yuze to the brink of madness. He immediately decided to intensify his surveillance of Zheng Weihua and expand the scope of his monitoring.

His wife cherished the bouquet of birthday roses he had given her. She changed the water for the roses every day and frequently pruned their leaves. Under her meticulous care, the roses maintained their vibrant color and delicate fragrance. Every night before going to bed, his wife would gently kiss the roses and then give him a deep kiss, her lips still fragrant with the scent of the flowers. However, flowers are flowers after all. As time went by, the rose petals began to wither, and their vibrant color gradually faded. But his wife couldn't bear to throw them away and continued to care for them carefully.

That night, while his wife was putting their daughter to bed, Chang Yuze lay alone in bed and inadvertently noticed that one of the roses was unusual. The other roses were already half-withered, their petals almost completely fallen, but this one rose still maintained its upright posture, standing out so brightly and prominently among the flowers.

Chang Yuze pulled the unique rose from the vase and examined it closely. It had nothing special about it; the flower was a flower, the stem a stem—a real plant. He gently pinched each one, leaving a pale pink rose oil stain on his fingers. He brought it to his nose and could smell a strong rose fragrance.

Comparing it to the wilted, half-dried roses in the vase, Chang Yuze felt a chill run down his spine. He suddenly thought of a disgusting thought: Zhang Feng had told him that on his wife's birthday, Zheng Weihua had given her a rose, and he saw her take it home. Could this rose belong to that old bastard?!

Chang Yuze pulled all the roses out of the vase and counted them three times—twelve in total each time. The twelve roses before him clearly divided into two camps: the enemy and his own. My side has eleven roses, their petals withered and half-dead, resembling defeated prisoners of war; the enemy has only one rose, yet its color is vibrant, its branches and leaves outstretched, its posture proud, like an arrogant enemy general lecturing prisoners of war.

Chang Yuze was instantly enraged. Damn woman, my eleven roses are no match for that old lecher's one rose! Every night before bed you'd be kissing my roses, and I thought you were kissing my roses, but it turns out you were kissing that old lecher's thing! You're shameless, shameless, you're fucking shameless! Not only did you go out and sleep with that old lecher, but afterwards you kept the token of love he gave you at home, right by your bedside, so that old lecher could admire your lewd naked butt every night!
Actually, one rose doesn't mean anything, but Chang Yuze was blinded by rage; he saw only hatred, nothing else. He was now extremely sensitive and vulnerable. Any unusual movement from his wife would amplify his emotions a thousandfold. A pleasant mood was out of the question; only his anger and hatred would be amplified.

He swept all the roses onto the wooden floor and stomped on them. He was barefoot and hadn't expected the thorns. The sharp thorns on the stems pierced his soles, and the pain only fueled his rage. Avoiding the stems, he crushed the flowers with his heel, turning the delicate petals into a pulp, especially the old lecher's rose, which was completely crushed. Even this couldn't quell his anger. He picked up the vase and slammed it heavily onto the wooden floor with a loud crash. The vase shattered into pieces, splashing water everywhere.

The noise startled Xu Hong. "Husband, what's wrong!" she cried, rushing out of her daughter's room and into the bedroom.

Chang Yuze was sitting angrily on the bed, wiping the blood from his pierced feet with a tissue.

"How did the vase break? Are you alright?" Xu Hong, seeing the shattered vase and scattered roses, seemed to understand something. She immediately ran to her husband, knelt down, and said with concern, "Honey, are you alright? The vase was fine, why did you touch it?"

She reached for a tissue to wipe his wound.

Chang Yuze impatiently pushed her away, saying irritably, "It's all the roses' fault, like they've got a grudge against me. You can touch it, but if I touch it, it pricks me. It's better that it's broken, just don't bother me in the house."

He was throwing a tantrum for no reason, and she didn't understand what to say. She opened a drawer, took out some bandages, and carefully bandaged his foot.

"Daddy, what happened?" Lulu rubbed her sleepy eyes and came over. Seeing her father's bleeding foot, she asked with concern, "Daddy, does it hurt?"

"It's nothing, it's just that Daddy's careless. He accidentally knocked over the vase and woke up my little darling." Chang Yuze reached out and hugged his daughter, explaining with feigned ease. Seeing his obedient and sensible daughter, his anger vanished instantly. Even the greatest rage couldn't be unleashed in front of her.

Chang Yuze didn't lash out at his wife anymore, letting her silently bandage his wounds. The roses were crushed, the vase shattered, and most of his anger had dissipated. Well, since she was still hiding the truth and protecting that old lecher, things had developed to this point, and he had no obligation to forgive anymore. He would investigate to the end, uncover all her crimes, and bring them to a severe trial. Ultimate victory would surely belong to him! Provoked by

this incident, Chang Yuze decided to extend the surveillance period, monitoring Zheng Weihua around the clock. He recalled what Bie Xin had told him: "You should investigate Zheng Weihua thoroughly—his car, his hotel room, his office. If a mistress is with him, they could be having an affair at any moment."

Chang Yuze found Zhang Feng and together they chose the best observation point.

The CBRC building faced south, twelve stories high, with an antique-style octagonal pavilion on the roof. Sunlight streamed in, making the gilded pavilion appear solemn and majestic, and the entire CBRC building seemed ethereal.

The CBRC was located north of Huanghe Avenue, and to the south were rows of administrative units, including the Construction Commission, the Audit Bureau, and the Trade Union, which were basically opposite the CBRC. These three units were naturally the best observation locations. However, Chang Yuze knew that while borrowing an office from a friend inside for a short time wouldn't be a problem, the key was that he needed to borrow it all day, for several consecutive days, and secretly behind closed doors. Doing so would definitely be discovered. Therefore, Chang Yuze immediately ruled out these three units and continued searching along the roadside.

Next to the trade union was the Tobacco Hotel, which was further from the Banking Regulatory Bureau, but it was the only convenient location to carry out the operation.

Chang Yuze and Zhang Feng entered the Tobacco Hotel and asked the waiter to open several rooms on the ninth and tenth floors. After careful comparison, they finally selected a room on the tenth floor, which offered the best vantage point. Chang Yuze paid a month's deposit to reserve the room.
Chang Yuze picked up his camera, adjusted the focus, and carefully observed the Banking Regulatory Bureau's office building.

Zheng Weihua's office was on the ninth floor. The office had an outer section, and inside was a suite—his brothel for resting or having sex with women.

His office was over seventy square meters, luxuriously decorated, and resplendent in gold. All the other offices had vertical Venetian blinds, but his office had double-layered curtains in a palatial style. The thicker layer was golden yellow, and the thinner layer was sheer curtains. Through the window, one could see the vermilion office door, the royal blue carpet with gold patterns, and a fish tank with several beautiful tropical fish near the window. Unfortunately, the desk was not visible. The suite's curtains were also double-layered in a palatial style. The thicker layer was bright red, and the thinner layer was semi-transparent lace. The thicker layer was tied on both sides of the window, and sunlight filtered evenly through the thin lace curtains, illuminating the room. A high-performance camera easily penetrated the curtains, capturing the interior scene. However, the lace layer made the scene appear more hazy and alluring. The suite was carpeted in bright red, with abstract white lines printed on it. A European-style double bed stood there, its headboard adorned with beautiful cloud-like reliefs. Luxurious wall lamps flanked the bed, and above the headboard hung a calligraphy scroll bearing the three large characters "精、气、神" (essence, energy, spirit).

Chang Yuze moved the camera around, carefully searching the other rooms.

He found his wife and Xu Na on the eighth floor. Their offices were much simpler, and they were both sitting in their respective offices. Chang Yuze zoomed in, seeing his wife's beautiful, serene face in profile. She was looking at her laptop, completely absorbed, her slender fingers holding a ballpoint pen, occasionally twirling the thin shaft between her fingers, indicating she was thinking. This added a touch of wisdom to her beauty. Chang Yuze was puzzled. Administrative units were usually quite relaxed; did his wife really need to be so busy every day? Xu Na seemed much more relaxed. She wasn't working, but playing games. She had her laptop open, her small hands constantly typing on the keyboard, her face displaying the typical joy and excitement of a gamer. Zhou Xiaoyan's office was on the fifth floor. She didn't like sitting and seemed unable to stay still for a moment, frequently getting up to walk around, make a cup of coffee, or apply makeup with a small mirror. Zhao Ying was nowhere to be seen; she was the office manager, probably on the same floor as the old lecher, and her office was likely opposite his. Xie Yalin was also nowhere to be found. Perhaps she, like Zhao Ying, worked in a room on the north side, or perhaps she was working in a larger room with others, and Chang Yuze hadn't spotted her yet.

As long as they could clearly see the old lecher and his wife's offices, the others wouldn't waste time.

Chang Yuze solemnly instructed Zhang Feng that this time they must be extremely serious and careful. The camera must be present when someone is present, and it must remain in the room when someone leaves. They couldn't be lazy and leave the camera in automatic recording mode while someone was out. If a cleaning staff member came into the room and saw a camera pointed directly at the China Banking Regulatory Commission building, it would be a huge problem.

To prevent Zhang Feng from getting bored being cooped up in the room all day, Chang Yuze gave him some free time. He could go out in the morning, but had to stay in the room to observe in the afternoon. In administrative units, the morning is generally the time for actual business; by the afternoon, you basically can't find anyone. Chang Yuze didn't believe Zheng Weihua

's sex drive was so strong that he would hide in his room playing with women as soon as he got to work in the morning. Zhang Feng readily agreed. As soon as Chang Yuze finished his reprimand, he immediately pulled a bed to the window, kicked off his shoes, jumped onto the bed, and, imitating Chang Yuze, held the camera to his shoulder, pointing the lens at the China Banking Regulatory Commission building to spy. Soon, his eyes lit up, and he excitedly said, "Brother, the Japanese cameras are really good! I saw a beautiful woman peeing in the toilet!"

A central government leader came to Guide City for an inspection, accompanied by leaders from relevant national ministries and commissions, as well as key provincial and municipal leaders. According to the itinerary, central leaders were scheduled to visit Huoshentai this morning to inspect the scenic area's construction.

Guide City, located on the Huanghuai Plain, lacks mountains and rivers, and its tourism resources rely primarily on historical and cultural sites. Huoshentai is one of Guide City's most famous historical sites, now upgraded to a national-level tourist attraction, serving as a key site for promoting excellent traditional culture and conducting patriotic education. Leaders visiting Guide City always make a point of visiting Huoshentai.

Due to the central leaders' visit, according to custom, Huoshentai and the main road leading from the county seat to it were to be completely cleared.

However, for some reason, word leaked out, and villagers from Dazhangzhuang on the left side of the main road immediately gathered dozens of villagers, blocking the road in half and preparing to protest.

Since becoming a national-level tourist attraction, Huoshentai's fame has soared, with tourist numbers and tourism revenue increasing year after year. This has also boosted the surrounding area.

Numerous real estate companies have flocked to the area, vying to develop tourism, folk culture, commercial and residential, and educational properties around Huoshentai. After the real estate development around Huoshentai was completed, the focus shifted to the fields along Yingbin Avenue.
Antai Real Estate Company set its sights on a plot of land in Dazhangzhuang, adjacent to Yingbin Avenue, covering several hundred acres, with plans to develop a folk-themed street. It's said they obtained land acquisition approval last year and began compensating villagers. Antai Company had already erected a fence around the undeveloped land, preparing to start construction.

However, the villagers of Dazhangzhuang seemed divided; some agreed to sell, while others disagreed, deeming the price too low. They tore down the fence, continued planting wheat, and used various excuses to obstruct Antai Company's construction.

In early April, one night, Antai Company brought in several bulldozers and demolished the wheat seedlings enclosed by the fence.

This angered the villagers of Dazhangzhuang, who organized their able-bodied men to confront Antai Company's security guards and also staged a group petition to the county authorities.

Township and county leaders have intervened multiple times to mediate, but the villagers remain dissatisfied and strongly demand the return of their land, which Antai Company naturally refuses to do. Unable to resolve the issue through mediation, the dispute has dragged on at each level.

Several villagers have been injured in clashes between Antai Company and the villagers, yet Antai Company's construction work continues unabated.

Central leaders are in Guide City for an inspection tour, not to resolve civil disputes; the villagers' road blockade will leave a bad impression on them. Guide City has been recognized as an advanced city for harmony and stability for many consecutive years—an honor earned through the tireless efforts of countless comrades at all levels of Guide City leadership—and must not be allowed to be undermined by a small group of lawless individuals. Therefore, city leaders have demanded that Lanma County immediately resolve the villagers' road blockade issue.

After receiving instructions from city leaders, county officials immediately mobilized all county police forces to disperse the illegally gathered crowd. However, upon arrival, they were stunned to find not just a few dozen people blocking the road, but hundreds, even thousands. Not only from Dazhang Village, but also from surrounding villages, villagers were arriving one after another. Whether these villagers were genuinely there to support the protests or just there to observe, they all swarmed in, forming a dense, intimidating mass.

Seeing the situation escalating, Ma Sanchun, the director of the Lanma County Public Security Bureau, dared not use police force to disperse the crowd. He immediately instructed his subordinates to put away their weapons to avoid accidental clashes that could provoke public anger. Recently, the Guide City Public Security system had just reported several typical mass incidents, and those responsible for mishandling them and causing negative social impact had been severely punished, either demoted or dismissed. Therefore, Ma Sanchun dared not risk his position and immediately reported the situation to the city bureau leadership, seeking support.

The central leaders had already finished breakfast and were preparing to depart, but the villagers' roadblock remained unresolved. Party Secretary Qin was alarmed and immediately instructed Liu Fengdong, the director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, to take all necessary measures to apprehend the villagers who were illegally blocking the road. He couldn't allow Guide City's glorious reputation to be ruined during his term; he didn't want to become a historical sinner of Guide City.

Upon receiving Secretary Qin's instructions, Liu Fengdong immediately assigned Chang Yuze to handle the situation.

Chang Yuze was no stranger to such sudden mass incidents; he had successfully handled many before. However, he wasn't confident about today's situation. He was skilled at psychological work, using policy explanations and reasoning to dismantle the opponent and ultimately resolve the problem without bloodshed. But this time, the leadership hadn't given him time to resolve the issue immediately, which presented a challenge. However, the police's style was "respond immediately to the alarm," obeying and executing orders no matter how difficult. Chang Yuze immediately got into a police car and sped towards Huoshentai.

Lanma County was also Chang Yuze's hometown, and he had deep feelings for it, not wanting it to be disgraced or given a bad reputation as a poor, remote place with many unruly people.

The police car, sirens blaring, sped for forty minutes to reach the welcoming avenue of Huoshentai, the main scenic road connecting Lanma County to the Huoshentai Scenic Area. The avenue, after several renovations, now boasts eight lanes, wide, clean, and smooth, lined with lush pine and cypress trees. Today, to welcome visiting leaders, colorful flags adorned both sides of the avenue, fluttering in the wind, creating a scene of jubilation.

Chang Yuze was intimately familiar with this scene; he would never forget it.

During his senior year of high school, the nation was deepening reforms and accelerating economic development. To expedite regional cooperation, the Yellow River Economic Cooperation Zone was established under the coordination of relevant central departments. To promote and celebrate this new economic zone, the central departments decided to collect the sacred flame from Huoshentai and hold a grand torch relay along the Yellow River.
This was the first time Huoshentai had hosted a nationally significant event, and the county and city governments attached great importance to it, deciding to collect the flame according to the highest historical standards.

According to historical records, the sacred flame had to be collected by a young, beautiful, dignified, and chaste virgin.

