Community Police Officer (III)

"Beat him to death!" Hu Pan roared viciously. Several gamblers shouted as they closed in on Tong Haojing step by step, but upon hearing he was a police officer, they grew somewhat uneasy, and even their raised fists trembled.

Just then, Old Jiang, who had come running from who knew where after hearing the fierce fight, hurried over, drew his pistol, and shouted in the strongest voice of his life, "What the hell are you doing? Trying to turn the world upside down? Stop!"

Before his words had even faded, a gunshot rang out.

When the gamblers saw that it was Old Jiang, the veteran officer from the police station, they scattered like startled birds. Old Jiang held up his pistol and chased after them for two steps before he was so out of breath that he could not run any farther. The gamblers vanished in an instant. Tong Haojing, who hated evil with a passion, chased after them. He picked the direction Hu Pan had fled and pursued him relentlessly through several alleys, but because he was unfamiliar with the terrain, Hu Pan still got away. Tong Haojing returned dejectedly to the alley at the corner and saw Old Jiang half-crouching there, gasping for breath, his face slightly bluish. Concerned, he asked, "Teacher Jiang, are you all right?"

Old Jiang shook his head and slowly stood up. Noticing a bruise on Tong Haojing's forehead, he blamed himself unusually harshly. "Tong, it's all my fault. I didn't look after you properly. Tomorrow, I'll bring those punks back. I'll make them bow their heads and apologize to you. Sigh, maybe they were so arrogant because they didn't know who you were!"

"Teacher Jiang, could you draw your gun in a situation like that?"

Old Jiang froze for a moment. "Well... sigh, those punks are most afraid of this kind of firepower. In an emergency, you can't worry about so much. But don't you go copying me!"

"Heh, heh, true enough! Punks are afraid of firepower!"

Tong Haojing smiled awkwardly and said gratefully, "Thank you for saving me. If you hadn't arrived in time, who knows what might have happened?" Still shaken, Tong Haojing shuddered before realizing his whole body was drenched in sweat. Suddenly, he felt that the thick-faced gambler he had chased through several alleys looked familiar, but he could not remember where he had seen him.

Old Jiang and Tong Haojing returned to the police station. Officer Lan, who was on duty, saw the injury on Tong Haojing's head, pointed at it, and asked in surprise, "What happened to your head?"

"Oh, I took a fall!" Tong Haojing replied evasively and unnaturally. Officer Lan did not ask further, and only then did Tong Haojing notice the long scar on his hand.

"You got that injury while arresting Scarface, right?" Tong Haojing asked with concern.

"It's nothing. It healed long ago," Officer Lan said.

Tong Haojing looked at Officer Lan with admiration and smiled. Then he sat down in a chair in the duty room, turned on the computer, and reviewed the day's duty records.

Not long afterward, a thick-faced man entered the duty room. The security guards had been so charmed by his smooth talk that they had let down their guard. Even Old Jiang had not expected the punk to arrive so quickly. It turned out that he had already called him and told him to come voluntarily to the station and apologize to the new officer, or things would not end well for him later.

The punk was actually Hu Pan. Tong Haojing simply had not recognized him right away.

"Watch what you say. This is the new officer, Tong Haojing. You'd better know what's good for you!"

"Yes, yes... This... it's an honor. I acted on impulse just now and gave you a fright. Please be magnanimous and forgive me. I'll never make that kind of mistake again. Officer Jiang can vouch for me!" Hu Pan spoke evasively. He had recognized the young man's face. This man had once been his sworn enemy. Secretly clenching his fists, he feared that this new officer would make trouble for him.

Tong Haojing was unusually calm. Although the scene of this thick-faced scumbag by the Tangdu River had already surfaced in his mind, Old Jiang's influence made him realize that maintaining harmony at the moment might be the foundation for better work in the future. He nodded to Old Jiang and reluctantly forgave Hu Pan.

"No matter who you are, anyone who breaks the law or commits crimes is my mortal enemy!" Tong Haojing said mercilessly as he looked at Hu Pan.

"Yes, yes..." Hu Pan answered submissively. He nodded to Old Jiang, left the duty room, and slunk away.

