Xiao Huai Dong felt a bit flattered.
He explained, “I don’t actually work at the steel factory. That day, the factory driver happened to be absent, so Director Liu temporarily asked me to fill in.”
Du Mingwang was overjoyed. “That’s even better!”
Xiao Huai Dong nodded politely. “I’m very honored to have your recognition. Whether it was catching thieves before or capturing traffickers and spies, I only did what any citizen should do. Also… I didn’t finish middle school. I’m worried my education level might affect my future work.”
Du Mingwang slapped the coffee table and said seriously, “Comrade Xiao, judging by how you speak, how could you be uneducated? You lack a diploma, not knowledge. There’s no need to worry.”
“Alright. As long as you don’t mind, Director, I’m willing to join the bureau and serve the people as a police officer.”
After saying this, Xiao Huai Dong felt as if he were floating—it all seemed unreal.
Du Mingwang stood up excitedly and extended his hand solemnly.
“Comrade Xiao, in my capacity as Director of the Tongshan County Public Security Bureau, I formally invite you to join our force.”
Xiao Huai Dong stood up and shook his hand.
“Haha, wonderful! This trip was truly worthwhile.”
The old director clapped happily. “Alright, Xiao Xiao, you’ll follow Xiao Zhao for one month. Within that month, if you can solve three cases, then in the second month, Mingwang will promote you to captain of the Fifth Team. In the future, the more merits you earn, the more opportunities you’ll have to rise.”
Du Mingwang hadn’t expected his father to think exactly the same as him, and his smile deepened.
Xiao Huai Dong was inwardly startled.
He hadn’t even officially started yet—and already he was being assigned tasks.
What if he couldn’t solve three cases within a month?
“Alright, it’s settled. Tomorrow, bring your household registration booklet to the bureau and complete the onboarding procedures.”
As they were seeing the four of them out, Xiao Huai Dong took out a packet of Maojian tea and slipped it into the old director’s hand.
“I’ve heard this tea can help lower blood pressure. At your age, it’s common to have high blood lipids and sugar levels. Why not take it home and give it a try?”
The old director hadn’t expected Xiao Huai Dong to be so tactful. Even giving a gift was done so naturally—and it hit right at his heart.
He felt even more satisfied with Xiao Huai Dong.
Just as the four stepped out of the yard, a police officer rode up hurriedly on a bicycle.
“Deputy Director Du, something’s wrong! A man named Wu Peng has died in the hospital. Captain Zhao and the others were attacked at the scene!”
Du Mingwang frowned. “Someone dared to attack the police?”
The officer reporting looked furious. “It was Wu Peng’s family. Not only did they attack us, they also assaulted the doctors and nurses. The scene is in chaos. The squad leader is away on business, and the other teams are all on assignments. There are barely any people left at the bureau, so I came to find you.”
Du Mingwang glanced at the old director. “Dad, you go back first. I’ll personally head to the hospital.”
The old director sighed deeply.
“Mingwang, public security in our county has never been great. But even so, there has never been a case of police being beaten. If even our officers aren’t safe, how can the people trust us? You must take this seriously.”
Du Mingwang gave a solemn salute. “Yes, sir. Please rest assured—I will handle this properly.”
As Xiao Huai Dong watched them leave, a vague sense of unease rose in his heart.
Wu Peng was dead.
And Wu Peng had been hospitalized because of him.
Would he be implicated?
On the other side—
Xu Huaying brought Xiao Nanchu to Xiguan Primary School.
Most of the students here were children of workers from nearby large factories.
Xiao Nanchu was six years old and was placed in first grade.
“Little Bean Sprout, I asked around and found that there’s a particularly excellent teacher named Teacher Yao in first grade. I used some connections to get you into her class.”
Xu Huaying led her to Class One, Grade One.
“You’ll study in this class from now on. If anyone dares to bully you, tell the teacher. If the teacher doesn’t handle it, then fight back. If anything happens, Auntie will stand up for you. You must never let yourself suffer a loss. Do you understand, Little Bean Sprout?”
Xiao Nanchu was momentarily stunned.
Just yesterday, her father had told her to study hard, unite with classmates, and get along well with everyone.
Compared to that, Xu Huaying’s words made Xiao Nanchu see her in a whole new light.
As expected of someone who had studied abroad—Xu Huaying’s thinking was far ahead of this era.
Xiao Nanchu couldn’t help but think her father was truly lucky to have married such a wonderful woman.
She gestured for Xu Huaying to bend down.
Taking the opportunity, Xiao Nanchu kissed her on the cheek.
“Aunt Xu, I really like you!”
Xu Huaying froze for a long moment before realizing what had just happened.
She was so moved she couldn’t speak, her eyes brimming with joy.
“Auntie likes you very much too!”
Xiao Nanchu waved. “Aunt Xu, go to work now. I’ll go to the classroom myself.”
Only after Xiao Nanchu entered the classroom did Xu Huaying leave with peace of mind.
Standing at the door, Xiao Nanchu glanced at the group of small children seated inside, then walked toward the female teacher at the podium.
“You must be Xiao Nanchu, right?”
The teacher looked at her with a hint of sarcasm, sizing her up from head to toe. Her gaze lingered on the schoolbag on Xiao Nanchu’s back, her face openly showing jealousy.
Xiao Nanchu frowned slightly. What was wrong with this teacher?
“Go sit in the last row—the very last seat.”
The teacher pointed to a desk in the corner, covered in dust.
“Teacher Yao, that desk has a broken leg! It can’t be used!”
A girl with a high ponytail stood up and spoke loudly.
“Teacher Yao, let her sit next to me! There’s an empty seat here!”
A chubby boy patted the desk beside him, looking expectantly at both the teacher and Xiao Nanchu.
Teacher Yao’s expression changed. She slammed the book in her hand onto the desk and turned to glare coldly at Xiao Nanchu.
“Yuan Qu, do you really want to sit with her?”
A girl sitting in front of the chubby boy turned around and said in a voice that the whole class could hear, “She’s just a burden. Her dad is a freeloader pretty boy. How can you sit with someone like that?”
Xiao Nanchu’s gaze fell on the girl who spoke.
“What I said is true. If you don’t believe me, ask Huang Jiaojiao. Her mom is even a distant relative of that burden!”
The chubby boy scratched his head, his eyes darting between the teacher and the girl.
“Sun Pingping, what does her family have to do with you? I want her to sit next to me—why do you care?”
The classroom erupted because of Sun Pingping’s words.
Many children didn’t understand what “freeloader” or “burden” meant, but some more mature ones eagerly spread the explanation.
Before long, the entire class knew that Xiao Nanchu was a countryside burden who had come to the city with her father to live off others.