The internet only remembers for a few days. Once the buzz died down, the people of Jinghai City slowly returned to their work and lives, gradually forgetting about the case.

After all, it was just an old cold case. Solving it was also a way to explain to the public the police principle of resolving all homicide cases.

Even though the murder happened fourteen years ago, the Jinghai police never gave up, keeping the case in their minds, which is why it was finally solved.

Upon hearing about the case being solved, Director Song of the city bureau paid great attention, visiting the first squad immediately to offer condolences and learn about the details of solving the case.

Solving a homicide case that's been cold for fourteen years is significant enough to make headlines even within the public security system.

"To the members of the first squad, you've worked hard. Solving two homicides in such a short time, working overtime every day, truly not easy. With Qingming Festival approaching, everyone will also be paying respects to their ancestors. Let's give everyone a three-day small holiday to relax, and spend more time with family at home."

Zhou Man: "Yay, long live Director Song!"

Su Jiayi: "Thank you, Director Song."

For detectives, a three-day mini-holiday is a rare occasion.

"However,"

Director Song changed his tone, causing everyone to perk up their ears and listen carefully.

"As per usual, the duty system must be enforced. Team members should be ready on call 24 hours a day. In case of emergencies, all holidays for team members will be revoked."

Mao Ji: "Of course, that's the job we signed up for."

-----------------

The drizzling rain during the Qingming season sets the scene for mournful travelers on the road.

The ancients accurately grasped the rhythm of the seasons, with the skies always misty with rain around Qingming.

The originally warm weather suddenly cools down. Such rapid changes in temperature can overwhelm the body's resistance, causing colds.

The first squad is on a three-day holiday, and Li Xiang has taken Coal Ball back to his hometown.

After Li Xiang's training in pouncing and biting, Coal Ball has impressive overall qualities now.

Returning to the village for just a day, he already dominated all the dogs in the village.

He's already become the king of dogs in Li Family Village.

About a dozen domesticated dogs followed him, creating an imposing sight worthy of a dog king.

"Whose dog is this? It's so impressive."

"It seems Li Xiang brought it back. I heard he's doing quite well now in the Public Security Bureau."

"Wasn't he working as an auxiliary officer at the police station? I heard he recently earned a second-class merit award. Did he transfer to the bureau?"

"Haven't you heard his mom say? Now her son has made something of himself. He not only got a permanent position but was also transferred to the detective team. The ancestors of the Li Family are surely blessing this; we need to burn more offerings during Qingming."

Li Xiang's neighbors, after seeing Coal Ball, turned the conversation to Li Xiang.

His story has become legendary in Li Family Village. In the past, children were advised not to follow Li Xiang; becoming an auxiliary officer was seen as achieving nothing.

Now it's different. They teach their children to learn from Li Xiang, take things one step at a time, eat by the spoonful. Young people shouldn't aim too high and fall short. They should be like Li Xiang—rooted in the grassroots, advancing step by step. He transformed himself from an auxiliary officer to a detective within three years and even earned a second-class merit. How honorable!

"Coal Ball, come, help me take this bag of trash to the trash can at the village entrance."

Hearing Li Xiang's call, Coal Ball swiftly leapt out from the group of dogs, quickly coming to Li Xiang's side, grabbed the trash bag he dropped, and ran swiftly to the village entrance trash can. With a flick of his head and a nudge of his nose, he pushed the trash into the lidless bin.

"Hey, this dog is amazing!"

"Good dog."

Seeing this, the neighbors act as if they've opened a door to a new world. Although everyone says local dogs are clever, that's usually referring to dogs that won't jump on tables or snatch food from chopsticks but wait for it to fall on the floor.

But a well-trained one like Coal Ball is quite rare.

It's not just that Coal Ball is obedient; rather, none of the local dogs can do what he does.

"Li Xiang is now a detective, even the dog he raised has the bearing of a police dog, I'm impressed."

At this moment, Li Xiang hadn't noticed his neighbors discussing his dog, nor did he hear the conversation about how the topic of dogs shifted to himself. He was busy helping his mother tidy up the house.

Given the rare chance to go home during a holiday, he was full of energy, busying himself with various chores. Even Coal Ball was enlisted to help with tasks within his abilities.

At this time, his dad returned from a shop with some multicolored paper, ready to use for grave visits.

In rural areas, visiting graves isn't like a public cemetery, where you simply offer flowers.

Here, there are burial mounds, and some families still use coffins for burials, even though cremation occurs, they stick to old traditions.

"Li Xiang, go chop some willow branches with your dad, we'll be using them to tie multicolored paper later."

To visit graves during Qingming Festival, every household places it above their door.

This old saying refers to willow branches, commonly seen in rural areas during Qingming festival for grave visits.

Ancients believed willow branches ward off evil spirits. Qingming Festival falls under a ghostly atmosphere, with many spirits about. Hence, carrying willow branches when visiting graves ensures no spirits linger. Once they see the willow, they will leave, not daring to approach people.

In their place, people tie cut multicolored paper on willow branches before using them for grave visits.

If children accompany grave visits, they are also given a willow branch.

From childhood, Li Xiang always carried willow branches on Qingming outings. Now he's grown up, it's time for him to learn to chop willow branches himself.

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