Capítulo 144: Voltando para casa

“Wang Liang?” Wang Huadong, utterly bewildered, couldn't fathom it. How could Wang Liang, the guy who “does nothing but play video games all day,” possibly earn a Third-Class Merit?

“You guys are here too? Bai Song, that’s not fair, you should’ve called me to come together. I had to take a taxi.”

“How was I supposed to know you were involved? Besides, you actually earned a Third-Class Merit?” Bai Song pondered for a moment. “Oh, right, for catching that fugitive.”

“Heh, mostly it’s because my work performance has been solid lately. I’m in charge of image investigation, and I solved those two or three burglary cases from before...” Wang Liang boasted shamelessly. “But, catching that fugitive was definitely a highlight, too.”

*Shameless...* Wang Huadong thought to himself, though he put on an indifferent face and said, “You’ve done quite well...”

“Other comrades will be here shortly to receive their awards, but since you two are new officers, there are some things I must impress upon you. Pay close attention.” Brother Li gestured for the three of them to sit down and began to explain.

Bai Song, clutching two certificates and two medals, sat obediently on the sofa in the Political Division office, with Wang Liang and Wang Huadong seated beside him.

“Receiving these honors is a sign of care from your superiors. Each one is a recognition by the organization of the achievements you have attained. You must never wear these medals casually or do anything that would tarnish the image and discipline of the police force. Do you understand?” Brother Li’s expression was stern.

“Understood.” Bai Song and Wang Huadong nodded solemnly.

“Good. Now, here are the bonuses.” Seeing this, Brother Li produced two envelopes. “According to the ‘Rewards Ordinance for People’s Police of Public Security Organs,’ a Third-Class Merit carries a reward of 2,000 yuan, and a Second-Class Merit, 5,000 yuan. Count them.”

Bai Song took the thick envelope with both hands, beaming. “Is it really necessary to count?”

“It is. What if I gave you too much?” Brother Li remained serious. “Unless you are receiving them on a podium, you must count them on the spot during this kind of handover.”

“Right.” Bai Song and Wang Liang took out the money and counted it carefully. Wang Huadong watched with envy—not exactly for the money itself, but for the sheer joy of holding such a reward.

Afterward, under Bai Song’s persistent pestering, Brother Li continued to explain what these merits and medals represented.

Setting aside collective merits, individual honors, from lowest to highest, are: Commendation, Third-Class Merit, Second-Class Merit, First-Class Merit, Second-Class Hero Model, and First-Class Hero Model of the Public Security System.

The Ministry of Public Security can award Second-Class and First-Class Hero Models. Provincial-level organs (like Tianhua City) can award individual First-Class and Second-Class Merits, while prefecture-level public security organs (like the Jiuhe District) award individual Third-Class Merits. According to regulations, a unit of 1,000 people like the Jiuhe District Public Security Bureau can award up to 30 Third-Class Merits and 200 Commendations per year. Second-Class Merits are counted in the statistics of the entire provincial-level organ.

All medals are crafted by the Ministry of Public Security and may be worn on the left chest during meetings or official events.

Children of First-Class and Second-Class Hero Models may be admitted to police academies if they meet the requirements, and those who have received a First-Class Merit or higher may be promoted in rank ahead of schedule according to regulations.

Therefore, while Bai Song’s Second-Class Merit does allow for priority promotion within a certain scope, it does not mean he can be immediately confirmed in a permanent position. Moreover, there is generally no special award ceremony.

From this perspective, police honors differ from military ones. However, there is no need to compare; every act of merit is a contribution to the country. All military and police personnel should strive for them, but none should use them as a tool for boasting, nor is there any need to compare whose merit is more significant.

Bai Song knew he still had a long road ahead, but as he left the Political Division with his two medals, his grin was practically ear-to-ear. Wang Huadong felt like punching him. *What kind of karma did I accrue to decide to accompany Bai Song here today?*

This was a collective compensatory leave. Bai Song submitted his leave request directly to the team, which was approved centrally, and he booked a flight for early the next morning.

Flights from Yanwei to Shangjing or Tianhua on the day of the Lantern Festival are usually expensive, but the return flights are quite cheap; after all, few people are still traveling home by the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Since tomorrow was the Lantern Festival, the three single guys invited Sun Jie to dinner, but Sun Jie had to accompany his partner—none other than Yan Xiaoyu, the graduate senior whom everyone had met before, the one who had worked as a “beer girl” alongside Wang Ruoyi.

None of the three expected that after Wang Ruoyi was arrested for intentional homicide, Yan Xiaoyu would end up with Sun Jie! What kind of relationship or logic was this? Perhaps women who can be with forensic scientists are just built differently.

“You saved some money,” Wang Huadong grumbled resentfully. “I was planning to bleed you dry!”

“It’s fine. Since he’s not coming, we’ll eat well. How about a seafood buffet?” Bai Song waved the thick stack of cash.

...

No matter how good a buffet is, it usually only lasts two hours. After the meal, Bai Song headed back early to rest; he had to wake up at four in the morning to catch his flight, which departed at six.

There weren't many people on the flight for the Lantern Festival. Bai Song watched the sky outside, which had yet to brighten, his thoughts already having arrived home ahead of the plane.

Despite how busy work was, Bai Song missed home dearly. This was the first time in his life he hadn't spent the New Year at home. His parents were understanding, but Bai Song knew how much they missed him. Especially his mother; for so many years, his father had always worked overtime during the New Year. Just when his father had finally moved to the household registration department in recent years and could come home for the holidays, it was now Bai Song’s turn to be unable to return.

The flight today was exceptionally quiet.

“The plane has entered cruising altitude; we are now serving breakfast...” The flight time was less than an hour, yet they still served a simple breakfast, though it consisted only of bread and the like. Bai Song had barely eaten half when he heard an announcement.

“Dear passengers, we have a passenger in the rear cabin who requires assistance. If there are any doctors on board, please come to the rear cabin to help.”

Hearing this, Bai Song stood up. Even if he couldn't help much, he could at least lend a hand, right?

To his surprise, although there were only forty or fifty people on the plane, five or six stood up. Judging by their demeanor and the thickness of some of their glasses, they were clearly doctors. One had to admit, the medical profession was exhausting; only on the Lantern Festival did they finally get a chance to go home.

Bai Song felt a bit ashamed, worried he might just be in the way, but he walked to the rear cabin nonetheless.

“What’s the situation?” an older doctor asked.

“Wooo-ooo-ooo...” The patient pointed at their mouth, tears welling up in their eyes.

“Oh, a dislocated jaw. Simple.” The older doctor pointed to a young man nearby. “Zhong Ming, you handle it.”