Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 277 - 200 Firstly, the Police

Chapter 277: Chapter 200 Firstly, the Police

In the past half month that has just passed, Han Yu was fully occupied with visiting relatives and friends.

Family bonds are a silent understanding rooted in shared blood, also an indivisible presence, and social interactions between relatives have formed a series of customs in Linghai.

For instance, if a relative gets married, it’s customary to invite the newlyweds for a meal.

Similarly, if a relative is going on a long journey, you invite them over for a meal before their departure. When relatives come back from a distant place and bring you gifts, you should invite them for a meal as well.

As soon as Han Yu and his senior returned to Bailong Port, Old Liu, who had replaced Zhang Junyan as Director, arranged a welcoming banquet for them.

Following that was the Second Senior Brother’s treat, and then the increasingly successful Zhang Erxiao.

The eldest senior brother had achieved significant results and was transferred back to the city to become the Major Case Captain, and Zhang Lan was also transferred back to the bureau, still working as an accountant.

After floating around for four years, upon returning, it was essential to report back to the bureau.

He met with Director Yang and Commissioner Ding, reported his thoughts and work, and then the eldest senior brother and Sister Zhang Lan hosted another meal.

Finally, back in Binjiang, he and his senior accompanied his father-in-law and mother-in-law to Si Gang to visit his grandfather’s grave.

The old man had passed away due to illness last year. As a son-in-law and "first son of the main branch," who couldn’t come back from sea to pay his respects, he had to make amends now that he was back.

In Si Gang, there were relatives too—both uncles and aunts took turns inviting them.

After visiting the father-in-law’s relatives, his own family required his visit as well. From Si Gang back to Binjiang, Han Yu rode the light motorcycle, bringing his senior to Sansing to see his grandmother, uncle, aunt, and his brother and sister-in-law who were doing business at the Sanxing Embroidery Market.

He was fed up with having meat and fish every day, and now he was scared at the mere sight of a feast.

However, staying on a ship for too long can disconnect one from society, and visiting relatives is, indeed, a way to reintegrate into the community.

Not many people were at this welcoming feast, but its standards were quite high.

Director Feng of the Port Supervision Bureau hosted it, and Director Zhang Junyan of the Changhang Police Binjiang Branch accompanied. From the Water Police Station side came Director Zhou, Political Commissioner Wang, and an old police officer named Jia Yongqiang.

The senior sister came too, but since it was her director’s treat, she didn’t dare to consider herself a guest; she competed with Sister Zhu to serve tea and water, instantly turning into a waitress.

Although both are directors, not all directors are the same.

Though the Port Supervision Bureau is a Full Department Level institution, Director Feng enjoys Vice Director Level treatment.

Zhang Junyan was a Deputy Director of the Binjiang Port Police Station with Vice Department Level rank, and now he is a Full Department Level Director.

The Water Police Station might also be a division, but in terms of administrative rank, it’s not comparable to the Changhang Police Binjiang Branch—both Director Zhou and Political Commissioner Wang are at the Full Department Level.

However, all three are by the river, supporting each other and enforcing the law together, which is nearly the norm.

Despite their differing administrative ranks, there was no sense of hierarchical division; they drank and conversed like old friends, which indeed they were.

"Salted Fish, you’ve been on the ship for so long, how come you haven’t developed a tolerance for alcohol?"

"Director Feng, as Port Supervision Director, you shouldn’t encourage seamen to drink and drive!"

"Of course, you can’t drink on duty, but it’s okay to drink a little when off duty."

In Director Feng’s subconscious, both Salted Fish and Han Xiangning were like children he watched grow up. He thought highly of Salted Fish in every aspect except his drinking tolerance.

Not being able to drink well can be embarrassing in such situations.

With a cup of tea in hand and a wry smile, Han Yu explained, "The crew I sailed with aren’t very good at English, and the Captain, Chief Officer, and Chief Engineer are all foreigners, so on board, I was both an Apprentice Chief Officer and a translator, practically never off duty."

Little Salted Fish has finally grown up!

Sister Zhu, filled with emotion, couldn’t help but ask, "Salted Fish, how good is your English?"

Han Yu replied with a smile, "It’s decent, I manage to communicate without problems."

"Salted Fish, our Port Supervision Bureau really needs talents like you, and we urgently need them."

