Era: Starting from the local police station

Walk to the middle of Yu'er Hutong.

Looking up, I saw a sign hanging at the entrance of the compound that read "Yu'er Hutong Subdistrict Office, Dongcheng District, Beijing".

Later, Jiang Zhenghua saw the Yu'er Subdistrict Office and Taotiao Hutong Subdistrict Office online, and vaguely remembered that they were about to be merged into Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office.

The exact time is unclear.

Just as I was thinking this, I stepped inside and a voice came from a room next door.

"Comrade, please register before proceeding."

Jiang Zhenghua looked in the direction of the sound and saw an elderly man, about fifty years old, sitting by the window of a room on the right, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

There was a table by the window, on which sat a notebook and an enamel mug.

Jiang Zhenghua stepped forward, took out a "Daqianmen" cigarette from his pocket, and handed it over with a smile.

"Sir, excuse me for smoking. I'm looking for Director Liang. Is he at work now?"

"Oh, it's a veteran. Director Liang is here; he's in his office right now. His office is in the middle on the left."

The old man smiled, got up, took the cigarette, and pointed with his finger.

Jiang Zhenghua struck a match and lit it by cupping his hands around the flame.

The old man handed over a notebook and a pencil from the table: "Please register the reason for your visit first, then you can go in."

Jiang Zhenghua took the items and began registering them, asking curiously, "Sir, what if someone who comes can't read?"

The old man laughed and said, "Didn't you see the writing on it? Since you can't write, I wrote it for you."

Jiang Zhenghua then noticed that many of the previous entries were written in the same handwriting.

He handed the registration book back: "Please rest, I'm going in."

"Go."

Following the old man's directions, Jiang Zhenghua quickly found the director's office on the left.

He raised his hand and tapped three times gently.

"Please come in."

A deep, steady middle-aged male voice came from inside.

Pushing open the door, one sees a middle-aged man in his forties sitting behind a table. On the table are several documents, and an enamel mug is filled with tea, emitting a faint aroma.

There was a filing cabinet on one side, a few chairs against the wall, and a red wooden clothes rack near the window.

Director Liang looked at Jiang Zhenghua as he walked in and asked softly, "Comrade, who are you?"

Jiang Zhenghua said with a smile, "Hello, Director Liang, I'm Jiang Zhenghua..."

Director Liang slapped his forehead, laughing as he held out his hand: "Look at my memory! You're the second son of the Jiang family! I was the one who saw you off when you went to join the army. When did you come back?"

Jiang Zhenghua quickly reached out and shook his hand tightly: "I got home last night. I came over as soon as I got up this morning."

Releasing his grip, Director Liang warmly pointed to the chair opposite the table: "Please sit down. You're here to pick up the letter of introduction, right? The Municipal Bureau sent someone to deliver it a few days ago. I was thinking of having time to deliver it to your home these next couple of days, but I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance."

Jiang Zhenghua sat down as instructed and said with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, Director Liang. I can't trouble you. I can take it myself."

Director Liang turned around, opened the filing cabinet, took out an enamel mug, then took out a tea bag, broke off a small pinch of tea leaves and put it in, then picked up a thermos with a red peony printed on it and poured water.

"Don't call me Director Liang, just call me Uncle Liang as before. You've suffered a lot these past few years, haven't you?"

"It's not hard, it's all for the country. Protecting our homeland is our duty as soldiers."

Director Liang stood in front of the table, holding two enamel mugs, and looked at him with a smile.

"Alright, Uncle Liang, I won't beat around the bush. You should know the situation over there. Back then, everything was scarce except for cold and hunger."

Seeing his expression, Jiang Zhenghua smiled wryly and got up to take the teacup.

After saying that, he sighed softly, "Thankfully, I made it through."

There's no need to hide anything from your uncle.

Director Liang nodded and pulled up a chair to sit opposite him.

He took the Daqianmen cigarettes Jiang Zhenghua offered, his eyes flickering uncertainly: "I know how cruel that war was. Most of my old comrades didn't make it back. And even those who did, few of them survived unharmed."

Jiang Zhenghua struck a match, half-stood up, gathered the flame to light his cigarette, lit one for himself, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, and said softly, "I'm from the Public Security Forces. I'm responsible for rear transport protection, guarding prisoners, protecting leaders, and maintaining order. Compared to those predecessors on the front lines, it's much safer here."

Director Liang nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "What you said is true, but the mission you participated in must have been quite challenging, right? Two second-class merits and three third-class merits are not easy to earn."

Jiang Zhenghua smiled slightly but did not reply.

Director Liang looked him over carefully for a few moments, then asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Liang. I've been on the verge of death several times, but I'm still alive and well. Compared to most people, I'm one of the lucky ones."

"Yes, compared to those comrades who have passed away, we are truly fortunate to be able to sit here quietly and drink tea."

Jiang Zhenghua opened the cloth bag at his feet, took out the bottle of Fenjiu liquor, and placed it on the table: "Uncle Liang, this is for you."

