Community Police Officer (2)

Old Jiang looked at Tong Haojing and said, "What do you like? Order something!"

Tong Haojing, already knowing Old Jiang's temper a little, was afraid of making him angry and shyly mumbled, "Let's order vinegar chili!" Afterward, the boss brought out another plate of seasonal vegetables.

The two sat in a corner of Jia Jia Tavern, drinking and chatting. The two-liang bottle of wine was empty. Old Jiang's face was flushed, and he spoke excitedly and volubly: "Little Tong, I'm fifty-five this year, and I'm a person who doesn't strive for progress. You've just arrived, and you're following me. I can't say if you're right or wrong, but one thing is for sure: you must do what you can, don't aim too high, and speak cautiously to everyone. You know the saying 'the bird that sticks its head out gets shot,' right? Today, you agreed to the director's request without thinking, and I was really worried for you. Do you know how complicated the Hongqiao Community is? Even I, a police officer who has worked for decades, can barely handle it, yet you're taking things too lightly. I shouldn't be saying this, but seeing your youthful vigor and sincere demeanor, I had to.

"Alas, every family has its own troubles. Little Tong, you haven't found a girlfriend yet, have you? You must look carefully. Don't end up like me. I had a bit too much to drink tonight, but don't laugh at me!" Old Jiang suddenly blurted out the last nonsensical, unfinished sentence. Tong Haojing just nodded, thinking he was just rambling because he'd had too much to drink. Although some of his words might have dampened Tong Haojing's enthusiasm, they were heartfelt advice to an outsider.

"I'm not wrong to follow you, Teacher Jiang!" Tong Haojing said very affirmatively. He didn't know who Old Jiang's words were directed at, but there were definitely hidden meanings, perhaps about how to conduct oneself or how to find a girlfriend. Tong Haojing didn't know.

"What's sister-in-law doing?" Tong Haojing asked.

"This... alas! She doesn't have a job; she's working for someone else!" Old Jiang hesitated, clearly embarrassed to admit his wife didn't have a respectable job.

"Where does she work?"

"West City Hotel. A few years ago, my wife was laid off. She went there to be a manager. I told her not to do it, but she insisted on leasing it. And that's where the problem started. The bureau has regulations: police families are not allowed to operate entertainment venues or hotels. But she wouldn't listen, and we argue about it all the time! Director Tang even talked to me a few times. What could I do? My wife needs to eat. Besides, Tang Changan himself has many issues... Alas, I won't say anymore; it's just upsetting!"

Tong Haojing gradually understood the focus of their conflict.

Old Jiang and Tong Haojing chatted back and forth. Tong Haojing listened more than he spoke. From Jiang Hongde's words and actions, he could tell he was a loyal and honest person. He also wanted to hear Old Jiang's stories, hoping to find his own starting point in the details of Old Jiang's life.

They continued drinking for over an hour, and Old Jiang was thoroughly satisfied. When Tong Haojing went to pay the bill, Old Jiang, using the excuse of going to the restroom, had already paid.

Night fell, and the lights came on. The two left the restaurant, Old Jiang brimming with excitement.

"Let's go, young man, I'll take you around the community," Old Jiang said, walking unsteadily. Tong Haojing was a little worried about his gait. He held Old Jiang's arm but dared not scold him rashly, so he just went wherever Old Jiang wanted to go.

Old Jiang was not tall, about 1.6 meters. As he crossed the road, he didn't look far ahead. A black Volkswagen sedan whizzed past him, its front end clearly deformed. Tong Haojing reacted quickly, pulling him back in a hurry. Old Jiang vaguely saw that the driver was a hooligan from West City. He grumbled, "Next time I see him, I'll deal with him!"

Old Jiang had dealt with many of the community's hooligans. He paused, then suddenly thought of something and said, "Little Tong, the one who just sped past was someone who once jumped into the Tangdu River... no... he's one of them."

"Oh, one of them?"

Tong Haojing glanced at the car, not remembering much, just feeling that the person looked familiar. The impression flashed through his mind. He keenly noticed that the person's expression and behavior were different from those of a normal driver; the car was swerving, and he was speeding severely.

"Stop, it's dangerous!" Tong Haojing suddenly realized something was wrong and shouted loudly.

Tong Haojing quickly chased a few steps after the speeding Volkswagen sedan, then took a detour down a small alley and ran with all his might. The passersby didn't know what was happening, only hearing a loud "boom" from the direction of the alley exit.

"A car crash! A car crash!" someone shouted.

Tong Haojing was certain the sound came from the speeding Volkswagen sedan. He ran closer and saw that the Volkswagen had indeed crashed into a roadblock by the roadside. The driver was frantically trying to turn the car, which could crash into the crowd at any moment and posed a risk of explosion. At this critical moment, Tong Haojing, disregarding his own safety, lunged forward, forcibly pulled open the car door, removed the car keys, and yanked the shouting driver out of the driver's seat. He agilely performed a grappling move, securing the driver who was raging and acting erratically.

