Outstanding Trainee (1)

The breath of spring filled people with a force that urged them onward.

A week later, Tong Haojing finally received notice to report for duty. He entered the Tangdu City Public Security Bureau. More than a dozen SWAT officers were drilling on the training grounds with shields and batons, their cries of "Strike!" ringing without pause. The mystery and majesty of the police drew passersby to stop and watch, and Tong Haojing could not help feeling awed. He followed an officer entering the Public Security Bureau building up to the eighth-floor Political Department. Three people had already arrived in the office, and everyone exchanged smiles. Director Wu Dean of the Political Department received him.

Wu Dean had graduated from Hexi Police Academy, served in the police force for fifteen years, and held the rank of second-level police inspector at the Tangdu City Public Security Bureau. Taking Tong Haojing's assignment notice, Wu Dean shook his hand and said, "Welcome to the police force!"

Tong Haojing said, "I'm starting halfway through life. Please look after me."

Director Wu said, "You're a hero of Tangdu City. The news has spread everywhere. We should all learn from you! Director Gao Weimin has made it clear that every one of you here was carefully selected by Director Gao as outstanding talent. You must build a solid foundation, love whatever line of work you enter, and perform well. Tong Haojing in particular must keep up the good work, make use of his strengths, and win glory for the police."

"Oh, right. My name is Tong Haojing. I transferred out of Unit A as a special forces soldier. Please look after me, everyone!" Tong Haojing introduced himself. The other three were unwilling to fall behind and introduced themselves as well. One was Su Feiya, a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama; another was Wang Chongyang, a graduate of the anti-drug program at the People's Public Security University of China; and the last was Long Xing, an exceptional student from the China Criminal Police College. All three were specialists urgently needed and specially recruited by the Public Security Bureau. They looked at Tong Haojing strangely, and the instant their gazes met, Tong Haojing keenly caught the envy in their eyes. At that moment, though, what they cared about most was where they would be assigned.

Tong Haojing could not help asking, "Where will we be working?"

Director Wu said, "Right. Before you take up your new posts, you'll undergo three months of police-entry training." Clearly, Director Wu had deliberately diverted the subject of assignments. Just then, the phone rang. It was Director Gao Weimin. "Dean, Officer Lan from the West City Station was injured while trying to catch that Scarface who jumped into the river. I have to attend a meeting in the city and can't go. Visit him on my behalf, and while you're there, check on Director Tang."

The moment Director Wu heard this, his heart skipped a beat and he drew in a sharp breath. Since Director Gao Weimin had arrived in Tangdu City, Director Wu felt that this was an understanding the two of them had reached. He realized that besides sincerely caring for the officers, the director had another intention. It was a secret between him and the director.

"Scarface? The Scarface from West City? Has he been caught?" Tong Haojing could not help asking. He had vaguely overheard the voice on the phone. In his mind appeared Scarface's vicious face by the Tangdu River, along with that mad scene of him jumping into the river.

"No. It's very strange. He got away. The director asked me to tell you to perform well!"

Wu Dean's words set Tong Haojing's mind spinning. What exactly did that mean? Scarface still hadn't been caught? Tong Haojing could not make sense of it. How could such an evil man be allowed to roam free? His hatred of evil nearly made him lose control of his expression, but before the other newcomers, he had to act as if it had little to do with him. Keeping a low profile and remaining steady was his starting point in this new place, yet a cloud of confusion still rose in his heart...

Since the director had mentioned Tong Haojing again, Director Wu also felt that Tong Haojing was no lightweight. Perhaps it was only natural, given that he was a hero who had acted bravely for a just cause. But the other three already felt slighted. It was clear that the three young graduates of prestigious academies were casting disdainful looks at Tong Haojing, though they did not openly show it.

Tong Haojing asked, "When do we leave?"

Director Wu said, "Three days from now. The bureau will send a vehicle." Little Zhang from the Political Department took Tong Haojing to the police support room to get measured. Each of them received two sets of training uniforms, and Tong Haojing impatiently tried his on. Wearing a police uniform—a training uniform—for the first time, Tong Haojing felt sincere joy. He dearly wanted to show off his gallant appearance in it. This had been his dream for many years, and now it had come true overnight. The sense of honor made his face burn hot, but there was no full-length mirror to look into. Otherwise, seeing his own upright bearing in a police uniform would have been such a pleasure.

The four of them walked out of the office building chatting and laughing. Su Feiya flattered Tong Haojing, saying, "Now there's no problem for you. You're Director Gao's favorite. We're the ones hanging by a thread!"

Wang Chongyang and Long Xing chimed in, "Right, right, right!" Director Wu's words had already produced a negative effect. Their joking on the surface revealed the imbalance in their hearts.

Tong Haojing said, "That's not true. I'm unfamiliar with this place too. It's not like you imagine!" The three of them did not believe his denial, and even Director Wu was somewhat unconvinced. Tong Haojing did not want to prove anything.

Only then did Tong Haojing notice the eight large red characters carved into the granite pillars on either side of the main gate: "Build the police for the public, enforce the law for the people." They stood out brilliantly beneath the shade of several large trees. Perhaps this was the soul of the police, Tong Haojing thought. The shouts of the SWAT officers practicing grappling and combat still rang in his ears.

"Come on, come on... brothers, let's take a picture in front of 'Build the police for the public, enforce the law for the people.' Let it be the starting point of our lives as police officers!"

