Chapter 41: Sadism, Revenge, and Faith
At Liancheng Golden Beach Resort, the waves push the ice ashore, and many entertainment facilities on the pebble beach are temporarily closed. Yachts lie dormant on the shore, waiting for summer to revive them.
A pedestrian street commercial area is planned to be built next to the resort, which will be a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle, making it a great tourist resort.
"No way? Is this really her?"
While playing pool in the recreation room, Bailov refused a cigarette offered by someone next to him, and the ball he should have easily pocketed went astray. He lost the game, but unconcerned, he pulled out a wad of cash and threw it on the table, then looked down at the newspaper used to line the fruit plate.
"This girl's not bad, she's even a police officer." A friend who was eating and drinking with him tried to look down for a closer look, but Bai Luofu snatched the newspaper from his hand and yelled, "Watch your mouth."
The fruit platter was scattered on the ground. The expensive imported fruit couldn't compare to the pearl in the middle of the newspaper photo. The pretty and proper face revealed cute dimples, and her delicate features were clearly displayed in the newspaper.
Her youthful innocence was suppressed by a solemn uniform, and holding the trophy, she exuded an aura of righteousness that could not be underestimated.
"Good heavens, isn't this the Miss Zhuzhu we met at Golden Sun the other day? She's actually an undercover policewoman!" Another friend couldn't hide the astonishment in his eyes: "No wonder I couldn't find her when I got back. After Golden Sun's crackdown ended, we couldn't find her anymore. So she was actually a criminal investigator!"
Bai Luofu turned his head slowly, casually raising his chin: "Why are you looking for my ex-girlfriend?"
The person next to him noticed the signal and winked, saying, "Yeah, what do you want with our sister-in-law? She's a very upright person, not someone you can just do casually."
"N-nothing, just curious." The man quickly slapped his lips, his eyes hiding their playful expression.
Bailov did not reject the title, and his friends around him speculated whether they were still in contact or had rekindled their old flame.
The resort owner's son was among them. Pointing at the newspaper, he told the manager, "From now on, keep all newspapers like this safe! If you dare use them to prop up tables, I'll use you all as table props!"
"Stop talking nonsense, I'm not playing anymore." Bailov threw down his personal golf club. The hot girl who was playing with him wanted to try to persuade him, but the manager stopped her with a look.
Bai Luofu didn't need to give face to anyone in his circle of friends. As he drove out of the Golden Beach Resort, his heart was pounding, and he headed straight for the Municipal Criminal Investigation Team.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the Criminal Investigation Team, he casually parked his car to the side and called Gu Yanzheng.
Criminal Investigation Team Office.
Shen Zhenzhu received her sidearm and was still smelling the flowers at the table, taking it apart and putting it away, showing how much she cherished and liked it.
She knew that the period of carrying a gun was only a few years away. Around the turn of the millennium, carrying a gun required an application and approval process at multiple levels.
Gu Yanzheng was answering and making phone calls by the window, but she didn't pay any attention, engrossed in studying the guns. A short while later, an unexpected guest appeared at the door.
Behind the blackboard in the fourth team's office, there's a sofa and coffee table serving as a conversation corner. They generally don't like going there, but if they make a mistake, Team Leader Gu will naturally bring them over for a chat.
Unaware of the horrors of the conversation corner, Bai Luofu, carrying a fruit basket, symbolically greeted the others and, with Gu Yanzheng's permission, walked to the conversation corner.
Bailov was somewhat afraid of this distant uncle. Although they were distant relatives, they were barely related. Bailov had gained a lot of benefits by taking advantage of the Gu family's influence, which made his status rise accordingly.
His main purpose in coming here was to see Chen Zhenzhu and show her how strong his connections were.
"What brings you here?" Gu Yanzheng sat down in front of Bai Luofu with an air of authority. He was quite impatient with the year-end work and some documents.
Gu Yanzheng didn't let him sit down, but he didn't dare to. He stood awkwardly to the side and said, "Uncle, I saw in the newspaper that you received a third-class merit, so I came here to congratulate you."
"This happens all the time; there's no need to make a special trip."
“Then we should celebrate. My dad said when you’d be free to have a casual meal together? We should get together at the end of the year, and we can accommodate your schedule anytime.”
"I'm busy right now, let's talk about it after the New Year."
Gu Yanzheng glanced at Bai Luofu and noticed that Bai Luofu's gaze kept drifting towards Chen Zhenzhu. His impatience deepened: "Is there anything else?"
Bai Luofu quickly averted his gaze, like a mouse seeing a cat. He licked his lips and said to Gu Yanzheng what he had thought of on the way: "Um... I have a college classmate who works under you. Could you please help me take care of him?"
Bai Luofu's words were tactful, but Gu Yanzheng knew his temperament; he wasn't someone who could be easily persuaded to say nice things. Bai Luofu had been afraid of him since childhood, and his coming here today, even though he was forcing himself to, probably had another reason.
"Who?" Gu Yanzheng asked knowingly.
Bailov glanced nervously toward the sunken pearl.
Gu Yanzheng understood: "You mean a college classmate?"
As he spoke, Gu Yanzheng looked in Chen Zhenzhu's direction and found that Chen Zhenzhu's face, which had just been gloating, had turned serious, as if she was angry.
Bailov boldly said, "I dated her for a few days before. She's soft-hearted and silly. Uncle, please take good care of her for my sake."
Gu Yanzheng said with a forced smile, "I can tell."
Bailov asked, "What?"
“You two don’t know each other well,” Gu Yanzheng said in a deep voice. “Remember, my men don’t need anyone telling them what to do. If this is the only reason, then you should go back.”
Bailov was choked and dared not utter a sound, stammering, "...Oh, okay."
