Chapter 940 Selling His Wife for Glory
They followed Xing Tongguang and Su Mei, but the other party didn't notice anything.
However, Jiang Bai witnessed something interesting. For example, after the two left and got into the car, they arrived at the entrance of a rather upscale restaurant. At the entrance, Su Mei seemed to have come to her senses and had a big argument with Xing Tongguang.
Because of the noise around him, and because Jiang Bai didn't want to actually eavesdrop on other people's secrets, he didn't listen carefully to what they were saying.
However, neither of them looked very happy, and then Su Mei was pulled into a corner by Xing Tongguang.
Gone was the fierce and inexplicable masculinity he had displayed earlier.
This Xing Tongguang, in a secluded corner, actually knelt down before Su Mei!
Yes, they knelt down!
He knelt down before Su Mei, tears streaming down his face, apologizing and saying sentimental things, using all sorts of clichéd phrases that Jiang Bai found hard to bear.
In the end, it seems that Su Mei compromised. Although her expression was still not very good, she did not hold a grudge against Xing Tongguang.
Jiang Bai didn't listen to the details of what Su Mei said, but he heard Su Mei say at the end, "I hope what you said is true. I'm only having a meal with him. Don't even think about anything else! I really can't believe that you would turn out like this one day!"
Based on the snippets of information he had overheard, Jiang Bai came to this conclusion.
Xing Tongguang has become quite abnormal. He can no longer find any love or manly feelings in Su Mei, and he no longer cares about Su Mei or focuses on women.
Xing Tongguang's current goal is power, and he is wholeheartedly devoted to the struggle for power. However, he has neither money nor connections, so it is not so easy for him to rise to power.
So he came up with another solution.
Xing Tongguang knew a former superior who used to be his boss in Tiandu. He held a high position, but within the Tiandu Municipal Bureau, he was only considered to be in the upper-middle level, far below the very top tier.
He is the director of the office.
However, for ordinary people, such a level is naturally already considered extremely high.
This guy used to be a lecher. When Xing Tongguang got married, he had some ideas about Su Mei. He shamelessly made advances on Su Mei and even hinted at Su Mei and Xing Tongguang.
However, at that time, Xing Tongguang firmly refused the other party. The couple certainly couldn't afford to offend such a person, but if they couldn't afford to offend him, they could at least avoid him, right?
They kept avoiding each other.
Later, after Xing Tongguang was injured and transferred away from Tiandu, it's possible that this person wasn't involved.
Strictly speaking, these two people weren't related to this person; rather, they had a somewhat hostile relationship.
However, Xing Tongguang is now disregarding everything. In order to return to Tiandu and get a promotion, he has once again tried to curry favor with this person. According to him, he has already agreed to take Su Mei to dinner with him.
The reason Su Mei was angry just now was because of this. She knew that the other party had ill intentions towards her. Xing Tongguang also knew about this. Now he still insisted on putting the two of them together. His purpose was as clear as day.
"Okay, I promise, it's really just a meal. Don't worry, what I said to that kid just now was just in anger. You know I'm a man too."
"Although we talked about this before, and it was my initiative to ask for it, I didn't even get to see that kid. But when I did see him, I was so angry that I said those things. It wasn't intentional!"
"I promise you, as long as I have dinner with Director Ma today and things go smoothly for me, I will treat you well from now on, and we can live like before, okay?"
Seeing that Su Mei reluctantly agreed, Xing Tongguang immediately stood up, wiped away his tears, and said to Su Mei with a fawning expression.
Whether this is true or false is a matter of opinion.
Jiang Bai, standing at a distance, could see that Su Mei still had some doubts on her face, but in the end she reluctantly nodded and agreed, showing that their friendship of so many years was still there.
Even though Xing Tongguang, that damned eunuch, was really outrageous, Su Mei ultimately chose to believe him.
However, Jiang Bai expressed doubts about this matter.
"What if he lays a hand on me?" Su Mei thought the matter was settled and that he had coaxed her, but after taking only two steps, she suddenly stopped and asked Xing Tongguang this question.
This question stumped Xing Tongguang.
Because he hadn't even thought about this issue, and he wasn't planning to do anything good, or even push Su Mei into someone else's arms, he naturally wouldn't think about so many unnecessary questions.
What I said just now was a lie. Now I'm stumped by Su Mei's question.
How should I respond? Slap him? If I really slap him, how will I manage to get things done?
But if you said it was no big deal, that letting him take a little advantage wouldn't kill anyone, wouldn't Su Mei just turn around and leave?
I've known Su Mei for quite some time now. Although she seems rather gentle on the surface, Su Mei is actually a very stubborn person and has a strong sense of principles when it comes to things like her bottom line.
Of course, sometimes I can't resist my own pleading and cajoling, like with Jiang Bai before, but that always takes time, doesn't it?
If I say that now, Su Mei might turn on me.
How could we let Su Mei turn against us at such a crucial moment?
Is it possible?
Absolutely not!
Therefore, Xing Tongguang was momentarily at a loss for words.
Fortunately, Su Mei didn't press the matter further. She just glanced at Xing Tongguang, saw his troubled expression, felt somewhat disappointed and dejected, gave a bitter smile, and said, "Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go inside."
Judging from his appearance, Jiang Bai, who was watching from a distance, thought that Su Mei had probably given up on Xing Tongguang. She was probably going there to get bitten by a dog and end their marital relationship.
But would Jiang Bai let Su Mei do that?
The answer is clearly no.
Standing at the entrance of "Xuri Seafood Restaurant," Jiang Bai watched them go inside, then followed them in. At the bar, he slipped a small bill to the cheongsam-clad greeter who led them away. The greeter gave a subtle laugh and whispered, "Bye-bye."
Jiang Bai walked in with a smile.
Having found the room, Jiang Bai didn't rush in but sat at the door.
This matter... is not the time to go in now. Going too early would only make things awkward. It's better to wait for now. Jiang Bai has already guessed most of what Xing Tongguang is thinking and he will definitely take some action. It will be most appropriate for him to go in then.
This would not only rescue Su Mei in time, but also make her completely give up on this man.
Chapter 941 Captain Tao
Sitting quietly on the bench by the door, Jiang Bai politely declined several inquiries from waiters. He knew it was almost time.
Although he was physically present, he was very observant and had a clear understanding of the situation inside the house.
As soon as they entered, the Director Ma mentioned by Xing Tongguang became quite impatient, behaving rather blatantly by asking Su Mei to sit next to him for dinner and praising her beauty.
There were quite a few people inside, otherwise this guy would probably have already started fighting.
Even so, it seemed like he was constantly urging Su Mei to drink, and Xing Tongguang not only didn't object, but also kept chiming in, flattering her one after another, occasionally making her laugh and offer a few words of praise.
He even went so far as to help Director Ma get Su Mei drunk, as if she weren't his wife but someone else's, and that he was Director Ma's loyal henchman, ready to get this woman drunk and take her away.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Jiang Bai pushed open the door, because he heard Su Mei say inside, "I'm drunk..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai pushed open the door and went inside.
"Everyone, my friend seems to be drunk, I need to take her home to rest!"
As soon as he entered, Jiang Bai said this directly, and then walked straight to Su Mei's side, as if he were Su Mei's husband and Xing Tongguang were an outsider.
"Who are you!"
"What do you want to do!"
"Hey kid, what do you do for a living!"
Such voices rose and fell at this time. The people in the room were either Director Ma's trusted subordinates or some business friends from outside.
Actually, everyone had some suspicions when they arrived. When they saw Xing Tongguang bring Su Mei and keep pouring her drinks, they all understood what he meant. They were all smart people. Although some looked down on Xing Tongguang and even despised him, they didn't dare to offend Director Ma. They all did their best to help Director Ma resolve the matter.