Old Jiang was somewhat embarrassed and was about to leave the duty room when he suddenly remembered that the director had told Tong Haojing to go home. Patting Tong Haojing on the shoulder, he said, "Oh, right. The director approved two days of leave for you. Go home tomorrow, get settled properly, and see your parents!" Jiang Hongde said with great concern. Tong Haojing was deeply grateful. He truly had not been home for several months. His hometown was not far away, in Dafang Village, an ancient town on the Tangdu River about ten li outside the city.

Two days of leave might have been brief, but Tong Haojing had not returned home for more than three months since starting training at the police academy. He knew that once he chose the profession of a police officer, there would be no distinction between day and night. Perhaps in the future, he would not have much time to rest or reunite with his mother. He should cherish this opportunity. That was what Old Jiang had told him.

The next day, Tong Haojing set out early. He crossed the Tangdu River, whose waters were beginning to rise slightly. The riverbank was lush with green grass, and anglers sat at ease, but he did not see Uncle Mumu, who often fished there. He thought of his mother, Uncle Mumu, and Mei Tingyu, who was working away from home. A wave of happiness rose in Tong Haojing's heart. This time, he had to tell his mother and Uncle Mumu what was on his mind. Only then could he finally fulfill a wish that had weighed on his heart for a long time.

When Tong Haojing returned home, Wang Xiyue was sitting in the courtyard before the house, basking in the sun with her neighbor Fang Qiong. There was clearly more happiness on his mother's face than before, and her voice was louder than everyone else's. When she saw her son had returned, she forgot all about Fang Qiong, who was sitting on the same long bench. She sprang up to take Tong Haojing's luggage, tipping the bench over and sending Fang Qiong crashing to the ground.

Tong Haojing had not expected that former enemies had now become good friends, chatting together about village gossip and family matters. Realizing how generous his mother had been, his heart warmed, and he instinctively went to help Fang Qiong up. Fang Qiong was small and nimble. She rolled over and sprang to her feet, dusting herself off. "It's nothing, it's nothing!" A pained expression crossed her face as she said, "Look how well-behaved Tongtong is!"

Tong Haojing smiled awkwardly.

Tong Haojing's house stood right beside a Big House Clan, where six or seven families lived. The moment he came home, everyone in the entire Big House Clan knew. Adults and children alike came to see the excitement, something that had never happened before. Tong Haojing noticed that only Uncle Mumu, who lived nearby, had not come. Finding it strange, he quietly asked his mother, "Mom, isn't Uncle Mumu home?"

His mother, Wang Xiyue, said, "He is! I saw him just a moment ago."

Tong Haojing did not ask any more questions. He returned to the room where he had once lived and took out a gift he had prepared for his mother—a stylish red cellphone. In fact, he had prepared two other gifts as well. One was a carton of cigarettes Uncle Mumu liked most, and the other was a bottle of the latest Bvlgari Roma Night women's perfume.

Tong Haojing had planned to give it to Mei Tingyu if he happened to run into Uncle Mumu's daughter, but Uncle Mumu had not come today, and he did not dare ask rashly about Mei Tingyu. He was very disappointed.

The moment Wang Xiyue saw her son enter the house, she caught the scent of perfume lingering behind him. Then she saw a bottle of perfume with English writing on it in his suitcase, and she understood at once. Her son had deliberately asked where Uncle Mumu was because he could not let go of Mei Tingyu. Her expression changed slightly. Deep down, she had already begun opposing her son's relationship with Mei Tingyu. Before her son had entered military school, her attitude had been unclear, and she had even seemed inclined to encourage them. But this time, her position had become unmistakable: she firmly disapproved.

Tong Haojing had not expected this.

After the people from the Big House Clan had their fun, they dispersed. Wang Xiyue was delighted, so she went to a nearby butcher shop to buy half a jin of pork for lunch. Tong Haojing took the opportunity to visit Uncle Mumu next door. Uncle Mumu, who lived at the eastern end of the house, was sitting in the main room smoking gloomily. When he saw Tong Haojing arrive, the worry on his face vanished at once. "Tongtong, it's rare for you to come visit Uncle Mumu!" Uncle Mumu's depressed expression had been obvious, and he wondered, Didn't his mother tell him anything?

Tong Haojing said, "Of course I should." He handed Uncle Mumu a carton of cigarettes made in Hedong Province. "Uncle Mumu, try these. See how they taste."

"Good! Good!"

