Qi Tongwei: Can I be young again?

Li Qingshui also promised that Qi Tongwei could contact him anytime if he needed help, reassuring him to work with confidence.

"Captain Qi, what's our relationship now?" Wang Hua leaned against the car as he walked out of the Municipal Procuratorate, feeling somewhat confused.

"As Director Li said, we've been temporarily incorporated into the Criminal Investigation Department, which is basically the Criminal Investigation Detachment."

"But there was no transfer notice!" Wang Hua scratched his head. "From beginning to end, it was all just a verbal promise. If something goes wrong, no one will protect us!"

"You think I don't know? But the die is cast, there's no turning back."

"Oh well, I guess I'm just unlucky." Wang Hua stubbed out his cigarette and gazed at the sky with a resentful expression.

Qi Tongwei patted him on the shoulder, "Don't be discouraged. Maybe we can even improve together after this experience."

"Let me lend you some good words."

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Gambler's Psychology

Wang Hua is quite experienced in drug enforcement, but when it comes to criminal investigation and assisting the procuratorate in cracking down on organized crime, he's a complete novice.

I had no idea where to begin.

Fortunately, Qi Tongwei had lived two lives and had a certain understanding of all the procedures and methods of handling cases in the public security system.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

“Where else can we go? Of course, we should find the person who wrote the whistleblower letter. He is a starting point. Once we find him, many things can be solved.”

"But wasn't he missing?"

"That's precisely why we need to search for them; otherwise, what's the point of having us?"

"Oh."

Wang Hua is now completely blind; he just follows Qi Tongwei's orders.

According to information provided by the procuratorate, the whistleblower is named Han Lei, and lives in Hanjiacun Village, Jinshan County.

It was a relatively poor village. Most of the young and strong laborers had gone to work in big cities, but Han Lei was an exception. He had been weaker than normal people since he was a child. He had wanted to work in the city before, but no one wanted him. So he stayed in the village and raised chickens and ducks. He made a living.

Don't let Han Lei's appearance fool you; he has a beautiful wife and a seven-year-old daughter.

The family was doing alright, but six months ago, Han Lei became addicted to gambling. He not only lost all the family's savings, but also owed Lihua Hotel a huge amount of high-interest loans.

The thugs employed by the Lihua Hotel were not to be trifled with. When Han Lei couldn't pay back the money, they cut off one of his fingers and threatened to sell his wife and daughter if he didn't pay.

Left with no other choice, he wrote a letter of complaint and secretly sent it to the procuratorate.

It was this whistleblower letter that kicked off the crackdown on organized crime in Yantai City!

After an hour's drive, Qi Tongwei and Wang Hua arrived at Hanjiacun.

This village is nestled in a mountain valley, with only a few dozen households, mostly elderly people.

When they arrived at Han Lei's house, both of them were shocked.

The doors of the two red brick houses were wide open, and the doors looked like they had been kicked, with several large footprints still visible on them.

"anyone there?"

After calling out, and seeing that no one responded, Wang Hua and Qi Tongwei went straight inside.

The two rooms contained no furniture except for a flashlight; even the beds were made of stacked stones, and the bedding had many patches.

It seems the family is truly poor.

They walked around the house several times but found no clues.

Turning around, the two went to the backyard.

The backyard was a complete mess, with piles of garbage and only a chicken coop. But there were no chickens in the coop, only stinking chicken droppings.

Wang Hua pinched his nose, his face full of disgust. "Captain Qi, I've seen it. Han Lei is not only poor, but also lazy. I just don't understand how someone like him can have a wife. What a weirdo."

In fact, Qi Tongwei didn't understand either.

Being poor is one thing, but to love gambling is another. I don't know what kind of mentality it is. It seems that the poorer people are, the more they hope to turn their lives around through gambling. Don't they know that nine out of ten gamblers lose?

Or do they think they are the only lucky one?

It's really embarrassing.

"Hey, are you here to collect a debt too?"

The sudden sound made Qi Tongwei turn around.

There stood a chubby old man on the edge of the road, his hands behind his back, looking at him.

