Urban Crisis [Complete] - 21

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Chapter 54 Early Withdrawal Leads to Surprise Victory, Late Reporting Backfires.

After accompanying Vice Minister Ji on an inspection tour of the coastal provinces to assess the current state of anti-smuggling efforts, Jiao Xiaoyu began
drafting the report for Vice Minister Ji to deliver at the anti-smuggling mobilization meeting—her duty as his secretary.

She stood before the maps of China and the world on the office wall, lost in thought, reflecting on
what she had seen and heard . Before

her eyes appeared
dozens . These ships, laden with smuggled goods, sailed on the high seas, waiting for unregistered, unlicensed iron-hulled vessels to unload
their cargo.

Thousands of these iron-hulled vessels, after receiving the goods, evaded Chinese customs inspections and unloaded their cargo along the coast.

These olive-shaped iron-hulled vessels, some without sidewalls and others with hulls covered in iron prows, dared to openly
confront .

In 1995 alone, the Kowloon Customs in Guangdong seized smuggled goods worth 120 million RMB at sea and
apprehended over 300 iron-hulled vessels.

Her gaze settled on a small dot on the map—Hong Kong. She accompanied Vice Minister Ji on
a three-day stay in Hong Kong, and what she saw was shocking.

Numerous warehouses stored
enormous quantities .

A new industry spawned by smuggling had even emerged here—the "car expert"!

Brand-new luxury cars were cut open horizontally at the roof, the doors removed, and the cars divided into five large pieces,
then transported to the mainland under the cover of import permits for spare parts.

At the Tsing Yi Island pier in Hong Kong, hundreds of smuggling oil tankers of all sizes entered the mainland every minute, causing
domestic oil prices to plummet daily due to the massive impact of the smuggled oil market!

Large speedboats were smuggling across the Pearl River, creating an unstoppable, relentless wave of activity. Here, there were over a hundred

large-scale smuggling rings operating with collusion between the underworld and legitimate businesses! Her worried gaze then shifted to the vast sea area stretching from Haiphong Port in Vietnam to Vinh Si Tac Island. This area is a base for smuggling cigarettes, cars, and palm oil. Boats flying various national flags can enter and exit freely without inspection after paying a fee, their goods evading tariffs and entering southwest China. The area along the Beilun River to Pingxiang, where the land border between China and Vietnam meets, is ideal for car smuggling. Most alarmingly, the cars are already fitted with domestically produced license plates before being smuggled into the country. Also smuggled in are large quantities of raw materials—rubber and plastic particles—as well as drugs ! In Tianjin, Jiao Xiaoyu accompanied Vice Minister Ji on an investigation into a recent case involving the smuggling of 4,700 imported cars , with a total value of 1.125 billion yuan! At the symposium, an expert stated that the annual value of smuggling cases reaches 170 billion yuan, resulting in a national tax loss of over 40 billion yuan! Jiao Xiaoyu recalled Vice Minister Ji's request that she highlight in her report the strong resistance and the corruption of officials caused by smuggling. She had detailed figures: of the more than 122,000 corruption cases investigated by disciplinary inspection and supervision organs nationwide last year, a considerable number of officials were involved in smuggling. Today, smuggling has evolved from individual smuggling by coastal fishermen at the beginning of reform and opening up to the serious extent of corporate smuggling and armed escort smuggling. Among the corporate smugglers are companies run by governments at all levels, companies run by the military, companies run by public security, procuratorial, and judicial organs, and Chinese-funded companies established overseas by various central ministries. Behind every instance of corporate smuggling is a powerful force. Therefore, initiating investigations and prosecutions is extremely difficult. Of the more than 17,000 smuggling cases investigated nationwide last year (1995), only , and only 153 were accepted by the courts. Guangdong, a major area for smuggling, not a single case was prosecuted! Jiao Xiaoyu clearly remembered that after seeing these figures, Vice Minister Ji angrily smashed his teacup on the marble floor and shouted, "If this continues, we won't even be as good as the corrupt Qing Dynasty!" Jiao Xiaoyu couldn't help but think of a smuggling official. When smugglers' repeated attempts to bribe him failed, they shot him in the left eye. Jiao Xiaoyu accompanied Vice Minister Ji to the hospital to visit him. He angrily pounded the headboard, saying, " Smugglers have tons of money, but it can't buy me the power. Their bullets can't shake my determination to crack down on smuggling. But watching as the criminals I personally arrested are released by our own people, and the smuggled goods I seized are released under various pretexts, while those who have made contributions to the crackdown are transferred from their posts, and smugglers, under the protection of some high-ranking officials, swagger in and out of customs... I, I'll quit after I'm discharged from the hospital! I, I'll go smuggling too!" The turbulent waves in his heart gave Jiao Xiaoyu inspiration. She returned to her desk, her hands deftly striking the keyboard, lines of text appearing on the screen. "Starting to draft?" Vice Minister Ji's question made Jiao Xiaoyu's fingers stop on the keyboard. "Let's first sketch out a rough outline, then you can see if it conveys your thinking." " Xiaoyu, from now on, just call me by my name, it'll be more friendly; or call me by my first name, Lao Ji. There's something I want to discuss with you; I'd like to give you some more responsibility. We have a company under us, Longjin Import and Export Trade Consulting Company. The company is going to be reorganized, changing its legal representative. The organization wants to appoint you as the legal representative of this company, but it 's a part-time position. Your main job will still be my secretary. Actually, you'll hold the title of chairman, representing the organization in major matters, while the specific work will be handled by the general manager's office. What do you think? Any difficulties?" "Vice Minister Ji," Jiao Xiaoyu tried to stand up from her chair, but Vice Minister Ji pressed her down. "Call me Lao Ji." "Lao Ji, I know nothing about business; you're overkill for me. No, no, I can't keep up with this trend." Seeing Jiao Xiaoyu shaking her head and waving her hands, Vice Minister Ji was amused. "Look how nervous you are. This isn't about sending you into business; you're going to represent the organization in policy management. The general manager and department heads will handle day-to-day operations. The organization has already decided that you are the legal representative of Longjin Company. If you have any questions, contact the General Office or me. This matter is no longer up for discussion. There's something important I need your opinion on. Jiaxian, take a look at this." Jiao Xiaoyu received the confidential document from Deputy Minister Ji, the one Zhou Senlin and Chen Hu had already reviewed. "Xiaoyu, you came from your city's anti-corruption bureau, so you should be quite familiar with the situation. In the past, when you investigated He Qi..."

"During the Zhang case, were any smuggling activities discovered?"

"It seems not."

"Do you know Jiang Yuexiu?"

"Yes. I only know she was involved in a few bailouts. Later, she started the 'Forget Me Not' company, which I didn't even know about.
I only learned she was burned to death after reading the municipal government's situation report. However, I'm quite familiar with her father, Director Jiang. Has
Director Jiang also seen this material?"

"He should have seen it. I forwarded a copy of this material to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Public Security Bureau. Whether He Qizhang,
Jiang Yuexiu , and Jiao Dongfang were truly involved in the Honda Accord smuggling case is still not fully proven and needs to be investigated carefully.
I believe, at least I hope, that Director Jiang will handle his daughter's matter properly. I've already made an appointment with Director Jiang;
they , just invite them in." Jiao Xiaoyu's train of thought was abruptly interrupted as she wrote her report. The thought of Dong Ge,

