Chapter 89

At the command of Liu Handong, two special police officers reflexively pounced forward, pinning He Cuigu to the ground and handcuffing her.

The passengers on the bus and the traffic police at the checkpoint were stunned by the scene. They had been talking just fine, so why did it suddenly turn into an arrest? There was no evidence to suggest that this He Cuigu was a child trafficker.

He Cuigu spat out, "Why are you arresting me? This is my own grandson!"

Liu Handong stood majestically in front of her, "I'll let you die with your eyes open. Your son and daughter-in-law are both high-ranking executives at the bank, earning tens of thousands a month. Why would they let their child take a long-distance sleeper bus, which is both tiring and unsafe, instead of a plane or high-speed train? Your daughter-in-law is from a big city and doesn't get along with you. Even if she's busy, she still has her own mother. Would she entrust her three- or four-year-old son to you, a rural grandmother? Do you think you can deceive the police by colluding with your accomplices? The phone number of the so-called daughter-in-law is from Guangxi. Do you think my Android smartphone is just for show? You called him 'Dog剩' (Dog Leftover) right away. Did I ask for his nickname? Do you call all the children you kidnap 'Dog剩'? And this bottle of Nutri-Quick, if it didn't have something added to it, I'll write my name backwards!"

He Cuigu collapsed on the ground. Although the traffickers were very cunning and had devised many disguises, even the most cunning fox can't outsmart a good hunter. As long as they encounter a meticulous police officer, their methods will be full of flaws.

The trafficker's luggage was taken off the bus, and the long-distance bus drove away. The child, who had been drugged with a sedative, was still unconscious. His comrades gathered around Liu Handong, asking how he had spotted the problem.

"The child's nickname is 'Dog剩,' which is a rural custom. Now, city children are all treated like treasures. Who would name them 'Dog剩'? That's the first point. The biggest issue is the long-distance sleeper bus. These buses are all privately owned, and they leave as soon as you get on, making them convenient and quick. After the traffickers succeed, they often leave the city as soon as possible using the most convenient transportation. By the time they reach another place, the parents of the missing child are still searching locally."

Liu Handong's analysis left everyone in awe.

"Liu Handong, it's a waste for you not to be a detective," Tan Jiaxing said.

The trafficker was locked up, and the unconscious child was placed in the police car to sleep. The officers continued their duties until 8 a.m., when news came that the murderer had been captured at a relative's house. The alert was lifted, and the special police returned to their base, taking the trafficker and the child with them.

No one paid attention to the trafficker He Cuigu, who was directly thrown into the detention room. The arrival of a child, however, piqued the interest of the young police officers, especially the female officers, who were overwhelmed with maternal instincts. They took turns holding the child, who, upon waking, did not cry but looked around with wide eyes.

"Baby, what's your name?" Zhao Liangxuan asked in a sweet voice while holding the child.

"My name is Xiao Bao," the child said in a soft, childish voice.

Liu Handong, standing nearby, had a "I knew it" expression. The child was not called 'Dog剩,' and his judgment was correct.

The special police unit contacted the police in the city where the long-distance bus had departed, asking if there were any missing person reports. After checking, they confirmed that there was indeed one. Yesterday, a four-year-old boy had gone missing, and his family was frantically searching and had already reported it to the police.

After verifying the physical characteristics and clothing, they said, "No need to search anymore. The child is with us. Come and pick him up."

In the canteen, the police were having breakfast, about to go to bed after a long night. Suddenly, Captain Shi Guoping entered with a few people. "Stand up!" someone shouted, and the police stood up as the chairs scraped against the floor.

"Sit down and eat slowly," Shi Guoping smiled.

Everyone sat down and continued eating.

Shi Guoping sat across from Liu Handong, "Liu Handong, this is Captain Geng from the Narcotics Unit. You've met before. Captain Geng has something to say to you."

Liu Handong put down his chopsticks, "Hello, Captain, hello, Captain Geng."

Shi Guoping said, "Alright, I have something to do. You two chat." He then stood up and left.

Geng Zhi slowly took out a cigarette and tapped it on the table, "Keep eating. We can talk while you eat."

Liu Handong continued eating, devouring his food like a tiger.

"I heard you made two achievements in one day. You beat up a soldier and caught a trafficker. Not bad, young man. It's a waste for you not to be a police officer," Geng Zhi said, lighting his cigarette and squinting at Liu Handong.

"Ha ha," Liu Handong replied.

Geng Zhi took a puff of his cigarette and said casually, "A hired special police officer earns 2,000 yuan a month, with an overtime pay of 5 yuan a day. You get food and accommodation, but you're on 24-hour standby, with no time to date. You're 27 this year, right? The age limit for special police officers is 30. When your contract is up, you'll be laid off. Have you thought about your next move?"

Liu Handong's mouth was full of food, and he just kept eating.

"Being a special police officer is impressive, but do you know what you actually do? Demolition and stability maintenance, blocking petitioners, and assisting in raids on gambling and prostitution. Over time, it gets boring and tedious, wasting your youth. Being a narcotics officer is much more challenging. You get to use all kinds of advanced weapons, and your life is thrilling and intense. You could die at any moment, but it's much more challenging than being a special police officer. Compared to us, you're just playing house."

