Chapter 18: Closing In

Words : 1199 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Closing InTaking a free boat ride to the East Sea, where could you find such a great deal? But having to take the boat every day, rest a few hours at the Bund after arriving, only to return, and having to create eight-hour-long written records aboard, it's not as fun as one might imagine. Old Zhang's group also heads to the East Sea every day, but not to Sixteen Piers Pier, instead to Wusongkou Pier. Xu Sanye didn't get on the boat, no endless paperwork for him, but he was busy all the same. He needed to sort through the evidence sent back from the boat, covertly gather proof at the Bailong Port ticket office, and clear up the basic situation of each person involved in the case. Before you knew it, ten days had passed, and both Li Weiguo and Old Zhang were exhausted. According to Old Zhang, he thought he'd get some leisure time at the Yanjiang Police Station, but it turned out to be more tiresome than at the Four Factory Police Station. All the interviews and transcripts he had made over so many years did not amount to the ten days that just passed. "It's been tough, once this case is over, I'll treat you to some vintage liquor." Seeing his old colleagues this exhausted, Xu Sanye felt a twinge of guilt, chuckled, then turned to look at the mountain of transcription materials: "We'll close the net early tomorrow morning, everything has been arranged." Li Weiguo asked worriedly, "Do we have enough hands?" "Definitely not enough with just us few, I went to Director Yang yesterday, and he has had the Criminal Investigation team join in, plus twenty police from our brother Police Stations. With those from Bailong Port Police Station as well, it should be enough." "Did Director Yang say how to deal with those ticket scalpers?" "Those who dare to speculate at this time, as long as they have a criminal record, once verified, will all be moved to prosecution. Those with large amounts involved, same treatment, to be dealt with severely, swiftly, and sternly; those without a prior record but with large amounts involved, straight to re-education through labor." Old Zhang curiously asked, "What about those who bought tickets for some minor profit?" Xu Sanye answered without hesitation, "That depends on their attitude. If they spontaneously confess, acknowledge their crimes and penalties, and actively give back what they wrongfully took, they can be dealt with leniently. If they refuse to confess, detain them first, and then decide whether to re-educate or prosecute them depending on the situation." Li Weiguo asked softly, "What about the staff and cadres involved?" "In front of the law, everyone is equal. In my eyes, there are only suspects, no staff or cadres." Xu Sanye waved his hand mightily and then turned to Han Yu sitting in the corner: "Salted Fish, I've reviewed all the records you've made, your inquiries are on point, logically recorded, and neatly written. It seems that no matter what you do, practice is needed. Handle a few more cases, and it will naturally become second nature." "Director Xu, I will learn earnestly and humbly." "I know." Xu Sanye smiled lightly and continued, "But after all, we are the Yanjiang Police Station. Case work is important, but repairing ships is even more so. Join the arrest operation early tomorrow morning, and once the twenty-six main suspects have been captured, you'll need to shift your main focus to ship repairs." Taking notes is fine, but he didn't know how to arrest people. He'd never made an arrest before and wasn't particularly strong. Han Yu realized that the Director didn't seriously expect him to apprehend suspects; he just wanted to ensure that, as a newcomer, he'd have some sense of accomplishment. After all, he had participated in the investigation for more than ten days; he couldn't just be left with nothing to do when it mattered most. Thinking of this, Han Yu smiled and said, "Thank you, Director Xu." S~eaʀᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Don't mention it, go upstairs and get some rest." "Yes." "Old Li, Old Zhang, we're taking action early tomorrow. Reinforcements will be in place by five in the morning, so you two shouldn't go back home tonight." "Alright." ... Though there were beds on the boat during those ten exhausting days, several bunk beds were crammed in one cabin. Passengers were coming and going, either smoking or talking, some even snoring, making a good night's sleep impossible. After dinner, Han Yu took a bath, lay down in the dorm, and immediately fell asleep. It was not yet dawn when he was woken up in a daze. Dressed in plain clothes, he stepped out to see six cars parked in the yard. There were jeeps from the Bailong Port Police Station, some from the head office, and buses equipped with police lights. There were even more three-wheelers and motorcycles, filling the space below the yard walls. He quickly washed up and went downstairs to find the offices packed with people. They were all dressed in plain clothes, and among them was a woman, the same young lady from the "big city" who had come to take photos at Bailong Port before. Xu Sanye was the chief director, currently distributing photos of the suspects to be arrested and assigning tasks to each arrest team. Han Yu knew full well he was just there to watch. Hesitating whether to go inside and listen, someone heavily patted his shoulder. "So you're Salted Fish." "Yes." "Remember me? I certainly remember you." Han Yu recalled, "Yes, you came to take photos last time." The young Police officer stuffed the newly obtained suspect's photo into his pocket and said with a smile, "My family name is Xu, Xu Mingyuan's my full name, I'm Director Xu's apprentice. You can call me Brother Xu, or Senior Brother if you like." "Hello, Brother Xu. Are you an investigator from the Criminal Investigation team?" "How did you know that?" "Director Xu said someone from the Criminal Investigation team would come to take photos, I only saw you do it." "Quite the investigator yourself, not bad." Seeing his master has such a young subordinate, Xu Mingyuan found it amusing and wrapped his arm around Han Yu's shoulder, saying, "Director Xu probably didn't assign you to a group. You'll act with us later." Han Yu, who had been worrying about whom to follow, couldn't help but smile, "Thank you, Brother Xu." While they were talking, the woman from before walked out. Xu Mingyuan said with a smile, "Zhang Lan, let me introduce you." "No need for introductions. Little Salted Fish, I know him, and I've known him longer than you." "When did you meet?" "When he went to the headquarters to report in July, he stood outside the delivery room door, too scared to step inside."

Chapter 18: Closing In

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