whom she least wanted to think about yet constantly on her mind, plunged her into anxiety once more. If Dong Ge was involved in smuggling again, his crimes would be compounded, and with multiple offenses, he would have little chance of survival. She took out a wedding photo of Jiao Dongfang and Tian Congying from a drawer. She had looked at these photos countless times; Jiao Dongfang's dashing appearance and Tian Congying's sorrowful expression made each photo captivating. Sadly, they could no longer live together. Jiao Xiaoyu especially loved the profile photo of Tian Congying nestled in Jiao Dongfang's arms, both gazing , seemingly full of hope for the future. "What are you looking at?" Jiao Xiaoyu was startled. At some point, Vice Minister Ji had reappeared before her. There was no time to put the photos back in the drawer, so she had to place them on the desk. "Nothing much, just a few old photos." "Can I look at them?" Jiao Xiaoyu asked reluctantly, but had no choice. "Go ahead and look." Ji Tao picked up the photos on the table and looked at them with great interest. " Wedding photos, huh? They're quite good. Who's this man? He's very handsome." "My brother, Jiao Dongfang. That woman is my sister-in-law, Tian Congying." "Wow, that's the famous Jiao Dongfang. Ah, what a pity, he was such a handsome man. He's currently detained in Anling Prison. Xiaoyu, your act of turning down a family member is widely praised in the public security, procuratorate, and court systems. What, missing your brother ?" Jiao Xiaoyu mustered her courage and said, "Vice Minister Ji, when Chen Hu and I arrested Jiao Dongfang at the photo studio, we promised to show him the wedding photos. I want to take them to him. This might be his last wish. I wonder if the organization can approve a visit?" Ji Tao pondered, holding the photos. "It's not easy. But it's not absolutely impossible. We are reasonable people; family visits, some persuasion work, are beneficial for stabilizing the prisoner's emotions and getting him to confess. But Anling Prison isn't under our jurisdiction." "Okay, Xiaoyu, I'll discuss it with the relevant parties and try my best to meet your request." "Thank you." Ji Tao returned the photo to Jiao Xiaoyu. "Xiaoyu, I have an urgent matter to attend to. If I can't make it back in time, please ask Director Jiang to wait for me when he arrives." Deputy Minister Ji's promise dispelled the gloom in Jiao Xiaoyu's heart. Being able to see her brother, even if only for a few minutes , and deliver the wedding photo to him, would fulfill a long-cherished wish. Besides that, there was nothing else she could do for her brother. Wen Si returned, and she continued typing. Half an hour later, Tao Tieliang accompanied Jiang Dabing in. Jiao Xiaoyu got up to greet them. Tao Tieliang walked quickly to Jiao Xiaoyu, took her hand, and said in a cheerful and friendly manner: "Oh dear, Xiaoyu, you're really outrageous! Now that you've been transferred up here, you don't even recognize the brothers who worked hard with you down here! You didn't even make a phone call. Tell me how you should be punished!" "Now that you've been promoted to deputy director, I'm afraid I won't be able to curry favor with you. " “Well, you little devil, you’re turning the tables!” Jiao Xiaoyu pulled her hand back and grasped Jiang Dabing’s hand, saying, “Hello, Director Jiang. You don’t look well. I’m very saddened by Yuexiu’s unfortunate passing. Please take care of yourself.” “Xiaoyu, you’ve grown more and more beautiful. Yuexiu was disobedient; I never approved of her starting a company in the first place. You and Yuexiu are about the same age, look how successful you are.” “Director Jiang, are you here to see Vice Minister Ji?” “I’m here to report on my work.” “Vice Minister Ji has urgent business and has gone out. I’m sorry, he asks you to wait for him to return. I’ll accompany you to the reception room .” Tao Tieliang joked, “Xiaoyu, it’s the same if we report to you; you’re Vice Minister Ji’s secretary, so you’re also our leader!” “Really?” Jiao Xiaoyu blinked and asked. “Of course it’s true.” “Alright then. I’m giving you my order now: you’d better stand here as punishment until Vice Minister Ji returns.” " Come on, Director Jiang, I 'll accompany you to the meeting room. Let him stand here." Jiang Dabing said with a smile, "You two, one holds an important position, the other is a deputy director, and you're both more mischievous than the other." Tao Tieliang chuckled. "Director Jiang, you don't know who Xiaoyu and I are, right, Xiaoyu? Chen Hu had the advantage of being close to her , he only had his eye on Xiaoyu. Otherwise, I might have already gotten together with Xiaoyu!" Jiang Dabing glared at Tao Tieliang. "Tieliang, your joke went a bit too far. You can't compare to Chen Hu. Xiaoyu, don't be angry, Tieliang is just a man of few words, he's never as steady as Chen Hu. Xiaoyu, Old Zhou mentioned you and Chen Hu to me, he's very concerned about you two!" "Director Jiang, I'm busy with something, I don't have time for that. I'll accompany you to the meeting room. Please." An hour later, Ji Tao returned. Accompanying him were Fang Hao, who had been promoted to acting municipal party secretary, and Zhang Guangda, the municipal party committee's organization minister. They entered the reception room. Ji Tao, Fang Hao, and Zhang Guangda shook hands with Jiang Dabing one after another. Jiao Xiaoyu felt that this meeting was too formal and that it was inappropriate for her to be present, so she said, "Vice Minister Ji, I'll go back." "No," Ji Tao waved his hand, "You stay and take notes. Comrade Dabing, I wanted to call you and Comrade here. There's something I need to tell you first. The ministry and your municipal party committee have fully exchanged opinions, and there's a personnel decision. Comrade Fang Hao can discuss it." Fang Hao's expression was gentle, and his tone was friendly as he said, "Comrade Dabing, the municipal party committee has carefully studied your resignation application and has also fully considered your health condition."

Comrade Ji Tao, representing the ministry, also expressed his agreement and decided to approve your resignation from your current
positions as Director and Party Secretary of the Municipal Public Security Bureau due to illness. The second decision is merely a formality; you will be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Municipal People's Congress and concurrently
Director of the Municipal People's Congress Legislative Affairs Committee. Now we would like to hear your opinion.”

Although Jiang Dabing was mentally prepared, he was still taken aback. He calmly said,

“I thank the Municipal Party Committee and the ministry for their concern. I personally have no objections.”

Ji Tao handed Jiang Dabing a cigarette and lit it for him personally.

“Comrade Dabing, you have made great achievements in leading the work of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. On behalf of the ministry, I express my respect
and gratitude to you. You will still be in charge of the legal affairs at the Municipal People's Congress; please continue to support the work of the public security bureau as always!” Jiao

Xiaoyu felt nervous; it was her first time experiencing a dismissal interview with a high-ranking official. Although
neither Ji Tao nor Fang Hao mentioned Jiang Yuexiu's issue, she suspected it wasn't unrelated.

Tao Tieliang sat upright, his expression serious, his heart pounding wildly. He wondered what
fate awaited him, whether he too would be dismissed for his close relationship with Jiang Dabing.

Fang Hao smiled at Tao Tieliang and said,

"The Municipal Party Committee has decided, and with the approval of the Ministry, to appoint Comrade Tao Tieliang as Acting Director and Deputy Party Secretary of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.
The position of Party Secretary of the Municipal Public Security Bureau will remain vacant for now, to be discussed when additional members of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee are added. Comrade Tao Tieliang,
do you have any opinions?"

Tao Tieliang stood up, at attention, and said,

"I obey the organization's assignment. My abilities are very limited, and I hope that you leaders will criticize me at any time; I will humbly
accept it."

Fang Hao smiled and said,

"Sit down, sit down. Comrade Tieliang's spirit of daring to shoulder heavy responsibilities is commendable. Today is just a greeting, to hear your opinions.
In a couple of days the official document will be issued, and the formal announcement will be made." "

Jiang Dabing stood up and said,

'If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. The hospital will complain if I get back late.'

Ji Tao took Jiang Dabing's hand and said,

'Comrade Dabing, please recover first. Comrade Tao Tieliang, this is our first meeting today. I wanted to
talk to you, but let's change the date. Are you taking Director Jiang back to the hospital?'

'Please rest assured, sir, I will take good care of Director Jiang.'

Ji Tao and Zhang Guangda went to see Jiang Dabing and Tao Tieliang off, leaving only Fang Hao and Jiao Xiaoyu in the reception room.

'Xiaoyu, it's been a long time since I've seen you. I've missed you. Are you satisfied working here with Vice Minister Ji
?'

'Secretary Fang, have some water. There are many macro-level issues here, and I feel my knowledge is insufficient.'

'Xiaoyu, the younger generation surpasses the older generation; this is beyond human control.' " "Let me give you a
heads-up . I've exchanged ideas with Vice Minister Ji, and
we're planning to form a special task force for the Honda Accord, comprised of the anti-smuggling leadership group, the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and the Municipal Anti-Corruption Bureau. I specifically named you. Don't refuse when the time comes."

Back at the hospital, in his ward, Tao Tieliang said guiltily,

"Director, I readily agreed back then. You don't hate me, do you?"

"Hmph?" Jiang Dabing leaned back on the sofa. "Why would I hate you?" "

I was afraid it would be seen as a power grab. I was afraid that if I refused, they would take advantage of the situation and replace me with
someone else, which would be detrimental to you. So I agreed immediately."

Jiang Dabing laughed loudly, pointing his finger at Tao Tieliang's nose.

"You! It wasn't you trying to seize power; I voluntarily stepped down. You're still in the dark! If I hadn't stepped down, would you
have been able to take power so easily, you fool? You probably think I was influenced by Yuexiu, but that's not entirely true."
It can't be said that there was no impact, but the impact wasn't significant. The fundamental reason was that Secretary Jiao was ousted, and his team had to
be replaced. The position of Public Security Bureau Chief is important; often, a change in the Municipal Party Secretary inevitably leads to a change in the Public Security Bureau Chief. Therefore, my
resignation was inevitable. Next, it would be time to replace the Organization Minister, or even the Mayor. I started
paving the way for you as soon as Secretary Jiao fell from power. Your promotion to Acting Bureau Chief was largely due to Vice Minister Ji.
He told Secretary Fang, "If you can't arrange for Tao Tieliang, we'll arrange it at the Ministry." He put pressure on the Municipal Party Committee.

Tao Tieliang said in surprise,

"I've never had any dealings with Vice Minister Ji."

"Old Ji and I are old friends. If I recommended you, how could he not use you?"

Tao Tieliang was moved to tears.

"Bureau Chief, you will always be my bureau chief, and I will always obey your orders."

Jiang Dabing sighed,

"Alas, although I've gotten what I wanted with your succession, this sudden turn of events is still hard to bear. "
"Tieliang, in this matter concerning Yuexiu, you must not openly protect her. Let them investigate, urge them to investigate.
As long as they can't get the evidence, Yuexiu will eventually have to be exonerated. Remember, any evidence
unfavorable whether direct or indirect, must be cut off; it must not fall into their hands."

"I understand. Don't worry."

In the small conference room of the Municipal Party Committee, Fang Hao presided over the first meeting of the "Honda Accord Special Task Force." Ji Tao
sat opposite Fang Hao, while Jiao Xiaoyu, Chen Hu, Tao Tieliang, Zhou Senlin, and three other staff members sat on
the west side of the long conference table.

Fang Hao coughed softly a few times; he had been experiencing difficulty breathing lately.

"Comrades, the meeting is now in session. Vice Minister Ji is attending today's meeting, which shows how
important . I informed everyone beforehand. The Honda Accord smuggling case special task force is now
established. The task force leader is Comrade Tao Tieliang, the acting director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau." The deputy team leaders are Comrade Zhou Senlin, Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau
, and Comrade Jiao Xiaoyu from the Anti-Smuggling Leading Group. Because Comrade Zhou Senlin has
important , he may not be able to participate more in the work of this task force; therefore, Comrade Jiao Xiaoyu will need to take on more
work. Comrade Jiao Xiaoyu is Vice Minister Ji's secretary and is very busy, but she will also need to dedicate time to representing
the Anti-Smuggling Leading Group in the work of the task force. The task force members include Comrade Chen Hu, Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau;
Comrade Yu Qiang from the Municipal Criminal Investigation Brigade; and Comrade Xia Yan from the Anti-Smuggling Leading Group. The Honda Accord task force is responsible not only for investigating car
smuggling but also for investigating the counterfeit US dollar case and related cases. The three constituent
units of this task force—the Anti-Smuggling Leading Group, the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and the Municipal Anti-Corruption Bureau—must cooperate with each other. Vice Minister Ji is the commander-in-chief of the Honda Accord
task force , and I serve as the deputy commander-in-chief. Fang

Hao paused. He was adept at controlling the pace of his speech, giving the attendees time to digest the assignments of the task force
. This list was finalized by him and Ji Tao. He believed that Jiao Xiaoyu had been appointed as the deputy leader, and Chen Hu had only been appointed as...
This decision by the team members would surprise everyone, because Jiao Xiaoyu used to be Chen Hu's subordinate. It was natural for Tao Tieliang, as
the acting director of the municipal bureau, to become the head of the special task force; he was now not only half a rank higher than Chen Hu in administrative terms,
but also Chen Hu's superior within the task force. Would Chen Hu be resentful?

