Chapter 282

"Jiang Yuan's back. Wow, looking even more handsome."

"Dr. Jiang, back for a visit?"

"Brother Jiang, long time no see!"

Jiang Yuan walked into the courtyard of the Criminal Investigation Team, greeted by voices full of warmth—and a hint of disbelief.

Everyone knew he'd been traded to Changyang City by Director Huang, and none expected him back so soon.

Jiang Yuan greeted everyone while making it clear: "I'm just back for a few days of rest."

"Temporary return."

"Came to see everyone."

Up on the fourth floor, in the Criminal Science and Technology Team's section, Jiang Yuan first returned to his office, greeted his master Wu Jun, exchanged a few words, reported in to the team leader, then immediately went to find Huang Qiangmin.

Huang Qiangmin, deep in thought in his office, heard voices greeting Jiang Yuan in the hallway, immediately trotted two steps, sat back at his desk, picked up his teacup, and blew gently on the tea, watching bubbles rise like proteinuria.

"Director Huang." Jiang Yuan knocked and entered.

"Jiang Yuan, back already." Huang Qiangmin set down his teacup without drinking, smiling: "How's Changyang? Did Yu Zhi treat you fairly?"

"There was some favoritism—lots of warm inquiries, really cared about me." Jiang Yuan smiled: "This case is finished, so I thought I'd come back and see. I feel our county's surveillance system is nearly done too."

Huang Qiangmin nearly teared up. The county's surveillance system had been bought with Jiang Yuan's sacrifice—and now Jiang Yuan, back for a visit, still cared how well it was built.

Huang Qiangmin suddenly felt like a father who'd married off his daughter.

Huang Qiangmin: "Ah… ah, the surveillance system's doing fine. Good, really good. If you can't stand Changyang, come back—I'll go to the county and explain to Director Zhang and the others…"

Jiang Yuan waved his hand: "No need. That's not what I meant. Seeing the system come together, I'm actually happy. Our Jiangcun community just installed surveillance too—caught two thieves. Very useful."

"Yeah, county finances are tight, so installation's slow, but overall progress is decent. Core surveillance is restored now—much better than before."

"Is manpower sufficient?"

"We're still recruiting. Right now we're using temporary workers, can hire some auxiliary police, but the rest will probably wait until next year…"

Huang Qiangmin smiled and added: "We're planning to form a Video Investigation Team—could assign you as team leader…"

"No no." Jiang Yuan waved off. Team leader was a rank that only counted within the Criminal Investigation Team—equivalent to a division-level cadre.

While promotions usually came step by step, frankly, if Jiang Yuan wanted advancement, going straight to Changyang City was the fastest, best path.

For now, Jiang Yuan believed forensic medicine was still the best fit. Certain requirements of the role made it unsuitable for a Video Investigation Team leader to switch positions—though the reverse wasn't true.

With more cases handled, Jiang Yuan now had clearer goals and direction—and being a Video Investigation Team leader was certainly not one of them.

Huang Qiangmin was surprised by Jiang Yuan's decisiveness. He stood up, closed the door, and whispered, "The Video Investigation Team will definitely be strengthened later—maybe even become a standalone Video Investigation Battalion. It's hard to say, but it's better to secure a position now—it won't hurt."

Jiang Yuan said, "Even if it becomes a Video Investigation Battalion, they won't make me the battalion chief, right?"

"Well… no, not really." Huang Qiangmin smiled awkwardly. The director of the county's Criminal Investigation Battalion holds a Zhengke-level post; the Video Investigation Battalion would be similar.

At that level, in Changyang City, even a police dog might outrank it—but in the county, it was an extremely scarce position.

Not even Director Zhang could promise it. Without sufficient seniority, it was impossible to grant.

Jiang Yuan then said, "Then wait until the Forensic Science Team becomes a battalion—appoint me as its team leader and give my master a deputy role."

Huang Qiangmin fell silent: "You're thinking…"

"Too ambitious. Why should the Forensic Science Team be promoted to a battalion?"

"I'll help you secure a few million in equipment, then apply for land, buildings—fixed assets—and request more staffing, set up two labs. Upgrading to a Forensic Science Center would be natural." Jiang Yuan sounded thoroughly planned.

Huang Qiangmin laughed. "You know how much a few million is? Turned into steel coins… never mind, you know."

Huang Qiangmin pursed his lips, suddenly realizing this might actually be feasible.

After all, Jiang Yuan had simply traded away surveillance systems worth tens of millions—even if the funding came from above, it still…

"When are you getting promoted?" Jiang Yuan asked again.

Huang Qiangmin's Image Office was already racing toward becoming a Video Investigation Battalion—yet he remained director of the Criminal Investigation Battalion… possible, but not quite fitting his nature.

In the pursuit of power, Huang Qiangmin was no weakling.

