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Police Captain Cui Wei stood at the scene of the credit union robbery, his brow furrowed as he replayed the crime in his mind.

Three days before the incident, loan officer Qin Xiaoming suddenly disappeared, and surveillance footage showed that he was last seen in an alley near the crime scene.

"Team Leader Cui, the technical department just finished comparing the call records." Technician Xiao Li rushed over. "The last number Qin Xiaoming contacted before his disappearance was the private cell phone of Kuang Zhiguo, a driver for Hongyu Group."

Cui Wei was startled.

As a key enterprise for investment attraction in the city, Hongyu Group has a complicated background, so much so that even the bureau chief repeatedly instructed that it should be handled with caution.

He suppressed his thoughts and dialed the number of his informant, Ah Kuan.

"Ah Kuan, can we investigate Kuang Zhiguo's matter?"

Cui Wei found A-Kuan wiping tables at a barbecue stall on a street corner. A-Kuan had been reformed for theft and was now doing odd jobs at the night market.

Ah Kuan glanced around and lowered his voice, "Kuang Zhiguo suddenly said he wanted to go back to his hometown the day before yesterday, but I heard he didn't even buy a train ticket. And..."

He slipped a crumpled piece of paper into Cui Wei's hand. "This was found in his dorm's trash can. It looks like a delivery slip that's been torn in half. The address is an abandoned chemical plant on the outskirts of the city."

As night fell, Cui Wei led his team to the chemical plant.

The rusty iron gate was ajar, and the cigarette butts and messy footprints on the ground indicated that someone had just been here.

Team member Xiao Chen suddenly pointed to the bloodstains in the corner: "Team Leader Cui, the color is wrong!"

"Notify the forensic doctor!" Cui Wei took out his phone to report, but the director called first: "Old Cui, Chairman Wang's driver from Hongyu Group has gone missing, and they've already reported it to the police. Keep an eye on Qin Xiaoming and Kuang Zhiguo's case, but don't alarm Hongyu Group yet."

"Yes, Captain Cui."

Then Cui Wei told the bureau chief about the situation, hoping that the bureau chief could support his next investigation.

“Chief, Qin Xiaoming is very likely involved in the robbery case, and Qin Xiaoming spoke on the phone with Wang Hongyu’s driver, Kuang Zhiguo, before using the phone. I suspect that Wang Hongyu may be involved in the credit union robbery case, so…” Before Cui Wei could finish speaking, the chief had already hung up the phone.

Because Hongyu Group is a key enterprise and major taxpayer in the city, it is impossible for them to let Cui Wei act recklessly.

It should be understood that we are still in an era where economic development is the primary focus, and such actions without any evidence cannot be permitted.

Of course, if Cui Wei finds concrete evidence, that would be a different story.

Late at night, Cui Wei sat in the director's office with Qin Xiaoming and Kuang Zhiguo's files in front of him.

The bureau chief sighed, puffing on his cigarette: "Hongyu Group is a major taxpayer in the city, and Wang Hongyu has dealt with provincial leaders. It's fine for you to investigate the credit union robbery, but don't implicate Hongyu Group."

"But the last person Kuang Zhiguo saw before he disappeared was Qin Xiaoming!" Cui Wei slammed the delivery slip on the table. "This address is only three kilometers away from the credit union where the crime occurred!"

The bureau chief was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up and said, "Old Cui, your father-in-law came to the bureau yesterday to have tea with me."

At this moment, Cui Wei felt a chill run down his spine.

My father-in-law, Qiu Guodong, is a retired prosecutor who has always lived a secluded life. His sudden visit must have a deeper meaning.

"Chief, isn't all you want evidence? If I find it, don't try to stop me!"

"Don't worry! Having evidence is a different matter."

"Then thank you in advance, Director."

"I'm warning you! Don't cause any trouble."

"Don't worry! I definitely won't."

After Cui Wei walked out of the director's office with a dejected look on his face, the team members around him surrounded him in confusion.

"What? Captain Cui, the director doesn't agree?"

"Hmph! Hongyu Group is a key enterprise in the city and a major taxpayer. The bureau chief would never allow it."

"What should I do?"

"Actually, the director still needs solid evidence, so we absolutely cannot relax. Once we find the evidence, all the problems will be solved."

"Yes, Captain Cui."

……

The following evening, Cui Wei accompanied his father-in-law fishing by the moat, as usual.

The old man cast the bait into the water and slowly said, "Fishing is all about stillness. When the water is murky, you have to see what big fish are hiding at the bottom. Someone like Wang Hongyu is practically connected to the Buddhist shrine in the temple."

The float suddenly shook violently, and Cui Wei jerked the rod up, but the hook was empty.

The father-in-law chuckled: "You see, you can't be impatient when you're catching a big fish."

Cui Wei stared at the empty hook and smiled bitterly: "But some fish, if you don't catch them, will bite you sooner or later."

That evening, Cui Wei received a call from his wife, Qiu Jiawen.

