Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1207 - 66: Let Me Buy You a Drink!

4:22 AM at the Command Center of the City Bureau.

It's unclear whether it's been too long since he stayed up late, smoked too much, or the pressure is overwhelming, but Director Chen's head was throbbing with pain.

He was about to close his eyes for a nap when Vice Director Feng's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Director Chen, Director Chen, suspect number four and suspect number six have been apprehended!"

"Where were they apprehended?"

"At the west gate of Number Four Pier at the Port Authority."

The capture of suspects was good news, but the location was quite astonishing.

It's important to know that Number Four Pier of the Port Authority is some distance from the city center, with checkpoints set up by police on all roads leading to the river, and the Port District Bureau, Water Police Station, and Changhang Bureau handling the outskirts, guarding the last line of defense. Yet the two suspects were nabbed outside of this final defense line!

Director Chen instinctively stood up, focused on the surveillance screen, holding the walkie-talkie, and asked, "How did the two punks run so far, which unit captured them?"

Vice Director Feng had just figured out the situation, was also shocked, and reported with a wry smile: "They were captured by Salted Fish and Customs officers Xu Mingyuan and Xu Haoran while having beef noodles. Xu Mingyuan was the former Big Commander of the Criminal Police in Linghai Police, with rich experience in handling cases. He assisted us with on-the-spot questioning, and the two suspects confessed they ran along the riverside to Number Four Pier."

"Did the apprehended suspects inform about the whereabouts of the other two?"

"Xu Mingyuan said they ran separately, and the two just nabbed do not know the whereabouts of the other two. I'm on my way to Number Four Pier."

"Where is Old Wei?"

"Old Wei went to the steel market. Old Wei suspects the other two might have fled back to the steel market."

"Those two punks ran along the riverside, indicating there are gaps in our dragnet. It's not too late to fix it, hurry up and adjust the lockdown plan."

"Yes!"

...

Director Feng took three criminal police officers to Number Four Pier's west gate, where suspects were already handcuffed by Wang Wenhong and Liu Junhai.

Before apprehension, the two punks were quite arrogant, daring to commit crimes in busy urban areas.

Once caught, the two punks were trembling, answering all questions without the slightest concealment.

Director Feng asked briefly and confirmed their involvement, with one even stabbing the victim twice, immediately grabbing one suspect's collar and asking: "Where's the knife?"

"Thrown away."

"Where did you throw it?"

"Into the river."

"Which river?"

"I... I don't know the name of the river."

"Come with us for identification!"

Catching the people is just the first step, a lot of evidence collection must follow. As this was a group crime, determining the principal, the accomplice, who acted first, and the location of the fatal wound must be clarified.

Han Yu knew Director Feng and Captain Wei would be busy next, probably not even enjoying the New Year, yet hesitated briefly before, with some embarrassment, saying: "Director Feng, Director Wang, during the apprehension, we damaged a table and broke two bowls."

Director Feng didn't expect him to mention this, turned back and said, "Compensate according to price."

The beef noodle stand owner was shocked that murder suspects ate beef noodles here, quickly saying: "Comrades in police, it's fine, the small table isn't valuable, nor are the bowls."

"What needs compensation should be compensated, Old Wang, you handle it here."

Director Feng didn't have time for trivial matters, asking Liu Junhai, Ma Jintao, and other Water Police Station officers to assist in escorting the two suspects to find the weapon.

We've helped you so much, not a single 'thank you' was heard.

Han Yu felt a bit gloomily, thinking of paying for the beef noodles with Director Wang together. After all, without stopping for beef noodles, those two punks might not have been caught, the beef noodles had contributed, as Director Feng suddenly turned while walking.

"Salted Fish!"

"Here, Director Feng, any orders?"

"You're more experienced with matters on and underwater than us. I heard Linghai Reserve Camp has divers, when retrieving the weapon, please assist by organizing some personnel to help with the retrieval."

