Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 249 - 184 Director Xu’s Considerations

Chapter 249: Chapter 184 Director Xu’s Considerations

People all have roots, and the Han family’s root is the shipping company.

Director Xu planned to support the shipping company, and Han Yu was genuinely delighted. Thinking about his ability to contribute to the shipping company, Han Yu felt a great sense of achievement.

The coal supply for power plants and other businesses would only last a month, time was pressing. Han Yu spoke with Manager Jiang and Captain Fan for a while and then hurried back to the shipyard to continue inspecting 001.

Captain Wang too was happy to help his old unit resolve issues, working with more zeal than before.

"Salted Fish, what are you smiling about? Are you thinking about Sister Ningning?" Liang Xiaoyu saw Han Yu smiling sneakily after the meeting and couldn’t help but ask.

Han Yu looked back and said, "I can finally join the operation. If I don’t get involved in an action soon, it will seem like I’m not really a policeman."

"What operation?"

"It’s confidential."

Liang Xiaoyu pressed on, "Can I participate?"

"You should be able to." With Old Zhu’s help, Han Yu aligned the new propeller into position and began tightening the bolts with a large wrench.

As Captain Wang tapped the hull with a small hammer checking it, he laughed, "Salted Fish, don’t be oblivious to the good you have. Director Xu has his reasons for not letting you join the operation."

"What are Director Xu’s considerations?"

"Assisting Customs to check for smuggled cigarettes and arrest smugglers is essentially doing work for others. Though the amount involved in the case is large, participating in the operation doesn’t mean much for you."

"Why didn’t you let me join the operation to tackle the black society at the inland river terminal before?"

"Back then you were too short and skinny, indeed you couldn’t be much help, plus we couldn’t have fewer people on the Dunship."

Captain Wang knocked off a large piece of rust, inspected carefully, made a mark on the hull with chalk, and continued, "As for other operations you weren’t part of, it’s also because you are too young."

Han Yu muttered, "Does being young mean I can’t participate in operations?"

"You earned third-level merits twice during your probation period at the Yanjiang Police Station. If it were at other stations, who knows how many would be jealous. Once, drinking with Director Xu, he mentioned you are young and have a long way ahead. There will be plenty of opportunities to crack big cases and earn big merits in the future."

Fearing the young man wouldn’t understand the station chief’s well-intentions, Zhu Baogen also laughed, "A tall tree catches much wind. You’re not like Director Xu; you can’t afford to be envied so early. It’s time to lay a solid foundation and study hard."

"Who would be jealous of me!"

"Lots of people, especially now."

"Uncle Zhu, what do you mean by that?"

"How many people are fond of Xiang Ning, yet you ended up with her, do you think they aren’t jealous?"

Speaking of Han Xiangning, Liang Xiaoyu naively asked, "Salted Fish, being Xiang Ning’s boyfriend, what about Lin Xiaohui? Are you really not going to date her?"

This kid always brings up what shouldn’t be mentioned.

Han Yu was quite embarrassed and turned around saying, "What do you mean by not really going to date her, we never really dated."

"But she even made new clothes for you."

"I... I have also brought her eggs."

Xiao Yu, as a child, was good in every aspect except he liked to state harsh truths.

Captain Wang thought this matter needed attention and cautioned, "Xiao Yu, don’t mention Xiao Hui from now on, especially in front of Xiang Ning."

Liang Xiaoyu asked carelessly, "Captain Wang, are you saying that Sister Xiang Ning would be unhappy to hear it?"

"Isn’t that obvious, it’s almost dark, focus on the work."

"Salted Fish, Captain Wang, today my grandson is visiting, I am wrapping up work and going back."

"Alright, take it easy on the road."

Not long after Zhu Baogen left, Liang Xiaoyu also finished his work.

Tomorrow is Sunday, he needs to help with inventory checking, so he can ride his bicycle to the county wholesale market to help his family stock up.

The shipyard was by the river, the workers had finished for the day, only an old man was left to guard the gate.

The electronics on 001 were advanced and expensive, someone needed to stay on board overnight to guard it.

Han Yu, not often back, naturally wouldn’t let Captain Wang stay on 001. He planned to have dinner on the Dunship, take a bath, and moved his bedding over to guard 001.

Just as he returned to the riverside where the Dunship was located, he encountered his senior sister who had driven from Binjiang on a light motorcycle.

He joyfully greeted her, took over the front of the bike to help push it onto the pontoon bridge.

"Why are you covered in oil, did you repair a ship?"

"Yes, 001 is being serviced in Manager Wu’s dock, tomorrow we’re removing rust and then painting, once the paint is dry, it’ll be launched."

Han Xiangning subconsciously asked, "Aren’t you coming back with me to Binjiang later?"

Han Yu hesitated for a moment, nervously said, "Ningning, there’s going to be a major operation at the station, I can’t come back, and I won’t need to go to the Water Police Station for training."

"What major operation?" Han Xiangning asked with a pained expression.

Han Yu briefly explained the trouble the shipping company was facing, fearing his senior sister might not understand, he emphasized, "These recent years, every time my family wanted a new ship, we had to apply for loans. But who does my dad know? Every loan was managed with help from Manager Jiang, Manager Zhang through their contacts with banks. Not much was paid for affiliations or management fees, even licensing and other assistance were provided by the company. Now that the company is in trouble, I can’t just ignore it."

The shipping company is like a mother’s home to the young junior.

Although the young junior’s father no longer draws a salary from the shipping company, he still has to pay affiliation and management fees, just like he would need to at other places.

