Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 40 - 36: Why Use Me as a Leverage

Chapter 40: Chapter 36: Why Use Me as a Leverage

Over the next half a month, the ship repair continued.

The two 6135 main engines were finally maintained. Borrowing several large oil drums from Boss Wu, they went to the riverside gas station to fill up with diesel. They asked a cargo ship that was about to go through the locks to help transport it to the shipyard and, with the assistance of Xiao Jiang and other workers, got it on shore.

Connect the fuel pipe, light the blowtorch to heat it for a while, and under the watchful eyes of Manager Wu, Master Zhou, and Xu Sanye who came upon hearing the news, the main engine was successfully started.

Boom, boom, the noise was quite loud.

However, Han Yu found the sound quite pleasant, filled with a sense of achievement.

Xu Sanye was even happier than Han Yu. As soon as he got off the boat, he used the walkie-talkie to have Old Zhang notify Old Qian that they would have an additional meal in the evening, as they couldn’t always eat fish and should buy more meat.

After sending off the Director, Han Yu shifted his focus to the two small motorboats that had been dragged back half a month ago.

Though called motorboats, they were actually two transport boats fitted with single-cylinder diesel engines.

The only difference from an outboard boat was that instead of manipulating the rudder with a pole, they used a steering wheel.

At first glance, the boats looked quite attractive, with sharp bows, slender hulls, white cabins, the driving seat at the front, rows of wooden seats behind it, and the nine-meter one even had a rear deck with a bench.

There was a mast on the top of the boat and a police light. If utilized as a background in movies or television, they would look quite convincing as long as the camera didn’t zoom in too closely.

However, in reality, the diesel engine, transmission, and rudder were all non-functional, and even the cabin windows were yellowed. The six-meter boat’s steering wheel was missing, and the seats inside were also rotted.

Boss Wu found two villagers who did odd jobs to help clean for a day; after removing the useless parts, only two rust-stained hulls remained.

Zhang Lan, carrying a bag, walked down to the river and couldn’t help but laugh.

"Salted Fish, how are these two boats going to be repaired?"

"The six-meter one, Director Xu asked to have glass installed and painted, then placed by the river."

Han Yu smiled and responded, "The nine-meter one needs a proper repair. I’ll go ask Master Zhou later and then make a list for you."

Zhang Lan asked subconsciously, "What kind of list?"

"A procurement list, we have quite a few things to buy, almost like building a new boat."

"How much will that cost?"

"The diesel engine is a bit expensive, but it shouldn’t exceed ten thousand."

"What do you mean it shouldn’t exceed? The budget is already blown!"

"Sister Zhang, it’s no use talking to me about this; you should discuss it with Director Xu."

"I don’t dare."

She was the girlfriend of Mingyuan Xu from the criminal investigation team, and the couple had been dating for several years. Had it been the past, they would have been married long ago.

But in Linghai, not only is family planning strictly enforced, but late marriage and late childbirth are also advocated. Anyone working in a government department isn’t allowed to marry if under the age of 23 for women and 25 for men.

Thinking of her boyfriend being Xu Sanye’s apprentice, Han Yu smiled and said, "Then wait for Brother Xu to come. Let him talk to Director Xu, I’d be most happy if it isn’t repaired."

Xu Sanye had already named the three boats; the tugboat was called "Flagship" and to eventually have "Linghai Police 001" painted on it.

Once the nine-meter one is repaired, it will enter the Yangtze River. In calm weather, it can serve as a transport boat as well as a law enforcement boat, coded "Linghai Police 002";

The six-meter one, although unrepaired, still needs to be placed by the river to serve a deterrent role, coded "Linghai Police 003."

Zhang Lan didn’t believe her boyfriend could persuade Xu Sanye, turning to look at the tugboat in the distance still emitting engine roars: "Salted Fish, the 001 has been running for almost half a day, why not turn it off? Isn’t this a waste of fuel?"

"Sister Zhang, do you think I forgot to turn it off, or do you think I’m playing around with it?"

"What are you running it for?"

"The engine just got maintained; it needs to break in."

"How long does it need to break-in?"

"At least forty-eight hours."

"How much diesel will that burn?"

"About the few barrels we added yesterday should just about do."

A thousand yuan worth of diesel gone just to break in the engine...

Zhang Lan finally understood why Master Ding had said once the law enforcement rescue boat was repaired, it wouldn’t just burn fuel, but money.

Han Yu, unconcerned about that, looking at her uniform, puzzledly asked, "Sister Zhang, I went to the post office to send a letter this morning and ran into Director Zhang, how come his police uniform looked different from ours?"

"How is it different?"

"It looks stiffer than ours, seems like the material is different."

Zhang Lan was stunned for a moment before realizing, "Ours are made of ’Duckling’, theirs are made of ’Makuni’, a higher grade, of course, it’s different."

Han Yu curiously asked, "They’re richer, so they wear Makuni?"

This little Salted Fish, only knows how to fix machines, clueless about everything else.

Zhang Lan found it amusing and patiently explained, "It’s not that they’re richer, but that their administrative level is higher."

"Higher administrative level means they can wear Makuni?"

"Yes, Director Yang and Master Ding also wear Makuni."

"But Director Zhang and Director Xu are both directors."

"Director Zhang is a director, but their Binjiang Port Police Station is at the Standard Department Level, their police stations are at the Full Department Level, which is equal to our Police Bureau."

"Director Zhang and Director Yang are on the same level? Director Zhang’s level is higher than Director Xu?"

