The girl put down the cup and drank the porridge, feeling refreshed, and said: “Previously there was a child who hadn’t received much education, grew up in a social group, experienced social chaos, later touched legal cases, sat in prison for several years. After coming out, the country pointed him a clear path, letting him work with several brothers as a civil servant, he was very excited. After becoming a civil servant, he worked hard, though often facing criticism and accusations, but persisted. He eliminated many bad elements, also dismantled many dark society points, and found that many of these bad elements and dark society breakthrough points were actually guided, though the leaders didn’t cover it up, and bad people were ultimately punished by law. Finally, due to his outstanding work, he received the highest commendation.”
Hearing this, the girl asked, “Does this sound like a story?”
The girl chuckled, “<Western Journey>! The monk finally succeeded in the West!”
“Is this result good?”
“Very good, going to the West is great.”
“Should I go too?”
“Yes, go, and then bring me back gold mountain silver mountain, so I can eat without worry.” He laughed more and more.
Today the girl’s appetite was particularly good, she ate another fried egg, perfectly cooked, dripping with sauce. The girl absorbed the egg yolk, saying, “Remember what you said, going to the West is a good thing.”
The girl stopped laughing, lowered her head, watching his expression. After eating the egg, he ate a bun, the girl quietly placed the vinegar dish by his hand, saying you pack up, I still have something to do. He just watched her, the girl packed up the meal paper, stood up and went to the door, and the girl had already gotten into the car.
The car drove a few meters in the courtyard and drove out of the hospital. He stood at the door frame, the car extremely quiet, not even moving, the trees hanging down at the hospital gate, heavy leaves in the dim light, dense colors spreading. Little birds began to chirp, the girl just looked at the empty hospital gate, the hospital gate with a gray stone wall, low and short, with children’s chalk drawings of little people, thin and small, with large heads, bodies disproportionate, hands and feet in a row, with red and black colors, all full of naive smiles.
The surveillance window was particularly small. This window was deeply imprinted with the summer, and during the few years he had been detained, he had once tried to pry the iron bars on the window, because these iron bars would cut the sunlight, casting shadows on his face, even cutting his face with wounds. He couldn’t move, and his hand
was so painful that he was reported by the same guard for watching.
This time, Jia Mu just leaned against the bed frame, letting the long strip of sunlight fall on his face, the sunlight warm and gentle, spring had already arrived. Had the sea flowers on the edge of the business city bloomed? The sunlight was sweet with a fragrance, drawing a curved arc in the air, countless tiny boats in the circle, like a small mountain stream. He hadn’t been to Xiaoshan for a long time, so he couldn’t sleep.
The sound of the iron gate opening echoed, the thunder rolling, everyone stood up nervously, only Jia Mu remained motionless.
The guard shouted: “6199! 6199!”
Jia Mu stood up. The English police beckoned to him.
What did this mean? The invitation seemed unnecessary, like he was cooperating with the criminal, roughly not much: a case of judgment would not be decided immediately, just waiting for high law to review and then execute.
The guard’s attitude was more gentle than usual. When Jia Mu walked out of the cell, the guard smiled and asked, “Do you know Director Zheng?”
Jia Mu shook his head.
The guard brought Jia Mu to the interrogation room. Inside sat a forensic officer in his forties. The English police greeted the officer, who signaled the police to open the door.
After the door closed, the police officer came to stand before Jia Mu, facing his face, slowly walking half a circle in front of him, pausing briefly before continuing to draw the half-circle, finally stopping in front of Jia Mu. The officer’s expression was complex, seemingly in pain but also with some joy, completely unlike an law enforcement officer’s attitude towards a criminal. He seemed more like an old friend returning from a long journey, with the intimacy of an old acquaintance, but Jia Mu did not recognize him.
The police officer raised both hands, gripping Jia Mu’s shoulders, looking at him warmly: “I am Zheng Yang. Twenty years, I thought I would never see you again.”
Zheng Mu sat down, his breathing quickened: “Do you still remember Ti Ganghua?”
Ti Ganghua. Perhaps an old acquaintance.
The small shed near the film institute, the small civilian who gave Jia Mu a slap.
Jia Mu wanted to hit back, but his hand was slapped on his face, stopping his action. He said loudly, “So it’s you! These years you’ve done so well. I remember when you just graduated from the police academy, you were still an intern. I remember that time you broke a big case with just one move. You might not be able to develop so smoothly now. I’ve been wanting to thank you all these years. Two days ago, Guan Zhaochang came to find me, saying you were his daughter’s friend, asking me to help, to see if there’s a possibility of commutation. I went to high law and checked the file, and you’re the one I was looking for! How can you not appeal? Intentional homicide can’t be solved with just one stick, specific circumstances need specific treatment. You’re in an excessive killing situation, with possibilities like mitigation or probation. You have no prior record, and your social reputation is not bad. Moreover, the village head of Dongxin Village brought a letter, giving me several villagers’ signatures requesting mercy, not only do I have this, but the provincial and high courts have also received it. You did a lot of good deeds at the foundation, which we’ll consider during judgment. Now tell me the whole process again, especially the details, which are crucial during sentencing. I can still speak at high law. However, time is tight, and the most troubling thing is the current strict enforcement, but there should be hope.”
Jia Mu hung his head, not immediately speaking. Zheng Yang poured him tea, asked, “Want a cigarette?” Jia Mu shook his head. Zheng Yang lit one himself, took two puffs, said, “Have one, don’t be nervous. Elder Liu has many prior records, and he was committing crimes during the exam period, he’s more serious than you. You have many academic qualifications, and during the exam period, he’s more severe than you.
Twenty years ago, the young man Jia Mu was immersed in the police academy, and now he looks back on that young man from two decades ago.
Twenty years ago, at the end of his journey, Jia Mu was admitted to the police academy. The young police officer comforted him gently: “It’s okay, big man. This summer, he was covered in dust, and after spending the night at the police station, the young police officer took off his clothes and covered him.
At that time, the summer breeze asked: “Police officer, if you catch me, do you have any good intentions?” The young police officer replied: “Yes, I will stand up! The informant has also stood up! There are merits! The unit I will be assigned to might be quite good.”
The young police officer’s current unit is truly good. His merits are also truly numerous.
Jia Mu held the tea set, and his hands were not very convenient while holding the tea cup. He lowered his head, carefully opening the tea lid, the tea water was full, and a few drops flew out, falling on the clean plate, washing the cup thoroughly.
