Chapter Fifty-Three: All Kinds of Evasion

  In a certain unit of the Happiness Road community, the Tian Miao Miao family was in an uproar. As soon as Tian Miao Miao entered the door, she threw herself into her mother's arms and burst into tears. At first, her mother thought it was because she had been away from home for too long and missed her. But then she heard her daughter's rapid-fire speech about the training team, special recruitment class, and Gong Qian, and the whole family couldn't sit still anymore. Their daughter had been deceived! How could a girl go to such a place as the Criminal Police Brigade, which handled major cases?

  Miao Miao's dad said lazily, "Didn't your uncle say to go back to the dorm directly? Why did you change your mind? Ah, right! Didn't your instructor say that this is what the municipal bureau wants to cultivate in you? You're just a girl, they shouldn't really make you catch bad guys, should they?"

  Tian Miao's face turned sour as soon as he heard the news. "What are you listening to their nonsense for?" he said. "That's not a good place at all. Everyone knows about this. The First Brigade of Criminal Investigation is not only feared by bad guys, but also by police officers. Every day when they go out, it's either robbery, murder, arson, or smuggling, trafficking, and poisoning. Three hundred and sixty days a year, on average, you see dead people every week."

  Ah... this... it's really as absurd as my daughter said. I should seriously consider it. It's not just a joke. Miao Miao's mom was stunned, and subconsciously hugged Tian Miao Miao tighter.

  "This side is still adding oil and vinegar, continuing to talk nonsense: 'You don't know yet, do you? I heard that last year alone, a large team sacrificed eight people, more than ten police officers were seriously injured, and those who were lightly injured were hospitalized for two days. The wounds hadn't healed yet, and they were already sent to another big case. They were rushed to the scene like ducks on a rack. As soon as they left the police station, they were shot at again. If they weren't careful, they'd either lose an arm or a leg. Aren't you afraid that I'll be sent back wrapped in the national flag? Waaahhh..."

  The main point is just one: don't want to go. Anyway, don't want to go. Miao Miao's mom kept saying "bad luck". She dislikes her daughter talking about bad things. In the end, even the two of them didn't have a say. Miao Miao's dad said why not call her uncle? Miao Miao's mom whispered: look at her, so cunning and clever. You don't know what kind of virtue your daughter has... which is not as exaggerated as she said...

  "Mom, I need to criticize you, you should learn from this; usually you don't pay attention to the big things that happen. Now in our country there are many bad people. Look at what they say on the law and order channel about those drug dealers, murderers, bank robbers, child traffickers... a whole team of them is caught every day, fighting against these vicious criminals every day. Who can guarantee they won't encounter an accident? You must remember our 4.12 big case. In this age, who are the police afraid of? When they see us, aren't they still shooting?"

  Miao Miao was over there, pointing her finger and analyzing the situation. She only picked out the most alarming things to say, which made her parents listen with bated breath and break out in cold sweat. Finally, Miao Miao's father said: "If it's really that dangerous, then let's not go... I only have one daughter. This isn't like during the eight years of war resistance. There's no reason to send my own daughter to the front lines. Let her uncle take care of it instead. You make a phone call."

  Miao Miao's mother slapped the table resolutely: "Stop making phone calls, let's go directly. It's great to be a household registration police officer or a precinct police officer at the police station. I won't push my daughter into the fire pit."

  Liu Jianmin's words made his sister block the entrance of the residential area. After hearing their intentions, she was furious and her whole body trembled with rage. She pointed at Tian Miao Miao and stuttered for a long time. Suddenly, she turned around and hugged an electric pole, vomiting violently. Tian Miao Miao's mother watched this scene and thought it didn't feel right. She asked in a low voice: "You wouldn't be fooling us, would you? Look at how angry your uncle is, he's even throwing up."

  Tian Miao said innocently: "You don't see how much cat urine he's been drinking, this is a broken piece of drink, I can make him spit it out, this is our local emperor."

  Liu Zong finally caught his breath with the help of Miao Miao's father and Tian Miao Miao, who had carried him into the house. After struggling to drink two bottles of glucose oral liquid mixed with warm water, he lit a cigarette and finally calmed down. As soon as he opened his mouth, he scolded: "You little devil, you want to rebel against heaven! Tell me carefully, what were you thinking?"

  "Uncle, isn't it obvious that Gong Qian is playing a trick on me? We all agreed and signed the intention to allocate positions. But then suddenly I was assigned to the criminal police team! Me?! Look at me! Your niece is so lovely, such a youthful and invincible beauty going to the criminal police team... Do you believe it?"

  "Who told you that Gong Qian is in charge of you? Everyone has been telling me about your affairs. Who allowed you to show off so much at the Wan Heng Lu event? The higher-ups think you handled the sudden event well, and that's why they temporarily changed their allocation intention."

  "I don't care, I don't want to be a detective at all. Uncle, look at me, I'm not a technical person and I don't understand forensic medicine. What can I do in the criminal police team? There's really no place for me to fit in. If I don't go to the front line, it won't work." Tian Miao Miao said, getting more and more petulant.

