DSMIS CH34

Chapter 34: Leaving Qianjin in Your Care

Shen Xing stared at Jiang Lin’s pajamas and still-damp hair. It was obvious Jiang Lin had just finished showering at home. Could the person behind him be his younger brother? Or perhaps… that inexplicably unpleasant feeling began bubbling up in his chest again.

Jiang Lin turned to glance at Zou Mingming before speaking:

“My protection period in Tianjin City hasn’t expired yet. This is a colleague from the Municipal Bureau sent to protect me.”

Standing behind him, Zou Mingming, who had just been preparing to step forward and pretend to be a relative, was stunned. Did Captain Jiang really just blurt out the truth so casually? Especially during such a sensitive period? Who is this guy on the other end?

He couldn’t resist sneaking a peek. The screen showed a young man, looking around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, holding a black German Shepherd. He recognized the dog as Heibao. Since Heibao was with him, the guy had to be one of their own, maybe a colleague from the Fulan County Bureau.

Shen Xing’s eyes widened. Protection period? Close protection inside the house?

He also secretly assessed Zou Mingming. He looked quite young and rather skinny, not exactly the stereotypical, muscle-bound, formidable cop Shen Xing imagined. Is this guy really up to the task?

Suddenly, he remembered Du Binbin mentioning the previous day that Jiang Lin had received an urgent phone call. Was his rushed return to Tianjin City related to that call? He couldn’t help but lean closer to the camera, his voice dropping to a whisper, as quiet as a mouse:

“Are you in danger right now?”

Actually, he also wanted to ask, “The guy next to you doesn’t look like much of a martial arts master,” but since the person was standing right there, he forced the words back down.

Jiang Lin was amused by his secretive manner:

“It’s just routine protection. It’s not dangerous.”

Shen Xing nodded, but still couldn’t resist adding:

“Oh, okay. If… if there is any danger, whatever you do, don’t try to be a tough guy and fight head-on.”

With the current state of Jiang Lin’s hands and legs, he absolutely couldn’t afford another injury. Jiang Lin nodded obediently. Beside him, Zou Mingming listened to their exchange, vaguely feeling that something was off. This doesn’t really sound like a conversation between colleagues, does it?

Heibao pushed his face closer to the screen, and the white furball beside him joined in on the fun. The two dogs practically squeezed Shen Xing out of the frame. Holding one dog in each arm, Shen Xing chatted with Jiang Lin for a little while longer before hanging up.

The next day, a black sedan took Jiang Lin directly to the prison where Yang Chunlai was being held. Jiang Lin wasn’t wearing his police uniform, just a dark overcoat. He greeted the prison officials who came out to receive him and walked inside. Metal doors opened one after another.

Yang Chunlai, wearing a prison uniform, had already been brought to the visitation room. With a loud clack, the final iron door was pushed open, and Jiang Lin appeared in the doorway.

Inside, the man in the prison uniform with murky eyes looked up. For the first time, the drug lord and the anti-narcotics cop, who had battled across the shadows for two years, stood at such close quarters, sizing each other up.

Jiang Lin gave a slight wave to the people behind him. They nodded, exited, and closed the door. At this moment, every security camera in the small visitation room was turned on.

Jiang Lin walked in slowly, sat directly in the chair opposite Yang Chunlai, slightly lifted his eyelids, and spoke in a flat, indifferent tone:

“I heard you wanted to see me.”

Yang Chunlai stared fixedly at the man across from him. His gaze was like a venomous snake freshly emerging from its hole, scraping across Jiang Lin inch by inch. Suddenly, he locked his eyes onto Jiang Lin’s leg. When he spoke, the sound seemed to squeeze out from his throat, accompanied by a bizarre, grating laugh:

“Is that leg of yours still real?”

Jiang Lin slightly hitched up his pant leg:

“Original factory parts.”

