Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 443 - 312 I’ll Take a Trip!

Secretary Lu mentioned on the phone this afternoon that the Deputy Division Commander of the Changhang Fire Department, who is not only Si Gang’s son-in-law, has also brought in several clients for two enterprises in Liangzhuang, with just the building materials machinery factory alone doing over a million yuan in business with several construction sites in Linghai.

As a military officer who came from Liangzhuang, one must help out whenever possible.

Deputy Battalion Commander Wu’s position isn’t high, and he can’t help his hometown with significant matters, but he must assist with small favors like today’s, and he wasn’t in a hurry to hang up the phone, briefly introducing the local customs and culture of Gaozhou.

Han Yu expressed his gratitude but just then, his heart heavy with worry, he received another call from Shi Shengyong.

"Director Yu, the people from the Education Bureau just gave me a call back, they said that school conducts vocational training, which is of the same nature as the training classes run by our Linghai Electric University and Vocational Schools. It’s not part of academic education, so there’s no issue of whether it has the qualifications to recruit students in Linghai."

"But they still sent out admission letters!"

"That’s why there’s an issue with this school—it looks just like Li Kui while actually being Li Gui, appearing very regular and formal. Those who can’t tell the difference will be easily deceived."

This was also the first time Shi Shengyong had encountered such a situation. He looked up at the duty officer and continued, "The Education Bureau said that if they don’t have the qualifications to conduct education, then it is illegal. By coming to Linghai to recruit students, it is not only against the regulations but also against the law."

Han Yu propped his chin and asked, "Does running an illegal school count as illegal business operations?"

"That depends on the severity. If they don’t have educational qualifications, haven’t taught the students any skills, and haven’t arranged jobs with salaries as advertised, but purely for the sake of scamming tuition fees, and if the amount involved is huge, then it’s not only suspected of illegal business operations but also suspected of fraud!"

"There are many such schools over there."

"How do you know?"

"My father-in-law’s folks are serving in the military there; they are military officers, now deputy battalion commanders. They’ve been very helpful, running around all afternoon, specially going from their base to the city center to inquire for me. That school isn’t regular, doesn’t even have school buildings, and mostly recruits students from other places. The locals know the ins and outs of those schools and won’t spend money to enroll."

Shi Shengyong only knew that Salted Fish had taken over Xu Sanye’s connections, but didn’t expect Salted Fish to now have such extensive connections that he managed to find out the details of that school within just a few hours.

He was stunned for a moment, then said with knitted brows, "The newspapers are really something too, daring to publish any advertisement. Isn’t this abetting evil?"

Nowadays, many newspapers and magazines are becoming less and less proper.

As long as they are paid, they dare to publish any advertisement, containing all kinds of enrollment and recruitment information, various information on incoming goods processing or joint operations, and nine times out of ten, they are scams for money.

The TV stations are not much better. In the past, as long as you paid, they would help you request songs and such, now they also dare to broadcast any advertisement...

But those advertisers have big backers, and you, a minor officer, can’t do anything to them.

Han Yu sighed internally, looked up at the senior sister and Old Wang who had just walked in, and said, "Director Shi, the friend who helped this afternoon said that the security situation over there can’t compare with ours in Binjiang; it’s more chaotic and the local customs are quite fierce. The parents of the three children haven’t traveled far before; I’m not at ease just letting them go over there."

If East Guang wasn’t chaotic, it wouldn’t be East Guang.

During crackdowns, they often hold meetings to brief the situations. In the past two years, East Guang accounts for half of the gun-related cases in the whole country, and there are many highway bullies over there, with theft and robbery cases occurring from time to time. There are even motorcycle gangs who rob openly in broad daylight.

Thinking of the three rascals that had run away from home, two of them from his jurisdiction, Shi Shengyong scratched his neck and said, "Although this is neither a criminal case nor a security case, it involves three children and three families. In principle, we should arrange for an officer to accompany them on the trip, but you know the situation at our station; we can neither spare any manpower nor have the funds for it."

Old Wang was quite worried himself, which is why he followed Han Xiangning here. The telephone was quite loud, and he heard everything clearly, unable to stop himself from saying, "Salted Fish, as long as you can take us to find Xiao Sheng, money is not an issue. We’ll cover the travel expenses, it’s not much once split between the three families!"

