Chapter 395 - 280: A New Beginning

Words : 2260 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Chapter 395: Chapter 280: A New BeginningShi Shengyong subconsciously asked, "Political Commissioner, what about you then?" Sun Jiawen put down the lighter he was about to light and muttered, "I won’t be coming back to Bailong Port anyway, and even if I did, I wouldn’t board the ships. It’s none of my business." The boat had already been sold, and the public security management of the river had been transferred to the Water Police Station, so there really wasn’t any connection with the Linghai Police Bureau any longer. The old leaders would no longer be dealing with Salted Fish, so naturally there was no problem with how to address him. Shi Shengyong was still trying to figure out what to say when Old Zhang, holding a briefcase, came over and casually gave a salute. "Political Commissioner, Director Shi, we finished the handover yesterday. Should you help me take the guns back to the bureau or should I deliver them to the bureau tomorrow?" "Only the guns?" "And seventeen bullets." "That’s it?" "We didn’t have many handcuffs to begin with, same with the walkie-talkies, except for the debt there’s nothing else." Shi Shengyong asked uncomprehendingly, "Debt?" Old Zhang quickly explained, "To be precise, it’s not a debt but costs incurred by the anti-flood command when using the boats for typhoon and flood prevention, totaling twenty-six thousand two hundred. The boat now belongs to someone else; they’re asking us when we can help get it back." Shi Shengyong asked with a wry smile, "Salted Fish wants us to ask the anti-flood command for money?" "It’s not Salted Fish asking; he’s now an officer in the Changhang Bureau, so the money has nothing to do with him. It’s the Port Supervision Bureau’s Logistics Department that’s asking us to help retrieve it." "That’s not right. The boat is theirs now, but that money is owed to us by the anti-flood command. Even if we could get it back, why should we give it to them!" "I told them the same thing, but they said that there was an agreement with the bureau when buying the boat, clearly stating that the boat and its debts were transferred together." Sun Jiawen suddenly remembered that this term indeed existed in the negotiation before the new year. Thinking of how the bureau was still short of money, he said indifferently, "We are only obligated to assist them in asking the anti-flood command, it’s not our debt to them. We’ll talk about this later." Old Zhang was very aware that even if the money was retrieved, the bureau leaders wouldn’t give it to the Port Supervision Bureau. He also knew the Port Supervision Bureau wasn’t holding much hope of getting the money back, and laughed, "Then should I head to the water inspection station first?" "Hold on, give me the guns!" "Oh, almost forgot." The water inspection station was inside the sluice gate, and, like Bainiu Ferry and Lingda Car Ferry, was part of Linghai’s southern gate, which was not easy to hand over to the Water Police Station. Old Zhang handed over the guns to Shi Shengyong, and after Shi Shengyong checked the number of bullets, he rode his bicycle straight towards the sluice gate. Old Ding didn’t even bother to greet the bureau leaders, leaving with Bailong Port Police Station’s Liu Xinmin and Jiang Xiaojun. On the Dunship, it had changed from the two parties of Linghai Police Bureau’s Four Factory Police Station Water Police Team and the Port Supervision Bureau’s patrol to three parties: the Port Supervision Bureau’s Third Team, the Water Police Station’s Water Police Third Team, and Changhang Bureau’s Water Firefighting Team. The leaders of the three units gathered the personnel who would work and live on the Dunship for a meeting, and as per the rules set by Xu Sanye back in the day, they established a temporary party branch for the Bailong Port water law enforcement units. Han Yu served as the temporary party branch secretary, while Jin Weiguo and Jia Yongqiang served as deputy secretaries. In terms of work division, although Han Yu was officially only responsible for water firefighting, due to the position of temporary party branch secretary, he continued to be the "top leader" of the Dunship. Considering that Han Yu and Han Xiangning would soon be married, it wouldn’t be good for the young couple to always live apart, so Director Tang on behalf of the bureau party committee announced that Han Xiangning was transferred from the Water Rescue Center to the Port Supervision Bureau’s patrol, serving as Deputy Captain. The Port Supervision Bureau’s law enforcement team is of Full Department Level! Han Xiangning hadn’t expected to be promoted to Deputy Director level and said with an embarrassed face, "Director Tang, Director Zhu, I’m too young; I can’t be a Deputy Captain..." "Although you are young, you have been working for a long time, and have been at critical posts since you joined the workforce. The decision for you to serve as a Deputy Captain was made after study by the bureau party committee." Director Tang gave a slight smile and continued, "Besides, our superiors have repeatedly demanded the rejuvenation of cadres. For various reasons, the age structure of our middle-level cadres isn’t ideal, and the cadre team has not been able to form a tiered structure of old, middle-aged, and young. Therefore, the bureau party committee is determined to promote a group of young cadres this time, and you are just one of them." Promoting his senior sister to Deputy Director made Han Yu even happier than his own promotion to Deputy Director. He was covering his mouth, stealthily beaming with joy, when Zhang Junyan took over the conversation: "Salted Fish, the decision to appoint you as the fire brigade captain was also made after study by the bureau party committee. We won’t let you be just for show, but due to constraints on staffing and funding, we can only give you three officers for now." A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Han Yu knew it was not easy for Director Zhang and quickly said, "Three people are enough for now, after all, we don’t have so much equipment yet." Zhang Junyan nodded satisfactorily and continued, "Besides, what is being established is the branch’s fire brigade, not just Bailong Port Police Station fire brigade. You will not only have to assist the Port Supervision in water firefighting and rescue but also be ready at all times to fight any major fire that may occur in Binjiang Port District. Therefore, the basic training can be conducted at Bailong Port, but other trainings have to be conducted at Binjiang Port. While familiarizing yourself with the