Chapter 56: Strike First to Win

Lin Xiaosu stood up. "Director Ren, I’ll leave this notice with you. Although I believe I run my business legally, the experts at the City Security Bureau might interpret things differently. If you still think I deserve the harshest penalty, that’s fine—let Xiao Song go through the trouble and fine me again!"

Director Ren’s face twisted into a bitter grimace.

Xiao Song shuddered outright.

Lin Xiaosu patted his shoulder. "Xiao Song, you don’t have to be afraid. How many years have you been working? Even if you never did anything questionable, in such a short time, you couldn’t have gotten into too much trouble…"

Xiao Song stared at him blankly, as if a living ghost stood before him.

When Lin Xiaosu left the director’s office, he ran straight into several police officers—the special task force sent them.

Inside, Zhou Luping’s legs had turned to jelly; two members of the task force helped him downstairs.

It proved he wasn’t someone with a strong psychological constitution.

He knew he should remain calm, but his legs wouldn’t obey. What could he do?

The City Security Bureau was in uproar…

Lin Xiaosu exited the building, left the yard, and found himself at the banks of the Yishui River. Beside his little electric scooter, a sleek black car sat quietly.

The window was open; inside, a beautiful woman watched him intently.

He noticed, with a keen sensitivity, that when she saw him emerge, she let out a long breath of relief.

She was Zhou Mei.

"When I saw the police head in, I almost bet my only eight thousand yuan in savings that they were there to arrest you," Zhou Mei said.

"Only eight thousand in savings? Are you really that poor?" Lin Xiaosu shot her a sidelong glance.

"In front of others, I own a house and a car. But with you, I have to play the pauper. Do you know why?" Zhou Mei lowered her voice. "Because I’m afraid you’ll get me into trouble!"

Lin Xiaosu laughed and threw himself into the passenger seat. "Looks like you’ve already figured some things out."

"I know something explosive—Deputy Director Liu Dong of the City Security Bureau was just taken to the Anti-Corruption Bureau for tea, and the one who sent him there was you! And the task force just arrested Zhou Luping inside, also because of you!"

"That’s the unique ecology of small towns. When an official falls, word spreads like wildfire."

Zhou Mei said, "There’s not much entertainment in a small town, so these things are what people find exciting. Who can stop juicy news from leaking through every channel?"

Lin Xiaosu replied, "Actually, this just shows, from another angle, that ordinary people hate corrupt officials to their bones. When they hear this kind of news, they celebrate together."

"So you think today you’re speaking up for the people?"

"Isn’t that so?"

"It is," Zhou Mei said. "But do you know why most of those who speak for the people in history end up in tragedy?"

"I understand your point." Lin Xiaosu sighed softly. "From today on, it’s not just the criminals who want me out of Fengcheng. There’s also a whole crowd of officials with dirty hands who want me gone, and they’re even more desperate."

"You see things clearly!" Zhou Mei sighed gently. "But why do people who understand everything so well insist on putting themselves in the eye of the storm?"

"Because in this environment, if I want to do business peacefully, I have to make a show of strength. Otherwise, I’ll never know who will write up tomorrow’s fine, or whether something ten times more troublesome than money will spring up to shut down my detective agency."

Intimidation, reputation!

That was the real reason he struck so hard and showed no mercy today.

He wanted to make a single blow that would command respect.

He wanted everyone thinking of scheming against him to not dare make a move!

As the saying goes, one resounding punch prevents a hundred to come.

In a big city, the downfall of a couple of officials might not make waves, but in a small county like this, every ripple spreads to every corner. Within hours, every official will look upon Fengcheng Detective Agency with new caution.

They’ll know that making a move against him carries enormous risk.

In this world, no one is perfect.

No one can truly say, "I have nothing to hide."

So, he had become something of a taboo in Fengcheng...

Zhou Mei slowly turned her gaze back from the distant view. "What did Director Ren say about the fine?"

"The fine isn’t even a real issue, and it’s not up to him," Lin Xiaosu replied.

"What do you mean?"

"The law is clear: detectives are a special industry, not covered by the Market Management Law, but by the ‘Special Business Operations Regulations of the Great Xia Nation.’ Article 78 states: Service fees are determined by contract."

"There’s legal backing?" Zhou Mei’s eyes lit up.

"I wonder about you law enforcers—don’t you ever study the law?" Lin Xiaosu glanced at her with disdain.

"It’s not that…" Zhou Mei said. "Did you already know, when you stormed out on your scooter, that you were clear legally?"

"Isn’t that obvious? If I weren’t clean myself, would I dare point at Zhou Luping and demand he be held accountable?"

"Why didn’t you argue on the spot? One sentence could’ve solved it…"

"I already said it—intimidation! I wanted to use this incident to block ill intentions from all sides. Since he volunteered to be my warning sign, why wouldn’t I take advantage?"

