Although it wasn't a case from his own district, Yan Zhao had been secretly investigating the honeytrap gang.
When the higher-ups found out, Deputy Director Zheng called to hint that Yan Zhao shouldn't overstep his bounds, warning that leaders from other precincts would complain about his jurisdictional overreach.
But being known as stubborn as a mule, Yan Zhao naturally wouldn't listen to advice. He persisted in investigating the case, which resulted in precinct chiefs from several other districts cursing and complaining about him to their superiors daily.
Meanwhile, Chen Meilan's side was preparing for the upcoming trade fair.
Hu Xiaohua was shamelessly inviting distributors from all over the country to attend.
The factory guesthouse had been thoroughly cleaned and repainted. The factory's old commuter bus was brought out, repainted, had parts repaired, and fitted with soft seats for shuttle service.
Under the guidance of a designer from Hong Kong, the factory had built a stage and hired models from Shanghai who were rehearsing for the fashion show. The event would feature both fashion displays and performances, followed by a dinner for the distributors. The goal was to secure orders, with Chen Meilan planning for 500,000 yuan in contracts.
A return of 500,000 yuan would ensure Factory 271's operations for the next quarter.
The husband and wife were each busy with their own affairs, which normally wouldn't intersect.
But just a few days before the trade fair, while Chen Meilan was busy, Yan Zhao suddenly called: "Meilan, quickly get 20,000 yuan and bring it to the Kaiyuan Hotel."
"What do you need 20,000 yuan for?" Chen Meilan asked.
Yan Zhao said: "There's some trouble with Xishan over here, need money."
Just recently, Yan Zhao and Yan Xishan had gotten into a fight, with Yan Xishan even throwing a lighter at Yan Zhao's head, causing a large bump. How were these two together again?
And if Yan Xishan needed money, why was Yan Zhao calling her?
Before Chen Meilan could ask more questions, Yan Zhao had already hung up. So she had to find the nearest bank, withdraw 20,000 from her personal account, and rush to the Kaiyuan Hotel.
Yan Zhao was waiting at the hotel entrance. Seeing Chen Meilan from afar, he hurried over and gestured for her to stop, then said: "Xishan is in room 306. Take the money up, give it to him and come right back down. Don't scold anyone, and don't say much. Just hand over the money quickly."
Given they were married, and Yan Zhao never did anything foolish, Chen Meilan took the money upstairs. At room 306, she knocked on the door and heard Yan Xishan's voice: "Door's unlocked, push it open yourself."
When she pushed open the door, despite it being broad daylight, the curtains were drawn. Yan Xishan sat in a chair with his shirt unbuttoned, tie loosened, and several lipstick marks on his face and neck. He had his legs crossed, and more shamefully, his fly was open, revealing red underwear beneath.
Seeing Chen Meilan enter, he actually shouted: "What are you staring at? Can't you see I'm busy? Put down the money and get out quick."
Next to him sat a woman in a short-sleeved suit jacket and red high heels, wearing glasses, looking quite proper and refined, though her lipstick was smeared across half her face, presumably from kissing Yan Xishan.
So this was a prostitution scene, and Yan Xishan needed her to bring money because he couldn't pay?
He had quite the taste, soliciting what appeared to be a respectable woman?
If Yan Zhao hadn't specifically told Chen Meilan not to scold anyone, she would have gone forward and beaten Yan Xishan to a pulp.
As she turned to leave, she heard the woman asking: "Who's that woman? Your secretary? Xishan, are you having an affair with her?"
"That's my ex-wife, just an old hag," Yan Xishan said dismissively.
The woman looked surprised and asked Yan Xishan: "Your ex-wife is so beautiful, and so obedient she'll still bring you money after divorce?"
"Wasteful woman, she used to complain about my gambling and whoring, so we divorced, but she can't really leave me. As long as we can make money and have social status, women are like dogs, they can't leave us. But don't worry, no man eats old grass, you're the one I love most, my little darling," Yan Xishan said extremely tenderly.
The refined-looking woman said coyly: "Oh, stop it." Then added: "You better not betray me."
"Don't worry, from the moment I first saw you, there was no room for any other woman in my eyes," Yan Xishan said.
