Chapter 18: People Cannot Be Held Back

The Wanglou Police Station was lively and chaotic tonight. Due to the incident involving Zhao Kai, a large number of relatives from both sides of his parents’ families had arrived.

Just as the owner of the scrap metal yard had anticipated, Zhao Kai’s maternal grandparents had unleashed a torrent of abuse upon their son, even resorting to physical force. How were the two families supposed to get along now that the uncle had reported his own nephew to the police? What would friends and relatives think?

Some objective and rational relatives pointed out that the fault lay with Zhao Kai—if he hadn’t harbored crooked intentions, none of this would have happened—but their voices were quickly drowned out by the tide of condemnation from the elders. The scrap yard owner felt deeply aggrieved; it was clearly someone else who had stolen his property, so why was he the one ending up in the wrong? Was there any logic in that? It was truly unjust!

The elders demanded that the case be dropped, acting as if nothing had ever happened. However, a public prosecution case cannot be dismissed simply because one wishes it to be. The filing and investigation were already complete, leaving only the review and transfer stages. This result made both families frantic, and they swarmed the station, causing a scene.

The officers in charge were the mediators and the legal affairs staff. After the criminal investigation team finished the interrogations, they dispatched two groups to the metal processing plant and other scrap yards; these were the locations Zhao Kai had confessed to offloading the stolen goods. Once all evidence was secured, the work of the criminal investigation team would conclude, leaving them only to report to the sub-bureau and transfer the suspect to the detention center. Whether or not the case proceeded to prosecution was no longer their concern.

"You cracked the case just moments after entering the warehouse. The more I think about it, the more impressive it is. You should have applied to the sub-bureau or the municipal bureau; it’s a waste of your talent here at the station," Zhang Silei said, unable to hide his admiration for Han Ling while they worked.

Recalling the time from the report to the identification of the suspect, Zhang knew he had access to the exact same information as Han Ling, yet before he had even figured out what was happening, Han Ling had already found the culprit.

Han Ling laughed, "I wasn't confident, so I didn't dare to apply."

Zhang Silei didn't quite believe him. Theoretical study was always easier than practical application; with a brain that sharp, how could his grades be bad? "Tell me, how did you do it? It felt like you had a god’s-eye view," he asked.

Han Ling replied, "Actually, it’s simple. The modus operandi is highly correlated with the identity of the perpetrator, and there was only one possible method."

"Uh..." Zhang Silei opened his mouth, but no words came out. He had received an answer, yet it felt as if he hadn't been answered at all.

The criminal investigation team was busy until ten in the evening. When they returned to the station, the relatives of the Zhao family hadn't left yet. Fortunately, they had calmed down and were discussing their next steps with the station’s legal officer. One of the deputy station chiefs, who was specifically in charge of legal affairs, was also present. There were four deputy chiefs in total, each with their own assigned responsibilities.

In the station chief's office, both the chief and the political commissar were present. They were already fully briefed on the investigation process. From beginning to end, Zhu Yue had not participated at all. Han Ling had figured out the modus operandi and identified Zhao Kai in an incredibly short amount of time, despite a lack of effective information. It had all happened so quickly that Zhu Yue hadn’t even had time to launch a proper investigation, and the station hadn’t even finished the formal filing process.

The filing time is usually determined by officers after assessing the scene to see if the criteria are met; this case had been cracked with remarkable speed. Even Zhu Yue, the head of the criminal investigation team, had to bow down in respect.

"How did you know the metal was hidden in plastic containers? You haven't done something like this yourself before, have you?" Station Chief Tao Guowei joked as he poured himself some tea.

The case clearance rate is one of the most important indicators of a police station's performance, and solving difficult cases quickly results in even better evaluations. Naturally, he was pleased. However, he was also genuinely curious. Identifying the suspect's method the moment he stepped into the warehouse showed such a deep understanding of criminal behavior that it would be difficult even for an experienced detective, let alone a fresh graduate from the police academy. Recalling the young man's performance at the film studio, which also involved counter-reconnaissance, his curiosity was piqued.

