Binjiang Police Affairs

For the Port Authority's newly established Economic Police Team, Fang Guoya was far more important than Han Yu, who was a "homegrown" member of the Port Authority.

Perhaps considering Han Yu's previous efforts in enticing people to his side, or possibly due to the reluctance of dock officers from Binjiang Port District to move to Bailong Port, the personnel department unexpectedly appointed brother-in-law Zhang Jiangkun as the deputy director of Bailong Port Passenger Pier and the station master of the cargo station.

The passenger pier currently has only five employees, making the deputy director position titular.

As for the station master, it's not really an official position either; the main duties are handling cargo operations, weighing and collecting payments, and assisting with loading ships when passenger ships dock.

Passenger ships can also carry cargo. In previous years when water passenger transport was thriving, Bailong Port handled more than 900,000 tons of goods annually. However, these were miscellaneous goods with no bulk shipments.

The station master is either in meetings or busy with other matters, rarely seen.

Zhang Jiangkun could only "oversee" the work at the pier, either receiving goods at the cargo station or retrieving goods for others, or even helping with ticket checking, and he had to take full responsibility for the maintenance of water and electricity at the pier.

Han Ning now works as an internal staff at Bailong Port Police Station; Bailong's station's activities are not as numerous as those at Binjiang Port Police Station, so her main duty is to be on duty in the waiting room.

It led Chen Zikun to often joke that Bailong Port had turned into a "family business" of the Han family, with Bailong Port Passenger Pier becoming the "couple's store" of Zhang Jiangkun and Han Ning.

Han Yu devoted himself wholly to joint law enforcement on the river. Despite many years of crackdowns, illegal eel fry fishing persists, with many still taking risks.

For over a month during the Yangtze River eel fry migration, Han Yu was almost daily on the river.

He assisted the Fishery Administration and Port Supervision, impounding sixteen illegal fishing ships, removed hundreds of set nets, and detained nine individuals for illegal fishing.

After barely winning the "eel-catching battle," it was soon the flood season, and the positions of Dunships had to be quickly adjusted.

Thanks to a large order given to a subsidiary of the Waterway Bureau, friends at Binjiang Waterway Section were very helpful, dispatching an engineering ship to assist with moving berths.

After a whole day of work, just as the extended 15-meter floating bridge was secured, an elder sister from his academy years unexpectedly arrived in uniform.

"Ningning, it's windy on the river!"

"No matter how windy, we can't skip work."

"Work?"

Han Xiangning entered the Port Supervision duty room, looking at the familiar office environment, and laughed, "Three months of maternity leave, and I've finished them. I start work tomorrow; I came to check it out first."

Han Yu instinctively asked, "Has it been three months?"

"Don't believe me? Look at the calendar."

"What about Han Han when you work?"

"Isn't your mom there?"

"I meant for breastfeeding!"

"I'll move the cradle over tomorrow."

Having grown up on ships herself, she always thought of not letting her child endure the same as she did during her childhood.

Unexpectedly, with a child so young, she also had to board a ship—albeit a Dunship.

Han Yu didn't know what to say just then when Zhang Ping and Xiao Gong had finished the routine inspection and maintenance of vessel 001, carrying the maintenance logbook while walking past the "old relic."

"Mr. Han, where's Han Han?"

"She's at home. I'll bring her over tomorrow."

Han Xiangning chuckled and stepped out, saying, "You guys keep busy. I'll go up and take a look. It's been a long time, and I don't know what the dormitory looks like now."

Xiao Gong reminded, "Mr. Han, take it slow."

"I'm fine; I've recovered quite well."

...

The two watched as the "Boss Lady" left, then couldn't help but discuss the issues at the subdivision.

"Director Yu, Instructor Chen mentioned this morning that these days aren't easy for Criminal Investigation Team, Police Team, and Binjiang Port Police Station."

"How so?"

"Though the Port Authority's Economic Police Team is supposed to be under our subdivision's management business-wise, in reality, they totally ignore our subdivision. Binjiang Port Police Station checks temporary residence permits, they also check; Criminal Investigation Team handles cases, they also handle cases; Police Team arrests for gambling, they do too."

"And then?" Han Yu curiously asked.

Thinking about how bustling it has been over at Binjiang Port, Zhang Ping couldn't help but laugh, "Not only are there frequent conflicts, but their performance is also more impressive than that of the Criminal Investigation Team, Police Team, and Binjiang Port Police Station. The steel material theft case that wasn't solved last year was cracked yesterday by the Economic Police Team."

Xiao Gong couldn't help but laugh too, "It's normal for the subdivision to be outdone by the Economic Police Team; they can mobilize the masses, dockworkers all help them keep watch."

In the eyes of the Port Authority's staff, Changhang Bureau is seen as "eating inside but helping outside," almost like outsiders.

But it's different for the Economic Police Team—they belong to the Port Authority, so naturally, their own folk will help each other.

Han Yu had foreseen such a situation, but still said with little confidence, "The Economic Police Team is supposed to be under our subdivision's management business-wise, their achievements are also the subdivision's achievements."

"Wishful thinking."

"What do you mean?"

"We cooperate with Fishery Administration, Port Supervision in joint law enforcement, we used to also cooperate with Linghai Police in handling cases, the Economic Police Team can also collaborate. The cases they solve are in cooperation with the Port District Bureau; the suspects they apprehend are also sent to the Port District Bureau, they simply don't involve our subdivision."