Guide City held a city-wide selection for a Holy Maiden, with tens of thousands of girls applying. After rigorous selection, thirteen were chosen, including Xu Hong. She won by a landslide due to her beauty, generosity, intelligence, and vivacity, becoming one of the thirteen and the first Holy Maiden responsible for collecting the sacred fire from the Vulcan Altar.

The day of the sacred fire collection arrived, and the Holy Maidens, standing in flower-adorned floats, slowly made their way to the Vulcan Altar. Xu Hong, in a fiery red dress, stood in the center of the float, surrounded by a dozen other girls in similarly decorated red dresses. They were all beautiful fairies, like flowers, with Xu Hong being the queen of the flower fairies.

The float slowly traveled along the welcoming avenue, with farmers along the way bowing in worship, believing the Holy Maidens to be noble beings imbued with divine aura.

That day, Chang Yuze asked his teacher for half a day off and rode in his father's police car, leading the way for the float.

Chang Yuze gazed out the window at Xu Hong on the decorated car, his heart filled with beautiful dreams. It resembled a lavish wedding; the bride was Xu Hong standing in the center of the car, and he was the happy groom.

After relentless pursuit, Chang Yuze's dream finally came true: the revered fairy maiden became his bride. She loved him deeply and bore him a lovely daughter. However, the fairy, fallen to earth, was quickly tainted by the world's ugly ways. She fell, betrayed love, and became a wanton woman pursuing naked lust!

Chang Yuze had achieved one beautiful dream, but a nightmare was about to begin.

Police cars blared their sirens, and pedestrians scrambled to make way until the car stopped at its destination. Chang Yuze had to end his daydreams.

The scene ahead was utter chaos.

Two lines of people blocked the main road. One line consisted of several hundred villagers, men and women, young and old, dressed in disheveled clothes. Some sat in front, while others stood behind. Above them, a white banner stretched across the road, bearing the large black characters: "Give us back our wheat! Give us back our land!"

The villagers blocking the road were only a small minority; the majority stood in the fields on either side, silently supporting those blocking the way.

Opposite the villagers stood a line of police officers, all dressed in neat uniforms, holding hands and blocking the villagers' advance. It was estimated that all the police force from Lanma County had been mobilized, but compared to the thousands of villagers, the police were still outnumbered.

The two lines stood in silent confrontation, neither daring to rashly attack the other.

Ma Sanchun stood behind the police, directing them to push forward. He had no other choice; the longer the situation dragged on, the more likely central leaders would arrive. The unresolved matter would seriously affect his career, and he was sweating profusely with anxiety.

Chang Yuze's father, Chang Xianyi, was also present, but he didn't approach; instead, he observed from the sidelines with his hands behind his back. Chang Xianyi was the deputy director of the Lanma County Public Security Bureau. Unlike ordinary police officers, he didn't need to be on the front lines, and because he was a deputy, the director was there to protect him, so he appeared very calm.

Chang Yuze got out of the car, squeezed to Ma Sanchun's side, and greeted him. The scene was too chaotic, and the crowd was deafening; Ma Sanchun didn't hear him. Chang Yuze had to slap him hard on the shoulder and say loudly, "Director Ma, things are a bit chaotic today."

Ma Sanchun snapped out of his daze, only then noticing Chang Yuze. He immediately smiled broadly and said, "Section Chief Chang, you're here! We've been waiting for the bureau leaders." But when he turned around and saw that Chang Yuze was alone with only one car, he immediately deflated. "Why are you the only one here? Didn't the city send any armed police? These people are too arrogant. If we don't arrest them all, we won't be able to control the situation."
Chang Yuze said, "Director Ma, you just attended a meeting last time. Have you already forgotten what the leaders instructed at the meeting? In the event of a mass incident, we should minimize the damage and resolve it peacefully. There are hundreds or even thousands of people here. How can you arrest them all?"

Ma Sanchun said, "I understand that principle, but the situation is so complicated right now. We must resolve it as soon as possible. If the leaders from above arrive in a few tens of minutes and see that we haven't finished dealing with it, they might kill me."

Chang Yuze asked, "What are the specific details? Do these villagers have any organizers? Let's discuss it and see if we can find a solution."

Ma Sanchun briefly introduced the situation in Dazhangzhuang, emphasizing that none of the village committee cadres were among those who organized the roadblock. The leader was Zhang Yunhui, a man in his seventies from Dazhangzhuang village who had served as the village party secretary a few years ago. He was known for his straightforward and stubborn personality; the villagers called him "Old Party Secretary." He was the one who instigated this incident. Currently, leaders from the township and county are trying to negotiate with Zhang Yunhui, but he is completely uncooperative, hiding among the villagers and only saying that he will report the situation to the central leadership.

The villagers are protecting Zhang Yunhui, preventing the police from approaching him. When the police try to stop them from causing trouble, they shout that the police are beating people, and the surrounding crowd joins in the chaos, leaving the police helpless.

After understanding the situation, Chang Yuze grabbed a megaphone, squeezed to the front, and loudly proclaimed, "Fellow villagers, I'm Xiao Chang, sent by the city. I'm here to help you solve your problems, not to cause you trouble. Please rest assured, the police are always the people's police. The police only punish bad guys, never bully ordinary people."

Chang Yuze's megaphone had some effect; the crowd reduced their physical confrontation with the police and looked up to listen to him.

Chang Yuze, holding the megaphone in one hand, ripped off his police uniform with the other, threw it onto the police car, and loudly proclaimed, "Fellow villagers, I've taken off my uniform now. Like you all, we are all ordinary people. No one is an official, no one is a commoner. We will have an equal dialogue and negotiate to solve our problems. Old Party Secretary, can we talk face-to-face?" He was still wearing a white shirt underneath, so even without the uniform, he didn't lose face.

The villagers blocking the road quieted down for a moment, then several middle-aged men stepped out, surrounding a sprightly old man. His dark, weathered face was etched with the marks of time, like a typical Chinese farmer straight out of an oil painting.

Chang Yuze immediately recognized him as the former village secretary, Zhang Yunhui, and approached him politely, saying, "Old secretary, could we talk outside for a bit? If you think what I'm saying isn't human, you can just turn around and leave; no one will stop you."

Zhang Yunhui spoke, his voice aged but full of confidence: "Young man, you are very polite and sincere, much better than those officials in the county. Whether you can solve the problem or not, I'll talk to you."

He spoke calmly and clearly, befitting a village secretary who had served for many years.

"Who do you think you are? You think you can solve things the county magistrate can't? Who are you kidding!" a middle-aged farmer impatiently shouted at Chang Yuze.

Old Party Secretary Zhang Yunhui stopped him and walked down the main road with Chang Yuze into the wheat field. The wheat in the field had been crushed by bulldozers, leaving only patches of green and yellow wheat leaves mixed in with the soil. Here, a little away from the crowds, normal conversation could still be heard clearly.

Ma Sanchun wanted to send a few policemen to follow Chang Yuze and protect him, but Chang Yuze waved them away. He wanted to deal with the old village secretary alone. He approached him and respectfully said, "Grandpa, I heard you've been the village secretary for many years, right?"

"Yes, I used to be. But now I'm too old to do anything."

"How old are you, Grandpa?"
"Almost seventy."

"You don't look it. You're in great spirits, no different from a fifty-six-year-old. I think everyone in Dazhang Village listens to you, Grandpa. I believe you must have been a good village secretary who wholeheartedly served the people." "

Young man, you don't need to flatter this old man. I'm just a farmer. It's just that the villagers, young and old, respected me and elected me as village secretary. Young man, you're not bad either. You're bold and decisive. What's your name? What area do you work for in the Public Security Bureau?"

"Grandpa, call me Xiao Changxing. I work in the Complaints and Appeals Section of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. This time, the city leaders sent me here to help the villagers solve their problems. Actually, I've already heard about what happened in our village. Wasn't our village's land already sold to Antai Company? How come there's still a dispute?" "

Selling land? Who agreed to sell the land? Ask how many people in the village agreed to sell the land. Nobody signed it. It's all collusion between the township and a few individuals in the village, fooling the people."

"Why doesn't the village want to sell the land? I heard it's because some people think the money is too little."

At the mention of money, several middle-aged farmers shouted, "What are they? Giving a few pennies is like taking away my land. Why? I won't sell!"

"Grandpa, I heard the harvests in the fields have been good these past few years. Wheat can yield eight or nine hundred jin a year, right?" "

The harvest is decent. Good ones yield eight or nine hundred jin, even bad ones yield six or seven hundred jin."

"Now the policies are better. Farming doesn't require paying grain tax and there are subsidies. With wheat and autumn grain, an income of two or three thousand a year shouldn't be a problem, right?"

“Officer Chang, you’re from the city, you’ve never farmed before, you don’t know how hard it is. How much does the government subsidize? A mu (unit of land area) only yields a few dozen yuan a year, not even enough for a bag of fertilizer. Pesticides, fertilizers, seeds—these things have been going up in price every year, while grain prices have only increased by a few percent. If you only grow grain, you’re lucky if you can get a single harvest of wheat a year.”

“A mu of land yields a net profit of 1000 yuan a year, right?”

“About that.”

“Grandpa, let’s do the math. I heard that Antai Company is offering 35,000 yuan per mu. If you farm, that’s 1000 yuan a year. 35,000 yuan is equivalent to 35 years’ worth of land. You can harvest that 35 years’ worth of income in advance, and then invest that income in other industries to make more money. The villagers can also be freed from the land and engage in other industries, like odd jobs or small businesses, all of which can earn money. All things considered, selling land is much more profitable than simply farming.”

Chang Yuze thought his calculation was quite scientific; if these villagers couldn’t even see that, they were truly foolish. But as soon as he finished speaking, the farmers looked at him with utter contempt, as if he were the one who was an incredibly stupid madman. Even the seemingly kind old Party Secretary looked down on him.

"Hmph, you officials are all in cahoots, just like those bastards who stole our land!" the middle-aged farmers cursed Chang Yuze in unison.

Zhang Yunhui said slowly and deliberately, "Officer Chang, the reason I said you're from the city and don't understand the farmers' perspective is because we farmers aren't educated, but we're not idiots. We know how this works. Farming isn't worth much now, but land is. The township gives 35,000 yuan per mu for the land in our village, but they resell it to build houses for 300,000 to 500,000 yuan per mu. Which is more, 30,000 or 300,000 to 500,000 yuan? Even a fool knows."
Chang Yuze certainly understood why real estate prices had been rising steadily in recent years. It was closely related to the government, the behind-the-scenes force. The government would acquire land from farmers and then sell it to real estate developers at a higher price. Naturally, the developers wouldn't do a losing business, so they also kept pushing up housing prices. However, Chang Yuze couldn't back down; he was determined to defeat the old farmer theoretically: "Grandpa, what you say makes a lot of sense. If the village thinks the land price is too low, they can negotiate with the government. The price can be negotiated slowly. Actually, it can't be said that the government is buying low and selling high. The revenue from land transfer ultimately goes to the national treasury, and then the state distributes it to the people through fiscal appropriations. Grandpa, look how much the countryside has changed in recent years! Power lines have been installed, every village has paved roads, wells have been drilled in the fields, farmers can get medical expenses reimbursed, and farmers can enjoy pension insurance when they get old. Our land use policy isn't about making money off the people; it's about thinking about the people."

"Since you've brought this up, let me give Officer Chang an example. A farmer works hard to raise a cow, and when it's grown up, the government takes it away, slaughters it, and eats it. After they've finished the meat, they give the old farmer back a cow's tail, saying it's taken from the people for the people's use. We ordinary people enjoy the benefits the country has earned through our hard work, but the government takes the lion's share and gives us back the remainder, and then expects us to applaud and cheer? Do they think we're fools?" Zhang Yunhui became increasingly agitated, his hand trembling as he reached for his waistband.

Chang Yuze, seeing his movement as if he were looking for a cigarette, promptly offered him a Zhonghua cigarette and lit it for him.

"Good cigarette." Zhang Yun took a puff and perked up again, continuing, "In the past, we had to pay grain tax to the government for farming. It was based on the number of people, whether it was a newborn baby or a seventy- or eighty-year-old man, as long as you had a breath left, you had to pay grain tax. Back then, the harvest wasn't very high, maybe six or seven hundred catties per mu (a Chinese unit of land area, approximately 0.165 acres). Paying grain tax to the government meant two or three hundred catties per mu, plus all sorts of other fees. Almost all the wheat grown on one mu was taken by the township. It wasn't so much taking as taking, it was robbery. Regardless of whether you had enough to eat, you had to pay the township's share first. If you didn't pay, they would send people and carts to forcibly take it, no different from the bandits of the old society who robbed grain. A few years ago, the country abolished the agricultural tax, and farmers no longer had to pay grain tax to their land. They even received subsidies for farming. I, as a farmer, thought, the country has finally..." "They've finally shown mercy, finally thinking of us ordinary people! We thought we'd finally have a better life, but who would have thought that just a few years later, the officials are back to tormenting us? They're not asking for grain anymore because grain isn't worth much anymore, they don't care. But now that land is valuable, they're starting to seize our land. Look at this land under your feet, it's the best land in our Dazhang Village, the one with the highest wheat yield. The township wants it, they say they want to build houses, some kind of folk street, and they're taking our land. The villagers disagreed, so the builders secretly brought in some bulldozers, and in less than a night, they bulldozed all the good wheat! I'm an old man, and I've never seen anyone dare to waste crops like this! They'll be punished!"

“Grandpa, strictly speaking, the land doesn’t even belong to our Dazhang Village. It belongs to the state. It’s reasonable for the township to requisition land for economic development.”

“Who says the land doesn’t belong to Dazhang Village? My Zhang family has lived on this land for generations. We’ve farmed this land for generations. You say it belongs to the state? Has the state invested a single penny in the land? Has the state ever sent anyone to harvest a single acre of wheat? Chairman Mao fought to establish the country so that ordinary people could live a good life, not to seize their land. If officials seize the land of ordinary people, what’s the difference between them and the big landlords of the old society? Even big landlords wouldn’t dare to openly seize the land of ordinary people. Big landlords knew to abide by the law. These officials nowadays have no regard for the law at all.”

“Grandpa, what you said makes a lot of sense. I grew up in the city and really don’t know anything about these things. But let’s stick to the facts today. The leaders from above came to Huoshentai to inspect the construction of the scenic area, not to listen to the problems raised by the people. If you forcibly cut off the traffic and cause a ruckus like this, not only will you not solve the problem, but you will also bring shame to our hometown and make visitors from other places think that Lanma County is full of troublemakers.”

"You troublemaker? Officer Chang, it's not that I'm bragging, but my Party membership is longer than your age, and my ideological awareness is higher than anyone else's. Let me tell you a story. During the Huaihai Campaign, I was just a naked kid. When I heard we were going to support the People's Liberation Army in fighting Chiang Kai-shek, my dad handed over all the dried sweet potatoes and even the blankets from his bed, personally pushing a cart to deliver them. If requisitioning our village's land were doing a good thing for the country and for the people, I would have taken the lead in handing over my land too. But that's not how it works. The officials in the township are just selling my land to make money. Why should I hand over my land? Today, the top leaders from the central government are here. I'm here to report this problem to them and see if this is what they say from above or just nonsense from below. We common folk all know that the central government's policies are good; it's just that the crooked monks below have misinterpreted them."

As the old Party Secretary was rambling on about his grievances, an even more piercing siren blared.

Dozens of police cars, large and small, sped towards them. The city's main police force, including the Armed Police Detachment, riot police, and traffic police, was almost entirely deployed. Several large trucks carrying uniformed urban management officers followed behind the police cars.

