Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 273 Disguised as Property Management Staff
Zhu Chaoran, who was so smug that he was practically strutting his nose in the air, was extremely dissatisfied when Chen Shu overturned his innovative and modern investigative approach and stuck with the outdated method of checking water meters.

Chen Shu saw through Zhu Chaoran's thoughts, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "The old man on the third floor is too old to be easily frightened. It would be troublesome if something happened to him. Besides, as soon as the other party sees us police officers, their first reaction will be to cancel the deal or avoid the police. They won't care what you or I are here for."

"The reason why the old methods have been effective for so many years is because of their high success rate. Case handling also depends on market effects. We will continue to improve and use good methods and means. When the day comes that checking the water meter is no longer useful, it will naturally be eliminated."

“For example, we wouldn’t use that trick to get into the upper floors. In these old tenement buildings, residents are used to people coming to check the water meters and gas at night. It wouldn’t be out of place for us to go there.”

After calming Zhu Chaoran down, Chen Shu began to arrange the work.

First, Xu Lei logged into the intranet and used Lao Xi's mobile phone number to identify the person. After Li Yunqi confirmed the information, the data was distributed to the police officers handling the case.

Next, Wang Chongming and Li Chaoyang were arranged to go to Lao Xi's residence to check the situation on-site and find out the usual time and method of checking water meters in this community, so as to facilitate the arrangement between them and Lao Xi to pick up the goods at the agreed time.

The third step was to have Liu Zhongwu go to the bureau to complete the necessary procedures and retrieve Lao Xi's recent call records. Mobile phones are always a crucial source of information and clues; according to Chen Shu's experience, an excellent investigator must possess basic call record analysis skills.

Finally, he needed to persuade Li Yunqi to come and pick up the goods. Chen Shu planned to do this step himself.

Whenever an opportunity arises to recruit fresh intelligence, Chen Shu always tries his best to seize it. When intelligence is used effectively, solving cases becomes twice as efficient with half the effort.

Informants are like human informants. If police officers are like people walking along the riverbank, ready to catch fish or fish at any moment, then informants are like people rolling up their trousers and checking the fish activity in the river. They don't have fixed occupations; some have legitimate jobs, while others are idle all day. But they have one thing in common: they can come into contact with criminals at any time.

Chen Shu clapped his hands and said in a deep voice:
"Begin the operation, be careful. Meeting adjourned."

Zhongshan Institute, third floor, deputy director's office
Li Yunqi sat listlessly on the sofa with his hands tucked between his legs and his back hunched over. His head drooped on his left shoulder, and a steaming disposable cup sat on the coffee table in front of him.

"Li Yunqi, take a look."

Chen Shu threw several A4 printed documents on the coffee table. The first one was information on the management of drug users, with Li Yunqi's portrait on it.

Li Yunqi stared at his own portrait clearly printed on the A4 paper. His lips trembled, but he didn't speak. However, his flustered eyes clearly revealed his tension and unease.

Chen Shu glanced at the coffee table and said slowly, "This is the second time you've been arrested. I'm sure you know perfectly well what the outcome will be."

As he spoke, he held up a two in front of Li Yunqi, which meant he had to quit for two years.

Those who smoke understand.

Li Yunqi stiffened his head and slowly turned it, finally fixing his gaze on the document sheet lying on the coffee table.

Seeing that the effect was good, Chen Shu took out a pack of Liqun cigarettes from his pocket and lit one for himself.

After a few minutes, Li Yunqi, unable to hold back any longer, spoke up first: "Officer, I'm making a report, which is considered meritorious. Can I avoid going to jail?"

Chen Shu stubbed out his cigarette and smiled, "Yes."

"what!?"

Li Yunqi, who had only asked the question casually under pressure, was surprised to receive an answer that he could not be forced to quit. He looked up at Chen Shu in surprise.

"As long as you can catch Lao Xi, you won't go to jail. If he has a lot of drugs on him, you can also get a bonus. Hmm, let's say two thousand for each drug you find."

