Chapter 3: The Police Station of Three People

Words : 1875 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Bailong Port, located 20 miles southeast of Linghai County by the Yangtze River, at the estuary of Bailong River. The Bailong River is a natural channel formed by sand accumulation during the Qing Dynasty, flanked by reeds, with reed flowers extending dozens of miles, resembling a white dragon, hence its name. Over a hundred years ago, Linghai people traditionally ventured to East Sea Beach. Although Linghai is now part of Binjiang City, Linghai people do not have much affinity for Binjiang, always thinking of East Sea, with almost every household having relatives there. It is jokingly said that Linghai people are either in East Sea or on their way there. This place serves as a major water and land hub for Linghai and even for Binjiang, connecting the northeastern counties of Linghai and Binjiang to the gold-digging and dream-pursuing route to East Sea. Bailong Port's passenger pier has daily ferries to and from East Sea Sixteen Piers Pier, East Sea Wusong Pier, East Sea Zhuangming Island, and Liuhe Port on the opposite bank, with a daily passenger flow of over eight thousand. For just over one yuan, you can buy a fifth-class cabin ticket; boarding a ferry here in the morning, by around four in the afternoon, you would enter the Huangpu River, flanked by tall buildings and flickering neon lights. Three years ago, there were many inland river routes to various towns and villages. Now, roads are better, and public buses are more plentiful; the small inland river ferries have ceased operation. The similarly pre-liberation established Bailong Port Bus Station has become even busier. The river flows tirelessly, and time slips by. Bailong Port, like an old sage, carries countless memories of Linghai people. Han Yu has no relatives in East Sea, never took a large ship, nor rode the public buses from Bailong Port Bus Station, but has passed Bailong Port lock many times and holds memories of the place. From childhood on the ship, watching the lock staff fishing-like, lowering a steel clip on a thin rope, letting parents clip the lock fee on it to fish it up. He vividly remembers hoping as a child within the lock to see the gates open early, to enter the Yangtze River and see the multi-storied ships. Especially envious when seeing passenger ships like Bai Shen and Bai Chong, envying the kids who got to ride those large ships. Then he applied for the Binjiang Shipping School, largely influenced by his childhood, always aspiring to pilot large ships, even military ships. He was admitted to the shipping school and graduated with excellent grades, only to be assigned to the police bureau. Returning to the banks of Bailong River, looking out at the bustling Bailong Port district, the ships moored at the riverbank, and the distant lock, Han Yu felt dazed, as if everything was so surreal. Here is two kilometers from the Yangtze River. Li Weiguo was disappointed that the Yanjiang Police Station wasn't situated by the river. After parking his bike, he explained with a smile: "Besides reeds, there's nothing by the river. The passenger pier and bus station areas are so expensive, there's no room for us; we can only have our office here." "Oh." Han Yu came to his senses, hurriedly pushing his bike into the small courtyard marked with "Linghai County Police Bureau Water Police Team." The courtyard contained a north-south-oriented two-story building, facing east. In front was the provincial road leading to Bailong Port, behind was the Bailong River. Clearly visible to the south were several small docks on the river beach, a concrete precast field pouring culvert pipes, concrete ships, and slabs, and to the north, several small shipyards repairing inland river iron ships. Behind the office building was also a small dock, where a white tugboat marked with police insignia was moored. "This is the water station house of Four Factory Town, formerly a concrete precast plant, now leased to a private individual who only needed the site, not the offices. The town couldn't rent it out, so they lent it to us," Li Weiguo stopped his bike and took off a large bunch of keys from his waist. "Do we have to pay rent?" Han Yu asked curiously. "What rent? The office space was coordinated by the bureau." Li Weiguo opened the office door next to the staircase, introducing, "Our station was just established. Before you arrived, there were only Director Xu, me, and Old Zhang, three police officers. This is my office, next door is Old Zhang's internal affairs and registry office, the locked room to the south is Director Xu's office." Han Yu looked up and asked, "What about upstairs?" Li Weiguo opened the rear window for ventilation, walked to the washstand, bent down to scoop a ladle of water into the basin, and while washing his face, he smiled and said, "Upstairs are the dormitories. However, Director Xu's family is in the county, my family is in Farm Team 12, and Old Zhang's family is in Four Factory Cooperative Society, none too far from here. We don't usually stay here, only when on duty." "Isn't this Yanjiang Police Station? Why does the sign outside not indicate that?" Han Yu looked through the rear window, glanced at the tugboat parked by the river, feeling it looked very familiar. "This involves jurisdictional authority. This here is Bailong Port Village in Four Factory Town, the security of Bailong Port Village is managed by Four Factory Police