Chapter 73: Chapter 32: Payday, debts paid off (seeking first subscription and monthly ticket)
Eleven o’clock, after completing the report, Luo Fei and Zhao Donglai returned to the detective team.
At half past eleven, the detective team held a summary meeting for the Zeng Tianming case and the Yu Xiaoman case. At the meeting, Luo Fei became the most outstanding person; for a while, Luo Fei’s limelight in the detective team was unmatched, completely overshadowing the others. Only the detective team leader Zhao Donglai could stay ahead steadily.
In the following days, there were basically no cases in the detective team, but one thing did happen. One of Luo Fei’s classmates, who was getting married at the Taibai Building, was exposed by the bride’s side for having slept with a married woman on video at the wedding. The bride canceled the wedding on the spot, and the groom’s father fainted from anger and spat blood. This incident quickly became a hot topic in Ningjiang County.
January twelfth, today is Wednesday, and it’s payday again.
Luo Fei had some expectations for this month’s salary. After all, with the consecutive solving of the Zeng Tianming and Yu Xiaoman cases, the performance bonus this month was certainly indispensable.
Wang Lei, Xia Zheng, and Zhong Jun’s thoughts were clearly similar to Luo Fei’s. Just in the morning alone, Xia Zheng mentioned no less than ten times, "Why hasn’t the salary arrived yet?"
Twelve noon.
"Ding"
"Ding"
As their phones continuously chimed, Xia Zheng couldn’t wait any longer and said, "Salary’s in.", then rushed to check his phone.
"Yes, perfect, nine thousand six hundred this month, four thousand five hundred in wages, bonuses of five thousand one hundred, just four hundred short of breaking ten thousand, that’s damn awesome." Xia Zheng saw his bank card notification and excitedly jumped up from his seat.
"Sorry, bro, I’m a bit higher than you, just broke ten thousand, four thousand six hundred in wages, five thousand five in bonuses, totaling ten thousand one hundred, successfully entering the ranks of monthly salary over ten thousand." Wang Lei looked at his phone notification and then said to Xia Zheng with a full-face smile.
"Damn, how come I’m seven hundred less than you again, this is too unreasonable." Xia Zheng’s delight was halved upon hearing Wang Lei’s salary broke ten thousand.
"I’m also nine thousand six hundred." Zhong Jun chimed in glumly.
Wang Lei cheerfully said, "What’s unreasonable about it, it’s absolutely reasonable, just take the Zeng Tianming case for instance, it was both Luo Fei and I who investigated it. Although Luo Fei’s contribution was undoubtedly the greatest, it cannot be denied that I also made some contributions, so there’s absolutely no problem with me earning slightly more than you guys."
"By the way, Luo Fei, how much is your salary this month?" Wang Lei asked, looking towards Luo Fei.
Upon hearing, Xia Zheng and Zhong Jun also immediately glanced at Luo Fei, knowing that his salary this month was sure to be substantial.
Luo Fei smiled and said, "Fourteen thousand."
"Oh my."
"Well, damn."
Wang Lei and Xia Zheng swore simultaneously.
"Can’t compete, simply can’t compete, did your bonus alone break ten thousand this month?" Wang Lei inquired.
"No, nine thousand six hundred," Luo Fei replied, shaking his head.
"Nine thousand six hundred in bonuses isn’t far from ten thousand, a ten thousand bonus, I’m envious." Xia Zheng said, full of admiration.
"Be content, those who are content are always happy. Comparing to previous salaries which were at most five or six thousand, now it’s over nine thousand, what’s there not to be content about? Besides, other groups surely won’t exceed eight thousand in salary, I bet." Wang Lei reassured him.
After thinking, Xia Zheng found it reasonable and suddenly stood up saying, "I need to check the other groups’ salaries." He then ran out of the office.
A few minutes later, Xia Zheng returned with a satisfied grin.
"So, what did you find out? How are the salaries of the other squads?" Wang Lei asked.
"I checked, the second squad’s salary is higher, but the highest is just eight thousand. Our squad earned the most." Xia Zheng said with a broad smile.
"No doubt, if our squad wasn’t earning the highest salary, that would absolutely be unreasonable." Wang Lei said, as if he knew it all along.
At that moment, Yang Su returned from a meeting with a bright expression on his face.
"Looks like everyone is quite cheerful, and rightfully so. This month, our squad once again took the highest bonus. While it’s a reward, it’s also a pressure; as the saying goes, greater ability means greater responsibility. Earning more means our squad must perform better than the other squads."
"I just returned from Zhao’s office, the other squad leaders are quite displeased with us earning such high bonuses, but Zhao argued back. However, it indicates one thing: our squad taking such high bonuses for two consecutive months has already aroused discontent in the other squads. We need to keep working hard to shut them up with results and strength." With these words, Yang Su’s smile turned serious.
