Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 265 - 191: Taking Charge at Home

Chapter 265: Chapter 191: Taking Charge at Home

Han Xiangning has been working at the Port Supervision Bureau Traffic Control Center for more than half a year, and she is very aware of how dangerous navigating the river can be.

Whether as a supervisory manager of water transportation or as the future daughter-in-law of the Han family, she felt obligated to consider the safety of her in-laws who are involved in maritime transportation.

After dinner, chatting casually for a while, she excused herself to make a call to the office for an unfinished task, asking her future father-in-law where he was that morning when he called Sister Han Ning.

The work of the new bride is more important than anything else.

Friend Han, worried about having to re-educate himself, hurriedly brought her and Han Ning to the pier, proudly introducing them to Manager Liu, the person in charge.

Their daughter is an officer at Binjiang Port Police Station, and the new bride is a Port Supervisor at Binjiang Yangtze River Port and Navigation Supervision Bureau!

Manager Liu paid great respect to Friend Han, allowing Han Xiangning to use the phone and even offering cigarettes to Friend Han.

At the dock, waiting for the unloading of cargo, fellow workers surrounded Friend Han in envy, trying to get close to him.

After all, everyone was making a living on the river, and being managed by the Port Supervision, having connections at the Port Supervision Bureau made a significant difference.

Friend Han felt a surge of pride, even more pleased than when San’er was admitted to technical school.

He joked with a few colleagues while privately thinking that being educated by his new daughter-in-law at home was fine, as he still retained his dignity in front of others.

Han Ning, unaware that her father was bragging outside, only knew that the first official visit of her sister-in-law had already begun to take charge.

And she wasn’t taking charge in small matters, but rather in big ones, involving substantial amounts of money!

"Okay, thank you. I’m at the Bawei Village dock, not far from Yingchuan Port Lock."

Han Xiangning looked up at the stunned Han Ning, then continued: "Manager Peng, I almost forgot, could you do me another favor?"

"Xiao Han, you’re helping us, feel free to ask for anything."

"At the northwest corner of the gate of Dock No. 2 at Binjiang Port, there’s a marine firefighting equipment dealership, I’d like you to help me buy four marine fire extinguishers. The manager’s surname is Tang, tell him I am buying for my family’s boat, and ask if he could give a wholesale price."

"If you’re buying, he will definitely give a discount."

"Thanks a lot, please pay for it first, and I’ll give it back to you later."

"Don’t worry about the money, you just wait, I will leave immediately to get the equipment, and once I get it, I will go buy the fire extinguishers for you."

"Okay, thank you."

Han Xiangning hung up the phone and tugged at Han Ning, "Sister, it’s done."

Han Ning came back to her senses, just about to ask how much money was spent on the call’s conversation when Manager Liu walked in, forcing her to merely smile thankfully at him for now.

Manager Liu looked back at Friend Han who followed him inside, then turning towards Han Xiangning, the Port Supervisor of the same Han surname, he chuckled, "No need to thank me, it’s just a call, after all, and you’re not outsiders. Actually, I have something to consult Xiao Han about."

"Manager Liu, what is it?"

"The road upfront is almost reaching the riverside. Our company is thinking of building a dock there; our report has gone through to the township, and they approved it. However, the township can only approve the land, I heard that using the Yangtze River Coastline still requires approval from your Port Supervision Bureau."

"That’s right, any use of the Yangtze River coastline requires an application first."

"We haven’t dealt with you before; we don’t know how to apply or what documents to prepare."

Manager Liu rubbed his hands, glanced again at Friend Han, and continued: "Actually, building a dock along the river is also considering it for Boss Han; the demand for construction materials now is so large, transporting materials once requires passing a lock and paying a fee.

The current dock not only has limited berthing spots but is also too small, housing only two cranes, there’s no place to install another, and we can’t keep up with loading and unloading, even operating 24 hours. Ships have to wait.

These are all costs, all overhead. If we could build a dock on the riverbank, we could reduce these expenses and costs."