Seeing this, Qi Tongwei went up to him, took out a cigarette, and said with a smile, "Grandpa, I'm not here to collect a debt. I'm Han Lei's friend. I haven't been able to contact him for many days, so I came to check on him. And you are?"

“I’m his neighbor.” The fat old man took the cigarette, glanced at Qi Tongwei, and said, “You guys should stay away from that kid Han Lei. He’s in deep debt now, and the debt collectors are ruthless.”

How fierce?

“Cutting off fingers, pulling hair, tearing nails—there’s nothing those beasts wouldn’t dare to do.”

"I see." Qi Tongwei pretended to think. "Then where is Han Lei? Do you know where he went?"

"I don't know about that. He disappeared a week ago, and his wife and children are gone too." The fat old man paused for a moment. "It's possible. They were kidnapped by loan sharks. You know, those people have no humanity. But then again, Han Lei brought it on himself. He had a wife and children, a warm bed, and a comfortable life. He had to gamble. He deserved it."

Whether he deserved it or not, Qi Tongwei dared not say.

However, if Han Lei and his family of three were indeed kidnapped, then the nature of these loan sharks is extremely heinous.

Yantai City will never allow such criminal gangs to exist.

After chatting with the fat old man for a while and finding no other valuable clues, Qi Tongwei drove away with Wang Hua.

Along the way, Wang Hua continued to study the psychology of gamblers.

"Captain Qi, many people know that gambling will lead to losing everything, so why do they still gamble?"

"I don't know. Perhaps, for them, gambling is the easiest way to turn their lives around."

"Turn your life around through gambling?" Wang Hua laughed. "I know quite a few gamblers, but none of them have managed to turn their lives around through gambling. On the contrary... most of them end up with broken families."

“That’s true.” Qi Tongwei nodded. “People don’t understand each other, and their perspectives are different. Most people who pin their hopes on gambling are poor! They can’t turn their lives around in reality, so they pin their hopes on gambling. But what they don’t know is that this is the abyss! So… misfortune always picks on the unfortunate! Because the unfortunate have no money to make mistakes. They believe more in luck, but luck is often controlled by those with ulterior motives!”

"Captain Qi, what you're saying is a bit profound."

"Profound my foot! Just remember, stay away from pornography, gambling, and drugs, or you'll be bankrupt sooner or later."

Wang Hua nodded, though it was unclear whether he understood.

In the following days, Qi Tongwei and Wang Hua were in a state of utter confusion.

The two were either staking out the Lihua Hotel or on their way to find Han Lei, but they didn't get any leads and were just wasting their time.

Fortunately, Qi Tongwei's mindset is much better now.

When faced with problems, learn to comfort yourself.

He constantly reminds himself that he is now close to financial freedom, and with his sweet and sassy girlfriend Xiao Ai by his side, his life is already quite fulfilling.

Whether we can go further depends on fate; we can't rush it.

But Wang Hua is different.

He couldn't help but be anxious; he was almost thirty and still unmarried! He wasn't making money, he wasn't getting promoted, and no woman was interested in him!

They also appeared anxious while waiting at the location.

"Captain Qi, you need to pay more attention. Director Li said this is your chance to advance further, so don't slack off."

"I didn't slack off!" Sitting in the car, Qi Tongwei stretched. "I've been squatting at the Lihua Hotel all day, how could I slack off..."

Before he could finish speaking, he spotted a furtive figure through the car window entering the Lihua Hotel.

Although the other person was wearing a mask, Qi Tongwei recognized him at a glance!

Li Dakang!

what happened?

Doesn't this guy learn from his mistakes? Or is he addicted to learning foreign languages?

(Three chapters have been presented; please give a positive review!)

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Getting a Big Scoop

Li Dakang's visit to the Lihua Hotel once again made Qi Tongwei sense something unusual.

Logically speaking, the last crackdown on prostitution had already alarmed Zhao Lichun, so how dare this guy come again?

After thinking it over and over, he picked up the phone and called Lü Liang.

"Captain Qi, have you found any leads?"

"Not at the moment, but I need you to do me a small favor."

"We're all in this together, so let's just say what we mean. No need to be polite or beat around the bush."

"Okay, help me check if the Party Secretary of Jinshan County has any connection with the Lihua Hotel."