At a reunion of old classmates, real estate developer Cao Youbin was particularly attentive to the criminal police captain. When handing him a gift box, he emphasized, "Jiawen, this is a birthday gift for Linlin. I'll take care of getting her into the Experimental Middle School."

When Cui Wei arrived at the private room, Qiu Jiawen was wearing the pearl necklace that Cao Youbin had given her.

He calmly took off the necklace and put it back in the gift box: "We appreciate Mr. Cao's kindness, but the gift is still inappropriate."

"Why are you taking it so seriously?" Qiu Jiawen frowned. "Linlin's grades were just barely above the admission line. President Cao is only helping out because of our friendship as classmates."

“You can’t use personal relationships like this.” Cui Wei pushed the gift box back to Cao Youbin. “The necessary procedures will not be omitted.”

Cao Youbin's face darkened, and he sneered, "Captain Cui is indeed incorruptible, but he's always hanging around the river..."

"Remember to wash your shoes yourself if they get wet," Cui Wei interrupted him, pulling Qiu Jiawen away.

Qiu Jiawen was naturally dissatisfied with Cui Wei's cold-heartedness, after all, she did not realize that those who treat others with respect and courtesy are few and far between.

However, Cui Wei was preoccupied with the credit union robbery case, so he naturally couldn't argue much with Qiu Jiawen.

Trying to persuade a woman through debate is undoubtedly the most foolish thing to do, and Cui Wei is certainly unlikely to make such a basic mistake.

However, Cui Ye was a different case. He couldn't let go of Gao Shuhua and had been trying his best to win her back.

However, a woman who has changed her heart is naturally undesirable; living with such a woman would be truly painful.

……

The next morning, Cui Wei changed into sportswear and went to the golf course.

Through his apprentice's father's connections, he "happened" to play on the same court as Wang Hongyu.

Wang Hongyu is in her early forties, well-maintained, and her swing is elegant.

"Hello, Mr. Wang! I'm Cui Wei from the Criminal Investigation Division."

"Oh? Criminal Investigation Division? What's that position?"

"Head of the Criminal Investigation Detachment."

Sure enough, Wang Hongyu's attitude changed after hearing that Cui Wei was the head of the Criminal Investigation Detachment. "Captain Cui is so busy with official duties, how does he have time to play ball?"

"I heard that Chairman Wang is a very skilled golfer, so I came here specifically to ask him for advice." Cui Wei hit the ball onto the green. "There was a recent credit union robbery case, and the suspect, Qin Xiaoming, contacted Master Kuang before he disappeared."

Wang Hongyu's lips curled slightly: "Kuang Zhiguo is just a driver. How did Captain Cui's investigation lead him to the Hongyu Group?"

“It’s just a routine investigation.” Cui Wei bent down to adjust his posture. “I heard that Master Kuang delivered goods to a chemical plant in the suburbs before he disappeared?”

"A chemical plant?" Wang Hongyu chuckled. "That place has been abandoned for over a decade. When Kuang Zhiguo went there to deliver goods, he probably wasn't delivering canned food to stray cats, was he?"

Cui Wei swung his club and hit the ball into the bunker, sighing, "It's a pity that lately people keep throwing stones into the bunker, making the water murky and impossible to see the fish." Wang Hongyu suddenly put down his rod and looked directly at Cui Wei: "Captain Cui's analogy is interesting. But when the water's murky, fishermen should put down their lines, and swimmers should get out of the water."

As the sun set, Cui Wei walked off the court.

My phone vibrated. It was a text message from Ah Kuan: "Kwong Chi-kwok might be at a certain hotel."

He gripped his phone tightly, and the lights of the distant golf course gradually lit up, resembling countless eyes peering out in the dead of night.

……

That evening, when a neighbor passed by the Cui family's door, he deliberately looked at Lu Qiuping and reminded her, "Aunt Lu, I understand that young people are busy with work, but they can't just bury their heads in chess. They can't run away from problems."

As Cui's mother, Lu Qiuping, was about to go out to take out the trash, she caught a glimpse of her neighbor's meaningful gaze and words that sounded like a reminder, which made Cui's mother feel uneasy.

When Cui Ye returned home, his mother was sitting on the sofa watching TV, with some messy things on the coffee table.

"Mom, please let me explain..." Cui Ye hurriedly tried to explain.

However, she was interrupted by her mother: "Cigarette butts, wine bottles, and this in the storeroom... Tell me honestly, have you been doing something shady lately?"

Cui Ye smiled wryly and pulled out a game card from his pocket: "This is a birthday present for Yan Yan. I don't have time to run around."

He then smoothly shifted the topic to his son, which softened his mother's attitude.

"Cui Ye, what's the situation between you and Shuhua?"

"Don't worry! I won't divorce her."

"Sigh! Although Shuhua doesn't usually take care of the family much, she's still your wife and Yan Yan's biological mother. Sometimes you should just bear with her!"

"Mom, don't worry! I know what I'm doing."

