388: Chapter 388 Whose Mount Is This?

The Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department held a press conference.

Due to prior online reports, reporters and media outlets flocked to the event, creating an unprecedented spectacle that packed the massive press conference hall.

Upon hearing the case briefing, many were profoundly shocked; an entire village involved in drug manufacturing and trafficking was something unprecedented in history.

Keenly aware that this would be a major trending news story, several reporters opened their laptops right there at the scene and began drafting their articles without hesitation.

As the floor opened for the Q&A session, the atmosphere became exceptionally lively.

"Excuse me, with over three thousand police officers deployed this time, how many casualties were there?"

"Our command was effective and the operation went very smoothly. There were only three minor injuries, no serious injuries, and certainly no fatalities."

"Excuse me, how many drugs were seized in this operation?"

"We seized a total of sixteen tons and eight hundred and forty-six kilograms of high-purity meth, setting a new national record."

"Excuse me..."

Within just a few hours after the press conference concluded, the story shot to the top of the trending searches.

That evening, Wang Hailong led a large group from the Provincial Public Security Department to host a warm banquet for Qin Chuan and the others.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, we have plenty of moutai tonight. We're not leaving until everyone is drunk!"

Inside the large private dining room, the atmosphere was exuberant.

Everyone was happy; the case had been solved, and solved so perfectly that all the pressure had vanished.

"Secretary Qin, I toast to you. I've never truly admired anyone, but you're the first!"

The meal lasted two or three hours, and many people got drunk, including Wang Hailong.

Qin Chuan was fine. Despite drinking at least two or three catties of moutai, his face was only slightly flushed, and he remained very alert.

Despite Wang Hailong's warm and repeated attempts to get him to stay, Qin Chuan left Guangdong Province the following morning and returned to the capital.

As the largest drug manufacturing and trafficking case in domestic history, it remained a hot topic for several days before the fervor gradually subsided.

Time moved into May 2016.

Qin Chuan's son and daughter had progressed from toddling to babbling. During the May Day holiday, the couple took their children out for a trip.

A few days after returning to work following the long holiday, Qin Chuan saw a news report.

There seemed to be some power behind the scenes controlling it, as this incident—which should have topped the trending lists—only had scattered reports online.

But the incident was indeed egregious. Looking it over, Qin Chuan felt like cursing.

While he was reviewing several documents, two knocks sounded at his office door, and Bureau Chief Gu Hanlin pushed the door open and entered.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, a news report has surfaced online. A woman was walking her dog without a leash, and the large dog lunged at a child. The child's father kicked the dog once, and the woman then forced the father to kneel and apologize to the dog. Her attitude was incredibly arrogant and infuriating."

Qin Chuan said, "Comrade Hanlin, you saw it too? I was just fuming over it myself. How can anyone force a person to apologize to a dog, especially in front of their own child?"

Bureau Chief Gu Hanlin nodded. "It seems the power behind that woman isn't simple. Many related reports online have been blocked. Although there aren't many articles, netizens are tagging our Criminal Investigation Bureau in every report and related video."

Qin Chuan asked, "Comrade Hanlin, what's your take?"

"Since the netizens are all tagging our Criminal Investigation Bureau, we naturally need to investigate. We need to see whose 'steed' that woman actually is to be acting so arrogantly."

Qin Chuan smiled. "How do you know she's someone's 'steed'?"

Bureau Chief Gu Hanlin replied, "Intuition. It tells me she's likely someone's mistress."

Qin Chuan nodded slightly. His sixth sense also told him that the arrogant woman was indeed likely someone's kept woman.

She was young, quite pretty, dressed fashionably in luxury brands, and most importantly, she was incredibly supercilious—all traits that fit the profile of a 'steed'.

"Certain people within the system are indeed becoming increasingly outrageous, showing no regard for their public image. Incidents like this have a terrible impact."

Bureau Chief Gu Hanlin said, "Comrade Qin Chuan, how about we look into it?"

"No problem. Let's investigate first and see who that woman is and who is backing her."

Qin Chuan was also somewhat curious to know the young woman's background.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau could investigate such matters very quickly. In just an hour or two, Bureau Chief Gu Hanlin returned with an investigation report.

"The basics are clear. The woman has a close relationship with Li Haibo, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and Director of the Public Security Bureau of Dongzhou City. She's likely Li Haibo's woman."

Qin Chuan took the report, flipped through it, and then said, "She's actually connected to Secretary Li Haibo!"

Bureau Chief Gu Hanlin asked, "Do you know this Li Haibo?"

"I've heard of him. Back when I was working in Jinzhu Township, Qingjiang County, under Dongzhou City in Handong Province, I heard of Li Haibo. He was the Deputy Director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau back then."

There were some details he didn't mention; at that time, Li Haibo's reputation among the public was quite poor.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, I feel that if we just dig a little, this Li Haibo will definitely have issues. Furthermore, the matter of forcing someone to kneel to a dog needs to be addressed. Otherwise, where is the fairness and justice in society?"

Qin Chuan agreed. "Since so many netizens are tagging our Criminal Investigation Bureau, we indeed need to handle it. Will you handle it, or should I step in?"

"Why don't we go together? Let's take a trip to Dongzhou City in Handong Province. You have work experience in Handong, so you're practically a local host. Once we're there, you'll have to buy me a few drinks."

"No problem, let's go together then."

The two made their plans. Qin Chuan wasn't busy and had plenty of time, but he was a bit worried about Bureau Chief Gu Hanlin—did he really have that much time?

Sure enough, despite having agreed to go to Dongzhou City together, Bureau Chief Gu Hanlin looked apologetic when it came time to depart.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, I'm sorry. We agreed to go together, but an emergency meeting came up, and Minister Xu specifically named me to attend. How about we go together in a couple of days after my meeting?"

Qin Chuan smiled and said, "It's fine, go ahead with your work. I can go on my own. It'll be a good chance to visit Handong Province again anyway."

"I'm truly sorry. You go ahead first, and I'll come over if I find the time."

Qin Chuan took only Wei Xinglong and his secretary, traveling light and without fanfare. Aside from his father-in-law, he didn't alert anyone else in Handong Province.

He first went to the provincial capital of Handong to see his father-in-law, Vice Governor Zhu Shihua. The two of them enjoyed a few drinks together.

The next day, they requested a car with ordinary provincial government plates, and the three of them quietly arrived in Dongzhou City.

Wei Xinglong was driving. Once the car reached Dongzhou City, he asked, "Secretary Qin, where to?"

Qin Chuan thought for a moment. "To Jinzhu Township."

The reason for going to Jinzhu Township instead of the Dongzhou urban area was because the woman who forced someone to kneel to her dog, Sun Tingting, was originally from Jinzhu Township.

The car didn't enter the urban area of Dongzhou City. After driving for about fifty minutes, they entered Jinzhu Township.

Looking through the car window at the familiar yet strange scenery, many memories surged from the depths of his mind.

Back then, after graduating from university, he had worked here for over two years.