Everyone thinks the police have authority because they have guns, but in reality, it is the Port Supervision that truly holds power.

Their administrative approval rights are significant; without their agreement, you can’t build a dock on the riverbank, no matter who owns the land.

Han Ning inwardly sighed, feeling that her sister-in-law was indeed the most powerful and prestigious member of the family, deserving of taking charge.

Friend Han didn’t know what call his new daughter-in-law had just made; seeing that Manager Liu was seeking help from his new daughter-in-law, he felt even prouder and more self-respectful than before.

Han Xiangning didn’t expect that Manager Liu, much like Boss Wu from Bailong Port Shipyard, wanted to use the Yangtze River coastline. She laughed and said, "Manager Liu, I work in the Traffic Control Center, responsible for commanding, dispatching, supervising, and managing the safe navigation of ships.

The application for the use of the coastline is actually not within our jurisdiction, but I’ll ask about it when I return and call you back as soon as I have the information – I’ve written down your number."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

"It’s no trouble."

...

Back on the boat, Friend Han was still enthralled, prompting Han Ning to ask, "Ningning, are you really planning to install a radio on our boat?"

Luo Yanfeng was surprised, "Installing a radio!"

Friend Han finally understood what call his new daughter-in-law had made earlier, and with a grim expression, he said, "Ningning, why install a radio? Radios are expensive, and there’s a yearly fee for frequency usage. Besides, having a radio is of no use; I currently find my own goods and transport them, without needing a company to arrange the cargo."

Han Ning turned and explained, "Dad, Ningning isn’t planning to install the type of radio used by shipping companies; she’s planning to install a very high frequency one."

"What’s a very high frequency?"

"It’s also a type of radio."

Han Xiangning chuckled and explained, "The Ministry of Transport formulated the ’Yangtze River Ship Communication Navigation Equipment Quota’ in 1986; however, they did not issue detailed rules with it, and combined with the need for support from the Radio Management Committees of provinces and cities along the Yangtze River, our Yangtze River Communication Navigation Bureau already set up the Yangtze River Communication Network, yet many places have still not joined to this day."

Old Han asked in a low voice, "What does this have to do with us?"

"Once a high-frequency radio station is installed, and you join the Yangtze River Communication Network, you will be able to receive navigation bulletins for the Yangtze River. For example, if you go to Liuhe Port to load cargo, before entering the port, you can know which ships will leave the port at what time, and which sections of the channel have fleets meeting."

"I... I don’t know how to drive a ship either."

"Dad, a slow boat to China."

Seeing her future father-in-law not taking it seriously, Han Xiangning narrated like reciting a treasure of the family, due to not being included in the Yangtze River Communication Network, not understanding the ship operation plan in the waterway, which led to entering the port when it should not, and forcing a fleet meeting in a channel where meeting was not supposed to happen, causing one marine traffic accident after another.

Friend Han was left speechless.

Luo Yanfeng was hesitant to say something.

Taking advantage of the moment, Han Xiangning said, "Speaking of navigational experience, the captains and chief officers of the ships that had accidents all had rich experience. But not understanding the operation plan of the ships in the channel, and not being able to hear the instructions from the Traffic Control Center, they encountered dangerous situations and couldn’t even avoid them in time, harming others and themselves as well."

The bride mentioned harming others and themselves, and Friend Han momentarily didn’t know how to respond.

Han Xiangning looked at her future mother-in-law and continued, "Mom, I know you run ships on the river and dislike hearing inauspicious words, but maritime safety is not feudal superstition. Seeking safe entry and exit can’t depend on praying to gods and Buddha.

Speaking ominously, sailing on the river every day, even if you don’t hit others’ ships, other ships could still hit you.

If there’s an emergency on the river, with a high-frequency radio and by joining the Yangtze River Communication Network, you can report to the Traffic Control Center in time, and we can rescue promptly. If you always lack a radio, then you can only leave it up to fate."

The logic is clear to everyone, but installing such a high-grade radio station costs money.

Luo Yanfeng hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Ningning, how much does it cost to install that radio station?"