Yang Chunlai’s face began to contort even further. Up until the moment of his arrest, he had never imagined he would fall at the hands of such a young anti-narcotics cop. He couldn’t even explain why he felt this absolute compulsion to see Jiang Lin. Perhaps he wanted to see Jiang Lin harboring deep resentment towards him because of his severe injuries. That kind of hatred from an anti-narcotics cop would thrill him. He spoke provocatively:

“No need to put on an act in front of me. That Captain Jiang, whose gunshots were as swift as his reflexes, who could fight four men at once without losing ground… he probably doesn’t exist anymore, does he? Becoming half a cripple at such a young age… tsk, tsk…”

In the monitoring room, Director Song Baogang, who had just arrived from the Municipal Bureau, was livid.

Jiang Lin, however, didn’t seem to care about his words in the slightest. He glanced down at his wristwatch:

“You have ten minutes left. Are you sure you want to spend these ten minutes imagining how miserable I am to gain some psychological comfort? That would disappoint me a little.”

Yang Chunlai’s current state was vastly different from when he was first arrested. Like many death row inmates nearing their execution date, he was beginning to experience fear, unease, anxiety, and insomnia. He desperately needed an outlet, and that outlet was the man who caught him, Jiang Lin. He wanted to see this anti-narcotics cop fall into the mud, struggling against his own broken body. Seeing Jiang Lin like that seemed to be the only thing that could satisfy his twisted psychology.

“You must be very proud of catching me, aren’t you?”

“Catching you was inevitable. There’s no need to be proud.”

Yang Chunlai let out a chilling, sarcastic laugh:

“If you’re not proud, then why did you come to see me today?”

Suddenly, an image flashed inappropriately through Jiang Lin’s mind: the image of the person from yesterday morning, whose eyes were practically shooting stars at the thought of the braised beef from the northwest corner.

“A friend of mine was craving braised beef from Tianjin City. By coming to see you, I could get the flight paid for by the bureau and buy some to take back to him.”

It was a completely unexpected answer, yet it made Yang Chunlai burst into sudden, hysterical laughter, as if mocking Jiang Lin for desperately trying to act tough. The frantic, twisted laughter echoed through the visitation room, yet crashed against Jiang Lin’s unfailingly calm expression.

Jiang Lin lowered his eyes to look at his watch again:

“Keep laughing. You have four minutes left.”

Jiang Lin’s nonchalance was dismantling Yang Chunlai’s psychological defenses piece by piece. He couldn’t detect even a ripple of emotion from Jiang Lin. It felt as if no matter what he did, he couldn’t provoke a reaction. This sense of powerlessness and loss of control deepened his fear and frustration.

However, all the emotional shifts in Yang Chunlai’s eyes were entirely within Jiang Lin’s expectations. With only one minute of the visit remaining, Jiang Lin finally spoke:

“You’re not the first drug dealer I’ve caught, nor will you be the last. To me, you are exactly the same as all those other drug dealers I’ve locked up to face the firing squad. There is absolutely nothing special about you. Even the way you look right now is no different from the other death row inmates in this prison awaiting their execution date. Insomnia, fear, it’s truly nothing new or interesting to look at.

The only thing you should be thankful for is that these fifteen minutes of seeing me were worth two reimbursable flight tickets. Otherwise, did you really think you were worth me wasting another fifteen minutes?”

With that, he adjusted his overcoat and stood up, not sparing the man across from him a single extra glance.

Yang Chunlai’s face abruptly drained of all color. Everything that had just transpired made him look like nothing more than a dancing clown.

As Jiang Lin stepped out, a prison guard approached:

“Captain Jiang, Director Song is here. He’s waiting for you in the office.”

Jiang Lin nodded and headed to the office.

“Director Song.”

Song Baogang stood up and looked Jiang Lin up and down:

“How is your health? Last week, President Xu called me and said you weren’t actively seeking treatment over there. Now that Xiaohu has been sent to Beijing, you can finally set your mind at ease a bit. Since you’re back, go straight to the General Hospital for a follow-up checkup. I’ll arrange a car to take you there in a bit.”

“I’m doing much better, Director Song. President Xu introduced me to a doctor, and I’ve been going to the hospital regularly for treatment.”

