Po Sir's Police Affairs: The Hunter

The sky cleared up on the wedding day.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the river and shattering it into countless pieces of gold. Xiuying got up before dawn to cook dumplings—pork and cabbage dumplings. She cooked three batches: the first to offer to the ancestors, the second for Jiang Bo and Liu Ya, and the third to save for when the guests arrived. As she cooked, she murmured, "Old man, your son got married today, did you see it? You're in heaven, looking down, you can see it. He's wearing a suit and tie, looking so smart. Aren't you happy? You must be. Smile, let me see."

Jiang Bo also got up early. He couldn't sleep and tossed and turned in bed for a long time. Just as dawn broke, he got up, put on his suit and tie, and stood in front of the mirror for a long time. In the mirror, he saw himself—thin, dark-skinned, with bloodshot eyes. He thought of his father, of those notebooks, of those names, of those apologies. He thought of Tangyuan, of it lying at his feet, looking up at him, its tail wagging like a windmill. If it were still here, it would be very happy today. It would run around, sniffing this and that, busy and happy.

Liu Tong came to pick him up. He drove a black sedan, spotlessly clean, the rims polished again and again. He was also wearing a suit and tie, his hair slicked back and shiny. When he saw Jiang Bo, he looked him up and down and smiled. "Bo Sir, you look really handsome today. Much better looking than usual. You usually have a certain air about you in your police uniform, but not as dashing as you do today. You look like a completely different person."

Jiang Bo got into the car and fastened his seatbelt. "Let's go pick up the bride. Don't be late, she'll get impatient and upset. She won't get angry, but she will get nervous. When she's nervous, she won't say anything, she'll lower her head, and clutch the hem of her dress until it's all wrinkled."

Liu Tong started the engine. "It won't be late. There's still plenty of time. Don't worry. I've been driving for over ten years and I've never been late. I definitely can't be late today."

The car drove onto Changjiang Road, heading towards Liu Ya's home. The sunlight shone on the windshield, somewhat dazzling. Jiang Bo squinted, looking out the window. People came and went on the street: elderly women buying groceries, elderly men taking a stroll, young parents taking their children to school. No one knew that he was getting married today. No one knew that the girl he was marrying was someone he had slowly fallen in love with amidst the ruins of the old pontoon bridge, under the willow trees by the river, under the light of that kerosene lamp.

Liu Ya also got up early. She put on her wedding dress and looked at herself in the mirror for a long time. The white wedding dress had no lace, no sequins, and was clean and simple. She liked simple things, and she liked simple people. She remembered the first time she met Jiang Bo. He was sitting by the window in a coffee shop, looking out the window. The sunlight shone on his face, and his eyes were bright. She remembered the cases he told her about, the dead women, the people who waited half their lives, the names and apologies written in notebooks.

Her eyes welled up with tears. Liu Ya's mother came over, stood behind her, and helped her adjust her wedding dress. "Why are you crying? It's a joyous day; you should be happy. You've waited so long, and it's finally here. You should be smiling."

Liu Ya wiped away her tears. "Mom, I know. I'm crying because I'm happy. I never thought I would meet him, never thought he would marry me. He's so busy, with so many cases, so many names, so many apologies on his mind. I thought he didn't have time to think about anything else. I never expected he would still have time to think about me."

Her mother smiled. "Good people will be rewarded. You're a good girl, and he's a good policeman. Your being together is God's arrangement. Live your lives well and don't quarrel. He's busy, so be understanding. When you're tired, he'll take care of you. Only by understanding each other can two people live a lifetime together."

Liu Ya nodded. "Mom, I know. I won't argue with him. He's not talkative, and I'm not a talkative person either. We won't argue. Even if there's a misunderstanding, we can talk it out. I won't hold a grudge against him, and I won't give him the silent treatment. I want to spend my whole life with him, for a long, long time."

Jiang Bo arrived. He stood at the door, holding a bouquet of red roses tied with a white veil. He knocked, and the door opened. Liu Ya's cousins ​​blocked the entrance, laughing and asking for red envelopes. He took out red envelopes from his pocket and gave them to them one by one. They counted them, thought it wasn't enough, and wanted more. He gave them another round. They laughed and moved aside.

Liu Ya walked out of the house, wearing her simple white wedding dress and holding a bouquet of lilies. Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her and giving the dress a soft glow. Her eyes were bright, and she smiled. Jiang Bo stared at her for a long time, forgetting to speak.

Liu Tong gave him a push from behind. "Officer, say something. You're praising the bride's beauty. Aren't you usually quite talkative when handling cases? You can talk for hours when interrogating criminals. Why can't you talk now?"

Jiang Bo opened his mouth, but after a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "You look really good today. Even better than usual."

Liu Ya smiled. "You look beautiful too. More beautiful than usual."

