Soon the group arrived at the courtyard of the Taotiao Hutong Police Station.

When they arrived at the backyard, they found that the other groups had already returned and were squatting in the yard drinking water and smoking.

"I was just wondering why everyone else is back but the four of you haven't returned yet."

Director Qiao pointed to a basin on a stool and said, "There's some prepared herbal tea in there. Drink some to quench your thirst. We can talk about other things after we finish eating. We'll work overtime today."

"I'll go get the enamel mug."

Jiang Zhenghua walked toward his office as he spoke.

When he returned, he was carrying two enamel mugs.

He went to the large basin, picked up a spoon and filled two jugs with herbal tea, handing one of them to Instructor Zhang, who was smoking.

"The station chief has done a great job with logistics; my throat was already parched."

Instructor Zhang smiled as he took the tea, tilted his head back, and gulped down several mouthfuls. A trickle of tea dripped from the corner of his mouth onto his white shirt, which was already somewhat grayish-black and streaked with white crystals.

He let out a burp and wiped his mouth with his sleeve: "That feels good, I feel alive again."

Jiang Zhenghua did the same, reaching out to unbutton the top two buttons of his collar, instantly feeling a sense of relaxation throughout his body: "It's so hot today, my clothes are all crystallized."

Chen Shan handed over a cigarette and chimed in, "Hey, every night when I get home, my wife says I'm even dirtier than my youngest daughter. She says my clothes only last one day, turning white into black, and she laments that winter is better because I don't have to wash them every day."

Qin Weijun chimed in, "Everything else is fine, but these underpants are soaked through, and it's so cold and uncomfortable to sit down now."

Liu Baojia came out of the dormitory and chuckled, "Brother Qin, who told you not to live in the dormitory? Look at me, it's so comfortable after changing."

Qin Weijun laughed and scolded, "What do you know, you little brat? How would you know that married people have no choice in their own lives?"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

Meng Yuan from Yu'er Police Station joked, "Brother Qin, doesn't your wife get annoyed with you? Are you sure it's not just you who's shamelessly trying to get back?"

Qin Weijun waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly: "Get out of here, you're everywhere."

Seeing the group chatting and laughing, Jiang Zhenghua's initial anxiety immediately dissipated.

I put down the enamel mug, tucked the cigarette behind my right ear, went to the tap, turned it on, and washed my face, instantly relieving much of the heat.

"Deputy Director Jiang, would you like a towel?"

"No need, steaming is comfortable. It takes away some heat, and then you feel better."

"Deputy Director Jiang, which is more arduous, this or standing guard in the army?"

"Want to know?"

Liu Baojia nodded emphatically.

Jiang Zhenghua picked up a cigarette, lit it, and said, "I think visiting people might be more tiring, since you have to deal with people and keep your mind sharp. Standing guard, on the other hand, you just need to stay alert."

"Oh, I see."

Jiang Zhenghua exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his eyes somewhat unfocused this time: "I'm talking about the troop deployment area. If it were on the battlefield, then visiting troops would be a much better experience. On the battlefield, you have to be constantly vigilant, not only to prevent the enemy from secretly slitting your throat, but also to endure the cold and hunger."

Upon hearing this, several young police officers were surprised by the answer, while others, such as Director Qiao and Instructor Zhang, smiled knowingly and nodded silently.

Liu Baojia asked in a low voice, "Deputy Director Jiang, have you been to the battlefield?"

Even Qin Weijun and the others were curious about his background. They only knew that he was a demobilized soldier, but they didn't know anything else.

Director Qiao said with a smile, "We were originally going to introduce him at a meeting, but we had a case today, so we didn't do it. Our Deputy Director Jiang served in the army for five years. In 1952, he became a member of the Volunteer Army Public Security Force and went to the Korean Peninsula to fight with the troops."

These words earned him even more respect from many people.

Instructor Zhang continued, "Moreover, our Deputy Director Jiang has made numerous merits on the battlefield. Not to mention the collective merits, he has been awarded the Second Class Merit twice and the Third Class Merit twice, and was admitted to the Party and promoted to officer on the front lines."

Liu Baojia's eyes lit up immediately, his face filled with admiration.

Qin Weijun and several other former military personnel couldn't help but give him a thumbs up.

Meng Yuan said, "Commander Jiang, impressive! You've earned a second-class merit award."

Geng Jianwu interjected, "Deputy Director Jiang, this old man has worked in the public security force his whole life. Starting from the Republic of China, there are few people like you in the public security line. You are young and promising, you have both physical strength and reasoning ability, and you are also good at observation. I admire you."

Jiang Zhenghua quickly replied, "You flatter me."

He sighed, "Those revolutionary martyrs are the real heroes. I just happened to survive and receive the honor. In fact, the credit belongs to them more. I just accepted it on their behalf."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Chef Niu stood at the kitchen door and called out, "Comrades, dinner's ready!"

Everyone immediately got up and headed towards the conference room, while Jiang Zhenghua stood there dumbfounded because he had forgotten something important.

Instructor Zhang saw him standing still and said, "Take your lunchbox and eat. What are you standing there for? Tell me where it is and I'll bring it with me."

Jiang Zhenghua said with a wry smile, "I forgot to bring my lunchbox."

Instructor Zhang was also taken aback, then laughed and said, "You really are... sigh. I don't know what to say. If I say you're careless, you can notice details that others miss. If I say you're meticulous, you actually forgot about your eating utensils."

Director Qiao had already come out with his lunchbox. Seeing the two of them, he asked, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Zhenghua repeated it again.

Director Qiao laughed and said, "You really are 'not bothered by trifles when it comes to big things.' Come on, there are spare bowls in the kitchen, you can use those tonight."

The others holding lunchboxes were also taken aback by him. They wanted to laugh but dared not, and the heroic aura instantly faded. Instead, they felt that their deputy director was somewhat real.

Upon entering the kitchen, I found it steaming hot.

Master Niu was covered in sweat, his shirt was soaked through, and he had a towel around his neck, which he used to wipe away the sweat from time to time.

A middle-aged woman stood in front of the chopping board, her hair at her temples damp with sweat, and her blue top soaked through.

Director Qiao said, "Old Niu, I remember we have spare bowls, bring out two."

The middle-aged woman immediately said, "The bowl is under the cutting board. You'll need to rinse it with water before using it. I'll get it right away."

As he spoke, he bent down and began searching underneath.

Jiang Zhenghua turned his head and saw that the pot contained stewed potatoes and carrots; the basin on the cutting board contained stewed cabbage, but the slices of meat were small and there were only a few pieces; and the steamer next to it contained steamed buns made from two kinds of flour.

When the woman got up, she was holding two rough porcelain bowls in her hands.

Jiang Zhenghua stepped forward and took the bowl, saying, "Sister-in-law, give me the bowl, I'll go wash it myself."

Chen Erya was stunned. She felt a lightness in her hand as Jiang Zhenghua took the bowl and walked out.

She asked in a low voice, "Chief, who is that...?"

Instructor Zhang chuckled and said, "That's our new deputy director, Comrade Jiang Zhenghua. He's an extraordinary combat hero. Yet, on his very first day at work, he didn't even know to bring his lunchbox."

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but chuckle softly.

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