Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Qin Sa did not rush to take Tang Qingqing to the Public Security Bureau for registration; instead, she took her to the cafeteria for a meal.

It was past mealtime, but there were still people in the cafeteria.

Due to the special nature of work at the Public Security Bureau, officers on field duty often couldn't eat on time, so the cafeteria was usually always staffed.

If someone arrived late, they would simply reheat the leftover food and continue eating.

Qin Sa led Tang Qingqing into the cafeteria, where several officers were having their meals.

"Hey, Qin Sa, you just got back from field duty too?"

An officer greeted Qin Sa. As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed Tang Qingqing behind her.

He wasn't surprised, assuming that the girl was related to a case Qin Sa was handling.

Such situations were not uncommon. Sometimes, during lengthy investigations, they would bring suspects' family members or witnesses to the cafeteria for a meal.

"Any progress on your case?"

The officer sighed and shook his head. "I spent several nights staking out, and all I got were mosquito bites. Nothing came of it."

"Fellow comrades must persevere."

Qin Sa led Tang Qingqing to an empty seat nearby. "Sit here for now. I'll go get your food."

"Thank you."

Tang Qingqing's stomach was indeed empty, so she didn't refuse.

Perhaps due to her previous dreams, she felt familiar with this environment, though she was still somewhat reserved.

Ever since she read that book, she hadn't had those strange dreams anymore.

Qin Sa returned quickly, looking quite pleased.

"We're lucky today. The cafeteria is serving tomato and egg noodles, which is the chef's specialty."

A large bowl of steaming hot noodles was placed on the table, topped with tomato and egg sauce, sprinkled with chopped scallions, making it look and smell irresistible. Even before tasting it, one could tell it would be delicious.

In the countryside, getting a bowl of noodles was not easy, even though they grew wheat themselves. People usually cherished white flour and only made such noodles during festivals.

Tang Qingqing watched Qin Sa start eating and then picked up her own chopsticks to taste the noodles.

They were truly delicious!

The noodles, kneaded and beaten by the chef, had a wonderful chewiness, and the broth was rich and flavorful.

Tang Qingqing tried to eat politely, but the taste was so good that she couldn't help speeding up.

However, Qin Sa ate even faster, gulping down the noodles without chewing much, immediately taking another bite.

Tang Qingqing looked at her curiously. In her other memory, she had never seen a city girl eat so voraciously.

Although many city dwellers lived modestly and rarely had the chance to enjoy good food, they usually maintained some decorum in public.

Especially girls, who tended to be more refined.

Sensing her gaze, Qin Sa smiled. "We often have to go on missions and can't afford to waste time, so we've developed the habit of eating quickly. Otherwise, we'd be hungry during field duty. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it also makes us weak when catching criminals. Don't learn from me; it's not good for your health. Eat slowly, no rush."

Tang Qingqing was surprised. Although she saw Qin Sa as someone with a fiery personality, based on her other memory, female officers on field duty were relatively rare, with most working in offices like the registration department.

"Sis, you also go on field duty to catch criminals?"

"Of course. When I joined the Public Security Bureau, I wanted to be on the front lines. I can't stand sitting in an office."

"Sis, you're amazing."

Qin Sa quickly finished the remaining noodles, wiped her mouth, and said:

"It's okay. I've been practicing martial arts since childhood and always dreamed of wearing this uniform."

Tang Qingqing's eyes lit up. "Sis, you know martial arts!"

"Just a bit of fighting, nothing special." Qin Sa waved her hand dismissively.

"To be honest, I still can't believe a little girl like you has such skills."

Qin Sa had reviewed the case files and knew how Tang Qingqing found the footprint near the chaotic fire scene, analyzed its movements, and tracked down the criminal.

Knowing this made her even more astonished.

Although the police academy taught these skills, they weren't mastered overnight. Neither she nor her colleagues could do it.

She knew there were experts in this field, but none as young as Tang Qingqing. It was impossible to develop such sharp eyesight from birth, right?

