"Hmph." Song Xiaojia snorted coldly and said, "How can we righteous police officers bow down to evil forces?"

"Well..." Lin Chuan chuckled and said, "Yes, police can't bow down to evil forces, but at the very least, shouldn't you ensure your own safety first?"

"Do I even need you to tell me that?" Song Xiaojia nodded.

The two of them sat below the stage, whispering to each other, not paying any attention to the commendation ceremony on stage.

They were still talking even when the ceremony ended.

"Alright, I should be going back now," Lin Chuan said.

"I'll give you a ride!" Song Xiaojia said with a smile.

After leaving the public security bureau courtyard, Song Xiaojia drove Lin Chuan straight toward the eastern part of the city.

"Take me to the City Committee," Lin Chuan laughed and said, "The holidays are around the corner, and I should go collect my year-end bonus."

Pfft...

Song Xiaojia burst into laughter and said, covering her mouth, "You? Collect a year-end bonus?"

"Of course!" Lin Chuan immediately nodded and said, "How could I not have a year-end bonus to collect? After all, I'm a staff member of the City Committee's logistics department."

"Get out of here!" Song Xiaojia shot him an annoyed glance and said, "Someone like you, who works sporadically, where would you get a year-end bonus? They haven't fired you yet; that's already good enough. And you still have the nerve to ask for a year-end bonus."

"I have contributed so much to the City Committee, haven't I? How could they have the heart to fire me?" Lin Chuan smirked slightly.

"That's only because Tang Yumeng likes you, and everyone just doesn't bother to argue with you for her sake," Song Xiaojia snorted lightly.

Lin Chuan was momentarily stunned and then immediately said, "Nonsense. If you have no evidence, I could sue you for slander."

"Go ahead and sue," Song Xiaojia grinned and said, "Are you sure you want to sue a police officer?"

"What's wrong with being a police officer?" Lin Chuan snorted and said, "Does being a police officer mean you can slander people?"

Upon arriving at the City Committee, Song Xiaojia dropped him off at the entrance and then drove off briskly.

The security guard at the entrance saw Lin Chuan coming and hurried over, grinning as he handed Lin Chuan a cigarette, "Lin Chuan, you're here?"

"Yeah!" Lin Chuan nodded and said, "I haven't been here for a while, so I came to see everyone."

"Yeah, everyone misses you!" the security guard chuckled and said, "When you're not here, everyone feels it's really dull. So, you should come back often to see everyone."

"I will," Lin Chuan nodded.

He entered the City Committee building and went straight to the second floor. In the lounge on the second floor, everyone was present. In the last few days of the year, work suddenly came to a halt. Everyone emerged from their busy schedules. Everyone was waiting for the holidays. With just three days left until the New Year, everyone was immersed in the joy of awaiting the new year. The crowd appeared particularly excited.

Lin Chuan smiled and said, "Old Luo, you came too?"

Luo Guoqing, wearing a yellow vest, turned his head to look at Lin Chuan and said, "Wow, it's rare for you to come to work?"

"Heh, I'm here to see everyone," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Is that so?" Luo Guoqing laughed and said, "You must have heard the news that the year-end bonus is being issued and came back specifically, didn't you?"

"Is the year-end bonus really being issued?" Lin Chuan was taken aback.

"Indeed." Everyone nodded in agreement.

In the crowd, the Song family brothers appeared very silent, sitting in the corner quietly smoking, with no one paying them any attention. They also ignored everyone else. Since Song Ming left, the two brothers naturally became cold-shouldered. Many people couldn't be bothered to deal with them.

Shortly after Lin Chuan's arrival, Minister Chen from the logistics department entered, with a big belly, immediately spotting Lin Chuan as he walked through the door.

"Lin Chuan, you've come?" Minister Chen smiled broadly at Lin Chuan. It was rare to see him with a smile. Usually, if someone made a mistake, arrived late, left early, or skipped work, they would be severely reprimanded by him, not to mention having their wages docked. But Lin Chuan was different. Lin Chuan was Secretary Tang's boyfriend, and just by that identity alone, no one could control him. Moreover, Lin Chuan had a military background, so no one dared do anything to him. Not to mention Minister Chen, even Tang Yumeng had to give way to Lin Chuan.

"Yes, Minister Chen, long time no see," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Uh..." Minister Chen felt this greeting was a bit unusual, he awkwardly said, "Yes, yes, long time no see. Today, we're just about to issue the year-end bonus, you came just in time, you can receive your share as well."

"Thank you, Minister Chen." Lin Chuan nodded and sat down beside Luo Guoqing.

Minister Chen walked into the lounge, his gaze sweeping critically around the room. Then, his eyes landed on the Song family brothers. Slowly, he took out a piece of paper from his pocket and loudly said, "Today is the day our logistics department distributes year-end bonuses. Therefore, I came specially to announce that this year's bonus amount has increased, approximately thirty-nine thousand five hundred per person. However, it depends on certain conditions. Lateness, leaving early, or skipping work will result in deductions..."