The police cars stopped in front of the crowd, and Deputy Director Jiang stood beside one, speaking authoritatively through a megaphone: "Villagers of Dazhang Village, listen up! You have illegally gathered without the permission of the public security department, blocked traffic, and disrupted social order, violating the law. On behalf of the municipal public security department, I order you all to disperse now and leave the main road, or you will be immediately detained and sentenced!"
As Deputy Director Jiang spoke, fully armed riot police and armed police rushed to the villagers blocking the road, forcibly dispersing them. Anyone who dared to resist was immediately handcuffed and thrown onto trucks. The villagers on the road were terrified and in chaos. With the old village secretary gone, the villagers lacked organization and were like a pile of loose sand. The armed police quickly cleared a path, and the main road was immediately unobstructed.

Seeing this scene, the old Party Secretary Zhang Yunhui trembled with rage and tried his best to rush onto the road. The middle-aged farmers following him were frightened and tried to stop him.

"Grandpa, please don't go. You don't realize the seriousness of this matter. Let the villagers go home; there's time to resolve the problem later."

"No, no, I need to find someone to reason with. I refuse to believe there's no place in the world where we common folk can seek justice."

Chang Yuze recognized this phrase very well; it seemed like everyone who petitioned said the same thing.

The old Party Secretary finally rushed forward, but before he could even get close, Ma Sanchun and several policemen stopped him, restrained him and the farmers beside him, and escorted them to the city bureau leaders. Zhang Yunhui was the organizer of this heinous incident, so the city bureau naturally wouldn't let him off easily. They shoved him and the middle-aged farmers into a large truck and kept them under tight control.

Soon, the tough guys blocking the road were all escorted away in police cars, and the timid villagers fled in fear. The police cars and trucks drove away, and Yingbin Avenue returned to its clean, wide, and unobstructed state.

Chang Yuze felt a pang of disappointment. Some problems still needed to be properly addressed by the government; relying solely on coercive measures would only create more and bigger problems. He realized that the number of petitioners going to Beijing had been increasing year by year, and this was closely related to the attitude and methods of local governments in handling issues.

Police Chief Liu Fengdong also arrived at the scene, but he remained seated in a police car. He witnessed the resolution of the incident and praised Chang Yuze, saying he had made a significant contribution. He claimed that Chang Yuze had preemptively removed the planners and organizers of the villagers blocking the road, thus decoyling the unruly villagers and allowing the police to resolve the problem smoothly without causing major trouble.

Chang Yuze knew perfectly well that the chief had only summoned him and praised him to give him some exposure; he had no real expectation that Chang Yuze would solve the problem. The armed police and other officers were the chief's trusted forces.

Chang Xianyi saw things clearly and whispered a reminder to his son, "Don't be too long-winded in your work in the future; be decisive when necessary."

Chang Yuze nodded in agreement, but in his heart, he thought, if the problem could be resolved through negotiation, why resort to force?

The villagers who had been causing trouble dispersed, and the welcoming team organized by the county government arrived. Some middle-aged and elderly people, along with many primary school students, stood in two rows on the welcoming avenue, each holding a small colorful flag, waving and welcoming the approaching leaders.

Several performance teams also arrived, with the sound of gongs and drums filling the air, and the Huoshentai Scenic Area was once again filled with laughter and joy. The tense atmosphere caused by the police-civilian standoff had long since dissipated. Chang Yuze's mother, Song Lamei, also came to perform with the elderly dance team. These elderly women, wearing bright red flowers in their hair and bright red clothes, with their faces painted rouge, danced freely in front of the Huoshentai square, old yet graceful and adorable.

The celebration ended, and the leaders were seen off.

Chang Yuze drove his parents home, hoping to have a comfortable lunch at their house.

"What a waste of money and resources! If you're coming to inspect, just come. Why bring all these people, young and old, to support you?" Song Lamei, true to her straightforward nature, said what she thought.

"You wouldn't have come, would you? Nobody invited you," Chang Yuxianyi retorted, dissatisfied with his wife's attitude.

“How could I not come? Our senior citizens’ dance troupe is registered with the county dance association. The county leaders said that it's a sign of respect for us that the bigwigs are coming to inspect our county, and if we don't perform well, it's disrespectful to the leaders. If we old women don't go to Huoshentai and dance a bit, if we don't cheer them on, it's not responding to the government's call.” Song Lamei twisted her sore neck and said unhappily, “Hmph, it would have been better if those farmers had blocked the road earlier, so as not to cause any trouble. The leaders from above came down to inspect the people's conditions and want to hear what the people have to say. Now, these officials have driven away all the honest people, leaving only those who flatter the leaders.”
“Can’t you watch your mouth? We’re saying this in the car, no one can hear us, but if outsiders hear us, you’ll be committing a serious offense.”

"Hmph, don't try to scare me with your nonsense, especially the common people. Why is it that people's land is requisitioned so easily, and their houses are demolished so readily?

A few days ago, an old friend of mine cried to me for ages, saying her son had only been working for a few days and was about to be laid off. A relative of hers owns a house on Wenming Street, and the town of Chengguan is going to develop it, so her relative's house has to be demolished. Fine, they negotiated a price with the homeowners, and they agreed on the compensation. If anyone disagreed, they would cause trouble. But the Chengguan town government is different. They won't negotiate the compensation, and they have a deadline for demolition. If anyone doesn't demolish on time, that family and all their relatives will suffer. Anyone with a job will be laid off if their house isn't demolished! My friend has been pulling strings for her son for years, and he just got a job at the statistics bureau. He hasn't even settled in yet, and now they're going to lay him off. What kind of law is this? If one family doesn't demolish, their whole family loses their jobs. The officials who invented this policy should be sentenced!"

“Actually, this is the government’s only option. If the people don’t support the county’s development, how can the roads in the county town be widened, and how can the county’s development zone be established? If the city doesn’t develop, the people won’t have any money in their pockets, and you’ll just get poorer and poorer if you’re stuck with an old house.”

“Urban development can’t just arbitrarily harm the interests of the people. Forget it, you’re such a stubborn old man, I’m not going to talk to you anymore. Anyway, if this happened to me, you can’t demolish my house! My son was born in this house, and I’ve been taking care of this house since he was born. It’s decades of affection, it’s an old house, I have feelings for it, and I want to live here for the rest of my life. I won’t sell my old house no matter how much money you offer.”

Chang Yuze drove quietly, listening to his parents bickering. He was happy. His mother talked a lot and spoke quickly. When his parents bickered, his father always gave in first, otherwise his mother would keep nagging. Actually, his father wasn’t a very rigid person; he just wanted to make her laugh. As a child, Chang Yuze always found his mother's nagging annoying, but now it sounded very pleasant. Was this a sign of maturity, becoming more nostalgic?

When he heard his mother say she was old, Chang Yuze finally couldn't help but speak up. He couldn't allow his mother to grow old, let alone talk about getting old; it only made him more sad. He interrupted his mother, saying, "Mom, you're not allowed to say you're old. You'll always be my most beautiful mother. In two years, after Dad retires, you and Dad will move to the city, and I want to see you every day. Mom's hand-pulled noodles are the best."

"We'll talk about that later. Your grandma is used to living with us; she won't go anywhere. I have to see your grandma off before I can go out."

Right, there's also Grandma. Why did Mom bring up old age again? Grandma will definitely live a long life, and Mom will always be healthy and cheerful, living until he no longer misses them. But how can he sever that family bond? Even in his old age, he will never forget the love his mother and grandmother gave him.

“Bring Grandma over too. You all live in the city, so Lulu can see you every day. Grandma loves Lulu the most, doesn't she?”

“Thank you, son. Hearing you say that makes me so happy. You know, you are my greatest pride. Even though I can't see you, just thinking of your name makes me happy every day. You're sensible, polite, considerate, and successful—far better than your father. When your father was your age, he was just a junior policeman at the station, always running around after the station chief. He never got the good stuff, but always took the blame.”

“Sure, I wasn't a junior policeman back then; I was a counselor.”

"Hmph, don't you know how shameful it is to say that you're a counselor? Compared to our son, your official hat is barely bigger than a sesame seed. Yuze, don't get cocky when Mom praises you. No matter how high or low your official position is, in Mom's eyes you're still my good son. Actually, Mom doesn't expect you to get a high position, as long as you're happy. Yuze, I know Xiaohong has set some rules for you: no smoking, drink less alcohol, no gambling, no whoring. Isn't that great? Xiaohong is such a good wife. Mom also has three requirements for you. Are you willing to listen to Mom?" "

Of course I'll listen to what Mom says."
"Then tell me: First, you can't embezzle, you can't accept bribes, and you can't be a bad official. I know there are many rules in officialdom. We don't accept gifts, but we can give gifts. We should give gifts when appropriate, but we can't buy our way into office. We should do what we can afford. Second, you can't bully ordinary people."

Chang Yuze immediately interrupted his mother: "Mom, look at what you're saying. I'm not some big official. Even if I were to bully ordinary people, it wouldn't be my place."

"No, Mom is right. You might think you're not much of an official at work, but do you know, in the eyes of the common people, you're a high-ranking official, wearing a police hat and uniform, all powerful and imposing, able to arrest and beat whomever you want. Do you know how much the people on the streets resent the police these days? They say the police and criminals are in cahoots, and the police are worse than thieves. They tell all sorts of stories about people dying from drinking water, dying from showering, dying from playing hide-and-seek—there are so many stories making fun of the police. I know most police officers are good cops, like sons to me; only a very small number of scoundrels do bad things. But people tend to overlook the good things." "They can remember bad things for a lifetime after just one glance. Sometimes, it's not that the police are inherently bad; they are there to serve the people. But some officers don't pay attention to their methods. They could resolve things calmly, but they insist on using forceful methods. Ultimately, the problem is still solved, but because the method used is different, the nature of the problem changes. What was originally a good deed becomes a bad one. You must never be like your father. His generation didn't like to use their brains to solve problems. They just glared, yelled, and swung their handcuffs around loudly. You haven't seen how pitiful ordinary people are in front of the police."

"Sigh, sigh, why are you belittling me again? That's how society used to be; you couldn't get anything done without coercive measures. Now it's different. Policies are moving in a positive direction, people-oriented, with humane management. Our police enforcement methods are also keeping pace with the times."

"Alright, you've accepted my words humbly. I'm saying this for your own good. Your chief doesn't criticize you because he knows you're about to retire; whether you do a good job or a bad one, there's not much of a future. Our son is different; he's an excellent young cadre with a bright future. Society is developing, people's quality of life is improving, and your understanding is also rising. People nowadays not only want to live well, but also with dignity. I think a harmonious society is one where everyone has dignity. Therefore, the police can no longer treat ordinary people like cats and dogs, treating them like they're not human. I believe my son will be a good official, a police officer who cares for the people. Because my son knows how to be filial to his parents and respect his elders; a filial person will also care for others."

"Mom, don't worry, your son won't bring shame to your family."

"I absolutely believe in my son on this point. Now, let me give you a third request: you can't keep mistresses. Xiaohong is a wonderful daughter-in-law. Her father is a hospital director; she's a genuine daughter of an official, but she has no airs whatsoever. Every time she visits, she makes sure I'm comfortable. I don't have a daughter, but Xiaohong cares for me even more than a daughter would. Your grandmother adores Xiaohong; she misses her terribly if she doesn't see her for a few days. Society is so flashy these days. Some men have low morals; once they have a little money and power, they don't know their place and keep mistresses, making society a mess. I hate that kind of thing the most. You don't know, but let me tell you something: when your father was young, he also wanted to be flashy and hooked up with some shady women in the village. I was furious back then. If it weren't for the fact that you're still young, I would have divorced him long ago."

"Wife, don't bring up things you don't want to talk about. That's all old news; why are you still bringing it up?"

"Hmph, you forget so quickly, but I'll remember this for a lifetime. You men don't understand, this is the kind of thing women hate most—keeping the home fires burning while having affairs on the side! Bah! You wish! If you dare to find another woman, I'll divorce you tomorrow. Anyway, our son is all grown up and successful now. I'll be happier without you."

"Stop, stop! You old woman, why are you talking such nonsense? You're making things sound so far-fetched. You're talking about our son, why are you trying to drag me into it?"

"Yes, I was saying this to my son. Yuze, I support you in everything, except for this. Xiaohong loves you so much and is so filial to me. If you betray her, you betray me. If I get angry, I might accept Xiaohong as my daughter-in-law but not you as my son."

"Mom, how can you talk like that!" Chang Yuze pulled the car over to the side of the road and stopped steadily. He felt a dull ache in his heart, an indescribable sorrow. His wife's infidelity might not be the most heartbreaking thing for him; it would be for his mother. Xiaohong had always been so perfect in her mother's eyes, and his mother loved her so much. His mother was cheerful and optimistic, always smiling and laughing. Because she lived happily, she looked young and didn't age easily. If his wife's infidelity was exposed, the perfect image of his daughter-in-law in his mother's heart would crumble. His mother would be heartbroken and cry all day long. How could he face his mother? How could he comfort her?
"Yuze, you look so pale, are you alright?" Chang Xianyi asked with concern, then turned and scolded his wife, "Why are you getting more and more gossipy as you get older? Yuze and Xiaohong are doing just fine, why are you saying he's wronged her and wronged you? Aren't you cursing him?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mom is probably just getting old, I can't keep my true feelings to myself anymore. Yuze, Mom apologizes to you, don't take it to heart, Mom believes in you. Yuze, let me tell you another nice request." Song Lamei leaned forward, close to her son's ear, and said affectionately, "Your father and I both hope you and Xiaohong will have another child, preferably a grandson. Mom isn't old-fashioned, it's not that I don't like Lulu, I only have this one precious granddaughter, who else would I like if I didn't like Lulu? It's just that as women get older, they all want to see..." The little grandson was running around playing in front of him. "I heard that the policies in other places have been relaxed, and couples like you and Xiaohong, who are both only children, can have a second child. Wouldn't it be great if you and Xiaohong had another boy, making a boy and a girl? Even a girl would be fine. Then your dad and I would move to the city to help you take care of the children. Lulu will be taken care of by her maternal grandparents, and your dad and I will look after the little one."

Chang Yuze suddenly felt that his father was truly a great man; how had he endured his mother's endless nagging for decades? Chang Yuze didn't speak, restarted the car, and slowly drove home. He felt as if the four wheels were wading through mud, each turn incredibly difficult. (

Volume Four: Anger)

Chang Yuze and his wife went to pick up Lulu from kindergarten; he had promised his daughter he would take her to McDonald's that evening.

Since the kindergarten tragedy in Nanping, Fujian, security at school gates has been significantly strengthened, especially at regular kindergartens. Security guards are stationed on duty, strictly checking adult men approaching the campus, implementing a card-swipe system, allowing only one parent to enter at a time, and noticeably increasing the number of men dropping off and picking up their children.

After the tragedy, Chang Yuze learned the details through an internal Ministry of Public Security report. His first feeling was extreme anger; he wanted to immediately sentence that beast to death and kill him with his own hands. Was such a cruel person even human? No matter how deep the hatred, one should not lay a hand on children. Look at the innocent and lovely smiles of these children; even a butcher couldn't bring himself to do it!

Chang Yuze came directly from his unit, without even changing out of his police uniform. He and his wife entered the school gate without swiping their cards. The children saluted him, saying, "Hello, Uncle." Chang Yuze smiled and responded, "Hello, children." Seeing the children's respectful and admiring gazes, Chang Yuze felt a warmth in his heart. In times of crisis, the police are the closest.

Lulu was in Class 1, on the first floor of the school. At that moment, Teacher Ren was standing at the classroom door talking to several parents. The children inside craned their necks, looking out like chicks who had been cooped up for too long, eager to run out and find their parents.

