Reborn as Zhao Ruilong of Handong, I will defy fate.

Chapter 534 Stubborn An Xin! Chen Shuting Pretending to be Dumb!

Jinghai, Xiawan Branch.

Inside the Santana sedan, An Xin put away her phone and glanced at Li Xiang.

"What kind of look is that? Is there something dirty on my face?"

Li Xiang shook his head slightly.

"No, I just think you're amazing."

"I used to think that your only backers were Director Meng and Director An."

"I never imagined that those two weren't your biggest backers!"

At this point, Li Xiang leaned closer and asked with a grin:

"To be honest, what exactly is your relationship with Sha Shuji? Could he also be one of your father's old comrades-in-arms?"

"No, don't make wild guesses!"

An Xin put her phone in her pocket and said calmly:

"I told you before, I have no powerful backers. Even if I can meet and talk to those in high positions, it's only for work purposes!"

Li Xiang sneered contemptuously, "Stop pretending. Tell me honestly, what is your relationship with Sha Shuji? Back when he came to Jinghai with the supervisory team, he had the longest private conversation with you... "

"He only contacted me to learn about the details of Huang Cuicui's death. We really have no personal relationship. The reason I was able to talk to him tonight is because he was conducting research in Bobei City, and the Public Security Bureau happened to be with him!"

After saying that, An Xin raised her chin forward.

"It's getting late, let's hurry up and drive away!"

Li Xiang was taken aback.

"where to?"

"Nonsense, of course we're going to Gao Qiqiang's house!"

Seeing Li Xiang's surprised expression, An Xin quickly explained:

"Gao Qiqiang's sudden surrender with his men is too suspicious. I want to go find his wife, Chen Shuting, to find out what's going on!"

Li Xiang frowned and said, "Do you think she will tell you the truth? Don't forget, Gao Qiqiang and the others came to the Xiawan Branch to turn themselves in, and the case investigation is handled by the Xiawan Branch. Our city's criminal investigation team has no right to intervene at the moment."

An Xin smiled faintly.

"How will you know if you don't try?"

"Besides, whether she's telling the truth or lying, as long as she's willing to talk, we can analyze and understand the situation. It's better than going home and sleeping now, right?"

"..."

Li Xiang was immediately speechless.

He used to think of himself as a workaholic, willing to do anything to advance.

Born in Mangcun, where his ancestors were farmers, he had no background or connections.

Therefore, he had no choice but to work desperately, always taking the lead in all urgent, difficult, and dangerous tasks.

Through tireless efforts, he was promoted from Shuangqiao Police Station to the Municipal Criminal Investigation Detachment.

Having witnessed too much darkness, especially knowing that his mentor Cao Chuang, who taught him how to solve cases, was actually the mole.

Li Xiang, who has always hated evil and was full of justice, had his beliefs shaken. He found it hard to believe that his master, Cao Chuang, would obey Zhao Lidong in order to become the deputy director.

Ultimately, he chose to protect his mentor's reputation over family ties and justice, allowing his mentor's wife and children to enjoy preferential treatment as martyrs' families. No matter how much An Xin pressed him for answers, he kept the truth hidden.

He secretly vowed to become a good criminal police officer and to thoroughly uncover the truth. To this end, he took the initiative to approach Zhao Lidong and Secretary Wang, attempting to infiltrate the enemy and collect clues and evidence.

But he never expected that Zhao Lidong would turn over a new leaf after Xu Jiang's death.

He no longer frequently accepted banquets and bribes from businessmen, nor did he interfere in the city's political and legal work.

With the strong support of his nephew Zhao Ruilong, Zhao Lidong began to devote himself to improving the economy of Jinghai City.

This change naturally propelled Zhao Lidong to a higher position, making him the mayor of Jinghai and granting him greater power.

Li Xiang was naturally dumbfounded.

In order to get close to Zhao Lidong and become recognized as one of his own, he did not hesitate to make An Xin and others think that he had changed, become power-hungry, and only wanted to climb the ranks.

In the end, Zhao Lidong did no bad things and devoted himself to the development of Jinghai City. He even became the mayor. How could he then gather intelligence, clues, and evidence?

This matter caused Li Xiang a lot of distress and pain.

On the one hand, he was eager to find concrete evidence to prove that Zhao Lidong had been Xu Jiang's protector, had aided and abetted him, and had allowed Xu Jiang to commit many illegal and disorderly acts.

On the other hand, he discovered that Zhao Lidong, who had received strong support from Zhao Ruilong and his Huilong Group, was truly capable of enabling Jinghai City to develop rapidly and efficiently, and even his hometown, Mangcun, benefited from it.

So……

Should we, in the name of justice, thoroughly investigate Zhao Lidong?

Is the justice I seek more important, or the development of Jinghai City?

Thinking about how, with Zhao Ruilong's support and Zhao Lidong's leadership, Jinghai City built highways and high-speed railways, and developed wind power, rapid transit, and waste incineration power generation...

Thanks to the efforts of the Zhao family, Jinghai is not only changing rapidly, but the people are also getting richer and more prosperous. Moreover, it is easy to find jobs and make money, and even the number of people committing crimes has decreased.

The crime rate has decreased, partly because Xu Jiang and Bai Jiangbo are both dead, and Gao Qiqiang has become the only underground boss in Jinghai, so there are no longer frequent bloody conflicts over territory and business as before.

At this point, Li Xiang's belief wavered once again.

He felt that his ambition to become a good policeman since childhood was for the sake of people's peaceful and prosperous lives.

Since Jinghai is developing better and better under the management of Zhao Lidong, Gao Qiqiang and others, and the people are very satisfied, why should I be too serious about it?

If Zhao Lidong is dismissed and Gao Qiqiang is imprisoned, Jinghai will lose its current prosperous development, which would actually affect the people's peaceful and happy life.

