Chapter 225 Living in the Heart
The common people, the embodiment of the mundane world.
Sixth Sister's Restaurant: Ordinary people and ordinary things, everyone is adorably and happily ordinary.
After settling the bill, Shen Liuhe, carrying the leftover pork skin jelly and a pot of stewed pork, formally announced to everyone, "Dinner is served!"
After the 6 PM dinner rush, the pork skin jelly that Chen Zhenzhu had been eagerly anticipating finally arrived.
"Why hasn't Xiao Zheng come lately?" Shen Liuhe put down the big pot of vegetables and changed her address for Gu Yanzheng from the respectful "Captain Gu" to the affectionate "Little Gu", and finally to the familial "Xiao Zheng".
Even Captain Gu is worthless now; he even needs help carrying the soda crates.
"I'll be there soon to pick up Zhang Xiaopang after class," Chen Zhenzhu said.
Shen Liuhe asked curiously, "Did the little fat boy really learn ballet? Just to chase after that little swan?"
Her words also piqued the interest of others, and regular customers and store employees all looked over.
“He said there was a dance class that was hiring, so he joined,” Shen Zhenzhu said.
Someone said, "That's probably a scam."
Zhang Xiaopang's voice came urgently from outside. He stood by the door, holding two bottles of yogurt, and held the door open for Gu Yanzheng: "Sis, brother-in-law bought these for me."
Shen Zhenzhu walked around the counter and flicked the back of his head: "Don't call people that."
Zhang Xiaopang retorted stubbornly, "Who doesn't know it was bound to happen between you two sooner or later? It's not like you've just started dating; you've been together for so long!"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "We haven't been dating for very long."
"You're kidding me." Zhang Xiaopang didn't believe it, made a face and ran to the table to sit down: "I need to eat less, the teacher at the training class said I'm overweight."
Shen Zhenzhu lifted Zhang Xiaopang up by his armpits: "Still so sturdy."
Gu Yanzheng, dressed in a woolen overcoat, went into the kitchen to help Shen Liuhe, only to be chased out by Shen Liuhe as a matter of course. She then handed out chopsticks to everyone, asking, "Is Xiao Li coming back soon?"
Wearing white wedding dresses, taking wedding photos, and going on honeymoons are becoming increasingly popular among young people in China.
Xiao Li and Hu Die were still hesitating, but Shen Liuhe waved her hand and told them to relax and have fun. She said that this was a once-in-a-lifetime event and they shouldn't worry about the shop.
"They said they brought us a snakeskin bag full of South Island coconuts." Chen Zhenzhu took the chopsticks, dissatisfied with Zhang Xiaopang sitting so close to her, and got up to pull Zhang Xiaopang to sit aside.
Zhang Xiaopang deliberately said in a coy manner, "People in love really treat each other like oxygen, they have to stick together for a moment and never separate."
Shen Zhenzhu curled one corner of her lips into a cold smile: "At least we can stick together, but what about you? You can't even stick together through two floors."
Zhang Xiaopang got angry, picked up a piece of pork skin jelly, and took a bite in utter fury: "You've hurt me so much! My heart was broken because of her, and destroyed because of you. I will punish this world! I will—"
"You have to punish this pig." Shen Zhenzhu moved over and successfully sat next to Gu Yanzheng, teasing the child with a laugh.
Gu Yanzheng handed her a small dish of garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar dipping sauce, and couldn't help but chuckle.
Zhang Xiaopang swallowed the pork skin jelly, snatched the dipping sauce, and said, "Let's not use this. It'll taste bad when we kiss."
Grandpa Zhang had just come in from outside and hadn't even had a chance to order yet when he grabbed Little Fatty Zhang's ear and said, "Come on, let Sixth Sister cut this 'Smooth Sailing' dish for me to have with my drinks."
Shen Zhenzhu missed Gu Yanzheng quite a bit. In her spare time, she would go for a run, practice boxing, study, and then ponder about her "Brother Zheng." Sometimes, when she got really into it, she would get up in the middle of the night and run a few laps. This caused quite a stir in the neighborhood, with everyone thinking they'd seen a ghost.
