Chapter 86

Song Jianfeng was a towering figure with a commanding presence. The national emblem encircled by olive branches on his shoulder epaulettes marked him as a Deputy Inspector General. The police number on his chest started with a string of zeros and ended with a one, making him the undisputed top cop in Jiangdong. Sitting at the same table with him for a meal was no small feat, and it was bound to be stressful.

The cadets, with their single-bar shoulder epaulettes, ate nervously, their heads bowed.

Song Jianfeng smiled and was about to say something when Liu Handong picked up his tray and got up, walking away with a swagger.

What a show of arrogance! How could he not give Song Director any face? The other cadets were almost spitting blood. This was such a good opportunity, and he just gave it up. Was he out of his mind, or did he have something more important to do?

The accompanying officials were also embarrassed, but fortunately, Song Jianfeng didn't mind. He smiled and asked Lin Linnan, "Young man, what did you do before joining the police?"

Lin Linnan was extremely excited. He stood up and saluted, "Report, I was a veteran."

"Sit down, no need to be so formal. We're just having a meal together, let's chat casually," Song Jianfeng said.

"Right, just chat casually, don't be stiff." As he spoke, Liu Handong returned, his stainless steel tray now loaded with a pile of rice, two steamed buns, and a bowl of soup.

Everyone was almost spitting blood. The bastard had gone to get more food! Was he a reincarnated hungry ghost, needing to eat those two buns to be satisfied?

Liu Handong put down his tray and enthusiastically called out to Song Jianfeng, "Director Song, here's a bun for you."

Everyone cursed inwardly. Did he think Song Director was a foodie like him, coming to mingle with the masses just for a bun?

Song Jianfeng laughed heartily and took the bun. "You have a good appetite, that's good. You sweat a lot, so you need to eat more to maintain your physical fitness. You were in the military, right?"

"Yes, the 14th Army's Motor Transport Regiment," Liu Handong said, taking a bite of the bun and wolfing it down.

"The 14th Army has a long history. They quelled rebellions in Tibet and taught a lesson to the Vietnamese bully in the Laoshan War. I heard you participated in actual combat?" Song Jianfeng asked casually.

"Um, yes, but this battle is classified, so I can't talk about it," Liu Handong said, his chopsticks moving like a windmill.

"Can't talk about it! What are you trying to show off in front of the provincial leadership?" The others grumbled inwardly.

Song Jianfeng smiled warmly. "Have you been awarded any honors?"

"Um, a Third-Class Merit. Once, the military region came to our regiment to select people, and the company commander sent me to the logistics base to feed pigs for a few months. I had a knack for it and bred a new type of lean meat pig. The military leaders and their families all praised it, so they gave me a Third-Class Merit."

"Oh, tell me how you bred the new variety. That's not classified, right?" Song Jianfeng seemed genuinely interested.

"It's nothing special," Liu Handong said, picking up his bowl and drinking the soup loudly. After finishing, he wiped his mouth. "I just trained the pigs with a whip, treating them like new recruits. I made them run, jump hurdles, long jump, and swim. If they didn't meet the standards, they didn't get to eat. Eventually, they all got lean."

"Ha!" Song Jianfeng sprayed out the congee he had just sipped, and everyone burst into laughter. They had been holding it in, and now it all came out, laughing for three minutes straight.

After laughing, Song Jianfeng said, "I understand. You were upset with your company commander and took it out on the pigs. It worked out, and you got a Third-Class Merit."

Liu Handong replied, "You're a great leader, you guessed it right."

"Really? Who else guessed it?"

"General Luo Kegong. When he was still a major general and assistant to the General Staff, he came to the unit and sat across from me, just like today."

Everyone finally understood why Liu Handong was so bold. He had met high-ranking leaders before.

"General Luo spent his childhood in Jiangbei, so he's from my hometown. The military does a great job of cultivating people, and our public security system welcomes outstanding veterans to join our ranks," Song Jianfeng said. The people around him couldn't wait to applaud.

Song Jianfeng raised his hand to quiet them. "Comrades, the Riot Control Unit is a new type of police force under the Patrol and Special Police Brigade of our Jinqiang Municipal Public Security Bureau. It is responsible for handling riots, disturbances, and mass incidents. They are on standby 24/7, the special forces of the police, the elite of the elite. The responsibility on your shoulders is heavy. Do you have the confidence to do well as special police?"

"Yes!" The special police, who had been trained by Zhang Yasen for three months, shouted in unison, their voices shaking the roof of the canteen and causing the leaders' eardrums to hurt.

Song Jianfeng smiled in satisfaction and continued eating.

Liu Handong finished his meal, picked up his empty tray, and said, "Director Song, take your time. I'll go first." He then turned and left, walking away with ease.

The others at the table were still lingering, deliberately leaving some food uneaten, hoping to wait for Song Director to finish and make a speech. After all, the opportunity to have a meal with a high-ranking leader was rare, but Liu Handong didn't cherish it, finishing his meal and leaving. Was he stupid or just a fool?

Of course, there were some discerning people who admired him inwardly. This guy wasn't simple. Regardless of other things, his manners were impeccable, and he had left a deep impression on the leadership. In the future, when mentioning the Riot Control Unit, the first name that would come to Director Song's mind would be Liu Handong.

