You're supposed to be a security officer, what case are you solving?

Chapter 351: Case Closed!

As Yang Jinwen stepped out of the interrogation room, Yao Weihua, Maozi, and Cai Ting quickly ran out.

The three of them raced each other upstairs, making a 'thump thump' sound as they went.

"Don't try to take it from me!" Yao Weihua shouted. "I'm the oldest, so I have to do it!"

The cat clung to his shoulder: "I'm the youngest, you should give me a chance!"

Cai Ting shouted, "Get lost, you two! How dare you try to steal a girl from me?"

"No..." Yao Weihua gasped for breath, "Really, I think my handwriting is pretty good."

"Bullshit!" Maozi and Cai Ting retorted in unison.

The three people stood in front of the mirror and looked at the honor roll next to it.

The number of cases solved by the first team has reached two plus signs, and the third plus sign has also been marked with a stroke, which means eleven cases.

The Second Brigade solved two fewer cases; the second "正" character is missing one stroke, meaning nine cases.

As for the blackboards of the three teams, they were completely empty.

Yao Weihua searched the blackboard but couldn't find any chalk.

Cat wanted to go downstairs to get it, but then she saw Feng Xiaocai come upstairs and hand her a piece of chalk.

Yao Weihua, Maozi, and Cai Ting wanted to fight over it, but Yang Jinwen shouted, "Let Captain Gao write it."

At this moment, Gao Jie stood on the steps, completely dazed.

Even though the 711 and 609 cases have been successfully solved, and the suspect—no, the murderer Xia Hai—has confessed, he still feels it's unreal.

In 1996, due to the 711 case, the original Third Brigade was eager for quick success and wanted to improve the case-solving rate that year. Later, due to poor handling of the case, it became an unsolved case. Then, due to the 609 case the following year, the two cases were linked and it was speculated that they were committed by the same murderer.

During the investigation, suspect Kou Tao fell from a building. All members of the original Third Brigade were punished. Zhou Xiaochuan and Yue Feng were dismissed from the criminal investigation team for excessive behavior during interrogation, and Gao Jie himself was transferred to the traffic police team.

The original three major squadrons have fallen apart!

Gao Jie thought he would never set foot in the Qincheng Criminal Police Detachment's office building in his entire life. He thought there was no hope left for these two cases.

But in the end, a glimmer of hope appeared.

He looked at the honor roll, his breathing becoming rapid.

Yao Weihua, Maozi, and Cai Ting withdrew their hands, giving up the fight.

Yang Jinwen took the chalk from Feng Xiaocai and put it in Gao Jie's hand.

"Go write it."

Gao Jie swallowed hard and stared at him blankly: "Captain Yang, I... I'm not qualified."

"It's okay, it's all the same." Yang Jinwen patted his shoulder.

Feng Xiaocai's eyes welled up with tears: "Master, you're the most suitable one to write it."

Gao Jie's right hand, holding the chalk, trembled twice. He nodded and walked towards the platform on the second floor.

Standing in front of the mirror, he looked at himself. His hair was thinning, his beard was unshaven, the shoulders and collar of his jacket were worn down, and his back was hunched.

It was only then that Gao Jie realized he was already in his forties and that most of his life had passed.

He looked into his eyes and could see the young man he had been when he first joined the Qincheng Detachment twenty years ago.

He would glance at this mirror whenever he went up or down the stairs.

Gao Jie swallowed hard, walked to the honor roll, and wrote two heavy strokes on the blackboard of the Third Brigade.

He used so much force that the chalk broke.

After he finished writing, he turned around and saw people from the First and Second Battalions watching him in the lobby on the first floor.

Upon closer inspection, he recognized the members who had been added to the First and Second Battalions after the original Third Battalion was disbanded, including Gu Jun.

A dozen or so people stood scattered below, their lips tightly pursed.

Gao Jie smiled slightly, gripped the chalk tightly, and looked at Yang Jinwen: "Thank you, Captain Yang."

"Don't mention it." Yang Jinwen nodded.

"Goodbye." Gao Jie extended his hand.

Yang Jinwen shook his hand tightly: "If we have the chance, let's solve cases together again."

Gao Jie waved his hand: "No, for the rest of my life, I will be a traffic policeman. My wish has been fulfilled."

After he finished speaking, he shook hands with Yao Weihua, Maozi, and Cai Ting.

Finally, he looked at Feng Xiaocai and said, "You are the spark of our original Third Brigade. Follow Captain Yang and do your best."

Feng Xiaocai nodded: "Master, I know, I definitely will."

Goodbye, everyone.

Gao Jie waved, went down the stairs, and walked outside.

The members of the former Third Brigade stepped aside and paid him a respectful look.

Gao Jie was in a good mood. He didn't look back or linger. He walked along, humming a song.

Looking back, Yun Zhe blocks the way home. Looking back, thorns abound. Tonight, there will be no more cherished dreams; the dreams we once shared, to whom will I now confide them…

Looking back, your figure has already faded into the distance; looking back, my eyes are blurred with tears. I leave behind your blessings, warming me in the darkness. No matter how much pain and confusion I face tomorrow, I once repeatedly questioned in the dim and dark...

As the song faded into the distance, Feng Xiaocai softly sang the second half of it.

"...Only now do I realize that a simple and peaceful life is true happiness. Looking back, it all seems like a dream. Looking back, my heart remains the same. Only the endless road accompanies me..."

Yao Weihua sniffed: "Little Sprout, don't cry, you sing really well."

Feng Xiaocai wiped away her tears with the back of her hand: "This is a song that my master used to sing often."