Han Ling explained, "In the academy, I liked to study criminals whenever I had free time. If you understand the suspect, future investigative work becomes simple. That’s why I said my grades were poor—that’s the reason."

Tao Guowei was taken aback. "Most people study investigation, but you study crime? Didn't your teachers tell you that you had your priorities reversed? It's a good thing you became a police officer, otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble you might have caused."

Han Ling smiled without answering. If he hadn't transmigrated into a police officer, and he encountered injustice in a new world, he truly wasn't sure he could have held back. It would have been two worlds, but the same life.

Zhu Yue spoke up at the right moment, "Chief Tao, I have a good eye, don't I? I knew this kid had potential. In the future, our station might just produce a master detective. What about that early regularization we discussed?"

This mentor was very good to his apprentice. There are two ways to get early regularization: individual application, which has a low success rate, or departmental recommendation, which has a high success rate. Departmental recommendation involves the direct supervisor providing a comprehensive evaluation based on the intern officer's daily performance and work results, which is then reported upward. The Gu'an District Public Security Sub-bureau is responsible for the approval.

"It's too early. Can you wait two more months and let me report it then?" Tao Guowei didn't reject the idea. He looked at Han Ling and said, "In the meantime, find some time to write an application and submit it to me. Write it carefully, don't just mess around."

To be regularized early, an intern must meet several conditions, including obtaining a law enforcement qualification certificate ahead of schedule, having significant work achievements, meritorious service, and excellent quarterly evaluations. Han Ling met most of these, but he lacked the quarterly evaluation. Once the results were out, they could be reported to the sub-bureau for review.

"Understood, thank you, Chief Tao." As people strive for higher ground, Han Ling naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip.

Tao Guowei nodded. "Good. You’re not on duty today, so go back and get some rest."

"Yes, sir." Han Ling left.

He had already checked out of his rented apartment and was now living in the station dormitory. The conditions were a bit poor, but it saved money. In his past life, he never had to worry about finances, but after transmigrating, he had to be frugal. Once he saved enough, he would see if he could buy a unit of welfare housing. Currently, housing prices had not yet skyrocketed, but in a few years, he wouldn't be able to afford it.

After Han Ling left, Tao Guowei, in front of the political commissar and Zhu Yue, dialed the number of Ji Baiwei at the sub-bureau to inform him of the case Han Ling had solved today. Ji Baiwei had previously expressed interest in knowing how Han Ling was performing at the station. Initially, Tao had been reluctant to get involved, but after learning that this was at the request of Wu Bin from the municipal bureau, he had changed his mind.

One still had to give face to a deputy detachment captain. Besides, he couldn't hinder the child's future. If the municipal criminal investigation leadership thought highly of him, what would happen if he tried to suppress him? After a brief conversation, Tao Guowei hung up politely.

Zhu Yue understood the situation and frowned. "Chief Tao, Han Ling hasn't even been regularized yet, and the sub-bureau is already planning to poach him?"

Tao Guowei didn't answer but instead asked, "If this kid had a chance to go to the sub-bureau, would you stop him?"

Zhu Yue was stumped. Emotionally, he didn't want his apprentice to leave, but rationally, he knew very well that the career prospects at the sub-bureau were much greater than at a local station.

"Sigh, alright. If he can be valued, I'll be happy for him," Zhu Yue said from the heart. "It seems his performance at the film studio caught the eye of the criminal investigation leadership. They really have a sharp eye."

Hearing this, the political commissar laughed. "You were the one who snatched him up first. Do you think those career detectives wouldn't be able to spot his talent?"

Zhu Yue felt embarrassed. "That's true. What do you think Han Ling was thinking at the time? Why didn't he just apply to the sub-bureau directly? Why take such a roundabout way?"

The political commissar replied, "Didn't Han Ling say it himself? He was too busy studying crime and wasn't confident in his grades."

Zhu Yue chuckled. He had a premonition that he wouldn't be able to keep the kid for long; it was only a matter of time. "I wonder how much longer we'll get to work together."

Even if they wanted to poach him, it couldn't happen that quickly; it would take at least two or three years, right? He had never heard of poaching a brand-new officer, and besides, things were never that simple.