Section 3, Arrival

Zhao Guodong was not unfamiliar with the sensation of being watched by so many eyes. A man in his fifties emerged from the door at the right end of the second floor. He wore a white shirt that was untucked, and a wide police belt tightly cinched his somewhat faded police trousers. However, his slightly protruding belly revealed that he was no longer young.

Zhao Guodong had not yet reached the entrance when he heard a powerful roar of an engine from inside the gate. Without needing to guess, Zhao Guodong knew that it was the sound of a police Shandong 750 three-wheeled motorcycle starting up. Each police station in Jiangkou County's Public Security Bureau had one of these prominent three-wheeled motorcycles, and local police stations near urban areas, such as Chengguan Station, Beijiao Station, and Xiwai Station, generally had two.

Oh, Xiao Zhao, you are here too

"Well, what a coincidence, Qiu is not here; only Director Liao is at home. Just now, Director Liao was still talking about you. Let's go in and discuss it further." Liu Meng, with his dark skin, was very enthusiastic. He jumped out of the car and tossed Zhao Guodong's bag into the side compartment of the motorcycle, then made a 360-degree turn, the tires screeching loudly as he drove straight into the courtyard of the police station.

The number of residents on the street is limited, and people have become accustomed to this relatively monotonous and dull life. It is somewhat better in summer, as there are still people who come out for a stroll. However, once winter arrives, the streets and alleys can be eerily quiet by eight or nine o'clock at night. With nothing to do, one either goes to bed early or passes the time playing cards or chess.

A police tricycle suddenly rushed out from the gate, and before Zhao Deyue could clearly see who it was, the other party had already made a sudden stop right in front of Zhao Guodong

"Why be so polite? From now on, we are all comrades in the same trench. Let's go upstairs to the conference room to sit down." Liao Changsheng warmly took Zhao Guodong's hand and led him upstairs. As a military man, he clearly had a good first impression of Zhao Guodong. Although they had met before in the bureau, they were not familiar with each other; today could be considered their first formal interaction. "Liu Meng, call everyone at home to come up. Let everyone meet; we will be starting work soon." As a military man, he clearly had a good first impression of Zhao Guodong. Although they had met before in the bureau, they were not familiar with each other; today could be considered their first formal interaction. "Liu Meng, call everyone at home to come up. Let everyone meet; we will be starting work soon."

The Jiangmiao Police Station is located on Zhengjie Street along the river in Jiangmiao Town, diagonally opposite the Jiangmiao District Work Committee. Zhao Guodong walked past the entrance of the Jiangmiao District Work Committee, where the gate stood wide open. The red characters on the sign reading "Jiangkou County Jiangmiao District Work Committee of the Communist Party of China" had faded somewhat, and the white paint was also a bit mottled. Glancing inside, it seemed that no one was on duty, and Zhao Guodong was too lazy to look further. He quickened his pace and headed towards the Jiangmiao Police Station across the street.

Zhao Guodong focused his gaze and saw a police uniform in earthy yellow, open to reveal a broad chest. The two badges on the collar, resembling the red insignia of a library, were particularly striking. A blue-background gold Great Wall police badge fluttered in the wind. It was Liu Meng, an officer from the Jiangmiao Police Station

Liao Changsheng serves as the instructor at the police station and concurrently holds the position of secretary of the party branch at the station, making him the de facto second-in-command. Although it is said that the party commands the gun, in this semi-militarized unit of the public security organs, the administrative head is still responsible, and the station chief is the true core of the police station. The police station is a frontline operational unit, where business work takes precedence. As long as the team does not encounter major issues, the year-end evaluations will be based on concrete business performance indicators and data.

The remaining ones are just ordinary police officers like himself. Luo Mingshan seemed somewhat taciturn and did not have a good rapport with others in the station. He He Honghai was the last to return from the countryside, only a few years older than himself, a lean young man who had served in the military and returned. His family seemed to be from the county town, and he felt quite good about him after some interaction. As for the two female colleagues, Zhao Guodong did not pay much attention to them. One was just over thirty, and the other was nearing forty, but Xue Biqin appeared to have a somewhat enchanting demeanor.

Sigh, the criminal police team, I have only been here for ten months, and now I have to leave. Just now, I saw Liu Meng and He Honghai hesitating to speak, clearly wanting to ask me why I was assigned to this Jiangmiao police station. Hmph, misfortune and fortune are intertwined; fortune relies on misfortune, and misfortune lies in fortune. Am I, Zhao Guodong, really unable to bear such a minor setback?

