HLM -Chapter 1351 A Friendship That Lasts Forever

However, the main reason the town maintained good public order was still the hard work of the police.

Uncle Bing was very responsible, working nearly eighteen hours every day. Atulu himself wasn’t particularly capable, but whenever there was a large event, he would actively gather members of his clan to help maintain order.

These two were Wang Bo’s earliest team members and, up to now, his right-hand men.

There were also Conley and Sam. Conley led the electronics team, which was always very reliable, while Sam had strong leadership charisma. When Wang Bo wasn’t around, he and Uncle Bing were responsible for leading the team.

Wang Bo evaluated each of his subordinates, then waved, and someone brought up a box.

When he opened it, neatly stacked hundred-dollar bills were inside. The bills were brand new, as if freshly printed, with the alluring scent of fresh ink.

Wang Bo said, “There’s half an hour left in the year. I’ll use this last bit of time to give everyone a year-end bonus, to thank you all for your hard work.”

“Wow!” The police officers were thrilled. Many had been transferred from other precincts—when had they ever received such treatment before?

Starting from the last row, everyone lined up to collect their money.

Even the smallest bonus was five bundles of hundred-dollar bills; the largest could reach over a hundred thousand.

Wang Bo distributed the year-end bonuses based on seniority, performance, attendance, and peer evaluation. Uncle Bing and the other core team members didn’t receive cash—they were given bank cards instead.

The police were already a little weary from staying up half the night. But once they received their bonuses, they immediately perked up, more effective than any medicine.

Wang Bo gestured for them to store the money in the command vehicle, saying, “Put it away safely, everyone. We’re police officers—if money in our hands were stolen or robbed, that would be utterly shameful.”

The officers laughed and joked with each other. Clearly, nothing made them happier than this moment, short of money.

In the last minute of the year, the cheers in the square grew even louder. Everyone began a one-minute countdown to welcome the New Year.

At first, the shouts were chaotic, but gradually everyone adjusted to the same rhythm. The collective voice was overwhelming:

“20, 19, 18… 10, 9, 8, 7…”

The sound was deafening, yet no one covered their ears. Wang Bo went out and joined the shouting:

“3, 2, 1! Happy New Year! Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year!” The roar of cheers exploded like an avalanche. The large speakers on the square began playing the classic song Auld Lang Syne.

On the giant screen in the center of the square, a highlight reel of the party played. The cameras had captured people dancing or performing magic tricks. Because the footage came directly from the crowd, it felt authentic and popular.

Wang Bo smiled: “Hmm, this is pretty good. Who filmed it?”

Atulu said, “Charlie. He contacted a production team; they’ve been filming the party all night.”

This party was organized by Charlie. Wang Bo had only signed off on it at the end, without reviewing the specific plan—and there was no need to.

Around the square, long-awaited fireworks shot into the sky, vivid colors instantly filling the night and pumping up everyone’s adrenaline even more.

On the first day of the new year, his classmates landed at Auckland International Airport.

Fan Dong, Su Dongdong, Song Jiashu, and others carried backpacks and dragged suitcases, heading out to find Hou Haibo, who had promised to pick them up.

However, when they exited the airport, nobody was there. They called out:

“Damn it, Monkey, are you messing with us? Didn’t you say you’d pick us up?”

“Get lost! I’m the older brother here. And I am picking you up—I’m right next to your plane. How could you not see me? The plane is empty now.”

“What did you say?”

“I said I’m picking you up inside the airport, on the tarmac.”

“Damn!”

Everyone was stunned. It was their first time seeing someone pick people up like this.

They contacted the airport ground crew, and after checking their visas, a stewardess with a sturdy waist guided them back inside.

“What’s going on?” they asked, confused.

Finally, inside the airport, they saw Hou Haibo, sweating profusely.

“Why are you picking us up inside? And why not go outside? Why did you call us in here?” Song Jiashu asked curiously.

Hou Haibo replied, “Why go outside? We’d have to come back in again. Come on, follow me.”

A large plane with flowing cloud patterns painted on it was parked quietly on the tarmac. It bore the Chinese words Sunset Airlines, leaving its identity obvious.

Seeing the plane, Zhou Haojie gave a thumbs-up: “Awesome! Wang Bo’s plane? This must be his private seat, right?”

Hou Haibo said, “No, this is my plane.”

“Come on, Monkey, weren’t you riding a rainbow cloud? How come you’re on a plane now?” Cao Bo laughed.

Hou Haibo spread his hands innocently: “Yeah, but you all know this can’t be mine—it’s Wang Bo’s. So what else is there to ask? Come on, get on the plane.”

Fan Dong chuckled: “Wait, I want to take a picture first. Bro, I’ve never had a layover before.”

“Go ahead, I’ll lie down first. Man, every flight here is a painful chore,” Cao Bo muttered.

He walked into the cabin and saw Wang Bo and Qingyang sitting there, legs crossed, smiling at him.

“Old Wang, Brother A, you two actually came in person?” Cao Bo exclaimed happily.

Wang Bo stood and patted his shoulder: “If I didn’t come myself, who knows what you guys would say behind my back? Do not forget your friends when you prosper—I’m a man of conscience.”

“Look at you talk,” Su Dongdong walked over. “What can we say about you? At most, we’d say you’re ungrateful once you benefit, selfish with money, heartless and cold…”

“Stop, stop, stop, you bunch of idiots,” Wang Bo laughed. “I only have one flaw—killing the donkey after the grind is done. And it’s you dumb donkeys I’m talking about!”

The group boarded the plane. The pilot communicated with the control tower, and after a short taxi, the plane took off quickly.

There weren’t enough seats, but the carpet was clean. Wang Bo threw down a cushion and sat on it, leaving the seats for Su Dongdong and the others.

Seeing this, Fan Dong felt embarrassed: “Old Wang, don’t do this. Let’s sit together.”

Wang Bo waved: “It’s only a one-and-a-half-hour flight. Lie down and rest. Don’t bother with me—a friendship that lasts forever.”

Li Xing, along with Zhang Rui and Zhao Xiaohui, who came by commercial flight, were at the airport. The Sunset plane landed and stopped. The group of old classmates reunited.

Zhang Rui admired: “As usual, might makes right. You’ve all had a tiring trip, and Wang Bo even came to pick you up with a private plane. Sigh, I’ve never been on this plane before!”

Wang Bo pushed it toward him and said, “Alright, I’ll give you a ride around.”