Chapter 39 Comrade Zhan Doufeng is going to be a leader…
On the way back, Qin An smelled the blood on Shen Zhenzhu's body and, thinking of her blood-stained clothes, nudged her with his elbow: "Old Shen, you fought really hard. You lived up to the name 'Old Shen'. Your punches and kicks were like those of a master."
Shen Zhenzhu had expended a lot of energy, but she wasn't too tired. Instead, she was excited about catching the ogre brothers: "You saw them?"
Gu Yanzheng, who was driving in front, chuckled briefly.
Shen Zhenzhu looked at Qin An with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong?"
Qin An said somewhat embarrassedly, "I watched you fight Sun Lao Er from the top of the wall. But it's too high. As a clerical worker, I'm too weak to even kill a chicken. If I went down rashly, I'd probably hold you back."
Chen Zhenzhu exclaimed with feeling, "Please don't!"
Seeing that she didn't mind, Qin An breathed a sigh of relief and said, "But Captain Gu is coming soon. It's because we were in a better position that we called him over to help you. Captain Gu didn't hesitate at all and jumped over the wall. He's a real expert at jumping over walls. Right, Xiao Lu?"
Actually, it wasn't that he didn't do anything. Qin An was gesturing on the wall, wanting Little Qin's Flying Dagger, when Gu Yanzheng stopped him.
Lu Xiaobao was also on the wall at the time. Being a novice with no experience, he got his butt cut by a shard of glass and could only sit with half of his buttock against the seat. He said, "Master is right, Comrade Shen, you are amazing. You are our role model."
Shen Zhenzhu clenched her fist and said, "How about that? Isn't it impressive?"
Looking at the back of his hand covered in gentian violet, Lu Xiaobao couldn't imagine how much force it would take to break someone's skin while beating them. He nodded vigorously and said, "Extremely brutal."
Seeing that her neck was already black and in terrible condition, Qin An knew she would be in a lot of pain tomorrow, so he reminded Shen Zhenzhu, "Didn't Captain Gu say he would take you to the hospital for a check-up first? When you get home, apply a hot towel to it more often, and if it hurts tomorrow, you can take a painkiller."
Shen Zhenzhu dared not touch the wound on her neck, and said softly, "My mother must be worried. I don't even dare to tell her that I got into a fight."
Gu Yanzheng took her to the hospital first. The team needed to interrogate Sun Lao Er as quickly as possible, and the forensic team also had work to do. Gu Yanzheng was thinking it over and decided to find someone to accompany her, just in case something happened.
He doesn't know many women, only Zhang Jie, but it's too late to call her out now.
Shen Zhenzhu used Gu Yanzheng's mobile phone to call her sixth sister's restaurant: "Mom, I beat someone up. Yes, you read that right... I got beaten up too. I need to go to the hospital to get checked out."
Chen Zhenzhu, abandoning her usual arrogant demeanor, said obediently and timidly, "My neck got pinched, my throat is a little itchy, and my fingers are swollen... I won, I won! Captain Gu helped me... I'm not a fake, I can take on two at once... Oh, People's Hospital, let Xiaomei come, you don't need to come... Okay..."
After finishing the call, Chen Zhenzhu breathed a sigh of relief, put her mobile phone in front of the armrest, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Mom is going to the hospital to accompany me, so Captain Gu, you don't need to find someone else to accompany me."
"Okay." Gu Yanzheng could tell from her tone that she sounded like a student being picked up by their parents after school, very happy and obedient, with a soft and gentle demeanor.
When the Cherokee arrived at the People's Hospital, Gu Yanzheng took out all the money from his wallet and handed it to Shen Zhenzhu: "I'll pay for it first, and I'll reimburse you later."
When Shen Zhenzhu heard that she would be reimbursed, she was not embarrassed at all. She took the money from Gu Yanzheng and thanked him, saying, "I still have money in my pocket, just in case I don't have enough. I'll spend mine first, and then you can spend yours."
Gu Yanzheng was amused by her and restarted the Cherokee, saying, "Spend it however you want."
"Thank you, Captain Gu." Shen Zhenzhu had snatched that money back from Boss Sun, and she cherished it dearly.
