Chapter 88: Polishing Is Very Important

That punch sent the pens on the desk bouncing up from the impact.

An officer working at the desk was startled by it, looked up and saw it was Yu Dazhang, then immediately lowered his head again.

"Ah, sorry about that." Yu Dazhang hurried to apologize:

"Got a bit worked up just now."

That officer waved his hand:

"No worries, no worries, totally understand."

Understand what… Yu Dazhang looked toward his master.

Lu Zhongxin gave him a look, signaling him to step outside and talk.

Once they were outside, Yu Dazhang finally couldn't hold it in any longer and asked:

"Why do I get the feeling everyone on the squad's been looking at me weird? Has someone been badmouthing me behind my back?"

"Not exactly that." Lu Zhongxin sighed:

"Your story's already spread everywhere — Seven deaths, three heavy burdens, you didn't spare women or kids, almost every wound was fatal."

"Even though it was in the line of duty, it's hard not to make people overthink it."

Yu Dazhang wasn't happy hearing that and argued back:

"It wasn't all me, I told you already — one of them was shot by a squad officer."

He was most afraid of this kind of rumor-spreading behind his back.

This was character assassination, making it sound like he was some kind of savage.

The situation at the time had already reached a kill-or-be-killed point.

Besides, he was surrounded by a mob — if he didn't pull out some thunderous measures, would he still be alive?

Lu Zhongxin patted his disciple's shoulder and gave him a meaningful look.

That's why master and disciple had such good chemistry.

Yu Dazhang instantly understood what his master meant: don't get hung up on it, that one doesn't matter.

It's over, he can't explain it away… Yu Dazhang now finally understood what they meant by "the terror of public opinion."

It was clear that this time even his master wasn't taking his side.

Sen-ge, it's all your fault!

He was already considering whether to go to the hospital after work and stab Zhang Sen's bad leg.

At the same time, he was well aware that the follow-up wasn't over yet.

Right now the leaders were all busy and had no time to deal with him, but the moment they had a spare moment they'd come find him to get the full story.

Yu Dazhang had already finished writing his report last night.

And he'd written it from two people's perspectives.

At the scene that day, besides the Seven deaths, three heavy burdens, there was also that squad officer.

Yu Dazhang had to fold that officer's perspective into the report as well.

For example, the report contained a line like this…

【At the time I was surrounded, that little boy charged at me, and when he was about three meters away, he suddenly pulled a dagger from behind his back; I fired under conditioned reflex.】

In reality, Yu Dazhang had only seen the little boy make the motion of drawing a blade — when he fired, he hadn't even seen the knife.

But he didn't dare gamble on it.

If he let the little boy get close, the lunatics surrounding him would have seized the chance to pounce immediately.

But he couldn't write it that way in the report.

【I saw the little boy charge at me, figured he was going to hurt me, so I just opened fire.】

That was the truth, but writing it that way was just asking for trouble.

So you see, polishing is extremely important!

When describing the same event, the effect presented before and after polishing is completely different.

When the shot was fired, that officer was standing at the door of the self-built house.

Three points in a line — Yu Dazhang was right in the middle, blocking his line of sight.

Whether the little boy drew a blade or not, he simply couldn't see it, so Yu Dazhang could polish this section however he liked.

Besides, Zhang Sen's master had been stabbed by the little boy — that had already been confirmed.

Let alone not killing him, even if Yu Dazhang had gunned the little boy down on the spot, he'd bear zero responsibility.

He spent the entire morning wandering around the First Brigade.

Wei Qian called to notify him: stay in the brigade, don't go anywhere.

For some reason, none of the officers in the brigade would let him touch any work matters.

It made Yu Dazhang feel like he was under house arrest, uncomfortable all over.

Still, he did go out twice — to get some air and also to see if anyone was restricting his freedom. Turns out, no one was actually watching him.

It wasn't until eleven in the morning that he finally got a call from Wei Qian.

"Come downstairs. Now."

Downstairs, Yu Dazhang saw Wei Qian sitting in the driver's seat of a police car, waving him over.

After getting in the car, he asked while fastening his seatbelt:

"Captain Wei, if you've got something just say it — what's with all the mystery?"

Wei Qian didn't answer, but asked instead:

"Is the report written?"

"Finished it last night." Yu Dazhang waved the document folder in his hand:

"I was planning to hand it to you, but you didn't show up at the squad all morning."

Wei Qian smiled:

"Keep pretending. You know perfectly well the boss wanted to see it—you buckled your seat belt the moment you got in the car."

"Uh…" Yu Dazhang was a little embarrassed, but quickly recovered and shifted the subject:

Please... bookmark... 6... 9... book.... bar....!

"Which leader are you going to see? You even went out of your way to drive over and pick me up."

"Big Cat." Wei Qian replied, then floored it onto the road.

Seeing Yu Dazhang say nothing, he felt it necessary to add.

"The Big Cat from the Municipal Bureau."

"Not Director Wu?!" Yu Dazhang started, whipping his head toward Wei Qian:

"That's skipping a whole level!"

Good lord—he was just a rookie cop who hadn't even been confirmed on the job for a few days, and now the top man of the Municipal Bureau wanted to see him.

In his past life, the highest-ranking official he'd ever dealt with was the district branch leader.

Such a sudden, big production couldn't help but make him a little nervous.

"You really do say the most toothless things." Wei Qian laughed and scolded:

"If you went to the Municipal Bureau yourself to report, that would be skipping a level. The Big Cat specifically asked for you by name—that's called valuing talent."

Yu Dazhang gave him a thumbs-up:

"No wonder you made it to leadership—everything out of your mouth sounds good."

"Cut the crap with me." Wei Qian gave him a reprimand, but there wasn't a hint of anger in it.

In truth, he was happier inside than anyone.

In a single day, he'd found the missing officer, recovered the service pistol, and cracked a major homicide case and a trafficking case.

What did that represent?

Sky-high merit!

Yu Dazhang was one of their First Squadron's people. With that connection, the entire squadron got to share in the glory.

Merit, bonuses, honors—none of it would be lacking.

And the most important point of all: the résumé.

He was the squadron commander, Yu Dazhang's direct superior.

After this, his résumé was sure to get a bold, eye-catching new line.

Wei Qian didn't say it out loud, but he knew in his heart that this time he'd been carried to new heights by this newly confirmed rookie.

Which department doesn't love talent—especially talent with extraordinary ability?

In another two years, Wei Qian would discover that the phrase "carried to new heights" had already gone out of style.

By then, a more vivid word would appear.

Lying-flat win.

Municipal Bureau entrance.

Wei Qian stopped the car and turned to look at Yu Dazhang:

"Go on."

On the steps by the entrance, Director Wu stood there and gave a wave to Yu Dazhang as he stepped out of the car.

"Aren't you going?" Yu Dazhang asked Wei Qian inside the car.

Wei Qian waved him off:

"I've got other things to take care of."

That was the face-saving excuse he'd found for himself.

Yu Dazhang could tell, of course. He stepped forward and greeted Director Wu, then followed him inside the building.

Inside the Director's office.

At the sound of a knock, the man in the white shirt set down the documents in his hand.

"Come in."

Yu Dazhang and Director Wu walked into the room and stood before the desk.

"You go on ahead." The man waved Director Wu off:

"I need to speak with him alone."

(End of chapter)