Detective: I, Cao Jianjun, started by arresting my brother-in-law.

"Hey, Jianjun, no need, no need."

Zhang Zhijie came out with the documents in his hand: "Look at you, being so polite. It doesn't matter whether you take these or not, just don't forget that you still owe us all a meal."

"Yes, Jianjun..."

"We can't just skip the New Year's Eve dinner we promised, can we?"

"That's right, that's right, since you're treating this time, no one will take leave..."

"Hey, I think these days are just right, everyone's pretty free."

"There's no time like the present, how about today?"

Those who wanted to join in the fun, those who wanted to joke around, all chimed in and egged on the event.

"To be honest, I came here today specifically for this matter."

Cao Jianjun smiled, put down the milk, clapped his hands, and looked at everyone to say something.

"Just to give you an official announcement, my daughter's one-month celebration is in a few days."

"Jianjun, this...this won't do."

Before Cao Jianjun could finish speaking, Gao Suo immediately raised his hand in objection: "You're treating everyone to dinner because you're getting promoted to the provincial department."

“Now that you’re throwing a full-month celebration for your child, we uncles and aunts have to give you money as a gift.”

"Good heavens, it's been waiting here... I told you it was New Year's, why did it run away so fast?"

"Jianjun, you've really gotten a lot of cunning after your trip to the south!"

167. Director: Be careful of Xia Jie [6 chapters, please subscribe]

After not seeing each other for half a year, a group of old colleagues joked around and then went back to work one after another.

Cao Jianjun climbed the stairs to the second floor and went straight into the director's office.

The two had a mentor-student relationship, and upon meeting, Cao Jianjun greeted him with a smile, just like a junior.

The director didn't say anything, just stood there with his hands behind his back, staring at him without blinking, more like an elder scrutinizing a junior.

How is Zhou Hui?

There was no teasing or jeering, nor any praise or admiration.

The director immediately asked about the most practical matters.

"Everything is fine. I just hired a postpartum nanny a couple of days ago."

Cao Jianjun sat down obediently. There were only the two of them in the room, and they chatted without any pretense.

"You'll be a man with a wife and kids by now, kid."

The director personally poured Cao Jianjun a glass of water and brought it to him, saying, "We should avoid taking on drug enforcement undercover work like this in Tazhai if possible."

"No matter how capable you are, you have to be careful. You're not afraid of anything, but you're afraid of the unexpected."

"Have you thought about what would happen to Huihui and the baby in her belly if something really went wrong on this trip to South Vietnam?"

Cao Jianjun didn't know how to answer.

He can't exactly say he has a system and can't die.

"All these years, ever since you came to Balihe, I've been telling you..."

"For us police officers, the first priority is to ensure our own safety; otherwise... nothing else matters."

"I refuse to believe that no one but you, Cao Jianjun, could handle this task of establishing the Tazhai system village."

“I can’t interfere in other people’s business, but Zhou Hui and her child only have you 220 left. Where do they have any other relatives?”

The director spoke in a tone that was both instructive and reprimanding, standing behind his desk and rambling on in a slow and deliberate manner.

"I didn't know you left in such a hurry. If I had known, I would never have let you go."

"Xia Jie's mother, you saw it too. How have you managed all these years?"

"Do you want Zhou Hui to end up like Xia Jie's mother?"

“Let me tell you, Cao Jianjun, if it really comes to that, Zhou Hui will suffer even more than Xia Jie’s mother.”

Cao Jianjun kept his head down and nodded occasionally.

The director is still the same director.

Others will only see his one achievement after another, and Cao Jianjun's glorious achievements.

Only the director, who is always thinking about practical issues, would remind Cao Jianjun to take a more cautious approach whenever he had time.

In particular, after Cao Jianjun made a meritorious contribution, the director would give him a special reminder, for fear that he would make a mistake.

Even now, Cao Jianjun is about to enter the provincial department and his police rank will soon surpass Wang Shouyi's.

The director still said what needed to be said, without feeling like a stranger at all.

That's why Cao Jianjun was willing to listen.

Sometimes, the further you go on your journey, the fewer people truly care about you.

Cao Jianjun listened attentively to the half-hour-long admonition without uttering a word.

The director realized that it was about time, so he changed the subject and pulled up a chair to sit down.

What are the next steps?

Let's get down to business.

Cao Jianjun then looked up: "Still waiting for news, I guess I should go back to the provincial criminal investigation team."

"So, it's still the same as before the New Year."

The director nodded slightly: "Should we leave after the full moon celebration, or leave earlier?"

"I plan to wait until after the full moon celebration."

Cao Jianjun pursed his lips and said, "I want to stay and spend some quality time with Zhou Hui and the children."

"Yes, that's the right way to think about it."

The director nodded in satisfaction: "You must always remember that we are just ordinary people, eating three meals a day. Never get caught up in those illusory achievements."

"I'm telling you this not so that you'll back down or go bankrupt at work, but so that you'll stay rational."

"Never act impulsively."

Again.

Cao Jianjun remained silent.

Has Xia Jie contacted you?

Suddenly.

The director's question, asked without warning, left Cao Jianjun somewhat bewildered, and he shook his head blankly.

"Director... Director, why... why are you asking that?"

"It's okay."

The director seemed to want to say something but hesitated, and shook his head.

"You mean..."

Cao Jianjun gradually remembered something: "When I was on a mission with Xia Jie in Northeast China, she was seriously injured and unconscious."

"On the way to the hospital, I told her that as long as she held on, I would take her to the provincial hospital with me."

"Xia Jie had mentioned it to me before this."

"Director, is this what you wanted to talk about?"

Director Wang Shouyi squinted at Cao Jianjun before finally speaking.

"Besides these, there's nothing else?"

"No more!"

Cao Jianjun looked innocent and thoughtful: "What? Did Xia Jie say anything to you?"

"There are some things I can't say outright, or maybe I'm overthinking it."

The director withdrew his gaze and said in a somewhat tactful tone, "However, as your former director, and also as your mentor..."

"I feel it's necessary to remind you, Jianjun, that as you achieve more in the future, you will also face more and more challenges."

"Zhou Hui has been with you all this way, it hasn't been easy."

"You absolutely cannot make any mistakes in your conduct, absolutely, absolutely..."

Cao Jianjun sounded somewhat guilty.

According to the director's standards, Huang Xi's actions were absolutely a big mistake, and a very serious one at that.

But Cao Jianjun felt something was off, because he kept talking about Xia Jie.

What does this have to do with Xia Jie?

"No, Director..."