Chapter Nine: The Joyful Detective

Da Gen spoke with resolute conviction, yet Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi both wore puzzled expressions and asked in unison, "Dignity?"

"The day Jin Lu forgot her money, she suggested 'paying the fare in flesh'," replied Da Gen, with the air of a lone sober man among drunks. Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi exchanged shocked glances.

"I was blinded by lust and agreed. I pulled her along past the deserted house in Locust Alley, thinking it was quiet enough for such business..."

"Oh! I see, she must have changed her mind, so you killed her!" Ying Xi interrupted, eager.

"No, it was something she said that made me decide to kill her," Da Gen's face grew fierce.

"Something she said? What was it?" Ying Xi asked, confused.

"I was guiding Jin Lu's hand into my trousers when the damned woman suddenly laughed and said..." Da Gen spoke bitterly, but as he reached the end, his voice faltered.

"What did she say?" Ying Xi pressed, curious.

Da Gen's face flushed crimson—this rugged man suddenly became bashful, mumbling, "She said... she doesn't smoke."

Ying Xi was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, teasing Da Gen, "So it's not Da Gen, but Xiao Gen after all..."

Lu Hehuan couldn't help but chuckle, and the police officers nearby doubled over in laughter. Poor Da Gen looked miserable, on the verge of tears.

"Explain how you committed the crime," Lu Hehuan demanded with a serious expression.

Da Gen glanced at Lu Hehuan, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "It's about as you said."

It turned out that, on that night, after Jin Lu boarded Da Gen's rickshaw, she realized she had forgotten her purse. She and Da Gen agreed to "pay the fare in flesh." As Da Gen pulled Jin Lu past the deserted house in Locust Alley, intending to commit the deed, Jin Lu mocked Da Gen, saying his manhood was as small as a cigarette. Furious, Da Gen grappled with Jin Lu; in his panic, he grabbed a stone from the ground and struck her on the head several times. After gazing at the corpse in contemplation, Da Gen recalled methods for creating alibis from the detective novels he enjoyed reading while waiting for work. In a flurry, he stripped Jin Lu of her cheongsam and high heels, then used her clothing to wipe away footprints on the ground.

Da Gen quietly returned home through the back door, carrying the bloodied stone, the cheongsam, and the pair of high heels. He poured out everything to his wife. Though she knew he had committed a grave crime, she couldn't resist his desperate pleas and agreed to help cover for him.

Da Gen and his wife, dressed in Jin Lu's cheongsam, left through the back door. She boarded the rickshaw, and Da Gen pulled her past Jin Lu's neighbor's house, quickly knocked a few times on their door, then returned to the rickshaw and brought his wife—still wearing Jin Lu's cheongsam—to Jin Lu's home. "Jin Lu" got off, and Da Gen drove away. Before leaving, Da Gen glanced at the neighbor's house and saw the neighbor open the door and take a look, which reassured him. Unfortunately, his wife was unused to wearing high heels and twisted her ankle twice while sneaking out of Jin Lu's house.

She returned home through the back door, while Da Gen took the rickshaw around to the front entrance. Passing by the neighbor's house, he happened upon the neighbor's child playing with crickets at the door. To strengthen his alibi, his wife loudly said as she opened the door for him, "It's already nine o'clock, why are you just now getting home?"

After Da Gen finished recounting the crime, Ying Xi couldn't help but glance admiringly at Lu Hehuan, though he said nothing.

The interrogation ended there. Ying Xi ordered Da Gen jailed, finally catching the murderer of Jin Lu within Bao Kang's deadline.

Back at the police station office, Ying Xi finished organizing the case files, let out a long breath, and patted Lu Hehuan on the shoulder.

"The case is finally closed."

Lu Hehuan, ever the stickler for cleanliness, glanced at his shoulder instinctively. "You licked your fingers several times while handling the files—did you wash your hands?"

"You're not the Chief Inspector, why should I wash my hands before patting your shoulder?" Ying Xi replied carelessly. Lu Hehuan, annoyed, brushed off his shoulder.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached. Liu Rushuang, dragging Bai Yulou, burst into the office, beaming, and gave Ying Xi a thumbs-up.

"Thanks to Brother Xi's courage and wit, the truth of the Jin Lu case came to light, and the murderer was brought to justice!"

