Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 244 - 182: There’s Another Bad News

Chapter 244: Chapter 182: There’s Another Bad News

The Water Police Station’s new office building by the river has started construction, but it won’t be completed until the end of next year.

The current office environment, although not ideal, is better than when they first arrived.

The garbage by the river was cleaned up long ago in collaboration with the sanitation department, and after numerous discussions with the aquaculture company, they no longer discharge wastewater into the river. Unlike before, when garbage piled up, wastewater flowed everywhere, and the stench filled the air.

In April this year, they even hired a bricklayer to build a small dock on the riverbank, where three law enforcement boats are now moored.

One is a small speedboat sponsored by Bailong Port Shipyard, now registered as Binjiang Water Police 003.

One is a patrol boat from the Port District Bureau, 7 meters long with a small deck at the stern that can accommodate five or six people.

Due to being almost scrapped from disrepair, it was towed to Bailong Port Shipyard for repairs by Boss Wu, who replaced the diesel engine, and it’s now registered as Binjiang Water Police 004, temporarily in use.

One is an inland river traffic boat left idle after the restructuring of Binjiang Shipping Company, 12 meters long with a small deck at the stern as well, well-maintained and not in need of major repairs, just repainted and fitted with a police light, registered as Binjiang Water Police 005.

They hired four drivers, two of whom are from the restructured shipping company, one is a retired employee from the aquaculture company, and one is a veteran worker from Binjiang County Shipping Company.

Although there are drivers, the three law enforcement boats can’t withstand strong winds and waves, only patrolling the river when it is calm.

However, these three small boats have played a significant role in the past few months.

Sometimes they head to various ship locks along Yanjiang to enforce the law jointly with Port Supervision.

Sometimes they go to major anchorages in Binjiang Waters to conduct security inspections on the anchored boats.

Half a month ago, during a patrol inspection at Anchorage 6, they discovered a ship collecting scrap that had purchased over two hundred kilograms of stainless steel plates from "Donggua 42".

Deputy Director Zhou Hong immediately arranged for Captain Chen Zikun and others to monitor the situation, and they found that Donggua 42 had sold over sixty kilograms of copper wire.

Early this morning, three individuals from Donggua 42, surnamed Yu, Jin, and Qian, were summoned.

After interrogations this morning, it was discovered that from this March to six days ago, the three individuals had stolen over five hundred kilograms of aluminum pipes and a significant amount of stainless steel and other industrial materials from Binjiang Chemical Factory on twelve separate occasions.

Chen Zikun was about to transfer the three offenders to the detention center and then head to Binjiang Chemical Factory for investigation and evidence collection when Zhao Hongxing and others, who had assisted Customs in cracking down on smuggling, returned.

Cracking down on smuggling was a major operation. Captain Chen felt regretful for not participating due to his involvement in monitoring earlier. As soon as Zhao Hongxing and others hopped off the jeep, he approached and asked, "Captain Zhao, did you catch those smugglers?"

"We caught them, the people and the goods."

"How many did you catch, and where?"

"We caught twelve smugglers."

Zhao Hongxing glanced back at Ma Jintao, Lv Xiangping, Liu Xinpei, and other brothers who looked dispirited from participating in the arrest operation, while heading to the office, he continued, "We boarded the Law Enforcement Boat 001 from Yanjiang Police Station, monitored the radar-tracked cargo ship we had information on, and followed it all the way to Wusong Port."

Chen Zikun exclaimed, "You followed it to the East Sea?"

"Luckily, Director Xu had solid connections. He used a satellite phone to contact leaders at the Changhang Police East Sea Branch,

asked for their cooperation with the East Sea Shipping Police Bureau, and after three days and nights of monitoring at Wusong Port, they successfully intercepted the Shen Nan 4901 and Shen Feng 6101 fishing boats, seized over 1222 boxes of foreign cigarettes on the spot, and captured five suspects.

Through interrogations, we learned that more fishing boats were involved, so together with Customs’ Director Zeng, we continued to wait expecting more, stationed on the river for two more days, and intercepted two more boats with foreign cigarettes.