Seeing that everyone was calm except for Jiao Xiaoyu, who showed some surprise, Fang Hao continued.

"Comrades, the nationwide and municipal anti-corruption struggle is deepening.
A series of cases in our city, including those of Jiao Pengyuan, He Qizhang, Hao Xiangshou, Li Haoyi, Tian Xing, and Jiao Dong, are still pending, and the number
of people involved and the crimes committed are gradually expanding. As the investigations deepen,
it is not surprising that smuggling has been implicated. Smuggling, like embezzlement, bribery, and the transfer of state-owned assets, is
one of the means by which they use power-money transactions to reap huge profits. In terms of amount, their illegal gains are greater than those from bribery and embezzlement.
The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to combating smuggling. Premier Li Peng recently pointed out at a meeting, '
I reiterate that the current anti-smuggling struggle is not only an economic struggle, but also a serious political
struggle , and an important aspect of the anti-corruption struggle.' Premier Li Peng further made demands of us, saying,
'Our leaders at all levels must have political discernment and political sensitivity, and remain clear-headed on this issue.'"
"Comrades, as local government cadres, we must implement the central government's instructions without fail. I'll stop
here ; Vice Minister Ji will now give further instructions."

Ji Tao stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Comrades, Comrade Fang Hao just conveyed Premier Li Peng's instructions, which will serve as the guiding
principle for our special task force. Comrades, in the first half of this year alone, the national customs department alone uncovered 245 smuggling cases
, with a total value of 3.28 billion RMB. Especially in the import and export trade sector,
corporate smuggling involving smuggling, foreign exchange fraud, tax refund fraud, and fraudulent verification is rampant. For example, in last year's raw sugar smuggling frenzy, Guangxi
Fuli smuggled raw sugar worth over 1 billion RMB, setting a record
for the highest smuggling value since the founding of the People's Republic of China—enough to be included in the Disney Book of Records. It goes without saying that this increasingly serious wave of corporate smuggling
demonstrates the alarming extent of corruption. Many smuggling cases are
carried out openly with approval from provincial and ministerial levels. The Honda Accord smuggling case we are investigating is very likely a case
manipulated . The rampant smuggling is causing a significant loss of national tax revenue." The loss of funds has severely impacted fiscal
investment . Comrades, as of now, the national fiscal debt has reached a staggering 195 billion RMB.
If the smuggling frenzy continues unabated, the national fiscal deficit will only increase significantly – how can this be tolerated!
Under the leadership of the municipal party committee and the central government, your city's anti-corruption campaign has achieved significant victories,
with the initial successes in major cases involving Jiao Pengyuan, He Qizhang, and Tian Xing. These corruption cases involving high-ranking officials demonstrate that
once the power of a local government, a region, or a department is unsupervised and uncontrolled, it will inevitably lead to an extremely dangerous situation where it confronts national laws and
the central government . I believe that
the Honda Accord special task force, composed of the anti-smuggling leading group, your city's public security bureau, and the anti-corruption bureau, will make new
contributions . I wish the task force victory.”

Tao Tieliang led the applause, and Chen Hu and several others had no choice but to follow suit. Ji Tao waved his hand and said,

"Small meetings, especially work meetings, should not be accompanied by applause in the future. Secretary Fang, shall we discuss the case?"

Fang Hao nodded and said,

"Okay, let's discuss the case. Every meeting should aim to yield some results, otherwise we might as well go to a teahouse for tea. Comrade Tie Liang,
shouldn't you be taking office as the group leader by now? Will you be presiding over the meeting?"

Tao Tie Liang stood up, and Fang Hao gestured for him to sit down.

"Don't stand up. Sit down to speak and listen; it's easier to concentrate that way."

"I'm truly terrified to be appointed as the head of this special task force. In terms of qualifications, experience, and ability, I'm
far from qualified. Since the leadership has forced me into this role, I have no
choice but to reluctantly accept it. Today, I'm simply not mentally prepared and can't offer any insightful opinions, let alone chair the meeting. Secretary Fang, Vice Minister Ji, please spare me today. Let
you two chair the meeting so I can familiarize myself with the process before you take over."

"Alright, it does require a familiarization period." Fang Hao glanced at Zhou Senlin, then at Chen Hu. "
The Anti-Corruption Bureau seems to have discovered some clues. Why don't you two talk first?"

Zhou Senlin put down his teacup.

"I'm very happy today. Seeing young people taking on heavy responsibilities gives us hope for our cause. We
discovered some clues by chance. While further verifying the evidence of Jiao Dongfang
's crimes, we unexpectedly found that one of the US dollars he gave to Xiaoyu was counterfeit..."

Jiao Xiaoyu couldn't help but interject:

"This is strange?"

"You see, even the case handler, Jiao Xiaoyu, is surprised. No one expected there to be
counterfeit US dollars among them. This counterfeit dollar was
taken by . It had a serial number. He Ke wrote down the numbers, thus confirming that the counterfeit dollar came from
He Qizhang's safe. Information from Guangdong provided that counterfeit dollars were used in smuggling transactions, and the overseas smugglers
were fooled, which led them to report the Honda Accord smuggling case to Guangdong. We certainly cannot prove any connection between the counterfeit dollars in He Qizhang's
safe and the counterfeit dollars used by the Guangdong smuggling group, nor can we
rule out such a connection. A few days ago, the Forget-Me-Not Appliances Mall caught fire, and Chen Hu made another discovery by chance.
Let Chen Hu talk about the specific details."

"Let me state my position first. I guarantee that I will do my job well under the leadership of the task force leader and the two deputy leaders.
Tie Liang is my old classmate, and we have worked together very well in the past. I believe we will work together well in the future. Comrade Jiao Xiaoyu, we used
to be together, and now we are working together again. The only difference is that the leader and the subordinate have switched
positions. To be honest, I am very happy."

Fang Hao laughed out loud:

"Chen Hu's statement is good, he has the demeanor of a general. Unity is strength.

" Director Zhou assigned me to investigate the source of the counterfeit US dollars. At that time, I did not know that Jiang Yuexiu was involved in
the smuggling of Honda Accords, but I knew that she and He Kedai were once engaged. Under Tie Liang's arrangement, I contacted her
once and did not find anything special. But many items in the Forget-Me-Not Appliances Mall were priced lower than the market price, and
I suspected that there might be counterfeit goods among them. On the night of the fire, I went to the scene with Tie Liang. Tie Liang rushed into the fire to rescue Jiang
"Yuexiu. When I rushed in, I found Tieliang unconscious in Jiang Yuexiu's office. Now it seems
Jiang Yuexiu was already dead. The safe door was half open, and I glanced inside, perhaps instinctively,
and found two metal plates. I took one out and realized it was a US dollar printing plate, the front of a $100
bill . I put it in my pocket. The
connection between this printing plate and the counterfeit dollars we found hasn't been technically determined yet. I wonder if the police and fire department
found ?"

Tao Tieliang shook his head and said,

"I was responsible for cleaning up the fire scene three times, along with fire department personnel. We didn't find anything in the safe in
Jiang Yuexiu 's office. Chen Hu, this is the first time I've heard you
found a US dollar printing plate in Jiang Yuexiu's safe. What denomination did you say it was?"

"A hundred dollars."

"Sniff, you said it's a $100 printing plate. Such a significant discovery, why didn't you report it to
the police ?" "This should be within the jurisdiction of the Public Security Bureau,"

Zhou Senlin interjected.

"Chen Hu reported this to me at the time. It was my mistake not to report the situation to the Public Security Bureau in time."

"Chen Hu, when you took a US dollar printing plate from the safe, was anyone around?"

"You were unconscious, and there was no one else around."

"Chen Hu, several criminal police officers came in afterward. Did you tell them about this?" "

No. At the time, I was only focused on rescuing you and Jiang Yuexiu from the fire scene. That was my mistake."

"A mistake? No one can prove that you took the evidence from the scene, so your evidence has no legal
validity. The search procedure was illegal, and it's hard to say whether the court can accept illegally seized evidence.
You shouldn't have made such a mistake. I may have been a bit harsh, but we are old classmates, please
forgive me." Chen

Hu opened his mouth, then swallowed back what he wanted to say.

Fang Hao listened attentively to both sides' statements. Ji Tao maintained a serious expression.

Jiao Xiaoyu felt that Tao Tieliang's criticism of Chen Hu was a bit harsh, but unassailable.

Tao Tieliang smiled apologetically and said,

"If what I said was inappropriate, Chen Hu is welcome to criticize. The Municipal Bureau is implementing the rule of law, and we, the public security, procuratorate, and court, must
first establish our own concept of the rule of law. Of course, if
it is true that Chen Hu found the US dollar printing plate in Jiang Yuexiu's safe, it is indeed a major discovery, and we can investigate along this clue."

The meeting reached a stalemate. Fang Hao broke the deadlock.

