Binjiang Police Affairs

Han Yu stayed at Gaoru Port for two days and transferred the entire case regarding the crew's embezzlement of gasoline from the Changjiang No. 2 Oil Tanker to the special task force that was just established yesterday before heading back.

The newly established special task force consists of officers from Gaoru Port Police Station, Water Police First Company, and Linghai Police Bureau's Criminal Investigation Team, with Gaoru Port Police Station taking the lead in the investigation. After all, the oil tanker belongs to Hanwu, and the main culprit is also far away in Hanwu, hence it is more advantageous for Changhang police to lead the investigation.

The reason for setting up the special task force in Gaoru Port is mainly because the suspects involved in disposing of the stolen goods are all from Gaoru. The upcoming assistance from Gaoru City Police Department is indispensable, and establishing the task force at Rugao Port is much more convenient than setting it up in Binjiang or Bailong Port.

It's worth mentioning that Han Yu does not have much to do with this case anymore, nor with the other major cases' final duties, and even the strike command for water control, which was set up at the Bailong Port State-owned Inn, has moved back to Binjiang.

Several vehicles were loaded with case files, and comrade Old Jia, being the most familiar with the situation, also went with them to the city district.

Chen Zikun has returned and is no longer involved in the water strike campaign.

The weather is hot, waterborne fires are rampant, and the meteorological station has issued a forecast for an imminent typhoon, truly a blend of fire and water.

Bailong Port Police Station, especially the water firefighting squad, swiftly transitioned from the strike action to firefighting and rescue mode, with all police and auxiliary police cancelling their leave, on standby 24 hours a day.

Inside the command and dispatch room on the second floor of the Dunship, calls on the high-frequency radio and phone ringing were incessant.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell her right now."

"San'er, who was it?"

Zhang Ping, Xiao Gong, Ma Jintao, Old Jin with the Third Team of the Port Patrol, and others were inspecting the readiness of piers, ferry landings, and anchored vessels against the typhoon, while Chen Zikun represented Bailong Port Police Station at Linghai City Government's typhoon and flood prevention meeting. There isn't much happening at the passenger terminal in the afternoon, so Han Ning came to help on the Dunship.

Han Yu put down the phone, turned around with a smile and said, "Sis, your old colleagues are busy with the strike on the water, and the station is too busy to cope. Director Wei is nearly at breaking point, and Director Li wants you to go back."

Her loved ones are in Bailong Port, her child is in Bailong Port, the whole family is in Bailong Port!

From the bottom of her heart, Han Ning does not want to go back, muttering, "I'm told to come when they say come, and told to leave when they say leave, isn't that too trifling?"

"Previously, your transfer to Bailong Port with your brother-in-law was the leadership's consideration for you both. Besides, it's the period of the strike, and they need you back for work. You can't negotiate with the organization."

"What about Dongdong?"

"Your brother-in-law can drop off and pick up; he's not busy."

Understanding his older sister's feelings, as they had never been apart all these years, Han Yu thought about it and then advised, "Sis, I know you don't want to live apart from your brother-in-law, but Bailong Port is not really that far from the city center. Besides, the separation is only temporary. Even if your brother-in-law can't get transferred back for a while, how many more years can the Bailong Port Passenger Pier operate?"

The number of passengers taking the passenger ships from Bailong Port is dwindling.

Especially the Bai Liu Passenger Route, as it is convenient to cross the river from Lingda Car Ferry to Dacang, passengers won't go the extra length to take the passenger ship, leading to the Bai Liu passenger ship operating at a loss each trip, reportedly stopping its service in the next few months.

The high-speed passenger ships on the Bai Wu Line are also operating under bleak conditions, only the Bai Shen which ferries to and from Sixteen Piers Pier is barely sustaining itself.

As Han Yu said, it's only a matter of time before the Bailong Port Passenger Pier closes for good.

However, Han Ning still doesn't want to live apart from her husband, struggling to know how to speak up when Han Yu meaningfully adds, "Sis, it was not easy for your brother-in-law to become Deputy Director. He's been supporting your work these years, and now it's your turn to support him."

"What Deputy Director, those positions at the pier don't count as official posts."

