Chapter 50: The speed of evolution is terrifying.

"Old Shen, didn't I tell you to take him with you?" Gu Yanzheng said, being inhumane, after finding Zhao Qiqi, "How could you have forgotten about him?"

Is this how you try to shirk responsibility? Shen Zhenzhu was prepared. She turned to Lu Ye and said, "Brother Ye, didn't you tell him to go back? I told you a long time ago."

Lu Ye squatted down in front of Zhao Qiqi and poked him, saying, "Didn't I tell you?"

"I'm fine, really fine." Zhao Qiqi was like a golden retriever that had found its owner again. When it was found, it squatted by the flower bed and stared longingly at Chen Zhenzhu: "I would be happy to sleep here for a month if I could catch Zheng Xiankai."

Before Shen Zhenzhu could speak, Lu Ye had already pulled him up: "It's windy here, let's get in the car first and then talk about other things."

The four teams successfully found Zhao Qiqi at the black brick factory. Shen Zhenzhu felt that this could be considered as "not abandoning a comrade-in-arms".

She briefly recounted the case to Zhao Qiqi in the car, then added after a moment's thought, "Brother Zheng asked us to work together to calm the victim down tomorrow. Let's go to the hotel to rest first, and I'll wake you up tomorrow morning."

Zhao Qiqi was flattered and said, "You don't need to tell me, I can get up by myself. To be honest, I go for a run every morning, and I can even bring you breakfast."

Lu Ye chimed in from the side, "Is 'Sister Pearl' something you call her?"

Zhao Qiqi muttered, "I've heard you call me that before."

Shen Zhenzhu turned from the passenger seat, pointed at Lu Ye, and said, "Don't bully the new comrade."

"How could I possibly bully him?" Lu Ye put his arm around Zhao Qiqi's shoulder and said, "I've swum in the ocean with him before, do you think you can do that?"

Shen Zhenzhu said, "Are you all swimming naked? Otherwise, why can't I?"

"Don't give me that." Lu Ye said, "Did I bully you when you joined the fourth team?"

Chen Zhenzhu shook the small hammer and said, "It's a pity I didn't bully you, which made me miss the chance to beat you up."

Lu Ye clenched his fists and cracked his knuckles: "Let's practice when we get back."

Shen Zhenzhu clenched her fist and said, "Thank you, Brother Aye, for giving me this opportunity."

Zhao Qiqi wasn't used to their impulsive and unpredictable way of getting along, but she smiled slightly and felt that she was really lucky.

He couldn't be luckier than this, having such a straightforward and caring leader and senior.

They returned to the hotel where Shen Zhenzhu had first stayed, and went back to their room under the adoring gazes of the staff.

Being able to enjoy a hot shower under the showerhead is so relaxing; the feeling of relaxation and accomplishment after solving a case is unmatched.

Chen Zhenzhu slowly rubbed her arms and legs, piling up bubbles in her hair, attentively taking care of her busy and capable self.

"You did a great job, Chen Zhenzhu. You are a rising star in the police force and the hope of Tie Si New Village!"

The young cadre encouraged himself, scrubbing his hair and then his feet, cleaning his toes thoroughly, before comfortably returning to his large bed. The night outside was peaceful, and he fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

The next day, not only did Chen Zhenzhu not get up to go for a run, but the entire fifth floor of the hotel was quiet.

"Selling tofu pudding—"

"Selling tofu pudding—"

He forced himself to sleep until his eyelids were swollen, and only after brushing his teeth did he sleepwalk to the window and peer down. The first thing he said was, "Grandpa, save me a serving of tofu pudding!"

The villager selling tofu pudding from a shoulder pole stopped, squinted, and saw a head popping out from the fifth floor. He yelled, "Hey you, get your head back in! There's not much tofu pudding left, hurry up!"

Chen Zhenzhu responded crisply, "Coming!"

"I want one too!" Lu Ye and Zhou Chuanxi's voices came at the same time.

Then Wu Zhonghai yawned and said, "I want one too, I'll come down right now."

Hearing the noise outside, Zhao Qiqi realized everyone was moving and quickly shouted, "Mine! Mine! Mine! They're here!"

Without a word, Chen Zhenzhu quickly shrank back, put on her clothes, and ran outside. She was joking; it was already so late, who knew how many servings of tofu pudding the old man still had left?

She ran into Lu Ye as soon as she stepped outside. He glared at her, and she rolled her eyes and kicked him. All talk of unity and friendship is worthless compared to tofu pudding.

The four teams, as if on cue, rushed from the corridor to the stairs almost simultaneously. The waiter, pressed against the wall, stared at them dumbfounded, thinking there was another clandestine operation.

The manager had told her to cooperate well with them, and she had to do the same.

Shen Zhenzhu, having won first place, stood in front of the old man with a grin and said, "I'd like one."

The old man said, "Here you go, fifty cents."

