Anytime, anywhere, as long as a police car is not patrolling the streets or appearing at the police station, it becomes the center of people's discussion no matter which district, unit, or company it arrives at.
Chenguang Villa District is not open for sale to the public; it is home to the shareholders of Haizhou City's Qiangsheng Group.
Even the security guards are not hired from outside.
On duty today are the third son of Lu Chuan's second uncle's family and the son-in-law of his eldest uncle's family.
"Third Brother, you and Shun are on duty today, huh? Tough job, want a cigarette?"
"Chuan," Lu Yao, the gatekeeper, put down his saluting right hand; whatever you do, you should follow the rules, and as a security guard, you should look the part: "Why didn't you ride your bike back today?"
The fact that Lu Chuan has become a police officer is known to all the relatives in the community.
For the past half month, he has been commuting on a shared bike every day, so why did he take a Land Cruiser today?
Although this car doesn't seem like a big deal to the residents of the community, or even to Lu Yao at the gate, it's different in the police department.
Anyone who gets to ride a Land Cruiser must at least be a deputy director, right?
Lu Chuan raised his right arm, wrapped in gauze: "I got a little injured catching a thief and can't ride a bike, so the unit's leadership arranged a car to bring me back."
Ten minutes later.
The story of Lu Chuan getting injured catching a thief and being brought back in a Land Cruiser by the unit's leadership spread throughout the community.
"Son, what happened to your arm?"
Seeing her precious son's arm wrapped in bandages, Zhang Baozhen was shocked and heartbroken at first sight.
Lu Yuantang also came out of the kitchen, frowning at Lu Chuan.
"Mom, Dad, it's nothing. After work today, I was passing by the pedestrian street and happened to catch a thief. I got a little scraped in the process, but it's nothing, just a scratch."
To reassure his parents that his injury wasn't serious, Lu Chuan even stretched his arm a bit: "See, it's nothing."
"Don't move!"
Zhang Baozhen was almost in tears as she carefully held her son's arm, then glared fiercely at Lu Yuantang, who was wearing an apron: "It's all your fault. I told you not to let Chuan become a cop. See, it's so dangerous!"
Pausing his spatula, Lu Yuantang didn't dare respond. If he did, the conversation would revert to twenty years ago when they couldn't afford even a single egg right after childbirth.
"Are you okay?"
Lu Chuan shook his head: "I'm really fine, it's just a scrape."
Lu Chuan didn't mention it was a knife wound; otherwise, he probably wouldn't be able to remain a police officer.
Seeing his son really wasn't in much trouble, Lu Yuantang jiggled the ladle: "I just made pork jelly today, eat more of it, it'll help."
Lu Chuan: "..."
Knock, knock, knock!
Just as Lu Yuantang was about to turn back to continue cooking, there was a knock on the door.
Zhang Baozhen didn't even bother to turn around, all her attention was on Lu Chuan.
Lu Yuantang went to open the door and was slightly surprised: "Second Brother, sister-in-law, why are you here?"
"Lu Yao is on gate duty today, and we heard Chuan got injured catching a thief, so we came to check on him."
"It's nothing major, Lu Chuan said it's just a scratch."
"Oh, it's a big deal. I just saw a Land Cruiser bringing Chuan back. Isn't that a commendable achievement?"
In Haizhou City, there are plenty of people driving Land Cruisers; many people in the community own one.
But there aren't many public cars like the Land Cruiser, and those who use such expensive cars aren't ordinary people.
This is why the elderly and housewives in the district were so surprised to see a police Land Cruiser drive into the community.
"Among all our kids, only your Chuan has some success, went to college, and now even became a cop, unlike ours who can only watch the gate here."
Meanwhile, more people were arriving outside the villa.
"Big Brother, Fifth Brother, you're here too?"
By the time Lu Yuantang re-entered the house, there were already more than a dozen people following him.
They were all brothers and cousins of Lu Yuantang, both full-blooded and half-blooded.
Chenguang District has sixty-two villas, all inhabited by the Lu Family.
"Chuan, I heard you got hurt, how are you?"
"Did you get any commendation? I saw a Land Cruiser police car bringing you back."
"Will you get a medal this time? Like last time when you got a third-class personal merit?"
Lu Chuan, who became a policeman, is the only one of the third generation of the Lu Family who has a public job.
Most of the other siblings work at the Qiangsheng Group, the family business founded by the first generation of the Lu Family.
Lu Family members have shares in it, but they may not hold any significant positions.
For instance, the second uncle's son, Lu Yao, works as a gatekeeper in the community.
Similarly, Lu Chuan's father, Lu Yuantang, manages the cafeteria in the group, which isn't a core business.
"Second Uncle, it was just catching a thief, nothing worth a commendation."
Of course, the matter involves investors and the reputation of Haizhou City, which Lu Chuan didn't explain in detail.
First, it's unnecessary, and second, regulations don't allow it.
The fact that so many people are paying attention to Lu Chuan's matter is partly because of the Land Cruiser and partly because of his third-class personal merit last time.
Lu Chuan is the only one among the third generation of the Lu Family to have a plaque in the Lu Family Ancestral Hall.
The last plaque was for the second son of Third Grandfather's family joining the army, with an honorary family plaque.
Yes, it's the sixth honorary family plaque of Third Grandfather's family.
Before that, it was an ancestor being a Juren, which was something a hundred years ago.
For the Lu Family and Qiangsheng Group, money hasn't been an issue for years.
Reputation is what each family values more, and it's evident that Lu Yuantang has benefited from his son's success.
"Since everyone is here, don't leave, I've made pork jelly, let's all have some."
All the Lu Family members live in one community; without financial worries, their relationships are closer, and family gatherings are common.
Even before the group and villas, they often gathered at someone's house to eat.
As the lady of the house, Zhang Baozhen also got busy in the kitchen.
Other sisters-in-law and sisters joined her, as the kitchen is where they thrive.
Topics like whose son got married or whose daughter found what kind of husband are the most common.
Lu Yuantang also took off his apron and started chatting with some brothers and cousins.
Since Lu Chuan had one arm injured, serving tea and pouring water was left to the other third-generation cousins: "Chuan, do you have any policewomen in your unit, introduce one to Third Brother?"
Every time Lu Yao sees Lu Chuan, this is what he's most concerned about.
The third generation of the Lu Family has a trait: they like to marry into public service positions.
For example, Shun, who guards the gate, used to be in public service too, but he resigned a couple of years after getting married.
In his words, guarding the gate at Chenguang District has more prospects; at least now he's a deputy team leader in the security team.
If he stayed in his original unit, it would be pointless.
As for the female police officers in the Criminal Investigation Team, there are naturally a few.
But most of them work in the administrative departments, and Lu Chuan, as a crime scene investigator, honestly doesn't know many of them.
He doesn't even have their WeChat, let alone introduce them to his cousin.
"Third Brother, let's go have some pork jelly."