Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 835 Provincial Department
Donghai Province, Public Security Bureau.

Director Zhu sat behind his desk, frowning as he listened to the office director's report.

"Director Zhu, the document issued by the ministry this time specifies that the Dongzhou Public Security Bureau should handle this case. Why would they hand over such a big case to Dongzhou? Can they handle it? If they make a huge mess of it, we'll be the ones to take the blame. I just don't understand it, I really don't understand it."

Having worked in the public security system for over twenty years, what kind of situation hadn't Director Ma seen? But this time, the ministry's decision truly baffled him.

Dongzhou is just an ordinary city among the more than 300 prefecture-level administrative regions in China. It has no economy, no resources, and no industry. It is a city with nothing.

The Dongzhou Public Security Bureau has not achieved any outstanding results in previous years, and its police officers have never appeared in national police competitions. They even rarely handle cross-provincial cases.

It wasn't a competition, nor was it a case investigation, so what could have caught the attention of the bigwigs in the capital, drawing their gaze to such a small place as Dongzhou?

Could it be that something big has happened in the hall recently?
Thinking of this, Director Ma's eyes suddenly lit up, and a figure appeared in his mind.

As the figure gradually became clearer, Director Ma's brows relaxed, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, his shoulders relaxed, and he leaned back in his chair.

"A few days ago, the ministry just awarded a first-class merit to someone from Dongzhou. That guy single-handedly cornered the violent elements in their cave. After returning to Dongzhou, he also uncovered the hideout where the violent elements had been hiding for many years and finally wiped them all out."

"Courageous and resourceful! This man is Chen Shu!" Director Ma spoke quickly, then slammed his hand on the table, affirming, "It seems the ministry's intention is quite clear: they have their eye on this man!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ting nodded, his eyes softening.

He had heard about the situation in southern Xinjiang, and even secretly sent people there for personal reasons to conduct a fairly detailed investigation and verification.

He knew the whole story much better than Director Ma, who only received information from official channels; he was familiar with every single detail.

Chen Shu originally went to the area with his teachers from the Provincial Police Academy to conduct research, but unexpectedly, a violent incident broke out in the coal mine there.

Logically and emotionally, Chen Shu, who was merely visiting, had absolutely no need to participate in the battle. The police academy teachers and students who had traveled with him quickly retreated to Donghai Province.

In terms of the level of danger, these police officers from coastal cities had never encountered anything like it in decades, and could not even imagine it on a normal day.

However, Chen Shu still rushed to the front line and made outstanding contributions.

If it weren't for the consistently secretive handling of the anti-K incident, once this achievement were made public, Chen Shu's heroic deeds would definitely have caused a national sensation and attracted worldwide attention.

In the subsequent Dongzhou counter-terrorism defense battle, Chen Shu, despite pressure from the entire city and even the entire province, insisted on releasing the violent K members who had been almost under police control, just to find out their possible secret hideouts in Dongzhou.

At that time, Zhu, who was far away in the provincial capital of Donghai, was also heartbroken by this bold decision.

If it weren't for his own daughter's affections for the other man, even if it were a celestial being descended to earth, Zhu Ting wouldn't have taken on this responsibility and let Chen Shu do it.

As Chen Shu predicted, the entire area was wiped out in one fell swoop.

This was also Zhu's proud work. It was he who, on the orders of the provincial department's executive director and executive deputy director, unusually appointed Chen Shu as the on-site commander-in-chief, and everyone had to obey Chen Shu's orders.

Zhu Ting spoke slowly, his voice unusually serious towards the young man: "This young man is indeed quite amazing. First, in the harsh conditions of the Southern Frontier, he single-handedly took on ten men and made a great contribution. Later, in the anti-K operation in the Eastern Prefecture, he demonstrated outstanding command skills."

“Old Ma, just like you said, Chen Shu is indeed brave and resourceful. But what does all this have to do with the ministry’s documents? The ministry only instructed the Dongzhou Public Security Bureau to take over the case; there wasn’t a single word about Chen Shu in the documents. You shouldn’t overinterpret the superiors’ intentions.”

As Zhu's right-hand man for decades, Director Ma also knew about the relationship between this young man, Zhu, and Zhu's daughter, Zhu Li.

Director Ma hesitated for a moment, then changed the subject in a show of retreat: "Director Zhu, do you remember the selection process the department arranged a while ago?"

