Chapter Four: The Five-Star Red Flag, You Are My Pride!

The woman panicked completely. In a desperate move, she flung the infant in her arms toward the man, abandoned her bag, and bolted.

"Swish!"

The man swept his hand through the air, catching the bundle steadily. Then, raising his thick, powerful leg, he slammed his foot into the woman!

With a loud "Boom!", the woman flew three or four meters away. She crashed into several heavy chairs, her mind reeling. By the time she let out a shriek, her head was covered in blood, and she lacked the strength even to scramble up.

***

Inside the office.

Director Zhan wiped fine beads of sweat from his forehead. "…#%^&&$%^#^!"

Officer Shan, seemingly oblivious to his superior’s unease, continued to persuade him: "Old Zhan, listen to me. Zhu'er's background is truly pitiful. The kid gets into trouble, sure, but his heart is in the right place. Listen, if he’s done anything out of line, please, for my sake, just be a bit lenient."

Director Zhan gritted his teeth and forced a laugh: "Officer Shan, you're really overthinking this! How could that be? I think the young man is quite good, actually. I had some thoughts about him, which is why I wanted to chat with you."

Officer Shan paused, clearly taken aback, then immediately curled his lips into a smile: "Well, look at that. I suppose I really was overthinking it."

Director Zhan smiled and took a sip of tea, cursing silently to himself.

To suddenly hear such a thing, and from Old Shan of all people—it was impossible not to be rattled! But he had only wanted to know about Liu Haizhu’s personality and character—whether he could keep his mouth shut!

Why in the hell would you make up such a terrifying story for me?

Still, the kid was truly bizarre. Especially that line on the train: "You are not his mother; I am his mother!"

Honestly, could a three-month-old baby really say that? What kind of international joke was this? If you did the math, it almost felt like his mother had possessed the child after she died.

Damn it!

Director Zhan took a sharp breath, his back turning cold as he snapped back to reality. He was a state official who had lived through the era of destroying the Four Olds.

Breathe. Breathe. Deep breaths.

After a long while, Director Zhan finally asked with a smile, "And then?"

"And then?"

Officer Shan smoked, his hands trembling slightly, his expression becoming melancholic.

***

In front of the dilapidated train station, young police officer Wan Huajun took the bundle from the station staff.

As it happened, Wan Huajun and Liu Jianshu (Liu Haizhu’s father) had been childhood friends and classmates; they were as close as brothers. But fate was cruel.

A month ago, the child’s mother had passed away.

During those days, she had locked herself in her room, lights off, washing her face with tears day and night. The child had been lost under her watch. She waited at home for two full months, and finally, unable to bear it any longer, she hanged herself from the rafters.

That very night, Liu Jianshu went insane.

He sat on the floor all night, clutching his wife’s corpse, laughing and crying. As soon as dawn broke, he pushed open the door and ran. No one had seen him since. A perfectly good home, ruined.

In the cold wind, Wan Huajun offered a bitter smile and reached out to stroke the baby in his arms.

"Giggle..."

The chubby, fair-skinned child seemed fond of him, giggling with an extraordinary glint in his eyes. Holding the child tight, Wan Huajun walked away into the wind and snow.

***

In the office, Director Zhan’s eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. He admitted the story was moving, but couldn't the man just tell it in one breath? First a ghost story to scare him, then a tragic parting at the station? What the hell was he trying to do? Was this what he wanted to know?

Director Zhan crushed his cigarette butt, forcing a smile. "So, what happened after that?"

Officer Shan looked a bit dazed, stuttering, "A-after that? Wan Huajun, the station chief—that’s the childhood friend of the kid’s crazy father—he sent the child to be raised by his uncle."

Director Zhan frowned, squinting. "That's it?"

Officer Shan nodded. "Yes, that's it."

Director Zhan frowned again. "And that...?" He gestured with his hand. "Does Comrade Liu know martial arts?"

Officer Shan took a crumpled pack of 'Big Rooster' cigarettes from his pocket and, suppressing his heartache, pulled one out to offer him. "I watched that kid grow up. I don't know if he practiced or not. But he grew up in the mountains."

Director Zhan’s eyebrows knit together, his tone deepening. "The mountains... which mountains? Be specific."

At the same time, he swore to himself that, aside from work or a death in the unit, he would never chat with Officer Shan again. This guy was utterly incapable of reading a leader’s mind!

Officer Shan pointed north. "Which mountains could it be? The Savage Gully, where his uncle lives."

Director Zhan paused, then a look of sudden realization dawned on him.

The two sat in silence for a moment. Director Zhan finished his cigarette, stubbed it out, and seemed to make a decision.

"How about this? Doesn't our bureau have three spots for Hong Kong next week? We have one allocated to our station. The kid has had a hard life; let's give it to him."

Officer Shan was moved. "Leader, you mean...?"

Director Zhan waved his hand with a smile. "Just remember to mention me to Zhu'er."

Officer Shan stood up abruptly, his voice hurried. "I thank you on behalf of Zhu'er. Old Zhan, you're a good man!"

***

Liu Haizhu had just arrived at the unit, busily mopping the floor. He was singing loudly, "Five-star red flag, you are my pride; five-star red flag, I am proud of you..."

Seeing the figure at the door, Liu Haizhu turned pale with fright! He trembled, "S-Shan-ge, why are you here?"

The kid put down the mop, his eyes wide, his heart pounding like a drum.

Officer Shan was one of the few people who genuinely cared about him. At that moment, Section Chief Xue also stood up, adjusted his glasses, and asked, "Old Shan, why are you here?"

Old Shan smiled and pointed at Liu Haizhu, who was putting the mop away. "For him."

"Damn!"

After that exclamation, Liu Haizhu’s vision blurred, and he nearly fainted on the spot.

***

At noon, the kid filled his belly in the cafeteria, looking radiant and full of energy.

He snuck up to the second floor, only to find Auntie Wu, the cleaner, standing at the bathroom door like a guardian deity, glaring at him.

Liu Haizhu looked away. "Auntie Wu..."

Auntie Wu slammed her mop onto the floor and demanded, "What do you want?"

The kid arched his brows. "Aren't... aren't you going to take a nap?"

Auntie Wu replied firmly, "Not tired!"

The kid hung his head and dejectedly headed to the third floor.

***

"Huh???"

Seeing no one at the third-floor bathroom door, the kid was suddenly excited. Ignoring the sign posted on the door that read "Comrade Liu Haizhu is strictly prohibited from entering!", he strode inside.

In an instant...

He was shoved back out by a toilet plunger.