I have ten trillion licking dog gold

Unlike the West.

As descendants of the dragon.

On this land of China, the vast majority, perhaps even 90%, are without religious beliefs.

However, it is undeniable that sometimes, in the fragmented moments of life, we can inadvertently feel that there is a force that seems to be arranging or even controlling our destiny.

Jiang Chen, who had just accompanied Qingmei to the temple today, felt this even more clearly.

Of course.

Chen Tai.

It is unknown which "chen" and which "tai" it is. The police officer was conscientious and did not reveal the secret. Besides, the police officer may not be able to distinguish between front nasal sounds, back nasal sounds, retroflex consonants, and alveolar consonants.

When asked, Wu Yufei knew nothing. In her eyes, before the police came to her home, she probably still thought her upstairs female neighbor was a sophisticated and successful single woman.

Moreover.

Even if it really is Chen Tai, with over a billion people in China, it's not uncommon for people to share the same name. The reason for no longer allowing two-character names is to reduce this probability.

If you hadn't seen it, that would have been fine. But the important thing is that it happened right under your nose. You were eating, drinking, and chatting, when the police walked in and took the "chef" away. Regardless of whether you intervene or not, it's at least necessary to find out the truth.

After Wu Yufei and Fang Qing finished clearing the table, Jiang Chen received the results.

He sat on the sofa, turned his head to look at the spacious terrace and the flowers and plants on it, and couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth, wanting to laugh but unable to.

Jiang Chen didn't think of cause and effect, but he did recall a theory proposed in the West.

The Butterfly Effect.

—A butterfly flapping its wings in South America could cause a hurricane in the United States weeks later.

Moreover, Shacheng is not far from Jiangcheng at all, only a little over 200 kilometers away as the crow flies.

That's right.

It's not just about people with the same name.

And it's the same person.

Jiang Chen turned his gaze away from the terrace and pinched the bridge of his nose.

The situation is clear.

Then the problem is coming.

Should I meddle in this "other people's business"?

kitchen.

The world progresses because of lazy people.

Simply toss the dishes into the dishwasher; it's that easy.

Wu Yufei stood by, looking uneasy.

Fang Qing wiped her hands. "You and her are very close?"

"what?"

Wu Yufei snapped out of her daze, looked at Fang Qing, and then smoothed her hair. "It's alright. I only know Sister Ji as a neighbor here. She comes over to chat with me occasionally. She's very humorous and talkative, just like an older sister. I feel very comfortable with her."

Fang Qing nodded. "Then do you know her?"

That's a classic case of asking a question you already know the answer to.

Wu Yufei smiled wryly, "I've only known her for less than two months... Although I don't know Sister Ji very well, and I didn't even know she was married, I feel that she is not a bad person."

"So you think she was wronged?"

Wu Yufei shook her head, "No, I just... want to know what really happened."

Fang Qing winked at the kitchen exit, "Think it through, then ask him and you'll know."

Wu Yufei looked embarrassed and said, "I dare not."

Fang Qing laughed, "What's there to be afraid of? You're old classmates, how could he possibly refuse such a small thing?"

"Why don't you go and ask for me?"

Wu Yufei whispered.

Fang Qing nodded without hesitation, "Okay."

Someone made a very insightful comment at the dinner table.

Avoid incurring favors or debts of gratitude if possible.

Wu Yufei, who could have easily spoken up herself, followed behind, perhaps thinking the same thing.

"Have you figured it out?"

While the man was still sighing and lamenting, two women walked over.

"Ah."

He nodded.

"What's your relationship with that woman's husband?"

Fang Qing asked as she sat down.

Jiang Chen looked at Wu Yufei, who was staring at him expectantly, and said, "It's nothing."

"Don't you know him?"

Jiang Chen paused for a moment, then said simply, "That Chen Tai is Zhou Shaohua's father."

"..."

Fang Qing was taken aback, and as she realized what was happening, her expression turned strange.

She also began to feel the fun of this world.

Who is Zhou Shaohua?

Wu Yufei couldn't help but ask, "Sister Ji has another child?"

"Cough cough."

Jiang Chen coughed.

I don't know if that mature woman has children, but she certainly couldn't give birth to a son like Zhou Shao.

Biology does not allow it.

Zhou Shao was probably only a few years younger than her, and with her excellent maintenance, the two of them could easily play a married couple if they stood together.

cough.