Chang Yuze spotted his daughter immediately; she was also excitedly looking out, still not seeing her parents.

Just as Chang Yuze was about to sneak over to surprise his daughter, Zhang Feng's phone rang. Chang Yuze had to send his wife to pick up their daughter first, and he slipped downstairs to answer the call.

"Brother, something's up!" Zhang Feng said excitedly, "I saw Xu Na go into the old man's office. Why is she going into his office after work instead of going home? Looking for a seduce?"

Chang Yuze suddenly felt a chill. Although he knew she was Zheng Weihua's mistress, and that she would often sleep with him, hearing that she was fooling around in the old lecher's office still filled him with inexplicable fear and unease.

"Ah, she's in! She's really in! That damn old man dragged Xu Na into the little room. I saw Xu Na seemed to be smiling; maybe she's getting horny. Damn, the old man picked up that slut, and her breasts were pressed against his face. Damn, the old man was going to rape Xu Na; he picked her up and threw her onto the bed, without even taking off her shoes. Ah, the old man pounced on her. I washed Xu Na's feet; that slut's thighs were so white and tender. I'd only ever looked, never dared to touch them. That old man is so lucky; he grabbed her big white feet and pinched and squeezed them, spreading her white thighs apart in one go! Ah, such a good hole, all fucking fucked by dogs!"

The wife had already led her daughter out of the classroom. Lulu saw her father and happily ran towards him.
"Call back later, I have to go now." Chang Yuze hung up the phone, immediately put on a smile, took a few quick steps towards his daughter, bent down to pick her up, and kept kissing her cheeks. "Baby, Daddy's here to pick you up, aren't you happy?"

"Happy!" Lulu gave him a big kiss on the cheek and said sweetly, "I want McDonald's, Daddy has to keep his word."

"When has Daddy ever broken his word? I'm taking you now, aren't I?"

Lulu held her father's hand with one hand and her mother's hand with the other, skipping and hopping towards the school gate. When she saw familiar children, she would proudly introduce them: "This is my dad." Because her dad was wearing a police uniform.

His wife frequently greeted the parents of the other children, while Chang Yuze didn't pick up his daughter very often, so he knew fewer people. The family of three undoubtedly received the most attention on campus, because of his conspicuous police uniform, because of her outstanding temperament, and because of little Lulu's beautiful and lovely appearance. Without exception, all the gazes were friendly, approving, and envious.

As they walked out of the kindergarten gate, Chang Yuze glanced back and casually asked his wife, "Didn't you say that Xu Na often comes to pick up her son from school with you? Why haven't I seen her today?"

Xu Na's son, Chen Sheng, was in the same school as Lulu, in the senior class.

Xu Hong replied without turning her head, "Sometimes she comes, sometimes she doesn't. She's probably at the gym tonight."

"See? She went to the gym without even calling you. Don't you two often go together?"

"I told her I was going to take Lulu to McDonald's with you tonight. It's rare that you're free tonight."

"Lulu really likes playing with her son, so let's call her. It'll be more lively with more kids." Chang Yuze then turned to his daughter and coaxed, "Lulu, do you want to play with Chen Sheng?"

Lulu immediately replied happily, "Yes, Mom! Ask Aunt Xu Na to bring Chen Sheng over."

"Okay, I'll ask her." Xu Hong dialed Xu Na's number.

Chang Yuze subtly leaned closer, listening intently.

"Xu Hong, what's up?"

"Didn't you pick up Chen Sheng today?"

"His grandma picked him up. Oh, is something wrong?" Xu Na's voice trembled slightly on the phone.

"Tonight, Yuze and I are taking Lulu to McDonald's. We wanted Chen Sheng to come along."

"Ah!" Xu Na's voice suddenly rose a little. "Junk food, you should eat less of it."

"You say junk food, but I haven't seen you eat less of it."

"We're adults, of course it's different, oh." Xu Na's voice became a little rapid; even Chang Yuze could hear her heavy nasal tone. She didn't hang up the phone.

"What are you doing? You're breathing like a cow?"
"Working out, huh? Exercising, working up a sweat, feels great! Come on over, okay?"

"Well, you enjoy yourself then, I'm busy, bye." Xu Hong casually hung up the phone, her expression indifferent.

His wife and Xu Na were truly best friends; their cover-up was flawless. They said they were going to the gym, but they never changed their excuse—they were actually working out in that old lecher's bed! Chang Yuze was extremely annoyed, even wanting to explode on the spot. That old lecher was playing with another woman, not his wife, but why was his inner turmoil uncontrollably agitated?

"Daddy, isn't Brother Chen Sheng coming? Let's go, my stomach's talking." Lulu pulled her father's hand, looking up at him eagerly with her little face.

"What's your tummy saying?"

"It's saying, 'Hurry up and go to McDonald's, hurry up and go to McDonald's! I'm starving! I want a hamburger, I want fries, and a big cup of ice cream!'"

At such a young age, she'd already learned to be cunning. Looking at his daughter's perfectly convincing expression, Chang Yuze and his wife couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Let's go! Of course, we'll go now! Don't let our little tummy get hungry!"

Chang Yuze suddenly felt relieved. Nothing could affect his daughter's mood; he wanted her to have a happy night. He immediately drove his wife and daughter to McDonald's.

Zhang Feng called again: "Brother, can you come over and take a look? It looks even more exciting than those yellow ribbons. That old bastard really knows how to have fun. He's crawling under Xu Na, nibbling away like a dog gnawing on a bone. Xu Na is pretty, fair-skinned, her lower body must be fragrant and sweet. That old man has quite the appetite!"

Chang Yuze immediately hung up: "I'm driving. I'll call again later."

McDonald's is always a paradise for children. As soon as Lulu entered McDonald's, she went straight to the children's play area, took off her shoes, jumped in, and started playing with the kids inside.

Chang Yuze went to order food, while his wife watched over Lulu.

It was peak dining time, and several long lines formed in front of the counter. Chang Yuze stood in the line, waiting patiently. Many people's eyes kept glancing at him. Chang Yuze regretted not changing out of his police uniform; the public cared too much about the police, even a policeman eating McDonald's would attract attention.

Zhang Feng called again: "Now, it's all turned upside down! A bunch of sluts are licking an old man! The old man is standing, and the sluts are kneeling in front of him, loosening his belt, taking off his pants. My goodness, that's a human thing, isn't it? It's black, thick, and long, like a donkey's! What did the old man eat to grow it like that?! Ah, guess where Xu Na is licking the old man's thing? She's licking his big guy!"

"Sir, what would you like to order?" the McDonald's cashier asked with a smile.

"Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish, and a Big Mac."

"A Big Mac? Dude, you're something else! That old man's thing is a Big Mac, and that slut even wants to swallow it! Aren't you afraid of piercing her throat?"

Chang Yuze was on the phone with Zhang Feng while ordering from the cashier. Zhang Feng overheard his words and casually chimed in, making him feel disgusted. He immediately hung up on Zhang Feng and told the cashier, "No Big Mac, get a beef burger instead."

There were so many customers that it took about ten minutes for all the food to be prepared. The family of three ate at McDonald's. Chang Yuze ate while playing with his daughter, a warm and joyful scene.
A large cup of sundae ice cream was being fought over by his wife and daughter, but his daughter held the small spoon, acting as the little master of distributing the ice cream. To get some ice cream, the wife deliberately begged her daughter, leaning over across the table and pouting, saying in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Baby, let Mommy have a bite, just a little bit."

"Mommy can only have a tiny spoonful," Lulu said, scooping up a little ice cream with her spoon and mischievously smearing some egg yolk on her mother's lips.

The wife stuck out her pink tongue and licked her red lips, saying in a sweet voice, "So delicious! Give Mommy another bite!"

The wife was beautiful, and her coquettishness was incredibly alluring. If she hadn't kept her voice down, only her daughter and husband could hear it; any other man would have been instantly smitten.

Watching his wife and daughter's adorable antics, Chang Yuze felt both relieved and heartbroken. Relieved that his daughter was so happy, but heartbroken that this wonderful life was probably gone forever.

Zhang Feng called again: "Brother, it's starting! It's starting! The old man's really going all out! His thing is even more powerful than a well drill, drilling deep and hard. Every time he drills, Xu Na's big boobs jiggle. Water's coming out! Water's coming out! The old man's black thing is covered in white foam."

Lulu fed her mother another bite of ice cream, and mischievously smeared egg yolk on her mother's lips. The wife then began her irresistibly charming licking motion.

Zhang Feng continued his excited description on the phone: "That white foam really looks like egg yolk, all white, just like the cake I've eaten. Ah, that slut Xu Na is eating all that egg yolk, ha, she's eating it with her little mouth down there."

Chang Yuze was just watching his wife stretch out her tongue and try to lick a small piece of white egg yolk left on the corner of her mouth. He immediately thought of Zhang Feng's words and almost vomited. He quickly pulled out a napkin and wiped the cream off his wife's face first, angrily saying, "What kind of behavior is this, licking like that? Don't spoil the child!"

He casually hung up Zhang Feng's disgusting phone call. He wanted to have a happy dinner with his daughter.

Zhang Feng seemed very excited. He called back immediately after hanging up: "That old man is a real bastard! He fucked Xu Na from behind. The slut was kneeling on the bed, and the old man was standing below, grabbing her ass and fucking her hard. The slut's naked body was all white, and the old man was all dark-skinned. They were like a big black dog fucking a little white dog. Hehe, when I was a kid, I loved watching dogs sticking their balls together. When two dogs were fucking, they were so tightly connected, you couldn't even break them apart with a stick."

"Is that all? I'm hanging up," Chang Yuze said, not wanting to disturb his daughter's interest, and was about to hang up.

Xu Hong asked him, "Honey, is there anything else at work? I've seen you answering the phone every few minutes."

Chang Yuze covered up, saying, "Ha, isn't it all the same stuff at the bureau? Tonight, Xiao Zhang is interrogating a suspect, a repeat offender, and the chief told me to keep an eye on him." "

Which Xiao Zhang? Aren't you not in charge of interrogations?"

"Xiao Zhang is new, you don't know him. It's not really my business, but the chief insisted I keep an eye on him secretly, so I had no choice."

"If you're busy, let's finish eating early, then you can go back to the bureau to handle it."

“No rush, it’s rare to bring Lulu to McDonald’s. As long as our daughter is having fun, we can take as long as we want.” Chang Yuze then pretended to be serious and said to Zhang Feng, “Xiao Zhang, take your time with the interrogation. If the old man keeps repeating the same old tricks, you don’t need to report to me. But if he comes up with something new, report to me immediately.”

Zhang Feng seemed to sense that Chang Yuze was having trouble speaking and immediately replied, “Don’t worry, boss, I’ll film all of the old man’s tricks, not missing a single one. I didn’t realize the old man was such a pro, he has so many tricks up his sleeve, that slut was having a blast.”
The phone finally quieted down for a few minutes, and Chang Yuze happily enjoyed his burger.

Zhang Feng called again: "Brother, the old man's got a new trick up his sleeve, a high-difficulty move, his ultimate move. He's sitting on the bed, pulling that slut into his arms, face to face, breasts to breasts, poking her down there, kissing her up there. This move is insane! He's poking her for ten minutes straight without changing positions, and the slut's having a blast, shaking her head like a rattle-drum, clinging to his neck and refusing to let go. What's this move called? Ha, 'Old Monk Embracing Little Nun,' one a slut, the other a slut!"

"Keep the interrogation going, we'll talk if there's anything new."

The phone finally went quiet for a while, not ringing for about twenty minutes.

The three of them finally finished their dinner, but Lulu was still craving more and kept asking to go upstairs to play. This McDonald's was on the first floor of the New Market Department Store; there was a children's playground on the sixth floor, which Lulu had been to twice before and wanted to go again tonight.

Zhang Feng's phone rang again, and his weak voice came through: "It's over, big brother."

It had been over an hour since he picked Lulu up; Zheng Weihua and Xu Na's workout should have been over by now. The old man was getting on in years; it was already quite impressive that he could last an hour.

"That's good. Save the record, I'll check it when I get back to work tomorrow."

"No, brother, I meant I'm done for, I can't take it anymore. That old man's trick is fucking amazing! He's still in the same position, slowly thrusting into that slut. She's long since given up, her head's stopped shaking, her breasts' stopped swaying, her head's drooping on his shoulder like a dead dog. I've heard some monks are so skilled they can meditate for a whole day and night. I think the old man doesn't want to eat anymore, he's already full."

"You're exaggerating. The old man's so old, he couldn't possibly last that long. He should have given up long ago."

"You don't know until you see it, and then you're shocked. I always thought I was a master, able to hold my own for an hour or two without breaking a sweat, but after seeing this old man, I realized there really are masters in the world. He can hold one move for over half an hour, and it doesn't even seem like much. If he changes a few more techniques, it could easily go on for another hour."

Seeing Chang Yuze constantly on the phone, Xu Hong assumed he had something urgent at the station, so she didn't grant her daughter's request and took her home early. She then urged

Chang Yuze to go back to the station first, to make sure he handled the tasks assigned by his superiors. Chang Yuze had no choice but to leave disappointed and drive his wife and daughter home. Zhang Feng's incessant phone calls completely ruined Chang Yuze's pleasant mood with his daughter, replaced by a growing sense of frustration and irritability that could explode at the slightest spark.

Chang Yuze turned on the car stereo, selecting only soft, soothing music. This wasn't what he wanted to hear; he wanted to listen to heart-wrenching rock or rousing jazz. But this was his wife's car, and she preferred elegant, soothing piano music. He casually turned off the stereo and drove off in silence.

Halfway through the journey, Zhang Feng called again: "Brother, the old man's matter is settled, but the camera seems to be malfunctioning. A little red light keeps flashing."

Chang Yuze asked impatiently, "What does it say?"

"It says the memory is full."

Impossible. Chang Yuze's first thought was that Zhang Feng had made a mistake and broken it. This camera had over 90 gigabytes of storage; normally, it wouldn't need replacing for ten days or half a month. He had already cleared the memory before giving it to Zhang Feng. Zhang Feng had only been using it for a few days, dealing with the tiny place of the Banking Regulatory Bureau; it was impossible for him to have used up all the memory. Chang Yuze calmly said, "Those are all high-tech devices from the bureau. If you don't know how to use them, don't touch them. I'll go to the office tomorrow to take a look. Xiao Zhang, thank you for your help tonight. Go out and get something to eat, and get some rest."
"Okay, brother."

Back home, Chang Yuze's frustration and irritability remained unresolved. He had no desire to tell his daughter a story. He sat alone on the sofa in the living room, made a cup of tea, and quietly watched the news channel, his mind churning with a myriad of chaotic and complex thoughts.

He had no special relationship with Xu Na, so why was he so concerned about Xu Na's affair with Zheng Weihua? Why hadn't he felt this anxious when he witnessed Zheng Weihua's affair with Zhao Ying and others before? Fear, yes, he was afraid—afraid of the impending, devastating storm.

Xu Na and Xu Hong were best friends. Xu Na had fallen for Zheng Weihua in his office today; tomorrow, it was likely Xu Hong's turn to make a grand entrance. To him, tonight was just the calm before the storm; his wife's performance was the most violent storm yet.

Previously, he had observed the old lecher's affairs with women like Zhao Ying, and Zhang Feng had observed his affairs with Xu Hong. At least these were at night, in their respective homes, and at reasonable times and places. But tonight, Xu Na's lewd behavior had crossed the line of a rendezvous, or rather, she had broken the boundaries of what a mistress should be. From Zhang Feng's observation, the old lecher intentionally called Xu Na to his office after work and used various skillful sexual techniques to play with her to his heart's content. Rather than calling Xu Na the old lecher's mistress, it would be more accurate to say that she was his sex slave. As long as her master had sexual desires, no matter when, where, or how, the sex slave had to unconditionally satisfy her master's demands.

