Chapter 340

Lei Luo knew that Wang Yan collected a lot of money and that those he dealt with all offered compensation, but he didn't expect the gap to be this large. It had only been a little over three months, and he could already take out so much money? And he just pulled it out of his pocket? He had two feelings: one was that he was really damn good at making money, and the other was, is he sick for carrying so much money around?

"I carry it around for convenience. Besides, I don't want to put this money in the bank. After all, it's all dirty money, so I have to be careful not to leave any evidence. Although no one cares right now, you never know if someone will dig up old accounts in the future. Better safe than sorry." Wang Yan patted him on the shoulder. "Ah Luo, remember, money is never the problem. If you had told me earlier that you needed ten thousand dollars to get married, you and Ah Xia would have been married long ago."

Lei Luo pondered for a long time and nodded: "Brother Yan, consider this money as a loan from you; I'll pay you back a portion every month."

"Five thousand is my red envelope, the remaining ten thousand is what I'm lending you. You don't need to pay it back every month; it makes it seem like I'm dunning you for debt. Just pay me back whenever you have it. You know I'm getting promoted to plainclothes tomorrow; I'll be collecting so many protection fees that my hands will go soft. I don't care about this."

"Don't worry, Brother Yan, I'll definitely pay you back as soon as possible."

Wang Yan waved his hand: "Up to you."

With the big matter settled, Lei Luo chuckled and sat down beside Wang Yan: "Brother Yan, do you think there will be a reckoning in the future?"

"A reckoning is certain. Look at how foul the air is now; foreigners and Chinese are all corrupt. Extremes meet, and prosperity leads to decline; this is the wisdom of our ancestors, and it hasn't been wrong so far. Gangsters and hoodlums run rampant on the streets, destroying public order and delaying production, while the police act as umbrellas for the gangs and collude with them. Over time, how chaotic will Hong Kong and Kowloon become? Even if it's a colony ceded by the Qing Dynasty, bad public order doesn't just delay making money; once the international situation stabilizes, it will also be a slap in the face for the foreigners. Just for the sake of their reputation, they will take action. It's only a matter of time.

So Ah Luo, you also need to be careful. Great things are not achieved by focusing on trifles. We have no choice but to collect dirty money; it's to fit in, to get promoted, and to establish our own rules. You can spend the money you collect, eat, drink, gamble, and visit prostitutes, but you just can't put it in the bank or leave any records. Keep an eye on that account book; don't let anyone else see it. That's the thing that can determine our life and death. Once things change one day, just burn it, and everything will be fine."

Lei Luo nodded: "I know, Brother Yan, don't worry."

"Don't be in a rush either. Just be a steady uniformed police officer; do what you've always done. As for the previous matter, you went with me and got beaten into a pig's head; your name is also on the report submitted by Sergeant Lin. But the lion's share is his, the smaller share is mine, and yours is last. But regardless, you have credit now. In two years at the latest, I'll definitely get you promoted to plainclothes."

"I'm not in a rush. Anyway, I recognize you as my big brother; you wouldn't let me, your little brother, do poorly, right?"

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "Not bad, you've made progress..."

"By the way, Brother Yan, do you remember Pig Oil Boy?"

"Hmm, the one who sells white sugar cakes, what about him?"

He had thought about using Pig Oil Boy as a white glove, but he hadn't seen him since that one time, so he just let it be. Besides, he didn't have any money back then and couldn't do anything, so it just got delayed. If he runs into him next time, he'll see.

"I went to see a movie with Ah Xia last month, and he was scalping tickets there. He even gave me two good seats for cheap." Lei Luo laughed. "He even praised you, saying your name is now shaking Hong Kong and Kowloon, and you're quite impressive."

"Heh, do I need a small character like him to praise me?"

"Of course you don't, you're 'Brother Yan' after all..."

Wang Yan and Lei Luo looked at each other and burst into laughter...

Some say it takes twenty-one days to form a habit, so three months is ninety days, enough to form four and a half habits. The residents of Tsz Wan Shan all know that the police station is closed on weekends, so if there's no big deal, just wait. The reason they still keep people on duty is entirely because of police rules, just for show. There are many police rules, but very few are actually implemented; being on duty is one of the few.

So the two of them chatted and joked until eight o'clock in the evening, then stood up and left to eat dinner and go home. Of course, there are people on duty at the police station at night, but that's not their business...

The next day, Wang Yan, who had slept well, got up early as usual, ran and practiced boxing outside. He hadn't changed the dirty, messy, and poor environment, but he had already adapted to it and found a comfortable spot nearby. The dirty, messy, and poor environment is a municipal issue, not something a small plainclothes officer in the police force can solve; it's not his place to worry about it.

After some exercise, he returned home to light a fire and boil water. He sat on the side, shirtless, lying on a recliner made by a village carpenter, reading a book while waiting for the water to boil.

