Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 53 Ma Suo is leaving
The sky was high and the dew was heavy; a crescent moon hung quietly in the southwestern sky. The Zhongshan Police Station was unusually peaceful tonight.

After dinner, it was already time to get off work.

Chen Shu wasn't on duty today. However, he still returned to his office to continue working on the details of the electric bicycle theft case, in order to prevent any unexpected situations from occurring.

When police officers handle cases, whether big or small, they must prepare at least two plans.

He knew that Boss Zheng would probably provide feedback on the suspects in the theft case within the next couple of days, but after several years of investigation, he had developed a cautious habit.

The unusually quiet first-floor duty hall made Chen Shu, who was sitting in his office on the second floor, feel somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Having reviewed the case thoroughly, and with nothing else to do, he stood up and went to a fruit shop near the police station to buy some bananas, intending to share them with the officers on duty.

He had just stepped into the first-floor entrance, about ten meters away from the front desk of the duty hall, when he heard a loud shout.

"Brother Shu, you bought bananas!"

The word 'banana' was deliberately drawn out, echoing in the originally quiet first-floor lobby.

This guy stares at the computer screen all day, how come his eyesight is still so sharp? And he talks so much, no wonder he's the gossip king of Zhongshan Police Station. Chen Shu looked at Xiao Wang, the dispatcher who was halfway out from behind the front desk, with a helpless expression.

He strode to the front desk, picked up the clear plastic bag containing bananas, and shook it a few times: "You have a sharp eye. Here, have some. It'll help you digest your dinner."

Xiao Wang took a bunch of bananas from Chen Shu, tore off half of one, and gave it to Yu Yu, a police officer sitting next to him. He then asked, "Brother Shu, why aren't you home yet? Is there a case tonight?"

Chen Shu lowered his raised arm and chuckled, "No, tonight's peaceful. I'm a single dog, nothing to do at home anyway."

Xiao Wang straightened up and, while peeling a banana, said bluntly, "I wholeheartedly agree with what Officer Li and Fatty said, plus my feet aren't a problem. But you..."

Chen Shu was curious about how her colleagues perceived her: "What's wrong with me?"

"Brother Shu, all those 'PUA,' 'suppression,' 'waste screening,' and 'obedience tests' you always ramble about with Fatty and the others sound like really professional dating jargon to me. I think you're a total player! And the kind with a 'fish pond' overflowing with them!"

Police officer Yu Yu, who was sitting silently at the front desk listening to the gossip with great interest, suddenly interjected, "Xiao Wang, just based on the fact that you uttered the word 'playboy,' I think you and Chen Shu must both be insiders in the industry."

"!!!???"

As the three were chatting, Zeng Hong, dressed in a police uniform, walked in from outside. Seeing the lively atmosphere in the duty room, he also came over.

I'm talking to you guys.

Before he could utter more than a few words, the once bustling duty hall fell into complete silence. He stood alone to the side, the center of attention.

The leader's authority was on full display, a perfect example of two extremes.

"Ahem! Xiao Shu, come with me for a moment." The atmosphere changed too quickly, and Zeng Hong was a little embarrassed. After saying that, he turned around and walked away first.

Chen Shu shrugged at the other two and followed them out.

The two arrived at the door of the instructor's office on the third floor.

When Zeng Hong opened the door, Ma, who was in charge of cracking down on crimes at Zhongshan Institute, came out of the next office dressed in plain clothes.

He said hello and hurried downstairs.

The two entered the office. Zeng Hong went straight to the tea table by the window, sat down properly, and began boiling water to warm the kettle, preparing to make tea. Chen Shu knew this would take a while, so he placed the bag of bananas on the tea table. Without any hesitation, he opened the small refrigerator next to him, hesitated between Coca-Cola and Sprite for a while, took out a can of Coke, opened it, and then returned to the tea table, sat down properly, and started drinking the Coke.

Zeng Hong, who was making tea, didn't stop, but his eyes quickly glanced at Chen Shu sitting opposite him, and he gestured with his lips towards the place where the cola was placed:
"Little Shu, isn't that a bit unfair? What, you're disgusted by the tea I brewed?"

Chen Shu knew he was joking, but he still pretended to be surprised and replied, "No, no. I just smelled the aroma of tea and was afraid I wouldn't be able to resist disturbing you while you were making the tea, so I just had some beverage to tide me over."

Zeng Hongqi laughed: "Smooth talker. You've been working for so many years, how come you still act like a child? Whether it's speaking or acting, you need to be more mature and steady."

He couldn't help but start lecturing, but the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his true thoughts.

For many years, Zeng Hong has always regarded Chen Shu as his last disciple.

The public security organs have a unique tradition not found in other administrative agencies. That is, aside from military personnel transferred to civilian jobs, almost every police officer has a mentor who guides them when they first enter the profession. This mentor is called the "master." He will lead the new officer on patrols, responding to calls, and handling cases; he will teach them professional skills and impart practical techniques.

Sometimes, over time, the two people develop a lifelong relationship.

As he spoke, he placed the teacup on the saucer and handed it to Chen Shu, full of anticipation.

Chen Shu extended his right hand, tapped his index and middle fingers together on the tea table twice, held the teacup, picked it up, and took a small sip.

After a long silence, he slowly uttered two words.

"Good tea."

Zeng Hong nodded, his tone calm: "My old classmate brought back aged white tea from Fumu. Its mellowness is unmatched by any other tea."

I'll have to hurry up and flip through the dictionary again to see what other adjectives I can use. Chen nodded without changing his expression.

"Professor Zeng, your old classmate is a good person."

The two nodded in unison and spent a little time finishing their tea.

Chen Shu took out a pack of Liqun cigarettes, picked one out, stood up, and handed it to Zeng Hong. After lighting it, he asked, "Instructor Zeng, is there something you need me for?"

Zeng Hong flicked his cigarette: "How's the injury from last time healing?"

Chen Shu straightened his back: "That's about enough. Now it's time for those brats in our jurisdiction to cry."

Zeng Hong snorted: "Stop showing off."

He thought for a moment and continued, "This time the branch office has allocated a quota for a third-class merit award, and I'd like to nominate you for it."

Chen Shu chuckled and first flattered Zeng Hong: "A third-class merit is quite rare. But I received it last year. Let's give it to Chaoyang this time."

Zeng Hong said with a smile, "At the end of the year, I will rank Chaoyang as an 'Outstanding Civil Servant' again, so that he will have been named for three consecutive years. He will also receive a third-class merit award then."

Chen Shu understood what Zeng Hong meant, but having just received a third-class merit award last year, he was still a little embarrassed and tentatively asked, "How about giving it to another police officer in the station?"

Zeng Hong didn't explain further, but simply said, "Ma Suo is about to be transferred."

(End of this chapter)