In life, Xu Na was so proud and so domineering; even her multi-million dollar husband was obedient and smiling in her presence. However, in front of the old lecher, she was a lowly sex slave, allowing her master to play with her in various ways.

Could it be that his rational, intelligent, and elegant wife, like Xu Na, was also a sex slave to this old lecher, who was the master of her body, able to play with and enjoy her beauty at will?

Had his wife fallen to the lowly status of a sex slave? This was a blow Chang Yuze could not bear!

Chang Yuze had no intention of listening to the CCTV commentator's wild ramblings any longer and immediately went out to find Zhang Feng. He needed to carefully study Xu Na's wanton performance tonight.

Chang Yuze went directly to the Yanbiao Hotel, rang the doorbell, and guessed that Zhang Feng was probably asleep.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

"Brother, is there something you need? I... I'm naked and asleep. If it's not urgent, I'll report to you tomorrow." Zhang Feng's answer was a little stuttering, and he hesitated to open the door, as if he was hiding something.

"Stop talking nonsense, I'm just checking if the camera is broken."

After a moment, Zhang Feng reluctantly opened the door. He was already naked, wearing only a bathrobe. He reluctantly opened the door, only to find a woman hiding in his room.

To be precise, it was an old, ugly, and fat woman with a sallow, fleshy face, wearing a gaudy short skirt, her thighs drooping in layers of fat, her hair yellow and frizzy, her large lips painted a bright red, as if she had just bitten someone, and she reeked of cheap shampoo.

Zhang Feng pushed the woman out as he opened the door.

Chang Yuze immediately understood what was going on, feeling a wave of nausea, as if he had swallowed a fly. He suddenly didn't recognize Zhang Feng. Was this still the honest, hardworking, and unassuming young man from the countryside who worked in the shop?

The fat woman glanced at Chang Yuze with her small eyes, grumbling as she shuffled out, "Young man, your price is too low. Fifty yuan for the whole set? Nobody's coming. Don't you think about how much pork prices have gone up? A pound of pork belly costs over ten yuan."
"Alright, alright, you can go now. My brother's here."

"I took a taxi, and you didn't even give me fare."

"Here, twenty, is that enough?"

"You're being surprisingly generous now. Little brother, call me again if you've made up your mind."

With a "bang," the door shut out the fat woman's raspy voice.

"What's going on!" Chang Yuze sat in a chair, staring at Zhang Feng, and asked coldly.

"Brother, it's like this, this lady..." Zhang Feng couldn't finish his sentence, lowering his head and rubbing his bare feet on the carpet.

"Hello, Xiaomin has only been gone a few days and you're already going to see prostitutes. If I had known you were this kind of person, I wouldn't have let Xiaomin find you a boyfriend."

"Brother, I'm not human, it's all my fault." Zhang Feng's body began to tremble, whether from excitement or fear, he didn't know. Then he knelt down in front of Chang Yuze and said in a low voice, "Brother, please don't tell Xiaomin, I'll change and never go to see prostitutes again."

"Sigh. Get up. A man shouldn't kneel down to just anyone." Chang Yuze sighed softly. Everyone has their own way of living. What was he to Zhang Feng? What right did he have to interfere? He was a man too, and he knew what it was like for a normal man to go months without contact with a woman. But Zhang Feng's taste was too low. That fat woman was hardly better than a scavenger picking through garbage, yet he was interested in such a woman. "Fine, you're an adult now. You have your rights. I'm just reminding you not to go too far. If you really wrong Xiaomin, don't blame me for being rude!" The last sentence was Chang Yuze's true thought. He felt that Xiaomin was as close to him as his little sister. If Zhang Feng dared to take advantage of Xiaomin and then abandon her, he would never forgive him.

Seeing that Chang Yuze's expression had softened, Zhang Feng immediately got up from the ground and said sheepishly, "Don't worry, brother, how could I dare to betray Xiaomin? I was worried she wouldn't like me. I talk to her on the phone every day now, spending over a hundred yuan on phone bills every month."

"You'd better have some self-respect. I think that woman looks like an ugly monster; she's probably not a good person. Don't let her give you any diseases."

"Don't worry, brother, this woman is a decent person. She said she doesn't usually sell herself; she has several children in school, and the expenses are high, so she has no choice but to do this. This woman is a bit ugly, but she's cheap and obedient. Aren't all women the same when they lie down, with a hole between their legs?"

"Stop talking!" Chang Yuze immediately interrupted Zhang Feng. He hadn't thought much of him before; Zhang Feng seemed so refined and honest, like a simple countryman. But after spending more time with him these past few days, he found him terribly vulgar, practically a savage from the African jungle. "What's wrong with the camera? Let me see it."

Zhang Feng opened his bag, took out the camera, and handed it to Chang Yuze.

Chang Yuze opened the camera and was immediately furious. The camera wasn't malfunctioning; the memory was indeed full. However, it was filled with all sorts of random videos Zhang Feng had taken.

Some videos were secretly filmed of the shop's employees—the pretty greeter, several female technicians, and Lu Wenfeng. The videos were blurry, suggesting Zhang Feng had been very careful while filming.

Other videos were secretly filmed of pedestrians on the street; Zhang Feng indiscriminately filmed any woman with a bit of attractiveness. Some videos were secretly filmed

of the "Five Silver Flowers" of the China Banking Regulatory Commission—in their office, on their way to and from work, and even in the restroom. Among the videos was a short clip of Xu Hong in her office, which Zhang Feng only briefly showed, seemingly intentionally avoiding her. Chang Yuze could understand; he was afraid that filming her would anger him.

There were also other meaningless videos, one of which filmed two people arguing on the street. Zhang Feng filmed this pointless thing for forty or fifty minutes, practically wasting this high-performance camera.
Zhang Feng filmed the most videos of women secretly. It seemed he had questionable taste; he liked to focus on women's buttocks and breasts. In one video, he secretly filmed a woman on the street, who was already far away and almost invisible, but he still focused on her large buttocks because they were truly spectacular.

The camera's precious 90+ gigabytes of memory were completely filled with these random videos. Chang Yuze was very unhappy, loudly scolding Zhang while deleting all the junk videos.

"I gave you this camera to do serious business, not to film random things, and certainly not for showing off. Look at what you've done! You even dared to secretly film the store employees—aren't you afraid they'll find out? And what's your interest in that stinky toilet at the Banking Regulatory Bureau? All you filmed were women relieving themselves, and the images were so blurry you couldn't even see them clearly. You even dared to film people on the street—aren't you afraid the camera lens will stick out of the window and someone will see you?"

"I was wrong, I was wrong," Zhang Feng said, bowing his head and repeatedly admitting his mistake.

Chang Yuze deleted all the junk videos, keeping only the one of Xu Na and Zheng Weihua having an affair. This was the most important video, the most valuable one in the entire camera.

Chang Yuze took a deep breath and opened the video.

It was almost time to leave work, and through the lens, he saw the Banking Regulatory Bureau employees walking out of the office building one after another.

The camera quickly pans across the offices of Xu Hong, Xu Na, and Zhou Xiaoyan. Zhou Xiaoyan's office is empty; she's already left work. Xu Hong is quickly organizing materials, then straightens her clothes, grabs her small bag, and rushes out to pick up her daughter from kindergarten. Xu Na sits at her desk, slowly and meticulously grooming her eyebrows with a small mirror.

Zheng Weihua's office is quiet; his desk is not visible, so it's unclear if he's still there. A few rays of sunset shine on the fish tank in the office, where several small fish swim leisurely.

It's time to leave work, and employees file out of the Banking Regulatory Bureau building.

All the offices in the building are empty except for Xu Na. She seems ready to leave as well, standing up, swaying her hips, and turning back to carefully check the back of her clothes for creases. She's wearing a dark gray-brown business suit; through the long slit of the suit jacket, you can see her pink tank top and her delicate, prominent collarbone.

The camera lingered on Xu Na's office, where she slowly and gracefully stretched her figure.

"If you're going to leave, hurry up and leave. Don't dawdle here and keep me from eating!"

The camera was recording automatically, and Zhang Feng's words were being recorded simultaneously.

The office phone rang. Xu Na reached for it, picked it up, and only held it to her ear briefly before putting it down, her face beaming with delight. She immediately put down the phone, grabbed her cell phone from the desk, and skipped out, her shapely hips swaying.

"Damn, is she looking for the old man?" Zhang Feng's voiceover rang out.

The camera moved quickly, fixing on Zheng Weihua's office door.

A few seconds later, the vermilion door slowly opened, and Xu Na gently walked in, her high heels snapping shut behind her. She walked lightly toward Zheng Weihua's desk, her expression a mixture of joy and longing. Unfortunately, a thin curtain obscured the window, preventing a clear view of her features, but her hurried steps clearly conveyed her excitement and desire. Soon, her figure disappeared from the camera's view; without a doubt, she had reached the old lecher's desk and thrown herself into his arms.

"Brother, something's up! I saw Xu Na go into the old man's office. Why is she going into his office after work instead of going home? Looking for a date?" Zhang Feng's voice-over rang out.

The camera switched between the office window and the suite window.
A few seconds later, through the suite window, Xu Na was seen entering, with Zheng Weihua following closely behind.

Zhang Feng's excited voice-over immediately rang out: "Ah, she's in! She really is in..."

Accompanied by Zhang Feng's voiceover, Xu Na turned around, seemingly smiling at the old lecher, her right hand making a delicate gesture as she lightly tapped his balding head. The old lecher bent down and picked Xu Na up, her full breasts pressing against his face. The camera slowly zoomed in, seemingly trying to capture a clear shot of Xu Na's large breasts. In fact, Xu Na's breasts weren't particularly prominent among the five beauties; they only appeared large because they were flattened by the old lecher's fat face. The old lecher's large face began rubbing against Xu Na's pink breasts, like a baby seeking milk. Then, the old lecher picked up Xu Na and threw her onto the large bed. Xu Na's delicate body bounced noticeably a few times on the bed, demonstrating the good elasticity of the Simmons mattress. Xu Na seemed to want to sit up, but the old lecher grabbed her two slender legs, pulled them down sharply, and then spread them apart abruptly, splitting Xu Na's long legs into a straight line. This woman exercised regularly and had excellent flexibility. The old lecher's large, greasy, black hands gripped Xu Na's snow-white thighs, seemingly pressing them down to prevent her legs from closing. Then, his massive head immediately buried itself between her legs and began licking. Due to the window sill obstructing the view, the camera couldn't see any further details, only a huge bald head moving rapidly between her two plump, white thighs, like a vampire in a horror movie devouring the blood of a living person.

After a while, Xu Na raised her head, turned her head to look, and simultaneously reached for her phone on the bed with her left hand, picking it up and holding it to her ear. It was Xu Hong calling. While talking to Xu Hong, Xu Na rubbed her right hand on the old lecher's bald head, seemingly enjoying it. The old lecher also looked up at Xu Na's phone, then pulled down her pink panties and buried his head in her genitals again, licking them.

After Xu Hong finished her call, Xu Na put down her phone as well. Her two long, snow-white legs began to flutter gently, clearly aroused by the old lecher's sucking and licking.

Zhang Feng's voice-over rang out: "Brother, can you come and take a look? It's even more exciting than those pornographic videos..."

At this moment, Chang Yuze was driving to McDonald's.

The old lecher ripped off Xu Na's skirt, took off her tank top, and pulled off her pink bra. Starting from her private parts, he licked her inner thighs, lower abdomen, and liver area, all the way down to her snow-white breasts, sucking and licking them for a long time. The camera remained fixed on Xu Na's two snow-white breasts. The video showed Zhang Feng constantly adjusting the camera's focus, seemingly trying to bring Xu Na's breasts closer for a closer look, but because of the curtain, the cherry-red tips on her nipples were never clearly visible.

Then, the old lecher stood up, seemingly saying something to Xu Na.

Xu Na obediently slid off the bed and knelt before the lecherous old man, her face directly facing his crotch. She was completely naked, like a plucked lamb. Xu Na's small hands caressed his crotch twice, loosened his belt, unzipped his zipper, and pulled down his black trousers. The old man was wearing bright red boxer briefs, with a large bulge in them. Xu Na grabbed the corner of his briefs and slowly pulled them down. A long, ugly, black thing sprang out from the red briefs, like a dark cannon barrel pointing directly at Xu Na's face. The effect of the window screen was just right, like a thin film in a Japanese film, allowing you to see the general outline, but not entirely clearly.

Xu Na's fair hands held the old man's dark "cannon barrel," and her small mouth moved closer, beginning to kiss and lick it.

Zhang Feng's excited voice-over immediately rang out: "Now, it's turned over, the slut is licking the old man..."

At this moment, Chang Yuze was ordering food at McDonald's, and his voice could be faintly heard talking to the cashier in the camera footage.

"Sir, what would you like to order?"

"Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish, and a Big Mac."

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Feng's clear voice-over rang out: "Big Mac? Brother, you're really something, the old man's thing is a Big Mac, that slut even wants to swallow it, isn't she afraid of piercing her throat!"

Actually, Zhang Feng's words were a bit exaggerated. The old lecher's thing wasn't as big as he described; it was just longer, thicker, and darker than an average person's. It was just that the effect of the window screen made the dirty thing appear larger because of the halo around it.
The old lecher and Xu Na finally began to have intercourse.

Xu Na lay on her back on the bed, her two beautiful legs spread wide, dangling over the edge. The old lecher stood beside the bed, half-lying on top of Xu Na, his buttocks thrusting as he began to penetrate her. Xu Na was like a delicate, snow-white lamb, and the old lecher was like a fat, black bear, the black bear roughly ravaging the pure white lamb.

Zhang Feng's voice-over rang out again: "Big brother, let's get going, let's get going... white foam."

At this moment, Lulu was feeding her mother ice cream.

Zhang Feng's voice-over continued: "Cream? Yes, that's a good word, big brother said it perfectly..."

This sentence disgusted Chang Yuze the most, so Chang Yuze observed very carefully. The two adulterers were engaged in close combat. When he entered, all he could see was the old lecher's fat buttocks; when he pulled out, all he could see was their dark, joined genitals. Even when the old lecher was completely withdrawn, all he could see was that dark, large, protruding penis; he couldn't see the creamy "white foam" at all?

Chang Yuze immediately questioned Zhang Feng impatiently, "You said on your phone that you saw white foam on the old man's penis, but I can't see it!"

Zhang Feng leaned closer, glanced at the camera screen, and said in surprise, "Brother, I didn't lie, I really saw it. I've heard that people who have gone to school have slightly poor eyesight, brother, are you nearsighted?"

"My eyesight has always been 1.5, I'm not nearsighted at all." Chang Yuze didn't want to nitpick; people tend to exaggerate when they're excited. Maybe Zhang Feng was too excited and just imagined things.

The video had been playing for about forty minutes, and the old man was still toying with Xu Na. The old lecher's stamina was really impressive.

Chang Yuze pressed the fast-forward button, and the video quickly showed the old lecher's signature move.

The old lecher sat cross-legged on the bed, Xu Na sat on his lap, their upper bodies embracing, their lower bodies tightly joined, using the springiness of the Simmons mattress to slowly and steadily move up and down.

Chang Yuze suddenly remembered the Play-Doh his daughter used to play with—one piece black, one piece white, the two pieces stuck together tightly, indistinguishable from one another. Now, the two people in the video were embracing so tightly, like monstrous offspring born of a freakish union. The scene looked familiar, like an evil dual cultivation technique from a martial arts film.