The main suspect, surnamed Xu from Zhehai Province, had hired eight fishing boats from Luchao Port with a high salary, heading out to sea to Hua Niao Island to transfer goods with foreign cargo ships. From February 4th this year until his arrest, he had smuggled foreign cigarettes fourteen times, involving over ten million in value and more than eighty individuals."

Over ten million in involved funds!

Missing such a major case, Chen Zikun almost felt sick with regret, his face grim as he asked, "What about the smugglers?"

"It wasn’t just us involved in the action, Xu Mingyuan and his team also participated, and since they are investigators, they were the main force assisting Customs. The seized foreign cigarettes were sent to the Customs warehouse, and the eight fishing boats were detained at Bailong Port anchorage. Those smugglers should be in the detention center of Linghai Police Bureau by now."

Having participated in a significant operation, but performing unsatisfactorily.

Zhao Hongxing, feeling equally regretful, sat down at his desk, pulled out a cigarette, pointing at Ma Jintao and others who were sad: "We are water police, yet we got seasick. Everyone was vomiting, couldn’t even stand straight, luckily we didn’t mess up during the arrest, or we would have lost even more face, all the way to East Sea!"

The waters of Wusong Port are not far from the sea entrance, where the winds are harsh and waves are high, unlike the calm anchorages, much less like ship locks.

Coming to a realization, Chen Zikun quickly inquired, "Did Xu Mingyuan and his team get seasick?"

"You won’t believe it, but those landlubbers didn’t get seasick."

"They hardly ever boarded ships, how could they not get seasick!"

"Director Xu had Xu Mingyuan organize anti-seasickness training. There were rollers and revolving stairs in the yard of the Fourth Squad, and this summer, they even built a wave bridge by the river and conducted several river combat skills drills forcefully on the 001."

"Does Director Xu get seasick?"

"By now, Director Xu is almost like the drivers, how could he possibly get seasick."

"Director Xu was driving the boat?"

"He and Captain Wang took turns driving, even Old Zhang can read radar and assess water depth."

"Didn’t Salted Fish come back? Wasn’t he involved in the operation?"

"Director Xu didn’t let him participate, instead had him and Xiao Yu join the civilian soldier training. To quote Director Xu, Salted Fish is learning to operate sea vessels now, he’s at East Sea Marine Bureau almost daily going out to sea, such a minor scene doesn’t need him."

Yanjiang Police Station and the Criminal Investigation Fourth Squad seemed more professional than the Water Police Station, the more Zhao Hongxing thought about it, the more frustrated he became, raising his head he added: "The civilian soldier training ended yesterday, Director Xu told him to rest for two days and then report to our division."

Chen Zikun confusedly asked, "What is Salted Fish coming to do?"

"You ask me, but who do I ask? Let’s see how Director Yu and Political Commissioner Wang arrange it."

Zhao Hongxing, having drifted on the river for many days, was still dizzy from seasickness, finished his cigarette, got up, and headed to the second-floor dormitory, intending to shower, change into clean clothes, and get some good sleep.

Ma Jintao and the others didn’t leave, closing the door with a bitter smile, said to Captain Chen, "There’s more bad news."

"What’s the bad news?"

"Ningning has a boyfriend now."

"Who?"

Liu Xinpei sat down and said, "Salted Fish."

Chen Zikun couldn’t believe it was true and exclaimed in shock, "How could it be Salted Fish? They both share the surname Han, and Xiang Ning is two years older than Salted Fish. Salted Fish is just a kid!"

Lv Xiangping sighed heavily and said with a distressed face, "Xiao Yu told us. We didn’t believe it at first either, but after asking Director Xu and Instructor Li, we found out they really got together, and now it’s almost like they’re engaged."

"Impossible!"

"I’m not lying to you, he now calls Xiang Ning’s parents mom and dad and he has already moved into Xiang Ning’s house."

Chen Zikun still couldn’t believe it and muttered, "Xiang Ning has always treated him like a younger brother, plus he’s a boatman, doesn’t even have a home ashore. How could Xiang Ning possibly like him?"