Gu Yanzheng came out of the parking lot and encountered Shen Liuhe getting out of a taxi. Contrary to Shen Zhenzhu's expectations of ease, Shen Liuhe looked nervous. A frugal person all her life, she didn't even ask for change from the taxi and rushed towards the outpatient building, not even noticing the Cherokee passing by.
Sitting in the back seat of the car, Qin An sighed, "Old Shen said that her family doesn't worry about her being a criminal police officer. But it's not that they don't worry, it's that they're secretly worried. That's the heart of a parent all over the world."
Lu Xiaobao leaned out of the car window and carefully examined the famous chef from Tie Si. You see, Sixth Sister's food was delicious, and she had Chen Hei Ya's secret recipe. With the recent addition of beef noodles, the entire restaurant was the treasure of Tie Si.
That evening, accompanied by Shen Liuhe, Shen Zhenzhu underwent a thorough examination. The results were similar to Qin An's initial diagnosis, with the most serious injury being the bruise on her neck. She was prescribed medicine to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis.
The abrasions on my finger joints were also disinfected again.
The next day, Shen Zhenzhu was notified that she had a day off. Knowing that it was Captain Gu's favor, Shen Zhenzhu was secretly pleased. The case of the Brothers' Butcher Shop was too heinous, and the specific details had to be kept confidential. Gu Yanzheng and Director Liu would jointly conduct the interrogation, and Shen Zhenzhu was happy to have some free time.
However, my throat wasn't feeling good; it was sore and itchy, and I kept wanting to cough. Whenever I coughed, the spot where I pinched it would hurt.
Fortunately, although the pinch marks were gruesome, the weather suddenly turned cold, and she wrapped a scarf around her neck, so the passing customers didn't notice them.
"I've found three great houses for you, all three bedrooms and one living room, they're exceptionally good." Uncle Lu came over with addresses and introduced each house to Shen Zhenzhu and Shen Liuhe.
Shen Yuyuan has her final exams next month and will be studying at school from morning till night every day, thus losing her right to view properties.
After Uncle Lu finished his introduction, Yuan Jiangxue came over with four rooms, wanting to show them to the mother and her two children: "There's a room with a single-story storage room, where you can store your household or dining room belongings. Also, the landlord's dog had puppies, so if you rent a room, we can give you a puppy."
Later, Uncle Pang, Brother Leng, and Grandpa Zhang all arrived, each with a house they wanted to introduce to Chen Zhenzhu.
After finally getting a day off, Shen Zhenzhu hurriedly followed the group to choose a house. Shen Liuhe had to watch the shop, so the arduous task of house hunting fell to Shen Zhenzhu. She wasn't worried that the young girl wouldn't know how to choose; with such a large group of people, they certainly wouldn't make a mistake.
After much deliberation, Chen Zhenzhu settled on a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment on the first floor with a vegetable garden in front. The neighbor, an elderly woman, seemed very kind. She had eaten at Sixth Sister's shop before, but stopped going after hiring a housekeeper.
All three bedrooms and the living room face south, and the rent is within budget. Everyone who has seen it says it's good.
"The foundation here has been raised, so it's more like a one-and-a-half-story building than a first-floor one, so it's not afraid of dampness. The pipes have also been repaired and the walls have been painted. Sixth Sister can even grow some vegetables here. It's also close to the shop, right next to the neighborhood."
“I also think it’s okay, but 80 a month is too expensive. These are old welfare houses, so we have to cut the price down.”
“I have to cut the price. I know this landlord; he’s the father-in-law of my distant nephew’s sister-in-law’s older brother. I’ll call him and get a discount.”
......
After Shen Zhenzhu made the decision, the price was unexpectedly lowered again, and she got the rental for 60 yuan, which far exceeded her expectations! This meant that her long-term living costs had come down, and she was so happy that her dimples never disappeared.
When Sixth Sister was invited to make the final decision, she also took a liking to it at first glance.
After signing the contract, keep one copy for each party and send the remaining copy to the subdistrict office for safekeeping.
Looking at the spacious room of over 110 square meters, Shen Zhenzhu felt incredibly happy! In both her lifetimes, she was finally going to have her own room!