Zhang Feng's voice-over description was more accurate: "...face to face, boobs to boobs, poking down, kissing up...an old monk embracing a young nun, a slut and a whore!"

The camera froze on this scene, the old lecher and Xu Na tightly embracing, slowly and rhythmically bouncing up and down.

After a while, the camera started shaking. The scene inside hadn't changed, so why was the camera shaking? Then, Zhang Feng's heavy breathing began. As his breathing became heavier, the camera shook more violently. Finally, accompanied by a low growl from Zhang Feng, "Oh!" the camera suddenly veered away from the China Banking Regulatory Commission building, quickly zooming back to a white wall. At the same time, Zhang Feng's annoyed voice could be heard: "Damn it, I ejaculated on the sheets."

Chang Yuze understood; Zhang Feng had been masturbating while watching the camera.

At this moment, Zhang Feng also realized from the sound that his shameful act had been exposed, and awkwardly explained, "This is even more obscene than porn; no one can stand it. Brother, look, your 'bubble' is bulging too." Chang

Yuze ignored Zhang Feng, but the reaction in his genitals said it all. This video was too explicit; any man who saw it would be unable to resist.

The camera was raised again, pointing at the China Banking Regulatory Commission building. The old lecher was still sitting on the bed, slowly thrusting into Xu Na. Xu Na's head no longer shook excitedly as it had at the beginning; instead, it slumped weakly against the old lecher's shoulder, as if she were asleep, or rather, as if she were dead.

Zhang Feng's voice-over rang out again, weak and listless, "It's over, big brother."

Then came a few words of conversation between him and Chang Yuze.

Then Chang Yuze drove away from McDonald's, driving on the road.

The old lecher started changing tactics; he laid Xu Na flat on the bed, pressed himself against her, and began thrusting rapidly. Xu Na lay on the bed, her two beautiful, snow-white arms limply at her sides, motionless, looking as if she were exhausted. The old lecher's movements became faster and faster, finally his buttocks rising high, and with another heavy thrust, he plunged deeply into Xu Na's body. Xu Na was awakened by his final, violent thrust, her hands tightly wrapped around the old lecher's broad back, her two pink legs raised and crossed, hooking around the old lecher's thick waist. Thus, the two were tightly joined, motionless.

The old lecher wasn't wearing a condom; he was pouring himself deep into Xu Na's body.

The following scenes showed the two cleaning up the mess; Xu Na looked utterly exhausted, while the old lecher was still full of energy.

Finally, Zhang Feng's voice-over said, "Brother, the old man's matter is over, but the camera seems to be malfunctioning; a little red light keeps flashing."

The video ended.

Chang Yuze was deeply immersed in anxiety and sorrow. From the video, it was clear that the old lecher was truly skilled in sex and had extraordinary stamina. He had given Xu Na an unprecedented sexual experience, and Xu Na was completely conquered by him, becoming his sex slave at his beck and call. And his wife? Was she also completely conquered by the old lecher like Xu Na?

Chang Yuze felt unprecedented fear and pressure. He suddenly regretted watching this video. He brought up the delete button, preparing to delete it.

Zhang Feng saw this and immediately pleaded, "Brother, don't delete this recording. Didn't you say it was evidence? Evidence should be kept so we can sue that old bastard later."

Chang Yuze ignored him and resolutely deleted it. He saw the immense reluctance in Zhang Feng's eyes. To him, this might have been an excellent piece of pornography.

"This is Xu Na's video, not evidence against your sister-in-law. We're useless with it; it's just a nuisance. Starting tomorrow, you'll only be watching your sister-in-law all day. Don't film any other women."

"Whatever you say, brother, I'll do."

"From now on, don't film videos anymore; just take photos."

"How can that be? Videos are much better."

"Videos take up too much memory, and you might break the camera in a few days. Photos are evidence just as good, and the images might be clearer. Do you know what parts of your sister-in-law you should film as evidence?"

"I heard older people say that to judge a woman, you have to look at her buttocks and breasts. Big buttocks mean she can have children, and big breasts mean she can raise a child." "

Nonsense! I'm not telling you to find a woman or a wife; I'm telling you to capture evidence. Capture your sister-in-law's face, capture any identifiable features on her body, understand?"
"Understood, brother. I'll only film my sister-in-law's face."

Chang Yuze then taught Zhang Feng again how to adjust the focus and how to take photos. He felt exhausted. Zhang Feng sometimes seemed very clever, grasping things quickly, but other times he seemed stubborn and unable to understand. Fortunately, he was quite conscientious, never lazy or shirking his duties; whatever he was asked to do, he could generally complete it flawlessly.

A leader from the provincial department arrived.

Normally, when a provincial leader came to inspect the municipal bureau, the bureau would make some preparations in advance, at least putting up a red banner at the entrance and placing some flowers in front of the building as a welcoming ceremony. However, this provincial leader arrived quietly, and the bureau did not make any welcoming activities. It wasn't that the municipal bureau was unaware of the visit; in fact, when this provincial leader was preparing to come, Director Liu Fengdong already knew. The reason he didn't arrange a welcoming ceremony was because he knew who the visitor was and what kind of temperament he had.

The visitor was Fan Li, a female colleague, the director of the Seventh Division of the Provincial Department, who came to investigate the disciplinary violations of Chen Jiahao, the director of the Suinan County Public Security Bureau. The Seventh Division of the Public Security Bureau is a newly established department within the provincial department, primarily responsible for handling internal corruption cases. It wields immense power, essentially a combination of the functions of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Anti-Corruption Bureau. While this division isn't publicly visible on the Public Security Bureau's website, those within the system know it and privately refer to it

as the "Anti-Corruption Agency." Generally, the Seventh Division only handles cases of disciplinary violations and corruption by leaders of municipal-level or higher public security bureaus. It rarely involves lower-level county-level public security bureau chiefs. The fact that the head of the Seventh Division personally investigated Chen Jiahao's case demonstrates the provincial department's high regard for it. Fan Li is known for her coldness and iron-fisted approach. She has personally dealt with several municipal-level public security bureau leaders, showing no mercy. No public security bureau chief she targets escapes unscathed; the worst outcome is dismissal, and the most severe sentence is a suspended death sentence. Her ruthless approach stems not only from the support of provincial leaders and her own impartiality but also from her powerful background: her father and father-in-law are both provincial-level leaders. Her father had served in the provincial government for many years, and some of the younger department-level officials in the province were promoted by him. Therefore, she was well-connected not only within the Public Security Bureau but also throughout the province. Her husband was not in politics but in business; he is now the owner of a well-known real estate company in China, primarily operating in Beijing.

Therefore, Fan Li's arrival with her team drew Liu Fengdong's serious attention. He cancelled all meetings and activities of the municipal party committee and government to fully cooperate with Fan Li's investigation. Liu Fengdong summoned Chang Yuze and Secretary Zhou, who was in charge of the discipline inspection work at the municipal bureau, to his office. He briefly explained the arrival of the provincial investigation team and instructed them to cooperate fully with the team and report any developments promptly. After giving his instructions, Liu Fengdong led the two into a small conference room, where the provincial investigation team was already present.

In the small conference room sat a three-person investigation team, led by Fan Li, the head of the Seventh Division, a figure feared by corrupt police officers. She was about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, with excellent complexion, her face as smooth and fair as a young girl's. She wore light makeup, and her long, thin, dark eyebrows were slightly arched, adding a touch of heroic spirit to her cool beauty. A black wig pulled her long hair back, displaying the dignified and serene demeanor of a mature woman. She wore a brand-new, fitted summer police uniform, with several shining stars and three four-pointed star flowers on her epaulets, clearly indicating her rank as a First-Class Police Inspector. Her entourage consisted of a young man and a young woman, Zhang and Zhao. Like leader, like subordinate; Fan Li possessed outstanding charisma, and her two entourage were also handsome and beautiful.

Introduced by Liu Fengdong, Chang Yuze and Secretary Zhou shook hands with Fan Li and her two companions. Fan Li's hands were small, with long, white fingers painted with light nail polish. A small, faint stain of smoky color lingered on the first joint of her middle finger—a trace of smoking. If her small hands were a piece of white jade, this tiny stain would be a minor flaw.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Fan Li got straight to the point: "Director Liu, we're heading to Suinan County now. We'll return to the city for the night. I'll trouble you with the accommodations

, Director Liu." "The accommodations have already been arranged; we'll stay at the Jindu Hotel. Isn't it too hasty to go now? Director Fan, you must be tired after driving for several hours. Go to the hotel to rest first, have lunch, and then go in the afternoon."

"It's alright, I already had a nap in the car. I'm a woman; I know sleep is very important for beauty, haha." Fan Li smiled calmly, beautiful as she was, but her coldness remained undiminished. "How's the progress in Suinan County? The leaders didn't give me many days; I need to finish as soon as possible and get back."

Liu Fengdong asked Secretary Zhou to give a briefing on the situation in Suinan County.

Secretary Zhou opened the meeting notebook and read aloud the Bureau Committee's opinion on the handling of the Suinan County Public Security Bureau Chief.

When Fan Li heard that Yan Fang was suspended from duty at home awaiting investigation, while Chen Jiahao was still in charge of the Suinan County Public Security Bureau, she asked somewhat displeasedly, "Yan Fang's husband reported Chen Jiahao for raping Yan Fang. Why is Yan Fang suspended from duty at home while the suspect Chen Jiahao continues to preside over the work? We cannot discriminate based on official rank. What is your Municipal Bureau's view on this?"
Secretary Zhou was a little nervous. He knew this Director of the Seventh Division was difficult to deal with, but now that he had met him, he realized he was even more difficult than he had imagined. He glanced at Liu Fengdong, and seeing that he didn't react, he explained with a forced smile, "Our municipal bureau takes Chen Jun's report on Director Chen very seriously. As soon as we received the instructions from the provincial department, we immediately launched an investigation, but we haven't come out with any results yet. Considering that the investigation results are not yet available and it cannot be confirmed that Chen Jiahao has violated any regulations or laws, suspending him from his post rashly would dampen the enthusiasm of his colleagues. Furthermore, the work of the Suinan County Public Security Bureau also needs someone to take charge, so we have temporarily allowed Chen Jiahao to remain in his post to take charge of the work. As for Comrade Yan Fang, she voluntarily stopped coming to work."

“Chen Jiahao is currently under investigation, a sensitive period. Regardless of whether he has violated discipline or the law, he should recuse himself from the investigation. If Chen Jiahao is still in charge of the work as bureau chief, which of his subordinates would dare to speak up? The municipal bureau has so many cadres, can't we even find someone to temporarily replace him?”

Seeing Fan Li’s unfriendly tone, Liu Fengdong immediately said, “Director Fan is right, our municipal bureau is too conservative in its considerations. I will transfer Chen Jiahao back to the municipal bureau now, to await further investigation. If it is found that he has violated discipline or the law, he will be dealt with seriously according to relevant regulations. I will send Deputy Director Sun to Suinan County to temporarily take charge of the work. Is this acceptable, Director Fan?”

Fan Li was not impressed: “My leadership instructed me to come to Guide this time. Chen Jiahao’s position is not high, but the nature of his actions is very serious. ” "This is egregious, with a very bad influence. It must be dealt with swiftly and severely. We absolutely cannot allow one bad apple to tarnish the image of the entire provincial police force." These were Director Lin's exact words, and I think Director Liu should understand what the leader meant. Director Liu oversees the entire public security system in Guide City; your overall perspective should be stronger than mine. You want to protect your subordinates' futures, but have they considered your needs? Don't let one county bureau affect the entire situation in Guide City. I suggest we don't say anything polite to Chen Jiahao. Instead of having him temporarily return to the city bureau, we should suspend all his work and have him stay home on standby, ready to respond to any investigation. Director Liu, what do you think?"

Chang Yuze had long known Fan Li's temperament—a tough style and swift handling of cases. Meeting her in person today, he realized this seemingly calm and collected official was more decisive than many high-ranking leaders. Her tone and decisions carried the supreme authority of the provincial department, leaving Liu Fengdong no room for negotiation.

"Just do as Director Fan instructed. I'll suspend Chen Jiahao from his work now and send him home to await further instructions." Liu Fengdong, seizing the opportunity, quickly changed the subject. A few days ago, he had also communicated with relevant leaders of the provincial department through private channels. At that time, he felt that the provincial department didn't take the matter in Suinan County too seriously. He thought that he could suppress the matter by operating internally as before, compensating the whistleblower and apologizing. He didn't expect that the provincial department would actually send the director of the Seventh Division in person. It seemed that he had to change his approach.

Fan Li then said to her subordinate, "Xiao Zhao, you and Director Liu run errands and quickly bring over the municipal bureau's handling notice. We'll take the municipal bureau's document to Suinan County. Hopefully, we can implement the requirements of the notice by this morning, and we'll start the investigation this afternoon."

Under the pressure from the provincial department, the efficiency of the municipal bureau suddenly increased several times. In less than ten minutes, the municipal bureau's handling notice for Chen Jiahao was brought to the small conference room, the ink on the bright red seal on the notice still wet.

"Thank you so much for your support, Director Liu. I'll finish the investigation as soon as possible and go back, so I don't bother you any longer." Fan Li picked up the notice and said with a smile, looking just like an insurance agent trying to sell insurance to Liu Fengdong. Seeing her boss sign the policy, she smiled sincerely and enthusiastically.

"Ha, Director Fan is a VIP in the provincial department. Normally, we can't even invite Director Fan to come. This place is just a humble temple; as long as Director Fan doesn't mind, you can stay as long as you like," Liu Fengdong agreed with a beaming smile.

Fan Li said no more, stood up, and lightly flicked the epaulette on her left shoulder, as if dust from the meeting room had settled on it. She then picked up her phone from the table, turned, and left, saying as she went, "We'll go to Suinan County now and try to start the investigation this afternoon. I think the Municipal Bureau is quite busy, so Secretary Zhou doesn't need to accompany us. Let Comrade Chang go alone."

"That's fine, Section Chief Chang is very familiar with Suinan County," Liu Fengdong said with a smile, seeing Fan Li off to the Mercedes-Benz. He only turned back after watching her leave the gate. With Chang Yuze accompanying her, he felt a little more relaxed; he was worried that Fan Li would insist on conducting the investigation independently.

The van had three rows of seats; Chang Yuze sat in the front to lead the way, Fan Li and Xiao Zhang sat in the middle, and Xiao Zhao sat in the back.

Leaving the Guide City Public Security Bureau, Fan Li's expression was noticeably more relaxed. She smiled and said to Chang Yuze, "Xiao Chang, you've gained weight again."

Chang Yuze turned his head and replied with a smile, "I don't want to be fat, but I can't help it, I can't control it. Men naturally gain weight after thirty, even drinking water can make you fat."
"Tch, don't make excuses for yourself. Men gain weight because they lack exercise, and it's probably from drinking."

"I can't help it, it's for work. If Director Fan makes me drink, would I dare not drink?"

"Xiao Chang, what did you call me, Director Fan? Do you want me to criticize you!" When Fan Li wasn't serious, her scolding was quite pleasant to hear. "From now on, you're a member of the investigation team. Outside of work, you have to call me Sister Fan, just like Xiao Zhang and Xiao Zhao."

"Yes, Sister Fan." Chang Yuze was already familiar with her, and seeing her relaxed demeanor, he started to speak freely, "Sister Fan, you've maintained yourself so well, you're still as beautiful as before."

"I've heard that kind of flattery a lot, I know it's a lie, but it still sounds quite nice."

