Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 89 Encountering an Old Acquaintance
Li Meng, Chen Shu's classmate from the Provincial Police Academy, was the youngest section chief in the Dongzhou Public Security Bureau and the deputy captain of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Zhengming District Branch. She entered the room with a smile.

He strode to the tea table and sat down: "Professor Zeng."

Zeng Hong nodded, bent down and pulled out another can of Coke from under the tea table, placing it on the table: "Li Da, the kettle is broken, we'll have to make do today."

Li Meng glanced at the open Coke in front of Chen Shu and smiled, "It's okay, we'll just sit for a bit and then leave."

us?

Chen Shu turned his head to look outside the door but didn't see anyone else.

Zeng Hong said, "This morning, Director Luo from the bureau called me. This time, when Director Lin from the police academy came, the municipal bureau was supposed to arrange for a leader of the corresponding level to accompany him throughout the visit."

However, before Director Lin arrived, he made it clear that he didn't want to make things too complicated and specified that a police officer familiar with kidnapping cases should come and help him drive and show him the way.

It just so happens that you two are both graduates of the police academy and have participated in this kidnapping case, so the bureau assigned the two of you to go and receive them.

Li Da was one of the leaders in charge of handling this case. Since you two are classmates, there shouldn't be any problems working together, so that's how it was settled.

Zeng Hong took a sip of water: "Li Da, is there anything else you'd like to add?"

Li Meng waved her hand: "Teacher Zeng, I've already told you everything I needed to say on the phone before I came. It's almost time, so we'll be going now."

Oh, so Zeng Jiao knew Li Meng was coming... Chen Shu calmly took a sip of his cola.

Zeng Hong nodded to Chen Shu and picked up a rag from the tea table to wipe it.

Chen Shu stood up and followed Li Meng out. Just as they were closing the door, he noticed that the water in the transparent kettle on the tea table was boiling!

Bubbles started rising from the surface of the water in the kettle!
Isn't this kettle broken?

They started cooking before even closing the door. Isn't that too obvious?

We should at least wait until we leave before going to the bar.
He glanced at Li Meng, who was walking quickly ahead: Could there be some misunderstanding between these two?

"Li Meng, go to the security office on the second floor and wait for me. I'm going to my dormitory to change into my police uniform."

When Chen Shu returned to his dormitory, he recalled the casual clothes Li Meng had worn earlier and felt a little awkward. The tightly tied tie made it seem like he was being suffocated.

Li Meng is not only a star deputy captain in the bureau, but also a platoon leader in the police academy. This time, it's probably best to let him take the lead and just drive around and run errands.

As usual, Chen Shu took out a freshly washed duty uniform and put it on. He originally planned to change into a pair of new police leather shoes that had arrived this year, but then thought about it and put them back in the shoe cabinet.

Old shoes fit well and are comfortable.

Before leaving, he habitually walked to the police mirror and straightened his collar and cuffs.

At 11:00 a.m., Li Meng drove a black Passat "9A" sedan belonging to the bureau, carrying Chen Shu, straight to Dongzhou South Railway Station.

Li Meng rested her right hand on the top of the steering wheel and glanced at Chen Shu's police uniform: "Director Lin from the Provincial Police Academy is coming, and the bureau has designated us to be responsible for receiving him. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to be wearing your duty uniform in this situation?"

"Alright. Isn't this your favorite job? I'll drive, you just sit in the back and keep me company. It's only a two-day thing, so finish it quickly and go back to work. There's a ton of stuff waiting for me at the station." Chen Shu was somewhat dismissive, not really interested in these business receptions and colleague exchanges. He was still preoccupied with the trivial matters of some cases at the station.

Li Meng lectured, "You, you've been out of school for so many years and you still haven't figured these things out? Are you planning to hide in the back again?"
Director Lin is a division-level cadre, but he's currently inconspicuous because he works at a school. If he goes to the Provincial Public Security Department, he'll start as a chief; if he's transferred to a local government, he'll become the director of the Dongzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Li Meng's eyes shone as she swung her left fist upwards repeatedly, slamming it into the roof panel without realizing it.

Chen Shu knew Li Meng's temperament; he wasn't a bad person and was ambitious. His promotions over the past few years weren't solely due to his connections; he also had several noteworthy achievements under his supervision.

Normally, Chen Shu would just listen to the noise and perhaps laugh along. But today, a teacher from the school was visiting, which, in China with its thousands of years of history and the saying "a teacher for a day is a father for life," was a very serious matter.

Although Director Lin might not remember them, Chen Shu still hoped that this meeting would have less of an official atmosphere and more of a teacher-student relationship.

After considering it for a moment, Chen Shu advised, "Don't have too high expectations for our meeting today. Let's just focus on doing our jobs well."

Li Meng laughed and said, "Chen Shu, I'm only saying this to you because we've been classmates for so many years. If anyone else were sitting here right now, do you think I would say a single extra word!"

Everyone has their own way of life. Chen Shu's preference for practical work is his own business, and Li Meng shouldn't be criticized for being idealistic. Besides, in terms of work, Li Meng is currently a full-fledged section-level cadre, while Li Meng is still a lowly police officer in a remote corner—that's a fact.

We're all adults, so let's stop here.

1 p.m., Dongzhou South Railway Station, platform.

The bullet train arrived on time. After the train came to a complete stop, a tall, upright figure in a police uniform, whom Chen Shu and Li Meng both recognized, got off the train.

Chen Shu and Li Meng went to meet them. Li Meng walked a few steps ahead, while Chen Shu walked normally behind.

"Director Lin!" Li Meng called out from afar, extending her hands as she walked forward to shake hands.

"Teacher Lin," Chen Shu greeted her as he approached.

The person who got off the car was Lin Dakai, the director of the Student Affairs Department of the Provincial Police Academy, and a young male police officer followed him off the car.

Lin Dakai was a man of few words. After getting out of the car, he smiled but didn't say anything as he faced the two people running towards him.

Li Meng stepped forward and grasped Lin Dakai's hands tightly: "Director Lin, welcome, welcome! I'm Li Meng from the Criminal Investigation Department of our school, class of 07."

Lin Dakai said with a smile, "I know, I know. Director Luo from your bureau talked to me about you. You're young and promising, very young and promising."

Chen Shu stood a little distance away, calmly watching the two exchange pleasantries, when he suddenly noticed out of the corner of his eye that the male police officer standing behind Lin Dakai was smiling and nodding at him.

"President!"

Chen Shu was surprised to find that the police officer was actually his classmate from the platoon, Zhou Qinghu. Overjoyed, he blurted out the nickname he used to use during their school days.

He took three steps at a time, bypassing Li Meng and the others to reach Zhou Qinghu's side. He stretched out his hands and tightly grasped the hands of this classmate who had taken great care of him during their student days. He was somewhat excited, and his voice was a little loud: "Chairman, what brings you here? You didn't even tell me you were coming!"

Li Meng looked distressed, which surprised Lin Dakai.

(End of this chapter)