Chapter 226 Receiving the Alarm
March 12th, Arbor Day.
Shen Zhenzhu rode the bus with great interest to the outskirts of the city bureau and other idle people.
She truly loves participating in group activities, and she especially loves wheat flower pastries.
The Liancheng Old Brand Pastry Factory is right next to the tree planting site designated by the Municipal Bureau. She usually doesn't go there because she thinks it wastes oil.
I'm secretly planning to bring back some hawthorn flatbread, milk bean biscuits, and walnut bread later, and also buy a big bag of yogurt bread rolls for breakfast. It's going to be so delicious.
Yes, I also need to bring red date and walnut bread for Sixth Sister, sachima for Taro Balls, and the 8th-century candy, large square cake, crispy twisted dough sticks, Glenmorangie cookies, peanut brittle, black sesame peach crisps, flaky pastries, and flaky pepper and salt biscuits that the neighbors wanted...
Director Li was sitting next to Shen Zhenzhu in the first row. As soon as the bus stopped, he saw Shen Zhenzhu rush out, grab a shovel, and prepare to dig a hole.
"Great, young people have enthusiasm." Although Director Li didn't get along with Director Liu, he still liked Shen Zhenzhu, mainly because she was ambitious.
He came back with a second-class merit award at the beginning of the year, firing the first shot of the year. Director Zhou praised him by name, and the other municipal bureaus were green with envy.
However, the leader's reprimand still had to go through the necessary procedures. Chen Zhenzhu listened for half an hour while leaning on her shovel, almost falling asleep, before finally getting back to work.
"Captain Chen, I really didn't expect the Criminal Investigation Team to send you." Director Wang, who was in charge of the information department of the Municipal Bureau, walked over to greet the junior section chief who was happily digging a hole.
Shen Zhenzhu was thinking about digging a hole quickly so she could go over and splurge before the pastry factory closed. She hurriedly looked up and said, "Director Wang, come on, this tree is yours, dig it."
Shen Zhenzhu's hospitality was too much to refuse.
Leaders are mainly there to convey the spirit of afforestation; with a mountain of documents piled up on their desks, they have no time to do this.
Director Wang still dug it up.
After Director Li finished taking the photos, a group of people were celebrating the new year and its new look. Chen Zhenzhu waved to them and said, "Come on, one person, one hole."
Director Li smiled and, holding the shovel, said, "Great! I also loved digging holes when I was young. I never missed a group activity. You're just like me back then."
It's hard to say anything about Shen Zhenzhu. No matter how much she resembles a senior criminal investigator or a senior forensic doctor, it's fine. But he's just a personnel manager; how much of a resemblance can he possibly have?
Chen Zhenzhu chuckled dryly as she diligently dug the pit.
Director Li, standing next to Shen Zhenzhu on her right, put on white gloves and slowly began to work. This was quite something; the others stopped their small groups of singing and began digging holes, each picking up a shovel.
Seeing this, Director Li's secretary instructed the bus driver to unload several cases of bottled water, which were then shared among everyone.
Shen Zhenzhu gulped down a bottle, wiped her mouth, and continued digging a hole.
Everyone present had studied the "Spiritual Documents of Comrade Shen Zhenzhu." With her leading the way and Director Li following behind, the tree planting activity was in full swing, and everyone's hands were covered in blisters.
After digging five holes in one go, Chen Zhenzhu sat on a small mound of earth, drank a bottle of mineral water, and fanned herself, sweating profusely: "Can we walk now?"
Secretary Li leaned closer and couldn't help but ask, "In such a rush, does Captain Chen have another big case on his hands?"
The tree planting activity, which was expected to take a day, was completed in half a day, and the saplings planted were all straight and tall.
There's no real case involving sunken pearls; the real target is the scrap gift package from the pastry factory.
"It's alright, since I'm already here, I'll just take a stroll." Chen Zhenzhu planted the shovel in the small mound of earth and sauntered towards the Maihua Pastry Factory.
Although Maihua Pastry Factory is located in the suburbs, it is loved by people of all ages because of its cheap prices and sweet taste. Some people go to great lengths to take the bus from one terminal station to the other, just to buy a bite of this affordable and delicious food.
