Although Du Yuanbing, the head of the Xicheng Police Station, had skeletons in his closet, he understood he should never show his guilt prematurely. He coughed a few times as if to embolden himself, then pressed the button to answer the call from Wang Ye, the director of the Chengyang County Public Security Bureau.
"Director Wang, good evening!" As soon as the call connected, Du Yuanbing greeted him with enthusiastic politeness.
"Yuanbing! I hear your Xicheng Police Station has been busy with cases lately. It must be hard work." Wang Ye had received instructions over the phone from his direct superior, Zhu Qianye, to play it cool and avoid startling the snake. But Du Yuanbing was his subordinate, after all, and overacting might be easily detected. So, Wang Ye steered the conversation toward that topic from the start.
