I pointed at the two people who had just gotten up from the ground: "Are you only arresting us and not them?"
This person was somewhat embarrassed and angry, probably because he didn't expect that a stranger like me would dare to be so arrogant... It seems that in his impression, most tourists from other places are not willing to cause trouble in unfamiliar places, and when they encounter problems, they usually choose to swallow their anger and pay a fine to settle things.
"Stop talking nonsense! It's none of your business who I arrest or who I don't!"
After he finished speaking, he reached out again to try and pinch my arm...
I sighed... After all, it's a joint defense... I really don't understand why our government would establish such a bizarre team... Just like those two times he reached out and pinched my arm, clumsy and awkward, just like an ordinary citizen.
At least police officers have received some basic training in grappling and combat, and possess some special skills. But this kind of "joint defense" is basically just putting an ordinary citizen in a uniform; they know nothing about it. What can they possibly do?
Those with wicked hearts simply band together to prey on locals. They extort money, make a little extra cash, and even collude with the underworld. Like this group in front of me.
Of course, I don't deny that there are good people... but the question is, even those good people, what can they do? What role can they play? The police's primary duty is to maintain order and catch bad guys...
But if we really encounter criminals... what good can these defense teams, who know nothing about anything, do?
(Author's Note (Free): I've interacted with many conscientious community security personnel, and they honestly told me, "If we really encounter a criminal, I'm just like you; at most, I can only shout for help a few times. We don't know anything about real hand-to-hand combat... Besides, I wouldn't risk my life. I only make a few hundred yuan a month; I'm not a police officer, just a temporary worker on a salary. There's no need to risk my life.") I ask you, how effective can such people be? And this is the good kind! There are plenty of people in uniform who commit crimes! For example, I know many such cases around me. Some people work as community security officers in the police station while also running a thriving gambling den at home. Every time the police conduct a major raid, they have inside information and get away unscathed... As for the quality of those "urban management officers" whose nature is similar to joint defense, I don't need to elaborate; everyone knows it. A simple online search for these two keywords yields nothing but negative news. Tragically, in many places, setting up so-called "joint defense" or "urban management" units has even become a channel for re-employing laid-off workers or relocating unemployed individuals… Please! This isn't an ordinary job; it's a job with law enforcement power! It can't be assigned so casually! It can't be assigned to just anyone!! Any Tom, Dick, or Harry can sneak in, put on a uniform, and then dare to run rampant and bully ordinary people! It's truly a frustrating "national condition"—(The words in parentheses above are not included in the fee; they're just the author's idle ramblings.)
This time I didn't hold back. I grabbed his wrist and gently released it, causing him to stumble backward, barely managing to stay upright. Under the watchful eyes of so many people, he was probably embarrassed; his face immediately turned bright red. He glared at me and yelled, "You've gone too far! You dare hit the security team?!"
I stared at him coldly: "You're trash. Let me tell you straight, you have no right to arrest me, or even to enforce the law against me, understand?"
Just then, after all this time, I finally saw two people in black uniforms walk in.
Well, finally some real police have arrived.
The two police officers were young. One of them was a policewoman, who pushed her way through the crowd and shouted, "What's going on? Who called the police?"
"It's me." I smiled, took a step forward, and pulled out a cell phone from the hand that had been behind my back.
Yeah, if you're in trouble, call the police. I'm a model citizen now... well, at least in China.
The officer in charge of the joint patrol looked grim, and the others around him seemed equally bewildered. The two policemen exchanged glances, then looked at the patrol leader and frowned. The male officer, who appeared to have a short temper, glared at the patrol leader and demanded, "Xu Er, what are you up to?"
The head of the joint defense team, Xu Er, immediately shrank back, his arrogance vanished, and he said with a forced smile, "No! These guys tried to violently resist the law! They fought here and injured people, so I was going to take them back, but look, he just pushed me over the head."
"Who said we were fighting!" Yan Di, who had been behind me, suddenly spoke up: "These guys were trying to steal our wallets, and when we caught them, they even tried to hurt us with knives."
She had been hiding behind me, but suddenly spoke up, clearly at my prompting. However, for such a beautiful and delicate girl to suddenly speak naturally earned her the trust of many.
Yes, who would bring such a beautiful, delicate girl, who looks like a flower, out into the street to pick a fight?
The two policemen were sensible; since they recognized Xu Er, they must know his character. The policewoman glanced at me, frowned, and said, "Alright, if there's a problem, come back with us. We'll clear things up, and everything will be fine. There are so many injured people on the ground; you have to come back with us eventually." She looked at the people on the ground, somewhat surprised.