Chen Zhenzhu strolled to the window outside the pastry factory and chuckled; a queue had already formed.
I'm extremely anxious.
Hurry up and get in line.
As I was queuing, I heard a few familiar voices behind me. I turned around and saw that Director Wang and others had also come to join the queue.
Upon seeing Chen Zhenzhu turn around, Director Wang said, "My daughter knew I was coming and specifically asked me to buy some to take back. I was planning to come over when I had some free time, but I was so busy planting trees that I didn't get around to it until now."
Shen Zhenzhu thought to herself, "If I had known you were coming too, why would I have been in such a hurry?"
Now things are getting better; there are more and more people, but fewer and fewer leftover gift packages.
The man carrying the gift bag left beaming, while the junior section chief, still in line, stood on tiptoe, anxiously peering inside.
"Have you heard? 'Happy High' is nutritious and delicious. It's so good for breakfast when paired with wheat flower snacks."
"Of course I know. My neighbor's kid grew two centimeters taller after drinking it for a month. It's more effective than drinking milk. No wonder it's a big brand."
Chen Zhenzhu stood on tiptoe again. If there really were nutritional supplements that could help you grow taller, and more importantly, tasted good and could be paired with wheat flowers, then she would definitely have to try them.
Shen Zhenzhu secretly memorized the product name "Happy High," as if it had been advertised on television many times and was quite expensive.
Chen Zhenzhu successfully purchased a variety of snacks and a great value gift pack of leftovers, returning home with a full load of goodies.
The happiness brought by a day of slacking off is indescribable. Carrying the food bags back to Sister Liu's restaurant, I started distributing them to the elderly people on the commercial street.
Zhang Xiaopang and Grandpa Zhang treat Sister Liu's restaurant like their own canteen, but today, when it's mealtime, the two of them haven't arrived yet.
Shen Zhenzhu specially saved some snacks for Zhang Xiaopang, muttering to herself behind the counter, "If you don't come soon, I'll eat them."
It was still chilly in early spring, around dusk.
The restaurant door was pushed open, bringing a gust of cold wind. Zhang Xiaopang ran in, wiping away tears, and shouted to Shen Zhenzhu, "Sister, I'm going to call the police."
Grandpa Zhang, who had followed him, didn't like his behavior and pulled him aside, saying, "What's wrong with someone stealing a few duck necks? It has nothing to do with Little Swan. You're not acting like a man."
"Can't a little swan eat the duck necks saved by a man?" Zhang Xiaopang's tears fell, and he went around to the counter, hugged Chen Zhenzhu's knees, and said with his head held high, "Sister, please help me catch the thief who stole the duck necks!"
Grandpa Zhang, standing across the counter, explained, "He doesn't dare to talk to Su Mei'an all day long, he only dares to secretly put duck necks in her cabinet. He finally managed to strike up a conversation, only to find out that she didn't get to eat his duck necks, and he couldn't take it anymore, he was about to break down."
Zhang Xiaopang said to Grandpa Zhang, "You were young once too. Didn't you ever experience the heartbreak of love?"
Grandpa Zhang laughed: "Sorry, my marriage to your grandma was arranged."
Zhang Xiaopang, his chest puffed out in anger, roared, "I declare the marriage invalid!"
Grandpa Zhang retorted, "Then you should put your dad back first. I don't know if your mom would be happy to put you back."
Zhang Xiaopang burst into tears: "Heaven is going to kill me!"
Shen Zhenzhu covered his mouth: "Stop howling like a banshee, is it a hundred duck necks?"
Zhang Xiaopang choked up and said, "Two hundred. No wonder she can eat so much and not gain weight."
"That thing isn't going to be that fat anyway," Grandpa Zhang continued to argue.
Chen Zhenzhu said helplessly, "Grandpa, please stop talking for now. Give the child some time to calm down."
Zhang Xiaopang hurriedly said, "I won't back down, I won't bow to evil, I'm calling the police, I'm catching the thief. Sister, you're my own sister, you have to stand by me—"
Chen Zhenzhu stood up and made up her mind: "Let's go, I'll go with you."
