Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 56 - 52 "Capable of Independent Responsibility

Chapter 56: Chapter 52 "Capable of Independent Responsibility

The Baptism Wine that took four days to prepare can finally be served today.

Ji Xiaohong has a love-hate relationship with the neighbors in the village, just like her parents do—especially with the aunts and older women. The love comes from the fact that whenever there’s a bit of a problem at home, just a word and they’d all be eager to help.

For instance, today, a total of eight tables were set up.

Her own home could only fit three tables; the other five had to be placed at the neighboring houses.

Most of the Eight Immortals tables and big stools were borrowed from others, as well as the dishes and utensils. Not only did they lend things, but they also helped pick vegetables, wash vegetables, serve dishes, wash dishes...

The saying "a close neighbor is better than a distant relative" was fully demonstrated today.

The hate comes from their excessively gossipy nature. Since the day she started dating Han Shen, because the Han family lived on a boat and didn’t have a house on land, they’d been variously ridiculed and even mocked by them.

Confined to home for postnatal care, one should not step outside.

With a cloth wrapped around her forehead and a blanket over her body, Ji Xiaohong leaned against the bed holding little Xunxun, listening to the loud chatter and laughter of those aunts working outside, and felt it all so absurd.

Then, a clamor erupted from outside.

It was soon followed by silence.

"Sister, are you there?"

"I’m here!"

Han Ning walked in with a bowl of pig stomach and lung soup, using her body to prop the door open.

Ji Xiaohong eagerly asked, "Sister, why has it gone quiet outside?"

Today was the Han family’s celebration, yet her parents and brother were not at home.

Han Ning, as the eldest sister "in charge of the household", was just worried five minutes ago that she couldn’t support the event, but now there was no need to worry anymore.

She carefully placed the bowl of pig stomach and lung soup on the bedside table, wiped her hands, and gently picked up the little baby, saying with joy, "San’er can handle things on his own now; he’s on a business trip to the East Sea and can’t make it back today, but Director Xu from his work came in his stead."

"Xu Sanye!"

"Mhm, he is walking this way from the brigade, accompanied by your father, your brother-in-law, and Secretary Yang."

Xu Sanye is an official who’s even more powerful than the village chief!

Ji Xiaohong realized she shouldn’t address him so informally and quickly corrected herself, "Why did Director Xu come?"

"He drove here in a jeep, seems he brought something too."

"How could we accept this?"

"It’s fine, he’s San’er’s superior, San’er works under him. No matter how much we owe him, we can return the favor slowly."

"I’ve heard about him since I was little but never met him."

"You can’t go out now, but there will be plenty of opportunities later."

Han Ning signaled her to drink the soup quickly, kissed little Xunxun gently, and thinking about it again, laughed, "When Director Xu arrives, I’ll take Xunxun out for Director Xu to see."

For her son’s Baptism Wine, even Xu Sanye came to congratulate - what an honor...

Ji Xiaohong was delighted from the bottom of her heart and chuckled, "Okay."

...

Meanwhile, Han Yu was on a passenger ship en route to the East Sea Sixteen Piers.

Normally, the Director and the instructor wouldn’t feel at ease letting him go on a business trip alone.

But they asked Director Zhang from the Bailong Port Police Station for information and found out that the Yangtze Port and Navigation System is actually not that big. A referral from person to person could easily find a connection.

Director Yang from the Binjiang Port Authority’s Port Governance Department has a classmate who works at the East Sea Port’s ship repair yard.

After understanding the situation, Director Yang made a call to his classmate in the East Sea, who said it’d be fine just to bring a letter of introduction.

It’s just that the tugboat was built decades ago, so it takes time to locate the relevant blueprints and documents. That’s why they made contact the day before yesterday, but it wasn’t until today that the departure took place.

As for safety on the round trip, there was nothing to worry about. Shao Lei, an onboard policeman on the Bai Shen Passenger Liner, lives not far from the shipyard.

