After bidding farewell to Shang Bingrong, Qin Chuan rode his horse non-stop to the police station.
To his surprise, he encountered an old acquaintance right at the entrance – Xiao Guodong.
Xiao Guodong was about to leave, and Qin Chuan was entering, so the two big men met face-to-face.
Their eyes locked in mid-air for a good three seconds, the atmosphere inexplicably awkward.
"Captain Xiao, hello!"
It was Qin Chuan who reacted first, flashing his signature smile and initiating the greeting, as if completely forgetting the past grievances and entanglements between them.
Xiao Guodong, however, lacked such thick skin. He felt a surge of anger whenever he saw Qin Chuan, recalling many unpleasant experiences.
After all, he was a distinguished captain at the police station, accustomed to commanding others and issuing orders. He had never encountered such a troublesome fellow as Qin Chuan.
The man was constantly walking a tightrope, yet he was so cunning that he never left any leverage, leaving Xiao Guodong utterly helpless.
If that were all, it would be bearable. But then there was the incident from last time, which he still found unforgettable: he, the esteemed captain, had actually been mocked and threatened by this very person!
Accusations of the police being ineffective and a bunch of good-for-nothings, wasting the trust of the common people.
And then the threats of exposing the matter to the city media, of speaking to his superiors…
Xiao Guodong was truly at a loss for words. The father and son, Guo Guang, who had escaped, had still not been apprehended. This, as Qin Chuan had rightly put it, made Xiao Guodong’s mood incredibly complex whenever he saw Qin Chuan.
He desperately wanted to use his achievements to slap the young man in the face, but he simply couldn't.
The feeling was indescribably frustrating!
"What are you doing at the police station?"
Xiao Guodong's previously smiling face lost all expression, and he asked stiffly.
"Old Xiao, what’s with that expression? Why do you look like we’re sworn enemies the moment you see me? I haven't been rushing you to solve the case lately!"
Qin Chuan feigned a hint of grievance, blinking his innocent big eyes.
Xiao Guodong wasn't buying it at all. His burly body blocked the doorway, conveying a clear message: if you don't tell me, I won't move.
Qin Chuan wisely chose to surrender. His eyes darted quickly, and before Xiao Guodong could react, he gracefully stepped over and was by Xiao Guodong's side, warmly slinging an arm around his shoulders.
Xiao Guodong tried to struggle free, but Qin Chuan lowered his voice and said quickly, "Captain Xiao, I actually do have something I need your help with."
Xiao Guodong, who was about to break free, suddenly felt a surge of curiosity. However, his tone was still sarcastic as he said, "Oh my, is there anything that Boss Qin can't do in this world? That's truly rare!"
"Old Xiao, we're both respectable men, can we stop being so petty?"
"If I did anything inappropriate before, I apologize to you!"
"Tomorrow night, I’m hosting a banquet at the Yongnan Hotel. How about I treat you to a meal?"
Xiao Guodong pouted, "Who cares about your meal!"
"Wait, who were you just calling petty…"
"Old Xiao, you must have misheard. No one said anything about being petty!"
Qin Chuan quickly changed the subject.
"I wanted to ask you, you have a wide network and many friends. Do you have any friends at the driving school?"
"Driving school? You want to get a driver's license?"
Xiao Guodong was a bit surprised. He had thought it was something much more significant.
"Yes, it's about getting a driver's license!"
Qin Chuan confirmed, "As you know, I'm swamped with trivial matters every day…"
He finished with an expression that clearly conveyed 'you understand, I understand, everyone understands.'
Seeing this, Xiao Guodong rolled his eyes and mumbled ambiguously, "We'll see how it goes!"
But Qin Chuan just grinned. Knowing Xiao Guodong's proud personality, such a response was tantamount to agreement.
"Don't forget our appointment tomorrow night!!"
After Xiao Guodong left, Qin Chuan waved to a young beat cop who was watching the scene from nearby.
"Boss Qin, what are your orders?"
The young beat cop was very respectful of Qin Chuan. This young man was someone who dared to disregard Captain Xiao, let alone them.
"Is Deputy Director Zhou in?"
Qin Chuan took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one for himself, and then directly handed the rest to the officer.
"He is! He is!"
"Boss Qin, I'll take you…"
Qin Chuan waved away the enthusiastic offer and ambled alone to Zhou Congrong's deputy director office.
After knocking on the door, a deep voice from within said, "Come in!"
"Director Zhou, busy?"
Qin Chuan walked in with a smiling face.
Behind the desk, Zhou Congrong looked up and saw Qin Chuan. He was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Qin, why is it you?"
"Why shouldn't it be me!"
Qin Chuan stood before Zhou Congrong with a smile, acting as if he were in his own office.
"I just handled a small matter with Captain Xiao, and it suddenly reminded me of what the County Magistrate told me at noon. So, I decided to stop by and see our dear Director Zhou!"
Zhou Congrong, who had been sitting, heard Qin Chuan's words and his eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. He then stood up, warmly invited Qin Chuan to sit on the sofa, and offered to pour him tea.
"Brother Qin, your relationship with the County Magistrate is truly excellent. I see you often."
"Unlike us, who are swamped with work every day. Although our offices aren't far apart, it's difficult to meet."
Qin Chuan nodded in agreement, "Indeed. You two are the parents of our county, constantly handling various matters, so it's normal to be busy!"
"As it happens, when I went to the government building at noon today, I ran into the County Magistrate and Secretary Wang. They heard I was coming to the police station this afternoon to handle some business, so they asked me to visit Director Zhou."
"Tomorrow evening, at the Yongnan Hotel, I will nominally be hosting, inviting all the influential figures in our county to get together and strengthen our relationships."
Qin Chuan's lies flowed effortlessly. He had no choice; Zhou Congrong was a deputy director, a significant official in the county. Without borrowing prestige, it would be difficult.
In the entire city, aside from a select few, Zhou Congrong truly had the right to look down on everyone.
Even though Qin Chuan was now somewhat renowned and had achieved certain successes, if he were to invite Zhou Congrong in his own name, he might still fall short at this stage.
This was something Qin Chuan accurately recognized, a clear understanding of his own position and capabilities.
He could invite familiar friends like Zhang Bingshan, Boss Ge, and Shang Bingrong in his own name.
But to invite a deputy director of the police station like Zhou Congrong would be a bit difficult. Without borrowing prestige and a broader backing, the chances were slim.
After hearing Qin Chuan's words, Zhou Congrong was slightly taken aback and asked uncertainly, "You mean County Magistrate Ye and Secretary Wang are hosting a dinner tomorrow night at the Yongnan Hotel?"
"And I'm not the only one?"
Qin Chuan replied, "Yes!"
"Their status is somewhat special, so they entrusted me with this task."
"To be honest, before contacting you, I had already reached out to Zhang Bingshan, the director of the brick and tile factory, Boss Ge from the lumber mill, and Director Gong from the Industrial and Commercial Bank. All three have already agreed."
"After I leave you, I'll be making rounds to the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, the Health Bureau, Fire Department, Transportation Bureau, and so on…"