"The Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Public Security Bureau, due to their different powers, handle their own cases, which has some drawbacks. Chen Hu
taking the evidence at the fire scene was a special circumstance at the time, and it is understandable. Comrade Tieliang's attitude is scientific and
serious . If we cannot provide more sufficient evidence that the US dollar printing plate is indeed Jiang Yuexiu's property,
then the legal effect of using this US dollar printing plate as evidence is gone. Therefore, at present, it can only be a clue for solving the case."
I suggest the task force work in three areas. First, regarding the Honda Accord smuggling, check with the Municipal Transportation Bureau to see if they
issued license plates for these cars. Who purchased these cars and through what channels? Second, interrogate
Jiao Dongfang . He Qizhang and Jiang Yuexiu are dead; Jiao Dongfang should know some information. As far as I know, the Horizon
Hotel's fleet has over a dozen Honda Accords. It shouldn't be difficult to find out if they are from the same batch. Third,
continue tracing the printing plates for the $100 bills. Chen Hu said there was one printing plate in the safe; surely the other printing plate
hasn't disappeared? We need to find its whereabouts. At the same time,
we need to determine as soon as possible whether the counterfeit dollars already discovered were printed using the discovered printing plates. Vice Minister Ji, what do you think of this approach? "

I completely agree with Secretary Fang's analysis and approach. Shouldn't your task force further
refine and come up with an investigation plan?"

Fang Hao looked at Jiao Xiaoyu and said with a smile,

"Comrade Xiaoyu, Tie Liang has spoken, and Chen Hu has also spoken. What are your thoughts?"

Jiao Xiaoyu smiled sheepishly. “

I couldn’t even do a good job assisting Chen Hu in the past, how could I dare to lead him?”

“No, no,” Fang Hao shook his head, “That’s not a good idea. You’re representing a higher authority in
leadership work; you should dare to give orders. Tie Liang is good; he didn’t hold back because he’s an old classmate and friend of Chen Hu
.”

“Then let me share my immature thoughts, please don’t laugh at me. I think the Forget-Me-Not Appliances Mall should
be the focus of the investigation. The US dollar printing plate was found in Jiang Yuexiu’s safe; could there be other informants?
Is the loss of the other US dollar printing plate related to the fire? Was it premeditated? Is the Forget-Me-Not Mall
operating illegally? If so, is it related to the smuggling case? We should rely on the employees of the Forget-Me-Not Mall
to conduct a thorough and detailed investigation.”

Zhou Senlin said with satisfaction,

“Hmm, Xiaoyu is much more mature now, she’s got the air of a deputy team leader. With Xiaoyu’s suggestion, our
investigation plan has a general framework.”

The meeting lasted three hours. The tasks were divided: Tao Tieliang was in charge of overall coordination and unified command; Chen Hu was responsible for
tracing the US dollar printing plates; Jiao Xiaoyu was responsible for investigating the Horizon Hotel and the Transportation Bureau; Zhou Senlin led a group
to investigate the Forget-Me-Not Electronics Mall.

The task force's office was located inside the Public Security Bureau's guesthouse.

After the meeting, at the entrance of the Municipal Party Committee, Jiao Xiaoyu called out to Chen Hu, who was walking side by side with Zhou Senlin.

"Chen Hu! Wait for me."

Zhou Senlin turned around and said,

"Xiaoyu, the moment you called, I won the bet."

"What happened?"

"Chen Hu and I were just talking about you. I said that after the meeting, when you got into the car, Jiao Xiaoyu would call you, but he
didn't believe me. So we made a bet."

Jiao Xiaoyu's eyes widened with curiosity.

"Really? Is it that accurate?"

Chen Hu scratched his scar and said,

"That's how it is. The moment you called, I knew I had lost."

"What did you bet on?"

"Whoever loses treats everyone to dinner."

Jiao Xiaoyu proudly raised her head. "

Then I'm in luck. No matter who wins, I've gotten a free meal. Chen Hu, where should we have the meal?"

"You pick the place."

"Let's go to a Japanese restaurant; the private rooms have a great ambiance."

Pale green tatami mats, pale green walls, a pale green sliding door wardrobe, a long black kang table with
exquisite square porcelain tableware on it, several small wooden lattice lights scattering light from the ceiling,
sliding , and a lady in a kimono. The quiet, peaceful, and exotic atmosphere of the private room exudes a dignified elegance amidst its simplicity.

The lady in the kimono filled three wine glasses with warm sake.

Chen Hu raised his glass.

"A toast to Xiaoyu's inauguration as deputy team leader."

"That's a good suggestion, Xiaoyu, we'll drink to you."

Jiao Xiaoyu smiled shyly.

"Don't tease me. Director Zhou, Chen Hu, a toast to the three of us being together again."

Wang Zhi's pale green porcelain glasses clinked together.

“Xiaoyu,” Zhou Senlin put down his wine glass, “I not only predicted that you would call out to Chen Hu today, but I
also predicted what you were going to say.”

“Really? Director Zhou, you should become a fortune teller.”

Zhou Senlin lit a cigarette, took a few thoughtful puffs, and said,

“Xiaoyu, I know everything you’re thinking. Tie Liang was promoted to director and also became the head of the special task force. You’re
the deputy head. You’re worried that Chen Hu can’t handle the drop in status, so you want to comfort him, right?”

Jiao Xiaoyu lowered her head and remained silent, but when she looked up, her eyes were already moist.

Chen Hu picked up the pale green porcelain wine pot, filled Jiao Xiaoyu and Zhou Senlin’s glasses with wine, and also filled his own.

“Xiaoyu, this arrangement is quite normal. Although unexpected, it makes sense. The counterfeit US dollars are a criminal
case, and the Honda Accord is a smuggling case. The Public Security Bureau and the anti-smuggling team should bear the main responsibility for the investigation, while the Anti-Corruption Bureau
only handles the part involving official corruption. Therefore, I think the arrangement of the team leader and deputy team leader is
reasonable. My statement at the meeting was sincere; I am happy for Tieliang's promotion, and I am also happy for you entering the command level of the case
investigation .”

“Chen Hu,” Jiao Xiaoyu raised her glass, “Come on, this time, let's toast to your open-mindedness.”

Zhou Senlin raised his glass and said,

“I also agree with this proposal. Cheers.”

“Thank you, but I accept your thanks,” Chen Hu said, raising his glass.

The three glasses clinked together again.
Jiao Xiaoyu smiled sheepishly and said,

"To be honest, when Tie Liang criticized you, I was afraid you'd lose face. Tie Liang's tone was a bit harsh, but
I think he's right. Legally speaking, there are some problems with you concealing evidence and not reporting it in a timely manner. Chen Hu,
tell me the truth, is there some difficulty on your part?"

"No difficulty, but I am in a bit of a predicament. Director Jiang was still on the stage at the time, and Jiang Yuexiu is his daughter.
I had some concerns about reporting the discovery of the US dollar printing plate to the Public Security Bureau. To put it more bluntly, I was worried that
the Public Security Bureau would improperly cut off this lead. So I wanted to wait until there was more evidence and found another US dollar printing plate before
publicly bringing it up."

Jiao Xiaoyu winked playfully, poured drinks for Chen Hu and herself, but not for Zhou Senlin.

"Chen Hu, this drink is just for the two of us, not including Director Zhou, a one-on-one individual coaching session. Come on, bottoms up, I have
something to ask you."

Zhou Senlin picked up a piece of sashimi.

"Okay, I'm out of the game. You guys drink, I'll eat."

Jiao Xiaoyu toasted Chen Hu.

"Chen Hu, tell me everything you're hiding. Don't put me in a passive position later. You
don't distrust me, do you?"

"Hmm, the deputy team leader's got his cards on the table." Chen Hu smiled, scratching his scar.

"Chen Hu, a good teacher produces a good student. The moment you scratch my scar, I knew you had a plan.
Who's involved in this case is still uncertain. If you try to withhold information from me, I'll resign as deputy team leader. I'm not bluffing, I have
absolutely no confidence. I really don't want to take this job."

"You mean you want me to confess everything?"

"More or less."

"Alright, I'll confess. I'll try to get leniency. What I'm keeping are some immature ideas,
some inferences without evidence. He Kedai once mentioned a man called Wang Zhongwang. It's a nickname, of course,
but only someone omnipotent deserves the title. He Qizhang has also heard of this person, though he doesn't seem to know him personally, but he's wary of Wang Zhongwang
and has told He Kedai to stay away from him. Who is Wang Zhongwang that even someone as high-ranking as
He Qizhang can he? He Qizhang
mentioned Wang Zhongwang when he was having He Kedai write down the dollar bill serial numbers, so I suspect there's a special connection between Wang Zhongwang and counterfeit dollars. I haven't even seen
a trace However, I cannot bring this up for discussion hastily. The second point of doubt is the missing dollar printing plate. Was it a
case of opportunistic looting or a premeditated theft using the fire? I believe that if I hadn't taken one of the printing plates,
both would have been lost, and a major crime of printing counterfeit dollars would have been covered up by the fire. Everyone says
we are in the fifth wave of crime, characterized by increasing sophistication, violence, and organized crime.
The sudden fire, the counterfeit dollars, and the Honda Accord smuggling all conform to this pattern. Not to mention armed
bank robberies, armed interceptions of train passengers, bridge bombings, and the assassination of leaders—these are all heinous crimes. Against this
backdrop , we... Could their opponent be a minor player? The third point of suspicion concerns
Ms. Wu Aikun, the chairwoman of the board of directors of Wuwangwo Electrical Appliances Mall. Tie Liang claims she is someone's goddaughter, which we cannot verify; it's better to err on the side of
caution. However, I have verified one thing: the forget-me-nots Ms. Wu offered at He Qizhang's tombstone
were placed before it. What inexplicable connection does Ms. Wu have with He Qizhang that makes her
so deeply devoted ? As the chairwoman of the board, was she aware of the US dollar printing plates in Jiang Yuexiu's safe?
Was she aware of He Qizhang's smuggling of Honda Accords? There is no evidence to accuse Wu Aikun; it can't be
based solely on a bouquet of forget-me-nots. "I suspect she's committed a crime. That's why I didn't mention it at the meeting. Besides, who is she?
It would be terrible if word got out. Besides this suspicion, there's another matter, not insignificant, that I suggest we take
seriously. Director Zhou and I attended Jiang Yuexiu's memorial service. A male employee from the Forget-Me-Not Mall handed
Wu Aikun a letter protesting the dismissal of employees. As he was being wheeled out of the room, he shouted, 'Don't think
I don't know about your illegal business!' This person seems to know some internal information about the mall; we should question him. Both
deputy team leaders, they've truthfully confessed everything I know, including what I suspect. Treat them leniently, let me have a piece of fish."

