Chapter 01: Good Fortune Arrives

After all, it is a recruitment process; it can't be entirely negative, can it? Doubao held onto a glimmer of hope

He is Xu Pingqiu, the one who solved the serial murder case? I have studied that case

Director Jiang Xiaoyuan glanced out the window and was quite satisfied with the discipline and appearance of the students. He had already introduced the situation of the department upstairs in considerable detail. There are a total of 108 students in this graduating class of the police academy, who will graduate in six months. The gender ratio is severely imbalanced, with 98 males and 10 females, coming from four majors: forensic examination, criminal psychology, criminal investigation, and computer science. The selection is being conducted by Xu Pingqiu, the director of the Criminal Investigation Department of the provincial police, and Shi Qinghuai, the director of the Criminal Research Office. The gender ratio is severely imbalanced, with 98 males and 10 females, coming from four majors: forensic examination, criminal psychology, criminal investigation, and computer science. The selection is being conducted by Xu Pingqiu, the director of the Criminal Investigation Department of the provincial police, and Shi Qinghuai, the director of the Criminal Research Office. Such matters typically do not require the principal's personal involvement; however, since representatives from the provincial department are present, and coincidentally Xu Pingqiu is an alumnus of the provincial police academy, this has also drawn the attention of Principal Wang Lan.

This is a clear-minded person, Xu Pingqiu thought to himself. However, he also realized that this individual belonged to a rather troublesome category within the group. Multitasking, thinking while discussing the topic, he stepped down from the podium and called out, "Who will answer? Please stand up."

Of course, this individual is a prominent figure among the criminal police, and one does not often have the opportunity to meet him.

The conditions are quite good. Doubao was excited, and even the group behind, who had been lacking ambition, was eager to give it a try

"They are all quite untrustworthy." Dou Bao shook his head and outright denied it. However, he glanced at the group of brothers from the cities and counties in the back row, each one more unremarkable than the last, lacking both looks and family background, and he found himself somewhat believing Yu Zui's words

The classroom door opened, and the former principal personally opened the door. A group of people filed in, and our class instructor enthusiastically introduced: "Students, I would like to introduce to you, this is Comrade Xu Pingqiu, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Provincial Department. Now, let us welcome Director Xu to say a few words to everyone."

I really enjoy seeing such a vibrant and energetic team

Director Xu smiled and continued: "Strictly speaking, we are colleagues; I am also a graduate of this school and this department. You are all my junior classmates. I know that everyone is most interested in a certain major case that has already been solved. Unfortunately, we cannot discuss the case here. However, do not be disheartened. I believe that one day, many of you will sit with me in case analysis meetings, and perhaps many of you will reach my position. When you reach my position, you will also have the same wrinkles of concern for the country and the people on your youthful faces as I do."

Indeed, apart from being overly full, who would rush to difficult and dangerous places? Someone murmured softly, and that girl sniffed, seemingly discontent with the low awareness of the surrounding students

"You are the one with a thick skin; I think the little old man is quite good," Dou Bao said with a smile

Suddenly, as if a spring breeze arrived overnight, thousands upon thousands of pear trees are in bloom

"Just taking care of a quota, it doesn't concern you, does it?" Yu Zui said with a smile, noticing that Dou Bao seemed skeptical. He leaned in closer and whispered, "I guess it's hopeless. Trust me, brother, it's better to believe in the organization, right?"

Laughter erupted all around, and the warm applause grew even more fervent. For those legendary peers who are extraordinary, the newcomers always adopt a posture of admiration, especially for such an unpretentious pioneer.

The most enthusiastic applause came from a girl sitting in the third row. With Xu Pingqiu's keen eye, he immediately noticed this particularly outstanding girl, and he had no doubt that she would shine brightly as a police flower in any department. However, he automatically filtered her out, as she was not the type of person he was looking for

"Before we begin filling out the registration forms, let's play a game together to lighten the atmosphere and get to know each other a bit better," Xu Pingqiu interjected at the right moment, a smile on his face, exuding an indescribable warmth. Facing the puzzled gazes of the participants, he explained the game: "How about a reasoning game? It's a fundamental skill for a detective."

Someone responded, but the voice was not loud. The one who shouted the loudest was actually a girl, the most beautiful and eye-catching among them. After she shouted, she realized her voice was too high, and many people rolled their eyes at her.

With a shake of his head, Yu Zui said, "It won't happen. Good things never come our way; perhaps it has already been predetermined."

Upon hearing these words, many students straightened their posture and puffed out their chests, ready to show off. Such content is often present in case study classes, and over time, the myriad of peculiar case analyses has become one of the students' favorite pastimes, a game in which they have become quite adept.