Just as things were getting pretty good, and Su Mei was about to give up and they were about to get a room for Director Ma to have some fun, someone suddenly ran out and interrupted the event, which naturally aroused public anger.
This is a great opportunity to impress Director Ma!
It doesn't matter who this young man is, since he's not a relative of Su Mei. Isn't Su Mei's husband sitting right next to her?
He was the one who drank the most alcohol just now!
He was hoping Director Ma would transfer him back to Tiandu and promote him, and he couldn't wait to send his wife to bed.
Her husband doesn't object, so how dare you, some nobody who popped out of nowhere, come out and cause trouble at this time?
Do you really think everyone here is made of clay?
Although no one present could compare to Director Ma, each of them held some status, such as squad leader or battalion commander. And which of the businessmen present wasn't worth tens of millions?
How can we tolerate a mere brat like you causing trouble here?
Therefore, at this moment, everyone stood up and spoke, each one jumping higher than the last!
Of course, Su Mei's husband, Xing Tongguang, was also involved. He had gone to great lengths to organize this meeting and subtly told Director Ma that as long as he helped him, his long-cherished wish would be fulfilled.
That's why we managed to get Director Ma to come out. How could we allow Jiang Bai to jump out at this time and ruin our good deed?
So after everyone questioned him, he jumped out and roared angrily at Jiang Bai, "What are you doing here, Jiang! Get out of here!"
Surname Jiang?
Everyone around was stunned at this moment.
Because of Jiang Bai, people in the Tiandu police force are now somewhat neurotic and extremely sensitive to anyone with the surname Jiang.
Be careful, lest you accidentally offend that man.
So Director Ma spoke up at this moment, his tone unusually amiable, "Young man, your surname is Jiang? And who is your sworn brother, Master Jiang?"
"It's alright!" Jiang Bai replied directly, vehemently denying his identity.
In fact, it wasn't intentional; he just didn't want to deal with these guys. None of them were worthy of his attention.
Upon hearing this, the people around him exclaimed, "It's okay? If it's okay, then why are you acting so arrogantly?"
Don't they even know who these people are?
"Kid, do you know who's here? How dare you cause trouble? I think you're asking for a beating. Do you want to go in jail for a few days to learn your lesson?" One of them stood up and drunkenly berated Jiang Bai.
"You go first, this is none of your business." By this time, Su Mei had regained consciousness. In fact, Su Mei had never been clear about Jiang Bai's specific situation.
Jiang Bai once jokingly said that he was a mafia boss or something. Su Mei didn't take it seriously, but she did think that Jiang Bai was somewhat related to that, because Jiang Bai had indeed done some things that she considered rather violent.
Considering the identities of those present, they naturally wouldn't let Jiang Bai stay here.
Unfortunately, Jiang Bai didn't listen to her. He glanced at her but didn't insist. He said with a smile, "If you're not leaving, then I won't leave either. I'll sit down and eat. Does everyone have any objections?"
"No objections? How can we not object? We can tell at a glance that you're here to cause trouble, how can we not object?"
Just as the people around were about to speak up and drive Jiang Bai away, and some had even rolled up their sleeves, ready to fight him, Director Ma suddenly stood up.
He noticed a person peering curiously into the open doorway, and this person happened to be someone he recognized.
Tao Jia, former director of the Shangdong District Police Station, is now the head of the Criminal Investigation Corps.
Although the two are at the same level, the other person is a proper top leader, which is on a completely different level from him, who is just an office director. They are of the same rank but different positions, and their statuses are quite different.
Although they usually act like brothers and are quite friendly with each other, that's only because the Tao family gives them face. If they didn't, he really couldn't do anything about the Tao family.
After all, the Tao family has a wide network of connections and a rich resume. It is said that they also have connections at higher levels. Recently, they have been working with high-ranking officials in the police department to investigate a major case in Tiandu. It is said that they are highly appreciated by their superiors.
There are already rumors that the reason Tao Jia was transferred from the position of bureau chief to the position of chief captain in the past two months is because someone in higher-ups wanted him to make meritorious contributions.
Those who make meritorious contributions will be promoted and may become deputy directors in the near future.
At that time, the Tao family suddenly became his direct superiors.
Therefore, he had no choice but to be careful. So when he saw the Tao family, he immediately stood up, stretched out his hand, and called out enthusiastically, "Team Leader Tao, what are you doing here?"
But something unexpected happened. The Tao family completely ignored him, just staring blankly into the house. After looking around, they turned around and left.
Chapter 942 Young People Should Know Their Place
Tao Jia's abrupt departure, ignoring everyone around him, left them stunned and looking at each other in bewilderment. Some of them had already stood up, some even picking up their wine glasses, ready to welcome the captain to his seat.
But now, the captain didn't say a word, turned around and left as if he hadn't seen them at all. This situation left them somewhat bewildered, not knowing what was going on.
To be honest, even Jiang Bai was a little stunned: "What's going on with the Tao family? They run away as soon as they see me? Are they scared of me?"
"That's not right. Even if he's scared me, he shouldn't be like this. At the very least, he should have come over and greeted me. This guy isn't the kind of person who's so clueless about social niceties, is he?"
Jiang Bai was also filled with doubts.
As for Director Ma, he was even more embarrassed. His hand was already outstretched, halfway out, just hanging there empty, and no one shook his hand. How embarrassing!
Fortunately, Director Ma was a worldly-wise man. He quickly recovered, cleared his throat, and said with a smile, "It seems that Tao is handling some big case and it's inconvenient for him to talk to us. Well, we're all on the same side, so we should understand the rules. Alright, alright, let's not talk about this. Let's eat!"
After saying that, he invited everyone to sit down and continue their meal.
Those present might not have other skills, but they were absolutely first-rate at reading people and flattering. After hearing Director Ma's words, they naturally knew that Director Ma was giving them a way out, and one by one they realized what he meant and agreed.
However, some shrewd people were already wondering what Captain Tao, who was riding high at the time, meant by doing this. Did he think that Director Ma was no longer a reliable figure and that if the empire was about to collapse, it was time to find another ally?
Ignoring what they were saying, Jiang Bai sat down on his own.
"Hey kid, what are you doing! Who's welcoming you to sit down! Stand up! What kind of place is this? Who gave you the right to sit here! You're not welcome here, please leave immediately!"
Before Director Ma had even returned to his seat, one of his lackeys saw Jiang Bai sit down and immediately started shouting.
What a joke! This kid is obviously here to cause trouble. Director Ma is in high spirits and is about to get this beautiful woman drunk and have some fun. How can he allow someone else to interfere?
Director Ma remained silent. Now was the perfect time for him to show his skills, so he, like a lackey, took the initiative and struck first!
This immediately made someone nearby show a regretful expression, thinking to themselves that they were too late and had missed an opportunity to show off. If Director Ma hadn't been there, they probably would have been jumping up and down in anger.
Xing Tongguang was furious. "My wife! I haven't even said a word yet, and you've already started. What does this mean?"
Are you trying to steal my job? I've already given up my wife, and you still want to take advantage of me?
No way!
So Xing Tongguang stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Bai's clothes by the shoulder, and said fiercely, "Jiang, are you tired of living?!"
"You bunch of grown men are sitting here getting a woman drunk. I think you're up to no good. Su Mei and I are friends, very good friends. Of course I can't ignore her situation!"
Jiang Bai lightly swayed his shoulders to break free from Xing Tongguang's grip, and sat there noncommittally. He picked up the crystal teapot on the table, poured Su Mei a glass of water, and said softly, "Why drink so much alcohol? Drink some water, it will make you feel better. I'll have someone make some hangover soup for you later, it will make you feel better."
He didn't take the people around him seriously at all during that time.
This infuriated the people around him. Some hot-tempered men had already drawn their sidearms from their waists and slammed them on the table, almost as if they wanted to yell at Jiang Bai, "Kid, are you tired of living? Believe me or not, I'll shoot you dead!"
