Chapter 321 - 228: Starting a Business is Easy, Sustaining it is Hard

Words : 2619 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Chapter 321: Chapter 228: Starting a Business is Easy, Sustaining it is HardLinghai Police Bureau, Director’s office. Commissioner Ding is sitting on the sofa reading the report submitted by Han Yu. The report requesting funds was lengthy, astonishingly spanning twelve pages. The first two pages mainly reviewed the operations that the Yanjiang Police Station’s Dunship and Law Enforcement Rescue Boat had participated in since their deployment, highlighting their contributions. Even speaking with data, such as the economic losses these two boats had recouped over the years, to emphasize the importance of the existence of the Dunship and 001. The second part was very technical, identifying problems with the Dunship and 001 through inspections, what repairs were needed, and the equipment that needed replacement. Every item was listed, each followed by its approximate cost. The third part dealt with various maritime regulations, emphasizing that if the vessels weren’t overhauled, it would significantly reduce the lifetime of the Dunship and 001 and they would fail the vessel inspection. After all, vessels, like onshore vehicles, had to be inspected periodically. If they couldn’t pass the vessel inspection, it wasn’t just about being uninsured; the two properly documented boats would turn back into "three-no boats." Lacking complete paperwork, they would still be assets of the bureau, but their value would plummet. Thinking of selling them would be impossible; if the Dunship and 001 were sold, the "First Post of the Yangtze River" golden signboard would be smashed. Commissioner Ding also wanted to repair them, but he felt numb at the scalp seeing the estimated total budget of about 300,000 yuan listed under the maintenance and retrofit list. "They can still be used for three to four years, what’s the rush?" Commissioner Ding put down the materials and took out a cigarette, thinking, "His body is with Old Wang, but his heart is worried about the Dunship needing dry-dock repairs; his mind is elsewhere." Director Yang took the cigarette and said with a sigh, "This isn’t about being elsewhere in body and heart; it shows that he has grown up, matured. Knowing that it’s going to cost so much money all at once, he has to apply in advance." "Don’t talk about three or four years in advance, even ten years in advance, we don’t have that much money for his ship repairs." "He stated clearly in the materials that if we don’t repair them, they won’t pass the vessel inspection, and the Dunship and 001 will become worthless, and all our previous efforts will have been in vain." "What should we do then?" "This isn’t a matter for just us alone. Give Old Wang a call and see what he has to say." "Okay." Commissioner Ding immediately dialed the phone of the Water Police Station Bureau Political Commissioner Wang Wenhong. Political Commissioner Wang, after understanding the situation, smiled wryly and said, "Director Yang, Commissioner, I know about the issue you are talking about. Salted Fish also sent us a twelve-page report. Director Peng was startled after reading it. Before I could even speak, he said that the Dunship belongs to the Linghai Police Bureau, and so does 001. Forget about the Water Police Station not having the money, even if we had money, we have no reason to spend tens of thousands to repair ships for the Linghai Police Bureau." An expected situation. Director Yang and Commissioner Ding exchanged glances and leaning over the speakerphone, said openly, "Old Wang, try to negotiate. If not more, at least a little, your Water Police Station can’t just use boats without spending money." "The bureau’s funds are so tight, it’s no joke, we don’t even have the money to fuel up several Law Enforcement Boats, and our water police are about to become land ducks." "Old Wang, you’re not having second thoughts about managing the Bailong Port Water Police Team after Salted Fish returns, are you? Did you anticipate that Salted Fish needed to repair the ship, so you changed your mind?" "That’s not it; we’re not clairvoyant, how would we know Salted Fish needed to repair the ship?" "Then why is that?" "What do you want me to say? Salted Fish has learned Xu Sanye’s bad temper perfectly. He doesn’t listen much to the Bureau’s orders, and Director Peng probably finds him hard to manage, so he doesn’t want to." Without money, nothing can be done. And when little work is done, naturally, there will be few achievements. It’s no exaggeration to say, the Yanjiang Police Station "First Post of the Yangtze River" is one of the few achievements of the last two leadership teams of the Linghai Police Bureau. Director Yang and Commissioner Ding, just as unwilling to see the Dunship and 001 be scrapped due to lack of funds for repairs, frankly said, "Old Wang, it doesn’t matter to me and Old Ding whether we have 001 and the Dunship or not, but if 001 and the Dunship really do get scrapped, can your Water Police Station still be called a Water Police Station?" "Director Yang, I understand