The lecture hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. The pairs of lively eyes seemed to already know the answers. The difficulty of the question was moderate, yet the faces that revealed joy were filtered by Xu Pingqiu. A glance swept across the room, and he noticed a student in the back row on the right who had been whispering. He remembered that the student had thin eyebrows, a not-so-high nose, and a small mouth; an unremarkable face. However, there was a characteristic about it: judging by the expression, it seemed that he had not absorbed anything at all. He again saw the student in the back row on the right who had been whispering, and he recalled that the student had thin eyebrows, a not-so-high nose, and a small mouth; an unremarkable face. However, there was a characteristic about it: judging by the expression, it seemed that he had not absorbed anything at all

Once again doused with cold water, Dou Bao shot a glare at his deskmate Yu Zui, and with a bitter expression said: "Brother, that's enough. With us like this, you won't be able to solve these two problems. We can't expect the organization to send us a girl, can we?"

At this moment, the sound of footsteps was heard outside the classroom. The students sat up straight, knowing that someone from the provincial department had arrived, and each face was filled with excitement. They automatically ceased their whispers and maintained a demeanor of discipline and vigilance.

There is!

Wow, will we all be under his leadership wherever we become detectives in the future

As the car drove into the campus and stopped beneath the teaching building, the school's disciplinary director Jiang Xiaoyuan and principal Wang Lan were already there to welcome them. The scene of several people exchanging pleasantries was captured in the view from behind a window on the third floor. A rather unremarkable boy nudged a classmate next to him, who was playing a matching game on his phone, and whispered, "They have arrived"

Xu Pingqiu paced a few steps on the podium, gazing into the eyes that represented various mental states—some filled with desire, excitement, and joy, while others reflected confusion and misunderstanding. He had just spoken with the former principal, Wang Lan, and shared concerns regarding the quality of recent graduates. Like other institutions, the police academy was also expanding its enrollment, which made it increasingly challenging for recruiters; the purity of the expanding ranks was diminishing. His mind was racing, contemplating what topics to address. Perhaps it was time to temper the overly high expectations of those hoping to remain in the provincial capital, as most would not be selected. With this thought in mind, he spoke in a solemn tone: "What we need to do is quite simple. Today, you will fill out forms, and the day after tomorrow, there will be a physical fitness test. Those selected will spend a six-month internship handling cases in various cities across the country."

The demeanor was indeed very amiable, and it instantly uplifted the atmosphere of the entire department. Xu Pingqiu surveyed the enthusiastic students in a circle and continued with a smile: "When I arrived, there was something to discuss. To put it in the words of old-fashioned cinema, I came here with a mission entrusted by the organization and bearing the heavy responsibility of leadership. My purpose for coming is very simple: to select a group of elites from among you to strengthen our frontline criminal police team, to the most arduous and dangerous positions. Tell me, does everyone have confidence?" Xu Pingqiu's usual motivational rhetoric was in full swing, waving his hand as he reiterated, "My purpose for coming is very simple: to select a group of elites from among you to strengthen our frontline criminal police team, to the most arduous and dangerous positions. Tell me, does everyone have confidence?" Xu Pingqiu's usual motivational rhetoric was in full swing, waving his hand as he reiterated.

I have seen the model photos and internal documents on my father's computer

Yu Zui's gaze was very clear as he scanned the large lecture hall, which was filled with a cacophony of voices. The news of the provincial department recruiting from the school had spread early, igniting the junior students' imaginations about their future lives. However, the class distinctions among the students were also quite evident. Among the more than one hundred students, many were internally recommended, while a significant number were local residents, contrasting sharply with the group from remote cities and counties in the back rows. They resembled two distinctly separate groups, making it difficult for them to even sit together.

The phone was put away. It was a chubby boy with slightly puffy cheeks and facial features that seemed to converge together. His face was round, and because of this appearance, his classmates nicknamed him "Doubao." His deskmate, Yu Zui, reminded him softly, "Yu Er, the provincial department's selection this time, the instructor told us to take it seriously. Do you think this good opportunity will fall on us?"

"If there are no hidden agendas, it wouldn't be called manipulation. All the opportunities in the provincial capital are given to you. Do you think it's like watching CCTV? Happiness is not that easy to attain?" Yu Zui said softly

The two recruiters also looked through the window, and the students stood tall and proud, resembling a perfectly aligned formation. This scene involuntarily brought a smile to his face, reminiscent of the time he left the police academy. Although he was somewhat naive back then, he too was filled with ambition and youthful vigor.