Jiao Xiaoyu blurted out,

"If only you were the head of the special investigation team!"

Zhou Senlin hurriedly waved his chopsticks.

"This is the only thing you can't talk about. Otherwise, the three of us will be setting up a secret office again. We must
have a strong sense of organization; we can't conduct investigations outside of our designated organization. Chen Hu, although your ideas are immature, you still need to report them to
Tie Liang . Don't make the mistake of taking the US dollar printing plates again. Times have changed!"

"Okay, tonight, or at the latest tomorrow morning, I'll see him and report the truth."

They discussed the details further. When it was time to pay, Jiao Xiaoyu smiled and said,

"I've already paid."

"You haven't been out before, when did you pay?"

"As soon as I came in, I handed my card and ID to the counter."

Chen Hu casually remarked,

"You've changed a lot in just a few days. Xiaoyu, you're a cardholder now too."

"I have three cards: the Great Wall Card, the Peony Card, and the Dragon Card. Why are you so surprised? I didn't steal them
. Vice Minister Ji insisted on making me the legal representative of his subordinate, Longjin Import and Export Trade Consulting Company. The company gave me
three cards, and public relations expenses are paid from my cards. If you're ever craving something, just come to me."

"No wonder people say that having the power to sign contracts is the standard for having real power. Xiaoyu, it seems your
signing power is greater than mine, perhaps even greater than Director Zhou's."

"Chen Hu, don't tease me. I'm just worried that something might happen to the company. If something goes wrong, I, as the legal representative, will be in deep trouble
."

Zhou Senlin got off the tatami mat and put on his shoes.

“Xiaoyu, you hold three positions: secretary, deputy team leader, and legal representative of the company. There’s no precedent for this.
Running a company requires caution; being a legal representative isn’t easy. Chen Hu, you and Xiaoyu haven’t seen
each other in a long time. I’m reminding you, now it’s your turn to obey your superiors.”

Amidst laughter, they left the restaurant.

Zhou Senlin walked away alone.

“Please get in the car, Chairman Jiao.”

“Stop joking. ”

After Jiao Xiaoyu settled into the passenger seat, Chen Hu started the engine.

“Xiaoyu, things are back to normal, it’s so good. I’m driving, and you’re sitting next to me. I often dream of this
scene ; I thought I’d never have such days again. It feels so good to have you sitting next to me.”

Jiao Xiaoyu leaned her head against Chen Hu’s back and said emotionally,

“I often dream of this scene too. Chen Hu, can we really be together?”

“Why not? Of course we can.”

Jiao Xiaoyu gently stroked Chen Hu’s hand on the steering wheel and said,

“If it weren’t for the three of us forming a special task force, we wouldn’t have come together.” It seems like fate brought
us we broke up because of a case we solved together. Now that we're solving another
case together, I'm really afraid it'll cast another shadow over us!

The Cherokee drove away from the Japanese restaurant and onto the highway. Twenty minutes later, Chen Hu parked the car in the park.

"I knew you'd drive to this old spot."

"Ugh, you can predict everything?"

Jiao Xiaoyu's lips curled up.

"Don't I know you? You're a conservative person, lacking in new ideas in life. So you keep going in circles
and end up back in the same old place."

"Hmm, your analysis makes sense. Xiaoyu, you are my old spot." "

Perhaps by chance, perhaps unintentionally, they sat down again on the bench where they had their first date.
Unlike , there was no hesitation, no reserve, no lingering, no pondering. Chen Hu immediately pulled Jiao Xiaoyu
into his arms and kissed her deeply.

Jiao Xiaoyu put her tongue into Chen Hu's mouth, and at the same time, she put it into the spring of her heart.

Hot, desire-filled hands reached for Jiao Xiaoyu's bra, but were blocked by the tight bra. Jiao Xiaoyu turned over and
unhooked her bra herself, revealing her elastic breasts...

Chapter 55 Exchanging Official Hats, Alliance Under the City, Ghostly Signs, Dividing Road Markers.

Tao Tieliang walked out of the dormitory building, took out his keys, opened the car door, got into the Desert King, and
drove towards the Municipal Public Security Bureau Guesthouse.

The Desert King drove into an alley. Tao Tieliang felt movement behind him and was about to turn around when a gun barrel was pressed against
the back of his head.

"Don't turn around. If you don't obey, I'll kill you. Pull the car over to the side."

Tao Tieliang wasn't flustered. As he parked, he said, "

You've gone too far, friend. Do you know who I am?"

"Don't turn around. Of course I know who you are, Tao Tieliang, the newly appointed acting director of the Public Security Bureau."

The car stopped on the right side of the alley.

"How did you get in?"

"Your car. I can come in whenever I want. Changing the locks won't help. You think you can hold
your own against the Public Security Bureau chief? You should know how you got this position. Thank you for
transferring the US dollars from the Forget-Me-Not Mall to us. Without that, you wouldn't be the chief. I also know you're about to
interrogate Jiao Dongfang. That's why I'm here."

"Who are you?"

"One of us. Ever heard of Wang Zhongwang?"

"Never heard of it."

"Liar. Chen Hu even asked you about Wang Zhongwang. Don't turn around, I am Wang Zhongwang."

Tao Tieliang tried to check the rearview mirror in the driver's seat to see who was pointing a gun at him, only to find that the mirror had been flipped over and
he couldn't see anything. "

Speak," he said, "I don't care if you're Wang Zhongwang or not. I think you're at best Wang Zhongwang's henchman, if
there really is a Wang Zhongwang. What do you want with me?"

"Listen carefully," Tao Tieliang continued, "when you interrogate Jiao Dongfang, do as I say. First, take out a white-filtered
cigarette, hold it between the first joint of your right middle and index fingers, light it by striking it twice with a match,
take two puffs, and then put it out. After a few minutes, take out a yellow-filtered cigarette and light it with a lighter."

"Is this the rendezvous code?"

"Yes, it's the rendezvous code."

"Who am I meeting with?"

"Jiao Dongfang."

"Him?"

"Your old rival, right? From now on, you're not old rivals, you're friends."

"After making contact, what else is there?" "

I'll give you a cigarette with hidden developing fluid inside. Find an opportunity to give it to Jiao Dongfang.
You can only smoke a few puffs; no one will notice. Hint this to Jiao Dongfang. Understand?"

"Why do you think I'll do as you say?"

"Because you already did as Wang Zhongwang instructed. You transferred the dollars, and you secretly arrested Shen Dongyang."
"Because without Wang Zhongwang's help, you wouldn't have become the bureau chief. Also, remember this: if you betray Wang Zhongwang
, don't follow orders, or expose this, I guarantee you'll be in jail the next day, rotting away in
a cell for the rest of your life. Conversely, if you handle things well, it won't be long before the 'acting' title for you is removed. Understand?"

"I doubt you have that much power."

"You'd better believe me, lest you regret it. In officialdom, cliques form, it's a life-or-death struggle, you should understand that. Don't
try any tricks; I know everything about your womanizing, bribery, and corruption. You're no longer a people's policeman; you're
a disgrace . When we meet again, don't pretend to be a gentleman in front of me. Drive, slow down at the intersection. You'll
find a cigarette case in the back seat; give it to Jiao Dongfang."

Desert King slowed down at the intersection.

"Don't look back."

The person in the back seat quickly got out of the car and disappeared into the crowd. Only

then did Tao Tieliang realize that his chest and back were covered in a layer of cold sweat. He wasn't afraid of a stranger's gun. He
knew that the Chinese underworld always operated by firing guns from the shadows—shooting without speaking, speaking without shooting. Pointing a gun at you meant they wanted
to make a deal. What made him break out in a cold sweat was that the stranger completely possessed high-level secrets, and his future and fate
were completely controlled by someone else—that was the most dangerous thing.

His palms were sweaty, and he was slipping on the steering wheel. He didn't know where to drive the Desert King. The bustling
streets... His eyes had become a desert devoid of distinction and direction. Was the director's office at the Municipal Public Security Bureau,
the head of the Honda Accord task force, the place he should be? He was confused. No, this wouldn't do.
He needed to think things through calmly; this was a matter of great importance, one wrong step and everything would be lost!

Tao Tieliang parked his car in front of the Western-style bar on the bar street. The bar was closed in the morning, and there were no
customers. He knocked on the glass door with a wooden sign that read "Closed Now." A long-haired
young man ; he was the owner of the Western-style bar, nicknamed Alibaba.

"Yo, Director Tao, so early in the morning..."

"Enough nonsense, I'll rest here for a bit."

Alibaba ushered Tao Tieliang into the bar, decorated in an American Western style, and yawned, saying,

"You've arrived home, sir. Whether you sit on the bar stool or the sofa, it's up to you. There are no girls
to keep you company. You can choose your own liquor, that's up to you too. I won't keep you company. I didn't go to sleep until after four last night." Okay,
just slam the door shut when you leave. Alibaba

disappeared behind the lounge, leaving Tao Tieliang alone in the bar that could accommodate nearly a hundred people.