Song Jianfeng, however, wasn't as shallow as these people. He had read a lot about Liu Handong but had never met him in person. From this young and fiery man, he saw many things, but the most prominent was an unbridled sharpness, like a newly drawn sword.

This wasn't surprising. Liu Handong's performance in the military aside, since he returned to Jiangdong, the number of people he had killed could be counted on one hand. There was Gu Changmin, the four killers on Iron Slag Street, the two criminals in the highway chase, and the drug lord in the recent anti-drug operation. In less than a year, he had taken several lives, and it would be strange if he didn't have a heavy aura of death.

There was a world of difference between those who had killed and those who hadn't, and an even greater gap between those who had killed one person and those who had killed many. Usually, frontline police officers rarely had the chance to fire their guns, let alone kill criminals. After a police officer killed a criminal in the line of duty, they would receive psychological counseling and might avoid firearms for a while due to the psychological pressure, which was understandable.

Liu Handong, with his thick-skinned attitude and treating killing like drinking water, was a rare breed. Such people only emerged in large numbers during wartime. In peacetime, if they appeared, they were either notorious criminals like Zhang Jun or Zhou Kehua, or super heroes. If this guy went down the wrong path, he would be a major problem.

In just a few minutes, many thoughts flashed through Song Jianfeng's mind. Liu Handong was a rare talent and needed to be well-controlled. He needed to be given a proper role, like a sheath for an unsheathed sword.

After the meal, the provincial and municipal leaders took a group photo with the riot control trainees.

The inspection ended in the afternoon. The trainees watched as several Toyota Coasters, escorted by police cars, left the campus. They were excited; the training was finally over, and they were about to become real police officers.

The Political Department of the Municipal Public Security Bureau sent representatives to have the new police officers sign employment contracts. They would have labor contracts, social insurance, salaries no less than the average, and full police uniforms and numbers. Except for the lack of administrative status, they looked no different from regular police officers.

After signing the contracts, Zhang Yasen, representing the police academy, awarded the new police officers their ranks. Two metal bars represented the rank of probationary police officer. In actual work, hired police officers wore this rank and would not be promoted to police officer or inspector.

In the evening, there was a farewell banquet in the police academy canteen. The teachers and students drank heavily, tears streaming down their faces as they shared their heartfelt words. It was rumored that some male students even confessed to the class beauty, Zhao Liangxuan, but were given a polite rejection.

Liu Handong, as the squad leader, carried a bottle of alcohol and went from table to table, drinking until he was dizzy and his tongue was tied. Everyone was drunk, even his archenemies like Chang Jin and Sui Muxin were calling him brother, slapping him on the back, and promising to help him in the future.

Zhang Yasen also drank a lot but remained sober, maintaining his stern and serious demeanor, which added to his mysterious and unpredictable aura in the eyes of the students.

The next day was Labor Day, a time when most people relaxed and went on family trips. For the police, it was a busy time. The newly graduated riot control special police officers, without even going home, were directly assigned to the riot control unit and sent to crowded areas for duty.

The special police officers wore dark blue anti-scratch training uniforms, berets, and high boots. Their tactical belts were loaded with various weapons, and they stood with their hands crossed in front of them, wearing sunglasses and scanning the area for any signs of criminal activity.

However, they were disappointed. Police work was monotonous and boring, and most of their duties involved helping citizens with minor issues.

The Labor Day holiday passed uneventfully. When it was their turn to rest, the new special police officers, who had been in closed training for three months, finally got to go home.

Liu Handong returned to Iron Slag Street in his police uniform. This was his home in Jinqiang. The street was the same as always. The beef restaurant was bustling, and Mei's hair salon was still in business. The village chief, Hua Deyi, and Hua Bao, who had been hiding all winter, had returned, as arrogant and domineering as ever.

It was rumored that Zhao Yufeng had been sentenced to one year of labor reform and would be released in six months.

Nana had gone south to Dongguan, and Xiaoli had joined Mei's salon. Huanxi still helped in the salon, responsible for buying groceries, cooking, and cleaning. She persisted in reading books under the pink neon lights and the sound of clapping. Ling Zijie occasionally sent her packages with study materials and other helpful items.

The siblings Hu Lei and Hu Ying were especially happy to see Liu Handong return. For young delinquents like them, having a friend in the police was something to boast about.

Ma Ling was also pleased. Liu Handong had become a police officer and received honors. In two years, he would surely be doing well, and the family's opposition would lessen.

Liu Handong only stayed in Iron Slag Street for one day. That night, he returned to the Patrol and Special Police Brigade for standby duty, bringing his Fukan car with him. The brigade was located in the suburbs, and having a car made it more convenient.

People started coming to the brigade to request personnel. People like Zhao Liangxuan, who had connections, wouldn't stay in the riot control unit for long. They had already lined up their next positions, such as the vehicle management office, the entry and exit administration, the command center, or the public security or traffic police units, all of which were better than the riot control unit.

Some people also came for Liu Handong, including the drug control unit chief, Geng Zhi, who had fought alongside him at the highway toll station.

"Liu Handong is mine. This pack of cigarettes is for you," Geng Zhi said casually, placing a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes on the table and pushing it towards the Patrol and Special Police Brigade chief, Shi Guoping.

Shi Guoping glared. "Geng Zhi, you think a pack of cigarettes can get my man? Have you been drinking fake alcohol?"