Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 307 - 219 Different Funeral (Part 2)

Chapter 307: Chapter 219 Different Funeral (Part 2)

"Thank you."

While speaking, Xu Haoran came down holding the funerary urn, his wife Li Xiaoqin supporting Sister Wei closely behind him.

Xiao Yu quickly ran over to steady the boat, allowing them to board 002.

Xu Haoran’s uncles and aunts, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law followed closely behind.

Director Feng, Chief Tang, several comrades-in-arms of Xu Sanye, Director Peng from the Water Police Station, Director Yang and Commissioner Ding from Linghai Police Bureau, as well as the former Director, now Vice Chairman Li of the Political Consultative Conference, accompanied by Scholar Yu and Zhang Junyan, respectively boarded Supervision 39 and Customs 008.

The fishery ship from Binjiang Fishery Station also arrived.

The leaders from Bailong Port Passenger Pier, the director of Bailong Port Lock Management Office, Boss Wu from Bailong Port Shipyard, Stationmaster Jiang from the water refueling station, Director Chen from Bailong Port Health Center, and Wu Ren Guang, among others, boarded the fishery ship upon Zhang Mingdong’s invitation.

Han Yu, the overall commander of the formation sailing and the funeral at sea, quickly climbed to the second floor, pulled open the door, entered the cockpit, turned on the loudspeaker, and raised the talkback: "Attention all leaders and family members, this is Han Yu, disciple of Director Xu, our fleet is about to set sail, please everyone put on your life jackets, please everyone put on your life jackets."

Director Yang just wondered why he hadn’t seen Salted Fish, and upon hearing the broadcast, realized Salted Fish was on 001.

At that moment, Commissioner Ding picked up a life jacket and reminded, "Director Yang, once on board, we should listen to Salted Fish, hurry and put it on."

"Alright."

As Director Yang was putting on his life vest, he puzzledly remarked, "Why didn’t Haoran bring Sanye’s ashes aboard 001? 001 is Sanye’s lifeline, he definitely would have wanted to be on 001."

Commissioner Ding peered out and pondered, "There might be other arrangements."

Ma Jintao had also worked under Xu Sanye but did not get a chance to come to Bailong Port for Xu Sanye’s final journey.

Luo Wenjiang, besides Salted Fish, the only member from the Fourth Squad of the Water Police attending the funeral, almost missed the boat due to a restroom visit, and seeing Liang Xiaoyu unmooring, he hurriedly climbed aboard 001.

Han Yu bent down and grabbed the walkie-talkie: "Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu, find a life jacket for Luo Wenjiang."

"Roger!"

Once Liang Xiaoyu finished speaking, Luo Wenjiang quickly said, "Thank you, sorry for the trouble."

As the steam whistle blew, Han Zhengxian piloted his family’s cargo ship slowly away from 001.

Captain Wang confirmed all mooring ropes were untied, maneuvered 001 away from the Dunship, overtaking Han family’s cargo ship to lead the funeral fleet.

002, along with the vessels from Port Supervision, Customs, and Fishery Administration, slowly departed one by one.

Since the Dunship could not be left unattended and not all mourners could board the ships, people filled the railings on both the first and second floors of the Dunship.

Chief Ding, in full police uniform, commanded, "All police officers present, attention, salute, and see off Director Xu!"

At his command, twenty-some police officers from Linghai Police Bureau simultaneously raised their arms to salute towards the urn of Xu Sanye on 002.

Xu Haoran, holding the funerary urn, accompanied by his wife, stepped onto the aft deck of 002, and bowed to people like Chief Ding sending them off from the Dunship.

Led by 001, the fleet slowly passed Bailong Port Pier.

Directors Peng, Yang, and Commissioner Ding suddenly heard the melodious sound of a steam whistle, turned around, and saw six onboard police from Changhang Police East Sea Branch standing at attention saluting from the second deck on the port side of Bai Shen and Bai Liu passenger ships.

Captain and Political Commissioner led the passenger service, deck, and engineering department staff of the passenger ships neatly standing by the railings saluting in their direction.

Han Yu stood at the railing outside the cockpit of 001 and saluted back.

Xu Mingyuan stood at the railing of Supervision 39 and raised his hand in salute.

Zhang Lan and Han Xiangning, dressed in uniform, stood on the deck of 002, returning the salute.

