Unregistered

The police station was brightly lit. In the ground-floor interrogation room, Cuntoucao cursed nonstop and refused to cooperate.

It was late at night. Old Jiang had gone home. Officer Lan and Lu Tong questioned Cuntoucao about the fight and drug use, but he flatly refused to admit anything. Both Officer Lan and Lu Tong were growing tired, so they had an auxiliary officer watch Cuntoucao while they dozed in chairs outside the interrogation room.

Tong Haojing was too excited to sleep. He wanted to speak with Cuntoucao and verify Xiao Yanni's situation.

Cuntoucao sat in the interrogation chair, highly agitated. When he saw Tong Haojing sitting before him, he tried desperately to shift the chair and strike him. He hated Tong Haojing. He hated the officers at the police station.

"Where did you take my daughter?" Cuntoucao asked through gritted teeth.

"Don't worry. She's fine," Tong Haojing said.

Cuntoucao suddenly became emotional. He raised his head toward the interrogation room ceiling and said, "Yanni, Dad has failed you!" Then his heart-wrenching sobs filled the interrogation room.

Tong Haojing could see that Cuntoucao loved his daughter deeply. He decided to start with Xiao Yanni.

"Why is Xiao Yanni attending West City Primary School?" Tong Haojing asked.

Cuntoucao stared at Tong Haojing, thinking, How did you know that?

"Damn it, wasn't it because your police station wouldn't register my kid's household status? I had no choice but to send her to a school farther away and pay extra fees. It costs tens of thousands every year." Cuntoucao cursed angrily.

"That's impossible. Why wouldn't they register her? Every person should have household registration," Tong Haojing said seriously.

"If you don't believe me, go ask household registration. See if there's any registration for my kid!" Cuntoucao said furiously.

After further questioning, Tong Haojing learned that Xiao Yanni had been taken in and raised by Cuntoucao. At the time, all he had was a photograph of her mother and no other information. Cuntoucao had been thirty then. He had gone to the police station to register his daughter, but they replied that he did not meet the requirements for adoption. Unwilling to accept that, Cuntoucao went to the station every year to ask, only to receive the same answer—no. He thought, Why should getting household registration be so hard? His hope in the police station had turned to disappointment, and his disappointment to hatred.

Tong Haojing felt that Cuntoucao's case was unusual. He decided that when he had the chance, he would ask Director Tang whether an exception could be made. Still, he was far from certain.

"Cuntoucao, I'll keep your daughter's matter in mind. But you need to cooperate and explain the fight and drug use clearly."

"Really?" Cuntoucao asked skeptically. Over the years, West City Police Station had changed directors several times, yet his daughter's registration had never been resolved. It was his greatest pain, and the pain of a father who had failed his daughter.

Cuntoucao held no hope for Tong Haojing. He asked him for a cigarette, took several hard drags, and said, "Fine! Let's see what you can do!" Cuntoucao's arrogant, rude expression irritated Tong Haojing. He wanted to beat him badly, but discipline was strict now, so he lowered the fist he had raised.

"Hit me, then! If you don't, you're a gutless little bug!" Cuntoucao deliberately provoked him, making Tong Haojing leap to his feet and stomp in anger.

"Hey, do you want your kid's registration handled or not?" Tong Haojing suddenly realized he could not let Cuntoucao's shifting emotions disrupt his own rhythm. That was the greatest taboo in interrogation. He deliberately brought up what Cuntoucao cared about most.

"Can it really be done?" Cuntoucao asked doubtfully.

"Fine, I'm leaving." Tong Haojing's act of preparing to leave stunned Cuntoucao.

"Hey! Don't go! Is it true?"

"Why would I lie?" Tong Haojing said, glancing at Cuntoucao.

"Fine, I'll talk!"

Seeing Cuntoucao's attitude change, Tong Haojing felt a ray of sunlight rise in his heart, warm and bright.

"Talk."

"I used drugs at home. It was a few days ago." Cuntoucao admitted only to using drugs, but said nothing about the fight or where the drugs came from. He remembered the police's usual tricks and held something back.

"Where did the drugs come from?"

"I bought them from some blond-haired guy I didn't know at Hongdu Entertainment City."

Tong Haojing could clearly sense that Cuntoucao was making things up. But it was obvious that he had done plenty of bad things. Trying to make him confess everything at once would be too hasty.

Cuntoucao grinned slyly. "Officer, telling you this already puts my head on the line. I don't know anything else!" Tong Haojing could plainly see that Cuntoucao valued his daughter's household registration more than his own life. He was using it to bargain with Tong Haojing.

Tong Haojing said, "Then the registration..." Before he could finish, Cuntoucao cut in. "I'll talk!"

Tong Haojing said, "Where did it come from?"

Cuntoucao hesitated. "From a fight..." Before he could finish, Officer Lan and Lu Tong strolled lazily into the interrogation room. Cuntoucao let out a breath and fell silent.

"A fight over what?" Tong Haojing pressed.

Cuntoucao raised his chin and stared straight at Officer Lan and Lu Tong as though they were mortal enemies. He had long since formed a prejudice against them. Half-closing his eyes, he refused to say another word.

Tong Haojing rose and led Officer Lan out of the interrogation room. Pressing close to his ear, he whispered, "Cuntoucao is about to confess." His face was full of victorious joy, certain that Cuntoucao would tell them everything. Little did he know it was merely Cuntoucao's delaying tactic. Once Officer Lan and Lu Tong entered, everything changed.

