Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 386 A Qualified Light Bulb
"After taking off my police uniform, I was no different from the college graduates on the street. We were all young people busy with work."

Chen Shu tore open a packet of basil pesto, looked at Yan Chenxi, and joked, "Director Yan, want some?"

Today, Director Yan has a fair and clean oval face, without makeup, and her eyes are clear and bright like black pearls. Her eyebrows are sharp, which should have highlighted her subtle but powerful leadership qualities, but because she is listening intently at the moment, they have also added a touch of gentle beauty.

"Thank you, Brother Shu." Yan Chenxi stuck out her bright red little tongue and replied softly, showing none of the composure one would expect from "Director Yan".

"You're welcome."

Then Chen Shu turned to Jiang Hai, who was listening attentively, and said, "Very few people will be able to take on a leadership position or start a company like your sister after graduating from university. Most people have to start from the bottom and work their way up."

Yan Chenxi's girlish behavior left Jiang Hai, who sat to the side every day feeling the strictness and harshness of his older sister, feeling rather helpless.

Of course, this was a joke. He knew that being in his senior year of high school was a crucial turning point in his life. His parents were divorced and had each started new families. Yan Chenxi was nominally his older sister, but in reality, she had taken on the responsibilities of both parents.

Chen Shu used a steak knife to scoop out a large piece of basil pesto and spread it evenly on Yan Chenxi's bread, stroke by stroke.

His eyes were filled with memories.

"That year, I was transferred from the Special Police Detachment to Zhongshan Police Station. I was assigned to a call just a few days after arriving. That period was quite pleasant. After all, I was new here, and the senior officers at the station took good care of me. When I went on a call, all I had to do was bring the person back to the station. The leaders didn't make any demands on me."

"After a few months, I got to know the work at the station fairly well, and was naturally assigned to the security team, which is the station's case-handling team. Hehe, what followed was a lot of working day and night to find clues and solve cases. When I think back to that time, what I remember most is those bowls of instant noodles in the middle of the night."

"I remember it was quite cold that day. I had just escorted the fugitive back from another province overnight, and I was exhausted both physically and mentally. Since it was my turn to be on duty the next day, I went straight back to my dormitory after taking the fugitive to the detention center that night. Hey, that way I could get some more sleep. It must have been around 4 a.m.

"I slept for about two or three hours before getting up to go on duty. During the day, it was disputes and fraud, and at night it was arguments and fights. Coincidentally, there were a lot of cases that day, which kept me up until the same time, around 4 a.m. the next day."

"Later, I was afraid that if more police reports came in, I might not be able to get up, so I simply moved a few chairs together and lay down right next to the reception desk. Yeah, the reception hall that you can see as soon as you enter the police station."

"I had just drifted off to sleep when I heard a loudspeaker overhead blaring, 'An alarm has been raised, please receive it,' 'An alarm has been raised, please receive it.' Hahaha."

At this point, Chen Shu, sensing the somewhat oppressive atmosphere, deliberately made a few funny faces and imitated electronic sounds in a high-pitched voice.

However, no one laughed.

Chen Shu chuckled dryly a few times, his eyes seemingly welling up with tears.

He shrugged and continued, "As soon as the loudspeaker went off, I reflexively jumped up from my chair. Luckily, I was young, and a couple of slaps to myself brought me back to my senses. Haha, back then, I had to prop myself up with my hands to get to the computer of the alarm system. It was really difficult."

"But guess what kind of emergency it is?"

Chen Shu smiled, raised his right hand, and twirled his index finger toward a non-existent speaker on the ceiling, like a storyteller. It seemed as if the people and events he was talking about had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Yan Chenxi, who was listening quietly, glanced at her younger brother sitting upright next to her, who was determined to become a policeman. When she turned back to look at the young policeman in front of her, she felt a strange stirring in her heart.

Is it out of heartache?

"The filet mignon is here." A middle-aged man wearing trendy transparent-framed glasses and a kitchen skirt, who looked like the shop owner, approached carrying a sizzling steak.

He seemed to know that Chen Shu had ordered the filet mignon, and bent down to place the steak in front of him.

Chen Shu watched silently, and thought that it was normal for the owner of such a small steakhouse to also work as a chef and waiter, considering the cost.

The economy is bad these days, and things are tough for everyone.

"Wow, it smells so good! Brother Shu, can I have this steak first?" Jiang Hai stared at the steak, his drool glistening on his lips.

Chen Shu smiled and nodded, stood up and helped Jiang Hai clear the bowls and jars in front of him to the side, signaled the waiter to put down the steak, and then thanked him with a light laugh.

The waiter hesitated for a moment, glancing back and forth between Jiang Hai and Chen Shu, before finally placing Philip in front of Jiang Hai.

As soon as the filet mignon was served, the steaks for the other three people were also brought to the table one after another.

However, Jiang Hai, still a young man, was a bit impatient. When he saw that Chen Chuan's tomahawk steak on the table was more eye-catching, he didn't care that it was their first meeting and shamelessly asked Chen Chuan to trade steaks.

The playful Chen Chuan was not about to give in easily, and despite being nearly thirty, he teased the young man opposite him for a few moments.

Seeing that the two were still quite lively despite their bickering, Chen Shu reminded them to be careful as the iron plate was hot, then turned around and started chatting with Yan Chenxi, who was sitting opposite him.

