142: Chapter 142 The Miserable Jiang Yuan'an

There are many ways for people to die: by old age, by illness, by accident. Some people are killed by their own reckless behavior.

Someone like Wang Li falls into the category of courting death. Fortunately, Zhang Wei never intended to let her off easily from the start, so he wasn't too angry.

"I don't want the Rolls-Royce anymore. Just give me whatever cash equivalent you can manage in a few days," Zhang Wei said calmly.

"Don't even dream of getting a single cent from me, you idiot. Stop calling, or I'll report you for harassment," Wang Li still couldn't resist threatening, assuming he was afraid she would call the police.

"I won't call again. Please, whatever you do, don't call the police." With that, he proactively hung up the phone. He still wanted to report her to gain some prestige in front of Captain Jiang. Miss Wang Li, please don't throw yourself into the trap.

Zhang Wei asked the young lady to print out the evidence. He also hadn't visited Jiang Yuanan for a long time. He might as well take the evidence materials along when he went.

Jiang Yuanan had an restless personality. Since his injury last time, he insisted on returning to work at the Brigade after barely a month of recuperation. After a huge tug-of-war, the superior leaders couldn't refuse him and agreed to let him return to work, but he was only allowed to stay in the office and could not participate in fieldwork.

Zuo Hemei and the others were overjoyed. Ever since they got acquainted with Zhang Wei, the Criminal Police Brigade had solved more major and important cases than in the previous year combined. At first, it was small fries like wanted criminals caught in solo operations. Later, they started dealing with gang kidnappings and even transnational cases involving the little japanese.

As the saying goes: solving cases is exhilarating, writing reports is purgatory. Just as Zuo Hemei was fretting that she couldn't even finish the reports after working all night, Jiang Yuanan appeared.

So, she dumped all the reports and files onto Captain Jiang, under the pretense of helping him 'get back into the groove.' This infuriated Jiang Yuanan.

However, he had no grounds to refute it. After all, the request to return to work at the Brigade was his own doing. Moreover, Zuo Hemei was a capable subordinate he had personally promoted. She was practically his star pupil, so it was awkward for him to be harsh with her.

Thus, when Zhang Wei pushed open Jiang Yuanan's office door with An Xiaoxi, the man was there, holding a cigarette butt between his lips, frowning with a face like a bitter gourd, writing a report.

The ashtray on the desk was already stuffed full of cigarette butts, and the room was swirling with smoke. Seeing An Xiaoxi pinching her nose and refusing to enter, Zhang Wei walked to the window and opened it as wide as possible.

"Are you trying to kill me? Don't you know that injured people are most susceptible to drafts? And it's winter now. How can my old bones stand this?" Jiang Yuanan, having written reports for so long, felt irritated by Zhang Wei, the main culprit.

Zhang Wei picked up the ashtray, dumped the cigarette butts into the trash can, and then said with disdain, "You still know you're recovering? The amount you smoke, even an average young person couldn't handle it."

"Do you think I want to!" Jiang Yuanan, feeling troubled, instinctively reached for his cigarette case again. He looked up, met An Xiaoxi's angry glare, and reluctantly pulled his hand back.

"It's all your fault, kid. Look at these case files. This one was catching a suspect who coincidentally looked like a wanted criminal by setting a trap. This one was finding kidnapping personnel coincidentally in a parking lot and then setting a trap to catch them. This case involving the little japanese is the most ridiculous; it was actually seeing a video online of a little japanese stealing a buddha head. He didn't even see the suspect in person! If I write reports like this, won't the superiors chew me out?"

Zhang Wei felt a bit embarrassed, but he couldn't say the information came from the intelligence system, could he? That would make it even harder for Jiang Yuanan to write the report.

His eyes darted around, and he leaned in close to Jiang Yuanan, saying, "Uncle Jiang, I have a way to save you from this misery. I just don't know if you're interested?"

"Oh? That would be great! Hurry up and tell me what it is."

Zhang Wei waved his hand: "There is definitely a way, but look, it's the middle of the day, we came in a hurry, and we haven't had lunch yet. Isn't it..."

Jiang Yuanan laughed and cursed, "I knew you were up to no good. As long as you can get me out of writing reports, one lunch isn't a big deal. Hurry up and tell me the method!" He had been recovering at home for a month, and his meal card funds were still being deposited normally. He wasn't afraid of these two freeloading off him.

Zhang Wei leaned close to Jiang Yuanan and began to persuade him gently, "Uncle Jiang, think about it. To solve a problem, you have to find the root cause. The reason you have to write reports here is because your injury hasn't healed and you can't go out on fieldwork, right?"

Seeing Jiang Yuanan nod, Zhang Wei continued, "Then if there is a case that doesn't require fieldwork but does require police action to resolve, wouldn't that be much more important than writing reports?"

Jiang Yuanan looked thoughtful, "If there's a case to handle, the reports can certainly be handed over to the subordinates to do; after all, it's their job to write reports. But the problem is, where can I find a case like that which can be handled without leaving the office?"

Zhang Wei burst into laughter, "Isn't that perfect timing? Humble as I am, I happen to have one right here. But since it's lunchtime, should we upgrade to the cafeteria on the second floor?"

"Deal! But I need to inspect the goods first."

If any police officers had passed by at that moment, they would have thought they were witnessing two criminals making a secret trade.

The Criminal Police Brigade's second-floor cafeteria was usually reserved for hosting officers from brother units and leaders due to the nature of their work. Normally, officers only ate there during celebrations or when they wanted a good meal.

"Good! This case is excellent!" Jiang Yuanan ignored Zhang Wei and An Xiaoxi who were busy eating and drinking nearby, focusing intently as he flipped through the evidence materials.

"Tax evasion, assisting social scum with money laundering, and suspected selling counterfeit and shoddy products that harm the public. People like this are scourges if left in society!"

Zhang Wei mumbled while chewing on a pig's trotter, "She still owes me a Rolls-Royce Phantom! Please make sure to include that when you settle things."

"You'll get yours," Jiang Yuanan slapped his thigh, muttering excitedly, "This case mainly involves economic crime and is an inter-provincial investigation. Originally, it wouldn't be my business at all. But since our Criminal Police Brigade has the evidence first, there's something we can work with here."

He planned to report to his superiors, suggesting that the Criminal Police Brigade take the lead in coordinating with the Economic Investigation department's police force and local patrol officers. Given the huge amount involved, it was enough to establish a special task force. He was certain he wouldn't miss out on being the captain of this task force.

"I can direct the investigation without fieldwork, and I can push the case reports onto others to handle. Killing two birds with one stone! Uncle Jiang, this meal wasn't in vain, was it?" Zhang Wei swallowed a fried wonton triumphantly.

"You kid, you're not really helping me; you're just trying to get back that luxury car Wang Li cheated you out of. But the result is good anyway."

The three of them returned to Captain Jiang's office after finishing lunch. After chatting for a while longer, Zhang Wei and An Xiaoxi were about to take their leave when the door was knocked upon. Zuo Hemei walked in, trying hard to suppress a smile.