Director Feng set down his glass, smilingly looking at Han Yu, "When you first started working, there were only about twenty to thirty foreign vessels docking a year; now, we have that many in a month. We’re short-staffed in piloting, command and dispatch, and inspections. Consider whether you’d like to work for our bureau, seriously."

Political Commissioner Wang knew all too well there was no such thing as a free lunch, and he couldn’t help but laugh, "Director Feng, it’s not the poaching that’s the problem, but doing it right in front of me and Director Zhou, and so brazenly, seems a bit much."

"Not at all, I’m approaching it from a work perspective."

Director Feng took a cigarette from Director Zhou, looked around the group, and said, "We always talk about putting talents to their best use, providing a stage for capable comrades. In Salted Fish’s case, he’s a graduate of the Shipping School, and he’s accumulated enough service time on ships to earn his Chief Officer Certificate of Competence.

Do you think it’s fitting to continue having someone who has the potential to be a captain of a huge ship stay on as a public security police officer?

And do you know how many senior seamen, trained by the numerous marine and nautical institutions across the country, can get a Chief Officer Competence Certificate for vessels over two thousand gross tonnage for unlimited navigation in a year?"

A seaman’s promotion and qualification exams are not just about taking tests; they also require practical work and sufficient experience accumulation.

Having worked as a police station chief at the dock for many years, mostly dealing with passenger ships, Zhang Junyan was acutely aware of the difficulty but still curiously asked, "Director Feng, how many people like Salted Fish get the Chief Officer Certificate in a year?"

"Not more than five hundred."

"Nationally?"

"Calculate how many oceangoing vessels those oceangoing enterprises have, and you’ll know."

Hearing what Director Feng said, Political Commissioner Wang truly felt it was a waste for Salted Fish to stay in the police system. Turning around, he laughed, "Salted Fish, your master said years ago that when you complete your studies and return, whether you continue in public security or captain a big ship, he won’t interfere and will respect your choice.

Today, in front of Director Feng and Zhang, both Director Zhou and I will also state our position: we’ll respect your decision as well. No matter where you go, you’ll be working. Director Feng is right; if you go to the Port Supervision Bureau, you definitely can play a bigger role."

Director Zhang Junyan, who had truly watched Salted Fish grow up, and treated him like his own child just like Xu Sanye, worried that Salted Fish might have concerns, he looked up and said, "Salted Fish, job transfers are a significant matter. Discuss it with Ningning first; after you go back, think it over properly. There’s no need to rush with a reply."

"Right, go back and give it some thought," Sister Zhu said, smiling.

Han Yu knew that Director Feng was not joking, and also knew that Political Commissioner Wang was not just making polite remarks. He turned and exchanged a glance with Han Xiangning, then stood up and said, "Director Feng, Director Zhang, Sister Zhu, I don’t need to consider."

Director Feng asked with a smile, "So what’s your plan? Are you interested in joining our Port Supervision System?"

"Director Feng, although I have been sailing for the past four years, I’ve always felt that I am first and foremost a public security police officer and then a sailor. Plus, whatever I have achieved today has been cultivated by the police system. If I had been assigned to the Transportation Port and Navigation System back then, I might be collecting tolls at a ship lock or working at a dock ferry right now."

Han Yu took a deep breath and continued, "One should never forget their roots; I will not switch careers, let alone go private."

"What a sentiment! One should never forget their roots!" Director Feng slapped the table vigorously and laughed heartily, "It seems you really do have affection for the police. Since you don’t want to switch, then continue being a police officer."

"Director Feng, I’m sorry, I..."

"What’s there to be sorry about? Although we may not be colleagues, you are still a member of our Port Supervision Bureau family, our Port Supervision Bureau’s son-in-law."

"Thank you, Director Feng. I... together with Ningning, I toast to you."

"Don’t toast with tea. If you really mean it, use liquor."

The others really cared for him, as they had given him a pilot leather jacket that he had been wearing to this day.

Han Yu dared not show ingratitude; he had no choice but to reluctantly switch to toasting with liquor.

Once that precedent was set, things got out of hand.

Sister Zhu was the matchmaker, so a toast was obligatory.

Director Zhang was both a leader and an elder, so he deserved a toast.

Director Zhou, being a future superior, and someone who had fought alongside Han Yu during the past investigation of currency smuggling cases, was also due a toast.

Political Commissioner Wang was the leader of both the old and new units, so he too deserved a toast.

Jia Yongqiang was a senior predecessor; it would be rude to miss him out after going around toasting everyone else.

