My autobiography is definitely not a tragedy!-Chapter 1026 - 599: Master Guyue

As for why this matter wasn’t escalated, but instead fell onto a local criminal investigation team...

After thinking it over a bit, Meng Lang understood the reason behind it.

The person is currently in their hands, and Mr. Hu can’t investigate himself, but outwardly, he still needs to make a show of it.

Having the people below make a big fuss about searching is probably just for show for the others to see...

So whether the case is solved or not doesn’t really matter at all.

Does the higher-ups really expect a criminal investigation team to search a military base?

Wang Zhao Ping was worrying for nothing...

"Brother Meng, I know you’re a righteous person, but no way I’m letting you help for free this time. Out of the $3 million reward, after submitting to the bureau and deducting income tax, there should be about $1 million left!

Once it’s all done, consider it your intelligence fee."

Wow! That’s generous...

$1 million is equivalent to a lifetime’s income for an average person.

Hmm... further indicating that Iwazaki Hideyoshi is indeed worth a lot.

If one were to play the kidnapper part for a moment, with the Iwazaki family’s resources, blackmailing them for tens of millions of dollars wouldn’t be too difficult, right?

But this money is a bit risky, and likely would lead to being hunted down by the entire Iwazaki family...

If it weren’t for the fear of unexpected complications, Meng Lang might actually be a bit tempted.

"Brother Wang, is it possible your bureau is so invested in this case because of that $3 million reward?"

"Uh... of course, the bureau wants it too, to improve the meals and update equipment, who thinks they have too much money?

But it’s not entirely because of that reward..."

Wang Zhao Ping glanced at Meng Lang, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Sigh! I won’t hide it from you, brother. Actually, our director is stepping down soon..."

Meng Lang paused, then suddenly understood.

"You mean, you’re getting a promotion?"

"No, no, no, it’s not necessarily mine, there’s another deputy director as well, who’s capable enough to compete with me, so... I’m trying to make some more accomplishments..."

So that’s how it is...

More important than getting rich is getting a promotion, without a doubt!

"Haha! I would’ve needed at least a few more years, if not for you, brother Meng. With a few cases under my belt and accomplishments, I just need an opportunity.

This opportunity has come knocking.

So I... I really want to give it a try, haha..."

Wang Zhao Ping was quite embarrassed, then let out a sigh.

"Sigh! Brother Meng, please don’t laugh. You might not understand not being within the system, the move from section level to division level is a hurdle, some people spend their whole lives never crossing it.

At my age, if I fail to compete for the director position this time, who knows how long until the next opportunity comes.

Even if I eventually become one, I’ll be stuck at it.

But if I succeed this time, maybe there’s a chance to go further..."

"Hmm..."

Meng Lang rubbed his chin.

Speaking of which, he and Wang Zhao Ping have been old partners since the "Yuan Li case," solving many troubles relying on each other’s identities.

In terms of both capability and character, Wang Zhao Ping is reliable and trustworthy.

If he can advance further, even taking another step up...

That would naturally be a good thing for himself!

The more power he has, the longer the lever, allowing Meng Lang to leverage even more people’s fates...

Seeing Meng Lang not immediately respond, Wang Zhao Ping awkwardly assumed his ambition was too apparent.

"Uh... Brother Meng, do you think I’m too opportunistic?"

Meng Lang snapped back, smiling and shaking his head.

"Not at all! It’s only natural. A soldier who’s not ambitious isn’t a good soldier."

"That’s good, I was worried someone as unambitious as you might look down on those of us aiming to advance... haha!"

"Why speak like that, wanting to progress is having high ambitions!

Moreover, even the most unambitious person must first pursue fame and fortune.

After all, one can’t be detached from something they’ve never had, doing absent detachment, right?"

"Haha! That’s true, Brother Meng, your words are always insightful!"

"So! When Brother Wang has achieved great success, come join me in detachment, haha..."

"Hmm?" Wang Zhao Ping’s eyes lit up instantly.

Great success?

"So, Brother Meng, do you have some news?"

"Hmm..." Meng Lang thought for a moment, even pinching his fingers for a while, then smiled.

"I don’t know where the person is, but I do have a suggestion."

"Oh? Brother Meng, do tell!" Wang Zhao Ping promptly sat up straight.

Actually, this time he thought he was just trying his luck, without holding much hope; could there really be a benefit?

But why does your finger-pinching look so much like an old charlatan?