Shen Zhenzhu's face changed instantly. Lu Ye, who was standing behind her, noticed over her head that the old man's tofu pudding was at the bottom of the bucket, and poked Shen Zhenzhu's shoulder, saying, "Hurry up and pay, I want a double portion."

Chen Zhenzhu's face lit up with a smile as she turned to him and said, "Brother Aye, could you lend me five mao? How about I lend you five mao and pay you back six mao?"

A minute later, Chen Zhenzhu stormed into the restaurant to eat breakfast, empty-handed with no tofu pudding.

Lu Ye followed behind her, strolling slowly through the door while saying, "One bowl with braised meat sauce, one bowl with white sugar, I'll try both!"

Shen Zhenzhu got angry and sat down at the dining table next to Zhao Qiqi, refusing to give Lu Ye any space.

Zhao Qiqi pushed the tofu pudding in her bowl towards her: "Sister Pearl, here you go."

Shen Zhenzhu smiled kindly at him: "You eat it yourself. Actually, I don't really want to eat it either."

Lu Ye said, "Oh, I was going to give you one too, but you don't want it—"

"Bring it here!" Chen Zhenzhu moved the cutlery aside and patted the table. "It has to be sweet."

Just as Lu Ye was about to give it to her, a large hand appeared behind Shen Zhenzhu and snatched the sweetened tofu pudding first.

How dare you snatch food from a tiger's mouth!

Shen Zhenzhu turned around sharply and saw Gu Yanzheng. She said softly, "Eat slowly, it's hot!"

Lu Ye was extremely disgusted. He took his bowl and moved to another table, also calling Zhao Qiqi away: "They're definitely going to talk about the case, and it's giving me a headache."

Unfortunately, he guessed wrong. Gu Yanzheng handed the chicken soup wonton noodles he was carrying to Chen Zhenzhu and said, "Old Ding bought these for me yesterday. Although they don't taste as good as Sixth Sister's, they're still alright. You can try them since I'm passing by."

With chicken soup wonton noodles, who would still eat tofu pudding?

The chicken soup wonton noodles in front of her were golden and clear, glistening with oil, and had a rich and savory aroma. The sight of them in front of Shen Zhenzhu had already whetted her appetite.

Shen Zhenzhu didn't stand on ceremony with her brother Zheng and generously took a sip of the chicken soup: "It's delicious, and it's made with bamboo-pressed noodles, which is really rare."

A sip of chicken soup warmed my throat and stomach. The handmade bamboo-pressed noodles were smooth and chewy; the chef was skilled, and the noodles were resilient and springy. Scooping up a small wonton, the paper-thin wrapper revealed the red shrimp inside. Biting into it released the juicy filling, and the aroma of the chicken soup with scallions filled the air—the delicious flavor was irresistible.

Chen Zhenzhu slurped down the soup and noodles in one go, feeling incredibly comfortable all over.

Seeing that she was eating to her heart's content, Gu Yanzheng swept the breakfast on the table clean. Shen Zhenzhu had no idea where his firm belly had put all the food.

After having a good meal, the group arrived at the Anfeng City Criminal Investigation Team, where there were still some follow-up tasks to complete.

Gu Yanzheng went to his office and looked down from upstairs. He saw Shen Zhenzhu surrounded by a group of disabled people. They were dancing and gesturing happily, instinctively surrounding Shen Zhenzhu as if they were surrounded by a warm sun.

Chen Zhenzhu's dimples never disappeared. She quickly used sign language and washed the tomatoes she bought on the street, sharing one with each of them.

Crack.

He Liana captured this joyful photo. After a day of rest, she contacted the "Focus Interview" program team, who were coming to interview the investigators and victims today.

"This is the first time I've seen victims so happy." Song Qibang said, moved by their expressions, "Even if you don't understand what they're saying, you can feel the love in their eyes."

He Liana agreed with his point of view, saying, "Perhaps they are more sensitive than normal people, and the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm is an animal instinct. They feel safe around Officer Shen, which is probably a feeling given by Officer Shen's personal characteristics. Actually, I feel the same way as them. When I first saw her, I thought so too. She is always trustworthy and will never hurt us."

Song Qibang worked behind the scenes; he wasn't as eloquent as He Liana. He then picked up his camera and asked, "Have you decided how to report on this special feature?"

He Liana lowered her head, patted the camera, and smiled, "I already have an idea, but I need to interview her a bit first."

Shen Zhenzhu had agreed to give an interview to He Liana. When she saw He Liana coming over, she walked to the side to call Gu Yanzheng: "Wait, I'll go call Brother Zheng."

He Liana linked arms with Chen Zhenzhu and said, "I called Captain Gu when I came over. He said it would be fine if you were the one to give the interview. He also said that if you hadn't found me, we wouldn't have gotten so many leads, and he didn't want to steal credit. He also said that since you're the deputy captain, you should share some of the burden with him."