“A doctor at Baoshan Hospital? It’s a half-day’s journey from Fulan County to Baoshan; going back and forth isn’t convenient. You should just go to Beijing. If you need to be hospitalized, then get hospitalized.”

“It’s not Baoshan Hospital. It’s a doctor from Yuetan Hospital in Tianjin City who went to Yunnan to support the region. He’s right there at the Fulan County Hospital.”

After a pause, he added:

“Deputy Director of Orthopedics.”

Song Baogang’s face lit up with joy:

“The Deputy Director of Orthopedics from Yuetan Hospital? You lucky kid. Rest up here tonight and head back tomorrow.”

Jiang Lin smiled:

“I’ve already bought the plane ticket.”

“Have someone change the flight. Traveling back and forth in just two days is too exhausting.”

“No need. If I leave it for another day, I’m afraid the braised beef I bought will spoil.”

Song Baogang was stunned, suddenly recalling what Jiang Lin had just said to Liu Chunlai:

“You actually bought braised beef?”

“Yeah. Doctor Shen loves it, so I brought some for him.”

Jiang Lin’s earnest expression made Song Baogang realize that perhaps he hadn’t just been talking nonsense earlier. It was entirely possible that this kid actually came to see Yang Chunlai just to get a free flight ticket to buy braised beef. Even someone as experienced and worldly as Director Song was left speechless by this surreal reality.

In the afternoon, Jiang Lin boarded his flight to Baoshan, carrying ten jin of beef. Upon landing, he sent a message to Shen Xing.

“Then come over to my place first when you get back. Message me ten minutes before you arrive, I’ll cook some noodles.”

“Okay.”

By the time he reached Fulan County, it was nearly 8 PM. Jiang Lin went upstairs and knocked on Shen Xing’s door. He heard hurried footsteps inside. The door opened. Today, Doctor Shen was wearing a soft, goose-yellow loungewear set. He looked like a freshly baked cupcake, giving anyone who looked at him an inexplicable sense of peace and warmth.

Jiang Lin walked in and handed him the bags:

“Brought you some food.”

Shen Xing spotted the logo on the bags immediately, his eyes lighting up:

“You went and bought the braised beef?!”

“Yeah. Since I was going back anyway, it was on the way.”

Only upon taking the bags did Shen Xing realize how heavy they were:

“You bought this much, and you carried it all the way? Your leg can’t take the weight! Hurry, come inside.”

“I didn’t carry it for very long.”

Jiang Lin sat down to change his shoes. Heibao had already run over, and Jiang Lin rubbed his head:

“Were you a good boy for Uncle the past two days?”

Shen Xing laughed and said:

“He was too good. Compared to Heibao, my dog is practically a rebellious teenager. Wow, you even bought beef tripe and beef tendon! What kind of angelic Hero are you?”

That night, the two of them happily enjoyed the Supreme Deluxe Edition of Shen’s Beef Noodles. Not only were there fried eggs, sausages, and baby bok choy on top of the noodles, but also sliced beef, beef tripe, and beef tendon. Shen Xing popped open a bottle of champagne and brought out two newly arrived crystal glasses:

“Come, Hero. Take the seat of honor.”

Shen Xing took a bite of braised beef dipped in the noodle broth and narrowed his eyes in bliss:

“Mmm, this is exactly the feeling. Come on, cheers.”

Shen Xing raised his glass. Jiang Lin raised his hand, clinked glasses with him, and smiled as he looked at his expression:

“Mm, as long as you like it.”

After eating, Shen Xing leaned back against the sofa, absolutely stuffed:

“Hero, starting next week, I might have to leave Qianjin in your care.”

Jiang Lin looked up and observed Shen Xing’s overstuffed appearance:

“Are you going to die from overeating?”

Shen Xing was taken aback, then laughed helplessly:

“Can’t you wish something good for me? The hospital had a meeting today. Before the New Year, the county hospital is sending medical teams down to the villages and towns to run free clinics. I won’t be at the county hospital starting next week. I probably won’t be back for a week or two, so I can’t take that silly dog with me. I’ll have to trouble you.”

