Anti-gang campaign: Female bureau chief

"Director Su, Yi'an City is just ahead."

The SUV sped along the highway. The driver was Zhou Pei, the 37-year-old deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Corps of the Provincial Public Security Department. He had a buzz cut, dark skin, and a scar on his wrist from a chase years ago.

He held the steering wheel with one hand and pointed with the other to the highway exit sign not far ahead, which read "Yi An North".

The woman sitting in the passenger seat didn't speak, but simply turned her head slightly to look out the window at the hazy outline of the city in the distance.

Jiang Ruolan, 33 years old, was formerly the head of the Criminal Investigation Corps of the Provincial Public Security Department and is currently the director of the Yi'an City Public Security Bureau.

She was dressed in a crisp police uniform, the silver olive branches and four-pointed stars on her epaulets gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the afternoon light.

The police uniform was tailored to fit her perfectly, outlining her tall and straight figure just right—the shoulder line was straight and neat, the waist was tight and cinched, and the curve of her chest appeared full yet restrained under the uniform fabric.

Her facial features were sharp and defined, and there was a calm and composed demeanor between her brows and eyes, like a sword yet to be drawn.

When her thin lips are slightly pursed, the line from her jaw to the side of her neck draws a cool yet beautiful curve.

She sat there with her back ramrod straight, and the power emanating from her very bones blended with the natural soft curves of her female body, creating a dangerous allure.

"The department is truly determined this time."

As Zhou Pei turned on his turn signal, he said, "From last year to now, our brigade alone has received more than 60 real-name reports in Yi'an, and every single one of them points to the same thing—the problem of organized crime in Yi'an City has become so serious that the people can no longer survive."

Jiang Ruolan withdrew her gaze, her voice calm:

"More than sixty letters of complaint, and the municipal and provincial supervisory departments haven't been able to find any results?"

"I checked."

Zhou Pei's tone carried a hint of something ambiguous: "Last year, the Provincial Department's Inspection Office sent two working groups down to investigate for three months. The conclusion was that 'some of the allegations were untrue, and no systemic problems were found.'"

But at the beginning of this year, another incident occurred. Chen Yonggui, the owner of a sand and gravel plant in Shiqiao County, which is under the jurisdiction of Yi'an City, filed a real-name report against Fengmao Group, the largest private enterprise in Yi'an, saying that they had forcibly occupied mines, beaten workers, and threatened their families.

Less than a week after the whistleblower letter was sent to the provincial department, Chen Yonggui was attacked with sulfuric acid at his doorstep, suffering burns over 35% of his body. He is currently in the ICU of the Provincial People's Hospital, and it's uncertain whether he will survive.

Jiang Ruolan tapped her knee lightly with her fingers, a habitual gesture when she was thinking. She asked:

"What did they say in Shiqiao County?"

"The Shiqiao County Public Security Bureau has classified this as an ordinary public security case. The suspects have been identified as two unemployed individuals, one named Ma San and the other Liu Ergou. They have fled after the incident and are currently being pursued."

When Zhou Pei said the words "ordinary public security case," the corner of his mouth twitched as if he were smiling, but the smile was full of coldness. "A sand and gravel plant owner filed a formal complaint against the largest private enterprise in the area, and then someone threw sulfuric acid at his doorstep. In the eyes of the Shiqiao County Public Security Bureau, this is just an ordinary public security case."

Jiang Ruolan didn't reply; her gaze returned to the window.

On both sides of the highway are vast stretches of abandoned farmland, overgrown with weeds taller than a person. Occasionally, a few dilapidated farmhouses can be seen, with faded slogans painted on their walls.

The closer we got to Ngee Ann City, the fewer vehicles there were on the road. We did see several large trucks loaded with sand and gravel speeding by, each with a uniform logo painted on its body – a red "丰" (Feng) character with "丰茂集团" (Fengmao Group) written below it.

Zhou Pei noticed her gaze and added:

"Fengmao Group, the largest private enterprise in Yi'an, is owned by Shen Wangshan, nicknamed 'Master Shan'. This guy is interesting. Ten years ago, he was a casino lord and loan shark on the streets of Yi'an. Now he has transformed into a star entrepreneur in Yi'an and a member of the CPPCC."

Last year, he was awarded the title of "Outstanding Private Entrepreneur of the Province." His Fengmao Group is involved in sand and gravel, real estate, logistics, and entertainment, having practically monopolized every profitable industry in Yi'an City.

"ten years."

Jiang Ruolan repeated the timeline, "Ten years to go from a loan shark to a member of the CPPCC, how many signatures and stamps did that require?"

"Yes, there are so many people to pass through."

Zhou Pei gave a meaningful laugh, then said seriously, "Ruolan, let me add something. Yi'an is different from other places. It is a prefecture-level city, but it is located at the junction of three provinces. The mountains are high and the emperor is far away. The local forces have been deeply entrenched for decades."

You've been parachuted in here, nominally as the city bureau chief, but you need to be clear about your own situation—you don't know how many of your subordinates are Shen Wangshan's men, or how many are from other forces.

"You were a master at solving cases when you were in the provincial department, but in Yi'an, your first target might not be the underworld, but rather a mole within your own department."

"I know."

Jiang Ruolan's voice remained calm, but Zhou Pei noticed that her right hand unconsciously clenched.

"There's one more person you need to watch out for."

Zhou Pei said, "Gu Changhe is the Executive Vice Mayor of Yi'an City."

Jiang Ruolan turned her head to look at him:

"Gu Changhe?"

"Yes, there's a saying in Yi'an's officialdom: 'The Gu family is a constant, but the secretaries come and go.' Gu Changhe stayed in Yi'an for fifteen years, rising from a section chief in the county to the executive vice mayor. During that time, the Yi'an municipal party secretary changed four times and the mayor changed three times, but he remained as stable as Mount Tai."

More than half of the officials in Yi'an City, from top to bottom, have had dealings with him. If you're investigating a case in Yi'an and it goes on for a while, you're bound to run into him.

Jiang Ruolan was silent for a few seconds, then nodded slightly:

"Understood."

The car exited the highway and entered the city of Yi'an.

My first impression was gray. The sky was gray, the streets were gray, and even the roadside trees were covered with a thick layer of gray.

The shops on the street were sparse, and many were closed, with "For Sale" or "For Rent" signs pasted on their roller shutters.

Every now and then you can see luxuriously decorated bathhouses or KTVs with rows of nice cars parked in front, creating a stark and absurd contrast with the surrounding dilapidation.

"Should I go directly to the Municipal Bureau or report to the Municipal Party Committee first?"

Zhou Pei asked.

"Go to the Municipal Bureau."

Jiang Ruolan said.

As the car turned at an intersection, a sudden commotion arose ahead.

Jiang Ruolan looked up and saw a large crowd gathered in front of a shop not far away. Some people were shouting, some were crying, and several bald young men wearing black short-sleeved shirts were swinging baseball bats and smashing the shop's glass door.

"In broad daylight."

Zhou Pei frowned and reached for the police light.

"Wait a moment."

Jiang Ruolan pressed his hand down and took out her phone to start recording.

She calmly observed everything before her through the car window...

...........