Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 114 - 101: The Child Who Never Grows Up

Chapter 114: Chapter 101: The Child Who Never Grows Up

New Year’s Day, known in Linghai as "Solar New Year."

The government and business institutions in the county get a holiday on New Year’s Day, but at Bailong Port it’s mainly about the villagers and tourists, so there isn’t a holiday like the Solar New Year.

But anyways, from today it’s 1989, and the new year ought to bring a new atmosphere.

Xu Sanye delivered two fish to the waiting room at Bailong Port and on the way bought a piece of red paper. He asked Old Qian, who is not highly educated but has good calligraphy skills, to write "Celebrate New Year’s Day" in four big characters, cut it out, and paste it at the entrance of the Police Station.

"Old Qian, your writing is really good. I’ll leave the Spring Festival couplets for my home to you this year."

"Alright, I’ll think about what to write then."

"No need to rack your brain, there are already people selling them at Bailong Port. You can take a look around to see how others are writing them when you have time." Xu Sanye laughed and raised his arm to check his watch.

Old Qian thought he was worried about the two fish, so he also rolled up his sleeve and checked his watch: "It’s time for ticket checking now, everyone on the boat is familiar, the two kids should be fine."

Xu Sanye turned and glanced towards the north at the big bridge, nonchalantly saying: "If Liang Xiaoyu were traveling alone, I definitely wouldn’t be at ease, but he’s going out to see the world with Salted Fish. With Salted Fish there, there’s no need to worry. If he can’t even make it back from East Sea, then his junior college education would be wasted."

Little Salted Fish, graduated from junior college and is educated, so even if he gets lost, he can still ask for directions.

Old Qian also felt there was nothing to worry about and chuckled: "He said he was going to buy books, but I think he might be going to meet that shipping company girl."

"No need to guess, he’s definitely going to meet that girl."

"Today is Solar New Year, and he’s already seventeen; starting to date now isn’t too early."

"If it’s a proper relationship, I think dating the girl from the Port Supervision Bureau is better. Both are junior college graduates, attended the same school, and studied the same major, which means they have common topics."

Xu Sanye took out a cigarette, flicked one out and handed it to Old Qian, then said with a hint of regret: "It’s a shame he’s two years younger and not as tall as her. Even if he likes her, she probably wouldn’t reciprocate."

Old Qian took the cigarette and pulled out a match: "I heard that the shipping company girl is not short and quite pretty."

"That’s different, he and the shipping company girl have grown up together, childhood sweethearts, and are the same age with similar family conditions."

"If that’s the case, then the shipping company girl does seem to be a good match."

"But she has gone to East Sea, and few young people who go there ever want to come back."

"Director Xu, do you not think highly of the shipping company girl?"

"It’s not that I don’t think highly of her. It’s mainly that even strong feelings can hardly withstand the tests of time and distance. I’ve seen many similar cases, and how many of them turn out successful?"

Just as they were speaking, Li Weiguo arrived at the gate riding his bicycle.

"Director Xu, has Wu Ren Guang arrived?"

"I told him 8:30 yesterday; it’s only 8:10 now."

"The two fish?"

"They should be on the boat now."

Li Weiguo wasn’t worried about Salted Fish and Liang Xiaoyu either, he didn’t ask further but instead smiled and said: "Is Director Yu coming today?"

Director Xu handed over a cigarette, slightly resentfully: "He didn’t leave last night, the dunship we built by scraping together our last penny, we haven’t even stayed on it, but he stayed first. He’s on the boat writing materials now, said to call him via radio once everyone arrives."

Scholar Yu is very concerned about the water security work, and places great importance on the upcoming operation of the Yanjiang Police Station.

Li Weiguo felt it was somewhat funny, and reminded: "Director Xu, cracking down on the thugs and bullies at the inland river terminal is our Police Bureau’s operation, is it appropriate for him to get involved?"

"If we don’t let him get involved now, how will we let him take the lead in dealing with the water bandits on the river in the future?"

Director Xu countered with a question, flicking the ash from his cigarette: "For the thugs and bullies within Linghai, as long as we set our minds to it, we can take them all down in one go. Water bandits on the river are different from the bullies we watch over, they commit crimes here today and wreak havoc somewhere else tomorrow. It’s not easy to find them, and gathering evidence is even harder."

Water bandit gangs commit crimes on the move, and especially on the river, making it difficult to take action.

Li Weiguo asked quietly: "What are your plans next?"

"Secure the inside before dealing with external threats; once the joint Criminal Investigation Team takes down the bullies under our watch, we’ll ask Scholar Yu to lead a meeting with the heads of the police bureaus of several districts and counties along the Yanjiang, to organize a major operation under the name of the Water Police Division."

Xu Sanye paused, then pointed towards the Yangtze River: "We could even ask Scholar Yu to liaise with colleagues across the river. Even if they can’t offer much help, they could help us gather some clues. In any case, dealing with water bandits on the river is definitely impossible with just our own efforts."

Li Weiguo knew that his recruitment of Scholar Yu wasn’t just about getting help with paperwork or shifts.

He couldn’t help but chuckle and ask: "Does this mean that his official seal is somewhat useful?"

"If left to his own devices, his stamp is worth nothing, and his Water Police Bureau would just be a shell company. But with our push, his shell company can turn legitimate, at least in the eyes of others."

"It seems we need to improve our relationship with him."

"No need to fawn over him purposefully; the way things are now is quite fine."

Director Xu took a drag of his cigarette, then smiled and added: "I almost forgot, the internal departments of the City Bureau have changed names again: the Police Department is now called the Police Team, the Criminal Investigation Department is now called the Criminal Investigation Team, and Scholar Yu’s Water Security Department has become the Water Police Department, while also being labeled as the Water Police Division."