"He always says that, but actually we're all just following in his footsteps to solve cases. Without him, Team Four wouldn't be Team Four." Shen Zhenzhu knew that Gu Yanzheng didn't like trouble, so she was fine with handling these kinds of public affairs; she would handle them very well!

Shen Zhenzhu sat on the flower bed and talked with He Liana for a while. He Liana was very skilled at interviewing and liked Shen Zhenzhu. Her approach was gentle and gave Shen Zhenzhu room to talk, which allowed her to say a lot.

“Come on, there are peonies over here. Sit here and I’ll take a half-body photo of you,” He Liana said, pointing to the flower bed.

Shen Zhenzhu obediently went over, and He Liana helped her straighten her collar and tie her hair, saying with a smile, "I think you have a carefree side to your personality."

Chen Zhenzhu was embarrassed to say that she almost fell out with Lu Ye that morning because of tofu pudding, and she hadn't even had time to tidy her hair and clothes properly. She changed the subject and said, "I was in such a rush this morning. You were just like my older sister. If I had an older sister, that's how I would feel. But I have a younger sister, and I'm not like that kind of older sister."

“I can also be your god-sister. I’ll give you my contact address later. We can call or write letters whenever we’re free. If you’d like, you can also tell me about the cases you’ve solved. I’m very interested in that.”

“Okay, actually I also like to share cases with others, but my family is timid, and they don’t dare to listen after a few words.” Shen Zhenzhu felt more and more that He Liana was a kind and approachable older sister.

While waiting for He Liana to finish taking photos, Song Qibang also picked up his camera and took a few photos of the two of them together: "I'll send a registered letter to your workplace later."

"Okay!" Shen Zhenzhu said sweetly, "Thank you, brother-in-law."

Hearing her call, Song Qibang's eyes reddened again. He Liana touched the back of his hand with the back of her hand, and the two understood each other without saying a word.

After a relaxed and pleasant interview, He Liana and Song Qibang set off to return to Beijing. Shen Zhenzhu was going to help register the families of the victims, so they said goodbye with reluctance.

Of the 125 "mule" children and 15 "child-giving goddesses," some were taken away by their families, some by disability aid stations, and others were taken away by local communities and welfare institutions. They will live ordinary yet extraordinary lives in the future, with the care and love of their families and society.

Even if those poor souls who have passed away have no relatives or friends to seek justice for them, the public prosecution authorities will still bring lawsuits to punish the inhuman criminals with legal weapons and cut down the sword of justice.

Another week was wasted in Anfeng City as the illegal brick factory and surrogacy case were transferred to the procuratorate for review.

Team Leader Ding stood below his office building, gripping Gu Yanzheng's hand tightly, and said, "Why are you leaving so soon? I even booked a private room to see you off. You don't know, the wild mushrooms here are in peak season, especially the thigh ones—"

No!

"Don't!"

Shen Zhenzhu and Gu Yanzheng refused in unison.

Team Leader Ding asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"

"Don't mention thighs, I'm in a hurry to get back. The bureau is short-staffed and the team is too busy if I'm gone for too long." Gu Yanzheng's head ached at the thought of eating mushrooms. He opened the door of his Audi 100 and waved to Chen Zhenzhu: "I'm leaving."

"Okay!" Shen Zhenzhu and Gu Yanzheng were in one car, while Wu Zhongguo drove the Cherokee they had found, carrying the rest of the people. Although the journey was long, everyone was eager to get home.

"A whole month has passed in the blink of an eye." Chen Zhenzhu looked out the window from the passenger seat, her mood shifting. "Brother Zheng, do you think coming down here will be helpful to Director Zhou and the others?"

"Yes, it will definitely help Sixth Sister too," Gu Yanzheng laughed. "The trunk is full of wild mushrooms; she'll either make a fortune—"

"Either go bankrupt."

Gu Yanzheng shrugged with laughter: "That's not what I said."

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey." Shen Zhenzhu spat a few times to ward off bad luck, then suddenly chuckled: "Cuiping has become a manager at the farmers' market, so Sixth Sister's wild mushrooms will be taken care of from now on."

"You're quite the thief, aren't you? You even managed to get in touch with her." Gu Yanzheng was genuinely surprised: "I heard you even recognized He Liana as your god-sister?"

Chen Zhenzhu said smugly, "This is what you call connections~ From now on, I can have mushrooms whenever I want, and roast duck whenever I want~"

"You're really something, you're really something." Gu Yanzheng couldn't help but laugh: "You've made good use of your connections. You can get the second-in-command of 'Focus Interview' to do something, like send roast duck."

"Second-in-command? Who? My sister? She's so powerful." Chen Zhenzhu really didn't know.

“We’ve known each other for over a year and you’re only now calling me Brother Zheng.”