Chen Meilan felt not only nauseated but was trembling with anger. Seeing a vase on a table in the hallway, she initially wanted to grab it and go back in to smash Yan Xishan's head, but since she had always regarded Yan Xishan as less than a dog, she held back and went downstairs with unsteady steps.
As she yanked open the car door and saw Yan Zhao sitting in the back, Chen Meilan raised her purse to strike him.
"Xishan fell for a honeytrap, there's a honeytrap gang operating in this area. Drive away now," Yan Zhao said before the purse could hit him.
"He deserves to fall for a honeytrap. How come no one tries to trap me? It's his fault for being so desperate, getting aroused at the sight of any woman," Chen Meilan retorted.
Why do honeytrap schemes always work? It's because those nouveau riche fools are so lustful.
Like male dogs, they want to drop their pants and mount any woman they see.
Yan Zhao gestured for Chen Meilan to drive forward, then explained: "I don't know the exact details, but they probably lured Xishan to the hotel under the pretense of discussing business. Of course, he couldn't control himself when they got to the room, but..."
"But you're afraid if it gets reported, the news will spread and he'll be dismissed from the People's Congress?" Chen Meilan was not just angry but confused: "Yan Zhao, is Yan Xishan more important to you than your own father? He hits you and you don't make a sound, he solicits prostitutes, and you have me bring him money?"
Yan Zhao was a police precinct chief - shouldn't he arrest everyone involved in a honeytrap scheme, especially Yan Xishan? Shouldn't he immediately notify the People's Congress Organization Committee to remove him?
Why did he have her bring money instead?
Yan Zhao only said: "Wait, just wait a bit longer."
The car stopped by the roadside. Time ticked by second by second. Yan Zhao kept looking back but said nothing. Chen Meilan couldn't figure out what he was planning, secretly guessing that the reason Yan Xishan called Yan Zhao wasn't just to help him resolve the situation, but probably to serve as an informant, likely wanting to help Yan Zhao crack the case.
But having been verbally abused so much by Yan Xishan in her previous marriage, once those humiliating memories surfaced, she couldn't calm down. She gripped the large mobile phone tightly in her hand.
After a while, they saw Yan Xishan drive past quickly in his Xiali car and speed away.
Looking at her watch, it had only been twenty minutes - that was quite fast. Perhaps due to his age, Yan Xishan's stamina wasn't what it used to be. He spent 20,000 yuan for at most ten minutes of action, which worked out to about 1,000 yuan per minute.
Chen Meilan stepped on the gas to follow him.
This was in Jinnan, with Factory 271 not far away. Yan Xishan drove his car to a grove behind Factory 271, and Chen Meilan rushed after him. As soon as she got out of the car, she saw Yan Xishan standing with his hands raised, holding the 20,000 yuan, with a fawning smile on his face.
Gripping the mobile phone, Chen Meilan took two steps forward and smashed it against Yan Xishan's head, snatched back the 20,000 yuan, stuffed it in her bag, and was ready to hit him again.
"Your Highness, don't hit the face, I need it to make a living!" Yan Xishan quickly begged for mercy.
Yan Zhao came forward and took the mobile phone from Chen Meilan's hand, gesturing for Yan Xishan to step back, then asked: "How did your chat with that woman go? Did you get any reliable information?"
Yan Xishan patted his chest: "Don't worry, Chief Yan, everything's under control. I got all the important leads you needed."
So Yan Xishan really was acting as an informant to help Yan Zhao crack the case?
This was how things had actually unfolded.
Recently, someone had approached Yan Xishan about a business cooperation, claiming they could sign contracts of various sizes with tax-avoidance benefits. Yan Xishan had eagerly agreed to meet. The person turned out to be the woman Chen Meilan had just seen, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, who introduced herself as a businesswoman from the south. They had met three or four times, getting along exceptionally well. To secure the deal, Yan Xishan had treated her to meals, taken her sightseeing around Xiping City, opening car doors for her and pulling out chairs at restaurants. Even when eating grapes, he would peel them for her.
All the ways he had once served Meilan, he now used on this woman.
Today, they were supposed to meet at the Kaiyuan Hotel to sign a contract, but the woman suddenly stood up and kissed Yan Xishan, attempting to force herself on him.
