At the police station.
The slightly portly bureau chief was quite contentedly sipping the premium Da Hong Pao tea he had shamelessly snagged from a friend's house. Although it wasn't from the mother tree itself, it was from the first generation of trees grafted from the mother tree.
Its rarity went without saying.
Forget the mother tree, even the first-generation "original strain" grafts from the mother tree were something you couldn't get in the Dragon Kingdom without serious connections. Even having reached his current position, scheming to get some was as difficult as climbing to the sky.
He had finally managed to get a little, and even that was pilfered from an old friend. Ah...
The chief blew on the steaming "Da Hong Pao" before him, took a small sip, his furrowed brow relaxing as he immersed himself fully, feeling the tea's warmth spread through his body, across his chest.
Mmm... yes, this is the taste. It had been several years since the last time he drank it. Tasting it again now felt like only yesterday, yet the flavor remained the same.
After that sip, the chief covered his teacup and sighed: "Ah... it's truly a good thing, but there's just so little of it. If only there were a bit more."
In a sense, he was a severe victim of "tea addiction." Unfortunately, good things like this were loved and coveted by anyone who knew their worth.
Even having reached the position of Police Chief of Dahai City, some things remained out of reach.
Only after the big shots in Dajing City had taken their share would a tiny portion trickle down to those below. By the time it changed hands, it simply couldn't reach him.
It wasn't that his rank was insufficient; he just suffered from being too far away geographically.
It wasn't that the chief truly couldn't obtain this stuff. On the contrary, if he were willing, just a nod, and his subordinates would always find a way to get it. But... he wouldn't accept it. Accepting such things would make things... unclear.
The intricacies of officialdom were many; a single misstep could lead down the wrong path, and then... The chief seemed to think of something, shook his head, and didn't dwell on it further. His current position was enough; the rest was up to fate.
The reason he had reached this position over so many years relied on two words: fairness, fairness, and still more fairness. His subordinates had nowhere to send gifts even if they wanted to. This was the way to endure, otherwise he wouldn't sleep well at night.
"Hmm hmm hmm... Today is a good day."
Perhaps because of the tea, the chief's mood was inexplicably good. He felt something good was about to happen soon. Could it be... he was about to be promoted?
Heh heh... That was just wishful thinking. Even if it were true, he wouldn't dare accept. He had few connections higher up. If he really went up, it might well be...
"Brrrring! Brrrring!"
The dedicated phone on the side rang. The previously relaxed chief opened his eyes, a trace of confusion appearing in them.
"No way, is it really happening?" The chief's eyebrow twitched, and he actually felt a bit nervous. This was the dedicated line. Those who contacted him through it were important figures. As they said, there was almost no one above him now.
The chief took several deep breaths, mentally prepared himself, and only then picked up the phone, greeting the caller very politely.
"Hello, who may I ask is calling?"
It was hard to imagine that someone at his current level still spoke so humbly. If it were Ye Cheng, he'd have been puffed up with pride long ago, probably bragging for ages just from being a lackey.
Fortunately, Ye Cheng had no desire to be an official, at most just a minor parasite within the system. Otherwise, if he took office today, he'd be arrested tomorrow, followed by the "Iron Window Tears" performance segment, filled with regret...
"It's me, Tang Jianjun." A very deep and powerful middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the line, instinctively conjuring an image of a tall, muscular figure in one's mind.
Tang Jianjun?
Why does that name sound so familiar? It seems like...
Huh???
Tang Jianjun!
The confusion in the chief's eyes turned to shock. The fat on his body gave a little tremble, and his gaze even seemed to clear up a bit. Why was this esteemed gentleman calling!
As the head of Dahai City's administrative organs, the chief naturally saw the intricacies within Dahai City much more clearly than those below him. He also knew exactly what the situation in Dahai City was like.
The waters of Dahai City were not shallow at all. What was visible, what was invisible... it was all there. Several key figures requiring special attention were all on his radar: the Du family, the Shen family, the Dongfang family...
Their influence was too great. Any slight stir from these families required his attention, followed by a phone call to "inquire" about the situation.
These were the ones he needed to watch. Then there were some more special ones, who not only required his attention but also needed him to seek advice from time to time—no other meaning, just the literal sense of seeking advice.
They were all big shots who had retired from higher positions, including the old master of the Tang family, also the "old fossil" in Tang Yuyao's mouth... Dragon Kingdom's General, a truly formidable man, Tang Tieshan.
The Tang family wasn't particularly high-profile in Dahai City; many hadn't even heard of them. But that didn't mean they weren't powerful. On the contrary, the Tang family was special, their overall strength absolutely top-tier, with each generation more accomplished than the last.
The eldest was within the Dajing City system—one of the rare few above him. Although their official ranks might be similar... Dahai City and Dajing City were completely different concepts, simply incomparable.
Although they were about the same age, he had to address the eldest as "Brother Tang." As for the second son... that was the other formidable man now calling him, someone from the military district.
There's a saying, when a scholar meets a soldier... well, that might not be entirely appropriate, but it's roughly the idea. Anyway, this second son's temper wasn't too good, and he spoke a bit bluntly, so the chief needed to be extra careful.