Shen Liuhe brought out a crispy pork knuckle from the kitchen. The aroma wafted past Zhang Xiaopang's nose. He stopped and hesitated before saying, "Is this the big pork knuckle that Brother Dongbao ate during the New Year? Or should we wait until after dinner?"
Shen Zhenzhu sat down again: "Okay, really okay."
Zhang Xiaopang pulled out a chair himself, sat at the table closest to the counter, picked up the menu and said, "Being able to eat is a blessing, ma'am, give me a crispy pork knuckle."
Grandpa Zhang stopped drinking and tried to persuade his chubby grandson: "Are you still eating pork knuckle? Your dance teacher said your weight is not up to standard and you need to lose weight."
Zhang Xiaopang said, "He didn't charge me according to the standard either."
Grandpa Zhang said, "Didn't your mother go to their house to deliver gifts?"
Zhang Xiaopang insisted on eating crispy pork knuckle, so Grandpa Zhang had no choice but to add a side of smashed cucumber and finish his dinner.
Shen Zhenzhu's meal was simpler than theirs; Hu Die made her a bowl of Northeastern-style fried noodles with soybean paste. Eggs and homemade soybean paste were fried into egg flowers, cucumbers were shredded, and seasoned with oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, served with cold noodles—simple yet refreshing.
After settling the bills for several customers, Chen Zhenzhu finished her noodles with soybean paste. She took the bowl back to the kitchen to rinse it and called to Zhang Xiaopang, "Are you done yet? Class will be over soon if we stay any longer."
Zhang Xiaopang ate with his mouth full of oil, and gave Shen Liuhe a thumbs up: "I will introduce my classmates to come, it's so delicious."
Grandpa Zhang wanted to go with them, but Little Fatty Zhang wouldn't let him: "You stay and stand on the other side. You're not allowed to go."
Shen Zhenzhu simply took his hand, and the two siblings squeezed onto the bus to the Youth Palace.
"You have to squeeze onto a bus to handle a case? That's not how it's portrayed on TV." Zhang Xiaopang squeezed off the bus through the crowd, his tracksuit zipper undone.
"Don't alert them." Chen Zhenzhu coaxed him towards the dance studio. Along the way, people handing out flyers greeted them, saying, "Here we go again? Little Fatty's really taking it."
Zhang Xiaopang glared at them and continued walking forward.
The Youth Palace has staircases on both sides, and the dance studio is in the main building. Chen Zhenzhu had been here once before and didn't need Zhang Xiaopang to lead the way; she climbed the stairs. She encountered many students who had finished their classes and were preparing to go home.
“I put it in this cabinet; this is An’an’s cabinet,” Zhang Xiaopang said, pointing to the rows of cabinets behind the advertising sign.
There were ballet students changing their shoes next to the cabinet. When they saw Zhang Xiaopang coming over, they looked at each other.
Zhang Xiaopang proudly introduced, "Do you know Sister Pearl?"
Several girls in their early teens shook their heads and said in unison, "We don't know."
Zhang Xiaopang didn't give up and added, "They're from the Municipal Public Security Bureau, specializing in catching murderers, arsonists, and bad guys who steal duck necks."
Seeing their shifty eyes, and some even licking their lips as if reminiscing about the taste of Chen Heiya, Shen Zhenzhu showed her ID and said, "Classmates, do you know who took the wrong duck neck? Tell me now, and I promise I won't tell the teacher or your parents."
These words were tantamount to a pardon for the students. Several girls chimed in, "We ate, we were just too hungry. But our weight didn't meet the standard, so our families wouldn't give us anything to eat."
“Su Mei’an doesn’t eat duck necks; she wants to eat nutritious food. She told us last time that duck necks have a strong smell, and they made her skirt smell like braised food.”
"Duck neck is so delicious, but my mom says that food from outside doesn't meet hygiene standards and won't let me eat it."
"We're so sorry, Zhang Guojun. We really apologize. We thought it would be a waste to throw it away since it was spoiled, so we decided to eat it instead. Now we know that was wrong..."
"Please forgive us. We will repay you a little bit every day. We will definitely pay you back."
