novelslam Chapter 84 Prior Communication
Chapter 84 Prior Communication
Back at Beichuan Department Store, Zhang Beichuan indeed saw two police officers in olive green uniforms sitting on a stone bench in the backyard, waiting for him.
Lan Baoquan, standing to the side, was happily smoking and chatting with someone.
"Comrade Zhang Beichuan, hello!" Upon seeing Zhang Beichuan enter, the two police officers immediately stood up. One of them, a middle-aged man with a kind face, extended his hand and introduced himself, "I am Wang, the director of Chengguan Police Station. This is Xiao Liu from our station's political department."
Zhang Beichuan quickly stepped forward to shake hands, "Director Wang, Comrade Liu. Hello, please have a seat."
As he greeted them, he gestured for Lan Baoquan to pour tea.
Director Wang smiled and waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to trouble himself, but his eyes were full of approval as he looked Zhang Beichuan up and down.
"Comrade Zhang Beichuan, we are here today on behalf of the County Public Security Bureau. We are here specifically to discuss the follow-up commendation arrangements for your joint efforts with Comrade Lu Ya in capturing the fugitive Huang Zhenjiang."
After saying that, he glanced at Lan Baoquan and Lan Baoqiang, who were standing next to Zhang Beichuan watching the commotion, and his meaning was all too clear.
Understanding the implication, Lan Baoquan quickly pulled Baoqiang outside.
"Well, you guys chat, you guys chat, we're going to get busy at the store."
"Thank you for understanding," Xiao Liu nodded.
Although Zhang Beichuan had some idea of what was going on, he still straightened his expression slightly when he heard the word "commendation".
"Director Wang, you're too kind. It was all I should do. The situation was urgent, and anyone would have done the same."
"That's not how it works." Director Wang's expression became more serious. "Huang Zhenjiang is a wanted criminal under the supervision of the provincial department. He has multiple lives on his hands and is extremely dangerous."
"In that situation, you and Comrade Lu Ya not only protected yourselves but also successfully subdued the perpetrator, eliminating a major threat to public security and removing a significant hidden danger to social order. This behavior is worthy of being called a hero, a righteous act!"
Xiao Liu, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, adding, "After deliberation and consultation with higher authorities, the Party Committee of the Bureau has decided to commend and reward you. First, you will be awarded a certificate of honor for your act of bravery, and second, you will receive a one-time cash reward of 2000 yuan."
At this moment, Zhang Beichuan was already feeling rather smug.
It wasn't the 2000 yuan cash reward, but rather the fact that he had never received such a great recognition in his entire life.
Overnight, simply out of self-preservation, he became a hero?
After calming himself down a bit, Zhang Beichuan smiled broadly and said politely.
"Commander Wang, isn't this reward a bit too much? I really didn't do anything..."
Director Wang interrupted with a smile, "The reward was carefully considered, so just accept it without worry. We're here to give you a heads-up beforehand."
He paused, then lowered his voice.
"Furthermore, considering that Huang Zhenjiang still has accomplices at large, and for your safety and that of your family, the bureau has decided that this commendation ceremony will not be held publicly, but only within a small internal bureau, and your personal information will not be disclosed to the public in detail."
Zhang Beichuan immediately understood the deeper meaning: the bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow against it.
The bureau's arrangement was both an honor and a benefit, while also taking into account his protection; it was a thoughtful move.
"I completely understand, and I will follow the bureau's arrangements."
Seeing that Zhang Beichuan was so understanding, both Director Wang and Xiao Liu smiled with satisfaction.
Director Wang took a document out of his briefcase.
"Here's a brief schedule for the commendation ceremony. It's tentatively scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in the small conference room in the bureau. We'll send a car to pick you up, and Comrade Lu Ya will also be attending."
Zhang Beichuan accepted it with both hands, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.
There was joy at being recognized, but also lingering fear of the harrowing night.
This honor is an encouragement, but it also means that I need to be more cautious in the future.
"I will definitely attend on time."