"What's the difference between management personnel of state-owned enterprises and officials? Moreover, times have changed. In the past, good performance could lead to a promotion. Now it's all about education and degrees, do you really want your brother-in-law to remain a mechanic for life?"

If Zhang Jiangkun returns to Binjiang Port now, he could only continue to be a mechanic squad leader, which is the same as being a mechanic.

However, if he diligently works at Bailong Port, until all the shipping lines shut down, then upon returning to the Port Authority, he will surely be arranged a management position. Ultimately, nobody is willing to come to Bailong Port; anyone who is willing to come and truly dedicates themselves to work, even if they have no achievements, at least has their hard work.

Every man has a desire for success, right?

After a moment of silence, Han Ning asks with a wry smile, "When did Director Li ask for me to go back?"

"Political Commissioner Jiang will come over in a bit, sis. You better hurry back to the pier to pack up and speak to mom and your husband. Once Political Commissioner Jiang announces the order, leave with him."

"Why would an internal transfer require an announcement?"

"It's not announcing your transfer; it's an order for rank conferral."

"I know about the rank change, but a new conferment for changing ranks?"

Local party committees and governments are undergoing reform, and the police system is part of that reform.

For example, what used to be a division has now become a branch, and like changing police uniforms and ranks.

In fact, the matter of changing police uniforms and ranks was settled last year, with local police wearing new uniforms and rank insignia since earlier this year.

The change in police uniforms is minor, with the removal of the red side stripes from the pants, and the addition of a golden-yellow braided decoration band to the big-brimmed hats. Female officers will no longer wear big-brimmed hats, instead wearing a kind of short, stiff cap with a brim.

The sword-shaped rank collar insignia and branch shoulder patches are gone, as ranks transitioned from the previous sword shape to gold four-pointed stars and bars, pinned on olive-green shoulder patches.

A student is one star, a probationary officer is a stripe and a star, a second-level officer is a stripe and two stars, a first-level officer is a stripe and three stars, and a third-level chief is two stripes and a star...

The rank levels haven't changed; it's just the style that's changed, as Shi Shengyong describes it as "a matter of a few cents."

Han Yu wasn't able to participate in the first rank conferral due to service on sea ships, but he is looking forward to the second one, unable to help but smile, "You guys are just switching, Chen Zikun and I are receiving rank conferral, so superiors have to announce the orders."

Not understanding, Han Ning asks, "Why would they need to announce conferral orders for you changing ranks?"

Han Yu smiles with a grin, "Chen Zikun and I are currently Deputy Directors; our ranks have to follow our positions, so orders need to be announced."

Han Ning realized and asked excitedly, "San'er, does this mean you're getting a promotion in rank?"

"Should be."

"Although I've been working for eight years, I haven't held my current position for two years. According to the regulations, I should be granted the rank of Second-level Police Chief."

"A Second-level Police Chief has two bars and two stars, it's pretty good to be granted a Second-level Police Chief rank. If they don't give you a Deputy Director level like me and go by years of service, you can only get a promotion in rank, which is just a Third-level Police Chief."

"Yeah, when I think about it, it's quite an honor."

"Right, by the end of next year you'll have served as a Deputy Director for two years, right? Then, will you be able to get a promotion? Could you become a First-level Police Chief?"

"I don't know, probably not likely."

"Why is it not likely? You meet the criteria."

"Meeting the criteria is one thing, but whether the superiors grant the promotion is another. Logically speaking, I should've been a Third-level Police Chief last month when I hit eight years of service, but the superiors aren't going to submit a promotion report just for me."

Han Yu laughed and then said, "Moreover, the document clearly states in black and white, those who have served for four years may be granted the rank of First-level Police Officer, and those who have served for eight years may be granted the rank of Third-level Police Chief. They used the word 'may,' which means they can either grant it or not."

When there was no rank to grant, there was less fuss. The system started in '92, and honestly, it seems a bit chaotic.

If promotions were entirely based on position, one could tell the seniority from the rank.

