102: Chapter 102 Special Project Breakthrough

Director He Guodong stood before the conference table, his hands pressed against the surface, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

From the instructor and Deputy Director Gan to the ordinary police officers and auxiliary police, down to the Joint Defense Team Members in plain clothes, everyone's face was coated in an impenetrable layer of exhaustion and helplessness.

"Comrades."

Director He Guodong's voice was low but carried a certain penetrating power.

"Secretary Li from the Township Government spoke with me this morning."

At this point, Director He Guodong paused, his gaze slowly circling the conference room: "Secretary Li expressed severe criticism regarding the work of our Police Station."

The conference room fell instantly silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop; even breathing sounded soft, as if afraid of startling something.

Several auxiliary police and Joint Defense Team Members subconsciously straightened their backs, their fingers nervously twisting on their knees.

Deputy Director Gan rubbed the unshaven stubble on his chin, his brows knitted into a knot.

"I know everyone has been suffering through this," Director He Guodong said, his tone softening.

"These past few days, for the sake of this livestock theft case, you've been staking out and investigating day and night, running until your legs have grown thin. It truly hasn't been easy."

Director He Guodong's gaze landed on the young Joint Defense Team Member in the corner with dark circles under his eyes: "Little Xu, I heard you've been staking out on the mountain for three consecutive days?"

Little Xu, having been called by name, was stunned for a moment before nodding hurriedly: "Reporting to Director He, ye... yes, that is correct."

Director He Guodong sighed: "But comrades, the suffering we've endured is far from enough when compared to the losses of the villagers!"

He suddenly raised his voice: "Secretary Li said, this is not just a trivial matter of losing a few head of livestock! This is smashing the economic rice bowl of Guantian Township, and disrupting the peaceful life of Guantian Township!"

A ripple of murmurs arose within the conference room.

The instructor couldn't help but speak up: "Director He, Deputy Director Gan has been keeping an eye on this case for days, and we haven't even found a single shred of a clue. It's truly difficult."

"Isn't that the truth, Director He."

Deputy Director Gan took over, his voice raspy from lack of sleep: "We staked out for several nights a while back, guarding Shixi Village, but they went and struck at Qingshan Village instead."

"Unless we spread people out to stake out all eleven villages, but with the few hands we have, it's just not enough."

A few low murmurs drifted from the corner: "They keep shouting about solving the case every day, but how can we solve a case when we don't have two pennies in our pockets..."

"Exactly, staking out in the wild in the middle of the night, we can't even get a bowl of hot soup..."

"Anyway, I can't take this anymore. If nothing else, I'll just transfer somewhere else..."

Director He Guodong's face grew tighter and tighter. He slammed his hand on the table with a loud "bang," causing the sparrows on the windowsill to flutter away in fright.

"Enough!"

Director He Guodong's voice rolled through the room like a thunderclap.

"Have you all forgotten what kind of uniform you're wearing?"

"Protecting the property of the common people is our duty!"

His gaze, sharp as a knife, scraped over the few police officers who were complaining: "Whoever feels that wearing this police uniform is a raw deal, take it off right now and leave!"

The conference room went completely silent, so quiet that one could hear the ticking of the old wall clock in the corner.

Those few murmuring officers buried their heads, their necks almost shrinking into their collars, not daring to look at him.

Director He Guodong took a deep breath to suppress his anger: "I know it's hard for everyone, but..."

His voice suddenly brightened: "Secretary Li has already solved our biggest difficulty."

Everyone suddenly looked up, their eyes filled with confusion.

"Secretary Li has specially approved 50,000 yuan in funding for our Police Station," Director He Guodong said, enunciating every word.

"What? 50,000 yuan?!"

The conference room exploded in an instant.

The police officers widened their eyes, and the auxiliary police and Joint Defense Team Members were so excited they nearly jumped out of their chairs. For the Guantian Township Police Station, which had spent years pinching crumpled banknotes just to get by, this was a massive fortune, enough to weigh down a chest.

"Old Dong," Director He Guodong looked at the accountant nearby, "take the note Secretary Li approved in a moment and go to the Township Finance Office to collect the money."

"You got it, Director He!" Old Dong, who was over fifty, had a trembling voice from excitement. He had managed the accounts at the Police Station for over a decade and had never seen such a substantial amount of funding.

Director He Guodong scanned the crowd and continued: "Secretary Li said this money must be spent where it's needed most."

"I've calculated that we should first pay out the subsidies the station owes everyone."

A burst of cheers erupted in the conference room. A few officers slapped the tables vigorously, finally showing a hint of a smile—the kind that had been suppressed for a long time.

"Don't just be happy," Director He Guodong said, pressing his hand down.

"Relying on the few people we have now, there's no way we can keep watch and prevent new cases from occurring, so we need to recruit a new batch of Joint Defense Team Members."

"Instructor, you lead this initiative."

"No problem, Director He!" The instructor replied immediately, then asked: "About how many should we recruit?"

Director He Guodong calculated quickly in his mind: one Joint Defense Team Member receives a monthly subsidy of twenty yuan. With 50,000 yuan, after paying back the owed wages and covering daily expenses, recruiting twenty should be enough.

"Recruit twenty first," Director He Guodong said. "Get them together within these few days."

"Don't worry! I guarantee we'll have them all recruited within three days!" The instructor patted his chest, giving his word.

Director He Guodong nodded, then announced the most important arrangement: "Next, we are establishing a special case team. I will be the team leader, and the instructor and Deputy Director Gan will be the deputy team leaders. As for the specific investigation, I want Qi Tongwei to be in charge. Does anyone have any objections?"