The New Police in the Big City

Pengcheng Airport, 1993.

Gu Huai struggled to carry the large and small bags as he walked out of the airport.

A cold wind swept by, and Gu Huai tightened his clothes, looking at the crowds that were still bustling about during the New Year holiday, and the slogan on the wall that read "Time is money, efficiency is life".

Gu Huai couldn't help but exclaim, "Shenzhen truly lives up to its reputation as a special economic zone; its development speed is unmatched by Donghai."

In fact, this was not Gu Huai's first time visiting Pengcheng.

Speaking of which, he also visited Shenzhen in 1993, which is more than 30 years ago.

At that time, he was like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, finding everything fascinating.

Yes, Gu Huai is a reincarnated person.

Just two months ago, after a dinner party, he collapsed on the curb outside the residential area while drunk.

When he woke up again, he was back in 1993.

In his previous life, after graduating from university in 93, he came to Shenzhen with his parents.

As an outstanding graduate of the police academy, he did not choose to become a policeman. Instead, he followed the arrangements of his parents, who had gone into business, and came to Shenzhen to work in their family's clothing factory.

In his previous life, he spent thirty years navigating the ups and downs of the business world. Besides accumulating considerable wealth, the endless social engagements also brought him a host of illnesses.

Whenever he has a midnight dream or when his business suffers a setback, he thinks, what if his life would be completely different if he hadn't gone into business and had instead chosen to become a policeman?

He had already enjoyed wealth and luxury in his past life, and no matter how much money he earned in this life, that was all he could ever hope for. He wanted to do something different.

Everyone has a mosquito bite or a cinnabar mole etched in their heart, and for Gu Huai, the dream of becoming a policeman is just that.

As soon as he got off the plane, Gu Huai found a public phone at the airport and called home to let his family know he had arrived safely.

"Mom, I've arrived."

"It's good that you've arrived." My mother's concerned voice came from the other end of the phone. "You're such a handful. I told you to wait for me for two days, but you wouldn't listen. I heard it's been raining in Shenzhen these past few days, and I told you to stay a few more days, but you wouldn't stop. You insisted on rushing to report for duty..."

Immediately afterwards, my mother's nagging came from the other end of the phone.

"Brother, you big liar! You clearly promised to take me with you."

Gu Ya's shouts came from the other end of the phone, echoing his mother's nagging.

Gu Huai felt a headache coming on and quickly hung up the phone, citing the high cost of long-distance calls.

He did this not because he was impolite, but because if he didn't hang it up, his mother would definitely persuade him not to go to the police station.

This is why he left his hometown in Donghai and went to Shenzhen to report for duty before the New Year was even over.

After hanging up the phone, Gu Huai picked up his luggage and walked out of the airport.

Because the incident happened so suddenly, Gu Huai did not inform his workplace in advance, so no one came to pick him up.

However, as a long-time resident of Shenzhen who has lived there for thirty years, finding the municipal bureau on his own was not difficult for him.

Outside the airport, the surrounding area consists of mudflats, farmland, and construction sites, with low-rise factories and villages in the distance, which is in stark contrast to the high-rise buildings in Gu Huai's memory.

However, in stark contrast to these scenes, there was a constant flow of traffic outside the airport.

Besides taxis waiting for fares near the airport, there are also many cars picking people up, including some luxury cars like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.

The crowds coming and going all had the same calm and composure that characterized the period of rapid economic growth.

Even the girls' outfits, influenced by the Hong Kong style, were much sexier than those in the East China Sea.

"Hey handsome, need a ride?" A voice soliciting business interrupted Gu Huai's thoughts. "A legitimate taxi, no need to check at customs, metered."

"Um."

Seeing Gu Huai nod, the taxi driver quickly and warmly took the luggage from Gu Huai's hands.

Along the way, the taxi driver kept chatting with Gu Huai: "Handsome, what are you doing back so early?"

Time to get back to work.

"They're back to work before the New Year is even over. Those bosses really have no conscience."

"I work at a company."

"Those unit leaders are the same; they don't work during the Spring Festival themselves, but they make you young men work."

Seeing the taxi driver's indignant expression, Gu Huai just smiled.

