Chapter 300

Talking about merit and rewards in a restaurant without a logo felt a bit undignified, but Yu Wenshu had no choice.

If they were his own men, he could give whatever reward he wanted—give too much, and it was luck; give too little, and it was still the ruler's grace.

As for Jiang Yuan… Yu Wenshu feared he might overdo it and drive him away.

Similar examples were far too numerous: it was easy to endure hardship together, hard to share prosperity. Many could grit their teeth through years of struggle, but when it came time to reap the rewards, unfair treatment—or even just a misunderstanding—would make them feel wronged.

In someone's words, people quit for only two reasons: not enough pay, or feeling wronged.

Yu Wenshu couldn't offer money, and if he let Jiang Yuan feel wronged, it would be far harder to keep him.

But how much was enough? How much was right—enough to avoid resentment, even to bring joy?

Yu Wenshu had thought about it for days, and now he signaled to Wan Baoming.

Let Wan Baoming say it—if anything was off, he could still fix it.

Wan Baoming cleared his throat twice, poured Jiang Yuan a drink, and said, "Jiang Yuan, since you came to Changyang City, you've cracked case after case. Add this one's seven, and four of them were old homicide cases. Our previous cold case task force looked too casual, and it didn't highlight our role at all…"

After clinking glasses with Jiang Yuan, Wan Baoming continued: "The brigade, after deep reflection, has decided to upgrade the cold case task force into the Changyang City Jiang Yuan Cold Case Task Force, under your command, with an authorized strength of eighteen. What do you think?"

Jiang Yuan nearly choked on his drink: "What name?"

Wan Baoming said, "Use your name: Jiang Yuan Cold Case Task Force. We'll also hang a second sign: Jiang Yuan Youth Tujidui. Youth Tujidui is an old tradition of ours—our own Deputy Director Yu, back in the day, rose from the Yu Wenshu Youth Tujidui. It stands for extraordinary endurance, extraordinary fighting spirit…"

Yu Wenshu laughed heartily: "Old stories, but charging ahead, daring to be first—that's our style. Back then, we didn't overthink; we just charged forward."

Jiang Yuan quickly said, "That's exaggerated. Eighteen people for a cold case team? Too many. Every unit is stretched thin now…"

"We can't reduce the number," Yu Wenshu smiled. "People are already lining up to join the Jiang Yuan Cold Case Task Force. Eighteen is final—if I cut it further, the pressure on me will be unbearable. Ha ha…"

Everyone laughed along.

In the past, cold case teams were unpopular; in the end, they usually consisted of a few young officers plus a few middle-aged or older detectives who didn't care about advancement.

Those unambitious older detectives didn't mind what they did—it was just work, just routine. The young ones, full of passion, often didn't understand the difficulty or their own limits, convinced they could handle anything.

But a normal cold case team needed exactly that kind of reckless energy. Occasionally, some cold cases could be cracked through sheer force.

More often, just getting a lead out of a cold case team was considered a success.

But if no results came, the work was incredibly dull and offered almost no sense of accomplishment. Most people couldn't stick with it.

So many units' cold case teams, though called "special," would fade away after a while—or become part-time duties.

Pouring manpower endlessly into this work sounds feasible, but in reality, it's far from simple.

Jiang Yuan's cold case team was clearly different.

Not to mention cracking seven homicides—within such a short time, cracking even one would change everyone's morale.

Jiang Yuan hesitated slightly: "Actually, most cases don't need eighteen people."

"Learning to manage people is part of growing," Wan Baoming, aware of tech-oriented minds, immediately said: "Deputy Director Yu handpicked everyone. Don't worry—they're not all connections."

"Even the connections are useful—they can write reports, coordinate with other units, apply for resources. All valuable."

"If you don't know how to use them, come find me," Yu Wenshu smiled. "Also, I've included a few people you're already familiar with—Wang Chuan and Tang Jia are both in."

