Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 466 A Policeman's Dream Spanning Thousands of Miles
Seeing Shelly playing on her phone and occasionally giggling happily, Chen Shu felt that he was really out of touch with the times and had a significant generation gap with these Gen Z young people.

After a few rounds, Xiao Qiang had drunk too much, but Chen Shu also learned from him why he had traveled all the way from Dongzhou to this place.

It turns out that after Chen Shu enrolled Xiao Qiang and Zhu Chaoran in a civil service exam training course, the two of them did attend classes and study very diligently. Unfortunately, given their educational backgrounds, they could only apply for police positions (the standard for police recruitment is a junior college diploma).

Fortunately, the two were also willing to become police officers, but it's not something you can pass just by wanting to or thinking about it. Over the course of a year and a half, the two of them flew back and forth between the local area and other provinces to take the exams, but they never even got to the interview stage, let alone pass the exams.

Having no other choice, they heard that Xinjiang had the lowest requirements in the country, and there was no need to take an exam; as long as the educational qualifications met, they would be given a permanent position. So, after discussing it, they decided to come over.

When they arrived, they discovered that this position was called a "civil service police officer," meaning they had official status but weren't police officers; essentially, they were auxiliary police officers with a gun license. To become a police officer, unless you have a full-time bachelor's degree, you have to take an exam.

Zhu Chaoran thought it over and returned to Dongzhou first, planning to come back next time he had an exam. Xiao Qiang, on the other hand, was really tired of taking the exam. He thought that a government job was fine, as long as he could work as a policeman for life and openly protect the people with a gun, fulfilling his childhood dream, so he stayed.

For some reason, Xiaoqiang, who was a retired soldier and usually had a high alcohol tolerance, started talking nonsense after only drinking a few bottles of Wusu beer.

Chen Shu thought for a moment, then poured a full glass for both of them and asked, "It's so far away, do you miss home?"

Xiao Qiang's hand, which was holding up his glass, stopped. He didn't answer Chen Shu's question directly, but choked up and said, "Brother Shu, I just want to be a policeman! I've wanted to since I was a child! If I can become a real policeman in this life and do a good job for the rest of my life, I can die in peace! Really, in this peaceful era, what profession can best fulfill a hero's dream? Isn't it being a policeman?"

After saying that, Xiao Qiang, his face flushed and his eyes glistening with tears, put down the large wine glass he had just finished drinking, lightly touched his left shoulder with his right hand, and then carefully and gently patted away the non-existent dust.

Chen Shu knew that was where he had previously hung his 95bu rifle.

Six months ago, at Xiaoqiang's home.

The mother sat on the sofa, but leaned on the armrest, crying uncontrollably.

The father, his face grim, took a deep drag on his cigarette while criticizing his wife: "What's wrong with Xinjiang? It's still within the country, isn't it? We have planes now, it's only a few hours' trip. If you miss your son, just fly over. Why are you crying like this? It's not like we can't afford a plane ticket! Are you making our son worry?"

After crying for a long while, the mother slowly got up, still somewhat emotional: "I objected to you joining the army instead of going to school back then, but which of you, old or young, ever listened to me? Xiaoqiang, every day you were in the border troops, I couldn't sleep well at night, and I often had nightmares about you going on missions."

The father looked out the window, and Xiaoqiang lowered his head in silence.

The mother wiped away her tears: "At least after you were discharged from the army and came home, I was finally able to get a few good nights' sleep. But then you did this to me. Xiaoqiang, do you even care about me as your mother?"

The father turned around and advised, "If Zuo Zongtang, an old man with white hair, isn't afraid, what are you afraid of, Xiaoqiang, a young man? Besides, this is a contribution to the country. How can you, as a teacher, be so selfish?"

The mother's eyes widened, and her voice suddenly became sharp: "You know he carried a coffin there! I'm selfish! I'm selfish! So what! Can't I feel sorry for my son!" After saying that, she burst into loud sobs again.

The father shrank back and muttered, "That's not the same as now."

Xiaoqiang's parents are both teachers in Dongzhou; one teaches history at a high school, and the other teaches math at a middle school. Although Xiaoqiang is usually carefree and his academic performance isn't great, he comes from a family with a strong academic background.

As far back as Xiaoqiang can remember, his father had never won an argument with his mother.

Seeing his father, who had initially supported him, fall silent, Xiaoqiang tried a different approach to explain to his mother: "Mom, you know I've never liked studying since I was little. I'm over twenty now and still don't have a stable job. You've been urging me to find a girlfriend or go on blind dates lately, but do you know what? With my temporary job at the police station, what respectable family would be willing to introduce their daughter to me?"

The mother murmured sadly, "Xiaoqiang, it's alright. Your father and I still have some savings. We can buy you a house and a car outright. As long as that girl is willing to live with you, we can add her name to the deed."

Before his mother could finish speaking, Xiaoqiang stood up, his neck stiff, and said, "Mom, do you think your son is a good-for-nothing? How long am I supposed to keep sponging off you? Whether you want to or not, I don't!"

Seeing that his mother's emotions had eased a little, Xiaoqiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then said seriously, "Mom, it's true that my grades aren't good and I always fail the exams, and it's also true that that's the only place in all of China that can offer a government job. Everyone is scrambling to apply, and if you miss this opportunity, you'll never have another chance!"

Thinking back to the registration and job selection site at the Organization Department's exclusive Nx battlefield, there were only a dozen or so people in the huge provincial venue, a stark contrast to the crowded registration venues in other provinces a few days earlier. Xiao Qiang felt a little guilty, but his expression was extremely anxious, as if if he didn't register today and finalize the matter, the matter might fall through tomorrow.

The mother finally stopped crying. She looked at her husband, who was already in his fifties, and her son, who was still full of energy, and sighed, "You are my nemesis. Go away, go away, go as far as you want. Just remember to call home often."

Xiaoqiang's face lit up with joy, knowing that he had passed his mother's test.

A mother is a mother after all. She got up and went to the kitchen to bring her a plate of peeled and chopped apples, insisting on watching her son eat them.

She stroked her son's broad back tenderly: "I'm really worried about you. You're only twenty-six and you have to go to such a far place to suffer. If you can't stand it, don't stay away just to save face. The door at home is always open for you."

The father, a history teacher, was also very happy and encouraged him, saying, "Xiaoqiang, I respect your choice and am very glad that you have such ambition. Dad only has one request."

Xiao Qiang grinned and said, "I'll give you grandchildren soon."

The mother hastily wiped away her tears, then smiled through them and said, "If you really marry a wife there, we'll go with you. Don't look down on us."

Xiaoqiang opened his arms and hugged his mother just like he did when he was a child: "Mom, thank you."

(End of this chapter)