This analogy is a bit excessive.

However, to be fair, the relationships are indeed a bit complicated.

“Zhou Shaohua is her husband’s son, but not her son.”

Fang Qing's explanation was concise and to the point, but it was clearly still not clear enough.

"Does Sister Ji's husband have an ex-wife?"

Wu Yufei asked tentatively.

"should not."

Jiang Chen answered.

"That...is it an illegitimate child?"

"Not at all."

Wu Yufei was confused; after her guesses were repeatedly denied, she could no longer come up with a reasonable explanation.

Don't blame her.

This world is often chaotic enough that it cannot be fathomed by conventional logic.

"Her husband and son's problems are not important."

Jiang Chen said briefly.

Wu Yufei hummed in agreement. There was no need to pry too much into other people's family matters. The most important thing now was to find out what had happened to Sister Ji.

"Was Sister Ji taken away because of her husband?"

Mr. Jiang was a little embarrassed.

Not to mention this mature woman whom he hadn't met in days, even Boss Jiang had never seen Chen Tai before.

To be honest, both of them were just innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.

It's like swatting a mosquito; not only does it tear the mosquito's skin, but the force of the slap also inadvertently harms microorganisms in the air...

Ok.

This analogy is very apt.

Ji Ruyan was taken away, undoubtedly because of Chen Tai. Since they are legally husband and wife, the wife is likely to bear some responsibility for the husband's crimes. However, if we trace the root cause, the "real culprit" actually needs to be deduced to—

That's right.

It has to be traced back to Boss Jiang, who just enjoyed someone else's cooking.

How can you not feel awkward?
The police officers should have come sooner. If I had known, I wouldn't have eaten this meal, and perhaps I wouldn't feel so guilty.

What did her husband do wrong?

Wu Yufei noticed that Boss Jiang seemed to have something difficult to say. Although she didn't understand why, she was still considerate and quickly changed the subject.

Fang Qing remained silent.

"Her husband is from Shacheng. He did a lot of bad things in Shacheng before he moved to Jiangcheng. But recently, his protector fell, and all the things he did before were exposed. Your Sister Ji must have been implicated because of this."

Although Mr. Jiang's explanation was rather vague and incomplete, it was enough for Wu Yufei to understand the general situation.

"No wonder Sister Ji is always alone. And she has never mentioned her lover."

Wu Yufei murmured, then came to her senses and looked at Jiang Chen, "...Is it...very serious?"

Fang Qing, who had also eaten the food prepared by the other person, remained silent.

"Her husband is in serious condition."

Mr. Jiang is indeed not one to lie and is very truthful. "Whether she can come out of retirement in this lifetime is uncertain. As for her problem, it depends on whether her husband has a conscience."

Behind every successful woman, there is one or more successful men.

Since they are husband and wife.

Regardless of whether they are married in the traditional sense or not, they will share some of their interests.

In ordinary families, married couples are like birds in the same forest.

The wealthy are generally all in the same boat.

The fact that Ji Ruyan stopped struggling after the police announced her husband's name speaks volumes.

Wu Yufei, also a native of Shacheng, paled instantly, her worry undisguised.

There are bad guys in Sand City.

There is also no shortage of kind-hearted people.

"Don't be too sad."

Jiang Chen comforted him.

Wu Yufei gave a stiff smile, clenching her fingers, "I finally made a new friend, but I never expected..."

"She was taken away by the Economic Investigation Department, not the Criminal Police. She should not be suspected of any criminal offenses."

Mr. Jiang knows how to find the right angle. Economic crimes may not seem as serious as criminal crimes at first glance, but you should know that there is a professional sitting next to you.

Economic crimes are also categorized. For some categories, if the circumstances are serious, the death penalty is indeed unlikely, but the maximum sentence can still be life imprisonment.

Fortunately, Fang Qing did not undermine him.

While Wu Yufei may not be as professional as Fang Qing, as a business owner, how could she not understand the law? Even if she didn't, she would inevitably learn it, either passively or actively, after starting her company.

Crimes like fraud and illegal fundraising are not necessarily less serious than criminal offenses.

of course.

She understood her old classmate's good intentions.

"I'll go collect the dishes."

She forced a smile, said nothing, and got up to go to the kitchen.

Jiang Chen leaned back on the sofa.

