Chapter 148 Extra 5: Lin Xiaoyue's Story: This organization is half mine and half the dog's.
That winter of 1993 was cold and gloomy for Lin Xiaoyue.
The mother was humiliated by Qian Jianshe, and she was powerless to do anything but steal Qian Jianshe's bicycle bells to find a semblance of balance in her heart.
The bicycle was a Phoenix brand, and the bell was original chrome-plated. The bell rang loudly and long, but to Lin Xiaoyue's ears, it was extremely jarring.
After that, whenever she felt overwhelmed by pain and helplessness and couldn't sleep at night, Lin Xiaoyue would steal bicycle bells.
Only in this way can she get a good night's sleep.
The word "thief" made Lin Xiaoyue feel ashamed and guilty, but she couldn't stop this behavior.
Until Jiang Ling appeared.
She didn't blame herself, nor did she look down on her mother. She was like a warm ray of sunshine, shining into their home that Lin Xiaoyue felt suffocated in.
Jiang Ling not only helped Lin Xiaoyue escape the shadow of the "dirty" bell that stole her childhood peace, but also pulled her and her mother Wen Xiufen back from the brink of an almost inevitable fall.
Life doesn't become perfect overnight.
Although Qian Jianshe received his due punishment, and Wen Xiufen kept her job at the towel factory and her family, the psychological scars left by what had happened could not be erased overnight. Lin Xiaoyue remained more silent and sensitive than her peers, and her physical condition was somewhat frail due to long-term malnutrition and psychological stress. In school physical education classes, she was always the girl who ran last, panting for breath; occasional physical fitness tests made her feel extremely frustrated.
Time flies, and it's already the late 1990s.
Lin Xiaoyue entered high school, where the workload was heavy, and the choices she would make for her future were drawing ever closer. Some of her classmates wanted to become scientists, some engineers, some teachers, and some even wanted to go into business and make a fortune. But deep in Lin Xiaoyue's heart lay a dream that she herself felt was somewhat extravagant—she wanted to become a police officer like Jiang Ling.
This thought stemmed from Jiang Ling's calm yet powerful gaze in the police station's interrogation room that winter night; from Jiang Ling's upright figure standing up for her mother when Zhao Yanhong insulted her; and even more so from the unwavering trust Jiang Ling showed when he told her, "It's okay to turn back even if you're wrong." For her, the police were no longer the vague image her father had portrayed in her childhood—"brothers with evil people"—but rather a light that pierced the darkness and protected the vulnerable.
However, reality is harsh.
In her senior year of high school, the school organized a preliminary survey of potential applicants for military and police academies. Lin Xiaoyue secretly inquired about the physical examination standards. Looking at the requirements for height, weight, eyesight, and physical fitness, her heart sank. She barely met the height requirement, but her weight was far too low, and endurance running was her fatal weakness.
Looking at her pale face and almost vomiting expression after running 800 meters, the PE teacher gently advised, "Xiaoyue, being a police officer is a profession that requires a strong physique and is very tough. Your grades are good; you could consider other more suitable majors."
After school, Lin Xiaoyue sat alone on the bleachers of the playground, watching the sunset paint the sky orange-red, her heart filled with confusion and discouragement. Was it really true that because of the shadows of the past and her physical weakness, she could never reach the light she longed for? She felt she had let Jiang Ling down, failing in his efforts to save her and his expectations.
Wen Xiufen noticed her daughter's depression.
The Wen Xiufen of today is no longer the weak woman who trembled and cried with her head in her hands. Having weathered the storms, secured a stable job, and gained the confidence to raise her daughter independently, a new resilience has appeared in her eyes. She sat down beside her daughter, offering little comfort, but gently put her arm around her shoulder: "Yueyue, there's more than one path. Officer Jiang once said that finding the right path for yourself is the most important thing. Your kindness and thoughtfulness are your greatest strengths."
Her mother's words cheered Lin Xiaoyue up a little, but her longing for the police profession remained strong.
The turning point came over a weekend.
Lin Xiaoyue accompanied her mother to the city to buy things. They happened to pass by the entrance of a unit under the Municipal Public Security Bureau and saw several uniformed handlers leading several powerful and spirited police dogs back from a mission. The police dogs moved with agility, had sharp eyes, and obeyed their handlers' commands without question. Their tacit understanding and commanding presence deeply attracted Lin Xiaoyue.
She stared blankly for a long time, when a thought suddenly popped into her mind: If... if she couldn't become a criminal police officer on the front lines, then wouldn't becoming someone who accompanies and trains police dogs be a way to do so?