what you mean, Director Peng also knows it well in his heart, but we really don’t have the money." "Help think of a solution; there are always more solutions than difficulties." "How am I supposed to come up with a solution? Do you want me to go get a bank loan or do you want me to go out and rob someone?" Commissioner Ding couldn’t listen anymore and leaning over said, "Wang Xiazhi, the Dunship and 001 are Xu Sanye’s lifelines, aren’t you afraid Xu Sanye will haunt you in your dreams!" Even calling him "Wang Xiazhi," one could imagine how unhappy the former unit leader was. Wang Wenhong couldn’t be more frustrated, saying with a distressed face, "Commissioner, I’m more anxious about repairing the ship than you are. I reported to the City Bureau leadership, and even took the opportunity of going to the Provincial Department for a meeting, with the help of President Yu, to report to the department leadership." "What did the City Bureau say?" "The City Bureau leadership said it’s hard to delineate the river territory for security purposes; when an incident occurs on the river, we have jurisdiction, and the counterparts across the river have the same right. They said that this can’t continue; eventually, the superiors will hand river security responsibility to the Changhang Bureau." "The City Bureau wants to hand over river security entirely to Zhang Junyan!" "That’s what the leadership said, but even if the superiors ask for the transfer, it won’t happen so quickly. Moreover, Zhang Junyan is just as poor as us and has only a few men. Even if he were to take over the entire Yangtze River waterfront security, he couldn’t handle it even with three heads and six arms." Of course, it would be good if Changhang navigation police took overall charge of Yangtze River security, at least there would be no more cases of buck-passing. But as Wang Xiazhi said, Zhang Junyan had neither the money nor the men; without the diamond drill, he dare not take on this delicate task. Commissioner Ding pondered for a moment before asking, "What about the Provincial Department? Could Scholar Yu help to apply for some special funds?" "The Public Security Squadron barely has any funds to begin with; how could they give us money? Besides, there are so many Water Police Bureaus in the province, we say our area is important, others say their area is important. Everyone is equally important; it’s impossible to please one without displeasing others. Even if there’s a bit of money, it won’t be spread evenly." "So you’re saying there’s no chance with the Provincial Department?" "No chance." "What about the Port Supervision Bureau? Did you try asking them for help?" "I did. They don’t have as much funds as before, and it’s heavily regulated, with frequent audits, and it’s impossible they would allocate money for Salted Fish to repair ships." Commissioner Ding was getting impatient and said while knocking on the table, "Old Wang, make it clear to them that 001’s main purpose is to serve them. I’ve looked into it; just this month alone, it has helped them put out several water fires. They can’t just burn the bridges after crossing the river." Wang Wenhong gave a wry smile and said, "I’ve already told them, do you know how they responded to me?" "What did they say?" "They said that they are only responsible for fire safety management, and firefighting rescue is fundamentally a police matter. Many Police Bureaus have their own water firefighting brigades or even water firefighting teams." "Passing the buck?" "It’s not exactly passing the buck because, after all, water firefighting rescue really is under the purview of the police in many places." This is nothing but rats deserting a sinking ship—if only Director Feng hadn’t been transferred... Commissioner Ding became even more dejected as he thought about it, and said resentfully, "If that’s their attitude, then I’ll call Zhang Mingyuan and Salted Fish and have them bring 001 back to Bailong Port." Putting out water fires is also an achievement. Wang Wenhong certainly didn’t want to watch 001 being taken back with his own eyes and hurriedly said, "Commissioner, even if you let Captain Wang take 001 back, it’s useless. As soon as a dangerous situation occurs on the river, they have the right to requisition or even commandeer it." Commissioner Ding wasn’t having any of it and said coldly, "I’ll have Captain Wang take 001 into Bailong River and back to Linghai. They’re Port Supervision from the Ministry of Transport, but they only have jurisdiction over the Yangtze River—I’d like to see how they’re going to requisition our Law Enforcement Rescue Boat then!" "Commissioner, if you do that, Xu Sanye will still come to haunt you in your dreams." Searᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "..." If 001 enters Bailong River, that would be almost the same as scrapping it. Commissioner Ding had nothing to say, and subconsciously glanced at the Director. Director Yang was just about to speak when Wang Wenhong suddenly said, "Director Yang, Commissioner, Salted Fish actually knows that it’s very difficult to secure this fund." "What do you mean?" "Not only has he inherited