March was approaching, and having finally seen Gu Yanzheng, she wanted to touch and kiss him.
Zhang Xiaopang had exposed her true intentions, so she kept her head down and pretended not to hear, unknowingly letting Gu Yanzheng discover her lecherous plans.
Grandpa Zhang put the dipping sauce back between them. The old man was getting more and more energetic every year. He said in a loud voice, "You eat, he eats, and when we kiss, neither of us should complain about the other, right?"
"Hahaha."
"Ha ha."
The store erupted in laughter. Chen Zhenzhu bumped into Gu Yanzheng from behind, clutching the back of his shirt and pretending she wasn't there.
Later, it was discovered that Gu Yanzheng, shameless as ever, was also laughing along with the others who were egging him on.
Unable to bear it any longer, Chen Zhenzhu picked up a piece of translucent, jelly-like pork skin jelly, dipped it vigorously in garlic sauce, and bit into it. Without any effort, the cool, slippery pork skin jelly melted into a rich, gelatinous broth, releasing a savory aroma.
tasty!
In that instant, she forgave the whole world!
The tender, gliding pork skin jelly has a concentrated, rustic aroma. Your teeth touch the diced pork skin, the fat rendered out, revealing a chewy texture and a soft, gelatinous consistency. The cool, bouncy texture makes Chen Zhenzhu unable to resist picking up another piece: "No wonder it's so popular."
Gu Yanzheng doesn't usually like pork skin jelly, but seeing Chen Zhenzhu squinting her eyes with satisfaction as she savored it, he also picked up a piece.
The pork skin jelly bounced and swayed with the movement of chopsticks, and when placed in the mouth and gently pressed, the jelly gradually melted.
The dipping sauce brings out a distinct flavor, with garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce providing a spicy, sour, and savory taste that instantly enhances the rich flavor of the frozen meat, making the meat even more delicious and refreshing.
"There's no special trick to pork skin jelly, just simmer it slowly over low heat." Shen Liuhe came out to eat with them, and when she heard someone asking about the secret recipe, she smiled and said, "It's all thanks to the thrifty experience of the older generation, turning scraps into delicacies."
Although Grandpa Zhang arrived late, Shen Liuhe had already prepared a portion of pork skin jelly for him to enjoy with his drinks.
Grandpa Zhang sipped his wine happily, humming a little tune, and said, "This is the satisfaction that comes with the passing years. It's all thanks to the sacrifices of so many martyrs. I'm grateful that an ordinary old man like me can live such a fulfilling and enjoyable life."
The older man drinking with him across from him also raised his glass, swallowed the pork skin jelly, and sighed, "There are so many unknown people who have sacrificed so much without us knowing. Let's toast to them too."
Grandpa Zhang said, "Let's have a drink to thank them. We older generations know best that from the War of Liberation to the Reform and Opening Up, it was a road paved with lives."
The girl from the young couple sitting next to us said, "We won't forget it either. We learned about it in school. The Great Wall was built with blood and sweat. Without those sacrifices, we wouldn't have the wonderful life we have today. Not only you older generation, but our generation and my next generation will never forget it and will always be grateful."
Zhang Xiaopang ate to his heart's content and no longer cared about his weight.
Holding the yogurt, I imitated the adults' New Year's toast: "I wish everyone's efforts will be rewarded, and I wish everyone all the best. Thank you, thank you."
Chen Zhenzhu picked up her teacup and raised her eyebrows.
Chen Bufan, did you hear that?
The people are thanking you.
......
March 10, 1994.
"Four people were seen outside the Jiabo Exhibition Center, engaging in extortion and robbing passersby. Multiple police reports have been received."
"Okay, got it. I'm done with my 'cheat' here, I'll go check it out." Chen Zhenzhu hung up the cell phone and sat in the passenger seat of the taxi. She was wearing a light blue cotton jacket and frameless glasses.
The taxi driver glanced at her, turned off the radio, and said, "Girl, are you here for tourism? I know a seafood shop, I can recommend you there and you'll get a discount on fish slices."
