Chapter 589

I had a casual lunch with Guo Wei in the morning. After the meal, he had the hotel bring me a few cartons of good cigarettes, saying I was a chain-smoker and should smoke better ones to avoid ruining my health.

I didn't refuse and accepted them; it wasn't Guo Wei paying out of his own pocket anyway.

Back at the Petition Bureau, I called Xu Meili and asked her if the Director of the Suxi Town Police Station in Chunshan County had been brought in by our investigation team.

Xu Meili asked me in surprise, "Bureau Chief Chen, you don't know about this?"

I wore a grave expression, feeling the urge to curse. Even though I am a Deputy Team Leader, shouldn't I have been notified before such a big move was made?

I asked in a cold tone, "Whose order was it?"

"Secretary Dai gave the order. The people were also brought in by the Discipline Inspection Commission."

"It has nothing to do with the investigation team?"

"It is the investigation team's opinion. Because while they were checking the case files, they discovered this matter has a direct connection to the Director of the Suxi Town Police Station. He is a party involved, and a primary one at that."

I cursed Qian Youyu's ancestors for eighteen generations in my heart. If it weren't for that old thing, I wouldn't have left the office, and if I hadn't left the office, I would have been the first person the investigation team reported to.

"Where is he?" I asked, appearing nonchalant.

"At the Hengyan Hotel."

"Who is there?"

"People from our investigation team."

I gave an "oh" and waved for her to leave.

Xu Meili walked a circle and came back, explaining, "I was going to report to you first. But you weren't in the office, and your phone wouldn't go through, so I had to report to Secretary Dai."

I waved my hand and said, "It's fine, you handled it very well."

Xu Meili's previously tense face relaxed significantly. She poured me a cup of tea and asked softly, "Bureau Chief Chen, do you have any instructions?"

I pondered for a moment and said, "You come with me to the Hengyan Hotel this afternoon to take a look."

Xu Meili agreed happily, saying she would wait for me in the office and could leave with me at any time.

The mood I had for a nap was completely gone; not only was the sleepiness gone, but I was also somewhat worried.

I kept feeling like a net was closing in on me. The Qilin Villa case was one I had proposed to investigate in the first place. And when I was handling this case, I didn't notify the Public Security Bureau. I only found Hao Qiang and Lao Mo and let them investigate. Now that Hao Qiang has been brought in by the Discipline Inspection Commission, won't I be the next one implicated?

Although I have nothing to do with Qilin Villa, the owner of Qilin Villa, Lao Can, died inexplicably after the case was solved.

My lunch break was completely covered by anxiety and worry. I checked my watch; it was already three in the afternoon, so I pushed open the door, called Xu Meili, and drove to the Hengyan Hotel.

Guarding Hao Qiang were people from our investigation team, one each from the Procuratorate and the Court.

I waved for them to step out first. They hesitated for a while, but eventually left the room, standing guard by the door without moving an inch.

The door was left open, and the two people at the door watched us.

Xu Meili saw that I hadn't spoken for a long time and immediately understood. She shouted that she was thirsty and wanted the two guards to accompany her downstairs to find something to drink.

The two couldn't withstand her pestering and had to say to me, "Bureau Chief Chen, please keep an eye on him!"

I waved my hand and said, "Don't worry."

Once they were gone, Hao Qiang's face turned red, his eyes followed suit, and he asked me, "County Magistrate Chen, what is the meaning of this?"

I corrected him, "I am not a County Magistrate now, but the Deputy Bureau Chief of the Municipal Petition Bureau."

"Petition Bureau?" Hao Qiang asked hesitantly, "What is the Petition Bureau doing here?"

I smiled and said, "Just came to see you."

Hao Qiang shouted loudly, "What's there to see? You aren't here to see me make a fool of myself, are you? I was brought here by the Discipline Inspection Commission; I don't know what I've done wrong. Even if I did something, it should be the Chunshan County Discipline Inspection Commission looking for me. Why is the Hengyue City Discipline Inspection Commission looking for me?"

"Because this matter has to do with you," I said. Seeing they hadn't come up yet, I asked, "Do you still remember Lao Can's wife, Su Ya?"

