A New Regard (3)

"Hey, Handsome Tong, did you bring a gun? What if the drug dealers opened fire? What would you do? It's terrifying just thinking about it!" Ke Qian had somehow joined the group as well. Staring fixedly at Tong Haojing, she could not help bombarding him with questions.

"I haven't thought about that yet. But drug dealers are vicious, desperate criminals. That's what Old Jiang said."

"Just tell me, are you scared or not?" Ke Qian grew a little anxious.

"Why not come along with our Handsome Tong on the next operation and experience it for yourself? Then you'll know how it feels!" Officer Lan joked.

"Sure! It's not like I haven't gone before! Remember that, Tong Haojing. Take me with you next time!" Ke Qian was brimming with confidence. An unusual impulse stirred within her, making her want to charge into battle alongside this young man who had only recently arrived. In truth, she had already developed an inexplicable fondness for him.

"I'd be happy to. It depends on whether the director approves!" Tong Haojing grinned and chuckled twice, and everyone else could not help laughing too.

Just then, Tang Changan came in from outside the cafeteria, beaming. Seeing everyone gathered together, he casually asked, "What matters of national importance are you discussing? How did Ke Qian get involved too?!"

"Nothing, nothing. We were just chatting!" Everyone exchanged looks and dispersed.

That morning, Tong Haojing lay in his dormitory for a while, but once he thought of Xiao Yanni's adorable face, he could no longer fall asleep.

Tong Haojing rode his Prince motorcycle alone to the drug rehabilitation center and met Cuntoucao. He told him everything he had come to say. Cuntoucao was deeply grateful and swore that he would never use drugs again. Tong Haojing completed the paperwork to alter the compulsory measures against him. Just as Cuntoucao was about to leave, he suddenly brought up Xiao Yanni's household registration again. Tong Haojing did not know how to answer him. Since arriving at West City Police Station, this had been the most difficult and troubling matter he had encountered. Still, he had already begun to see a way forward regarding Xiao Yanni's registration.

Tong Haojing thought of Ke Qian and called her.

"Ke Qian, can you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Xiao Yanni's household registration."

"I knew it would be about that. Sorry, it's hard to handle. The director already said no, so there's even less I can do!"

"Is there really no way?"

"Not through the normal procedures, anyway. Unless the people's actual difficulties can draw serious attention from higher up, then maybe there'll be a turning point."

"You mean using an individual case to attract the attention of the higher-ups?"

"I never said that!" Ke Qian immediately denied what she had just said. Her meaning was obvious: she was giving him a hint. Tong Haojing understood.

On the third day, Zhao Minhui came to the station to handle a name change.

When Zhao Minhui attended university, her name had been Zhao Mindan. After graduation, when she registered her household at her new locality, she changed her name to Zhao Minhui. However, her files still bore the name Zhao Mindan. This time, to facilitate her unit's political review and preserve continuity in her records, avoiding unnecessary trouble, she intended to change her name back to its original form.

She had heard that Tong Haojing had been assigned to West City Police Station and had caught a drug user only a few days after arriving. She could not help feeling secretly delighted. Eager to meet this hero, she wanted to uncover more of his story. Zhao Minhui was practically a regular at West City Police Station, so she went straight to the second floor where Tong Haojing's office was located.

Tong Haojing was organizing and entering files in the office.

Zhao Minhui's sudden arrival made Tong Haojing's heart grow warm. His heartbeat visibly quickened, and he hurriedly stood up. "Reporter Zhao, what brings you here?"

"Why can't I come? It's not like there's a prohibition notice posted here!" Public security agencies had strict discipline and all kinds of prohibitions. Zhao Minhui was deliberately teasing him. Tong Haojing chuckled, looking rather embarrassed.

Zhao Minhui sat down diagonally across from Tong Haojing. Her expressive eyes rested on him as she asked sweetly, "Quick, tell me about how you caught that drug user!"

Tong Haojing was caught off guard. After his thoughts turned over a few times, an idea struck him, and he changed the subject. "Don't talk about me. There's something I need your help with!"

"What is it?" Zhao Minhui asked, willing a hundred times over. Such enthusiasm could only be found when one was in love.

Zhao Minhui had taken to heart the matter of asking her father to look into Tong Haojing's background. Her father had someone check the files and learned that Tong Haojing had served in Unit A's special reconnaissance team. He had earned a second-class merit citation for rescuing three Hexi College students when they were trapped on Yunding Mountain. One of the girls he had rescued was Zhao Minhui herself. Back then, she had been Zhao Mindan; now she had changed her name to Zhao Minhui. Tong Haojing simply did not know it yet.

"Could you help me get a news story aired?" Tong Haojing asked, deliberately beating around the bush because he feared Zhao Minhui might refuse.

Zhao Minhui raised her brows. "That's my profession!" She looked utterly unconcerned and relaxed.

"It's about a child going to school." Tong Haojing furrowed his brow.

"Hey, just say it. Stop beating around the bush!" Zhao Minhui was getting impatient.