A warning sign!

Why not take advantage?

Zhou Mei felt a strange mix of thoughts…

You scoundrel, you have no idea how much arguing I did this morning, how many waves churned in my heart, while you had everything under control, and had already moved beyond the fine…

"Hurry back… Your little girlfriend is probably climbing the walls with worry. Give her this good news and let her share in your joy!"

She was right.

She was anxious, but Miao Ruolan was even more so.

Zhou Mei at least had a few channels to argue her case, even if the responses were lukewarm. Miao Ruolan was completely in the dark, just worrying.

She was the one who most needed this news.

Lin Xiaosu mounted his electric scooter and started it…

Zhou Mei felt something odd—he hadn’t argued or clarified her words.

Did he really see Miao Ruolan as his girlfriend?

I tested him, and he didn’t refute it?

Lin Xiaosu’s scooter stopped at her window. He tapped on the glass.

Zhou Mei’s heart gave a little jump. Was he going to clarify now?

The window slid down.

Lin Xiaosu smiled at her. "Are you free this afternoon?"

"For what?" Zhou Mei asked.

"Let’s go have some fun together."

"Us? Just the two of us?"

"Yes."

Zhou Mei’s heart skipped a beat.

That’s your reply? You didn’t clarify whether Miao Ruolan is your girlfriend; you just invited me out, just the two of us…

Zhou Mei’s brows drew together in thought. After a long pause, she nodded. "I’ve just finished my work. Where will we go?"

"Come by at two thirty, I’ll tell you then." Lin Xiaosu rode off.

Zhou Mei sat there, a little confused.

It’s a workday, and I have a pile of things to do—how did I impulsively agree to go out with him?

Skipping work to go out with a man—is that really a good idea?

But I’ve already agreed. It feels wrong to back out. Besides, I’ve accomplished so much this past month—each achievement more explosive than the last. If I skip work once, Captain Zhang probably won’t say anything…

Lin Xiaosu returned to the detective agency.

Miao Ruolan was still pacing in the office. When she saw him, she almost wanted to cry.

But Lin Xiaosu smiled, and at that smile, her heart leaped. "How did it go?"

"It’s settled!"

"Settled… What does that mean?"

"It means the fine isn’t an issue; we don’t have to pay a single cent. The law is on our side…"

He pulled up the relevant statute on the computer, and Miao Ruolan’s emotions soared and crashed…

After a long moment, she let out a deep breath. "So that’s how it’s resolved."

"Yes."

"A peaceful resolution is best. We’re here to do business; there’s no need to go head-to-head with them. After all, they’re law enforcement, and it shouldn’t be a life-or-death struggle."

"Are you advising me?"

"Yes," Miao Ruolan admitted directly.

In Fengcheng, doing business, you only need calm waters. There’s no reason to confront public officials—it’s not worth it.

Lin Xiaosu said, "It’s a bit late for that. Zhou Luping has already been arrested. Xiao Song, who came with him, will probably have a long-term fear of enforcement. Deputy Director Liu Dong, who sent them to target us, has already been dealt with by the Anti-Corruption Bureau."

Miao Ruolan was stunned, unable even to catch her breath.

Lin Xiaosu gently patted her shoulder. "I’m telling you this for one reason: I don’t want you to feel inferior when dealing with them. The only thing we must do is make sure we operate legally and pay our taxes. As long as we stand upright, we need never be timid before anyone. From now on, whoever tries to boss us around, you can stand your ground!"

"Honestly, after collecting so much money, I never felt confident…" Miao Ruolan blinked. "But I’ll definitely learn now—study the law and your way of handling things. Someday, I’ll be able to point at someone’s nose and say: I’m going to deal with you!"

Heavens!

Little lady, you’ve changed—getting a bit cheeky…

Miao Ruolan’s eyes sparkled. "Someone brought a piece of paper today."

Lin Xiaosu’s eyes widened. "Another one?"

"Yes! Look!" Miao Ruolan picked up a scroll from the desk, three feet long and two feet wide.

"My goodness, such a huge fine—are they going to bankrupt us?"

"A fine that would bankrupt us wouldn’t need such a big sheet. One A4 could ruin us ten times over!" Miao Ruolan handed him the paper.

Lin Xiaosu took it and unrolled it…

He froze. It wasn’t a fine delivered by some official or doomed soul.

It was a painting.

A profile of a person, leaning by the window reading.

Outside the window, the bustling traffic flowed; inside, tranquil moments of reading.

No excessive elements—just these two.

Yet the juxtaposition of movement and stillness brimmed with philosophy.

At the top, a single large character: "Window"—the title.

Beside it, ten small words: "Shallow ripples in the eyes, the days outside the window stretch long."