The beautiful little swans surrounded Zhang Xiaopang and sincerely apologized to him.
Zhang Xiaopang, his ears and neck flushed red, waved his chubby hand magnanimously and said, "An apology is enough, let's move on. If you want to eat, just tell me and I'll bring it to you."
"Really? You take classes here too?"
"I'm in the advanced class, the newly opened one," Zhang Xiaopang said a little embarrassed.
“The advanced class is good too, it’s all for improvement.” One of the little swans said, “By the way, An’an has been selected for the growth class, you won’t see her here anymore.”
Zhang Xiaopang asked eagerly, "Where is the growth-enhancing class?"
"I heard there's a chance to get sponsored in that building behind, with food, drinks, and teaching included," Little Swan said enviously. "Unfortunately, I don't meet the selection criteria; my weight and height are too far off."
Zhang Xiaopang sighed, "Then I'll stay even further away."
......
After leaving the Youth Palace, the siblings first went to the entrance for a small barbecue. After finishing ten large meat skewers, Zhang Xiaopang stood up to pay the bill.
This amused Chen Zhenzhu greatly: "How could I let you pay me?"
Zhang Xiaopang mimicked an adult and said, "You can't make someone come all this way for nothing if you ask them for a favor."
Chen Zhenzhu said, "Then you can buy the bus ticket back."
Zhang Xiaopang thought for a moment, put his wallet back, and reluctantly said, "Okay then."
The bus wasn't crowded, and Chen Zhenzhu sat next to Zhang Xiaopang, swaying as the bus started moving. She said, "I know a good barbecue place. I'll take you there later."
Zhang Xiaopang said, "Okay, but don't tell my grandpa, I'm not taking him."
Chen Zhenzhu asked, "Why?"
Zhang Xiaopang said, "He will definitely tell my mom. If my mom finds out that I traveled all that way to eat barbecue, she will definitely say that I have too much pocket money and am a spendthrift."
Zhang Xiaopang was very self-aware. After Shen Zhenzhu sent him back, he also went home.
She was home alone. After taking a shower, instead of sitting on the sofa, she squeezed into the space between the coffee table and the sofa, watching TV while flipping through a book issued by the Municipal Bureau, commonly known as "The Veteran's Secret Manual".
The data integration was only done in the last two years. Retired police officers solved many major cases under limited equipment and technology. The collected work experience will be enlightening for future case handling. Shen Zhenzhu looks at it from time to time, which can be regarded as a passing on of knowledge.
At 8:30, Qingjie's new TV series "Red Years" finally came on TV.
The program, a collaboration between CCTV and overseas television stations, invested in and broadcast the show, setting a new record for the highest viewership.
Everyone on the streets is talking about this hit drama, saying that Ouyang Qing's TV series are of high quality, with unconventional plots, brilliant performances, and a good reputation.
The TV station also knew that "Red Years" had high ratings, so they cut a 45-minute episode into four segments and broadcast them with more commercial breaks than actual episodes.
Especially the interlude, which features a mesmerizing alternating sound of male and female voices:
The advertising slogan is: "Grow taller, taller, taller! Drink HappyGrow! Recommended product by the Youth Nutrition Foundation."
It has absolutely no aesthetic appeal, and a single line can be played multiple times, making it hard for anyone not to remember it.
The daily broadcast of "Red Years" was nearing its end, and Shen Zhenzhu thought she could finally escape the addictive and cheesy commercials, only to be greeted by a new one:
"No gifts this holiday season, only happiness."
That night, Shen Zhenzhu collapsed onto the sofa and fell asleep.
I dreamt that I grew legs that were two meters long and feet that were size 50!
Because she didn't have any suitable clothes, she squatted pitifully in the living room, hugging herself, her head sticking out from the ceiling, and shouted towards the entrance of the residential complex: "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy—"
"Even in your dreams you're restless." Shen Liuhe, who had just finished her work, touched Chen Zhenzhu's forehead. She was warm from sleeping, thankfully she didn't have a fever. She patted her bottom and woke her up: "Brush your teeth and go to bed."