“Sure, just leave him at my place. He can keep Heibao company.”

On the weekend, Jiang Lin came over with Heibao, holding a bag in his hand. He found Shen Xing in the living room packing suitcases, one for the things he needed for the next two weeks, and another for Qianjin’s belongings. Jiang Lin handed him the bag:

“Both the towns you’re going to this week are in the northwest, where the altitude isn’t low. These are some portable oxygen canisters. Take them with you. In case you experience altitude sickness on the road, they can be used for emergencies.”

Although Fulan County didn’t have a large population, its jurisdiction spanned a vast area. The villages and towns in the northwest bordered Tibet and sat at relatively high altitudes. The two towns Shen Xing was visiting this week could reach an altitude of 4,000 meters. Shen Xing had indeed never been to places with such high altitudes. He took the bag and placed it in his carry-on backpack. Then, he heard the man beside him speak again:

“The temperature over there is colder than in the county town. Pack thicker clothes. Did you pack a hat and gloves?”

Shen Xing chuckled:

“Hero, you sound like my mom.”

Jiang Lin smiled. Seeing that he was almost done packing, he handed him something else:

“Drive my car. The roads out there are rough.”

Shen Xing looked up and saw Jiang Lin holding out his car keys:

“Will my car have problems?”

“Your car has a low chassis, and you aren’t familiar with the roads. Calling for a tow out there is much harder than when you broke down on the national highway on your way here. There might even be wolves in the mountains. Take it.”

Shen Xing still had lingering fears about the road conditions during his journey here. The performance of this modified Land Cruiser on mountain roads was undoubtedly vastly superior to his little A6. He decided not to act coy:

“Alright, then I’ll drive yours, and you can drive mine to commute to work.”

With that, he took Jiang Lin’s car keys and handed over his own.

“Hero, this whole bag is for Qianjin. It has his favorite small cans and snacks. Take my house key too; if you find you’re missing anything, just come in and grab it.”

Jiang Lin accepted them:

“Alright.”

Shen Xing zipped up his suitcase and stood up before adding:

“I’ll be away for two weeks. Don’t you dare slack off and skip the hospital. I’m going to call my colleagues and check up on you.”

Jiang Lin looked at Shen Xing, whose gaze was exactly like a teacher staring down a student likely to skip class, and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry:

“I wouldn’t dare. I’ll go on time.”

Qianjin had grown familiar with Jiang Lin recently. Every time he came over, the dog would smile, bound over, and act spoiled. It was no different today; the massive fluffy furball leaned heavily into Jiang Lin’s embrace. Jiang Lin instinctively hugged him. Watching this scene, Shen Xing suddenly remembered something else:

“Oh, right, this silly dog needs to lose weight. You absolutely cannot open a small can for him every day.”

He had discovered that Jiang Lin possessed the tender heart of a doting father; the moment the Samoyed acted spoiled, he would open a small can for him.

Jiang Lin fiddled with the Samoyed’s tender pink ears and agreed:

“Alright.”

Shen Xing poked Qianjin’s head and said fiercely:

“Stop acting spoiled. Your good days are over.”

In the evening, Shen Xing suggested going out to eat, knowing that the conditions in the villages over the next two weeks definitely wouldn’t compare to the county town.

They returned to the same instant-boiled mutton restaurant on the same ancient street. The handicraft shops, now illuminated for the night, looked even more exotic and atmospheric than during the day. Having eaten to the point of bursting, the two of them strolled leisurely from one end of the street to the other.

“If you need anything over the next two weeks, call me. I’ll find time to deliver it to you. Be careful…”

Shen Xing was abruptly pulled backward by Jiang Lin. Losing his balance, he leaned heavily into Jiang Lin’s embrace. Two kids on bicycles whizzed past his side. He turned his head, and Captain Jiang’s impeccably structured, handsome face was suddenly right in front of his eyes.

For some inexplicable reason, his heart simply skipped a beat.

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Author’s Note:

Director Shen, you massive lech [Eating Melon]