Chapter 6 The young police officer is truly remarkable.
In the 1990s, Liancheng transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy. The large vegetable market just two streets away was one of the city's leading wholesale centers.
The area is filled with the sounds of handcarts, donkey carts, and tractors, as vendors sell fruits, vegetables, clothing, and daily necessities. There are also seafood shops along the street, wafting the salty, fishy smell of the sea.
May is the most beautiful season in Liancheng.
Large quantities of mantis shrimp, flower crabs, ark shells, sea urchins, and other seafood have hit the market. Their fresh and fragrant aromas are a staple on every household's dining table.
There are also large cherries comparable to those in the tobacco market, such as Meizao, Jindinghong, and Suba, etc. Next to the cherry shops, local blueberries and Dandong strawberries are sold.
The price is so low that even someone on a tight budget can buy a couple of pounds of pearls every now and then to satisfy their cravings.
People were strolling through the streets and alleys after work. Some were picking up their children from school, some were eating stewed flatbread, and some were eating braised meat on the roadside. There were also many more carrying shopping baskets to buy groceries along the way.
Many laid-off workers set up stalls along the roadside during the rush hour, offering conch, clams, mackerel, shepherd's purse, wild onions, and pickled mustard greens. Inside the shops, stalls outside displayed a wide variety of roasted nuts and dried fruits. Across the street, a large pot simmered with locally grown corn.
Long queues formed in front of skilled vendors, their affordable roasted chicken racks sizzling and tempting passersby. Next door, the owner of a stall selling fried oysters and mixed shrimp and mussels wore a pink headscarf and chopped mackerel filling with two knives, waiting for customers to go home and make mackerel dumplings.
The bustling city streets mingled with delicious aromas as the bicycle struggled through the market. Chen Zhenzhu carried a bag of large cherries and an Arctic Ocean popsicle in her arms.
Gu Yanzheng, with a lychee-flavored Arctic Ocean soda dangling from his mouth, mumbled something to prevent Chen Zhenzhu from taking out her wallet. After paying himself, he slowly slid forward on his pedals.
Embrace the glorious years, hold fast to freedom amidst the storm!
'In Asia, mountains stand tall. In Asia, rivers flow like hot blood—'
The clothing store and the barbershop were playing popular songs like "Glorious Years" and "Asian Heroic Spirit" on their tape recorders, competing to see who could make the sound louder.
The market also features many small commodities from the south, which have quietly entered thousands of households in Liancheng.
He was always afraid of scratching pedestrians when he rode his bicycle, but sitting on the back of Gu Yanzheng's bicycle gave him a strange sense of security, enough to distract the police officer from looking around.
"Shop number 025 in Xin'er Village, this is a good location. Do you work at the Fourth Iron Factory?" Gu Yanzheng personally escorted the person to Sister Liu's steamed bun shop, noticing that the queue there was the longest along the street. No wonder Uncle Wu had been longing for the steamed buns here.
"It wasn't separated from my parents; my mom rented this place after she divorced my dad."
Shen Zhenzhu got out of the car and greeted Shen Liuhe, who was serving lunch boxes inside, "Sixth Sister, I'm back!"
"Pearl is back?" After finishing her boxed lunch with a mix of meat and vegetables, Shen Liuhe peeked out and saw Gu Yanzheng behind her. His upright and handsome face, along with his reserved smile, made him a rare sight indeed!
"This is Captain Gu, a colleague from the criminal investigation team. He was just giving me a ride home," Shen Zhenzhu quickly introduced.
She said to Gu Yanzheng, "Don't cook when you get back, I'll get you a serving."
Gu Yanzheng wanted to say forget it, but he was tall enough to see the steaming dishes in the large aluminum basins in front of him.
Stir-fried ribbonfish with vinegar, deep-fried shrimp, sweet and sour pork, stewed pork with green beans, pickled cabbage and glass noodles, shredded pork with green peppers, shredded pork with garlic sauce, etc...
Some people who had already bought their boxed lunches were taking them home, while others simply sat on plastic stools and started eating heartily. The food was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate—a true sensory delight.
Is a steamed bun shop really that versatile?
Gu Yanzheng didn't refuse immediately, and Chen Zhenzhu rolled up her sleeves and started serving the food with a large ladle. She filled four lunchboxes for him, then carried them out in a net bag, saying, "We don't need styrofoam lunchboxes since we're family. Those things are too environmentally unfriendly. I'll bring you steamed buns tomorrow, just give them to me directly. It's on you."
After all, they bought Arctic Ocean soda and Golden Top Red soda; it's just a matter of reciprocity.
Gu Yanzheng never expected to receive such a sumptuous feast on such a short journey. On the way back, he scratched his head, feeling that he had gotten a good deal from Chen Zhenzhu.
Looking back again, she was already standing next to Sixth Sister, helping to collect money and serve food, too busy to even lift her eyelids to look over.