Gu Yanzheng suddenly started bringing up old grievances; that scoundrel changes his tune faster than flipping through a book.

Shen Zhenzhu silently unscrewed the bottle of mineral water and handed it to Gu Yanzheng: "Brother Zheng, have some water."

"Even water can't shut me up." Gu Yanzheng had already seen through the junior official's thoughts.

The junior official had no choice but to gulp down half the bottle himself, ignoring whether the driver next to him was thirsty.

After Shen Zhenzhu and Gu Yanzheng entered Liancheng, they both visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

It's not easy being away from home. Not only did I almost lose two lives, but I also almost lost my Cherokee. Anyone who hears this would laugh.

"Why didn't you take the car to a repair shop?" Chen Zhenzhu asked curiously as she got out of the Audi 100. "Why did you drive it back?"

Gu Yanzheng said, "Leaving it downstairs at the Municipal Bureau building for a few days proves that I'm not a useless person."

Shen Zhenzhu pursed her lips, not daring to laugh out loud. She had almost forgotten that Lu Ye, that loudmouth, had spread the news about Captain Gu losing his car.

Director Liu greeted them downstairs, warmly shaking hands with Shen Zhenzhu and Gu Yanzheng: "You've worked hard. I didn't expect you to bring such honor to our municipal bureau with your trip. I'm so proud of you. Director Tu even called to inquire about your well-being. Remember to call him back later. Come on, come upstairs and rest for a while. I bought some fruit and left it in your office, and I also had someone clean it."

Shen Zhenzhu followed them upstairs, and returning to her office felt just like coming home.

The office was spotless, with water spilled on the floor. The desks and windows were bright, as was the crystal vase that had captivated her, which held a bouquet of fiery red roses.

Following his superior's instructions, Gu Yanzheng let everyone leave work early and take the next day off. He and Shen Zhenzhu stayed behind to complete some procedures.

"Here are Zhao Qiqi's internship materials. Take a look." Gu Yanzheng, with an apple in his mouth, pulled out Zhao Qiqi's materials from a pile of documents on his desk and handed them to Chen Zhenzhu.

Now that Shen Zhenzhu is the vice-captain, we have to communicate with her about everything.

Shen Zhenzhu was actually a little curious about Zhao Qiqi's sudden appearance. In two months, there would be another selection and promotion assessment. At this time, Zhao Qiqi suddenly appeared. I'm afraid some people will have some ideas.

"Parents were martyrs?" Shen Zhenzhu sat down and looked at Zhao Qiqi's review materials word by word. There were only her and Gu Yanzheng in the office, so she asked, "I remember he said that his parents were both tailors?"

"The tailor was an undercover agent. When he was in junior high school, his parents' undercover identities were discovered, and the criminal group killed them. He later grew up in the countryside with his grandparents."

Gu Yanzheng pulled out a chair and sat opposite Shen Zhenzhu, saying, "His biggest wish is to join the police force. I don't know if he wants to avenge his parents, but I observed that his performance in the last case was acceptable. Although his education level is not high, he has excellent grades in the army. I want to discuss the issue of accepting him with my deputy captain."

The words "my vice-captain" pleased Shen Zhenzhu greatly. She could hardly hide her feelings in front of Gu Yanzheng, and said sweetly with her dimples, "I have no objection. I am happy to accept a comrade from such a family background. It is my honor to be a colleague who can fight alongside me."

"Okay, if there are no problems, you'll be promoted to a full-time position after your internship." Gu Yanzheng stood up and stretched. "We'll go to Sister Liu's shop tomorrow to celebrate your promotion. See you there."

"Okay, see you at the store."

***

Chen Zhenzhu picked up an apple and started eating it as she went downstairs. When she got to her bicycle, she took out her key and tried to pry it open, but it wouldn't budge. She shook it a few times, and the bicycle made an old, rusty noise.

"......" He hadn't been back for a month, and his bicycle had rusted up!

The gatekeeper came over with a spoonful of oil, squatted down next to the bewildered Chen Zhenzhu, dipped his key in the oil, and twisted it a few times.

Click.

The lock is open.

"You can't ride this anymore, the tires are all flat. I think you should get a new bicycle." The gatekeeper said disdainfully, "I even moved it under the bike shed for you when it rained, I don't know who moved it back out."

Unable to push her jingling bicycle all the way home, Chen Zhenzhu parked it in the yard, took a shower, and then realized no one was home.

Shen Zhenzhu missed her mother, so she put on her old school sportswear and took a walk to the store.

There were already queues on the street. Chen Zhenzhu stood on tiptoe to look ahead, wondering which business was having such a popular promotion. The entire street was filled with customers queuing up.

She pushed her way through the crowd, and then stood dumbfounded in front of her own shop.

These customers were all lining up in front of her house!