"Alright," Jiang Yuan had no reason to refuse. Having a team would definitely give him an advantage in solving cases.

"It's a good thing," Yu Wenshu smiled faintly. "You came to Changyang, spent some time, and got a team—it's normal."

"Changyang's too noisy. I still prefer my hometown," Jiang Yuan was perfectly clear: Changyang's personnel politics weren't on the same level as Ningtai County's. Just look at this new task force—eighteen slots, and even Deputy Director Yu had to balance relationships.

It was like touring hell with succubi as companions. But if you were actually transferred to hell, you might end up becoming a succubus yourself.

Yu Wenshu felt a pang of regret, but not surprise.

Jiang Yuan had always been like this; Yu Wenshu couldn't offer more guarantees.

In fact, if he wanted to switch jobs, the provincial bureau offered a quieter, freer life. Senior officers like Liu Jinghui, though they dealt daily with local detective squads, had minimal personal entanglements, low psychological burden, and their main job was traveling to solve cases—better suited for Jiang Yuan.

But now, aside from administrative benefits, Jiang Yuan's treatment and level of importance had already matched Liu Jinghui's.

Thinking this way, Yu Wenshu had no grounds to change Jiang Yuan's mind.

"Try the cold appetizers—this place's husband-and-wife lung slices are legendary. And the husband's version tastes different from the wife's." With official business done, Yu Wenshu cheerfully shifted to dining culture.

Wan Baoming and the others quickly followed, and within moments, the table buzzed with lively chatter.

…

The next day.

The sign for the Jiang Yuan Cold Case Task Force was hung up.

The office was set up in a storage room on the fourth floor. After swapping the sign, a dozen or so half-new, half-used desks were crammed in, filling the space completely.

Jiang Yuan's high-performance computers and potted plants added depth and character to the office.

Tang Jia hummed as she organized her desk. She was one of the officers who had watched Jiang Yuan crack case after case, and had participated in them herself. For those who had once been inside the bureau, Jiang Yuan's solving ability and efficiency were beyond ceiling-level; they had no doubt about the future of the Jiang Yuan Cold Case Task Force.

In contrast, several newly joined officers—especially those with connection backgrounds—showed some hesitation.

Jiang Yuan's legend was known to all—they'd heard it, seen it.

But how the work would proceed, what kind of person Jiang Yuan was, how he operated—they had no sense of certainty.

Of course, none of them were afraid—if the task force failed, they had plenty of ways to transfer elsewhere.

Soon, Jiang Yuan entered with Yu Wenshu and the others.

Yu Wenshu delivered a few formal remarks, then added: "The Jiang Yuan Cold Case Task Force is now entering operational mode. My requirement: a one-month adjustment period. Within this month, raise any problems, needs, or complaints. After one month, I won't coddle you anymore!"

He was speaking to the connection-based officers, who nodded obediently.

Yu Wenshu stepped aside, giving the floor to Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan wasn't good at speeches or motivational talks.

Back when he ate at neighbors' homes in his village, the most he said was "thank you." Later, when his family got compensation from demolition, his father's only advice was: keep a low profile, act quietly, live quietly.

Jiang Yuan looked at the eighteen young officers below him—including Wang Chuan and Tang Jia—all on elite tracks, mostly graduates of Public Security University and Police Academy, their expressions alert and energetic.

Jiang Yuan cleared his throat and said bluntly: "Let's solve a case. Once we solve one, you'll all get familiar."

Yu Wenshu and Wan Baoming exchanged glances, both amused—Jiang Yuan's opening was exactly what you'd expect, yet still surprising.

"Right. I looked through some old files myself. Let's start with this one." Jiang Yuan pulled out a photo and waved it. "Case 427: Death by Alcohol Poisoning. The time of death was misjudged. Let's reconstruct it."

Yu Wenshu and the others froze. Start with a homicide? Wasn't that too difficult?

—to proceed to review

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