Chapter 90

Facing the TV camera, Liu Handong did not speak confidently but scratched the back of his head like a shy new recruit and said, "Actually, there's nothing much to say. I just happened to be a blind cat that stumbled upon a dead mouse."

The female reporter, unwilling to give up, asked, "How did you realize the child had been kidnapped?"

"I don't know, just a lucky guess," Liu Handong said with a simple honesty.

The female reporter was defeated and had to pass the microphone back to the company commander, shifting the camera's focus. Xing Zhifeng continued to speak with enthusiasm, his saliva flying as he animatedly described the events.

Everyone thought Liu Handong was foolish, but he had his own calculations. This interview by a local county TV station had no benefit for his career development. Why should he steal the limelight from the company commander? It was better to act dumb and give the opportunity to shine to those who needed it.

However, when asked about the details of the arrest by the local police, Liu Handong did not pretend to be foolish anymore. He recounted the events in detail, and the police officers were all impressed. "Someone like you should be a detective."

The child's parents were extremely grateful and finally took Xiao Bao home. The five thousand yuan Liu Handong naturally refused to accept, pushing it back firmly. This time, his comrades did not think he was foolish. With the TV cameras there, it would have been inappropriate to accept the money.

Everyone could see Liu Handong's performance. He had achieved remarkable results in just two days. These achievements were not mere coincidences. For example, the military vehicle incident had happened multiple times, but no one had dared to step forward, only enduring the injustice. The facts proved that even soldiers were not to be trifled with, and Liu Handong had handled the situation very well.

As for the human trafficking case, it was even more closely related to personal qualities. Thousands of vehicles passed through the checkpoint every day, and without a keen eye, it was impossible to spot anything suspicious. Liu Handong was just a riot control officer, and catching human traffickers was not his job. His ability to detect and apprehend the trafficker did not reflect the squad's training but rather his meticulous attention to detail, boldness, and willingness to take responsibility. Given time, he would surely stand out.

Thinking about this, Captain Shi Guoping felt a bit regretful for agreeing to let Liu Handong transfer. However, he couldn't take back his words and could only see how Liu Handong would choose.

Liu Handong discussed it with his comrades, and they all advised him to join the narcotics squad. As young and passionate individuals, challenges and pressure were their driving forces.

"The narcotics squad isn't for everyone. Only the best detectives can do it. If you don't want to go, we can switch," Ji Yang said.

"Even with the risks, the benefits are worth it. People die in car accidents too, but that doesn't stop them from driving," Lin Lianan strongly encouraged Liu Handong to join.

The others also strongly suggested that Liu Handong join the narcotics squad rather than the traffic police. To put it bluntly, the traffic police were the least respected among the police forces. The most prestigious were the detectives, and the narcotics police were the elite among them. In Jinjiang, narcotics police could choose their weapons and carried two guns, making them far more formidable than the traffic police.

In fact, Liu Handong had already made up his mind. Consulting his comrades was just to seek their support. He secretly called Ma Ling to tell her he was changing careers, leaving the riot control unit to join the narcotics squad.

"Are you serious? Are you sure? Being a narcotics officer is too dangerous. No, no," Ma Ling immediately opposed.

Liu Handong was surprised, expecting Ma Ling to support him.

"Listen to me. They promised me a permanent position, a household registration, and the most important thing is the freedom to manage my time. Being a riot control officer is like being in the military, with no personal time. It's hard to even see you. Besides, the danger is something I can control. I have the confidence that nothing will happen."

Hearing Liu Handong's confident words, Ma Ling softened. "Alright, I'll look into it for you, and you should also think about it more."

After the call, Ma Ling looked at her parents, who were watching TV in the living room, hesitating whether to tell her father the news.

A brand new 52-inch Sharp LED TV hung on the wall, bought with the interest from Wang Yulan's investments. The picture quality was excellent, and the sound was good. The provincial TV station was broadcasting important news about the new provincial party secretary, Xu Xinhe.

Xu Xinhe, male, born in 1953, with a postgraduate degree from the Central Party School, had served as a middle school teacher, county magistrate, and city party secretary...

Wang Yulan picked up the remote and changed the channel to Hunan TV's entertainment program.

"What are you doing? I was watching that," Ma Guoqing frowned.

"What's the point of watching news? It's boring," Wang Yulan rolled her eyes. Women were indifferent to politics, and the change in the provincial party secretary had no impact on her.

Ma Guoqing sighed. He had no status at home, and after Wang Yulan made a lot of money from her investments, his status was even lower. He walked to the balcony to smoke, and Ma Ling quietly followed, hands behind her back, hesitantly saying, "Dad..."

"What is it?" Ma Guoqing asked.

"Yes, a friend is transferring to the narcotics squad and wants to consult you about the work there."

