Chapter 135: New Official Takes Office, Three Fires To Light
“Thank you, Officer!” Although Cao Weida was quite polite on the surface, Zhao Dashan still respectfully took the cigarette with a deferential attitude, without violating any rules.
Cao Weida raised an eyebrow and smiled with satisfaction. They were all from the same police station, seeing each other often, and though not too close, he still knew about Zhao Dashan.
Zhao Dashan was not a bad person, with a somewhat straightforward temper, but not rigid. He still took the benefits he should.
However, compared to certain scum with no bottom line, Zhao Dashan was definitely conscientious and had never done any major evil deeds, at most just extorting a bit of small money, which almost all patrolmen had done, so it wasn’t really a fault.
Cao Weida patted his shoulder, smiled, then turned his gaze to Little Ear:
“I remember there should be one more person, right? Who is it, and why didn’t he come?”
He had just taken this patrol officer position and hadn’t even started his three fires yet, but good grief, someone was already giving him a show of strength. How could he tolerate that?
If he didn’t deal with him harshly, he might as well not be this patrol officer!
“Big Brother Cao, it’s Qiu Ziming. His subordinate said he was feeling unwell and took leave.”
“Oh, so he’s feeling unwell. That makes sense. The workload is so heavy day to day, and he doesn’t take care of his body during work, so he’s bound to have all sorts of ailments.” Cao Weida smiled amiably, looking kindly, but his next words were not so friendly:
“Go tell him that this patrol officer says to grant him a full year of sick leave, let him rest well at home and recuperate. Until his illness is cured, he absolutely must not return to work.”
At this point, he paused, then continued: “He’s on leave, but the team can’t be left idle. Little Ear, you temporarily take over, help manage the team, and first act as the deputy sergeant for Squad Two. When he recovers and comes back to work, you hand it back to him.”
“Oh right, if anyone else in the team gets sick and takes leave like Qiu Ziming, handle it the same way as I just said. Our police station is a very humane unit; we can’t hurt the brothers’ feelings.”
“Big Brother Cao, no problem, I’ll go right away!” Little Ear patted his chest and said.
Everyone present knew that this nonsense about a year off to recuperate and come back to take over was pure bullshit. It looked like Cao Weida was concerned about Qiu Ziming’s health, but he was actually stripping him of his real power.
After a year, once Little Ear solidly sat in the sergeant’s position, what business would it be of Qiu Ziming and the others?
“Ahem,” Cao Weida coughed, reminding them: “This is the police station. There’s no big brothers or younger brothers here. Use job titles during work.”
“Yes!” Little Ear saluted properly.
“Alright then, since everyone’s here who should be, let’s start the meeting now.”
Zhao Dashan: “.”
Well, one sentence directly excluded Qiu Ziming. The previous Three Cowards of the Rat’s Gallbladder had now completely toughened up.
Fortunately, he hadn’t let lard blind him earlier and believed Qiu Ziming’s nonsense, joining him to give the patrol officer a show of strength. Otherwise, he might have been ousted too.
He secretly glanced at Cao Weida. Though he still looked the same and was very young, the aura emanating intentionally or not from him made it hard to look directly.
Was this the oppressive feeling brought by the position?
He had seen patrol officers before. Not to mention patrol officers, even Bureau Chief Xu seemed insignificant compared to Cao Weida.
“Little Ear.”
“Here!”
“Bring the documents I asked you to prepare.”
“Yes!”
Little Ear took out a stack of documents from the briefcase at his feet.
Cao Weida took them, flipped through a couple of pages, nodded, then said with a stern face:
“Last night, the insurgents brazenly attacked the checkpoint, leading to the deaths of about ten Japanese Army soldiers, completely disregarding our police station!”
“We’re wearing this uniform and drawing salaries from the police station, so we must do our duty!”
“Officer Ono trusts me, and I luckily became this patrol officer, so I must repay that favor!”
Zhao Dashan and Duomen’s hearts sank. What was the patrol officer, Cao’er, trying to do?
He wouldn’t really have them go search for insurgents, would he?
But Cao Weida’s next actions and words left them speechless.
Cao Weida distributed one copy of the documents Little Ear handed over to each person: “This is a list. I strongly suspect they are connected to the insurgents. Take men to the armory to get weapons and ammunition, then search their homes one by one. Arrest those who should be arrested, seal what should be sealed!”
Zhao Dashan and Duomen were both veterans. After just a glance, they understood Cao Weida’s intent.
They were all amused and exasperated. This was blatant abuse of power, yet he said it so righteously.