Half-asleep, Shen Zhenzhu hugged Shen Liuhe, squinted her eyes, and said coquettishly, "Mom, I've grown taller."
"Little Giant." Shen Liuhe dragged her off the sofa: "Go take a shower quickly."
"Oh." Shen Zhenzhu slowly stood up, feeling that growing taller might not be a good thing, as she couldn't even buy underwear.
The next day, at five in the morning.
Feeling refreshed, Shen Zhenzhu set off from the residential area and ran along the roadside to the Criminal Investigation Brigade.
They ran into Lu Ye, who was exercising, on the playground, and the two fought fiercely for a while.
"He was ruthless and vicious." Lu Ye lay on the ground, letting Shen Zhenzhu pull him up. "No wonder he could beat up five people in one go."
Shen Zhenzhu took off the towel from her neck and wiped her sweat, saying dismissively, "Those people are all show and no substance, they're all just empty shells."
Guo Daye opened the window upstairs and shouted, "Why hasn't your fourth team submitted your report for this month yet?"
Shen Zhenzhu asked, feigning nonchalance, "Captain Lu, have you forgotten?"
Lu Ye pretended to be nonchalant: "Hey, I thought you handed it in. I'll write it when I get back."
Guo Daye looked up and sneered, "Stop talking the talk, get to work!"
"Right away, right away," Shen Zhenzhu said with a smile, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons, making Guo Daye unable to bear to be harsh with her.
Just then, Director Liu opened the window of his office: "Someone called the police. More than a dozen people are fighting. The police station has requested backup. Since you're already at the station, why don't you go over there?"
Chen Zhenzhu had no choice but to sit in the office: "Received!"
Director Liu added, "Qiangfeng Restaurant is located at the south exit of Yejin Avenue, next to the bus wash."
"Understood." Chen Zhenzhu first put on her equipment, grabbed her car keys, quickly crossed the office building to reach the parking lot, and started the Mantou No. 2 to prepare for an emergency call.
Someone else got on the back seat, and when Chen Zhenzhu looked, she saw that it was Xiaobai carrying a toothbrush cup.
"Ptooey, ptooey." Xiao Bai, with a ring of white foam around his mouth, had just gotten up and was brushing his teeth when he heard about the case and ran over without saying a word.
“I don’t know about Qiangfeng Restaurant, but I know how to get to the bus wash.” Lu Ye opened the map and estimated the distance: “At least twenty kilometers.”
Shen Zhenzhu slammed on the gas pedal, and Mantou No. 2 roared out of the gate, bounced on the gate track, and sped off towards Metallurgical Avenue.
Outside Qiangfeng Restaurant, a few people with rice bowls in their hands watched the commotion. Next door, inside the three-story bus wash, many heads peeked out.
Seven migrant workers from out of town gathered at Qiangfeng Restaurant last night, eating and drinking until the early hours of the morning.
The owner of Qiangfeng Restaurant took her child home to sleep, while the owner and his father stayed at the restaurant.
When the father and son woke up from their nap, their seven coworkers were already completely drunk and wanted to drink more alcohol.
A round-faced man with a thick beard stood up and staggered to the counter, accidentally breaking something.
He shouted without regard for the consequences, "If you're not going to cook, then hurry up and bring the wine. What are you dawdling for? You won't lose a single penny."
The restaurant owner, carrying a plate, slammed down the boiled bok choy: "Here it is!"
In his haste, he broke a bottle of beverage, spilling it all over the counter without even checking, and then rushed off to pack breakfast for someone else.
The round-faced man with a thick beard picked up the plate, his fingers accidentally crushing something hard. He picked it up and looked at it: "This is... garlic?"
He walked towards the table, his eyes blurry with drunkenness. The bus ticket seller who had come to buy him breakfast porridge that morning said something unpleasant: "Your pockets are emptier than your face. What are you pretending to be rich for? Go back to sleep."
These words successfully ignited the anger of the round-faced, bearded man. In his drunken state, he overturned the table and angrily said, "What are you saying, you woman?"
The ticket sellers who had come to eat with him were unhappy and pointed at the round-faced man with the bushy beard, saying, "You've been drinking since yesterday. If you're so capable, go make some money. If you're not, then you're here beating women."