No one knows what Yan Xishan was really thinking, but according to his description, he suddenly realized she was trying to set him up for extortion. So he started sweet-talking her, saying there was no rush, that he truly loved her and wanted to marry her, asking if she would be willing.
At first, the woman hesitated, but then Yan Xishan began describing how large his coal mine operation was, how wealthy he was, and his prestigious position as a People's Representative. He admitted he knew she was trying to extort him but said he didn't care - he was willing to pay if she would leave her criminal gang, reform herself, and marry him.
To prove his sincerity, he paged Yan Zhao to bring two thousand yuan.
Having been childhood friends, when Yan Xishan called Yan Zhao, he simply said he had found true love while doing business and needed two thousand yuan to prove it.
But Yan Zhao immediately knew he had fallen into an extortion trap.
That's why he sent Chen Meilan with the money.
Two thousand yuan was no small sum, and Yan Zhao was nervous that Yan Xishan might lose both the money and still get caught in the trap. But Xiao Fei's charm proved irresistible - after Chen Meilan delivered the money, the woman was so touched that not only did she refuse to take the money, she even offered to sleep with Yan Xishan for free.
Whether they actually did anything, only Yan Xishan knows.
In any case, the woman didn't call her accomplices to catch him and quietly let him go.
What started as an extortion attempt turned into a win-win for Yan Xishan - he not only escaped perfectly but would soon win the beauty's heart.
The woman was even willing to turn in her accomplices so she could marry Yan Xishan in the future.
She told Yan Xishan that if his love was genuine, she would testify at the police station against the extortion gang, bear his children, do the housework, and she didn't even mind his ex-wife - she would treat Chen Meilan like a sister.
After telling all this to a dumbfounded Chen Meilan, Yan Xishan put his hands on his hips and smiled smugly: "Meilan, I'm just that charming - there's no woman I can't handle."
Chen Meilan left without another word.
Yan Zhao patted Yan Xishan's shoulder - though he had escaped perfectly, it didn't mean he hadn't made a mistake. He was both a People's Representative and Yuanyuan's father. Yuanyuan was now a child star famous across the country. Fortunately nothing bad happened today - if something had gone wrong, he would have lost his position as Representative, and Yuanyuan's rising fame would have turned to infamy.
Before Yan Zhao could lecture him, Yan Xishan raised both hands and quickly said: "Third Brother, Meilan loves you, she really loves you - hurry and go take care of her. I'll help you gather more information about the situation."
If he didn't leave now, Yan Zhao would never stop nagging him.
While Yan Zhao was as stubborn as a mule and no one could tame him, Yan Xishan had discovered his fatal weakness - whenever someone said "Meilan loves you," that stubborn mule would instantly turn into a gentle, docile donkey.
Damn, how humiliating.
When Yan Xishan went to do business, he had hoped to hide some money to get revenge on Yan Zhao.
Now damn it, he had to rely on Yan Zhao to save him.
When he said those words "Meilan loves you," his heart was bleeding, riddled with wounds.
Chen Meilan wasn't interested in the extortion scheme, but she knew that in the following days, Yan Xishan secretly met with that woman several more times. The information he brought back actually helped Yan Zhao and his team - the Jindong Branch was thoroughly investigating the extortion cases.
Tomorrow would be the trade fair, which would be Chen Meilan's busiest day this quarter.
Today Chen Meilan had even gotten Yuanyuan two hours off to rehearse, and surprisingly, Yuanyuan asked Chen Meilan for a performance fee - fifty yuan per song, non-negotiable.
Chen Meilan managed the money Yuanyuan earned from filming TV shows, making sure it wasn't wasted but saved for her.
But why would this little girl demand money for helping her mother? Had she been influenced by Little Wang and become money-obsessed too?
"It's just helping mom by singing one song, why do you need fifty yuan?" Chen Meilan asked her daughter with a smile.
"I just do, don't ask what it's for!" Yuanyuan said with a grin.
As mother and daughter were chatting, they reached the village entrance. Upon seeing Yan Xishan's red Xiali car, Yuanyuan got extremely excited and jumped out as soon as the car stopped: "Papa, Papa!"