Just as Bai Luofu lifted his foot, Gu Yanzheng called out to him, "By the way, did you get involved in Hu Xianfeng's company's affairs?"
Bai Luofu was quite proud when he mentioned this: "I made a scene in front of my dad a few times. You know my dad loves me the most." Then he remembered that Hu Xianfeng later came to his house crying and complaining that his business in the province had also failed, and that he had begged and pleaded with everyone to no avail. He immediately shut his mouth and stared intently at Gu Yanzheng.
Gu Yanzheng didn't need to explain to him and simply saw the guest out.
Shen Zhenzhu peeked at the blackboard from her desk, occasionally pursing her lips, determined that if Bai Luofu dared to come over, she would slap him again.
Those who come to harass us will be killed without mercy.
Chen Zhenzhu secretly ground her white teeth.
Fortunately, Bai Luofu still had some self-respect and wasn't the type to shamelessly pester someone who would take advantage of a situation. He followed Gu Yanzheng to the door and gave Chen Zhenzhu a tender look.
Shen Zhenzhu quickly rolled her eyes at him, glancing at Gu Yanzheng's expression out of the corner of her eye. She wondered if he had complained to his boss about the time she slapped him at Jin Taiyang.
However, her boss always sides with her, so she can't be disciplined.
Thinking of this, Chen Zhenzhu felt a little relieved.
Who knew that Bai Luofu would peek out from the doorway again, hesitate for a moment, and then say to Gu Yanzheng, "Uncle, goodbye!"
After saying that, he glanced smugly at Chen Zhenzhu.
Shen Zhenzhu felt that her ears were broken, wondering if she had grown donkey ears.
"Uncle? What uncle? You should call him 'Police Uncle,' he's not a blood relative, right... How could you be family?"
Now, not only did Shen Zhenzhu grow donkey ears, but her face also became as long as a donkey's.
That's a case of turning inwards... it would be a miracle if she actually did it.
Shen Zhenzhu was trying to find a legitimate excuse to beat up Bai Luofu when Gu Yanzheng walked over, tapped the table, and said nonchalantly, "Tell Wu Fuwang not to deliver lunch. I'll treat everyone to fried chicken and cola."
Lu Ye and the others, unaware of the intricacies of the situation, were still cheering over fried chicken and cola.
Shen Zhenzhu said with a stern face, "Captain Gu, that person just now... is he your relative?"
Gu Yanzheng looked at her with amusement: "I guess so."
Chen Zhenzhu's heart felt heavy again.
"Don't you have anything to say?" Gu Yanzheng asked mischievously.
Chen Zhenzhu stammered and hesitated, "Can...can we not lower our seniority?" She had only been an old Shen for a short time.
Gu Yanzheng laughed: "He is him and you are you. If you think it's appropriate, you can have him call you 'Auntie' from now on."
Shen Zhenzhu: "..." Oh dear, the generational order has been messed up again.
She knew that Bai Luofu had a powerful uncle who ran a large business in the provincial capital. Connecting this to her own experience, she realized that this important figure was actually right beside her.
Completely different from the stern and unapproachable person Bai Luofu described, she was a very kind and reassuring mother-in-law. She didn't mistreat her subordinates, even mentoring them, and got along well with their mothers, sisters, and neighbors!
Zhou Chuanxi figured something out and came over with a smile, saying, "My colleagues are all from the same generation, even the one surnamed Bai has to call me uncle."
Lu Ye stood by the window and shouted, "Old Shen, look! Hahaha, look!"
Shen Zhenzhu came to the window and saw Bai Luofu chasing after the luxury car being towed away, shouting wildly. He was no longer the smug person he had been just moments before.
She grinned, showing her white teeth, and turned to look at Gu Yanzheng. Gu Yanzheng said dismissively, "It just so happens that my colleagues from the traffic police are here. They can help me deal with the illegal parking."
"Wow, you ran so clumsily, haha." Chen Zhenzhu swept away her earlier unpleasantness and said with a smile, "You handled it very well."
Gu Yanzheng glanced at her: "Happy again?"
Shen Zhenzhu nodded obediently: "I'm happy."
Gu Yanzheng said with a hidden smile, "Well, whatever makes you happy."
After watching her ex's performance, Shen Zhenzhu waited for the food without any worries.
According to Lu Ye, this fried chicken is just as good as Sixth Sister's cooking.
I must try the sunken pearl.
But when she saw the familiar "KFC" logo, her face lit up with excitement. Now there's even KFC!
It gave her a sudden feeling of excitement, like cattle or horses seeing their feed again.
Gu Yanzheng asked Lu Ye to push the table together so they could eat together. Seeing Shen Zhenzhu's simple smile, he felt sorry for her: "This is KFC. If you like it, you can order it tonight."
Lu Ye, biting into a chicken wing, couldn't shut up: "Boss, the sun must have risen in the west today, you're actually treating us."
Gu Yanzheng looked at the poor Shen Zhenzhu. She had just graduated from university not long ago, and her body could still grow a little more. He couldn't let her pocket the money when they went out to eat, nor could he treat her to a meal alone.
So he repented and took out his wallet, pulled out some banknotes and handed them to Zhou Chuanxi: "Xiao Xizi, make a little treasury. You can use it to buy food from now on. Come to me when you run out."
Lu Ye wailed and howled on the side, "Boss, this collective third-class merit is just too well-deserved! I love you forever!!"
Zhou Chuanxi took the banknotes and counted them like a money-grubber, exclaiming, "When he does make a move, it's nothing special."
Only Wu Zhonghai, who was adding cola to his teacup, glanced at Gu Yanzheng, then at Chen Zhenzhu, and chuckled to himself in the back.