Director Liang waved his hands repeatedly: "What are you going to do with this? Take it back and drink it yourself."

Jiang Zhenghua smiled and said, "Please accept this. My father gave it to you to thank you for taking care of the family all these years. You're not worried about people saying you accepted a bribe, are you?"

Director Liang smiled and tapped him: "If you put it that way, I'll really accept it. I'd be afraid to accept it from anyone else, but I'm not afraid of what you're giving me, since I can't get involved in your work anyway."

He picked up the bottle, opened the cabinet under the table, and stuffed the liquor inside: "Once you've sorted things out by the weekend, I'll come over for a couple of drinks."

Jiang Zhenghua smiled and agreed, "No problem. I'll prepare some snacks to go with the drinks and look forward to Uncle Liang's arrival."

Director Liang opened a drawer and rummaged through it as he said, "I wanted to hear you talk about the battlefield. You know, I was assigned to work at the Military Control Commission. Later, when the Korean War broke out, I applied to go to the front lines many times, but my applications were rejected each time. I fought the Japanese and served in the Japanese army, but I never got to fight the Americans, which I regret."

After saying that, he took an envelope out of the drawer.

"Uncle Liang, you actually deserve some credit for what's been done on the front lines. Since the start of the Korean War, you've organized people to cook a lot of fried noodles to support the front, haven't you?"

Hearing this, Director Liang's face showed a hint of pride, and he said loudly, "That's for sure. In the entire Dongcheng District, our street has the most fried noodles and the most cloth shoes. The higher-ups have praised me for this many times, otherwise I wouldn't have been appointed as the director."

Jiang Zhenghua extended his right hand and gave a thumbs up.

Upon seeing this, Director Liang grinned, revealing eight yellowed teeth.

He handed over the envelope: "This was sent by the Municipal Bureau. Do you know where it's been distributed to?"

Jiang Zhenghua shook his head and picked up the envelope.

"I only know that it's in the Beijing Public Security Bureau, but I don't know exactly where I'll be assigned."

As he spoke, he gently tore open the envelope, pulled out a piece of paper, and examined it carefully.

Then he grinned.

Director Liang asked, "Where will I be assigned?"

Jiang Zhenghua placed the letter of introduction on the table.

The paper read: Comrade Jiang Zhenghua is hereby assigned to the Taotiao Hutong Police Station of the Dongcheng Branch of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau as Deputy Director (Administrative Level 20). Please make arrangements in accordance with regulations.

The bottom right corner has the red seal of the Municipal Bureau's Personnel Department.

Director Liang glanced at it and chuckled, "Oh dear, you've directly appointed a deputy director? From now on, I'll have to address you as Deputy Director Jiang!"

Jiang Zhenghua waved his hands repeatedly: "Don't embarrass me, it's just a title. I don't know anything, I'll need Uncle Liang to guide me in the future."

Director Liang smiled and tapped him: "According to the latest salary standards, the average salary in the public security system is 10% higher than that in the municipal administration, which means your salary is seventy-seven yuan."

"It's similar to my time in the army. I was a high-ranking deputy platoon leader, and I received an extra six yuan a month in allowance."

"According to current policy, your salary and benefits remain the same when you transfer to a local position. At your level, you can indeed be promoted directly to deputy director. This is because you have made meritorious contributions; otherwise, you would usually be promoted one level lower. Don't underestimate the difference of just one level; within the system, that one step can mean a long and difficult road ahead."

"It's all about serving the people, it's all the same. The main thing is that this workplace suits my taste, and it's so close to get off work."

As he spoke, Jiang Zhenghua couldn't help but laugh.

Director Liang smiled and said, "We'll be dealing with each other a lot more often from now on. If you need any assistance from the neighborhood office, just come to me. Of course, if you need my help, you can't refuse."

"Then I'll thank Uncle Liang in advance. Please feel free to ask if you need anything in the future."

Jiang Zhenghua picked up the cigarette case, took out two cigarettes, and handed them over.

Director Liang took the cigarette, lit it, and said in a serious voice, "Zhenghua, I won't hide it from you anymore. Next month, our subdistrict office will merge with Taotiao Hutong subdistrict office to form Jiaodaokou subdistrict office."

Jiang Zhenghua's heart skipped a beat: "Then you..."

"I'm not talking about my own affairs, but about another piece of news."

Director Liang waved his hand to interrupt.

Then he glanced outside, lowered his voice, and said, "There's a rumor that your station is going to merge with Yu'er Police Station to form Jiaodaokou Police Station. You know what I mean?"

"I understand, thank you for reminding me, Uncle Liang."

Jiang Zhenghua's expression turned serious, and he nodded emphatically.

He thought to himself, "If that's the case, the merger should be in October. It seems I need to produce results as soon as possible, otherwise I won't be able to get any key positions."

The two then chatted for a while.

Jiang Zhenghua only took his leave when someone knocked on the door to ask for instructions.

Director Liang saw him to the door.

Jiang Zhenghua walked straight to the Taotiao Hutong Police Station.