The cat encouraged him, "You sing better than him. Sing more often in the future."

Cai Ting shrugged: "I must say, Captain Gao has a talent for singing, his voice sounds a lot like Jiang Yuheng's." At this moment, the members of the First and Second Battalions began to go upstairs one after another, but they all glanced at Yang Jinwen from time to time, casting admiring glances at him.

There was only one coward, who slid up the handrail quickly.

Yao Weihua immediately caught him: "Hey, isn't this Captain Sun Yue? What's wrong? A bet's a bet, don't try to renege!"

Sun Yue was stopped. He closed his eyes briefly, his mind filled with a thousand curses.

He walked over awkwardly and pulled out a crumpled pack of Zhonghua cigarettes.

"Captain Yang, Captain Yao, Captain Cat, Captain Cai, come on, have a cigarette..."

Yao Weihua directly refused: "Don't give me that. You dare to say it but not to do it?"

Yang Jinwen asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Yao Weihua explained, "Captain Yang, it's like this, Captain Sun said that our Third Brigade can't solve these two cold cases. If we solve them, he'll come and clean the toilets on our first floor."

Yang Jinwen raised an eyebrow: "I agree."

Sun Yue was at a loss for words and hurriedly said, "Captain Yang, I was just joking. I've already inquired about the cases you've solved in Annam, and every single one of them is a major case."

For example, the serial murder case of female students at Chengnan Health School, the bus robbery, and the burglary and murder case in Lingmeng County—these are all incredible cases.

My previous point was that these two cases wouldn't be easy to solve, not that your Third Squad couldn't solve them.

"Really?" Yang Jinwen was very skeptical.

“Absolutely true!” Sun Yue nodded very seriously.

"Well then, you have to keep your word. You don't even have time to clean toilets for a year, how about a week?"

"Huh?" Sun Yue said with a grim expression, "Captain Yang, isn't this a bit unnecessary?"

At this moment, Shen Wenzhu came upstairs with a thermos cup in her hand and glanced at Sun Yue: "Captain Yang has spoken, how dare you still try to renege on your promise?"

Sun Yue, you're a man of your word; you must keep your promises.

Sun Yue gritted his teeth: "Fine, I admit it!"

"No, I was just joking." Yang Jinwen quickly said, "Captain Shen, Captain Sun, please don't take it seriously."

“That won’t do.” Shen Wenzhu stared at him: “With your Third Brigade being so strong, if our Second Brigade doesn’t step up our efforts, our case-solving rate at the end of the year will be very poor.”

Yang Jinwen shrugged: "I didn't intend to compete with you."

"You're kidding me." Shen Wenzhu rolled her eyes at him and laughed, "If you keep chasing, our Qincheng branch will have a higher case-solving rate. If you don't, even Director Wen will be fed up. Alright, let's wait and see who takes the stage at the end of the year."

Yang Jinwen smiled politely and declined to comment.

After Shen Wenzhu left with Sun Yue, Lu Ruixiang led a large group of people upstairs. As he passed by, he looked at Yang Jinwen and said, "Well done!"

Without waiting for Yang Jinwen's reply, he turned and went upstairs.

"What kind of people are they?" Yao Weihua complained.

Cai Ting laughed and said, "This Qincheng Detachment is interesting."

Cat asked, "Captain Yang, we solved the case in just five days. How much reward will we get this time?"

“There will definitely be a lot.” Wen Mo went upstairs and patted them on the shoulder: “I will recommend you for commendation. From now on, get ready. You are the three major detachments under the Qincheng Detachment. It’s up to you to bring honor to our An’nan public security system.”

"You came in too much of a rush. You've been focused on the case all week and aren't very familiar with Qincheng. So, I'll give you two days off to rest and get used to the provincial capital."

"Thank you, Director Wen."

Yang Jinwen and the others thanked him repeatedly, saying that everyone wanted to rest.

After he left, Cai Ting said, "I think I'll go back to Annam after two days of leave. Are you guys going back?"

Cat said, "I would like to go back, but every time I go back and forth, I waste time on the road. What about you, Lao Yao?"

"I have something to do."

The cat then asked, "Captain Yang, what about you?"

Yang Jinwen said thoughtfully, "Didn't Director Wen say that we should go out for a walk?"

He always felt that his father-in-law was too generous.

Feng Xiaocai suggested, "I can be your tour guide. Qincheng is a famous historical and cultural city with many interesting things to do."

The group chatted as they returned to the office.

Cai Ting sighed: "If there's not enough time, I won't go back. I'll just go out for a stroll. Winter is almost here, so I'll go buy a couple of coats."

Feng Xiaocai smiled and said, "Sister Cai, I'll take you there. I know a department store where the coats are quite cheap."

"Where?" Cai Ting asked, intrigued.

"Xingye Department Store".

Yao Weihua chimed in, "That's a big department store. I've heard of it in Annam. It's even advertised on TV. The things inside must be expensive."

Feng Xiaocai smiled and said, "I have connections. Just tell me what you want to buy."

Yao Weihua stared at her suspiciously.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door of the Third Brigade's office.

The door wasn't closed. The group looked up and saw two girls standing in the doorway, carrying briefcases, smiling and staring into the room.

When Yao Weihua saw them, he sighed, "Now I finally understand why Director Wen gave us a holiday. This is hardly a holiday!"

Cai Ting nodded in deep agreement: "Exactly!"

Feng Xiaocai looked at the two beautiful women at the door with a surprised expression: "Excuse me, who are you looking for?"

The cat leaped up from its seat: "Sis, what brings you here?"

(End of this chapter)