Many gazes turned towards him in the office on the first floor, as several robust men dressed in police uniforms but lacking any insignia were sizing him up. A woman's head also poked out from the bungalow next to the garage on the right; that was the household registration office.

The sky gradually darkened, and the sounds of the neighborhood watch playing cards could be heard from downstairs. Zhao Guodong was also aware that once night fell in Jiangmiao Town, the streets would be nearly deserted. There were few entertainment options; the cinema operated intermittently, barely alive. Apart from a dance hall and a video hall that could still attract some crowds, other places were shrouded in darkness.

Zhao Guodong carefully observed these new colleagues based on the information he had gathered, a habit he had developed during his school years. This was true when he was at Jiangkou County Middle School, at the Police Academy, and also at the Criminal Investigation Team of the County Bureau, and now it was the same at Jiangmiao Police Station

Yes, Brother Liu, I just arrived and was about to report to the station. I have some impression of Officer Zhao Guodong from my hometown's police station, after all, I have returned a few times. Although our relationship is not deep, we are somewhat acquainted.

Although Director Qiu Yuanfeng has only been at the Jiangmiao Police Station for less than two years, it is said that he is not only well-liked within the bureau but also highly regarded by the Jiangmiao District Work Committee. It is reported that Qiu Yuanfeng does not come from a military background, nor is he a professional graduate; rather, he was transferred from the Agricultural Bureau. Having entered the County Public Security Bureau for merely six or seven years, he has been promoted from an ordinary police officer to the position of director of the Jiangmiao Police Station, which sufficiently demonstrates his exceptional capabilities.

"Director Liao, I have reported in. From today onwards, I am one of your subordinates. Please feel free to assign me any tasks you have." Zhao Guodong had already changed into his summer police uniform before arriving at the police station, and after a standard salute, he appeared both anxious and apprehensive.

Although Director Qiu Yuanfeng was not present at the meeting, it still allowed Zhao Guodong to quickly become acquainted with all the colleagues in the office

"Oh, Xiao Zhao has arrived, welcome, welcome! Director Qiu is not here; he greeted me just before leaving. Come, come, have a seat." A man with slightly graying hair descended from upstairs, his amiable smile immediately alleviating Zhao Guodong's initial sense of unfamiliarity. This is Liao Changsheng, the political instructor of Jiangmiao Police Station, a veteran officer who has served at Jiangmiao Police Station for over a decade.

After seeing off the somewhat elusive Wu Changqing, Zhao Guodong checked the time and decided it was about time to head straight to the Jiangmiao Police Station

Lying on the freshly made bed, Zhao Guodong let out a heavy sigh, marking his arrival in yet another new environment

The Jiangmiao Police Station has only eight officers, including the instructor Liao Changsheng and Liu Meng. The internal affairs officer Xue Biqin and the household registration officer Lin Xiuzhi are both female police officers in their thirties. One officer was transferred to the county's public security team a few days ago; that yellow-skinned, thin middle-aged man is named Luo Mingshan, who is also a veteran returning from military service for several years. Another officer, He Honghai, has gone to the countryside, making a total of eight officers including Zhao Guodong.

With his mind wandering from one thought to another, Zhao Guodong lay restlessly in bed. He decided to stand up and gaze out the window. Qiu Yuanfeng and He Honghai lived in the county town, while Liu Meng was from Wuhe Town in this county. The other police officers were locals, and apart from their shifts, most returned home after work. Today was Liu Meng's duty day, and he had originally planned to host a welcome gathering for Zhao Guodong. However, since the director had not returned, it would have to wait until tomorrow. Liu Meng, that fellow, also seemed to have disappeared.

Compared to the streets of Jiangmiao Town, the textile factory's residential area is actually much livelier. In addition to the dance hall, there is also a library and a cinema that serves as a hall for events. Along with several billiard rooms, teahouses, rental bookstores, and video halls that have developed from the Kelongqiu, Zhao Guodong finds himself somewhat nostalgic for the days he spent in junior high at the children’s school.

Upon stepping into the courtyard of the police station, Zhao Guodong heard Liu Meng's rough voice bellowing: "Director Liao, Director Liao, Xiao Zhao, Zhao Guodong has reported in."