Tang Qingqing smiled. "It's okay."

"You're mimicking my words now." Qin Sa laughed heartily.

"Don't be scared later. Just act naturally. If you don't perform well this time, it's fine. You're still young, and you have plenty of time ahead. These investigative techniques require experience and can't be mastered overnight."

Tang Qingqing nodded obediently. In fact, she wasn't nervous at all; she was even a bit excited.

She actually enjoyed showing off and getting others' praise made her very happy.

This was probably also the reason why another part of herself didn't like it at first but later enjoyed blooming on stage.

After finishing her noodles, Tang Qingqing was led back to the office area by Qin Sa.

She was first arranged in a large office to wait, where there were many staff members who were all busy and had no time to pay attention to anyone else.

At most, they would look up, nod at her, and then quickly return to their work.

From time to time, someone would be escorted in, some crying and wailing, others still very arrogant.

There were also those with anxious faces, nervously consulting the Public Security officers.

Tang Qingqing observed the actions and expressions of everyone present, and she was very interested in such a working environment.

She fantasized that one day, she could wear the green uniform like these Public Security officers.

Qin Sa soon returned and took Tang Qingqing to the director's office.

Like others, Xu Weiming was surprised when he saw Tang Qingqing, but it was only for an instant. After all, he was an experienced comrade who had seen many storms.

"Comrade Tang Qingqing, thank you for your outstanding performance in the arson case of the Rongshan Brigade. The organization has decided to commend your heroic deeds. Do you have any requests?"

Tang Qingqing restrained her joy, just as her master had said, someone would ask this question.

She tried to remain calm, but her voice still rose slightly: "I want to go to school!"

Xu Weiming was taken aback for a moment, then smiled in relief.

The learning atmosphere nowadays was terrible, especially in the countryside, where education was not valued, and many children dropped out of school at a young age. There weren't many children like Tang Qingqing who wanted to study.

Regardless of the current environment, Xu Weiming believed that people must study, as books contained the wisdom of our ancestors.

"Good, the organization will certainly arrange it."

Tang Qingqing couldn't hide her joy anymore and broke into a big smile.

Only then did Xu Weiming notice that the small girl in front of him was actually quite beautiful; it was just that her face was too small, and because she often worked outdoors, her skin was a bit tanned, and her clothes were worn and gray, making her appearance easy to overlook.

"Besides studying, is there anything else you want?"

Tang Qingqing shook her head; being able to study was already great.

"Good, I'll note this down. If you have any other requests in the future, feel free to mention them."

"Thank you, Director."

"Don't call me Director, just call me Uncle Xu."

Tang Qingqing readily agreed: "Okay, Uncle Xu."

"Did Qin Sa tell you about the test?"

Tang Qingqing nodded.

Xu Weiming said, "Don't overthink it. We're not doubting you; we just want to see how far you can go."

"I understand."

Seeing that Tang Qingqing wasn't upset, Xu Weiming felt relieved.

While rewarding her contribution, they were also testing her, which might seem a bit unfair.

Xu Weiming led Tang Qingqing to a courtyard where a layer of shallow sand covered the ground.

"I heard you can determine a person's height, weight, and age from footprints. I'll walk across here with four others, and you need to find my footprint among them. Can you do that?"

Tang Qingqing nodded, "Yes, I can."

Qin Sa took Tang Qingqing away from the scene, and Xu Weiming and the four Public Security officers walked back and forth on the sandy ground in their shoes.

They all wore issued leather shoes, and their feet were roughly the same size.

One young officer couldn't help but say, "Our feet are almost the same size. Isn't this too difficult? Won't it be too harsh on the little girl?"

Tang Qingqing looked so small, it seemed like they were bullying a child.

Another older officer laughed, "You don't know the skills of a tracking expert. She can identify the perpetrator from so many footprints; this difficulty won't be a problem."

"Old Yang, is it really that amazing?"

