Community Police Officer (3)

"Beat him to death!" Hu Pan roared ferociously. Several gamblers, shouting, advanced on Tong Haojing. But upon hearing that they were police officers, they grew nervous, their raised fists trembling.

At that moment, Old Jiang, appearing from nowhere, heard the sounds of a fierce struggle and rushed over. He drew his pistol and shouted with all his might, "What do you think you're doing, starting a riot? Stop!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a shot rang out.

Seeing that it was Old Jiang, a veteran officer from the police station, the gamblers scattered like startled birds. Old Jiang, holding his gun, gave chase for a couple of steps but was too out of breath to continue. The gamblers vanished instantly. Tong Haojing, who hated evil, chased after Hu Pan in the direction he fled, pursuing him for several alleys. However, unfamiliar with the terrain, he ultimately let Hu Pan escape. Tong Haojing returned to the alley dejectedly. Seeing Old Jiang half-crouched in the alley, panting and looking a bit pale, he asked with concern, "Teacher Jiang, are you alright?"

Old Jiang shook his head and slowly stood up. He noticed a bruise on Tong Haojing's forehead and said with unusual self-reproach, "Xiao Tong, it's all my fault for not looking after you properly. I'll catch these thugs tomorrow and make them kowtow and apologize to you. Ah, perhaps they didn't recognize you, which is why they were so arrogant!"

"Teacher Jiang, in that situation just now, was it permissible to draw your weapon?"

Old Jiang paused and said, "Well, ah, these thugs are most afraid of that kind of show of force. In the heat of the moment, I couldn't think of anything else, but you shouldn't learn from me!"

"Heh, heh, I see! Thugs are afraid of a show of force!"

Tong Haojing smiled sheepishly and said gratefully, "Thank you for saving me. If you hadn't arrived in time, who knows what would have happened?" Tong Haojing shivered, a lingering fear gripping him, and only then did he realize he was drenched in sweat. Suddenly, he felt like he had seen the gambler with the brutish face, whom he had chased for several alleys, somewhere before, but he couldn't recall where.

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

"Oh, I fell!" Tong Haojing replied evasively. Officer Lan didn't press further. Tong Haojing then noticed a long scar on Officer Lan's hand.

"That scar is from catching Scarface, isn't it?!" Tong Haojing asked with concern.

"It's nothing, it's long healed!" Officer Lan replied.

Tong Haojing smiled at Officer Lan with admiration, then sat down in a chair in the duty room and started browsing the day's duty log on the computer.

Before long, a man with a brutish face entered the duty room. The security guards, disarmed by his smooth talk, let their guard down. Old Jiang hadn't expected this thug to show up so promptly. It turned out he had already called the thug, telling him to come to the station voluntarily to apologize to the new officer, or face consequences later.

The thug was actually Hu Pan, whom Tong Haojing had failed to recognize earlier.

"Let's see what you have to say. This is the new officer, Tong Haojing. You'd better be sensible!"

"Yes, yes... This, this is my honor. I was impulsive just now and startled you. Please overlook my transgression. I will never make such a mistake again. Officer Jiang can vouch for me!" Hu Pan stammered, his eyes darting around. He got a clear look at the young man's face and realized this person had been his nemesis. He secretly clenched his fists, fearing this new police officer might cause him trouble.

Tong Haojing, however, was surprisingly calm. Although the image of this brutish scoundrel by the Tangdu River flashed in his mind, Old Jiang's influence made him consider that maintaining harmony on the spot might be the foundation for better work in the future. He nodded to Old Jiang in acknowledgment and, against his better judgment, forgave Hu Pan.

"No matter who it is, breaking the law is my sworn enemy!" Tong Haojing said to Hu Pan without mincing words.

"Yes, yes..." Hu Pan replied meekly, nodded to Old Jiang, and slunk out of the duty room.

Old Jiang, feeling a bit awkward, was about to leave when he suddenly remembered the director's request for Tong Haojing to go home. He patted Tong Haojing's shoulder and said, "Oh, right, the director has approved two days of leave for you. Go home tomorrow and settle in, see your parents!" Jiang Hongde said with apparent concern. Tong Haojing was very grateful. He hadn't been home in months. His hometown wasn't far, just about ten miles from the city, in the ancient town of Tangdu River, in the village of Big House.