Daily water has to be bought with money; it's quite precious. He never really took a proper bath at home; he always wiped himself with a towel. To take a bath, you have to go to a bathhouse. Because Hong Kong is short of fresh water and water usage is tight, the self-built wooden houses like the ones they live in don't have tap water pipes connected. They all buy water from the fire department for firefighting; over time, it's also a significant expense. Of course, it's not just the villagers here who suffer from water shortages and difficulties; even those living in foreign-style buildings don't have the luxury of using water at will; it's all quite difficult.

And since fresh water resources are scarce, there's profit to be made. Hong Kong has large reservoirs for water storage, which are basically in remote, desolate areas. Some people risk running to those reservoirs to steal water for profit, so someone is needed to guard them. This is the so-called "guarding the reservoir." Feeding mosquitoes, no profit, it's a bitter job. Police officers who aren't doing well in the force are all there; either they offended someone, or they offended someone.

After the hot water was boiled and he finished washing, he dug out a floral short-sleeved shirt and light-colored suit trousers from the wardrobe configured by his "living father," put them on, stepped into a pair of shiny, high-end handmade leather shoes, put on the Datejust watch that Rolex had just released a few years ago, and straightened his hair in the mirror.

He's a plainclothes officer now. Although these clothes and trousers aren't that great, it's the same for the whole of Hong Kong, and it's still much better than the uniformed police uniform, so he's quite satisfied.

Just as he was admiring himself in the mirror, Lei Luo appeared at the door right on time: "Wow, Brother Yan, you look so handsome. It's different once you become a plainclothes officer." He also felt that the uniformed police uniform was particularly ugly...

"You have good taste." Wang Yan smiled, picked up the lock, hung the latch on the door, and turned to leave with Lei Luo.

He didn't lock it because there was no need for this broken house. For one, it couldn't be locked, and for another, there was nothing valuable inside. As for others not daring to touch it, he wasn't that confident. Although many people know his name and where he lives, there are always people who don't have eyes. To say something absolutely is to slap oneself in the face; he is very low-key.

"Did you talk to Ah Xia's dad?" Lei Luo had just returned yesterday and couldn't wait to run to Liu Youcai at the entrance of the village. With money in his pocket and courage in his heart, wanting to marry the woman he loved early is understandable.

Lei Luo nodded and laughed: "You didn't see it, Brother Yan. Yesterday, I slapped the ten thousand dollars right in front of him, and his mouth opened wider than a bowl. He agreed right then and there, wishing he could send Ah Xia over immediately. That bastard who sells his daughter..."

"Hey, Ah Luo, no matter what, he's your father-in-law, don't say that. He's just greedy and stingy, and he knows Ah Xia likes you, so he couldn't stop it. If he doesn't want some money, what else can he do?"

"I think this old ghost is just venting his resentment for not having a son on Ah Xia."

Wang Yan shook his head and didn't speak again. He didn't like to talk much about the messy accounts between parents and children. The reason he persuaded Lei Luo was just because Liu Youcai was indeed his father-in-law, and he was just saying it casually.

The two of them strolled toward the police station. Along the way, people they knew greeted them, calling him "Brother Yan" one after another; even old men and women in their fifties or sixties addressed him that way. He had quite a lot of prestige. Lei Luo, who was with him, was extremely envious. Except for dealing with those hoodlums, the work they did wasn't much different, but Wang Yan was just more popular than them; you couldn't compare.

After having a full breakfast at the breakfast stall outside the police station, the two of them stepped into the police station.

"Morning, Brother Yan."

"Morning, Brother Yan, congratulations on your promotion to plainclothes."

"Brother Yan, go to the warehouse first to get your ID and service weapon."

Wang Yan responded with a smile to everyone, went to the logistics department he had visited with Liang Cheng when he first reported for duty, collected his ID and. 38 revolver, and then went upstairs to the Criminal Investigation Unit on the second floor.

"You're here, Ah Yan. You look very spirited today." Chen Tong, who was smoking while leaning against a table outside, greeted Wang Yan enthusiastically.

Wang Yan nodded in response: "Uncle." Although today was a great day for his promotion, he didn't...

Chen Tong nodded, clamped his cigarette, and clapped his hands to attract attention: "Everyone is no stranger to Ah Yan. You all know he was transferred here by me from the police academy, you know what kind of strength he has, and you know what he's done. I won't say much more. Everyone, welcome Ah Yan to our Criminal Investigation Unit."

As soon as Chen Tong finished speaking, enthusiastic applause from more than a dozen people rang out. Chen Tong's words as a big brother were one aspect, but the other was his own strength and the good reputation he had maintained before. It was all sincere; they knew he was a good partner.

"Thank you everyone, thank you everyone." Wang Yan smiled and bowed to all sides.