"So what if I hit a woman?" The round-faced man with a thick beard kicked the chair away, almost falling over himself.
His drunken coworker, who was lying unconscious next to him, was knocked to the ground. He scrambled to his feet and yelled gruffly, "Who the hell hit me?"
He grabbed an empty beer bottle and smashed it at the door, startling the woman who came in, who then hugged her child tightly.
The child, who was reluctant to go to kindergarten, cut his hand on a shard of glass and cried out, "Waaah, it hurts! It hurts so much!"
The ticket sellers were outraged and shouted outside, "Someone's been assaulted! Someone's been assaulted here!"
Bus drivers waiting to have their cars washed rushed in, saw the mess in the restaurant, and immediately started fighting with the group of people who had been drinking.
They fight without thinking twice; they grab whatever they have and start shooting.
The father and son who owned Qiangfeng Restaurant were in a state of panic. Seeing their restaurant destroyed, they were furious and joined in: "I'll let you smash our store!"
"I'll beat you bunch of drunkards to death!"
A beer crate taller than a person toppled over, spilling beer foam all over the ground. Soft drinks, cabbage, and eggs were scattered everywhere.
People standing at the door watching the commotion were accidentally splashed with egg yolk.
A mischievous little girl skipped school and squatted on the ground "treasure hunting." After searching for a while, she found a tooth by the door, held it in her hand excitedly, and said, "Someone got their tooth knocked out!"
The girl's shout paused the fighting for a few seconds. The dozen or so people involved in the fight couldn't help but touch their teeth, and seeing that it wasn't them, they grabbed whatever they could and smashed it over each other's heads.
The round-faced, bearded man, feeling he was in the wrong, shouted when he heard someone in the crowd call the police, "We're not looking for trouble, the restaurant is unhygienic, we found something in our teeth in our food!"
The drunken, bloodied coworkers all chimed in, saying, "We overturned the table because we found something dirty in our food."
These words enraged the father and son at the restaurant even more. While the workers and drivers stopped hitting each other, the father and son continued: "You're talking nonsense! How could you possibly find teeth in our food? I think you're just like those guys on the bus, drinking and then refusing to pay!"
"Are we the same as those bastards?" the bus drivers protested, pointing at the father and son. "Did we make you earn a single penny less? Is it wrong to patronize your business?"
The round-faced, bearded man, who had been scolded, roared, "I'll kill you all!"
The three groups clashed again, and when the police officers arrived, they couldn't separate them.
When the Criminal Investigation Division's police car arrived, Lu Ye appeared with a gun in hand, finally bringing the situation under control: "Don't move! Warning!"
Xiao Bai, one hand on his waist, pointed at the restless crowd with the other: "I'm watching you all. Whoever moves will be handcuffed first!"
Chen Zhenzhu parked the car and got out, glanced at the situation inside, and shook her head: "That was a pretty brutal fight. There's blood, foam, alcohol splatter, eggshells—everything's on the ground. Where are the teeth? Who has them?"
A little girl held up a tooth and waved it in front of her: "Police officer, the tooth is with me."
Chen Zhenzhu took out the evidence bag and took the teeth. She glanced at the little girl, squatted down and examined the teeth first. They were intact: "Student, where did you find them?"
The little girl pointed to the location and said, "It's by the restaurant door, flying over with something, right here."
The restaurant owner couldn't help but say, "Maybe you've mistaken me for someone else."
The little girl said confidently, "I didn't see wrong. Quite a few people saw me pick it up."
Chen Zhenzhu asked, "Is that the elementary school across the street? What's its name?"
The little girl said, "Sister, my name is Liu Yuyao."
Chen Zhenzhu said, "Thank you. Are you going to be late for school? It's Monday today, why aren't you wearing your red scarf?"
The little girl thought of her homeroom teacher's stern face, and with a cry of "Waaah!" she turned and ran home: "Waaah, my red scarf, Mom! Mom—"
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Author's note: Pearl: Everyone, young or old, enjoys the spectacle.
See you tomorrow, there's a red envelope coming! [Let me see]
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