The two days of leave might have been short, but Tong Haojing hadn't been home in over three months since graduating from the police academy. He knew that choosing the career of a police officer meant no distinction between day and night, and perhaps in the future, he wouldn't have much time to reunite with his mother. He should seize this opportunity, as Old Jiang had told him.

The next day, Tong Haojing left early. He crossed the Tangdu River, which was rising slightly. The riverbanks were lush with green grass, and anglers sat peacefully. He didn't see Uncle Mumu, who often fished by the river. He thought of his mother, of Uncle Mumu, and of Mei Tingyu, who was working far away. A wave of joy washed over Tong Haojing. He was determined to tell his mother and Uncle Mumu his thoughts this time, to finally fulfill a long-suppressed wish.

When Tong Haojing arrived home, Wang Xiyue was basking in the sun with her neighbor Fang Qiong in the yard in front of the house. His mother's smile seemed brighter than before, and her voice was louder than others. Seeing her son return, she didn't pay attention to Fang Qiong, who was sitting on the same long bench. She stood up to take Tong Haojing's luggage, causing the bench to tip, and Fang Qiong tumbled to the ground with a thud.

Tong Haojing hadn't expected that his former adversaries had now become good friends, chatting and catching up. He realized his mother's magnanimity and felt a warmth in his heart, instinctively reaching out to help Fang Qiong. Fang Qiong, being small and agile, quickly got up, brushed off the dust, and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing!" A pained expression crossed her face as she said, "Look how cute Tongtong is!"

Tong Haojing chuckled sheepishly.

Tong Haojing's house was adjacent to a large compound with six or seven households. When Tong Haojing returned, everyone in the Big House Clan knew about it. Adults and children alike came to watch the commotion, which was unprecedented. Tong Haojing noticed that only Uncle Mumu, who lived nearby, was absent. He found it a bit strange and quietly asked his mother, "Mom, isn't Uncle Mumu home?"

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

Tong Haojing didn't ask further. He went into the room he used to stay in and took out a gift he had prepared for his mother – a stylish red mobile phone. He had actually prepared two other gifts: one was Uncle Mumu's favorite brand of cigarettes, and the other was the latest Bulgari "Night in Rome" women's perfume.

Tong Haojing had intended to give it to Mei Tingyu if he happened to run into her. But since Uncle Mumu wasn't here today, he didn't dare to inquire about Mei Tingyu's whereabouts. He was disappointed.

The moment Tong Haojing entered the room, his mother, Wang Xiyue, noticed a faint scent of perfume trailing behind him. Later, she found a bottle of perfume with English writing in his luggage. She immediately understood. Her son had specifically asked about Uncle Mumu's whereabouts, indicating he still had feelings for Mei Tingyu. Her expression changed. Deep down, she began to disapprove of her son associating with Mei Tingyu. Before he entered the military academy, her attitude had been ambiguous, even leaning towards encouraging it. But now, her stance was clear: she absolutely forbade it.

This was something Tong Haojing had not anticipated.

After the excitement of the Big House Clan subsided, everyone dispersed. Wang Xiyue, feeling happy, went to a nearby butcher shop to buy half a pound of pork for lunch. Tong Haojing took the opportunity to visit his neighbor, Uncle Mumu. Uncle Mumu, sitting in his main hall at the east end of the houses, was smoking silently. Upon seeing Tong Haojing, the worried look on his face immediately vanished. "Tongtong, it's rare for you to visit Uncle Mumu!" Uncle Mumu's melancholy was evident. He wondered, Has his mother not told him anything?

Tong Haojing replied, "It's only right!" He handed Uncle Mumu a pack of cigarettes produced in Hedong Province. "Uncle Mumu, try this. What do you think of the taste?"

"Good! Good!"

Uncle Mumu felt a sense of honor before even tasting it, finding it sweet. His mood lifted, which further confirmed his suspicions.

Uncle Mumu said, "I caught a few small green carp the day before yesterday. Let's have fish here for lunch!" Uncle Mumu knew that Tong Haojing loved his homemade small green carp.