***
February 14, 1991.
Valentine's Day is not yet widespread overseas, but CCTV's Spring Festival Gala for the Year of the Sheep is playing everywhere in China.
The old lady next door has hearing problems, and you can hear her TV announcing "A Hundred Children Celebrate Spring" from the living room. Four or five seconds later, Chen Zhenzhu's TV also started announcing "A Hundred Children Celebrate Spring".
Chen Zhenzhu ate a large dumpling with pickled cabbage and diced pork, while watching the young hosts Zhao Zhongxiang, Ni Ping, Yang Dongsheng, and Li Tiemin on TV.
Shen Liuhe connected the phone line and called her close friends to wish them a Happy New Year, raising her voice as the television volume increased.
Shen Yuyuan received a lipstick from Aunt Yuan and secretly admired herself in the bathroom, humming a tune.
Li Lili, dressed in new clothes, sat next to Shen Zhenzhu eating dumplings. In the warm room, her expression was gentle and peaceful.
Chen Zhenzhu looked around, her eyes crinkling with happiness as if she were in a beautiful dream.
When Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao appeared in "Police and Thieves," Shen Zhenzhu, even though she had seen it many times, still burst into laughter along with them.
"Wow, there are so many Hong Kong and Taiwan singers this year." Shen Yuyuan was so engrossed in watching TV that she didn't even realize she'd poured too much vinegar into her bowl. "Pan Meichen and Alan Tam are amazing, they actually came to perform on the Spring Festival Gala. I wonder if even more people will come next year."
"Definitely! This is the Spring Festival Gala, and not only will there be stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan, but many foreign stars will also be coming in the future," Chen Zhenzhu said, patting her chest.
Her face was flushed red from the warmth of the heater, and she kept talking all night on New Year's Eve.
Li Lili sat on the sofa, helping to wind up the yarn, but her eyes weren't on the TV; instead, she was looking at her English vocabulary book.
Shen Zhenzhu advised her several times to take a good rest and not to work so hard, but Li Lili felt that she had spent their tuition and living expenses, and if she failed the exam, she would be too ashamed to face them.
I was watching the Spring Festival Gala when the power suddenly went out.
Shen Zhenzhu led the way, followed by Shen Yuyuan and Li Lili, running outside. Just as they reached the outside of the courtyard, the power came back on with a crack. The three sisters, shivering from the cold, giggled and ran back into the house.
Although her birth year was still early, at her sixth sister's request, Shen Zhenzhu wore a bright red shirt, undershirt, and red underwear, making her look extremely festive and vibrant.
This year, Shen Zhenzhu didn't buy long firecrackers. Instead, she lined up with her sisters to receive Shen Liuhe's New Year's money and bought small firecrackers and snap pops. Shen Zhenzhu, being a bit mischievous, even bought herself ten double-bang firecrackers. After the New Year's bell rang, she eagerly dragged her sisters out to play.
"I want a home—a place that doesn't need to be fancy..."
"When I'm tired, I think of it—"
"I want a home, a place that doesn't need to be big, so I won't be afraid when I'm scared..."
The popular song "I Want a Home" quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys, and Shen Zhenzhu was singing this song even after the New Year.
This was her state of mind back then, but now she has the home she once envied, a place where she could lick her wounds.
Thinking about it now, the lyrics are very true: "As long as your heart is full of love, you will be cared for." Her family was no exception.
During the Spring Festival, the criminal investigation team takes turns on holiday. Shen Zhenzhu is on duty on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year and officially starts work on the eighth day.
I took on two small cases and solved them smoothly. In March, the weather warmed up, and in two months the peak tourist season would begin.
When Chen Zhenzhu arrived at the office, she saw a new food cabinet containing coconut candy, Ji Gong pills, watermelon bubbles, and "Tang Monk's Flesh." There were also Little Raccoon, Little Chef, Little Tigers, and Magician instant noodles—it was quite a feat for Zhou Chuanxi to collect them all.
Chen Zhenzhu squatted in front of the food cabinet, picked and chose an orange jelly, and slurped it in her mouth, chewing it.
Wu Zhonghai arrived early, hung the golden spider plant in a sunny spot, and pointed to the top shelf of the food cabinet, saying, "There's also chocolate Omega and imported milk powder. Go make some to drink."
Chen Zhenzhu's eyes lit up. She poured a large cup of chocolate-flavored Milo into the huge tea mug, took a delicious sip, and felt incredibly happy.
Wu Zhonghai said cryptically, "The milk powder is also good, but it's not sold much outside. I think you have to use foreign exchange certificates to exchange for it at the import store, so it shouldn't be Zhou Chuanxi's doing."
Shen Zhenzhu asked curiously, "Who did that?"
Wu Zhonghai stopped there, mimicking Chen Zhenzhu's cute tone: "I don't know either."
Shen Zhenzhu glanced around the office, scrutinizing every colleague who entered. When Gu Yanzheng came in after his meeting, Shen Zhenzhu's dimples appeared.
Gu Yanzheng glanced over and saw that she was holding Milo, so he knew she liked it.
Lu Ye leaned his chair against Shen Zhenzhu's table with a cheeky grin, turned to look at her, and said, "You seem to be having a good time drinking, huh?"
Her dimples disappeared immediately: "No, I was very serious and focused on work on the first day of the new year, okay?"
Zhou Chuanxi chuckled and began distributing official documents such as the 1991 Criminal Investigation Work Ideological Summary. These documents were not only to be studied but also to be used for assessment.
In the afternoon, Shen Zhenzhu and everyone held a meeting at the call of Director Liu. Spring has arrived and flowers are in bloom, so everyone should show a new spirit.
