Chapter 371 - 263

Words : 2464 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Chapter 371: Chapter 263 "Incognito Visit" (2)The tide had not come in, and the Bai Shen Passenger Liner was, as usual, late. After Binjiang Port Police Station became a part of the Changhang Public Security Bureau Binjiang Branch, Bailong Port Police Station along with the Bai Shen Police Team truly became one family. Old Liu, Director Jiang, and others from the Bailong Port Police Station wanted to attend the flag-raising ceremony on the dunship, but considering that the waiting room and ticket office could not be left unattended, they simply asked Shao Lei and other onboard police who couldn’t leave to come ashore and help monitor for a while. As for the people Han Yu had tasked to be monitored, the Bai Shen Police Team was also entrusted with that duty. Four old comrades rushed to the dunship, everything was ready. Old Qian put on his old military uniform and an old military cap, wearing a third-level merit medal and four commemorative medals on his chest, he walked onto the "water platform" with a face full of embarrassment. Due to the passage of time, the military merit medal and commemorative medals did not shine or reflect in the sunlight. They looked so old and dim, one of them had even rusted, no amount of polishing could remove it, and it couldn’t be filed either. "Chief Ding, Director Liu, why don’t you wear your military merit medals?" "We don’t have any." "How can that be when Friend Salted Fish has been awarded third-level merit twice!" Old Qian realized he was the only one wearing medals and commemorative medals, feeling even more embarrassed, he subconsciously wanted to take them off. Salted Fish Ding grabbed his hand earnestly and seriously said: "Uncle Qian, I have been awarded third-level merit, but Uncle Ding, Uncle Zhang, Director Liu, and Director Jiang have earned even more. However, our merits are all during peace times, your medals were earned in battle, we truly don’t have medals like yours." "Yes, your military medal is the most valuable, with the highest level of honor!" "Chief Ding, shall we first pay respects to the senior veteran?" "Sure." "You give the command." "Director Liu, Director Jiang, what is this?" "It’s proper, don’t move, everyone attention, salute to the senior veteran who participated in the Korean War!" As Old Ding commanded, everyone including Han Yu, Xiao Yu, and Jin Weiguo raised their arms and saluted in unison. After Old Qian returned from the battlefield, he was assigned to cook at the Four Factory Cooperative Society, cooking until he retired. Where had he seen such a scene? Seeing the genuine respect from everyone, Old Qian felt a surge of emotion, tears welled up in his eyes, and he quickly raised his hand to return the salute. "Salute complete!" Old Ding lowered his arm, and together with Old Liu, they took Old Qian to the front, turned back and said: "Salted Fish, start." "Alright." Han Yu immediately signaled Xiao Yu, who was also in uniform and had a duty belt, to fetch the national flag. Old Qian tried retreating backwards while saying urgently: "Chief Ding, Director Liu, Director Jin, you are officials, you should stand at the front, I will go to the back, I’ll stand with Baogen." Old Qian had been a cook by the riverside for six years, diligently gaining everyone’s respect. Zhang Mingyuan truly felt it was necessary to let him shine once, even if everyone present was familiar, pulling him over saying: "You are an old revolutionary and a senior veteran, if you don’t stand at the front, who will?" Jiang Xiaojun echoed: "Not only must you stand at the front row, but also in the middle!" Jin Weiguo even reminded: "The national flag is coming out, it’s starting soon, everyone get into position." Left with no choice, Old Qian could only straighten his old military uniform and stand in the first row, in between Jin Weiguo, Old Ding, and Director Liu. Xiao Yu had attended several civilian soldier trainings, each training session had a flag-raising ceremony. He carried the large national flag, marching steadily, under everyone’s gaze, he approached the flagpole. Han Yu took a step forward, helped Xiao Yu secure the national flag, then turned backwards, took three steps back and turned again, looking up at Yu Zhen who was helping in the second-floor command room, he shouted loudly: "Raise the flag, play the national anthem!" Yu Zhen hurriedly pressed the tape recorder, and the magnificent national anthem sound came from the loudspeakers on the top of the dunship. Xiao Yu, like on TV, swung his right hand, unfurling the national flag, then slowly pulled the rope. Han Yu standing on the north side of the flagpole, along with Old Qian, Old Ding, Jin Weiguo, and others lined up in two rows facing the flagpole, all raised their arms, saluting the slowly rising national flag, and couldn’t