Unfortunately, they didn't say these words. Sitting there with a gloomy face, Director Ma, who had already sensed that something was wrong, said coldly, "Young man, I advise you to be sensible. What does it have to do with you what we friends are drinking with? Xiao Xing is her husband and he didn't say anything. What are you meddling for?"
"I don't know who you are, but young people should be more sensible. There are some things you can't control, some things you can't say, and if you meddle in other people's business, you'll suffer a great loss!"
Jiang Bai simply chuckled and didn't respond, as if he hadn't heard what was said.
"Kid, Director Ma has already spoken, and you're still being shameless. Let me tell you, this is because our director has a good temper. Don't think I'm just bluffing you! Believe me or not, I'll shoot you dead?"
Jiang Bai's attitude was even more infuriating. One of the guys standing there finally couldn't hold back, pulled out a gun, pointed it at Jiang Bai's head, and said viciously, as if he was about to kill Jiang Bai at the slightest provocation.
This startled those around them, and some of them were already awakened from their drunken stupor.
Damn it, Lao Wang, this kid is really despicable. We all know you're loyal to Director Ma, and we know you're eager to impress him, but you've gone a bit too far.
Why did he draw his gun in public?
Do you think this is the old society? You think it can just come out of nowhere?
If this gets out, it will be a huge problem. The leaders in the department are still handling the case in Tiandu!
Even if you've had enough of living on your own, don't drag us down with you.
"Old Wang!" Director Ma didn't show too much panic, because he knew that his subordinate still had some sense of propriety. Although he seemed to have a fiery temper, he was his old subordinate and still had basic manners. This was just to scare the kid.
So when Director Ma spoke up at that moment, he stopped him, which was a way of giving him a way out.
When the man heard Director Ma call his name, he naturally and obediently lowered his gun.
Of course, he didn't forget to glare fiercely at Jiang Bai, as if to say that he was only letting him go because of Director Ma, otherwise, Jiang Bai's head would be split open by now.
Director Ma then said to Jiang Bai at the opportune moment, "Young man, my subordinate has a bad temper. Did he scare you?"
After finishing his greeting, he abruptly changed the subject, saying, "If I were you, I would apologize to my subordinate immediately and get out of here obediently. Otherwise, my men won't be polite. If he really shoots you, we have plenty of reasons to ensure he gets away scot-free."
"But you're different. You're so young, and you're going to die here. You might even have to bear the charge of assaulting a police officer in the future. Hmph, you'll really die with your eyes open in disgrace."
"Threatening me?" Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow, his face darkening.
Chapter 943 Old Cheng's soldiers are good
"Threat? Not really. I'm just letting you understand that the world isn't what you young people think. There are some people you can't afford to offend, and some things you can't control! You have to be smarter. Don't you agree?" Director Ma sneered, acknowledging the fact, and then shared his philosophy of life with Jiang Bai.
"So you're still threatening me?" Jiang Bai replied, narrowing his eyes.
What I was going to do next was show this guy what would happen to anyone who dared to threaten Jiang Bai.
But before he could speak, the group that had just drawn their guns pointed them at Jiang Bai again and said menacingly, "Kid, you're asking for it. I'll kill you right now!"
"Does the police now have the right to pull out their guns and kill people? You guys are really bold, don't you have any respect for the law?"
Just then, a majestic and cold voice suddenly rang out, and a middle-aged man dressed in white and black trousers appeared at the doorway, looking at the people inside with a gloomy expression.
This surprised everyone present. The person in front of them looked somewhat familiar, but they couldn't remember who he was.
"Who are you?" someone couldn't help but ask.
"Who I am is none of your business! I'm his friend! I'm asking you now, isn't it lawless of you to draw your guns in public?"
The middle-aged man pointed at Jiang Bai, then asked coldly.
Upon seeing this person, Jiang Bai immediately revealed a playful smile. He tugged at Su Mei, who looked somewhat nervous and whose face had turned pale from the surrounding scene, and offered her some comfort.
"The law? Hmph, let me tell you both, in Tiandu, our Director Ma is the law! Today, your friend is so ignorant as to offend Director Ma, which means he has offended the law!"
"And you? How dare you point fingers at us like that! You're asking for trouble!"
"If you two know what's good for you, kneel down and apologize to Director Ma, kowtow and admit your mistakes, and I'll let you go and let you both get out of here!"
"Otherwise, I'll shoot you both today and then frame you for assaulting a police officer. With so many witnesses here, you two will be unable to clear your names no matter what you do. You're set up for this!"
He didn't realize that Director Ma, who had been watching the person at the door without saying a word, had initially been smug, but now his face had turned deathly pale.
Upon hearing him speak, her body went limp, and she slumped down, trembling with fear.
Clearly, Director Ma had already recognized the person who had come.
Although the person in front of him looked somewhat familiar at first glance, and he had been drinking a bit and couldn't remember who it was, he had, after all, met this person from afar. Although Director Ma's memory wasn't very good, it wasn't too bad either. After thinking for a moment, he remembered who the person in front of him was, and he was already sweating profusely.
He was about to speak up to make amends when he was so frightened by his subordinate's words that he almost collapsed into a coma. His whole body went limp and he slumped into the chair, trembling all over, unable to utter a single word.
He was almost in tears, wanting to tear that shameless bastard Lao Wang to pieces to vent his hatred.
With a "plop," after Old Wang finished speaking, someone actually knelt down, but it wasn't Jiang Bai or the person in front of him, but Director Ma, who had slumped into the chair.
"Minister Cheng, I...I don't know him...I don't know him...Please, please don't listen to his nonsense! He's talking complete nonsense!"
At this moment, he recognized the person in front of him—Deputy Minister Cheng Tiangang, the infamous "Tiger Cheng," the undisputed future top dog, and a powerful figure in the police force whose word was law.
I had heard that he was secretly handling a major case in Tiandu, but I never expected to run into him here.
That damned old Wang even said such reckless things in front of him, isn't that just sending him to his death?
Minister Cheng?
Everyone present was stunned for a moment, and then their expressions changed drastically, including that old Wang.
At this age, who else could be called a minister by Director Ma and frighten him like this, but the Tiger of Southern Xinjiang?
I had heard that a leader from the ministry was leading the investigation in Tiandu, and now it seems that it was this grandfather.
Thinking about what he had just said, Old Wang felt dizzy and fainted.
As for the others, their faces were deathly pale. They didn't care that they had already fallen to the ground and just stood there dumbfounded, almost crying.
What the hell is this?!
Originally, it was just about accompanying someone for drinks and helping Director Ma find a woman, but how did it turn into this situation?
Now, his group is completely finished.
Only Xing Tongguang remained bewildered, wondering what had happened to these people in front of him. How could these once-powerful leaders, who had been so arrogant in his presence, suddenly become fools?
"Hmph! Whether it's your business or not, I won't listen to what you say. I only believe what I hear and what I hear!"
"Great, great, really great! During their duty hours, instead of going to work, they organize themselves to eat and drink lavishly here, and even draw their guns on the people."
"Threatening to kill people, framing others, and even planning to kill me too? You're really something!"
Cheng Tiangang was furious, roaring furiously, which frightened the Tao family and other high-ranking officials who had followed behind him into silence.
Even Su Mei and Xing Tongguang, who were slow to realize things, finally understood that the person in front of them was no ordinary person.
Xing Tongguang's face was ashen, while Su Mei was somewhat dazed.
"Of course it's great! Then take a look at whose soldiers they are. Your soldiers, Lao Cheng, are really something else. Impressive! Murder and framing, you seem to have handled this quite well. This is thanks to your excellent training!"
"I think we can find a few media outlets another day and write about this moving story properly, so that everyone can know what kind of heroes Minister Cheng has trained."