Tao Tieliang walked to the lounge, found a case of soda water for mixing drinks, and placed it heavily on the bar counter. He
sat on a high bar stool, took several cans of soda water from the case, opened the caps slightly, and
took several sips.

The icy soda water, fizzy and smooth, entered his stomach, gradually calming his restless thoughts. He
repeatedly asked himself two questions: Is this true? Can this be done?

Years of experience as a criminal investigator had made him acquainted with many underworld figures, some of whom had become his informants;
Alibaba was one of them.

He knew that a criminal investigator's resources depended on how many informants he had in the underworld.

Informants were active in various fields, possessed vast amounts of information, and each had their own sphere of influence.

Once a case occurred, they could uncover the truth immediately; criminal investigators almost couldn't do without them.

They created opportunities for criminal investigators to solve cases and earn merit; the criminal investigators treated them with special care, making them… They would reduce or waive legal
punishment; in return, they would reward the criminal police, ranging from small bribes to gifts like cars and houses.

Therefore, Tao Tieliang
never , only reminding them not to go too far. During the reform and opening up, everyone was busy accumulating wealth, but police officers
couldn't do business or take on side jobs. Not only were they facing near-death experiences in serious cases, but they also worked tirelessly day and night
, sacrificing their own lives. Taking a little bribery was considered a bonus.

Which country's police force hasn't had such a history, especially in China where it was so poor and overworked? Once, when
Jiang Dabing was about to punish a criminal police officer who had gotten into trouble for taking bribes, Tao Tieliang stepped forward and took the blame himself.
As a result, his subordinates all respected him even when he scolded them.

Only once did he lose his temper: a policeman joked in conversation, saying, "The government pays our salaries, and
the underworld pays us bonuses." Tao Tieliang slapped the policeman twice across the face, cursing:
"Don't act innocent after getting a good deal,"

he thought. The person pointing a gun at him wasn't from the underworld. Even if they had six times the guts,
they wouldn't dare point a gun at the police chief's head—they'd be finished!

But they weren't from the legitimate world either. People in officialdom have their own rules for dealing with the underworld. Knives and guns are
the work of the underworld; a few words can kill you. Or they can use the state apparatus to
take , without resorting to masked bandit tricks.

Tao Tieliang was truly confused.

He couldn't tell if the person was from the underworld or the legitimate world. But one thing he was clear about was that this person, or rather,
the person who sent him, possessed high-level secrets, even knowing about the latest plan to interrogate Jiao Dongfang.
And only the nine people in the special task force knew about this plan.

Jiao Xiaoyu?

Possibly, it involved her brother, and she had a vested interest. Zhou Senlin? Also possible, he was Jiao Pengyuan
's confidant, someone he had personally promoted.

Fang Hao? It's also possible that he's adept at political maneuvering and will always remain undefeated.

Ji Tao? It's also possible that he holds a high position and controls the overall situation. Jiang Dabing, who wasn't included in the task force?
It's also possible that he has a deep father-daughter relationship with Jiang Yuexiu.

The other three members of the task force? It's also possible that anyone who can reach this level cannot be without a background;
after the plan was leaked,

who knows who would strike first? Moreover, the faction of Jiao Pengyuan and his son Jiao Dongfang has only revealed the tip of the iceberg; who knows
how many ?

The one Tao Tieliang excluded was Chen Hu. He firmly believed that Chen Hu was an upright and law-abiding cadre, someone
who hated evil and would never be involved in any disciplinary or legal violations, not even daring to do things like picking up girls or digging holes.

Tao Tieliang took out a cigarette from the pack; there was only this one 555 brand cigarette. It was
indistinguishable , except that the filter was harder, obviously containing a small medicine bottle.

The hidden writing developer reminded him that what had just happened was not a dream, but a very real danger. Once...
If I hand this cigarette to Jiao Dongfang, I'll be accused of colluding with him, of being an accomplice in his criminal activities, and there's no turning
back.

Should I refuse to carry out Wang Zhongwang's orders, or simply confess everything to the organization?

No, that would be the end of my future; at the very least, I couldn't be the bureau chief anymore. No, I can't say anything. Yes, I 'll
stall for time, silently stall for time.

Wang Zhongwang won't kill me just because I'm stalling. If they report me, it'll be difficult
to find .

Tao Tieliang got off the high stool and left the bar.

Tao Tieliang went to the Honda Accord task force office in the city bureau's guesthouse and found Chen Hu already waiting for him.

"Tie Liang, why do you look so pale? Are you sick?"

"Nothing. Maybe it's from staying up late. Chen Hu, you don't need to come here every day. You have
a lot of work to do at the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The special task force is just a temporary organization, and I won't be coming here all the time. This isn't a big
case; a few staff members can handle it. Do you think I really dare to order you around?
Don't take my position as the team leader too seriously."

"Tie Liang, I really did come to report to Xu."

"Don't scold me. Report to me? You're shortening my lifespan. I'll be content if you scold me less. I understand the principle of not forgetting
friendships made in . If there's nothing important, let's have some tea. If there is, I'm all ears."

Chen Hu truthfully recounted his thoughts about the meal in Japan. However, he didn't mention having dinner with Zhou Senlin and Jiao Xiaoyu
, fearing it might cause Tao Tie Liang to misunderstand.

Tao Tie Liang secretly admired Chen Hu's keen observation. Unfortunately, if he continued investigating like this, his own secrets
would be exposed.

"Hmm, Chen Hu, your reasoning is interesting. But ultimately it's reasoning, not evidence. You
should switch ."

"Tie Liang, do you know where that person who caused trouble at the funeral is?"

"I don't even know his name." "

I finally found out his name, Shen Dongyang. I went to the Forget-Me-Not Electronics Mall, and
there were hardly any people left, only a few staff. They didn't know where Shen Dongyang went either. I
remember a few people pushed him out of the venue, and it seemed like one of them was from the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Could he have
been detained?"

"That's easy to check. Call the police station, the detention center, you'll know the result. If he's detained,
there will definitely be a record. Do you think that Shen something-or-other has any value?"

"I'm not sure. He should know something about the inside of the mall, right?"

"Old classmate, not to discourage you, but what inside information could a sales clerk possibly know? It's nothing more than
a labor dispute. We're not a labor arbitration body; we don't have time for these trivial matters. In my opinion,
we should focus on two people. One is He Kedai; he should know something about his father's affairs, and he himself
is a prime suspect. Organize a team to investigate his company. The second is Jiao Dongfang. The Horizon Hotel's fleet alone has
over a dozen Honda Accords. We simply don't have the energy for that kind of risky, half-hearted approach. Recently, criminal cases
have been on the rise, so I need to focus my main efforts on serious criminal cases. Criminals with guns are always more dangerous than those
without . Smuggling cases don't really have much to do with the police or anti-corruption efforts. Let Xiaoyu handle the arrests;
that's her job. If you have nothing else to do, I'm heading back to the station. I'm struggling to solve several major cases with deadlines."

"That's settled then. I've done what I had to do. Tieliang, you need to take care of yourself too. There's an old saying: before thirty,
people look for illness; after thirty, illness looks for people. We're well past the age where illness looks for people."

"Thank you. Take it easy too."

Chen Hu left the task force office.

Tao Tieliang closed the door, locked it from the inside, returned to the sofa, took out the 555
cigarette case containing only one cigarette, carefully took out the cigarette, and examined it closely.

Yellow tobacco could be seen from the end; it smelled like tobacco. Its softness and elasticity
were indistinguishable from a real cigarette. Only near the filter and the filter tip, when squeezed, could one feel
something . Tao Tieliang guessed it might be a small plastic bottle.

He thought, the Chinese underworld couldn't possibly make something like this; it must be a product of the CIA,
Scotland Yard, Mossad, or the KGB.

In China, only powerful institutions have the authority to import such things. Could it be that Zhengzhong Wang is someone within the public security, procuratorate, and judicial system?
Tao Tieliang smiled coldly. It seemed that corruption in the public security, procuratorate, and judicial system wasn't just at the grassroots level; the upper levels also had problems.

This judgment restored his confidence. Being able to communicate with corrupt officials at the top and become part of their ranks
might be a good thing. Not only would he be protected by them, but he could also be given important positions.

The upper levels always need the middle levels, and the middle levels always need the grassroots. Whoever can adapt to the current political system will survive
well . Only a fool like Chen Hu would dare to confront the flaws of the system

head-on. The darkest place is under the lamp! Tao Tieliang felt he had suddenly grasped the essence of things, and his sense of guilt vanished instantly
.

He understood that those who govern and those who are governed possess two seemingly identical, but actually completely different, moral standards and values. Within the ranks of those who govern, all exchanges are naked; while those who govern appear to be shimmering with the illusion of truth in the eyes
of those who are governed . He was glad he had finally stepped out of the camouflage of truth and was using the secret writing potion to advance towards the position of those who govern. Jiao Dongfang appeared before him with a mocking smile, and Tao Tieliang gasped. This is the man who took my sister Lingling's life, and my mission is to save him, to save the murderer who is responsible for my sister's death! The betrayal of his sister torments Tao Tieliang more than the betrayal of the truth. Truth is abstract; a vibrant young life was reduced to ashes by Jiao Dongfang's conspiracy. From any perspective, this is a deep-seated hatred! Tao Suling's figure appeared before Tao Tieliang, standing opposite Jiao Dongfang. Pointing at Jiao Dongfang, she said to Tao Tieliang : "Brother! Brother! To keep your position as bureau chief, to climb to a higher position, you helped this criminal? Are you still my brother? Are you even human? Lingling, I had no choice! I had no choice! You colluded with Jiao Dongfang; not only will the Party and the people judge you, but I will judge you too! I will make sure you never have peace ! Lingling, you are already dead; the dead cannot be brought back to life. Even if I kill Jiao Dongfang, you cannot be brought back to life."