Shen Zhenzhu glanced at him sideways: "'Eight Immortals Seafood Specialty Store,' right? I'll give you a 30% discount on a 100 yuan bill, which is more profitable than driving a taxi."
"Hey, locals." The driver turned on the radio again, listening to the ocean analysis for the year, and said with a smile, "Just trying to make some extra money. It's tough being middle-aged."
"Turn towards the Jiabo Exhibition Center." Chen Zhenzhu raised her arm, and her clothes jingled.
What's that noise?
"Handcuffs."
"You're joking, aren't you?" the driver said hesitantly. "Don't say I didn't warn you, there are some out-of-towners doing shady business there."
“I’m going to find them,” Shen Zhenzhu said calmly.
The driver scrutinized Chen Zhenzhu, who had pigtails, a crossbody bag, and slender arms and legs, and asked nosyly, "Was she seduced?"
"..." Shen Zhenzhu ignored him and kept looking at the roadside.
When the driver saw that she was ignoring him, he turned on the radio and picked up the walkie-talkie to chat with his fellow drivers.
Jiabo Exhibition often hosts private trade fairs, which sounds impressive, but in reality, they are just a row of blue-roofed canopies along the roadside.
A bunch of substandard products are sold at exorbitant prices, yet few people are interested. This often involves collusion with unscrupulous local drivers who prey on tourists and rip them off.
The peak tourist season began on May 1st, and the municipal bureau ordered a crackdown on such activities. When the perpetrators adopted a guerrilla-style approach, the police launched a criminal investigation network to pursue them. In the ensuing back-and-forth, several groups of people were arrested, and their arrogance was effectively curbed.
As they approached their destination, Chen Zhenzhu took out a "gold bracelet" from her crossbody bag, put it on, and flaunted it brightly outside the car window. She exuded an air of smug, naive richness.
As soon as the taxi arrived, roadside vendors came forward one after another to sell "Tianshan Snow Lotus Fruit", "Desert Ginseng", "Pain Relief Plaster", "Pure Natural Deer Antler", and so on.
The car was moving slowly, and the driver seemed a little nervous. He muttered to himself, "I'm not with those people. I just sell local specialties. Don't buy what they have; it could kill you."
"Brother, what are you saying?" A long arm was clinging to the car window on the side where Chen Zhenzhu was. He overheard the driver's words and banged on the car door, saying, "Get out, I want to ask you something."
"What should we do?" The driver tried to accelerate, but the young man who looked like a [redacted] had already circled around to the front of the car and blocked it. He was at least 1.86 meters tall and a very strong, tall man.
His companion started pulling on the car door from the side, his eyes glued to the pearl and gold bracelet: "Hey, your car scratched our stuff, pay up!"
"Get down now, while it's still relatively easy to talk to them, hurry up and pay up."
They were all talking to the driver, but their target was Shen Zhenzhu.
A young, wealthy woman, a big piece of fat meat.
"Master, don't get out of the car." Shen Zhenzhu pushed open the car door, causing the shouting man next to her to back up and sit on the curb.
The driver, still possessing a conscience, tried to stop them, saying, "Hey, I'm calling the police right now. Don't get off! Those people are all beasts!"
Shen Zhenzhu closed the car door, took off her crossbody bag, and threw it in through the window: "Wait for me a moment."
The driver grabbed his walkie-talkie and called the company platform: "Hello, this is Mr. Li from vehicle B425966. Please call the police for me. Jiabo, hello, can you hear me?"
He hunched over and saw through the windshield that Chen Zhenzhu was surrounded by a group of burly men. They were laughing and seemed about to search her.
This won't do!
The driver, his hands trembling, gripped the walkie-talkie and slumped in his seat, frantically pleading, "Hello, hello, can you hear me? Call the police for me!"
A crackling sound came from the walkie-talkie, and a woman's voice said nervously, "Master, please tell me the exact location information."
The driver said anxiously, "Jiabo Exhibition Center is a scam center!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than "Bang!" A burly man was kicked onto the hood of the car by Chen Zhenzhu, groaning as he slid to the ground clutching his stomach.
