Chapter 96: Promoted to Deputy Chief Constable

"It's me." Chen Yongren replied.

"I know you." Liu Jianming sized up Chen Yongren, smiling: "You personally captured an anti-Japanese element earlier; the Imperial Army thinks highly of you."

'Is he Chen Yongren?'

'Although he captured an anti-Japanese element, he is ultimately Chinese, so we cannot easily trust him.'

'I have looked through all the constable records in the constabulary; recently only he and Zhang Haifeng two people graduated from the regular constable academy; the rest are all useless good-for-nothings.'

'These two fellows must be closely watched.'

'Especially Chen Yongren.'

'He is now deputy chief constable and also my assistant.'

'Chen Yongren being fine now does not mean he will be fine later.'

'Look for an opportunity, think of a way to test him.'

"As a constable, I naturally must serve the locust army and do my utmost to maintain Songhu's security." Chen Yongren put on a humble expression.

Hearing Liu Jianming's inner thoughts, Chen Yongren cursed silently.

Deputy chief constable…

Have I been promoted?

Tengyuan Jintai that old devil, although he has begun to trust me, still holds reservations.

Otherwise he wouldn't have sent a Japanese person, disguised as Chinese, to monitor the constabulary.

However.

I can know what he's thinking, so I need not worry about failing to see through his schemes.

"Well said, we are all constables; the security of all Songhu rests on our shoulders." Liu Jianming patted Chen Yongren's shoulder and nodded satisfactorily.

"Our most important task is to ensure Songhu's stability and prosperity!"

Then he clapped his hands again, saying: "Brothers, stop chatting; A Ren has just arrived, I have an announcement to make!"

Upon hearing this, all the constables looked at Liu Jianming.

"From now on, A Ren will be the deputy chief constable of the constabulary; on days when the chief is absent, he will assist me in handling all bureau affairs." Liu Jianming said.

"Deputy Chief Constable Chen." A voice rang out from the crowd.

Thereafter, voices rose and fell one after another.

"Starting now, your base salary will be doubled, and you will also receive a monthly food subsidy of fifteen yuan." Liu Jianming looked at Chen Yongren and smiled.

"By the way, the special reward of one hundred yen for capturing the anti-Japanese element will also be paid to you."

"Director Tengyuan Jintai has high expectations of you; you must not let down their kindness."

"Yes, Chief!" Chen Yongren shouted loudly.

Seeing Liu Jianming's face fall, he immediately said again: "Ming brother!"

"That's more like it." Liu Jianming smiled and nodded.

"Everyone, get back to work; when off duty, don't rush off—let's gather for a meal together!"

"Yes!" The constables replied in unison, then each went about their own business; their glances at Chen Yongren were filled with deep envy.

Chen Yongren, this guy is capable.

After just a few months, he has risen to deputy chief constable, earned the trust of the Japanese, and his future is surely limitless.

After saying that, Liu Jianming smiled at Chen Yongren: "A Ren, come with me."

"Yes, Ming brother." Chen Yongren followed Liu Jianming to the left.

"From now on you will sit opposite me and assist me with official duties." After Liu Jianming sat down, he pointed to a desk beside him and smiled.

Chen Yongren looked at the desk.

The desk surface had been tidied clean, with a nameplate placed on it.

Chen Yongren.

Below the name was written the position.

Deputy chief constable.

"Yes, Ming brother." Chen Yongren also did not refuse, pulled out a chair and sat down.

Liu Jianming obviously intends to personally supervise.

However, this is not bad.

For Liu Jianming, Chen Yongren is under his eyelids.

For Chen Yongren, he likewise can at any time know what Liu Jianming is thinking and prepare countermeasures in advance.

Having arranged Chen Yongren, Liu Jianming also lowered his head to handle documents.

This little Japanese really knows how to pretend; if I couldn't hear what he's thinking, I might really be deceived.

Chen Yongren muttered to himself.

Liu Jianming doesn't even have a hint of a Japanese accent; this fellow is definitely a spy who has long been infiltrating China.

Nothing happened all morning.

Having been promoted to deputy chief constable, no longer needing to patrol the streets, Chen Yongren was instead idle, reading the newspaper at his workstation and peacefully passing the morning.

During that time.

Liu Jianming then asked many questions, basically all about constabulary affairs, but Chen Yongren handled them calmly.

At lunchtime, Chen Yongren and Zhang Haifeng went out together to eat.

Both wore constable uniforms; at that moment nobody dared to approach them.

"They killed Hu Xingrui, and the Japanese actually sent another guy; I thought you would become chief constable." Zhang Haifeng sighed.

Chen Yongren half-joked: "I'm already deputy chief constable; becoming chief constable is just a matter of time."

"But he is definitely a Japanese person." Zhang Haifeng said: "The Japanese wouldn't just transfer someone over for no reason."

"A Ren, do you know what he said before you arrived?"

After a few months of growth, Zhang Haifeng is no longer as simple as before, and his mind is much more agile.

"What words?" Chen Yongren asked.

Zhang Haifeng said: "Whether they are Chinese or Japanese, as long as they cause trouble in Songhu, we must treat them equally and show no leniency!"

Somewhat interesting, Chen Yongren asked: "What do you think of this remark?"

"Pure nonsense." Zhang Haifeng said concisely.

After a pause, he joked: "But I really want to see, when encountering a Japanese person causing trouble, whether he chooses to show leniency or treat them equally."

Chen Yongren casually took out a pack of cigarettes, smoked one himself, tossed one to Zhang Haifeng, and said: "Wait until I go back and report to the station chief, I'll investigate this guy's background."

"For now, let's maintain the status quo, neither getting close nor distant, just treat it as a normal superior-subordinate relationship."

When the two first met, Chen Yongren also didn't feel comfortable directly pointing out that he was Japanese.

But using the station chief's identity as a shield is different.

All communication up and down is handled by Chen Yongren.

In the end, how it's said still comes down to his single word.

Chen Yongren increasingly felt the benefits of opening small accounts; whether there was business or not, he still needed to open several more small accounts to disrupt the Japanese's time.

"Good." Zhang Haifeng said no more.

The two casually found a place to eat, ate and drank their fill, then returned to the police station.

In the afternoon, the police station got off work three hours early.

A crowd of people mightily went to a newly reopened restaurant in the Chinese Sector, the Dragon Phoenix Pavilion.

Liu Jianming generously opened five large tables, filling them with food and drink.

Even though those on night duty couldn't attend, Liu Jianming thoughtfully had the waiter bring some food and drink to the police station so everyone could be taken care of.

And Liu Jianming's practice undoubtedly earned the respect of the entire police station.

With food and drink aplenty, everyone dispersed and went home.

……

Fujiwara Villa.

Fujiwara Chikata sat at his desk, reviewing documents.

The matter of the lost equipment has made no progress to this day, and he also has a headache wondering where this batch of goods ended up.

Suddenly.

A knocking sound rang out.

"Dang dang dang~"