Chapter 41

As the cocoons dried in the sun, the chrysalises, though fetching a high price, were very light. Therefore, the cocoon harvest and sale only lasted for a couple of days. Traders from outside would come to buy fresh cocoons, and they had to make prior arrangements with the cocoon farmers.

In Liangzhuang Village, Secretary Shan could keep track of the traders' movements.

Secretaries from other villages promised to help by finding a reliable person in each village to monitor the traders' every move.

Illegal operations would be heavily penalized if caught. At that time, they would communicate with the bureau and the industrial and commercial tax authorities to secure some bonuses for the informants. With over a dozen informants, future work would be much more efficient.

Among all pursuits, only education is supreme.

The people of Liangzhuang Village valued education, believing that only through education could one achieve success.

For the various fundraising and levies, they tried to push them off or avoid them whenever possible. However, the "donation" for the county high school expansion was collected in full from every household. It concerned whether the children could attend a key high school, and the Education Bureau could not be offended; this was no laughing matter.

Because of their emphasis on education, Secretary Shan had significant concerns about public security management.

An electronic game hall had opened in the cultural station, featuring gambling machines, mahjong machines where women would strip if they lost, and various violent and bloody "fighting and killing" machines, totaling over a dozen. These machines corrupted young children and deteriorated social morals.

The cultural station, instead of promoting culture, allowed the game hall and a billiard room to operate. Students, instead of going home after school, spent their time there every day.

Behind the old cinema was a family game room. After a long explanation, Xiao Shan clarified that it was a few TVs and game consoles, where children played games like "Contra," "Battle City," and "Super Mario Bros." for two yuan an hour. Many children, especially those from Liangzhuang Village, were addicted to these games.

Compared to helping the township collect debts in Jiangcheng or preventing the outflow of fresh cocoons, managing these entertainment venues was what a public security officer should do.

Xiao Shan led the way, and they went to check it out.

The cultural station was next to the old cinema, and the entrance was filled with bicycles at night.

The billiard room door was open, and a thick curtain hung at the entrance of the game hall. Han Bo surveyed the surroundings, got out of the car, straightened his police uniform, fastened his utility belt, and holstered his gun.

Even a broken gun is still a gun and cannot be taken. He carefully fastened the gun strap, prepared everything, and then took out a briefcase containing various blank documents from the storage compartment.

Xiao Shan was not an irregular security guard but a police officer with law enforcement authority in the several factory areas of the silk mill. The factory did not want to make things too grand, and in Nangang City, the security departments of several large state-owned enterprises had already been converted into police departments, with economic police officers being no different from public security officers.

He took the walkie-talkie and a police baton, pointed to the billiard room, and said they would each take charge of one, block the doors, and then question the people slowly.

"Police inspection, stand in your positions and do not move!"

Lifting the curtain, a wave of cigarette smoke hit his nose. The game hall was filled with smoke, and the two fans were spinning furiously, but the people playing games were still sweating profusely.

Fully armed police officers!

Armed police officers conducting inspections were unprecedented in Liangzhuang Township. Han Bo's appearance completely颠覆ed their understanding. The owner, who was giving change, was stunned, and the dozens of children playing games were in a daze.

"Those under sixteen, stand on the left; those sixteen and over, stand on the right; those sixteen and over who are still in school, stand here."

The owner regained his composure and hurriedly took out a cigarette to greet them, "Comrade Police, I have a license, issued by the cultural department. It's not illegal. Director Wu of the cultural station knows; this is the cultural station's place."

He was from the south, with a strong southern accent. Han Bo stood by the door and said coldly, "Don't offer cigarettes. I'll talk to you about your business later."

"Comrade Police, I really have a license!"

"I don't understand your dialect. Go back to your original position." Han Bo glared at him and pointed to a few young men in their twenties who looked suspicious, "You few, come here."

"Uncle Police, we're just playing games, not stealing or robbing..."

"Cooperating with the police inspection is every citizen's duty. My name is Han, Han Bo, and I am a public security officer dispatched to Liangzhuang Township by the Sigan County Public Security Bureau. Please show me your ID cards."

"Uncle Police, my home is nearby. Why would I carry an ID card when I come out for a walk at night?"

"Special Officer, my home is behind the township government. I'm not a bad person!"

...

The "Strike Hard" campaign had just ended, and its aftereffects were still felt. The young men were obedient, trying to explain themselves and not daring to make any rash moves. The students and children under sixteen were terrified, fearing that their parents or teachers would be informed.

"Report, Special Officer Han, six here. Come in, line up!"

He was new to the area, and Xiao Shan was not confident leaving him alone, so he brought the six minors from the billiard room into the game hall and had them line up in a corner. The billiard room owner followed, looking uneasy at the sight of the fully armed new public security officer.

He had heard that Xiao Shan had been assigned to the county police after returning from the military, but he didn't expect him to be a real police officer.

From the same village, they had grown up together. The young men, seeing Xiao Shan as a savior, shouted joyfully, "Xiao Jun, I'm Aiming. Please vouch for me; I'm not a bad person."

"Xiao Jun, I didn't bring my ID. Please talk to Officer Han for me."

"Do they have any issues?" Han Bo asked, turning his head.

"No issues. They are locals, all known to me, have legitimate jobs, and no criminal records." Being a police officer was great; Xiao Shan had never felt so proud and triumphant, as if he had returned home in glory.

"Alright, you can continue playing."

Who would dare play with you standing there with a gun? The young men quickly exchanged their remaining game tokens for money and hurriedly left. One of the bolder ones ran to the door and turned back, "Xiao Jun, I'm going home first. Come to my place when you have time." Another even stayed to watch the commotion.

"Go, go, we're busy here."

The security guards of the silk mill were about to become public security officers. Before Gao Changxing was officially transferred to the Public Security Bureau, he had undergone a week of police training, including how to take statements. Xiao Shan was well-versed in these procedures.

The game hall was also a place for eating and sleeping, with a curtain separating the inner area.

Han Bo pulled a small table to the door, sat at another desk, and took out the interrogation records and a pen from his bag. He and Xiao Shan each took a copy and began taking statements from the students.

"Starting with you, name?"

He began with the one who looked the youngest, one by one.

With so many people, it was easy to spot fake names. Rural children, unlike city children, were naturally timid and confessed honestly, their faces downcast.

They signed and pressed their fingerprints, following the procedure.

The young man who didn't leave, whom Xiao Shan knew, was tasked with finding the middle school and primary school teachers.

Liangzhuang Market was small, and many teachers who didn't live locally stayed at the school. After taking the eighth statement, the principal of Liangzhuang Middle School, Mr. Jiang, and the principal of the central primary school, Mr. Chen, arrived, accompanied by several parents.

"Special Officer Han, the children are young and don't know better. Can you not keep a record? If they have a record, it will affect their future education and military service, ruining their lives." The principal clearly didn't understand the law and, seeing the situation, thought there would be a record. He angrily pointed at the game hall owner and then pleaded for his students.

He was anxious, and the parents were even more so. One hot-tempered parent grabbed the game hall owner to beat him, and Xiao Shan had to struggle to pull him away, only to have him try to beat his own son.

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