NOVPUB19: Chapter 19 Parting in Pain
19 -19 Parting in Pain
“Deputy Director Gong has made a very good point.
There are certainly shortcomings, but as long as we bravely fight, we will definitely capture the culprit.
Speaking of which, I want to say a few words.
The Criminal Investigation Team is the backbone of our city bureau and has also played a significant role in this operation.
Therefore, I propose a commendation.”
“Clap clap clap,” another round of warm applause ensued, clearly longer this time than the applause for Deputy Director Gong, until Director Liu waved his hand, and the meeting room quieted down.
“But during the operation…”
“Director, I have some thoughts regarding the next steps of our operation.”
It was Song Qian.
Instantly, the meeting room fell into an uncomfortable silence.
It was that Song Qian again.
The Director glanced at her, then looked down at the documents before looking at her again.
He adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, seemingly to see her more clearly, “Oh, Captain Song, that’s good.
As the captain of the Criminal Investigation Team, you have more authority to speak.
Come on, let’s hear it.”
Ignoring the peculiar glances from others, Song Qian’s resonant and strong voice filled the meeting room, “Through analysis, we can see that there are many doubts in this bank robbery case, which conflict with the documents sent from the provincial level.
I think it may be that our comrades at the provincial level did not fully understand the situation, hence the errors.
So, I would like to explain here, and then…”
“Captain Song, from what you’re suggesting, it seems you have some objections to the provincial documents?” A man with a belly resembling a general sat in a chair, he was Hu Fucai from the Political Propaganda Department.
At this moment, he was wiping his glasses, supposedly a prize he had received from giving a report at the provincial level.
After wiping them clean and putting them on, he looked at Song Qian and said, “Comrade Song Qian, the documents produced by the province have been agreed upon after careful analysis by many experts.
No matter what, they should be stronger than our small prefectural-level city, right?
It’s not good to doubt the experts here, is it?”
“Hey, Old Hu, Captain Song also came down from the provincial level; she must have seen more than you have.”
“If you ask me, we might as well just follow the provincial directives.
Doesn’t matter if they are right or wrong; it would save us a lot of trouble.
If it’s right, it’s our credit; if it’s wrong, they can’t blame us.”
“That’s right!”
Watching everyone in the room chatting away, Song Qian’s face turned red with anger.
When she first came down from the provincial level, she had anticipated all sorts of difficulties, including harsh conditions, unsuitable climate, and even thought about future settlement issues.
But what she didn’t expect was that the greatest difficulty wasn’t material, but rather human.
“Cough cough,” Director Liu coughed twice, and the noisy meeting room immediately quieted down.
Everyone knew the Director was about to speak, “I’ve heard everyone’s opinions just now.
We’re all colleagues, and working together is a fate given by God.
We should not magnify differences in work; is there anything we can’t discuss calmly?
Don’t you all agree?”
The crowd nodded in agreement.
“So, if there are differences, let’s sit down and discuss them.
You all heard what Captain Liu said just now, which shows that she has indeed studied the case thoroughly.
Only through in-depth study can we reach the correct conclusion.
But, Song, here I have to say a few words.
For future matters like this, you should discuss more with the older comrades in the bureau, after all, it’s a document from the provincial level, and it’s not to be taken lightly.
And Old Hu, the young people in the bureau are promising seeds.
As an older comrade, you should increase your efforts in nurturing them…
Ah, look at you, wiping your glasses again…”
Song Qian silently sat down, looking at those indifferent faces around her, her heart bleeding.
Is this the Criminal Investigation Team I dreamed of joining?
Is this the protective umbrella for the tens of millions of Huaxia’s citizens?
…
“Okay, that will be all for today.
Meeting adjourned.”
The spacious meeting room suddenly felt much emptier.
Song Qian was the last one to leave.
Instead of going back to her office, she made her way to the top floor of the Police Building, a place she often visited.
Whenever she faced a challenging case or felt troubled, this spot offered her a moment of peace.
Standing on the rooftop, Song Qian wrapped her arms around herself, looking out over the small northern city.
Her gaze gradually turned resolute.
The rushing water of the 800-li Huaizhou River carried not only its torrential flow but also her father’s ideals.
Song Qian’s mother, Song Ci, grew up in this little town, drinking the water from the Huaizhou River, and became one of its guardians.
Yet, ultimately, she died in the line of duty right here.
Stubborn by nature, Song Qian enrolled in the police academy and became the captain of a city bureau’s criminal investigation team at the mere age of twenty-four, a rarity nationwide.
Everyone thought she only got the position through her father’s connections, but who could imagine the stubbornness embedded within this woman who chose to bear her mother’s surname?
Women can be warriors too, I wield my sword with pride!
Taking one last look at the city, Song Qian turned and descended the stairs.
Ye Tian and Tang Su were discharged from the hospital on the seventh day after the robbery.
During their stay, the hospital room was disturbingly quiet, save for the occasional nurse coming in to change Tang Su’s head dressing.
No other visitors came, and the only sound came from Tang Su as he watched Ye Tian flirt with the pretty nurse, causing her to giggle incessantly.
Tang Su cursed Ye Tian inwardly for not being decent—this wasn’t a case of excessive fright, but rather an excessive secretion of male hormones.
In the morning, after packing their belongings, the two left the hospital together.
They still drove Tang Su’s Toyota Camry, which made Ye Tian inwardly cringe at its mundanity.
During the ride back, Ye Tian sat in the car, resting his arm and gazing at girls in ultra-short skirts, drooling all over the place.
“Don’t drip inside my car, be careful your saliva doesn’t corrode it,” Tang Su looked at Ye Tian without any warmth, his hand on the gear shift pulling the car into second gear, moving forward slowly.
Ye Tian, on the other hand, didn’t care at all.
He wiped his sleeve and continued his “candy apple” act.
Tang Su watched the shiny patch on his sleeve and secretly rejoiced that he hadn’t eaten breakfast, or he might have thrown up everything.
Regarding the “6·28” bank robbery case, the provincial authorities sent out a direct notice, especially for a new round of checks on outsiders in Huaizhou City.
As for the two suspected criminals who were killed at the bank, their identities had been confirmed.
The Public Security Bureau announced them as habitual criminals rampant across various provinces.
However, Ye Tian knew well that those brown-faced men resembling people from Xinjiang were actually old acquaintances from the Middle East, from Pakistan.
These extremists with radical beliefs were truly terrifying.
Not because of their physical strength or advanced weapons, but because of their twisted dedication and fervor for their cause.
With this in mind, Ye Tian furrowed his brow, wondering the purpose of their visit this time.
It seemed there was more work to be done.
“Hey, what are you thinking?”
Ye Tian was taken aback, looked up, and saw a red light for eighty seconds ahead; the car had already stopped.
“Oh, nothing, just suddenly feeling a bit regretful,” Ye Tian made a sighing gesture, “I didn’t get the number of that nurse.
It’s my own fault, being too soft-hearted.
If I can’t offer someone a good life, then it’s best to part ways in pain.”
