Chapter 45 An Unexpected Incident

"Stop! Don't fight anymore!" Chen Zhenzhu shouted from below, "The car we prepared for you is here! Let go of him and drive away."

Gu Yanzheng nodded to Chen Zhenzhu, and the only taxi on the road slowly drove in from the closed intersection.

Jiang Wanshan asked, "Should we fill it up with gas?"

Shen Zhenzhu stared at him and replied, "The fuel tank is full."

Jiang Wanshan quickly untied the detonator from Niu Jun's body and wrapped it around his own waist. With his other hand, he picked up the half-eaten pesticide bottle, pried open Niu Jun's mouth, and forced it down his throat. Then, he smashed the pesticide bottle aside, took out a lighter, and shouted, "I'm sorry! I know I'm not going to get out of here. Let the explosion end it all!"

At the critical moment, the voice that had haunted his dreams came from the taxi downstairs: "Uncle! Stop playing around, I'm coming to find you!"

Jiang Wanshan froze, utterly astonished as Gao Baoting emerged from the taxi: "No, we can't blow it up...we can't blow it up..."

Taking advantage of his moment of hesitation, a sniper in a distant high-rise requested permission to kill the suspect.

Gu Yanzheng said to Shen Zhenzhu: "Shoot!"

Shen Zhenzhu understood Gu Yanzheng's meaning. Without hesitation, she raised her pistol and, amidst Gao Baoting's screams, shot Jiang Wanshan's lighter away!

Gao Baoting screamed in terror: "Ahhh—"

"Uncle is alright...don't shout, don't make that sound." The pain of the bullet piercing his palm made Jiang Wanshan grip his wrist tightly.

He struggled to the edge and looked down, shouting, "You've grown so much! Uncle's alright, Uncle's so happy to see you! Hurry up and go, hurry up..."

At the moment the gun went off, Gu Yanzheng moved like a cheetah hunting, scaling the second-floor platform with lightning speed.

A shot brought him back to his senses. Fearing that Gao Baoting would be blown up, Jiang Wanshan ignored his bleeding palms and the struggling Niu Jun. Instead, he painstakingly removed the detonator from his body, threw it aside, and pulled out the fuse to destroy it.

The sniper, who was preparing to kill the suspect in the distance, put away his weapon.

Even as Gu Yanzheng subdued him, Jiang Wanshan was still desperately shouting, "Go back quickly! Let Dad take you back! It's dangerous here—"

***

Shen Zhenzhu's first shot in her professional career prevented a massive explosion.

The first case he led the investigation into involved extremely dangerous bombings, murders, and intentional assaults.

This does not include violent crimes that plagued the countryside, such as mass executions and hooliganism committed twenty years ago.

Simultaneously, temporary command work was carried out for the arrest, tracking, and bomb disposal operations involving more than ten units.

...Shen Zhenzhu was worried about the future of her career. Her meager monthly salary caused her more anxiety than a drug dealer.

Sitting in the celebratory police station office, after a break, she faced congratulations and phone calls from all directions, feeling as if she had just experienced a dream, completely dazed and confused.

Cuiping stood at the door and said, "Section Chief Shen, have a cup of hot milk to replenish your nutrition."

The company went bankrupt, the boss was a warmonger, colleagues went missing or were killed, and the manager was arrested for making explosives... Cuiping came to the police station, staring at the national emblem for a sense of security, and offered to help out.

Shen Zhenzhu slept for too long, so Gu Yanzheng didn't let anyone disturb her. He was already interrogating Jiang Wanshan next door, and there were still many miscellaneous tasks to be handed over, keeping him extremely busy.

The city bureau leaders, including Director Liu, were still on their way when they learned that the suspect had been apprehended, so they turned their car around and headed to the provincial bureau to report.

Shen Zhenzhu accepted her boss's arrangement and took a sip of hot milk in the office. Only after tasting the fragrant milk flavor did she slowly come back to her senses.

Tu Dali, who discovered Jiang Wanshan's whereabouts, was rewarded for his service and no longer stayed at the hospital. His cheerful laughter echoed from the next room to this small office.

Cuiping went out for a while, and soon Tu Dali came over. The bruise on his arm had become a hero's medal, shining brightly.

Upon seeing that Shen Zhenzhu was awake, he became more restrained and greeted her, "Section Chief Shen."

Chen Zhenzhu asked him to sit down, put down the hot milk, and asked, "What's the situation now?"

"Jiang Wanshan has confessed to his crimes without reservation," Tu Dali reported. "The Municipal Bureau has sent people to pick him up. The car has already entered the county and should be arriving soon."

Shen Zhenzhu remained silent for a moment, recalling how Jiang Wanshan, knowing he was doomed, had almost ignited the fuse. If it weren't for Gao Baoting's appearance giving her the chance to pull the trigger, who knows how things would have turned out.