If I don't do as they ask, I'll be utterly disgraced. Do you want to see me fall so low?
It wasn't easy for me to reach the position of bureau chief, Lingling. I can't let you ruin my future and my life!
Even if I'm ruined, you can't come back to life!

Brother, you're a spineless coward! You have no backbone!

Lingling, can life be lived without compromise? This isn't my fault, it's the system's fault! I know I'm completely under
their control; I'm just their puppet. I can't decide my own fate.

Brother, you've disappointed me so much! I'm dead, but my soul will suffer with you!

Lingling, I'm sorry for making you suffer. Actually, I wasn't going to save Jiao Dongfang, and they weren't saving
Jiao Dongfang

you understand that those who want to use you are a bunch of bad people? You can't be complicit with them! Sister

, dear sister, your mind is as simple as Chen Hu's. If you hadn't died, you and Chen Hu would have been a perfect
match. Can you honestly say which person on stage is a bad guy? As long as they're on stage, they're always good. Once they're off stage, even good guys become
bad. You and Chen Hu have the same problem: mistaking the camouflage of truth for truth
itself. Actually, it's just camouflage! A disguise for others! Don't be foolish anymore. I'm worried about Chen Hu too; if he continues
like this , he'll eventually suffer a terrible fate!

Brother, I won't allow you to have bad intentions towards Chen Hu. You can't harm him to protect yourself!

He's my old classmate, my old friend, and almost became my brother-in-law. No matter how bad I am, I can't hurt him!
Chen Hu is a good person, and I cherish our friendship. Don't worry, I'll protect him from harm. I'm worried others
will try to harm him! Lingling, believe me, and please bless Chen Hu too. Please don't let us clash. I
'm afraid that one day Chen Hu and I will be irreconcilable enemies, locked in a decisive battle.

Brother, it's time; I have to go back. It's so cold under the tombstone. Don't let one wrong step lead to eternal regret!

Tao Suling vanished in a wisp of smoke.

Jiao Dongfang sneered: "Tao Tieliang, you're not stupid enough to listen to your sister's nonsense, are you? Your current
position is so prominent, so important. If you enter the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee, you'll be even more formidable! Only the King of Kings can make
your wishes come true. Killing your sister was accidental; I was after Chen Hu. I didn't expect your sister to die for Chen Hu.
Be a good boy. I'll be waiting for you to bring me the secret writing solution at Anling Prison. "

Just then, the phone on the desk rang. Tao Tieliang calmed himself and picked up the phone.

"Hello, who is it?"

"Is Director Tao here?"

Tao Tieliang recognized the voice of the stranger who had pointed a gun at him.

"This is me. Who are you?"

"We just met, have you forgotten? Director Tao, I counted, you drank six cans of soda at the Western Grand Bar.
Be careful, too much cold water can cause diarrhea. Just saying hello. I'll treat you to dinner in a few days."

The other party hung up.

They even knew this newly launched phone number; it couldn't be a stranger. Who could it be?
I don't even know how many cans of soda I drank. Did he count them? Does he know Alibaba?

Tao Tieliang dialed the Western Grand Bar's number, and after ringing for a long time, he finally heard Alibaba's voice.

"Who is it? In the middle of the night."

"It's me, Lao Tao. It's already 10:30."

"Director Tao, are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for me today? I'm still half asleep."

"Count how many soda cans are on the bar?"

"One, two, three, four, five, six. Six in total. What, should I put it on your tab?"

"Stop talking nonsense. Who went in just now?"

"No one. The main door was closed the whole time. I was sleeping in the back and didn't hear anything."

"Really?"

"If I dared to lie to you, I'd be asking for trouble."

"Never mind, keep dreaming."

Tao Tieliang hung up the phone. He thought to himself that this person must have a master key, or some other more sophisticated means
of easy access to Desert King and the bar.

Every move I made was under their surveillance; I had no other way out but to do as they asked.
Resist? I might lose my life. I had no other choice!

Longjin Import and Export Trade Consulting Company's Jiao Xiaoyu was given a brand new BMW. Jiao Xiaoyu said the BMW
was a luxury car, exceeding the central government's regulations for official vehicles. General Manager Wei Ming explained that the company was not
a government agency, and business vehicles were not subject to central regulations; moreover, the car's class was related to the company's image, and they couldn't compromise.
Jiao Xiaoyu had no choice but to accept the BMW, but only used it for business trips related to the company.

Jiao Xiaoyu only came to the company on Monday mornings to attend the general manager's office meeting and sign relevant documents.
The rest of the time she worked as a secretary in Ji Tao's office. After becoming the deputy head of the Honda Accord project team, she frequently used the BMW
to reduce travel time. This was approved by Ji Tao, as Jiao Xiaoyu
was only a division-level cadre in the government and did not have a company car.

After driving the BMW, Jiao Xiaoyu began to understand the intricacies of government agencies running companies or having companies affiliated with them.

Under legal conditions, the existence of the company provided the government with considerable convenience, not only in terms of exceeding vehicle
standards , but also in leveraging the government's advantages to often occupy a monopolistic position in business operations; without their company, your
business couldn't be done.

The company's main business is assisting with import and export permits, and sometimes transferring the right to use those permits.

All import and export quotas are controlled by the government, so the company's business is thriving, requiring little effort from her as
chairman .

She set strict rules for herself, refusing to accept gifts as small as a pack of cigarettes, a bottle of wine, or a lipstick,
let alone money.

The first document she oversaw after taking office, distributed to every employee, explicitly declared that no department or
employee could accept bribes or violate national policies and regulations (Employee Code of Conduct).

However, she still felt somewhat uneasy. She signed the bonus disbursement slip, and 1.56
million bonuses was withdrawn from the company's accounts and handed over to the superior finance department. Providing monthly bonuses to higher authorities
was a routine business for the company.

She also signed off on a 2.4 million yuan subsidy for renovating the homes of retired cadres, money
the government couldn't provide.

She consulted Ji Tao, who verbally replied that it should be handled according to past procedures. The expenses for banquets hosted by higher authorities…
She transferred the invoices to the company for reimbursement. Jiao Xiaoyu knew that almost all government agencies operated and
used their affiliated companies this way, but she wasn't sure. She twice offered to resign as chairman to Ji Tao.

Ji Tao smiled and said, "Changing the chairman requires approval from the Industry and Commerce Bureau, and the procedures are complicated. Your position is lucrative
; many people want it. I only let you do it because you're honest. I wouldn't trust anyone else."

She had no choice but to grit her teeth and continue.

Jiao Xiaoyu parked her BMW in the office building parking lot and entered the building. She was there to attend
a negotiation for an important business deal.

Two men were already waiting in the company's negotiation room. One was tall and thin, the other short and stout. As soon as Jiao Xiaoyu entered,
the two men stood up.

General Manager Wei Ming introduced, "This is our Chairman Jiao, this is Li Jingsheng,
the director , and this is Deputy Director Gao Ming. Please have a seat."

Li Jingsheng firmly grasped Jiao Xiaoyu's hand and said,

"I really didn't expect Chairman Jiao to be so young, only in her twenties, remarkable, remarkable!"

"Please sit, Director Li. I'm not very familiar with the company's business. Our General Manager Wei is in charge of the company's business. Have
your discussions made any progress?"

Wei Ming said modestly,

"Chairman Jiao makes the decisions, and I'm responsible for the execution. Chairman, have you read the 6036 document?"

"I've read it carefully. According to the document, Project 60361 is an important
project concerning the modernization of the military. They want our assistance. What can we do?"

"Chairman Jiao is indeed shrewd and capable," Li Jingsheng gave a thumbs up, "She grasped the crux of the matter immediately."
"Project 6036 is crucial to the modernization of the military. We're currently discussing assisting us in importing communication equipment.
Because this is a classified project, we don't want to entrust it to an ordinary company. It's also inappropriate for us to handle it ourselves,
as the US restricts the use of these materials in the Chinese military; they're imposing a technology blockade on us. Therefore, we hope
you can arrange for a reliable company with import/export rights to handle all the procedures and provide convenience in customs clearance."

Jiao Xiaoyu looked at the seven or eight approval documents laid out in front of her and said,

"Are the approval documents from the supervisor and relevant departments complete?"

"Completely complete. It's just that we haven't found an import company for the communication equipment yet.
Once you arrange it, we'll submit the contract, get the leader's approval, and that will complete all the procedures."

"This matter is of great importance, and I also need to report to the supervisor. I hope you can understand."

Gao Ming's expression remained serious, maintaining an imposing solemnity. He said unhurriedly,

"Chairman Jiao, the military region leaders have already informed Vice Minister Ji of the situation."

Wei Ming chimed in,

"Vice Minister Ji has given instructions to support the modernization of the military and to provide assistance as much as possible."

Jiao Xiaoyu looked at Wei Ming and asked,

"Did Vice Minister Ji give written instructions?"

"No written instructions, he gave me an oral instruction over the phone. An oral instruction is also a form of instruction. The leaders
never give written instructions on specific business matters; you should know that."

From Wei Ming's unquestionable tone, Jiao Xiaoyu understood that Ji Tao must have given instructions, and Wei Ming couldn't possibly be passing on a false order.

"Since Vice Minister Ji has given instructions, we should of course carry them out. President Wei, can we find such a
reliable company?"

'Fake question. We have two companies in Guangdong Province to choose from. If we negotiate this deal, we can receive
a 3% commission on the total import amount.'

"Isn't the usual rate 5% or 6%?" Jiao Xiaoyu asked skeptically.

Wei Ming smiled and said,

"To support the modernization of the military, it's only right that we lower the commission."

Li Jingsheng said cheerfully,

“Chairman Jiao is a real businessman! Three percent or another percentage point, it’s all negotiable. ” "Soldiers
are all straightforward. We'll give your factory half a percentage point outside the contract.