There were still a few people on the ground who hadn't gotten up... Although I had already told Hammer not to hit too hard, in his opinion, as long as he didn't cripple someone, he would consider it "light." As a result, even now, there were still a few people on the ground who couldn't get up for a long time.
These two policemen didn't seem like bad people; at least I could tell from their lukewarm, even slightly disgusted, attitude towards Xu Er. However, I still refused their request: "Sorry, I don't have time to go back. I called the police because I was being unreasonably and forcibly detained here by these uniformed men. Are they police officers? Do they have the right to detain us? I just don't want to get into a conflict with them. Since you two are here, I think I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving now."
These words caused the two policemen to change color! The policewoman even wore an expression of utter taunts, as if they were ungrateful. In her mind, their actions were helping me out. She believed they would be far fairer than Xu Er in enforcing the law. How dare I refuse the police?
"Are you kidding me?!" the policewoman snapped. "You..."
Before she could finish speaking, I casually pulled out my passport from my pocket and showed it to her.
"Are you a foreigner?" The policewoman frowned, and the male police officer next to her also looked rather grim.
"No. I am Chinese." I said calmly, "It's just that I have a foreign passport now. I think you understand what I mean. I'm not showing off with a foreign passport, but if I were an ordinary citizen in China, I would probably have been taken to some hellish office by this joint defense force by now, and then subjected to intimidation. Then I would obediently pay a so-called 'fine,' and if I was unlucky, I might even get punched and kicked a few times... Am I right?"
After saying that, I quickly took out my phone, pointed it at Xu Er, and snapped a picture.
"What are you doing!" the male police officer shouted at me.
"Keep this as evidence. My lawyer will file a complaint later." I said calmly, "This security guard was actually carrying a baton... I remember in China, similar weapons are regulated, and non-police personnel are not allowed to carry such things in public... Hmm, and he's holding it right now. If it weren't for your arrival, he probably would have already attacked me. I remember. Security guards don't have the right to carry weapons of this level, right? Very well, this photo will serve as evidence for my complaint."
Then I glanced at the two police officers: "According to the law, I am not obligated to go back with you. You are law enforcement officers. But please remember the most basic rules of the law! If you two officers still want to take me back with this almost 'arrest' attitude, I can only express my regret."
The male police officer glared at me, probably because he was angry but couldn't vent it.
Indeed, the general attitude of police officers in China is quite rough... This is a consequence of the national circumstances. Ordinary people generally have a sense of awe towards uniformed police officers. Generally speaking, if a police officer tells an ordinary citizen, "Come with me," that citizen will most likely obediently comply, without even considering whether it's legal for the police to take them away. Therefore, my rather outrageous actions probably angered this police officer.
“Alright.” The policewoman gritted her teeth, glanced at me, and said, “Mr. Chen… she just saw my name on my passport. Mr. Chen… on behalf of the police, I request that you come with us to assist with the investigation.”
This time, I actually laughed. I glanced at her and smiled, "I'm happy to cooperate with the police."
The policewoman was so angry that her face turned red.
We arrived at the nearby police station more than half an hour later. At my insistence, all the thugs and pickpockets present were brought back. The dozen or so members of the community security team also all went back to the police station.
It's somewhat pathetic... truly pathetic. Because of my foreign citizenship, I received completely different and preferential treatment. While I'm quite satisfied with this fair and reasonable treatment, I can't help but wonder: if an ordinary Chinese citizen were in the police station, would they receive even the most basic polite and fair treatment?
What a joke! Who doesn't know that police officers in police stations usually wear a poker face when dealing with ordinary citizens? It's as if they can't project authority without doing so. Why? Because most people don't understand the law. So, out of a sense of awe, they take their superior attitude for granted! And most people don't realize that these uniformed individuals are public servants supported by our taxes!
Our group of six was put in a separate office, and someone even poured us water... As for the pickpockets and thugs, I don't even need to guess; they were probably locked up in some room, maybe even receiving the same treatment I had back then: handcuffed to a radiator...
Another reason the police were polite to me was that my arrogant attitude gave them a headache, because once we arrived, I refused to give any statement or answer any questions. We sat in the room, drinking tea and chatting while they waited.
"I will not answer any questions until my lawyer arrives."
Right after I said those words, a policeman finally couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Damn it, what a pretentious foreigner."