help but hum the national anthem. Arise! People who refuse to be slaves! Forge our flesh and blood into our new Great Wall! When the Chinese nation faced its most perilous times, every person was compelled to let out their last roar. Old Qian, watching the crimson national flag and singing the national anthem, remembered the smoke-filled battlefields and bullets whizzing by, and his comrades who sacrificed in foreign lands. Tears streaked down uncontrollably, his saluting hand trembling involuntarily. It had been many years since they had participated in a flag-raising ceremony; Old Ding, Uncle Zhang, Director Liu, and Director Jiang, all had tears in their eyes. Han Yu also spontaneously thought of his master, tears swirling in his eyes. Their attention was all on the flag-raising, completely unaware that seven or eight uninvited guests had arrived on the dunship, standing on the walkway, staring at them in amazement. "Salute complete!" Han Yu, as the squadron leader, and since the ceremony was held at the Water Police Squadron, had to preside over the entire ceremony. After giving the command and just lowering his arm, preparing to wipe his tears, he suddenly noticed that several people had boarded the dunship, and most were in police uniforms, their ranks evident from their epaulets. Han Yu froze. Old Ding and Uncle Zhang were also stunned. Jiang Xiaojun, having served as the Binjiang Port Police Bureau Criminal Investigation Department Director for many years and experienced in worldly matters, was the first to react, quickly reminding: "Salted Fish, what are you waiting for, go report immediately." Regaining his senses, Han Yu hurriedly ran to the left side of the "old relic", stood at attention and saluted, "Reporting to the leadership, Linghai City Police Bureau Four Factory Police Station Water Police Squadron is jointly holding a flag-raising ceremony with the Changhang Branch Bai Long Port Police Station and the Binjiang Yangtze River Port and Navigation Supervision Bureau Third Enforcement Patrol Team. Please give instructions!" Such a small squadron actually holding a flag-raising ceremony. Not only hosting it themselves but also joining with two unrelated units. If the itinerary had not been adjusted last minute, ensuring that Linghai Police Bureau was unaware of their prior arrival at Bai Long Port, Director Chen might have suspected this was staged for his benefit. The young man had teary eyes, tear-stained face, the old soldier was in tears, and virtually everyone participating in the flag-raising ceremony was moved to tears. Director Chen, unable to believe his own eyes, steadied his spirit and raised his hand in return salute, "At ease." "Yes!" "What’s your name?" Searᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Report to the leadership, my name is Han Yu." "Salted Fish... Who is in charge here?" "Report to the leadership, I am the squad leader of the Water Police Squadron at Yanjiang Police Station, I am the person in charge!" Through the gap among these uninvited guests, Han Yu took a peek at the river embankment, confirmed there was a police car on the embankment, and couldn’t help but ask, "May I know from which unit you leaders are, I... I don’t know how to address you." Deputy Director Shen from the office quickly coughed and introduced: "Comrade Han Yu, this is Director Chen from Binjiang City Police Bureau, and this is Director Dong from the Political Office." The city bureau leaders have come, and not just one, but two. Han Yu was greatly surprised, hurriedly raised his hand to salute again: "Greetings Director Chen, Director Dong!" Binjiang City Police Bureau and Changhang Bureau are not in the same system, but Old Liu did not mind greeting any high-ranking leaders that came. After reporting his position, he left quickly, citing the reason that he could not stay away from the dock for too long. Old Jin and two other Port Supervision personnel also didn’t care, saluted, boarded the Supervision Boat using the excuse of needing to patrol, and left. Disliking hosting leaders was also a tradition left by his master. Han Yu did not like it either, but since city bureau leaders had come, he had to host them. He was thinking whether to invite city bureau leaders to the command control room on the second level first or to quietly have Old Ding and Old Zhang report to Director Yang and Commissioner Ding, when Director Chen turned to look at Old Qian, curiously asking, "Comrade Salted Fish, which unit is that old comrade from?" "Report to Director Chen, Comrade Qian Dafu is our squadron’s cook, and he has been working here for six years; he is a veteran party member and veteran soldier, having participated in the resistance against U.S. aggression aiding Korea." So he is an old party member and veteran soldier... The police officers from two small units and the Port Supervision law