The driver swallowed hard, slowly climbed up from under the seat, and looked back: "The intersection on the west side of Chunming Road, please report...report...report..."
The company's female radio operator panicked even more: "Hello, Mr. Li, can you hear me? Where does Chunming Road intersect?"
"Stop talking nonsense, call the police quickly..." The driver leaned out and saw the burly men lying haphazardly in front of the car, handcuffed together by Chen Zhenzhu: "Sorry, wrong number, no need to call the police, bye-bye."
A burly man rushed over: "Don't hang up! Help me call the police!"
Shen Zhenzhu rushed up fiercely, kicked the car door, grabbed the other person's arm, raised her small hammer high, and punched him!
"Ouch! OMG, that hurts like hell!"
Shen Zhenzhu turned and kicked, sending another burly man crashing to the ground and handcuffing him.
In the blink of an eye, the five burly men were lying on the ground in a mess, groaning in pain: "Damn it, what the hell?"
"What the hell? It's the Municipal Criminal Investigation Team." Chen Zhenzhu kicked away the wooden stick on the ground, flashed her ID, and pointed at the burly men with bruised and swollen faces, saying, "All of you, put your hands on your heads and squat down obediently. I didn't have time for you the other day, so you were allowed to act so arrogantly!"
In their eyes, she was more terrifying than a ghost.
The tall man stuck in traffic clutched his chest and cried like a child: "I...I must have broken a bone, it hurts so much, boohoo, why did you hit me so hard? Even my mom has never hit me like that."
"Still have the nerve to cry? Your mother didn't teach you a lesson, so society has to!" Shen Zhenzhu, hands on her hips and a stern face, scolded them: "You have hands and feet, and plenty of strength, yet you insist on making dirty money through crooked means. Now you know how to cry? Didn't the victims you robbed cry too?"
The tall man lowered his head, feeling like a rat in the street as the elderly people watching the spectacle pointed and whispered among themselves. He was about to retort when he heard Chen Zhenzhu cracking her knuckles, and immediately lowered his head again.
The driver lit a cigarette in the car, agreeing with the woman's assessment. He thought to himself, "I'll never again rip off out-of-towners by charging them overpriced fish fillets."
More and more people gathered to watch, and some shouted, "They're the ones who forced my dad to spend three hundred yuan on deer antlers! Deer antlers? They're just wood chips!"
"They even robbed me of my money and forced a 'Tianshan Snow Lotus' on me, which was just a plastic flower!"
"They also snatched my gold necklace and threatened me not to call the police. Luckily, they caught me and gave my gold necklace back!"
"You've worked hard these past two days." Chen Zhenzhu grew angrier as she listened. Seeing that the five of them were plump and strong, all young and middle-aged men, she snapped, "What are you covering your faces for? Did you even bring your faces out in public?"
The young man, who was covering his face, mumbled, "Uh, I, I wasn't covering my face, I, you knocked my cheek off."
The tall man squatted down next to him, unable to bear looking at him, and said to Chen Zhenzhu in a flattering tone, "Class monitor, his jaw is habitually dislocated, it's nothing serious."
Shen Zhenzhu rolled her eyes at him: "A prior record?"
The tall man was astonished: "How did you know?"
Shen Zhenzhu sneered.
Who can be called "class monitor" if they've never been inside?
In the armed police detention center, regardless of whether the armed police officers are new recruits or not, the prisoners always greet the officers with "Present, squad leader!"
Police cars arrived with sirens blaring, and the five people were taken away one by one.
There wasn't enough room in the police car, so Shen Zhenzhu got back into a taxi. The driver kept trying to talk to her: "I've heard that there's a famous Captain Shen in the city's criminal investigation team. So it's you. You're a real talent."
"It's nothing," Shen Zhenzhu said modestly.
After driving Chen Zhenzhu back to the entrance of the Municipal Criminal Investigation Brigade, the driver refused to accept any fare, saying, "Forget about the money, I promise I won't sell the fish slices again."
"These are two different things. You keep them."
"No, I don't dare accept it, bye-bye."
Shen Zhenzhu insisted on giving him money, and she managed to slip it through the crack in the car window.