"How can this world be so small?"

"The world is very small. As Stanley Milgram said, you can get to know anyone in the world through six people."

"Who? Saddam Hussein? Wasn't he a tyrant in the Middle East? And he said something so philosophical?"

Fang Qing didn't joke with him; instead, she leaned back on the sofa and elegantly crossed her legs.

"The opportunity has come."

"what chance?"

Jiang Chen was confused.

"A hero saves the damsel in distress."

Jiang Chen smiled wryly.

"Nonsense."

"She is a married woman."

"Moreover."

"I reckon I could call her 'Auntie' because of her seniority."

I wonder if Zhou Shao knows he has such a stepmother?
"Do you think she knows about Chen Tai's affairs in Shacheng?"

"I'm not her, how would I know? If you're curious, just ask her."

Jiang Chen, unperturbed, also crossed his legs. "You don't really think we should help her, do you? She committed a crime."

Fang Qing didn't say anything, but gave him a look.

Jiang Chen touched his nose.

Ok,

unacceptable.

Qing Gege is a legal professional, after all; there are some things you can't say. "Why don't you go and bail her out first?"

Jiang Chen came up with a compromise idea.

Even if we disregard the monk's feelings, we should still consider the Buddha's feelings. Even setting aside my own connection to this incident, the other party is still a friend of the female classmate.

Fang Qing probably thinks so too.

Moreover, from the short time we've known each other, the person seems quite nice.

As for whether or not a crime has been committed.

That was what Princess Qing didn't say.

Just like weighing fish at the market, the weight of a fish can be adjusted, and even if it's on the scale, it can be put back on.

"What did you say? I didn't quite hear you."

Is Boss Jiang a fool?

Naturally not.

At this point, it would indeed be inappropriate to ask Qingmei to protect another woman for him, even if that woman is a mature woman, a married woman, a woman with a husband, or the stepmother of that arrogant, cool, and domineering young master Zhou...

Are these taboos?

It's clearly a tempting label.

"I did not say anything."

Jiang Chen decisively swallowed back what he had said, and said calmly, "I'll go talk to her."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Economic crimes, unlike ordinary crimes, are interrogated in specially designated interrogation rooms. Of course, although they are specially designated, the environment is not very pleasant; they are just as cramped, dark, oppressive, and stuffy, the difference being that handcuffs are not used.

As the woman of the eldest brother, Ji Ruyan, presumably entering such a place for the first time, displayed the proper composure, remaining calm and composed. Facing the police officers' questions, she neither resisted nor remained silent, answering almost every question, but mostly avoiding the important ones. After nearly an hour, the police officers, having made no progress, ran out of patience and couldn't help but slam their fists on the table.

"boom!"

Normally, even when dealing with women like this, even criminals, a man's biological instinct would lead him to remain calm.

"Do you think you can get away with this by not saying anything? I advise you to give up your wishful thinking and cooperate with our work. It will only benefit you. You don't want to spend the rest of your life behind bars, do you?"

Ji Ruyan remained calm and composed, even offering a faint smile.

"If you think there's anything wrong with what I said, you can ask Chen Tai."

“Of course we questioned him. We can tell you that we have uncovered all the crimes your husband committed, and he cannot escape the full force of the law. But you still have a chance to seek leniency.”

Ji Ruyan remained silent, her feminine face serene. Even if it was an act, she was better than most men at putting on an act.

Many people act all high and mighty outside, but once they enter this place, they immediately become obedient and their legs tremble.

Where is he?

"What do you think? He's very cunning. After his crimes were exposed, he immediately tried to flee abroad, but unfortunately, justice will prevail, and Tokyo is not a lawless place."

"Tokyo?"

Ji Ruyan's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"You're his wife, don't tell us you don't know where he is."

Ji Ruyan's furrowed brows relaxed again, and she said calmly, "You should have investigated my relationship with him as well. Although we are husband and wife, it's only in name."

“Ji Ruyan, you are a smart person. Such a statement will not help you evade responsibility. Regardless of the state of your marital relationship, Chen Tai has provided tremendous help to your career. Without him, you would not be where you are today. Can you deny that?”

"I do not deny."

The veteran economic crime investigator in charge of the interrogation nodded, finally satisfied with her current attitude.

