Binjiang Police Affairs

I haven't been home in days, missing my daughter.

Han Yu and Han Xiangning finished arranging the work on the dunship and drove Director Ge's Zhu Feng 125 back to Bailong Port.

"We have our own light motorcycle, why did you drive Director Ge's car?"

"He's helping the city solicit funds from the Transportation Department, he won't be using it these days, so what's wrong with me borrowing it for a bit?"

"That's not appropriate."

"What's inappropriate about it, we even introduced your master's wife to him, not to mention I'll fill up the tank for him later on."

Han Xiangning didn't want to continue with this topic, so she wrapped her arms around his waist and complained, "San'er, why do you always bring up money with Mayor Shen? Have you thought about it, if he asks you to do something, wouldn't he provide you with funding?"

Riding the powerful motorcycle was indeed more comfortable than the light motorcycle. Glancing at the LCD display, Han Yu muttered, "I know I can get reimbursed for expenses, but first we have to use our own money. After the money's spent, even though it's for government business, I still have to go beg Director Miao for his signature for reimbursement."

Han Xiangning chuckled and asked, "Afraid of the hassle?"

"Reimbursement is such a hassle, moreover, I don't have that much cash on me; I'd have to ask you for it."

"You think I give you too little pocket money?"

"It's not too little!" Afraid she wouldn't believe him, Han Yu added with a laugh, "Every day by the river, there's not much to spend money on."

Han Xiangning leaned on his shoulder and whispered with a giggle, "If there's nothing to spend money on, it sounds like you've saved up a good bit of pocket money."

As a grown man, even if there's nowhere to spend it, one should always have money on them!

Han Yu realized he shouldn't be bragging and quickly said, "Not that much."

"Not that much is how much? There should be a number."

"Really not that much."

Han Yu certainly didn't want to reveal his stash, so he swiftly changed the subject: "Ningning, why did your bureau suddenly assign so many people to you? Uncle Chen and Uncle Jiang mentioned that in a few months, new officials will be transferred over, and they'll add more people to your team."

Changing the subject, it seems that he has quietly saved up quite a bit of pocket money!

No matter what, he is now the chief of the Development Zone Branch. Han Xiangning thought she shouldn't be as strict as before and said with suppressed laughter, "The bureau is increasing our team's manpower for work necessity and to quickly set up the framework."

"I get the necessity for work, but what do you mean by quickly setting up the framework?"

"Several supervision stations on the opposite bank are rebelling, or rather, under the support of the district and county party committees and governments on the other side, they have already rebelled."

Han Yu asked in confusion, "Rebelling against what?"

Han Xiangning turned her head to look at the river and explained, "Zhangjia Port has its own Port Authority, and Shuzhou Port has also started official operations. For certain approvals, they no longer want to cross the river to ask for permission from our bureau. Moreover, they want to fully utilize their shoreline and expand the port's scale."

"They want to set up their own operations and no longer be under your bureau's control!"

"And with the support of money, connections, and leadership, Shuzhou Port even managed to get approved as a Category I national port. You've seen how grand and high-profile their opening ceremony was. Things our Linghai Secretary Ye couldn't accomplish, are not a big deal for them."

Han Yu asked in surprise, "The superiors have already approved this?"

These times could be called the "darkest hour" for the Port Supervision Bureau. Thinking of how Director Tang and Sister Zhu had been run ragged, Han Xiangning helplessly said, "Although it's not announced yet, it will be soon. It's like this river has become a sausage, everyone wants a slice."

"So that means we're going to have jurisdiction divided by the river, and there will soon be several Port Supervision Bureaus!"

"The division of jurisdiction is almost certain. It's unlikely that the monitoring stations will become Port Supervision Bureaus, but Director Tang mentioned there might be three Port Supervision Departments established."

"Three?" Han Yu asked reflexively.

This river will get livelier in the future.

Han Xiangning let out a sigh and said with a wry smile, "Every port is looking at each other. As soon as one sets up a Port Supervision Department, the others will follow. Zhangjia Port Supervision Office, Shuzhou Port Supervision Office, and Dacang Port Supervision Office—we'll soon have three new neighbors."

"What's the level of the Port Supervision Department?"

"At least Deputy Department level."

"Who will manage them after they are established?"

"They will come under the direct management of Yangtze Port Supervision Bureau and will no longer be related to our bureau."

No wonder those on the other side dared to rebel, with local party committees and governments backing them up, and they have chances to climb up the ranks by establishing their own units.

What a scheme.

Han Yu was utterly impressed and thought for a moment before asking, "What did you mean by layout earlier?"

Holding him tightly, Han Xiangning smiled and said, "Linghai Port is currently under construction and is due to be completed within three years. Changzhou has also gotten moving, planning to build their own port. The Port Authority is undergoing systemic reforms, aiming to lighten its load and is planning to hand over Gaoru Port to Gaoru City.

The leaders of Gaoru City also want to develop their port economy, and they have been more than eager. In short, Mayor Hou of Changzhou, Secretary Ye of your Linghai, and the leadership of Gaoru now are no pushovers. Don't be fooled by how they are seeking us out now; once the ports are all built, once they've gotten strong, who knows if they will follow in the footsteps of the neighbors across the water.

Although the jurisdiction over waters and shorelines is not personally Director Tang's, he is the director after all. With the river division already being a 'loss of sovereignty and dignity,' if several Port Supervision Departments under the direct management of the Changjiang Port Supervision Bureau emerge on the north bank, how will the superiors and peers see him?"