"What about Niu Jun?" Chen Zhenzhu asked. "He drank almost a whole bottle of pesticide. Was he saved?"

At this point, Tu Dali sneered, "He survived by sheer luck, but his esophagus and kidneys are permanently damaged, and his esophagus and urinary tract are both drained. In addition, half of his stomach was removed, so he's completely useless. He can only lie in bed and wait for someone to take care of his eating, drinking, and bodily functions."

Shen Zhenzhu said expressionlessly, "This is worse than death for him."

Tu Dali said, "You know what, there really is someone who's courting death."

These words piqued Chen Zhenzhu's curiosity: "Who?"

Tu Dali sneered, "Who else could it be? Zhu Xiaoping, of course. He thought Jiang Wanshan was really going to come looking for him, so he got scared and stole a car. Turns out he didn't even have a driver's license. He not only ran away by himself, but he also took his parents with him. Who knew he couldn't figure out the accelerator and brake, and the car went over the mountain and sank straight into Tianxin Lake. In no time, the car was gone. Zhou Suo sent people to retrieve it last night. I don't think he's alive."

"If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear." Chen Zhenzhu took another small sip of hot milk and said softly, "It really makes me believe that there is destiny at play."

Tu Dali made a shushing gesture, glanced outside, and said, "Don't let anyone hear. Anyway, I think they deserved it. But is it really true that the statute of limitations has expired and they can't be punished for trying to kill Jiang Wanshan 20 years ago?"

Even if three people died and one was seriously injured, their family members were involved in the crime.

Shen Zhenzhu said, "The nature of their crimes is heinous, and they openly threatened the police with weapons, which constitutes a crime. Captain Gu has already submitted a report to his superiors, requesting that a special team be sent down to investigate the evil deeds they have committed over the years. No one, whether human or ghost, will escape."

"Those four beasts should have been punished by law long ago. It would be great if they could settle accounts later... Hiss—"

Tu Dali clapped his hands in his excitement, but then pulled at his stitches. He said embarrassedly, "Director Gu applied for a workers' compensation bonus and subsidy for me, and even said that I deserve credit for this. Actually, I didn't do anything. I just fell and ended up in the hospital. I saw Jiang Wanshan and then sent you a message."

Shen Zhenzhu was amused by him, as if she saw herself when she first entered the industry: "You played a key role. If it weren't for you, we would still be looking for him. After killing Niu Jun, he would definitely go back to Zhu Xiaoping to kill people. He also has detonators on him, which poses a great danger and the possibility of committing extreme crimes. So your contribution is indispensable."

Tu Dali never dreamed he could make a contribution. He rubbed his knee with one hand shyly and smiled sheepishly at Shen Zhenzhu.

"Auntie, you used to be a police officer." Gao Baoting's voice came from the doorway, with her parents and brother and sister-in-law standing behind her.

Her father quickly came forward to shake her hand: "Thank you, Comrade Shen. There are some things I don't know how to say, but... I still want to thank you."

To those four families, Jiang Wanshan was a demon crawled out of hell. But to the Gao family, he was a benefactor who saved them from dire straits.

"I heard he's going to the Municipal Public Security Bureau." Mr. Gao lowered his voice, glanced next door, and said, "Captain Gu specially gave our whole family the opportunity to come and see him off."

Shen Zhenzhu felt it was the right thing to do, so she found a clean cup and offered it to Gao Baoting, who kept staring at her, and poured half a cup of hot milk into it.

Gao Baoting was in high spirits and wanted to sing. Tu Dali hesitated and said, "Isn't that a bad idea?"

The Gao family looked at Shen Zhenzhu, who understood what they meant. She said to Gao Baoting, "Sing, just sing 'The Happy Bird.' Speak louder for Auntie, Auntie is listening carefully."

"Auntie, listen carefully, 'A bird lives in my heart, chirping and chattering, hoping you'll understand, spreading its feathers to convey my love... You are my most cherished dream, I only wish to exchange all my luck for your happiness...'"

Gao Baoting's melodious singing voice filled every corner of the police station. Everyone stopped what they were doing to listen to the oriole's song, and no one interrupted.

...

Jiang Wanshan's hand trembled as he smoked, and the cigarette butt fell to the ground. He picked it up shakily, stubbed it out with his other bandaged hand, and threw it into the trash can.

He hunched over, his face buried in his hands, listening to the entire song "Bird of Happiness" without moving.

Hearing police sirens outside the window, Gu Yanzheng walked over and patted Jiang Wanshan on the shoulder: "It's time to go."

Jiang Wanshan's voice was hoarse as he hesitated, "Could I...could I not see her? Could I please not let her know I...I—"

"Uncle, why? I've caught you! Come out now!" Gao Baoting's cheerful voice came from behind the door, and shadows flickered through the crack in the door, the light and shadow of Gao Baoting's skirt.

