Chapter 58 Exceptional Promotion

In this lifetime, Yu Dazhang finally understood what social death truly meant.

Why didn't he black out?

He actually remembered everything clearly!

He had gotten drunk without realizing it, and the draft beer at that place was weird.

He wanted to shift the blame onto the draft beer, but upon recalling that Qu Tuotuo hadn't drunk any less than he did, Yu Dazhang gave up struggling.

He had underestimated the enemy, dammit.

He had predicted stock market trends, given a name to a complimentary banner, and even blurted out something about robbers wearing a condom...

He wanted to slap himself again... The more Yu Dazhang thought about it, the redder his face became.

In the end, Qu Tuotuo had been the one to pay the bill.

After getting completely plastered and pontificating like a master of the universe, he had essentially freeloaded a meal from her.

This was fatal!

Yu Dazhang thrashed around on his bed, lacking even the courage to get up.

This matter must never leak out!

.

Arriving at the precinct.

Lv Zhongxin pulled him aside and whispered,

"Zhou Zizhe has provided a testimony regarding the detailed process of when he was abducted back then."

"How old was he at the time?" Yu Dazhang asked.

"Five years old," Lv Zhongxin answered with certainty, showing that he had clearly read the testimony.

"Remembering anything at five is impressive enough. Not only did he remember, but he gave a detailed account?" Yu Dazhang expressed his doubts.

He had once studied this field.

Children generally start forming memories after the age of three.

While a five-year-old can form long-term memories, remembering things so clearly after more than a decade was a bit ridiculous.

Try recalling what happened to you at age five and see if you can.

"He said that throughout his entire life, that particular memory was the most unforgettable," Lv Zhongxin looked at Yu Dazhang and said,

"He also guaranteed there was no mistake."

That was a reason, at least... Yu Dazhang recalled the first time his old man beat him, which was when he was six, and he had remembered it ever since.

He could always recall the process of that beating, remembering it quite vividly indeed.

He had even fantasized about pulling the oxygen tube when his father was hospitalized.

"Then this shouldn't be considered a mere testimony; it should be treated as a criminal report," Yu Dazhang corrected.

Since they believed Zhou Zizhe wasn't lying, this meant he was providing evidence and clues to the police in the capacity of a victim.

Yu Dazhang recalled the last time he saw Zhou Zizhe at the detention center.

Although the other man looked haggard and disheveled, his eyes were flashing with light—a look of hatred that made him want to tear the person who abducted him into a thousand pieces.

It was unsettling.

"You mean..." Lv Zhongxin asked with a frown,

"Take on this case?"

"Just report it up the normal channels." Yu Dazhang realized his mentor hadn't quite shifted gears yet; the special task force had already been disbanded, and his current status was simply that of an apprentice.

The clues provided by Zhou Zizhe were actually for a separate case, unrelated to the scapegoat case directly.

In such a situation, it should be reported directly to the leadership without hesitation.

As for how the leadership would arrange it, they just needed to follow orders.

"By the way," Lv Zhongxin added,

"Zhou Zizhe also proposed collecting evidence from his adoptive father, Zhou Hongfu."

"Then let's go. He's reporting a crime and providing leads; we just need to follow standard procedures. There's nothing rule-breaking about that." Yu Dazhang noticed his mentor was being a bit overly cautious lately.

This was probably related to his impending promotion to team captain.

With the scapegoat case solved, Lv Zhongxin was actually the biggest beneficiary.

This was of major significance to his upcoming promotion.

Securing the captain position was already a done deal for him.

Yet the closer it got to this moment, the more crucial it was to avoid mistakes, especially since more than just him were eyeing the captain's seat.

.

Yu Dazhang had been enjoying a few days of comfortable peace.

His daily routine at work mainly involved receiving reports and recording case details.

Then he would conduct preliminary investigations before handing the cases over to the formal officers for review to determine whether to officially open an investigation.

He was only responsible for the initial stages of a case.

Just a probationary officer, after all.

Much like an apprentice in a kitchen, washing the ingredients and leaving them ready for the master chef to do the cooking.

Of course, Lv Zhongxin would still bring him along on missions.

With such a prized pupil, any mentor would naturally show extra care.

Six days after the conclusion of the scapegoat case, Yu Dazhang's notice of regular employment was delivered to the criminal investigation squad.

Not only did he become a full-fledged officer, but he was also promoted a rank directly.

Skipping the second-class officer rank entirely, he became a first-class officer.

Such instances were rare, at least a first in the Hongkou Branch.

Outstanding performance and exceptional contributions naturally warranted a breakthrough promotion.

Lv Zhongxin even privately revealed to his apprentice that the branch leadership had applied upward to secure a collective third-class merit for the special task force.

Yu Dazhang knew his mentor; without certainty, he wouldn't mention things, especially when it concerned honors.

In other words, this collective third-class merit was basically secured.

The news spread quickly.

A newcomer who had just arrived at the criminal investigation squad not long ago had already been confirmed as a full officer and received a breakthrough promotion.

This inevitably provoked jealousy among some, especially the newcomers who had arrived in the same batch as Yu Dazhang.

One time, Yu Dazhang ran into Zhao Hang from the Third Squad in the hallway.

The two squads' offices were adjacent, so running into each other was normal, but he noticed Zhao Hang's gaze towards him was off.

There was contempt, resentment, and a mix of something indefinable.

In short, it made Yu Dazhang very uncomfortable.

He hadn't liked him to begin with, so there was no way he was going to coddle him.

"Little Zhao, come here."

Little Zhao? Zhao Hang found this form of address grating to the ears.

Yet, constrained by the heavy pressure and intimidation of this fatty, he didn't dare say anything and walked over slowly.

"Got a problem with this?" Yu Dazhang glared at him and asked.

This was simply picking a fight.

"No, not at all," Zhao Hang denied,

"We arrived here together. I'm just thrilled that you managed to become a full officer so quickly; how could I have any other thoughts?"

"Stop playing dumb!" Yu Dazhang delivered a knife-hand strike to the base of his neck.

The blow staggered Zhao Hang, nearly sending him tumbling to the ground.

Before Zhao Hang could react, Yu Dazhang grabbed him and locked him in a headlock under his arm.

"Do you know what I find most annoying about you?"

"What?! Let go of me first!" Zhao Hang struggled for breath, using both hands to pry at Yu Dazhang's arm, only to find the grip tightening further.

"You little punk love stabbing people in the back. I suffered plenty of losses because of you in my past life."

The more Yu Dazhang spoke, the angrier he got, finally shaking Zhao Hang's head back and forth in a deadly rattle:

"Go to hell!"

There was no need to use brains when dealing with this kind of person.

Just go full brute force!

In his past life, because he feared negative consequences, even knowing that Zhao Hang was gossiping and reporting behind his back, Yu Dazhang had never confronted him.

This led Zhao Hang to become increasingly brazen, eventually daring to openly badmouth him right to his face.

In this lifetime, Yu Dazhang had let go of those concerns—screw the consequences, he was going to beat him up first.

He couldn't be bothered playing shady games; he wanted to take him down right out in the open.

Come on, let's hurt each other!

"What past life?! You've got the wrong person..." Zhao Hang had already given up struggling, reduced to shouting grievances at the top of his lungs.

Yet after just one cry, he suddenly went quiet.

As Yu Dazhang was shaking him with relish, he suddenly noticed Zhao Hang's limbs go limp.

Startled, he quickly released his grip and laid Zhao Hang flat on the floor.

Dead?