"Alright! We'll head back now." Director Wang stood up and shook Zhang Beichuan's hand firmly again. "Comrade Zhang Beichuan, thank you again! If you encounter any difficulties in the future, please feel free to let us know!"
As Xiao Liu walked out of Beichuan Department Store, he glanced back at the endless stream of people crowding into the store.
"Chief, when we get back, do you think we should ask the people in the station to keep a closer eye on the Beichuan Department Store area?"
Wang, pushing his bicycle, thought for a moment.
Zhang Beichuan did them a favor a while ago by wiping out Zhao Xueming and his gang of thugs. Now that he has done such a great service, he deserves to be taken care of.
"Okay, let's do it this way!"
After seeing off Director Wang and Xiao Liu, Lan Baoquan and Lan Baoqiang immediately surrounded them, their faces full of excitement and envy.
"Brother Xiaochuan, what exactly did he say?"
Seeing Lan Baoqiang's curious expression, Zhang Beichuan smiled.
"They gave us a small reward and an award for our courageous act."
"How much is the prize money exactly?" Lan Baoqiang asked curiously, after all, this was the first time he had ever heard of such a thing in his life.
Lan Baoquan wasn't that interested in the cash reward, but he did show a strong sense of envy for the commendation given to the person who performed the act of bravery.
This thing may seem like just a hollow title, but in reality, it has a huge impact on an individual's future career.
If you are unemployed, you can be offered job placement and living allowance; if you are an employee of a company, you will be eligible for promotion and internal rewards.
For self-employed individuals, this honor serves as a protective shield, reducing unnecessary levies and hassles, and providing practical support from government departments when facing business difficulties.
Zhang Beichuan chuckled, "Not much, not even as much as our total revenue yesterday."
Lan Baoqiang paused, then thought to himself, "That makes sense."
Before having a television, Beichuan Department Store could achieve a daily turnover of four or five hundred yuan. Now that they have a television, they made nearly two thousand yuan yesterday.
Lan Baoquan, who had also come to his senses, pressed for an answer.
"By the way, Xiaochuan, did you tell your friends about the TV? Just now when you went to the warehouse, two more people came in asking about the TV."
"I said I should send it over tomorrow morning."
"Alright, let's go to the warehouse early tomorrow morning and move it over." Lan Baoquan patted Baoqiang on the shoulder. "Stop grinning like an idiot, get to work."
Seeing that the two had gone back to work, and considering that there were so many eels in the warehouse that needed to be processed.
Zhang Beichuan figured he needed to go back to 2026 and confront his parents.
The next morning, Zhang Beichuan took over 4,000 jin of eels that had been delivered the previous afternoon and transported them to 2026. It was just past 1 p.m.
During his lunch break, Zhang Beichuan drove his van directly to the shop where his mother worked.
Zhang Xiaoli, holding her phone and calculating her expenses for the month, had a worried look on her face.
The store hasn't even opened yet today, and not a single piece of clothing has been sold. Given this situation, she's starting to worry that the owner might close down.
Suddenly, someone blocked the light in front of her, and she subconsciously looked up.
Zhang Beichuan, panting from running, grinned as he looked at her.
"Son? What brings you here? Don't you have to go to work this afternoon?"
Faced with his mother's barrage of questions, Zhang Beichuan knew that if he just spoke, he would only be nagged, so he swallowed his words.
Without saying a word, he took out his mobile banking app, opened the balance page, and handed it to his mother.
"Mom, take a look at this first."
Zhang Xiaoli took it suspiciously, muttering, "What are you looking at?"
"Oh my god!" Before she could finish speaking, her eyes widened suddenly. She looked around nervously to make sure no one was in the store before lowering her voice and pointing her trembling finger at the numbers on the screen, counting the digits several times.
"This...this...this...three hundred and sixty thousand? Zhang Beichuan! Where did you get so much money? You didn't...win the lottery, did you?"
Zhang Beichuan had expected his mother to have questions, but he never imagined that she would suspect he had won the lottery!
It seems I have a pretty good image in my mom's eyes.
"Mom! It wasn't from winning the lottery, I earned it myself!"
Zhang Xiaoli was stunned. "You earned that?"