Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 171 New Methods
Upon hearing Zhao Feifei's statement, Chen Shu felt much relieved.

He has his own jurisdiction in Zhongshan, and if he were to handle cases outside his own jurisdiction, it would be a slap in the face to his brother police stations. However, it's different when the branch bureau's public security brigade gets involved. The entire Zhengming District is under his direct jurisdiction, and you can't expect him to handle cases in other administrative regions. Therefore, there's no issue of slapping the face of his brother units.

However, generally speaking, the Zhengming District Public Security Bureau's Public Security Brigade prefers to handle big cases, and then they take the lead in working with several police stations.

Just like Zhao Feifei's usual swift and decisive style, she finished her meal in no time after sitting down.

He took a tissue and wiped his mouth, gesturing for Chen Shu to continue.

Chen Shu pondered for a moment: "This requires our young master Chen to come out and explain."

Chen Chuan cursed the traitor inwardly, but outwardly maintained a respectable demeanor, saying, "Chief Chen, you're too kind. I was entrusted by you to conduct reconnaissance at the scene in disguise using a little trick."

"Snapped!"

“Speak like a human being.” Zhao Feifei slammed her hand on the table.

“EME does have hostesses, but they're off-site,” Chen Chuan said succinctly.

The others also became interested.

Cheng Mian couldn't wait to say, "Oh, the ladies off the field? That's an interesting and vivid term! But if they're all ladies off the field as you described, then it'll be difficult to punish Shang K."

According to Chinese regulations, even if paid companionship exists, the police will not punish consumers or the women involved. Punishment can only be imposed on entertainment venues involved in profit-making activities.

If the young woman is not from an entertainment venue, then there is no legal relationship between the two, including no employment relationship, no labor contract, and the money did not even pass through her hands.

Where did you get the evidence?
Simply put, the young lady was invited by the customer to sing together, and the transaction between the two of them had nothing to do with the venue.

As Cheng Mian, a police officer in charge of case review in the city's legal affairs branch, uttered these words, Chen Shu and Zhao Feifei, two officers in their respective fields, felt a chill in their hearts and simultaneously began to suspect something.

Chen Shu frowned and turned his gaze to Chen Chuan: "Cheng Mian, don't interrupt. Let Chen Chuan finish explaining the situation first."

According to Chen Chuan, EME's operating area is divided into two parts: an outer area and a back area. The outer area, near the main entrance, is called the outer zone. The private rooms in the outer zone are small but numerous, mainly targeting new customers and small groups. Their main feature is inexpensive drinks.

When Chen Chuan seriously mentioned that the drinks were "cheap" in the outer area, Chen Shu recalled the private room he had gone to that night, where only four small bottles of wine and some snacks cost him nearly two thousand yuan, and his legs started to cramp.

Comparing yourself to others will only make you miserable!

Seeing Chen Shu grinning from the corner of his eye, Chen Chuan glared at him and continued speaking.

The issue with EME still lies within the inner area. The smallest private room in the inner area is over 100 square meters, and the largest can easily accommodate over 30 people for a party and karaoke. Generally, only those who can enter the inner area can participate in the more advanced activities.

At this point, the "madam" will appear. She will enter the private room, take out her phone, and let the guests choose people using photos and videos.

"Video? We already have photos, why provide a video?" Cheng Mian couldn't resist asking.

Chen Chuan scoffed, "The photos are all lies!"

After the girls are selected, they will come in from outside. Chen Chuan estimated that this "outside" must be outside the venue, or even some distance away. Because each time someone is selected, they won't arrive at the private room for another twenty minutes. Hearing this, Chen Shu suddenly realized why he hadn't noticed the "waiting room" full of girls when he was circling around EME.

He muttered to himself, "No wonder we didn't find the waiting room back then."

Zhao Feifei chuckled and said, "Those guys who make a living from this might be more knowledgeable about the 'Regulations on the Administration of Entertainment Venues' than we are."

As the group looked over, she patiently explained, "These rooms, which are used for idle attendants to rest and wait, can be used as direct evidence to punish Shang K."

Chen Shu discovered that using his previous methods to handle "paid companionship" cases was no longer sufficient to solidify the evidence.

Although he had already guessed the answer, he still asked as a precaution: "Chen Chuan, how do you pay the girls after you finish karaoke?"

"Payment is usually made directly to the hostess via Alipay or WeChat transfer. The cost of drinks for EME is paid separately, and it's separate from the service fee."

After a moment's thought, Chen Shu understood. Based on the clues he had, this EME definitely engaged in paid companionship. However, they used various methods to artificially separate the perpetrators from the entertainment venue, thus circumventing the law.

For example, the "mama" would store the "girl's" stock in a location far from the venue, only notifying them to come over after customers had viewed the photos and videos and placed their orders. Subsequent payments and other services were handled solely by these two individuals, artificially isolating the entertainment venue.

In the event of such an incident, the entertainment venue can unilaterally deny any connection between them. This is because the "madam" would have clearly entered the private room and engaged in the transaction with the customer on her own; it was a personal matter.

The police will not punish customers and young women simply because paid companionship exists.

"The private room wasn't locked, so they could come in whenever they wanted." Chen Shu could even imagine the entertainment venue management's explanation at this moment.

"Chen Chuan, you've given me another difficult problem. The EME case is proving to be a bit tricky."

As Chen Shu said this, his expression and tone showed no blame whatsoever. Instead, he had a strange expression that was a mixture of worry and excitement, as if he was eager to try.

"In that case, the only way to secure evidence of illegal activities is to trace the flow of money between the customer, the hostess, the madam, and the entertainment venue to establish the facts of the illegal activities."

Cheng Mian: "This requires WeChat, Alipay, UnionPay, and other payment methods to form a chain of evidence, which is extremely difficult to enforce. If two of the three parties—the young lady, the madam, and the entertainment venue—pay in cash, then the connection will be severed. I don't recommend trying to investigate from the perspective of money flow."

Simply providing companionship for drinking and singing is not illegal!
Chen Shu, Chen Chuan, and Cheng Mian all fell silent at the same time.

Zhao Feifei lifted her ample chest and looked around, adopting the air of an older sister: "You're already acting like a coward before we've even started. No need for all this trouble, just get to work."

The scene of Zhao Feifei swearing with her hands on her hips was too intense, and Chen Shu was a little afraid of this woman. He cautiously mentioned, "If we can't find any evidence, wouldn't all our efforts be in vain? We've also alerted her."

He never fights a battle unprepared; over the years, Chen Shu has been accustomed to planning before acting.

Zhao Feifei scoffed, slamming her hand on the table and shouting, "Then find me the evidence! I don't know how to find evidence, but can you even find any?"

Chen Shu shrugged and admitted defeat. Chen Chuan and Cheng Mian kept their eyes down, not daring to provoke this female fiend.

Zhao Feifei was somewhat curious about the newly promoted deputy director of the branch office. Meeting him today was fate, and with a quick thought, she made the decision:
"Chen Shu, wait for me at the station at nine o'clock tonight."

(End of this chapter)