The news release

With the Militia Regiment's help, Duan Hang led the Criminal Police Unit in rounding up every last member of Huo Laosi's gang. They were a local gang to begin with, and many had criminal records. Once the roads leading out of the area were blocked, the police simply arrested them by name. Escaping the net was difficult.

They had also been far too brazen. In the years they had monopolized the bus station, they had offended so many people that no one was willing to shelter them.

Of course, harboring criminals was also a serious offense. With the political campaigns only a few years behind them, most people still felt lingering fear.

Xi County's local underworld figures suffered as well. Duan Hang swept up quite a few of them in passing and sent them to the Preliminary Examination Section. With the Militia Regiment's cooperation, six long-wanted criminals were also caught. On top of that, people seeking reduced sentences informed on others in droves. The county seat and its outskirts were combed through twice, and even the detention center filled up.

When he heard that two gangs and a total of six wanted criminals had been caught, Duan Hang nearly passed out with joy.

His job as captain of the Criminal Police Unit had never been particularly easy. Every year, his superiors assigned quotas and targets. Although he always managed to meet them, doing so took considerable effort. Besides, meeting them only meant that he had done his job. Calling it a meritorious achievement was something of a stretch.

Xi County was only a county seat, with no major cases to speak of. At most, a serious violent crime occurred once every year or two. Those were also cases where he was scolded if they went unsolved, while solving them was simply expected.

In short, Duan Hang's work earned him credit for effort, but not achievement. For the past two years, he had been painfully putting in his time.

This time, arresting Huo Laosi's gang did not amount to much either, but capturing six criminals wanted by the Provincial Public Security Department was an indisputable achievement, proof of his effectiveness.

The bureau chief, who had not been particularly supportive of Duan Hang's work, beamed with delight. He made trips to the prefectural authorities two days running, and each time he returned positively glowing, looking as kindly as Santa Claus.

Duan Hang's enthusiasm for work instantly caught fire. Even escorting Yang Rui back to school was delayed by two days, and he only made the trip when he could combine it with collecting evidence. On the road, he declared confidently, "By next year, or the year after at the latest, I reckon I'll move up another rung. When you come looking for your cousin then, you'll have to ask where Director Duan's office is."

With that, Duan Hang burst into laughter, the bicycle beneath him rattling and clanking.

Yang Rui gave him a pitying look. "If they really won't hand out rewards until next year or the year after, aren't you celebrating a little early? What if someone else earns credit in the meantime? Won't that overshadow what you've done this time?"

Duan Hang said unconcernedly, "You think earning credit is that easy? How many wanted criminals pass through our county in a year? And then they have to fall into your hands, too. Is earning credit really that easy?"

Yang Rui very much wanted to say, "Yes." Next year would be the year of the crackdown. Even ordinary criminals would receive heavy sentences. Many would realize things were going badly and find ways to flee, becoming wanted criminals before police elsewhere caught them and sent them to prison. By the time achievements were assessed after the year turned, everyone's arrest numbers and the significance of those arrests would have risen several levels, diluting the little achievement Duan Hang had earned this year.

Then Yang Rui thought, Huo Laosi going down this year might actually be a good thing for him. He'll get quite a few years less. Will he thank me next year?

"By the way, why aren't you riding your Criminal Police Unit's Sidecar Motorcycle? There's a big slope when we get to school." With nothing else to do on the road, Yang Rui asked out of curiosity, leaning forward and pedaling hard. Ahead of and behind them were classmates eager to get back, intent on boasting at school about the Militia Regiment surrounding the town.

Duan Hang, meanwhile, had nothing but his prospects on his mind. Already thirty, he still pedaled as though his wheels were wheels of wind and fire. Riding alongside Yang Rui, he panted, "The colleagues working cases need the Sidecar Motorcycle. We're not going far. Bicycles will do."

"You're trying to leave a good impression on your colleagues, aren't you?" More than once, Yang Rui had seen Duan Hang riding the Sidecar Motorcycle through the county streets, looking dashing in sunglasses.

A Sidecar Motorcycle was a motorcycle with a sidecar attached on the right, a common sight in old films. Throughout the eighties and even the nineties, it was an excellent way to show off. For picking up girls, it worked much like a convertible in later years, and relatively reserved girls were usually more willing to accept an invitation to ride in a sidecar.

