Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 303 - 217: Can’t Even Be Considered Overwork-Related Illness_2

Chapter 303: Chapter 217: Can’t Even Be Considered Overwork-Related Illness_2

"Zhang Junyan came to see me four times, he’s not familiar with you all, so he could only turn to me. President Yu called me a few days ago and also hinted at it indirectly. I can understand their feelings; without Xu Sanye, they wouldn’t have their present status. In fact, without Xu Sanye, I wouldn’t be where I am today either."

Wang Wenhong couldn’t continue, and he lowered his head to take long drags on his cigarette.

Zhang Junyan had been neighbors with Xu Sanye for many years and, with Xu Sanye’s support, he went from being a police station chief to becoming a director. He and Xu Sanye were as close as if they wore the same pair of pants.

If not for Xu Sanye, Scholar Yu might still be drafting materials at the City Bureau.

As for Wang Wenhong, he too, with Xu Sanye’s support, became the brigade Political Commissioner and the Bureau Political Commissioner of the Water Police Station.

Xu Sanye’s condition was so serious that he might not last another two or three months.

The three of them felt that after Xu Sanye had worked so hard for so many years, even if he hadn’t achieved great feats, he had still put in a lot of hard work. They could not let him pass away in silence and strongly recommended that the Linghai Police Bureau help Xu Sanye apply for the First-level Heroic Model honor.

Director Yang was silent for a moment, then looked up and said, "Old Wang, the truth is, Old Ding and I have considered it before, but it’s very difficult, and the likelihood of approval is slim to none."

"Director Yang, are you saying that Xu Sanye doesn’t qualify?"

"It’s not that he doesn’t qualify, but rather... rather..."

"He is on restricted use and suffering from cancer, does that mean even his hard work doesn’t count?"

There were no outsiders present, so Director Yang took several deep breaths, his expression pained, and said: "Old Wang, I understand how you all feel. You and Xu Sanye are old colleagues, and Old Ding and I, like Xu Sanye, are colleagues too. We also want to help him fight for it.

But this matter isn’t as simple as you think; the leadership at the City Bureau has all changed, and they don’t know Xu Sanye. I estimate the application materials wouldn’t even reach the Provincial Department; they would be rejected right at the City Bureau."

As Director Yang said, because of the murder case at the Sailor Club, the leadership team at the City Bureau had undergone a major reshuffle.

The new bureau leaders were either transferred from other places or were young cadres promoted from various districts and counties. They might not even know who Xu Sanye was, so how could they be willing to help, especially when Xu Sanye’s situation was particularly unique?

Wang Wenhong knew the difficulties faced by the leadership at his old unit but didn’t want to just give up and retreat. In a low voice, he said, "Director Yang, Commissioner Ding, I think whether we help to apply or not is one thing, whether the superiors approve or not is another."

"Without the application, he is still a hero, at least in Linghai, he is a towering hero. If we apply and it gets rejected, just think about how awkward that would be."

"Director Yang, can we apply later?"

"Are you suggesting to wait until he... until after he’s gone, and then apply posthumously?"

"He is our colleague, only forty-eight after the New Year, and he truly made significant contributions to maintaining the security of Linghai City. We can’t just do nothing, right?"

Seeing that Wang Wenhong was determined to help Xu Sanye fight for honors, Director Yang really didn’t know how to explain and instinctively looked towards Commissioner Ding.

Commissioner Ding took a moment to regain his composure and said meaningfully, "Old Wang, you’ve been colleagues with Xu Sanye for nearly twenty years, and you should know what kind of person he is. What we think doesn’t necessarily equate to what he wants; he simply doesn’t care about these things. Knowing it’s futile but still pursuing it, creating a storm in the city, he definitely won’t be pleased if he finds out."

What kind of person was Xu Sanye? He was someone who awarded others commendations!

Wang Wenhong remained silent for a long while and reluctantly nodded.

Commissioner Ding lit a cigarette and continued, "The only thing we can do now is to let him rest and quietly complete his final journey, including whatever arrangements he makes for the future, we should listen to him."

"Has he... has he made his arrangements?"

"He has, if he really... if he really goes, he wants everything to be kept simple."

Director Yang opened a drawer to take out a notebook, flipping through it with mixed feelings and said: "Haoran and his bride were sent back by him; he said not to let his situation affect the work of the troop.

When he passes away, he wants to be directly... directly sent to the crematorium, without waiting for Haoran and his wife to return, and he doesn’t want us to hold a memorial service or a farewell ceremony.