However, this group weren’t good people anyway, and Cao Weida was their superior. What could they do? Just follow orders.
Besides, they knew the people on this list weren’t good either. Arresting them was fine, and if there was trouble, Cao Weida would take the heat.
On the other side.
“Outrageous, truly outrageous!” As soon as the meeting ended there, Qiu Ziming here had already received the news.
He really hadn’t expected that his attempt at a show of strength would fail, and instead, his sergeant position might be lost!
How could this not make him furious?!
“Boss Qiu, you have to come up with a plan for us. That kid actually put us all on leave!” The patrolmen who took leave with Qiu Ziming were all anxious. If they lost this job, they’d have no income at all!
Moreover, the vendors they’d bullied before might hear the news and seize the chance for revenge.
Anxious in their hearts, their tone naturally carried some complaints.
As for who they were complaining about, only they knew in their hearts.
After all, they had listened to Qiu Ziming and taken leave together to give the new patrol officer a show of strength.
Now everyone was effectively suspended. Someone had to take responsibility for this.
“Boss Qiu, that kid doesn’t take you seriously at all. We must teach him a proper lesson!” The speaker was Qiu Ziming’s die-hard fan. He had also just received notice of long leave and was naturally unwilling.
When taking leave, he hadn’t failed to ask others in the team to join, since strength in numbers and the law doesn’t punish crowds.
Unfortunately, those guys were all fair-weather types, a bunch of fence-sitters!
“Big Brother Qiu, your position was taken by a guy called Little Ear. He immediately issued a one-month salary allowance, and all those fence-sitters have been bought off by him!”
“If this continues, even if you return to the team later, whether those damn ones listen to you or others will be uncertain!”
Another confidant chimed in: “I know that Little Ear. He used to run a black market near Tianqiao. Later, somehow he hooked up with Cao Weida.
Cao Weida arranged for him to join the police station, and he’s been following Cao Weida since, his loyal lackey!”
His face was full of worry. A month’s allowance wasn’t much for them confidants.
Qiu Ziming was bad and greedy but somewhat smart, knowing a bit about winning hearts.
But he wasn’t that smart, or rather stingy, unwilling to share the extortion and blackmail money with all patrolmen, only reluctantly giving some to a few close ones.
Still, it let those close ones earn a bit, so he wouldn’t be tempted by a one-month allowance.
But what if Qiu Ziming lost power?
Without the previous power?
What would they confidants do?
Without this uniform, they were nothing!
He knew all too well that their patrolmen salaries weren’t enough to support a family. Even a minor illness or cold was a burden.
They relied on extorting small vendors daily, but had to hand over part to Qiu Ziming, leaving them strapped for cash.
But Little Ear, just becoming deputy sergeant, first thing issued a one-month allowance to the patrolmen and promised one every month. How could they not support Little Ear?
They weren’t idiots. Support such a superior, or a bloodsucker like Qiu Ziming?
And who was Little Ear backed by?
Cao Weida, the new patrol officer!
Their superior’s superior!
Qiu Ziming clearly understood the key point and immediately said anxiously: “Don’t worry, I’ll go complain to Officer Xiao Tian right now! A stinking farmer risen up, see what he can do!”
“Officer Xiao Tian is Officer Ono’s compatriot; they have a good relationship. Rest assured!”
“Boss Qiu is mighty!”
“Boss Qiu is badass!”
Amid the flattery, Qiu Ziming took heavy gifts and rushed to Gendarmerie Headquarters to complain to Xiao Tian the little devil.
Gendarmerie Headquarters.
“Officer Xiao Tian, that new kid is too outrageous. Taking my power is one thing, but your future tributes, Officer…”
As Qiu Ziming spoke, he pulled three gold bars from his pocket.
To deal with Cao Weida, he had gone all out this time.
He would make everyone see that he, Qiu Ziming, was not to be trifled with!!
“Yōshi, Qiu-san, rest assured. This afternoon I’ll bring the Military Police team to back you up!” Xiao Tian the little devil laughed heartily, pocketing the three gold bars.
In his eyes, these police station police officers were just dogs.
He didn’t care who was patrol officer, as long as obedient, and he enjoyed watching these dogs fight each other.
And usually, when these dogs fought, the ultimate beneficiaries were still us Japanese.
“Thank you, Taijun, truly too grateful! Tonight I booked a private room at Yichun Courtesan House, with girls aplenty…” Qiu Ziming was overjoyed, smug beyond words.
Hmph, damn Cao Weida, aren’t you arrogant? Want to take my sergeant position? Just became patrol officer and get ousted the same day—I’d like to see if you have the face to stay at the police station!