After returning home, she began frantically collecting information.
In the late 1990s, before the internet was widespread, she had to go to libraries and bookstores, or ask her teachers for information. Her efforts paid off; she finally learned that the Northern Criminal Police Academy offered a police dog technology major. This major had slightly different physical requirements than frontline investigation majors, focusing more on professional knowledge, patience, and a strong bond with dogs. More importantly, it was a path that would allow her to actually wear a police uniform and realize her dream in another form.
The idea that "getting a good government job because of a well-bred dog" may seem mundane, but it gave her a clear and tangible goal. She shared this idea with Wen Xiufen and Jiang Ling.
Although Wen Xiufen was reluctant to let her daughter go to study in Northeast China, she did not hesitate to express her support when she saw the renewed light in her daughter's eyes.
Jiang Ling was overjoyed upon learning this. She made a special trip to find Lin Xiaoyue and affirmed her choice: "Police dog technology is a very important part of public security work. Tracking, drug detection, bomb detection, and arrests all rely on these silent comrades. Xiaoyue, it's wonderful that you've found a path that suits you. This profession doesn't require brute force, but rather immense love, patience, and professional knowledge. I believe in you."
Jiang Ling's affirmation was like a reassuring pill, completely eliminating Lin Xiaoyue's last trace of hesitation. She devoted all her energy to her studies, doing everything she could to get into this school.
In the summer of 1999, she successfully received an admission notice from the Northern Criminal Police Academy for her major in police dog technology.
At that moment, Wen Xiufen hugged her daughter and cried—tears of joy and pride. Lin Xiaoyue, holding the admission notice, immediately ran to the Municipal Public Security Bureau to tell Jiang Ling the good news. Jiang Ling looked at her, his eyes filled with relief, like seeing a sapling that had weathered the storm finally find its own direction of growth, becoming strong and steadfast.
Filled with anticipation and a touch of unease, Lin Xiaoyue boarded a train heading north and arrived in the distant city of Shen.
University life was novel and fulfilling; she absorbed all knowledge eagerly, from theoretical studies and physical training to foundational courses. Knowing her physical fitness was a weakness, she would jog laps around the track while others rested, gradually increasing her endurance. Her academic performance consistently ranked among the top in her major, because she knew this was her capital to compensate for her other shortcomings.
Freshman year flew by, and sophomore year began, with the most important practical course—pairing training with prospective police dogs—starting. The students were all excitedly looking forward to being assigned dogs with excellent bloodlines, strong physiques, and lively personalities, which would make training much more efficient.
However, the allocation result surprised everyone.
Lin Xiaoyue was assigned a Kunming dog named "Zhuifeng". Among the batch of prospective police dogs, Zhuifeng was particularly thin and small, with a somewhat dull coat. It always stayed quietly in a corner, its eyes carrying a hint of barely perceptible vigilance and aloofness, even a touch of timidity. Due to its size and poor early performance, it had been deemed "lacking in potential" by its previous trainers or breeders and was almost on the verge of being abandoned.
"Xiaoyue, your luck is just too good..." The girl in the same dormitory looked at the thin Zhuifeng and patted Lin Xiaoyue's shoulder sympathetically.
Looking at the pair of man and dog, the training instructor couldn't help but shake his head and sigh slightly: "Lin Xiaoyue, Zhui Feng's situation is rather special. You may need to put in several times more effort than the other students. If it really doesn't work out, we'll try to apply for an adjustment later."
The students discussed it privately, all feeling that Lin Xiaoyue herself looked weak, and with such a "weak dog" by her side, her future assessment was probably in jeopardy.
Despite everyone's skepticism, Lin Xiaoyue remained unusually calm. She didn't complain, nor did she request a replacement. She walked to the corner of the kennel, slowly squatted down, and looked at Zhui Feng inside through the cage.
Zhuifeng watched her warily, not approaching curiously like other puppies, but instead shrinking back slightly.
At that moment, Lin Xiaoyue seemed to see herself many years ago—that thin, silent little girl, filled with fear and anxiety, secretly pitied or ignored by those around her. Because of her weakness and experiences, she almost went astray; and Zhui Feng, similarly, faced elimination because he did not meet the so-called "excellent standards".
An indescribable sense of resonance and heartache spread through Lin Xiaoyue's heart.
“It’s okay,” she whispered to the little dog in the cage, her voice gentle yet firm, as if speaking to it, and also to her past self, “They don’t want you, but I do. We’re no worse than anyone else. Let’s work together and prove them right, okay?”
