Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 627 The Straight Man
Dongzhou Public Security Bureau, Building 1.

Today was the day the list of candidates selected for interviews by the provincial department was announced. Zhu Li arrived at the municipal bureau's political department early, hoping to chat with Chen Shu. Perhaps the two of them could sit together when the political department organized a meeting to interview the police officers later.

Last time during the written test, there were so many people taking the test that the whole meeting room was noisy. Everyone was focused on writing the questions, and by the time they handed in their papers, almost everyone had left, so Zhu Li didn't see Chen Shu. She felt a little regretful.

However, in the following days, when she checked her written test score online, she also specifically checked Chen Shu's score. It was a few points higher than hers, so she figured with his smooth talk, the interview would be a piece of cake. But she still had a backup plan, since the interviewers were all uncles and elders she had known for many years; she could use that as a backup.
Thinking of this, for some reason, Julie felt a surge of joy. Her dreamy smile made it seem as if the two of them had already passed the selection exams for positions in the provincial government.

Only about ten people who were going to the interviews came today. It didn't involve any specific exams. It was just that the Municipal Bureau of Political Science organized a group of people to give them some guidance before they went to the provincial capital for their interviews.

It also allows the leaders of the Municipal Bureau's Political Department to get acquainted with these people. Who knows, they might be able to find a way to get things done in the provincial capital in the future, and both sides will have a foundation of mutual understanding.

So the atmosphere today was quite relaxed. The few people who arrived early had already gathered together to discuss the interview questions a week from now, or chatted about the pros and cons of the positions selected by the provincial department.

"So many days have passed since I returned from NJ, and you haven't come to see me at all. Do you think I don't know how busy the SWAT team is? They're always patrolling and training, working 9-to-5 even more punctually than white-collar workers. They're so free, yet they still don't come to see me! Do you expect girls to take the initiative in these kinds of things?"

Sitting in the conference room near the door, Julie chatted casually with several other colleagues who had also passed the written test, but she was actually still thinking about a certain man.

She kept glancing towards the office door, inwardly grumbling about a certain clueless guy while pondering how to greet him naturally later.

"Oh, Chen Shu, are you also here for the provincial department's selection process?"

"Chen Shu, how did you do on the written test? Are you confident about the interview?"

"I've heard that Lou Wai Lou restaurant in the provincial capital is especially delicious. Emperors used to dine there often. Why don't we go and try it?"

"Where are you planning to stay when you get to the provincial capital? I heard the dorms in the government office aren't very good. The air conditioners are over ten years old and don't cool at all, and the internet is incredibly slow."

"How about we..."

As she thought about it, Julie suddenly blushed.

She raised her hands to cover her fair, slightly flushed face, feeling incredibly embarrassed that she had brought up the topic of where to stay with Chen Shu, as if she were implying something.

A series of heavy footsteps sounded.

The old director of the Political Department, wearing black-rimmed glasses, walked in with a smile. Behind him, in addition to several deputy directors, were the political commissar or instructor of the interviewee's unit.

"Is everyone here? Please sit down, everyone. Don't be shy."

The old director was very kind. He stretched out his hands and pressed them down several times, waiting for everyone to be seated before slowly sitting down himself.

He took the thermos handed to him by the staff member, took a small sip, and began the meeting: "You are all young talents of our Dongzhou Public Security Bureau, each and every one of you is our treasure. As the director of the Political Department, to be honest, I don't want you to leave. However, people strive for better opportunities, and water flows downhill."

The old director spoke eloquently, his expression sincere and gratified.

However, Julie, sitting below, was struck dumb. She looked around again and again, not daring to miss anything, but among all those smiling, happy faces, there was none of the one she wanted to see.

Where have people gone?
Why didn't you come to such an important meeting?

Wait, the old director just said everyone's here?
Didn't he pass the written test?

Where is that person?
Where are the people! ! !

"Crack!!!"

In a moment of panic, Julie's innate air of privilege as a second-generation official involuntarily surfaced. Ignoring the leaders still speaking, she pushed aside the table and chairs and rushed out.

The others sitting in the conference room were equally stunned: this was a meeting organized by members of the Dongzhou Public Security Bureau leadership.

Let alone the fact that everyone is still working under the nose of the provincial department even before passing the provincial department's interview, even if they do go to the provincial department, they can't be so disrespectful to the local leaders with real power, can they?

"Who is this woman? Doesn't she know any manners at all!"

"This woman's emotional intelligence is truly astounding. Does she not want to go to the provincial government?"

"If you really had something to do, you should have sneaked out quietly. Making such a commotion, aren't you afraid the director will hear?"

