Chapter 274: Loyal to the Nation, Loyal to You

At the Provincial Bureau’s Major Crimes Division, Xiao Yu’s arrival caused a stir throughout the office. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, drawing not only the attention of the staff but also prompting the provincial leader, Zeng Lei, and Chief Captain Hou Bojian to make an appearance.

Sometimes, having a few good friends really makes a difference. Isn’t there a saying? It’s rare for people to meet even once in life.

And these were indeed people worth befriending.

With the case wrapped up, it wouldn’t have been right for Xiao Yu not to make an appearance. Things should begin and end properly.

Together with the team from Major Crimes, he headed to the crematorium.

Standing before the bodies of the two officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty, Xiao Yu raised his hand in salute.

Rest in peace.

***

At the Bencheng Criminal Investigation Unit.

“You’re back?” Captain Zhao Changshan greeted Xiao Yu with a hearty smile.

Political instructor Zhou Tinghu also had a grin on his face as he looked at the young man. But today, Zhou Tinghu was different. He was wearing a crisp white shirt. His new rank was police commissioner.

“Boss got promoted?”

Feigning surprise, Xiao Yu looked at him with exaggerated admiration. 

“Boss, this white shirt looks fantastic on you! So sharp, with this scholarly elegance that just radiates class,” he said.

The faint smile at the corner of Zhou Tinghu’s mouth instantly grew wider. Xiao Yu’s flattery hit the mark.

Scholars were like that. If you praise them with casual slang like “Whoa, awesome, dude! Mad respect, 666…” they’d likely ignore you, uninterested. But that didn’t mean they don’t enjoy compliments.

Xiao Yu’s praise was precise, tailored to Zhou Tinghu’s tastes.

The instructor was a proud intellectual, after all.

“Thanks to you,” Zhou Tinghu said with a complicated expression. “If it weren’t for you speaking up on my behalf, I wouldn’t have been able to stay.”

Becoming a police commissioner meant a minimum rank of deputy bureau chief, along with matching benefits.

In a place like the Criminal Investigation Unit, a senior staff officer position was typically the ceiling. How could they possibly justify keeping someone at Zhou Tinghu’s rank?

Still, given that Zhou Tinghu was nearing retirement age and only had a few years left to serve, exceptions were made. Even so, cases like his—where a higher-ranked officer held a relatively low administrative position—were extremely rare in operational units.

But who cared about convention anymore?

Take Xiao Yu himself, for example. A deputy section officer and deputy team leader—who had ever heard of such a setup?

The Criminal Investigation Unit had truly become a collection of oddities, where ranks seemed absurdly high for the roles they filled.

Take Guo Qiang, for instance. As an assistant division officer, his rank could have earned him a deputy team leader role in most places. But here, he was perfectly content working as an ordinary investigator.

“Come on, let’s go to my office,” Zhao Changshan said, motioning Xiao Yu to follow.

Once inside, he pulled out a small red box and handed it over.

“Team Leader Wang dropped this off while you were at the Provincial Bureau today.” Zhao Changshan’s tone carried a hint of envy as he eyed the box. “Seven times now.”

This was Xiao Yu’s seventh first-class merit award.

Opening the box, Xiao Yu looked at the medal inside, feeling a wave of emotion. While he wasn’t someone who craved recognition, who wouldn’t want an honor like this?

This wasn’t just an award, it was a symbol of glory.

“Still able to keep a lid on it?” Zhao Changshan gave Xiao Yu a half-smile. “Sure you don’t want to get your head checked at the hospital?”

A guy who actively avoids promotions? Not exactly common.

Sometimes, Zhao really did wonder if there was something wrong with Xiao Yu’s brain. But what intrigued him more was whether Xiao Yu’s current rank could even hold up anymore.

Good grief—seven first-class merits already.

For most people, that would at least put them at a bureau chief level, right?

Someone like Yun Xiangguo, the big name at the Municipal Bureau, for instance, with Xiao Yu’s capabilities, even the Municipal Bureau would struggle to keep someone like him. At a minimum, he belonged in the Provincial Bureau, or maybe even Beijing.

“I’ve already talked to the big bosses.” Xiao Yu grinned as he tucked the medal away. “I don’t plan on leaving Bencheng for now.”

“Well, it’s your call.”

Zhao Changshan didn’t get involved in such matters. He didn’t have the authority, anyway. He knew very well that, while Xiao Yu might technically be a police officer, he was practically half a National Security agent.

It wasn’t a secret.

He’d overheard National Security personnel calling Xiao Yu “Boss” more than once or twice.

It wasn’t hard to guess that if Xiao Yu ever decided to move on, the police system wouldn’t be able to keep him. His next stop could only be National Security.

At this point, ranks and titles in the police force meant little to Xiao Yu.

***

Back in his familiar office, Xiao Yu pulled out the medal again. He was already thinking about how he’d show it off to his sister when he got home later.

And, of course, to the baby too.

“Look, your dad is so awesome, a real hero.”

‘Wait, no,’ Xiao Yu shook his head, snapping himself out of it. ‘Focus on work.’

He powered up the computer on his desk and began flipping through old case files. Before he knew it, the day had flown by.

At 5 p.m., Xiao Yu called it a day, casually bidding farewell to his colleagues.

No overtime? The Criminal Investigation Unit didn’t have any major cases at the moment. There wasn’t much for Xiao Yu to do, and sticking around wouldn’t serve any purpose.

It was better to go home and spend time with his wife.

But in the middle of the night, the vibration of his phone jolted him awake. His long-standing urge to smash the device into pieces flared up again. He’d long since grown numb to the workaholic lives of his colleagues.

“Hello?”

“Mm, got it. I’ll let him know.”

“It’s fine. Your brother does this kind of work, after all.”

“Sure, let’s catch up for a meal someday. My treat.”

“Goodbye!”

Xiao Yu stayed completely still, snuggled against his wife.

“Stop pretending. You’ve got a case,” Mu Qingwu’s soft, mature voice teased gently in his ear.

“Sis, they’re so annoying, aren’t they?” Xiao Yu tilted his head up to look at her from the comfort of her embrace. “How about I quit being a cop?”

“Haha!” Mu Qingwu gave him a playful glare. “Stop acting.”

“Hehe.”

Unable to keep up the pretense, Xiao Yu chuckled, got up, and began putting on his clothes. In the end, it was Mu Qingwu who helped straighten his collar and tidy him up.

Looking at his wife, Xiao Yu spoke softly, “I’m off.”

“Stay safe.” She hugged him as she always did, her voice gentle with concern. “Come home early.”

“Got it.” Xiao Yu nodded, but as he caught the hesitation in her expression, he paused. “Hmm?”

“Last time when your big boss came,” Mu Qingwu started, her tone a little unusual, “why didn’t you let go of my hand before saluting?”

“Huh?” Xiao Yu blinked, then grinned. “Left hand holding yours, right hand saluting. Loyal to my country, loyal to you. Isn’t that perfect?”

“Idiot!”

Mu Qingwu’s heart was deeply moved.

To place her on the same level as the country? What had she done to deserve this? Was she even worthy?

But her brother did it anyway. How could she not be touched?

“Go on,” she said, her eyes warm as she looked at him.

“Mm.” Xiao Yu bent down and kissed her gently. “Alright, I’m going!”