The four teams were in high spirits and had rosy complexions, while the third team, having gone through three months of crackdown, looked utterly wretched.
Shen Zhenzhu slowly walked past their office carrying a thermos. Seeing Kang He still engrossed in writing documents, she clicked her tongue twice.
Having caught wind of this, Kang He spoke a little more politely to this young beauty, who had probably been promoted earlier than her classmates at the police academy: "What are you tsk about?"
Chen Zhenzhu said sweetly, "I'm tired of drinking Milo, let's make a cup of hot milk."
"Your team's benefits have increased so much over the New Year, haven't they?" Kanghe arrested twenty-three prostitutes and four bastards selling ecstasy during the Spring Festival. On New Year's Eve, he was still staking out outside the nightclub to catch people selling fake aphrodisiacs. It's really incomparable.
Chen Zhenzhu hummed in agreement and happily returned to her office.
I didn't eat much all day, but my stomach was full from drinking.
When she got off work and went back to the store for dinner, Shen Liuhe saw her return and waved to her while covering the phone.
The shop now has heating on. Chen Zhenzhu took off her coat and hung it behind the counter, then walked over and asked, "Whose call was that?"
Shen Liuhe said, "It was the landlord calling. He said the tea shop next door ran away because it owed rent, and he asked if we wanted to take over the storefront next door. The rent is negotiable, the main thing is that we pay the rent on time."
The rent is negotiable? I even raised it by fifty yuan for them before.
Chen Zhenzhu whispered, "Have they caught their cash flow again?"
Shen Liuhe winked and said, "The cash flow is back, so we'll offer a one-third discount. Also, the tea shop has a lot of tea left over that we haven't had time to move, so we'll use it to offset part of the rent. But the landlords aren't local, so if we rent it, they'll give us that tea."
Shen Zhenzhu pondered that the restaurant business would only get better and better after 1990. Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine, which had spread from the south to the streets and alleys of the north, became the first choice for ordinary people. Shen Liuhe was not only good at Sichuan cuisine, but also knew a few Cantonese dishes. Liancheng had a wealth of fresh seafood, and expanding the store was a necessary trend for future development.
Shen Zhenzhu made up her mind and said to Shen Liuhe, "It's possible, but we have to sign a lease agreement."
Shen Liuhe hadn't signed a contract here for many years, relying entirely on her own initiative. She hesitated and said, "Actually, there's no need to sign one, right? We're all acquaintances."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "It's better to be safe than sorry. If their business is good, it's fine, but what if they don't and sell the storefront to us? The contract states 'sale does not break lease,' so we don't have to worry about the storefront being sold. Besides, as our business gets better and better, what if someone offers a higher price to rent this storefront and steal our brand?"
Shen Liuhe's heart was in her throat. She smiled at Shen Zhenzhu and said, "You've grown up and can help me make decisions. I haven't considered any of these things you mentioned. So, as you said, I'll talk to them now. Actually, they're not bad people. They've even helped us. I'm willing to earn more rent for them here and pay it on time every month, even if it's a little, it'll give them a stable income."
"I also remember your kindness," Shen Zhenzhu explained, standing aside listening to Shen Liuhe's phone conversation with them. The other party agreed to sign the contract without hesitation, probably because they were doing business outside and didn't object to it; on the contrary, they saw it as a positive constraint.
Shen Zhenzhu then went outside to borrow a fax machine, and after signing and making copies, she finally finalized the contract. She also gave the neighborhood committee a copy as proof.
The contract was for three years. The original rent for one storefront was 210 yuan, but the other party voluntarily lowered the price and offered a discounted price of 350 yuan for two stores.
Li Lili lives at the high school dormitory. She couldn't fit in the attic before, but now that she's preparing for the college entrance exam, she continues to live at the school.
When Shen Yuyuan returned, she found her older sister covered in dust and grime as she cleaned up the tea shop next door. Looking at the dilapidated interior, she sighed, "Money is hard to save. No wonder they gave us a discount. We probably still need to renovate."
Brother Leng, wearing a padded-shoulder black suit and smoking a cigarette, said, "It's not just the exterior renovation; the internal wiring also needs to be redone. Luckily, your house has a kitchen, otherwise we'd have to run the plumbing here too."
Wu Fuwang has made something of himself now, bringing two younger men to run food delivery services. Hearing that his sixth sister's shop was expanding, he brought his men over, patting his chest and saying, "Don't bother looking for a bricklayer or an electrician, I know people like that. They can also work as laborers and run errands."
Brother Leng said, "I'll take care of the tables, chairs, and flooring. There's a batch of secondhand tables and chairs at the big market; I'll bring them back, polish them, and they'll be as good as new."
Shen Yuyuan also stepped forward and said, "My older sister and I will do the wall decorations. As for the rest... Mom, what else?"
Shen Liuhe was a little embarrassed. Standing outside, looking at the store that had suddenly doubled in size, she pointed to the small sign and said, "I'll go order a sign."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Write down all the dishes you can cook, like a row of colorful lights."
After she finished speaking, everyone agreed.
After discussing it, the group began dividing the two remaining bags of tea in the tea shop.
Fortunately, there were many neighbors, and Shen Zhenzhu and Shen Yuyuan delivered the tea to each household. They kept the remaining half-bag of tea for the shop and thought they had no more.
The next day, before Shen Zhenzhu went to work, she heard Wu Fuwang shouting from next door, "Shen Public Security Officer, come quick! We've found a lot more tea leaves!"
To avoid delaying his food delivery schedule, he and his two brothers arrived at dawn to do renovations. Opening the malfunctioning back door, they were immediately stunned by what they saw.