"Oh oh, Jianjun! How has the old general's health been? I was just wondering why my left eyelid has been twitching all day. So it's because you, brother, were about to contact me. I was planning to visit the old general's home sometime... next week... no, tomorrow! Hahaha..."
Changing his phrasing several times in one sentence—this was the chief's wisdom.
Of course... this kind of "rephrasing" was only necessary in front of Tang Jianjun. In front of the Tang family's eldest son, it wasn't needed. No helping it; if he didn't speak plainly enough with the second son, the other might not sense his sincerity. Ah...
"Mm. Fatty, if your eyelid keeps twitching, you'd better go see a doctor. Your health is important." Tang Jianjun's deep voice came through.
The chief: "..."
The smile on the chief's face stiffened... Sure enough, this Tang Jianjun still hadn't grasped the implied meaning in his words. A twitching left eyelid meant good fortune was coming; he was saying that because Jianjun was about to call, he sensed the good luck...
How did it become a health problem in the other's mind?
Were they even on the same wavelength?
Ah...
As for the nickname "Fatty"... The bureau chief silently lowered his head and looked at his own belly, falling into silence. He felt an inexplicable pang of sadness. While it was the truth, did they have to put it so bluntly?
The eldest and second sons of the Tang family weren't far apart in age, only about a year or so. They were even about half a year younger than him. Logically, Tang Jianjun should be calling him 'brother'. Yet, the opening line was 'Fatty'... Sigh.
"Uh... Okay, got it. I'll go check it out this afternoon. Thanks for the heads-up, brother. By the way, how has Big Brother Tang been lately? Is he doing alright?"
"Don't know, I didn't ask. I'll call my brother in a bit and ask him to come find you." Tang Jianjun's voice came from the other end of the line after a moment's thought.
Bureau Chief: "???"
You're having your brother come find me?
Brother, are you setting me up like I'm some Japanese officer? I don't recall having that much clout!
After just a couple of sentences with Tang Jianjun, the bureau chief's forehead was already covered in cold sweat. Why was the second son of the Tang family still so recklessly straightforward? Having your brother come is worse than you punching me a couple of times!
"No, no, no, that won't be necessary. I'll call Big Brother Tang myself later. I appreciate the thought, brother, no need to trouble you." The bureau chief said while wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Oh, okay. By the way, have you eaten?" Tang Jianjun's voice came through the phone again.
Bureau Chief: "..."
Brother, if you don't know how to make small talk, then just don't. That was way too abrupt. Fortunately, knowing Tang Jianjun's temperament, the bureau chief thought for a moment and guessed the real reason behind this call.
"About to eat. Your sister-in-law has made food at home, I'll eat as soon as I'm off work. By the way, Jianjun, do you have something to say? We're like family, just say it directly."
"Mm. Fatty, it seems like you guys have arrested my sister. Please let her go."
Tang Jianjun was, as always, direct to the point—not the least bit polite, not beating around the bush at all, straight up demanding the person's release.
Bureau Chief: "???"
lan, the Luo family, tracked him down - along with the babies in their arms. Mo Xuan stared pensively at the paternity test results from over a dozen top institutions, both domestic and international, showing a 99.99% match between himself and the two baby girls. At 23, Mo Xuan, a doctoral student, had become the father of two three-year-old children. The kicker? The mothers weren't even the same person! He gradually realized he was being lured step by step into an elaborate trap designed by these two yandere sisters. "Be good, little Xuan. Sister's life belongs to you entirely." "Brother, if you try to run away, I'll have no choice but to tie you up." Mo Xuan: "Do whatever you want, ladies. I give up."
o a martial world and obtained a system that allowed him to draw one entry per year. Unfortunately, all he drew were useless white-tier entries. The probability for high-quality entries was extremely low, with the highest-tier mythic entry having a mere 0.001% chance! To increase the probability, he had to improve his martial realm, but he lacked the innate talent for cultivation. At the age of eighteen, Chen Yi fell into the hands of a gang and was forced into hard labor. Just as his life seemed destined for a bleak end, on his 18th entry draw, he actually pulled a mythic entry—Simulator! In the simulation, he could also draw one entry every year that passed, and upon ending the simulation, he would inherit all entries and his martial realm! In his first simulation, Chen Yi struggled desperately just to survive, knowing that living one more year meant one more entry draw! Finally, with hair turned white, he drew the entry he had longed for—Low-Grade Innate Talent! "Hahaha! Don't bully the old and poor! Time to cultivate and inherit my cultivation base!" ... From then on, Chen Yi continuously simulated and drew entries, his martial realm soaring higher and higher! Epic, legendary, and even mythic entries were gathered into his collection one after another! "What demon race or devil race? What dark turmoil? I don't know anything about that. They just charged at me screaming 'How can you possibly ascend to immortality?!' and got stuck to my fists, unable to be shaken off. Blind spots, speed bumps... go talk to my simulator. We're all struggling to survive out here. I'm trying so hard, so how are they still alive?"
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
