Five Cases

Director Zhang followed the description from Captain Wei, his friend of a different generation, to make his way to an old, rundown residential area. Peddlers hawked their wares along the street, and as Director Zhang sidestepped both the street stalls and the elderly ladies squatting down to pick out some goods, he arrived at the door of an apartment unit with some difficulty. The door creaked and shook, so Director Zhang did not dare to use much force in opening the door lest he knock half of it off its hinges. He slanted his body inside to inspect the building first⸺there was a cramped hallway and stairwell, a tiny window that let in thin rays of sunshine, and in front of two family units, beside their doormats, was two bags of garbage. Director Gao let out a helpless sigh, then ascended the stairs. 

Luckily, the stairwell was made of cement, and Director Zhang leaned over and swiftly climbed the stairs, taking two at a time. After he ascended six flights and reached the top, Director Zhang stopped, looked right and left, then approached the door on the left. But who would have known that as soon as he stood in front of it, the door opened, revealing a face with a stubbly beard and a head full of thick hair. His beard ran from his earlobe down to his chin, his eyes emitted a cold, wolfish light, and he wore a filthy T-shirt, filthy underpants, and filthy slippers. He hoarsely spoke: “Who’re you?”

“My name is Gao Zhengcheng. Are you Lu Hui?” Director Gao took out his police badge, “Can I come in?”

“No.” The person rejected Director Gao coldly, then went to shut the door. 

“Wait a second, young man.” Director Gao hurriedly wedged his foot in the door, “You are a famous police detective. We can go inside for our discussion.”

“Famous?” The man stared at Director Gao, but he did not look like he was going to close the door again, “Who told you to come.”

“Captain Wei introduced me. I’m just a director of the Bureau of Public Safety for this city, not on the provincial level where you worked before, but for better or worse, I can give you a job.” Director Gao spoke unhurriedly, “Linhua City really needs talent like yours.”

“Oh. Not going.” Lu Hui again went to shut the door. 

“Wait, wait, wait. Whatever salary you want, I’ll do my best to get it for you.” Director Gao supported himself on the doorframe, like he was about to say “make me an offer”.1

Lu Hui’s beard moved, the light in his eyes hazy and his tone seemed deliberately provoking as he said: “I want absolute control.”

“How about we go inside to discuss it?” Director Gao proposed. 

Lu Hui reluctantly opened the door to let him in. 

Director Gao entered the living room and saw a dusty old couch, piles of instant noodles boxes, crates of beer, and a few roach carcasses. He found a wooden stool that was just managing not to collapse and sat down. 

Lu Hui casually sat on the couch. His dense beard obscured his lips, so his expression could not be seen. Or, rather, he just did not make superfluous expressions: “My team is my team. No one can interfere.”

“Let’s give it a try first. How about this, I’ll arrange for a small team for you, so you can work together with the serious crimes division on cases.” Director Gao readily agreed, “But, you can’t act like a dictator.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui raised an eyebrow, “I have a sense of propriety.”

“…” Director Gao doubted him one hundred and twenty percent, “I will strive to get you a proper salary.”

“That’s my business.” Lu Hui appeared like he did not care at all about wages, “A car is enough.”

“I can get that much for you.” Director Gao nodded, asking, “Have you eaten?”

“I am eating.” Lu Hui picked up a box of instant noodles ⸺ one of many on the side table ⸺ and snorted like a pig as he ate, not paying any attention to the broth soaking his beard. 

“…” Director Gao had no choice but to stand back up, “How about you come with me to the Bureau so you can start filling out the entry forms?”

Lu Hui tilted his head back to slurp the broth, then put the box back onto the side table and said: “Fine, let’s go.”

“…It’s not fine.” Director Gao really could not stand by and watch anymore, and he gestured with a hand, “The forms require a photo. You need to shave first.”

Lu Hui was slightly dazed. He stroked his beard, walking to the narrow washroom, the backs of his slippers under foot. 

Director Gao stood in the living room listening to the sound of a razor and wiping his forehead, like he was in disbelief about unexpectedly procuring a prodigy. 

As for Lu Hui, he grasped the razor and got straight to the point, scraping off his long, unruly beard and only leaving behind a five o’clock shadow. He put the razor down, smoothing a hand along his stubble. His frown made him look a little standoffish. 

“It all has to go.” Director Gao stood in the washroom’s tiny doorway. 

Lu Hui hesitated for a moment, then picked the razor up and shaved off his stubble, revealing the bright, clean skin of a thirty-two-year-old unsociable, eccentric man underneath. His facial features had a particularly gloomy appeal, especially his eyes, which were swarthy, recondite, and somewhat cold. 

Lu Hui put on some more shaving cream and cleaned up his remaining five o’clock shadow. With his pallid skin and black eyes, he was the spitting image of a ghost. 

Director Gao asked: “You never go out?”

“Mm.” Lu Hui splashed some water on face, carding a hand through his disorderly hair, then turned around to ask Director Gao, “This is fine?”

“It’ll do.” Director Gao did his best to overlook the bird’s nest on his head, “A car is waiting outside the residence area. I’ll accompany you to the Bureau.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui had zero awareness of his status as a subordinate, almost as if he did not realize that Director Gao had become his superior. 

Director Gao had heard of this prodigy’s temperament, so he just shook his head, good naturedly taking one for the team and acting as his driver. 

The drive from Liuting district to Linhua district averages about forty minutes, so with the addition of Lu Hui living deep in an old, convoluted residential area, it took Director Gao over an hour to arrive at Linhua City’s Bureau of Public Safety. 

Director Gao led Lu Hui to the human resources department, and once his photo was taken and the official paperwork taken care of, Director Gao brought Lu Hui into his office. 

“There’s no need to wait a day before you start. You just arrived, so you’re probably not familiar with everything. Yang Jie is part of the senior staff. Let her show you around so you can get familiar.” Director Gao said. 

“And my team?” Lu Hui asked

“I’m having a meeting tonight, I’ll choose some people for you there. Do you have any requirements?”

“No hindrances.” Lu Hui said. 

“…” Director Gao rubbed his temples, “I’ll pick out some sensible people.”

“Mm.” Lu Hui nodded. 

“Your team will be assembled by tomorrow.” Director Gao said. 

“Director?” A keen, experienced police officer pushed open the door, “You were looking for me?”

“Mm. Xiao Lu, this is Yang Jie.” Director Gao introduced the female officer, “Yang Jie, this is Lu Hui, the miracle detective I mentioned last time.”

“Oh…You’re Lu Hui. Your reputation precedes you.” Yang Jie shook hands with Lu Hui, “Then, let me introduce you to the Bureau’s work.”

“Mm, thanks.” Facing the female officer, who was treating him with the attentiveness of an older sister, Lu Hui’s expression showed a bit of respect. 

“No need to be polite. You can just call me Sister Yang.” Yang Jie smiled softly. 

“Sister Yang.” Lu Hui addressed her properly.

“Okay, then let’s head out.” Yang Jie waved to Director Gao, “We’ll take our leave now.”

“Go, go.” Director Gao waved them off. 

Lu Hui followed Yang Jie out of the office. 

Director Gao picked up the telephone: “Hello, is this Xiao Wei? Mm, Xiao Lu agreed to come work for me.”

From the author: 

* Directors don’t recruit people directly, this is unrealistic

* Directors don’t set the salaries of civil servants, this is also a little unrealistic

1 Okay, so I think this comes from some relationship drama with Huo Zun and Chen Lu. It’s a whole big mess, but read up more on it if you want more context. It’s not super important here, kind of just a meme. 

Okay, but is it weird that I kind of see myself in Lu Hui…I don’t know what that says about me…