"You haven't seen how skilled Li Kang'an was back then. It's a pity..."

Old Yang couldn't help sighing; he had worked with Li Kang'an before, who was truly capable.

"But Li Kang'an was an adult who trained for a long time. This child is too young."

Everyone had different opinions, but no one held back as they walked around the sandy ground.

In their line of work, everything had to be done meticulously.

Today, the Public Security Bureau was relatively idle, and those who had free time came to watch the spectacle.

Sister Feng from the registration department peeked over, "How can you distinguish them? They all look the same. Director Xu, this isn't fair."

Regardless of everyone's opinions, once the site was set up, Tang Qingqing was invited over.

Tang Qingqing didn't waste any words. She took out a steel ruler and squatted down to measure each footprint.

This process was extremely tedious and long. Some of the onlookers who had come for the spectacle found it boring and left, while others hurried back to work.

Even Xu Weiming and the few officers temporarily left, staying at the bureau, ready to be called when needed.

There was no way the Public Security Bureau could spare so many people to do nothing.

Tang Qingqing didn't mind. When she learned that Xu Weiming was leaving, she made him walk back and forth in front of her several times before letting him go.

She also said to Qin Sa, "Sis, if you're busy, you can go ahead. I can manage here alone; I estimate it will take some time."

"It's fine. I'm on leave today, and there's no work waiting for me."

Hearing this, Tang Qingqing didn't say anything more and continued focusing on her observations.

After about an hour, Tang Qingqing stood up from the ground.

"Sis, I've identified them."

"Already? Why don't you double-check? No one is rushing you; you can take your time. When we examine the scene, we can't rush it."

Tang Qingqing smiled and shook her head. "I've already confirmed it multiple times."

She had actually identified them early on but, to be cautious, she had to compare and study them repeatedly to ensure accuracy.

"Don't worry, wait a moment, I'll call the chief over."

Qin Sa made quite a commotion. As Xu Weiming came downstairs, many people gathered to see what was happening.

Especially the relatively idle logistics staff, who all came over to watch, wanting to know if it was really possible to identify someone based on footprints.

Xu Weiming: "Identified?"

Tang Qingqing nodded. She took a long thin branch and pointed to the footprints, saying:

"This row of footprints is yours."

The onlookers hadn't seen how Xu Weiming and the others walked, so they didn't know if Tang Qingqing was right or wrong.

Everyone looked at Xu Weiming, and Chef Li from the canteen couldn't help asking, "Chief Xu, is it correct?"

Xu Weiming frowned slightly, looking somewhat regretful and sighing, as if something wasn't quite right.

"Are you sure? Do you want to check again?"

It seemed the young girl had made a mistake?

Qin Sa had accompanied Tang Qingqing earlier, so she didn't know if it was right or wrong, feeling anxious for Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing spoke confidently: "It's this row."

"No change?"

"No change."

Xu Weiming sighed deeply, shaking his head with his hands behind his back.

It was over; she must have made a mistake.

He thought he had discovered a young genius, but it seemed she was still too young and unreliable.

Chef Li couldn't help slapping his thigh, though he didn't believe a young girl could be so skilled, he hated seeing someone fail a challenge.

Xu Weiming took a while to turn around. Tang Qingqing's expression remained firm and unwavering, unaffected by his demeanor.

"I'm sorry to tell you—you got it right."

Chef Li: "Ah, I knew it couldn't be that amazing... Wait, Chief, you said what? Got it right?!"

"You actually got it right?!"

Those standing far away all crowded over to stare at the footprints on the ground.

"What's the fuss? You stepped on my shoes."

"How did she figure this out?"

Everyone was amazed. If not for seeing it with their own eyes, who would believe it could be so impressive?

The shoes were the same, the sizes similar, and Tang Qingqing hadn't measured Xu Weiming's shoes beforehand, yet she managed to identify them accurately.

"Young heroes emerge, and us old folks can't help but admire."

Xu Weiming laughed heartily.