"Relax, group leader, our group has me and Luo Fei, the golden detective duo, our strength is absolutely solid. The other squads are not in our league, besides, it’s the mediocre ones whom people don’t envy." Wang Lei said proudly.
"Can you have some shame?" Xia Zheng said with a disdainful look.
"Alright, alright, you two shouldn’t be spending all day just bickering. If you have time, why not do some studying like Luo Fei?" Yang Su glared at the two who were about to start a quarrel.
Wang Lei and Xia Zheng, upon hearing this, could only sulkily return to their seats.
Luo Fei’s side
As soon as the money arrived, Luo Fei immediately repaid the ten thousand yuan he owed his uncle.
Now that the family’s debt is completely cleared, Luo Fei felt a lot lighter. Although he always thought he could pay off the debt soon, it felt uncomfortable not having done so. Fortunately, it’s all repaid now.
After repaying the debt, there are more than six thousand yuan left in Luo Fei’s account, of which two thousand were previously saved.
Thinking about it, Luo Fei decided to treat himself well tomorrow, being Saturday.
Previously, with debts, Luo Fei didn’t dare to spend money casually, but now there’s no worry anymore.
First off, a new phone was needed; the old off-brand knockoff he’s been using since college is now so slow it must be replaced.
Then, buying clothes; it’s been almost a year since Luo Fei arrived here, yet neither he, Wu Yan, Luo Hao, nor Luo Xiaoxiao have bought any new clothes. They’ve just been rotating the same few sets.
After work, Luo Fei went to the market to buy a lot of good food, both to celebrate getting his salary and paying off all debt.
When Luo Fei got home, Wu Yan was already back because it was Friday, and the school cafeteria only left a few people to cook for the students still there, so the others didn’t need to stay.
Seeing Luo Fei had bought so much food again, Wu Yan’s expression immediately changed.
Luo Fei smiled and told Wu Yan that the debt to the uncle was repaid, and they wouldn’t owe money anymore, so they should celebrate. Upon hearing this, Wu Yan was stunned for a moment, then her eyes reddened.
The constant borrowing of money had once caused discord between her elder brother and sister-in-law. Owing money was always a pain in her heart. Now that it’s finally repaid, Wu Yan felt a huge relief as if a weight was lifted.
But then she asked, puzzled, "Where did you get so much money to repay your uncle?"
Luo Fei chuckled and said, "We got paid today. Because of my outstanding performance in solving a case earlier, I received a bonus of nine thousand six hundred yuan plus a salary of four thousand four hundred yuan, totaling fourteen thousand yuan."
"Fourteen thousand yuan? That’s a lot!" Wu Yan’s expression appeared very shocked.
"It’s because there was a bonus; it won’t be this much every time," Luo Fei explained.
"True. If it were this much every month, all the police would get rich," Wu Yan nodded and then asked, "What about your annual bonus? Did your colleagues mention how much it might be?"
"I don’t know that, but I heard them say the annual bonus should be related to work performance. However, I’ve only been in the detective team for a few months, so I certainly won’t get much," Luo Fei said, preemptively managing Wu Yan’s expectations so she wouldn’t get overly hopeful and potentially disappointed.
Around six in the afternoon, Luo Xiaoxiao and Luo Hao came home from school.
"Wow, Mom, what day is today? You’re making so much delicious food. Did my brother achieve another merit and earn a second-class commendation?" Luo Xiaoxiao asked Wu Yan as soon as she got home, seeing the table filled with dishes.
"In your dreams! If second-class commendations were easy to get, every cop would have them. Your brother got paid today, received fourteen thousand yuan, and repaid all the money owed to your uncle, so we’re celebrating," Wu Yan reacted with a glance and then explained.
"Fourteen thousand? Is my brother’s salary this high?" Luo Xiaoxiao’s little face was full of surprise.
"Nine thousand six hundred of that, your brother said, was a bonus for his excellent performance in solving a case earlier."
"So much bonus! My brother is amazing!" Luo Xiaoxiao exclaimed in admiration and envy.
Wu Yan chuckled and said, "Study hard, your brother is doing just that, which made him so outstanding."
"Don’t worry, Mom, I will study hard. Now many of my classmates and teachers know I have an incredibly accomplished police brother, who won second prize, third prize, and personal accolades. If I don’t study well, they’ll definitely mock me behind my back, and I don’t want that!" Luo Xiaoxiao said seriously with a stern little face.
"That’s good, go call Luo Hao over to move the stools and tables, get ready for dinner."
"By the way, where’s my brother?"
"We ran out of salt, he went out to buy some."