I immediately stared at him and said bluntly, "Is this putting on airs? You're wrong! I'm just upholding my most basic legal rights! Do I have to come here like an ordinary citizen, obediently doing whatever they tell me to do, filled with awe and reverence, trembling with fear...? That's how it should be! I'm not putting on airs! If you think I'm putting on airs, then you don't deserve to be a police officer! Please tell me your badge number, and I will reserve the right to file a complaint against you! Also, I was asked to come back to assist with an investigation! I'm not a criminal you've arrested! Please maintain the proper politeness and courtesy when you speak to me! You are indeed wearing a police uniform, but that doesn't mean you're superior to others!!"
My words left the policeman speechless, his eyes rolling back in his head. He couldn't argue with me, because a higher-ranking officer present pulled him away.
My outburst gave the police a real headache. In China, where would you find an ordinary citizen who would dare to speak so defiantly at a police station? But they didn't dare to take any action against me because I had foreign citizenship.
So, although they were polite to me, my heart was filled with sorrow! I am Chinese, but here I have to rely on foreign citizenship to enjoy these basic legal rights! Damn it!
Finally, half an hour later, Buck-toothed Zhou arrived. He wasn't alone; he was accompanied by another person from the Kunming Municipal Government's Investment Promotion Office. This person had slicked-back hair, a ruddy complexion, and a large belly that clearly indicated corruption… As soon as he and Buck-toothed Zhou entered, although he hadn't seen me before, he immediately recognized me as the leader among the six of us. He hurried over, grabbed my hand, and began exchanging warm greetings. He apologized profusely for "poor hospitality," "work oversights," "a misunderstanding," and so on. He went on and on about how unfairly I had been treated. Then he expressed strong indignation at my unfair treatment and promised to "act according to the law" and give me a "satisfactory explanation."
Seeing his fawning manner, I knew the reason. It's simple: recently, while trying to check Uncle Qi's files, I was being passed around like a football by those government departments. Their tedious, inefficient processes were maddening. Only after we used the guise of an overseas Chinese businessman inspecting investment destinations did things start to improve. These past two days, Buck-toothed Zhou has been acting as my agent, dealing with these government agencies under the guise of an investor, and he's doing quite well.
After all, our company information, having been transferred through legal channels, was already quite impressive. I held the title of Chairman of Huaxing Company, which, according to the information, was a company with annual profits exceeding one hundred million US dollars. Simultaneously, I also held a directorship of the "Solin Group," which, according to the information, was even more remarkable, with assets exceeding one billion US dollars!
In Kunming, attracting a foreign businessman of my caliber is already quite remarkable!
As a result, the people in the investment promotion office practically treated us like gods of wealth.
Obviously, I didn't even need to give a statement, because the police station seemed to have received a call from the city leader, and the station chief here personally apologized to me, while guaranteeing that I would receive fair and just treatment... I didn't need to think about the fate of those pickpockets anymore; in this situation, even if they had some connections, no one would dare to protect them. As for the community security team... I was too lazy to think about their fate; they would most likely be stripped of their protective gear. (And the only thing I didn't expect was that the trouble would go far beyond this, but that's a story for later.)
I didn't leave the police station immediately, but they were incredibly enthusiastic and insisted that I stay for a meal... They were so hospitable that I refused several times, but I realized that they weren't just being polite, but seemed to have some special reason for wanting me to stay a little longer.
The meal was quite pleasant. A deputy director frequently toasted me, while the man from the investment promotion office, whose title was that of a certain director, was an astonishing drinker. The meal dragged on for over an hour with casual conversation. As for their probing questions, such as my investment direction and my company's overseas background… I managed to evade them with pre-prepared answers.
As for investment areas... well, I'm interested in investing in many sectors, mainly depending on whether the investment environment here is favorable. Um, well... I've mastered the art of Tai Chi push hands.
As for my company's background, that's all nonsense; I certainly won't tell the truth.
Damn! If I told him that one of my companies is the largest smuggling monopoly in Canada, and the other is the largest gang laundering organization in Canada, I'm afraid their first reaction would be to contact Interpol to investigate me!
After a satisfying meal, the awkwardness seemed to have vanished without a trace. That director of the investment promotion office was truly a remarkable person. I couldn't discern much talent in financial investment, but his public relations skills were top-notch. He had already become quite friendly with me, even shamelessly making a couple of lighthearted jokes about my relationship with Yan Di. I must say, this was a clever move, because everyone present could see how attentive and affectionate I was towards the beautiful girl beside me.