"Now that you're here, the only one who can help you is yourself. You're different from Chen Tai; you're only thirty years old, and you have a long life ahead of you. Tell me, how many of Chen Tai's shady dealings do you know, and what shady dealings have you done for him?"

The veteran economic crime investigator has sharp eyes.

Just as Ji Ruyan's defenses seemed to be faltering and the interrogation was about to make a breakthrough, "knock knock knock..."

There was a knock on the door.

The young economic crime investigator stopped writing with his ballpoint pen.

The door opens.

"Captain Gu."

The two immediately stood up.

"You guys come out."

The two economic crime investigators exchanged a glance. Although they were puzzled, they obeyed the order, packed up their belongings, and walked out together.

Ji Ruyan pursed her red lips, and her hands under the table unconsciously clenched tightly.

When you arrive at a place like this...

How could I not be nervous?

Besides, she is a woman, a woman who is over thirty.

When a woman reaches this age, she is already in the last bloom of her life. If she goes to prison, it means that the remaining most radiant days of her life will be wasted in a dark and hopeless place.

How could I not be afraid?
"boom."

The interrogation room door closed.

Ji Ruyan let out a soft breath, and a trace of sorrow and despair finally showed in her eyes.

she knows.

This was just a brief respite; with Chen Tai down, her fate was sealed.

"Clap."

as predicted.

Because there was no clock, the exact time could not be calculated, but it seemed that less than five minutes had passed before the interrogation room door reopened.

Facing the light, Ji Ruyan looked up but couldn't see his face clearly, only a blurry outline. When the door creaked shut again and the outside light faded, she gradually saw his appearance clearly. His pale face was frozen in time, and his alluring red lips even parted wide involuntarily.

"What's with that expression, Sister Ji? Didn't you just praise me for being handsome?"

Jiang Chen walked in with an air of nonchalance and sat down in the chair of the interrogator.

Her full, red lips still formed an interesting "O" shape. Ji Ruyan's eyes were unfocused as she stared blankly at the young man who appeared before her. Her small head, hidden beneath her long, wavy hair, was probably completely blank.

Jiang Chen sat comfortably, raised his hand and placed it on the table, his fingers gently tapping the surface. He considerately remained silent, giving the other person time to adjust.

"What... are you doing here?"

Ji Ruyan came to her senses, but her mind was still in a mess, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

"I came to chat with Sister Ji."

"..."

It's as humorous as ever.

Ji Ruyan's lips twitched; she wanted to laugh, but couldn't.

Looking at the young man who seemed to have fallen from the sky, her pupils trembled slightly, and she slowly and deeply exhaled.

"You've been exposed. You still say you're not a big shot."

"Men should be humble and reserved; that's what makes them mature. Sister Ji probably thinks so too, right?"

Ji Ruyan finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

She herself found it strange.

At a time like this, how can I still laugh?
"Was it Yufei who sent Mr. Jiang?"

Since you've already laughed, there's no need to deliberately restrain yourself. In the end, it's good to prolong the happiness as much as possible.

"That's one way to put it, but not entirely. Yufei still cares a lot about Sister Ji as a friend."

"She is a good girl."

Ji Ruyan said simply, gazing at Jiang Chen with a meaningful look in her eyes.

"Sister Ji is indeed worthy of being Chen Tai's wife; her composure is truly admirable."

Stripped of skin, we are nothing more than 206 bones. If a woman only attracts people with her appearance, she is like an iced cola in summer—only the first sip is valuable.

"Do you know Chen Tai?"

Ji Ruyan realized that she had noticed the words the police shouted when they took her away two or three hours earlier, but she didn't have time to ask any more questions.

She also felt that there was no chance to ask again.

"I don't know him. But I know his son."

Ji Ruyan's expression froze, then quickly relaxed.

Jiang Chen rested both arms on the table. "Does Sister Ji know anything about Chen Tai's family affairs?"

“I am his wife, Mr. Jiang. Don’t you think it’s strange that you’re asking such a question?”

"At this time, Sister Ji did not sever ties, but dared to admit her marital relationship with Chen Tai, which is truly touching."

"Can we really deny it? We have the necessary certifications."

Ji Ruyan smiled, a smile tinged with melancholy, like a rose withering in the wind.

Jiang Chen shrugged. "A certificate doesn't prove anything. It might not even be as good as having no certificate at all. Yufei and Sister Ji have known each other for so long and they still don't know who Chen Tai is. This means that your marital relationship is probably not very harmonious."

