Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 216 - 168: All Grown Up!

Chapter 216: Chapter 168: All Grown Up!

After eating, they headed to Binjiang.

Xu Sanye felt that a case of Qingdao beer wouldn’t cut it, so he asked Old Qian to prepare some special produce from Yanjiang Police Station.

No one at the station eats fish anymore, but whenever Old Qian has some time, he goes fishing and shrimp catching.

He doesn’t sell them, mainly giving them to everyone to bring home, with Zhang Junyan and Old Liu from Bailong Port Police Station also benefiting.

Considering that Master Han’s family are genuine city dwellers, they might not care for Crucian Carp.

Old Qian pulled up the several cage nets hanging in the water, packing two Chinese Perch (Mandarin Fish), over three jin of whitebait, over one jin of Knife Fish, and over two jin of Yangtze River shrimp that had been kept for several days, into a bucket fashioned from a white "Jiebuka" (white plastic barrel used for carrying oil).

Chinese Perch is delicious and almost boneless; it has become very rare now.

Whitebait and Knife Fish have many bones; no one wanted to eat them before, but now they’re quite expensive.

The shrimp are caught with basket nets; catching is tough, and it’s hard to say how long it took to accumulate these two jin of shrimp.

Han Yu felt a bit guilty about giving away Old Qian’s hard-earned catch as a gift and made excuses not to bring them to Binjiang.

But Director Xu said since the radar was repaired with their help, it would be improper not to show some appreciation. Plus, if the radar malfunctions again, they would need to ask for help, leaving Han Yu no choice but to bring everything begrudgingly.

After a long bus ride, he arrived in Binjiang at half-past four in the afternoon.

Carrying his travel bag, in one hand a case of canned beer and in the other a plastic bucket filled with fish and shrimp, he exited the bus station only to see his senior sister joyfully waving from under a Chinese parasol tree.

The weather was hot and everyone was dressed in light clothes.

She wore a white Dique Liang shirt with a floral skirt and a pair of pretty sandals, appearing even taller and more beautiful than she did during the Spring Festival.

"San’er, over here."

"I see you, Sister Ningning. You cut your hair?"

Han Xiangning shook her short hair and grinned, "Don’t like it?"

Han Yu paused, then chuckled, "Not that it’s unattractive, just takes some getting used to. Why cut such nice long hair?"

"Everyday washing and combing is a hassle, besides, I’m not a child anymore. I don’t want the same hairstyle as Mengmeng, nor do I want to dress the same as her like before."

"That’s probably for the best, less chance of confusion."

"Why did you bring so much stuff? Who’s it for?"

"It’s for your dad. The beer is from Qingdao, the fish and shrimp are from Uncle Qian."

"Thinking to bring something for my dad, looks like his affection wasn’t wasted on you." Han Xiangning took the plastic bucket and placed it on the scooter’s footboard, then turned and asked, "Did you bring me any gifts?"

Han Yu scratched his head, looking embarrassed, "No, I didn’t manage it. I don’t even know what you like."

Han Xiangning muttered, "You could’ve just bought anything, even a piece of candy would’ve made me happy."

"Sister Ningning, I’m sorry."

"What are you apologizing for? I was just teasing."

Han Xiangning knew he was frugal and saving up money for a collective housing project. It was difficult for him to buy a case of canned beer from so far away, especially since canned beer isn’t cheap. She resignedly grabbed his hand, "Don’t move."

"What for?"

"Salted Fish, you’ve grown taller!"

"Hmm." This was definitely something worth being happy about; Han Yu grinned foolishly.

Han Xiangning had him stand up straight, compared their height, touched the top of his head and then her own, chuckling, "You really grew, about the same height as me now."

Han Yu replied with a smile, "One meter sixty-seven, measured this morning."

"Not bad, I’m only one meter sixty-six. Guess I’ve watched you grow up."

"..."

"Stinks, you’re drenched in sweat and smell of cigarettes. Salted Fish, have you learned to smoke?"

"No, there was a passenger smoking on the bus, right next to me."

"Good you haven’t, I hate smoking the most." Han Xiangning giggled, "Where to now?"

"I want to visit my sister and also see Director Yu and Political Commissioner Wang, but it’s inconvenient with all this stuff."

"Let’s go to my place first, have dinner, then visit your sister. You can go to the Water Police Station tomorrow."

"To your place for dinner?"

"My parents mentioned several times that if you come to Binjiang, you must visit our home. Besides, you brought so many things."

"That isn’t very polite."

"There’s nothing improper about it, get on the bike."

On such a hot summer day, both were lightly dressed. The light motorcycle was tiny, and pressing up against Sister Ningning’s back, Han Yu felt very uncomfortable and was too shy to wrap his arms around her like before.

Han Xiangning noticed his discomfort, pushed off the ground, turned and said, "I’ll hold the stuff, I’ll sit in back, you drive."

"Sister Ningning, you should drive instead. The beer is heavy, and the bag is heavy, you might not be able to carry it."

"Then sit tight, otherwise I can’t drive like this."

"Okay."

"Hold me tight, I’m not scared, what are you embarrassed about?"

"My hands are sweaty..."

"You can wipe it!"

Han Yu had no choice but to gently encircle her waist with his left arm.

Her waist was so slim and soft; holding her felt surprisingly peculiar. Han Yu dared not keep his hand there, quickly clenched it into a fist, and simply hooked his arm around.

Han Xiangning glanced down, snorting with laughter, "Seeing as you’ve grown up, you know that men and women shouldn’t touch."

She grew up in the military, there’s nothing she wouldn’t say.

Han Yu’s cheeks turned red, and he quickly changed the subject, "Sister Ningning, is the Traffic Control Center busy?"

"With so many boats traversing the Binjiang Waters every day, we’re very busy."

Han Xiangning thought again and added, "Especially entering summertime, the weather is scorching, and many ships carrying hazardous chemicals sail or even anchor in our Binjiang Waters. If something goes wrong, it can be a major incident."