Xu Haoran, although in military attire, was holding his father’s urn, bowing in thanks with his wife just as before.

Sister Wei’s in-laws were stunned, unable to believe that so many people were sending off Xu Sanye in this manner.

Luo Wenjiang was also slack-jawed, instinctively standing at attention and returning the salute like the young squad leader, but, realizing he belonged to the group attending the funeral and wasn’t a relative or disciple of Xu Sanye, hurriedly dropped his arm.

Sister Wei, peering through the glass of cabin 002, saw everything clearly, tearfully said: "Sanye, look, leaders and onboard police from Bai Shen and Bai Liu passenger ship have all come to see you off..."

This ceremony, although not organized by any institution, was very shocking and meaningful.

Director Feng felt deeply moved, Chief Tang nodded slightly, and Vice Chairman Li of Linghai Political Consultative Conference was so touched that tears ran down his face.

The fleet passed by the ferry at Bainiu.

The ferry horn sounded long, the police at Four Factory Police Station’s ferry office saluted at attention, and the ferry staff stood neatly in tribute.

The fleet passed by the ferry in Longyong Town of the Linghai exclave, the Director and instructor of Longyong Police Station led the police and auxiliary police in sending off from the riverbank.

The fleet passed by Niu Peng Port on Zhuangming Island, the port’s ferry sounded its horn again longly.

Li Xiaoqin only knew her father-in-law was a police station chief until yesterday, seeing those photos on the Dunship, and only through the journey did she truly realize how respected her father-in-law was.

She was moved to the point of tears.

She was supposed to comfort her mother-in-law, but instead, Sister Wei ended up comforting her, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law cried together in embrace.

After passing Niu Peng Port, there were several more docks and ferries, but they were not familiar with the Yanjiang Police Station.

The riverside farewell ceremony came to a pause, Han Yu returned to the cockpit, took a few deep breaths to calm his emotions, then turned the amplifier on the loudspeaker back on, picked up the handset: "Leaders, relatives, and friends, my master was worried about affecting Brother Haoran and Sister-in-law Xiao Qin’s work, so much that they weren’t by his side at his last moments.

I was worried this might happen, and while my master could still speak, I had him record a message. Brother Haoran, Sister-in-law Xiao Qin, I’ll play it for you now."

Xu Haoran did not expect his father to leave a last message, afraid of missing a word, he got up again and climbed out of the cabin onto the rear deck.

Li Xiaoqin realized, quickly wiped her tears and followed him out.

Director Yang had attended countless funerals, but a funeral like this was a first for him; he watched intently, wanting to know what Xu Sanye would say to his son and daughter-in-law.

"Haoran, Xiao Qin, when you hear this recording, I will be gone, but do not be sad or grieved, for birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws, and my day was bound to come."

Indeed, it was Xu Sanye’s voice!

Director Feng and Chief Tang couldn’t help but remember the scene when they first met Xu Sanye during the inauguration of the Dunship, Scholar Yu and Zhang Junyan were even moved to tears.

"Salted Fish and Ningning insisted that I leave you a few words, but I’ve already said everything to Haoran, so I will say a few words to you, Xiao Qin, about our family."

"Our family is a very ordinary family, but our family is closely linked with the people and the fate of our country."

"Our family, like most families, has undergone a long journey from poverty to prosperity. Our ancestors suffered from famine and turmoil, were displaced and never had a sure tomorrow; the one word that described us was—poor!"

"Going back ten generations, there were no high-ranking officials, all were ordinary people at the bottom. However, our ancestors were poor but had aspirations, iron-boned and resolute. No matter how chaotic the environment or how society changed, they managed to maintain their integrity and fortitude."

"My father, your grandfather, at a crucial juncture when our nation faced peril, chose to die in battle rather than live as a slave to a foreign country. He bravely advanced under the artillery fire of Japanese invaders, fought ferociously in blood-soaked battles, and was heroically wounded in the Liberation War."

"My mother, your grandmother, also at a critical moment when our nation was imperiled, risked her life to join the Women’s Rescue organization, delivered intelligence to the New Fourth Army, and arranged military supplies for guerrilla groups..."

"Forgetting history means betrayal! Especially for families like ours that are indebted to the party, we should be even more grateful. Whether your children join the military in the future or serve in police like I did, be sure to tell them about your grandparents’ deeds..."