"It's about a child whose household registration has gone unresolved for a long time!" Tong Haojing told her in detail about Xiao Yanni's situation.

Zhao Minhui pondered it for a moment. "The police station should be able to solve a household registration issue!" A question rose in her mind. Could Tong Haojing really have run into a serious problem?

"This is all because Director Tang is too rigid. It should have been handled as a special case!" Tong Haojing spoke somewhat improperly in his anger. Looking embarrassed, he was clearly deeply dissatisfied with Director Tang.

Zhao Minhui hesitated briefly, then agreed without another word. She said that a fellow reporter of hers worked at Hexi Television Station, which had a program called "Matters of the People." It was perfect for reflecting the people's voices.

"You can interview Aunt Qin near the Agricultural Machinery Company, but whatever you do, don't say I sent you."

"You don't trust this ace reporter's abilities?" Zhao Minhui gave Tong Haojing a half-joking look and said she would make it seamless and would not expose him.

Tong Haojing had not expected Zhao Minhui to think things through so carefully. The word "confidential" had just reached his throat before he swallowed it back, replaced by a string of "Thank you!"

A few days later, at two thirty in the afternoon, at the Provincial Border Highway Toll Station, Secretary Li Dongfeng called Director Gao Weimin and told him to ride in his car for a surprise inspection of the outbound provincial passage.

A domestic Hongqi sedan screeched to a halt in an open area beside the highway checkpoint. Gao Weimin quickly got out of the front passenger seat and immediately opened the left rear door. At almost the same time, the Director of Li Dongfeng's Office got out and followed behind Li Dongfeng. Li Dongfeng and Gao Weimin had agreed to conduct this inspection without prior notice, hoping perhaps to uncover some problems at the checkpoint.

A sign reading "Armed Inspection" stood out prominently. A uniformed police officer stood two meters away from it, directing the passing vehicles. Four police officers in uniform and three auxiliary officers had been eating instant noodles beneath the temporary canvas shelter at the checkpoint. When they saw visitors arrive, they immediately lined up in unison, chests out and heads high, watching Secretary Li Dongfeng and Director Gao Weimin.

Li Dongfeng approached with a broad smile and shook hands with each of them. "You've all worked hard. Who is in charge here?" he asked casually.

"I'm leading today's shift!" The leader was Qian Fu from the Criminal Investigation Brigade. Gao Weimin recognized him and introduced the checkpoint's duty arrangement to Li Dongfeng: personnel were drawn from narcotics control, criminal investigation, public security, economic investigation, and auxiliary officers, mainly responsible for intercepting smuggling and preventing drugs from entering.

Li Dongfeng nodded, then inspected the equipment and procedures. Finally, he emphasized, "The Tangdu provincial border entrance and exit are vital transportation gateways for our city. Everyone must guard this gate well, firmly prevent drugs from entering, and cut off and seal this route known as the Hexi drug flow!"

Gao Weimin suddenly wanted to preserve images of Secretary Li Dongfeng's inspection, but Director Wu was not there, so he took out his own phone and snapped several shots of the most impressive moments.

After Li Dongfeng finished speaking, he made no comment about everyone being at their posts. He turned and got into the car. Gao Weimin followed and opened the door. When they had driven about a kilometer away, Li Dongfeng suddenly asked, "Were there many vehicles passing through that checkpoint just now?"

The Director of Li Dongfeng's Office was straightforward and answered casually, "A lot. There must have been dozens going back and forth!"

Gao Weimin did not understand what Li Dongfeng meant. He did not answer in a hurry, but his eyes darted rapidly as he thought that Li Dongfeng's question must have had a deeper point.

After returning to the bureau, he quickly summoned Wu Dean, Director of Political Department, and told him to develop the photographs for publicity. The moment Director Wu looked at them, he noticed that something was wrong with the people behind Li Dongfeng in the photos.

Behind Li Dongfeng, the person standing at the checkpoint was not a police officer at all, but an auxiliary officer wearing a police uniform.

Gao Weimin immediately understood the meaning behind Li Dongfeng's casual question. His anger flared, and he sternly ordered, "Find out exactly what happened. Deal with it seriously. No leniency!"

The next morning, as soon as Li Dongfeng entered his office, the director of his office sent a message to his phone: "Xiao Yanni Has Had No Household Registration for Ten Years; Enormous School Selection Fees Burden Her Small Family" had aired on Hexi Television Station's "Matters of the People." The report caused an uproar in Tangdu City's public opinion. Li Dongfeng immediately called Director Gao Weimin to ask about it.

Gao Weimin had received the report from Director Wu of the Political Department the night before. Early the next morning, he convened an emergency meeting with personnel from the departments responsible for household registration. Just as the meeting was underway, Li Dongfeng called. Gao Weimin's heart tightened, and he quickly gestured for everyone to be quiet. The conference room fell silent at once.

He had thought Li Dongfeng was calling about yesterday's inspection of the checkpoint, but it turned out to be about the news report and public reaction.

"Old Gao, what is going on with Xiao Yanni's household registration?" Li Dongfeng asked in a questioning tone.