Meng Lang looked around, cautiously leaned in and whispered.

"There’s a mountain in the suburbs of our city..."

"Hmm, hmm!"

"There’s a temple on the mountain..."

"Mm-hmm!"

"There’s an old monk in the temple..."

"Uh..." Wang Zhao Ping’s expression gradually turned a bit strange.

Luckily, Meng Lang’s next sentence didn’t bring up a young monk.

"This old monk is called Master Intelligent..."

Wang Zhao Ping was stunned.

Master Intelligent? Nanshan Temple?

Of course, he’s not unfamiliar with this. Previously, the "Chaoyang People" used Master Intelligent’s smartphone to call the tip-off hotline during a child trafficking case...

"Brother Meng, what do you mean?"

"I mean... his predictions are pretty accurate!"

"Uh..."

Like having a bucket of cold water poured over his head, hope instantly cooled.

So you used Taoist fortune-telling skills to calculate for half a day, and then told me to go to a monk’s temple to seek another prediction?

The Taoist Ancestor’s business was handed over to the Buddha.

Does His Majesty, the Jade Emperor, know about this?

Wang Zhao Ping couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "Brother Meng, you..."

But Meng Lang interrupted him with a smile, shaking his finger, "The Buddha said, it cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken~"

No matter how Wang Zhao Ping questioned, Meng Lang just smiled and focused on drinking tea, leaving only to helplessly end the conversation.

...

After settling the bill, the two were about to leave the tea house when Wang Zhao Ping seemed to remember something.

"Oh, right, boss, I want to buy some tea leaves. Do you have Wuyi Dahongpao here?"

With business knocking at the door, the tea house owner naturally wouldn’t refuse.

"Yes, yes, yes! You’re looking to gift it, right? Then I recommend this top-grade Zhengyan tea, authentically produced from the ’Three Pits and Two Streams’ of Wuyi Mountain, 1,000 yuan per jin."

"Hmm... alright! Give me a jin, the kind in a gift box."

"Alright, hold on a second!"

Meng Lang was thoughtful.

"Brother Wang, are you planning to gift it to a leader?"

Wang Zhao Ping helplessly nodded.

"Yes, can’t help it. That’s just how the trend is. My rival has been visiting the mayor’s home more diligently these days than clocking into work.

He’s been pledging loyalty over there, and if you make no gesture, that’s a matter of attitude.

Turns out, I found out the mayor likes drinking Dahongpao, so I’m trying to cater to his taste...

Honestly, I’ve been focusing on solving cases all these years, and I can’t compare to those seasoned veterans in social relationships.

Even if I really crack the case, it’s uncertain if the director position would fall to me, sigh..."

Running for office! Understood!

But... the mayor?

"Is it Hu Yonghua from Hu City?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Yes! Exactly!" Wang Zhao Ping wasn’t surprised that Meng Lang knew Hu Yonghua.

After all, Su City only has one mayor, and it’s not surprising to have seen him on TV news.

However, what Wang Zhao Ping didn’t know is that Meng Lang’s "knowing" is a bit different from the "knowing" from TV...

He chuckled.

Forget it, forget it, help someone all the way, send the Buddha to the West...

"If that’s the case, I actually have a gift that’s perhaps more appropriate than the tea you’re sending." Meng Lang said with a smile.

"Oh? What gift?"

"Hehe..."

...

Half an hour later, waiting downstairs in the community, Wang Zhao Ping saw Meng Lang walking out with a scroll...

"What’s this?" Wang Zhao Ping questioned as he took the scroll.

"A calligraphy painting."

"Calligraphy painting?"

Could it be an antique from some famous artist?

"No, no, such a valuable thing, how could I use it as a gift."

"Haha! Don’t worry, it’s not worth much, but even a thousand gold can’t buy a beloved piece. Maybe your leader would like this calligraphy painting?" Meng Lang laughed mysteriously.

Wang Zhao Ping hesitated for a moment, still somewhat puzzled as he untied the fixed rope, opened the scroll, and saw the text flowing elegantly into view...

[When the wind lightly lends force, soaring high into the sky.

Some watch from flat ground, seeing me amidst the jade sky...]

Wang Zhao Ping wasn’t knowledgeable about poetry and calligraphy, so he directly looked at the red stamp in the signature...

Master Guyue?

Uh... never heard of him?

Which calligraphy master is this "Master Guyue"?