One by one, the toasts went on, just like during the days of matchmaking and engagement, until he once again became drunk to the point of unconsciousness.

Han Xiangning knew that her junior brother couldn’t hold his liquor and was afraid that he would end up vomiting everywhere like last time. With Sister Zhu’s help, she escorted him out of the restaurant, put him in the car from the Port Supervision Bureau, and took him home for his father to take care of the drunken man.

The banquet continued.

It was normal for Salted Fish to be drunk in everyone’s eyes; after all, he was still a child.

After finishing his drink, Director Feng asked curiously, "Political Commissioner Wang, how is President Yu doing? It’s been over a year since I last saw him. Has he ever returned?"

"President Yu is very busy. He came back once two months ago, as there seemed to be some matters in his hometown. He called me but didn’t visit the branch."

"How busy can the Provincial Department be?"

"His work is different from others. Our Water Police Department ranks last among all the departments in the City Bureau. His situation in the Provincial Department is similar to ours in the City Bureau. He lacks manpower, funds, and equipment. The only thing he can do is to go down for research, and help with communication and coordination for some water-related cases."

Right after Political Commissioner Wang finished, Director Zhou sighed and said, "He called me yesterday, asking if Salted Fish had returned. I could feel his regret for being transferred up, or rather a bit ashamed to return to Binjiang, worried about facing the people of Jiangdong."

"Embarrassed to return to Binjiang?" Director Feng asked subconsciously.

Before Director Zhou could speak, Zhang Junyan explained, "President Yu is not ashamed to face the people of Jiangdong, but ashamed to face Xu Sanye. Before he took office in Jiangcheng, he had a talk with Xu Sanye, who encouraged him to go, even telling him to set up a directly subordinate police team once he was settled."

Almost forgot, President Yu was also trained by Xu Sanye.

Director Feng caught on and asked with interest, "Has he set it up?"

"With nothing at his disposal, how could he set it up? Besides, Jiangcheng not only has its own Water Police Division but also a Changhang Navigation Police Branch. If the Provincial Police Headquarters were to establish another directly subordinate water police team, there would be three police forces on the river."

"Since he can’t set anything up, why did he call to ask if Salted Fish has returned?"

"Regardless, President Yu is a Deputy Chief. Both the Jiangcheng Water Police Division and Changhang Police Jiangcheng Branch are under his operational guidance. As Jiangcheng is the provincial capital, the water division there has more funds and seems to be getting a law enforcement boat. President Yu wanted to see if Salted Fish would be willing to transfer there."

"Does Salted Fish want to go?"

"I asked Salted Fish yesterday together with Old Wang, and he doesn’t want to go."

"If he doesn’t take the opportunity to helm a law enforcement boat, his hard-earned driving skills might become rusty over time."

"Director Feng, rest assured, Salted Fish’s driving skills won’t get rusty."

"Does he have a boat to drive?"

"Not only does he have a boat, but he is also going to take an upgrading exam to get certified."

Seeing Director Feng’s confused expression, Director Zhou laughed and said, "Director Xu called me this afternoon and said that once Salted Fish and Old Jia assume their posts, he will have Captain Wang, Zhu Baogen, and Xiao Yu take the 001 to Yingchuan Port. While assisting the Yingchuan Port Squadron in maintaining water security, they will also help your Port Patrol Second Team enforce the law."

The 001 was Xu Sanye’s pride and joy.

Director Feng realized how generously Xu Sanye invested in his disciples and couldn’t help but exclaim, "It seems Xu Sanye really wants to make Salted Fish the most skilled police officer in boat handling."

Director Zhou nodded slightly.

Political Commissioner Wang turned to look at Jia Yongqiang, who seemed to be deep in thought, and explained, "I’ve discussed this matter with Xu Sanye. Initially, I didn’t quite understand, but now I think there’s some logic to his words."

Director Feng asked curiously, "What did he say?"

"He said our maritime police can’t all be ignorant of boat handling, and they can’t all be clueless about various types of vessels. There are quite a few naval officers retiring every year, but not many of them have actually been on warships and faced rough seas. Officers like you, Director Feng, who have served as ship captains and know how to navigate military vessels, are even rarer.

Even if those officers retire to civilian positions, they’re unlikely to join the police force. And if they are placed in the police system, they would at least enjoy the treatment of a director-level leader, far from being front-line enforcers like Salted Fish.

Therefore, we need to cultivate our own talent who understands both police work and marine, inland navigation, and vessel technology."