Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 357 Urgent Mission

As the sun sets, the twilight light spills across the earth. Summer's long days mean that even though it's past six in the evening, the sky is still somewhat bright.

Two black Ford Transit troop carriers, each bearing the words "Special Police," drove steadily one after the other on a deserted suburban road.

On the way back, Chen Chuan and Zou Qing chattered excitedly in the car. The other police officers, who frequently dealt with firearms, were all leaning back in their seats, dozing off, just waiting to change clothes and go home as soon as they got back to the station.

Sitting in the passenger seat with the air conditioning on, Chen Shu looked back at everyone and thought that life was peaceful and serene. The life of a special police officer was really much more comfortable than that of a police station officer.

Xu Mingliang, who was gripping the steering wheel, saw through Chen Shu's thoughts and laughed, "Boss Chen, life is much easier for us special police officers than it is in the police station, isn't it?"

Chen Shu nodded: "When I was outside, I heard that you special police officers are getting older and don't want to be reassigned."

Police officers in the special police brigade usually try every means to stay in the brigade until they are in their thirties or forties, until they really can't stay any longer, at which point they are transferred to traffic police or police stations. By then, they are also in their early forties, and in their new units, they don't have to work like animals handling cases like the young and strong police officers in their twenties or thirties.

Solving cases at the grassroots level is difficult, but handling them in their later stages is even more challenging. In some cases involving a large number of people, the case files and documents, four or five centimeters thick, can fill an entire table. All this material is typed by hand by the investigating officers, making it hard to say there aren't any major problems. And after the case is closed, the investigating officers still bear any potential responsibilities that may arise later.

The more you do, the more mistakes you make; that's the reason why.

"That's right. After working in the public security system for so many years, everyone knows what's going on outside. Unless you go to the headquarters, there's no place as comfortable as being a special police officer."

The new recruit in the Fourth Squadron, fresh out of police academy, keeps talking about wanting to train at the station, little does he know that once he leaves, he might never come back.

The new police officer Xu Mingliang mentioned was named Ma Bowen, and he was currently sitting in another troop carrier. Like Chen Shu, this young man was a graduate of the provincial police academy. Having only been working for a year, he was completely devoted to serving the people.

Everyone goes through this, and Chen Shu understands it very well.

However, at this moment, Chen Shu thought of another person, Su Chao. This person was Chen Shu's junior high school classmate, who went to an ordinary university. After graduation, he joined the police force through social recruitment.

He's currently working at the Danan Police Station as an ordinary police officer. I've heard that Su Chao is a big shot in Danan, a figure who can make a difference in the area.

"Brother Xu, you know what, some people just love going to the police station."

Xu Mingliang was taken aback, then chuckled but did not reply.

"Jingle Bell"

The phone rang, and Chen Shu's left eyelid twitched, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

"Hey, Li Da."

"Chen Shu, there's a case. Take some men and head to Tengqiao now." Li Da's voice was urgent on the phone, clearly indicating that this was a significant case.

Tengqiao Town is located in the northwesternmost part of Zhengming District, making it extremely remote. To the east, across a bridge spanning the river, lies Yong'an County; to the north, a short walk leads to the neighboring city. Therefore, Tengqiao Town is considered quite remote, not only within Zhengming District but also within Donghai City.

It's practically half a rural area now.

"Okay. Who should I contact when I arrive?"

"Li Meng from the Criminal Investigation Department. I'm forwarding his phone number to you now so you can contact him in advance."

Li Meng? It's been a while since I've seen that kid. A case led by a deputy captain of the Criminal Investigation Division like him can't be small.
"How many people are needed?"

"Go on!"

"Okay, Li Da. We went out shooting this afternoon and didn't bring much equipment. Could you arrange for someone to send the equipment directly to Tengqiao Town?"

"Okay! I'll personally deliver it to you!"

Chen Shu put down the phone and looked back once more.

The police officers sitting in the back were all sitting up straight, leaning slightly forward, staring at him intently.

Especially policewoman Zou Qing, whose eyes were wide open like saucers. It's true, as the brigade's internal affairs officer, she probably hadn't been involved in many police incidents.

