Rebirth 2014: I, the King of Criminal Investigation

Chapter 376 Is it okay to live in a better place?

Such topics are usually only touched upon briefly; going into more depth would be too much.

For these three people who frequently use their brains, such a chat is like relaxing their nerves and giving their brains a proper rest.

Why is there always so much gossip in a fast-paced workplace?

Gossiping is just a way to relax your mind and kill time, isn't it?

This is also a way to balance work and rest.

"Da Zhang, did you notice a detail at Zhang Chao's mother's house just now?" Lü Zhongxin brought the topic back.

"You mean those three bottles of mineral water?" Yu Dazhang squinted, leaning back lazily in his chair.
“I also find it a bit strange, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with her.”

The bottled water the woman took out was just a common brand available on the market, but this detail revealed her lifestyle habits.

Only those who drink mineral water regularly would casually offer it to guests.

Otherwise, just pour in plain water or make tea.

There's a saying: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

What guests drink at a host's house depends entirely on the family's usual lifestyle.

Yu Dazhang also considered the possibility that Zhang Chao bought it.

But if Zhang Chao wanted to show his filial piety, there was no need to choose this method; he could have just given money directly.

Moreover, the furnishings in the woman's home showed that she lived a very frugal life.

This contrasts sharply with her habit of drinking bottled mineral water every day, which is quite strange and odd.

"What's wrong with drinking some mineral water?" Zhang Sen chimed in.

"What era are we living in? Mineral water isn't some high-end beverage; many families drink it year-round."

"You make a good point." Yu Dazhang smiled.
"But you have to see who the other person is, what age group they are, and what their usual lifestyle is like."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sen fell silent.

She was clearly recalling everything she had seen at Zhang Chao's mother's house.

Judging from her age, the woman must be over fifty years old, an age group that has experienced hardship.

Unless they have been extremely wealthy, they will generally have a habit of thrift.

Drinking mineral water as drinking water is common among young people, but it is rare among women of that age.

"It's also possible that it was prepared for Zhang Chao and his wife," Zhang Sen suggested another hypothesis:
“After we arrived, she took it out to serve the guests.”

The reason why Lü Zhongxin brought up this matter only after leaving Jianning was because he had made similar assumptions.

Although this is a minor detail, it doesn't prove anything.

"Maybe." Yu Dazhang didn't argue.

At the time, he only felt that it was a little strange, but that was all.

You can have doubts and make assumptions, but you must have factual basis.

We can't just take Zhang Chao's mother back for interrogation because she served them bottled water.

They chatted casually like that, and Yu Dazhang even took a nap in the middle of it.

The original plan was for the three of them to take turns driving, which would also prevent fatigue driving.

But when it was Yu Dazhang's turn, the two of them refused to let him drive no matter what they said.

In their eyes, people of Yu Dazhang's build are not suitable for long-distance driving. What if he gets sleepy and falls asleep right on the steering wheel?
At 8:30 p.m., they arrived at Guangzhou Railway Station.

After meeting up with Ma Jian and Liu Miao, the group went to a restaurant for dinner.

After a long journey and without food, Yu Dazhang was so hungry that his steps were weak.

Even so, he endured it and waited for Qi Fang and the other six to arrive before starting the meal.

Criminal police officers don't have many rules about meals; everyone is just trying their best to fill their stomachs.

After finishing the meal, Yu Dazhang breathed a satisfied sigh of relief, then looked at Ma Jian and Liu Miao:
"Do you two live near the station?" "No." Ma Jian shook his head.

"To avoid attracting attention, we've been staying in a small hotel far from the station. After you called me, we checked out."

Have you checked out?

Yu Dazhang remembered that he had said he was there to find them, not to take them away, so why should he check out?
Seeing his puzzled expression, Ma Jian immediately explained:
"The little hotel we stayed in was terrible, it couldn't compare to a five-star hotel at all, so we..."

"Alright, alright," Yu Dazhang quickly raised his hand to interrupt.
"It's good that we've retired; it'll be easier for us to move around if we live together."

I have to interrupt.

Because he had already guessed what Ma Jian meant.

When they were handling cases in S Province, they stayed in star-rated hotels.

There was no other way; my family had the means.

Therefore, in Ma Jian's opinion, Yu Dazhang would never stay in a small hotel when he travels; at the very least, he would stay in a three-star hotel.

Since he's already here, it would be a waste for these two to stay in a cheap hotel.

Yu Dazhang then counted, and there were seventeen people in total, including himself.

"Have you found a hotel yet?" he asked, looking at Ma Jian.

Since Ma Jian and his group are already prepared to enjoy the good life with the big boss, they've probably already found a hotel.

"If you ask me, the Oriental Hotel across from the train station is very good."

Ma Jian explained:
"Living there, you can clearly see the entire train station from upstairs, and the location is also excellent with convenient transportation."

It's really good... but Yu Dazhang thinks it's better to ask more detailed questions.

"What star rating?" he asked.

"Five stars," Ma Jian answered without any hesitation.

“Absolutely excellent value for money.”

"He's treating me like a nouveau riche..." Yu Dazhang said through gritted teeth.
"What about the other hotels?"

"There's another four-star hotel nearby." Ma Jian immediately realized he'd set his expectations too high, so he quickly corrected himself:
"That one also has a view of the train station, and the location is quite good."

If all else fails, we should just stay in a cheap hotel... Yu Dazhang suddenly felt a bit tired.

I do have a girlfriend who's well-off, but that doesn't mean I'm a sucker.

Seeing that Da Zhang looked unwell, Ma Jian leaned closer and whispered:
"I recommended this place based on your previous criteria, so how about... we find a small hotel?"

"That's not necessary." Yu Dazhang waved his hand.
"Let's go to the four-star hotel. You lead the way."

If the case is solved, even if you actually stayed in a five-star hotel, the boss will approve the reimbursement, and he'll have to do it with a smile.

If the case isn't solved, saving money is useless; in the eyes of the leadership, every penny you spend is a waste.

The police officers from the provincial department heard everything clearly and initially thought the two were joking.

But when they arrived at their destination, they discovered that it was no joke at all; the fat man had really brought them to stay in a five-star hotel.

Can this be reimbursed?
Also, where does he get the audacity to stay here? In the end, we're not going to have to pay for it ourselves, are we?

Hotel reception.

“Um…” Qi Fang pulled Yu Dazhang’s arm and led him to the side:
"Staying here exceeds the standard; let's find another place."

"I'll stay here," Yu Dazhang refused.
"The excess portion shall be borne by the individual."

Self-sufficient? Qi Fang curled his lip.

We came to Guangzhou with you to handle a case, not for tourism.

Besides, we're all office workers after all; we can't just put money out of our pockets while we're at work.

(End of this chapter)