Officer Lan was somewhat surprised. He gave Tong Haojing an approving look and said, "Good. Go get some rest."

Officer Lan had to admire Tong Haojing. He thought, This kid really has some ability. It hadn't been long, yet he was already getting results. No wonder the chief wanted him. But then he thought privately, How could that be possible? He did not place much hope in what Tong Haojing had said.

Officer Lan clearly remembered what happened by the Tangdu River. He had always wanted to find a chance to apologize to Tong Haojing. Tong Haojing was indeed somewhat tired. He patted Cuntoucao on the shoulder and said, "Talk properly with these two officers. I'm leaving." He nodded to Officer Lan and Lu Tong and walked out of the interrogation room.

Officer Lan followed him out and shook his hand. "Xiao Tong, I'm sorry about what happened last time!" Tong Haojing had not expected Officer Lan to still have it on his mind, and warmth rose in his heart. "It was a misunderstanding. We were both doing our jobs." Tong Haojing was polite, then suddenly remembered that Officer Lan had been injured while arresting Scarface.

"How's your injury?" Tong Haojing asked.

"It's nothing." Officer Lan held out his hand. "Look, it's healed already!" Tong Haojing saw the long scar on Officer Lan's right hand and felt embarrassed instead.

"Damn Scarface!" Tong Haojing cursed angrily.

Officer Lan told him in detail about how he had been injured while arresting Scarface. Tong Haojing learned that Middle-parted Hair and Scarface were indeed a gang of thugs and con artists from West City. Scarface had not died after jumping into the river. The victim had been a rural woman from the mountains, but by the time they found her, she had already hanged herself. Scarface had remained at large. With no further information about the victim and insufficient evidence, the Criminal Investigation Division had set aside the cases involving Scarface and Middle-parted Hair.

As Tong Haojing stepped out of the interrogation room, he noticed Old Jiang washing his hands around a nearby corner.

"Why hasn't Teacher Jiang left yet?" Tong Haojing asked casually.

"I forgot to take my phone," Old Jiang said. He waved the phone in front of Tong Haojing, looking flustered. A stranger sat nearby, but Tong Haojing paid him no attention.

"Teacher Jiang, get some rest early," Tong Haojing said with concern.

"Okay, I'm leaving now." Old Jiang left the police station, and the unfamiliar bald man followed him into a taxi.

Tong Haojing returned to the officers' dormitory. Thinking of Scarface and Middle-parted Hair still roaming free, his heart burned with fury, and he could not fall asleep for a long time.

In the police station's household registration hall, a woman was shouting and making a scene, waking the sleeping Tong Haojing.

Knock, knock. Still groggy, Tong Haojing answered the door. Auxiliary Officer Xiao Cui told him that Old Jiang was waiting for him in the community. Tong Haojing put on his uniform and headed out. Just as he reached the police station entrance, Director Tang came through the gate with a cigarette between his lips. Officer Ke Qian was patiently explaining things to a middle-aged woman. Tong Haojing suddenly remembered Xiao Yanni's household registration.

"Director Tang, I'd like to report something to you," Tong Haojing said.

"What is it? Come to my office." Director Tang had always been serious when handling matters before his officers. His face was stern, without a smile. Tong Haojing followed him into the office. As Director Tang made tea, he said, "Go ahead."

"It's about Cuntoucao's daughter Xiao Yanni and her household registration," Tong Haojing said.

The moment Director Tang heard this, anger surged in him. This matter had been going on for years, not just a day or two. He had personally received Cuntoucao five times and clearly told him that he did not meet the requirements. Yet Cuntoucao refused to listen, causing scenes in his office several times and even smashing his teacup once. Director Tang had considered detaining him, but had held back because of Xiao Yanni's situation. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

"Tell him no," Tang Changan said.

Seeing Director Tang's firm attitude, Tong Haojing found it hard to say anything more. He sat stiffly on the sofa, looking embarrassed, and said helplessly, "It can't be done?"

Tong Haojing thought, She's a child, a person. She has to have a place in the household registry, doesn't she? He stood up awkwardly, his brows tightly furrowed as his stubborn temper flared.

"Director Tang, do you have some prejudice against him? Are you deliberately refusing to handle it?" Tong Haojing glared at Tang Changan with wide eyes, showing not the slightest fear or retreat.

The sudden question and aggressive expression caught Tang Changan completely off guard. He froze for a full two seconds, then looked at Tong Haojing with a faint, ambiguous smile.

"What did you say?"

"Xiao Yanni is a person. If you put yourself in her shoes, shouldn't you find a way to handle it for her?" The more Tong Haojing spoke, the more worked up he became. His voice rose, and his face flushed red.

Tang Changan was a man who followed rules and principles. Xiao Yanni truly did not meet the household registration policy requirements. That was why the previous directors, as well as Tang Changan, had been unable to register her. Tong Haojing was clearly letting emotion guide him, and that was precisely what police work had to avoid.

When dealing with his officers, Tang Changan remained calm and composed. Tong Haojing's rage did not affect him. Instead, Tang Changan took a leisurely sip of tea and said with certainty, "What's your basis?"

Tong Haojing was silent for a long while. Without saying a word, he stormed out of Director Tang's office.