The first half of the sentence made Ji Ruyan's eyes narrow sharply, but the second half made her hesitate.

She looked at the nonchalant man and asked in a tight voice, "What is your relationship with Zhou Shaohua?"

"It seems Sister Ji knew."

Jiang Chen didn't answer, as if he had come specifically to inquire about gossip.

"Chen Tai's son is almost the same age as Sister Ji. Why did Sister Ji marry him? Was it for money? Or for power? Or was she coerced by Chen Tai?"

"Is it important?"

"At this point, Sister Ji, is there anything you're ashamed to say? I promise I'll keep your secret."

Despite the rude and even embarrassing question, Ji Ruyan couldn't help but laugh again.

"If I had met Mr. Jiang earlier, I certainly wouldn't have been as foolish as Yufei. I would have used any means necessary to win him over."

"Ugh."

Jiang Chen sighed, "What a missed opportunity."

Ji Ruyan smiled and looked up at the camera hanging in the corner of the ceiling, a standard feature in such places.

There is absolutely no point in putting up a stubborn resistance.

At least the other person made me feel happy in the end, so I should be content.

“I admit that Chen Tai is a very charming man, especially to an ordinary woman like me. He is rich, powerful, and has strong social resources. I would feel hypocritical to say that he coerced me.”

"It still sounds like they're a little reluctant."

Jiang Chen looked at her and smiled.

Ji Ruyan met his gaze. "He's so much older than me. No matter how well he takes care of himself, his age is still there. Besides, he has a son who's about my age. If it were Mr. Jiang, would he dare say he's completely devoted to me?"

"light and spacious."

"It was a mutually beneficial relationship between us. I used his resources to climb the social ladder, but how could a man like him be willing to serve as a stepping stone for a woman? I don't blame anyone for how things have turned out this way."

"I understand. It seems that rather than saying Sister Ji and Chen Tai are a couple, it's more accurate to say they're using each other. Sister Ji needs his capital and background to get started, while he's after Sister Ji's abilities and beauty..."

Ji Ruyan smiled wryly, "I never expected Mr. Jiang to think I am beautiful. I am truly flattered."

"When Chen Tai fled to Tokyo, didn't he inform Sister Ji to escape with him? Leaving Sister Ji alone is tantamount to sending her to jail."

Upon hearing this, Ji Ruyan's smile vanished, and her eyes instantly turned icy.

“In his heart, I am just a tool. How could he possibly care about the life or death of a tool?”

"last question."

Jiang Chen asked, "Does Sister Ji still want to see Chen Tai?"

Ji Ruyan froze, then a cold smile appeared on her lips. "What's the point of seeing each other again? Shall we just wish each other well on our journey?"

It seems there's truly no affection left between them as husband and wife.

Ok.

Chopping the grass does not remove the roots, but the spring breeze blows and regenerates.

It had absolutely nothing to do with Chen Tai. He wasn't even in Shacheng when the incident happened, and they hadn't even met. So why was he caught and brought back after fleeing to Tokyo?
That's the reason.

And the performance of Chen Tai's legal wife has stood the test.

Mr. Jiang, who seemed to be a kind person, nodded and stood up, holding onto the table.

"Let's go."

Ji Ruyan looked puzzled.

"It's so late, aren't you going home?"

Ji Ruyan froze, her lips moved slightly, and Mr. Jiang stopped calling out.

Are you kidding me?

Mr. Jiang was very nonchalant, saying, "If I'm not leaving, then I'm leaving."

Sure enough, he walked out, looking incredibly dashing.

Ji Ruyan was stunned for a moment, and then, for some reason, she hurriedly got up and rushed forward, bumping the table with a "bang" in her haste.

"Snapped."

Ignoring the pain, she grabbed the other person's hand, tilted her head back, and looked at the ungentlemanly yet incredibly charming back of his head, wanting to say something.

Jiang Chen stopped first.

The sudden stop caught the other person off guard, and the inertia caused their chest to collide with his arm.

Jiang Chen seemed oblivious, staring at his wrist that was being gripped.

"Men and women are not allowed to be intimate."

Ji Ruyan was stunned again.

It's no wonder the married woman lacked self-control.
That's really Mr. Jiang.

Thai pants are hot. (End of Chapter)