Indeed, how much parents suffer for their children!

Han Yu could understand Old Wang’s anxious feelings at this moment, holding the phone tightly and saying, "Director Shi, you heard it too, the travel expenses are not a problem."

"Then shall we let Old Zhang or Old Ding go?"

"East Guang is too far away, it takes several days and nights by train. Uncle Zhang and Uncle Ding are old, they definitely can’t endure it."

"But I really can’t spare anyone on my end."

"If there’s really no other way, I’ll go."

"You’ll go?"

"There’s enough manpower on my end, and when I get to East Guang I can ask for help from Si Gang’s fellow townspeople."

Now, there indeed were not few people on the dunship.

There are two officers from Water Police Station, and several from the Changhang Fire Department. It is said that two officials and a volunteer soldier from the Binjiang Fire Department are on board "interning".

After weighing the options, Shi Shengyong said with a smile, "Then I’ll leave you to it, call me if there’s anything."

"It’s not hard, I’ll report to Director Liu first."

"Alright, let me know once you’ve decided to go."

Seeing Salted Fish decided to go personally, Old Wang was overjoyed, not knowing how to express his gratitude, while Han Yu had already dialed the pager station’s number.

Director Liu didn’t have a cellular phone, and his home didn’t have a landline installed.

He needed to find a phone to call back after receiving a message from the pager station.

While waiting for Uncle Liu to return the call, Han Yu asked Old Wang to quickly call and contact Xu Er’s father to tell him not to rush buying tickets. Then he stood up and walked out of the office, apologizing, "Ningning, Deputy Battalion Commander Wu said it’s really chaotic over there. I am not comfortable with just letting Old Wang and the others go look for them."

Han Xiangning was truly reluctant to let him travel far, but thinking of how worried Old Wang’s wife was, she hesitated and said, "If you want to go then go. After all, Xiao Sheng is a child of the Port Authority. Although you are not an official from the Port Authority, you are drawing a salary from them. When a staff member of the Port Authority faces troubles, both publicly and privately, you cannot ignore it."

"That’s what I was thinking."

"You’ll need to delegate your duties on the ship."

"I know, I will arrange everything on the ship once Uncle Liu calls back."

With the support of his senior sister, Han Yu felt both grateful and moved, thinking that he must buy some local specialties from East Guang upon his return. Just then, Old Wang came out and asked eagerly, "Salted Fish, Director Liu returned the call."

"Okay, I’ll go pick it up."

Han Yu returned to the office and picked up the phone to briefly report the situation.

Liu Xinmin had been working at Bailong Port for fifteen years, climbing from a regular police officer to the Director, who had been colleagues with people like Old Wang at the Port Authority before, and now, serving in the Changhang police force, he had become friends with the staff at the docks.

Old colleagues and friends encountered trouble, how could he stand by without lifting a finger? Without a second thought, he said, "Since travel expenses are not an issue, you should go with Old Wang and the others."

"Then I’ll have Xu Yunshan from Bailong Port’s Second Team book the tickets right away, and head out first thing tomorrow."

"Fine, be careful on the way, I’ll come back to Bailong Port early tomorrow to take over the shift."

...

After everything was arranged at the Police Station, he continued to delegate tasks on the dunship.

Old Jia had gone home in the afternoon, Chen Zikun was on duty on the dunship, and all the police and auxiliary police from the Water Firefighting Team were present.

Thinking about the recent changes in the Branch and the rumors received these past few days, Han Yu said helplessly, "Brother Chen, plans can never keep up with changes. There might be a hitch in the plans to transfer you here."

Director Zhang had been reassigned, and a new Director He came in, undertaking drastic reforms.

Chen Zikun was not entirely ignorant of this and asked with a forced easy smile, "What kind of hitch?"

"The Water Firefighting Team used to be a relatively independent deputy-director-level unit, but with the reforms, it has been turned into firefighting squads belonging to the Binjiang Port Police Station, Bailong Port Police Station, and Gaoru Port Police Station, respectively. The previous deputy-director-level unit no longer exists."

"So, there’s no longer a position like squad leader or Instructor?"

"Right."