The next day, Cui Ye came to the bookstore and handed over two hundred yuan at the counter: "Boss, I want the latest Super Mario game cartridge."

The shopkeeper, while packaging the game cartridges, sized him up: "These game cartridges are quite valuable. Are you buying this for your child?"

“Yes, the child has made progress in his studies recently, so the father deserves a reward.” Cui Ye took the game card, and as he turned around, his phone vibrated, displaying a call from “Suning” on the screen.

He strode to the alley entrance and answered the phone: "How's your Northeastern dialect practice going?"

"Don't worry! I won't let you down. I guarantee Wang Hongyu will be scared to death." Su Ning's nonchalant laughter came from the other end of the phone.

After Cui's mother visited Cui Ye's warehouse at the Children's Palace, Cui Ye naturally dared not linger there, so he wanted to find a fishing boat.

Then Cui Ye carried two large yellow croakers into Uncle Lin's house, where the old man, who seemed somewhat mentally unstable, was chopping fish to feed his old geese.

"Uncle Lin, do you remember me? I used to go fishing with you when I was little." Cui Ye placed the fish on the octagonal table, and Uncle Lin's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up: "Yellow croaker! Your father used to give me this fish all the time..."

"Uncle Lin, is your old fishing boat still usable? I'd like to borrow it to give Yan Yan a special birthday celebration."

Before Cui Ye could finish speaking, Uncle Lin had already turned and walked into the house.

After rummaging through drawers and cabinets for ages, he finally scratched his head: "Where's the key? I clearly left it here..."

Just as Cui Ye was about to leave, he suddenly saw a copper key hanging around the neck of a goose in the yard. The goose honked twice, as if mocking him.

With the fishing boat, Cui Ye became even more confident, as if Wang Hongyu was already fish on his chopping board.

……

Gao Shuhua walked out of the office building, and Cui Ye emerged from behind the trees: "Shuhua, let's talk about the divorce."

He handed over the divorce papers, saying, "See you at the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow at 2 PM. I'll have custody of the son, and you'll leave with nothing."

Gao Shuhua sneered: "Cui Ye, are you serious? You're not lying to me again, are you?"

"No way! We'll meet at the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow."

Gao Shuhua frowned, "..."

"Shuhua, the divorce is settled for tomorrow." After saying that, Cui Ye quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Gao Shuhua watched Cui Ye's disappearing figure and fell into deep thought.

That evening, Cui Ye and his son Yan Yan were locked in a fierce battle on the Go board, the black and white stones clashing like flashing swords.

“Son, do you think this move has any special meaning?” Cui Ye placed a piece. “There’s a saying that chess players always like to first surround their own territory and then slowly erode others’ territory.”

"Dad, are you going to play chess with someone else?" Yan Yan's eyes lit up.

Cui Ye patted his head: "That's right! Tomorrow, Dad is going to play the most important game of his life."

"..."

……

Inside a high-end Western restaurant.

Wang Hongyu pushed the cooperation agreement in front of Gao Shuhua: "Gao Shuhua, Hongyu Group plans to expand into the Canadian market, and I want to entrust this arduous task to you."

He swirled his wine glass, his gaze intense. "Shuhua, opportunities are fleeting."

"Mr. Wang, didn't you ask me to be in charge of the Go master class?"

"Wouldn't it be a waste of your talent to use you for a small project?"

"Thank you for your high regard, Mr. Wang."

Just as Gao Shuhua was about to sign, Wang Hongyu's phone suddenly rang.

He walked quickly to the window and lowered his voice: "Hello? Qin Xiaoming?"

"Boss Wang, your men aren't exactly honest," a rough Northeastern accent came through the phone. "The ledgers and Qin Xiaoming are in my hands. Three million in cash, the deal's at the dock tomorrow night. Otherwise..."

A vicious laugh came through the receiver: "Guess whose body the police will find first?"

"Mr. Wang, what's wrong?"

Wang Hongyu's face turned ashen. He turned around and saw Gao Shuhua staring at him. He forced himself to remain calm and said, "It's nothing! Just a nuisance call."

By the time he sat down again, Gao Shuhua had already put away the contract: "Mr. Wang, I need to think about it some more."

Okay! I hope you can reply as soon as possible.

……

Cui Ye squatted behind the container smoking, while Su Ning, wearing a baseball cap, stepped out of the shadows: "You really learned Northeastern dialect for a reason. That bastard Wang Hongyu was so scared he almost dropped his phone. Our plan will definitely go very smoothly."

As Cui Ye stared at his performance, which involved switching between dialects at will, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Su Ning patted Cui Ye on the shoulder nonchalantly, "Teacher Cui, what's wrong? Why do you seem afraid of me?"

"Mr. Su, you really wouldn't be plotting against me, would you?"

"Tch! What good would it do me to scheme against you?"

"But I'm still a little scared of you."

"Don't worry, Professor Cui, I believe our collaboration will be a chemical reaction."

"..."

...(End of chapter)