Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 89 - 81 Song of the Yangtze River!

Chapter 89: Chapter 81 Song of the Yangtze River!

"Captain Wang, I’m going down too; it’s all up to you now."

Xu Sanye didn’t want to just watch the two fish undertake such a dangerous task, so he put down the walkie-talkie and walked out of the cockpit.

Captain Wang responded and kept adjusting the heading, while lifting the walkie-talkie: "002, Bai Gang Communication 005, please be aware, Director Xu, Salted Fish, and Liang Xiaoyu are about to board. Get ready for water rescue!"

"002 received, 002 received."

"005 received, please stay safe!"

is a tugboat, not as nimble as 002 or the traffic boats of Bailong Port.

Once Xu Sanye and the two fish fell into the water, they wouldn’t be able to stop the boat and would have to quickly steer away.

Li Weiguo and Xiao Liu from the ship lock management office knew the upcoming danger and stood on the stern deck with lifebuoys attached to ropes.

The staff on the traffic boat of Bailong Port were also ready to rescue.

Under Captain Wang’s control, 001 slowly approached the stern of the runaway ship, and the resulting waves also affected the runaway ship, which was visibly shifting sideways.

Xu Sanye held a hooked iron attached to a rope, standing at the bow, fixing his gaze on the runaway ship.

Han Yu and Liang Xiaoyu stood at the rail carefully observing, looking for an angle to climb aboard.

As the bow got closer to the runaway ship’s stern, it was clear that it would be impossible to climb aboard directly.

Xu Sanye decided to use the most dangerous but also most effective method. Seizing the opportunity, he flung out the iron hook, which quickly wrapped around a horizontal beam connected to one of the three diesel engines’ propellers.

"Get out of the way!"

He gave it a tug, ensuring it was tightly wrapped, then ran along the rail towards the stern, hollering as he ran: "I’ll go up first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he vaulted over the railing. A splash was heard—he had fallen into the river!

A boat is not a car; it doesn’t stop or reverse on a dime on the river. Under the effects of the immense momentum and current, 001 continued to move forward.

Han Yu gripped the rope tightly, running towards the stern while desperately pulling. Liang Xiaoyu, realizing what was happening, quickly helped pull from the end.

Xu Sanye had actually fallen into the water, startling Master Ding to the core.

From the 002, Li Weiguo saw everything clearly. In a state of great anxiety, he saw Xu Sanye climbing up the concrete ship along the rope.

The Director had boarded, but he had never worked on a ship before, making him very vulnerable alone on the out-of-control vessel.

Han Yu dared not hesitate any longer, gritted his teeth, shouted "Director Xu pull me" and, gripping the rope, vaulted into the river.

It’s the end of December, and it’s freezing cold.

Even hardened enthusiasts of winter swimming can only last three to four minutes in such weather, not to mention in the rough and tumultuous Yangtze River.

With the water temperature being twenty to thirty degrees lower than the body temperature, Han Yu felt the icy water piercing into his bones, causing his skin to tight and his arms and fingertips to ache. He felt like he couldn’t breathe...

Xu Sanye hadn’t expected Little Salted Fish to jump in the water as well, and hurriedly pulled him up.

Captain Wang saw Liang Xiaoyu preparing to jump and immediately raised the communicator: "Xiao Yu, don’t jump, get ready to throw the mooring rope!"

Liang Xiaoyu heard the broadcast and instinctively looked towards the cockpit.

By then, 001 had already passed the runaway ship’s stern, and the previously hooked rope had also fallen into the river. Liang Xiaoyu, even if he wanted to, was too late to jump.

Master Ding, frightened, ran to the stern looking for the fallen Little Salted Fish.

Reporter Wang, just as anxious for the youngest police station chief and the youngest officer of the Linghai Police Bureau, was too preoccupied with his duties as a journalist to worry. He just wanted to capture this nail-biting moment on camera.

couldn’t brake and could only continue moving forward and then turn around.

and the traffic boat from Bailong Port moved against the current, and Li Weiguo confirmed that Little Salted Fish had been pulled up by Xu Sanye, finally heaving a sigh of relief.

"Salted Fish, are you cold?"

"I’m freezing to death."

"If we had known we’d be taking a bath, we should have brought a bottle of liquor."

Xu Sanye pulled Han Yu under the canopy of the concrete ship, helping to squeeze the water from his body.

Han Yu, shivering from the cold, peered at the tightly locked cabin door, then at the broken mooring rope hanging at the ship’s side, and tremblingly said, "Definitely, someone left, the mooring snapped, then the ship drifted away."

"That’s just irresponsible. We’ll have Port Supervision settle accounts with the shipowner when we get back."

Xu Sanye stood up, squeezing the water from his clothes, looking at the 001 that had just turned and was slowly coming towards them, and shakily asked, "What do we do now?"

"We wait for Uncle Zhu and Xiao Yu to throw the mooring rope."

"Tie it to the bow or the stern?"

"Definitely the bow."

Han Yu got up and strenuously wrenched the steel cross-beam connecting the three rudders, ensuring that the ship’s rudders were functional, then said, "Luckily the rudders aren’t locked, otherwise it would be really hard to tow."

Xu Sanye asked subconsciously, "Can the rudders be locked?"

"Yes, it’s just like locking the steering wheel of a car."

"Can the engine be cranked?"

"It can’t be cranked. The shipowner probably removed several parts, likely fearing the ship could be stolen."

While they were talking, 001 came towards them again.

Liang Xiaoyu timed it perfectly, throwing a knotted mooring rope their way.

But their hands and feet were numb from the cold and their bodies were wet, their movements not agile enough, and they missed it.

Zhu Baogen swiftly helped collect the rope and ran to the stern to throw it back.