Chef Li: "Girl, did you just guess?"

Tang Qingqing wasn't upset by the doubt. Smiling, she pointed to the footprints on the ground:

"Footprint number one, height approximately 172 cm, age around 35, weight 120 pounds."

"Footprint number two, height 181 cm, age around 25, weight 140 pounds."

"Footprint number three, Chief Xu's."

"Footprint number four, height 176 cm, age around 28, previously injured leg, not fully recovered."

While everyone was already astonished, hearing about footprint number four caused another uproar.

Unable to hold back any longer, she interjected with a question.

"How did you know he was injured?"

Tang Qingqing: "After an injury, especially to the leg, it affects one's gait, which is reflected in the footprints."

Sister Feng: "The only one recently injured in our bureau is Song Weiguo, right? These footprints belong to Song Weiguo?"

Xu Weiming gave a definite answer, "It's Song Weiguo. The other two also match up."

"But Song Weiguo looks like he's fully recovered now; he's even doing fieldwork again."

Tang Qingqing: "His leg must not be completely healed. He’s been avoiding putting weight on the injured leg, shifting his center of gravity to the other leg."

Xu Mingwei, annoyed, said, "That stubborn mule, Song Weiguo! I told him he needs to rest properly, but he just won't listen! He even lied to us, saying he was fully recovered. When he gets back, I'll give him a piece of my mind! I’ll beat him before he becomes a cripple!"

"Can you tell all that from the footprints? You’re amazing, girl!"

"Clap clap clap—"

Qin Sa started clapping, and everyone joined in, the applause rising like a tide.

Tang Qingqing stood in the center of the crowd, her face flushed, her heart pounding.

She smiled shyly, feeling very happy but not overwhelmed by being the center of attention, accepting the praise gracefully.

Chef Li shouted, "Young lady, your skills are extraordinary! Tonight, I’ll add an extra chicken leg for you!"

"You deserve that extra chicken leg. With these skills, solving cases will be much easier."

While footprint analysis can’t serve as direct evidence, finding the suspect becomes significantly easier, reducing the difficulty of catching them.

Not only does Tang Qingqing have exceptional skills, but she is also young, promising a bright future.

Xu Weiming, worried that too much praise might hinder her growth, gestured for everyone to quiet down.

"Everyone, get back to work. If someone sees us, they might think we have nothing better to do at the Public Security Bureau."

The group dispersed quickly.

Xu Mingwei looked at Tang Qingqing with a smile, "Comrade Tang Qingqing, you’ve done well. I hope you continue to use your strengths to contribute to the people and society."

Tang Qingqing stood straight, "I will not disappoint the organization’s expectations."

Xu Weiming took Tang Qingqing to his office and presented her with a certificate.

"Your performance this time was outstanding. The organization has decided to award you a certificate. We’re quite busy lately, so there won’t be a formal ceremony, but your team should acknowledge it."

Tang Qingqing was overjoyed. Having a certificate was already wonderful, proving her abilities were recognized and that she had made a mark within the organization.

"Uncle Xu, I’m so happy!"

Xu Weiming then pulled out a thermos from under the table, with a line of words written on it. Tang Qingqing immediately spotted her name.

It wasn’t because of her sharp eyesight, but because her name was written in large letters.

Though she didn’t recognize many of the words, she guessed it was a message praising her.

"Uncle Xu, is this for me?"

Xu Weiming smiled, "Yes."

Tang Qingqing was even happier. The certificate was a spiritual encouragement, while the thermos was a practical gift.

With the cold weather approaching, having a thermos meant she could always have hot water, perfect for her master.

Without leaving the bed, she could drink hot water.

Holding the thermos, Tang Qingqing was ecstatic, not expecting another gift from Xu Weiming.

An old fountain pen and a hardcover notebook.

The fountain pen was valuable and clearly a personal item. Tang Qingqing hesitated, not daring to take it.

"This is too precious; I can’t accept it."