"Is it Liu Handong?" Ma Guoqing lit a cigarette. The balcony was dark, and the cigarette glowed intermittently, his face barely visible in the darkness.

Ma Ling knew she couldn't hide anything from her father and said, "Yes, it's him. The narcotics squad wants him, and he can get a permanent position and a household registration."

The police circle was small, and Ma Guoqing had naturally heard about Liu Handong's recent legendary experiences. He seemed to attract all the good things, and it appeared that this guy was not only a troublemaker but also a lucky charm.

Ma Guoqing had been a police officer for many years, always working in the grassroots, and his most glorious moment was helping someone recover a large sum of money from the trash, which even made the news. Liu Handong's actions were what he had dreamed of in his youth, but now that he was old, he no longer had such dreams. Deep down, he couldn't help but envy such impressive achievements.

If he were my son, how great it would be, Ma Guoqing sometimes thought.

But Liu Handong was not his son but Ma Ling's boyfriend, which made Ma Guoqing very conflicted. Being a narcotics officer was extremely dangerous, with frequent injuries and sacrifices. He didn't want his daughter to be a young widow.

"If it were just a friend, I would suggest he join the narcotics squad. It's easier to achieve results, and getting promoted to deputy section chief by thirty is not hard. But for Liu Handong, this guy is too reckless. I'm afraid he won't last three months in narcotics."

This harsh statement was meant to discourage his daughter and make her understand the serious consequences of marrying Liu Handong.

That night, Ma Ling tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. As the daughter of a police officer, she knew the hardships and dangers of being a narcotics officer. Joining the narcotics squad meant being away from home for long periods, unable to take care of family, and facing life-threatening situations in the fight against drug traffickers. Marrying such a person would mean a hard and anxious life.

However, being a riot control officer was not a long-term solution. The three-year contract would end, and Liu Handong's age was reaching the upper limit. After one term, he would have to leave, and the low salary, around two thousand yuan a month, made buying a house and getting married a distant dream.

The benefits of being a narcotics officer, though not high, were better than those of a riot control officer, with the possibility of a permanent position and promotion. The narcotics squad had many officers and police spouses, and if others could bear the danger and hardships, why couldn't she? Why should their husbands and boyfriends be the ones to face the risks and sacrifices for the people?

Thinking about this, Ma Ling felt enlightened. With Liu Handong's abilities, he could be a good narcotics officer, and she should support him.

She picked up her phone and, despite it being one o'clock in the morning, sent a message: "I support you!"

...

In the residential area of the Provincial Public Security Department, Song Jianfeng's study was still lit. The provincial government had undergone significant changes, welcoming the second central-appointed provincial party secretary in history.

The new provincial party secretary, Xu Xinhe, was from Anhui Dangshan and was rumored to be a descendant of Beiyang General Xu Shuzheng. He was a true second-generation red, with his father, Xu Tingge, having served as the provincial party secretary and vice governor of Jiangdong. During the Cultural Revolution, Xu Xinhe was sent to the countryside, and in 1979, he entered Peking University after the restoration of the college entrance examination. After graduation, he entered politics and rose rapidly. He and the former party secretary, Zheng Jiefu, were good friends and allies, so his appointment indicated the central government's support and approval of Jiangdong's work.

Song Jianfeng lit a cigarette and pondered deeply. When Secretary Xu took office, he was very low-key and humble, bringing only a secretary and a driver. He had been in office for some time but had not yet made any significant personnel changes, making it hard to guess his true intentions.

After Secretary Zheng was appointed as the head of the Energy Commission, Sun Jiapol began to make moves. Although he was the weakest provincial governor in Jiangdong's history, he had quietly built his power base, consolidating his forces. Many of the provincial party committee members were his people, and key positions in the provincial government were filled with his supporters, such as Jinjiang's mayor, Jin Mudust, and his deputy, Zhan Shusen.

Song Jianfeng keenly sensed that his tenure as the head of the Public Security Department was coming to an end. He needed to prepare in advance and make strategic moves. The first step was to arrange for his secretary, Shen Hongyi, to be promoted to a county-level position and then to a key position in a county or city police force.

He also needed to promote other loyal subordinates. Song Jianfeng had a list of names, dozens of people who were close to him, capable, and worth cultivating. At the bottom of the list was a name: Liu Handong.

Liu Handong's recent performance had been reported to Song Jianfeng by Secretary Shen. This young man seemed to be born to be a police officer, and his recent actions were outstanding. Both the narcotics squad and the traffic police wanted him.

Song Jianfeng could not directly intervene in the specific arrangements for grassroots personnel, but he could influence the outcome to align with his expectations.

Liu Handong should be sent to the narcotics squad to be tested. If he could adapt to the pace, he would surely take on greater responsibilities and become a true champion of justice.