Tong Haojing replied, "No, thank you. My mom went to buy groceries and is waiting for me to come home for lunch!"

Uncle Mumu felt a bit disappointed. He had wanted to mention his daughter Mei Tingyu's recent situation but swallowed his words.

Tong Haojing walked around the room a few times. Finally, he took the initiative, mustering his courage, and asked about Mei Tingyu: "Uncle Mumu, where is Mei Tingyu?" Tong Haojing actually knew that Mei Tingyu had gone to work in a coastal area. However, since they hadn't officially established a relationship, it was inconvenient to contact her, leading to a lack of information about her current situation. This reflected their cautious approach to their romantic feelings.

Uncle Mumu's heart fluttered upon hearing Tong Haojing ask about Mei Tingyu, but he seemed hesitant to speak. "She's, she's working outside."

Tong Haojing eagerly wanted to know about Mei Tingyu's current situation abroad. "What exactly is she doing?"

Uncle Mumu suddenly felt a sense of pride, his voice gaining a bit more confidence. "She's an agent for a pharmaceutical company. Mei Tingyu said she wants to return to Tangdu City and start her own company. I don't know the specifics yet. Oh, right, I have her phone number here. You can call her."

Tong Haojing jotted down Mei Tingyu's phone number, a sense of inexplicable joy filling him.

As it was nearing noon, Tong Haojing returned home. His mother, Wang Xiyue, had already bought half a pound of pork and some freshly made Zhu Family's Goose Meat. She had even bought a bottle of wine, something she rarely did, and prepared several of her signature dishes, making it feel like a festival. Wang Xiyue hadn't felt so proud and happy in a long time. Her son had become a police officer, and she felt she had accomplished a major milestone in her life. She wanted to celebrate.

For some reason, Tong Haojing couldn't bring himself to be happy. He didn't know how to bring up Mei Tingyu with his mother. He vaguely sensed his mother's attitude towards his proximity to Uncle Mumu and Mei Tingyu. A rural girl was no longer among her preferred choices for him. To avoid dampening his mother's spirits, Tong Haojing decided to temporarily set aside his own desires.

As Tong Haojing walked behind the small house, a strong aroma of braised goose wafted from outside. His mother had already prepared the meal in the kitchen, filling a large square table, as if it were New Year's. His mother called out loudly for Tong Haojing to eat. However, Tong Haojing remained outside, not making a sound. His mother came out and saw Tong Haojing emerging from behind Uncle Mumu's house. She understood a few things. Tong Haojing returned to the room and sat opposite his mother. He picked up his chopsticks and bowl, served himself food. He hadn't eaten his mother's cooking in a long time, and his enjoyment of the meal was enviable. He occasionally served his mother some food. His mother, filled with happiness, also served her son: "Tongtong, eat quickly. This is your favorite vinegar chili and goose meat!"

Goose meat was considered the most famous snack in Tangdu City, especially when freshly taken from the pot. The braised aroma was intoxicating and refreshing. Besides Uncle Mumu's fish, goose meat was one of Tong Haojing's favorites.

His mother looked at her son affectionately. He had truly grown up. Tears of happiness welled up in her eyes.

The two days passed quickly. His mother, Wang Xiyue, learned that her son had been assigned to the West City Police Station. Before he left, she cautioned him, "West City is a place where there's a lot of fighting. Be careful. Last time you caught a con artist, you almost ended up in jail!" His mother's memory of the West City Police Station was still vivid.

Tong Haojing replied, "If I were afraid, I wouldn't be a police officer." He spoke with a righteous air.

Wang Xiyue said in a slightly exasperated tone, "Showing off!"

In reality, Tong Haojing had tossed and turned in bed for both nights he was home, unable to sleep. He thought about his promise to Director Tang to familiarize himself with West City within a month. Old Jiang's questioning gaze flashed before his eyes, undoubtedly giving him some unfathomable signals. His future seemed hazy and uncertain. The fleeting image of the thug he had seen at the street intersection that day kept replaying in his mind, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him before. Perhaps it was due to the injury to his head!