Chapter Thirteen Life Roles

  The next day, I appeared in the video conference room of the Provincial Criminal Investigation Detachment with a crutch under my arm, facing many leaders and senior colleagues to make a work report.

  On the surface, there were just a few hundred familiar colleagues from the major crimes unit, and through video, I had no idea how many people were watching me.

  I don't like this kind of occasion, and even more so I dislike this beautifully written manuscript, describing how brutal the criminal is, describing how great my detective skills are, flattering the leader, flattering colleagues, and also flattering my partner Lin Ruoyin. However, I must not misread a single word, cannot.

  Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap~~~~

  Thunderous applause, it was unexpectedly easy to get, at that time I myself did not think that my face, which had experienced many hardships and was calm, would be photographed and placed in the propaganda column of various police stations for praise.

  Many old colleagues will educate new colleagues like this: look, as long as you do a good job, you can also be converted to regular, get a quota, just like this kid is so proud.

  It's all just a facade; after the conference ended, I replaced Zhao Yong who was ill in his room to attend the dinner party with the big leaders.

  At the sumptuous wine table, there were Jiang Moyang, Liu Xueyi, a provincial bureau cadre, Lin Tianxiang, an old director, Wang Yezhong, a deputy director, and me, Lin Ruoyin and Jiang Yi.

  "Haha, great!" Jiang Moyang laughed heartily: "My baby has untied the knot in her heart and doesn't have to stay in that gloomy ancient town anymore. That little rascal who's like a piece of chewing gum can also get lost. From now on, let's play freely."

  The atmosphere on the wine table was warm and harmonious, Lin Tianxiang smiled and said: "We have thoroughly searched the mountains in a carpet-like manner, completely eliminating hidden dangers. From now on, that ancient town will no longer be gloomy, Brother Jiang, you can rest assured."

  "Can't be better." Jiang Moyang took a sip of his toast: "That Fengshui treasure land has lived in many old cadres, something happened and I really can't 'explain' it, that place..."

  Leaders are talking to each other, I'm just here to accompany them for drinks, can't even move my chopsticks much, sigh...not fun.

  "Grandpa, I think Xiang Yin looks great in her police uniform. Can I also go to the police academy for graduate school?" Jiang Yi suddenly suggested.

  "What? You want to be a police officer? That's so dangerous!" Jiang Moyang was shocked, and we were also deeply skeptical. Would this work?

  But Jiang Yu still insisted: "Grandpa, just let me go, I'll be with my best friend, exercise and my body will get better, right?"

  "Hmm, okay." Jiang Moyang hugged his arms and smiled.

  Lin Tianxiang hastily said: "Jiang brother, my little Yinyin is also here, so you can rest assured of the safety of this circle. You know that Zhao Yong's little tiger has a very high quality, and there are old slippery heads like Luo San Si, special duty king Cheng Long, and this new police star by his side. Moreover, even if something happens to the civil servants, they won't be in any danger."

  Jiang Moyang said with profound meaning: "This young man is a good one, he has made such a great achievement, why not reward him with that golden tank? It can also 'motivate' other police officers to work hard for the people."

  "I understand." Lin Tianxiang smiled and said: "Chuan Jie, you go to the vehicle management office to pick up the car first, then buy some gifts and go see Old Luo."

  Wang Ye Zhong, the deputy director, patted me on the shoulder: "Remember to keep your receipts, come back and I'll reimburse you. Next time, I'll give you a gas card with more money each month. You young man should work hard."

  "Thank you, leader..."

  Hurry hurry hurry, it's almost dark, I hobbled along carrying gifts to the provincial hospital ward.

  "Haha~" Luo Sansi, who was lying on the hospital bed, burst out laughing as soon as he saw me: "Old Zhao, how about it? I said this kid wouldn't make it in the afternoon, but would come tonight. You owe me five grenades."

  Zhao Yong's face turned pale: "Laugh more gently, be careful your belly splits open again."

  "My feet are killing me," I hopped on one foot to the bedside and sat down: "Captain, deputy captain, what are you guys betting on?"

  Cheng Long helped me receive the gift and continued to practice squatting in the corner: "Our heavy case team likes to analyze all kinds of things, two team leaders bet five boxes of beer what time you arrive, Chuan Jie, you're busy enough today, morning meeting, what did you do in the afternoon?"

  It turns out that I laughed and thought it was a bit strange: "At noon, accompanied the leader to eat, this provincial governor is quite generous, gave me that tank, in the afternoon went to the vehicle management office to handle the formalities just came back."

  "What? That beast of a car? You can't be serious?" The three were shocked, knowing that the futuristic off-road vehicle was extremely expensive.

  "What else did the leader say?" Zhao Yong's face turned somewhat pale, and he didn't even lift his body.

  I felt a bit embarrassed: "Cough...the leader said that after I finish the formalities, buy some gifts and come visit Old Luo."

  Cheng Long immediately became displeased: "What? The leader should take a look at the two captains, Zhao and Deputy Captain are both injured."

  "Haha~" Luo Sansi's face was full of deep calculation: "I know what's going on, Chuan Jie, come here and I'll tell you..."

  That night, I couldn't sleep.

  Luosansi told me a story - Journey to the West!

  Zhao Yong is the capable and hard-hitting Sun Wukong, Luo Sansi is the smooth and cunning Zhu Bajie, Cheng Long is the diligent and complaining Sha Wujing, Lin Ruoyin and Jiang Yi are leading Tang Sanzang, and I am the diligent and hardworking little White Dragon Horse, the significance of that fierce beast carriage is self-evident.