Jiang Wanshan dragged his feet in excruciating pain, the shackles on his feet rattling loudly.

Gu Yanzheng pushed open the door, and Jiang Wanshan saw Gao Baoting smiling and gazing at him under the colorful sunset. The ruthless murderer, the avenger who had been hiding for twenty years, burst into tears.

He wiped away his tears with his sleeve, his hand trembling, and looked up at Gao Baoting with a smile, saying, "You've grown up so much, you're a young lady now. How have you been?"

“I’m so happy, I’m like a happy little bird.” Gao Baoting bent down, looked left and right, and curiously touched the handcuffs: “Your bracelet is really special.”

Jiang Wanshan said in a hoarse voice, "You don't actually remember me, do you? Someone told you to call me uncle, right?"

Her appearance was too coincidental, Jiang Wanshan couldn't help but think. Even so, he didn't regret stopping.

Gao Baoting put her hands behind her back, pouted, and shook her head: "Uncle, I haven't forgotten you." She shyly twisted her body, twirled her skirt, and whispered: "When you drank my brown sugar water, I was so envious. But you were dying at the time, so I couldn't not give it to you."

Jiang Wanshan wiped away his tears again and said excitedly, "So you really do remember me."

Gao Baoting said proudly, "My mom even cooked rice porridge for you!"

Jiang Wanshan wept uncontrollably. All his resentment vanished upon seeing Gao Baoting, leaving only the sorrowful heartache that time had brought him.

Seeing him crying incessantly, Gao Baoting whispered, "Uncle, please don't cry, please stop crying."

"Don't cry, I won't cry anymore." Jiang Wanshan rubbed his eyes again and said to her, "Could you make Uncle another cup of brown sugar water? Uncle has been thinking about this cup of brown sugar water all his life."

Gao Baoting patted the small leather bag she was carrying and said, "I'll go buy you some brown sugar right now, but... you've been crying for so long and you still want to drink brown sugar water, is it because someone bullied you?"

Jiang Wanshan looked at her with a sob in his eyes, shook his head and said, "Uncle did something bad and has to go find Mom. Drinking your brown sugar water will give Uncle the strength to go on his way."

"Okay, wait for me!" Gao Baoting happily went to buy brown sugar, calling out to her older brother, "Brother, brother, will you come with me to the botanical garden later? I want to take pictures!"

Gao Baoting's older brother glanced at Jiang Wanshan and said to Gao Baoting, "Okay, whatever you say."

Jiang Wanshan smiled as he gazed at her retreating figure.

There are many things I didn't say twenty years ago, and I don't need to say them now. It's good to live this life carefree.

Every "brother" touched Jiang Wanshan's heart. He looked up at the sky and remained silent for a long time.

His parents starved to death back then, and the nine-year-old boy was bullied and forced to beg for food everywhere, unable to support his younger sister. She was almost thrown to her death by thugs, but luckily she survived thanks to the kindness of a kind person. He hid in a tree and watched her being rescued.

Later, he traveled over mountains and valleys just to steal a glance at her.

“You two look alike when you smile.” Gao Baoting’s older brother walked over and handed him a cigarette: “Brother, let’s be family again in the next life.”

Jiang Wanshan said, as if joking, "Do you think the King of Hell will listen to you? Do you keep your word?"

Gao Baoting's older brother also laughed and said, "It's a deal. Let our sister sing a song with the King of Hell."

Jiang Wanshan smiled again: "Then it will definitely work."

Gao Baoting's older brother said, "If you had shaved your beard that year, we would definitely have recognized you."

Jiang Wanshan said, "Your family is also struggling. I didn't mean to freeload off your food; I just wanted to take a look."

"There's always a way out..." Gao Baoting's older brother looked at him and said, "How about letting her call you 'brother'?"

Jiang Wanshan looked at the silver handcuffs on his wrists, and at Chen Zhenzhu and Gu Yanzheng standing not far away, and said in a low voice, "No, don't drag her into this."

Gao Baoting's older brother sighed, "Don't worry, we will take good care of her. Over the years, she has been like my own sister."

...

The two guys from the second team from the city bureau who came to escort the man had been waiting for a while, muttering to themselves, "Can a serious criminal really talk for this long? It's rare to see Captain Gu showing such mercy, what's going on?"

"Who knows, could there be something going on?"

Gao Baoting brought over some brown sugar water and handed it to Jiang Wanshan. Gu Yanzheng came to his side and said, "It's time to go after you finish drinking this."

"Come on, Tingting, let's play in the backyard. There are little ducks there." Gao Baoting's sister-in-law led her to play in the farmyard. The silly child skipped away, leaving behind an eternal silhouette for Jiang Wanshan.

Taking the opportunity, Chen Zhenzhu asked him, "The detonators were prepared as early as the end of last year. You clearly had the opportunity to blast the mountain earlier, so why didn't you?"