At the same time, in Director Liu's office in the Criminal Investigation Team building.
Liang Liang hung his head, having been thoroughly berated by Director Liu. He was in a terrible state; his shoulder was dislocated, and his arm was in a sling. It was unclear whether he had been beaten by Sun Lao Er or kicked by Gu Yanzheng.
Gu Yanzheng stood aside and watched coldly. After Director Liu finished cursing, he added fuel to the fire: "Old Shen was being lifted up by the neck. She had no strength left. If I had arrived a minute later, she would have been a martyr."
Director Liu was furious, feeling his blood pressure about to explode. He roared, "Even if she wasn't strangled to death, what if one of your men accidentally injured her and she became paralyzed? What if she dislocated her neck?! I already said she would handle the scene. You have no experience in such situations, and you even sent Lu Ye away. What were you thinking?!"
Liang Liang was speechless. He hadn't intended to vie for credit; he simply felt that as the future deputy captain, he should step forward. But reality taught him a harsh lesson, showing him that criminals couldn't be left there to be caught like in textbooks.
"I'll give you a month's leave, and we'll arrange your next move after you've recovered," Director Liu said, slamming his hand on the table.
Liang Liang knew that when he returned from his month-long leave, he would truly be finished. Rather than being stripped of his position, it would be better for him to bring it up himself; that way, he could save face.
"I voluntarily resign from my position as deputy captain of the fourth team, as assigned by the organization." Liang Liang's words made Gu Yanzheng raise an eyebrow and look over. Director Liu paused, "Have you thought it through? You're not acting impulsively again, are you?"
Director Liu had already lost his temper with him. He thought that Liang Liang had a good temper and could be tempered under Gu Yanzheng. When Gu Yanzheng left the Fourth Team and was promoted, Liang Liang would be tempered and ready to take over.
Liang Liang said, "I didn't act impulsively this time. It was my lack of consideration that almost killed my colleague. If I were to be in charge of a major case in the future, I'm afraid I would repeat the same mistake."
These words made Gu Yanzheng think more highly of him.
Director Liu sighed and drank most of a cup of calming ginseng tea: "Each grassroots position is a one-person job. If you leave, who will fill the void?"
A thought flashed through Gu Yanzheng's mind as he looked at Liang Liang.
Liang Liangfu, quick to understand, looked up at Director Liu and said, "They say that talent should be recruited without being bound by convention. I think Comrade Shen Zhenzhu, who solved this case together, is quite good. Although she is not very experienced, she is calm in the face of danger. She can not only work alone, but also command and coordinate the scene."
Director Liu looked down at the cup, making it impossible for Liang Liang to discern his attitude. He could only bite the bullet and say, "It's not because I made a mistake that she saved me, and I'm saying this because I want to repay her. Someone like me was transferred to be the deputy captain. Apart from being less experienced, she is superior to me in every other way. Not to mention the deputy captain, I think she would be suitable even to be the captain."
Gu Yanzheng chimed in at the opportune moment, "I've observed that Comrade Xiao Shen's on-site command and coordination are quite good. He's both capable in terms of writing and physical skills, remains calm in the face of danger, has high standards for himself, strives for improvement, and has a keen sense for murder cases—all of which are quite impressive."
"But we still need to win over the people of Team Four." Director Liu downed the ginseng tea at the bottom of his cup in one gulp: "Your Team Four is full of troublemakers, do you think she can subdue you?"
"I'm still in charge, aren't I?" Gu Yanzheng laughed. "Besides, I'm just a deputy captain. Ultimately, I have the command authority, so there won't be any mistakes."
Director Liu gave Gu Yanzheng a deep look: "It's only been a year."
Gu Yanzheng said, "Yes, we've solved several major cases in just one year. Our city bureau's criminal investigation team has exceeded its targets."
"Is that what I meant?" Director Liu sighed, patting his chubby belly. He thought for a moment and said, "I'll think about it some more. You guys go back first. The final selection isn't up to me; it has to be submitted to the Municipal Bureau for review. But first, we need to convince the public."
