Chapter 29: Special Commendation Ceremony, Individual Second-Class Merit
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After returning to Changning Town, Wang Xuebing arranged a celebratory banquet for everyone at the station.
It was Wang Laosan’s signature pork feast.
Amid the clinking of cups and shifting of chopsticks, Wang Xuebing led the others in toasting Qin Chuan.
Everyone knew that Qin Chuan was still the same Qin Chuan—and yet he was no longer the same Qin Chuan.
Wang Xuebing had been a police officer all his life. He had climbed step by step from an ordinary patrol officer to station chief, enduring more than twenty years of hard work.
Yet he felt that those twenty years had somehow been less eventful than the past week.
Zhang Jun drank the most after Wang Xuebing.
The Tao Family strong liquor was over sixty percent alcohol, but he downed two ounces in three gulps!
Zhang Jun was only in his thirties. He was still young, and he had a chance to leave Changning Town.
In the past, he would never even have dared imagine such a thing.
What Wang Xuebing had today would be his tomorrow.
After another decade or so, when Wang Xuebing retired, Zhang Jun would take over his position and become the second Wang Xuebing.
But things were different now.
Qin Chuan had secured the support of the county police chief, who in turn had the backing of the county magistrate.
Either of those two men could transfer Zhang Jun elsewhere with a single word.
Of course, Director Zhang did not expect Qin Chuan to arrange a transfer for him. All he needed was for Qin Chuan to mention him to the chief, make the introduction, and open the door. The rest would depend on his own efforts.
Sun Bingkun, on the other hand, did not care where he went. Wherever Zhang Xiaojuan was, he would be there too.
Hu Jianguo was about to retire. He had little left to hope for in terms of his career, but he drank quite a bit as well.
After all, by following Qin Chuan, he had already earned a Third-Class Merit medal for helping capture a wanted criminal.
The medal for the Xinhai Coal Mine incident was probably on its way too.
“Qin Chuan!”
Old Hu had drunk too much, and his tongue had grown stiff.
“They say that in life, whether you’re capable isn’t what matters most. What matters most is following the right person!”
“Haha! Come on, come on! Let me toast you!”
Wang Xuebing shot him a glare. Was this fellow deliberately making fun of him?
Old Hu clearly noticed his expression. “Chief Wang, don’t take it the wrong way. I’m not saying you’re incapable…”
Wang Xuebing was speechless.
Three days later.
The Zhulin County Public Security Bureau held a special commendation ceremony.
Qin Chuan wore a large red rosette and sat beside Hu Jianguo in the center of the first row beneath the dais.
“Qin Chuan, this is the first time in my life I’ve worn one of these. Do I look handsome?”
Hu Jianguo sat bolt upright, his face glowing, looking as spirited as a young man.
Qin Chuan looked him carefully up and down and praised him sincerely. “Handsome! As handsome as a bridegroom.”
On either side of Qin Chuan and Hu Jianguo sat the six members of the Changning Town Police Station, every one of them waiting to receive recognition.
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On the dais, Zhou Xuexi sat upright and solemn, but he was not in the central seat.
The central figure at today’s ceremony was County Magistrate Chen Mingguang.
This was Qin Chuan’s first close encounter with him.
In fact, the meeting originally required only Zou Mingyi, secretary of the county Political-Legal Affairs Commission, to attend.
Chen Mingguang’s personal appearance proved how seriously he regarded the ceremony.
“Next, Comrade Zhou Xuexi will read out the commendation decisions!”
Since County Magistrate Chen Mingguang was attending, the meeting was naturally chaired by Zou Mingyi, secretary of the county Political-Legal Affairs Commission.
Every police officer below the dais instinctively straightened.
A special commendation ceremony like this could not possibly be held unless an extraordinary case had occurred.
Qin Chuan straightened his back as well.
After listening to reports for more than an hour, it was finally his turn.
“…Comrade Qin Chuan is hereby awarded an Individual Second-Class Merit!”
“…Comrade Hu Jianguo is hereby awarded an Individual Third-Class Merit!”