The boxes and crates behind were all filled with tea! Green tea, white tea, jasmine tea, lemon tea, both tea bags and loose leaves. Although the prices weren't high, we couldn't let them go to waste.
Shen Zhenzhu quickly called the landlord, who said helplessly on the other end, "It's not worth much money. You and your mother can handle it yourselves. Don't worry about them coming after you. They owe me more than half a year's rent, which is much more than this."
After hanging up the phone, Chen Zhenzhu frowned, worried about how to use up the tea leaves.
Even a steaming bowl of congee with preserved egg and lean pork doesn't taste as good as a big meat bun anymore.
Just before I was about to go to work, I heard Zhang Xiaopang, who came to buy soy milk, crying and shouting, "I don't want to drink soy milk anymore! I don't want to drink this every day! I don't want to drink anything else!"
Drink something else!
Shen Zhenzhu clapped her hands, having come up with an idea.
Because she was going to be late for work, she quickly wrote down the milk tea recipe and handed it to Shen Liuhe: "When making milk tea, pay attention to balancing the tea aroma, milk aroma, and sweetness. Steep it first and then boil it for a light and refreshing taste. Don't use too high a heat, as milk is prone to separating and forming a skin at high temperatures. Try it with a 1:1 ratio first, and if it doesn't work, try a 1:2 ratio. Have Aunt Yuan and Aunt Pang try it!"
Shen Liuhe waved her hand, engrossed in developing a new milk tea, and casually asked, "What's this milk tea called?"
Chen Zhenzhu exclaimed, "Hong Kong-style milk tea!"
Shen Liuhe: "Stockings? That's a bit tacky... Let's just call it Hong Kong-style milk tea instead."
I'm too old to accept new titles.
As soon as Chen Zhenzhu arrived at the office, she noticed that the atmosphere had changed.
Lu Ye leaned against the table, rubbing his hands together, seemingly anticipating something. Zhou Chuanxi wiped the table expressionlessly, while Wu Zhonghai called his wife behind him to inform her.
Gu Yanzheng looked up and saw her coming. He stood up and said, "The provincial department has issued an order to all municipal bureaus, requiring their officers to cooperate with each other and go down to the townships, counties and villages in their respective cities to provide technical guidance for solving criminal cases and pass on their experience to their colleagues in the townships, counties and villages. Because they work in local areas for many years, they don't have many opportunities to learn. They all rely on the old to mentor the new or to figure it out on their own, so they are quite behind in the methods of solving criminal cases."
Technology outreach to rural areas?
Shen Zhenzhu's almond-shaped eyes widened as she listened intently to Gu Yanzheng's words. She wasn't opposed to going to the countryside to lead a team, but what about her sixth sister and the others?
Fortunately, Gu Yanzheng then added, "We take turns going to the countryside; we're not permanently stationed there. The comrades who are assigned to the countryside will basically handle one case, and other comrades will take over their assignments later."
Chen Zhenzhu then put her mind at ease and took a sip of the sweet Ovaltine.
Gu Yanzheng added, "Since the comrades of Team Three have just participated in a crackdown campaign that lasted for several months, Director Liu's idea is that the first batch of personnel to be deployed this quarter will be selected by Team One and Team Four through a lottery."
Zhou Chuanxi said, "Hey, we shouldn't have laughed at them. Now it's our turn."
"I'll go first." Lu Ye is an active person who grew up with his maternal grandmother in the countryside and is very passionate about going to the countryside to provide guidance. If he can go to the countryside, it will basically be like releasing a tiger back into the forest.
He finished drawing first, but didn't rush to open it. He nudged Chen Zhenzhu and told her to draw too.
After she finished drawing her chopsticks, Gu Yanzheng took a chopstick tip and said, "There are two red chopsticks. Whoever you choose can go down."
That's a really bad omen.
Shen Zhenzhu glanced at the chopsticks; the tips were blood red. Oh dear, she was about to go down.
Then, Zhou Chuanxi's sigh of relief and Lu Ye's joyful shouts came over at the same time.
Shen Zhenzhu looked at Lu Ye, who shook the red chopsticks and said, "Old Shen, we're teaming up now. Don't worry this time, I'll listen to you. No one else can change my mind."
Wu Zhonghai won without even having to draw lots, and watched them make a ruckus with amusement.
Before Lu Ye could even enjoy his joy, Gu Yanzheng brazenly took his red chopsticks and said, "Old Shen is about to be promoted, so I'll supervise how she leads the team. I'll go down with her this time, and you won't need to draw lots in the second batch; you'll be promoted directly."
"No way, this works too?" Lu Ye was furious but dared not speak out. He glanced at Chen Zhenzhu, who was also helpless.
Gu Yanzheng said, "Director Liu also meant the same thing."
Wu Zhonghai said at the right moment, "It's good to let Lao Shen go down with Captain Gu. Captain Gu has a car and can drive, so he won't suffer along the way. I remember when Zhang Jie and I went to the countryside, it was freezing cold and we had to change vehicles seven or eight times, which made us dizzy. The last time we went was on a villager's donkey cart, and it was pouring rain. We arrived at our destination and Zhang Jie and I both got sick."
Lu Ye thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll hurry up and learn to drive, and then I'll drive the team's car. Old Shen, you can come with the boss this time, but next time it'll be your turn to lead the team and take me."
Shen Zhenzhu nodded in agreement, unaware of the probing gaze Gu Yanzheng was giving them.
Having decided on the candidate, Gu Yanzheng asked Shen Zhenzhu to report to Director Liu. Shen Zhenzhu went to Director Liu's office, where Director Liu kindly asked her to sit down. After learning who the candidate was, he nodded and had her fill out some promotion forms.