enforcement personnel all respected such old comrades so much, making Director Chen feel he should respect him more, walked over to shake Old Qian’s hand warmly, and asked with a smile, "Comrade Old Qian, how old are you this year?" Old Qian had already retired, and even if he hadn’t, he would only fear the leaders from the Cooperative Society, not the police bureau leaders. Having worked at Yanjiang Police Station for so many years, he had seen many high-ranking leaders, and he spoke casually as if he was chatting with an old gatekeeper at the shipyard, "I am still young, only sixty-nine after the New Year." Sixty-eight is still young... Director Chen was momentarily stunned, then smiled and asked, "How’s your health?" "My health is quite good, just that I’ve lost several teeth." "..." This was not a day for a nice chat, Director Chen promptly changed the subject and looking at the medals on his chest said, "Having received so many medals, a veteran comrade like you should be enjoying your retirement, why are you still working as a cook?" "Just one Military Merit Medal; the others are commemorative medals. Everyone who participated in the resistance against U.S. aggression aiding Korea has them." "These are commemorative medals?" "Yes." Old Qian looked down at his chest, and while pointing with his finger, he explained, "This one is the Korean War Commemorative Medal issued by the Political Consultative Conference, this one is the ’Long live peace’ commemorative medal given by the Chinese People’s Delegation to Korea for comfort missions. This one is the commemorative medal given by the East Sea Medical Workers Committee for Korean War Aid during their visit, this one is the Departure Commemorative Medal issued by the headquarters." "All who have been on the battlefield are heroes, so your comrades respect you very much." "Salted Fish Ding and Director Zhang are pretty good to me, this place is my home, they treat me like their own family member. Director Chen, I need to go buy groceries now, are you eating onboard?" "Go ahead with your tasks, we’ll not dine here, just take a look and leave." One wouldn’t pay for repairs even after admiring the ship, better not to come... Old Qian muttered to himself, as he removed his medals and commemorative pins, heading to the first-floor dormitory to change clothes and go ashore to buy groceries. Director Chen looked back at Old Qian and turned to ask with a smile, "Comrade Salted Fish, your squadron leader is quite young, how old is he this year?" "Reporting to Director Chen, he is twenty-two this year." "How many years have you been working?" "Six years." "You started working at sixteen?" "I graduated from a secondary vocational school and was assigned to the bureau upon graduation." "Having worked for six years, so you could be considered an old comrade too." The age structure of this squadron is problematic, filled with extremes of old and young, and it is evident that they have spent too long on the river and not seen the big world; they don’t know how to host leaders and hardly know how to speak. Deputy Director Shen, fearing the Director might find the situation awkward, quickly laughed and said, "Director Chen, I have seen a police officer who is only a few years older than Comrade Salted Fish and has a similar length of service as me." "Don’t tell me, that police officer is from our city bureau?" "Yes, in the Traffic Police Second Company." "What in the world, that is too exaggerated." Director Dong had an impression of the police officer Deputy Director Shen mentioned and couldn’t help but smile, "Director Chen, that police officer’s situation is quite special. He joined the army when he was five years old, taken into the cultural troupe to perform acrobatics. He was discharged last year and placed in our police bureau. He is twenty-five years old this year with twenty years of service. In ten more years, at thirty-five, he can retire." "That’s truly extraordinary." Director Chen found it somewhat absurd and quickly changed the subject, looking around he asked, "Comrade Salted Fish, how many law enforcement vessels does your squadron possess?" "Reporting to Director Chen, one Dunship, one Law Enforcement Rescue Boat, and one motorboat, a total of three." "What about the one we are standing on?" "This old relic we picked up from the river during the typhoon this summer." "Picked up?" "It floated down from upstream, not sure which unit it belonged to. It is similar to the Dunship and unpowered; there was no one onboard at that time. If we hadn’t towed it back in time, it would have posed a threat to the vessels sailing on the river and affected navigational safety." "No one came looking for it?" "No." "Let’s start with a tour then, and you can report on the work situation of your squadron." "Yes!"

Chapter 371 - 263

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