The bachelors in the Criminal Police Unit often borrowed the Sidecar Motorcycle to create opportunities. Ordinarily, however, it was Duan Hang's personal ride, not something he readily lent out.

Duan Hang chuckled and spoke into the wind. "The bureau's getting ready to replace its vehicles. The request's already been submitted. If I become deputy chief, I might get a jeep. What's a Sidecar Motorcycle compared to that?"

Yang Rui was speechless. "You really are obsessed with becoming an official."

"It's called advancement." Duan Hang pushed harder, and the Jiazhong Yongjiu beneath him picked up speed. The wind lifted his jacket like a collaborator in an anti-Japanese war drama, yet his face was full of triumphant vigor.

Yang Rui had to pedal with all his strength just to keep up with Duan Hang.

Still, Duan Hang was a working man, after all. His top speed did not last long before he slowed, panting.

Yang Rui, on the other hand, trained every day without fail and still had enough breath to ask, "I do have an idea that could get the prefectural leaders to notice you. But it might also have lasting repercussions. Want to try it?"

"What idea? What repercussions?" Duan Hang still had considerable faith in Yang Rui. Everything he had pulled off lately had clearly demonstrated his intelligence.

Riding into the wind, Yang Rui raised his voice. "Write up your capture of the wanted criminals as a news story and publish it in a newspaper..."

Creak...

Duan Hang clamped down on the handbrakes, and the bicycle nearly stood on end. He deftly swung it sideways at an angle, stretched out a leg, and braced it. "You know how to write news?"

Yang Rui rode a long way before stopping, then turned back helplessly. "Don't you want to hear about the repercussions first?"

"As long as it's positive news coverage, what repercussions could there be?" The eighties were an age of literary youth, an age that revered the written word. Having one's name appear in newspaper print, whether as an author or a subject, was a wonderful thing. Countless political idols had been born that way. Remembering that Yang Rui's article had appeared in Science Pictorial, Duan Hang instantly grew excited.

Yang Rui shook his head, took an envelope from inside his jacket, and handed it over. "Since you're taking me back to school, I'll let you put your own name on this one. The main point is to stress vigilance and a harsh crackdown on crime. Hit hard, put real effort into it, and take a zero-tolerance approach to criminal cases within your jurisdiction. Read it first."

Compared with the demands of the crackdown, Yang Rui's news release was a little milder. But this was 1982. Being somewhat milder a year in advance was only natural, and could even count as foresight.

The news release also borrowed extensively from later American local political speeches and police thinking. After the Clinton Era, local crime in the United States grew increasingly worse, and politicians running for mayor or local prosecutor usually made cracking down on crime a major campaign promise. In that country where politics had become entertainment, there was no need to discuss the actual situation. Their methods of speaking and delivering speeches were absolutely worth learning from.

For example, a term like "zero tolerance," presented on the eve of a breakdown in public order, was highly likely to win approval from both superiors and society.

Duan Hang quickly finished the short news release of roughly a thousand characters and said excitedly, "This is excellent. Even better than I'd imagined."

"The repercussions," Yang Rui reminded him again.

"Right, the repercussions. What repercussions could this possibly have?"

"It's a label. Once you publish this news release, you'll represent zero tolerance from then on. You'll stand for harsh treatment of criminal cases. Even if you rise to a high position, that label won't come off easily. So if the domestic political climate shifts toward leniency, your promotion prospects will suffer... Since the news release will carry your name, you have to agree with it first."

"I agree. Criminal cases should be dealt with harshly. That's always been my position. Everyone at the bureau knows it," Duan Hang said unconcernedly.

Yang Rui said patiently, "Labels aren't a joke. If you make statements to the contrary later, you'll be seen as dishonest and a fickle scoundrel."

"I'm not joking. You haven't dealt with vicious crimes. Some people simply can't be treated as human beings."

Only after repeatedly confirming his views did Yang Rui get back on his bicycle and hand him another envelope.

"What's this?"

"What turns a news release into news."

Duan Hang opened it and saw a stack of ten-yuan notes inside.