Industry common sense: one strip equals one kilogram. Chen Shu looked at Li Yunqi, whose eyes were gradually brightening, and smiled as he handed him a cigarette.

"There are no security cameras in my office. Feel free to ask me anything."

After Chen Shu reached an agreement with Li Yunqi to send him back to the detention room, he received a message from Wang Chongming, who was heading to the scene to investigate.

“In Maple Leaf Community on Xicheng Road, the property management checks water meters between 6:30 pm and 8 pm. Li Chaoyang has already arranged with Lao Xi, following Li Yunqi’s previous conversation habits, to pick up the goods at 8 pm.”

Wang Chongming is a veteran comrade, possessing the ability to make on-site judgments and execute orders.

Chen Shu nodded and replied with "Received".

Today's duty officer was Instructor Zeng Hong. Chen Shu went to the Instructor's office to report on the evening's arrest operation and, incidentally, got a free cup of good tea.

Although he was holding a cup of tea, Chen Shu still downed it in one gulp, as always. People who come from criminal investigation backgrounds usually drink in one go; it's a habit they've developed, and they drink everything the same way.

"Xiao Shu, we need to make this a big case, but we also need to be careful, both for you and for your comrades," Zeng Hong said seriously, who was used to delegating authority. He then opened a drawer, took out the duty officer's sidearm, and handed it to Chen Shu.

Chen Shu, who also always emphasized "safety," deeply understood the instructor's meaning. After earnestly agreeing, he hurriedly ran to his office next door to change into civilian clothes before going downstairs to prepare for the arrest.

First, prepare more police equipment such as batons and pepper spray. Although Chen Shu carries a pistol, in terms of actual usage, it is not as useful as pepper spray.

Secondly, I also checked the urine test kits, cut-resistant gloves, and first-aid kits and put them in the trunk of the car.

When police officers are investigating a case, it's always good to have extra things prepared.

With things mostly settled, he took charge of driving the company's Santana, while Zhu Chaoran and Xiao Qiang escorted Li Yunqi to sit in the back. The four of them set off for their destination.

When they arrived at a point about 200 meters from the entrance of Maple Leaf Community, Chen Shu told Zhu Chaoran and the other two to stay in the car and wait for his instructions. He then opened the car door and walked towards the community property office where Wang Chongming and the others were.

In the office, Chen Shu, Wang Chongming, and Li Chaoyang changed into the black security guard uniforms of the community's property management company, and together with the property management staff who were usually responsible for checking water meters, they headed to Lao Xi's place.

At first, the staff member was reluctant and made excuses.

Chen Shu promised the other party 1,000 yuan on the spot after the job was done, and only then did he get the staff member's mind settled. Now that he had received the money, his work efficiency was extremely high. He quickly got the job ready and led Chen Shu and the others to where the old man lived.

It was Li Chaoyang's first time checking someone's water meter, and he seemed a little nervous.

"What kind of police don't check water meters?" Chen Shu patted Li Chaoyang on the shoulder and said.
"You and Brother Wang stay on the third floor for a bit and don't come up yet. Xiao Zhang and I will knock on the door. Once the door opens, you two can come up quickly to help me."

Li Chaoyang knew this wasn't the time to show off, so he nodded and agreed.

Wang Chongming approached Chen Shu, pointed to the bottled object protruding from the man's trouser pocket, and reminded him, "Chief Chen, it's best not to use pepper spray indoors. It's easy to accidentally injure someone. Last month, during an operation, Xu Lei sprayed half my face with it, and it was extremely painful. Pepper spray should only be used outdoors, spraying it directly at someone's face. Using this stuff indoors is definitely a case of killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own."

Chen Shu thought about it and agreed that it made sense. He took out the pepper spray and handed it to the experienced Wang Chongming: "Help me hold this. I'll just use (the wooden gun)."

The group slung Li Yunqi along from a distance to Building 8, where O-fan Lao Xi lived.

(End of this chapter)