Just because others didn't speak didn't mean Jiang Bai couldn't speak. He stood there chuckled and said the same thing as usual.
This startled Su Mei, who quickly came to her senses and kicked Jiang Bai to tell him not to talk nonsense in front of this important person.
It's one thing to be unserious normally, but how can you talk like that in front of someone like this at a time like this? This could get you killed!
Unconsciously, Su Mei was already starting to worry about Jiang Bai. As for Xing Tongguang... well, given how Xing Tongguang treated her and the way he forced her to drink at the table, Su Mei had already given up on him. Let him do whatever he wants; it's none of her business anymore.
The bond between her and him as husband and wife vanished during that dinner, and they became like strangers from then on.
Chapter 944 I'll Talk to You Tonight
Su Mei wasn't stupid. Before entering this place, she had already guessed Xing Tongguang's intentions. However, considering their years of marriage, she thought that if he could turn over a new leaf after entering, she could let it go for the sake of their years of relationship.
She just didn't expect that he was determined to give her away, sacrificing himself for his career, which made Su Mei give up completely.
That's why she's ignoring Xing Tongguang now and only caring about Jiang Bai, the man with whom she already has a deep emotional connection and has had many intimate relationships.
That's just what Su Mei thought.
Others, however, didn't think much of it. The Tao family and others who had already recognized Jiang Bai all had strange expressions on their faces.
Cheng Tiangang's face turned red with anger at Jiang Bai.
But in the minds of Director Ma and his entourage, there were only two words: "Holy shit!"
"You're sending us to our deaths! Aren't you just adding fuel to the fire?" the crowd cried out in their hearts.
As expected, Cheng Tiangang, who was already furious, became even angrier. Standing there, he pointed at Jiang Bai and said, "Jiang Bai, stop your sarcastic remarks! These people are not my soldiers, and I, Cheng Tiangang, would not train such scoundrels!"
"Tao family, take their guns away and send someone to take them away. Ask them a thorough question and find out how many similar things they've done before. Tell them that I, Cheng Tiangang, said this matter must be dealt with severely!"
"I'll keep a close eye on things. If anyone dares to play any tricks on me, I, Cheng Tiangang, will make them pay!"
"I have always opposed the interference of power in the judiciary, but I have spoken out on this matter today. You can tell others that I said they should be dealt with! Such scum cannot be allowed to live!"
It seems that Cheng Tiangang was quite angry with Jiang Bai, otherwise he wouldn't have said such a thing.
He wasn't known for his good temper, and he was extremely inflexible in his actions. However, he was very principled. Under normal circumstances, if he encountered such a situation, even if Cheng Tiangang was furious with these scoundrels, he would simply have them arrested, questioned, and handed over to the judicial authorities. He wouldn't have said something like what he did today.
You have to understand that his status is too high. There are some things he doesn't say, and if he does, his subordinates will definitely carry them out even more strictly for fear of angering him. If he doesn't say these things and follows the normal procedures, these people will at most receive administrative penalties.
So what if you're locked up for a few days and lose your job? You'll still be living a carefree and respectable life.
But if he says that, these people will be lucky to get imprisoned; they might cause trouble and even get shot.
In the past, although Cheng Tiangang knew about these shady dealings, he was unwilling to say much, not because he dared not, but because he could not, because if he did, he would be leading the way in breaking the rules and undermining the judiciary, which would have too great an impact and too bad consequences.
Jiang Bai was furious, and these people were truly scoundrels, so Cheng Tiangang got angry and finished them off with a single sentence.
What truly drove them to despair was not Cheng Tiangang's words, but the name he called out.
Jiang Bai?
The name nearly made Director Ma and his group faint.
There are plenty of people named Jiang Bai, so it's nothing special. The key is that he can talk to Minister Cheng here. He was called a friend by Minister Cheng before, and now he dares to mock Minister Cheng. There is only one Jiang Bai in the world.
Who else but Master Jiang could it be?
Offending Director Cheng could lead to anything, at worst losing their job, or having their past misdeeds dug up and serving two years in jail. As for the death penalty, none of them had ever committed such a crime, so it shouldn't come to that.
But what if we offend Master Jiang? That would be truly disastrous.
Who in Tiandu doesn't know how ruthless Master Jiang is?
Who in Tiandu doesn't know that Master Jiang is vengeful and vindictive?
Looking at the relationship between Master Jiang and Su Mei, anyone who isn't blind can see that they're actually having an affair.
Thinking about what they had said and done before, Director Ma and the others felt like dying.
He almost knelt down and begged for mercy, but he didn't get the chance. The Tao family and others rushed up, kicked him to the ground one by one, and tied him up with their weapons.
The Tao family here has a lot of manpower, and they are all elite soldiers. At this time, when Cheng Tiangang gives an order, how can we give Director Ma and others a chance to speak?
"Jiang Bai..."
Su Mei realized something was wrong at this moment. She knew that Jiang Bai hadn't told her the truth before, and that his identity was not ordinary. However, she didn't ask Jiang Bai what was going on. She just gently tugged at Jiang Bai's sleeve and then glanced at Xing Tongguang.
Although he was ruthless, Su Mei could not be unjust. After so many years of marriage, Su Mei could not stand by and watch him go to jail.
He's already impotent, and now he's going to lose his job and go to jail. Su Mei is afraid that Xing Tongguang really won't be able to survive.
Jiang Bai was quite understanding. As soon as Su Mei tugged at his clothes, he understood and said to Cheng Tiangang, "Old Cheng, do me a favor. This kid has nothing to do with this. He was just passing by."
Jiang Bai spoke up, and Cheng Tiangang naturally agreed. Although he was annoyed by Jiang Bai's sarcastic remarks that had embarrassed him, he still nodded.
Meanwhile, the Tao family had already released their people when Jiang Bai spoke.
This left Xing Tongguang with a complicated expression, standing there with his face constantly shifting between light and dark.
Director Ma and his entourage were taken away, leaving him standing there dumbfounded, unsure whether to leave or stay.
However, no one paid him any attention. Jiang Bai didn't even glance at him and said to Cheng Tiangang, "Why didn't you say you were in Tiandu when you called earlier?"
"You didn't even ask me, so why should I tell you? Is this your home? Do I have to report to you before I come here?" Cheng Tiangang replied irritably, clearly still angry.
"You must be here on a case. What's the big deal? Tell me about it," Jiang Bai asked curiously.
"This is confidential, it has nothing to do with you!" But Cheng Tiangang clearly ignored him. He didn't need Jiang Bai's help with this, so why should he tell Jiang Bai?
Cheng Laohu is a man of strong principles; he would never reveal confidential matters to Jiang Bai.
"Fine, don't tell me then!" Jiang Bai shrugged indifferently and ignored him.
"I'm busy now, I need to deal with these bastards. We'll have dinner together tonight, and then we'll talk." Seeing Jiang Bai's expression, Cheng Tiangang snorted coldly, said this, and turned to leave.
This surprised Jiang Bai. He had already said what needed to be said on the plane. Why was he being asked to talk about something now?
Let's talk about this case?
Didn't you say you didn't need my help?
Squinting, Jiang Bai couldn't help but feel a little curious.
However, he quickly put the matter out of his mind because he had another matter to deal with.
Chapter 945 Utter Shamelessness
This matter is not crucial, but it is urgent.
That's Xing Tongguang right in front of us. How to deal with this person is the key.
Jiang Bai didn't know what kind of person Xing Tongguang was before, nor did he care. No matter how brave or outstanding he was before, he was now just a spineless eunuch who would do anything for power and was willing to give up everything.
In Jiang Bai's eyes, such a person was simply the epitome of scum.
Bad people are not hateful, because they are bad people to begin with, and nobody cares whether they live or die.
