Chapter 15

Who could have imagined the Qu family raised a thankless wretch?

Yu Dazhang, just returned to the Third Squad, was now telling everyone about the kidnapping case:

“When his mother fell seriously ill, Qu Wannian paid for her treatment, helping her survive the hardest days.”

“After his mother passed away, Qu Wannian paid for her funeral arrangements.”

“He worked as their driver for over ten years, earning the highest salary in the industry.”

“Tell me, if he has no gratitude, at least he shouldn’t repay kindness with betrayal!”

The Third Squad members listened, stunned, until Lu Zhongxin interrupted Yu Dazhang:

“Don’t just talk about his relationship with the Qu family—tell us why he kidnapped Qu Wannian’s daughter in the first place?”

“He was jealous,” Yu Dazhang snorted.

“Every day he saw the Qu family in silk robes and jade ornaments, riding luxury cars, living in mansions—his mindset changed long ago.”

“Just because of that?” Lu Zhongxin found it implausible.

There were plenty of rich people; many envied others’ good fortune, but few resorted to kidnapping.

“Alright, you’re right, Master,” Yu Dazhang chuckled.

“Actually, he owed a lot of gambling debts and couldn’t take the constant pressure from creditors—so he took a desperate risk, planning to solve the problem in the simplest, most direct way.”

Lu Zhongxin nodded.

That made sense.

All that silk robes and luxury cars? This kid really knew how to embellish.

“Where did he find his accomplices?” Lu Zhongxin asked next.

Yu Dazhang smirked.

“The creditors.”

“He took his creditors to carry out the kidnapping?” Several Third Squad members exclaimed in unison.

It wasn’t that they were inexperienced—it was just absurd.

They’d seen plenty of kidnappings, but never one where the perpetrator brought his own creditors along.

“Didn’t I already say he was driven to desperation by creditors? The biggest ones happened to be his fellow villagers, so he…”

Before Yu Dazhang finished, a colleague interjected:

“He took his creditors—and fellow villagers—to commit kidnapping!”

Yu Dazhang nodded.

“To be fair, he was good at spinning lies—all those villagers got tricked into joining him.”

Those present shook their heads and sighed; some even cursed aloud:

“He’s a monster—owed money, didn’t pay it back, and dragged his own villagers into crime.”

This was truly unbelievable.

The villagers he tricked didn’t just lose their money—they lost their freedom too.

Total ruin—money and lives both gone.

“So, never touch gambling. Once you do, you can’t escape.”

After his sigh, Yu Dazhang looked at everyone with firm resolve:

“I, Yu Dazhang, am sworn to destroy gambling and drugs!”

Everyone nodded in agreement—even Lu Zhongxin showed approval.

But then someone noticed something off—Yu Dazhang’s words felt strangely awkward, though no one could pinpoint why.

One colleague seemed to remember something and grinned as he sidled up to Yu Dazhang:

“I heard the victim you saved was a girl—a beautiful returnee—and you still…”

Yu Dazhang dreaded this topic—he’d been on edge for days, terrified Qu Tuotuo would come to the station to file a complaint.

With the Qu family’s connections, making a probationary officer’s life miserable wouldn’t be hard.

Hearing the mention, his head buzzed—he cut in quickly:

“To be honest, she’s beautiful, but my heart belongs only to the Party and the people.”

????

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Wrong movie.

You old rogue.

You’ve already pulled off the whole act.

Another day passed, and just as Yu Dazhang thought the matter was safely over, an unexpected twist arrived!

Qu Tuotuo came.

She came alone, carrying a rolled-up embroidered banner, walking straight upstairs to the Criminal Investigation Unit.

The First Squad members, seeing it was a banner presentation, stepped aside willingly—their curiosity intensified.

Many had seen Qu Tuotuo before—she’d been the primary victim in both crime scenes.

Wei Qian stepped forward, exchanged polite words, then reached out to take the banner.

But Qu Tuotuo had no intention of handing it over.

“I’m here for the fat officer. This banner is for him.”

“Oh, of course, of course—I’ll go get him.”

Wei Qian suddenly remembered—Yu Dazhang was the real hero of this case.

The girl had been saved twice—both times thanks to that guy.

“He’s not from your unit?” Qu Tuotuo asked. Wei Qian quickly explained:

“He’s from here, but not our squad—he’s in the Third Squad, right next door.”

“Oh, no need to trouble yourself—I’ll go find him.”

After Qu Tuotuo left, everyone in the First Squad gathered at the door, staring toward the Third Squad, whispering:

“That girl is gorgeous!”

“You weren’t at the scene—you don’t know. She’s not just pretty—she shot both wounded kidnappers herself.”

“She can use a gun? Where did she learn?”

“She studied abroad.”

“Ah, then it makes sense.”

Yu Dazhang heard the commotion and hesitated whether to go out—when a slender figure walked in through the door.

At the threshold, Qu Tuotuo didn’t enter immediately—she tapped lightly twice.

Please... collect 6...9...books...!

The Third Squad members turned toward the door, expressions puzzled.

Qu Tuotuo smiled at them all:

“I’m looking for the fat officer.”

Everyone turned to look at Yu Dazhang.

Qu Tuotuo followed their gaze and immediately spotted the large, bewildered man sitting there.

Their eyes met—Yu Dazhang’s mouth hung slightly open, his eyes wide with shock.

She… really came.

Qu Tuotuo walked toward Yu Dazhang with a smile.

Yu Dazhang grimaced, thinking of jumping out the window to escape.

But instead of a slap, or accusations or insults, she simply fixed him with clear, watery eyes that made him feel uneasy.

“Long time no see,” she said softly—like a girl next door.

But to Yu Dazhang, it sounded like a death sentence—his heart nearly stopped.

Qu Tuotuo extended the banner forward:

“Thank you for saving me twice.”

Looking at the banner in her hand, Yu Dazhang knew he had to stand up.

He’d planned to sit—easier to defend himself, easier to bolt if she attacked.

But now? No one sits to receive a banner—that would be disrespectful.

Yu Dazhang stood, intending to say, “It’s my duty,” but the words stuck in his throat.

What if she thought he was mocking her from that forced kiss?

Could there be a dagger hidden inside the banner…? Yu Dazhang stared at it, hesitating to reach out.

He feared she’d pull a “the map is unfolded, the dagger appears.”

After two seconds, seeing she had no intention of drawing a blade, he finally took the banner.

“Let me open it for you,” Qu Tuotuo said, reaching for the ribbon.

No! Yu Dazhang stepped back quickly:

“I’ll do it myself.”

Could it say “Despicable Liar”?

Yu Dazhang carefully untied the ribbon, then sharply shook the banner flat.

Yu Dazhang carefully untied the rope, then shook it hard to flatten the brocade flag.

Fortunately, it was only three characters.

On the banner were three large golden characters: GOOD JOB.

Looking at the words, Yu Dazhang felt a sense of familiarity.

He remembered when he was a child and scored a hundred on a test, his mother had praised him the same way.

“Thank you.”

Aside from thanking her, Yu Dazhang didn’t know what else to say.

He now only hoped Qu Tuotuo would leave quickly.

He had a hunch earlier that Qu Tuotuo’s visit this time was about far more than just delivering a banner.

She was the type who would shoot someone.

Since she came, it must be about that day’s forced kiss.

“Can you tell me your name?”

“Yu Dazhang.”

“Good name.”

Qu Tuotuo finished speaking, turned, and walked to the door. Just as Yu Dazhang exhaled in relief, thinking she was leaving, Qu Tuotuo turned back:

“Officer Yu, could you see me out?”

(End of Chapter)