Chapter 365: Truly Blowing Things Up Wherever He Goes

“Remember, all right? When Sister Bai isn’t here, you can’t go out alone. If you get hungry, ask the maternity maid to make you something. If you’re thirsty, drink more juice and eat more fruit. If you miss me, call or text. I’m always available. If there’s anything off about the baby, let me know right away. I’ll come back immediately. Let me think if there’s anything else… Oh, right, when you go out, try to wear slippers, okay? Soft ones, so they take some weight off your legs and help prevent swelling.”

“…”

At the front door, Xiao Yu—completely in dad mode—kept chattering away, while Mu Qingwu, smiling sweetly like a little wife, listened patiently. Nearby, Bai Ting and the newly hired maternity maid both looked on enviously at the young couple.

They were women themselves, and they knew that marrying a man like this was worth it for a lifetime. 

With such a husband, what woman would be afraid of having children? She’d be more than willing to have plenty.

“I get it.” Mu Qingwu’s eyes were as soft as water, her gaze gentle.

“Mm.” Xiao Yu looked at Bai Ting and the maternity maid, giving them a friendly smile. “I’m counting on you two.”

They both returned his smile with a nod.

Xiao Yu then crouched down, pressing his ear to his wife’s belly, murmuring, “Be good, and don’t bully Mommy. Wait for Daddy to come back.”

“Haha!” The three women all laughed.

“Be safe, and come back early,” Mu Qingwu said, holding her brother’s hand.

“Sure.” Xiao Yu nodded, leaned in to give her a gentle kiss, and said, “I’m off!”

***

Criminal Investigation Brigade.

“Well, if it isn’t our Captain Xiao?” Zhao Changshan grinned at Xiao Yu, who was entering the office. “What’s this? Done with your side jobs?”

“Don’t shoot, Captain, it’s me, your own comrade.” Xiao Yu cracked a joke, then tossed two boxes of special-issue cigarettes at the chief. “Just came back to pay my respects.”

“Kid, at least you have some conscience.” Zhao Changshan beamed at the special-issue smokes in his hands.

Right now, throughout the Criminal Investigation Brigade, both Zhao Changshan and old Zhou were smoking these special cigs full time. Not even higher-ups in the municipal bureau enjoyed such privileges.

The Criminal Investigation Brigade had become something unique within Bincheng’s police system. In the past, a county-level investigative team rarely got assigned major cases unless a serious one happened in their jurisdiction. If the case was too big, it would be taken over by the municipal Special Police or the City Bureau. But now everything was turned upside down.

The City Bureau wouldn’t send them small cases anymore. Whenever Xiao Yu was around, any case that got passed down was a major one. This single unit could swagger across the entire city, ignoring jurisdictions, and poking their noses into any local case at will. 

Believe it or not, in the old days, Zhao Changshan wouldn’t even have dared dream of such a thing. It felt downright unreal.

“In the past few weeks, a couple of deputy chiefs have come looking for me and old Zhou,” Zhao Changshan said slowly.

“What’d they say?” Xiao Yu asked with a smile.

“They wanted to send some people over here to learn from us.” Zhao Changshan sighed. “I turned them down, so I might’ve offended a few folks.”

“Heh.” Xiao Yu sneered. “They just want to burnish their credentials?”

“Exactly.” Zhao Changshan nodded.

After all, now that the Criminal Investigation Brigade was what it was, even a stray dog coming here would be able to bask in the achievements. Ever since Xiao Yu arrived, everyone in the unit—even clerical staff—had picked up a few collective commendations. Third Class, Second Class—there’d even been a one-time collective First Class merit.

Everyone knew what all these commendations meant. 

For instance, old-timers like Guo Qiang, Li Xin, and Liu Hongqiao had piled up enough merits to be promoted straight to Deputy Section Officer rank—a real deputy team-leader grade.

Terrifying, right? It was bizarre, but that was just how many achievements there were. Even people sitting idle in the Criminal Investigation Brigade could share in the spoils. As long as you had half a brain, this was the last place you’d want to leave.

So Guo Qiang and the rest remained little detectives, albeit with Deputy Section Officer rank tacked on. 

Conversely, who wouldn’t want to get in on that? 

This wasn’t just a matter of burnishing credentials. As long as Xiao Yu was there, the Criminal Investigation Brigade’s success in cracking cases would remain constant; spending even two years here meant… well, everyone understood.

“They can keep dreaming,” Xiao Yu said with a grin. “No need to humor them.”

“But…” Zhao Changshan hesitated.

Xiao Yu took out a credential and handed it to him.

“Huh?”

Seeing the word investigator, Zhao Changshan was a bit confused. Upon opening it—

“Hiss!”

Zhao Changshan sucked in a breath. Deputy Department Bureau rank… Third-Class Commisioner? And… National Security Group Ten… Leader?!

Zhao Changshan stared dumbfounded at Xiao Yu, mind blank. The first thought that popped into his head was: How long was Xiao Yu gone—ten days? Half a month? 

So why did it feel like everything had changed, as if he hadn’t seen him for a century? Deputy Department rank…my God. And a National Security Group Leader?! Did he even grasp what that position meant? His subordinate was actually a big-shot in National Security?!

Honestly, Zhao Changshan’s scalp was going numb.

“Boss, just keep this to yourself,” Xiao Yu said with a smile as he took back the credentials. “Don’t worry about those folks. Our Criminal Investigation Brigade is in a special situation. The top brass won’t even ask me that kind of favor. As for those deputy chiefs… heh, that’s all there is to it.”

He really didn’t want to show off, but some people behaved too shamelessly. In Xiao Yu’s previous life, they were basically overgrown infants, never having felt the harsh side of society. If they thought they could freeload off the Criminal Investigation Brigade, they must be dreaming.

“When are you leaving?”

Closing the credential wallet, Zhao Changshan handed it back to Xiao Yu, sighing.

“Once you and the chief have both retired, maybe.” Xiao Yu thought for a moment. “By then, my kid will be grown.”

After both “parents” retired, the “children” would go their separate ways. No banquet lasts forever. 

A certain venerable elder once said trains only move forward; each station brings a different view of life. 

Isn’t that right? At least he could still work alongside his chief and their colleagues for a few more years.

Returning to his office, Xiao Yu settled into the familiar chair and lit a cigarette.

‘Ah, that comfort. There’s nothing like home turf.’

Everyone at National Security—one smarter than the next, every single one a real piece of work. Trying to keep up with those other team leaders was exhausting. But the Criminal Investigation Brigade was different: relaxed, cheerful. Plus, he could clock out and go straight home to his wife. In a word: awesome.

Switching on his computer, he began skimming through old case files and cold case records. Xiao Yu was ready to enjoy a bit of leisure. Yet he hadn’t even had ten minutes of peace before—

Bang—the office door was pushed open.

It was Zhao Changshan again, shouting from the doorway: “C’mon, we’ve got trouble!”

‘What the…’

Xiao Yu stared blankly.

Seriously, could it be that Brother Dog King was right? Do I really blow things up wherever I go?