Hao Qiang nodded and said, "I remember. Wasn't she arranged to be at the resort?"

"Who arranged it?"

"In Chunshan County, besides Secretary Liu, who else could arrange for someone to be at the resort?"

"Don't you find it strange that Lao Can's wife suddenly appeared to cry injustice?"

"Not strange. Lao Can's death itself was unclear. Because of his death, Lao Mo was even transferred away."

"I invited you here for this very matter."

"The petition matter?"

"Yes!" I heard footsteps approaching, so I deliberately said loudly, "You must think clearly and discuss the issues thoroughly to clear your name."

Only we understood this conversation of ours. I was actually telling Hao Qiang that Su Ya's petition was no longer a simple petition case. If everything went smoothly and the lid was truly lifted, the suspicions cast upon him and the injustice suffered by Lao Mo could both reach a resolution.

In front of the people guarding Hao Qiang, I instructed them to take good care of the party involved and not to let any accidents happen!

Coming out of the Hengyan Hotel, I sat in the car and called Deputy Secretary Dai An to report that I had already seen the party involved, Hao Qiang, and asked for instructions on what I should do next.

Dai An praised me over the phone, saying I was a diligent and responsible worker who could understand the situation in a timely manner, and that I was a responsible, good comrade. He encouraged me to continue the investigation and make sure to get to the bottom of it.

A stone in my heart fell to the ground. These words from Dai An were telling me that I could contact anyone and make temporary decisions; as long as it was beneficial to the investigation, he would support me with all his might.

Just as I drove the car out of the Hengyan Hotel gate, Qian Youyu's call came in, saying he had already booked a private room at the Xinlinyin and asked when I would be coming over.

I glanced at Xu Meili sitting in the passenger seat and hesitated, "Wait a moment."

Xu Meili clearly heard the content of my call and said with a face full of smiles, "Bureau Chief Chen, you're not calling me for the dinner party?"

I laughed awkwardly and said, "An old friend is treating me to dinner."

Xu Meili gave an "oh" and said, "Then let me off right here."

After dropping off Xu Meili, I watched her wiggle her hips and walk away with all sorts of charm before speaking into the receiver: "Old Qian, is the wine ready?"

Qian Youyu laughed loudly, "Don't worry!"

Sitting in the private room at the Xinlinyin, I called Guo Wei and told him I was waiting for him there.

Guo Wei arrived half an hour later. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Qian Youyu and said in surprise, "Isn't this Qian Youyu? What are you doing here?"

Qian Youyu laughed, full of gratitude, "Director Guo still remembers me! Thank you, thank you!"

The smile on Guo Wei's face couldn't expand further. It was supposed to be a date between him and me, but now that Qian Youyu had suddenly appeared, Guo Wei was somewhat unhappy.

Guo Wei is a person who values pomp; in his eyes, Qian Youyu is just a peasant. Although he has a lot of money and now has a town household registration, Guo Wei always believed that people like Qian Youyu with city household registrations were still city peasants after all!

As for our friendship, we had intersections back when we were in Suxi Township.

The room Qian Youyu booked was the largest and most luxurious private room at the Xinlinyin, which could seat over thirty people. Now, there were only the three of us in the room, so it seemed incomparably empty and spacious.

The private rooms at the Xinlinyin have karaoke functions, so Qian Youyu called the waiter in and said that before the meal officially started, why not invite Director Guo to sing a song first.

When Guo Wei heard he was to sing, his interest immediately surged.

The history of Guo Wei's singing can be traced back to the time he was dating Xue Bing.

He originally didn't sing, especially not in front of others. He knew he was tone-deaf and didn't have a good voice; the songs he sang were harder to listen to than a ghost wailing. But ever since he met Xue Bing, his singing skills improved by leaps and bounds, and a few times he even received praise from others, saying his singing was almost indistinguishable from the original recording.

I don't know when Qian Youyu figured out his psychology, but I secretly admired Qian Youyu's thoughtfulness.