But the superiors don't promote solely based on position, they also look at the years of service. Those close to retirement are all Police Directors, while the young heads of departments and stations may only be First-level Police Chiefs, leaving some station chiefs and big commanders with a rank lower than that of ordinary police officers.

Thinking about how the rank's importance is minimal, with just a little extra rank allowance each month, Han Ning laughed and said, "Let's not talk about this, I'll go back and pack up first."

…

After seeing off his older sister, Han Yu hurriedly notified Chen Zikun, Zhang Ping, Xiao Gong and others to come back through the high-frequency radio.

Old Qian has two bachelor nephews, one of whom is celebrating his fiftieth big birthday today. Both of the old bachelors are now Xiao Yu's uncles, so Xiao Yu didn't go to work today and drove the police car from the station early in the morning with Old Qian to deliver birthday peaches (a type of steamed bun shaped like a peach) and to eat birthday noodles.

According to the customs of Linghai, noodles are eaten at noon, and the formal birthday feast is in the evening.

They thought they wouldn't return until after dinner, but just as they put down the radio transceiver, Xiao Yu and Old Qian appeared before them.

Han Yu curiously asked, "Uncle Qian, Xiao Yu, how come you came back so early?"

Xiao Yu, glancing at the paperwork Han Yu had just packed up, sat down and laughed, "I didn't know anyone there, it wasn't fun to stay, so I thought I might as well come back early. I can go again in the evening since it's not far away."

Old Qian was extremely disappointed in his two nephews, and grumbled, "Before it was just Cao Da playing cards, now even Cao Er is joining the game. It's bad enough that they do nothing and never tidy up, but they couldn't even make an effort to clean up for their birthday. You didn't see it, but if you did, you'd find it hard to stay. There wasn't even a place to sit!"

You can't set too high expectations for two old bachelors.

Han Yu, trying to suppress a laugh, asked, "Uncle Qian, how many tables were there for lunch?"

"Two tables, not full, just the neighbors."

"What about the evening?"

"Three tables in the evening, but I guess it won't be full either. The house is a mess, who would want to go?"

"Uncle Qian, how much did you give for Cao Er's birthday considering you're his uncle?"

"Two hundred."

Old Qian took out a cigarette, thought about it and then said discontentedly, "He's already fifty and still can't find a wife. What use is money to him? To be honest, I didn't even want to give it."

No matter what, they're still his uncles!

In the next month, when returning to Hanwu, only the grandfather would be left at home, hoping the nephews would come to visit him at Bailong Port from time to time.

As the younger generation, Xiao Yu didn't want to hear about the uncles' shortcomings from his grandfather and quickly changed the subject, "Salted Fish, why did you call Instructor Chen and the others back?"

"The Political Commissioner is coming later to announce the promotion orders and to bring the new uniforms and new ranks, to have us all switch over."

"If you guys are starting to change, it means our police school will soon too."

"I guess the police school has already changed."

Old Qian was already aware of the police's uniform change because there were not only Changhang Police but also Local Police on the dunship.

Hearing Han Yu and Xiao Yu talking about it, Old Qian asked puzzledly, "Salted Fish, the Water Police Station and Linghai Police Bureau have already changed, why has your Changhang Bureau waited until today?"

"The Local Police are the big brother, with many officers. Actually, our shipping police system is quite large, and we also have many officers."

Seeing that Old Qian didn't quite understand, Han Yu continued, "The entire Port and Shipping Police structure is actually very large; there's the Changhang Police Bureau, Heilong River Shipping Police Bureau, Dalian, East Sea, Guangzhou Maritime Police Bureau, and Port Police Bureaus of Dalian, Yingkou, Qinhuang Island, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, totaling seventeen."

Although Xiao Yu was an instructor at the police school, he was not very familiar with the national traffic and maritime police system and was surprised, "There are so many police bureaus!"

"It's more than that."

Han Yu handed Old Qian an ashtray, sat down and laughed, "Apart from the police bureaus I just mentioned, there are also the Maritime Safety Supervision Departments of Tianjin, East Sea, Guangzhou, and the First, Second, Third, Fourth Marine Engineering Departments of the Ministry of Transport, as well as the Public Security Offices of the Yantai Maritime Rescue and Salvage Bureau."