"Secretary Li, we are holding an emergency meeting to deal with this matter! Also, I've already discovered the problem with yesterday's situation, so please rest assured!" Gao Weimin replied righteously.

"Good, good!" Secretary Li had intended to lose his temper, but could not bring himself to do so, because he knew Gao Weimin's pragmatic work style. It had been Li Dongfeng's own recommendation that Gao Weimin come to work in Tangdu City, mainly to resolve the long-standing and difficult drug problem plaguing the city and cut off the Hexi drug flow.

"Secretary Li, we failed to do our work properly. We deserve criticism!" Director Gao still felt somewhat self-reproachful.

"Old Gao, you must attach great importance to this news report. You need to give the people a satisfactory answer. You know how it is—we can't afford to offend those who wield the pen. If they start stirring things up, it'll become troublesome!"

"Yes, yes!" Gao Weimin did not argue.

In fact, the moment Gao Weimin received the report about Xiao Yanni from Wu Dean, he summoned Deputy Director Hu Yuancheng, Director Tang, and Ke Qian to the city bureau for a meeting. This was Gao Weimin's usual decisive style. It was also the first time he had heard about Xiao Yanni's situation.

At the meeting, Director Tang gave a brief report...

The moment Director Gao Weimin heard it, he erupted. "No matter is too small for the people. Ten years—what a terrifying number..." The veins on his forehead bulged in anger. He even connected it with the previous reports Director Wu had made about West City and slammed his hand on the table.

Director Tang wanted to argue, but Hu Yuancheng pressed him down. Deputy Director Hu knew that although Director Gao Weimin had not been fiercely criticized by Secretary Li, being questioned by a superior was still humiliating. Perhaps he could recover a little face on this occasion. Deputy Director Hu had always been good at reading his leaders' intentions; it was one of his strengths.

"Director Gao, it's all because I failed to do my job well and interpreted the policy too rigidly! We'll go down and work out a plan right away. We'll definitely give the parties involved a satisfactory answer." Hu Yuancheng was accustomed to official platitudes, but he had not expected to stumble when facing Director Gao.

"Work out a plan? To hell with working out a plan! The fire is already at our eyebrows!" Director Gao Weimin was impatient by nature and had clearly lost his composure.

"Then... then we'll handle it immediately!" Deputy Director Hu stood, picked up the notebook he never went anywhere without, and glanced at Tang Changan, who had not said a word. "What are you still sitting there for? Let's go!"

The meeting ended in an extremely tense atmosphere. Although Deputy Director Hu was submissive on the surface, he was full of resentment inside.

Director Tang's mood had sunk to rock bottom. Before Deputy Director Hu, he was somewhat grateful that Hu had spoken up for him, but he did not feel even the slightest goodwill toward him. Perhaps it was the shadow cast by years of darkness, impossible to shake off.

Tang Changan had been wondering who leaked Xiao Yanni's information. Thinking back to Tong Haojing's request a few days earlier, he was ninety percent certain it had been the newly arrived Tong Haojing. Like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, that kid would dare to do anything. Tang Changan was both furious and anxious. He involuntarily called Tong Haojing and told him to come to his office. Tong Haojing understood at once that the matter had been exposed. He could not help laughing to himself as an idea formed in his mind.

Before long, Tong Haojing rushed in, breathing heavily.

Tang Changan looked at Tong Haojing's calm, unaffected expression and thought, He's putting on quite an act. Tong Haojing's unruffled manner in the face of trouble made him both angry and amused. Angry because such a young man already knew how to use underhanded tactics; amused by his cleverness. Strangely enough, the hatred he had felt earlier had already vanished completely.

Tang Changan asked, "Were you the one who leaked Xiao Yanni's story?"

Tong Haojing had prepared for this long ago. Without blinking or missing a beat, he answered, "It wasn't me!"

"That's strange. Who else could it have been?" Tang Changan's words were cutting and clearly pointed at him, but Tong Haojing did not admit it.

Tang Changan did not ask again. He turned his back, but a warm smile appeared on his face. A difficult problem that had troubled him for years had finally been solved by Tong Haojing's clever scheme. It might have been a little radical, but Tang Changan was still pleased. He secretly mocked himself: following the rules had gotten him nowhere. This kid really was capable!

A few days later, Xiao Yanni's household registration issue was finally resolved satisfactorily. Cuntoucao was moved to tears, and Xiao Yanni smiled happily.

Cuntoucao started over and resolved never to use drugs again. He had someone write a letter of thanks and make a silk banner, which he presented separately to the city Public Security Bureau and West City Police Station. Director Wu of the Political Department handed the thank-you letter to Director Gao Weimin. The mention of Tong Haojing's deeds in the letter left him torn between laughter and tears, but a gratified smile still appeared on his face.

When the silk banner was delivered to the police station, Director Tang was gloomy and unhappy. He wanted badly to lose his temper, but could only force a smile and accept it. In his heart, however, he remained bitterly resentful toward Cuntoucao.