[Ongoing Long Read: Fragrant Hong Kong, 1990s, The Beautiful Detective]
The Zheng family's daughter, Zheng Ye, who was switched at birth as a baby, has returned from the city to their small town.
The family felt guilty for having spent eighteen years doting on someone else's daughter. They were also worried Zheng Ye wouldn't adjust to moving from the city back to town, so they did everything they could to make her feel welcome.
But she refused the job and match they arranged for her, and went off to work as an auxiliary police officer at the local station instead.
At first, everyone thought she'd just watched too many cop shows and wanted to join in the excitement. The Zheng family figured she'd come home once she'd had her fill.
But then things started taking a strange turn.
The robbers, murderers, and scam artists caught lately had all been apprehended by Zheng Ye?
What? She could even predict suspects' next moves, set up an ambush in advance, and make pinpoint arrests?
She got hired full-time, was promoted, and received praise from the town's TV station?
Only then did the Zheng family realize their youngest daughter was a treasure! The neighbors also loved coming to her whenever they had a problem.
A child went missing, someone was robbed and couldn't find the thief, or a wife suspected her husband of cheating but didn't know who the other woman was... Just bring the case to her, and she'd crack it.
Everyone in town assumed Zheng Ye, who had grown up with her wealthy adoptive parents, was used to living in luxury. It would be hard to adjust to a simpler life, so she surely wouldn't be comfortable with her birth parents and would probably soon be clamoring to return to the city.
Who could have guessed she'd quickly settle into small-town life, become close with her parents and brothers, and get along wonderfully with her neighbors and coworkers? She became the town's beloved young policewoman, always wearing a sweet smile that made people want to get close, and solving cases like a genius.
Theme: Every crime leaves a trace.