On her way home from school, Shen Yuyuan saw a handsome young man and was winking at her classmates. Back at her family's shop, she heard her older sister call out, "Yuyuan, take the stewed mackerel out of the pot!"
"Hey! You're here!" Shen Yuyuan put down her schoolbag and went to get the food. She carried the large aluminum basin to replace the empty one, then turned back and asked, "Wow, who was that guy just now?"
“That’s Captain Gu from the Major Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigation Team.” Shen Zhenzhu bumped into Shen Yuyuan while twisting her hips, accidentally pulling on her knee and hurting it. She pretended to be a tough guy and held on with a blank expression.
After the rush hour, the restaurant was sold out. Shen Liuhe asked them to deliver meals to a few close relatives and friends, and then the mother and her two children ate four dishes and a soup until they were stuffed.
After dinner, Shen Yuyuan went upstairs to do her homework, while Shen Zhenzhu helped Shen Liuhe prepare the dishes for tomorrow morning.
"What good thing happened to you today? You seem to be in a good mood." Shen Liuhe picked chives while looking at her eldest daughter, whose face was glowing.
Chen Zhenzhu smiled, revealing her dimples, and said, "There might be a bonus. I'll give it to you then."
Shen Liuhe felt a warmth in her heart, wiped her hands and said, "I will still save yours for your dowry in the future."
Shen Zhenzhu said with a smile, "Why would I marry anyone? I want to spend my whole life with you and Yuyuanyuan."
Shen Yuyuan heard everything clearly upstairs and leaned out to shout, "Big sister, just because you're unwanted doesn't mean Mom and I are unwanted too! Uncle Sun is going to invite Mom to the movies."
Chen Zhenzhu: "......"
Shen Liuhe: "......"
One sentence successfully caused two people to have heart attacks.
Chen Zhenzhu pounded her chest and said, "Mom, Uncle Sun...?"
Shen Liuhe, who had been through a failed marriage, quickly said, "He was joking, and I refused. Back then, when I was raising you two, even during those tough times, I didn't look for a man to marry. Now that things are better, and you're both grown up, would I be crazy or stupid to go back to finding some old man to take care of? I'm telling you, if you want to get married, then get married; if you don't want to, I won't force you. With Mom's skill in making steamed buns, you'll never starve."
***
Gu Yanzheng was halfway there with his lunchbox when his pager went off. He made a huge detour and ended up back at the criminal investigation team.
Zhou Chuanxi, who was working overtime, threw down his lunchbox and complained loudly, only to be given a "King of Kings" cigarette as a way to get rid of him.
Gu Yanzheng arrived at Director Liu's office. This deputy director had been in office for twelve years, and it was uncertain whether he could be promoted in the next two years.
"Report." Gu Yanzheng straightened his back and knocked on the open door in a pretentious manner.
Director Liu is over fifty years old, with gray hair. Sitting behind his desk, he looks just like a Maitreya Buddha.
He smiled and said to Gu Yanzheng, "This is Director Ma, you should have met him before."
Gu Yanzheng had already spotted Ma Jian, who was beaming with health, and he extended his hand, saying, "Director Ma, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Captain Gu, I've heard so much about you." Ma Jian, forty-three, had been working at a local police station for almost twenty years. He never expected to be invited by the city bureau leaders to join the city's criminal investigation team, and even shake hands with the renowned Captain Gu. All of this was because of Shen Zhenzhu, the woman in his station!
There was no need for Director Liu to introduce Gu Yanzheng; he was a ruthless and dashing figure. Unlike Liu, who had been in the force for over twenty years and was only a section chief, Gu Yanzheng had already risen to the position of deputy director at a young age, thanks to his numerous merits. In the police force, he was a highly respected figure.
Director Liu said, "I won't say much else. This case of two deaths in the fishpond has received a lot of attention from city leaders because of the International Fashion Festival. They praised us for solving the case so quickly, which makes me very happy. However, we still need to discuss the matter of rewarding our contributions with you."
Gu Yanzheng noticed several photos of the arrest scene on Director Liu's desk. Some were blurry, others were clear. He wondered which fisherman, a reporter, had secretly taken them without Lu Ye and his team noticing.
"Officer Xiao Shen from the police station deserves immense credit for solving this case. As stated in the submitted report, she is undoubtedly the hero. Director Liu, please reward her as you see fit; I and all the members of Team Four have no objections."
Chief Ma breathed a sigh of relief; he knew Captain Gu would never try to steal the credit. This murder case had given Comrade Shen Zhenzhu a real chance to prove herself and show the other departments that their police station was capable too.
Thinking back to the blind fortune teller we caught at the beginning of the month, who said a golden phoenix would fly out of their chicken coop. Chief Ma reprimanded him at the time, but now that I think about it, could it be Shen Zhenzhu?
When we leave, could we ask her for the suspect's photo? It would be a good look to have it on the police station wall.
A note from the author:
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The author is asking for my collection! [Let me see!]
A collection, a thoughtful support, kisses galore!!
See you tomorrow!
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