"When you come back, you'll be the deputy captain of the fourth team." Director Liu signed his name on the promotion form and said with a smile, "You'll still be a deputy section chief, which is a state cadre. Keep up the good work and maintain your drive. You have a long road ahead of you. Learn to cherish your reputation and resist the temptations of others. Don't let down everyone's high expectations of you because of a moment's carelessness."
"Yes!" Shen Zhenzhu stood up and saluted. "I will always remember your teachings and never forget them!"
"Alright, go back and get ready, we're leaving this afternoon." Director Liu said with a smile, "Although Fujia Village in Zhuanghe County is remote, I visited it more than ten years ago and I can't forget the mushroom and braised pork at the villager's house. You're lucky to have such a meal."
Shen Zhenzhu was thus lured by the braised pork with mushrooms. After returning home and packing her business trip luggage, Yuan Jiangxue joked, "From south to north, you're the first person on our commercial street to go on a business trip."
Chen Zhenzhu grinned, showing her white teeth, and said, "There's also an allowance."
Yuan Jiangxue laughed even harder: "You're amazing. Hey, who are these people? Wu Fuwang's friends?"
Shen Zhenzhu turned around and saw the people who had reported Mo Qiaoyan missing. The blond-haired guy was still there, but the girl with the baby head was gone.
“Officer Shen, we’re here to thank you.” Huang Mao, the eldest of the ten brothers at the skating rink, handed Shen Zhenzhu a stack of skating rink tickets and said, “Thank you for letting us know that there are still strangers willing to believe in us. We don’t have money to buy gifts, so these are the tickets the boss gave us after hearing about this and asked us to give them to you.”
A thin girl behind her chimed in, "She was so helpless at the time. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been able to see her off on her final journey."
Chen Zhenzhu, holding the tickets and thinking it was their good intention, brought them a few cups of Hong Kong-style milk tea: "Come in and talk, you must be thirsty."
The energetic young men and women had no money for transportation, so they walked seventeen or eighteen kilometers to get here. Despite the fluctuating temperatures, they were sweating profusely.
Shen Zhenzhu offered them milk tea, and when they thanked her with feigned composure, she smiled.
Huang Mao took a sip of Hong Kong-style milk tea and said in a pretentious manner, "It's the same as the one I used to drink, maybe even better."
The young woman standing nearby looked on with admiration.
Shen Zhenzhu knew they were kind-hearted, and found their manner endearing: "Why are you the ones seeing her off on her final journey? But it's alright, she'll be very happy if you're the ones seeing her off."
Huang Mao said, "Her family is a single-parent family. Her younger brother screams every night after hearing that he saw Mo Qiaoyan's head. Tell me, how can someone be afraid of their own family? They've already killed their enemies, what's there to be afraid of, unless they've done something wrong."
keen.
The thin girl next to her, presumably the second sister, said, "Her mother had to take care of him, and she was also sick herself, so she couldn't manage Mo Qiaoyan's funeral. Originally, they were going to bury her directly, but after we heard about it, we took over the arrangements."
Seeing that Chen Zhenzhu was interested in listening, Huang Mao added, "Her mother recently took her younger brother to see a doctor, and somehow a rumor started circulating that they killed Mo Qiaoyan. Her mother felt ashamed, so she sold the house and stopped treating her brother's brain disease, taking him back to her hometown. I don't know what will happen in the future, but since they treated Mo Qiaoyan badly, we won't help Mo Qiaoyan take care of them. It's none of our business anymore."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Yes, you have done very well, you have done everything you could."
The thin second sister pursed her lips and said, "We didn't have the money to buy her a burial plot, so we sent her ashes to the sea. We hope she goes to a place she likes, lives a happy life, and is a child who is loved in her next life."
“She has gained so much in her life because you all love her. She must be very happy to have met you all.” Shen Zhenzhu said from the bottom of her heart, “If any of you nine brothers and sisters come over for dinner, I’ll give you a discount.”
"Only seven left. I don't know how many will be with me this time next year." Huang Mao waved his hand regretfully and said, "The third one is eighteen years old. His family used connections to get him a job in the shipyard's electromechanical workshop. He can save up for three to five years, get married, have children, and reach the pinnacle of life. The fifth one is very lucky. Her stepmother is willing to pay for her to continue her studies and doesn't need to drop out of school to work. Damn it, her stepmother is better than her biological father."
Shen Zhenzhu remembered that the girl with the bob haircut must be the fifth sister. It's good that the girl can go back to school, it's really good.
Seeing the dejection in Huang Mao's eyes, Chen Zhenzhu comforted him, saying, "All good things must come to an end. Cherish the present."
"Then we won't bother you anymore, we're leaving." The journey was too far, so Huang Mao stood up and said proudly, "Let's go ice skating sometime, we'll take you on a relay race, you'll be the leader! Anyone who dares to bully you, we'll let them taste our fists."
Shen Zhenzhu smiled sweetly and said, "That's great! You should come often. By the way, if someone hits you at the skating rink, only hit back. Remember, don't strike first!"
"Is that even possible?" The blond-haired guy pointed at a group of energetic young men and women: "Did you all remember what Officer Shen said?"
"I've got it!"
"I've got it..."
"I didn't realize he was so kind and loyal." Yuan Jiangxue leaned against the doorway and sighed, "At my age, why am I always pulling my hair out?"
Shen Zhenzhu then gave them milk tea and red bean buns as "military rations." After delivering them, she returned and heard this, her eyes widening as she asked, "Who? Who bullied you?"
Yuan Jiangxue hugged her and pinched her cheek: "It was me who pulled someone else's hair."
Chen Zhenzhu: "......"
Alright, as long as our own people don't suffer any losses.