Jiang Wanshan smiled and shook his head, saying, "I want to wait until the end of May when the orioles in the mountains have finished singing and flown away before we bomb it."

Shen Zhenzhu asked him, "You've considered the oriole, but have you thought about the nearly one thousand villagers living down the mountain? Many of them don't even know you and have never harmed Gao Baoting."

Jiang Wanshan said, "I don't care about others. Just kill me. I've lived enough in this life. In my next life, I'll try to be a good person."

Faced with the pitiful and despicable suspect, Shen Zhenzhu had nothing more to say. She would go back and let the law give him and the suspect a fair trial.

Before leaving, Jiang Wanshan put on a black hood and sat in the police car escorting him, he instructed Gao Baoting's older brother again: "I killed for myself, it has nothing to do with her. If she asks me, just say I went home."

***

Jiang Wanshan was executed in Zhuanghe County, and the series of cases that led to the double homicide case came to an end after some sorting out.

Everyone was exhausted from Jiang Wanshan's antics. After being captured, they rested for a day and then began to sort out the case.

On the last day, Shen Zhenzhu and Gu Yanzheng, as technical advisors, held a meeting to summarize and review the case investigations of the past few days.

The meeting was held outside the police station, next to a farmhouse restaurant, where tables and chairs were brought out from the office and arranged in a circle. Everyone took their positions, with Big Yellow guarding the door. Cuiping, the newly hired supervisor next door, craned her neck to watch.

First, the local police officers involved in the case spoke, then Chief Zhou spoke, and after Chief Zhou finished, it was Gu Yanzheng's turn.

"The investigative approach for this complex case has been clarified. Now, Section Chief Shen, please give your summary." After Gu Yanzheng finished speaking, it was Shen Zhenzhu's turn.

"We are currently at a critical juncture of the transition from the reform and opening up to the old era. Criminal methods have evolved from being individualized and organized to being more covert and premeditated. The destructive power is also unprecedented. Especially in rural towns and villages, where the jurisdiction is not deep enough, many people possess homemade guns, hunting rifles, and even highly lethal weapons such as detonators and gunpowder. We must tirelessly carry out confiscation, cleanup, and reporting."

Chen Zhenzhu sat in the middle of the police station courtyard and presented the materials she had summarized the previous night to the comrades present.

Zhou asked, "Will there be more people like Jiang Wanshan in the future? Some people have already said that he rid the people of a scourge, and many young people have been asking me about this."

Shen Zhenzhu said seriously, "I sympathize with his plight, but from the perspective of law enforcement, encountering suspects like Jiang Wanshan who are willing to do anything for revenge not only harms the lives and property of the people, but also undermines the foundation of society and shows a disregard for the right to life and basic rules, leading to the prevalence of the law of the jungle. Whoever is stronger, whoever is more unscrupulous, and whoever loves their family and friends more can do whatever they want."

Tu Dali angrily said, "How can that be allowed!"

She paused, then asked her comrades to imagine the scene before saying, "It's believable that social order will soon be destroyed. In our follow-up propaganda, we must tell the public that if you can avenge your loved ones by harming innocent strangers today, then tomorrow others can harm your loved ones in order to protect them."

We must strictly prohibit imitation. If people believe that his murder was justifiable, or even heroic, it will inevitably induce others to follow suit in similar situations, and may even lead to more extreme crimes. This case should serve as a warning, not a celebration.

Gu Yanzheng nodded slightly. This was the kind of soldier he had trained. Rational, restrained, and always mindful of their identity and stance as law enforcers.

Tu Dali, with his arm in a sling, diligently took notes. He looked up and whispered, "To be honest, I sympathize with him, but I don't agree with what he did."

"We can understand, but understanding does not mean forgiveness. We can also sympathize, but sympathy does not mean pardon."

Shen Zhenzhu closed her notebook and looked around at her police colleagues at the grassroots police station. Most of them were older than her.

As Director Liu said, they all hoped for opportunities to advance, but conditions at the grassroots level were poor, and such opportunities were hard to come by.

She tried to explain in plain language: "I admit that Jiang Wanshan experienced extreme pain, despair, and emotional turmoil. This understanding of the root of criminal motives can be used to solve cases and communicate, but it does not mean that his crimes are forgiven. Once the door is opened that 'it is forgivable to seek revenge or even harm others in order to save loved ones,' the social contract will inevitably collapse, and social civilization will return to the era of the survival of the fittest."

Zhou gasped, and heard someone next to him mutter, "The cadres from the Municipal Bureau really think ahead. I could never have imagined 'social civilization' or 'social contract'."

Seeing Shen Zhenzhu looking this way, Zhou Suojian raised his hand and said, "Section Chief Shen, can we ask him about his criminal psychology? Jiang Wanshan has an extreme personality. He clearly has a certain social status and could have used better methods to punish those people. Why would he use such methods? Isn't this punishing others while also punishing himself?"