Both Yan Xishan and Yan Zhao were fathers standing at the coal yard entrance, chatting.
Seeing Yuanyuan, Yan Zhao didn't move, but Yan Xishan rushed over in two steps and scooped up the child: "Oh my dear daughter, Papa missed you so much. Come on, let Papa buy you some popsicles, and we can pick up Little Wang and Little Lang from school too, how about that?"
"Great, thank you Papa!" Yuanyuan said happily.
In April's weather, Chen Meilan wouldn't let the children eat cold treats.
But Yan Xishan loved to do it, knowing it would make the children happy.
Rolling her eyes and watching him leave with Yuanyuan, Chen Meilan asked Yan Zhao: "How's your case going?"
If Yan Xishan kept wandering around the village, Chen Meilan would get a sty in her eye.
Yan Zhao first said: "This case is actually quite big, with wide-reaching implications. Even Xiong Dapao is involved."
He then added: "We have such a good relationship, but Dapao just can't find a good partner, it's frustrating."
When talking about Xiong Dapao's relationship, Chen Meilan guessed the case might involve Yu Xiaoqiao.
When she asked Yan Zhao, it turned out to be true.
It turned out that Yan Zhao had already uncovered the backgrounds of the extortion gang members, but today, that woman suddenly changed her mind. She told Yan Xishan she didn't want to see him anymore, wouldn't testify for him, and asked him to stop getting involved.
In such cases, if the woman refuses to testify, even if they arrest someone, they can't get a criminal conviction.
That meant all their efforts were wasted, and the criminals would remain free.
Of course, Yan Xishan had to use his charm offensive, asking the woman what was really going on, and painted another picture of how happy their married life would be.
His words touched the woman again, and she finally told Yan Xishan that their gang had a woman who specialized in targeting high-level officials and was very powerful. Recently, she had seduced a bureau-level official who had transferred from the military to the police, and they were planning to acquire a military factory through this official's influence.
Then their entire gang would reform, start a factory together, make big money, and each seek their own happiness.
The woman planned to marry Yan Xishan after reforming herself.
When he heard about seducing a bureau-level official who had transferred from the military to the police and helping acquire a military factory, Yan Zhao immediately thought of Yu Xiaoqiao.
Yu Xiaoqiao had five hundred thousand yuan in her account, which she claimed she earned abroad, but now there was a better explanation - it was probably money she earned from running extortion schemes in various cities.
"So you're not going to investigate this case anymore?" Chen Meilan asked Yan Zhao.
Yan Zhao suddenly smiled - this "Living Yama" rarely smiled, and when he did, it looked worse than crying.
"They can reform themselves, but what about the children who died because of their extortion schemes?" Yan Zhao asked in return.
That child who was poisoned by his mother with rat poison hadn't even died in Yan Zhao's arms yet, calling "Uncle, save me." That was an innocent victim of the extortion cases. Evil people are evil people - in Yan Zhao's book, if you commit a crime, you must face justice.
No compromise.
But there was another problem - the woman said Yu Xiaoqiao had secured a bureau-level official transferred from the military who could help her acquire the military factory. Who could that official be?
Not to mention the various branch bureaus, the main bureau alone had four bureau-level officials, from Zhang Chao to Deputy Director Zheng, all with military backgrounds and good family connections, all capable of helping acquire Factory 291.
So who was it? Which one?
If it were an ordinary person, Yan Zhao could investigate through phone records, schedules, or surveillance.
However, phone records of bureau-level officials were protected, and the telecommunications bureau wouldn't give them to him. As a subordinate, asking about their schedules would violate policy. Yan Zhao already had many enemies at headquarters, and if he couldn't find anything while exposing his investigation prematurely, it would all be for nothing.
As for surveillance, with his military background and experience in the police force, Yan Zhao's counter-surveillance skills were superior to most.
Yu Xiaoqiao had a pager, but Yan Zhao had checked and found that the numbers she forwarded to weren't connected to any bureau leaders. This meant she and that official maintained exclusive one-on-one contact that only they knew about.
So now, at this crucial moment, Yan Zhao was stuck.