In weather so cold, diving to retrieve a murder weapon is certainly a tough job.

Han Yu hesitated, cautiously said, "Director Feng, the divers are employees of Linghai Development Zone Underwater Engineering Company, and with the New Year approaching, requesting them to dive is... awkward."

"Payment is negotiable, money isn't an issue!"

"Underwater operations cost a lot."

"As mentioned, money isn't a problem, you're now even at the group level rank, why so hesitant?"

"Alright, I'll get in touch with them right away."

"Thanks, once all suspects are caught, Old Wei and I will treat you to drinks."

"Treat me to drinks?"

"If you don't drink, then never mind, hahaha."

"Director Feng, you know I don't drink, you should've offered me beef noodles instead!"

"Beef noodles are fine, no more jokes, I'll first take the suspects to identify the scene where the weapon was abandoned, hurry up with the retrieval arrangements."

"No need for me to organize, let Ma Jintao handle it."

Ma Jintao is a national anti-flood model of the Binjiang Police System!

His Water Rescue Team was awarded the honorary title of Anti-flood Rescue Assault Team by the group.

Compared to the 'traitor' Salted Fish, who had an opportunity to move to the Water Resources Bureau at the Deputy Director level but didn't, Ma Jintao is the pride of Binjiang City Police Department.

Director Feng appreciated Ma Jintao, murmured: "Why didn't you mention earlier, no need to trouble you, Director Chen said you have to prepare for receiving the Navy Chief, hurry back to prepare."

Han Yu suddenly remembered Vice Mayor Qin and Commander Wang were waiting to review the Rescue Boat Team's formation plan, and slapped his forehead: "I was so absorbed in eating beef noodles, almost forgot the official business, Director Feng, Director Wang, I'll head back first!"

"Go on, hurry back to work."

Director Feng thought for a moment and turned back again: "Xiao Ma, the task of retrieving the weapon is assigned to you, contact and prepare the people and equipment."

"Yes!" Ma Jintao was thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in a murder investigation.

His subordinate was entrusted with an important task by the City Bureau leadership, which gave Wang Wenhong a lot of face. He immediately took out his phone and handed it over: "Ma Jintao, you can use my phone for now, return it to me after the task is completed."

...

Han Yu didn't go home; instead, he headed straight to Customs.

The leadership wanted to see the report materials, and handwritten ones were not formal enough.

Customs had printers, copiers, and typists. Once the report was written, he could ask someone there to print it out, making it look neater than a handwritten copy.

As for how to establish the Rescue Boat Team, he already had a plan in mind—it just needed to include the Landing Boat Squad.

In the office of the smuggling task force, he was writing swiftly. In less than two hours, he finished writing, checked for grammatical errors or typos, and handed the draft to Xiao Wu, the on-duty police officer. Then he took the opportunity to rest on the wire bed in the duty room next door.

He hadn't slept all night, and as soon as he lay down, he fell asleep.

He slept for more than three hours and was awakened by Zhou Huixin, who had just started the morning shift.

"Salted Fish, your report materials are ready. Xiao Wu had Xiao Liu print three copies for you."

"Oh, I'll wash my face. I need to quickly deliver the materials to Mayor Qin and Commander Wang."

"The Navy chief is not coming until tomorrow, so there's no rush to deliver the materials. I had Xiao Wu get you breakfast; eat before arranging a car to take you."

"I ate beef noodles at night, I'm not hungry."

"I heard that not only did you eat beef noodles, but you also caught two murderers while eating them."

"Director Zhou, how did you know?"

"Such a big case, who wouldn't know!"

Zhou Huixin smiled, showing a bit of regret: "Not only do I know, but Liu Guan and Director Zeng also know. If it wasn't for you not being officially transferred, and with Old Wang being an old friend, this big credit for capturing two murderers wouldn't have been let go to the Water Police Station."

The current smuggling task force is actually the soon-to-be-established Jiangnan Province Police Department Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau Binjiang Branch. Since it hasn't been officially announced yet, the situation is a bit awkward.