" "Thank you," Jiao Xiaoyu's smile faded. "Our company has strict regulations; we don't charge any special
fees. Mr. Wei, please continue. The final contract must comply with relevant national policies and regulations."

Jiao Xiaoyu stood up and said,

"Excuse me, I have other matters to attend to and must leave first."

Wei Ming said apologetically,

"I'm truly sorry. However, Chairman Jiao is indeed very busy; she recently took on the role of deputy head of a special task force.
Please have a seat, I'll escort the chairman back, and we'll continue our discussion. The chairman has already expressed her opinion, so it will be
easier for us to continue."

Li Jingsheng shook Jiao Xiaoyu's hand and said,

"Chairwoman Jiao holds multiple positions; she's truly a strong woman! I'm very pleased to meet you. Please come visit our
company when you have time, take a look, and offer your criticisms. We would warmly welcome you!"

"Director Li, you're too kind; I can't accept that. Okay, goodbye."

Jiao Xiaoyu shook hands with the two directors and left the negotiation room. Wei Mingyan came out, opened the document folder in his hand and said,

"Chairman, please sign and approve this report."

Jiao Xiaoyu picked up the report and looked at it carefully. It was a total of 30 million RMB, of which 9 million was to be transferred
to Longjin Company's account and the remaining 21 million was to be turned over to the central treasury.

"What kind of sum is this 30 million? And why was 9 million transferred to our company account?"

"Chairman, you're new here and not very familiar with the business yet. This is standard practice. The 30 million is fines and confiscations, and
9 million is transferred to the company account. Future case-handling expenses for higher authorities will come from this."

"That's not right, is it? Fines and confiscations should be fully turned over to the central treasury."

"That's why I said you're not familiar with the business yet. There's an unwritten rule in the public security, procuratorate, court, and judicial system that 30% of fines and confiscations can
be retained as rolling funds for future case handling. The administrative funds for case handling are severely insufficient;
we can't even afford plane tickets. How can we handle cases? Just approve it. I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong." "

Does Vice Minister Ji know about this sum?"

"Of course."

"Then how should I approve it?"

"Simple. Just write: 'This sum of 21 million is turned over to the treasury, 9 million to Renlongjin Company account.'"

Jiao Xiaoyu's pen stopped after writing two words on the paper. She asked uneasily,

"Was this how the previous chairman approved it?"

"That's old news. That's how it's always been done. The officers handling the case are working very hard, and we in the logistics department should create
better . Go ahead and approve it; it's neither illegal nor against regulations."

Jiao Xiaoyu wrote on the report: "This sum of 21 million will be turned over to the treasury, and 9 million will go to the Longjin Company account."
Jiao Xiaoyu.

Wei Ming put the approval document into the folder and said,

"Thank you, Chairman. The contract with Great Wall Company still needs your signature to be effective.
I'll contact you again after the contract is drafted. Oh, there's one more small matter. I almost forgot."

Wei Ming took out an envelope from the folder, with Jiao Xiaoyu's name written on it.

"This is yours, just sign this form."

Jiao Xiaoyu took out 1,200 yuan from the envelope.

"Mr. Wei, my salary is not with the company, it's collected by the secretariat. I don't receive a salary from the company."

"I know. This isn't a salary, it's a bonus. Every employee in the company gets one. Actually,
there are plenty of cadres who receive double pay based on their work. It's just that you're so stubborn."

"Being cautious is good. Don't you agree, Mr. Wei?"

Jiao Xiaoyu signed her name in the bonus recipient section and left hurriedly.

Jiao Xiaoyu drove her BMW to the Municipal Bureau Guesthouse to pick up a member of the special task force and drove to the Horizon
Hotel . Since Jiao Dongfang was arrested and imprisoned, she had never been to the Horizon Hotel again. She had received invitations to
meetings , but she hadn't attended, making an excuse. The Horizon Hotel had become her permanent nightmare,
the place she least wanted to see. Sometimes, when she had to drive past it, she would avert her gaze, unwilling to let its towering silhouette enter her vision.

The Horizon Hotel loomed imposingly before Jiao Xiaoyu. She steeled her heart and drove onto the entrance. The
car door reopened, and the staff got out first.

Jiao Xiaoyu drove to the parking lot. After parking, she turned and entered the lobby.

Her brother's glory began here, and it also ended here. Jiao Xiaoyu found that the layout of the lobby hadn't
changed . The golden plaque bearing the inscription "Qianlong Hall" hanging in the center of the lobby still shone brightly.

The new president was still working in Jiao Dongfang's old office. After listening to Jiao Xiaoyu's explanation, he
said with considerable difficulty,

"Comrade Jiao Xiaoyu, among the employees of the Horizon Hotel, you are more famous than your brother Jiao Dongfang. I
heard about your heroic act of turning your own family against your will at the Tourism Bureau. To be honest, we are a self-sustaining business.
Since Jiao Dongfang's incident, the Horizon Hotel seems to have become a criminal hotspot. Various special investigation teams
have been coming and going for months, causing widespread panic, a sharp drop in revenue, and an occupancy rate of less than 30%.
Just when things were starting to look up, you came to investigate this Honda Accord. We simply can't handle it. The foreign parties are also
very dissatisfied with us. You've arrested those who should be arrested. You've fined those who should be fined. You've dismantled some useless equipment that should be dismantled
. The hotel's senior management has basically been replaced. The old account books have been sealed and haven't been
unsealed yet. We really can't provide any new information. Please put yourselves in our shoes and think about it. If you
dig up the old accounts again, how can our hotel continue to operate?"

The president's words left Jiao Xiaoyu speechless. She still wanted to persuade the hotel to cooperate.

"I'm sorry, we understand the hotel's situation. I don't think there's anything wrong with the current
management . The Honda Accord incident happened when Jiao Dongfang was president. Please check the daily accounts:
how many Honda Accords did the hotel receive in total? How much did each car cost? Where did they come from? How were the license plates registered?
How many are still in use? This is a major smuggling case assigned by the central government; it must be thoroughly investigated."

The president said unhappily.

"You seized the old ledgers; we have no authority to unseal them, nor can we send staff to assist you.
The hotel staff has been optimized, with one person doing the work of two; we don't have extra manpower. If you insist on investigating, then
come in with a working group. I just don't understand, killing someone is just a matter of a head falling to the ground; Jiao Dongfang is already in custody.
Will another crime lead to another execution? Jiao Dongfang is your brother; I can't control how much credit you want to gain from him, but
if you classify the Honda Accord as a smuggled car and confiscate it, the hotel's fleet will collapse! Where am I supposed
to get a large sum of money to buy another car? Sorry, I'm busy with business; I can't keep you company."

The president turned and left, leaving Jiao Xiaoyu and her assistant in the office.

Jiao Xiaoyu had no choice but to quickly leave the president's office with her assistant. She knew that contacting the hotel's Party Committee was useless,
because the president was also the Party Secretary.

In the corridor near the elevator, the president's secretary caught up with her, holding a framed picture.

"Ms. Jiao, wait a moment."

"Is there something wrong?" Jiao Xiaoyu thought the president had changed his mind.

"The president asked me to give you something, this is it."

Jiao Xiaoyu took the framed photo from the secretary. The red rosewood frame contained
a photograph of Jiao Dongfang and Jiao Xiaoyu. Jiao Dongfang handed Jiao Xiaoyu a peeled banana, and she smiled sweetly.
The sibling affection radiated from the entire color photograph. The secretary said,

"The president said the police didn't take it when they searched the office, saying it was personal property. The president said he'd been
wanting to send it to you, but couldn't get in touch. He said personal property shouldn't be kept in the hotel for long. It's good you're here,
he asked me to give this to you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The secretary left. Her assistant took the frame, looked at it, and said,

"That's your brother, Jiao Dongfang, isn't he? So cool."

Jiao Xiaoyu's heart ached deeply. She hadn't expected her brother to display this photo in his office.
How come she'd never seen it before? He must have hidden it every time she came, not wanting her to see it. He never easily
showed his brotherly affection, keeping his love for her hidden in his heart. "Brother, you might not know, but I'm investigating your
case again. Our siblings' fates are truly unfortunate. I try to avoid you, but I just can't!"

The assistant was a recent college graduate named Zhang Xiaoyan. She said mysteriously,

"Team leader, the president returned the old photo to you. Was he deliberately trying to annoy you? You know what, this photo
actually has a certain warmth to it; I quite like it. Come on, I'll hold it for you."

"He's not trying to annoy me; he's reminding me not to go too far. Anti-smuggling is
different ; it involves the unit's economic interests, so the resistance will definitely be huge."

"Otherwise, why did we get off to such a bad start? I have an idea. Let's go to the Public Security Traffic
Management Bureau. They're responsible for issuing license plates; they must have records."

The Public Security Traffic Management Bureau is a deputy bureau-level unit under the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Jiao Xiaoyu had no confidence at all.
Because when she worked in the Anti-Corruption Bureau, she had heard that the Traffic Management Bureau's Motor Vehicle Management Office received a lot
of kickbacks for issuing license plates to unlicensed vehicles. Fearing they wouldn't cooperate, they called Tao Tieliang and asked him to put in a good word with the traffic management bureau. Tao Tieliang...
Liang readily agreed over the phone.

The director of the Traffic Management Bureau warmly received them.

"Director Jiang just called, instructing us to fully cooperate. You should go directly to the Vehicle Management Office; the Secretary-General
just returned from a business trip. I called him, and he's waiting for you."

The Vehicle Management Office has another office building, a thirty-minute drive from the Traffic Management Bureau. When Jiao Xiaoyu and her assistant
Zhang Xiaoyan arrived, the director told them some bad news: due to a computer hacker intrusion, the computer
database had been damaged by a virus, and they were preparing to call in experts to repair it.

The director led them to the computer room. Jiao Xiaoyu knew this trip was a waste; all three computers were
frozen .

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