"This falls under the psychological category of 'tunnel vision.' He is a successful person in his social group. However, his feelings for Gao Baoting overwhelmed his reason and universal morality. His strong love and protective instincts towards his family distorted his morality."

Shen Zhenzhu also wanted to promote the popularization of criminal psychology at the grassroots level, so she gave a complete explanation:

“At that time, Jiang Wanshan experienced famine and begging for food, giving away his only relative for adoption, witnessing his younger sister being bullied, and being murdered himself. These events put Jiang Wanshan under extreme pressure, causing him to enter a ‘tunnel vision’ – he only saw Gao Baoting’s safety, while the lives of others, the law, morality, and legal consequences became blurred and secondary. This was a loss of rational control under the influence of despair, which stimulated the release of his dark side, leading to such extreme criminal behavior.”

Zhou led the applause for Shen Zhenzhu, looking at Section Chief Shen with admiration: "Section Chief Shen is really capable! There's even psychological basis for this. In the future, if there are people like this, they should be given special attention. We can't let things develop to this point."

Since she was there to teach investigative techniques, Shen Zhenzhu generously gave Chief Zhou a notebook on criminal psychology that she had compiled:

"This is one of the things that Captain Gu once gave me. I selected some psychological analyses related to common types of crimes, which can help build psychological profiles of criminals, develop interrogation strategies, identify lies, and most importantly, assess the danger level of suspects and carry out crime prevention."

Zhou solemnly accepted the notebook, opened it, and saw that every stroke inside was personally copied by Section Chief Shen, which he found extremely precious.

"Section Chief Shen, I'll make copies and distribute them after the meeting so they can study them carefully and master advanced crime-solving techniques. To be honest, society is developing too fast these days. Sometimes I even find it difficult to understand what people who have come back from working in other places are saying. We can have experience, but we will definitely work hard to master this new technology and live up to your and Captain Gu's expectations."

Gu Yanzheng sat to the side, listening quietly to Shen Zhenzhu's words. She practically taught them how to solve similar cases step by step.

His vice-captain was a great teacher who shared all his knowledge with him.

Zhou and the others initially thought that the leaders from the Municipal Bureau would just come for a few days of eating and drinking, give them a few lectures, and then leave. They were deeply moved by their unexpected dedication to teaching them.

Among them, several young police officers from the local police station studied the most diligently, eagerly waiting for Chief Zhou to distribute Section Chief Shen's notes. After the meeting, they scrambled to make copies.

While they were busy, Chen Zhenzhu quietly took out a few fruit candies from her pocket and looked at them.

"Did she give it to you?" Gu Yanzheng asked.

Shen Zhenzhu didn't hide anything and explained, "Gao Baoting was worried that 'Uncle' asked me to pass this on, and told me to make sure he eats it... I'll see him when I get back."

Gu Yanzheng said, "Yes, approved."

When Cuiping saw them finish their meeting at the farmhouse, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Hey, time to eat! You'll get cold if you don't come!"

"Here you are." Shen Zhenzhu had already smelled the aroma of chicken stew with mushrooms in the air. Zhuanghe's wild mushrooms are famous, so famous that Director Liu even mentioned them when she came over. Shen Zhenzhu was especially looking forward to this last hearty meal.

Gu Yanzheng still has abrasions on his arm, but he's better off than Tu Dali, so he doesn't need to have his arm in a sling.

He naturally went into the private room and sat next to Shen Zhenzhu. Tu Dali squeezed in on the other side of Shen Zhenzhu and introduced her, saying, "This season is the best time to eat hazel mushrooms. They are the soul ingredient of chicken stew with mushrooms. Moreover, hazel mushrooms can only be wild and cannot be artificially cultivated. Pure wild hazel mushrooms are very precious even here. Eat more later and nourish yourself."

"Thank you, you've worked so hard these past few days," Chen Zhenzhu said crisply.

Gu Yanzheng glanced at her and saw her dimples appear again. Did she really like eating wild mushrooms?

"Matsutake mushroom soup, braised pork slices with giant mushrooms." Cuiping pushed open the door, and two waiters put down plates one after the other.

"Is it a mushroom feast today?" Chen Zhenzhu was in a good mood. She first took a sip of orange juice to soothe her stomach, then put down her drink and asked curiously, "I know about pine mushrooms, they have red caps and a fragrant aroma. What kind of mushroom is a 'thigh mushroom'?"

This question has hit a nerve with Tu Dali.

He grew up here and has been called "thigh mushroom" since his great-great-grandfather's generation. He had no idea there were other names for it.

“Boletus, also known as Boletus luridus,” Gu Yanzheng said from the side while looking for chopsticks.

Cuiping stood by the door, clutching a large handful of chopsticks, and said, "Captain Gu, don't bother looking for them. They're with me. I'll give them to you in a bit."