Gu Yanzheng didn't press Director Liu, and walked to the door to ask Liang Liang, "So where are you going if you're not going to work here anymore?"
He was giving Liang Liang a hint, telling him to quickly arrange a place to stay while Director Liu was around.
Liang Liang, holding his right forearm, said, "I'll go back to school and continue my studies."
Director Liu sighed: "You're already a graduate student, why are you still studying?"
Liang Liang said, "The sea of learning is boundless."
Gu Yanzheng burst out laughing.
Director Liu closed his eyes briefly: "Let's go. Take a month off here. You won't be able to go back to school until after the New Year. You've suffered enough coming here, so don't overthink things. Focus on getting better."
Knowing that Director Liu would help him make arrangements, Liang Liang thanked him and left.
Seeing Gu Yanzheng still standing at the door, Director Liu's usually cheerful, chubby face turned completely sour: "What other nonsense is there?"
Gu Yanzheng said, "I heard there's been a new discovery in Huang Yingfeng's case?"
Director Liu took a document from his drawer, threw it on the table, and said, "I thought he could be that bold after killing someone, but he betrayed his own father just to save his own life."
Gu Yanzheng picked up the copy of the confession and quickly flipped through it, then sneered, "So his father killed his mother years ago and buried her. The victim's remains have been found, but has his father been found?"
Director Liu laughed and said, "We found them. They were drinking and watching TV in their rural hometown when they were arrested in another city. We didn't tell you because it was considered as two separate cases. Neither of them is any good."
Gu Yanzheng glanced at the date and smiled: "The statute of limitations for criminal cases hasn't expired yet, so the father and son can go down together and keep each other company."
Back in the office, everyone was there except for Shen Zhenzhu.
Gu Yanzheng seized the opportunity and convened a meeting.
"Comrade Liang Liang voluntarily declined the position assigned to him by the organization, determined to return to the ivory tower and no longer serve as our deputy team leader," Gu Yanzheng announced as good news.
After participating in the mission, Lu Ye was punished by Gu Yanzheng to run 20 laps. When he came back, he slapped himself twice and is still angry: "At that time, he told me that he had told Lao Shen that he had asked for support, saying that he didn't know anyone here and didn't know who to ask!"
“These intellectuals only know how to nitpick over words,” Wu Zhongguo said. “It’s just a matter of saying it first and saying it later.”
Knowing he had been tricked and almost caused Shen Zhenzhu's death, Lu Ye angrily said, "Damn it, I'm going to beat him to death!"
Wu Zhongguo grabbed his arm to stop him and said, "He's already run away, where are you going to look for him? Calm down and see what Captain Gu has to say."
Lu Ye was forced to sit down by his shoulders, his chest heaving with anger, his temples bulging.
“He’s right not to take the position, and none of us agree with him,” Zhou Chuanxi said sullenly. “He’s about the same age as me, and just because he studied for two more years in school, he can become my leader? The person who came up with this policy has definitely never worked on the front lines.”
Wu Zhongguo doesn't have much ambition, but he's also uncomfortable with young outsiders parachuting into the fourth team and ordering him around.
“Our fourth team’s vice-captain will be chosen from within the team first. Now I’ll hold a secret ballot, and you can decide who to vote for.” Gu Yanzheng raised his chin: “Choose whoever you want, don’t consider too many factors.”
Lu Ye opened the drawer and couldn't find a pen, so he took a pencil out of Chen Zhenzhu's iron pen box, plopped down in her seat and said, "You still don't remember our names? You can recognize all our handwriting."
"Then register them?" Gu Yan asked.
Lu Ye buried his head: "Anonymous, I'll write it now."
Zhou Chuanxi frowned and said, "Isn't it inappropriate for Lao Shen to be away?"
Gu Yanzheng said, "Let's keep her ticket for now and see what you think."
Wu Zhongguo held his pen, twirling it over Zhou Chuanxi and Lu Ye, and clicked his tongue.
Then, looking past Lu Ye's back, she smiled at the crystal vase that Chen Zhenzhu had been polishing every day, quickly wrote her name, and handed it in as the first one.
Lu Ye had no idea what to do. He chewed on the pencil stub, scratched his head, and lingered his gaze on Zhou Chuanxi.