Minister Chen rambled on for quite a while. In fact, it was just a formality; he already had an idea of what he wanted to do.

"Minister Chen, just report the numbers directly," someone chuckled from the side, "We're all honest folks, never late or early, and never skip work."

Minister Chen smiled and said, "You can't be sure of that."

Rustling sounds...

Everyone turned to look at Lin Chuan. Lin Chuan was the epitome of being late and leaving early. Everyone couldn't help but look at him. Lin Chuan felt a bit embarrassed.

Cough cough...

Minister Chen cleared his throat and said, "Don't all stare at Lin Chuan, can you compare to him? What kind of person is he, what kind of people are you? He's a special forces soldier, often having to carry out missions. And you? What can you do?"

The crowd was shocked.

"Alright, let's announce the year-end bonuses now," Minister Chen said, glancing at them before continuing, "Luo Guoqing, thirty-nine thousand five hundred; Liu Donghua, thirty-nine thousand; ..."

With over ten or twenty people in the room, reading the list all at once was quite exhausting.

The Song family brothers held their breath, focused on listening for their amounts. In the past, their bonuses were always the highest. This time, they didn't wish for the highest, just hoped it would be the standard amount. However, Minister Chen clearly disappointed them.

Minister Chen glanced at the Song family brothers and said, "Song Wen, twenty-nine thousand; Song Wu, thirty thousand!"

After he finished, the Song family brothers were dumbfounded.

After a long time, Song Wen was furious: "Minister Chen, why did you deduct more than ten thousand from me? You should at least give me a reason."

"Earlier this year, you often had others substitute for you at work, commanding your colleagues, which in itself is not a good thing," Minister Chen replied calmly, as if he'd anticipated the brothers would challenge him. But Minister Chen had already thought of a response. He smiled and said, "Moreover, you were late and left early quite a few times. It was especially serious earlier this year!"

Earlier in the year, when Song Ming was around, nobody dared to criticize the Song family brothers. But in the second half of the year, Song Ming left. The Song family brothers lost their power and appeared particularly dejected and helpless. In the latter half of the year, they didn't dare to be late, leave early, or shirk work, living in constant fear. They never imagined that they'd still have their year-end bonuses deducted come year's end.

Minister Chen's words left the Song family brothers speechless; the two sat with dark faces in their chairs, silently smoking.

"Minister Chen, um... what about me?" Lin Chuan asked.

"You?" Minister Chen chuckled, "Yours is special; come to my office later to collect it."

"Ah..." Before Lin Chuan could speak, Minister Chen had already left the lounge, leaving behind a cheering crowd.

This year's year-end bonus pleased everyone, except for the Song family brothers. However, everyone was happy to see it, as they had been too arrogant before, and now they were finally getting their comeuppance. Amid the celebrations, the Song family brothers appeared especially dejected. At this time, they didn't dare leave, afraid that if they did, they'd be caught by someone.

Lin Chuan glanced at the Song family brothers. Their downfall was really their own fault. If they hadn't done such bad things before, maybe they wouldn't have ended up in this situation. So, many people felt particularly sarcastic and mocked them.

Lin Chuan chuckled, walked out of the room, and then headed to Minister Chen's office.

Minister Chen seemed to be waiting for Lin Chuan in the office and had already placed Lin Chuan's paperwork on the table as soon as he entered.

"Lin Chuan, you've come?" Minister Chen cheerfully stood up, then picked up the items on the table and handed them to Lin Chuan, "Take it; here's your year-end bonus for this year. Have a look, is there anything you're dissatisfied with?"

Lin Chuan took a glance and said, "Sixty thousand?!"

"Yes!" Minister Chen nodded and said, "This year our logistics department had quite a bit leftover, so your year-end bonus is somewhat more. Also, you mustn't tell anyone about this. Otherwise, everyone will be unhappy with me as their minister."

"Minister Chen, that's quite a lot of money; I... I feel bad taking it," Lin Chuan said awkwardly.

"What's there to feel bad about?" Minister Chen frowned and said, "This money is what you deserve."

"You see, I often skip work," Lin Chuan said with a wry smile.

"That's because you have more important things to do than work," Minister Chen laughed. "Compared to working at our City Committee, defending the nation is far more taxing, and it even involves risking your life, right? So, this money is rightfully yours."

"I..." Lin Chuan was about to speak.

Minister Chen immediately interrupted Lin Chuan and said, "Lin Chuan, I know what you're thinking. This money is from me, representing the City Committee, to thank you. Thank you for eliminating Song Hao and the Tiger Gang, those two scourges. It's not much, but I hope you will gladly accept it."

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