He was trying to please me, and I probably wouldn't care. But when he tried to please Yan Di, that young girl had no experience and was quite naive. He immediately warmed up the atmosphere for her.
Back in the police station's reception room, I drank another cup of tea, and then I saw two policemen come in. It was the same man and woman who had brought me back earlier. They walked over to the deputy chief and whispered something in his ear. The woman, in particular, seemed to give me a deliberately complicated look. Then, the deputy chief interrupted the director of the investment promotion office and announced loudly to me: "Mr. Chen, on behalf of the police, I solemnly inform you that just now, thanks to the intelligence you provided, our police launched a full-scale operation and dismantled a theft gang! First, on behalf of the police, I thank you for your strong cooperation. At the same time, on behalf of the police, I would like to make a statement to all investors, including you: our police are confident and capable of maintaining public order, and can guarantee a stable, united, and harmonious society, as well as a fair, just, and transparent law enforcement system for all investors here. We can also try our best to meet your legitimate needs… Finally, we will do everything in our power to provide you with the most favorable investment environment!!"
I was stunned for a moment, then I understood... Damn, so that's how it is!
I glanced at their expressions and immediately understood.
What happened today has probably offended them. Their biggest worry is that I might get angry and stop investing here. Whether or not they invest is related to some people's political achievements! It could even mean their job security! And if they really offend me because of the police's mishandling of my case, and I leave in anger... although the police and the local government are two different systems... if this causes the local government's investors to leave, then with all the pressure coming down the chain of command, even a lowly police chief like him will have to bear the responsibility! It could very well affect his career.
So, while they were trying to persuade me to stay for dinner, the police quickly launched an operation! The pickpockets I clashed with were members of a local theft gang. Besides those taken to the police station today, there were quite a few others in this gang. The police were determined this time, and in such a short time, they wiped out the entire gang!
This action serves two purposes: firstly, it's a way of indirectly ingratiating themselves with me; secondly, it's an attempt to salvage their image in my eyes. They probably also hope I'll continue investing here.
Then, under the enthusiastic guidance of this deputy director, I also visited the police station... It was a bit absurd, but he just wanted to show me the results of their raid in that short period of time at noon.
Sure enough, through my deliberate arrangement, I "coincidentally" witnessed the theft gang that had been apprehended at noon. Among them were men and women, young and old; the oldest was probably in their fifties or sixties, while the youngest was only about ten years old!
These are the same people who commit theft, pickpocketing, and other crimes in crowded places like farmers' markets, flower markets, and public buses...
I frowned, but at Zhou's prompting, I immediately put on a smile and expressed my gratitude and appreciation for the police.
However, after leaving the police station and returning to the hotel, I didn't look well the whole way.
"What's wrong with you?" After we got into the car, Zhou with buck teeth finally asked me.
"Hmph, you saw those theft gangs, didn't you? Judging from the people we met today, these people must have been causing trouble in this area for a long time. But look today, the police took them down as soon as they got serious. If that's the case, why didn't they do it sooner?" I sneered, "They were just putting on a show for us."
"Hahahaha," Zhou with buck teeth laughed, his laughter leaving me somewhat bewildered. Then I saw him pointing at me: "You're supposed to be from the mainland... but now even a fake foreigner like me understands the tricks of the trade, yet you still don't."
"What do you mean, 'understand' or 'don't understand'?"
“Sigh, I am a lawyer after all. It’s not your fault if you don’t understand. Fine, I’ll explain it to you clearly so you don’t get frustrated.” Buck-toothed Zhou chuckled, then said, “The police are law enforcement agencies, that’s true, but they only have the power to enforce the law, not the power to sentence. Understand? That is to say, they are only responsible for arresting people, but not for sentencing. How much of a sentence can a thief get for stealing a wallet in China? Hmm, I think it’s some kind of public security administration punishment regulation? Ten days? Twenty days? And then he can be released. He can continue to commit crimes as long as he remains a…” Petty theft, not major crimes, means that even if caught, the sentence won't be too severe. And that's just for ordinary thieves. What about the others? Especially the children… what to do? Send them back to their hometowns? Heaven knows where these kids' hometowns are! Imprison them? They're minors, how can they be sent to prison? Juvenile detention? That doesn't seem qualified either. If they are really sent back, these people are all in gangs; you send them back, and they just come back by train a couple of days later, what can you do? …See, I just said a few words, and it's full of problems! What are the police supposed to do? It's not that they won't use force, it's just that… To be honest… mainland China's laws have significant flaws, a fact the government openly admits; our laws are imperfect. Today's operation by the police, while clearly intended to curry favor, has undoubtedly created a huge problem for themselves! With so many people arrested, I bet these police officers are in for a busy few days! Sigh, they know it's a futile effort, but because of your existence, they have to do it all again. You see, in the next few days, those who should be detained will be detained, those who should be fined will be fined, those who should be released will be released, and those who should be deported will have to have their travel expenses paid… all of this will require the police… "The police department incurs costs, right? But at most, in ten days or so, the detainees are released, the fined are paid, and the people sent back to their hometowns have already run away again, and these people will be back on the streets working again." He patted my shoulder with a smile: "It's already pretty good! They're only working for free for your sake. Besides, we're in the underworld too. When have you ever seen a country's police force that's completely clean, loyal to their duties, and serves the people, without corruption or dereliction of duty? No, right? If they were, we wouldn't be able to survive in Canada long ago."