"Alright, everyone is no stranger, so don't be so polite." Chen Tong waved his hand with a smile: "Today is your first day as a plainclothes officer. Come, Ah Yan, come with me to offer incense to Guan Er Ye." As he spoke, he pulled Wang Yan into the office.

In the spacious office where you could do somersaults, offerings had already been placed in front of the half-person-high Guan Gong statue. Chen Tong first stepped forward to offer three sticks of incense, muttering something to himself, acting all mysterious.

Afterward, he gave up his position, and Wang Yan stepped forward to burn incense.

Although his own experience was strange, and he himself studied metaphysics and liked to act mysterious when he had nothing to do, his feeling about gods and Buddhas was just average. After all, if it were really the Three Kingdoms, not a high-martial version with gods and ghosts, whether Guan Er Ye could beat him was a question. However, although he thought so, it didn't stop him from burning incense; it didn't matter.

Seeing that he had burned incense, Chen Tong patted him on the shoulder and turned to look at the group of subordinates behind him: "Alright, you all go out and do your work; I have something to say to Ah Yan."

After they all left and closed the door, Wang Yan took a cigarette from his pocket, gave one to Chen Tong, helped him light it, and then put one in his own mouth. When lighting the cigarette, his movements paused for a moment.

He remembered thinking before that as long as he was in the police station, he wouldn't have to light his own cigarette...

Fortunately, he hadn't said it out loud, otherwise, slapping himself in the face wouldn't be good. He thought so in his heart, but it didn't show on his face. He lit the cigarette and blew out a large smoke ring, looking dashing.

Chen Tong sat in his comfortable chair and looked at Wang Yan with a smile: "Did you collect your gun, Ah Yan?"

"How could I forget the tool for eating?" Wang Yan stood up, lifted his short-sleeved shirt, and revealed the black gun handle in the holster tucked into his trouser belt: "Here, I didn't stick it directly into my pants; I find it uncomfortable."

Chen Tong choked, because he was the one who stuck it directly into his waist...: "It's good that you collected the gun. Now that you're a plainclothes officer, except for those with connections, you're the fastest."

"Uncle, aren't you my connection?"

"You don't need to flatter me; I'm clear about this point. Based on your previous actions, let alone Tsz Wan Shan, even if you were in Central, Wan Chai, or Yau Ma Tei, you could make a name for yourself anywhere." Chen Tong said with a smile: "You brat are capable. That fatty downstairs can really be promoted to detective this time; it's all your credit. Come to think of it, now that you're under me, and I'm the one who brought you here, you've already earned credit for that dead fatty and helped him get promoted, so what ideas do you have for me, your uncle?"

Wang Yan shook his head: "Uncle, you're already a detective, and you're not young anymore. To tell you the truth, Uncle, even if you change to a place with more profit, you won't be able to do it for many years. And if you want to change places, you'll need at least a few hundred thousand. If you calculate it, it's really not cost-effective. If I were you, Uncle, I'd just work steadily here in Tsz Wan Shan until retirement."

"Do you think I don't know that? But Buddha fights for a stick of incense, and people fight for a breath of air. You also know that bastard Yan Tong; he used to follow me. Now that he's up, he's ungrateful, forgets his roots, and shows off in front of me. What kind of thing do you think he is? I used to just endure it, but who told me to run into you..."

Wang Yan nodded: "Understood. Uncle means that whether you change places or not doesn't matter, whether there's profit or not doesn't matter, but Yan Tong being so arrogant is not okay. Bullying us and showing off in front of us is even more not okay."

"Right, that's exactly what I mean."

"That's easy to handle. Just improve the case-solving rate, reduce the crime rate, offer a little tribute, and get on good terms with the foreign police superintendent above us. That's enough to protect yourself and make Yan Tong not dare to be too arrogant."

Yan Tong is now the detective of the Kowloon division. Kowloon is a hotbed for gang groups, and big gangs are basically rooted there. The surrounding areas of Kowloon like Sham Shui Po, Yau Ma Tei, and Tsim Sha Tsui are all high-profit areas. Although the Kowloon division is relatively worse, it's enough. At the same time, Yan Tong's background is from there, so he has connections with those big gangs. The protection fees he collects are beyond their reach, and money and power always complement each other; he's quite impressive.

In the original plot, because of his brother-in-law's matter, Yan Tong could directly force Chen Tong to retire and transfer Lei Luo to Sha Tau Kok, a place basically no better than guarding a reservoir, which shows how tough Yan Tong is.

If he were to clash with Yan Tong, it would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; with one word from him, he could get him transferred away. It's really not on the same level. He's just a small plainclothes officer with some reputation who can fight and dare to struggle, that's all. A small piece of trash who can't even get into his eyes.

If you were to rank the detectives now, excluding the two chief detectives, among the dozens of Chinese detectives, Yan Tong definitely stands in the front row.