Zhou Chuanxi is clever, but lacks martial arts skills and is petty. Lu Ye believes his relationship with Lao Shen has progressed rapidly; they've solved many cases together, and he genuinely admires her. But if he writes about her, will Xiao Xizi be unhappy?
Zhou Chuanxi didn't disappoint Lu Ye's inner grumbling. He turned to look at him and said, "Write whoever you want. Anyway, I didn't write about you!"
Lu Ye: "...Then I won't be polite."
Pearl is much more suitable than you.
Gu Yanzheng also cast his own vote.
When issuing the votes, he wrote four names on the blackboard, opened one vote and showed it to them: "Comrade Shen, one vote."
Lu Ye chuckled and nodded at Wu Zhongguo, who was sitting at the last table by the window.
It didn't matter if her handwriting was recognized. Wu Zhongguo felt that Shen Zhenzhu was more reliable than either of them. She had professional skills, crime-solving methods, and had also studied criminal psychology. Such a junior police officer had a bright future. Moreover, there was an awards ceremony in a few days, and she would be the only one among more than 20,000 police officers in the city to be selected as the city's Outstanding Young Police Officer of the Year. If she didn't take the award, who would?
"Comrade Shen has two votes."
"Comrade Shen, three votes." Gu Yanzheng unfolded his ballot.
"Comrade Shen received four votes." Gu Yanzheng opened Zhou Chuanxi's ballot and said with a smile, "Congratulations to Comrade Shen for winning the election unanimously and becoming—"
"Fourth team deputy captain?" Lu Ye blurted out.
Gu Yanzheng said, "Being selected as one of the candidates for deputy team leader of the fourth team means that our votes represent our approval of her. Whether she will ultimately be selected still needs to be submitted to the municipal bureau for approval and review."
***
After settling on the house, Chen Zhenzhu began cleaning the house and yard.
This season isn't suitable for planting, so she plans to plant some small, upward-facing chili peppers in her yard next spring. They'll be vibrant red, cheerful and easy to grow, just like herself, hehe.
After tidying up the house and buying some daily necessities, Shen Yuyuan came home from school and excitedly ran around the house: "It's so great! The living room is bigger than our attic. I'll have my own room now. Big sister, can I buy a new bookshelf? We can share it."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "We can buy a bookshelf, I'll just use the old one." After washing the rags, she hung them to dry on the front yard railing, gazing contentedly at her bright new home.
Shen Yuyuan was overjoyed. She had never lived in a big house; her memories were of growing up in a small attic. Growing up in the smoky air every day, she always felt that her hair was oily and never clean when she was little. Later, when she grew up and could wash it herself, she would always run to the backyard to wash her hair with cold water.
Whenever she shivered from the cold, she would glance at the older sister washing her hair with cold water, and then she wouldn't feel cold anymore.
The two sisters happily left their new home, intending to move to the shop. Just as they arrived at the shop, Chen Zhenzhu saw that all the people from the fourth team had arrived.
Especially when Lu Ye saw her winking and making faces, as if he wanted to say something but wouldn't. Shen Zhenzhu didn't seem to mind, but he was really bottling it up.
Seeing that she was in good spirits and knowing that she was moving to a new house, Gu Yanzheng took off his coat without saying a word to help. Inspired by him, Lu Ye and Zhou Chuanxi also pitched in.
Shen Liuhe said embarrassedly, "How could I let you help me? Please put it down. We'll just rearrange it a few times later; there's not much stuff."
Yuan Jiangxue changed into her old clothes and came over eagerly. Seeing that they had already started moving things, she ran out and shouted, "Stop dawdling and come help!"
At her call, the small business owners on the commercial street came out one after another. Uncle Lu muttered, "I haven't caught any big knife fish yet to cook for the kids."
Seeing that she couldn't stop them, Shen Liuhe told her regular customers and quickly went upstairs to pack up the rest of the items as well.
The large group of people didn't need to make two round trips; they transported all the daily necessities of the mother and her two children in just one trip.
Looking at the simple everyday items in the living room, and a few clothing bags from the same mall where he received the anonymous jacket, Gu Yanzheng understood what was going on.
