Nominal: My senior brothers are all big shots

As Qin Xue stepped out of the airport, she was greeted by Old Zhou, the director of the Public Security Bureau's office. Old Zhou, in his fifties with graying hair, wore a professional smile, but his eyes held a subtle, scrutinizing glint. "Governor Qin, welcome to Sichuan Province. The car is outside; I'll take you to your hotel to rest first."

Qin Xue glanced at him, nodded, and remained silent. Old Zhou led the way, his heart pounding. This new female director was more silent, colder, and harder to approach than he had imagined.

As the car entered the city, Qin Xue gazed at the street scenes rushing past the window, silently memorizing the names of every road and the location of every landmark. This was her habit. Whenever she arrived in a new place, she would first familiarize herself with the terrain, then get to know the people.

The next morning, at the Public Security Bureau building. Qin Xue stood in front of the building and glanced up at the national emblem on the roof. The emblem gleamed golden in the sunlight. She took a deep breath and went inside.

In the conference room, all the members of the Party Committee of the Department were already present. The Executive Deputy Director, Deputy Directors, Director of the Political Department, Head of the Discipline Inspection Team, Director of the General Office, and several captains of the various brigades filled both sides of the long table. Qin Xue walked in, and everyone stood up in unison.

She sat down in the main seat, her gaze sweeping over every face in the room. "Sit." Her voice was soft, but clear.

Everyone sat down, and the meeting room was so quiet that you could hear the clock ticking on the wall. Qin Xue didn't take out her notes or flip through her notebook; she simply looked at them quietly, paused for a few seconds, and then spoke: "My name is Qin Xue, and from today onwards, I will be working with you all."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "Before I came here, someone told me that the waters in Sichuan Province were very deep. I said, no matter how deep the waters are, we have to wade through them. What is the police for? To protect the people, to fight crime, and to maintain social stability. We must never forget this original mission."

She paused, her gaze sharpening: "I know a bit about the situation in Sichuan Province. Organized crime, drug problems, insufficient grassroots police force, outdated equipment, and low morale. These problems didn't form overnight, nor can they be solved overnight. But I want everyone here to remember one thing—from today onward, anyone who dares to act as a protector for organized crime, anyone who dares to tip off drug dealers, anyone who dares to extort money, demand bribes, or oppress the people, I, Qin Xue, will be the first to not let them off the hook."

The meeting room was completely silent.

She leaned back in her chair, her tone softening slightly: "Of course, I'm not just here to investigate people. I'm here to get things done. The work of the Public Security Bureau requires everyone's cooperation. Everyone here is a veteran police officer, with more experience and familiarity with the situation than I am. In the future, we should provide more support and cooperation."

The executive deputy director was the first to speak up: "Governor Qin, rest assured, we will fully cooperate with your work." The others nodded in agreement.

Qin Xue didn't say anything more, and stood up: "Meeting adjourned."

That afternoon, Qin Xue visited several key departments in the hall—the Command Center, the Criminal Investigation Corps, the Public Security Corps, and the Narcotics Control Corps. She toured each department, listened to reports, asked questions, and remained silent. She didn't ask many questions, but each one hit the nail on the head, sending chills down the spines of those who were trying to fob her off.

That evening, she returned to her hotel and sat alone by the window, gazing at the night view of Jin City. The city was larger than she had imagined, and the lights were brighter than she had expected. But she knew that in places untouched by those lights, there was still darkness. She picked up her phone and dialed Lin Feng's number.

"Xiao Feng, I've arrived in Sichuan Province."

Lin Feng laughed on the other end of the phone: "Senior sister, how are you feeling?"

Qin Xue thought for a moment and said, "The water is very deep."

Lin Feng said, "No matter how deep it is, we have to wade through it."

Qin Xue laughed too: "You certainly know how to talk."

The night the transfer order came down, Lin Feng called Li Haidong to his office.

When Li Haidong pushed the door open, Lin Feng was standing by the window, his back to the door. The night outside the window was dark over the reed marshes, while the factories in the distance were brightly lit.

"Secretary Lin, you wanted to see me?" Li Haidong's voice was as respectful as ever, but there was a hint of unease in his eyes. He knew Lin Feng was leaving, but he didn't know where he was going.

Lin Feng turned around, gesturing for him to sit down. Li Haidong sat down on the sofa, only sitting on one side, his back ramrod straight. Lin Feng poured him a cup of tea and pushed it towards him.

"Haidong, how many years have you been following me?" Lin Feng asked.

Li Haidong paused for a moment, then said, "It's been almost four years since I went from Shangluo to Luhai."

Lin Feng nodded: "Four years is not a short time. You've followed me from a junior staff member all the way to where you are now, enduring a lot of hardship and toil. I remember it all."

Li Haidong's eyes reddened slightly: "Secretary Lin, please don't say that. Following you is the greatest blessing of my life."

Lin Feng waved his hand, sat down opposite him, and looked at him with an indescribable look in his eyes—not reluctance, but entrustment.

"Haidong, I'm leaving. I'm going to Pingjiang. I'd like to hear your thoughts on where you're going."

Li Haidong lowered his head, remained silent for a while, and then said, "Secretary Lin, I would like to go to Pingjiang with you."

Lin Feng did not answer immediately. He picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and then put it down.

"Haidong, you can't keep following me forever." His voice was soft, but every word was clear. "You've been with me for four years, from an ordinary clerk to someone who can stand on his own. It's time for you to fly on your own."

Li Haidong raised his head, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back.

Lin Feng continued, "I inquired for you, and there's a vacancy for the Executive Deputy County Head of Beishan County in Shangluo. It's close to your hometown, making it convenient to take care of your parents. Besides, you've lived in Shangluo before, so you're familiar with the situation and can get up to speed quickly."

Li Haidong's eyes reddened. It wasn't that he didn't want to return to Shangluo; it was that he couldn't bear to part with Lin Feng.

Four years have passed. From Shangluo to Luhai, from ruins to a new city, he followed Lin Feng, watching him clean up the mess step by step, watching him pull a ravaged city back on track. He learned a lot, but also lost a lot—time with his parents, time with his girlfriend, time with his friends. But he has no regrets.

"Secretary Lin, I..." His voice choked with emotion.

Lin Feng stood up, walked up to him, and extended his hand: "Haidong, thank you. Keep up the good work, don't embarrass me."

Li Haidong grasped his hand and nodded vigorously. Tears finally fell, but he didn't wipe them away.

On the day Li Haidong left Luhai, Lin Feng didn't see him off. Li Haidong stood on the train platform, carrying an old suitcase and a backpack. He didn't have much luggage: a few clothes, a few books, and a framed photo—a photo of him and Lin Feng at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Shangluo Industrial New City. In the photo, both of them were wearing white shirts, standing on the platform, the sunlight so bright it made them squint. Li Haidong carefully wrapped the photo frame and tucked it into a compartment in his suitcase.

The train arrived. He boarded, found his seat, and sat down by the window. Outside, the city skyline of Luhai gradually receded into the distance. He took out his phone and sent a message to Lin Feng: "Secretary Lin, I'm on the train. Take care."

A few minutes later, Lin Feng replied: "Let me know when you arrive safely. Do a good job."