Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 153 - 126 Each to Their Own Ambitions_2

Chapter 153: Chapter 126 Each to Their Own Ambitions_2

Big Sister wearing her police uniform looks so different from before; as Ji Xiaohong admires this, she hears her brother-in-law outside asking, "Sister-in-law, Sister, may I come in to see Xiao Yu?"

"Come in, what’s there to be shy about?"

"I’m worried it might be inconvenient."

"You’re still so young, what’s inconvenient for you?"

Han Yu chuckles and pushes the door open to peek at his nephew, "Sister, Xiao Yu has gotten whiter and even chubbier since we last visited."

Han Ning points at Ji Xiaohong, "That’s thanks to your sister-in-law’s efforts."

Feeling a bit embarrassed being teased, Ji Xiaohong asked, "San’er, where’s Dongdong?"

"He’s gone onto the boat to see his grandpa."

"Just keep a close eye on him, the riverbank’s frozen over, he mustn’t fall into the river."

"My brother-in-law is watching him; there won’t be any trouble."

...

Those who work on boats year-round have a simple New Year’s; they celebrate wherever the boat is anchored, seldom returning to their ancestral home.

Firstly, because it’s too far and inconvenient to go back and forth.

Secondly, you can’t leave the boat unattended. Even if someone helps keep an eye on it, you’d still worry once ashore, not feeling completely at ease.

It’s not easy for the Han family to have such a big reunion like today.

Han Zhengxian couldn’t be happier, holding his little grandson as soon as he disembarked, he asked, "San’er, why did you bring so many New Year goods!"

"Not all from me, some are from Sister and Brother-in-law."

"The cigarettes and alcohol are from my dad!" worried that his grandpa might be confused, Dongdong, hugging Old Han’s neck, emphasized.

"I know."

Han Zhengxian pats his little grandson’s back, continuing to inquire, "Did your unit give out New Year goods again?"

Han Yu explains, "It’s not from our unit, but from another one; I’m not sure which. Actually, there was more, but it was too much, so I gave some to Liang Xiaoyu and Old Zhu. They’re both on the Cooperative Defense Team and only have the New Year goods distributed by the station, plus Xiao Yu’s family is really struggling."

"Uncle, my mom and dad’s unit also gave out lots of stuff!"

"Stop showing off, come down and eat."

"I’m not hungry, I’m not eating."

Having an official job or not really makes a difference, receiving so much for New Year.

Han Zhengxian is elated, with the nosy neighbors looking on in envy.

But, with two members of the Han family in the police force, they no longer dare to look down on the Han family or gossip as they did before.

Zhang Jiangkun, more worldly than Han Yu, smiles and hands out cigarettes to the male neighbors, and shares some melon seeds, peanuts, and candy with the children, before heading into the main hall at Old Ji’s invitation. They sit around the Eight Immortals table to have breakfast and start discussing serious matters.

With both sister and brother living a better life than the other, Han Shen feels somewhat sour inside. Someone in his twenties has become so sullen and silent, only eating a few bites before pulling out a cigarette.

Han Yu, not understanding, asks, "Brother, when did you start smoking?"

"It’s been a while now. I smoke to stay awake when sailing at night, and ended up getting hooked."

Thinking his younger brother doesn’t like the smell of smoke, Han Shen quickly snuffs it out and tucks the half-smoked remainder into his pocket.

Han Zhengxian knows his eldest son is also proud, putting down his chopsticks, "San’er, I’ve discussed changing boats with your brother, and these past few days I’ve been asking friends for help. Even though our two boats are cement ships, they have all the required permits and are affiliated with a shipping company, there are people interested in buying."

Han Yu eagerly asks, "So, are we selling?"

"We’re still negotiating. If the price is right, we’ll sell. We can afford a little loss, but not too much."

Han Zhengxian looks at his daughter and son-in-law, continuing, "After selling, I’m thinking of getting a hundred-ton iron boat. These past years I’ve been preoccupied with changing boats, and now I’m tired of it. Might as well take out a bigger loan for a larger one, so we don’t have to keep changing them."

Han Ning is startled, "Dad, how much money will we need to borrow from the bank to get a hundred-ton iron boat?"

"To build a new hundred-ton boat will probably cost around one hundred and seventy to eighty thousand. I plan to borrow one hundred and fifty thousand from the bank."

"Can the bank even lend you so much at once?"

"I asked the bank; they said it shouldn’t be a problem. After all, your mom and I are employees of the shipping company, and even though we’re not currently taking a salary from them, we’ll have our pensions when we retire. Plus, borrowing this loan isn’t for some other purpose; I still have another boat."

The bigger the boat, the more advantageous it is for transportation.

Even though various expenses have increased, the cost per ton of cargo is still more competitive than before.

Han Yu well knows it’s impossible to get his parents to leave the river, as no matter what they do on land, they won’t make as much money as sailing.

He looks back at his brother, asking softly, "Who will steer the boat once it’s built?"

"Me, I’ll be on the boat with mom."

"And you, Brother?"

"I’ll head over to my Big Uncle and Second Uncle’s place." Han Shen hesitates, then adds, "After the New Year, your sister-in-law and I will bring Xiao Yu to Sanxing Town."

Baffled, Han Ning asks, "Why go to Sanxing?"

"A few days ago, I went to deliver New Year presents to Grandpa, Grandma, Big Uncle, and Second Uncle. Uncle asked if I’d like to rent a stall at the expanded wholesale market to do business with him."

"Do you have a supply source? Do you know how to do business?"

"I can get supplies from Big Uncle and Second Uncle, no need to spend money on stock. If I don’t know how to do business, I can learn. Uncle and Auntie will teach me."

Sanxing Town’s business in sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases is genuinely booming.

It’s said that the number of stalls at the Sanxing Dishiqiao Embroidery Wholesale Market has grown to over four thousand, with a daily turnover reaching millions of yuan.

Turning what used to be the poorest place in Linghai, Sanxing Town, into the first "hundred-million-yuan town" north of the Yangtze River in the province!

Big Uncle and Second Uncle have been in this trade since seven or eight years ago, initially only taking on some scattered work.

Han Yu clearly remembers as a child, while attending school at his maternal grandparents’, watching Big Uncle, Second Uncle, and their wives busily cutting fabric, sewing, tacking hems, and embroidering.