Shen Zhenzhu's clues did not escape Captain Gu's sharp eyes. She busied herself sorting and putting things away, her forehead sweating despite the cold weather.
Yuan Jiangxue looked at her and said, "Take off your scarf. Who wears a scarf at home?"
The marks on Shen Zhenzhu's neck were horrifying. Her attempts to conceal them made Yuan Jiangxue suspicious. Just as she was about to come over and ask, Gu Yanzheng walked over and said, "Where would be a good place to put this box?"
Gu Yanzheng carried the heavy box full of books, and Shen Zhenzhu and Shen Yuyuan struggled to get it down from the attic. She hurried to her room: "Put it here."
Lu Ye then carried in his boxes and saw Chen Zhenzhu sitting on the old bookshelf. He glanced over casually and was immediately dumbfounded.
As Zhou Chuanxi passed by the door, he looked at the densely packed criminal investigation books and thick notebooks and sighed, "As expected, it has to be you. I also need to improve my professional skills and learn from Lao Shen."
Lu Ye also said, "I will learn from Lao Shen."
Gu Yanzheng opened the notebook on his desk. The contents were what he had verbally taught Shen Zhenzhu, but he didn't expect her to write them down so seriously in the notebook.
There were also the books he gave to Chen Zhenzhu, neatly arranged on the bookshelf, covered with new note stickers and her mind maps.
He casually asked a few questions about the contents, and Shen Zhenzhu immediately stood up straight and answered formally.
Gu Yanzheng increasingly felt that she was like a primary school student answering a teacher's question. And, well, a top student at that.
After finishing her work at the shop, Shen Liuhe closed early to celebrate moving to her new home. Two tables were set up in the new house, one in the living room and one in the yard.
Lu Ye was excitedly anticipating his sixth sister's mother's cooking for dinner, but to his surprise, his sixth sister said, "It's getting cold, I think hot pot is the best option. Remember that butcher shop up ahead? What's it called? I'll ride my bike there to buy some—"
"No!" came a chorus of protests from inside the room.
Chen Zhenzhu, who had been beaming all day, had a hoarse voice from shouting: "Mom! Don't say it, please don't mention it!"
Shen Liuhe was startled, clutching her chest as she glanced at the members of Team Four, her face extremely pale: "What happened? What happened to you?"
After deliberation, the higher authorities decided to keep the case of Brothers Butcher Shop confidential from the public, and all those involved in the case kept their mouths shut.
They had long faces, their noses, eyes, and mouths all contorted in pain.
Gu Yanzheng refused Sixth Sister's offer for the first time, taking out his mobile phone and saying, "I'll have another restaurant deliver some food. I was going to treat you anyway."
Shen Liuhe looked at Lu Ye with a puzzled expression. Lu Ye clutched his upset stomach and said, "Boss, don't order any more food. I can't eat anything. Let's just eat some raw cabbage and radishes. That's safe."
Shen Liuhe objected: "How can that be? Don't you love meat the most? I'll buy some lamb rolls and some pork slices—"
"Ugh—" Lu Ye got up in a sorry state and ran away, with Zhou Chuanxi following after him.
Even Gu Yanzheng's expression turned ugly.
Shen Zhenzhu rushed over and covered Shen Liuhe's mouth, saying, "Mom, why don't you cook some vegetables? Please don't give us any meat. Give it all to Aunt Yuan and Uncle Lu's table. Come on, let me and Yuyuan help you."
***
In early December, Chen Zhenzhu successfully completed her gun-handling assessment. Snowflakes were fluttering in the sky, and a happy smile appeared on her lips.
Finally, I can carry a gun!
She was riding her bicycle, tugging at her scarf, when she accidentally pulled at the injured area. The bruise hadn't completely faded, leaving faint blue marks.
This noon, she helped deliver Li Lili's school application materials to the grade head and also brought lunch to Shen Yuyuan. Shen Yuyuan will be taking the college entrance exam after the New Year, so she needs to make sure she gets enough nutrition.
She pedaled her bicycle with difficulty, the wheels running over the half-melted ruts on the side of the road, almost slipping and falling.