Director Zhu nodded. It was Director Ma who proposed the selection plan, and he even specially reserved two spots for Chen Shu and Zhu Li.

The reason is that grassroots police work is too dangerous, especially for people like Chen Shu, who, despite his many merits, also face high risks.

In the end, neither of them showed up, which benefited outsiders.

Director Ma is implying a potential relationship between Director Zhu, Chen Shu, and Zhu Li.

"Director Zhu, you're right. Chen Shu is just a small policeman in Dongzhou after all. No matter how brave and resourceful he is, it's not his place. Are there no other people like him in all of China? Are all those special operations and detective experts that the ministry employs useless idiots?"

Director Ma was far too cautious. In his mind, this was no longer just a simple official matter; it had also become entangled with Director Zhu's personal affairs. Because of his relationship with Zhu Li, Chen Shu was considered family in his eyes.

As someone who has worked in the public security organs for decades, Director Ma dares to guarantee with his own head that the reason why the Ministry designated the case-handling unit must ultimately lie with Chen Shu.

The north must have their eyes on this person!

Director Ma swallowed hard, pointed north, and said, "Why don't we call that person and ask what the situation is? After all, northern Myanmar is so dangerous."

Director Ma's caution, even solemnity, served two purposes: first, it demonstrated the high status of "that person," as even Director Zhu, the executive director of the provincial public security bureau, could not casually call to inquire; second, it implied that Chen Shu was, after all, the future son-in-law, and too much risk could not be taken.

Some things, you should ask, and you should ask.

Zhu Ting did not express his opinion. On the one hand, when he contacted his daughter recently, he could sense her disappointment, as she no longer chatted incessantly as usual.

On the other hand, although he admires Chen Shu and is willing to give him ample resources and opportunities, the two are not married yet, and it is uncertain what will happen in the future.

Just then, my daughter Julie called.

Jingle Bell.

"Hey, Xiaoli, what are your instructions?" The executive director, who was seriously discussing business, suddenly broke into a smile the moment he answered the phone, his expression melting away.

A daughter is like her father's warm and comforting coat, and this is perfectly embodied in Zhu Ting's case.

"Dad, I've thought about it and I feel pretty good in Dongzhou. I'm quite used to it, so... so I'm not going back! Working at the grassroots level will give me more experience and training."

My darling, you've been working as a forensic pathologist for five or six years already, isn't that enough?

If she keeps training with those dead people, she'll just turn into an old witch.

Thinking this to himself, Chang Dong joked, "If you keep working out like this, you'll become an old maid. When you come back, no one will want you."

"Dad! You're so annoying!" A coquettish voice came from the other end of the phone. "Dad, you know I really hate the atmosphere in your government office. Sitting in an office all day with nothing to do, and everything's so slow and inefficient. Staying there too long would drive me crazy. By the way, you're not mad at me, are you?"

"The selection process?" Director Zhu glanced at Director Ma, who was sitting next to him, listening intently, and joked, "Well, you'll have to call your Uncle Ma yourself about this. He's been running around doing all this, practically selling half his face, and now you're saying you're not coming? Hey, that's a huge blow."

Sitting across from the desk, Director Ma listened to the teasing between the father and daughter and couldn't help but smile.

When he first started working, he worked under Director Zhu. At that time, Director Zhu, who was the deputy director, was sometimes so busy that he worked day and night and had no time to take care of his family.

Therefore, he usually helps take care of the Zhu family.

He not only picked her up and dropped her off daily, but he also attended almost all the parent-teacher meetings organized by the school when Julie was in school.

In truth, he may have taken care of her for even longer than Julie's biological father, so he could be considered half a father.

Uncle Ma was extremely concerned about Julie's happiness for the rest of her life, which is why he kept insisting on suggesting to Director Zhu that they make a phone call to that person in Beijing during this discussion.

After hanging up the phone with his daughter, Zhu Ting looked at his old partner, and the two smiled at each other.

Although Julie gave a long list of reasons, they all knew the real reason.

A daughter is no longer under her father's control once she grows up.

However, a phone call from his daughter dispelled his concerns.

After all, although Old Zhu held a high official position, he only had this one precious daughter.

Zhu Ting placed his hand on an old-fashioned black landline phone in the inner corner of his desk, paused for a moment, picked up the receiver, and dialed a number he had kept hidden in his heart.

(End of this chapter)