Through Yan Xishan, he discovered that Yu Xiaoqiao used to run honey traps, sleeping with officials, but he couldn't investigate the officials themselves. If he arrested the honey trap gang prematurely without witnesses, and with official interference, the case would eventually come to nothing.
Chen Meilan could hardly believe that even the feared "King of Hell" Yan Zhao could find himself in such a difficult position.
"No trouble at all, leave this to me. I'll handle it for you," Chen Meilan said with a smile.
Then she asked Yan Zhao: "If I help you with the case, will you attend our order fair tomorrow?"
"No," Yan Zhao refused firmly.
Seeing Chen Meilan's expression change instantly, Yan Zhao explained honestly: "I know you love me deeply, and you love our family and children. I understand that as a businesswoman, you need to socialize in the business world, drink, and joke around. I've seen those businessmen before, and I know they might tell crude jokes to you, make suggestive comments - I know that's normal in business. But understanding doesn't mean I want to witness it. If I go, I might..."
If any distributor dared to make sexually suggestive jokes to Chen Meilan in front of Yan Zhao, they'd surely get punched.
He couldn't accept it, so he chose not to go.
"Come on, it's not just you who thinks I have to drink with distributors to do business. Even Xiong Dapao thinks I can't handle the order fair without him," Chen Meilan smiled. "I don't drink, and I'm certain I can manage the order fair just fine. Don't you want to see how professional businesswomen really work?"
These men were simply ridiculous - either they thought women were incompetent, or they believed women had to drink and listen to crude jokes to do business.
Chen Meilan strongly disagreed with this.
Tomorrow, she would show Yan Zhao, Xiong Dapao, and the others exactly how professional businesswomen handle client relations.
Besides, Yu Xiaoqiao would be at the order fair tomorrow, and she was confident she could help Yan Zhao discover which bureau-level official was involved with her.
However, one thing remained unsolvable - Yan Zhao's persistent belief that she loved him deeply.
She considered whether to expose this lie but decided to let him enjoy his delusion.
So Chen Meilan couldn't help but smile, and in Yan Zhao's eyes, her tender smile was proof of her deep love for him.
Look at her seemingly angry yet loving gaze - wasn't it all love?
Believing in his wife's love made Yan Zhao particularly enthusiastic about housework.
Since Yuanyuan had to sing tomorrow and couldn't eat anything stimulating, tonight Yan Zhao was making white fungus and pear soup. Knowing it would be good for his child's voice and that Yuanyuan loved sweets, he added ejiao dates and rock sugar. He carefully cleaned and separated the white fungus, and personally watched over the pot, cooking the soup until it was crystal clear.
Meanwhile, Yan Xishan was holding Yuanyuan, eating an ice cream himself while taking her to pick up Little Wang and Little Lang.
Father and daughter chatted happily along the way. Suddenly, Yuanyuan said, "Dad, I can earn another fifty yuan tomorrow. Adding that up, my secret savings will be 879 yuan!"
"Little girl, what are you saving so much money for? Spend it when you have it - buy something tasty or fun. Don't save money," Yan Xishan said carelessly.
Yuanyuan shook her head like a rattle drum and counted on her fingers, saying, "No way! Other people only have one dad, but I have two. Right now, I have two dads who love me, but in the future when you're both old, sick, and can't walk anymore, I'll need to take care of both of you. If I don't save money now, how will I take care of you then?"
Yan Xishan suddenly stopped in his tracks: "Oh, my dear daughter!"
That day at the hotel, when that woman tried to honey trap him - he hadn't dated much lately and had only slept with two or three women, going without physical intimacy for a long time - he had almost fallen for it.
But just as things were heating up, the TV that was left on suddenly started playing "Return to the City."
If he hadn't seen Yuanyuan's face in the opening credits, shocking him like a bolt of lightning and bringing him to his senses, causing him to push the woman away, he would have lost everything - both his reputation and his money.
So it was his daughter who had pulled him back from the edge of the cliff, bringing him back to the right path.
He was nothing but a scoundrel, lower than animals.
Yet his nine-year-old daughter was already saving money, planning to take care of him in his old age.
What kind of situation was this!
If Yuanyuan continued like this, Yan Xishan didn't even want to have a son anymore.