  Director Liu slammed his hand on the table: "Who is born to be a policeman? Those are all forced out. I, your uncle, have been doing this for a lifetime too. Listen, listen, last year eight people died in our team and more than ten were seriously injured."

  "Look at what you're thinking about. Is this how you spread rumors? The entire team of 40 or so police officers on duty, and you've already crippled half of them. If our people's police were all as useless as you, wouldn't the city have been turned upside down long ago?"

  The pampering and indulgence of the past are gone. Director Liu, who rarely smoked, lit two cigarettes after a rare moment of silence. He scratched his messy hair and spoke to Tian Miao with a heavy heart: "I'm telling you, Miao, your uncle doesn't want to scold you either. But things have already come to this point. Some things I didn't want to tell you, but now I have to talk to you about them seriously."

  All three of you are from our police station. As usual, there must be a quota in the station. I had reserved it for you beforehand. But this plan can't keep up with changes. The superior's order has been issued. People's Police is a disciplined force. Obeying orders is the first priority. Your current attitude doesn't consider your parents at all.

  Your uncle said something unpleasant. You know better than me what kind of people are in your special recruitment class. Those who want to learn have the qualifications, those who want connections have connections, and those who want money have a lot of it. But what do you have? Graduated from a third-rate university, with a soft diploma. Neither is it a professional match nor do you have any special skills. You can become a police officer, let alone me. Don't think your parents didn't spend a single penny on this.

  "You think you're a real police officer now? You're still just an intern. From internship to formal employment, it's been a year and you haven't even moved. Don't you want to make some progress? Look at your dad, he earns almost as much as I do, but look at how much money he spends on cigarettes. He has no hobbies or interests, doesn't even go to the tea house. And your mom, haven't you noticed that she hasn't bought new clothes for herself in years? Miao Miao, you're all grown up now, shouldn't you learn to consider your parents' feelings?"

  Miao Miao's mother looked at her daughter anxiously and whispered a complaint to her younger brother: "Lao Yao, what's the point of telling the child such things?"

  Liu Suo Chang rarely listened to his sister's complaints, and with a serious face, he said to Tian Miao Miao: "Miao Miao, you're already in your twenties, right? Your mom was this age when she gave birth to you. The matter of going to the First Brigade is already settled. If you don't want to go, I can reassign you, but even Gong Qian from your class doesn't have that ability. Your uncle and parents are even less capable; if you're a sensible child, just obediently report for duty on time. Old Uncle has some connections with Zhou from the First Brigade, so it's not bad to let him take care of you. I think it's still okay. You should trust Old Uncle too. Police officers are human beings, and the First Brigade isn't some kind of mysterious place like you said. That's all I have to say. If you're going, I'll personally send you off tomorrow. Alright, you can go back now..."

  "Waaah... Dad... Mom... you..." Tian Miao Miao had already been handed over to her maternal uncle and was now in her mother's arms, tears streaming down her face.

  Miao Miao's mother's face was also very poor, with a look of being unable to bear the weight. Her daughter was growing bigger and stronger every day, and she had tried her best to give her the best things in life. But when she turned around, she found that her own wings were already beginning to wither away, and could no longer shelter her little treasure from the wind and rain. This feeling of being old and useless made Miao Miao's parents feel extremely sad and ashamed...

  At night after going home, Miao Miao's mom gently stroked her beloved daughter's face and said: "Miao Miao, from young to old you have always been obedient. It has always been Dad and Mom who made decisions for you. You've grown up now. This time you make the decision yourself. Dad and Mom will listen to you. I thought about my daughter going to the criminal police team and my heart is worried..."

  Tian Miao returned to her own room. Silly silly sat on the edge of the bed... one hour... two hours...

  When Miao's mother pushed open the door and came in at dawn, she was still sitting silently, tears streaming down her face without saying a word.

  Miao Miao's mother hugged her baby daughter tightly and said lovingly: "Baby, go to sleep for a while. If you really don't want to go, then let's not go. We'll think of another way..."

  Hiding in her mother's arms, Tian Miao Miao seemed to have gained some courage. She said softly: "Mom, I've thought it through. I'll go. Sorry...I didn't know you and Dad spent so much money on my work. Not only did I not appreciate it, but I also never considered your feelings. Sorry...Waaahhh..."

  Looking at her crying and heartbroken daughter in her arms, Miao Miao's mother couldn't help but cry too. As a mother, she could feel her daughter's fear and helplessness. But what could she do about it...

  Three days passed in a hurry. Time to get on the bus. Mom reluctantly rubbed Tian Miao's little head, and Dad handed her a thick wad of money. On the police car, she waved goodbye with reluctance. On the bus, Liu Jianmin, who had been looking gloomy, also handed over a thick envelope. Opening it, I found another thick wad of money...

  "Landmine." Just as Tian Miao Miao got off the car, she happened to run into Gao Xiang carrying a bag into the yard. Gao Xiang looked very happy when he saw Tian Miao Miao. He quickly walked two steps forward and first greeted Director Liu with a bow. Then he kept talking to Tian Miao Miao nonstop.