In fact, San’er’s mother retired this year and receives a pension every month.

"When a ’maternal home’ is in trouble, you can’t just ignore it."

Xiang Ning thought about it and smiled, "Even Director Xu takes it seriously, you should help even more."

Han Yu didn’t expect her to be so understanding, and cautiously asked, "You won’t be mad if I don’t return to Binjiang?"

"Why should I be mad? Am I that petty?" Xiang Ning asked with a smile, then regretfully said, "If I had known you couldn’t return, I should have brought the clothes I just bought for you."

"You bought me new clothes!"

"I didn’t buy a coat, since you wear work clothes every day and uniforms when you go out, there’s no need to buy one. I just bought some cotton sweaters, cotton pants, and underwear."

"How much did it cost?"

"Don’t worry, it wasn’t your money."

"Ningning, that’s not what I meant." Han Yu, worried that his elder schoolmate would be upset, quickly said, "I almost forgot, this time there weren’t as many people in the civilian soldier’s training as last year, and the duration wasn’t as long either, but the subsidy was higher than last year."

Xiang Ning curiously asked, "How much did they give?"

"Five a day, and it was a week-long training, so a total of thirty-five."

"That’s quite a lot."

"Young people are either studying or working outside, we wouldn’t find anyone for training if we didn’t increase the subsidy."

"I made thirty-five, so it looks like you won’t need pocket money for the next two months."

"No need, thirty-five is enough."

"San’er, do you think I’m too controlling with money?" Xiang Ning asked with a smile as she looked at him.

Han Yu hurriedly said, "I’m not comfortable keeping the passbook or money anywhere, I’m always afraid I’ll lose it or it will be stolen. I’d rather have you take care of it, how could I mind? Besides, having less money has its advantages."

Xiang Ning pressed on, "What advantages?"

"When I have money, people ask to borrow, especially colleagues. It’s hard to know when they’ll return it, it’s awkward to ask for it back, and it’s not good not to lend."

"Thinking this way is right. From now on, if anyone asks to borrow money from you, just push them to me. After all, I’m a woman, and even if I’m stingy, people won’t laugh about it."

"Alright."

Director Xu went to Binjiang Customs, but Han Yu knew that the station chief’s trip wasn’t just about having a meal, he certainly would take the opportunity to visit Director Yu and Reporter Wang.

Tonight, Instructor Li was on duty. Seeing the couple come back laughing and talking, he immediately had Old Qian cook.

"Ningning, are you tired from driving here from Binjiang?"

"Driving a light motorcycle isn’t like riding a bicycle, it’s quick and not tiring."

"That’s good."

Li Weiguo smiled slightly, then said, "It’s dark already and Salted Fish can’t return, so don’t leave tonight. It’s not safe for you to drive a light motorcycle back to Binjiang alone at this late hour."

Xiang Ning turned to look at her junior schoolmate, smiled sweetly, "I won’t go back then, especially since tomorrow is Sunday and I don’t have to work."

Han Yu, neither willing nor reassured to let her go, quickly said, "You can stay in my dorm. I’ll go to the lower deck later to get bedding from the shipyard, and sleep on boat #001."

Staying overnight on the dunship wasn’t convenient for restroom use, and moreover, she had come all this way just to pick him up.

Since she couldn’t take him back, visiting was also good.

Xiang Ning thought for a moment, then smiled, "I’ll go with you to the shipyard later, and stay with you on duty tonight."

This couple was genuine, always inseparable when together.

Li Weiguo couldn’t help but smile, "I’m not even comfortable sending Salted Fish alone to the shipyard to stand guard, Ningning, it’s great if you can accompany him."

People at the Yanjiang Police Station just liked being together with their junior, Xiang Ning already knew their good intentions, and was used to it. Having been together before, she didn’t find it embarrassing, giggled, and went to wash her hands to prepare for dinner.

Li Weiguo gave Han Yu a meaningful look, took out a cigarette, and started talking business.

"Salted Fish, Director Sun talked to me this afternoon."

"Which Director Sun?"

"The former chief of the Southern City Police Station, now the director of the Political Work Office."

Han Yu realized and asked puzzledly, "Instructor Li, what did Director Sun want to talk about?"

Li Weiguo flicked the cigarette ash, explaining, "I’m retiring at the end of next year, and according to the rules, I will step back into a secondary line. Actually, this instructor position was considered by the bureau leaders because I’ve worked for so many years without much credit but with hardship, and was recommended during the establishment of the Yanjiang Police Station."

"Instructor Li, you’re moving to a secondary line!"

"The document will come down in a few days, but it’s just stepping back to a secondary line, I’ll still stay in the station. Even after retirement, I won’t return home to farm, and will stay in the station to help."

"Then who will be the instructor?"

"If nothing unexpected, it should be Old Zhang. Director Sun said he won’t arrange any other police to come over temporarily, they’ll arrange for an old colleague to come over when I really retire."

"Does Director Xu know?"

"He knows."

The shore is always more important than the water.

No matter how many achievements Yanjiang Police Station made, it still couldn’t change the reality of being a place for senior care.

Han Yu didn’t know what to say, Li Weiguo looked back, then continued, "Promoting Old Zhang also comes at a cost. This time, we assisted the Customs in seizing so many smuggled cigarettes, and the Customs wants to reward us with a Santana. Director Xu said we already have a jeep, the Santana isn’t much use, so he plans to give the Santana to the bureau."