Chapter 74: Transfer Application Form

With New Year’s Day behind them, the Spring Festival was just around the corner.

After the final day of training, Director Li held the annual summary meeting. He began by reviewing the progress the base had made over the past year, then gave high praise to the duo of Song Changfeng and Aofeng. After all, the reason the base had such ample funding this year was thanks to the investments they had secured. The room erupted in thunderous applause, since everyone there had benefited from it.

After looking back on the past, it was time to look ahead. Director Li informed everyone that the base had performed exceptionally this year, and he had already received notice from higher-ups that they would be allowed to bring in one-third more puppies next year compared to this year. Expanding the scale and achieving even greater results had always been his dream, and to his surprise, it was all coming true at once.

After the meeting, Director Li took the lead in having Master Zhang buy a large amount of food. Everyone gathered in the cafeteria for a hearty meal, and the next day, they could pack up and head home to prepare for the holiday.

As per tradition, during the Spring Festival, local staff would take turns staying on duty to care for the police dogs’ daily needs. They would also take the dogs out for walks each day to ensure they got the minimum required exercise.

However, for the dogs’ physical and mental well-being, the base also encouraged trainers who lived nearby to take their dogs home for the holidays, as long as they submitted an application.

Holding his application form, Song Changfeng went with the others to Director Li’s office. Once Director Li signed and stamped the form, the process would be complete, and he could take Aofeng home.

Director Li moved quickly, signing and stamping each form as it came. But when it was Song Changfeng’s turn, he pushed the application aside and gestured for the next person to come forward. Song immediately realized that Director Li probably had something to say to him, so he sat quietly on the sofa to wait.

Once everyone else had finished and left, Director Li said, “Changfeng, come over here. Let’s have a chat.”

Song felt a bit uneasy and nervous. Although Director Li seemed warm and friendly, being asked to stay behind for a private talk with a superior was rarely a good sign.

“Yes, sir. Go ahead.”

Director Li smiled. “No need to be so tense. This is just a casual conversation. Do you know Lei Liming?”

“You mean Instructor Lei? Yes, I know him. He was my instructor during my time at the police academy.” Song was surprised. He hadn’t expected to hear that name from Director Li. It had been quite a while since their brief encounter during that pickpocket incident.

Director Li said, “He’s now the captain of the Criminal Investigation Division at the Municipal Public Security Bureau. When I was in the city for a meeting, Bureau Chief Shen specifically praised their team for their swift case-solving abilities.”

Song didn’t know how to respond, so he just nodded. He still wasn’t sure why Director Li was telling him all this.

Director Li sighed. “After the meeting, he came to me and asked if I was in charge of the Police Dog Training Base. When I said yes, he invited me into his office and talked to me for over two hours before letting me go.”

Uh… so this was a venting session? Song thought. Instructor Lei was indeed quite talkative, but chatting with a stranger for over two hours was a bit much.

“For the entire two hours, he talked about you. About how outstanding you were at the academy. You really know how to keep things to yourself. You’ve been working here for years and never once mentioned your impressive past.” Director Li shook his head. Changfeng was just too modest. If it had been someone else, they’d probably be bragging nonstop.

Song looked up, his expression complicated. He had failed to live up to Instructor Lei’s expectations.

“The past is the past. There’s no need to bring it up.”

“You can’t say that. Your past experiences are part of who you are. Even if you don’t talk about them, they still happened. After hearing what he said, I couldn’t help but wonder. With your abilities, why did you apply to come to the Police Dog Training Base?” Director Li fixed his gaze on Song, hoping to get an answer.

Song paused, then answered honestly, “I can’t serve on the front lines, so I wanted the police dogs I train to fulfill that dream in my place.”

“You can’t?” Director Li immediately caught the key word.

Song gave a bitter smile and told him about his family situation. When his mother’s wishes clashed with his own ideals, the only thing he could do was compromise.

Director Li was silent for a moment, then said, “I see. In that case, I can’t give you this form.” As he spoke, he pulled out a blank form from a nearby folder. At the top were bold characters: “Transfer Application Form.”

“The reason Lei Liming kept me in his office for over two hours that day was, at its core, to get me to persuade you to apply for a transfer. He said that someone like you is wasted here at the Police Dog Base. At first, I was pretty upset. Every profession deserves respect. What’s there to be wasted? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized he had a point. Over the past six months, you and Aofeng have helped solve a lot of cases.”

“Strictly speaking, that’s not our job. As police dog trainers, our only duty is to train the dogs so they can assist in solving cases. In a way, you’ve overstepped your role.”

Song frowned. Had he done something wrong?

“This kind of overstepping is rare and valuable. It’s precisely because of your sharp observation skills and investigative instincts that you’ve been able to help officers crack cases and combat crime. You have the ability and the heart for it. Compared to being a trainer, the role of a criminal investigator suits you much better.”

This was the real reason Director Li had asked Song to stay behind today. He had thought long and hard before deciding to persuade him. Talent shines no matter where it is. Song had extraordinary skill in criminal investigation. That didn’t mean he wasn’t good at training dogs. But compared to a training career with limited growth, Song was clearly meant for something more.

Maybe it was fate playing tricks. Just when Director Li had finally made up his mind to push his most capable subordinate away, he discovered that Song Changfeng had a reason he couldn’t leave the Training Base.

Song Changfeng stared at the large five characters printed at the top of the blank form, silent for a long time.

On the other side, Director Li had already approved and stamped his dog-handling application.

Song Changfeng took the form, then glanced at another one and said, “Director, could I have that one too?”

Director Li knew he wanted to keep it as a memento, so he picked up the “Transfer Application Form” and handed it over, letting out another sigh in spite of himself. What a mess this was.

…

Song Changfeng left Director Li’s office and wandered aimlessly. He had no idea how long he’d been walking when he vaguely heard a few barks. Looking up, he realized he had somehow ended up at the kennel.

The kennel was bustling with activity. Trainers who were taking their dogs home had finished packing their own belongings and were now helping pack up for the police dogs. The dogs were about to enter a completely unfamiliar environment, and without familiar scents and items to accompany them, they would feel a lack of security.

Song Changfeng walked all the way to the last kennel. Inside, Aofeng was lying in his bed, watching the interaction between a trainer and a police dog across the way with great interest. The trainer was tugging on one end of a rabbit plush toy, while the police dog clung stubbornly to the other, refusing to let go. It probably thought its handler was trying to throw away the worn-out toy, and was resisting cautiously. For some police dogs, toys from their puppy days held deep emotional significance.

Aofeng couldn’t help but try to recall what he had been given back then. But after thinking for a long time, he still couldn’t remember. He let out a sorrowful sigh. He was a dog with no childhood.