31: Chapter 31 Vicious Competition

"Quiet! We will certainly enforce the law impartially; please do not interfere with the case."

The older Police Officer's forehead furrowed into the shape of the character 'Chuan'.

He would rather go catch a major criminal.

Than listen to even a single word from Lü Lianhua.

Listening to her speak gave him a headache.

Fortunately, Lü Lianhua didn't take any more extreme actions.

"Zhao Jian, do you have anything to say in your defense? For example, an alibi."

"I do. I was in Kyoto yesterday. I have train tickets and proof of spending in Kyoto. If necessary, you can also check the surveillance footage from the People's Hospital."

Zhao Jian showed his ticket purchase records.

Lü Lianhua said indignantly, "I lost my phone the day before yesterday! You going to Kyoto yesterday just proves you wanted to forge an alibi. You have a guilty conscience!"

The day before yesterday?

Zhao Jian remembered that the day before yesterday, he went to Antique Street to hunt for bargains, then went to the Mighty City Second Hospital to visit Zhang Tao.

Finally, he went to the Vegetable Market.

There were surveillance cameras and movement logs for all of it.

Just as he was about to speak, the sound of an argument came from outside the meeting room.

The voices were loud, and soon someone knocked on the meeting room door.

The door was opened.

Officer Wu, the policewoman who had left earlier, said at the door, "There are two people looking for Lü Lianhua. That woman is very emotional."

"Let them in." The older Police Officer took the opportunity to take a sip of water.

He had a premonition that this case was about to be closed.

Hearing that someone was looking for her, Lü Lianhua's emotions immediately became unstable.

"Don't let them in! They're not allowed in! I won't see them!"

Zhao Jian noticed that she was afraid.

Two people quickly walked in from outside the door.

They seemed to be a couple, and judging by their attire, they appeared to be wealthy.

"Officer, my name is Wang Huijuan, and this is my husband, Huang Tao. We want to report a crime."

The woman calling herself Wang Huijuan glared fiercely at Lü Lianhua as she spoke.

That look was as if she wanted to kill someone.

The previously arrogant Lü Lianhua was now acting like a shrinking turtle.

She didn't say a word.

The older Police Officer told them to sit down and asked, "What is the reason for reporting a crime?"

"Lü Lianhua knowingly became a mistress and destroyed my family's harmony. In just five days as a mistress, she swindled 60,000 yuan of our joint marital property, and she also filmed indecent videos of herself and my husband to use for extortion."

Zhao Jian suddenly understood.

No wonder Lü Lianhua was jumping with rage when the video on the phone was uploaded to the internet.

It turned out her source of income had been cut off.

Seeing Lü Lianhua's reaction, the older Police Officer guessed that what Wang Huijuan said wasn't far from the truth.

Furthermore, her filming of illegal videos for extortion already constituted a crime.

"Lü Lianhua, do you have any evidence regarding Zhao Jian stealing your phone and infringing on your reputation rights?"

Lü Lianhua shook her head.

At this moment, the older Police Officer said to Zhao Jian and the Elder Sister, "Presumption of innocence applies. Moreover, the evidence you provided proves you had no contact with Lü Lianhua on the day the phone was stolen. You may go back now."

Zhao Jian thought to himself: Let me watch a bit longer.

There was no intention of keeping him.

He could only leave the police station with regret.

On the way back, he first went to the Vegetable Market.

It was already ten o'clock at night, and only a few vegetable vendors remained in the Vegetable Market, packing up their unsold vegetables.

Most people had already left.

However, the light was still on in the Administrator's lounge.

Aunt Liu was inside and hadn't gone home.

"Auntie, why aren't you home yet at this late hour?"

"Oh, Little Zhao. A few people came to cause trouble during the day, but I scared them off by calling the police. I'm afraid they'll do something bad at night, so I'm staying here tonight!"

Administrator Aunt Liu pointed to a set of bedding inside the lounge.

It was spread out on the floor.

The Vegetable Market was just a structure made of color steel and canvas, with wind leaking in from all sides.

It was fine during the day as the temperature was still somewhat hot.

But at night, it dropped to around 10 degrees; staying here would surely lead to a cold.

Zhao Jian advised:

"Auntie, please go home. Our Vegetable Market has surveillance; anyone who comes to do bad things will be caught on camera. There's nothing to fear."

"Being caught on camera won't stop them from doing bad things. If I'm here, I can at least scare them a bit."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade her.

He changed his strategy and said helplessly, "In that case, I'll wait with you."

The Vegetable Market was his; there was no reason to let an elderly person take the risk.

Hearing that Zhao Jian wasn't leaving either, Aunt Liu immediately waved her hand:

"That won't do. You're the boss; how can I let you stay in a place like this?"

"Then how can you?"

"I'm used to it."

When Zhao Jian heard Aunt Liu say she was used to it, he felt a mix of emotions.

The Vegetable Market's profits were low, leaving only about 30,000 yuan a year after necessary expenses.

It was even lower than he had expected.

Therefore, his main focus had been on the system's intelligence.

He had neglected the maintenance and improvement of the Vegetable Market's environment.

Unable to win the argument with Aunt Liu, both of them ended up staying in the market, acting as security guards.

Zhao Jian didn't know when he fell asleep.

By the time he woke up, many vegetable vendors were already pushing flatbed carts into the market.

Setting up their fruits and vegetables on the stalls.

"You're awake? I bought some buns and soy milk; have some." Aunt Liu didn't look very energetic.

She probably hadn't slept all night.

Zhao Jian stood up and asked, "Auntie, did those people come last night?"

"They came, but they didn't get close. They left again when they saw our lights were on."

They already came?

Zhao Jian nodded.

Then he took out his phone to search for a security company.

He wanted to hire two security guards.

Otherwise, Aunt Liu would be managing the market during the day and guarding it at night.

He feared she would fall ill from exhaustion in just a few days.

Soon, a company named Jinwei Security caught his eye.

After briefly checking their terms, he placed an order for two night-shift security guards.

There was no other reason for choosing them: they were cheap.

Other companies easily charged 6,000 per person, with no upper limit.

Jinwei Security Company only required a daily travel allowance of 40 yuan.

And an internship certificate.

They were all college students.

Compared to professional security guards, they certainly wouldn't be able to endure hardships.

Nor would they conduct professional patrols.

But it wasn't necessary.

These two just needed to serve as mascots, letting the troublemakers at night know that the Vegetable Market was guarded.

That was enough!

After arranging the security for the Vegetable Market and handing over the two guards to Aunt Liu's management.

Zhao Jian returned to his rented room.

Although he had slept for a whole night, he was still very drowsy.

The quality of sleep on the floor was far worse than in a bed.

Lying on the bed, Zhao Jian was dazed and about to drift into dreamland.

At this moment, a flash of light appeared before his eyes, and a light screen unfolded:

"[Today's Intelligence (Blue): Old Black Huang of the Chengnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market has twice sent underlings to cause trouble at the Chengxi Vegetable Market, both ending in failure."

"He refuses to give up and plans to continue sending people to harass you.]"

"Chengnan, Old Black Huang?"

Zhao Jian, lying on the bed, suddenly snapped his eyes open.

"So it was them!"