Without explaining anything to the anxious and excited Zhao Jiwei, Wang Yan led him back toward the car parked at the intersection.
Before they even reached the car, they saw a boss-like man in his fifties approaching with a cheerful smile from the shade not far away. He was slightly balding but stubbornly used the hair around his head to cover it up. He had a round face, big eyes, thick brows, and a face full of wrinkles from frowning, though he looked fairly amiable. Slightly overweight with a protruding belly, he wore a short-sleeved collared shirt tucked into suit trousers, car keys hanging from his waist, and somewhat dirty leather shoes on his feet.
"Ah, Officer Wang, right?" The old fellow stretched out both hands from afar, his aged face smiling with a touch of ingratiating warmth. He completely ignored Zhao Jiwei, who was still unclear on the situation, and headed straight for Wang Yan.
Glancing at the Longines watch on the old fellow's wrist and the amber bead bracelet that had long developed a glossy patina, Wang Yan smiled and shook his hand. "I'm Wang Yan, but I wouldn't dare call myself an officer. Look at these two bars on my shoulders—I'm still in my probationary period and haven't been made permanent yet."
"Ah, Officer Wang, you're young and promising, with the people's interests at heart. Becoming a full officer is only a matter of time."
The old fellow said the same thing Hou Guifen had said earlier. Seeing the question in Wang Yan's eyes, he smiled. "I'm the village chief of Dongning Village, Zhao Changyi. I heard Officer Wang was going door to door through the village, so how could I, the village chief, not show my face?
"I hurried back from my son's house. Whatever you