Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 124 - 107: Quite Reasonable and Not Excessive

Chapter 124: Chapter 107: Quite Reasonable and Not Excessive

After Director Jin and Han Xiangning locked the money in the safe, and Sister Zhu finished calling the bureau, Old Zhang, who had just received his driver’s license, also rushed to the riverside on a three-wheeled bike.

Xu Sanye called everyone together to have dinner in the police station’s canteen, leaving Old Zhang to stand guard on the dunship.

The dinner could be called a "Full Fish Banquet," featuring braised, steamed, fried, and stewed fish dishes—every single one was fish, except for a single braised pork dish, a true Yanjiang Police Station specialty.

It seemed that the female comrades all liked fish, and were not too fond of meat.

Sister Zhu and Han Xiangning ate with great relish, praising Old Qian’s culinary skill nonstop.

Scholar Yu was also there and, at the insistent invitation of Xu Sanye, took the seat of honor.

Today’s meal was a welcoming banquet, so there had to be some alcohol.

Xu Sanye raised his glass on behalf of Yanjiang Police Station and even Linghai Police Bureau, expressing a welcome to the arrival of the Port Patrol Third Team.

Scholar Yu was even more remarkable, representing both Binjiang City Public Security Bureau Water Police Brigade and Binjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau Water Police Branch in offering welcome.

After the guests had helped so much in the afternoon, they gave such respect in the evening.

Jin Weiguo, who had been on the back burner for many years, was flattered by the hospitality and, just like Director Dong’s last visit, quickly became so drunk he could hardly speak clearly.

Sister Zhu was an absolute heroine among women, helping Jin Weiguo drink several toasts as if they were water, with not even a blush on her face.

Xu Sanye hadn’t expected her to be so good at drinking, but considering she was a female comrade, he decided to cut it off there and kept urging Sister Zhu to eat fish.

Scholar Yu, rarely sitting at the head of the table, was not yet satisfied and eagerly held his wine glass, ready to try.

Experience is gained through past mistakes.

Han Xiangning had seen how the Yanjiang Police Station guys had gotten Director Dong drunk and set him up, and not wanting to see Sister Zhu fall for their trick, quickly found an excuse to pull her out.

"What are you doing, I’m fine." The cold wind howled at the door, and Sister Zhu shivered from the cold, hastily putting on her coat and hat.

Han Xiangning peeked inside and worriedly said, "That’s how they got Director Dong drunk last time!"

Sister Zhu couldn’t help but laugh: "I’m not Director Dong, and besides, Director Xu has already backed down seeing that I’m a woman. As for Director Yu, you can tell at a glance he can’t hold his liquor. If he dares challenge me, watch how I’ll drink him under the table."

This elder sister here could really hold her liquor; it’s said even several deputy directors couldn’t outdrink her.

Han Xiangning realized there was no need to worry about her, and simply began to awkwardly discuss the conditions her little brother had proposed.

"Just some utility bills, telephone charges, and the salary for a driver?"

"Sister Zhu, what do you mean ’just some’."

"They provide people, guns, and ships to assist us in law enforcement, these requests are very reasonable."

"Reasonable, not excessive?" Han Xiangning thought she had heard wrong.

Sister Zhu looked back, wrapped her arm around her shoulder, and said with a laugh, "There are things you don’t know about. Even when we collaborated with the police for law enforcement, we had to pay them. Not just money, but also provide meals and drinks, and after the operation, we had to thank them as if we were begging them."

"Ah..."

"Who made us powerless without guns?"

Sister Zhu patted her shoulder and sighed, "I called the bureau leaders from the ship to report on this afternoon’s work, and they couldn’t believe it went so smoothly, so what they’re asking for isn’t too much."

Han Xiangning asked in surprise, "Can the bureau leaders agree to their conditions?"

"This matter I can agree to."

"Don’t you need to report to the bureau first?"

"What do you think I’m here for? The bureau leaders are worried that Director Jin doesn’t have the nerve; they’ve already given me full authority."

Sister Zhu smiled slightly and then quickly changed the subject: "I didn’t get the chance to tell you this afternoon, and it’s not too late to say it now. The bureau leaders’ attitude is clear; their law enforcement ships and staff, invested in by smashing pots and selling metal, are all serving us, and we can’t be petty.

You can’t treat them as outsiders, you should see them as our own, let them feel the sincerity and even warmth of our Port Supervision Bureau.

Financially and in other aspects, we can consider them a security section within our bureau, you can think of it as the relationship between the Port Authority and Binjiang Port Police Station."

It turns out the bureau leaders had a grand strategy all along.

Thinking that it takes a big investment for a big return, Han Xiangning asked with a hidden smile, "Absorb them!"

"In terms of ideology, assimilate them, and on the financial side, fully support them. But it’s not true absorption; if they really became law enforcement officers of the Port Supervision like us, then the previous work and investments would become meaningless."

"Indeed, we not only need to use their ships, but we also need their deterrent power."

"Good to know, but in our daily work, we must be humble, must respect them, and can’t let them think we are arrogant or superior just because we give them some money."

"I understand, I know."

"For Director Yu, we must also show respect. No matter what, he is the director of the Water Police Branch, and as long as he is there, your brother and the others will be able to assist us in law enforcement in the name of the Water Police Branch."

"Sister Zhu, Salted Fish and the others can assist us in enforcement without the name of the Water Police Branch."

"That’s possible in Linghai Waters, but the Yangtze River jurisdiction of our bureau is not just this small segment of Linghai North Branch. Ningning, you’re now capable of handling things on your own; you must have a big-picture outlook."