Saying it was a sea of ​​people would be an exaggeration, but there were definitely quite a few. The two expanded shops were packed with people, and a small bar had been set up at the entrance, where you could see Shen Yuyuan calling out numbers while frantically shaking her milk tea. The numbers were for the restaurant, and the milk tea was for the other queue.

The shop that had been opened up behind the kitchen was packed with customers, and Wu Fuwang's men were serving dishes. Liu Leqin sat at the counter by the kitchen entrance, using a calculator to process customers' bills...

While on the phone, Wu Fuwang kept shouting into the kitchen, "One deluxe shredded pork with garlic sauce takeout!"

Shen Zhenzhu heard her sixth sister's hurried voice from inside: "I know!!"

Shen Zhenzhu stared blankly at the bustling and crowded scene, and suddenly felt that her month-long absence from home didn't seem so important anymore.

She silently walked to the counter, picked up the phone, and called Gu Yanzheng amidst Wu Fuwang's surprised gaze, hoping to change the venue for tomorrow's gathering, as she estimated she wouldn't be able to get a table.

Unfortunately, the call didn't go through, so I had to hang up.

Li Lili came out wearing an apron and saw someone standing at the kitchen door. She politely said, "Excuse me, could you please move aside?"

Chen Zhenzhu: "Oh."

When Li Lili served the dishes, she turned around and realized that Chen Zhenzhu had returned. She was so happy that she almost jumped up: "Big sister is back! Second sister, big sister is back!"

This shout triggered a wave of emotion among relatives and friends. Everyone put down their work and gathered around Chen Zhenzhu to offer their concern and care.

Sixth Sister came out with a kitchen knife; she was halfway through cleaning the fish. Seeing Chen Zhenzhu, she looked her up and down several times, then nodded emphatically: "You're back just in time. Go to the back and chop up the ribs for me."

"..." Chen Zhenzhu swallowed back all her longing and said, "Okay."

Her heart is as cold and hard as a kitchen knife.

As the lonely figure left the restaurant and went to the back, seeing Uncle Lu chopping fish and Aunt Yuan washing duck offal, he suddenly felt less lonely.

"Let's see who's back?" Aunt Yuan took off her plastic gloves, touched Chen Zhenzhu's face and said, "Your mother missed you so much. She kept saying you weren't coming back. If you hadn't called, she would have thought you'd been kidnapped."

Uncle Lu rubbed his lower back and said, "You've lost weight. I'll have your mom help you get some nourishment during this time. Summer is almost here, and it'll be bad for your health if you don't have an appetite then."

"Why is my business suddenly so good?" Chen Zhenzhu squatted down, picked up some ribs, and placed them on the cutting board to show them off. "I almost couldn't find my way home."

Yuan Jiangxue also found it interesting and said to Chen Zhenzhu, "Didn't you sell milk tea when you left? Those young people at the skating rink were promoting your family's business there every day, and they would bring back a bunch of drinks every few days. Later, a program called 'A Bite of Local Flavors' discovered it and followed it all the way here. They found that not only was your milk tea delicious, but your mother's cooking was also superb, so they did a special interview with you. The program became popular, and your family became famous too."

"Wow, I really have to thank them!" Shen Zhenzhu looked at the tired Aunt Yuan and Uncle Lu and said gratefully, "I'm so grateful to everyone for taking care of our family. I've seen all the neighbors looking after us."

"What we businesses fear most is a lack of foot traffic. If your business is doing well, our business will also benefit."

Uncle Lu said generously, "You can't just look at the immediate future when doing business. Only by helping and supporting each other can you go far. Your mother usually feeds and takes good care of us. Xiao Leng and the other neighbors are happy for your family and have helped a lot. If your family prospers, we won't be far from prospering either."

Yuan Jiangxue rarely agreed with Lao Lu's opinion, nodding and saying, "Watch carefully, there are small thorns on the ribs, so you don't prick your hand."

"Hmm!" Shen Zhenzhu chopped the ribs with great vigor. A little while later, Shen Yuyuan ran over and gave her a cup of milk tea. After a while, Li Lili came over and fed her some chilled lychees.

Liu Leqin, who had just finished collecting the money, came over from the front, carrying the chopped ribs and smiling as she said, "I've been helping out at your house these past few days, and when I got back, your uncle said I looked better. You've been working so hard lately, don't worry, we're all here for you."

Chen Zhenzhu rubbed her nose: "Mmm!"

Liu Leqin patted Chen Zhenzhu on the back of the head, smiled at the little girl whose eyes were red, and said, "Spend some time talking with your mother tonight, she misses you."

After chopping the ribs, Chen Zhenzhu sat in the backyard rubbing her wrists. After chopping two racks of ribs, the blood in her wrists had improved.

My sixth sister isn't good with words; she just asked me to chop ribs, but my mother loves me.

Shen Zhenzhu washed her face and ran to the kitchen to help Shen Liuhe, worried that she might be too busy. But she was chased out again: "Go away, I have Xiao Li here, don't make things worse."