Today, they were all clamoring to come along for the pistol training.

Chen Shu said in a deep voice, "After Zou Qing gets off the bus, take a taxi back to the unit to await orders. The rest of you, come with me to Tengqiao Town." "Huh? Ah!"

Zou Qing deflated like a punctured balloon.

With a screech, the car came to a sudden stop, and Zou Qing reluctantly waved goodbye to everyone.

After Zou Qing got off the car, Chen Shu instructed Chen Chuan to count the ammunition.

"One hundred and thirty rounds left."

After thinking for a moment, Chen Shu instructed Chen Chuan to leave twenty rounds for Yang Chang, who was still in another vehicle, and to divide the rest equally among everyone.

In critical moments, he still trusted the soldiers more.

"Chen Chuan, where's mine?"

Sitting in the passenger seat, Chen Shu was pondering the preparations. As the car was about to enter the provincial highway in Tengqiao Town, he turned to Chen Chuan, who was sitting in the back, and asked, "I haven't received my bullets yet."

Chen Chuan narrowed his eyes, feigning surprise: "You're already the team leader, and you're still planning to load bullets and go to the front lines?"

Chen Shu, who always led from the front, hadn't thought that far ahead, and Chen Chuan's righteous persuasion left him speechless.

Perhaps we won't need a gun.

Basically, in all the years he'd worked in the police force in Dongzhou, he'd never encountered a case that required firing a gun.

Chen Shu let out a breath of stale air: "Understood. You guys wait in the car first."

He immediately jumped out of the Ford Transit troop carrier and ran towards several police cars parked on the side of the road. When he got to the cars, he saw several plainclothes detectives sitting inside, talking amongst themselves.

Upon seeing Chen Shu approach, a police officer immediately came over and asked, "Are you from the SWAT team?"

Chen Shu nodded.

"Yes, our leader is in that car."

After a few seconds of hesitation, he followed the police to a black Volkswagen sedan and heard a loud commotion coming from inside.

Looking inside, I saw Li Meng sitting in the back row arguing with the person in the front row. She had a thick neck and glared at me, making quite a fuss.

Chen Shu opened the car door and got in.

Upon seeing Chen Shu, Li Meng immediately shut her mouth and turned her head to look out the car window. Sitting in the front, turning halfway back, was none other than Ren Guoqing, the captain of the Criminal Investigation Department.

He wore a light gray jacket, had a square face, dark skin, and eyes that darted around like lightning.

Upon seeing Chen Shu, he beamed with delight and squinted his eyes, saying, "Chen Shu, it's just in time for you. Li Meng and I were just having some disagreements on a certain issue. Why don't you share your thoughts?"

Ren Guoqing briefly recounted the details of the case.

They received a tip that a gangster known as "Old A," who had been on the run for a long time, had sneaked back a few days ago and was now having dinner with some friends in the lobby of a restaurant three blocks away from here.

The point of contention between the two was whether to make the arrest directly in the restaurant or to sneak up on the fugitive, follow him back to his residence, and then make the arrest at an opportune moment. Generally, when encountering fugitives like this, the first thing to do is to approach and subdue him; only in very rare cases will they follow and make the arrest.

The current situation is that, based on Old A's past involvement in cases, he must have a gun on him. Restaurants are public places, and there are people gambling inside, making the environment quite complex. Secondly, Old A also has accomplices who fled to other provinces with him, and they are likely currently at their temporary hideout.

"Chen Shu, that's how things are going to be. Tell me your thoughts on how to handle this." Ren Guoqing stared intently at him.

The case details were explained very clearly, and there were only two options: make the arrest directly at the restaurant, or track the suspect to their hideout and make the arrest.

Finally, Ren Guoqing did not mention what his and Li Meng's respective opinions were.

All those years of working at the police station hadn't been for nothing; Chen Shu, who had a good eye for things, shrugged and chuckled.
"Ren Da, I'm just here to provide fire support. As for how to do it, I'll definitely have to follow your Criminal Investigation Department's orders."

(End of this chapter)