Binjiang Police Affairs

With Chen Zikun, a university graduate from the teachers' college, handling the paperwork, Han Yu didn't need to worry about it.

He didn't rest well during the days of searching at sea, feeling exhausted and sleepy. Once he returned to the dunship, he took clean clothes and went to the water room for a shower, and after the shower, he went up to the second-floor dormitory to rest, sleeping until half past nine the next morning. He was woken up by a senior sister.

"Hurry up, Uncle Qian is waiting for us to go to eat."

"What meal?"

Han Yu got up, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Han Xiangning opened the curtains and smiled, "Xiao Yu is going back to Hanwu, right? He wants to treat Uncle Li, Uncle Zhang and Chief Ding to a meal before leaving. But Uncle Zhang and Chief Ding have the night shift, so the meal can only be arranged for noon."

"He's such a miser, when did he start to be so good at interacting with people?" Han Yu came to his senses, hurriedly getting dressed.

"He doesn't understand these social graces, but Uncle Qian does."

"What about Han Han?"

"At Xiao Yu's house."

Han Xiangning helped him button up while smiling, "Your mom took Han Han to his house early in the morning, and my mom also came over this morning. They're currently at Xiao Yu's house playing cards with Uncle Li and Uncle Zhang."

Han Yu smiled and asked, "What about Chief Ding?"

"Chief Ding is downstairs chatting with Director Jin. They plan to wait for us before heading over together."

Veterans had come, so Han Yu didn't dare neglect, quickly washing his face and brushing his teeth.

Previously, he only knew his master was good at managing the department, but as it turns out, the senior sister was also very skilled at it.

Since she took charge of the Port Supervision Bureau Third Team's operations, she had added several major appliances to the dunship, including a washing machine last year and a solar water heater.

This year was an even bigger move; not only did she get a refrigerator, but she also installed air conditioners in the two duty rooms downstairs.

After washing up, Han Yu came to the first-floor Port Supervision duty room, only to see Jin Weiguo, who had retired from the frontline but didn't want to return to the city, sitting around the office table with former Four Factory Police Station Chief Old Ding, Chen Zikun, and Zhang Ping, drinking tea and chatting.

Han Yu smiled and asked, "Chief Ding, Director Jin, what are you talking about that's so fun?"

"We were just talking about Xiao Yu."

"What happened to Xiao Yu?"

"Zikun, you know the situation best, you tell us."

"Okay." Chen Zikun put down his teacup and looked up to explain, "Director Yu, didn't you ask yesterday to help prepare Xiao Yu's case materials? I organized them yesterday afternoon and sent them to Political Commissioner Jiang. This morning, feeling unsure, I called the Political Office again."

Han Yu suddenly remembered the division's plans to present Xiao Yu with an award, and he couldn't help but smilingly ask, "Then what?"

Chen Zikun said with a touch of disappointment, "Xiao Yu returned this time to participate in the investigations of two major criminal cases, with outstanding performance and significant achievements. Normally, it wouldn't be hard for him to receive a Second-class Merit. However, Director Li from the Political Office said a Second-class Merit was doubtful, and it's probably going to be a Third-class Merit."

For mid-level officials like Han Yu and Chen Zikun, being able to receive awards and recognition was not very important, but it was very important for Xiao Yu.

Han Yu, also disappointed, frowned slightly, "Normally, as long as the division forwards it, Changhang Police Bureau would generally approve."

"This time it's not evaluated by Changhang Police Bureau."

"Who is evaluating it then?"

"The City Bureau, the materials were sent to the City Bureau, and the Water Police Station also stamped the documents."

Han Yu asked puzzledly, "Xiao Yu is with Changhang Police, why were his materials sent to the City Bureau?"

Chen Zikun helplessly explained, "The two major criminal cases that Xiao Yu participated in were jointly investigated by our division and Linghai Police Bureau. This crackdown is led mainly under the City Bureau's leadership. Also, our division leadership feels a bit unconfident, thinking that getting awards from the local police holds more weight than from within our system."

"What are the bureau leaders thinking? Just because others look down on us, we can't look down on ourselves."

"That's not disdain; in many aspects we indeed fall short compared to the local police."

Han Yu didn't know what to say, when Old Ding raised his head smiling, "Salted Fish, for Xiao Yu to get a Third-level Merit this time is quite an accomplishment."

"Uncle Ding, does he not meet the criteria?"

"It's not about not meeting the criteria, it's about then versus now."

"What do you mean? I don't quite understand."

"This crackdown is nationwide. Anyone wearing a police uniform has enforcement tasks and has solved cases. If awards are distributed as usual, how would the superiors handle it? With so many cases being solved, the standards for commendations naturally have to rise."

"After hearing that, indeed, everyone has achievements to claim, and it must be tough for the superiors. If we went by the old standards, Second-class and Third-class Merits would lose their value."

"So you have to take it easy."

The superiors also have their difficulties.

Han Yu nodded, paused, then asked with a smile, "Instructor Chen, what about Xiao Yu's six students?"

Chen Zikun said with a laugh, "Students are easy to handle, one commendation per person. But it's not evaluated by the City Bureau, it's our division that evaluates them."

Young people care about honors, while the old comrades take these things lightly.

Compared to the Changhang Bureau awarding Xiao Yu's students commendations, Old Ding was more interested in the gossip he just heard this morning, and couldn't help asking with a laugh, "Salted Fish, when you went to She Island to pick up Shi Shengyong yesterday, was he really sunbathing naked on the island?"

"Uncle Ding, how did you know!"

