If you were made a mascot, you would become a legend in the police force.

The canteen at Taiping Town Police Station was incredibly hot and steamy. Frost covered the windows, but the aroma inside was so enticing it made your mouth water.

This tastes just right.

A huge iron pot, a meter in diameter, sat in the middle of the table, with glowing red charcoal fire beneath it. The moment the lid was lifted, the aroma of soy sauce mixed with the scent of meat hit you like a whoosh. Simmering inside was the area's most famous goose, its meat firm, its skin a deep reddish-brown, surrounded by a ring of golden cornbread. The lower half of the goose was submerged in the rich broth, soaking up all the flavorful juices—it looked absolutely mouthwatering.

Li Tuantuan sat in a specially made reinforced chair, with an extra-large napkin around her neck—actually just a white towel—and a stainless steel basin in her hand. Her eyes were fixed on the goose meat bubbling in the pot, and her drool almost dripped onto the black feathers on her chest.

[Li Tuantuan's inner monologue]: Oh my god, who can resist this? Old Ma's cooking is amazing! This goose looks to weigh over ten pounds, the potatoes are stewed until they're almost mushy, and the wide rice noodles are so translucent!

"Gun Gun, don't rush, the sauce hasn't reduced yet."

Old Ma held a large ladle in his hand, chuckled, stirred the pot a couple of times, and then sprinkled in a handful of bright green scallions and cilantro.

"This is a send-off meal, so we have to eat well. I heard you're going deep into the mountains and forests; you won't find a hot meal like this there."

Lin Wan, who was sitting next to him and putting on her stab-proof vest, frowned slightly upon hearing this.

"Uncle Ma, don't make it sound like we're going to our deaths. Even if we're just going to catch a drug dealer, with Gun Gun around, it's a piece of cake."

Although Lin Wan said that, she wasn't really sure herself. That was deep in the Qinling Mountains, and it was the lair of a desperate criminal. In the past few days, she had been interrogating that Tiger Brother. Although the kid had been scared out of his wits by Li Tuantuan and had given her a general location, the specific terrain and the enemy's firepower were still unknown.

"Come on, let's get started!"

Director Wang Zhenhua, holding a wine glass (which contained tea), stood up and said a few words.

"Comrades, the Municipal Bureau is taking this operation very seriously. 'Viper' gang is a scourge on this area. We're cooperating with the SWAT team in this operation, but we have a secret weapon—"

Director Wang pointed to Li Tuantuan, who was burying her head in the basin and showing off her goose.

"Comrade GunGun, although it doesn't have an official police rank, it's participating this time as a 'specially appointed expert.' Everyone must protect it well; of course, it will also be crucial in protecting everyone in critical moments. Come on, cheers!"

Li Tuantuan had no time to pay attention to him.

He was wrestling with a large goose leg. The goose leg was stewed until it was so tender it fell off the bone; with a gentle suck, the meat would come right off. It was salty, savory, and slightly spicy, with a hint of wood firewood flavor, so fragrant that Li Tuantuan wanted to swallow her tongue.

[Li Tuantuan's inner monologue]: Forget all that fancy stuff, being well-fed is the only thing that matters. Once we're in the mountains, eating bamboo every day, our mouths will get so bland. These cornbreads are delicious too, crispy on the bottom and soft on top, dipped in soup, absolutely amazing!

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." Lin Wan looked at Li Tuantuan's ravenous eating and couldn't help but reach out to wipe the sauce from the corner of his mouth. "You're supposed to be a national treasure, how come you eat like a starving ghost? You have no idol image at all."

Li Tuantuan rolled her eyes and pushed the basin in front of Lin Wan.

"Mmm!" (Another spoonful! Wide rice noodles, please!)

Lin Wan sighed and resignedly picked up a large ladle to serve him food.

"These drug dealers are something else. They'd rather not have a good life than do this kind of heinous business," Old Ma sighed from the side. "Our Taiping Town used to be so peaceful. But in recent years, with more outsiders coming in, all sorts of monsters and scoundrels have arrived."

"People die for money, birds die for food, right?" Director Wang put down his teacup, his expression becoming much more serious. "According to Tiger's confession, that guy called 'Viper' is a ruthless character. He used to work on the border and has people on his hands. We absolutely cannot let our guard down when we go in this time."

Just then, the sound of brakes came from the entrance of the cafeteria.

A team of fully armed special police officers walked in, led by Captain Li, an old acquaintance.

"Hey, eating?" Captain Li looked at the huge pot of stewed goose, his Adam's apple bobbing. "This food is pretty good, much better than what we have back home."

"Come on, Captain Li, bring a pair of chopsticks, it's fresh out of the pot!" Director Wang greeted them warmly.

Captain Li waved his hand: "No need to eat, the mission is urgent. The helicopter is already in place. We'll transport the assault team to the assembly point at the foot of the mountain first, and then we'll hike up. This awful weather, a blizzard is about to hit, and if we don't leave soon, the mountain will be closed."

Upon hearing that she was leaving, Li Tuantuan immediately sped up her eating.

He used both hands to stuff the remaining cornbreads into his mouth, his cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.

[Li Tuantuan's inner monologue]: They're closing the mountain? Then I need to eat even more! Who knows when the next meal will be? System, store all these calories for me, so I don't get hungry after just a few steps!

After eating and drinking her fill, Li Tuantuan let out a loud burp that made the cafeteria windows vibrate.

He patted his round belly contentedly, feeling full of energy.

"Alright, stop filming, you look like a watermelon." Lin Wan pulled him up from the chair. "Let's go, my expert, it's time to get to work."

Li Tuantuan reluctantly moved her feet, walked to the door, and then looked back at the big iron pot.

There was still some broth left in the pot, simmering away.

[Li Tuantuan's inner monologue]: When I get back after arresting those people, I'll have to make Old Ma stew another pot of pork ribs and green beans. This iron pot stew is simply the light of human civilization!

The wind outside picked up, and snowflakes began to fall.

A line of police cars, flashing red and blue lights, stretched like a long dragon into the depths of the Qinling Mountains.

In the car, Li Tuantuan leaned against Lin Wan and closed her eyes to rest.

Although he appeared to be asleep, he was actually planning the operation in his mind.

That "venomous snake," since he can operate on the border, must have extremely strong counter-surveillance capabilities. Searching for him in these mountains using human methods is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

But they forgot that this is the Qinling Mountains.

It's the animals' territory.

And Li Tuantuan is now the "uncrowned king" of this mountain forest.

[Li Tuantuan's inner monologue]: You're a venomous snake, aren't you? No matter how deep you hide, as long as you're still in this biosphere, I'll dig you out.