Shao Lei was on duty today and went to the East Sea with him.

Once they reached Sixteen Piers Pier, they would take a ferry across the river to Pudong together with Shao Lei, then transfer to a bus to the shipyard located in Sanlin Pond.

Leaning on the ship’s railing, watching the vast river flow, thinking that his destination lies in Pudong, while Lin Xiaohui is in Xuhui District of Pu Xi, they wouldn’t meet this time, leading Han Yu to feel somewhat disappointed.

"Salted Fish, you grew up on a ship and you’re no stranger to steamers; stop staring dumbly, come and eat."

"Oh, thanks, Brother Shao."

"You’re in luck, it’s a special meal day, pork cutlets for lunch. The Political Commissioner said you’re growing, you should eat more; Master Liu gave you an extra helping."

"The Political Commissioner is really kind."

"He’s only kind to you; he’s very serious with the rest of us."

Shao Lei walked into the police cabin, pointed at the lunch box on the small table, sat down, and picked up his chopsticks. "Salted Fish, when we get to Sanlin Pond, I’ll take you to try our local crispy pork skin there. It’s delicious and crisp, bursting with savory juice with each bite!"

Han Yu sat opposite him, took a bite of the pork cutlet, and asked with a smile, "Is the pork skin a specialty of your place?"

"Sanlin pork skin is quite famous; people from the East Sea specifically come to our Sanlin Pond to eat it."

"Brother Shao, but you’re from the East Sea, aren’t you?"

"The East Sea is large, I’m from Pudong. To us people from the suburban areas, places like Huangpu, Yangpu, Hongkou, and Xuhui are the real East Sea; those living in the city are the actual East Sea people."

"You live in the suburbs?"

"Disappointed?"

"Not at all."

Saying he’s from the East Sea, but actually living in the countryside.

If he wasn’t an onboard police officer, he wouldn’t visit the neon-lit Pu Xi more than a few times a year, which when he thought about it, felt a bit awkward.

Shao Lei undid his duty belt, along with the gun attached to it, placed them beside him, and said with a laugh while eating, "Although Sanlin Pond is in the suburbs, it has a long history. Once you get there, you’ll see this trip won’t be in vain."

"Is it fun?"

"In our Sanlin Pond we have an ancient town. Have you ever heard of Sanlin pork rind and Sanlin pickles? They’re very famous! There are also Sanlin melons and Sanlin printed cloth. During the Spring Festival, it’s the liveliest time with dragon and lion dances, the Holy Temple Festival, and the City God procession."

"We have pork rind in Linghai, but I want to buy some pickles."

"All you know is to eat; after eating, I need to go on duty. You can rest here or go find the Chief Engineer."

The person before him belonged to the Changhang navigation police. The epaulets, collar patches, and arm badges were different from those of the local police.

The local police have a shield on their epaulets, with a five-pointed star inside.

His epaulets also have a shield, but inside the shield, there’s an anchor pattern.

The local police’s collar patch has a small shield with a star at the corner, while his has a small shield with an anchor, and the arm badge has the same anchor pattern.

Han Yu was curiously studying the differences when Shao Lei got annoyed at being stared at. Waving his chopsticks, he said, "Stop looking. I know you’re an administrative police officer. I know your epaulets, collar patches, and arm badges are different from ours."

"Brother Shao, what does administrative police mean?"

"You don’t know?"

"I don’t." Han Yu looked genuinely clueless.

Shao Lei had had enough, put down his chopsticks, and explained, "Your local police are part of the administrative system; you are all official state employees. We’re not part of the administrative system. Understand now?"

"What system are you part of then?"

"Don’t ask me; I don’t get it either."

"But your salary is higher than ours."

"Who told you that? It depends on who you compare with. Compared with your Linghai police, maybe a bit higher, but compared with the local police of East Sea, we earn less. When it comes to salary and benefits, Director Zhang and his crew are the highest paid."

"I thought you were the same as Director Zhang and his crew."