On Monday, Tong Haojing and the other three trainees boarded the vehicle to the Police Academy. An hour later, the vehicle stopped at the academy gates. Two fully armed officers stood ramrod straight with submachine guns in hand, their eyes fixed on the direction of approaching vehicles. They looked mysterious and imposing, while a gleaming national emblem shone above the gate's crossbeam. Everyone cried out in unison, "Wow, this is Hexi Police Academy!"

Tong Haojing felt as if he had returned to his days in the army. The neat formations, resounding slogans, standardized commands—perhaps this was where he would once again get to show what he could do.

That day, all trainees gathered on the training field. Tong Haojing looked around and saw a sea of people. There were many trainees, from all over the place. Everyone was eager to prove themselves. The president spoke. "Trainees, today is the first day of school. Put everything else aside, settle your minds, study diligently, and complete your training tasks with quality and quantity assured. You must embrace the belief that the more sweat you shed in peacetime, the less blood you spill in battle... At graduation, there will be a major competition. You will carry honor with you and win glory for your cities and counties!"

The trainees shouted a resounding slogan: "More sweat in peacetime, less blood in battle! Victory! Victory!" The opening mobilization meeting ended amid impassioned speeches. Back in the dormitory, Tong Haojing lay on his bed. He remembered the president's words clearly, and they echoed in his ears from time to time. He thought of the danger by the Tangdu River, of the officers facing Middle-parted Hair's unreasonable arrogance, and of the graduation competition. All of it drove Tong Haojing to think. He had to make the best use of these three months, improve himself, and master his skills.

The Police Academy was located at the foot of Jiapi Mountain. It was somewhat remote, but it was an excellent place to study. Tong Haojing and the other three trainees from Tangdu City were assigned to the same unit.

Professor Guan left a deep impression on Tong Haojing during the very first class.

Professor Guan, forty-five, was a graduate of Hexi University of Political Science and Law and a renowned professor at the Police Academy. The moment he entered the classroom, he could not stop smiling. For every police officer, studying public security law was indispensable. Clause-heavy material was bound to be dull and tedious, but Tong Haojing was highly enthusiastic about learning. Every day, he was the first to arrive in the classroom. He sat in the front row, always listening earnestly to Professor Guan's clear, easy-to-understand explanations. His neat and lucid notes drew Professor Guan's attention. Professor Guan liked Tong Haojing's attitude toward study, and Tong Haojing's thirst for knowledge moved him. Tong Haojing also participated actively.

Tong Haojing discovered that Professor Guan would unexpectedly walk up to a trainee, say something, take out a prop, or make a particular gesture, immersing the trainee in the situation and teaching them how to handle it in an environment that felt highly real.

This was Professor Guan's teaching intention, and Tong Haojing understood it deeply.

On the third day, it was Professor Guan's legal practice class again. The topic was how a police officer should properly handle legal issues when faced with another person's unreasonable insults or threats of violence.

Professor Guan personally acted out two scenarios. The first took place in the classroom. Just as Su Feiya was concentrating on taking notes, a voice insulting the police rang out: "You lousy cop in that leather uniform, putting on airs! You're a wolf in sheep's clothing! I'll report you and send you to the eighteenth level of hell!" Professor Guan pointed at Su Feiya in the third row with a provocative air. Su Feiya turned around and looked at Professor Guan. She wanted to speak but stopped herself. She did not dare lose her temper, nor did she dare stop him without restraint. All she could think was that the person standing before her was her teacher—how could she offend him? She was only shocked and frightened, glaring at him without making a move.

Professor Guan said nothing, and the smile had vanished from his face. He then improvised and moved on to the next trainee. Professor Guan paced back and forth through the classroom. With his back turned to Tong Haojing, he suddenly spun around and shouted, "I have a knife! Hand over your things!"

Tong Haojing jumped, thinking a robber had really come. He instinctively sprang to his feet, stepped back, planted his feet, and assumed a steady fighting stance. He grabbed the chair behind him and raised it in a defensive reflex, blocking Professor Guan. The chair slipped from his hands and fell to the floor. Professor Guan dodged aside and said, "Stop!"

The trainees were utterly amazed. "Brother, you really went for it! You nearly went hard on the professor!" A burst of laughter followed.

Tong Haojing felt he had made a fool of himself. Embarrassed, his face turned red. Professor Guan stepped down from the platform, personally picked up Tong Haojing's chair, and carried it back to his seat. Tong Haojing was deeply moved by the treatment he received.

Professor Guan walked to the podium and wrote three large characters on the blackboard: "Sense of Reality."

Professor Guan asked, "Whose reaction came closest to reality?"

Everyone answered in unison, "Tong Haojing! Tong Haojing!"

Professor Guan said, "Among ordinary people, Tong Haojing's reaction was the most genuine, while Su Feiya's was the most considerate of personal feelings! But as police officers, we must be different from ordinary people. We must respond calmly, set aside personal feelings, and fully uphold the dignity of the law. When faced with danger or someone's insults, we should have instinctive reactions and countermeasures. That is what is real. Police officers must also have their own methods of handling matters: staying composed, dealing with things according to law, using police equipment to subdue suspects, and so on! To handle such situations with ease, police officers need abundant practical combat skills and legal knowledge. Theory is the foundation, but without practice, it won't do!"