Liu Rushuang wasn't satisfied with flattering alone; she insisted on dragging her sidekick along. She signaled Bai Yulou, but Bai Yulou, unimpressed, raised a perfunctory thumbs-up.

"Brother Xi is the best—Old Zha Police Station Number One..."

Bai Yulou's lukewarm flattery only made Ying Xi even more smug.

"I already noticed something odd about the case. As expected, the murderer was that seemingly honest Da Gen!" Ying Xi began to boast.

Outside the door, Bao Rong overheard and walked in, displeased.

"In my opinion, the real hero in solving Jin Lu's case was Hehuan. If it weren't for Hehuan's persistence, Dabao might have been wrongly accused."

Bao Rong spoke the truth, regardless of Ying Xi's feelings. Ying Xi's pride was injured, but he refused to concede.

"Bao Rong, you're only seeing the surface. Actually, I was controlling the whole situation. With my guidance, Lu Hehuan was able to solve the case so easily. Arresting Dabao was just a diversion, so the real murderer, Da Gen, would let his guard down and slip up..."

Bao Rong wasn't buying it and looked at Ying Xi with dissatisfaction. "If you were really orchestrating everything, why didn't you personally catch the murderer?"

Ying Xi, embarrassed, stretched his neck. "I didn't step in directly because I wanted to test Hehuan's abilities—to see how much skill this top student from Scotland Yard really has. Turns out, he's not bad."

Bao Rong, seeing Ying Xi's nonsense, was speechless.

"Brother Xi, you're amazing—the most capable and charismatic inspector I've ever met," Liu Rushuang continued to flatter.

"Enough, stop buttering me up," Ying Xi replied ungratefully.

Bai Yulou, hearing Ying Xi finally speak a truth, curled his lip and muttered, "Glad you know it's flattery."

Ying Xi swaggered over to Lu Hehuan, reaching to pat his shoulder, but Lu Hehuan dodged nimbly.

Ying Xi rubbed his hands awkwardly, "Lu Hehuan, although the Jin Lu murder case was solved under my careful planning, you did contribute. If you like, I can help you get reinstated as a police officer. Just stick with me—I guarantee, as long as I have meat to eat, you'll have soup."

He straightened up, hands behind his back, looking imposing.

Lu Hehuan snorted coldly. "You just want to use me to solve cases, then claim the credit, get promoted, and prosper. I won't collude with you."

"Collude? This is a powerful partnership," Ying Xi argued, clasping his hands together.

"No matter what, I won't help you," Lu Hehuan insisted.

"My good intentions are wasted on you," Ying Xi said, disappointed.

Liu Rushuang, seeing Ying Xi fail to persuade, immediately chimed in, "Exactly, Lu Hehuan, you're taking yourself too seriously. Brother Xi is helping you, not begging you. Do you think Old Zha Police Station can't solve cases without you?"

"That's not so certain," Bai Yulou added, undermining her.

"Bai Bai, whose side are you on?" Liu Rushuang glared at Bai Yulou, scolding quietly.

Bai Yulou wisely shut up, covering her mouth as Liu Rushuang continued to glare.

Bao Rong approached Lu Hehuan. "Hehuan, tomorrow I'll go plead with my brother to let you stay at the station."

Ying Xi scoffed, pouring cold water on the idea. "Bao Rong, asking for favors is about as helpful as making trouble. You know the Chief hates seeing you get close to Lu Hehuan."

Bao Rong saw the sense in this and worried quietly.

"Don't worry, Bao Rong, I've thought it through. If I can't return to the station, I'll start my own detective agency and keep fighting evil," Lu Hehuan reassured her.

Ying Xi looked at Lu Hehuan's upright demeanor, couldn't help but smile, and continued in his mocking tone, "Fine, I was thinking you'd find it easier to investigate Ling Yan's old case if you stayed at the station. Since you don't want to, forget it... Hey, do you think Ling Yan was wrongly accused, like Dabao? Never mind, it's none of my business. Who knows when the truth will come out..."

He made to leave, but Lu Hehuan hurriedly stopped him.

"Wait!"

"Changed your mind?" Ying Xi asked, arms crossed, grinning.

