It was Monday again, the start of a new week—and National Day, the first day of the holiday. When the people were busy, police officers, doctors, firefighters, and others in public safety roles were busy too. When the people were not busy, they had to be even busier.
Early that morning, everyone at Balihe Police Station was present, including administrative staff and household registration officers. There simply were not enough hands to go around at a time like this. Though regular station business was suspended, they still had to remain on duty or join patrols.
Besides the Balihe personnel, Director Song from the sub-bureau had come as well, along with several of his subordinates.
This visit had several purposes. First, Wang Yan was to receive a third-class merit citation for the Zhao Zhendong case, Xia Jie was to receive a commendation, and Li Dawei and the others would have one month deducted from their probationary period. The case had been closed long ago; the paperwork had simply moved slowly.
Second, Wang Yan had officially become a full officer. His discovery of Dong Nianfeng's murder-and-dismemberment scene, along with his earlier contribution to image enhancement, had earned him a commendation and cut nine months from his probationary period. Now that three months had passed, Director Song had personally come to pin on Wang Yan's insignia: one bar and one pip, Third-Class Superintendent. Director Song had also put in a word for him, and his police ID had been issued at the same time, dated September 30.
The police ID had been produced by the provincial department. Without explicit instructions from higher-ups, government procedures were lengthy and inefficient. Under normal circumstances, it would take at least half a year, perhaps a full year, to receive one.
Third, they were recognizing Wang Yan's outstanding