"Little Li?" Shen Zhenzhu glanced inside. It was the big brother of the young gangsters at the ice rink.

Shen Zhenzhu pouted as she looked at the blond-haired man helping out inside. Why was he running to the kitchen instead of handing out skates at the skating rink?

However, after a few glances, she realized that Xiao Li was quite skilled. Although he didn't cook much, he was an expert at chopping and washing vegetables. He could shred potatoes so fine they could be threaded through a needle, and he could slice tofu into thin pieces; the knife was nothing but a blur in his hands.

Otherwise, Sixth Sister would only be able to manage two stoves, ah, four stoves! No wonder Sixth Sister was able to run such a big business, and even added two more big pots.

Sixth Sister was busy running around in the kitchen, but her eyes were bright and her voice was full of energy.

"Big sister, come and shake the milk tea, I can't keep up!" Shen Yuyuan cried out in despair, "Come quick!"

"Here I am." Chen Zhenzhu couldn't get up, so she squeezed through the crowd to her counter and started working for free.

"Let me tell you, there are 'more sugar,' 'less sugar,' 'no sugar,' as well as options with and without ice, and hot options with toppings. You have to be careful to read carefully. If you make a wrong cup, you'll have to drink it yourself, and they won't be able to drink any of it."

Shen Yuyuan was clearly a master in the world of milk tea making, showing Shen Zhenzhu the tools in front of her, which surprised Shen Zhenzhu.

"You actually managed to pull this off? I'm truly impressed." Shen Zhenzhu had left in a hurry and hadn't made careful arrangements. But she had a thoughtful mother, a diligent sister, and a group of neighbors with good appetites.

Under Shen Yuyuan's watchful eye, Chen Zhenzhu made several cups of milk tea, after which Shen Yuyuan handed over the important task of shaking the milk tea to her eldest sister.

“After the college entrance exam, you won’t need to worry about anything. My classmates will all be working part-time. And those who didn’t go to college will also want to find jobs. I told my sixth sister and she agreed.”

“Creating jobs is a good thing, and I support it.” Chen Zhenzhu shook the milk tea vigorously, filled a cup, and handed it to the customer in front of her. The customer wanted it to be packed up, so she handed it over in a plastic bag.

The signs for "Sixth Sister's Hong Kong Style Milk Tea" and "Sixth Sister's Restaurant" were printed on plastic bags, and Shen Zhenzhu realized that she really didn't need to worry too much about things back home. Sixth Sister, full of hope for life, had a natural knack for the food and beverage business.

The sound of Sixth Sister laughing heartily came from inside the shop. She was talking to a customer, and Chen Zhenzhu smiled too.

The next morning.

May is warm and comfortable.

Shen Zhenzhu didn't sleep in. After her run, she opened Gu Yanzheng's notebook. Before she knew it, she had finished reading the "Gu Family Secret Manual." Next to the bookshelf was a stack of notebooks even thicker than the "Gu Family Secret Manual."

On the desk was a note Shen Yuyuan had written to her: 'Welcome home, big sister. I bought you a gift; it's in the closet.'

Shen Zhenzhu excitedly opened the wardrobe and saw a brand new pair of footed leggings, in rose red.

She quietly unfolded the note she had put away and placed it on her desk, pretending she hadn't seen it. She planned to get dressed after the celebration banquet.

I originally wanted to wear my old school sportswear, but then I thought about it and put on the long-sleeved dress I bought last time I went shopping. I put on leather shoes and wiggled in front of the mirror: "Who looks so stylish? It's so pretty!"

Before leaving home, I shared the hazel mushrooms I brought back with my neighbors, and then shared them with other residents in the commercial street.

With a bright and beautiful smile on her simply made-up face, she had been thinking that her colleagues would be coming over for lunch in the afternoon, so she could relax now, but unexpectedly she received a call from Director Liu.

Before long, colleagues from the publicity department, the head of the Municipal Disabled Persons' Federation, and a reporter from the TV station arrived at the store.

The morning wasn't too busy. Section Chief Liang of the Publicity Department, with his refined and scholarly appearance, seemed very familiar with the publicity work. He introduced himself to Shen Zhenzhu as follows:

"Section Chief Shen, the case you helped crack recently involving an illegal brick factory and underground surrogacy has reached the Municipal Disabled Persons' Federation. The Federation has been calling for improved basic protections and human rights for people with disabilities, and they've approached the television station hoping you can do a special interview to talk to the public about the illegal brick factory and underground surrogacy, aiming to generate public discussion and use social supervision and reporting to combat the harm and exploitation of people with disabilities by criminals. What do you think?"

Chen Zhenzhu puffed out her chest: "That's great! I'd be very happy to help my disabled friends."