  Some people say that a supporting character who doesn't understand their own position can't survive for more than two episodes in a TV series. Luo Sansi told me, if you do well in your own position, one day you will follow the leader and achieve great things.

  During Zhao's and Lao Luo's hospitalization, I returned to the police academy for graduate studies. In fact, every day I drove a cross-country vehicle as Jiang Yi's and Lin Ruoyin's driver. The treatment of this driver was really good, my salary increased by several thousand again, and the oil card increased to 10,000.

  I don't like it this way, but life is always like this, caught between dreams and reality.

  Now I don't even have the right to choose and speak, although I got this car and my worth skyrocketed, but in fact my credit card exploded with a debt of 180,000!

  I spent 200,000 to buy Wang Cheng's ancestral home, now that bricklayer has bought a school district house with his child and mother at a location not far from me, in the future he will raise Liu Yi's children into adults.

  As for Wu Tao, later heard from Old Luo that he would never appear again, but half a year later, his body was found along the Yellow River...

  And my only old town house is now rented to Zhang Mian for 50 cents a day, and I am also responsible for helping her with household expenses, as well as water, electricity, and gas bills.

  I often come and go in Longxi Ancient Town, I remember one evening, I saw such a scene.

  Under the dim moonlight, a small blood monkey sat on the armchair of Longxi Ancient Town - a mournful howl!

  That mournful howl seemed to ask, what have we gained from our generations of perseverance?

  At the end, I couldn't figure out one thing: who was it that moved me onto the armchair that day?

  At the beginning of the new year, Lin Ruoyin, as a 'female' student, felt uncomfortable all over. The reason was that at the New Year's conference, after voting by the heavy case group, I was promoted to one bar and three stars, but she wasn't.

  "Can Zhao and Lao Luo make up? If not, we'll investigate the case ourselves." The three of us basked in the sunlight on campus, occasionally exercising with equipment on the playground.

  "Hmm, my marksmanship is excellent, I can carry out the task now." Jiang Yi has been in a good mood lately, not to mention walking, even running and jumping doesn't make her tired. A bright smile always hangs on the edge of her beautiful lips.

  What a great mood, it's a big difference!

  I, who was content with the status quo, didn't want to move: "Investigating a case isn't an easy thing, it requires accumulation of experience. Besides, you two 'girls', what's the point of running around?"

  "Then let's start with some simple cases first, I haven't investigated any cases yet." Jiang Yi was eager to try, her theoretical knowledge was extremely strong.

  "Cut it out!" Lin Ruoyin suddenly became displeased: "You don't know, this kid doesn't want to get promoted or a raise in salary. He's not willing to part with those two yuan, just look at how stingy he is. Going to the ancient town to see his 'girlfriend', and still driving that broken-down Volkswagen."

  "What's wrong with my car, I call it a brand new first-hand car, just driven for half a year, much better than your decade-old Jetta that always stalls." My brother has a bad temper too, and sometimes he would talk back to her.

  "Ah~~~ You little scoundrel is looking for trouble, beautiful lady, grab him, don't let him get away, beat him up......"

  Hehe haha ~ While the three of us were fooling around, Zhao Yong, Luo Sansi and Cheng Long appeared at the school gate as if watching a show.

  Before long, we six people gathered in the college cafe, with four tables combined, and for the first time, all six of us sat down to chat together, with two 'female' students taking selfies as a keepsake.

  Zhao Yong sat in the middle, a big brother Fan: "Now it's all set, the personnel are complete, we can handle the case. Old Luo, I think we should take over that case, what's against the leadership order, later I'll take responsibility."

  "What case is it? What happened?" Lin Ruoyin and Jiang Yimei looked over, full of anticipation.

  Lao 'Jian' giant slyly furrowed his brow: "In the north of the river, a bizarre murder case has occurred, involving a den of black secrets, with both drug and gang involvement, and complex circumstances. The major crimes unit went to investigate, but three colleagues died. The higher-ups are furious, no matter who is behind this small umbrella, they must crack the case. But I'm worried that our team is new, so shouldn't we first investigate a few smaller cases, and work together for a while before tackling this one? Little Dragon, what do you think?"

  Cheng Long was taken aback, thought for a moment and smiled: "Lao Luo is right, like Chuan Jie, last time in the tomb, he took an electric baton and almost electrocuted Brother Yong bald."

  "Hahaha~~~" Amidst everyone's laughter, I was actually embarrassed: "Why bring up that old stuff about Chen Zhi Ma? Ah, Comrade Xiao Lin, you who can't even watch where you're walking are making fun of me, your lifesaver!"

  "That's something you should be suspicious of." Lin Ruoyin immediately retorted: "Look at you, talking about ghosts with the old lady, decorating with migrant workers, chatting with young girls, and this morning even talking about knitting sweaters with our dorm mother. Do you look like a normal person?"

  "Knowing all sorts of people is a policeman's life experience." This excuse isn't bad.

  Just as we were making a fuss, Zhao Yong helplessly said: "Forget it, out of the 16 major case teams in the bureau, 12 have gone. Recently, there has been a lot of backlog of small cases, so let's just ease the pressure on the bureau for now. If they can't handle it, we can always go later."

  "Great, we've got a case, let's set off quickly." Everyone is eager to get started, rubbing their fists and itching to try.

  However, Zhao Yong waved his hand and said: "Everyone go back and prepare today. We will gather at the police station tomorrow morning. Chuan Jie, you don't need to gather, I have a secret mission for you."

  After finishing speaking, Zhao Yong gave Luo San Si an eye signal, Old Luo had a somewhat suspicious expression, and then handed me a palm-sized black nameplate.

  I took a closer look and found two words carved on it - Ghost Market!