The driver sped off, and Chen Zhenzhu called after him, "Receipt! Receipt!"
The driver waved to Chen Zhenzhu from a distance, saying, "Don't worry, I won't overcharge you again."
Having to pay for her own fieldwork, Chen Zhenzhu returned to the office listlessly and saw two cardboard boxes at the door.
One cardboard box contains a hen, and another cardboard box contains yams and red dates.
"Is this filth?" Shen Zhenzhu asked Wu Zhongguo as she walked to the door.
Wu Zhongguo was preparing for the police entrance exam at the beginning of the year. He was so dizzy from memorizing that he stood up to stretch and said, "It's not dirty stuff. It's a gift from Hongshan County. They're here to thank you."
Shen Zhenzhu was puzzled. Only Wu Zhongguo was in the office; everyone else was out on fieldwork. There was no way around it; spring was a peak season for mental illness, and all sorts of strange and supernatural things came out.
"Thank me?" Shen Zhenzhu squatted down in front of the old hen and reached out to tease it, but the old hen, which peeked out from the hole in the cardboard box, took a bite.
"Ah!" Chen Zhenzhu said, flicking her fingers, "It pecked at me!"
“You owe it a good beating.” Wu Zhongguo reached out and shoved the old hen’s head into the hole. “Hongshan County said they were commended by higher authorities and received a collective third-class merit award because of you. It’s a spy case.”
In early March, the espionage case involving Chen Bufan was made public, and the details of the case were broadcast on CCTV News Channel, attracting the attention of hundreds of millions of people.
Chen Bufan rests in peace at the Liancheng Martyrs Cemetery, surrounded by a sea of golden chrysanthemums. Fans and people from all walks of life flocked to pay their respects, causing a reversal in public opinion and traffic congestion.
Chen Bufan was awarded the title of martyr and posthumously awarded a first-class merit.
Shen Zhenzhu solved a major homicide case and cracked down on espionage and other criminal organizations, earning a second-class merit award and receiving the award upon arrival at her post.
The Hongshan County Police Station was credited with preserving the crucial evidence, a video recorder. Despite multiple attempts by spies to purchase or bribe the recorder under various identities, they failed, ensuring that Chen Bufan's sacrifice was not in vain and earning them a collective third-class merit.
“We still have to work overtime tonight, so let’s take it to the cafeteria and have the chef cook it for us.” Chen Zhenzhu stood up with a smile and stretched her arms: “I’m getting some exercise too.”
"How can you not warm up after beating up five people in one go? I'll send them over." Wu Zhongguo heard about it even in his office.
He carried a cardboard box in each hand and walked downstairs: "I'll get some exercise too. Yam and red date chicken soup, it's great for replenishing qi and blood."
Just as Shen Zhenzhu was about to go in, Guo Daye's gratified and polite voice came from behind her: "Captain Shen is right here, look. Captain Shen, come quickly."
"Brother Ma Jie? What brings you here?" Shen Zhenzhu turned around and saw Ma Jie and the fat man with three layers of chins walking over solemnly with a banner in hand.
Despite this, Ma Jie still wore slippers, looking as carefree as when he was eating barbecue.
"Captain Chen, as Chen Bufan's buddies, we thank you for solving the case and clearing Chen Bufan's name of his wrongful conviction after so many years. This banner, 'People's Police Serve the People, Clearing Wrongs and Warming Hearts,' is specially presented to you, as well as to the guy we ate barbecue with."
Guo Daye asked, "Who?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Director Gu."
Guo Daye: "Oh~~"
Ma Jie handed the banner to Shen Zhenzhu and called his brothers behind him to take a group photo with Shen Zhenzhu.
With a click, the handover of the banner was completed.
Ma Jie and his brothers clapped enthusiastically.
Ma Jie walked up to Chen Zhenzhu and whispered quickly, "They went around the Criminal Investigation Team for a long time before coming up. Don't worry, all the leaders and colleagues saw it, including that old hen."
Shen Zhenzhu smiled, no wonder Grandpa Guo came too.
"You're too kind. I'll keep it safe." Shen Zhenzhu held the banner with great care, wondering where to hang it later.