"I'm not just flattering you, it's true. You and Xiao Zhang look like sisters sitting together."

"Sisters? I think I'm Xiao Zhang's mother. I'm more than ten years older than her."

"Sister Fan, I don't want you to take advantage of me. My mother is much older. Your skin is so fair and smooth, like a baby's skin. I'm so envious! Sister Fan, how do you maintain your skin? Give me some tips!"

When talking about beauty and appearance, Fan Li became like a little girl, excitedly discussing it with Xiao Zhang. This was her distinct personality: serious and meticulous at work, but in private, she could chat and laugh with her subordinates without any airs.

Chang Yuze pointed out the way to the driver, constantly calculating how to cooperate well with Fan Li, satisfying her while also reporting back to his superiors.

The car arrived at the Suinan County Public Security Bureau, almost closing time, but no one dared to leave. Normally, some would have already impatiently left.

Several deputy directors were standing outside the gate to greet her, but Chen Jiahao was nowhere to be seen; the city bureau's decision had already been communicated by phone.

The car stopped, and Chang Yuze jumped out, rushing to open the door for Fan Li.

Several deputy directors rushed forward to salute and greet Fan Li.

"Hello, comrades, I'm sorry to keep you from leaving work. I need to arrange something; let's talk in the conference room." Fan Li's face was calm and unsmiling. After uttering a few words, she waved to the deputy directors who had come to greet her, omitting even the polite handshake, and strode towards the county bureau compound.

The deputy directors quickly followed, surrounding her, and led her to the conference room.

Fan Li sat at the head of the large conference table, with Chang Yuze on her left and Xiao Zhang and Xiao Zhao on her right. The deputy directors could only sit at the back. She simply sat quietly, her face stern, and a tense atmosphere immediately enveloped the Suinan County Public Security Bureau compound.

Chang Yuze took out the notice from the Municipal Bureau and informed the several deputy directors present about the Municipal Bureau's decision to deal with Chen Jiahao. Then he stepped aside respectfully to await Fan Li's next instructions.

Fan Li took out a pack of Diaoyutai cigarettes, pulled one out, and Chang Yuze immediately lit it for his leader. Her smoking style was somewhat similar to Liu Fengdong's; she liked to take a few puffs before speaking. Fan Li's slender fingers held the thin, white cigarette, played with it for a moment, then brought it to her thin lips and took a small puff. Her movements were elegant, not like smoking, but more like a beautiful woman smelling plum blossoms. Fan Li parted her lips slightly, exhaling a thin mist mixed with her own fragrance. In the shimmering smoke, she quickly thought and formulated her plans. Calmness is often a skill lacking in most women. Before making a major decision, a cigarette is enough for a woman to calmly analyze and judge. Women are generally meticulous; if they also possess calm analysis and deduction, they are often more effective in solving problems.
Fan Li said slowly but firmly, “This is the first time in three years that I’ve come down here as the head of a bureau in a small county. It shows how much the provincial department values our Suinan County Public Security Bureau. Frankly speaking, Chen Jiahao’s rank isn’t high enough, and his crimes aren’t serious enough. Even if they were more serious, I wouldn’t have wasted my time here. The reason I’m here is because the provincial department’s investigation has revealed that the entire Suinan County public security system is corrupt and decadent! Chen Jiahao is just one typical example among many corrupt officials, a prime example of leading corruption and depravity!

I’m here to rectify the work style, the work discipline, and the conduct of the Suinan County public security system.” "The image of the police officers in the system! I hereby announce that, starting today, the Nanxian Public Security System will enter a month-long campaign to rectify police conduct and discipline! All departments, brigades, and police stations are hereby notified to attend a meeting this afternoon. All department heads and above, brigade deputy captains and above, and police station instructors and above must attend. The meeting will be held at 2:30 PM in this conference room. Anyone unable to attend due to special circumstances should call me to request leave. Anyone who cannot be contacted or fails to attend without a valid reason will be dismissed on the spot. Section Chief Chang, please coordinate with the deputy directors and submit the list of attendees to me."

Chang Yuze was a little bewildered. This Fan Li was too assertive; he couldn't keep up with her pace or her train of thought. He almost didn't recognize her anymore. According to Chang Yuze, she was only sent to investigate Chen Jiahao's illegal and disciplinary violations. The investigation hadn't made any substantial progress, yet she had already labeled Chen Jiahao a corrupt official, meaning she had already determined he had committed illegal and disciplinary violations. The provincial department had clearly sent an investigation team, but after her intervention, it was immediately upgraded to a rectification team, targeting the entire public security system of Suinan County. Wasn't this a slap in the face to Director Liu?

Chang Yuze organized his thoughts and, taking advantage of a trip to the restroom, reported Fan Li's words and actions to the director. Although Chang Yuze felt this was somewhat despicable, like a traitor colluding with the enemy, he couldn't shirk his responsibility to his superiors. The director's purpose in assigning him to provide full support to Fan Li was nothing more than this.

After listening to the report, Liu Fengdong remained silent for a moment, then said helplessly, "She acted too quickly, a bit too ruthlessly. Since she wants to do it this way, let her do it. You fully cooperate and observe the situation."

Fan Li acted decisively; she didn't even go out for lunch, eating a simple meal in the bureau's small canteen.

At 2:30 PM, the meeting began. Every attendee was present; no one dared gamble with their job. The news of Chen Jiahao's suspension had spread to every police officer in Suinan County. The faces of the attending officers were filled with unease; a storm was brewing, and they all seemed to foresee the impending purge.

Fan Li spoke without notes, her voice powerful and resolute. She addressed the issues of rectifying conduct, discipline, and image—these three rectifications, delivered with resounding force, were like three sharp blades, deeply cutting through the stubborn skin of the Suinan County public security system, revealing the delicate and sensitive deep-seated problems beneath. Fan Li's speech deeply resonated with the Suinan County police officers because her instructions were detailed and specific. The public security system holds meetings and activities to rectify police conduct and discipline once or twice a year. This is familiar to the officers from Suinan County attending today's meeting, including Chang Yuze. However, in the past, these rectification efforts usually involved chanting slogans like "serving the people," "spirit," and "representatives," with leaders on stage talking themselves hoarse while the officers below were drowsy.

Suinan County has twenty-five police stations and police offices, and Fan Li could name the head of any one of them offhand. This ability alone greatly surprised the station heads and county bureau leaders, indicating that she had conducted a thorough investigation of the Suinan County public security system and likely possessed evidence of some officers' violations of laws and regulations. Fan Li doesn't preach grand principles or empty talk; she focuses on the details, such as the illegal revenue generation by police stations.

The station's funds are allocated by the bureau, but the amount varies from station to station. It's not that the more a station spends, the more the bureau allocates; rather, the more revenue a station generates and the more it contributes to the bureau, the more the bureau allocates. Furthermore, a station with high revenue is seen as having a capable chief, thus receiving more favors from higher-ups. To curry favor with their superiors, each police station goes to great lengths to generate revenue—from cracking down on gambling, prostitution, and other crimes—using all sorts of bizarre methods, some of which teeter on the edge of legality. Moreover, some officers use this guise to line their own pockets. Whenever Fan Li recounted these bizarre and illegal methods of violation, she would glare at the faces of certain officers with her imposing and cold phoenix eyes. When her gaze swept over them, rows of officers would involuntarily lower their heads or turn away, avoiding her oppressive aura, as if the cases of violations she had just listed were their own clandestine dealings. Because, strictly speaking, none of them had clean hands; they all had blemishes.

Chang Yuze understood that the Suinan County public security system had been subdued by her. He suddenly understood her more deeply. The Seventh Division Chief's reputation wasn't solely due to her powerful backing or the strong support of provincial leaders, but more so because of her familiarity with grassroots policing and her meticulous investigation of cases. The investigation team had only arrived in Suinan County today, but her investigation had likely already begun secretly several days prior.

The meeting ended, and the officers present felt as if they had been granted a pardon, though they were all drenched in a cold sweat. As required by Fan Li, they were all to conduct thorough self-examinations, with leniency for self-criticisms and harsher penalties for those who confessed. They were also to return to their respective departments to carry out rectification campaigns. A vigorous self-examination and rectification campaign began throughout the entire public security system of Suinan County.
When the leaders of the Suinan County Party Committee and County Government heard that the Provincial Public Security Department had sent people to rectify the County Public Security Bureau, and that Director Chen Jiahao had been taken down on the very day the investigation team arrived, they were somewhat surprised and wanted to contact Fan Li. Fan Li flatly refused, saying that this was an internal rectification work arranged by the Provincial Public Security Department, and the County Party Committee had no right to interfere. She assured them that the relevant situation would be reported to the County Party Committee naturally after the rectification work was completed.

Upon hearing this, the leaders of Suinan County became even more anxious and quickly used various connections to inquire about the situation from relevant departments in the city and province. When they learned about Fan Li's background, they all remained silent and demanded that all county-level departments restrain their employees in the coming days, ensuring they abide by laws and regulations and act in accordance with the rules. No unit or individual was allowed to cause trouble during the rectification period; otherwise, they would be dealt with one by one.

That evening, Fan Li and her entourage returned to Guide City, where Liu Fengdong hosted a welcome-back banquet at the Mingyuan Hotel. The Mingyuan Hotel, known for its abalone, shark fin, and bird's nest dishes, was considered the most upscale hotel in the city.

Accompanying them from the Municipal Bureau were Liu Fengdong, Secretary Zhou, Chang Yuze, and Section Chief Mei from the Exit-Entry Administration Section. Mei Ruoling, Chen Jiahao's wife, was present, and her presence spoke volumes.

Mei Ruoling was once a renowned policewoman in the city bureau. Although she is now over forty and has crow's feet around her eyes, she still retains her charm and mature elegance. She is easygoing and speaks softly, always polite to colleagues and citizens alike. She is the face of the immigration department, her image contributing significantly to the department's reputation; annually, the department ranks first in internal and community evaluations. However, today, Chen Jiahao's affair has greatly affected her mood; she looks somewhat haggard, forcing a smile.

Fan Li, having removed her police uniform and changed into a light blue dress, adorned with exquisite ruby earrings, exudes elegance and nobility. She has shed the imposing image of a powerful businesswoman from the daytime, transforming into a sophisticated and refined lady. After the

guests were seated, the restaurant manager presented the menu for them to order. Recognizing the distinguished guests, the hotel specially assigned the young and beautiful lobby manager, Manager Du, to personally serve them, ensuring a satisfactory service.

Fan Li was very easygoing at this point, letting the food and drinks be whatever the host suggested. Only after Liu Fengdong repeatedly declined did Fan Li order a papaya and bird's nest stew, specifically for the ladies present. After ordering, she asked the restaurant manager, "What kind of bird's nest is this made of?"

"Hello, Ms. Fan, our Mingyuan Hotel uses the finest blood bird's nest, imported from abroad," Manager Du said with a standard toothy smile.

"Change it to palace bird's nest or white bird's nest, the more common the better."

"Please rest assured, Ms. Fan, Mingyuan would never substitute any ingredients. You are Director Liu's guest; we wouldn't dare deceive you even if we had the audacity."

"I'm not afraid you'll substitute the blood bird's nest; I simply don't trust blood bird's nest at all. A friend of mine told me that nine out of ten blood bird's nests in China are dyed."

"Please rest assured, Ms. Fan, our Mingyuan..."

Manager Du wanted to explain further, believing it inappropriate to leave guests with doubts. Fan Li immediately interrupted her: "Young lady, no need to say more. Change it to white bird's nest. I always use white bird's nest to make porridge at home; I like it."

One's taste can be seen in the small details of life; using bird's nest to make porridge is not a luxury ordinary people can afford. Looking at Fan Li's rosy and smooth complexion, these tonics and health products must be very effective.

This little incident before the meal didn't spoil the cheerful atmosphere of the banquet.

The host and his entourage toasted each guest. The men drank Moutai, and the women drank Lafite red wine.
Liu Fengdong led the way in toasting Fan Li. Everyone else addressed her as "Director Fan," but Chang Yuze still affectionately called her "Sister Fan."

Fan Li held the crystal-clear wine glass gently in her slender hands, swirling it lightly. The red wine spun in the glass, reflecting an intoxicating red light. With each toast, she took a small sip and then elegantly placed the glass back on the table.

Section Chief Mei also came to toast Fan Li. She said embarrassedly, "Because of Jiahao's matter, I've troubled Director Fan to come all this way. I feel ashamed for Jiahao. I'll toast Director Fan on his behalf."

Fan Li gently pushed away the glass from Mei Ruoling's hand and said softly, "Section Chief Mei, we agreed beforehand that we wouldn't talk about work while drinking. If you bring up work-related matters, I'll get upset. I'm a woman too, and I understand Section Chief Mei's feelings very well. Let's save work for tomorrow. Tonight is just for a happy meal. I think Section Chief Mei is probably a bit older than me, so I'll call you Sister Mei. I'll drink your wine, and let's not mention a single word about work."

Fan Li's words were tactful but didn't leave any room for negotiation. Not talking about work at this moment was a way of not wanting anyone to know her thoughts.

Seeing that Mei Ruoling was still somewhat persistent, Liu Fengdong immediately changed the subject: "Yes, yes, Director Fan is right. You can't talk about work while eating; it affects your mood. I heard from the doctor that it can affect your cardiovascular function. Section Chief Mei used to be a doctor too, so she should understand better. Let's drink, let's drink! I have to drink a few more drinks with Xiao Zhao. People from the provincial department are just different. Xiao Zhao is too outstanding. When will our Guide City be able to recruit such a good comrade as Xiao Zhao? No, such outstanding talent can only go to the provincial department. I would be satisfied if our city bureau had half of Xiao Zhao's talent."

Anyway, flattery doesn't cost anything, so he can flatter however he wants. Liu Fengdong's enthusiasm in praising Xiao Zhao was almost like praising his own son. Of the three members of the investigation team, Xiao Zhao was the only male, so he was the only one they could drink baijiu with.

Amidst the laughter and conversation, everyone was full and left the room, leaving some of the dishes untouched.

Fan Li, apart from having a special fondness for the papaya and bird's nest soup, only tasted the other dishes.

"You've had a busy day, Director Fan, why don't you relax a bit?" Liu Fengdong asked warmly. He knew a thing or two about Fan Li's hobbies; she was meticulous at work but very relaxed after work, enjoying things like health care, singing, and watching shows—she loved trying all sorts of pleasures.

"I heard Section Chief Chang owns a foot massage center with a good reputation. How about Section Chief Chang treats us to a session?" Fan Li smiled at Chang Yuze, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

Fan Li was incredibly resourceful; she had only been there a day and had already found out he had business outside of his regular job. However, Chang Yuze knew that Fan Li wouldn't find fault with him or hold him accountable, so he quickly replied, "My little shop is a bit simple. If Sister Fan doesn't mind, we'll come over. I'd be overjoyed to be able to invite Sister Fan."

"Section Chief Chang, since Director Fan is so happy, you should quickly arrange for the shop to stop receiving other customers. Our group alone is enough to keep the shop busy. Make sure it's tidy and bright; it's an honor for your shop to be able to entertain such a distinguished guest as Director Fan." Hearing Liu Fengdong's words, he also wanted to bring his subordinates to accompany him.

Fan Li didn't give Liu Fengdong much face. She seemed unwilling to have him by her side. She said with a smile, "Director Liu, it's free time tonight. Everyone wants to relax. If you bring a large group to a small shop, you'll scare away all the customers. How will that shop do business in the future? How about this, Section Chief Chang will treat us tonight. He can lead the three of us to experience it. Director Liu, you've all been busy all day, you should go back early."