Shen Zhenzhu nimbly slid off the seat, quickly bracing herself on both sides of the bicycle with her legs to maintain her balance.
"Hey, you didn't fall." An uncle squatting at the entrance of the savings bank exclaimed, "Not bad, young man, you have a good sense of balance. I've seen eight cyclists fall here already."
Chen Zhenzhu looked down at the crooked tire tracks, pushed her bicycle aside, and asked, "What are you doing here, old man?"
The middle-aged man, with his graying hair and energetic demeanor, was of an age that Chen Zhenzhu couldn't immediately guess. Pointing to the bicycle lying to one side, he said, "I was the first one to fall."
Sigh.
Chen Zhenzhu put down her cart and walked to the entrance of the savings bank, only to find that there was no sign of work there; it must have been abandoned. No wonder the old man didn't go in for help in the dead of winter, but instead watched people fall on the roadside.
"Where do you live? I'll take you home. Did you fall anywhere?" Chen Zhenzhu glanced at the time on her pager; she still had an hour before work.
She helped the man up, and he pointed to the potatoes that had rolled away not far away, saying, "Could you please pick them up for me?"
Potato Head hurriedly picked up the potatoes, squatting down and standing up repeatedly, carefully gathering them all together. He said with a smile, "Uncle, you have a good eye for buying potatoes! They're all yellow-fleshed, and they're incredibly delicious."
The slightly overweight man, wearing a cotton overcoat, smiled kindly and said, "Officer, you can have them all. You've helped me anyway."
“That won’t do. The ‘Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention’ state that we must not take a single needle or thread from the masses.”
"What's the big deal about you taking a few potatoes? I'll just keep quiet about it."
Chen Zhenzhu helped the uncle up his bicycle, hung the potato on the handlebars, and said seriously, "That won't do. Chairman Mao said that we must arm the troops with ideology. I can't let my thinking fall behind."
The uncle laughed heartily: "Young comrade, you're well-informed and haven't fallen behind."
After asking the uncle for his address, Shen Zhenzhu discovered that it was in an old residential area next to the retirement home.
Although it is not far from the area of the Fourth Railway Station, that area belongs to high-ranking officials.
She escorted the man home.
The snowflakes fell heavier and heavier. When they reached the outside of the uncle's red brick house, Chen Zhenzhu said, "Then I'm leaving." Her bicycle was still by the roadside.
The uncle greeted her, saying, "The snow is falling heavily. Come in and sit for a while. I'll have someone bring your bicycle over."
"I'm so sorry." She said this as she went inside.
Seeing the neat and solemn style of the uncle's house, Shen Zhenzhu sat on the sofa waiting for the bicycle.
The man came back after making the phone call and made himself a cup of hot tea: "Drink up."
Shen Zhenzhu dared not drink tea from strangers, so she took off her gloves to warm her hands.
The older man looked at the scabs peeling off her hands and asked, "Young lady, what's your name?"
Shen Zhenzhu said with a grin, "My name is Gong An."
The middle-aged man laughed and said, "I thought you were going to say your name is Lei Feng."
Shen Zhenzhu laughed: "I am the Lei Feng of the public security force, the fighting vanguard of Lei Feng!"
The middle-aged man laughed heartily: "Hahaha, well done, Fighting Feng, I'll remember you."
Upon seeing him in his military overcoat and noticing the interior design of the small villa, Chen Zhenzhu asked casually, "Are you a veteran?"
The man said, "Yes, but I've been out of the military for quite a few years."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "When I first started practicing boxing, I practiced the grappling techniques used in the military. I was only three years old at the time."
The older man felt a connection with young Comrade Zhan Doufeng, stood up, pointed to the empty space in front of the coffee table, and said, "Do you still remember?"
As expected of a vibrant 28-year-old, Chen Zhenzhu immediately stood up, took off her scarf, and energetically demonstrated a set of grappling techniques to the uncle.
"Good! Your stance is solid, Comrade Zhan Dingfeng's basic skills are very solid." The uncle clapped his hands and said, "It's rare to see a female comrade like you."