Gu Yanzheng chuckled: "Afraid of hallucinations from poisoning?"

Cuiping pointed at Tu Dali and said casually, "That's right, I heard he won twice last year, and Director Zhou won once too."

Chen Zhenzhu rubbed her hands together. "Then I really have to give it a try."

The braised chicken with mushrooms was the first thing we ate. Chen Zhenzhu ate it with gusto, her mouth glistening with oil – it was so delicious! The free-range chicken was firm yet tender, and the chicken legs and garlic cloves were all perfectly seasoned. The hazel mushrooms truly lived up to their reputation as the king of Northeast mushrooms; they had a smooth, tender texture and a rich aroma.

High-quality ingredients only require simple cooking to bring out the fragrance of agarwood.

"I'll bring some hazel mushrooms back for Sixth Sister to cook with," Chen Zhenzhu said, envisioning a wonderful future. "They'll definitely taste even better."

"Come on, the stir-fried mushrooms with pork slices is ready!" someone called out. Shen Zhenzhu picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, and exclaimed, "As expected, it still has to be a master chef!"

It has a rich and delicious flavor, even more fragrant than meat, and a smooth texture.

Zhou, sitting across from them, joked, "Wild giant shiitake mushrooms are poisonous, so we usually don't cook them at home. Restaurants are safer when they're cooked with plenty of oil and heat."

I had eaten *Shen Zhenzhu* once before; my teammate had fried it in butter at home, sprinkled it with pepper and salt, and the aroma alone made my mouth water. That was a cultivated *Boletus luridus*, non-toxic, and nowhere near as delicious as the poisonous mushrooms I ate today, which were supposedly picked from the mountain that morning.

Seeing that Section Chief Shen was very satisfied with the meal, Director Zhou was also satisfied.

With Gu Yanzheng appearing relaxed and much more approachable than when he first arrived, the atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious and pleasant.

The other comrades had drunk some alcohol, and they were using their chopsticks very quickly.

Seeing that Shen Zhenzhu loved to eat, Tu Dali stood up with a large spoon and served her another half bowl, successfully earning a grateful look from Section Chief Shen.

Gu Yanzheng doesn't drink, so he puts down his chopsticks and leans back in his chair to listen to the conversation across from him. Occasionally, he can also hear Section Chief Shen talking to Tu Dali.

Seeing that the city cadres enjoyed the mushroom feast today, Zhou, who had drunk two ounces of baijiu (Chinese liquor) and was in a good mood, joked, "Section Chief Shen, you know that the giant thigh mushroom is poisonous, right?"

Chen Zhenzhu swallowed a mouthful of mushroom thigh and said nonchalantly, "I know."

Zhou said, "Dali, tell Section Chief Shen about what happened last year, and make her happy."

Tu Dali rubbed his nose sheepishly, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Last year around this time, I was in a hurry to eat, but the chef wasn't in the kitchen, so I had to cook it myself. I cooked some of this stuff, and not knowing how salty it was, I took a small bite. Before I could even judge the taste, the free-range rooster in the yard came in and told me, 'Add some cornstarch to thicken it, toss it a few times, and it'll be ready.' That's when I knew I was doomed."

"Hahaha." Shen Zhenzhu laughed so hard she almost fell over, and Gu Yanzheng next to her also curled up his lips.

Another young man next to Tu Dali continued, "He was taken away by the doctor, and I thought I couldn't waste it, so I stewed it for another five minutes. I figured it was about time, so I ate a couple of bites, and then I realized the bowl couldn't hold the rice. No matter how much I put in, it would leak out. A little while later, the owner came in upside down and told me, 'Don't do that, your face is all red.'"

"Hahahaha." Shen Zhenzhu laughed heartily, sweeping away the gloom from before.

Gu Yanzheng watched her from the side, occasionally curling his lips into a smile.

Zhou told them, "Those of you who haven't eaten this before should be careful. If you see a big frog being carried in on a stretcher, be sure to go with them. They're definitely medical staff."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Zhenzhu's sweet and crisp laughter rang out again. After everyone else had finished laughing, she was still laughing and looking towards Zhou Suo's side.

Zhou turned around but saw nothing: "What's wrong? Are there frogs?"

Shen Zhenzhu chuckled and said, "What frog? They were clearly carried in on a stretcher by dogs!"

Zhou Suo: "......"

Everyone: "......"

Tu Dali suddenly stood up and shouted, "What are we going to do! This can't be happening!?"

Gu Yanzheng's heart skipped a beat. He stood up and helped Chen Zhenzhu up, saying, "Are you feeling unwell? I'll take you to the hospital now."

"The dog doctor is waiting over there." Chen Zhenzhu said, bewildered, "Do I have to walk by myself when the stretcher arrives?"