This is the same rationale Director Yang had back when he was the Linghai Police Director, not wanting to sell the dunship and 001 to the Port Supervision Bureau.

Han Yu came to his senses and asked with a smile, "Does this mean Linghai is also going to set up a Port Supervision Office?"

"Smart."

Han Xiangning chuckled and added, "It's not just Linghai; Gaoru and Changzhou will also have one. The previous system is already far behind the oversight needed. Instead of letting someone else take matters into their own hands, it's better to delegate authority earlier and set up more branches."

Rebellion on the other shore isn't good for Director Tang, but it's not a bad thing for your senior sister.

Unable to hold back, Han Yu asked with a smile, "Is your Third Team going to be upgraded to a Linghai Port Supervision Office?"

"Mhm."

"What's the rank of the Port Supervision Office?"

"Temporarily set at the Director level, but to stabilize the morale, Director Tang has promised to strive for Deputy Department Level from the superiors, to see if that's possible."

"Can he manage to get that?"

"It's not that easy, but it doesn't matter if he can't. At least it doesn't affect me. Since I was just promoted to Director level last year, even if he does manage to get it, I wouldn't be promoted to Deputy Department Level."

"So, if he manages to get the Deputy Department Level establishment, you won't be able to be the chief. But if he can't, you could actually become the chief of Linghai Port Supervision Office?"

"Pretty much."

Han Xiangning found the situation just as amusing and cautioned, "We can only talk about this stuff between us, husband and wife. Don't tell anyone else, or those old-timers definitely won't be happy."

Han Yu chuckled and said, "I understand, I won't talk recklessly."

Soon to be chief, people will have to address me as "Chief Han." Still at Director level, but it sure sounds much nicer.

Han Xiangning grinned and then changed the topic, "Director Tang came to talk to me the day before yesterday and assigned me a task."

"What did he talk to you about?"

"About me taking the position of chief of Linghai Port Supervision Office."

"What task did he assign to you?"

"Didn't our bureau ask for a plot of land from Linghai's city leaders last year? It's the empty land east of the Hubin River Lock. Director Tang said that since our Third Team is going to be upgraded to a Port Supervision Office, we cannot be without our own office building. He told me to finish constructing the office building within three years and aim to complete it alongside the Linghai Port Engineering project."

Han Yu asked incredulously, "He wants you to build it?"

Han Xiangning explained, "There are people in charge of infrastructure in our bureau; I will mainly be responsible for the construction funding."

Han Yu caught on and laughed, "So he wants you to raise the money!"

"Director Tang mentioned that your old unit is in the midst of major construction, building office and residential buildings with the money I helped them secure during my fake certificate investigation the year before last. He said the Linghai Port Supervision Office doesn't need to spend that much money on constructing a building, so he handed the task to me."

"Did you accept?"

"The bureau is going to delegate more authority, and not only are our cadres and staff increasing, but the work we have to do is also proliferating. Water traffic safety, crew management, environmental protection of jurisdictional waters, safety inspections of vessels within the jurisdiction, and examination of foreign ships entering and leaving the port—we'll have to handle all these. We can't do without an office building."

Han Xiangning hugged him tighter and spoke in an understated manner, "Director Tang asked if it could be constructed in three years and when the bureau could start designing and bidding for construction. It's just securing funding for an office building, I said the design could start right away with the design institute, and as soon as we have the blueprints, we can start bidding and construction. We don't need three years; at most two years to have the building up."

When it comes to lawful revenue generation, your senior sister is definitely a Fine Master; you can't find anyone better in the whole Port Supervision Bureau.

Han Yu had no doubt his senior sister would complete the task and couldn't help but ask with a chuckle, "How much money is needed for the office building?"

"One million should be enough."

"Do you plan to raise funds while building it?"

"Otherwise, it won't be timely."

"What if the funds don't keep up?"

Han Xiangning stretched out her arm and pointed to the distant river, spiritedly saying, "This is Sanhe, not Bailong Port. Every day, thousands of vessels of all sizes pass before my eyes, there are so many violating vessels that I can't even catch them all; how could the funds possibly fall short?"

Better to rely on your senior sister than to ask others.

Also, river fines should be like taxes; collected from the river, used for the river.

Han Yu cheekily asked, "Ningning, can you think of ways to help me get a patrol boat as well?"

"You want to build another boat!"

"This time I'm assisting the Fishery Administration with enforcement, due to a lack of law enforcement vessels. Monitoring here leaves that area unattended, and those illegally catching eel fry have actually started playing guerrilla warfare with me, hide and seek."

Anxious to get help from his senior sister, Han Yu grinningly said, "This time I don't need one built that big and I don't need to install an external firefighting system. Just one of those patrol boats like those ordered by the Changhang Bureau and Water Police Station would do."

Han Xiangning weighed the options for a while and knocked on his helmet, "Actually, I not only need to build an office building, but I also want to get a slightly more advanced Supervision Boat. I can help you with one on the side; funding shouldn't be an issue. The key is that no matter how much we generate legally, it's all for our bureau, not for your police."

"You do law enforcement on the river, and we, the police, also contribute."

"That is true. How about you talk to Director Tang. As long as he nods and sponsors a Law Enforcement Boat for you, I'm definitely okay with it on my end."