"What’s so strange about that, but even if their administrative level is higher, they are still enterprise police and must accept operational guidance from the Binjiang City Police Department. Their jurisdiction is very small, limited to the Port District. If any major cases occur, it still falls under the city bureau’s jurisdiction."

"What if a major case occurs at Bailong Port Pier?"

Zhang Lan thought for a moment and smiled, "That depends on the circumstances. If it involves Linghai people, our Police Bureau will definitely take charge, and Linghai Police Bureau will lead. If it doesn’t involve Linghai people, it is generally managed by the city bureau."

Han Yu vaguely asked, "Are we more professional than them?"

"They are about the same as state-owned enterprise security departments; of course, we are more professional."

The noise from the machines being adjusted by the riverside was too loud.

Zhang Lan wanted to head back to the station soon, so she quickly changed the subject: "I came to tell you that we’ve bought the air conditioners. Tomorrow morning, find a truck to pick them up from Binjiang. Think about where to put them quickly; it would be terrible if someone stole them."

"How many?"

"Three."

"What kind?"

"The kind that you install in the window. Haven’t you ever seen ads for air conditioners?"

"I’ve experienced air conditioning."

"You’ve had air conditioning, or are you just boasting?"

"Really, I’ve had it. My sister’s workplace has many air conditioners; the guest rooms have the smaller ones like you mentioned, and the halls and meeting rooms have big floor-standing ones. They really are much cooler than electric fans."

Han Yu said with a proud smile, then asked, "What brand and how much per unit?"

She had finally managed to buy three air conditioners despite never having experienced one herself. Seeing Little Salted Fish stating he had experienced it, Zhang Lan felt like she was the unsophisticated one.

She rolled her eyes and muttered, "Chunlan, over four thousand each, thirteen thousand for three!"

Chunlan air conditioners, you see them on TV every day.

Han Yu laughed and couldn’t help but recite, "Chunlan’s wind paves the way to success. Chunlan’s warmth builds the bridge to happiness. As long as you own a Chunlan air conditioner, spring will always be with you! Chunlan air conditioner, a pursuit of higher standards!"

Hearing the all-too-familiar advertisement jingle and looking at his animated expression, Zhang Lan chuckled, "The air conditioner is yours, so spring will always stay with you, not with me."

"Next summer, you can come over here and enjoy the air conditioning."

"On a hot day, making me drive over twenty miles just to enjoy the air, that really is a pursuit of higher standards."

"Come over here, and you’ll get to eat fish. Don’t you like fish?"

"Yeah, seems worth the trip."

"Remember to bring wedding candies then."

"Bring wedding candies... you little salty fish, small but sly. I’m off, I need to hurry back to arrange the transport. I still have to help you haul the air conditioners tomorrow."

Zhang Lan waved her hand and walked away without looking back.

Just after she left, Huang Jiangsheng, whose egg and rice business had been flourishing with the help of Han Yu arranging more favorable transports, came over with two oil cakes wrapped in paper.

Han Yu was about to greet him when a twenty-ton outboard boat came "thudding" from the direction of the lock, approaching the riverside.

Its speed slowed down, and a woman standing on the bow used a bamboo pole to push the boat toward the small pier of the shipyard. A teenage boy accurately grabbed the mooring post and skillfully secured the mooring rope.

Han Yu had done all these tasks himself and wondered whether they were neighbors of the shipping company, giving them extra looks.

The driver shut off the engine, came out of the cabin at the stern, and while handling the rope, asked, "Young master, is Boss Wu around?"

"He just stepped out. What’s up?"

"One of the outboards is broken; no matter how much I crank, it won’t start."

The so-called outboard is actually a single-cylinder diesel engine, the kind used in small tractors and for farming, and it is very basic.

Knowing they can’t even fix such a commonplace engine yet daring to run a boat, it is clear they are entrepreneurs who bought boats to go into the transport business.

But anyone on a boat needing help deserves assistance.

Han Yu wiped his hands with cotton gauze, walked over, and climbed aboard: "Let me have a look first."

"Thank you, I’ll go get some cigarettes."

"No need, I don’t smoke." Han Yu politely declined the boat owner’s kindness, glanced at the nearly empty and dry cargo hold, and asked, "Boss, where are you coming from?"

The boat owner stepped aside, smiling, "East Sea."

"You came back just like this?"

"More boats than cargo, couldn’t get a load, how else would I come back?"

"Empty, shallow draft, why not add some water ballast? It’s very dangerous to travel like this."

"Adding water is easy but draining is troublesome. Besides, adding water ballast is similar to loading cargo; it takes extra fuel."

Such disregard for safety, what if they encounter strong winds and waves?

As Han Yu was about to scold him, he suddenly noticed several bicycles in the hold. Although they were covered with tarpaulins, the covers were loose and the front of the bikes were peeking out.

The boat owner followed his gaze and quickly explained, "Helping relatives, knew I was going to the East Sea, everyone asked me to bring stuff."

Han Yu walked to the two diesel engines, casually asking, "Do you need a ticket to buy bikes now?"

"Used to need tickets, not anymore, you can buy if you have money."

"Which engine won’t start?"

"This one."

"Where’s the crank?"

"Here." The boat owner, seeing Han Yu younger than his own son, smiled and asked, "Young master, can you really crank it?"

"Let me try."

Han Yu took the crank, didn’t attempt to crank the engine, but leaped onto the pier.

The baffled boat owner leaned out and asked, "What are you doing with my crank?"

Han Yu looked up at him and seriously warned in a tone like Xu Sanye’s, "I am a police officer from Yanjiang Police Station, my name is Han Yu. We will inspect your boat shortly, I order you to stay on the boat and don’t move!"