Chapter 445: Personal First-Class Merit

"Came as a group?"

At this point, Yu Dazhang really couldn't figure out what Captain Xu was up to.

Although S Province wasn't far from Songhai, it wasn't worth him coming in person, was it?

And he brought over a dozen people with him — is the provincial bureau really that free these days?

Carrying his doubts, Yu Dazhang went downstairs, only to see Captain Xu and over a dozen people standing at the entrance, waiting for him.

"You all…"

Yu Dazhang's gaze swept across their faces one by one — twelve people in total, and he recognized every single one.

They were the very people who had been wrongfully imprisoned in the Severed Finger Case; judging by the situation, they had all been released.

"What brings you to Songhai?"

Yu Dazhang walked over to meet them, his heart stirring with emotion.

Seeing these people cleared of their wrongful fate was, for him, the best reward for cracking a major case.

"Officer Yu, thank you."

The moment Liu Jinsong saw Yu Dazhang appear, overcome with emotion, he dropped to his knees before him.

Seeing this, the others immediately followed Liu Jinsong and knelt as well, shouting in unison:

"Thank you, Officer Yu."

Don't set me up like this… Yu Dazhang quickly hurried forward, first pulling Liu Jinsong to his feet, then turning to face the others and saying:

"Don't be like this, everyone get up, this is over the top."

While pulling people up, he signaled Captain Xu to help:

"Quick, get them up — if the leadership sees this they'll think I'm running some feudal superstition stunt."

Once everyone was on their feet, before Yu Dazhang could even ask, they simultaneously opened the bags in their hands and took out the banners inside.

The moment the banners were unfurled, the rows of golden characters made Yu Dazhang's eyes sting a little.

#Conscience of Society, Upholding Justice#

#Pillar of the Police Force, Cracking Cases at Lightning Speed#

#Fair and Strict in Law Enforcement, Righteousness Radiating from Every Bone#

Twelve banners, not a single repeated phrase among them — clearly all made at the same place.

The wording's pretty solid, properly professional… Yu Dazhang gave a silent compliment.

"Um…" he said hesitantly:

"Why bother with this, there's no need — how about you just return them?"

Giving banners also counts as a personal gesture of thanks.

For now it's still a bit off, but in a few more years, many city bureaus will publicly announce: no longer accepting banners gifted by the public.

The reason Yu Dazhang hesitated was precisely because he knew what would happen in the future.

"How do you even return a banner?" Captain Xu urged from the side:

"Just accept it — they came all this way by car just to show a little gratitude."

Seeing that Yu Dazhang no longer refused, everyone gathered up their banners and handed them to him.

After a few more pleasantries, the group took their leave one after another:

"We won't disrupt your work any longer. Tonight we'll treat you to a simple meal — please, you must honor us with your presence."

"No, no, no." Yu Dazhang quickly refused:

"That violates discipline — if the leadership found out, they'd have no choice but to discipline me."

At this point, all he could do was use the leadership as a shield.

Police accepting a meal invitation isn't inherently a violation, but the key is who's doing the inviting.

If you dine with people connected to a case, it sounds bad no matter how you explain it — bound to give people something to gossip about.

"But we've already booked the restaurant."

Disappointment spread across their faces.

Originally they simply wanted to treat Yu Dazhang to a meal and express their gratitude.

But now that Yu Dazhang had said this, they too began to hesitate.

They didn't want to cause him trouble, yet they didn't want to give up just like that.

For a moment, the scene turned awkward — everyone glanced at each other, at a loss for what to do.

"How about this."

Captain Xu stepped in to smooth things over just in time:

"Cancel your restaurant booking — tonight's meal, we'll pick where to go."

Hearing this, the group all expressed their agreement.

"That's fine too, but Officer Yu please don't stand on ceremony. This time not only were we released, we all received compensation — treating you to a meal is the least we should do."

After they left, Yu Dazhang led Captain Xu upstairs.

They were all colleagues within the system — since he was here, of course he had to be hosted. Finding a temporary office for receiving guests, Yu Dazhang poured Captain Xu some water and offered him a cigarette.

"Don't stand on ceremony."

Captain Xu declined Yu Dazhang lighting his cigarette, picked up the water glass and took a sip:

"They didn't know you were working over here in Songhai, so they went to the provincial bureau looking for you many times. In the end, the top leadership decided to have me bring them over to meet you in person."

Yu Dazhang said nothing, just stared intently at Captain Xu.

He knew Captain Xu hadn't finished speaking — there had to be more to come.

For those who had been wronged, this was no less than being reborn — not being able to thank him face to face would have left a knot in their hearts.

Help someone all the way.

Yu Dazhang felt he had a responsibility to help these people fulfill that wish.

Only, Captain Xu had no need to bring them over personally — that wasn't within the scope of his duties.

So, him coming here must mean he had something else going on.

"The credit for the severed-finger case has come through."

Captain Xu paused briefly, then stated the purpose of this trip:

"The big boss's intention is to have you go to Province S to attend the commendation conference. You're the Primary credit, you ought to be there."

That was it… Hearing this, Yu Dazhang breathed a sigh of relief.

He'd thought the Province S side had gotten some kind of handle on him.

"Forget it, I won't go." Yu Dazhang refused decisively:

"The credit belongs to everyone. Without you all, the case wouldn't have been cracked so smoothly. Thank the leaders for their concern on my behalf."

If it were just attending a commendation conference, he definitely wouldn't have made a special trip.

For this kind of formal commendation, he'd always kept a respectful distance.

"Sure enough you wouldn't go."

Captain Xu laughed:

"Just like the big boss guessed."

Saying so, he took a brown wooden box from his bag and handed it over:

"This is the medal. The leader asked me to deliver it to you personally."

After Yu Dazhang took it, he opened the wooden box.

A gold medal, a red five-pointed star…

Individual First-Class Merit!

Although he'd expected it long ago, the moment he saw this medal, Yu Dazhang still couldn't hide his excitement. He reached out and ran his hand over the medal's surface.

"You also have a Collective First-Class Merit."

Captain Xu continued:

"Considering you're in Songhai, the leaders decided to issue it to you in the form of a bonus."

Yu Dazhang nodded without a word, his eyes fixed on the medal.

He didn't know why, but at that moment, Han Lianwu came to mind.

In that soon-to-be-demolished bungalow — that was their first meeting, and also their last.

Han Lianwu had used his own way to thank Yu Dazhang for his help.

Without that meeting, would this Individual First-Class Merit medal exist?

Yu Dazhang couldn't find the answer.

He only knew that, in his understanding, Han Lianwu had broken the law, but had not damaged the image of a soldier.

Just as a TV drama once said:

When facing the enemy, one must draw the sword. Blood splatters within seven paces — either you die or I perish.

If he'd chosen to cower and die of illness, Han Lianwu could only count as a law-abiding citizen, not a flesh-and-blood soldier.

"Thanks to you, this time I received an Individual Second-Class Merit."

Captain Xu lit his cigarette, a smile on his face:

"So tonight's dinner is on me."

(End of chapter)