"What do you mean by this?" Duan Hang grew agitated on the spot.

"It's not for you to fritter away." Yang Rui held down his hand. "There's five hundred yuan in here, your operating fund. My eldest uncle and Grandpa have spent years in state-owned enterprises and know plenty of people. Find a suitable reporter and spend this money. Make sure the news release comes out shortly after the cases here are finalized. It can't run before that, but if you wait too long, it'll lose its impact and won't be news anymore. Newspaper space is tight these days. This won't be easy. Also, try not to let them change the release. Even if they do, they mustn't alter its main point. If you don't spend money, it might not be published the way you want..."

"Even so, I can't use your money."

"Do you have five hundred yuan?"

Duan Hang could not help blushing. Five hundred yuan was a year's wages for him. He could not have saved that much even in two or three years. There was little extra income to be had in the Criminal Police Unit to begin with, and as a prominent figure in the county, Duan Hang had considerable expenses. He did not even have a hundred yuan in savings.

Yang Rui softened his voice. "I can't spend all my writing fees. Consider this a loan and pay me back later. If that still makes you uneasy, lend me your jeep for a couple of days once you get one. That'll count as interest."

Duan Hang smiled bitterly. "It's too much money."

"It is a lot. But with less, could a story about a county policeman like you get into the Nanhu Daily? Could it appear before page two?"

The Nanhu Daily had the largest circulation in the prefecture containing Xi County, and it was also required reading for the leaders. Only that newspaper, or one with even greater authority, had substantial publicity value.

Duan Hang was startled. "We're aiming for the Nanhu Daily?"

"Preferably the front page. Even a brief pointer to the story would be worth it. The main article needs to be prominent. None of that 'continued on page three' business. If you can find someone willing to take the money and get things done, count yourself lucky." Plenty of people had gifts to offer but no idea whose door to knock on. Yang Rui had only suggested this because his grandfather's family worked in state-owned enterprises and had extensive connections. Otherwise, merely writing a news release offered no hope of getting it published.

Getting it published according to his wishes required smoothing the way through even more connections.

Of course, in the euphemistic language of the time, this was using the back door, much like a scholar stealing books.

Without giving his cousin a chance to refuse, Yang Rui mounted his bicycle and sped ahead.

By then, all the students traveling with them had ridden on ahead. Duan Hang lingered behind, lost in thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth, tucked the money inside his jacket, and rode after him.

The two reached Xibao Middle School one after the other, neither mentioning the news release again.

For Yang Rui, this was an investment in family ties. He felt no reluctance about spending it on his eldest cousin. He had over two thousand yuan in writing fees and genuinely could not spend it all. If necessary, he could plagiarize again. The money came easily, and he spent it freely.

Duan Hang could no longer fathom his younger cousin's thoughts. All he could do was imitate the characters in storytelling performances and bolster himself inwardly, reassuring himself with phrases like "repay him in due course" and "repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring."

After locking his bicycle in the bike shed, Yang Rui swung his arms as he walked inside. He had barely reached the edge of the sports field when he heard a lively hubbub.

"Yang Rui's back!" someone shouted, and countless eyes immediately turned toward him.

They belonged not only to students, but to quite a few teachers as well.

At a glance, practically every teacher at Xibao Middle School had come.

"What's going on?" Dressed in his police uniform, Duan Hang stepped forward, quieting the crowd considerably.

"Yang Rui, everything the Xibao Meat Processing Plant donated to our school is in the Sports Room. Check it over. Here's the list." Teacher Lu's voice sounded a little strange.

Yang Rui unfolded the list. After a single glance, his expression also became exceedingly peculiar.

Right there in the first entry were the words "20 cases of canned meat, totaling 480 cans."

That item alone had a market value of more than fifteen hundred yuan.

The money was not even the most important part. What was hardest to resist was the temptation of those 480 cans.

The neatly stacked cans of meat rose higher than a person. Apart from workers at the meat processing plant, ordinary people had probably only seen such a sight in films condemning the extravagance of American and Nationalist troops. Even the county supply and marketing cooperative never brought in that much stock at once.

Never mind the students-even the teachers had come to gawk at this exotic spectacle and could not help discussing it in low voices.