"Director Yu, it's said that people from the Criminal Investigation Team won't be allowed onto the docks if they are not in uniform."

With Chen Zikun being transferred to Bailong Port Police Station as Deputy Instructor, Comrade Old Jia once again became the chief of the squad. As he descended from the second floor, he couldn't help but laugh and say: "Director Yu, this year's crackdown is more stringent than last year's. Yesterday, when I attended the division meeting, Political Commissioner Wang mentioned that the City Bureau leaders even praised the Port Authority Police Branch Team."

Several elders who were asked by Director He to retire early have joined, with sufficient funds and many dock workers helping out, the Economic Police Team has every advantage—timely, favorable, and with harmony among people. Their combat power is bursting, which is expected.

The battlefield is only so big, no matter what they do, the division cannot compete with them.

Han Yu felt sympathy towards his colleagues in the division's Criminal Investigation Team, Public Security Team, and Binjiang Port Police Station, and joked: "Competition is good; it's through competition that we push each other forward."

Zhang Ping chuckled: "Luckily we are in Bailong Port, if we were in Binjiang Port too, don't even think about sleeping at night, we would all be out looking for clues."

There's no harm in not recognizing the value, but it's harmful to compare goods.

During this strict crackdown period, superiors place great importance on tackling various illegal and criminal activities. If you, the "regular army," can't beat the "local troops," the superiors will definitely have opinions about the division.

Han Yu even worried a bit for Director He and looked up to ask: "What is Director Jiang busy with, and what is the Severe Punishment Task Force doing?"

"The Severe Punishment Task Force has long existed in name only. Director Shen and others have opted for early retirement and have been rehired by the Economic Police Team to utilize their remaining energy, turning their guns on us. Now, Director Jiang is the only one left, assisting the Criminal Investigation Team."

"Does this mean the Economic Police Team is now strong and well-equipped?"

"And they have money and guns!"

"It's really something, Director Shen and others opting for early retirement then making things difficult for old colleagues."

"They're not making things difficult for us; they want to achieve something to show Director He."

"Is there a difference?"

"Director Yu, now many people feel there's no future remaining in the division, and they want to transfer to the Economic Police Team."

"Many people?"

"Instructor Chen said so."

Han Yu didn't expect things in Binjiang to have erupted like this, his brow furrowed as he asked, "What's Director He's attitude?"

Zhang Ping took out a cigarette, sighed lightly, and said: "Instructor Chen said Director He's attitude is clear: anyone who wants to leave, he absolutely won't hold them back."

Han Yu eagerly asked: "Has anyone really transferred?"

"Yes, several have moved over these past few days."

"If people have left, who will do the work?"

"Some police academy students came from Hanwu, plus with the Economic Police Team around, the division can now only oversee the passenger piers, there isn't much else to be done."

Just as Zhang Ping finished speaking, Old Jia laughed and said: "Who says there's nothing to do? Your division is now tightly managing fire safety. I heard that just last month, you issued fines amounting to tens of thousands to several piers."

This was a tit-for-tat battle that was turning everything upside down.

Han Yu scratched his head, not knowing what to say, when his mobile phone suddenly rang.

Seeing the caller ID, it turned out to be from the Director.

There was a regular phone available in the duty room, so Han Yu quickly hung up and went inside to return the call using the landline.

"Director He, this is Han Yu, what's the matter?"

"Is anyone around you, is it convenient to talk?"

"Please hold on."

Han Yu made a gesture and then went over to close the door before picking up the phone again: "Alright, Director He, please go ahead."

As a police agency, solving cases is essential.

Director He, whom these days had been driven to distraction by the Economic Police Team, bluntly said: "Salted Fish, you must have heard some about the situation at the division. Eel fry are no longer migrating, your next focus should be on the crackdown, mobilize the community, try every means to gather more intelligence on illegal activities, and strive to solve a batch of cases and catch a batch of suspects within two months!"

"Director He, security at Bailong Port has always been good..."

"Everyone calls you the 'Water Army Commander' of Binjiang. You can't just focus on that small part of Bailong Port. There are definitely illegal activities on the river; if necessary, collaborate with Linghai Police Bureau, Dongqi Police Bureau, and the Water Police Station."

It seems the Director has been pushed to the brink by the Economic Police Team, otherwise he would never make this call.

Han Yu promptly responded: "Yes, I will gather all the station's police officers and auxiliary police for a meeting to discuss this right away."

"What about the smuggling case you mentioned last time? It's been almost two months, any progress?"

"Four Factory Police Station has identified a person attempting to smuggle, Deputy Director Jianghai of Four Factory Police Station has been monitoring him in Ningbo for nearly two months. Various signs indicate that he might need to be watched for some more time."

"Why is that?"

"That person is making preparations to go abroad, which is a real big move, and he's busy saying farewell to friends and relatives, taking turns treating him to meals. As the saying goes, 'A poor household connects many roads.' While he says goodbye to friends and relatives, he's also borrowing money all over."

Han Yu paused briefly before adding: "The Ningbo colleagues have been very helpful, informing them that he might not leave until July."

If a major case could be cracked, it would be equivalent to the Port Authority's Internal Security solving dozens of minor cases.

Director He, placing all his hopes on Han Yu, asked: "Do you know how the Snake Head plans to smuggle him?"

"I don't know; the snake head is just making him wait for further notice."

"Ningbo can't rely entirely on Four Factory Police Station. Old Jiang currently isn't too busy; I'll have him take two people over there to support the deputy director of Four Factory Police Station!"