The Volkswagen was parked sideways on the road. In the night, under the streetlights, one could see white smoke billowing from the front of the car. From the direction of Jinshan Avenue, a police vehicle with its siren blaring arrived. Two special police officers got out, their faces sweaty and expressions stern.

They had rushed over after receiving a report from a citizen that a Volkswagen sedan had been hijacked by a young man.

"Caught him, that was close! He hit several guardrails up ahead!" One of the special police officers quickly stepped forward, took out handcuffs, and cuffed the hijacker's hands. Tong Haojing then released his grip and handed the driver over to the special police.

"Young man, which unit are you from?" one of the special police officers asked.

"West City Police Station!"

"What? From the police station? You're that capable!" The special police officer looked at the young man with disbelief but had to give him a thumbs-up: "I'll tell your Director Tang about this later. Good job!"

The special police officer told Tong Haojing that this person had hijacked a citizen's Volkswagen sedan on West City Avenue and had a prior record of drug use. He was likely hallucinating from drugs. This confirmed Tong Haojing's judgment that the driver was not in his right mind, which was thanks to his excellent ability to observe people's expressions and demeanor.

Just then, Old Jiang came out of the alley, panting. He had been extremely worried about Tong Haojing's actions. A crowd had gathered around Tong Haojing, exclaiming in admiration.

"This young man is extraordinary. He stepped up at a critical moment and saved everyone's lives. Otherwise, who knows how many people would have been harmed!"

Old Jiang finally understood that Tong Haojing had done something significant. He patted Tong Haojing's shoulder with relief and said, "Little Tong, you're capable. I'll definitely report your situation to the station when I get back. You'll definitely get a commendation!"

"This counts as a commendation? I just noticed a small problem; there was no need to make such a big fuss!" Tong Haojing smiled sheepishly at Old Jiang.

The special police had already taken away the frantic hijacker.

Tong Haojing squeezed out of the crowd. Old Jiang was still a bit unsteady. Tong Haojing supported him as they continued walking along South Main Street, through a small alley, turned twice more, and crossed a small river. Old Jiang sobered up a bit. He pulled his hand away from Tong Haojing and started walking steadily on his own. In front of them was a railing by the river. Old Jiang leaned on it, gazing into the distance at the brightest neon lights, and said, "That large dark area over there is Hongqiao Community. The red light is Hongdu Entertainment City, the liveliest place in West City."

Following the direction Old Jiang pointed, the lights were noticeably dimmer. The buildings were not tall. Compared to the high-rises outside the police station, it was like a world of difference.

The early summer night was still a bit chilly. A few stars were twinkling in the sky.

Old Jiang led Tong Haojing into the Hongqiao Community area. He pointed things out as they walked. Many shops and residences were closed, with only the illuminated light boxes in front of them shining brightly. Some quiet alleys were dark and somewhat eerie, making one feel scared.

Old Jiang said, "Most of the residents in these alleys are old-timers. There are many unemployed people, and the population is complex. It will take a lot of effort to get a handle on them!" Old Jiang walked step by step into the area, wanting to show Tong Haojing where he often worked and familiarize him with the environment.

Tong Haojing saw that the alleys were winding and interconnected, the terrain was hilly, like a maze. After a few steps, he couldn't keep up with Old Jiang and got lost. He called Old Jiang's phone, but there was only static. He assumed Old Jiang was in some kind of situation. Tong Haojing waited for a while, but Old Jiang didn't come out. He continued walking into the alley. Suddenly, a commotion erupted from a small house around the corner. Tong Haojing curiously approached and peeked through the crack in the door. He saw six or seven men, half-naked, gambling with abandon. The gamblers didn't notice Tong Haojing quietly slipping in through the door. A gambler standing nearby grumbled at Tong Haojing for blocking his view: "Not betting? Then get out of the way!"

This scene of intense focus left Tong Haojing no time to call Old Jiang. He watched the game calmly. Suddenly, a gambler noticed something was wrong, put down his cards, turned around, and glanced at Tong Haojing: "I don't recognize you. Where did you come in from?"

This person was Hu Pan, a hooligan from West City, with a buzz cut and a squint (just released from the holding center), a face full of coarse flesh, wearing a round-neck silk T-shirt, and a thick gold necklace around his neck, showing a frightening ferocity.

"Police! Don't move!" Tong Haojing suddenly shouted.

Hu Pan froze. A cigarette he was holding in his mouth fell to the ground. He looked up at Tong Haojing dismissively. He didn't recognize this person, and he was alone. Hu Pan's flustered expression quickly turned calm, and his courage surged.

"Who the hell are you, trying to boss me around!" The other gamblers saw this and stood up in unison, drawing knives from their clothes, and swarmed forward, surrounding Tong Haojing, looking like they intended to teach him a harsh lesson.

Tong Haojing was no pushover either and fought back with all his might. However, due to the narrow space, his Special Operations Unit combat skills couldn't be fully utilized. He instinctively adopted a fighting stance and shouted, "Back off! Back off!" His commanding voice prevented the gamblers from getting closer.