The kind of person in front of you is the most hateful, because he is hurting the people around him.
Originally, according to Jiang Bai's idea, the right thing to do for someone like Xing Tongguang was to carry out humane extermination.
Since he has already done such bottomless and shameless things, keeping him alive will only lead to him doing even more outrageous things in the future. As long as such a person is alive and lucky enough to survive, he will definitely become even more ruthless.
The problem is, he is Su Mei's husband after all. Although it is only natural for him and Su Mei to have an affair, and it was started because of this guy, he doesn't feel guilty. However, it is still against human ethics.
If he were to kill someone's husband now, regardless of the reason, Jiang Bai would definitely be branded as a bully who preys on men and women.
Although Jiang Bai didn't care much about other people's opinions, gossip could be a powerful force, and even if he didn't care, Su Mei certainly did.
Besides, although Xing Tongguang's actions made Su Mei give up on him, the two of them had known each other since childhood, were childhood sweethearts and husband and wife. Although they were husband and wife in name only, their feelings for each other still remained after many years. Now it would be simple for Jiang Bai to get rid of Xing Tongguang.
What would Su Mei think?
If Jiang Bai didn't care about Su Mei's thoughts, he could have kept quiet in front of Cheng Tiangang. Cheng Tiangang's words had already been spoken, and his subordinates would definitely do something. Even if Xing Tongguang was innocent, someone would find something to cause trouble for him.
There will definitely be no death penalty, but a few years in prison is inevitable. Don't underestimate the efficiency of those below; they're always very good at this kind of thing.
That's why Jiang Bai was unable to do anything about Xing Tongguang.
"Jiang Bai, do you know Minister Cheng...?" Xing Tongguang still hadn't realized who Jiang Bai was.
It has to be said that this guy's brain doesn't work very fast. No wonder he was exiled. If it weren't for his previous merits, he probably wouldn't even have been able to become a company commander.
"I know him, so what?" Jiang Bai replied somewhat impatiently. Although he hadn't decided what to do with Xing Tongguang, that didn't mean he was going to treat him well.
Jiang Bai casually sat down at the table and called out to the door, "Waiter, tell your boss to bring over some of his best dishes and tidy up the place while you're at it. I haven't eaten yet!"
Then he glanced at the somewhat embarrassed Xing Tongguang and said, "Speak, what do you want?"
Even though Xing Tongguang didn't say anything, Jiang Bai was well aware of his ulterior motives.
However, some things are better said out loud.
"You really know him? That's great!"
This guy actually had a smile on his face, looking excited, completely forgetting that he had just survived a close call. This left Jiang Bai speechless and Su Mei completely astonished.
"What do you want?" Jiang Bai said impatiently.
"Please talk to Minister Cheng for me. My position is just too tough. There's no money in it, and I get yelled at all the time. I want to come back to Tiandu. I don't ask for much. I'd like to be a deputy director in any branch office... no, even a captain would be fine."
"This matter would definitely be difficult for others, but for Minister Cheng, it's just a matter of a word. Everyone knows that Minister Cheng is the youngest deputy minister and will definitely become the top police officer in the future. His word is more effective than any amount of money."
"As long as he speaks up, my matter will definitely be resolved."
Deputy Director? This guy has pretty high standards? Is this a promotion beyond his rank, or even a promotion across regions?
Dream on!
Jiang Bai could handle this, but Cheng Tiangang was very principled and wouldn't help Jiang Bai with something like this. However, Jiang Bai could do this without going through Cheng Tiangang, as he was very familiar with the leaders of the Tiandu City Bureau.
Those people are much more adaptable than Cheng Laohu, and they will definitely give Jiang Bai face.
Let alone the director of a small branch office in Tiandu City, even if he were directly transferred to a small place to govern a region, Jiang Bai might be able to pull some strings for him.
It's nothing more than owing Li Qingdi a favor.
But... on what grounds?
Why should Jiang Bai help this dead eunuch?
"Why should I help you!" Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow and replied dismissively.
"Su Mei! I won't pursue your affair with Su Mei anymore! No, no, it's not that I won't pursue it, I'll just pretend I don't know anything about it. If you want to get married, I'll support her for you, and she'll be your mistress from now on!"
"If you find me an eyesore and want to be with her, that's simple. Just do the job for me, and I'll divorce her immediately! I promise I won't say a word!"
"Su Mei is so young and beautiful, there are many people who like her. It's a waste for her to follow a useless person like me. It's just that my body is not good enough. Otherwise, I would never let such a charming and beautiful woman leave me."
"You know there are plenty of people outside who covet Su Mei. If you just agree to my request, Su Mei will be yours!"
Xing Tongguang was taken aback. He hadn't expected Jiang Bai to say such a thing. However, he was prepared. Since he had spoken to Jiang Bai, he had thought of the possibility that Jiang Bai, who had just been at odds with him, would refuse. He had also thought of an excuse.
He chuckled and said something rather vulgar to Jiang Bai, while pushing Su Mei next to him towards Jiang Bai!
Damn, I've seen plenty of shameless people, but I've never seen anyone as shameless as this. A man without testicles is truly shameless to the extreme.
Jiang Bai was at a loss for words.
"Smack!"
A crisp slap landed on Xing Tongguang's face at that moment. Su Mei was furious, and as tears streamed down her face, she roared, "Xing Tongguang, you are utterly shameless!"
Unfortunately, Xing Tongguang, who had been slapped, didn't seem to mind. He chuckled, rubbed his face, and said to Su Mei in a flattering tone, "Su Mei, hit me if you want. I've figured it out now. A man without power or money is better off dead. I'm a useless person now, and I don't care about face or dignity anymore."
"But I want power and money, I want all of these. Please, for the sake of our many years of friendship, help me beg Mr. Jiang. You're so beautiful, Mr. Jiang will definitely like you. As long as you say the word, I can definitely get this done."
"Just consider it helping me out."
Chapter 946 Supporting the Frontier
In response, Su Mei slapped Xing Tongguang twice more.
Xing Tongguang stood there smiling as he took the beating, seemingly unconcerned.
Jiang Bai gained a completely new understanding of this guy's shamelessness. He was a real-life version of a psychopath with a twisted personality, which left Jiang Bai speechless.
Not wanting to see this guy for even a second, he waved his hand impatiently and said, "Get out of my sight right now. I'll talk to Cheng Tiangang about your matter. Don't bother me here."
With Jiang Bai's assurance, Xing Tongguang was overjoyed. He bowed and scraped to Jiang Bai in gratitude, then left with the words, "I understand, I understand. Have fun. I'm leaving now."
He then left with a smirk, closing the door behind him as he went. He practically said something like, "I'll be waiting at the door. Call me if you need anything, or I'll push you around when you're tired of playing."
This left Jiang Bai speechless.
How did a perfectly good man, a once noble and righteous man, become such a twisted eunuch?
After he left, Su Mei, wearing a white dress, stood next to Jiang Bai, curled up, squatted there, and cried her heart out.
Jiang Bai didn't comfort her; she needed to vent. He simply stroked her hair to offer some comfort.
I don't know how long I cried before I slowly stopped. The waiter outside had knocked on the door three times, but he was very professional and didn't go in without being told to, and waited at the door.
After Su Mei finished crying, Jiang Bai said, "Eat something after you're done crying. You drank so much, you probably haven't eaten, right?"
Su Mei didn't say anything, she just nodded. Jiang Bai chuckled and then instructed the waiter at the door to serve the dishes and clean the table.
As if instructed that there were distinguished guests here, the waiters arrived promptly and in large numbers, quickly tidying up everything and serving a table full of delicious dishes. They then said that the dishes were a gift from the owner and asked the guests to enjoy them before leaving.
The boss never showed up, but he was quite good at dealing with people.