"Xiao Yu told me."

"With his big mouth, even being an instructor he still can't change."

"Is that really true?"

"Xiao Yu only speaks the truth, doesn't make up lies."

Han Yu laughed and explained, "The environment on the island is harsh, with high salt and high humidity, staying on the island too long can lead to fungal infections. So whenever the sun comes out, everyone on the island rushes to strip naked and sunbathe."

Old Ding inquired further: "But Shi Shengyong hasn't been on the island for long and he doesn't have any fungal issues, so why did he also strip bare and lie on the rocks to sunbathe?"

"The island's medic dragged him out there, said it was for prevention."

"Hahaha."

"Chief Ding, what are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, hahaha."

Thinking of Shi Shengyong acting tough, going out to sea, getting seasick to the point of even staying on the island to sunbathe naked as a preventive measure, Old Ding couldn't help but laugh again.

He's an old predecessor, there are no taboos for him; he can laugh at anyone.

Han Yu, being a junior, couldn't mock the old unit leaders behind their backs, so he quickly changed the topic: "Instructor Chen, where have Captain Ma and the others gone?"

Chen Zikun hurriedly replied, "Luo Wenjiang got some leads from somewhere, keeping it all hush-hush even from me as if they're planning something today. They were short of hands, so they asked Captain Zhao to pull Ma Jintao and his team back to help."

"Through Captain Zhao?"

"I almost forgot, Political Commissioner Wang called me this morning. He said when the Water Police Third Team was established and having Director Jia come over as Big Commander was just a temporary measure. We're already on the right track here, and after this strict enforcement on the waterways, our two departments have about integrated, they're planning to disband the Third Team, and Director Jia won't be coming over anymore."

Back then, having Old Jia come over was mainly because the Port Supervision Bureau had just bought two boats from Linghai Police Bureau, and with Linghai Police Bureau officially stepping down, security management of the North Branch Waters couldn't fall through. While Bailong Port Police Station was effectively managing the river's security, strictly speaking, they didn't have jurisdiction.

After this strict enforcement on the waterways, Changhang Bureau and Water Police Station are essentially indistinguishable; it really isn't necessary to keep that nominal Third Team anymore.

One less person on the dunship, Han Yu was feeling rather reluctant when suddenly a call from his senior came through the walkie-talkie.

"San'er, Branch Chief Fang is looking for you, come up and pick up the phone."

"Coming!"

As Han Yu had just walked out of the Port Supervision office, Old Ding subconsciously asked, "Zikun, which Branch Chief Fang?"

Chen Zikun stood up smiling, "Fang Guoya, he's now the Deputy Division Commander of the Port Authority Police Branch Team and also the Firefighting Team Leader."

Old Ding suddenly realized, "Almost forgot, it's him."

It wouldn't be anything trivial for Fang Guoya to call Bailong Port out of the blue.

Chen Zikun directly assumed it might be a fire, that they needed 001 to rush over for rescue. Not wanting to keep the two old comrades chatting any longer, he hurried up to the second floor, pulled open the door, and walked into the command room.

Seeing his colleague had caught up, Han Yu simply pressed the speakerphone button and asked while sitting at the command desk, "Branch Chief Fang, it's Han Yu here, what's the matter?"

"Nothing much, I... I was just calling to ask."

"Ask what?"

"Nothing, just haven't seen you in a long time, just making a call for a chat."

Beating around the bush, there must be something.

Han Yu looked at his senior and Chen Zikun, smiled and asked, "Brother Fang, what's the matter, you're not an outsider, is there anything you can't say?"

Fang Guoya hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice: "Director Yu, have you all switched ranks?"

"Yeah, we changed a few days ago, haven't you?"

"The Economic Police only have epaulettes; no ranks."

"Is that so, I really didn't know."

"Even if the Economic Police were given ranks, the superiors wouldn't likely give me one."

"Why?"

Fang Guoya, looking at a document he received this morning, bitterly laughed: "The establishment of the Economic Police by the Port Authority was based on the 1980 'Implementation Plan for Establishing Economic Police', while the police rank awarding started in 1992, and the superiors clearly stipulate that the members of the firefighting team and the guard team at port and navigation agencies are not rated to be awarded police ranks."

Document conflicts are normal.

As for police rank awarding, it's becoming more formal.

It was said that recently the superiors have directed to finalize the work of terminating contract police, reviewing and ending the contracts of the previously recruited contract police.

Han Yu realized he was still affected by yesterday's incident; yesterday at the No.3 Pier, the Economic Police, just like security guards, had to stand aside.

The salary at the Port Authority was much better than at Changhang Bureau; if it's about economics, Fang Guoya would not lose out by switching jobs.

But being a military transfer official, wearing the uniform for many years, and suddenly becoming an official in a state-owned enterprise, he must be feeling uncomfortable.

Han Yu paused for a moment, then casually comforted: "Brother Fang, having a rank or not doesn't really make a difference for you. You'd still be doing the same job, the salary won't increase even a bit, you were an official before and you still are one, what does it matter if you don't wear the Economic Police uniform?"

"Although that's what has been said, looking back, it still feels a bit regrettable."

"There's nothing to regret. How much do you earn a month now, and how much did you earn a month at the bureau? There are gains and losses, no need to be overly concerned."

"No choice now but to think of it that way."

After chatting for a while, Fang Guoya hung up first.

You could hear he regretted transferring, but there's no remedy for regret in this world.

Chen Zikun felt fortunate, if he hadn't "come back to his senses" timely, he might now be regretting just like Fang Guoya.