Some people always say I just make things up, but I suspect those people have never seen a Jiao interview.

My cold seems to have cleared up; updates will be robust. Everyone needs to vote hard too!

"It's just the two of us going?"

The car was on the road, and Ji Qiong was starting to get fidgety. Ji Yunlei dealt with gamblers and addicts; those people were already involved in illegal activities and certainly wouldn't respond to being reasoned with.

"Of course," Wang Zhuo chuckled. "What did you expect? Me calling up a bunch of my brothers, bringing steel pipes and machetes? This is Jiangzhou; I’ve only been here a month, and I don't have anyone close by."

Ji Qiong was speechless. "Then we can call the police!"

"The police? You’ve called before, haven't you? Did it work?" Wang Zhuo glanced at her, a smile playing on his lips.

"I'll try again," Ji Qiong pulled out her phone.

Wang Zhuo just shrugged. "Whatever you like."

This time, the 110 dispatch service was surprisingly methodical and thorough. They took down every detail of Ji Qiong's report and promised to investigate immediately.

Ji Qiong hung up, satisfied, and told Wang Zhuo, "They said they're sending someone over right away to check."

Wang Zhuo was slightly surprised. It seemed Qin Xue’s recent clean-up efforts had been quite effective; at least 110 hadn't just given Ji Qiong a random precinct number to deal with it herself.

About three minutes later, Ji Qiong’s phone rang. The display showed a landline number she had never seen before.

"Hello? Was that you who reported this?"

The voice got straight to the point. Ji Qiong quickly replied, "Yes, I'm the one who called. May I ask who this is?"

"I’m the local patrol officer in charge of the jurisdiction where the Xiaoshan International Club is located. Could you please tell me the details of your report?"

The speaker was a middle-aged man in his mid-forties, with a slight Jiangzhou local accent.

"There are people gambling there in large groups, massive amounts! They’re also using drugs—both powder and ecstasy!" Ji Qiong spoke rapidly.

"Is that so? How do you know?" the officer asked.

"I saw it with my own eyes!" Ji Qiong left out the fact that it had actually happened last week.

"Saw it with your own eyes, huh…" The officer paused, then spoke slowly. "We’ve investigated the Xiaoshan Club several times, even gone undercover. But we haven't found what you mentioned. Maybe they have a little bit of that stuff, but it probably isn't as serious as you say?"

Ji Qiong's heart sank. Judging by his tone, he sounded like he was trying to make excuses for the Xiaoshan Club.

Thinking this, her tone became somewhat sharp. "So, if it's 'just a little bit,' you won't deal with it?"

The officer immediately took offense, annoyance creeping into his voice. "How are you speaking to me, young lady? Did we say we wouldn't deal with it? We go there regularly, quite often, in fact. They are on record with me, you know that?"

Ji Qiong felt a sudden surge of anger, her voice involuntarily rising. "You go there often, and you still can't see them doing drugs and gambling? Such brazen criminal activity, and you can't see it with both visible and undercover checks?"

"What is your attitude?" The officer got angry too, his voice turning cold. "Can you solve problems with that attitude? If you speak like that again, we’re dropping the case!"

Ji Qiong forced herself to endure it for a moment, then retorted, "Then what do I have to do for you to handle it?"

"We can't handle this one!" Seeing Ji Qiong's attitude soften, the officer became firmer. "The Xiaoshan Club has foreign investment backing; it's inconvenient for us to go over there constantly. If you insist on pursuing this, call the Culture Bureau!"

Ji Qiong suddenly felt a laugh-or-cry moment. "Where do I find the number for the Culture Bureau?"

"You call them, they handle this stuff!"

Slap. The line went dead!

Ji Qiong was so furious she could have spat fire. When she turned to look at Wang Zhuo, she found him grinning widely, as if he had just heard an amusing joke.

"What are you laughing at?" Ji Qiong was completely bewildered by his amusement.

"I'm laughing because you are still too naive," Wang Zhuo tempered his smile slightly. "You said it yourself, after your last call to the police, they promised everything but then nothing came of it. That clearly shows the club has a protective umbrella; calling the police is useless against them."

Ji Qiong was speechless. She pressed the number the police had just given her on her phone, asking with some confusion, "What does the Culture Bureau have to do with drugs and gambling?"

Wang Zhuo explained, "All entertainment venues fall under the jurisdiction of the Culture Bureau. Cracking down on prostitution, gambling, and drugs is a joint enforcement effort between the Public Security and Culture departments."

Ji Qiong uttered an "Oh," and just as she was about to dial, Wang Zhuo quickly asked, "Does your phone have a recording function?"

Seeing Ji Qiong nod, he added, "Record the call; it might be useful."

A moment later, the call connected. Ji Qiong poured out the details of her report in a rush.

"Xiaoshan International Club? We know about that place. What’s wrong?"