The fat man with a triple chin behind Ma Jie reached out his hand and said, "Captain Chen, we've had barbecue but haven't introduced ourselves yet. My name is Zheng Banya, the Zheng Banqiao. You can also call me 'Banya,' the fat, oily Banya."
Shen Zhenzhu shook hands with him and said, "Thank you for the banner. Have you seen him?"
Banya said, "Not yet, it's too crowded to squeeze in. That old guy is furious, so we're planning to give him a break first. After we finish our barbecue tonight, we'll sneak over and bring him some late-night snacks. Cold noodles rolled with stinky tofu, his favorite."
This is definitely something a good buddy would do.
The others greeted Shen Zhenzhu again, and Ma Jie, knowing that Shen Zhenzhu was busy, told them, "Don't waste her time, see you again when you have time tomorrow."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "The barbecue was delicious last time, who knows, we might run into it someday."
Spain chimed in, "A few of us have started a crosstalk club. Come and support us when you have time. Here's a business card."
Chen Zhenzhu took the business card, glanced at it, and said, "Really? Then I'll definitely go."
"No need to help with the publicity too much, I'll feel embarrassed if there are too many people." Ma Jie turned and left, but added before leaving, "Just let me know if you need anything."
“Eh.” Chen Zhenzhu chuckled.
As the duck walked along, it said, "You're still ashamed? You really treat wealth and honor like dirt."
Ma Jie naturally picked up on the joke: "I consider barbecue and beer to be heaven on earth."
These two made Chen Zhenzhu laugh again.
The group rushed downstairs, chattering amongst themselves.
Banya reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, then started rummaging through Ma Jie's pockets.
Ma Jie, clutching his pocket, said, "Why are you smoking? Aren't you afraid of getting handcuffed?"
The Spanish man touched someone else: "Why are you handcuffing me? I'm not going to hit you."
Ma Jie said, "If you're not going to smoke it, why are you holding it in your mouth?"
Zheng Banya said, "Let's satisfy our cravings first, and then we'll smoke when we see that old bastard. Do you think one pack of cigarettes is enough?"
Another guy said, "That old guy never smokes in front of girls; he always sneaks a smoke behind the wall."
"Yes, I remember now," said the duck. "Let's get him one and beat him to death."
Ma Jie laughed and said, "He's already dead. You should say, 'Bring him back to life.' Haha."
"Yes. Bring him back to life. Do you think he can make a fortune down there?"
"What? You want to take advantage of me?"
"I doubt it. Old buddy, you can't make money if you're unwilling to lose face."
"Haha. Then we're just right, we're poor whether we live or die."
"Haha, you were right."
As the noise faded into the distance, Wu Zhongguo returned from delivering an old hen to the canteen and saw Shen Zhenzhu leaning against the door, laughing: "What are you looking at? It's so noisy."
“I have a few good buddies,” Chen Zhenzhu said, straightening up. “People who have been quiet for too long may just like a noisy atmosphere.”
Wu Zhongguo said, "That's what my old man said too. I'll take my parents to see what kind of crosstalk they're performing."
Shen Zhenzhu memorized the address on the business card and handed it to Wu Zhongguo: "Don't go to the wrong place, or we can go together later."
Wu Zhongguo said, "Great! Let's bring Xiao Chuan along too, he loves excitement."
Guo Daye, who had been forgotten to the side, shouted, "You like a good time, don't you? It's Arbor Day, wanna go? One tree, one hole, I guarantee no one will fight over it."
Seeing that Shen Zhenzhu pretended not to hear, Guo Daye said, "If you don't go, and he doesn't go, I still have to complete the task assigned by the Municipal Bureau. It's near the Maihua Pastry Factory."
A pastry factory?!
Chen Zhenzhu poked her head out from the doorway: "Wow! I love participating in group activities the most!"
"Really?" After spending more time with her, Guo Daye felt that she wasn't that kind-hearted.
Shen Zhenzhu nodded obediently: "Mmm!"
-----------------------
Author's Note: This case is complete. Next case: [Standard Crime]
See you tomorrow, there's a red envelope coming up!
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