Hearing this, the eyes of many young men and women lit up; without even leaving the school gates, they could travel across the country. Just imagine, wearing a shiny police uniform while walking down the street and receiving envious glances from others—what a delightful feeling that must be

It should be, how many Xu Pingqius can there be

The overall atmosphere was excellent, achieving the intended purpose, and a sly smile flickered across Xu Pingqiu's face

In a harmonious environment, there will always be discordant voices. The dumpling in the back seat, the one with baby fat, quietly said to his deskmate Yu Zui: "This person seems quite amiable"

There is!

It is challenging; currently, police academies are also expanding their enrollment. The direct consequence is that the allocation of police officers has become problematic. Despite graduating from the police academy, for most individuals, it still requires multiple rounds of examinations and selections. Transitioning from the one-star rank of a trainee to the two-star rank of a police officer is not an easy feat. It is no wonder that the trainees are so pleased.

A modern SUV police car briefly stopped at the traffic light, made a left turn, and drove in the direction of the provincial police academy

It is hailed as the cradle of police officers in the province, annually supplying hundreds of various law enforcement personnel to cities and counties. Before the start of each final semester, public security departments from various regions come to select interns from the graduating students; however, it is the first time that a police car bearing the provincial department's license plate has come here. After driving a few more kilometers, the towering teaching building of the police academy comes into view, its olive color making it stand out distinctly among the surrounding structures

After the snow, the weather finally cleared in a city long troubled by smog, allowing the sun to shine down. Continuous snowfall had left a thick layer on the street trees lining the roads, adorning the city like jade branches. Passersby finally removed their ever-present masks, taking a deep breath to release the stagnant air from their chests

With a "swipe," eleven or twelve individuals suddenly stood up, each displaying an expression of joy, eager to showcase themselves in front of their seniors. Xu Pingqiu noticed that the girl had the most people standing around her, totaling five. These five spirited young men seemed to be showing off, occasionally glancing at the girl with their peripheral vision

Laughter erupted, but the sound of kind applause followed, bringing the distance closer thanks to Xu Pingqiu's amiable demeanor

Xu Pingqiu did not expect that his tried-and-true persuasion would fall flat. He quickly shifted his thoughts and smiled as he changed his tone, saying: "I understand that the current values differ from those we held in the past. Let me explain the recruitment conditions I just mentioned: working in the provincial capital, transitioning to a permanent position without an internship period, resolving household registration and housing issues, after all, they are elites. All conditions are negotiable, so let me ask you again, do you have confidence?"

The eyes of the younger students shine exceptionally bright, as if they have truly seen light in the darkness, glimpsed the Party amidst confusion, and their voices resonate with extraordinary clarity

Hearing this, Yu Zui couldn't help but smile. Just as he made eye contact with Wang Jiaodao's stern gaze, he quickly composed himself. This small gesture of restraint was noticed by Xu Pingqiu, who shot him a peculiar glance. Yu Zui instinctively shrank his neck and disappeared from view.

"Come on, can a person who captures criminals be someone amiable? Fool." Yu Zui retorted. This remark indeed made Dou Bao reflect; after all, this person was an object of admiration among the trainees, and he certainly could not be a gentle individual. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at this seemingly amiable old man a few more times.

Are you foolish? Yu Zui disdainfully replied: "The household registration is managed by the police, is there still a need to resolve it? As for housing, it's even more ridiculous; collective dormitories, does that count as a solution?"

As soon as the introduction was made, applause erupted, and many students' eyes lit up, clapping enthusiastically as the conversation began

"You don't understand anything. All police officers are thick-skinned; one cannot judge by appearances," Yu Zui concluded.

... ... ''

"The instructor said that this time it is voluntary registration and open selection, so there shouldn't be any behind-the-scenes manipulation, right?" Doubao asked suspiciously

"Meeting in person is not as good as hearing about someone; you look too concerned about the country and the people..."

Road sign, turn right, Binhai East Road. Turn left, Provincial Police Academy

There was no objection; it seems that Lu Ban has come to test the young carpenter. Xu Pingqiu smiled, the wrinkles on his face deepening, and said with a smile: "Please listen to the reasoning conditions: One day, I apprehended several suspects of theft. During the interrogation, A said it was B who did it; B said it was D; C said, 'I didn't do it'; D said B was lying. It was later proven that the suspects acted alone, not as a group, and only one person was telling the truth..."

The students were whispering among themselves as the middle-aged man, who was somewhat unremarkable in appearance, stepped onto the podium. He was of average height, had a dark complexion, and deep wrinkles on his forehead, truly showing signs of concern for the country and its people. This remark was made by a female student, provoking a burst of laughter. The instructor issued a warning, but Xu Pingqiu smiled amiably, clapped his hands to signal for silence, and began by saying: "I sincerely apologize to everyone; my appearance has disappointed you."