"Brother Shu, did you always have this habit of taking care of people since you were little, or did you develop it after becoming a policeman?" Yan Chenxi smiled as she enjoyed Chen Shu's attentive service, recovering from her slightly strange state earlier. "That's how all the police station officers are, acting like neighborhood committee aunties, always meddling in other people's business," Chen Chuan finally found an opportunity to chime in, his hands still busy, skillfully cutting and eating beef.

"Hey, you know what? This shop's tomahawk fritters are pretty good! They've got that authentic flavor!"

Jiang Hai grumbled, furiously fiddling with the filet mignon in his hand. He angrily sliced ​​off a piece, stuffed it into his mouth, and swallowed it whole without a second thought.

Chen Shu originally wanted to say a few words of concern to Yan Chenxi's younger brother, but seeing the other party's expression at this moment, he probably didn't even know what his mouth tasted like.

"Eat your food, why are you talking so much?" Chen Shu picked up a bottle of sea salt from the table and shook it at Yan Chenxi. "Want some sea salt? I'll grind some for you."

“Okay!” Yan Chenxi happily agreed.

Chen Shu turned the bottle upside down and swirled it a few times with his hands. After the fine sea salt was sprinkled into the hot steak, he picked up the knife and fork on the table and helped Yan Chenxi cut the meat off both sides of the T-bone on her plate, then cut it into neat strips.

“Deboning is a skill in itself.” Chen Shu awkwardly handled the steak knife and fork in his hands, recalling, “It takes some skill to debone the meat cleanly from the bone, so just make do with this for now. But I used to really enjoy just grabbing the T-bone and gnawing on it.”

Yan Chenxi, who thought Chen Shu was just helping to sprinkle salt, was surprised to find that he was also considerately helping to cut the steak, and now he was saying that he "liked her T-bone steak that he had carefully deboned." She was a little overthinking things, and her face turned red with embarrassment. She lowered her gaze, not daring to look at the man in front of her who was seriously cutting the steak for her, and also worried that her younger brother beside her would misunderstand.

Jiang Hai was definitely overthinking it. Was this really the same strict older sister who was so powerful and influential on the street?
Chen Chuan watched the three of them with great interest, feeling somewhat happy. He liked this warm atmosphere, tinged with a touch of emotion.

After the four finished their steaks, Chen Chuan, Yan Chenxi, and Jiang Hai all turned their attention to Chen Shu.

Chen Shu laughed, put the knife and fork aside, picked up the tissue box on the table, took out a few tissues and distributed them to everyone, and finally tidied himself up.

"To read the police report, I slapped myself a few times before I could get up. Then I braced myself on the front desk with both hands and barely managed to move in front of the computer."

Chen Shu squinted as he recalled that night, and said with a wry smile, "An old man was having a nightmare and was afraid that someone was going to kill him. He asked the police to come to his house immediately to protect him, saying that there were thugs in his house. He was young at the time and couldn't accept it, so he broke down."

"Huh? That's it!"

Jiang Hai stared blankly, his expression turning strange, unable to process the result for a long time.

"Brother Shu, you don't have to go to the police station, right?" Yan Chenxi asked softly.

"No matter what the situation, we will respond to any emergency call; that's the rule."

Chen Shu smiled, then said seriously, "Actually, it's not a big deal to work hard. 996 is all the rage in society these days, so we police officers don't need to be too dramatic. We're not the only ones who encounter unreasonable people. But there's something I need to tell you upfront, and that's the biggest difference between us police officers and other professions."

"We must put away the naivety we had in school, because in the days to come, we will be facing the most dangerous people in this society. The effects of force are mutual, and so are dangers."

Chen Chuan commented, "Let's put it simply. Little brother, your sister would be heartbroken if she knew what your job entails."

Jiang Hai rolled his eyes at the policeman opposite him who didn't look like a policeman at all, and suddenly asked Chen Shu, "Brother Shu, why did you choose this road?"

"Finally, you've hit the nail on the head." Chen Shu looked at Jiang Hai with relief and continued, "Because even before I filled out my college application, I knew where my future path lay, and I was prepared to walk it well all the way."

Chen Shu picked up the lemonade pitcher that had been placed on the corner of the table and refilled by the waiter, leaned over and poured it into the glass in front of Jiang Hai.

"Jiang Hai, you're already eighteen, facing the first major decision of your life. You need to think carefully. Don't apply to police academy just because it's cool or easy. And don't choose it just because it's a stable job, a guaranteed livelihood. You'll regret it for the rest of your life. Life is only a few decades long, don't waste it."

Jiang Hai felt as if he had suddenly realized something.

He picked up the cup in front of him and gulped down half of it, then grabbed the transparent exam bag from his seat and hurriedly walked out.

"Sis, I have to go now. I need to find a place to think things over. Thank you, brother."

Chen Shu stood up and walked to the corridor next to the table, calling out to Jiang Hai, "Don't rush, think it over slowly."

"Okay!" The echo faded into the distance.

Yan Chenxi tiptoed and whispered in Chen Shu's ear with a smile, "Brother Shu, I think you'll definitely be a qualified father in the future."

Chen Shu glanced sideways and touched his nose, feeling somewhat awkward from her sudden teasing.

Chen Chuan, with a high level of awareness, picked up his cup and turned to look out the window on the other side, thinking to himself: I'm definitely a qualified third wheel.

(End of this chapter)