Xu Sanye’s bad temper, but he has also learned from Xu Sanye how to raise funds and even how to take action first and report afterward. Recently, he busted a gambling den on the water and confiscated tens of thousands in gambling money on the spot." Director Yang caught on and asked, "Old Wang, are you saying Salted Fish never thought about asking us for money, but just wanted a policy?" Wang Wenhong laughed and said, "That’s probably it." "What kind of policy does he want?" "It pertains to the amount of confiscated fines returned to us by finance; we don’t keep any of it but give it all back to them. He ’covers his own profits and losses,’ saving money himself for ship repairs." Director Yang subconsciously flipped through the funding application materials and pondered, "He probably needs about three hundred thousand, the Dunship and 001 can still be used for three or four years. If he can save eighty thousand a year, he will have the money to repair the ships after four years." Wang Wenhong said, "That’s what he’s probably thinking." "Since he has this plan, we should empower him. Old Wang, creating revenue legally is easier at Yingchuan Port than at Bailong Port. You need to work on Director Peng on behalf of your bureau, and you guys need to delegate authority as well." "I brought it up with Director Peng. Although he didn’t agree outright, he didn’t oppose it either. I’ll talk to Zhang Junyan later, and bring Zhang Junyan with me to talk to Director Peng again. There shouldn’t be a big issue." "You must take this matter seriously, not only grant Salted Fish the authority, but also ensure that whatever amount Salted Fish can legally generate in revenue at Yingchuan Port, he must be allowed to take back that exact amount, ensuring that promises are kept." "Director Yang, ship repair and agency management are two different things. Director Peng, as the bureau head, is very aware of the importance of the Dunship and 001." "Alright, that’s settled then." Wang Wenhong hung up the phone, thought for a moment, and then dialed the paging station’s number. After waiting for about five minutes, the landline rang. He looked up at the director’s office across from him and laughed, "Salted Fish, Director Yang and Commissioner Ding just spoke with me." Han Yu asked eagerly, "Commissioner, what did Director Yang and Commissioner Ding say?" "They tentatively have no objections." "That’s great. What about the bureau side?" "Director Peng has no objections either, but it’s not just your team in the bureau; the funds are returned in proportion. If we give you as much as we get, it will be difficult to do so if word gets out. I discussed with Director Peng and on the surface, we will still return based on the original proportion, but will set up a separate account for you within the bureau to store your money." Han Yu chuckled and said, "Commissioner, I don’t feel secure with the money kept in the bureau." Wang Wenhong was made both exasperated and amused as he knocked on the table and said, "Although I’m not the head of the department, I am still a Commissioner. I’m responsible for supervising the account; what are you worried about? Besides, repairing the ship isn’t just about you." "Okay then, I thank you first." "Don’t be hasty with thanks; even if you’re thankful, you have to make money first." "I’ll figure something out." "Do you have any leads, any ideas on where to start?" "Not for now, but there will always be a way." Saving money for a major overhaul of the Dunship and 001 isn’t just about maintaining equipment; it’s also about legacy and even responsibility! Thinking of the great pressure Salted Fish, at such a young age, must bear, Wang Wenhong couldn’t help but feel uneasy and murmured, "Starting a business is easy, but maintaining it is hard." "No matter how hard, it must be maintained." Han Yu took a deep breath, gripped the phone tightly and said, "The Dunship was built by my master by selling all he had, and 001 was also extensively modified by him doing everything he could. I can’t let the Dunship and 001 fall into ruin on my watch." He had spoken that way with the leadership of his former unit, mainly to fight for a "full rebate" policy for Salted Fish; after all, Salted Fish would be returning to Bailong Port in just over a year. Wang Wenhong touched the corner of his mouth and said in a low voice, "Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you’re raising funds just for the sake of it, your master wouldn’t be happy if he knew." "I know, I won’t do it just for the sake of money." "I almost forgot to mention, President Yu will try to help you fight for a special fund; he says thirty to fifty thousand should be no problem." "Really?" "Why would I lie to you." Wang Wenhong took a deep breath and added, "Director Peng is actually quite approachable. He knows your difficulties and has mentioned to me privately more than once that the bureau should help share the burden. But you know the situation with the bureau; he really is willing but powerless."

Chapter 321 - 228: Starting a Business is Easy, Sustaining it is Hard

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