Gu Yanzheng was both amused and exasperated, but Shen Zhenzhu had certainly eaten quite a bit. He immediately picked her up and shouted, "Open the car door and show me the way!"

Zhou was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. How was he going to explain this to the city bureau leaders?

He jogged to the Cherokee, opened the door, and Gu Yanzheng stuffed Chen Zhenzhu inside, locked the door, and sat in the front.

Zhou, who couldn't drive but knew the way, hurriedly pointed ahead and said, "Go to Wuxingshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Anfeng. They're great at detoxification!"

Hallucinogenic effects are caused by neurotoxins. Chen Zhenzhu has finally become a junior cadre, so she can't become a fool.

She sat in the back with a tense expression, trying hard not to talk to the dog doctor next to her. It was a little angry, howling and cursing at her.

"Go north past the intersection, and it'll be there in two more intersections. Hurry, hurry!" The Cherokee slowly stopped at the traffic light, waiting for the countdown. Zhou was extremely anxious, wishing he could turn on the siren right now and get through unimpeded.

Captain Gu remained silent the entire way. When the green light came on, Zhou, seeing that he hadn't moved, reminded him, "The green light is on."

Gu Yanzheng said solemnly, "I've seen it, let's wait a little longer."

Zhou was puzzled. He turned around and saw Gu Yanzheng holding the steering wheel, seemingly thinking, but looking normal. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Don't wait any longer, they're honking behind us. Let's hurry up and go."

Gu Yanzheng suddenly pinched the bridge of his nose, pointed to the row of twenty or thirty flashing green lights in front of him, and asked seriously, "It's possible, but which light should I look at before proceeding?"

"..." Heaven is going to destroy me.

Zhou closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again and saw a long row of green lights flashing on and off: "...We're doomed."

The taxi driver behind the Cherokee was furious. After waiting for two green lights without the car in front moving, he slammed the door and angrily walked over. Standing in front of the car, he saw two men and a woman craning their necks, trying to see which traffic light was theirs.

"These three idiots are driving around like crazy, aren't they afraid of getting lost?" The taxi driver helped the passengers into his car and sped off to the hospital.

After registering and getting an IV drip, he went to the ward and didn't forget to take out his wallet from Gu Yanzheng's pocket to pay the bill. Then he carefully put it back and patted it: "I'm leaving now, buddy. Don't make a fuss while getting the injection. You'll be fine after a good sleep."

"Thanks." Gu Yanzheng lay on the hospital bed with his eyes closed. "Tell the traffic police my badge number, and they'll clear your traffic violation."

The taxi driver laughed: "Hey, that's a good dream. I'll have one too."

After the taxi driver left, Gu Yanzheng dozed off for a while. Next door, Chen Zhenzhu's laughter was so pleasant; he wondered what sweet dreams she was having.

He turned to look at Chen Zhenzhu, whose hands were groping in the air, and the movements seemed strangely familiar.

As she laughed, an even smaller Shen Zhenzhu appeared from her dimples, peeking out with her tiny head and calling out: 'Gu Yanzheng, Gu Zhengyan, Yanzheng Gu, Yan Guzheng...'

Okay.

It shouldn't be anything serious. Gu Yanzheng realized that his problem was quite serious, so he simply turned away and stopped looking at her.

Shen Zhenzhu believed she was on her own, having witnessed many cases of mushroom poisoning before, and she felt confident she could handle it.

She didn't panic when the dog doctor examined her and the cat nurse came to give her an injection. Later, the big pumpkin sleeping to her right bloomed, but she didn't sneak over to pick the flowers.

As darkness fell and the sounds of voices in the hallway outside grew clearer, she realized she should recover.

Her hospital bed was in the middle. To her left was Gu Yanzheng, who was asleep with his eyes closed. To her right was Zhou Suo, whose symptoms were mild but who most wanted to end his life.

Shen Zhenzhu planned to get up to drink some water and then take care of the other two patients, but she quickly lay back down.

Because she saw Captain Gu dancing shirtless again, this time with magical lighting and ambiguous music.

Section Chief Shen slammed down on the bed, startling Gu Yanzheng awake.

He saw Shen Zhenzhu reveal her bewitching smile once again, her hand grasping at the air with even greater speed and passion.

He scratched his abs and back, but felt a slight tingling sensation, though he didn't know why.

"Sinking Pearl?" Gu Yanzheng tried calling out.

Section Chief Shen, with a measly expression, said, "Shh, continue, don't talk."

Tsk. Gu Yanzheng shut his mouth.

After lying in the hospital for a day and a night, the three of them regained their senses, looking pale and waiting for a car to pick them up.

Gu Yanzheng noticed that Shen Zhenzhu's gaze towards him today was strange and contained a hint of guilt.

