From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Chapter 726 - 696: Popularity and Traffic

Li Zhong said, "No problem, we’ve already started investigating Pei Lin’s activities on that day, by the way..." He hesitated, stopping mid-sentence.Lu Qi noticed, "What’s the matter? Just say it."

Li Zhong said, "About two hours before Yang Mufeng was murdered, Pei Lin met with Xu Chunliang."

Lu Qi furrowed his brow, "What are you trying to say?"

Li Zhong said, "Maybe you should ask Xu Chunliang."

"Do you suspect Xu Chunliang?"

Li Zhong said, "Of course I don’t suspect him, but maybe you might find out something by asking him."

When Lu Qi contacted Xu Chunliang, Xu Chunliang was at the high-speed rail station sending off Mei Ru Xue, who still needed to return for further training. Hearing that Lu Qi needed him for something, Mei Ru Xue told him to quickly return, saying it wasn’t necessary to personally see her off.

Xu Chunliang handed the suitcase to Mei Ru Xue, spread his arms wide, Mei Ru Xue embarrassingly frowned, but obediently fell into his embrace. Xu Chunliang hugged her tightly, and Mei Ru Xue softly said, "Go quickly, it might be something you can help with."

Lu Qi and Yu Li were about to get married, probably related to this.

Xu Chunliang watched Mei Ru Xue go through the security checkpoint before heading to pick up his car to meet Lu Qi at the arranged place—Xiaohu’s Grilled Skewers.

Lu Qi stood at the entrance waiting, and when he saw Xu Chunliang get out of the car, he cheerfully waved and said, "Today, it’s on me, just eat as much as you like."

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re really generous, but even if I go all out, I won’t eat more than a hundred bucks’ worth."

Lu Qi said, "I’m just a small-time cop, earning only so much a month. My perspective on money is different from yours."

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re making fun of me. Fine, let’s start with twenty skewers. Aren’t we having some drinks?"

Lu Qi said, "No drinks today, let’s talk business."

The two stood by the roadside, munching on skewers, and popped open a few Wong Lo Kat cooling teas to wash down the grease.

Lu Qi said, "Something happened to Pei Lin."

Xu Chunliang was taken aback, "Something happened? In your hands?"

Lu Qi deliberately said, "I haven’t mentioned anything yet, how did you know it was in my hands?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Isn’t it obvious?"

Lu Qi said, "Have you heard about her and Yang Mufeng?"

Xu Chunliang smacked his lips, "These skewers are really not bad. Boss, give me a couple of these oil kidneys too."

Lu Qi said, "Come on, talk!"

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re trying to get me to talk. I’ve barely eaten anything. At least wait until I’m full and my mouth is loose before you ask."

Lu Qi glared at him. This guy was quick on the uptake. He hadn’t even started questioning yet, but his intent was already seen through.

As soon as the oil kidneys were done, Lu Qi grabbed one. Xu Chunliang said, "I ordered these. Why don’t you order for yourself if you want to eat?"

Lu Qi said, "I’m paying, can’t you show some respect for my money?"

Xu Chunliang nodded, "Boss, grill two more."

Lu Qi took a bite of the oil kidney; it was a bit hot. While trying to cool his mouth, he praised, "Not bad... not bad..."

Xu Chunliang said, "How long has it been since you’ve eaten? You’re about to get married, watch your table manners."

Lu Qi said, "Did I eat your stuff? I’m spending money... because I want to..." *chomp* and he took another bite.

Xu Chunliang said, "Can’t we have a proper conversation? You seem to have something against me."

Lu Qi said, "Of course I have an issue. On the day Yang Mufeng had an accident, did you meet Pei Lin?"

Xu Chunliang took a bite of the oil kidney, "Let me think!"

"Keep pretending, you met her near Mao’s Pork Head that day." Lu Qi straightforwardly said.

Xu Chunliang looked at Lu Qi, "You’re checking on me?"

Lu Qi said, "I was investigating Pei Lin, and you came up. You obviously met her, why didn’t you mention it then?"

"You guys didn’t ask about it back then. When you called me over, you asked how I had a falling out with Yang Mufeng, didn’t I tell you everything? I was completely open!"

Lu Qi said, "But you didn’t say why Pei Lin came to you? I don’t mind telling you, Pei Lin is now a major suspect. If you have important information and don’t disclose it, I can’t guarantee brotherly concern."

Xu Chunliang said, "Is it my fault? If you’d asked earlier, I would have told you sooner. I didn’t think it was relevant to the case."

"Talk, don’t give me nonsense."

Xu Chunliang said, "These oil kidneys are pretty good."

Lu Qi said, "Boss, grill him ten more big oil kidneys, let him eat to his death!"

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Don’t worry, she didn’t have anything urgent, just said Yang Mufeng was pestering her and asked me for ideas."

Lu Qi whispered, "Did she really say that?"

Xu Chunliang said, "When she worked as a medical representative, she had an affair with Yang Mufeng, so Yang Mufeng is using that to blackmail her. Pei Lin is afraid that Zhao Feiyang will find out. She knows I don’t get along with Yang Mufeng, so she wanted me to help her think of a way."

Lu Qi stomped in anger, "You jerk, why didn’t you tell me earlier? I was running around like a headless chicken. This case should have been solved long ago."

