Two o’clock in the afternoon.
When Tang Huimin appeared at the Municipal Public Security Bureau in full military attire, the whole office building was abuzz.
Everyone had never expected that Tang Huimin, who had been missing for more than half a year, would appear alive and well in people’s sight, dumbfounded and staring at each other.
“Holy Sh*t,” a female policeman asked in a shocked voice to a male policeman beside her with wide eyes, “is this Tang Huimin? Is she a human or a ghost?”
“Superstition, what age is it that you still believe in ghosts in the world?” The male policeman froze for a moment and said, “Who is she if not Tang Huimin?”
“Didn’t you say she had died? How did she come back to life?” The policewoman slowed down.
The male policeman explained, “I guess she went on some special mission and we were all kept in the dark ……”
“I guess so,” the female cop thought the male cop’s words made sense and asked worriedly, “Wasn’t Tang Huimin’s position as head of the criminal investigation team replaced by Zhou Peng? What position did she return to then?”
“That wouldn’t be a problem for us petty cops to solve, when the time comes, we’ll all know.” The male policeman said with a mysterious smile.
Just as everyone was mingling and talking about Tang Huimin’s return, she walked into the doorway of that large office of the criminal investigation team and took the lead in greeting her former subordinates.
“Hello, everyone!”
“Welcome Captain Tang back to the team!” As soon as the words of a male police officer fell, the office then erupted into a thunderous applause.
Everyone then launched into greetings to Tang Huimin.
“Team Tang, how are you!”
“Team Tang, you’re back?”
“Team Tang, where have you been for the past half year? We missed you so much!”
……
Tang Huimin smiled and did not answer, during these half a year, Tang Huimin had gone through so many trials and tribulations, it was not something that could be said in a sentence or two.
Besides, Tang Huimin’s experience was an unseen part of her life, she didn’t need to go public and talk about it to the police officers.
At this time, Zhou Peng arrived at the office door.
Seeing everyone surrounding Tang Huimin in the middle, he remembered how he had been upset when he had seen her and Lin Kai hugging and kissing in the military sanatorium, so he sank his face and said loudly.
“During working hours, what are you all doing here fooling around instead of working properly?”
“Team Zhou, Captain Tang is back.” Someone said with a sneer.
“Oh, I see,” Zhou Peng said as he gave Tang Huimin an unnatural glance, “All of you disperse! Do what you need to do and go on!”
After everyone had returned to their office positions, Zhou Peng then dropped his gaze on Tang Huimin and said, “Tang Huimin, Deputy Director Yan wants you to go to his office ……”
Tang Huimin saw that Zhou Peng was speaking in a hard tone, even his address had changed, and knew that he was angry with himself, so she pretended as if nothing had happened and asked.
“Hello, Team Zhou, what is it that Chief Yan wants to see me about?”
Zhou Peng found that he had lost his temper and managed to squeeze out a smile on his face and said, “Not really, you’ll know when you go.”
“Okay, thanks!” Tang Huimin said politely, turning around and walking out of the office.
Zhou Peng also left in succession.
When the officers saw that this Zhou Peng, who had once been respectful in front of Tang Huimin, was now showing such a cold attitude towards Tang Huimin, they began to talk again.
A male policeman asked in a whisper, “Does this boy Zhou Peng think that he can stop buying Tang Huimin’s account just because he has become the head of the criminal investigation team?”
“Who knows? I feel sick when I see this villainous look of Zhou Peng.” Another male policeman complained loudly.
A female policeman warned, “Keep your voice down, if Zhou Peng hears this, be careful of his retaliation and give you small shoes.”
“I’m not afraid anymore, the big deal is that I’ll take off my police uniform and quit.” The male police officer bristled and said unconcerned.
……
When Tang Huimin knocked on the door of Deputy Director Yan Zhengkuan’s office, Yan Zhengkuan stood up from his office chair with a smile on his face, welcomed her into the office and said.
“Captain Tang, you’re finally back, welcome back to the team!”
“Thank you, Chief Yan,” Tang Huimin said, knowing that everything she had experienced was entirely thanks to this pig-like looking man, and was disgusted for a moment, but in order not to reveal her thoughts, she put on a flattered look and asked, “Chief Yan, you asked me to come over, what are your orders? ”
“I can’t talk about instructions, I just want to invite you over for a chat,” Yan Zhengkuan pointed to a wooden stool opposite his desk and said, “Sit down first, let’s talk slowly ……”
Tang Huimin hesitantly sat down on the stool and asked, “Director Yan, what do you want to talk to me about?”
Yan Zhengkuan thought for a moment and said, “Since your disappearance, Zhou Peng has taken up the position of head of the criminal investigation team, during this period, Zhou Peng has worked conscientiously and responsibly, performed very well and solved many cases, if we ask him to give up his position now, I’m afraid it’s a bit difficult …… ”
“I understand what Director Yan means,” Tang Huimin said after a pause, “as long as you don’t fire me and let me stay in the police station, as or not the head of the criminal investigation team, I don’t think it matters …… ”
“See where you’re going with this?” Yan Zhengkuan collected his smile and said, “You are the elite of our police force, how can you be fired? For your sake, Chief Xiao Wenbin has already called several of our deputy chiefs together for a meeting, and after studying and deciding, he is going to transfer you to the Public Security Division as the deputy director, I called you here because I want to consult your opinion.”
“I don’t have any opinion, I’ll listen to the organisation’s arrangements.” Tang Huimin replied.
She knew in her heart that Yan Zhengkuan’s arrangement for her to go ahead and become the deputy director of the Security Division was a half-level promotion on the surface, but in reality there was no real power, and this was a trick to play with herself as an explicit promotion and a secret demotion.
She could not do anything about the old man, so she could only follow his orders.
“OK,” Yan Zhengkuan nodded in satisfaction and said, “Since you have no comments, I will let the personnel office issue your appointment documents.”
At this time, the landline on the desk rang.
Yan Zhengkuan picked up the handset and asked, “Who is it?”
“Old Yan, this is Xiao Wenbin, has Tang Huimin reported back to the police station yet?” The voice of Chief Xiao came over the microphone.
“Back, she’s in my office.” Yan Zhengkuan replied.
“Did she agree to accept our decision?” Xiao Wenbin asked.
“Well, agreed.” Yan Zhengkuan nodded, while dropping his gaze to Tang Huimin.
“Then you tell her to come to my office.” Without waiting for Yan Zhengkuan to say anything, Xiao Wenbin had already hung up the phone, and a beeping blind tone came from the microphone.
After Yan Zhengkuan put the receiver back on the landline, he said to Tang Huimin, “Xiao Tang, that’s it, Chief Xiao wants you to come to his office.”
Tang Huimin then stood up from the stool and turned around to walk towards the outside of the office.
“Stinky woman, you’re still a bit young to fight with me, let’s see how I’ll clean you up later!” Looking at Tang Huimin’s figure disappearing at the office door, Yan Zhengkuan’s face revealed a shady smile.