The train chugged northward. In the dining car, Wang Xin watched the scenery receding outside the window and smiled. "You know, it's only been a few days since we last rode a train, but it feels like we've been off them for a long time. Now that I'm on one again, I actually kind of missed it."
Ma Kui shot him a glance. "You were the one who wanted to be a detective, and you're the one saying you miss being a railway cop. Want me to have you transferred back?"
"Listen to you. I'm not even allowed to miss it?" Wang Xin retorted out of habit.
Just then, a tall, thin woman pushed open the dining car door and walked in.
"Hello, hello. I'm the conductor, Li Aixia. I've heard so much about all of you."
After everyone exchanged greetings amid laughter and conversation, the elderly railway police officer following behind Li Aixia warmly shook Wang Yan's hand. "Comrade Wang Yan, we've all studied that book you wrote about catching thieves. It's not every day we get to meet the real author. How about after we're done talking, you show us what you can do? Let us see it for ourselves."
"I was just lucky. There's no need to talk about showing off. We can learn from each other." Wang Yan smiled gently, pulled the man over to sit down, took out cigarettes and passed them around. "Let's talk about the case first, old brother."
"Old brother? My son is ten years older than you." The old officer shook his head with an amused smile.
"Forget ten years—even if he were twenty years older, we're all comrades out here, equals. Right, Uncle Zhou?"
The old officer's surname was Zhou.
He pointed at Wang Yan and laughed heartily. "You slick