Jiang Bai placed a piece of fish in front of Su Mei. Su Mei took a couple of small bites, then suddenly seemed to remember something. She raised her head and looked at Jiang Bai with her red eyes: "You're not really planning to plead for Xing Tongguang, are you?"
"Well, he is your husband after all. For your sake, I will talk to Cheng Tiangang."
After thinking it over, Jiang Bai gave this answer. In fact, he never intended to help Xing Tongguang. People like him are a menace wherever they go. He has completely gone mad now, only thinking about power and money, without any integrity or bottom line.
If Jiang Bai were to help such a person rise to power, it would be creating a disaster, and he was unwilling to do such a thing.
However, I definitely can't say that in front of Su Mei.
"Don't help him. He's not the Xing Tongguang I used to know anymore. He's been acting strangely ever since he got injured, and now I realize he's completely twisted!"
"Jiang Bai, I don't know what your relationship is with that important person, or even who you are. But I do know that right now, you seem to be the only person I can rely on. I don't want you to get involved in this."
"Of course, I don't want Xing Tongguang to get what he wants either. It's not that I'm turning my back on him, but I'm doing this for his own good. If someone with such a twisted personality were to actually become a high-ranking official, I don't know how many people would suffer. He has no bottom line as a human being."
"She's no longer the person I used to know!"
Jiang Bai naturally welcomed this with open arms, but he remained quite composed, showing no sign of jubilation on his face. He simply chuckled and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
"Um."
After having lunch together, Su Mei, feeling a bit tipsy, said she had a headache, so Jiang Bai arranged a room nearby.
Then...
It wasn't that the two were adulterers who had just suffered a blow and then started acting recklessly; rather, it was because the two had already engaged in intimate acts several times and had feelings for each other.
Previously, Su Mei couldn't get over certain hurdles, but now Xing Tongguang's matter has completely come to an end in her heart. Coupled with the stimulation of alcohol and mental stimulation, the double pressure made her need to release, and Jiang Bai went along with it, which led to what happened later.
After a crazy afternoon, Su Mei fell into a deep sleep, while Jiang Bai got dressed and left the hotel.
It wasn't that he was heartless in plucking the bird; he simply turned around and prepared to leave.
It's because I made an appointment with Lao Cheng, and now he's calling.
It was the same restaurant as lunchtime. I don't know if it's because Lao Cheng and his department eat and drink here for free, or because the food is so good, or because the owner is so good at getting things done, but somehow Lao Cheng ended up eating here for lunch and then again for dinner.
Once you exit the gate, turn left and cross the street to reach your destination.
As he walked, Jiang Bai made a phone call to a high-ranking police friend in Tiandu.
She mentioned Xing Tongguang, saying that they had a minor conflict, but she didn't want to see him in the future. However, she didn't want to make things too difficult for him and hoped he could find her a different job.
The person on the other end understood immediately and told Jiang Bai that there was a spot available for supporting the frontier, and that he would communicate with Xing Tongguang's superiors there. He said that young people should go to remote places to train themselves for a couple of years.
Jiang Bai chuckled and hung up the phone. He knew that once Xing Tongguang left, he probably wouldn't be back for more than a year or two.
As for whether he was willing to go or not, Jiang Bai wasn't worried at all; they naturally had ways to get him to go.
After walking through the bustling streets, I saw Xiao Li waiting there under the neon lights.
This young Li is also a talented young man. He is Lao Cheng's secretary and is said to be very capable. Lao Cheng selected him from the ministry for the position of deputy minister, and even dismissed several experienced government officials in the process, choosing him instead.
Naturally, this kid is extremely outstanding and clever, and he doesn't have the common flaws of a seasoned veteran. He's also very diligent and clean, which is why Lao Cheng chose him.
Jiang Bai had met Xiao Li a few times. Although Xiao Li was two years older than Jiang Bai, he always called Jiang Bai "brother".
Upon seeing Jiang Bai from afar, Xiao Li greeted him, "Brother Jiang, over here."
He came up to Jiang Bai and shook hands with him warmly. Then he said to Jiang Bai, "Brother Jiang, the boss is waiting for you inside. He was really upset by you today, so he prepared a lot of good wine. He said he'll teach you a lesson tonight."
He would never say such things to anyone else, and he would never reveal any of Cheng Tiangang's thoughts to others. However, Jiang Bai is different. He also knows that Jiang Bai is one of Cheng Tiangang's few friends, and there are some things that are not related to saying them to Jiang Bai.
On the contrary, it will make the relationship between the two closer, and even if Cheng Tiangang finds out, he won't blame him.
Chapter 947 Mysterious Case
"Make me look bad? Him? Heh." Jiang Bai chuckled dismissively at these words.
Cheng Tiangang made him look bad and drank with him, so why should he be afraid of him?
Even without using any special methods, with my abilities, taking on ten of them wouldn't be a problem.
Xiao Li chuckled but didn't say anything.
He was conscientious and knew when he should speak, what he should say, and when he should keep quiet.
Jiang Bai could make such teasing and critical remarks about Cheng Tiangang, but Cheng Tiangang couldn't respond; keeping quiet and chuckling was the best option.
With Xiao Li leading the way, Jiang Bai quickly entered the room, a small private room that wasn't very big. Inside, there was a round table with several of the restaurant's signature dishes on it—not many, five meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and a soup.
Several bottles of special supplies were placed on the table, already opened, along with two sets of tableware. After opening the door for Jiang Bai, Xiao Li tactfully left.
However, he didn't go far and waited outside the door, ready to give instructions at any time. The reason he didn't come in was that he knew there were some things that were inconvenient for him to hear, even though he was Cheng Tiangang's secretary.
"Oh my, what's going on here? This is the first time you, Cheng Tiangang, have invited me to drink, and it's just the two of us. That's really rare. I thought you were quite angry at noon, and Xiao Li said you were going to settle scores with me tonight. You had prepared seventeen or eighteen vats of wine waiting for me, but it turns out it's just you."
"What, are you really sure you want to have a drink with me, Tiger Cheng?"
Jiang Bai exclaimed as soon as he entered the door.
He wasn't lying. He originally thought there would be quite a few people with Cheng Laohu, after all, the chances of someone of his status eating alone were very small.
"Hmph, you have such a foul mouth, you never say a nice thing!" Cheng Tiangang sneered, then deliberately shouted loudly towards the door, "That little Li, he's a traitor, just wait and see how I deal with him!"
Jiang Bai chuckled and remained silent, guessing that Cheng Tiangang was deliberately making fun of the young man outside the door. He figured that Cheng Tiangang's words had startled Xiao Li quite a bit.
He sat down opposite Cheng Tiangang, picked up a wine bottle, tossed one to Cheng Tiangang, and then poured himself a full glass of wine. Cheng Tiangang followed suit.
"Let's go first."
After pouring the wine, Jiang Bai said this, and then the two of them drank it all in one gulp. He poured another one, but they didn't drink any more; instead, they ate some food.
While eating, Cheng Tiangang said, "The reason I invited you here today is firstly to drink, secondly to vent my anger, and thirdly..."
"Thirdly? What? There's a third thing? You don't need my help again, do you? I knew there was something fishy about you, Cheng Laohu, being so generous and kindly inviting me to dinner!"
"Did I really guess right?"
One sentence made Cheng Tiangang blush. He coughed awkwardly a few times, then cleared his throat and said, "Jiang Bai, don't put it so harshly. You are, after all, someone who receives a salary from the state."
"Others may not know, but I do. You're a general in the People's Army, enjoying the country's welfare and salary, and doing business in the country. You've taken all the benefits. So why are you unwilling to do anything for the country now?"
"You think I'm unwilling to contribute to the country? You, Cheng Tiger, put your hand on your heart and tell me, how much have I done for you? Putting everything else aside, whose credit is it that you were able to enter the Lishan Mausoleum safely this time?"