If he were a young man in his twenties, he might have felt relieved to hear this, but now his mindset is no longer like that.

"Master, aren't you still working during the Chinese New Year too?"

"That's different," the taxi driver replied. "I drive to earn money for myself, and I work to earn money for my boss. Young man, you can slack off at work if you want, and the money you get from slacking off is all yours."

As they talked, the two walked to where the taxis were parked.

After putting their luggage in the trunk, the two got into the car.

After starting the car, the taxi driver floored the gas pedal and drove off. Once outside the airport area, the driver asked, "Hey kid, where are we going?"

"Luohu Municipal Bureau"

With a whoosh, the taxi slammed on its brakes and came to a stop in the middle of the road.

A horn blared from behind the car, accompanied by the faint strains of Cantonese opera.

"Master, don't stop in the middle of the road!" Gu Huai said anxiously, "This is too dangerous!"

Reminded by Gu Huai, the taxi driver finally realized what was happening, quickly fastened his seatbelt, and restarted the car.

Once everything returned to normal, the driver glanced at Gu Huai sideways.

"Pretty boy, the place where you work is the Public Security Bureau? Are you a police officer?"

"Mm." Gu Huai nodded slightly. "Don't worry, Master, I'm new here. I just started today."

"Newbie, huh?" The taxi driver breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me to death! I thought it was..."

The taxi driver didn't finish his sentence, but Gu Huai knew what he wanted to say.

And so, the two sat there awkwardly, neither of them saying another word.

Throughout the journey, Gu Huai kept looking at the scenery outside the window, trying to connect these views with the scenery in his memory.

Since Shenzhen became a special economic zone in 1980, the city has undergone tremendous changes.

Even though Gu Huai had lived in Shenzhen for more than 30 years, his memory of Shenzhen in 1993 was already quite vague.

Upon arriving at Nantou Pass, the taxi driver presented a pass issued by the taxi company, which the border guards glanced at briefly before allowing them to pass.

Once you cross the border, the environment inside the border is in stark contrast to that outside.

Looking at the towering China World Trade Center from the car, Gu Huai couldn't help but sigh, recalling the incredible feat of building one floor every three days.

What an era of extravagance and gluten!

When he arrived at the city bureau, Gu Huai finally snapped out of his reverie.

"How much......"

"No need, young man, no need..." the taxi driver hurriedly waved his hand.

"How can you take a bus without paying?" Gu Huai glanced at the price list and took out his wallet from his pocket.

After handing over the money, Gu Huai looked at the driver, who seemed hesitant to speak, and asked, "Sir, is there something you want to tell me?"

"Um..." The taxi driver hesitated, wanting to say something but not daring to.

"Master, don't worry, we were just chatting at the airport, it's nothing," Gu Huai reassured him.

"That's not it," the taxi driver said in a low voice. "I wanted you to help me find out something."

Seeing his master's solemn expression, Gu Huai released his hand from opening the door and asked seriously, "Master, what do you want to say?"

"Here's the thing, I have a nephew named Zhang Zhenhua, who drives a taxi like me. He didn't return to the company two days ago after his shift ended..."

"Did you call the police?" Gu Huai asked instinctively.

"I reported it," Mr. Zhang said nervously. "But everyone at the company says he fled to Hong Kong. The police station just put a missing person report and that's it. But I don't think so. Zhenhua's child was just born. He could have fled to Hong Kong on New Year's Eve..."

As Gu Huai listened to his story, his expression grew increasingly serious.

According to Mr. Zhang's account, a long-forgotten memory flashed through his mind.

In his previous life, during his first two years working at the factory, he had indeed heard of such a case.

"That's not right, the timing doesn't match up," Gu Huai muttered to himself. "I remember that case wasn't going to happen until next year."

Seeing Gu Huai muttering to himself, Master Zhang quickly said, "Young comrade, if it's difficult for you, then you don't need to trouble yourself..."

"No!" Gu Huai jumped up and slammed his head against the roof of the car.

Before he could even rub his head, he immediately grabbed Mr. Zhang's hand: "Come with me to the station, I need to get a good look at the situation!"