Xu Chunliang said, "She asked me to keep it a secret, and I promised her. Besides, I didn’t think it had anything to do with Yang Mufeng’s death." Actually, he had suspected Pei Lin, but solving the case wasn’t his job, so he didn’t give it much thought.

Lu Qi said, "With the motive found, the case is half solved."

Xu Chunliang asked, "Is it really Pei Lin?"

"Ten big oily skewers, done!"

Xu Chunliang took the tray and shared it with Lu Qi, but Lu Qi had lost his appetite. "You punk, you mean to say you never suspected Pei Lin from the start?"

Xu Chunliang didn’t speak; he really couldn’t lie to Lu Qi.

Lu Qi said, "You take your time eating, I’m leaving first."

Xu Chunliang said, "I can’t finish all this!"

Lu Qi waved as he ran towards his car.

Xu Chunliang remembered something, "Hey, you haven’t paid the bill!"

The surgery was finally over, and Yu Mo walked out looking exhausted. Zhao Feiyang quickly approached her, seeing the relieved expression on Yu Mo’s face, he realized the situation might not be severe.

Yu Mo said, "Dean Zhao, I didn’t fail my mission. We managed to save two lives."

"Thank you, thank you!" Zhao Feiyang’s voice was trembling.

Yu Mo said, "However, your wife had heavy bleeding and is weak. Her recovery will take some time. Your son is premature and has been placed in an incubator. He’ll be transferred to pediatrics immediately."

Zhao Feiyang said, "I’m so grateful, as long as they’re safe, as long as they’re safe!"

Yu Mo said, "Go have a look, the child is very cute."

Zhao Feiyang turned to find Pei Yu, only to realize she was already gone.

At this moment, Zhao Feiyang was unaware that a bigger crisis was looming over him, and his fate was inevitably tangled in a series of upheavals.

While Xu Chunliang had a good appetite, he still couldn’t finish ten big oily skewers and decided to pack the leftovers.

At this time, he noticed someone was taking pictures of him with a phone. He didn’t like it and shot them an angry glare, only to see it was a young girl he recognized. She was the assistant of the internet celebrity Three Two Three, whom he met during a conference at Nanwan Taiming Lake.

Three Two Three, Xu Xiaoyue, was standing not far behind Xiaojie, looking at him with a smile.

Xu Chunliang said, "Xu Xiaoyue!"

Three Two Three laughed, "We’re in Dongzhou checking out some restaurants, didn’t expect to run into you. Mind being in our video for a bit?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Coming to Dongzhou without giving me a heads up, come on, I’ll treat you. Try these oily skewers." At last, someone was helping him.

Three Two Three ate a skewer and found it good, while the boss brought over twenty more skewers.

Xu Chunliang was puzzled, thinking he hadn’t ordered them. Then he learned that the boss was a fan of Three Two Three. The moment he appeared, the boss recognized him. Nowadays, who doesn’t understand the importance of promotion? With Three Two Three, a food blogger with millions of followers, posting the video online, this small shop would undoubtedly have customers lined up at the door, thanks to the internet celebrity effect.

Three Two Three was both eating and broadcasting, while assistant Xiaojie was busy filming. To say, he could really eat, finishing all six skewers left by Xu Chunliang and the twenty skewers sent by the boss, without leaving any for his assistant.

Assistant Xiaojie filmed throughout, and after Three Two Three finished eating, he moved to the riverside to give his review.

Xu Chunliang watched the spectacle and couldn’t help but comment, "This is nothing special. Dongzhou has much better barbecue than this. Are you sugarcoating it just because you ate their food?"

Three Two Three laughed heartily, his small eyes squinting, "Brother Xu, you’re so humorous. My food review focuses on real experiences, and I truly think it’s delicious."

Xu Chunliang said, "Edit me out of the footage later. I’m a public official, it’s not appropriate for me to appear in the video."

Three Two Three said, "Sure, as you wish."

Xu Chunliang said, "Don’t call me brother, we’ve met, and I’m younger than you."

Three Two Three then changed to calling him Director Xu, but Xu Chunliang told him to just use his name.

This time, Three Two Three came not only to thank Xu Chunliang but also to fulfill his promise to help promote Dongzhou. Since he hadn’t been to Dongzhou before, he decided to create a series of videos about Dongzhou’s food for promotion.

The Dongzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau is currently organizing a program inviting prominent people originating from Dongzhou to visit and offer suggestions for promoting Dongzhou’s culture and tourism. Seeing how popular Three Two Three was just now, Xu Chunliang became interested. They couldn’t only rely on the traditional celebrities’ influence; times have changed. The cultural celebrities invited by the Culture and Tourism Bureau might not have more impact than internet celebrities like Three Two Three.

Xu Chunliang invited Three Two Three and Xiaojie for tea, giving a brief introduction to Dongzhou’s specialty foods and the recent activities of the Dongzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau.

Three Two Three said, "Director Xu..." Remembering Xu Chunliang had corrected him earlier, he changed to, "Chunliang, what you mentioned about inviting cultural celebrities back to Dongzhou to offer suggestions is a good idea, but it may not be effective. The best promotion method nowadays is online video. I’m not boasting, but once I post the food review video of Xiaohu’s skewers, there will be long queues by tonight."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’m really puzzled, why has consumer psychology become more and more about following the crowd these days?"