Although the pen was old, its owner cherished it greatly. It was still in good condition, with only some paint missing from the engraving.

Even if she didn’t use it, she could pass it down to her children.

Xu Weiming gently pulled her hand from behind her back, "This pen holds special significance. It was awarded to me after I solved a major case. Now, it’s yours to solve more cases and complete more tasks. Can you do it?"

Tang Qingqing pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the pen.

Finally, she accepted the gift, "I can do it!"

Tang Qingqing carefully touched the notebook and gently examined the old fountain pen, her heart filled with indescribable excitement.

Eagerly, she opened the pen and wrote her name neatly.

She desperately needed a pen and paper. Previously, lacking such tools, she had to memorize everything, which affected efficiency.

With the notebook and pen, she could record data and draw footprints for research.

When she started school and learned more characters, she could use it as a work journal.

Though small, the notebook was thick and durable, lasting a long time.

"Can you write your own name?"

Tang Qingqing only then remembered that there were people around her. She had been so happy that she forgot everything.

She awkwardly put away the notebook. "I went to school for a few days and learned how to write my name from the teacher back then."

Although she was forced to leave school, she never forgot what she had learned. In her spare time, she liked to write her name and the characters she learned at school on the ground with twigs.

She always remembered the correct stroke order of each character, which is why she could copy the slogans on the wall without making mistakes.

Although she had another set of memories, those memories came from 'that book.'

The book described her experiences at school but focused more on interactions between people, glossing over the details of how she learned.

Unlike her previous dreams, where it felt like she had lived through them.

Therefore, after gaining these additional memories, she couldn't automatically read or write.

The reason she improved in cooking was because the book described food in great detail, making her salivate every time she recalled it.

This allowed Tang Qingqing to learn many cooking techniques after reading the book, improving her culinary skills.

Tang Qingqing shyly took out the notebook, her ears burning. "I don't write very well."

Compared to the version of herself in the book, she still had a long way to go.

Xu Weiming opened it and saw very neat handwriting, as if printed, beautiful yet somewhat rigid.

For someone who only attended school for a few days, being able to write this well was impressive.

His children's early attempts at writing resembled chicken scratch and were often backwards.

"Your handwriting is very nice and neat. With practice, it will get even better. I'll give you a calligraphy book to practice with."

Tang Qingqing didn't know how to express her joy. "Uncle Xu, having a pen and notebook is already wonderful."

"The calligraphy book was used by my children before. Now that they've grown up, they no longer need it. It's just sitting there, so you might as well use it."

Tang Qingqing bowed deeply to Xu Mingwei. "Uncle Xu, thank you."

"Study hard and try to join our Public Security Bureau in the future."

Tang Qingqing, who rarely visited the county town, did not plan to return the next day. Instead, she decided to stay and explore for a couple of days.

Xu Weiming said she could stay as long as she wanted, and if she needed help anywhere, he would be glad to assist.

Tang Qingqing was arranged to stay in the single dormitory of the local police station, sleeping in Qin Sa's bed while Qin Sa slept in the duty room.

Since Tang Qingqing was too young, letting her stay at the guesthouse alone made everyone uneasy.

Tang Qingqing felt embarrassed. "Sis, I can sleep on the floor; there's plenty of space here."

Qin Sa waved her off. "No need. I usually sleep in the duty room anyway. After the autumn harvest, things get busy, and I can't rest easy in the dorm. Besides, my family lives nearby, so finding a place to stay is easy."

Qin Sa's dorm was a small two-story building with a corridor in front and rooms behind. She lived on the second floor.

The room was tiny, barely fitting a bed and a small table.

However, Qin Sa kept it tidy and clean. The sheets and pillowcases were freshly washed, giving off a faint fragrance.

"This is my room. Here's the key. Keep it safe. The bathroom is downstairs, and there's a basin and bucket under the bed. If you want to take a shower, the bathhouse opens from 3:30 PM to 7 PM. The tickets are under the glass on the table; feel free to use them."