Ma Jintao said helplessly, "If he weren’t a boatman, if he had a home on land, this might not have happened."

"What do you mean?"

"He moved into her family’s home."

"Moved into her family’s home... How could he do that, do his parents know?"

"Their family has two sons, his parents need to support his older brother, so they let him manage his own affairs. If he can move into Xiang Ning’s home, his parents definitely agree."

"That’s possible? That’s just absurd, isn’t he afraid of being laughed at?"

"Instructor Li said he’s not afraid of being laughed at, and even takes pride in it. As for Xiang Ning, she seems not to be afraid of being laughed at for dating a boyfriend two years younger."

"What the heck is this, if I knew this would happen, I..."

"Captain Chen, actually we should have anticipated this. When they were at Bailong Port, they were very close, the two of them were always together, Xiang Ning even called him to accompany her to the bathroom."

As soon as Ma Jintao finished speaking, Lv Xiangping murmured, "They were schoolmates, they knew each other early on. Not like us, didn’t dare and were embarrassed to always look for Xiang Ning."

"Even if you dared, you wouldn’t have the guts, it would be the same with no chance for you."

"Old Ma, what do you mean by that?"

"We are contract police officers, Captain Chen is a full-time officer and a university graduate, it’s never going to be our turn."

"What’s the point of saying this now?" Chen Zikun regretted not taking initiative earlier, thinking if he had known that Salted Fish would benefit from being close, he should have been more proactive then.

...

Meanwhile, Han Xiangmeng, who had just gotten off work, was looking through the clothes her sister had bought.

"Sweaters, cotton pants, socks, underwear... Ningning, you even bought underwear for San’er!"

"He keeps his money with me, if I don’t buy them, what would he wear?"

"Do you know what size he wears?"

"Of course, I watched him grow up."

Han Xiangning said it lightly and stored the new clothes in the room.

Han Xiangmeng was completely convinced and chased after her to the door of the room, "I feel like you’re not dating, more like you’re raising a child."

San’er will be back tomorrow, once he’s back, he’ll be the "national treasure" of this family.

Dad only buys the dishes San’er likes, Mom also gives things like the cinema tickets distributed by the union to San’er...

In short, as long as it’s something good, as long as San’er could use it, it would be reserved for San’er.

Han Xiangning knew her sister was upset, turned back smiling and said, "He is now taller than me, he’s not a child anymore."

Previously she always hoped that mom and dad would leave her alone, now that they really did, Han Xiangmeng felt bitter inside, feeling like an orphan.

She was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Sister, do you know what love is?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"Do you feel like you are in love with San’er?"

"Yes."

"Really true or just saying? I bet he doesn’t even dare to kiss you."

"He respects me." Han Xiangning understood her sister was jealous, turned back with a smile, "You think I’m like you? I don’t understand your love, and you don’t understand mine either."

Since their brother-in-law went with mom and dad back to Si Gang, their old home, mom and dad liked him even more.

The brother-in-law participated in Civilian Soldiers training, and dad even went to shoot with him yesterday, making it look like they were father and son.

Now that things have come to this, it’s impossible to drive him away and restore the previous family status.

Han Xiangmeng thought the only way was to get on good terms with her brother-in-law, ask him to put in a good word for Liang Xiaojun in front of mom, letting Liang Xiaojun also enjoy the treatment of a Han family son-in-law, couldn’t help but laugh and say, "Sister, when the brother-in-law comes back, let’s go out and gather."

"Where, and with whom to gather?"

"You call the brother-in-law, I bring Liang Xiaojun, to the small restaurant in the west gate of the Medical College."

"What’s there to gather about with Liang Xiaojun?"

"Sister, we’re family, besides, the brother-in-law hasn’t met Liang Xiaojun yet."

Han Xiangning didn’t dare meddle in her and Liang Xiaojun’s matter, even less involving San’er, and said thoughtlessly, "He’s busy, he doesn’t have time."

...

PS: My cousin brought her baby from out of town, I need to accompany them tomorrow, hurriedly code a Chapter now, the second Chapter might be slightly late tomorrow, please forgive me, brothers and sisters.