Chapter 8

"Bang——Bang——Bang——Bang——Bang——Bang——"

Although the CID department's affairs were complicated, they were not as rigid as the patrol department, which required patrolling the streets for eight and a half hours every day. Therefore, Li Er could always find time to practice shooting, and since it didn't cost him anything, this guy had never saved a single bullet for the government since the first day he joined the CID.

Today, Li Xianying didn't come; he was gathering intelligence. Li Er, who partnered with this old hand, learned a lot of practical things. Without the guidance of an old hand, some new police officers might never figure out these things in their entire lives.

After Li Er fired six shots, he immediately checked the system. Sure enough, in the "Shooting" skill section, the proficiency level changed from 0 to 1.

Li Er grinned. Although the progress was small, any progress was better than none, which proved that he was on the right path.

Most people can't persist until the final victory because they don't see even a tiny bit of progress no matter how hard they try.

Li Er's shooting practice was very effective. At least he wouldn't have the embarrassing situation of being too nervous to draw his police gun. Although his shooting skills were still poor, his speed in drawing the gun had become much faster and smoother, easily fooling some rookies.

"I will quietly improve and then surprise everyone!" Li Er suddenly grinned and kissed his police gun. To his surprise, the proficiency level of "Shooting" in the system increased by 0.1, now at 1.1. Li Er also felt that his grip on the gun was a bit more comfortable.

"Wow, is there such a thing?" Li Er was both delighted and chilled.

......

"Li Er, help me write a press release for tomorrow's press conference!" CID team leader Wen Sir called Li Er to his office and instructed him.

"Sure! What content?" Li Er asked.

Wen Sir handed a document from his desk to Li Er and said, "It's about the six cases this month, including anti-prostitution, anti-drug, and anti-gambling operations. Take a look and write a good speech for me."

"Headquarters has asked me to represent our CID department and speak at the press conference tomorrow!" Wen Sir explained when he saw Li Er's confusion.

"Understood!" Li Er nodded solemnly.

Wen Sir thought for a moment and hesitantly reminded, "Li Er, um, highlight me, the effective command of our CID team, and so on."

"Of course!" Li Er tactfully replied, "If it weren't for your proper arrangements and effective scheduling, Sir, these operations wouldn't have been so successful."

"Ha ha! Yes, yes! I knew you were smart and had a bright future! Go! Finish it as soon as possible and give it to me. I need to memorize it tonight."

The recruitment standards for the police force in this era were very low. All the CID members were rough men, and only Wen Sir had completed middle school. The other officers had only finished primary school. They could catch street vendors, but if they were asked to write, they would create all sorts of strange new characters, especially Li Xianying.

In this situation, Li Er, who had attended a third-rate university in his previous life, unexpectedly became the most educated person in the police station, and even Wen Sir had to pay special attention to him.

Li Er spent only fifteen minutes to hastily finish the press release Wen Sir needed, but he deliberately dragged it until the end of the day, then handed it over with a look of great effort. Wen Sir thought Li Er had really put a lot of effort into it.

"Li Er, I heard you like tea?" Wen Sir said, throwing a box of tea leaves from his desk to Li Er.

"Someone gave it to me. Take it!"

Li Er's eyes lit up. Free tea leaves were not to be missed, and even if he couldn't drink it all, he could use it to make tea eggs.

"Thank you, Sir!" Li Er said with gratitude.

Wen Sir quickly opened the press release Li Er had written. His promotion depended on tomorrow's performance, and he was very satisfied with Li Er's work, thinking it was on par with the Commissioner's level.

......

"Dao Youcheng! Why do you run when you see me?" Li Xianying coldly snarled.

"Brother B, how could I dare to offend you? The situation is tense now. Don't look for me in the streets. If anyone finds out I'm a snitch, you'll be looking for my body in the sewers!" A gaunt, emaciated man said.

"Last time I let you off, and you haven't even thanked me!" Li Xianying grabbed Dao Youcheng's back and lifted him up like an eagle catching a chick.

"Brother B, Brother B, let go! You're going to strangle me! If you want information, it's 500 bucks!" Dao Youcheng looked at Li Xianying and Li Er behind him and quoted a price.

"Hey! You're raising the price, aren't you!" Li Xianying slapped Dao Youcheng's head and scolded him.

"Brother B, do you think I want to raise the price? Your CID has been sweeping the drug dealers, and the street dealers are taking advantage to raise prices. I haven't had a fix for three days and could die at any moment." Dao Youcheng complained.

"200! Either you give me the information, or I beat it out of you." Li Xianying took out 200 bucks.

Dao Youcheng quickly snatched the 200 bucks from Li Xianying's hand.

"I knew I shouldn't work with you cops. At the intersection of Nathan Road, there seems to be a robbery planned at the gas station." Dao Youcheng whispered.

"Robbery at a gas station?" Li Xianying was taken aback.

"Right!"

Dao Youcheng was about to leave, and Li Xianying knew he was craving again, so he didn't stop him.

"How about that? Did you learn something?" After Dao Youcheng left, Li Xianying proudly raised his eyebrows at Li Er. "Don't look at these addicts as timid. They know everything that's happening in Tsim Sha Tsui."

Li Er nodded in agreement. He had seen "Infernal Affairs" and knew the importance of informants to the police in solving cases.

"Brother B, is the informant fee paid by the department or out of your own pocket?" Li Er asked.

"Do you think the department would pay for it?" Li Xianying glanced at Li Er. "Out of my own pocket!"

"Amazing!" Li Er gave a thumbs up, admiring Li Xianying's generosity. He usually treated them to meals, but Li Er never thought Li Xianying would pay for informants out of his own pocket. This was a move he wouldn't learn, as his wallet couldn't afford it.

After finishing the task, Li Xianying waved his hand and said, "Let's go! Have a meal, my treat!"

"Wow! So generous!" Li Er roughly understood why Li Xianying couldn't find a girlfriend. With his spending habits, his salary wouldn't last until the end of the month, leaving no money for dates. He deserved to be single.

"Brother B, don't you think the informant fee shouldn't be paid by you alone?" Li Er couldn't help but ask Li Xianying during the meal.

"Of course! I don't want to pay either!" Li Xianying said firmly.

"But Wen Sir and the others don't want to share the cost either!" Li Xianying shrugged. "What can I do?"

"Then don't use informants. Everyone can work in the dark. This is a department matter, not your personal responsibility." Li Er felt he couldn't understand Li Xianying's logic.

Li Xianying frowned. "That's not good. Besides, I can't keep paying. I spend all my salary each month and then stop. Anyway, the salary is paid by the police station, so I'm not losing anything!"

Li Er: "......"

Li Er didn't want to argue with Li Xianying on this issue, fearing it would lower his own IQ. However, he was determined to be friends with Li Xianying. Not taking advantage of such a generous person would be a waste of his nine years of compulsory education.

The next evening, Li Xianying, Li Er, and other CID colleagues ambushed the Jordan Road gas station and successfully apprehended a group of criminals planning to rob the station. All the officers involved in the operation were praised and credited with a commendation, but no one remembered that Li Xianying had provided the information first, and no one proposed to reimburse him the 200 bucks for the informant fee.

Li Er was really speechless, glad that this fool wasn't him.