Lu Hehuan hesitated briefly, then made up his mind. "If you promise to help me look into Ling Yan's case file, I'll work with you."

Ying Xi stroked his beard, snapped his fingers. "Deal."

Night fell, and the vast police station returned to calm.

Lu Hehuan, luggage in hand, followed Ying Xi back to the dormitory. As soon as they entered, Ying Xi flopped onto the bed. Lu Hehuan set his luggage aside, displeased as he tidied the messy room.

"I was gone one day and it's back to a pigsty. Inspector Ying, can't you maintain a bit of hygiene?"

"A man's room is supposed to be messy. I think it's cozy."

Seeing Ying Xi shamelessly proud of the mess, Lu Hehuan shook his head helplessly.

"I really can't stand you."

"I should be the one who can't stand you," Ying Xi replied, yawning. "I'm going to sleep. Turn off the light."

"The room isn't tidy yet," Lu Hehuan protested.

"No rush, we'll finish tomorrow," Ying Xi said, turning off the light.

Lu Hehuan stood in the dark, still protesting, "I haven't washed up yet."

Ying Xi lounged on the bed like a lord. "You'll get used to it."

Though the darkness hid Lu Hehuan's exasperated face, his sigh was clear.

Early the following morning, Ying Xi headed straight for Bao Kang's office.

He stopped at the door, straightened his clothes, smoothed his unruly hair, and knocked carefully. Soon, Bao Kang's booming voice came from within.

"Come in."

Ying Xi entered, face full of spring, saluting Bao Kang respectfully.

"Chief Bao, your voice is as powerful as ever—just hearing it tells me you're healthy and full of vigor," Ying Xi flattered.

Bao Kang was pleased, his mood brightened. "Inspector Ying, you did well with the Jin Lu case. I just reported to the Chief Inspector, and he's very satisfied with Old Zha Police Station's performance. You'll be credited for this."

Ying Xi smiled ingratiatingly. "All thanks to Chief Bao's wise guidance."

Bao Kang nodded with satisfaction. "Yes, Inspector Ying, what brings you here?"

"I came to thank Chief Bao specially."

"Thank me?" Bao Kang asked, puzzled.

Ying Xi nodded solemnly, cleared his throat, and leaned forward. "Thank you for your tireless efforts for us subordinates, for leading Old Zha Police Station forward, for encouraging us to solve strange cases, and especially for giving us strength in critical moments—a strength that helps us overcome any difficulty..."

Bao Kang listened to Ying Xi's impassioned speech, nodding with satisfaction.

"Just like with the Jin Lu case—without your pressure, I wouldn't have had the motivation to solve it in two days. You know your subordinates' potential and make the right decisions at the right time, which lets us solve cases and earn credit," Ying Xi continued to flatter.

"I'm glad you understand," Bao Kang beamed.

Seeing Bao Kang so receptive, Ying Xi hesitated briefly before finally voicing his real intention.

"Besides thanking Chief Bao, I have a small request. Of course, it's a request I've thought deeply about—for the honor of the station and your achievements."

"What is it? Let's hear it."

"I was thinking... Lu Hehuan is a top graduate from Scotland Yard, and has real investigative skills. Could you... let him be reinstated?"

Bao Kang frowned slightly, seeming hesitant. "That Lu Hehuan has some ability, but he's too stubborn and upright. I'm afraid he'll make trouble for me again."

"That's exactly why he should come back. Think about it, Chief Bao—someone capable yet proud, if he opens his own detective agency, he might compete with us for credit. But as a detective here, his solved cases count toward the station's record, and whether he gets promoted is up to you," Ying Xi reasoned, hoping to dispel Bao Kang's concerns.

Bao Kang thought for a moment, then nodded. "You make sense. Fine, let him work under you as a detective. Teach him well—help him become more astute."

Ying Xi, delighted at Bao Kang's agreement, grinned broadly.

"Understood, Chief Bao. Lu Hehuan is reckless—why not let him share a dorm with me? That way I can keep an eye on him and prevent trouble," Ying Xi suggested.

"Watch him closely. If anything like last time happens again, you both can pack your bags," Bao Kang suddenly remembered how Lu Hehuan had disrupted his promotion plans and grew angry.

