Taking office

In the director's office, Lei Ming warmly received Comrade Zhou Yi, recipient of a first-class merit medal, the lucky star of the Dongji County Public Security Bureau, a future star of the police force, and the soon-to-be captain of the Public Order Brigade.

Looking at the young subordinate before him, Lei Ming felt rather reflective.

He had the looks and youth on his side, but most importantly, he had even better luck.

Dongji County had seen officers earn first-class merit before, but Zhou Yi was the first to receive an exceptional promotion and be singled out for priority development.

If he could keep his current streak going, stay on track, and avoid siding with the wrong faction, he would be a full section-level official before thirty, no question.

Zhou Yi maintained just the right degree of respectful deference. In his memory, Director Zhao, who had come up through criminal investigations, was one of the few officials in Dongji County at this time who actually got things done.

During his tenure, with County Magistrate Yan Xiangyu's support, he had worked hard to restore public order, crack down on organized crime, and stamp out prostitution, gambling, and drugs.

And then there was no "then."

In less than a year, after Yan Xiangyu was transferred to head the municipal forestry bureau, Lei Ming was shunted off to a dead-end post at the county archives bureau.

Why had things ended that way?

One only had to look at Dongji County's booming entertainment industry at the time, and the tangled web of connections behind it. Those who knew, knew.

Being a public security bureau director was hard. Being one who accomplished something was harder. And being one who accomplished something without getting taken down was harder still.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to your colleagues."

The director gave his young subordinate a rare honor, personally taking Zhou Yi around to the general office, the political affairs office, the legal affairs office, and the other departments.

"Hello, Political Commissar Feng... Hello, Director Song... Hello, Director Zhang... Hello, Director Luo... Hello, Director Li..."

As Director Lei Ming introduced him, Zhou Yi greeted each of them with modest courtesy.

Honestly, I already knew these bureau leaders well. I even knew all their hobbies-

Director Li liked singing; Director Luo liked growing flowers; Deputy Director Zhang liked fishing; Deputy Director Song liked Director Li...

Yet I still had to pretend we'd only just met.

Life was a stage. This was exactly what that meant.

The bureau leaders all responded warmly to Zhou Yi's greetings.

Some shook his hand, others patted his shoulder. Every one of them was friendly and all smiles.

Watching this scene, some officers felt nothing but envy, while others could not help feeling jealous and resentful.

Wasn't he just lucky enough to catch a fugitive?

I could've done that too!

Whatever they thought, though, it did not change the fact that they had to greet Zhou Yi with a smile.

Zheng Yifan stood a little farther away. Along with envy, his heart was filled with a profound sense of disappointment and dejection.

Because he had a knack for writing, he had been kept in the bureau's general office to draft documents for the leaders. Unfortunately, the good times had not lasted. New recruits passed the entrance exam the following year, and the leaders forgot the old face once they had a new one. Speeches, work reports, and practically every other important document were handed over to a young woman named Yang Liu.

Rumor had it-only rumor-that Yang Liu's uncle by marriage was a deputy director of the county people's congress.

After that, Director Li, Deputy Director Wang, and his other colleagues stopped treating him as warmly as they had at first.

Although he and Zhou Yi had joined the county public security bureau in the same intake, attended the same training class, and even shared a dorm room during training, making them reasonably close, he chose not to approach him now. He only wanted to protect what little self-respect he had left.

Just then, he saw Zhou Yi stride over and give him a warm hug.

"Yifan! Long time no see."

"Y-yes, it's been a long time!"

For a moment, Zheng Yifan could not put a name to what he was feeling. Noticing the looks from his leaders and colleagues, he wanted to cry, yet felt excited and proud at the same time. What on earth was that about?

"Oh, right. Zhou and Yifan both joined the bureau in the 2003 intake," Deputy Director Song Chengquan said, suddenly remembering.

"Yes, Director Song. We even shared a dorm room during training at the police academy. Yifan was my top-bunk buddy," Zhou Yi replied with a smile.

Beside him, Zheng Yifan could only nod and grin foolishly, unable to get a single word out. At that moment, there was not the slightest sign that he would one day become Anping City's Party secretary!

The county public security bureau's side building.

Wang Jian, the Public Order Brigade's political instructor, had already notified the deputy captains, squad leaders, and public order officers present at the bureau to assemble in the fourth-floor conference room.

A veteran of the brigade, Wang Jian had seen three captains come and go, but he had never seen anyone take office with this much fanfare.

Good grief!

The director, political commissar, deputy directors, deputy political commissar-practically the entire Party committee leadership was there.

Lei Ming and Gao Zuobin each made a brief speech, chiefly calling on everyone in the Public Order Brigade, including the political instructor and deputy captains, to give Zhou Yi their full support and assistance in his work.

Zhou Yi then spoke as well. He modestly said that he was young and inexperienced, and hoped everyone would help and support him in his work in the days ahead.

Clap, clap, clap...

Political Instructor Wang Jian led the applause, and the deputy captains and officers followed with enthusiastic clapping.

Of course they had to support him!

With so many bureau leaders backing Captain Zhou, would they dare do otherwise?

After the bureau leaders left, the brigade's leadership held a brief meeting. Political Instructor Wang Jian first gave an overview of the brigade, then Deputy Captains Zhu Jianping, Cai Xiaobo, and Shao Mingbao each reported on their current work.

Zhu Jianping and the others resented having a greenhorn as their immediate superior. But resentment was one thing; they still had to keep him happy.

They were not asking for much. They just wanted things to stay as they had been.

As long as everyone could keep lining their pockets, Zhou Yi would get every penny of his share.

It all depended on whether the newly appointed captain knew how to play along!

Actually, thinking it over, they probably had nothing to worry about.

After all, who but an idiot would turn down money?

"Captain Zhu mentioned just now that the Third Squad has a surprise inspection tomorrow night. I'd like to go and have a look."

Zhou Yi looked at Zhu Jianping and spoke in a level tone.

The deputy captains all froze for a moment.

Have a look?

At what?

How?

Was he just going to watch?

Or did he have some other purpose?

"Is there a problem?" Zhou Yi asked with the faintest hint of a smile.

"No, none at all. We'd be delighted to have you inspect our work, Captain. Ha ha." Meeting the somewhat dark look in Zhou Yi's eyes, Zhu Jianping's heart jolted, and he hastily made his support clear and emphatic.

"Then it's settled. Meeting adjourned." Captain Zhou's friendly smile returned as he rose and walked out of the conference room.

Watching Zhou Yi leave, Zhu Jianping, Cai Xiaobo, and Shao Mingbao could not help looking a little grim.

They had a vague feeling.

Their newly appointed captain might not be one of them!