Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 291 Sending New Year's Greetings to the Leader

At noon, the warm sunshine hung in the sky, bringing a rare tranquility to Zhongshan.

As the year draws to a close, Zeng Hong, who is about to retire to the second line, feels a sense of loneliness. Compared with previous years, far fewer people come to wish him a Happy New Year. Apart from a few apprentices he has trained who each bring some cigarettes and alcohol, there are basically no other people.

However, he also doesn't have to worry about which bureau chief to visit today or which section chief to visit tomorrow, or what level of gift to give. He truly enjoys the freedom and ease of being free from official duties.

However, there's still one troublesome closed-door disciple left, who requires his attention.

"Chen Shu, you're going to Director Zhang's house dressed like this? Can't you show some respect that a leader deserves?"

Zeng Hong pointed at Chen Shu's navy blue police trousers, his beard bristling and eyes wide with anger.

Chen Shu scratched his head, obediently returned to the office next door, and changed out of his versatile police trousers and black leather shoes. According to what they said back in his university days in the higher education park, this was the classic police academy uniform; but in a local grassroots unit, it became the classic civilian clothes.

In just a few moments, a pair of FILA's classic black pants, paired with a pair of Li-Ning's latest fashionable sneakers - Wudao, and topped with a North Face black and white windbreaker, a spirited young man was instantly recognizable.

However, while changing his shirt, Chen Shu inadvertently noticed the appearance of a slight belly. While lamenting the irregular eating and sleeping habits of those handling cases at the grassroots level, he secretly thought that he should take advantage of the less busy work period during the Chinese New Year holiday to put effective body management on his agenda.

He folded his police trousers and put them in the closet, suddenly realizing that after working at the grassroots level for so long, he had become much less conscious of his personal image. For example, when going out, he would simply change his shirt and never thought about dressing up in a sophisticated or tasteful way.

According to Zhu Chaoran's blunt words, as long as his duty uniform doesn't reflect light, he's the coolest guy in the whole station!
Thinking of Fatty, Chen Shu's lips unconsciously curled up, and he felt more gratified than anything else. Over the past year, he had treated Zhu Chaoran like his own younger brother, and Zhu Chaoran had made great progress in his work ability and interpersonal skills. After the New Year, according to Instructor Zeng's words, once he was transferred from Zhongshan Police Station, Zhu Chaoran should be able to take charge of things on his own.

After changing his clothes, Chen Shu stood in front of Zeng Hong. Zeng Hong patted Chen Shu on the shoulder and nodded with satisfaction: "Young people should dress up more. Don't look like an old man all the time. People who don't know better might think your workplace is abusing people."

Thinking about the more than thirty police calls received yesterday, and the two drunken fights that happened in the middle of the night, Chen Shu almost nodded in agreement.

This place is truly torturous.

Zeng Hong led the way, with Chen Shu following behind carrying cigarettes and alcohol. They got into the police station's black Santana and headed straight for the home of Zhang Xuming, the executive deputy director of the Zhengming District Public Security Bureau.

The branch office head is a high-ranking deputy director, and Director Huang is the only one in the office who wears a white shirt. Although he has the highest rank and the highest administrative position, he has to leave every three years. So, in terms of real ability, he is far inferior to Zhang Xuming, who has been rooted in the branch office for decades.

Putting everything else aside, the number of police officers promoted under his supervision over the years is considerable. According to the unspoken gossip among his subordinates, the branch office is divided into two factions: one is Director Zhang, and the other is everyone else.

Their influence is too small to be summarized as "Others".

The principle is that the camp and its deputy remain constant, while the officers and soldiers come and go.

Although Zhang Xuming was a big shot in Zhengming District who could make a big splash with a stomp of his foot, Chen Shu was both impressed and surprised by the place he lived.

The neighborhood isn't old, but it's not new either. The property management is quite diligent; the neighborhood is filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, and the roads are clean. However, no matter how much praise you give it, it's just a typical resettlement neighborhood.

I feel that he is not worthy of Zhang Xuming's status.

Chen Shu remained silent, following Zeng Hong quietly the whole way.

Perhaps knowing he didn't have much time left to work with Chen Shu, Zeng Hong had become much more talkative than usual along the way. Chen Shu kept his head down, responding respectfully.

When they arrived at Zhang Xuming's house, his wife opened the door, but Zhang Xuming was also standing behind her to greet them.

Upon entering, two pairs of clean slippers were neatly arranged by the door.

On the way here, Zeng Hong mentioned that Director Zhang's wife's surname is Ma. She is a high school teacher with a gentle and well-educated personality.

Chen Shu placed the cigarettes and alcohol by the door and followed Zeng Hong and Zhang Xuming into the house.

Zhang Xuming smiled warmly: "You guys, you've come all this way, why did you bring so much stuff?"

Director Zhang's house wasn't as big as his official position. It was only two or three meters from the living room to the kitchen, and there were only two or three bedrooms inside, probably with a study as well.

At this moment, Zhang Xuming led the two to sit on the living room sofa: "Old Zeng, Xiao Shu, come and sit down."

Teacher Ma walked over with a smile, carrying a tray with three cups of tea. She placed the teacups on the coffee table, nodded to Zeng Hong and the others as a greeting, and then went to the kitchen. The clattering sounds indicated that she was washing the lunch dishes.

Having grown accustomed to Zhang Xuming's authoritative demeanor as he sat in the head seat during meetings at the bureau, Chen Shu found it somewhat unusual to see him so amiable and approachable. He barely managed to sit down on the sofa after his bottom had hitched up halfway.

Zhang Xuming and Zeng Hong were both retired military officers transferred to local government positions in the same batch. However, Zhang Xuming was younger, so he could continue to serve as the executive deputy director for a few more years. Zeng Hong was older and his position was not particularly high, so he would have to retire to the second line after the new year, as is customary.

However, since it was the Lunar New Year, the two didn't talk about work. They mostly talked about interesting things from their early days in the army. Chen Shu sat quietly beside him, keeping his eyes down and minding his own business. As Zeng Hong had previously advised, he shouldn't chime in unless the leader spoke. He just sat up straight.

His main task today was to make an appearance in front of the big boss.

While the two elderly comrades were chatting, Chen Shu casually picked up a teacup and took a few sips. After that one sip, he immediately realized that the white tea that Zeng Hong had treasured was far inferior to the tea that Director Zhang had casually served to guests.

Even someone like Chen Shu, who doesn't know much about tea, could tell the difference between the two.

They chatted and drank tea, and half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. While Teacher Ma came from the kitchen to refill their tea, Zeng Hong took the initiative to say goodbye.

Zhang Xuming got up and saw the two out. Just before they reached the door, he finally turned to Chen Shu and offered a word of encouragement:
"Xiao Shu, work hard after the New Year."

On the way back, Zeng Hong sat in the car in unusual silence.

He took a drag of his cigarette and said in a deep voice, "Do you know why I brought you to Director Zhang's house today?"

Chen Shu nodded. Everyone knows how to curry favor with powerful figures; it's not shameful to get promoted and make a fortune.

Personally, he was quite averse to this kind of taking sides, but he was mainly concerned about Zeng Hong's concern as an elder. Now that he was about to retire to the second line, he let him have his way today. He couldn't let his master down in the end.

Zeng Hong tossed the burnt-out cigarette butt out the window, rolled up the window, frowned like a wise old master pointing out a bright and righteous path to his valued student, and solemnly instructed him:
"After the New Year, you'll be transferred to the SWAT team. You must make some achievements there!"

(End of this chapter)