Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 82 Deputy Director Zhang

Chen Shu carried the case file bag that had passed legal review and walked towards the leadership building on the sixth floor of the branch office building.

At the entrance to the lobby on the first floor of the branch office building, Chen Shu already knew from the huge LED screen hanging on the wall that the leader on duty today was Deputy Director Wang, and according to the rules, the approval of this case should be given to Director Wang.

However, considering that the order to carry out the case was given directly by Deputy Director Zhang of the branch office to Officer Ma of the Zhongshan Police Station last night, Chen Shu felt it would be more prudent to go and give Director Zhang a heads-up first.

Yesterday, Director Zhang was on duty at the bureau and contacted Officer Ma around 5 a.m., so he was probably working all night and is now catching up on sleep.

Chen Shu stepped into the elevator, squeezed among a group of people in police uniforms, and pondered to himself.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of Zhu Chaoran, who was fast asleep in the dormitory.

Being a police officer is really tough. I wonder if I'll have a shorter lifespan than the average person...

A thought flashed through Chen Shu's mind.

He shook his head, walked to the door of Director Zhang's office, room 602, and gently knocked twice on the closed wooden door. He planned to go find Director Wang, the supervisor on duty that day, to get his signature if there was no response.

Chen Shu's actions were also a way of giving Director Zhang an explanation, so that if the matter were to be brought up again in the future, he would have a response.

At least I went to the station to see you!
He stood outside the door and waited quietly for a while. Just as he was about to leave, a steady voice came from inside the room.

"Please come in."

Chen Shu opened the door and walked into the office of Zhang, the deputy director of the branch office in charge of criminal investigation.

The office was bright and clean. A man in his fifties, with slightly graying hair, deep and bright eyes, and a well-proportioned figure, stood by the floor-to-ceiling window and looked at Chen Shu, who was about to enter the room.

As the executive deputy director of the Zhengming District Public Security Bureau, a section-level cadre, Director Zhang's office should be 18 square meters in size according to regulations.

However, the room Chen Shu entered was clearly beyond this standard, and behind the closed door behind the desk should be a single bedroom for the leader to rest in.

Police stations are generally staffed with high-level personnel.

Chen Shu entered the room and stood by the sofa near the door, straightening his back slightly: "Report! I am Chen Shu, a police officer from Zhongshan Police Station. Last night, we uncovered a case involving the operation of a gambling den. It's the same case that Chief Ma contacted you about yesterday. I'm here to report to you now."

Chen Shu didn't mention the case approval, but only gave a work report. Firstly, it was to give an explanation of yesterday's case, since Director Ma had consulted him and given instructions; secondly, he couldn't overstep the bureau's regulations regarding leadership signatures. Generally, cases submitted by police stations for approval require the signature of the branch bureau leader on duty that day.

Director Zhang laughed heartily, his voice deep and resonant. He strode over to the sofa and warmly sat down with Chen Shu.

He took a can of Coke from a shelf under the coffee table and handed it to him, saying cheerfully, "Young people should like this. Don't be shy, everything here is meant to entertain guests. This Coke runs out the fastest, so please finish it."

In previous years, Chen Shu also loved drinking this "fat boy water," but back then he exercised every day and wasn't afraid to drink a few sips every now and then.

But ever since he came to Zhongshan Institute, he's been so busy he barely has time to breathe, and he doesn't have a single spare moment to exercise. Right now, he would never dare to even touch a bite.

But what the leader says is different.

Under Director Zhang's kind gaze, Chen Shu obediently opened the can of Coke and took a few sips. Director Zhang watched him drink the Coke before asking curiously, "Was it you who hit the Lamborghini kidnapping victim a few months ago?"

Chen Shu spit out all the cola he had just swallowed with difficulty. It was unclear whether he did it on purpose.

He quickly pulled out a few tissues from the tissue bag on the coffee table and wiped the sofa and coffee table that had been sprayed with cola: "Director Zhang, I didn't hit anyone. I just used my car to stop the suspect's vehicle. Everyone is fine."

Director Zhang waved his hand, signaling Chen Shu not to be nervous. He took out his phone and swiped up and down, seemingly searching for photos or checking WeChat history: "Hmm... Ah Hu is right."

He muttered a few words to himself softly, then placed his phone back on the coffee table and continued to look at Chen Shu with a smile without saying a word.

Ah Hu? Could it be Ren Guoqing, the criminal investigation team leader of the branch office, who was known as "Zhengming Tiger" by the underworld more than ten years ago?

Chen Shu, having estimated the ages and relationship between the two men, added with a beaming smile, "Director Zhang, I was young and naive back then, and I didn't know the importance of things. When it came to the end, I acted impulsively."

It's only been a few months, and they're already saying "I was young and naive back then"?! ???

How forgetful are you?!

Director Zhang said, "This was indeed an impulsive act, and thankfully neither you nor the suspect got into any trouble. By the way, I heard from Guoqing that you broke a few ribs in that case. Are you alright now?"

Upon hearing the leader's concern, Chen Shu sat up straight on the sofa, indicating that there was no problem at all.

Director Zhang nodded, pointed to his desk, and said in a deep voice, "Later, the opinions on how to handle your case were actually all put on this desk of mine."

Chen Shu felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that he had indeed "shown his face" to the branch office leaders last time.

"It's good for young people to be energetic. But they also need to listen to instructions and obey orders," Director Zhang earnestly advised.

Chen Shu nodded and said "uh-huh," but he actually had some thoughts in his mind.

Now that he's donned this police uniform, the people have entrusted him with the power. With criminal suspects right before his eyes, how can he just stand by and watch them escape the law?
He believes this is also the mainstream thinking of most police officers!

Director Zhang saw through Chen Shu's perfunctory attitude, but he wasn't annoyed. He slowly explained, one point at a time, counting on his fingers:

"When I was young, what did our police station usually promote? Police officers help people climb through windows to unlock doors; when a family member is critically ill, the police officer son still has to stay at his post; if someone falls into the water, as long as you're wearing a police uniform, you have to jump in even if you can't swim!"
There are so many of these issues, but times have changed, and our mindset must evolve accordingly. We need to strengthen our awareness of self-protection.

"How can a police officer who can't even protect himself protect the people?"

Chen Shu understood what Director Zhang meant. Director Zhang came from a criminal investigation background and had been fighting criminals since he was young. The scars on his body were as numerous as the medals on his chest, enough to dazzle the eyes of a young policeman.

The phrase "be careful" that he uttered carried a profound sense of historical vicissitude, as if he had braved countless dangers to survive.

Chen Shu nodded. In recent years, the meetings held by the bureau and the station regarding "police officers' personal safety" have indeed conveyed this meaning.

However, the words of an older comrade sitting next to Chen Shu at the time left a deep impression on him:
“If we really encounter trouble, no matter how scared we are, we still have to step up. Why? Because the people are watching.”

(End of this chapter)