This time it was caught, and Xu Sanye, while reeling in the rope, dashed toward the bow.

Liang Xiaoyu tied the second rope and released it with all his might.

Han Yu helped Xu Sanye collect it, and the two pulled hard together, quickly winding it around the bow’s mooring post.

Captain Wang confirmed it was secure and lifted the walkie-talkie: "Director Xu handle the rope, Salted Fish to steer. Baogen, the towing rope can be retracted automatically, don’t stand at the stern!"

He was using the ship’s PA system to make the announcement; everyone could hear him, but he couldn’t hear anyone else.

Xu Sanye raised his hand to show he understood.

Han Yu, Zhu Baogen, and Liang Xiaoyu also raised their hands in turn.

The ropes had been let out very long, making the towing insecure.

But what needed to be done now was to get it started, then make adjustments slowly.

Reporter Wang changed the film, climbed to the second floor, leaned against the railing to take a few photos, and asked confusedly: "Captain Wang, why didn’t we drop the anchor earlier?"

"The water here is shallow; the anchor might not catch. Moreover, dropping the anchor can only fix our position; our ship would still drift where it would, and that ship is out of control and could easily collide."

"Then why tow towards the west, shouldn’t we tow it towards Bailong Port?"

"On the river, other than normal navigation, anything is easier going against the current than with it, including anchoring."

Captain Wang had no time to explain more and looked back through the small window.

The cement ship’s body was finally straightened; Old Salty Fish and Little Salted Fish had a close call, only getting an icy bath in the river.

Master Ding finally felt relief and climbed up, saying apprehensively: "Captain Wang, there’s no problem now, right?"

"Instructor, my walkie-talkie can’t reach Bailong Port, would you mind going to the command cabin and use the large radio to call them? Tell Bailong Port Pier dispatch the danger has been resolved, Bai Shen and Bai Liu can set sail."

"I don’t know how to use the radio below, how about we call Bailong Port’s traffic boat with the walkie-talkie instead, and let them contact their dispatcher?"

"Almost forgot in the chaos, there’s someone from Bailong Port here."

Captain Wang chuckled and was about to call when he suddenly saw a small boat approaching.

Master Ding picked up the binoculars from the console and had a careful look, laughed and said: "Supervision 39, should be Port Supervision’s law enforcement boat, their timing is perfect."

Meanwhile, Liang Xiaoyu and Zhu Baogen had already tied the crew’s bedding with ropes to the cement ship.

This bedding was moved onto the ship by Captain Wang a while ago; he had taken over ship repairs from Little Salted Fish and couldn’t sleep at the station during noon, so he got used to napping on the ship.

Xu Sanye and Han Yu, one wrapped in a mattress, the other in a quilt, sat at the stern of the cement ship, chatting idly while steering.

"Salted Fish, is the tow rope not secured properly? Why is the bow skewed?"

"It’s not that it’s not secured properly, it’s supposed to be skewed."

Xu Sanye, puzzled, asked: "Why tow it skewed?"

Han Yu, hugging the quilt, explained: "Ship 001 creates a wake when it moves, towing it straight would consume more fuel."

"I see, there’s really knowledge in everything."

Xu Sanye was both cold and thrilled, watching the approaching Supervision 39 with a sense of accomplishment.

By that time, 002 had come alongside.

Li Weiguo stood on the aft deck, anxiously asking: "Director Xu, Salted Fish, are you alright?"

"We’re fine, just took a dip in the river, without clothes to change into, a bit cold."

"Hold on a bit, we’ll be home soon."

"What else can holding on do? Are you planning to take off your clothes for us to change into?"

"It’s so cold on the river; at my age, I could catch a cold without falling into the water, can’t afford to be that bold." Li Weiguo laughed heartily, then turned to look at the approaching Port Supervision law enforcement boat: "Director Xu, they were asking about the situation on the walkie-talkie just now, how should I respond?"

He had originally planned to jump over to assist, but ended up like a drowned rat.

Xu Sanye only wanted to hurry back and get out of the wet clothes and into the warmth, without thinking, said: "We’ll tow the ship back first, if there’s anything, have them go to the station."

Ship 002 being small and fragile, and the wind on the river strong, Master Zhou didn’t dare to get too close to the cement ship, he turned back to remind Li Weiguo, slowing down to create distance.

Supervision 39, much smaller than 001 but larger than 002, came over as two staff members stood on the bow, observing and holding walkie-talkies, not sure who they were communicating with.

Xu Sanye didn’t care whether he recognized them or not, he waved to greet them.

The people on the boat raised a hand in response, then swept past 001 and the cement ship about ten meters away, turned around, and followed.

On the way back, they encountered Bai Shen; from a distance, the ship sounded its whistle.

Then came Bai Wu and Bai Liu passenger ships.

Captain Wang responded with a whistle, wishing them smooth sailing.

Han Yu saw Captain Yao, saw Political Commissioner Meng, saw Shao Lei waving towards them, filled with a sense of achievement, tears welling up with happiness in the cold.

This sight made Xu Sanye even happier and prouder than Han Yu.

He felt a surge of boldness, threw away the mattress wrapped around him, and faced the biting wind, arms waving, and started singing in tenor.

"You come from the snowy mountains, the tide of spring is your grace. You rush toward the East Sea, the surging waves your stature. You nourish children of all ethnicities with your sweet milk. You pull up mountains and seas with your strong arms!"

The Song of the Yangtze River, similar to the school song, was learned at the start of the school year and sung until graduation.

Han Yu was too familiar with this song and couldn’t help singing along: "We praise the Yangtze, you are the endless fountain. We are attached to the Yangtze, you have the tenderness of a mother. You come from ancient times, your mighty waves cleanse the dust..."