After listening, I laughed, thought for a moment, and said, "Now that you mention it, it doesn't seem so bad."
Back at the local five-star Oasis Hotel, Yan Di and I went back to our luxury suite. We had originally planned to take Yan Di out to see other sights in Kunming today, but we weren't really interested anymore.
Yan Di went inside to wash up, while I turned on the TV in the living room, grabbed a can of beer from the fridge, and chugged it down in one go…
Just then, I heard someone ringing the doorbell outside.
I thought it might be someone with buck teeth or someone else, so I didn't think much of it and just casually opened the door... But as soon as I opened a corner, a thin, short figure darted in from outside.
This person moved very quickly. Before my astonished eyes, they had already stepped through the door, and then suddenly prostrated themselves on the ground in front of me, kneeling down and bowing their head in worship...
Bang bang bang... He kowtowed several times in a row!
The man entered without a word, knelt down, and began kowtowing forcefully until his forehead was bright red—clearly, he was using all his strength! I was taken aback at first, but after seeing the man's appearance clearly, I frowned, my face darkening. I stepped aside, making way for his kowtow, and coldly asked, "How did you find this place?"
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter 119: First Experience with Human Affairs
The boy kneeling and kowtowing in front of me looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old. He was thin and small, with dirt and tear stains on his face and a dirty coat. However, his eyes looked quite lively, but at this moment they were filled with pleading and anxiety. He was the same kid who tried to steal my wallet in the flower market earlier today.
The boy came in, knelt down on the ground without a word, and kowtowed repeatedly until I stepped aside. Then he pleaded in a shrill voice, "We were blind and didn't recognize your greatness. Please, have mercy on us!"
"How did you find your way here?" I asked the pickpocket, my face grim. "Weren't you taken back by the police too?"
"This..." The young man hesitated for a moment, "They were going to take me back to arrest someone, but I managed to escape. We're just trying to make a living here, and we know some cops. Someone helped me get away." He paused, then secretly glanced at my expression. Seeing that I wasn't particularly angry, he mustered his courage and said, "The cop who let me escape is close to my brother. He told me that the key to this whole thing lies with you. You're a big shot, and if you say so, the police won't make things difficult for us. I loitered around the police station for a long time before I saw your car come out, and then I followed you all the way here... Please, I know I offended you. If you're angry, you can beat me up, or ask me to do anything, just please let the rest of us go, okay?"
As he spoke, his eyes welled up with tears, then reddened, and two tears rolled down his cheeks. The moment the tears fell, two streaks of fair skin appeared where his previously dirty face had been traced…
I stared at him closely for a moment. I noticed that although his hair was short, it couldn't hide the girlishness in it, and his pointed chin gave him a delicate air... Hmm, so this pickpocket was a little girl.
However, I had no intention of helping her or forgiving her. On one hand, it's only right that pickpockets are caught by the police. And judging from their arrogant attitude towards me in the flower market, they probably cause quite a bit of trouble in the past. On the other hand, I didn't think I needed to help her.
So, with a cold expression, I ignored her pleas, grabbed her by the back of her neck by the collar, dragged her out the door, and threw her to the ground: "You'd better leave now. If you bother me again, I'll have the hotel security throw you out."
After I finished speaking, I closed the door.
"Xiao Wu... what happened?" I had just closed the door when Yan Di's voice came from inside. She had just finished showering and came out wearing a bathrobe, barefoot. Her delicate face was flushed from the steam, like jade adorned with rouge. She was drying her wet hair with a clean, soft white towel in one hand, and her exquisite figure was faintly visible under the soft silk robe... especially below her snow-white, pink neck, where the collar of her robe was slightly too open...