"If I don't go to South Korea to settle things with Li Yaoji, if I don't go to Taiwan to settle things with Wang Zhenxu, if I don't take a trip to Japan, do you think you can get into the Lishan Mausoleum so quickly?"
"Just for this one point alone, my contribution is immeasurable!"
"Besides, I receive a stipend from the Human Resources Group, and I also do things for them. The Human Resources Group has a military background, what does it have to do with you, Tiger Cheng? Don't try to use this to put me down!"
Cheng Tiangang blushed at these words, coughed twice, and then said, "Let's not talk about that. Let's talk about our personal relationship. I need your help. Will you help me or not?"
Hearing this, Jiang Bai's expression improved. He raised his cup to drink with the other person and then said, "You're making more sense now. If you want me to help you with Cheng Tiangang's matter privately, I have no problem at all. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Going through fire and water is just a matter of a word."
"If you, Cheng Tiangang, are willing to make a special trip to the Southern Xinjiang Witch God Sect for me, Jiang Bai, I am equally willing to go to great lengths to help you. I, Jiang Bai, still have that much loyalty."
"Haha, good, I knew I hadn't misjudged you! Let's have a drink!" Cheng Tiangang laughed heartily upon hearing this and raised his glass again.
While drinking with him, Jiang Bai suddenly realized something was wrong. Damn it, Cheng Laohu was talking about both public and private matters. Wasn't this the same thing that Rao Lao was going around in circles with? He had spoken too confidently and let this guy lead him astray.
"Don't give me that, just tell me what it is!" After finishing his drink, Jiang Bai glanced at Cheng Laohu and couldn't help but ask.
This guy is the type who only shows up when he needs something. As the deputy head of the police department, anything that can get him involved must be something important.
He even personally led a team to Tiandu to investigate the matter, which made it seem even more complicated than it appeared.
Now look what's happened. Not only did he personally take charge, but he also came to me, speaking in a sarcastic and provocative manner, trying to provoke me and appealing to my emotions, asking for my help. It's definitely not a simple matter.
I just don't know what could have gotten into Minister Cheng and made him come all the way to ask for my help.
"Here's the thing, I recently came to Tiandu in person for a case, you should know about it, right?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Tiangang's smile vanished, replaced by a solemn expression and a furrowed brow.
"I know. You told me today that this case is difficult, that you can't find any clues or something, and that you need my help?" Jiang Bai asked tentatively while eating.
"Can't find any clues? If I, Cheng Tiangang, can't even find a clue in a case, what's the use of finding you, Jiang Bai? Do you really think you're the local tyrant? That you can do what we police can't? Do you really think that your underlings can be of any use if we can't even get the information?"
"Then you underestimate our people too much."
Cheng Tiangang scoffed at these words, shattering Jiang Bai's illusions.
If it were that simple, would he have bothered coming to Jiang Bai?
He has a wide range of criminal and technical investigation methods at his disposal, making it incredibly easy for him to find clues to crimes.
The key issue is... it's not about clues.
"Then why did you call me? Did you run into some trouble? By the way, what exactly is this case? You've been so mysterious all this time, and I still don't know."
Chapter 948 The Woman in Red
"What have you, Cheng Tiangang, done in the country? Apart from that bastard in the capital causing trouble for you, who else can stand in your way?"
Cheng Tiangang naturally understood who Jiang Bai was referring to as that bastard from the capital. He smiled slightly and said, "This time, it really wasn't that bastard from the capital who tripped me up."
"You haven't been in the country recently, and we've been covering up the news, so it's normal that you don't know."
"Right after you left, a strange thing happened in Tiandu. A male corpse was found in the riverside scenic area on the eve of the grand event."
"Male corpse?"
"Yes, a dried-up male corpse, looking like it had been dried out by the wind. There was not a trace of blood on its body, and even its skin and muscles were withered and shriveled, as if it had been dead for many years."
"Such a strange case prompted the Tiandu police to immediately launch an investigation. Based on the evidence left at the scene and DNA testing, we have identified the perpetrator as a 28-year-old man surnamed Yang, a fitness instructor. He was perfectly fine the day before the incident. Here is a photo!"
As he spoke, Cheng Tiangang took out a stack of documents from under his chair and handed the first one to Jiang Bai.
The above are two starkly contrasting photos: a tall, strong young man and a withered, dried-up corpse, creating a striking contrast.
There were also some case details, which Jiang Bai understood after a quick glance.
"According to the information above, this man must have had a romantic encounter at the bar and left with a woman in red. Although his friends had been drinking and their memories were a bit hazy when they left that night, they all remembered this incident."
"Why not just follow the trail of this woman in red? Bars, according to your public security regulations, should all have security cameras. It shouldn't be difficult to find her. Do you really need my help with something like this?"
After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Bai frowned and spoke to Cheng Tiangang in front of him. He ate a few bites of food as he spoke, then raised his cup to drink with Cheng Tiangang. However, this time he did not drink it all in one gulp, but put it down after drinking a third of it.
After drinking, Cheng Tiangang grinned, picked up a piece of food, and said to Jiang Bai in front of him, "If it were just such a simple case, let alone me coming to you, if they dared to alarm the police department and have me, the deputy minister, personally take charge, everyone in the Tiandu City Bureau should be laid off."
"You're talking about basic criminal investigation methods. My men aren't so stupid as to not even think of this. They would have gone to find this woman in red long ago, but unfortunately, they haven't found anything yet."
"The other party intentionally or unintentionally avoided the camera, or rather, the other party used some means to make it impossible for the camera to clearly capture her face."
"Not only that, but even those who saw this woman in person had no impression of her at all. They only said that she was very beautiful, but no one could describe exactly what she looked like. The only thing they could say was that she was very pretty and wearing red."
"How are we supposed to find anything with just these clues?"
Cheng Tiangang gave a wry smile and said dryly.
If they don't even have these simple ideas, then they shouldn't be doing this job. They have thought of everything Jiang Bai mentioned, and have even started to investigate, but unfortunately... the results are minimal.
"So it is indeed a strange case. But this case is just one death. No matter how bizarre it is, it shouldn't warrant you, Cheng Laohu, coming all the way from the capital."
Jiang Bai lit a cigarette for himself, then tossed one to Cheng Tiangang. He squinted and asked a question, taking a puff before falling into deep thought.
The two men puffed on their cigarettes, filling the room with smoke. Cheng Tiangang took a few deep drags before saying, "If it were just this matter, it wouldn't have alarmed me. In fact, it's a series of murders."
"On the 6th, 16th, 18th, and 24th, five similar murders occurred in the following month. Most of the victims were healthy young men, and the perpetrators were all beautiful women in red."
"Last month was even more bizarre. More than 20 people were murdered within a month. Today, a total of 31 men have been murdered, and they all died in the same way. Based on the descriptions of the people involved, we have determined that the murderer is the same woman."
"Although we have tried our best to suppress the news about this matter, with so many people dead, it is impossible to cover it up. It has already caused considerable panic, and the higher-ups have put a lot of pressure on our police force. The top leader ordered me to personally lead a team to handle this matter."
"This woman is really bold, thinking the sky is her home? One or two cases like this are one thing, but to commit dozens of crimes in one place, does she think the police are invincible?"
Jiang Bai was speechless after hearing this. He didn't know what this woman was thinking. Tiandu was an important economic center with good public security. The fact that someone had died in such a bizarre way was bound to cause panic.
She still doesn't know any restraint. One superfluous person killed more than thirty people. What era does she think we live in? In times of war and chaos, no one cares if a person or two dies?
Now look what's happened; even a big shot like Cheng Laohu has been alarmed.
"You're coming to me now, telling me all this, does it mean you've found a lead? That woman is difficult to deal with?" Jiang Bai said, smoking a cigarette, neither confirming nor denying.