"Drugs and gambling? We've never found any such situation!"

"Brazen? Every day? Our undercover investigator is in there too; why hasn't he seen anything? Why is it only you who sees it? Is there something wrong with you? Are you deliberately causing trouble?"

"We have five cameras there, you know? We have recordings; it’s 24-hour surveillance, understand?"

"Then what do you mean by asking this? We are very busy. If you have nothing else, I’m hanging up."

"Can you stop being so unreasonable? I’m telling you, we’ve already recorded your phone number. If you cause trouble again, we will come looking for you!"

Snap. The call ended.

Ji Qiong stared blankly for a long time before coming back to herself. Seeing Wang Zhuo still looking perfectly composed, she asked with a wry smile, "You already guessed this would happen?"

Wang Zhuo gave a slight shrug. "It’s a bit more severe than what I predicted."

Ji Qiong suddenly seemed to recall something and said eagerly, "Wang Zhuo, you have a way, don't you? You even killed someone and weren't detained by the police. Although it was self-defense, someone must have put in a good word for you, right? Can you use your connections to help me out?"

Wang Zhuo paused slightly, a bitter smile on his face, unsure what to say. Should he really call Xiao Wanjun and ask him to arrange for someone to help him bust a gambling den? Secretary Xiao was the secretary to the number two leader of a direct-controlled municipality; although he was only a department-level cadre, he was someone with direct access to the highest levels. Even section-level cadres had to greet him respectfully. Could he really mobilize such a person for his minor issue?

More importantly, Wang Zhuo himself was still under scrutiny by Qin Xue. Only when the Huihai case was completely settled would the noose around his neck be loosened. Huihai had been wicked for over ten years and committed countless monstrous crimes. The prosecution hadn't even finished collecting evidence yet, and a formal indictment was a distant prospect. If Wang Zhuo caused trouble again now, it would be strange if Qin Xue didn't use it as an opportunity to discipline him!

After considering it, Wang Zhuo explained, "My connections are complicated, to put it mildly. It’s best not to use them unless absolutely necessary."

Seeing the disappointment in Ji Qiong's eyes, he smiled again and said, "But no problem has only one solution. Do you believe I have other ways?"

Ji Qiong hesitated, then nodded firmly with a look of resolve. Although she had only spent less than twenty-four hours with him from last night until now, Wang Zhuo’s demeanor had completely won her over; she viewed him as an omnipotent savior.

The car arrived at the Xiaoshan International Club, a three-story white, hotel-style building located outside a leafy park. Many luxury cars were parked in the front courtyard. Currently, many people were emerging from the club building in small groups, muttering curses.

"Which bastard made that tip-off call? Damn fool!"

"Holding up this sister from earning her table fees, now I’m going to starve, you bitch!"

"Let’s go, let’s go. Find somewhere for breakfast, then we’ll be back for eight rounds!"

"Why are there always busybodies these days? Bored out of their minds."

"Damn bitches, don't let me find out who you are, or I’ll break both your legs and stick them up my…"

Ji Qiong’s face turned ashen with anger. These people had clearly heard about her tip-off and were sent out by the club to avoid trouble temporarily. They even knew the informant was a woman. Did they need to guess where the information came from?

Wang Zhuo's expression turned grim. "Is your phone registered under your real name?"

"No," Ji Qiong’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling a surge of relief. If someone tracked her down and retaliated based on her phone number, things would get very troublesome.

"Turn it off, and get a new number later," Wang Zhuo’s expression was anything but relaxed. "If they are truly intent on revenge, they can still use special channels to pull your call records from the mobile company, screen the people you spoke with, and find you that way."

When the state apparatus is weaponized by certain individuals for private retribution, its destructive power is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. The Red House incident had taught Wang Zhuo a vivid lesson.

Ji Qiong looked troubled. "But if there’s any news from the hospital, they need to call this number to reach me."

"Use mine for now, and call your aunt to let her know," Wang Zhuo took out his phone and handed it to her. Just then, he saw Ji Yunlei walking towards them alone, looking defeated, carrying the box that had held the money.

Ji Qiong was momentarily stunned, then angrily prepared to jump out of the car to confront him. Wang Zhuo pulled her back, saying in a low voice, "Don't get out. I'll talk to him."

"You…" Ji Qiong didn't know what to say. She was worried Wang Zhuo would rush forward and give her brother a beating until his nose bled, yet she also hoped he would teach Ji Yunlei a harsh lesson.

Patting Ji Qiong’s shoulder to reassure her, Wang Zhuo nimbly jumped out of the car and waited in Ji Yunlei’s path.

Using his X-ray vision through the money box, Wang Zhuo confirmed it was completely empty. Scanning Ji Yunlei’s body, he found only a thousand yuan tucked into a trouser pocket, half a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, and a small crumpled piece of plastic wrap.

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