After explaining, Qin Sa asked worriedly:

"Aren't you scared sleeping alone?"

Tang Qingqing smiled and shook her head. "Not at all. I've even slept on a grave before."

Back then, she was wrongly accused of stealing eggs. No matter how much she tried to explain, no one believed her. Zhao Dahua beat her up, and in pain, she ran away.

At that time, she hadn't met her master yet, so she had nowhere to go. Eventually, she ended up lying on a grave.

Tang Qingqing no longer cared about that family, mentioning this to prove her bravery.

But to Qin Sa, it sounded different. Looking at the thin girl in front of her, she thought that if she were part of their family, they would treat her like a princess.

Unfortunately, she was born into a difficult family, destined for hardship.

However, she was determined and had developed remarkable skills, which would broaden her future path.

Qin Sa nodded but still reminded her:

"If you're scared, keep the light on. Don't worry about the electricity. If anything happens, knock on Aunt Chen's door next door. I've already told her."

The single dormitory housed not only singles like Qin Sa but also young couples waiting for housing.

Qin Sa had everything organized meticulously, considering every detail.

She even bought toothpaste and a toothbrush for Tang Qingqing and gave her a new towel.

Tang Qingqing didn't know how to express her gratitude. These items were things she had never owned.

To her shame, she had never properly brushed her teeth before.

She had always followed the village elders' method of biting on willow branches to clean her teeth. Toothpaste and brushes cost money, which her family wouldn't buy for her.

"Sis, you're too kind to me." Tang Qingqing's eyes welled up with tears.

Qin Sa rubbed her head. "These were all issued by the bureau. Our Public Security Bureau may not excel in other areas, but our logistics support has always been excellent. You'll have them too in the future."

Although there was no official document, Tang Qingqing was considered an unofficial member of their team.

It was unlikely that she would receive a direct salary, as it didn't follow the rules and involved many procedures that were hard to approve.

Especially since Tang Qingqing was still so young, but various benefits could still be secured for her.

"Sis, I'm already very familiar with this place now. You can go ahead and do your work; you don't need to worry about me."

Although Qin Sa was on leave, she clearly still had work on her mind.

"I came here with people from our village, and we agreed to play together."

Upon hearing this, Qin Sa did not refuse further.

"Alright, I'll go then. Be careful, remember the way. If you forget, ask someone at the store for directions, but don't just grab anyone. There are quite a few cases of women and children being trafficked these days. Although our commune is relatively safe, we shouldn't let our guard down."

Tang Qingqing agreed repeatedly, and Qin Sa rushed off to work.

Tang Qingqing stood in the room, looked around, and chose not to sit on the clean bed but instead sat on a chair.

She looked around and saw some books on the table, but she didn't dare touch them.

She took out her notebook and fountain pen from her bag and placed them on the table.

Then she sat up straight, pretended to write with the pen, and couldn't help but laugh.

Although the fountain pen was somewhat old, it wrote smoothly, much better than the pencil she used, which was barely as long as her pinky.

Xu Weiming also gave her two bottles of ink, one blue and one black.

Tang Qingqing was reluctant to use the pen and only wrote a small character before carefully putting it away.

She didn't plan to take these items back home; she intended to keep them with her master, otherwise, who knew when they might get stolen.

Even if they weren't stolen, just listening to the nagging would make her lose interest.

With that time, she'd rather observe everyone's walking postures and summarize the patterns.

They were not good people and wouldn't understand reason.

Tang Qingqing deliberated for a while, preparing to write a character, when footsteps approached from outside.

The sound grew closer, and Tang Qingqing recognized it as Qin Sa's.

She turned around, and Qin Sa opened the door.

"Sis, what's wrong?"

Qin Sa rushed in, squatted down, and reached under the bed, saying:

"I almost forgot about this."

Qin Sa pulled out a cardboard box from under the bed. She opened it, revealing a collection of picture books!