"Heh, who is this? Showing no respect to the director like this, isn't she afraid that when the higher-ups come down to inspect, the Political Department will just shut her down?" At this moment, the other attendees whispered among themselves, their opinions directed at Zhu Li, who had slammed the door and left.

A stern look flashed in the eyes of the old director, who sat at the head of the table, but he quickly regained his kind smile.

He recognized this young woman; her father was a powerful figure in Donghai Province, whose every move could cause a stir. This provincial selection process, unsurprisingly, was a favored position reserved for her.

"Director, this woman is a forensic doctor from Zhengming Criminal Investigation Department. Forensic doctors all have this problem; they're very eccentric, all because of the people at the grassroots level who spoil them. Don't worry, Director, I've got her in mind." The deputy director in charge of personnel training, sitting to the right of the old director, leaned over and explained in a low voice, casually expressing his loyalty.

After a few "uh-huhs," the old director then revealed a kind smile typical of elders, both to save face for himself and to reassure the others: "It must be an emergency at home. Young people are all like that, so impulsive. It's alright, let's continue the meeting."

He paused, then specifically instructed the deputy director to his right: "Remember to send her a copy of the meeting minutes later."

The deputy director was taken aback. Was the director getting carried away with his acting? He wasn't usually this authoritative. Was he supposed to go and cause trouble after the meeting? That seemed a bit too hasty.
The old director was worried that the deputy director would misunderstand him and cause trouble for him afterward, so he solemnly said again, "Don't hold it against the young lady. The document must be sent. Be polite, remember, you must be polite."

Worried about the crowds at the Municipal Bureau causing too much gossip, Julie ran all the way to the parking lot, got into her newly bought ORA Lightning Cat, and then took out her phone to question Chen Shu.

Zhu Li hesitated after pulling Chen Shu's number from her contacts, thinking that she hadn't asked for his opinion before taking it upon herself to report him to the political department of the branch bureau.

After thinking for a moment, she dialed Zhang Xuming's number.

"Uncle Zhang, it's me, Xiaoli. Are you busy?"

"I'm not busy, I'm having dim sum with your aunt. Haha, why did you suddenly think of calling your Uncle Zhang? Did you get into trouble again?"

"No way, I'm doing my job properly and I won't cause any trouble."

"That's good, that's good. But it's okay if you cause trouble, with your Uncle Zhang here, it's not a problem, haha."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang. I just wanted to ask you something."

"You said."

"Uncle Zhang, why isn't Chen Shu's name on the interview list for this selection process in the hall?"

Julie was actually a little nervous while speaking.

Zhang Xuming, the executive officer of the Zhengming branch, and her father had an excellent relationship in private. Although they lived in different places, they kept in touch frequently.

At this moment, Julie brought up Chen Shu's matter. If Zhang Xuming compared this with her father's information, he would be able to guess the relationship between the two of them without any doubt.

However, Julie didn't care anymore. Ever since returning from NJ, she had decided she didn't want Chen Shu to go back to the grassroots level as a frontline police officer, risking so much. Besides, her parents lived in the provincial capital. If the two of them went to the provincial capital, they could be with their parents, and it would also be a better opportunity for Chen Shu's career—it would be good for both of them.

As my father said, nothing is more important than career advancement; all men crave that.

"."

The receiver went silent for a long time without a reply.

Just as Julie was nervously worrying about whether her parents would find out, Zhang Xuming revealed the reason.

"Chen Shu handled a prostitution case this time. Because it involved a five-star hotel, the case has been widely publicized. As for the case itself, it was handled very successfully, and it has also enhanced the reputation of our Zhengming Branch."

Julie was taken aback, wondering why Uncle Zhang would bring up case-handling matters, and what this had to do with the selection process.

"Well, back then, when Chen Shu was handling the case, he didn't apply to the Municipal Bureau before taking action on his own. A deputy director of the Municipal Bureau wanted to dismiss Chen Shu on the spot on the grounds that it would affect the city's business environment. Unexpectedly, Wang, the executive director of the Municipal Bureau, stepped in and suppressed the matter, which is a good thing. However, Chen Shu's eligibility for selection was naturally gone."

thump.
The phone slipped from Julie's hand, and she couldn't help but yell:
"What a damn straight man! He dares to talk back to a five-star hotel! Has his brain rusted? Is this Executive Director Wang's brain rusted too? Just dismiss him, let whoever wants to be a lousy team leader take the job. Why cancel his selection qualification?"

"toot toot"

The person on the other end of the phone hung up immediately, without a moment's delay.

(End of this chapter)