"I don't know when I'll be back, probably within a week. Take good care of yourselves at home. Call me if you need anything, or if it's too urgent, call Captain Gu's brother."
Shen Zhenzhu also started using the Gu team's items for personal purposes.
The small bag prepared by her mother was heavy. Chen Zhenzhu carried it on her back to say goodbye to Shen Liuhe, but was stuffed with a tub of Hong Kong-style milk tea by her: "Try it too. I spent all morning making it. Your Aunt Yun and the others all said it was delicious. What do you think?"
Shen Zhenzhu took a sip and was stunned. What kind of culinary genius was Sixth Sister? She only gave her the recipe, and she had already made a silky smooth and rich taste. The rich milk tea aroma invaded her taste buds, leaving her with an unforgettable aftertaste: "Delicious! This is the taste!"
"It's like you drank it yourself," Shen Liuhe complained. "You guys just know how to flatter me."
"Didn't those kids say it was delicious?" Shen Zhenzhu said with a smile. "I drank it in my dream, and I can't forget how delicious it was."
Shen Liuhe picked up her backpack and said, "I'll pack you some more food. It's been over 400 kilometers, you'll definitely need to eat something."
Shen Zhenzhu followed him into the kitchen and found many jars on the counter: "Were these ruined?"
Shen Liuhe said happily, "Don't we have jasmine and green tea? I want to use the foundation of Hong Kong-style milk tea to see if I can make more flavors, otherwise all those tea leaves will go to waste."
Shen Zhenzhu admired Sixth Sister from the bottom of her heart; Sixth Sister really loved food.
"Let me look forward to your results. A friendly reminder: you can add some toppings like jelly." Chen Zhenzhu took her sixth sister's bag, walked out of the kitchen, hung it on the handlebars of the car, and waved. "Take care of yourself. Don't work too hard. I'll bring back a gift."
Shen Liuhe stared at her retreating figure and instructed, "Take good care of yourself and don't make Mom worry about you."
"Yes, it will not happen again like last time."
As Chen Zhenzhu was about to leave, leaning on her bicycle, the Cherokee pulled up to the side of the road and waited.
Shen Zhenzhu got on the bus with a backpack on her back and a plastic bag in her hand.
She no longer felt secretly pleased to sit in a Cherokee; she had become a regular customer who could naturally hang her coat on the back of the passenger seat.
Gu Yanzheng didn't want to wear it, so he didn't. But Sixth Sister said it was cold in the mountains, and even though it was spring, the temperature difference between day and night could freeze you to death.
This was Shen Zhenzhu's first time traveling far from home. After the Cherokee drove onto the national highway, she stared intently at the scenery outside.
Highways are not yet widespread, and repairs are underway everywhere. The national highways are full of potholes, and animals or livestock occasionally pop out.
Leaving Liancheng, we passed through many small towns and villages. They were close to each other, and the buildings were similar, mostly one- or two-story bungalows.
She knew that because Liancheng received little rain, there was no need to build the roof into a pointed shape to facilitate rain; in fact, the single-story houses were more suitable for drying grains.
Now you can see some people drying sweet potatoes and radishes on their roofs.
"It will take at least until 4 o'clock to reach the county town." Gu Yanzheng had been driving for two hours without feeling tired. After asking Chen Zhenzhu's opinion, he continued driving.
The two of them didn't feel uncomfortable in the spacious seats of the Cherokee. On the contrary, Gu Yanzheng was focused on driving, while she was able to hold the map and give directions. The two of them had the same tacit understanding as always.
Gu Yanzheng noticed that Shen Zhenzhu had been working with Lu Ye lately and he rarely took her along. While his fellow villager was herding ducks in the aisle, he glanced at the passenger seat.
Chen Zhenzhu was a little tired and secretly dozed off. Remembering the role of the co-pilot, she didn't relax at all, nodding off as she drowsily, her hand still gripping the map tightly.
The warm sunlight outside the car window shone directly on her porcelain-white skin, her forehead with fine downy hair, her lovely and bright eyebrows and eyes, her thick and curly eyelashes, her small and straight nose and pink lips, and her delicate chin that would lift up like a cat when she was proud.
Amidst the engine noise, Gu Yanzheng heard her soft breathing and silently rolled up the car window.
A cow mooed outside, and Chen Zhenzhu woke up abruptly, her eyes wide: "Where am I?"
Gu Yanzheng gripped the steering wheel and drove forward, his eyes fixed on the road ahead: "We're still on National Highway 107, you can take a nap."
Chen Zhenzhu glanced at the pager, then reached over the back of the passenger seat and grabbed a food bag: "Captain Gu, are you hungry?"
Gu Yanzheng continued driving, and, genuinely a little hungry, asked, "What do you have?"
Like a schoolchild on an outing, Chen Zhenzhu enthusiastically exclaimed, "Kidney bean and minced meat buns, beef and scallion pancakes, pickled cabbage and minced meat dumplings, braised three delicacies, mackerel cakes, and also red bean buns and custard buns—"
Before he could finish speaking, Gu Yanzheng laughed.
Shen Zhenzhu silently shut her mouth, thinking, "If you laugh again, I won't let you eat anymore."
Gu Yanzheng asked again, "That's all?"
Shen Zhenzhu's legs felt heavy: "It's gone."
Gu Yanzheng laughed and said, "You're not telling the truth? You want to keep it for yourself and eat it secretly?"
Shen Zhenzhu turned her face to look out the window and said quickly, "There's also a big pork knuckle."
Gu Yanzheng had laughed enough, so he parked the car on the side of the road and ate steamed buns and shared pork knuckles with the angry Shen Zhenzhu.