The atmosphere of three people drinking and eating wouldn't be very good, and besides, without a woman at the table to liven things up, it made people feel like chewing wax. After singing a song, Guo Wei held the microphone and asked Qian Youyu, "Just the three of us?"

Qian Youyu accompanied him with a smiling face, "Director Guo, with you here, others don't dare to come."

Guo Wei asked with a half-smile, "Men or women?"

Qian Youyu probed, "Does Director Guo prefer men or women?"

Guo Wei laughed heartily, "I'm a man, how could I like men?"

Qian Youyu said knowingly, "I understand, please wait a moment."

He left the private room, made a call, and after a while came back in, saying, "Director Guo, they will all be listening to you sing later!"

Guo Wei said seriously, "Art is for people to appreciate."

The six women Qian Youyu called over were all incredibly enchanting, but there was a hint of shyness between their brows, which made one feel a sense of chivalrous compassion for them.

Seeing the women arrive, Guo Wei's interest grew even higher, and he sang one song after another with the microphone.

I sat on the side with Qian Youyu, and I asked him in a low voice, "Where did you call them from?"

Qian Youyu smiled inscrutably, pinched my leg quietly, and signaled for me to go outside to talk.

Guo Wei was in the middle of his excitement and didn't know we went out. Qian Youyu and I stood at the door, and he handed me a cigarette, saying, "You wouldn't recognize Guo Wei now. But I know his current hobbies."

He held up one finger and said, "First is money," then he held up another finger and said, "Second is women."

Qian Youyu's words shocked me; this old guy seems to have studied Guo Wei thoroughly.

"You can't mess around!" I said worriedly.

Qian Youyu smiled eerily and said, "Don't worry, little brother, I won't harm him. But the premise is that he cannot cut off my path to wealth."

A layer of cold sweat broke out on my back, as if I didn't recognize the Qian Youyu in front of me. In the past, although he was cunning, he still had the simplicity and honesty of a peasant, but now he is a shrewd businessman through and through, and a businessman who stops at nothing.

I understand businessmen; businessmen value profit! But I don't understand Qian Youyu; he isn't that kind of person!

I also felt as if I didn't recognize Guo Wei singing in the room. He used to be such a serious person, but now he can hold women in his arms and sing and drink openly.

The dishes were served; there were six women, and the three of us each had two.

The two women sitting next to Guo Wei were clearly under eighteen; I could even see the layer of fuzz on their faces.

But the two sitting next to me were like ripe peaches; you could see the juice flow out just by pinching them.

Qian Youyu took the lead, holding one with his left hand and another with his right, letting the women beside him hold his cup, and said with earnest words, "Two leaders, I am your old subordinate. Today I'll take the lead and start with one."

Guo Wei smiled slightly; he hadn't fully come out of his singing performance just now and kept asking the girl beside him, "Did I sing well?"

The two girls clapped and laughed, "Chief, I've never heard such a beautiful song; it's too beautiful!"

"The sound equipment here isn't very professional. After we finish eating, I'll take you to a professional place to sing." Guo Wei raised his glass, looked at me, then at Qian Youyu, and said, "Old Qian, I won't speak in riddles. Today I'm giving Chen Feng face. I know what you, Old Qian, are thinking. I'll say the ugly words first: what you think and how you want to do it is up to you."

As soon as Qian Youyu heard this, he was about to flatter him, but I slapped the table and said, "Good! Straightforward! Come, Director Guo, I'll toast you."

Guo Wei raised his glass and drank, looked at me, and shook his head, "Chen Feng, you have put a lot of effort into this! No matter what, I am an old acquaintance of Old Qian's. For Old Qian to find me, he had to go through such a big circle; isn't this slapping my face?"

I smiled and said, "It's mainly because I wanted to sit with you. We haven't seen each other for a long time, so I wanted to see if you've been well!"

Everyone laughed together, and Guo Wei grabbed the girl's hand beside him and said, "Chen Feng, look how tender this hand is. A hand like this should be a hand that does art!"

I had never seen Guo Wei behave like this; I was almost frightened by his appearance.

Qian Youyu kept smiling and urging us to drink. After a bottle of wine, not a single chopstick had touched the food on the table.