Han Xiangning thought for a moment and then asked with a smile, "Sister Zhu, are you saying if necessary, we’ll have Salted Fish go elsewhere to assist us?"

Sister Zhu looked back again to make sure that the people from Yanjiang Police Station hadn’t come out, and said with deep meaning, "Why ask others for help if you can manage on your own? We are also a Standard Department Level unit; before Director Feng’s transfer, he was a Commander-level leading cadre. As long as we do our work well here, Director Feng won’t have to beg the City Police Department like previous leaders did."

"Understood!"

"Go ask your brother, besides the utility bills, telephone charges, and the salary for a driver, what else they need. Make it clear to him that as long as it’s beneficial for maintaining waterway traffic safety, they should propose whatever they need."

"Alright, I’ll go ask."

...

The leaders address each other as brothers, chatting and laughing lively.

Han Yu felt incredibly awkward, thinking to himself that the others didn’t know about the bunch of conditions raised by the station. If Sister Xiang had mentioned it to them, they surely wouldn’t be pleased.

Just as he was pondering how embarrassed he would be to greet them tomorrow, Sister Xiang came over and patted his shoulder: "Salted Fish, have you eaten?"

"I’ve eaten, Sister Xiang Ning, what’s up?"

"Go relieve Director Zhang after you eat; Director Zhang hasn’t had a chance to eat until now."

"Oh."

Han Yu quickly came to his senses and stood up: "Director Xu, Director Yu, Director Jin, Sister Zhu, please continue eating, I’ll go relieve Director Zhang."

"Go ahead, it’s slippery on the road, drive slowly."

"I’m not driving, I’m walking over."

"That works too. It’s not far to walk."

"Salted Fish, I’ll walk back with you."

Han Xiangning smiled sweetly and pulled him along with her.

Seeing the two getting along so well, Xu Sanye was very happy and pointed at them laughing: "Look at them, Director Jin, aren’t they just like real siblings, haha."

"Ningning has always been like a big sister to Salted Fish, right, Director Xu? I’ll drink to you."

"Director Jin, let’s drink less, we’ve got to work tomorrow."

Han Yu was far from as happy as the director. Knowing the conditions they proposed were somewhat excessive, he felt really uneasy and nervous when Sister Xiang called him out.

Trying to suppress her laughter, Han Xiangning feigned displeasure and urged: "Hurry up, why are you dawdling?"

"Sister Xiang Ning, did you report to Sister Zhu just now?"

"Scared?"

"I... what’s there to be afraid of, I just feel a bit... embarrassed."

"You feel embarrassed now, do you realize that what you’re doing is overstepping?"

The road was solidly frozen with melted snow, and the snow that hadn’t melted was also hard as rock, crunching underfoot.

The wind howled; it was truly cold outside.

Han Yu put on his coat and hat, tucking his hands into his sleeves, and muttered, "Don’t speak so harshly, we’re doing it for work."

"It sounds as if you’re the only ones who know about work, as if no one else does."

"Sister Xiang Ning, are your leaders upset?"

"No, our leaders said it’s no problem."

Han Yu was skeptical: "Really?"

The road was too slippery, and he had nearly slipped and fallen just now.

Han Xiangning, with her cotton-gloved right hand on his shoulder, walked alongside him, proudly saying, "Why would I lie to you? Our leaders said as long as it helps maintain safety of water traffic, feel free to propose whatever is needed."

"Feel free to propose!"

"The premise is that it has to contribute to the safety of water traffic."

"I understand, our Director Xu is very principled, he wouldn’t make unreasonable demands."

"When you get to the dunship, you call or use the walkie-talkie to ask your station leaders. Think of everything you need all at once instead of making one request today and another tomorrow, otherwise our bureau leaders might not say much, but they’ll definitely have thoughts about it."

"I get it, Sister Xiang Ning, you’ve really helped me out, thank you so much."

"What are sisters for?"

"You’re like my real sister, just as good as my own."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie, I’m speaking from the heart."

Although she had a twin sister at home, separated by just a few minutes in birth, she never saw herself as the older sister and even questioned her identity as one from childhood.

She had never thought she would have a brother; now that she thought about it, having a brother wasn’t too bad.

Han Xiangning chuckled and patted his shoulder: "Since you treat me like a real sister, from today onward you’ll have to be at my beck and call."

"Sure, as long as I’m not on another task, just tell me what you need."

"That’s what you said."

"I said it, and I’ll make sure of it."

"Make sure you follow through, no backsies."

"I promise no backsies."

Han Xiangning had been waiting for those words. She stopped in her tracks, looked back to make sure the people from the station and Director Jin’s group hadn’t followed, and said with a mix of awkwardness and embarrassment, "Everything on the dunship is fine, it’s just inconvenient to use the toilet at night."

Han Yu hadn’t expected her to mention this and was at a loss for how to respond.

Not caring for propriety, Han Xiangning continued, "You have to walk across a floating bridge for tens of meters. The embankment is empty and desolate, with nothing for miles around, pitch-black at night, just thinking about it scares me."

Han Yu asked in a quiet voice, "Should I accompany you?"

This was an embarrassing issue to speak of, but embarrassment or not, it had to be faced. Han Xiangning quietly said, "Not just accompany me, but Sister Zhu too. We can only ask you, it’s embarrassing and inconvenient to ask others."

Going to the toilet at night, especially in the wee hours, indeed posed a problem for female colleagues.

Han Yu quickly said, "No problem, don’t worry. Before you go to bed every night, make sure to take a walkie-talkie to your dorm. If you need to use the toilet, just call me on the walkie-talkie, and I’ll escort you there."