Chapter 433: School Shooting

Liu slowly put down the gun, tears streaming down his face. Wang tried to comfort him, saying, “Don’t be afraid. One shot to the head, and it’s all over.”

“It’s over for you!” Liu retorted. “Blood and brains will splatter all over me. The psychological trauma alone! I might as well shoot myself afterward.”

“Well, that’s your bad luck.”

“Guys, guys!” Chief Yan interrupted, “Do we really have to resort to death to solve this problem? Let me ask, how much more do you need for the surgery?”

“Two hundred thousand!”

“Three hundred thousand!”

“So, that’s five hundred thousand. I’ll talk to the hospital to see if they can cover half, which leaves two hundred fifty thousand. Our police force will donate half, and the rest you and your children can cover. How does that sound?”

The two old men exchanged glances and asked, “Are you really willing to pay that much?”

“I’m a police officer; I wouldn’t lie to you. I promise!”

Liu started to cry, “Forget it. Let’s just die. It seems like we’re only after the money.”

“No, no, think of us. The money issue can be resolved. There are hundreds of us at the police station; if everyone chips in, it’s nothing. Life is precious, and you both still have years ahead.”

Wang glanced at Liu, both hesitating. Chief Yan slowly approached them, saying, “I’ll make sure to solve this. Please, put down the gun, okay?”

Behind the door, watching the scene, Lin Qiupu was tense. The air felt frozen. As Chief Yan continued to speak soothing words, he moved closer until he was right in front of Liu. He gently took the gun from Liu’s hand and quickly removed the bullets.

Chief Yan sighed in relief. “Let’s get you back to the ward.”

“Aren’t you going to arrest us?” Wang asked.

“You’re not criminals. Go back. It’s cold up here,” Chief Yan said kindly.

“Thank you, officer!”

The situation was peacefully resolved, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Chief Yan got into Lin Qiupu’s car, lit a cigarette, and said, “It wasn’t that big a deal. If it weren’t for the gun, we wouldn’t have needed to intervene.”

Lin Qiupu inspected the gun. “It is indeed one of the missing guns. Should we go talk to the hospital now?”

“Talk about what? We’re heading back.”

“But you just said…”

“That was to trick them. Would they have put down the gun otherwise?”

Lin Qiupu looked at his former teacher in disbelief. “Chief Yan, this… this isn’t right. Their problem isn’t solved. What if they jump off a building or take poison later?”

“That’s the hospital’s responsibility, not ours,” Chief Yan said coldly.

“I’m going to talk to the hospital!” Lin Qiupu insisted.

“Stop right there!” Chief Yan called him back, realizing he was too harsh. He softened his tone, “Lin, you’re too young and inexperienced. I handle dozens of suicide cases every year. Ninety-nine percent are money-related. Should I pay out of my own pocket every time? If I did, any patient who can’t afford treatment would stage a suicide. What would we be then, a charity?”

“But you promised them. And they’re so pitiful.”

“What is the ultimate goal of negotiation?”

“To resolve the crisis!”

“Exactly. Remember, modern medicine is advanced, but not everyone can afford it. If we provide unlimited treatment to everyone, any country would go bankrupt. Their inability to pay is their issue. We’re here to resolve crises, not solve fundamental problems. I know this sounds harsh, but it’s our job! Don’t carry this burden. Drive.”

Lin Qiupu felt uneasy and remained silent during the drive back. At the station, Chief Yan greeted the director while Lin Qiupu returned to his office and sent a message to the entire team: “Donate to the two elderly people!”

Someone replied, “Didn’t Chief Yan say no donation?”

“I said donate, and everyone must contribute at least 200 yuan!”

No one dared to complain. Money started to come in, with Chen Shi even donating 1,000 yuan. They raised about 30,000 yuan, a drop in the bucket.

Lin Qiupu had someone deliver the money to the elderly and instructed them to communicate with the hospital. If it didn’t work, they would try crowdfunding online.

After doing this, he felt somewhat relieved. The police couldn’t solve the root social problems, but he could perform this small act of kindness.

It was already 2 PM by then, and he finally had a moment to eat. During lunch, Chief Yan chatted and joked with the team, but Lin Qiupu felt uneasy and ate in silence.

Chief Yan stayed with the task force temporarily, handling various crises. He was the best negotiator in the city, having dealt with hundreds of hostage and suicide cases.

On this busy afternoon, it was unexpectedly calm. No calls, no gunfire in the city.

Captain Bi from the third team analyzed that the first wave of reckless gun users had been caught. The most dangerous ones were those who had guns and specific targets, possibly planning their attacks.

At 5 PM, a call came in about a shooting at a high school. Two students were shot. Everyone was shocked that it happened on a school campus.

A large group of police rushed to the school. It was summer break, so most students were not around. Only the rising seniors were attending bridging classes, mandated by the school to boost graduation rates.

Teachers and staff were evacuating students. A teacher explained the situation to Chief Yan: the shooter was Wang Xu, a high schooler with a troubled background. His father was in prison for robbery, and his mother had no stable job. His grades were always poor, and his mother never came when called, seemingly indifferent to his school life.

Chief Yan asked, “What about the students who were shot?”

“One is Liu Dong, shot in the chest and already taken to the hospital. The other is Ma Fei, still in the classroom with Wang Xu. I have no idea where he got a real gun. It’s terrifying.”

“When did the shooting happen?”

“During the break after the third period. I heard two bangs and ran over. Liu Dong was lying outside the classroom, covered in blood. The kids were terrified and ran out.”

Chief Yan signaled the other officers to stay back. He approached the classroom door, which was closed. He knocked and said, “Wang Xu, I’m a police officer. I want to talk. Can I come in?”

There was no sound from inside. The curtains were drawn. Chief Yan pressed his ear to the door and heard a boy crying. It seemed the hostage was still alive.