Fearing Bao Kang might change his mind, Ying Xi blurted, "Understood!"

Lu Hehuan left the police office and ran into Bao Rong coming down the corridor.

"Bao Rong, have you seen Inspector Ying?"

"I saw him just now, humming a tune like he'd won the lottery. He's not in the police office?"

Lu Hehuan shook his head. "I just left the police office."

"Why are you so eager to find Inspector Ying?" Bao Rong asked, concerned.

"I want him to help me review Ling Yan's case file, to hurry the investigation."

"I see," Bao Rong replied, a hint of disappointment on her face. The man she'd liked since childhood was wholly absorbed in a missing woman—no wonder she felt sad.

"Who knows where he went so early," Lu Hehuan looked around.

Bao Rong suddenly glanced behind Lu Hehuan, squeezing out a smile. "Speak of the devil, Inspector Ying couldn't resist us talking about him—here he comes."

Lu Hehuan turned to see Ying Xi walking over, holding a sidearm and uniform.

Ying Xi approached and handed the items to Lu Hehuan, beaming.

"Done!"

"What is this?" Lu Hehuan asked, puzzled as he took them.

"Detective Lu, don't tell me you don't recognize your working gear?"

Bao Rong caught on and smiled broadly. "My brother agreed to let Hehuan return as a police officer?"

"When this inspector takes charge, nothing is impossible," Ying Xi boasted, completely forgetting how he had just humbled himself before Bao Kang.

"That's wonderful news, Hehuan—we'll be working together from now on," Bao Rong exclaimed in delight.

Lu Hehuan smiled, "Yes, we can investigate cases together."

"There's another bit of good news: Chief Bao has assigned you a dorm. At Old Zha Police Station, usually only inspectors get their own dorm," Ying Xi patted Lu Hehuan's shoulder.

For Lu Hehuan, this was a windfall—he no longer had to endure Ying Xi.

"No more sharing your pigsty—now that's good news."

Ying Xi grinned shamelessly. "Sorry, the pigsty stays the same, except now it's officially shared instead of borrowed."

"Some good news," Lu Hehuan deflated.

Ying Xi shrugged, "Why not? Sharing a dorm means you can learn from my years of experience. Even I'm happy for you! From now on, we'll be a pair of master detectives—take a character from each of our names and call us 'Xi-Huan Detectives'..."

He paused, shaking his head. "No, it doesn't sound good... Maybe I'll be modest and put you first: 'Huan-Xi Detectives.' I'll make us famous at Old Zha Police Station... No, we'll uphold justice for the people and solve cases with joy."

Lu Hehuan snorted coldly. "I think you just want to use me to solve cases."

Bao Rong saw the two bicker endlessly and quickly stepped in to mediate.

"Those who are sincere are gentlemen; those who are insincere are villains. Inspector Ying, do be a gentleman, not a villain."

"This inspector is certainly a gentleman—every word from the heart. I appreciate Lu Hehuan's talent and didn't want it wasted, so I pleaded with Chief Bao to keep him. Don't be suspicious," Ying Xi insisted.

"In that case, Inspector Ying, fulfill your promise and help me look at Ling Yan's file," Lu Hehuan pressed.

Ying Xi realized he'd been maneuvered again and tried to stall. "It can wait a day..."

"Inspector Ying, are you just trying to put me off and never actually do it?" Lu Hehuan stared into his eyes.

Ying Xi's gaze wavered. "Of course not."

"No, I won't be at ease until it's done," Lu Hehuan persisted.

Ying Xi, cornered by Lu Hehuan's relentless pursuit, grew frustrated. Seeing he couldn't escape, he finally agreed.

"Fine, you're so annoying. I'll take you to look through the files now, okay?"

He glanced at Bao Rong. "Bao Rong, help out."

"But my brother won't let me touch the case files," Bao Rong said, troubled.

"You don't need to touch the files—just chat with Sister Nan in the archives, all right?"

Bao Rong looked even more troubled, as she never chatted with colleagues, usually just exchanging greetings.

"Fine," Bao Rong said, seeing Lu Hehuan's anxious gaze, and reluctantly agreed.

Ying Xi whispered instructions to Bao Rong and reassured her, "Just say what I told you."

Bao Rong hesitated, then nodded.