After struggling, hesitating, and repeatedly thinking it over, Li Xiang, who had become the head of the criminal investigation team, underwent another transformation.

He became more mature, more considerate of the overall situation, and no longer simply wanted to punish evil and uphold justice.

only……

Li Xiang has changed, but An Xin hasn't.

An Xin remained as righteous and selfless as ever.

In order to investigate the case and find out the truth, An Xin can work overtime and work hard without hesitation.

He can be indifferent not only to his career, but also to his personal life.

He clearly has a childhood sweetheart, Meng Yu, a beautiful girl from a good family, who likes him.

He treated her like a younger sister, focusing solely on solving the case and never engaging in any romantic relationships.

Just like this moment.

Li Xiang felt that since Gao Qiqiang had already brought people to surrender voluntarily, there was no need to investigate further.

It's not like they committed heinous crimes like murder or arson. They're willing to turn themselves in, confess, and turn over a new leaf. Isn't that a good thing?

But An Xin clearly didn't think so.

Li Xiang could tell from his conversation with An Changlin.

An Xin was convinced that Gao Qiqiang was involved in organized crime and that Gao Qiqiang and his gang were a criminal gang!

He wanted Gao Qiqiang and his gang to be severely punished, not treated leniently.

and so……

Although Li Xiang really wanted to go home and sleep, knowing An Xin's character, he drove straight to the Gao family without saying a word.

Otherwise, An Xin, who is so rigid and dogmatic, would definitely argue with me again, so why bother?

Previously, when the people of Mang Village had a dispute with Qiangsheng Group, Li Xiang, as a resident of Mang Village, felt that Li Youtian and others were being unreasonable and shameless in their attempt to extort money.

However, An Xin felt that Li Youtian and others' demands were legitimate and reasonable. She argued that Qiangsheng Group's claim of resolving the dispute through legal procedures was just a disguised form of bullying, and the people of Mang Village should report them...

The two had argued about this more than once.

Because of his identity as a Mangcun villager, Li Xiang ultimately chose to compromise.

under night.

The Santana sedan sped along.

Li Xiang focused on driving, while An Xin, sitting in the passenger seat, kept analyzing and reasoning.

When Li Xiang heard An Xin speculate that Zhao Ruilong had likely forced Gao Qiqiang to surrender with his men, he really wanted to ask her a question.

Is it wrong to force someone to turn themselves in? Are you even going to investigate Zhao Ruilong?

However, Li Xiang swallowed those words back before he could say them.

He and An Xin, who is stubborn and inflexible, are no longer compatible.

Li Xiang drove silently and quickly dropped An Xin off at the entrance of Gao Qiqiang's villa.

When Li Xiang saw An Xin pull a voice recorder out of her bag, he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Is this really necessary? Chen Shuting isn't a criminal suspect!"

An Xin rolled her eyes at Li Xiang.

"Chen Shuting is no good woman!"

"Back when Bai Jiangbo was still alive, she was the behind-the-scenes owner of many foot massage and sauna shops in the Xiawan District."

"Later, Bai Jiangbo died, and she remarried Gao Qiqiang with her child. She did not stay at home to be a good wife and mother."

"There have long been rumors that Chen Shuting is the mastermind behind dozens of entertainment venues of all sizes in Jinghai that are involved in prostitution."

Li Xiang smiled helplessly.

I shouldn't have spoken in the first place.

An Xin already believed that Chen Shuting was the biggest gossip in Jinghai, so what else could she say?

After turning off the engine and engaging the handbrake, Li Xiang calmly unbuckled his seatbelt.

As soon as he opened the door and got out of the car, An Xin couldn't wait to ring the doorbell.

A moment later, the nanny opened the door.

"Hello, I'm An Xin from the Municipal Criminal Investigation Detachment. I'd like to talk to Chen Shuting to find out some information."

"Okay, please wait a moment!"

An Xin put away her documents and turned to look at Li Xiang, who was leaning against the hood of the car smoking.

What are you doing sitting there? Come here!

Seeing An Xin's anxious expression, Li Xiang was speechless.

"She hasn't arrived yet, has she? I'll take a couple of puffs to perk myself up!"

"Keep smoking, one day you'll get lung cancer!"

"Get out of here, uncle!"

Li Xiang couldn't help but start cursing.

I felt really good after uttering that curse.

Soon, Chen Shuting arrived.

Wavy hair, fair skin, fiery red lips, sheer nightgown...

Even with her makeup still on, Chen Shuting exudes the charm of a mature woman.

When she stood gracefully at the door, Li Xiang felt his heart stop.

Two legs moved forward involuntarily, as if drawn by an invisible force.

"Excuse me, Officer An, the child is practicing the piano in the living room, so please don't come in. Just ask us what you need to say here!"

Seeing Chen Shuting's calm expression and even a smile on her face, An Xin was naturally surprised.

"Your husband, Gao Qiqiang, led a group of people to the Xiawan District Police Station to turn himself in, did you know that?"

"Yes, I know. He told me he was going to turn himself in."

"Do you know why he turned himself in?"

"To err is human, to forgive divine! He has taken the initiative to recognize his mistakes and is willing to turn himself in and confess in order to receive leniency. Isn't that a good thing?"

Do you know what crimes he committed?

"I don't know. I'm just a housewife. Every day I'm either picking up and dropping off the kids at school, or doing housework and helping the kids with their homework. How would I know what the men are doing outside?"

"So you know absolutely nothing about your husband Gao Qiqiang's crimes?"

“I don’t know, but I believe he wouldn’t do anything immoral. Even if he made some mistakes, I believe it’s because he didn’t study for many years before becoming a fishmonger and suffered from his lack of education.”