Han Xiangning knew they were reluctant to spend money, took out the red envelope they gave her at lunch: "I’ll help you install it, you don’t have to spend money."

"That’s for you, and also two hundred yuan definitely isn’t enough!"

"My sister also gave me a red envelope."

"I only gave you two hundred, added up it’s only four hundred, still not enough." Han Ning said with a smile.

Han Xiangning put away the red envelope, looking embarrassed, "My dad, my mom, my grandparents, my two uncles, and my two aunts also gave San’er money, added up it should be about enough. Even if it’s not enough, there’s still San’er, all his money is with me."

How could Old Han take money from his son’s bride, he anxiously asked, "Ningning, you are from the Port Supervision, if you say we install it then we install it! But we will cover the money, you keep yours."

"No way, if San’er knows, he won’t let you spend the money either. Besides, the radio station was my insistence, even if we don’t install it, no one will inspect or care, you can’t spend the money."

Afraid his future in-laws would feel bad, Han Xiangning added with a smile, "There’s a discount for installation now, actually it won’t cost much, just have to help them advertise after installment."

"What discount, what advertisement?"

"We have several wireless radio factories in Binjiang, after the Ministry of Transport established the ’Yangtze River Ship Communication Navigation Equipment Quota’ in 1986, one factory introduced foreign technology, producing ship-used ultra-high frequency radios and was also approved by the Yangtze Communication Navigation Bureau."

Han Xiangning took a small sip of water, then continued, "After the document was released, there was no follow-up. Local shipping companies all had their own radios, some port and shipping enterprises as well, nobody installed them, nobody took safety seriously, and their manufactured ultra-high frequency ship radios couldn’t be sold."

"Our family being the first to install, the first to join the Yangtze Communication Network, can lead by example for those shipping companies and individual shipowners, this is equivalent to helping the manufacturer advertise, they will definitely offer a discount.

Moreover, our bureau has policies, for ships that actively install ultra-high frequency radios and join the Yangtze River Communication Network, we will communicate and coordinate with the radio management department, trying to help with some frequency use fee reduction."

Installing an ultra-high frequency radio, connecting to the Yangtze Communication Network, means as long as you navigate on the Yangtze River, no matter where you go, you can keep contact with the Port Supervision Traffic Control Center.

You can receive announcements related to navigation safety through the radio, and in case of any incidents, request timely rescue...

Han Ning was equally worried about her parents and felt it was necessary to install it, this money should be spent.

Afraid her parents wouldn’t understand, to be exact afraid they would be too thrifty, she half-jokingly said: "Dad, Mom, once the radio is installed, as long as you navigate in the Binjiang section, you can contact Ningning at any time."

Old Han murmured, "Really?"

"Why would I lie to you, Ningning is at the Traffic Control Center, their unit has invested a lot in building several radar stations, she can not only contact you through the radio, but also see you through radar."

"You can only contact during working hours, can’t contact when not working."

Han Xiangning grinned, thought for a moment, then said: "Dad, Mom, once installed, you also can’t directly call my name on the radio, that’s a traffic control frequency, many ships can hear it, not good to let others know."

"How do I call you then?"

"Just call ’traffic control’ and when you hear my voice you will know it’s me. I will recognize your voices too, better if you report the ship name and number."

Being able to contact his daughter-in-law anytime wasn’t bad, and this was also her kind intention.

Old Han thought about it more and more happily, couldn’t help asking, "When will it be installed?"

"This afternoon, the manufacturer’s people will bring the radio over soon, they will help with the network registration."

"That soon!"

"I have time every day, but you are usually so busy, since we met today, let’s just install it."

"Installation is fine, but I will pay, otherwise I won’t install it."

"Yes, Ningning, keep your money. We will pay for the radio installation, we’ve had a lot of cargo this year, we haven’t stopped working, we have money!"

Friend Han’s attitude was very firm.

Luo Yanfeng also didn’t want to spend the money of his son’s bride.

Han Xiangning thought as long as the radio is installed, it’s not important who pays, after all, we are one family, she simply smiled and agreed.