Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 376 features a classical style.
The city center of Dongzhou is located in the heart of the old town. Apart from the short riverside main road, Jiangbin Road, the city's most upscale entertainment venues and teahouses are all located in this area.

Entertainment venues are mostly located in large commercial spaces on the second floor of several modern buildings along the street, while teahouses are usually located in a small, old courtyard house on the most culturally rich historical street in Dongzhou City.

Drinking alcohol and drinking tea seem like two completely different concepts, but in reality, they boil down to just two words: discussing business. And specifically, discussing business when you need something from someone.

If the matter is settled, you can go out and have some fun just around the corner; if the matter isn't settled, you can still go next door to have fun and then continue the discussion.

This is why the most expensive entertainment venues and teahouses in Dongzhou are located in one place.

It was 7 p.m. in a quaint courtyard in the city center.

This is a large pavilion with curtains hanging on all four sides. Several people can be vaguely seen sitting inside drinking tea, and there seems to be a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) nearby. A woman with her hair styled in a high bun is slowly plucking the strings. The quiet atmosphere is completely different from the bustling crowds outside the street, as if they are two different worlds.

The pavilion was filled with the fragrance of incense. A young woman dressed in a red and black cheongsam, with an exquisite gold hairpin in her hair, was making tea with her delicate hands. Although the wisps of tea steam obscured her beautiful face, they actually added to her mysterious beauty.

"Longjing." A young man in his early twenties, wearing a white T-shirt, picked up his teacup, took a sip, closed his eyes slightly, and uttered the two words.

"Brother Wang is an expert! I really know nothing about these things," the slightly older man sitting to his right said hastily.

The man in the white T-shirt half-opened his right eye, glanced at the sycophantic man, and said sarcastically, "Xiao Chao, I was just reading what was written on that jar."

The man in the white T-shirt who called him "Xiao Chao" was none other than Deng Xiaochao, a police officer from the branch's supervisory team whom we haven't seen in a long time.

Although he had been transferred from the complaints center to the business team and promoted to deputy team leader, he still showed no leadership qualities while sitting with one foot in the chair.

Not to mention, as an inspector, he was known as the police among police officers.

"..." Deng Xiaochao choked for a moment, but he didn't get angry at all. After a pause, he still smiled ingratiatingly at the man who was obviously younger than him and said, "Brother Wang, you really know how to joke. You're from the provincial capital, and you even spent some time in Beijing before. I wonder if these little things would catch your eye?"

Brother Wang snorted and tossed his empty ceramic teacup onto the table, saying lazily, "Stop flattering me. You called me here today for a reason. So, what is it?"

Deng Xiaochao said with a forced smile, "Brother Wang, what are you saying? If I were a little more sensitive, I'd be mortified. I still remember the time you helped me get a job transfer. I've booked a private room at Emerald Plaza tonight, just the two of us."

"Get to the point," Brother Wang interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

Then, raising her hand and waving it out a few times, the woman in the cheongsam who was making tea and the woman in ancient costume who was playing the zither stood up at the same time, bowed to the guests, and respectfully withdrew.

Deng Xiaochao watched the two leave, rubbed his hands together, and chuckled, "Brother Wang, do you know Chen Shu from our branch office?"

Leaning back leisurely in his chair, Brother Wang picked at his ear, then held it up to his eyes to look at his little finger, and said casually, "He's from the SWAT team, right? What, is he also trying to get through to you?"

He paused, then muttered to himself, "I've met this person a few times; he's incredibly resolute and decisive. He's definitely not the same kind of person as a slippery character like you."

Although Wang Ge spoke softly, he seemed completely unconcerned. Every word he uttered clearly reached Deng Xiaochao's ears, who was sitting to the side, causing his smile to freeze instantly and his face to turn pale and then red.

"Oh, sorry." Seeing this, Brother Wang turned his head slightly and apologized casually. "Go on, I'm a little interested." If Deng Xiaochao didn't know that Brother Wang's identity was extraordinary, that he was the personal secretary of Director Zhao, the current director of the branch office, he wouldn't have been so patient and respectful towards him.

Swallowing hard, Deng Xiaochao forced out a few tears and said aggrievedly, "Brother Wang, this guy has a grudge against me. He tricked me several times and I suffered a great loss."

"You, a squad leader of the branch bureau's inspection team, were actually taken down by a SWAT officer? Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?"

Brother Wang chuckled, then said with difficulty, "To be honest, this person has been mentioned several times in the leadership meetings. He is capable and has ideas, and several bureau leaders think highly of him."

"He's just taking advantage of Director Zhang's backing, so he's become arrogant and reckless both at work and in private! But this time, he killed someone while on duty. This will definitely be punished, but I don't know if he'll be let off lightly or severely punished as an example."

Upon hearing that the other party was trying to shirk responsibility, Deng Xiaochao could no longer contain his anger and resentment, and dragged Director Zhang, the bureau leader, into the fray.

"Director Zhang? Is it that Executive Deputy Director Zhang Xuming?" Brother Wang didn't pay attention to what Deng Xiaochao said afterward, but he keenly noticed that the other party mentioned Zhang Xuming, the powerful deputy director of the branch bureau.

"Yes! It's him! That kid had already fallen into my hands a few times before, but somehow he managed to get on Director Zhang's good side, so he escaped a few times!" Deng Xiaochao said through gritted teeth.

Upon hearing this, Brother Wang's eyes flickered rapidly a few times.
"Hey, Brother Wang. I'm the captain of the inspection team, I can't possibly not even handle a small SWAT officer, can I? If word gets out, how will I face people?" Deng Xiaochao continued to play the victim, his voice even choked with emotion, completely disregarding the fact that Brother Wang was actually a few years younger than him.

Brother Wang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I'll go back and think about this first, and I'll give you an explanation eventually."

Deng Xiaochao was secretly delighted, knowing that the deal was done.

He hurriedly stood up and said with a fawning smile, "Brother Wang, the tea has gone cold. How about we go next door to the Jade Pavilion for a drink?"

Brother Wang shook his head and said, "I didn't expect there to be such an elegant place in Dongzhou. Call those two girls back, and let's have some more tea and then call it a day."

Deng Xiaochao didn't dare to refuse. He rolled his eyes, responded with an "Eh," and ran outside.

After a while, the two young women who had left earlier returned to the pavilion, gave Wang Ge a curtsy, and then sat down to make tea and play the zither.

Deng Xiaochao did not come in.

Brother Wang leaned back comfortably in the Chinese-style chair with its large backrest, thinking that this guy still had some sense.

A moment later, four or five young girls dressed in sheer dresses strolled into the pavilion, their voices sweet and gentle. They first lifted the curtains that were originally hanging down in the pavilion, revealing a gap that allowed them to observe the small open space in the courtyard.

Then, the group danced gracefully in the courtyard to the sound of the zither.

"Seven or eight beautiful young women surrounded by their fragrance—what normal man could resist such a temptation?"

Standing in the shadows of the courtyard, Deng Xiaochao couldn't help but feel smug about the classical-style second half he had specially arranged for his leader. Then, as if remembering something, his face suddenly darkened, and he said viciously:
"Chen Shu, you can't escape this time!"

(End of this chapter)