In fact, any Criminal Investigation Battalion director should naturally be a master of power balancing—because his job is balancing power.

Huang Qiangmin smiled faintly, not hiding it: "If nothing goes wrong by year-end, I might get appointed Deputy Director. I haven't told my wife—don't you say a word."

"Yeah yeah." Jiang Yuan nodded vigorously: "That's right. Should've been Executive Deputy Director, in charge of criminal investigations."

"We'll see." Huang Qiangmin gave a detached laugh. "Actually possible—if nothing goes wrong by year-end, Ningtai County might rank first in provincial county-level combat power. By tradition, that means at least one promotion."

Huang Qiangmin wore a serious, unsmiling expression.

This year, Ningtai County's Criminal Investigation Team solved every current homicide case—full 300 points. All eight major categories of serious cases solved—full 150 points. Routine maintenance and baseline 300 points lost little—got 220. Deducted about 20 points for discipline, finance, and minor issues. Total: 650.

In past years, Ningtai's total usually hovered around 550; in bad years, barely over 500.

Other county criminal teams in Qinghe City—or even other police teams in Ningtai—were similar. Like Longli County's Criminal Investigation Team, they couldn't even hit 550 normally.

So 650 was enough to put Ningtai County's Criminal Investigation Team at number one in Qinghe City's combat power rankings.

But 650 was far from Ningtai's limit.

According to regulations, solving one cold homicide case added 100 points—with no cap. Apprehending a homicide suspect added 50 points. Solving cold cases in the eight major categories like robbery or arson added 50 to 70 points per arrest—with no cap.

These cold cases were like bonus questions on an exam. Even in Ningtai's hardest years, they'd assign one or two teams to spend one or two months on cold cases, hoping to solve one or two homicides to make up the deficit.

Since the combat power rankings began, Ningtai's best performance in cold homicides was solving two cases and apprehending two suspects—adding 300 bonus points.

But that year, Ningtai failed a current homicide case—lost all 300 points.

This year is different.

This year, Jiang Yuan solved cold homicide cases belonging to Ningtai's Criminal Investigation Team, apprehended suspects, and solved cold homicide cases from other jurisdictions that Ningtai could claim partial credit for—totaling over 1200 bonus points.

Meaning Ningtai's Criminal Investigation Team could reach 1800 points this year. Jiang Yuan alone accounted for 60% of the combat power.

This number is the highest ever recorded in Shannan Province since combat power rankings began. Past record-breakers barely broke 1000.

Ordinary county-level criminal teams simply don't have enough cold cases to solve—further breakthroughs are structurally impossible.

Only someone like Jiang Yuan, who travels across oceans, embodies selfless spirit…

…can push the numbers to such absurd levels.

Even Ningtai County Bureau's score leapt from around 500 to over 650.

Had criminal investigation scores had no ceiling, Ningtai County Bureau could have become a number monster.

Under these conditions, if Huang Qiangmin just holds steady until year-end, he won't just be promoted—he'll earn major commendations.

Huang Qiangmin looked at Jiang Yuan, growing happier by the second, then promised, "Alright. When I get promoted, we'll upgrade the Forensic Science Team to a battalion."

Jiang Yuan grinned in agreement.

Huang Qiangmin slapped his forehead: "Oh right—what I meant to say earlier. Come on, I'll take you to the Image Office. Surveillance just upgraded—everything's a mess. Don't know how well it actually works."

Huang Qiangmin stood, took a Hua Zi from Jiang Yuan, lit it, and asked: "Was the Changyang case closed? Did the suspect confess?"

Jiang Yuan nodded: "He confessed. It started over a taxi fare and an argument. The suspect, with mobility issues, was visiting a distant uncle, so took a taxi hoping to appear respectable. Near the slaughterhouse, he wanted to pay early and haggle the price down."

"Didn't get the discount. The driver said out-of-town trips required long-distance and return fees—could waive return fee, but long-distance fee must increase 10%. The suspect and his wife naturally refused. They argued…"

"Then the female driver, not wanting trouble, offered to waive both fees and just settle now. But the argument had already escalated. The suspect demanded to stop, got out, and refused to pay. The driver chased after him…"

"The suspect, already insecure due to his limp, ran a few steps—easily caught by the driver. Embarrassed, he pulled out a knife…"

Jiang Yuan spread his hands: "Just a small thing, escalated step by step."

"Personality determines fate." Huang Qiangmin had seen too much: "Daily arguments are common. If you worked in a police station, you'd hear people arguing all day—but turning into murder is rare. This man became a killer not because he was provoked—he was always like this."

Jiang Yuan hadn't thought of it this way. He slowly nodded: "Maybe he was unhappy about moving to relatives, already insecure, uncertain about his future…"

"Didn't the suspect's wife stop him?"

"She was the main arguer—and helped him attack."

"Two death sentences. Not unjust." Huang Qiangmin showed zero sympathy.