"It’s not the same; they belong to the Port Authority."

"Brother Shao, how did you become an onboard police officer?"

"I served four years in the South Sea Fleet, then got out just in time for the police recruitment. That’s how I ended up in the police uniform."

Being onboard police is tough and monotonous.

Always running this route, spending at least two hundred days a year on the ship, one can hardly take care of the family.

Han Yu thought that although the local police salary might be less, at least they were happier than him.

After lunch, he cleaned the lunchbox and went to find the Chief Engineer.

The man was not only a senior in the engine room but also an alumnus of the Binjiang Shipping School, making this a precious learning opportunity.

Many people think the Chief Officer is more powerful than the Chief Engineer, but on a ship, the Chief Engineer ranks just below the Captain, earning a higher salary, with everything below deck under his management.

Anyone studying shipping wants to be a Captain, but there are only so many ships, so not everyone can be one. Therefore, a path in engine management is broader than studying to become a pilot.

Having a skill, coupled with enough experience and service years, even offers a chance to become a Chief Engineer, making the engine major the most sought-after in school.

Ask if you don’t understand; seniors have the answers.

Unknowingly, the passenger liner had sailed into the Huangpu River.

Being in the engine room inevitably leads to getting greasy, and since he was about to leave the ship, Han Yu didn’t want to dirty himself and hurried upstairs to wash his hands.

But as soon as he reached the third deck, he saw Shao Lei at the railing, pensively watching a distant passenger liner.

"Brother Shao, that’s a sea liner, right?"

"Yeah."

"Where is it headed?"

"Wenzhou."

"Do you have friends on that ship?"

"No, we’re Yangtze River Shipping, and they’re part of maritime shipping, not in the same system."

Charged with curiosity, Han Yu asked, "So what are you looking at?"

This Little Salted Fish is quickly becoming capable. He’ll have his own little tugboat along the river soon, destined to enforce the law on the Yangtze.

Shao Lei thought some things could be shared with him. He pressed the gun holstered at his waist and reminded him, "Salted Fish, if your superiors give you a gun in the future, you must keep it safe."

"Oh."

"Also, you need to take care of fire prevention and anti-theft for the dunships and the law enforcement rescue boats once they’re docked by the river, especially theft. You can’t take it lightly."

Keep the gun safe...

Anti-theft...

Han Yu paused, then asked instinctively, "Brother Shao, has anyone lost a gun?"

Shao Lei raised his arm, pointing to the departing liner, "That ship once lost one. The thief’s last name was Yu, Yu Shuangge. He used to be an onboard police officer for a while."

Han Yu couldn’t believe it was true and asked in shock, "Why did he steal a gun?"

"Haven’t you watched TV?"

"No."

"He owed a lot of debt and harbored the wrong thoughts, planning to rob. Having once been an onboard police officer with the maritime bureau, he knew the ship well. So, he boarded the docked ship, broke into the armory, stole a handgun, and then robbed a bank, even committing murder."

"What happened after?"

"He was caught; sentenced to death at the end of last December. It was broadcast live on TV; everyone from East Sea knows."

After a pause, Shao Lei turned and patted his arm, "That’s why firearm safety is no trivial matter. If you are assigned a gun in the future, it’s as important as your life, if not more so!"

A few days ago at his sister-in-law’s parents’ place, he felt like a fake cop without a gun.

Hearing Shao Lei’s words, Han Yu dared not entertain the idea of being armed anymore and quickly said, "Thank you, Brother Shao, I’ll definitely keep your words in mind."

...

PS: The case mentioned at the end of the Chapter was very sensational. Two suspects accused of harboring were tried live on television.

The public prosecutor was inexperienced and was outshined by the defense lawyers, leading to public sympathy for the two criminals. A popular saying even emerged, "For a wife, choose Jiang Peiling; for friendship, choose Xu Genbao." Interested readers can learn more about the Yu Shuangge case on their own.