Likewise, he doesn’t want Old Wei and the children to seek monks or Taoist priests, no burning of paper offerings, no superstitious practices. After Haoran and his wife return, spread his ashes into the Yangtze River. Then have Old Wei return to the troop with Haoran, and when Haoran’s wife has a baby, help take care of the child. If it’s suitable, suggest that Old Wei find a companion."

These arrangements were indeed very much in Xu Sanye’s style.

Wang Wenhong took a deep breath and asked, "Has Old Wei retired?"

Director Yang closed his notebook and said gravely, "He’s just taken early retirement. In the future, it would be good for him to join Haoran in the military, so he doesn’t have to stay alone in Linghai, desolate and miserable."

Wang Wenhong thought about it and then asked, "Did he say who would be in charge of handling these matters?"

"He did. He asked Xu Mingyuan and Salted Fish to take care of it and didn’t want us to interfere."

"It’s such a big deal, and he doesn’t want us to interfere, so we just don’t?"

"Let’s follow his wishes. Actually, I’m quite envious of him; after all, we will all have our day eventually. But with so many social customs and practices, who knows what kind of trouble we’ll have to go through by then."

Commissioner Ding was very annoyed with Xu Sanye when Xu Sanye was healthy.

Now that Xu Sanye is unwell, Commissioner Ding feels very upset.

A perfectly fine person, and suddenly he’s not okay.

Commissioner Ding really didn’t want to talk about these things anymore and quickly changed the subject: "Old Wang, Salted Fish intercepted a foreign vessel, but there was no follow-up. You are his current superior; if a subordinate has made such a significant achievement, you should help him get the recognition he deserves."

"Salted Fish’s achievement is an achievement of our brigade. Of course, I want to fight for recognition, and the City Bureau wants to commend him, too. But this achievement is pretty much the same as the ones made by the Yanjiang Police Station before. How do I justify it to the superiors? Even if I claim it, what should the City Bureau do about the award?"

"Is the City Bureau in a difficult position to step forward?"

"Maritime traffic is under the jurisdiction of Port Supervision, entry and exit are governed by Border Inspection, and how those iron ores on the foreign ship came in is overseen by Customs. No matter from which angle, it’s inconvenient for the City Bureau to step in."

"Why not turn to Port Supervision?"

"I approached Director Feng, and Director Feng said it had already been reported."

This was indeed an awkward issue.

Salted Fish did make an achievement, but the achievement is somewhat "out of the main business," and it’s hard to get recognized within the system for it. If the City Bureau really does give out awards, others will certainly wonder what the local police actually want to do - if they are trying to expand their authority.

Thinking of these, Commissioner Ding murmured, "Salted Fish staying with us is truly beneath his talents; he would be better off working in Port Supervision."

"Salted Fish is a child valuing loyalty and friendship; he won’t jump ship."

"Old Wang, speaking of Salted Fish, it reminds me of something."

"Director Yang, what is it?"

"I discussed it with Old Ding, and we decided to follow Xu Sanye’s suggestion. Once Zhang Mingyuan retires, we will disband Yanjiang Police Station and set up a Water Security Police squad at Bailong Port, letting Salted Fish come back as the squad leader. But we’re not really experts at how to ensure good security on the river, so after the squad is established, can it be managed by your brigade?"

Like a few other districts and counties along the Yangtze River, Linghai is "near the river but doesn’t see the river, close to the water but not intimate with the water." Both the Linghai Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government and the Linghai Police Bureau focus their work onshore.

River affairs—if not managed, there are no issues, but once managed, a pile of problems arises.

Wang Wenhong knew that the leaders of his old unit were afraid of trouble, and he could understand the difficulties faced by the leaders of his old unit. He agreed, "No problem, when the time comes, we can put up a sign for the Water Police Fifth Company."

Having finished discussing business, Director Yang remembered Xu Sanye again and pondered, "I just called to ask, Old Ding said that Xu Sanye boarded 001 and went up the river with Salted Fish for joint law enforcement patrols with the Binjiang Fishery, Port Supervision."

"He got on the boat!"

"You didn’t know?"

"I didn’t."

Wang Wenhong extinguished his cigarette, his heart heavy with worry, "001 isn’t just teaming up with Binjiang Fishery and Binjiang Port Supervision to enforce the law. It also needs to join forces with the East Sea Fishery, East Sea Port Supervision, and the East Sea Water Police Bureau for joint law enforcement. They’ll patrol the river for two days—spending New Year’s on the boat; can Xu Sanye’s body handle it?"

Director Yang was also worried and unwittingly furrowed his brow.

Commissioner Ding said with a sense of resignation, "If Salted Fish let Xu Sanye get on the boat, he must be prepared. Besides, Xu Sanye is already so ill; if he wants to get on the boat, let him."