Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 721 Truly Unique

The old director was very satisfied. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and continued to ponder what else needed to be added, since serving the leader could not be done carelessly.

"Wait, this award ceremony can't be held like usual. Executive Director Wang is coming tomorrow, so we need to make a big fuss about it. Hmm, here's what we'll do: go and get me a new banner for the awards ceremony, and we don't need to bring over fake flowers from the warehouse. Those props are too old and not festive enough. Hmm, go to the market today and replace them all with the freshest flowers of the day."

"By the way, don't bring your phone to take pictures of us. Go to the station and see if there's anyone who enjoys photography in their spare time, and invite them over."

"Technical skills are not important. The main thing is to make sure they bring all their equipment, especially those long lenses, the longer the better, the kind of white lenses that look very professional from a distance when set up."

"Yes, we also need to inform Chen Shu and tell him to make sure he wears his police uniform; it looks more formal that way. Oh, and the sash—go get a new one as a backup, just in case."

Xiao Ding took out his pen and notebook and wrote down the old director's instructions one by one.

After everything was settled, the old director remembered that it was Xiao Ding who knocked on the door first: "By the way, Xiao Ding, what did you want to see me about?"

Xiao Ding closed his laptop and put it away, then placed a form he had brought earlier on the old director's desk: "I just received an application for annual leave on the intranet system."

The old director didn't even look at the form and said, "There aren't any important duties in the bureau lately, so you can just approve this small matter yourself. You don't need to bring it to me."

Xiao Ding pointed to the form on the table: "It was applied for by Chen Shu; he asked for ten days of leave."

The old director laughed: "If there are no problems according to the procedure, then it will be approved. What's there to apply for? Just because someone received a second-class merit, does that mean we have to protect him like a rare animal and not let him go out?"

Xiao Ding reminded him, "Chen Shu has requested a long leave starting next week, citing a trip as the reason. Based on the past tradition of police officers taking leave for travel, he'll probably leave this Saturday."

"Huh? Going on vacation?" The old director was taken aback and asked, "Didn't you inform him that he was supposed to come to the bureau to receive an award next Monday?"

Xiao Ding smiled wryly, "I've notified the director, but I'm worried he might not come. Do you think we should send his annual leave back first?"

"Not coming? How could that be!" The old director's tense spirit relaxed immediately, and he waved his hand and said, "He's a big shot in Director Wang's eyes now. We shouldn't just send the leave request back. Just approve it in the system."

"Director, what about the awards ceremony next Monday?"

"He's not stupid, how could he not come? This is a second-class merit award, even the executive director is coming."

The old director laughed heartily and picked up the steaming teacup.

Monday, in the meeting room.

A bright red, brand-new banner hung on the wall of the conference room, which read "People's Police for the People".

On either side were two dignified and exquisite flower baskets, which clearly cost a fortune in red banknotes.

Director Wang, the executive director of the Municipal Bureau, sat at the head of the table, accompanied by the former director of the Political Department, along with other heads of various departments.

"It's been a long time since any of our special police officers have received a second-class merit award?" The criminal investigation team leader sat next to Director Wang, carefully flattering him, "Director Wang, this Chen Shu is quite remarkable!"

These days, everyone knows that Chen Shu of the Zhengming District Special Police Brigade is Wang Changzhang's confidant, and his connections might even reach the provincial department. Director Wang chuckled and brushed it off, wondering if Chen Shu had run into some trouble and hadn't returned to the bureau yet.

The old director sitting next to Director Wang took out a silk handkerchief from his coat pocket, lowered his head and dared not utter a sound, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with slightly trembling hands.

Early in the morning, he had someone contact Chen Shu, but the phone was always switched off. With the awards ceremony about to begin, he had no choice but to send Xiao Ding and others to Chen Shu's home and workplace to look for him.

While the old director was still sweating profusely, Director Wang, in a booming voice, gave orders to his liaison officer: "Send a copy of the photos to the bureau's honor room and hang them on the wall. Also, send them to the branch offices and the brigade, and tell them to pay more attention to them. And before this publicity report is released, bring it over for my review."

As the executive director's enthusiasm grew, the old director couldn't help but tremble.

After much anticipation, the old director finally saw Xiao Ding, whom he had sent out to look for, return. He jumped up quickly, grabbed Xiao Ding's hand anxiously, and asked urgently:
"Have you found anyone?"

Xiao Ding glanced awkwardly at Director Wang, who was sitting to the side and curiously looking in their direction. He could only swallow hard and say, "Director Wang, the director. We've contacted Chen Shu; he just got off the plane."

The old director let out a long sigh of relief, his long-tense face finally relaxing. He chuckled and said, "I knew it! How could Chen Shu not come to the award ceremony for this first-class merit?"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Director Wang with a slightly ingratiating smile and explained, "Director Wang, young people like him probably went to see their long-distance girlfriends on the weekend. It only takes about twenty minutes to get to our bureau from the airport via Ouhai Avenue."

The old director tried to lighten the mood with a joke, as Chen Shu had not yet arrived, which had made things awkward for the leaders.

However, Director Wang did not care whether Chen Shu arrived before him. He showed far more tolerance than others towards his trusted and beloved subordinate.

Director Wang waved his hand and laughed, "It's alright, it's alright. Look, it's not time yet. Only we old men like to arrive early. These days, young people consider punctuality a virtue. Arriving early would only bother them!"

The old director chuckled and quickly echoed his sentiments.

Standing to the side, Xiao Ding looked at Executive Director Wang, who seemed completely unconcerned, on the left, and at the smiling old director on the right, and felt a pang of pity.

"Director Wang, Chief. Chen Shu is in Kunming, he just got off the plane."

"What? What did you just say?" The old director's pupils suddenly contracted, shocked by Xiao Ding's sudden news. He leaned forward and quickly asked, "What happened? What Kunming? What are you doing in Kunming?"
Xiao Ding swallowed again, while Yu Guangzhong and Director Wang looked equally incredulous: "Director, Secretary Chen has taken his annual leave and went to Kunming today. He just got off the plane."

A second-class merit? That's something countless people would kill for, and it's an even higher honor than the third-class merit that most police officers might only get to touch once or twice in their entire lives.

For young police officers, these are legendary achievements. All they need is a third-class merit award or a commendation to stand out from dozens of their peers.

Furthermore, this was a second-class merit award ceremony with the participation of the municipal bureau's executive committee. How could he be so nonchalant and simply refuse to come?

The old director was petrified. After a long while, he seemed to have suffered a huge blow and could hardly sit still, so he slumped into the chair.

With a stiff smile, Director Wang finally said slowly after a long pause, "Young man, you really have personality."

(End of this chapter)