When she got back into the car, Shen Zhenzhu noticed that Gu Yanzheng had changed into the gray jacket she had given him! Shen Zhenzhu was secretly pleased that she had successfully given him the gift, unaware that her sly expression was clearly visible in the rearview mirror.
Everything was ready except for water.
Finally, there was a small shop ahead. Gu Yanzheng went down to buy water, and Chen Zhenzhu also wanted to go and take a look at the rural shop.
The small shop is run by a middle-aged woman with a child. It's about five or six square meters and was converted from an old newsstand. I don't know where they got an old newsstand from in this remote mountain area.
The middle-aged woman, noticing that the two didn't seem to be locals and were both exceptionally good-looking, remarked, "You two are such a perfect match, even driving such a big car to the countryside. Are you married yet?"
Before Shen Zhenzhu could explain, Gu Yanzheng handed her two bottles of water and money, saying, "I'm not in a rush to get married, I'm just visiting relatives. Are you sure this is the right direction to Zhuanghe County, sister?"
Hearing that he wasn't in a hurry to get married, the kind and simple middle-aged woman looked at Chen Zhenzhu with pity. What a fine girl, how did she end up with such a bad guy?
Unaware that he had been seen as a playboy by his older sister, Gu Yanzheng asked for directions and got into the car.
After they left, the middle-aged woman's husband came to deliver the food. Seeing the Cherokee driving away, he frowned and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Zhuanghe County".
The man gasped, "The car doesn't look local... What trouble have those families gotten into this time?"
The middle-aged woman held her grandson and soothed him a couple of times, then complained to him, "I told you, you've been living in constant fear for decades. A young couple came to visit relatives, and this scared you so much?"
Visiting relatives in the middle of nowhere?
"Spring is here. Those who couldn't come back for the New Year have to come back now. They can bring back some wild mushrooms, and maybe they'll be middlemen."
"Hiss...that's possible." The man glanced at the national highway again. He hadn't had time to check the license plate number earlier, and now that he looked again, the car was nowhere to be seen.
As we approached Zhuanghe County, the road conditions became even more bumpy.
As Gu Yanzheng drove, he gave instructions: "This time, our rural assistance mission involves two murder cases. The methods were brutal; not only were the victims strangled, but their eyes were gouged out, leaving two holes. The victims' faces were also smashed, and it's said there's a possibility they might commit further murders. The county sent people to investigate several times, but they couldn't solve the case and only found one fingerprint. However, the current criminal fingerprint database hasn't found the murderer, so be careful what you say."
Shen Zhenzhu immediately perked up: "Understood, Captain Gu. Never tell a stranger your identity."
"Clever," Gu Yanzheng praised.
For the next hour, Gu Yanzheng briefly explained the murder case to her: "Two young men were strangled and their faces smashed and eyes gouged out. There are rumors in the village that it was done by a woman with intellectual disabilities. But she has left the village and is living in the county town. She has no intelligence, physical ability, or time to commit the crime. Of course, this is not absolute, but there was a fingerprint left at the scene that does not match her."
Is gouging out someone's eyes to deprive them of their ability to "see," or is it just a superstitious ritual?
Highly cruel and out-of-control behavior is generally accompanied by extreme anger and uncontrolled hatred. In certain special circumstances, it may also exhibit sadistic tendencies, deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on others.
Now that her eyes have been gouged out, Shen Zhenzhu doesn't know if her "Dharma Eye" will be able to see the victim's image this time. What if it can't...?
No, even if she can't see it, she will catch these inhuman killers!
She asked in a low voice, "Did the forensic doctor examine the body?"
Gu Yanzheng said, "Neither of the families of the deceased agreed to an autopsy, and because of the feudal superstitions in the countryside, they believed that their tragic deaths were unlucky, so they sealed the bodies in coffins and refused to let anyone see them."
Seeing that Shen Zhenzhu remained silent, assuming she was considering the case, Gu Yanzheng turned the Cherokee onto the muddy dirt road and said in a low voice, "This time you will be in charge of solving the case. I want to test your ability to lead a team and your methods for solving cases in unfamiliar environments. Can you do it?"
So the reason they didn't let Lu Ye come was to test me.
Chen Zhenzhu straightened her upper body and said firmly, "Report, the mission will definitely be completed!"
Gu Yanzheng reminded him, "The Fu family villagers are known for their fierce and aggressive nature. Be mindful of your approach when you go there. Don't strike first. Only use violence if someone attacks you. Remember that?"
"Oh." That sounds so familiar.
"Once we arrive, the local police will provide a detailed account of the case. What's your opinion on this so far?" Gu Yanzheng said, "Don't be nervous, this is just a discussion of the case."
Chen Zhenzhu thought for a moment before speaking: "My first reaction is that it was a relationship of hatred. What was the deceased's reputation like in the village? Was he prone to making enemies?"
"On the contrary, both of them were well-liked, were exemplary young people, friendly to their neighbors, and had fought against crime."
Gu Yanzheng said, "One of the deceased was named Ma Sheng, 34 years old this year. Two years ago, he acted bravely in the county town, catching a robber who was blocking the road. He was specially recruited as a village committee cadre and served as a propaganda officer in the village committee, where he often publicized good deeds. The other deceased was a close friend of him and the other two, and he was often featured on the good deeds publicity board."
"You previously said that the Fu family villagers are known for their fierce and unruly character." Chen Zhenzhu had a strange feeling: "Why would there be so many good deeds and good people to publicize?"
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Author's Note: Zhuzhu: Captain Gu is starting to listen to my commands! [starry-eyed]
***
I received so many nutrient solutions, thank you everyone, see you tomorrow, there's a red envelope coming up!
Thank you for supporting the official version! [kissing emoji]
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