In rural areas, such things were rare. Someone had borrowed a few from the neighboring brigade, but it never got to Tang Qingqing.

Her impression of picture books mostly came from another memory.

"Wow, Sis, how did you get so many picture books?"

Qin Sa proudly said, "Apart from work, I don't have many hobbies. I love reading picture books. When I was young, my family couldn't afford them. Now that I work and earn money, I buy them.

I've collected complete sets of 'Water Margin,' 'Journey to the West,' 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' and more. You have no idea how hard it is to get these books."

The large cardboard box was full, enough to open a bookstore.

"You can read any of these books, just take care of them and put them back properly."

Tang Qingqing was so excited that she stuttered, "Sis, can I eat these, or can I read them?"

"Books are meant to be read, don't be shy."

Qin Sa glanced at her watch and exclaimed, "Oh my, look at the time—"

Without even saying goodbye, she rushed out the door.

Soon after, Tang Qingqing heard someone yelling:

"Qin Sa, you crazy girl, what are you doing jumping down from the second floor again! Next time, if you break your leg, see if you still dare to be so reckless!"

Tang Qingqing was shocked and ran out, but only saw Qin Sa's back.

Though she didn't see it happen, from the words spoken, Tang Qingqing could imagine how cool Qin Sa must have looked.

"Sis Qin is like a legendary female hero."

Tang Qingqing returned to the room. Initially, she planned to go to the cinema, but now with so many picture books, she didn't want to leave.

She carefully picked up a picture book with a monkey on the cover and started reading.

Although she didn't recognize most of the words, the illustrations helped her understand the story.

Tang Qingqing became engrossed and read through several books until her eyes felt sore, and she remembered to look up.

She glanced out the window and realized it was dinner time.

Tang Qingqing quickly tidied up the books and the area she had messed up, then took the key and went downstairs to eat.

She walked along, feeling that this sensation was truly extraordinary.

Growing up, this was the first time Tang Qingqing had spent a day so leisurely.

Nothing to think about, just doing whatever she wanted.

The meal was prepared; all she needed to do was go eat.

Tang Qingqing became even more determined to become part of the Public Security Bureau. Here, she could do what she loved and enjoy delicious meals.

As soon as she entered, Chef Li saw her and waved her over.

"I told you earlier that I would reward you with a chicken leg. Here, have the biggest one!"

Tang Qingqing's eyes widened. She thought Chef Li was just joking, but he was serious.

"You're too skinny. Director Xu said you're almost fourteen, but it doesn't show at all. Eat more."

Chef Li placed the chicken leg in her bowl and then personally served her food.

For dinner, they had white rice with chicken and potatoes, spicy sour cabbage, and stir-fried eggplant.

Chicken and potatoes were the only meat dish, and the portion of meat was limited, but Tang Qingqing's serving clearly had more meat than potatoes.

The Public Security officer behind Tang Qingqing in line remarked, "Brother Li, usually when you serve us, your hand shakes like an old man's, shaking off all the meat. Today, how come you're so steady?"

"Huh, you ungrateful brat. You've forgotten that when you miss the mealtime, I always save some good food for you. Fine, you say my hand shakes, I'll make sure it doesn't this time."

Chef Li scooped out only potatoes.

The officer quickly stepped forward to stop him. "Brother Li, I was wrong. Please give me a bit of meat. If I don't get any, I won't be able to handle the cases anymore."

Someone nearby chimed in, "Brother Li, see how important your food is? It's like fuel for a car. Without it, even the best car won't move."

Despite the teasing, the serving remained the same.

Chef Li eventually gave the officer some meat, though not as much special treatment as Tang Qingqing received, but still a decent amount.

Tang Qingqing recalled that, excluding the meat she ate at her master's place, she had eaten this much meat at home only once a year.

This canteen was amazing! She didn't want to leave.

No wonder everyone wanted to live in the city and eat public meals; the food here was indeed delicious!