The surrounding officers glared angrily, but Geng Zhi didn't care. He leaned in and asked Liu Handong, "Now, there's an opportunity for you to accept this challenge. Are you willing?"

Liu Handong swallowed a mouthful of food and was about to speak.

"Don't rush to accept or refuse. Think about it. If you join us, we'll get you a permanent position within a year, and getting a Jinjiang household registration will be no problem. Your salary and benefits will be the best. Think about it."

With that, Geng Zhi stood up, revealing a quick-draw holster under his armpit. It was a GLOCK19, an Austrian-made pistol with a 15-round capacity, more reliable and portable than the domestic 92. The CID in Hong Kong used this weapon, and he didn't expect the narcotics police in Jinjiang to be equipped with it.

Geng Zhi left a business card and walked away.

The colleagues gathered around, "Liu Handong, are you going to join the narcotics unit?"

"I heard it's very dangerous. Three officers were killed last year."

"The benefits are good, and they walk around like they own the place in the city bureau."

Everyone chattered, and Liu Handong was a bit hesitant. Being a narcotics officer was indeed a dangerous and exciting job, dealing with the most insane drug dealers. One mistake could mean death, but this kind of life on the edge suited him.

He also considered the benefits. Although Secretary Shen had promised to get him a permanent position, it was uncertain when that would happen. If they forgot, could he go knocking on their door? Besides, what Geng Zhi said was true. Being a special police officer wasn't very challenging, similar to being a soldier, on 24-hour standby, just a cog in the state's machinery. Liu Handong didn't want to be a cog; he wanted to be a sharp blade, a bullet.

Although he didn't say it out loud, he had made up his mind to join the narcotics unit!

After breakfast, the exhausted special police officers dragged their tired legs back to the dormitory to sleep. Liu Handong was called by the company commander, "Liu, come to my office."

In the company commander's office, two traffic police officers in white hats were already sitting. They had high ranks, both first-class police inspectors, with smooth and tender skin, clearly office workers rather than frontline traffic police.

"You must be Liu Handong. We are from the traffic police... Yesterday, you did us a favor, handling the situation with propriety and respect. The leadership of the corps appreciates you, and the organization has decided to give you an opportunity. The traffic police need young talents like you."

This time, Liu Handong was experienced, "I'll think about it."

"Alright, you have a day to consider. Our Chief Zhu has his eye on you. It's a rare opportunity, young man," the traffic police leader said earnestly, patting Liu Handong's shoulder and putting on his hat to leave.

The company commander saw them out and then his expression changed, "It's hard to find a talent, and everyone is trying to poach them. It's too much. Liu, work hard. Our company can also find a way to get you a permanent position and a promotion."

"Yes!" Liu Handong didn't dare to say more, saluted, and turned to go back to sleep.

When he woke up, it was already afternoon. The dormitory door was being pounded loudly, "Liu Handong, get up. Someone is looking for you."

Liu Handong groggily got up, put on his training uniform, and went out to the company duty room. There were three cars parked outside: one from another province, one with a civilian license plate, and one from a TV station. They all looked windblown and dusty. The duty room was full of people, including the company commander, the company leader, and a few female officers like Zhao Liangxuan, who were talking to the crying parents and holding the child.

It turned out that the parents of the missing child, upon receiving the news, had immediately driven over with the local police. They were somewhat influential in their area and had even brought the local TV station.

The company commander introduced Liu Handong enthusiastically, "This is Comrade Liu, who cleverly caught the trafficker. He is an excellent police officer in our special police unit."

An elderly couple trembled as they tried to kneel, "Savior, you saved our whole family." They burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

The young couple standing nearby took out a bundle of cash, about 50,000 to 60,000 yuan, and tried to force it into Liu Handong's hands, "Comrade police officer, please accept this small token of our gratitude."

Liu Handong was busy helping the elderly couple up and refusing the money. The TV camera captured his flustered state. A female reporter, facing the camera, said emotionally, "The child has been found, and a family on the brink of breaking apart has been saved. The people's police deserve great credit. Now, let's interview the police officer who caught the trafficker."

Company leader Xing Zhifeng stood in front of the camera, "Ahem, the situation was like this. Our company was ordered to set up a checkpoint. At 2:30 a.m., a long-distance sleeper bus from another province passed through the checkpoint. Our special police officers conducted a routine check on the bus and found some suspicious signs, so we immediately began an investigation..."

"May I ask, how did the police officers discover the signs?" the female reporter asked.

"This is due to the regular training of our company, always maintaining vigilance, not being complacent, and not overlooking any suspicious details. Based on the guidance of the provincial department and the city bureau, and under the care of the brigade leadership, we adhere to the scientific development concept to train and build our team, creating a strong force that is politically reliable, skilled, ready to fight, and capable of winning..."

The female reporter interrupted him, "Alright, let's interview the officer on the scene." She then directed the camera to Liu Handong.

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