Station. Security at Bailong Port is under the jurisdiction of Binjiang Port Police Bureau, and the police officers on duty at the pier are assigned by Binjiang Port Police Bureau. Bailong Port Bus Station is managed by Binjiang Bus Station, and the police officers here are dispatched from the Binjiang Police Department Public Transport Branch." Li Weiguo took off his towel and wiped his face, then added: "We are only responsible for security on the river, Bailong River waterway, and a few small riverside enterprises. The shore is not our responsibility. If we hang a sign outside saying Yanjiang Police Station, local people would get confused and might come here to report incidents." Such a small place, yet it has four different law enforcement authorities. Han Yu found it a bit funny, then asked again: "Do we need to patrol on the water?" "You're talking about that tug, right? It looks like a law enforcement vessel, but it's actually broken and was just brought here for show." "For show?" Li Weiguo put down his towel and explained: "Before Director Xu took office, he told the bureau leaders we are responsible for waterway security, and we can't be without law enforcement vessels. But law enforcement boats are even more expensive than police cars, the bureau can't afford them. So he coordinated with the Transportation Bureau to tow this scrapped tug here, paint it, and park it by the river to have some deterrent effect." "No other boats?" "If we really want one, we could find one. The bureau used to have a small motorboat, but it's too old and broken, only able to be parked at the fertilizer plant dock for show." Han Yu, puzzled, asked: "How do we maintain waterway security without boats?" This kid only asks these awkward questions. Li Weiguo was worried he might not be able to handle Xu Sanye later, and sat down to explain: "Xiao Han, you graduated from the Binjiang Shipping School. You should know that passenger and cargo vessels on the water are managed by the Port Supervision, fishing boats are managed by the Fishery Administration, and they handle water traffic accidents too. Security incidents don't usually reach us. If a criminal case occurs, there's the Criminal Investigation team." Han Yu blankly asked: "Then what do we manage?" "If there's a waterway security incident and the shipman happens to find us, we of course handle it. But currently, our main task is processing the Seaman household register, Seaman's Certificate, and temporary Seaman's Certificate. It's tough because shipmen and fishermen drift on the water, having no fixed abode, making them hard to locate." "How do we find these shipmen and fishermen without a boat?" "They eventually come ashore. Director Xu and Old Zhang are currently outside mobilizing shipmen and fishermen to get their documents." "Need to mobilize?" "Of course, we need to. You should know, not only people from Linghai live in Linghai Waters, but also many from outside, a large part of whom have lived here for decades." Li Weiguo opened a drawer, took out a document and handed it to him: "By regulation, we can only issue them a temporary residency permit, and we need to urge them to return to their registered residence to process their Seaman household register and Seaman's Certificate." Han Yu took the document, pondering: "People have been away from home for decades, some were even born and raised in Linghai. Their hometown might not even know who the village chief is anymore. Getting this household register and Seaman's Certificate could be difficult." "Yes, some of their hometowns are far away, like from Dongshan, Nanhe, Hui'an; going back and forth would cost a lot of travel expenses. But that's the superintendent's regulation, and they can't remain undocumented forever, so we need to motivate them." Li Weiguo didn't want this kid to think that the work at the station was unimportant, adding: "The process of issuing certificates is also a way of gathering information. You know how chaotic the rivers can be, and among these undocumented residents, there could be criminals. We can screen them during the certification process." No wonder there are only three people including the Director and the instructor, those are the responsibilities they handle. Han Yu didn't know what to say when the sound of a motorcycle engine approached from outside. Soon, a middle-aged police officer who looked about forty arrived on a tricycle motorcycle, parking it right at the office door. He had a square face, was bulky in stature, his skin darkened from sun exposure, and it was clear he carried a pistol at his waist. He pulled out his key and briskly walked in, possessing a powerful presence. "Old Li, is the person here, did you receive him?" S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "He's right here." Li Weiguo stood up, pointing at Han Yu. Xu Sanye had rushed back under the scorching sun, his forehead glistening with sweat. Not bothering to wipe with a towel, he stared intently at the anxious Han Yu, his face full of astonishment. "Xiao Han, this is our Director Xu. Director Xu, his name is Han Yu, he's sixteen, a junior college graduate from Binjiang Shipping School." "Hello, Director Xu." Han Yu quickly stood up. This is a police officer? This is clearly just a kid! Xu Sanye couldn't believe his eyes, stunned for a while before he gloomily said: "Old Li, come out for a moment."

Chapter 3: The Police Station of Three People

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