There were many people around, so Tang Qingqing sat near others.

Unable to resist, she asked someone next to her, "Do all Public Security Bureaus have such good food?"

The person laughed. "Not really, only ours is well-managed. Director Xu said that a Public Security officer without enough food is like a gun without bullets, useless. So he emphasizes this aspect."

Another person explained, "In our line of work, it's hard to sit down and eat properly. If we cook ourselves, the meal might not be ready before we're called away. So unless someone is always at home waiting, everyone prefers the canteen."

Tang Qingqing's impression of their commune's Public Security Bureau improved significantly. She must study hard, practice tracking, and learn to read and write.

Only then would she have more chances to join the Public Security Bureau and become part of it.

After finishing her meal, Tang Qingqing took her bath ticket and went to the bathhouse.

At home, bathing was a big problem.

In summer, she could bathe with the village women by the river, following an unwritten rule.

Women had designated times and places to bathe, which men couldn't enter. Anyone who trespassed would be treated as a pervert.

When it got cold, bathing became troublesome. They had to fetch water from afar and heat it with firewood.

Her family wouldn't allow them to do this, so they could only wipe themselves, never getting fully clean.

But the bathhouse was different. It was warm inside, with plenty of hot water, allowing her to wash thoroughly without worry.

Bathing naked with others didn't bother Tang Qingqing, since everyone was female.

And during summer, many women in her village bathed naked in the river, so it wasn't strange.

They used scrubbing cloths to clean themselves thoroughly.

Qin Sa had also prepared a scrubbing cloth for Tang Qingqing. This was her first time using one, and when she did, a lot of dirt came off!

Tang Qingqing was shocked at how dirty she was!

A woman nearby couldn't stand it and offered to help scrub her back.

Tang Qingqing winced but felt embarrassed to refuse the kind gesture.

However, the woman's scrubbing skills were excellent. Though it hurt initially, she soon adapted and felt relieved seeing all the dirt washed away.

This was the longest bath Tang Qingqing had ever taken. When she left the bathhouse, she felt dizzy.

Even her full stomach now felt empty.

When Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi saw Tang Qingqing, they were startled.

Her face was pale but slightly flushed, and she walked unsteadily.

Wang Heizi rushed forward angrily. "Were you mistreated? I knew it wasn't that simple. If they were sincere, they should have brought the reward to your brigade. Calling you here from so far away can't be good!"

Zhai Hongyi's expression was grim, but he was calmer than Wang Heizi.

"What happened?"

Tang Qingqing waved her hand. "It's nothing, I'm just a bit hungry."

"Didn't they say they would provide food and lodging? How come on the first night they're not giving us any food?" Wang Heizi became even angrier.

Zhai Hongyi handed her a fruit candy. "The milk candies are gone, so you'll have to make do with this one."

Tang Qingqing didn't refuse and put the fruit candy in her mouth.

Who could have thought that after eating and drinking her fill, she would end up exhausted from taking a bath.

It was probably because her body was too weak; otherwise, it wouldn't be like this.

Seeing Wang Heizi's face full of indignation, glaring continuously, Tang Qingqing worried about a misunderstanding and quickly explained once she had recovered.

Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi were both at a loss for words; they had never heard of someone fainting from taking a bath.

Wang Heizi: "It's a good thing we came today; otherwise, how would you have survived tonight? Your health is really too poor."

Tang Qingqing felt embarrassed. There was a reason she was pampered in the book; her health was indeed not good and required careful care.

Her life had been exchanged, and she had to live under Zhao Dahua and Tang Jianjun. Forget being pampered; even getting enough to eat was difficult.

Without her master, her health would likely be even worse.

"You don't need to worry. Zhai Hongyi and I figured out the situation today. We'll take you to find some food later. Can you still walk?"

Tang Qingqing nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I can."

Zhai Hongyi suddenly squatted down in front of her, leaving Tang Qingqing stunned.

"What are you waiting for? Get on my back already. Don't waste time."