This makes perfect sense. It's only because that woman is difficult to deal with that Cheng Tiangang came to him. Based on the modus operandi, Jiang Bai would never believe that the woman is an ordinary person.
Since he is not an ordinary person, he would be difficult to find, and even if he were found, it would be difficult to take action. It just so happened that he returned from outside, and Cheng Tiangang found him.
Otherwise, he would probably have already sought help from other places.
"Yes, we have a clue. Our criminal investigators have sorted out and analyzed the location, time and method of the woman's attack and summarized some patterns. Based on these patterns, we have discovered some clues."
"We organized a capture operation a few days ago, which thwarted this woman's plans to continue committing crimes. However, this woman is very formidable. Several of our men were injured, and two of our comrades are still in the intensive care unit."
"As you should know, this woman is no ordinary person. In fact, I have already asked the Human Group and the God Group for help, and they should have experts arriving there."
"However, I don't know why I feel uneasy. I originally wanted to ask the Southern Border Witch God Sect for help and call two real experts over, but now that you, Jiang Bai, are back, I naturally came to you."
Cheng Tiangang didn't hide anything. While raising his glass with Jiang Bai, he told Jiang Bai everything that had happened.
Chapter 949 The True Colors of the Chinese People
Putting aside his relationship with Cheng Tiangang, Old Cheng has always been a good friend, so Jiang Bai felt bad refusing his offer.
Jiang Bai couldn't ignore what this woman had done. Subconsciously, he now regarded Tiandu as his backyard. Suddenly, a woman jumped out here to commit murder and cause panic. It would be strange if Jiang Bai could tolerate her.
"I'll go for you. Now, can you confirm where that woman will go?" After thinking for a moment, Jiang Bai asked this question.
"Haha, that's exactly what I've been waiting for, Jiang Bai! There's no rush! It's only eight o'clock, the nightlife hasn't even started yet. My men have already identified four locations, but we haven't found the exact places yet."
"It'll probably take a while. We won't be able to confirm until she actually comes out. Let's have some drinks first, and I'll take you there in a bit!"
With Jiang Bai's words, Cheng Tiangang felt relieved, laughed heartily, and then truly began to drink and chat happily with Jiang Bai.
They talked about some interesting things and some recent news.
Of course, Cheng Tiangang didn't forget to ask about Su Mei's specific situation today. Everything else was fine, but as for Jiang Bai, he simply rolled his eyes at the other party's boss and completely ignored him.
Cheng Tiangang chuckled, gave Jiang Bai a look that said, "I understand even if you don't say it," and then started talking about other things.
Of course, during this time, the inevitable topic of the upcoming major event, namely the entry into the Lishan Mausoleum, was discussed.
According to Cheng Tiangang, they originally planned to enter the Lishan Mausoleum immediately after the grand event to search for the Twelve Golden Men, since the seal was becoming increasingly difficult to resist.
Recently, demons have even escaped from underground and wreaked havoc in the vicinity. Although they have all been killed, the situation is clearly getting more and more serious, indicating that the defensive power there is gradually decreasing and the control over the seal is also weakening.
Despite drawing on so many top talents, there are still some shortcomings.
Therefore, the Heaven Group and the Earth Group gathered a large number of experts and even sought help from the Southern Border Witch God Sect, the Ten Thousand Saints Sect and other sects that were neither entirely righteous nor entirely evil. They also dispatched a large number of experts from those sects, which helped stabilize the situation.
Retrieving the twelve golden statues to suppress the seal is now the most urgent, necessary, and crucial matter.
Logically speaking, after the grand event, we should immediately proceed to the Lishan Mausoleum without delay.
But at this crucial moment, someone failed.
To be precise, it wasn't a slip-up, but rather a recurrence of the Chinese people's true colors. While the Lishan Mausoleum is indeed dangerous, it also hides the treasures of the Qin Emperor, and is certainly full of traps and mechanisms, making it a place where one has a slim chance of survival.
But along with the crisis came enormous profits, not just the usual gold and silver jewelry. When Qin Shi Huang destroyed the Wu Kingdom, he killed countless masters and collected all the gold and silver in the world, as well as countless treasures, unparalleled martial arts techniques, and divine weapons.
These are enough to make any sect or force tempted.
So at this time, the true nature of the Chinese people was revealed again. Faced with a formidable enemy, they actually started fighting among themselves.
While the Lishan Mausoleum is indeed quite large, it cannot accommodate everyone. Therefore, after several rounds of competition, deliberation, and discussion, a total of thirty places were allocated.
Jiang Bai was one of the candidates selected; the decision was made based on the senior's nomination of Jiang Bai, Jiang Bai's indelible contributions to the matter, and his own inherent strength.
Although some people have some reservations about this, no one else can take away his spot.
The remaining 29 spots became a fiercely contested competition.
The vast land of China is so immense, and the numerous sects with a history spanning millennia are so numerous. Who can possibly have a mere twenty-nine spots?
Despite knowing the danger, everyone wanted to go in and take the risk, because the benefits would be immeasurable if they succeeded.
No one wanted to give up such an opportunity, so naturally everyone was vying for it, using all sorts of means, and now they were locked in a fierce battle.
Even those old fogies in charge are having a huge headache right now, honestly, it's really hard to decide who to choose and who not to choose.
None of them are pushovers; no one is weaker than the others, and everyone who can step forward is a top performer in their field.
Moreover, they used every means at their disposal—pulling strings, giving gifts, and cultivating personal relationships—making it difficult for anyone to choose. It's even said that several old-timers within the Heavenly Group started arguing among themselves because of these spots.
Everyone has their own plans and their own interests; no one seems to care about the bigger picture.
This is why we are in this situation. The Lishan Mausoleum is right in front of us, and everything that was arranged long ago is now impossible because there are too many people who want to go. Such a momentous event has been left unattended.
"Damn it, these bastards, are they fighting over power now? I found the key, I found the map, I gathered the information, and if they anger me, I won't let a single one of them in!"
After drinking a bit, Jiang Bai slammed his fist on the table and started cursing when he heard Cheng Tiangang's words.
These bastards, they're never this enthusiastic when it comes to putting in the work.
Now that they've entered the Qin Emperor's Mausoleum, everyone feels like there's a huge pie to be shared, especially after the news that the Qin Emperor is dead has been confirmed. These guys have become incredibly bold, acting like they've been injected with adrenaline, and they're all eager to go in!
Do you really think the Lishan Mausoleum is so easy to enter? Is there no danger inside at all?
Dream on!
Others might not know, but Jiang Bai knew that the system dared to give him such a huge task, promising an ultimate lottery prize upon completion. Jiang Bai knew that entering Lishan Mausoleum this time was almost certainly a matter of life and death, if not a certainty.
These guys think it's some kind of good job?
If it weren't for the fact that this was a main quest assigned by the system, which Jiang Bai couldn't refuse, he would be backing out now. That godforsaken place, who would want to go? Jiang Bai wouldn't go.
"Hehe, don't be angry, don't be angry. Let them fight it out. This matter will eventually need to be resolved. Rather than having them fight inside because of the unfair distribution of spoils, it's better to let them settle this matter outside and reach a complete agreement before going inside, so that no trouble will arise."
"Anyway, the sealing side can hold out for some time. They can wait a year or two. Besides, they can't delay that long. A few old-timers have spoken up, saying that this matter must be settled within half a month."
"Right now, everyone's using their own unique abilities over there, so let's not get involved. Anyway, no matter who goes, Jiang Bai, you'll definitely be involved in this, otherwise, I, Cheng Tiangang, will be the first to object!"
Seeing Jiang Bai's indignation, Cheng Tiangang laughed and patted Jiang Bai on the shoulder to comfort him. He was actually more open-minded about the matter than Jiang Bai.