Back at the farmhouse, Tu Dali said to Chen Zhenzhu, "Cuiping got the stewing time wrong and resigned... This time the boss personally came to entertain us, should we... should we—"

Gu Yanzheng firmly refused: "No need, my stomach is a little upset. If you have any local specialties, ask the boss to pack them up so we can take them back and share with our colleagues."

Shen Zhenzhu nodded solemnly.

I won't eat it, but I'll take it with me.

The city bureau leaders were unaware that the two of them had been hospitalized, but Lu Ye and his team knew. They were waiting for Shen Zhenzhu to return to celebrate her promotion to deputy team leader, so they asked her about it before she came back.

Today, Lu Ye called again to inquire. The police station took the call from the Municipal Criminal Investigation Team very seriously and quickly called Section Chief Shen to answer it.

Shen Zhenzhu's sickly voice came through the microphone. Lu Ye and the others knew that she was alright, so they wanted to organize another celebration for her promotion and raise.

"I got some Blue Island beer. We'll take it to Sixth Sister's place when you get here tonight. Are you sure you can manage?"

“Sure, I’ll risk my life to accompany you,” Chen Zhenzhu said. “I’ve recovered, and the doctor said to drink some wine to kill the virus.”

Lu Ye laughed and said, "It doesn't look quite right yet. Then we'll drink, and you and the boss can drink milk tea."

"Sure."

Lu Ye heard someone quickly say a few words next to him on the phone, and then asked, "If you're busy, you can hang up now. Be careful on the road. I'll come down to pick you up when we get there."

"Hmm... I guess we can't go back." Shen Zhenzhu chuckled to herself on the other end of the phone.

Lu Ye was dumbfounded: "Everything was fine just now! How come we can't get back?! Are those guys from Zhuanghe not cooperating? I'll go over and help you deal with them!"

"They're all very nice people, don't punish them so easily." Chen Zhenzhu said with a heartless laugh, "It was Captain Gu's car that got stolen after being parked in the middle of the main road."

The person on the other end of the phone burst into laughter. Lu Ye was a loudmouth; his laughter carried far and wide, and the city bureau would probably know about it soon.

......

The farewell banquet became a regular occurrence.

I refuse to eat mushrooms today.

Chen Zhenzhu sat on the swing in the backyard, holding a bowl of leftover rice and feeding the chickens. She muttered, "Why didn't you tell Cuiping if it was cooked or not? It's hard to find a job these days. What will you do if you resign?"

A large hand landed on her forehead from behind, and Gu Yanzheng's voice came from behind her ear: "You've fallen for it again?"

Chen Zhenzhu turned her head and said, "No."

Gu Yanzheng quickly withdrew his hand and said, "It looks like it to me."

"Thank you for your concern, sir. I really am not." Seeing how gentlemanly he was, Shen Zhenzhu touched him to make sure she was alright before withdrawing her hand. She had been holding the position all night yesterday, and when she woke up this morning, both her arms were swollen from holding the position.

Once you get used to it, you won't feel so guilty anymore.

The entire Zhuanghe County Police Station mobilized to find a car for Gu Yanzheng. Chief Zhou was furious: "Who's so blind as to mess with me like this!"

Chen Zhenzhu sat on the back of the motorcycle, her eyes constantly glancing at the roadside. The two wandered aimlessly through the streets of Anfeng City.

Anfeng's urban area is similar in size to Liancheng's, and it is a third-tier prefecture-level city connected to Liancheng.

The two first went to a taxi company, then to the traffic police station, and finally wandered around the streets. To outsiders, they were a handsome couple, like a couple from a movie.

"There aren't even any used car shops here." Chen Zhenzhu's face was numb from the wind. She hid behind Gu Yanzheng's broad shoulders and looked around the streets and alleys, sighing, "This place is so clean."

"It's really clean." Gu Yanzheng's tone was low: "The car was stolen very cleanly too."

Shen Zhenzhu pursed her lips tightly, not daring to laugh, when she heard Gu Yanzheng say from the front, "Laugh if you want to, but don't choke."

"You've laughed enough." Chen Zhenzhu said honestly, "Brother Zheng, please look at the road ahead."

Gu Yanzheng looked away from the rearview mirror, strolled around the streets and alleys a few more times, and suddenly said, "Something feels off to me."

“I feel the same way.” Shen Zhenzhu had a vague, indescribable sense of unease.

Gu Yanzheng stopped his motorcycle and pointed to the streets and alleys he had just passed, saying, "How come we don't see a single beggar in such a big city? Not even anyone rummaging through the trash cans."

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Author's Note: Zhuzhu: Touch more, touch more

Old Gu: I'm not leaving, you can beg me not to leave.

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See you tomorrow! There's a red envelope (cash gift) coming up, please don't let it get too long before it gets too big, it's ranking period! [Please!]

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"The Bird of Happiness" is an adaptation of a Soviet song, with lyrics by Xiaobin.

Crime analysis references online resources and the book "Criminal Psychology".