environment, you have to assist Director Tong with the firefighting management of the port district, and if fire hazards are found, you must order the docks or yards to rectify them in a timely manner." Han Yu had already thought of this point, and seeing the director bring it up, he couldn’t help but ask, "What if they don’t listen?" "Give them a notice for rectification. If they do not rectify within the designated time, issue them a fine according to the fire protection regulations." "Director Zhang..." "I know what you’re worried about, but there’s no small matter in firefighting. Our firefighting forces are insufficient, and our firefighting equipment is severely outdated. If we don’t make a firm decision on prevention, the consequences will be unthinkable should an incident occur." "Yes!" Han Xiangning realized that the Deputy Director position his junior was taking on was tougher than being a Deputy Captain like himself, because what was coming next involved offending people. What’s more critical is that the salaries and operational funds of the Changhang Bureau all come from the Port Authority, akin to a son being funded by his father. For the son to demand the father to reform, even issuing a fine to the father, surely won’t sit well. Director Tang, just like Sister Zhu, found this rather amusing, thinking that Zhang Junyan was counting on Salted Fish to be like a naive calf fearless of tigers, and couldn’t help but smile. Director Peng said with a smile: "Salted Fish, although the Third Team has been established, you know the situation of our sub-bureau; we really can’t spare that many officers, so for now, we can only have Old Jia act as a ’bare-stick commander’. Fortunately, the work you all have done over the years is solid enough; what’s lacking is not officers, but a proper title, so security in the North Branch Waters will still depend on you all." The leader before him didn’t favor him in the past, but at the critical moment, he offered support. Han Yu was truly grateful from the bottom of his heart and promptly said: "Director Peng, rest assured, I will definitely assist Director Jia in managing the water security." ... The leaders gave their instructions and either took a boat or a car to return home. Han Yu, Xiao Yu, and Zhu Baogen became busy again, taking down the "backdrop wall" and tidying up the ceremony site. Jia Yongqiang donned gloves, and while helping out, he laughed and said: "Director Yu, I’m reaping the benefits from your fortune and luck. Without you, I’d never have the chance to become a Big Commander." "Uncle Jia, what does that have to do with me?" "It’s a big deal, oh by the way, Luo Wenjiang should also thank you; he is now taking over as the squad leader." "He got promoted quite quickly!" "He is a selected graduate, a key reserve officer for training." Xiao Yu looked back at his girlfriend who had been playing music all morning, grinned, and said: "Salted Fish, I’m also reaping the benefits from your fortune and luck; otherwise, how could I have worn a police uniform and become a real police officer." "Nonsense, you are enjoying the benefits of our master’s influence, just like me." With the help of Old Jia and others, Han Yu had just gently laid down the three-ply backdrop wall when Han Xiangning came over smiling and said: "The food’s ready, let’s eat first, and then we can clean up after." "What about Uncle Zhang and Uncle Ding?" "I called them on the radio; they said it wouldn’t look good to run back for a meal just after a division, one is eating at the sluice and the other at Uncle Liu and Uncle Jiang’s, saying they won’t come over at noon, but will come in the evening to celebrate." As soon as Han Xiangning finished speaking, Jin Weiguo also shouted from the Dunship: "Salted Fish, Director Jia, time to eat!" "Coming." Han Yu took off his gloves and smiled: "Okay, let’s eat first." ... Meanwhile, Bailong Port Police Station was also starting their meal. The so-called mealtime didn’t involve cooking but going to the dock canteen with lunch boxes to get food. Deputy Director Zhang Guishan, who had just been named at the newly established Water Firefighting Team, wouldn’t actually go to the Dunship to act as an Instructor for the team. Firstly, he was getting too old to handle the high-intensity training, and secondly, the Bailong Port Police Station had a total of four officers; he simply could not leave. Seeing Old Ding with his meal all set, he couldn’t help but tease: "Chief Ding, how does it feel to be ’swept out the door’?" "It ended a longtime concern, feels pretty good." "I don’t know what the police bureau leaders are thinking, putting Salted Fish in the Firefighting Department. It would’ve been great if he came to replace me, then I could’ve retired to the second line a year earlier." Jiang Xiaojun came over laughing: "Firefighting is more important than station duty. Salted Fish is a fine piece of steel, and such steel should certainly be used at the cutting edge." Zhang Guishan, who had watched Salted Fish grow up, couldn’t understand the bureau leadership’s decision from the bottom of his heart and muttered: "If we’re talking importance, the Police Department and Criminal Investigation Department are more crucial, so why not let Salted Fish go to the Police Department or Criminal Investigation Department." Jiang Xiaojun sat down, took a small sip of soup, and explained: "He’s only twenty-three this year. Making him the Deputy Director of either Police or Criminal Investigation would attract criticism. After all, our sub-bureau’s Police and Criminal Investigation departments also carry the brigade insignia; a Deputy Director is also a Deputy Division Commander." Old Ding nodded in agreement, laughed with his chopsticks in hand: "Firefighting can be important if said to be important, and not important if said not to be. Making Salted Fish the Deputy Division Commander of the Fire Brigade is just right, hahaha." "Director Xu would be very happy to see Salted Fish made up to Deputy Division Commander." "Yes, but it’s a pity he left us too soon." "By the way, did anyone call Sister Wei to tell her the good news?" "I forgot to ask, I’ll ask Salted Fish after dinner." "Don’t wait until after the meal, ask now." Xu Sanye treated the two boys like his own children, and Xu Sanye’s Wife, Old Wei, was no different. Old Ding couldn’t be bothered to continue eating; he picked up his radio and called the Dunship. Han Yu, receiving Old Ding’s call, felt it was very essential; he immediately put down his meal and went to the duty room to make the call.

Chapter 395 - 280: A New Beginning

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