Enforcer Manual
Chapter 54: Decompression Method _1

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Decompression Method _1

Indeed, Song Lan’s strategy proved very successful, even catching Lu Xiang off guard.

However, as the head of the Law Enforcers, Lu Xiang had to maintain her dignity and couldn’t like others, walk around distributing a "virus" in a hamburger. Therefore, she had sneakily come to slip them a note.

Overall, on the second day of the establishment of the new department, they had achieved a preliminary victory.

Even though those who came to consult with Roger basically made up reasons, and there was not a single one who actually wanted advice for personal psychological issues, they at least got the chance to sit across from Roger under the guise of consulting.

"This is a good start."

After all the consultants had left, Song Lan gathered his two departmental colleagues and summarized the day’s work, "As long as we continue like this, one day you will be able to understand their inner thoughts."

"Ah, I will work hard."

Roger nodded.

He hadn’t expected that Chief Song would go to such lengths to change people’s rigid impression of him.

Feeling deeply moved, he also felt guilty about his previous superficial judgment of Chief Song. After their meeting yesterday, he asked around among his familiar colleagues about Song Lan, the answer he got was almost all the same - they didn’t have much impression of him. Before transferring to the Psychological Counseling Department, Chief Song was in the Logistics Department.

To them, the Logistics Department is undoubtedly the least significant department, a department of loafers.

Having learnt these pieces of information, Roger unavoidably felt a sense of wanting to give up.

"Chief Song, I will remember your kindness."

"No need for formalities, as long as you work hard."

Song Lan patted Roger’s shoulder.

Indeed, as long as Roger works hard in the future, Song Lan can continue his easy and idle work. Everything Song Lan had done today was not just for the reward promised by Lu Xiang, but also an investment in the future.

Even though this was his first time being a leader, but through his years of observation, Song Lan admitted that to lead easy, he must maintain a good relationship with his subordinates, especially employees like Roger who have strong job capabilities.

Today was just a good start for the establishment of the new department, in order to increase the team’s cohesion, they need to organize team-building activities from time to time.

After joining the company in 2020 upon graduation from college, his supervisor and senior department colleagues would often chat with him during the lunch break, occasionally inviting everyone out for a team dinner. These warm-hearted actions made a fresh graduate feel the warmth of home. It wasn’t until he had been with the company for a year that Song Lan realized that these warm gestures came at a price.

As the saying goes, you don’t hit a man who extends his hand, once you become too familiar, it becomes harder to refuse when a senior colleague asks you to adjust your holiday schedule or hands you some troublesome tasks. This probably why in the same department, while some are busy as bees, others can leisurely sip their goji berry tea while browsing their phones all day.

But a problem arises, how should team building be accomplished in the year 2166?

Restaurants can’t get by in District 17, and the people here don’t have a habit of group dining. When Logistics organized parties in the past, they simply had to apply in advance for the use of the big conference room, buy some alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and prepare some embarrassing performances that Song Lan found cringeworthy.

For a department of three people and one ghost, this method was not suitable.

Moreover, Elmon claimed to be only 12 years old, it was imperative not to let the child cultivate a habit of drinking at such a tender age.

This problem genuinely puzzled Song Lan.

When he carefully thought about it, he didn’t engage in any social activities after work. Before moving into Lu Xiang’s apartment, his life was remarkably simple. After coming home, he would prepare ingredients and cook a meal, wash the dishes after dinner, watch a movie or surf the web and the day would be over.

This led to him not actually knowing what his colleagues did after work.

This issue persisted until Lu Xiang came home from work.

The two were sitting at the dining table, facing the menu written on a small piece of paper, their eyes glaring at each other.

His girlfriend’s after-work life might be even more lacks than his own. He would at least still do some entertaining activities to relax, while Lu Xiang just seemed to change her place of work.

She would hold a case file in her hand, and she could keep reading it on the sofa until she fell asleep.

"Do you have something on your mind?"

Lu Xiang, chewing on a few bites of pork ribs, asked curiously.

"I was thinking, what are the interests and hobbies of young people after work these days?"

"According to data released last month, in District 17, people of your age work an average of 14 hours per day, starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m., with one day off per week. I guess most of them are so tired that they go home and fall asleep...... Why are you suddenly interested in this?"

Song Lan was shocked by the statistics Lu Xiang shared.

He had heard that jobs were hard to come by in District 17, but he had not expected work intensity to be so remarkably high, even tougher than the notorious "996" work schedule.

What’s even worse is that the average salary in District 17 is pitifully low. As they work themselves half to death, their meager salaries only allow them to just get by.

After mysteriously arriving in 2166, Song Lan had repeatedly been grateful that he worked in the Logistics department.

Apart from the Logistics department, the other departments of the Law Enforcers are not idle either. The Statistics and Crime Analysis departments work overtime as a matter of routine. Officers from the Special Operations and On-site Investigation departments are often called to work in the middle of the night.

"Doesn’t anyone protest?"

"Protesting is of no use, humans can’t compete with machines. Machines don’t need rest, they can maintain a high intensity of work for twenty-four hours. An increasing number of industries are implementing mechanized operations. In the next three to five years, the number of people out of work will only increase."

Unemployment in District 17 is a serious problem.

Lu Xiang had heard that every year the mayor emphasizes this issue in his job report, but the number of unemployed people increases year after year. This issue had already given the mayor high blood pressure.

However, unemployment isn’t something the Law Enforcers need to worry about. Their current workload is just as demanding as resolving the employment issue of District 17.

Lu Xiang further added, "For those who still have energy after work, they usually go to bars, pleasure venues, or underground boxing gyms."

The money they earned was spent as soon as it was earned. Among them, many people even borrowed money elsewhere just to be able to spend lavishly in these stimulating places.

Drinking, blood, and fleeting romance, these three things can provide temporary numbness to a person’s rational mind, letting them revel in a moment of pleasure.

"If you are interested, you can visit the bars and underground boxing gyms, but don’t attempt to go to the pleasure venues."

Lu Xiang seriously advised.

"How could I go to such places?"

Song Lan gave an awkward laugh.

Even though it might sound a bit vulgar, most boys would probably find pleasure venues the most enticing among all these choices.

He had more than once seen veterans discussing online about the variety and attractiveness of 2166’s pleasure venues, so alluring that one could lose track of time.

But as an upright youth, how could he let such things bewitch his mind?

Song Lan always maintained a critical perspective when browsing these sites.

To avoid inadvertently turning the topic towards his computer’s browser history, Song Lan timely shifted the topic, "Speaking of which, I still don’t know what your hobbies are, that is before you got to know me."

"Hobbies...."

Lu Xiang tilted her head, thoughtfully for a while, then said, "Fishing, but I haven’t gone for a long time."

"You know how to fish?"

Song Lan didn’t expect Lu Xiang to have such leisurely interests. She never mentioned fishing in all the time they had known each other, but it was indeed an opportunity to know her better, "Where do you usually go fishing? The Ring Lake Park?"

"Bar."

"What?"

"There’re always people selling illegal drugs in bars. Randomly picking a few to catch and take back to the department is quite stress-relieving."