Deputy Director Liu of the Municipal Disabled Persons' Federation Office gratefully extended his hand and said, "My surname is Liu, and I am the deputy director of the Municipal Disabled Persons' Federation Office. I am so grateful for your help to us disabled people. I heard that nearly two hundred disabled people were rescued from persecution some time ago. I bow to you on their behalf."

"Please don't say that, Director Liu. I was just doing my job. Besides, it wasn't just my contribution. The entire Fourth Criminal Investigation Team solved the case under Captain Gu's leadership, with the cooperation of the Anfeng City Criminal Investigation Team. In addition, Comrade He Liana's heroic undercover work obtained a lot of crucial evidence. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to solve the case. This isn't just my achievement."

"Is Old Shen giving orders here? That's too polite." Gu Yanzheng's voice came from outside. He was riding a motorcycle with Comrade Zhao Qiqi in the back.

Zhao Qiqi followed up on Captain Gu's words: "Yes, I heard from Brother Ye that if you hadn't discovered that Comrade He Liana was locked in the secret room and found the 15 disabled women who were being hidden, Zheng Xiankai wouldn't have been brought to justice so quickly. The key to solving the case lies with you. Who else should we interview if not you? Sister Pearl, don't be shy, please accept."

Seeing Chen Zhenzhu looking at him, Gu Yanzheng sat down at another table with an air of authority and said, "Director Liu specifically asked you to cooperate."

He rubbed his shoulders, took the milk tea with a contented look, and sighed, "It's good to have the vice-captain share the burden. The capable should do more. From now on, you will be the spokesperson for our fourth team."

Zhao Qiqi had absolutely no sense of propriety. She thought Gu Yanzheng was praising Chen Zhenzhu and failed to see that her dear, respected, and kind Captain Gu was shirking responsibility. She happily chimed in, "Sister Zhenzhu, you are still the lucky star of the Fourth Team. I know you have solved many cases since you joined the Fourth Team. I want to learn from you!"

The two men took turns flattering the junior official, who beamed with joy and happily agreed to the filming assignment.

Section Chief Liang from the Publicity Department greeted Gu Yanzheng and then left with representatives from the TV station and the Municipal Disabled Persons' Federation.

Gu Yanzheng took Zhao Qiqi to order at the store, then rode off on his motorcycle, carrying a heavy bag of black duck. Zhao Qiqi waved vigorously, saying, "See you tonight."

Fire one shot and leave? What's the point?

"Eat!" Shen Zhenzhu hadn't eaten breakfast yet. After finishing with a group of people, Shen Liuhe brought over a large portion of pork liver and lean meat and placed it in front of Shen Zhenzhu: "This will help you replenish your qi and blood. Once you're well, you can go back to working hard."

Shen Zhenzhu went to bed early yesterday and didn't get to talk to Shen Liuhe. When she saw Shen Liuhe during the day, she found the shop was so busy, but Liuhe was radiant, as if she had blossomed into a second spring.

"Mom, someone's pursuing you?"

Shen Liuhe resisted the urge to slap her on the back of the head, and sat down opposite her, saying, "At this age, you don't have time to think about those things. Eat slowly, don't burn your tongue."

Shen Zhenzhu knew that her mother's generation didn't express many of their feelings. She took her sixth sister's calloused hand and pressed it against her face, saying, "I'm fine, don't worry. I've missed you so much these past few days."

"Don't even think about it. Captain Gu made you make the call." Shen Liuhe pinched her soft cheek and pulled her hand back, saying, "I even gave him two extra boxes of duck necks."

"Not only is he shirking his responsibilities, but he's also starting to betray his teammates!" Shen Zhenzhu slammed her hand on the table angrily and sat down.

What can we do to him? We can't do anything.

Let's have some porridge.

Shen Liuhe remained silent, sitting opposite Shen Zhenzhu and watching her slowly drink her porridge with a smile. Occasionally, she would peel a shrimp and toss it into the bowl, just like when her daughter was a child, watching her eat by herself.

In the evening, the four groups arrived at Sister Liu's restaurant and were all dumbfounded by the long queue.

Shen Zhenzhu was prepared. She set up a table that wasn't propped up against the wall for everyone, and took out the milk tea she had already shaken from the counter and handed it to them: "Drink as much as you want. I'll make you more after you finish."

Li Lili tossed over a menu during a break. There was no time to wait for customers to order. A pencil was hanging on the menu, and she would check off whatever she wanted to eat, then just call out when she was done.

To be honest, Shen Zhenzhu only just realized how terrifyingly fast her family's business had evolved. If she didn't know her family's background, she would have thought that her sixth sister had also transmigrated.

Lu Ye shouted, "Let's get some beer first."

Shen Zhenzhu bent down and placed a bottle of chilled beer on the table. Before Lu Ye could pick it up, she snapped her teeth and knocked the beer cap off.

