Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 215 Deng Xiaochao's Counterattack
Late at night, in the instructor's office on the third floor of Zhongshan Police Station.

After seeing off the branch inspectors, the once noisy office finally quieted down, leaving only the master and apprentice.

After a busy day, Zeng Hong sat back at his favorite tea-brewing spot, took out his treasured Fujian white tea, and used all his skills to brew a pot of tea, making two cups.

White smoke swirled around, and the aroma of tea filled the air.

He handed one cup to Chen Shu, then picked up another cup and took a couple of small sips.

"Good tea."

Chen Shu drank it all in one gulp and said in return, "Good tea."

Setting down his teacup, Zeng Hongxian laughed: "Logically speaking, those who can get into this inspection team should have spent three years honing their skills at the grassroots level. How come Deng Xiaochao's emotional intelligence is still so low? He's like a student who just graduated from school, thinking that he can do whatever he wants just because he has a sword of Damocles. He really thinks he's someone important."

Chen Shu joked, "Isn't it because I've been flattered too much by you grassroots leaders? But the inspection team is indeed a good place to retire. Actually, I don't think it's very suitable for young people who are not good at interpersonal relationships."

Zeng Hong laughed and said, "Xiao Shu, you've done it like you've been an inspector. But how could someone as cautious as Lao Zhang think of sending such an inexperienced person down to handle a case? If he really did come down, he should follow Lin Qi and observe first, instead of leading a team and jumping out like a clown."

Chen Shu scratched his nose, somewhat embarrassed: "I think so. When they came to me a few years ago, they were all smiles and calling me brother. I thought it was all over, but then they came back with a triple whammy of bureau rules, demerit points, and a public notice, without any leniency."

Zeng Hong refilled Chen Shu's teacup: "I think Lao Zhang probably wanted to give Deng Xiaochao a warning. Having Lin Qi follow behind was also a way of keeping things under control and cleaning up the mess."

Chen Shu had no interest in continuing the topic and stared at the cup in front of him, where white smoke was rising, without saying a word.

Zeng Hong assumed Chen Shu was still worried about being reported, so he smiled and reassured him, "That kid committed robbery, so he'll definitely be detained. If he gets injured, we'll arrange for him to be placed under house arrest at a hotel we know. Once he's recovered, we can continue with the procedures."

Residential surveillance is a highly sophisticated investigative tactic, with a maximum duration of six months. Besides delaying recovery time, it also allows police to circumvent the 30-day limit on criminal detention, enabling them to obtain statements without surveillance footage.

Chen Shu shook his head: "That person is fine. I just picked the fleshiest parts to hit. It just looks scary, but there won't be any major problems."

"That's good. Anyway, they'll do a physical exam before sending you to the detention center, so there shouldn't be any major problems. But you, I feel something's off with you. Is it because of Yang Haifeng's resignation from Dongming Detention Center?"

Chen Shu was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. He turned to look at Zeng Hong, who seemed completely unperturbed, before turning his gaze away and shaking his head dismissively. "That's both right and wrong. Xiao Yang has studied for so many years and endured so much hardship. He only graduated from the police academy this year and is already suffering. When I first heard this, I felt a little uncomfortable."

Zeng Hong nodded slightly, relieved. He knew from Chen Shu's words that Chen Shu had not been involved in Yang Haifeng's tip-off.

As long as no fundamental mistakes are made, everything is fine.

He stood up, walked to the desk, lifted the glass that was pressing down on the desk, pulled out an old photograph from underneath, brought it back to Chen Shu, and pointed at it with his finger.

"This is a photo of me and my classmates after we finished training at Dongzhou Police Academy, when I transferred from the military to civilian work."

Chen Shu picked up the old photo of a man nearing twenty and examined it closely.

The background of the photo is the main teaching building of Dongzhou Police Academy. It was newly built then and looks quite new in the photo. Three rows of about sixty or seventy sharp-looking young men in green Type 89 police uniforms stood on the steps in front of the main building. The people sitting at the very front were probably the school's teachers. Zeng Hong walked back to his seat and sat down, counting on his fingers as he recalled, "There were more than sixty people graduating in my batch. Later, a few were transferred out of the public security system, a few resigned, a few died, oh yes, and a few were sentenced."

We had a class reunion a while ago, and when we sat down and counted, there were only about thirty people there—about half the number from when we graduated. Haha, it hasn't been that long!

Chen Shu put down the photo and picked up the steaming teacup.

hot.

He understood what Zeng Hong meant.

Just like Xu Chaofan said back then, it's all fate.

Zeng Hong took the photos from Chen Shu and looked at them himself. After a long while, he said, "It's all in the past, let it go."

Chen Shu drank it all in one gulp and gently put the cup down.

Zhengming District Public Security Bureau, Supervision Brigade, Brigade Captain's Office
Lin Qi was reporting his work to Zhang Da.

Lin Qi: "Zhang Da, this is roughly the situation regarding the case of Chen Shu from Zhongshan Police Station assaulting someone, which Deng Xiaochao handled."

Zhang Da put down the documents in his hand, took off his glasses, and asked with a smile, "What do you think is the best way to handle this case?"

Lin Qi placed his right hand on the table and tapped the surface lightly a few times with his index finger: "I suggest we don't take any action. First, the suspect who was beaten committed burglary, and ordinary people won't empathize with such criminals; second, although Chen Shu offended Director Zhang in the last job competition, everyone in the bureau knows that Director Zhang still particularly likes him. If we take action against him now, it will make everyone think that Director Zhang lacks discernment."

Zhang Da nodded in agreement, saying, "It's unacceptable for us to embarrass Director Zhang."

Lin Qi shifted to a more comfortable position and continued, "Finally, since the purpose of our mission this time is to give Deng Xiaochao a warning and get him to settle down and work at the complaints center, we absolutely cannot deal with Chen Shu."

Zhang Da frowned slightly, then relaxed: "They're all colleagues, why are you talking about criticizing him? That sounds awful! We're just trying to help him adapt to the work environment more quickly. By the way, Lin Qi, go over to Deng Xiaochao later and say some nice things to comfort him."

Then, you need to prevent the people in Zhongshan from replying to the complainant; take the case yourself and fudge it. If needed, apply for a "stability maintenance fee" from the internal affairs department, and say it was my instruction. Okay, let's close this case then.

Lin Qi pushed back the table and chairs, stood up, and replied seriously, "Yes."

Feeling relaxed after leaving the office, Lin Qi went to the window at the end of the corridor, lit a cigarette, and began to smoke.

He looked out the window at the bustling night view and the incandescent lights of the office downstairs that stayed on all night, and felt a pang of sadness.

The complaint center only had two police officers to begin with. Deng Xiaochao stayed on, which allowed Lin Qi to get promoted.

"Sorry, little brother."

(End of this chapter)