Receiving Customs' salary and using their funds, yet not being part of Customs.

The main staff of the task force theoretically and practically are still police officers of the Binjiang City Police Department, with only a couple of Customs officers, including Xu Mingyuan and Xu Haoran, being Customs officials.

Catching two murderers but having to let the credit go to the Water Police Station feels quite a pity.

Han Yu understood the feelings of his old leaders. Having achieved so much merit, he wasn't very concerned about the attribution of credit. Instead, he curiously asked, "Director Zhou, what about the other two suspects, have they been caught?"

"I heard another one was caught this morning, led by Captain Wei, at the steel market, but one is still at large."

"So six have been caught so far?"

"Including the mastermind, a total of seven have been caught, which is impressive to capture seven suspects within ten hours after the case occurred. Secretary Lu went to the City Bureau early this morning to commend and encourage the police involved."

Han Yu laughed: "I, Master, and Brother Haoran also participated in the operation; why aren't we being praised?"

Zhou Huixin knew he was joking and pointed at him, laughing and scolding: "Do you need praise? You've received plenty of honors; you should give others a chance."

"I don't need accolades from the superiors; I need their care."

"You don't need care; you want the gifts associated with it!"

"Director Zhou, I was just joking."

"Enough joking, hurry and eat your breakfast."

...

After breakfast, Han Yu took the report materials and headed to the City Government first.

It was his first time there, and the guard wouldn't let him in, so he had to call Vice Mayor Qin.

Considering he didn't know his way around and was unfamiliar with where the office was, Vice Mayor Qin asked Secretary Wu to come out and meet him.

Unexpectedly, as he followed Secretary Wu into the Vice Mayor's office, Vice Mayor Qin cheerfully asked, "Salted Fish, I heard you and Mingyuan, Haoran, caught two murderers while eating beef noodles at night?"

"Just luck; we hadn't caught them after checking half the night, and they ended up coming to join us for late-night snacks. Mayor Qin, isn't that amusing?"

"I also heard that Old Feng from the Police Bureau wants to thank you and plans to invite you for a drink."

"Director Feng knows I don't drink, yet he wants to invite me; he's just teasing me!"

"Just because you don't drink doesn't mean Mingyuan and Haoran don't. You've helped them so much; they have to treat you. Don't be polite with them, and ask when they plan to invite you back."

"That seems inappropriate; he's a bureau leader after all."

"You'll soon be transferred to Customs; you're not under his jurisdiction, so what is there to be afraid of?"

"That's right, Mayor Qin; I'll take your advice. If I ever run out of places to eat, I'll call him."

Vice Mayor Qin knew very well that not only could he not drink, but he also didn't like socializing. He took the report materials, looked at them, then said, "Let's stop joking around. Hurry and deliver the copy to Commander Wang at the Military District, then go back to Lang Mountain to prepare for welcoming the Navy chief."

"Yes, I'll be leaving now."

"Wait."

"Mayor Qin, is there anything else?"

"Aren't your father-in-law and mother-in-law planning to take Han Han to Xichuan?"

"Yes, they're taking the ferry to East Sea today and from East Sea by train to Xichuan."

"Yaoxian and Xiao Zhen called yesterday, saying they can't come back for the New Year. They asked me and Old Zhu to spend the New Year there, but you know we can't leave. Old Zhu and I don't want to spend the New Year cold and lonely like lonely elderly people. You and Ningning have dinner at my place on New Year's Eve, and we'll celebrate together."

His son and daughter-in-law work in East Sea. The couple, in their early thirties, haven't had any children yet.

With no children returning for the New Year, and no grandchildren either, it's indeed a bit lonely for him and Sister Zhu.

After weighing it, Han Yu agreed instantly: "Alright, Ningning and I don't really have anywhere else to go."

...

PS: Starting to take care of the kid today, only two chapters. Wishing all brothers and sisters a happy May Day!