Uncle Mumu thought they were sweet before he had even tried them. He felt greatly honored, and his gloom turned to joy, further confirming his judgment.

Uncle Mumu said, "The day before yesterday, I caught a few small grass carp. Stay here for lunch and have some fish!" He knew that Tong Haojing loved the small grass carp he cooked.

Tong Haojing said, "No, my mom went out to buy groceries. She's waiting for me to go home and eat."

Uncle Mumu felt somewhat disappointed. He had wanted to tell Tong Haojing about his daughter Mei Tingyu, but just as he was about to speak, he swallowed the words back.

Tong Haojing paced around the room a few times. Finally taking the initiative, he gathered his courage and asked about Mei Tingyu. "Uncle Mumu, where's Mei Tingyu?" Tong Haojing actually knew that Mei Tingyu had gone to work in the coastal region, but since they had never formally established a relationship, it was inconvenient for them to keep in touch, leaving him unaware of her recent circumstances. It also showed how reserved they were in matters of the heart.

When Uncle Mumu heard Tong Haojing ask about Mei Tingyu, he was secretly delighted, but seemed unable to say it aloud. "She... she's working away from home."

Tong Haojing eagerly wanted to know how Mei Tingyu was doing outside. "What exactly is she doing?"

Uncle Mumu suddenly felt proud, and his voice grew more confident. "She's working as an agent for a pharmaceutical company. Mei Tingyu said she wants to return to Tangdu City and start a company of her own, though I don't know the details yet. Oh, right, I have her phone number here. You can ask her yourself."

Tong Haojing wrote down Mei Tingyu's number, filled with an indescribable joy.

As noon approached, Tong Haojing returned home. Wang Xiyue had bought half a jin of pork and some freshly cooked Zhu Family's Goose Meat. In an unprecedented gesture, she had even bought a bottle of wine. She made several of her best dishes, as if it were New Year's. Wang Xiyue had not felt so proud in a long time. Her son had become a police officer, which meant she had accomplished one major task in her life. She wanted to celebrate.

For some reason, Tong Haojing could not bring himself to feel happy. He did not know how to bring up Mei Tingyu with his mother. He vaguely sensed his mother's attitude toward him getting close to Uncle Mumu and Mei Tingyu. A village girl was no longer among the candidates she considered suitable for him. Not wanting to spoil his mother's happiness, Tong Haojing decided to put aside his own thoughts for the time being.

When Tong Haojing walked behind the small house, the rich aroma of braised goose drifted through the air. His mother had already finished cooking in the kitchen and filled a large square table with dishes, as if it were New Year's. She loudly called for Tong Haojing to eat, but he did not answer outside. When she came out and saw him emerging from behind Uncle Mumu's house, she understood a few things. Tong Haojing returned inside and sat opposite his mother. Taking up his bowl and chopsticks, he served himself food. It had been a long time since he had eaten his mother's cooking, and the way he enjoyed the meal was enough to make anyone envious. From time to time, he placed food in his mother's bowl. Filled with happiness, she also picked up food for her son. "Tongtong, eat up. This is your favorite—vinegar peppers and goose meat!"

Goose meat was one of Tangdu City's most famous snacks. Especially when it was freshly lifted from the pot, its braised aroma spread everywhere, rich and intoxicating. Besides the fish cooked by Uncle Mumu, goose meat was one of Tong Haojing's favorite foods.

His mother gazed at her son lovingly. He had truly grown up. Her eyes brimmed with tears of happiness.

The two days passed quickly. Wang Xiyue learned that her son had been assigned to West City Police Station. Before he left home, she urged him, "There's always fighting and killing in West City. Be careful. Last time you caught those swindlers, you nearly landed yourself in jail!" Wang Xiyue still remembered the affairs of West City Police Station vividly.

Tong Haojing said, "If I were afraid, I wouldn't be a police officer." His words carried an air of righteousness.

Wang Xiyue said indulgently, "Showing off!"

In truth, Tong Haojing spent both nights at home tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. He thought of his promise to Director Tang that he would become familiar with West City's situation within a month. Old Jiang's doubtful gaze surfaced before him, and it all seemed to send signals he could not quite grasp. Everything ahead was hazy and unclear. The fleeting image of that punk at the street intersection earlier that day kept replaying in his mind, but he simply could not remember where he had seen him before. Perhaps it was because of his head injury.