109: Chapter 109 If you're not convinced, just bear with it.

Early the next morning, Zhao Yang took Lu Yike and Lu Xiaofei to the Pingkang County Public Security Bureau.

Li Hongtao was already waiting at the entrance and warmly welcomed the three of them inside.

“Director Zhao, shall we take a look at the Information Section first? Our conditions here are limited, so we hope for your guidance.”

Zhao Yang nodded. “Sure, I'll follow your lead.”

The people in Pingkang County didn't associate Zhao Yang with the hero of the anti-gang campaign. This was actually normal; after all, this was a small, isolated county. Even if some news had reached them back then, nearly two years had passed, and people had long since forgotten.

The Information Section was at the end of the second-floor corridor, in an office less than twenty square meters. Three computers were lined up, and the monitors were still 15-inch CRTs. The section chief, an old officer in his forties, introduced the situation while sweating profusely—only one machine in the entire bureau could connect to the internet, usually used for sending and receiving documents, and the most complex task they performed was typing reports in Word.

Zhao Yang understood after hearing just a few sentences. The level of informatization here was just at its starting stage.

Ten o'clock, meeting room.

Li Hongtao had called all the mid-level cadres and above who were in the office, and the room was packed with twenty to thirty people. Zhao Yang stood in front of the projector and gave a brief introduction to the Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Investigation System, focusing on the case from the Third Precinct—how data was submitted, how the System analyzed it, and how they finally caught the suspect by following the clues.

People below whispered to each other, thinking the System seemed quite miraculous.

Zhao Yang scanned the room and saw a dark-skinned middle-aged man leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, a trace of a dismissive smile on his lips. This was the Criminal Police Team leader, Li Jianguo.

In the drama, he was the protective umbrella for dark and evil forces hidden behind a police uniform. He directly participated in forging autopsy reports, obstructed investigations multiple times, and even personally murdered the key witness, Wang Haijun.

Zhao Yang's gaze lingered on his face for a moment—this man's features made him look like a relative of Jack Ma.

When the report ended, Li Hongtao led the applause and said some polite formalities like “very rewarding.” Zhao Yang shook hands with a few people in the front row, and when he reached Li Jianguo, he smiled slightly. “And this is?”

Li Jianguo shook hands with him. “Li Jianguo, leader of the Criminal Police Team.”

“Captain Li, looking at your expression just now, do you have some concerns about our System?”

Li Jianguo didn't expect him to ask so directly and smiled. “Director Zhao must be joking. I was just wondering if this System could actually be used here in our place.”

“Whether it can be used, we'll know once we try.” Zhao Yang also smiled and said no more.

Lunch was arranged at a restaurant next to the county bureau. The private room wasn't large, but the table was covered with dishes.

Before the meal, Zhao Yang found an opportunity to call Lu Yike and Lu Xiaofei aside, whispering, “If anyone asks during the meal later, make our relationship sound a bit ambiguous.”

The two were stunned. “Director, we don't understand.”

Zhao Yang smiled. “Treat me as one of those top-tier second-generation heirs from the capital, and treat yourselves as calculating women trying to please me to climb the social ladder. Xiaofei, you're someone who almost went undercover; I shouldn't need to teach you this, right?”

Lu Xiaofei nodded. “I'm fine with it. What about Yike?”

Zhao Yang looked at Lu Yike's face full of righteousness and sucked air through his teeth. “Yike, just play the role of a 'Silly White Sweet' who was arranged by her family to marry into mine.”

Lu Yike rolled her eyes. “Director, are you insulting me?”

“Why so excited? I'm just asking you to pretend—the kind of person who gets schemed against by Lu Xiaofei and doesn't even know it.”

“Fine, it still sounds like you're insulting me.” Lu Yike gave a bitter smile. “Director Zhao, what exactly are you trying to do?”

“Don't worry, I'll tell you later.” Zhao Yang smiled. “Remember, just cooperate. You don't have to be too obvious; just let others think in that direction.”

“Okay.”

At the banquet, Li Hongtao sat in the seat of honor, with Zhao Yang opposite him, and Lu Yike and Lu Xiaofei to his left and right. Li Jianguo and several mid-level cadres accompanied them.

