So you're Zhou Yi?

Wee-oo, wee-oo, wee-oo...

The piercing wail of sirens drew closer, immediately catching the attention of the diners at the street food stalls.

Jian Shuyue, Tian Tian, and the others looked up to see three police cars with flashing lights slowly making their way through the food street toward Chaoyang Road.

The sight of the police cars inevitably reminded everyone of their poor old classmate Zhou Yi. The guy was probably still on duty at some rural police station.

"Everyone finished eating? If you have, let's head to Golden Years. It's on me."

Watching the police cars disappear, Yan Lingling waved her plump little hand and called out.

She was Tian Tian's only best friend and was also very close to Jian Shuyue. Cute and cheerful, she had been extremely popular throughout middle and high school, earning herself the nickname Little Maruko.

Tian Tian didn't really want to go, but she didn't want to spoil everyone's fun either, so she smiled and nodded her agreement.

Outside Nightbeat KTV, three police cars stood in a row.

Li Desheng looked up and saw that familiar young figure, and his heart began pounding despite himself.

He's here, he's here, and he's come for revenge!

What do I do now?

Call my daughter over?

No, no. She definitely won't come, and even if she does, it might only make things worse.

After turning it over in his mind, Li Desheng finally decided to take things as they came.

Bracing himself and swallowing his pride, he went over and greeted him in an exceedingly awkward tone. "Thank you for your hard work, Captain Zhou."

Of course, Zhou Yi knew this business belonged to Li Qian's family, but he hadn't come tonight to retaliate. He really was just taking a look around.

He nodded calmly to Li Desheng, then took Deputy Captain Zhu Jianping and several officers inside to inspect the KTV. They subsequently fined Nightbeat KTV three thousand yuan under Article 37 of the Regulations on the Administration of Entertainment Venues for violating Article 28, which stipulated that "private rooms and booths must be fitted with transparent doors and windows that provide a view of the entire interior, and must not have internal locking devices." They also issued a public security rectification notice, ordering the venue to remedy the violations within a specified period.

Zhou Yi really was just taking a look around, but that didn't mean he would ignore violations. Besides, he hadn't said a word. Deputy Captain Zhu Jianping, eager to prove himself, had uncovered the problem entirely on his own.

Watching the three police cars slowly drive away, Li Desheng tilted his face skyward and let out a long sigh, his heart filled with conflicting emotions.

He didn't blame himself for failing to recognize a good prospect. He only hated his rotten luck.

The difference between "Captain Zhou" and "my wonderful son-in-law" had been just a few fucking days!

Internet cafés, bars, dance clubs, foot massage parlors...

After conducting surprise inspections at four or five entertainment venues, the three police cars slowly drove past the entrance to Golden Years.

"Captain Zhou, do you think we should inspect this place?"

Inside the police car, Zhu Jianping asked Captain Zhou the question, his gaze flickering.

Zhou Yi gave him a look and tossed the ball straight back. "What do you think, Captain Zhu?"

The question caught Zhu Jianping off guard. After a pause of several seconds, he explained sheepishly, "Actually, I wanted to remind you that the owner of Golden Years has some powerful connections. County officials have spoken to the bureau leadership several times, so..."

Zhou Yi sneered inwardly. The bastard had clearly been trying to set a trap for him.

He knew who owned Golden Years and what connections she had far better than Zhu Jianping did.

Not only that, he also knew when Sun Mei would be arrested, when she would be sentenced, and how many years she would get. He even knew that after her release, she would marry a wealthy businessman from Ja... who was doing quite nicely for himself.

"In that case, let's head back." Naturally, Zhou Yi wasn't about to fall for the trap.

Although he had resolved never to coexist with evil, he had only just taken office and had yet to establish his footing. There was no need to rush into a confrontation with Sun Mei.

Time was on his side. Steady progress and patient planning were his best course.

Zhu Jianping straightened in his seat and stole a glance at Zhou Yi, no longer daring to underestimate him.

He had thought the man was a reckless rookie, but he was actually a seasoned operator.

The days ahead probably weren't going to be easy!

Just then, Zhu Jianping suddenly saw Captain Zhou's expression change, followed by a sharp command: "Stop the car!"

Outside Golden Years, Jian Shuyue, Tian Tian, and the others had once again been blocked by Xie Zhaolong and a gang of his lackeys.

As Dongji County's infamous "Brother Long," Xie Zhaolong was in a very good mood tonight. Just moments ago, he had happened upon two absolute beauties.

Why "absolute beauties"?

Because Brother Long, who had never even attended middle school, couldn't think of any other words to describe how beautiful the two women were.

Believing everyone ought to be the best of friends, he had very politely invited the two beauties to spend a little time in his private room. To his surprise, they had flatly refused to give him face.

Brother Long was furious, and the consequences would be serious.

He immediately summoned a gang of lackeys, preparing to force the issue.

Hou Xiaolei, Xiao Dechao, Dai Peng, and the others groaned inwardly. They were born and raised here. Although they had spent recent years pursuing careers elsewhere, how could they not know Brother Long's fearsome reputation?

Ruthless and merciless, he respected no one. Relying on his connections in the city, he ran roughshod over Dongji County, committing every kind of wrongdoing.

Hou Xiaolei mentioned his uncle, a deputy director at the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, only to receive a thoroughly contemptuous glance.

Bai Haoxuan and Xu Henggang stood in front of Jian Shuyue and Tian Tian, but Brother Long's lackeys shoved and dragged them aside, even landing several kicks on them.

They were people with identity cards in Capital City, too, but even a powerful outsider couldn't overpower a local tyrant. Whatever connections they could call on, distant help couldn't save them from an immediate crisis.

"We've already called the police!"

Yan Lingling bravely rushed forward, holding up her phone and shouting.

Brother Long raised his hand and slapped her, turning Little Maruko into a little ball rolling on the ground.

Called the police?

When Brother Long lost his temper, even the king of heaven couldn't stop him.

After all his years ruling the streets, he had never met a cop who dared meddle in his affairs.

Then, tonight, he met one.

A warm, strong hand slowly helped Yan Lingling up from the ground.

Yan Lingling raised her head and looked at the young police officer's stern face, crying out in delighted surprise, "Zhou Yi!"

Every gaze instantly swung toward her voice.

Only then did everyone realize that a team of police officers had arrived.

Zhou Yi!?

Jian Shuyue and Tian Tian exchanged surprised looks. Wasn't Zhou Yi supposed to be on duty out in the countryside?

What was he doing here?

Hou Xiaolei and the others were delighted at first, but their feelings quickly grew complicated.

Never mind that Zhou Yi was only a low-ranking police officer-even if one of the bureau's unit captains or a deputy director came, what could they do to Brother Long?

Although Brother Long had drunk a few too many, his mind wasn't slow. He immediately realized that the little cop daring to interfere was the newly appointed public security unit captain who had refused to give even Sister Mei face.

He swaggered forward with a crablike gait, pointed at Zhou Yi's nose, and cursed, "So you're fucking Zhou Yi?"

Zhou Yi gave him a cold look, removed his police cap, and handed it to Yan Lingling beside him.

Then, before the disbelieving eyes of everyone around him, he suddenly lashed out with a kick, sending Brother Long-the man supposedly no one in all of Dongji County dared provoke-sprawling to the ground.