Zhui Feng seemed to understand something; his ears twitched slightly, and a barely perceptible tremor flashed in his wary eyes.
Lin Xiaoyue extended her hand to Zhui Feng, her voice gentle: "From now on, we're friends and partners. Come on, let's shake hands."
Zhuifeng stared intently at Lin Xiaoyue with its wet eyes, seeing unconditional acceptance, tolerance, and love in them. It hesitated for a moment, whimpered twice, but didn't raise its paw.
Lin Xiaoyue laughed: "You agree, right? Come on, don't be shy, let's shake hands."
After being born, Zhuifeng was too weak to compete with its litter siblings for milk and often had to wait until the others had finished eating before it could snuggle up to its mother to nurse. When it was sent to the shelter, no one took a liking to it; no one liked this dog destined to be eliminated.
But now, Lin Xiaoyue has arrived. She didn't mind its small size, nor did she dislike its lack of enthusiasm; she reached out her hand, wanting to be its friend. At that moment, Zhuifeng's eyes lit up.
It timidly raised its right front paw and clasped it with Lin Xiaoyue's right hand.
Lin Xiaoyue grasped Zhuifeng's soft, fluffy little paw and exclaimed with delight, "Zhuifeng, that's wonderful!"
From then on, Lin Xiaoyue's life revolved almost entirely around Zhui Feng.
The sunrises and sunsets at the training ground bear witness to the hard work of this special duo.
The initial stages were fraught with difficulties.
Because of its past experiences, it is extremely difficult to build trust with Zhuifeng. It is slow to respond to many commands and will even occasionally flinch at sudden noises. Conventional training methods have little effect on it.
Lin Xiaoyue was not discouraged. She showed extraordinary patience and meticulousness. She no longer treated Zhuifeng merely as a training subject, but as a true partner and friend.
She arrives at the kennel half an hour early every day just to spend more time quietly with it, talk to it, and gently brush its fur. During training, she gives Zhuifeng the most timely rewards and the most sincere praise for even the slightest progress it makes. She carefully observes every subtle reaction of Zhuifeng, adjusts the training methods and pace, and finds the most suitable way to communicate with it. She even takes out part of her own nutritional allowance to find ways to add some carefully prepared food to Zhuifeng, hoping to make it stronger.
In the summer, the dog training ground was unbearably hot and humid. Sweating profusely, she patiently repeated the commands and actions again and again, guiding the dog along. In the winter, the city was freezing cold, her hands and face turning red from the cold, yet she persisted in taking Zhuifeng for outdoor acclimatization training. Countless times, while other students finished training and went home to rest, Lin Xiaoyue and Zhuifeng could still be seen on the training ground. She accompanied Zhuifeng in extra endurance training and courage exercises.
The process was tedious and tiring, and sometimes frustrating due to slow progress. But whenever Lin Xiaoyue saw the gradually trusting and dependent eyes of Zhuifeng, and felt its excitement as it overcame its fear and completed its tasks, she felt that all the effort was worthwhile.
Her roommates, initially puzzled, gradually came to admire her. They witnessed how Lin Xiaoyue, with her gentleness and persistence, slowly melted Zhuifeng's heart and unleashed its potential. Zhuifeng itself changed at a visible pace: while still not particularly large, its muscles became more defined, its fur shinier, and the timidity in its eyes faded, replaced by focus and spirit. It grew increasingly attached to Lin Xiaoyue, and its accuracy and enthusiasm in following commands improved rapidly.
Tacit understanding grows quietly through daily companionship and perseverance.
The turning point came during a simulated search and rescue training exercise.
The training area was equipped with a complex array of obstacles and distracting scents, requiring the police dogs to locate the target object in the shortest possible time. Many well-bred and highly trained police dogs hesitated or made mistakes due to the distractions.
It was Lin Xiaoyue and Zhuifeng's turn to go on stage. Zhuifeng's performance impressed all the instructors. It displayed amazing focus and tenacity, remaining undisturbed by anything, persistently tracking the scent trail with agile and precise movements, and ultimately finding the deeply hidden target at an unexpected speed!
A moment of silence fell, followed by gasps of amazement. The instructor, watching Lin Xiaoyue and Zhui Feng wagging its tail excitedly, finally smiled approvingly and wrote a high score heavily on her notebook.
From then on, no one dared to underestimate this seemingly weak duo. Lin Xiaoyue and Zhuifeng proved their strength with facts.
University life flies by.