After three rounds of drinks, Zhao Yang clearly relaxed. He leaned back in his chair, one hand holding a wine glass and the other draped over the back of Lu Yike's chair as if he were embracing her. His voice was two pitches higher than during the meeting, and his attitude was condescending.

“Director Li, in your Pingkang County, if nothing else, this stewed local chicken is truly excellent. Those big restaurants in the capital can't replicate this flavor.”

Li Hongtao laughed. “If Director Zhao likes it, please eat more. I'll have someone pack a few for you to take back later.”

“Then I'd be too embarrassed.” Zhao Yang was polite in words, but his face didn't show a hint of embarrassment. He took a sip of wine and changed the subject, saying brashly, “By the way, Director Li, did you receive the notice from above? This afternoon, we need to go to the archives to collect data. Have the subordinates been notified? Don't let it be a case where this isn't allowed and that isn't allowed, treating some worthless scraps like treasures.”

Li Hongtao suppressed his anger and continued to smile. “Don't worry, Director Zhao. I'll have Captain Li personally accompany you this afternoon. It definitely won't affect your work.”

Zhao Yang nodded arrogantly and raised his glass to Li Jianguo. “Captain Li, sorry for the trouble. Bottoms up!”

“Bottoms up!” Li Jianguo drained his glass. He was respectful on the surface but cursed inwardly—Dammit, what a piece of work. A deputy division chief at this age is surely just relying on family connections. If I had connections, I wouldn't have been stuck in the same spot for all these years.

At the table, Lu Yike and Lu Xiaofei performed according to Zhao Yang's instructions, and their skill was frighteningly high. Zhao Yang even felt their Acting completely crushed Huang Yimei's. Soon, the expressions of Li Hongtao and the others looking at Zhao Yang became a bit strange; some were envious, but most were jealous.

This damn second-generation heir has too much luck with women.

Zhao Yang secretly observed Li Jianguo and noticed a complex glint flashing in his eyes from time to time, finding it secretly amusing.

After lunch and a short rest, Li Jianguo took Zhao Yang and the others to the archives.

Arriving along with Zhao Yang's group was an official letter sent directly to the Criminal Police Team. The letter originated from the Ministry of Public Security, passed through the Provincial Department and the City Bureau, all the way down to the county, with signatures from leaders at every level, explicitly requiring all units to open all criminal archives to the inspection team. Li Jianguo was unwilling, but he had no choice—a higher rank crushes those below.

The archives weren't large, and the dossiers were piled high.

Zhao Yang gave a frivolous whistle. “I say, Captain Li, your county isn't big, so why are there so many criminal cases? It's almost as many as a whole city elsewhere.”

Li Jianguo gave a forced laugh. “The people of Pingkang County are fierce. We have dozens of criminal cases every year; we're quite helpless about it.”

Zhao Yang shook his head. “Something must be wrong. I suspect your legal System propaganda is inadequate. There are too many people ignorant of the law; you need to strengthen work in this area!”

Li Jianguo threw up his hands. “That's not something a mere criminal police captain like me can manage.”

“I understand, I understand.” Zhao Yang acted superior and patted Li Jianguo on the shoulder. “You comrades in the local areas work too hard.”

The words were kind, but Li Jianguo felt a wave of disgust. He could have accepted those words if they came from someone in their thirties. But the person in front of him, from the capital, was a deputy division chief at such a young age and acted like a big leader. He really wanted to kick him and spit, thinking: 'Who the hell are you trying to impress?'

But he only dared to think it secretly.

In Pingkang County, only the Bureau Director who concurrently served as the Deputy County Magistrate held the rank of deputy division chief.

Upon hearing the news of Zhao Yang's arrival, Director Zhang didn't even finish his meeting at the higher level and was rushing back. If Li didn't cooperate with this man, he would be looking for trouble for himself.

Seeing his expression as if he had eaten something foul, Zhao Yang sneered inwardly. He remembered clearly that in the drama, this Captain Li was extremely arrogant when facing the prosecutor Jiang Yang, who was of the same rank. Even if Jiang Yang had been one level higher, Li wouldn't have dared to be so prickly.

Now, facing a deputy division chief carrying an 'imperial edict,' let's see if Captain Li dares to be arrogant.

Not convinced?

Then you'll just have to suck it up.

Just watch how I deal with you people.