She wiped the bottle opening and handed it to Lu Ye and Zhou Chuanxi, then said to Wu Zhongguo, "Uncle Wu, would you like something sizzling today?"

Wu Zhongguo said with a smile, "Okay, one bottle at room temperature."

Shen Zhenzhu then looked at Zhao Qiqi: "And you?"

Zhao Qiqi asked, "I'm allergic to alcohol, is it okay for me to drink milk tea?"

"What's wrong with that?" Shen Zhenzhu patted Zhao Qiqi's shoulder casually and said, "Today is not only to promote me and give me a raise, but also to welcome you. This is all our own business, so eat and drink whatever you want. Learn from Brother Aye and don't be shy with me."

She sat at the table, the noisy wind blowing the stray hairs at her temples. Chen Zhenzhu tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and asked Zhao Qiqi, "Where's Brother Zheng?"

Zhao Qiqi paused for two seconds, then pointed behind Chen Zhenzhu and said, "Look, here it comes."

Gu Yanzheng stepped off the motorcycle, his long legs and black leather jacket drawing the attention of the young people queuing outside the store. His sharp, angular jawline beneath the helmet, combined with his handsome, rugged features and arrogant eyes, made many young women blush.

"A promotion gift." Gu Yanzheng took a black velvet bag out of his pocket and handed it to Chen Zhenzhu.

"I have another gift?" Chen Zhenzhu generously accepted the velvet bag, ignoring the many gazes behind her, and pulled it out to look: "New police rank!"

Gu Yanzheng said, "I got it back today through express delivery, just to make you happy."

Shen Zhenzhu was overjoyed. To express her happiness, she used her teeth to crack open a bottle of beer and handed it to Gu Yanzheng: "Thank you, Brother Zheng. No wonder you rushed here and left today. It turns out you went to help me get my new police rank!"

Gu Yanzheng didn't stand on ceremony, took the beer and clinked it against her's, took a couple of sips, and sat down. Knowing his own people well, he said with a half-smile, "Were you talking about me behind my back?"

Chen Zhenzhu started acting innocent again, wiping her mouth which was still foamy from the beer, and considerately put edamame on her boss's plate with her legs together: "Have some snacks to go with your drinks first, I'll go check on the kitchen."

"They ran away." Lu Ye started to sow discord: "They must have told you."

Zhao Qiqi silently grabbed a handful of edamame and put them in his bowl without saying a word, just letting him eat.

Zhou Chuanxi deliberately brought up a sore spot: "I heard that before you were assigned to the Municipal Bureau, you told them that Lao Shen was your idol? You must have gone to a lot of trouble to get assigned here, right?"

Zhao Qiqi stroked the milk tea and said apologetically, "The provincial department and the municipal bureau have been coordinating for a long time. Originally, they were going to assign me to Fangqing Oilfield as a driver for the top leader after my discharge from the army. But I didn't go after they agreed, which put the leaders in a difficult position."

Lu Ye said foolishly, "You're really something. I've never heard of a retired veteran who can make the leaders of the provincial and municipal bureaus worry. You gave up such a good job at the oil field to suffer in our criminal investigation team. I wouldn't do it."

"You have to do it whether you like it or not," Chen Zhenzhu shouted, carrying a steaming bowl of freshly boiled fish fillets. "Make way!"

Lu Ye quickly dragged the stool to the side: "Wow, my mom is so good at cooking!"

The boiled fish fillets are a vibrant red, with paper-thin slices soaking in the bright red broth, layer upon layer, tender and translucent, a feast for the eyes. They are sprinkled with chili flakes and Sichuan peppercorns, interspersed with bright green scallions and cilantro, and then sizzled in hot oil until fragrant and slightly charred. The colorful presentation and the spicy, savory aroma are sure to whet your appetite.

Shen Zhenzhu laughed and said, "You know your stuff. There's chicken stew with mushrooms simmering in the earthen stove in the backyard. Sixth Sister said we've been working hard and she wants to give us a good rest."

She looked at Gu Yanzheng, who had suffered greatly in the past month.

First, they ate mushrooms together and got poisoned by hallucinogenic neurotoxins, and then their car was stolen. After that, they went to work as laborers in an illegal brick factory, enduring beatings and hunger while solving cases. Although her shoulders were still broad, Chen Zhenzhu had visibly lost a lot of weight.

Even if she's in great shape, she shouldn't overexert herself like this. Gu Yanzheng doesn't seem like the type to take good care of herself and eat regularly. It just so happens that Sixth Sister wants to give her some extra nutrition, so let's give her some too.

Shen Zhenzhu didn't know what this was called; she simply wanted her brother Zheng to be healthy and not get hurt again.

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Author's Note: Old Gu: I won't say much more; those who know, know. [Sunglasses]

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Next case preview: "The Men Kneeling in Dog Cages"

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See you tomorrow, there will be red envelopes!

The recipe was adapted from online sources.