“…The Changning Town Police Station is hereby awarded a Collective Second-Class Merit!”
Sustained applause rang throughout the auditorium.
“Will the medal recipients please come forward!”
Crack!
Qin Chuan stood at attention and saluted. After Zhou Xuexi returned the salute, he personally pinned the medal onto Qin Chuan.
In less than half a month since joining the police force, Qin Chuan had received both an Individual Third-Class Merit and an Individual Second-Class Merit.
The speed at which Qin Chuan had earned honors had broken the record of the Xing’an City Public Security Bureau.
“Congratulations, Comrade Qin Chuan!”
“To serve the people!”
Click, click, click!
The publicity officer from the Political Work and Supervision Office below nearly crushed the camera shutter button.
After the ceremony ended, Qin Chuan was asked to remain behind.
Deputy Chief Lin Hu personally led him to a small conference room on the second floor.
Qin Chuan had already guessed who wanted to see him, but he was still unable to conceal his surprise when he actually came face-to-face with him.
Chen Mingguang, magistrate of Zhulin County.
In Qin Chuan’s memories, Magistrate Chen was no ordinary man.
In his previous life, Chen Mingguang did not spend long enduring humiliation in Zhulin County.
After Gao Qingshan was transferred to become vice-chairman of the Xing’an City Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Chen Mingguang succeeded him as county Party secretary.
From there, he continued to rise, becoming a powerful regional official in less than ten years.
Qin Chuan naturally had no intention of neglecting such a promising figure.
“Magistrate Chen, Qin Chuan is here.”
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Smack!
Qin Chuan stood at attention and saluted. “Good day, Magistrate!”
“Haha, Comrade Qin Chuan, don’t be so tense. Relax a little. I only wanted to meet you today. You’re a great hero of Zhulin County!”
Looking at the handsome young officer before him, Chen Mingguang’s eyes revealed even greater admiration.
He had long since formed plans concerning Gao Qingshan.
He even already possessed some evidence of Gao Qingshan’s illegal and disciplinary conduct.
But such material could not be allowed to leave his own hands.
At his level, if he wanted to advance further, relying solely on ruthless methods would not be enough.
Politics was a matter of balance and moderation.
What he needed was someone willing to wield the gun, not someone who charged into battle personally.
His superiors had placed him in this position for more than the simple purpose of bringing down a county Party secretary.
If everything required the county magistrate himself to take the field, then Chen Mingguang would have little future to speak of.
Originally, Zhou Xuexi had been the gun in his hand. But now, Qin Chuan appeared to be an even sharper sword.
Used properly, it would be unstoppable.
“Magistrate, you flatter me. Combating crime and protecting the people are a police officer’s duty!”
Qin Chuan remained standing ramrod straight. He knew that he was not yet qualified to relax in front of Chen Mingguang.
Whether another person’s words were mere courtesy depended on one’s own status.
Qin Chuan felt that, as an ordinary township police officer, he was not important enough to warrant Chen Mingguang’s polite formalities.
“Qin Chuan, your achievements and commendations this time have greatly boosted the morale of police officers throughout the county.”
“Moreover, the county bureau is short of capable personnel. What thoughts do you have about your future?”
Thoughts?
Smack!
Qin Chuan once again stood at attention and saluted. “Reporting to you, Magistrate, I will absolutely obey any assignment made by the organization!”
Out of the corner of his eye, Qin Chuan caught the satisfied smile on Chen Mingguang’s face.
“Good! With that kind of awareness, there’s no work you can’t do well.”
“I’ll be waiting to hear of even better results from you in the county.”
“Yes, sir!”
The brief meeting soon came to an end.
To the very end, Chen Mingguang did not tell Qin Chuan exactly what position he intended to give him.
Before leaving, however, he gave Qin Chuan his personal telephone number and told him to call directly if he ever encountered a problem he could not solve.
At the same time.
Zou Mingyi, secretary of the county Political-Legal Affairs Commission, had just finished attending the special commendation ceremony when he appeared in the office of Gao Qingshan, secretary of the county Party committee.
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