30: Meeting before leaving get off work, all staff gather

“According to the Branch Bureau’s requirements, all discoveries of drug dealers must be reported to the Branch Bureau, and the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the Branch Bureau will handle it. This includes setting up surveillance and making arrests; all of it must be done by the Branch Bureau.” Xie Changkun was still a bit scared. Credit was good, but he couldn’t break the rules.

“Chief Xie, I know that, the Criminal Investigation Brigade. But as the local Police Station, don’t we have the responsibility to verify public tip-offs?”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean, Chief Xie, is that when the time comes, we can just say someone reported a disturbance at the bar, and when we went in to search, we discovered the drug dealers and apprehended them in one fell swoop.”

Xie Changkun scoffed, “Do you think the leaders of the Branch Bureau are fools?”

“Whether they’re fools or not, I don’t know, but as long as we solve the case and catch the people, with both the people and the evidence, the Branch Bureau leaders will only be happy, right, Chief Xie?” Ye Lin raised his eyebrows, continuously tempting Xie Changkun.

Xie Changkun was still hesitating; the risk was a bit too great.

“Chief Xie, opportunities are fleeting! A collective third-class merit! And we can carry guns, with so many people, and it’s pre-planned, what’s there to be afraid of?”

“I need to discuss this with the Instructor and Team Leader Zhang.” Xie Changkun ultimately didn’t dare to make a rash decision; this concerned the lives of everyone in the Police Station.

Soon, the door to Chief Xie’s office opened, and the Instructor and Zhang Degen walked in.

The rest of the Comrades outside discussed amongst themselves, wondering what was being discussed inside.

“I think our Police Station is having a big operation,” He Xinmin said with certainty.

Xiao Xu curiously asked, “Team Leader He, did our Police Station ever have such a big setup before? Chief Xie, the Instructor, plus the criminal police squadron discussing together.”

Seeing everyone’s gazes converge, He Xinmin looked very satisfied, cleared his throat, “Of course there was.”

“Back then, our Baiyun Street area was all rural, with many outsiders, especially many fallen women. That year, Chief Xie and I were both ordinary police officers, and the Police Station conducted a full-scale anti-prostitution operation.”

“We caught over 50 fallen women and more than 20 johns. The scene was quite grand.”

Xiao Xu and Shi Tou showed a hint of disappointment, “Team Leader He, don’t we have any other big operations? Like apprehending fugitives, or street gunfights?”

Before He Xinmin could reply, He Wenyan, the older sister next to him, made her move first, giving them two sharp knocks on the head.

“Gunfights, huh? Gunfights, huh? Do you think you’re immortals? You won’t get hurt in a gunfight? All day long you’re thinking about these useless things. Our primary duty at the grassroots Police Station is to ensure public safety, not to let you go have gunfights.”

The two young men, after being lectured by the older sister, could only sulk and remain silent.

Soon, the door to Chief Xie’s office opened, and several people walked out as if nothing had happened.

“Xiao Ye, what were you discussing? Tell your master?” He Xinmin pulled Ye Lin and asked.

“Nothing much, it was about the commendation for the previous meritorious service. The Branch Bureau said they wanted to commend us, and Chief Xie and the Instructor were discussing how to receive the award.” Ye Lin gave a few perfunctory replies according to the agreed-upon story.

He Xinmin was full of doubts. Discussing an award ceremony and still pounding the table?

“Xiao Ye, is Chief Xie not letting you go up to receive the award? If that happens, you tell me, your master, I’ll beat him to death.”

“...”

Throughout the day, Ye Lin accompanied his master on patrol, successfully handling a marital dispute and a neighborhood quarrel, which gave He Xinmin a great sense of accomplishment.

When they returned to the Police Station in the afternoon, He Xinmin was still boasting about his day’s deeds to a few young auxiliary police officers, planning to clock out in about ten minutes.

Just then, Xie Changkun and Huang Xuliang walked out, saying sternly, “Meeting!”

Everyone’s faces darkened. Damn it, a meeting right before quitting time? What did they want to do?

Workers, working souls, the most annoying thing is a meeting before getting off work.

In the conference room, everyone was assembled.

Xie Changkun stood up solemnly, scanned everyone present, and said loudly, “Please hand over your mobile phones.”

Everyone’s expressions tensed. This was a big operation.

He Xinmin looked at Ye Lin with a threatening look, “Kid, you even lied to your master.”

Ye Lin could only give an awkward smile; there was no way to explain.

Zhang Degen stepped forward, collected everyone’s mobile phones, and locked them in the confidential cabinet.

“Now I announce that tonight our Police Station will have a major operation. From now on, no one is allowed to act alone. Everyone is to stay in the conference room and await orders.”

The conference room instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at each other, their questioning gazes intertwining in the air.

However, the information received was all headshakes; no one knew what they were going to do.

“Everyone, no need to look. We will inform you of the specific operational details a little later. For now, everyone please rest uniformly in the conference room.”

“Ye Lin, come out for a moment,” Xie Changkun called out.

Ye Lin responded and walked out. No one paid much attention, thinking it was for some specific division of labor.

But after a while, only Xie Changkun walked back in. Now everyone understood that Ye Lin also knew about this operation.

While the Comrades at the Police Station were still drinking tea and chatting in the conference room, Ye Lin was already carrying the money box and walking to the entrance of Red Moon Bar.

The first time he saw the money box, Xie Changkun couldn’t help but praise him: “Not bad, you even thought to prepare a box for money, very thoughtful.”

“But it’s best not to open the box; counterfeit money would be detected immediately.”

Ye Lin responded, feeling a bit embarrassed to say that his money was real and he wasn’t afraid of it being checked.

Today, Red Moon Bar looked the same as yesterday, nothing special.

Ye Lin was dressed the same as yesterday. When the two bouncers saw Ye Lin, their mouths twitched slightly. It was this kid yesterday who caused a big scene at the bar.

Ye Lin carried the box and strode in, completely ignoring the two.

It was only a little past 8 PM, still over an hour until the agreed-upon time. Ye Lin sat bored in a secluded corner, watching the DJ in the dance floor leading everyone in dancing.

It was still early, but today was noticeably more crowded than yesterday, though most were just drinking, with few people going down to dance.

A man and a woman sat in the distance on the dance floor. There were two tables by the entrance, with only one man sitting at each table, which was a bit strange, but perhaps they arrived early and were waiting for someone.

At the other tables, there were people who had already started drinking, clearly unaffected by yesterday’s incident.

At 9 PM, Chief Xie looked at the clock on the wall. Finally, as everyone was getting restless from sitting, he stood up.

“Now, everyone go to the armory to get your guns, put on your bulletproof vests, and depart.”

Everyone was stunned. Oh my god, carrying guns?

What kind of operation was this tonight?

However, the more serious the operation, the less anyone dared to ask. Everyone silently collected their guns and gathered in the hall.