They went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get their marriage certificate. There weren't many people in line; only two couples were ahead of them. When it was their turn, the staff looked at their documents, asked a few questions, and had them sign. Jiang Bo signed very slowly, stroke by stroke, like a gentleman writing his name in a notebook. Liu Ya also signed slowly, stroke by stroke. They exchanged rings, simple silver bands, without any patterns or decorations. Jiang Bo put one on her finger, his fingers trembling slightly. She put one on his finger, her fingers also trembling.

The staff handed them their marriage certificate, smiling and congratulating them. Jiang Bo took the certificate, ran his fingers over the cover, and then carefully put it away. He took Liu Ya's hand and walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau. The sunlight shone on them, warm and comforting. He thought of those names, those apologies, those people standing at the door watching. They were gone; he had come. He had come with Liu Ya.

The wedding was held in a restaurant in the old town. It wasn't large, with only ten tables. The guests were all family members—relatives from Xiuying's side and Liu Ya's side. The groom was also there; he had changed into a new, impeccably tailored dark gray overcoat. He sat at the front table, holding a notebook. His hair was neatly combed, and his stubble was clean-shaven. He smiled when he saw Jiang Bo and Liu Ya approaching.

"Okay. Okay. You're all doing well. Live your lives with the same seriousness you show when remembering those names, and with the same sincerity you show when saying sorry. You can live a long and happy life together."

Xiuying sat next to her husband, wearing her newly bought red cotton-padded jacket, her hair permed, and light makeup. Her eyes were red, and the tip of her nose was red too. When she saw Jiang Bo and Liu Ya walking over, tears streamed down her face.

"If your dad were still alive, he would see this. He would be smiling. His eyes crinkle like crescent moons when he smiles. You're just like him, your eyes crinkle when you smile too. You smile, he looks at you, and he smiles too."

Jiang Bo's tears also flowed. "Mom, he saw it. He's been watching. He's right here, among us. You can't see him, but he's right beside you. He can see us."

Liu Ya also cried. She held Xiuying's hand. "Mom, Jiang Bo and I will be alright. We will live a good life, we will take care of you, we will remember those names, and we will say sorry. We will live out his share of life, and live it well."

Xiuying nodded. "Okay. I'm relieved that you're all doing well."

The wedding began. There was no emcee, no fancy ceremony. Xiuying stood up, holding the microphone, her hands trembling. "Dear relatives, thank you for coming. My son is getting married today. He found a wonderful girl named Liu Ya. She's a teacher, teaching Chinese. She's kind, good-hearted, and beautiful. I'm satisfied. If his father were still alive, he would be satisfied too. Thank you all."

She bowed and sat down. The applause lasted for a long time.

The gentleman stood up, took the couplet, and read it aloud: "The river flows on, remembering countless grievances. Mirror Lake remains forever, witnessing a lifetime of love. The horizontal scroll reads, 'May the lamp shine eternally.' This is for you. Wishing you a long and happy life together, like the endless flow of the river, like the timeless Mirror Lake, and like that lamp, forever burning bright."

Jiang Bo accepted the couplet, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate your kindness. I will frame it and hang it in the living room. I will look at it every day and remember it every day. I will remember your words, remember those names, and remember all the apologies."

Liu Ya also cried. "Sir, thank you. You've remembered those names for so many years, it must have been so hard. From now on, Jiang Bo and I will remember them together. If you can't write anymore, we'll write them for you. If you can't remember them, we'll remember them for you. That light will never go out. Don't worry."

The man nodded. "Okay. Please remember this for me. I'm relieved."

Liu Tong sat in the corner, holding a wine glass, his eyes red. He had drunk a lot; his face and neck were flushed. He stood up, walked to Jiang Bo, and raised his glass. "Brother Bo, congratulations. I'd like to toast you. I'm so happy you're getting married. happier than if I were getting married myself. You've finally found a good girl. You're not alone anymore. You have a home. You have a wife, and children in the future. You're no longer the Brother Bo who lived alone in an apartment, ate instant noodles alone, and carried glutinous rice balls around alone. You have a home now."

Jiang Bo raised his glass and clinked it against his. "Thank you. Thank you for being with me all these years, for solving so many cases. Without you, those cases wouldn't have been solved. Without you, those murderers wouldn't have been caught. Without you, I wouldn't have remembered those names. Thank you."

Liu Tong downed his drink in one gulp, tears streaming down his face. "Boss, please stop. I'm about to break down. Today is your big day, I can't cry. I have to smile. Look, I'm smiling." He grinned, tears welling in his eyes.

Jiang Bo also drank. He took Liu Ya's hand and walked to his husband, then to Xiuying, then to Liu Tong, then to each of their relatives, toasting, bowing, and saying thank you. Liu Ya followed beside him, holding his hand tightly, never letting go.