Han Yu took a deep breath and continued, "However, the matter of transferring you here has always been on Political Commissioner Jiang and Director Li’s mind. Director Peng and Political Commissioner Wang also talked to Director He for you. Yesterday afternoon, I called Director Li, who said that Director He had nodded approval on the transfer, but the position..."

When you’re down on your luck, even drinking cold water chokes you.

The former head of the City Bureau urged the agency’s police officers to take leave without pay, but the new Director Chen did just the opposite, which made things very awkward for himself. With the help of several old leaders, it was finally decided to look for an opportunity to transfer to the Changhang Bureau, but then Director Zhang got reassigned.

Chen Zikun felt uncomfortable, but still forced a smile and asked, "Can’t arrange a position?"

"A position can still be arranged. If you’re willing to make the transfer, Director Li will appoint you as the Instructor of Bailong Port Firefighting Squad."

Han Yu turned to look at Zhang Ping and added, "Brother Zhang, unless there are unexpected events, the Bureau will soon appoint you as the squad leader of Bailong Port Firefighting Squad."

"Director Yu, I’m not qualified to be a squad leader; you’re not joking, are you?"

"It’s no joke. Besides, you’ve been an onboard police on the passenger ship for so many years. You have police work experience and are very familiar with the Changhang System. How can you not be qualified?"

Zhang Ping couldn’t believe it was true, as he hadn’t been at the Binjiang Branch for very long, and although he had been an onboard police before, it was a non-established position until several Jiangwu Passenger Ships ceased operation. Only after the superiors decided to reassign and promote these onboard police officers was he given a position.

Others were authentic Changhang Police, so it was normal for them to be promoted.

Chen Zikun was envious but not jealous and sincerely said, "Old Zhang, congratulations."

Not only was Gong Jian arranged to be at Bailong Port with Zhang Ping, but he also graduated from Binjiang Shipping School. After graduating, he was assigned to the Port Authority and counted as a person from the Yangtze Port and Navigation System like Zhang Ping. He had always regarded Zhang Ping as a big brother and couldn’t help but laugh, "Brother Zhang, we’ll have to call you Captain Zhang from now on!"

"Stop it, I... I..."

"Brother Zhang, this is the organization’s trust in you. Don’t be shy."

Han Yu smiled slightly and turned around, "Xiao Gong, go pack a few change of clothes quickly, you’ll come with me to East Guang early tomorrow."

"Director Yu, I’m going too?"

"Don’t you want to go?"

"I do!"

"That’s the spirit. Even though we’re police officers in the Changhang Police System, we can’t always stay on the ship; we need to go out and see the world."

Gong Jian hadn’t expected to have the chance to go on a business trip and was ecstatic.

As Han Yu signaled him to go back to the dorm and pack, he continued, "Brother Chen, after I leave, the security on the river and assisting the Third Team with enforcement will be in your hands. Brother Zhang, you’ll have to put a little extra effort into the dock, ferry points, and firefighting on the river."

"Don’t worry, we’re here, nothing will happen at home."

"Yeah, we assure you we’ll take good care of home."

Han Yu nodded and turned, "Uncle Fan, Uncle Zhu, the upkeep of the old relic rests on your shoulders. Once the ballast stones are all transferred to the barge, if the relic’s underwater hull is badly rusted, repair what can be repaired. If it really can’t be fixed, cut it out and replace it with new steel plates. Don’t scrimp on expenses."

Captain Fan laughed and said, "I guess quite a few plates will need to be replaced."

"I’ve talked to Manager Zhang, if you need steel plates, go pull them from there.The accounts with him can be settled once the old relic is repaired."

"We’re also short on paint."

The dunship and 001 are now assets of the Port Supervision Bureau, and although the "old relic" is not technically under the Port Supervision Bureau, it’s not far different.

The expense for the upkeep of these three vessels, so long as it’s not for major repairs, can be covered by the Port Supervision Bureau’s Third Team.

The Third Team has funds, and if they’re not spent on the maintenance of law enforcement vessels, once Huang Yuanchang, the "hands-off manager", returns from Hanwu, he might very well use them for official trips.

Before Han Yu could speak up, Han Xiangning smiled and said, "Captain Fan, if we’re short on paint, write up an order and I’ll go buy it later."