"Alright, we'll do as Director Fan says." Liu Fengdong quickly changed his mind, immediately instructing Chang Yuze to provide good service, and shook hands with Fan Li and the other two to say goodbye.

Chang Yuze led Fan Li to the Yujie store.

The store had already received his call, and Lu Wenfeng personally greeted them at the door. Apart from that, business was proceeding as usual.
Chang Yuze knew that what Fan Li wanted was peace and relaxation. If the store made a show of being overly polite and obsequious, it would only make her unhappy.

Chang Yuze had the store prepare two VIP rooms, one for Fan Li alone, and one for Xiao Zhang and Xiao Zhao. The greeter, Li Jing, no longer needed to stand at the door to greet guests; she focused solely on making tea and water for Fan Li.

Chang Yuze finished arranging things and was about to leave when Fan Li asked him to sit down beside her: "Yuze, chat with me. Work was very stressful today; I noticed you haven't said much." "

I'm afraid of disturbing Sister Fan's rest."

"It's alright, I enjoy chatting." Unable

to refuse, Chang Yuze sat down on the sofa next to her.

A moment later, Zhang Feng carried in a wooden bucket and stood respectfully before Fan Li, saying, "Hello, Sister Fan, my name is Zhang Feng, I'm the store manager. I'm here to serve you. Please forgive any shortcomings in my service."

Zhang Feng was the store's top technician, so Chang Yuze had specifically called him over.

Since Chang Yuze appointed Zhang Feng as manager, Zhang Feng had truly held himself to managerial standards, always wearing a suit and tie. However, he was used to being slovenly, and even the best clothes looked bad on him. His leather shoes looked like they hadn't been polished in days, black and dull; the hem of his white short-sleeved shirt wasn't fully tucked in, with a corner hanging out; the first two buttons of his jacket were undone; his tie was loose like a belt, hanging loosely around his neck, and because the tie was too long, the end was tucked into his jacket pocket. His face was dark, and there was no smile on his face. Although he tried his best to express friendliness and respect, his expression was very awkward, as if someone was forcing him to do so at gunpoint.

Chang Yuze was already used to this and didn't find it strange.

When Fan Li first saw Zhang Feng, she found his appearance quite amusing: "Your boss really gives me face, sending a senior manager to wash my feet."

"Sister Fan is young and beautiful, it's my honor to wash your feet. My boss doesn't know this skill; if he did, he'd be happy to do it himself."

Zhang Feng seemed rather dull, but his flattery pleased both Fan Li and Chang Yuze.

Fan Li glanced at Chang Yuze, smiled, and said, "Manager Zhang, since you're here to serve me, why don't you put the tub down?"

"Oh, I forgot." Zhang Feng placed the tub in front of Fan Li's feet and continued, "My shop has a rule that customers can choose their servers. Sometimes, when I came in to serve a customer, they'd see my appearance and think I wasn't good-looking enough, so they'd replace me. So I just hold onto the tub; if they want me, I put me down; if they don't, I just leave with the tub. It's convenient."

"You're very honest. You're not ugly at all; you look quite like Xu Sanduo."

"Really? A lot of people say that. I can't compare to Brother Xu, he's a big star. I can't compare to him. He's better than me in every way, except for one thing: I'm darker-skinned."

"Actually, Wang Baoqiang isn't handsome either, but he loves to smile, and when he smiles, he shows off his big front teeth, which makes him look likable. You, on the other hand, are too serious, so your complexion looks even darker."

"Sister Fan, if you don't like me, I'll get you another one. Don't underestimate my shop, there are plenty of handsome young men."

Fan Li looked at Zhang Feng's serious expression and couldn't help but giggle: "I'm here for a foot massage, not to find a partner. It doesn't matter if I'm a handsome young man or not."
Chang Yuze also found Zhang Feng too talkative: "Zhang Feng, stop nagging. You're the shop's top technician, who else would we have if not you? Stop talking nonsense and just serve Sister Fan well."

"Okay, boss."

Zhang Feng shut his mouth and focused on washing Fan Li's feet.

Once Zhang Feng got into work mode, he was like a different person. Unlike other technicians who sit on small stools, he knelt directly on the carpet, pulled Fan Li's feet close to his chest, deftly removed her high heels, and gently placed them into the wooden tub for a meticulous massage. His movements were very much like the kneeling service of the Japanese.

Chang Yuze began to understand why Zhang Feng would kneel before him so often; it turned out he was used to kneeling before people. However, he still greatly admired his professionalism, which was probably why many customers specifically requested his services—he provided them with the utmost dignity and aristocratic enjoyment.

"Do you have a cigarette?" Fan Li turned to ask Chang Yuze. "My cigarettes are in my bag; I forgot to take them."

Chang Yuze lit a Zhonghua cigarette for Fan Li: "I wonder if Sister Fan can handle it?"

"It's fine; I've smoked cigars before, I can handle it."

"I remember Sister Fan didn't smoke before, how come you smoke so much now?"

"No choice, it's a job requirement. It's like drinking; if the boss tells you to, you have to." Fan Li teased him about what he had said during the day.

“You’re a woman, you can’t be treated the same as us men.”

“Men and women are only physiologically different; we’re treated equally at work. If I don’t do a good job, the boss will still criticize me.”

“Sister Fan, your feet are so beautiful.” Zhang Feng interrupted Fan Li and Chang Yuze’s conversation. He lifted Fan Li’s fair and delicate feet from the wooden tub, gently raising them, tilting his head to admire them, like a connoisseur appraising a rare piece of jade. “Sister Fan’s feet look so translucent and beautiful.”

Even if Fan Li’s feet were fair and delicate, they couldn’t possibly be translucent and translucent, but Zhang Feng’s expression as he tilted his head to look at them was incredibly lifelike. If this was flattery, it was masterful, natural flattery.

Fan Li was clearly very pleased. She smiled and said, “Little Zhang, you’re very good at flattering girls. Even the most perfect feet can’t be as translucent as jade, unless your eyes are X-ray machines.”

“I’m telling the truth, not just trying to flatter you, Sister Fan. When I was little, every year during the New Year, our village would slaughter a pig. The adults would slaughter the pig, and we kids would all love to watch. After the pork was cut open, we kids would secretly scoop out the lard and stuff it into the pig’s hooves to use as oil lamps. I remember it so clearly, that lard was so white and shiny, and I think Sister Fan’s feet were even whiter and shinier than that lard.”

Fan Li couldn’t help but giggle again: “Haha, you

’re so funny. The phrase should be ‘skin like cream,’ but you used lard to describe it.” Zhang Feng looked embarrassed: “I didn’t go to school for many years, so I don’t know so many words. After I graduated from elementary school, I was supposed to go to junior high, but my uncle wouldn’t let me go. He was biased and let my cousins go to school. I accepted it; it was my fate. Who told my parents not to love me…” Zhang Feng started rambling on about his miserable childhood.
“Comrade Zhang, could you please stop your story for a moment? I need to discuss some serious matters with your boss.” Fan Li interrupted Zhang Feng’s endless rambling, then turned to Chang Yuze and asked, “Yuze, what do you think of the rectification campaign in Suinan County?”

“Sister Fan is very decisive and insightful. She saw at a glance that there were many problems in the Longnan County Public Security Bureau. The rectification campaign is a timely help.” Chang Yuze replied humbly.

“Sigh, you’re flattering me. I’d rather hear your honest opinion. Chen Jiahao’s problems have been going on for a while now. Even if he has a good relationship with your leader, the mistakes he made were not just work errors, but extremely egregious behavior, and it has escalated to the point of being unbridled. If the leaders of the Municipal Bureau had paid even a little attention to Longnan County, things wouldn’t have developed to this point. The problems in Suinan County were only exposed because someone reported them. No one in other county bureaus has reported them. I wonder how many problems are hidden there.”

"Actually, it's not that the municipal bureau doesn't care about the county bureaus; it's just that they can't keep up. Guide City has four districts and seven counties, with nearly ten million people—larger than two Singapores in terms of population. Guide City's urban area has over a million people, and Longnan County alone has a million. Look at the small countries in the world; there are plenty with populations under a million. It's an impossible task for one director and a few deputy directors of the municipal bureau to manage five branch bureaus and seven county bureaus. Suinan County is a bit better, as it's closer to the city, and inspections can be done in a day. But for the other, more distant counties, if you go in the morning, you won't be back by evening. Without going to the scene, relying solely on leaders making phone calls and checking online, you can't see the real problems. Moreover, when leaders inspect, they often only go to the branch bureaus and county bureaus. Police stations are usually at the grassroots level, so when they do visit a police station, it's just a quick look. Before they even see what the flowers are, the horse is already far away. Few leaders genuinely care about how the grassroots police officers are actually doing, what difficulties they are facing, or what problems they have."

“That’s right, what you said is quite accurate. The province is currently preparing to implement police reforms, abolishing urban branch bureaus and transferring direct management from the municipal bureau to the police stations, reducing command levels, and allowing more police officers to go to the grassroots level to strengthen the grassroots police force. Could you share your thoughts?”

Chang Yuze lit a cigarette, took a couple of puffs, and prepared to share his thoughts on grassroots police officers with Fan Li. Although he was a mid-level cadre in the municipal bureau, he had worked his way up from the police station and still had a deep affection for life there.

“Ouch!” Fan Li screamed, interrupting Chang Yuze’s prepared speech.

Fan Li quickly pulled her foot out of Zhang Feng’s hand, her face pale, and said, “You hurt me! You’re so strong!”

Seeing that Fan Li was in considerable pain, Chang Yuze sat up abruptly and loudly criticized Zhang Feng, “Zhang Feng, what’s wrong with you? Don’t you know how to hold back?”

“Sister Fan, it’s not that I hit you hard, it’s because you’re crazy,” Zhang Feng said calmly, kneeling upright.

"What's wrong with me? Why doesn't it hurt when others massage my feet?"

"Sister Fan, I'll massage you again and you'll see." Zhang Feng said, reaching out to grab Fan Li's bare feet again and pressing hard on the inside of her foot with his knuckles.

"Ouch!" Fan Li cried out in pain again, but it was noticeably less painful than before.

"The spot I'm pressing corresponds to Sister Fan's bladder. If you feel pain here, there's definitely something wrong with your bladder." Zhang Feng spoke with the confidence and certainty of a chief physician.

"Really?"

"Of course. I've massaged the feet of hundreds of women. I can tell if a woman is sick just by touching her feet. Books say that a person's feet correspond to their internal organs, and any illness in a person can be reflected on the soles of their feet. Foot massage works by massaging acupoints on the soles of the feet to achieve therapeutic and health-strengthening effects. If Sister Fan has time, I'll massage you every day, and I guarantee your problem will lessen in less than a month."

Zhang Feng spoke knowledgeably about foot massage techniques, clearly an expert.
"Can massaging the feet really cure an illness?" Fan Li was skeptical.

"No one can guarantee a cure, but it will definitely alleviate the pain. I've heard that for some cancer patients, even doctors who are able to operate can't guarantee that removing the affected area will cure them."

Chang Yuze found it awkward; why did he speak so recklessly? He shouldn't have used cancer as an example. He immediately interrupted, "Alright, continue massaging Sister Fan's feet. Forget about treating her illness; just helping her relax and relieve her fatigue is a great achievement."

Zhang Feng shut up and began carefully massaging Fan Li's feet again. Fan Li comfortably lay on the sofa and continued talking with Chang Yuze.

Chang Yuze continued the previous topic, saying, "I haven't really organized my thoughts; I'm just sharing some insights with Sister Fan. Regarding the city's police reform, firstly, I applaud it—the police force is stagnant and deserves some change; secondly, I hope the relevant leaders will think carefully before acting, and not proceed hastily, like feeling their way across a river. Such reforms are likely to just be a waste of time for grassroots police officers."

"Don't mention applauding," Zhang Feng replied. "If the higher-ups want reform, you have to applaud whether you like it or not. I want to hear your second thought: why do you say it might be a waste of time?"

"Firstly, let's consider the three-tiered structure of the municipal public security bureau. Branch bureaus aren't established arbitrarily by the municipal bureau; they are configured in conjunction with the existing district governments. Branch bureaus are subordinate agencies of each district government, corresponding one-to-one with the district courts and procuratorates. The abolition of public security branch bureaus breaks the correspondence between public security areas and administrative divisions, creating a separation between public security areas and administrative areas, inevitably impacting China's current judicial system. For criminal cases such as arrest warrants and prosecutions, police stations are powerless because they are merely subordinate agencies of county-level branch bureaus, lacking administrative legal entities and unable to connect with district procuratorates and courts. Forcibly merging bureaus and police stations, allowing police stations to exercise the functions of county-level public security organs, is inconsistent with China's laws and regulations and relevant provisions of the Ministry of Public Security. Without legal support, simply relying on the preferences of government leaders to force police stations to exercise the powers of branch bureaus feels inappropriate.

Secondly, let's discuss the downward deployment of police resources. The motivation behind this police reform is..." The intention of decentralizing police force to better serve the public is good, but the actual implementation is different. Judging from the current reforms in some cities, the effects are not significant. In reality, while the number of police officers deployed to lower levels has increased, the actual number of officers at the grassroots level has not truly increased. The so-called increase in grassroots police force is mainly due to the integration of personnel from branch offices and traffic police brigades into police stations. After the abolition of branch offices, most personnel from various departments were incorporated into the headquarters of police stations, and the number of personnel in the comprehensive brigades of police stations even exceeds that of the grassroots combat brigades. The number of officers at the grassroots level has not changed significantly, but their combat effectiveness has been greatly weakened, mainly because the concept of "one officer with multiple skills" is impractical. "One officer with multiple skills" is a good idea, but training a professional is not something that can be done overnight.

Thirdly, let's discuss the functions of police stations. Police stations are responsible for collecting intelligence, managing residents and key units within their designated area, promoting and guiding security work within the area, receiving reports from the public, and handling public security matters. In essence, police stations are comprehensive social security service stations that extend into residential areas, much like community gas and water delivery points. They need to reach deep into the community and be close to the people. They are like the finest roots of a tree, needing to penetrate the soil to provide the tree with water and nutrients. However, after the police reform and the merger of bureaus and police stations, the branch bureaus disappeared, and the number of police stations decreased accordingly. Officers were concentrated in larger, better-equipped stations, while those in poorer, more remote locations were closed down, some even without police offices. Is this what it means to "decentralize police force"? Is this what it means to serve the people? Police stations cannot replace the branch bureaus in exercising their powers, and branch bureaus cannot exercise the functions of police stations.

Fourthly, let's talk about what matters the police should handle and what they shouldn't…

Chang Yuze spoke eloquently.

Zhang Feng had finished his service and was preparing to leave. He gestured for Chang Yuze to be quiet, pointed at Fan Li, a knowing smile playing on his lips, and tiptoed away.

Chang Yuze then realized that Fan Li was already asleep.

She lay on her side on the sofa, her face turned towards him, seemingly still listening quietly. Her two ivory-smooth legs were crossed, her shapely, long legs, her rounded, high buttocks, and her slender waist forming a perfect curve. A long blue dress draped softly over her delicate body, flowing silently like the azure sea. She was like a mermaid who had just escaped from the ocean; she was tired, weary, and asleep, lying quietly on the beach. Her serene and beautiful snow-white body brought endless fantasies and allure to everyone who saw her.

When Zhang Feng left, he gave Chang Yuze an ambiguous look, the meaning of which was clear: you are alone in a room with a beauty, and now that she is asleep, it's up to you how you handle it.
Chang Yuze gazed tenderly at Fan Li, a gentle warmth flowing through his heart. The sleeping beauty before him was so familiar yet so distant.

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