Shen Zhenzhu's face fell, and she said with a sullen expression, "What are you talking about? There are plenty of women like me."
Seeing that she was quite individualistic despite her young age, the uncle walked to the coffee table, took out a new tea set, poured two cups of tea, took a sip himself, and then handed one to Chen Zhenzhu, saying, "I admit my mistake. I misspoke. Please have some Da Hong Pao tea."
Shen Zhenzhu had long heard of the fame of Da Hong Pao tea, and her face lit up with a smile: "Alright, I accept your apology. I'm thirsty too."
The two sat on the sofa, slowly sipping their tea. Chen Zhenzhu inhaled the delicate aroma, feeling as if her very being was infused with its fragrance. Elegant, so very elegant today.
The middle-aged man's scrutinizing gaze moved from her neck to her hands. After hesitating for a moment, he couldn't help but ask, "How did you get this? Don't tell me you fell off your bicycle, I don't believe you."
"You can't disbelieve me, the case has to be kept secret." After finishing her tea, Shen Zhenzhu pushed the teacup in front of the uncle, who readily poured her another. Shen Zhenzhu continued to hold the teacup and said slowly, "Anyway, I'm really, really amazing."
The middle-aged man was no ordinary person either. He thought for a moment and tentatively asked, "Is it that recent case involving the brothers who ran the butcher shop? I heard they were extremely ruthless and difficult to catch."
Shen Zhenzhu was startled and swallowed her tea in shock, saying, "How did you know? Let me tell you, if you don't spread rumors or believe rumors, you don't know anything!"
The middle-aged man chuckled: "I have inside connections. I heard they got a good beating. You were involved too?"
Shen Zhenzhu squinted, sensing that the uncle wasn't just making things up. She said excitedly, "I didn't just participate, I beat them up! I beat them until they were screaming and wanted to run to their mothers. Of course, my boss also helped a lot, but I didn't lose either. These injuries are all external, and I'm actually fine."
“This is hardly nothing.” The uncle frowned disapprovingly and said, “You can tell at a glance that you were hung up and beaten up. You’re just bragging to me.”
"..." Shen Zhenzhu: "I resisted, I didn't become a punching bag."
The middle-aged man said with some skepticism, "I understand, you're amazing."
Shen Zhenzhu sensed the perfunctoriness in his tone and muttered, "Let me tell you, I'm really good at both literature and martial arts. Taking you home is like using an anti-aircraft gun to kill a fly, do you believe me?"
"I believe you, I believe you a thousand times over." The uncle seemed amused by her analogy, and his hand trembled as he poured her tea.
Soon someone knocked on the door and told them to bring the bicycle over.
Seeing that the small pickled vegetable box was still in the back of the car, and considering the aging population in the area, Chen Zhenzhu had a sudden inspiration: "It's freezing cold and inconvenient, so don't go all the way to buy whatever you want. I'll give you my phone number, and you can order whatever you want. There are delivery guys who will bring it to you. This Sixth Sister Restaurant is run by my mom, and it's guaranteed to be clean, hygienic, and nutritious."
As she spoke, she glanced at the time, placed the small pickled vegetable box on the coffee table, and said, "When you have time, tell the old folks in your neighborhood that I'm giving you a serving of Korean kimchi. It's appetizing, refreshing, and helps with digestion. It gets better the longer it sits. My mom pickled it herself."
Seeing that the pride in her expression was genuine, and that she was very proud of her mother's cooking, the uncle opened the small pickled vegetable box and smelled the rich aroma of the spicy pickled cabbage inside: "Young man, don't worry, I will definitely help you promote it according to your arrangements."
"Then I'm leaving, bye-bye." Having achieved her goal, Shen Zhenzhu didn't notice the person standing at the door with a tight-lipped expression, standing as straight as a soldier.
"Take care, Fighting Peak." The uncle stood at the door and saw the young girl get on her rickety bicycle and ride uphill with her butt sticking out. "She doesn't even fall over. She's really amazing. It would be great if there were more young police officers like her in the team."
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Author's note: See you tomorrow! There's a red envelope coming up! [Sprinkling flowers]
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Zhu Zhu: Hehe, I'm in the mood!
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