Night fell, and the guests left. Xiuying and her husband were also seen off. Jiang Bo and Liu Ya stood at the restaurant entrance, looking outside. The streetlights were on, casting a dim yellow light on the wet street. Jiang Bo held Liu Ya's hand; her hand was warm.

"Are you tired? Let's go home. Back to our home. The apartment isn't big, but it's enough for us. We'll move to a bigger one when we have kids."

Liu Ya shook her head. "I'm not tired. I'm not tired. Today is the happiest day of my life. Happier than the day I received my acceptance letter, happier than the first time I stood on the podium, happier than the day I met you. Today is the happiest day of my life."

Jiang Bo smiled. "Let's go home. I'll cook you noodles. That's all I know how to cook. Instant noodles. Don't complain about how bad they taste."

Liu Ya laughed too. "I don't mind. I'll eat whatever you cook. I'll cook for you when you're done with your work. Then you won't have to eat instant noodles anymore. My cooking skills are alright; at least I won't burn the pot. I won't make those embarrassing mistakes your mother mentioned. Don't worry."

They got into the car. Jiang Bo started the engine and drove onto Changjiang Road. Liu Ya sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window. The night view of Jiangcheng was beautiful, with flashing neon lights and a constant flow of traffic. She remembered her first visit to the old floating bridge, seeing that small house, that lamp, and those notebooks. She remembered her husband, Xiuying, and Tangyuan. She remembered those names, those apologies. She gripped Jiang Bo's hand tightly.

"Jiang Bo, I'll go with you to the old pontoon bridge from now on. Every week. To see the teacher, to look at those notebooks, to see Tangyuan. The teacher is old, and he's all alone. Tangyuan is gone, and her grave can't be left unattended. I'll go with you."

Jiang Bo gripped the steering wheel. "Okay. You'll come with me. I'll be sad if I go alone. I won't be sad if you come. Talk to the Master, talk to Tangyuan. They both like you. The Master said you were a good girl the first time you went. If Tangyuan were still here, it would like you too. It would lie at your feet and nudge your hand with its head. It would listen to you, even though it doesn't understand, it will listen."

Tears streamed down Liu Ya's face. "It will love me. I love it too. It's a good dog. It's been with you for so many years, solving so many cases. It's worked so hard. It's doing well over there, don't worry about you. You still have me. I'll be with you."

The car drove into the residential area and parked downstairs. Jiang Bo got out, took Liu Ya's hand, and went upstairs. The lights in the stairwell were still broken, so he groped his way up to the fifth floor in the dark. He opened the door and turned on the lights. The room was warm, and the dumplings were still steaming; Xiuying had cooked them before she left, and they were still warm in the pot. There were two sets of chopsticks and a bottle of red wine on the table.

Jiang Bo went to the kitchen, filled two bowls with dumplings, and brought them to the table. Liu Ya sat at the table, looked at the two bowls of dumplings, and smiled.

"Dumplings again. Your mom is so good. She's worried we'll go hungry."

Jiang Bo sat down opposite her. "Try it. My mom made it, pork and cabbage filling. My dad loves it. I love it too. My husband says she loves it too. Try it, see if it's good."

Liu Ya picked up a dumpling, put it in her mouth, and chewed for a long time. "Delicious. Your mom's dumplings are delicious. Even better than my mom's. Don't tell my mom. She'll be jealous."

Jiang Bo smiled. "I won't tell. This is our secret."

They ate dumplings and drank red wine. The night outside the window was deep, and the headlights of cars on the distant Yangtze River Bridge formed a river of light. Those names, those apologies, were all in his heart. Those who stood at the door watching were also in his heart. They were gone, but he remained. He wasn't alone anymore. He had Liu Ya. She would be with him, remembering those names, saying those apologies.

After finishing the dumplings, Jiang Bo cleared the dishes. Liu Ya sat on the sofa, looking at the couplet: "The river flows on, recording countless grievances. Mirror Lake remains forever, witnessing a lifetime of love." The horizontal inscription read, "The lamp shines eternally." She stared at it for a long time, tears streaming down her face.

Jiang Bo walked over and sat down beside her. "What's wrong? Why are you crying? Today is our big day, you can't cry. You have to smile. I love seeing you smile. You look beautiful when you smile."

Liu Ya wiped away her tears. "I'm happy. The gentleman's calligraphy is beautiful, and his couplets are beautiful too. He spoke our minds. Jiang Bo, that lamp must not be extinguished. You must keep it burning. I'll help you. We'll keep it burning together."

Jiang Bo nodded. "Okay. Let's keep it lit together."

He stood up and walked to the window. Outside was the night view of Jiangcheng, the car lights on the distant Yangtze River Bridge forming a river of light. Those names, those apologies, were all in his heart. Those people standing at the door watching were also in his heart. They were gone, but he remained. He still had Liu Ya. He still had a future.