Graduation assessments were approaching, with numerous hurdles in both theory and practice. Lin Xiaoyue excelled in the theoretical knowledge assessment. In the most crucial police dog combat skills assessment, she and Zhuifeng worked seamlessly together, successfully passing a series of rigorous tasks including tracking, identification, drug detection, and attack. Zhuifeng's performance was calm, decisive, and precise; it was impossible to tell that it had once been a thin, timid little dog that was almost eliminated.
Ultimately, Lin Xiao graduated with excellent grades, ranking among the top in her major, and was awarded the corresponding degree. What excited her even more was that both she and Zhui Feng passed the assessments. She fulfilled her dream of becoming a proud police officer and was assigned back to work at the provincial public security department's police dog base! Zhui Feng, meanwhile, officially became a registered reserve police dog, and she would continue to be responsible for its training and leadership.
On the day she received her job offer, Lin Xiaoyue hugged Zhuifeng's neck, tears streaming down her face. All the hardships, sweat, grievances, and perseverance she had endured along the way transformed into the joy and excitement of success. Zhuifeng seemed to sense her partner's emotions, gently licking her hand and making comforting whimpering sounds.
The first person she thought of was Jiang Ling.
Without Jiang Ling, her life might have long since plunged into endless darkness, and there would never have been the light and hope she has today. It was Jiang Ling who gave her a chance to be reborn, and it was Jiang Ling who affirmed her choices when she was lost.
She took leave and, along with Zhui Feng and her mother Wen Xiufen, went to the Provincial Public Security Department's Crime Prevention and Analysis Center to find Jiang Ling.
Today, Jiang Ling is a role model in crime prevention across the province, her demeanor increasingly composed and capable. When she saw Lin Xiaoyue, dressed in a brand-new police uniform, standing tall and confident with bright eyes, and the police dog beside her, though not particularly tall, spirited and with piercing eyes, Jiang Ling's face lit up with an incredibly radiant and gratified smile.
"Sister Jiang!" Lin Xiaoyue exclaimed excitedly, rushing forward and unable to contain her emotions any longer. She hugged Jiang Ling tightly, her voice choked with sobs, "Thank you! Sister Jiang, thank you so much! Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today... I did it, I really wore this police uniform!"
Jiang Ling gently patted her back, her eyes filled with pride: "I knew you could do it, Xiaoyue. You've always been amazing and strong. Seeing you like this makes me so happy for you." She looked down at Zhuifeng, who was sitting quietly to the side, curiously observing her. "This is your partner? He looks so energetic!"
Lin Xiaoyue released Jiang Ling, wiped away her tears, and her face beamed with pride: "Its name is Chasing Wind. Sister Jiang, it used to be so skinny and small, and nobody had any faith in it, just like I did back then. But we worked hard together and proved that we're all capable!"
Wen Xiufen stood to the side, looking at her daughter and Jiang Ling, her eyes filled with tears of gratitude. She kept saying to Jiang Ling, "Officer Jiang, thank you, thank you so much! You are a great benefactor to our family!"
At this moment, Wen Xiufen remembered something and said with a smile, "Officer Jiang, there's something else I need to tell you. Xiaoyu also wants to be a policeman like Xiaoyue, but because of his father's situation, there are some restrictions on his political background check, so he can't apply to police academy. However, he was admitted to Huaxia University of Political Science and Law, majoring in law. He will graduate next year and is already interning at a law firm in the provincial capital. He said that he wants to become a lawyer in the future, specializing in speaking out for the weak and upholding fairness and justice."
As Jiang Ling listened, a surge of joy and a sense of accomplishment welled up within her like a warm tide. The children she had saved had not been swallowed by the shadows of their past; instead, they were striving to grow on their own paths, radiating their own light.
Lin Xiaoyue became a police officer, Xiaoyu chose law, and there was also Shen Xiaomei, who was also rescued from human traffickers by Jiang Ling, later sent to an orphanage, and now runs a small tailor shop and can support herself... They are all trying to live and strive for a better future.
This is perhaps the greatest significance of her rebirth and dedication to her police duties—protecting hope and witnessing growth.
"That's wonderful, really wonderful." Jiang Ling looked at the dashing Lin Xiaoyue in front of her and the bright sunshine in the distance, and said softly, her face beaming with a heartfelt and extremely satisfied smile.
The sunlight shone on Lin Xiaoyue, who was wearing a police uniform, and the loyal Zhui Feng, as if they were gilded with a golden glow.
Lin Xiaoyue crouched down, patted Zhuifeng's head, and whispered, "Zhuifeng, from now on, we'll protect everyone together."
As if it understood, Zhui Feng raised its head and barked loudly and firmly, as if making a solemn promise.
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