Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 316 - 225: The Great Flood Hits the Dragon King Temple

Chapter 316: Chapter 225: The Great Flood Hits the Dragon King Temple

The station only has a total budget of 1,600 yuan, and Han Yu doesn’t want to pay the so-called cooperation fee.

Talk won’t get anywhere if interests don’t align. Using an excuse, he left the town government building and waited for Agent Li under the shade of trees to cool off.

"How can they behave like this, it’s complete lawlessness, no wonder the economy isn’t performing well."

Old Zhang, encountering this for the first time, was fuming with frustration and complained bitterly.

Han Yu was also very depressed. Seeing a public phone in a store across the street, he suggested calling the bureau leaders to report the situation.

It was rare to handle a case outside their jurisdiction, yet they were being extorted by a minor town’s official of Comprehensive Governance Office. Old Zhang didn’t want to lose face by calling to report it.

Remembering that he hadn’t yet met the main character, Han Yu felt that calling to report at this moment might be inappropriate. Instead, he dialed the paging station and paged the experienced senior brother from out-of-town cases.

The three of them bought a pack of cigarettes from the shop and waited about five minutes until Xu Mingyuan returned the call.

Linghai people can’t understand Si Gang Language, and the Si Gang people can’t understand Linghai dialect even more so.

Han Yu wasn’t worried that the Boss Lady of the small shop would understand as he briefly explained the situation here.

Just as he was about to ask his senior brother if it would be possible to find someone familiar with the situation to lead them, discreetly capture the criminal, and return, Xu Mingyuan responded with a wry smile, "Don’t make a big fuss, this is very common."

"Very common?"

"You’re by the river, enjoying the cool shade of the big trees from Port Supervision, Customs, Fishery Administration, and Port Authority. Over the years, you’ve hardly had to worry about funding and have no idea how tight the budget is for grassroots units on land."

Xu Mingyuan, recalling the hard times of the past few years, went on to say, "Local cases are manageable, but when it involves out-of-town cases, how can you investigate without money? That’s why some units, including our Criminal Investigation Team, sometimes charge the parties involved a small case handling fee.

This is similar to a few years ago when you provided armed escort for the fleet and had the shipping company bear the fuel cost and meals for the journey."

It seems I’ve spent too much time at sea and can’t keep up with the times...

After thinking about it, Han Yu said in a low voice, "This is different, you charge a bit of money from the parties involved out of investigative necessity, but they are blatantly asking us for money."

"What difference does it make? They provide cooperation which means they contribute people and effort. It’s normal for them to ask for a fee."

"Are you kidding? There are guidelines from the superiors regarding inter-regional collaboration, and they have been repeatedly emphasized."

"You mean strict prohibition against arbitrary charging?"

"Yeah."

He’s truly the beloved disciple of the master, just as stubborn in his principles as his teacher.

Xu Mingyuan let out a sigh, "In regard to collecting case fees from the involved parties or from other units requesting cooperation, the superiors have issued numerous documents, and just last month, the Ministry of Police specifically issued one."

"There you go," muttered Han Yu.

"What do you mean there you go? Read the last few sentences of that document."

"What’s wrong with the last few sentences?"

"The superiors require that any financial difficulties related to case handling reported by the Criminal Investigation departments at all levels should be actively communicated to the superior departments and the party and government leadership to gain their understanding and support, striving for resolution through proper channels."

Xu Mingyuan paused, emphasizing, "Did you hear that? They want us to strive for resolution through proper channels. What if you can’t manage that? Does it mean stop investigating, or can we continue using improper means?"

Han Yu hadn’t expected that the documents issued by the superiors would use such wording. He asked with mixed feelings, "So does it mean that when they ask us for money, they actually have a point?"

"Salted Fish, whether they’re right or wrong, set that aside for the moment; let’s focus on finding a way to get the job done. Speak nicely to them and see if they can ask for less."

"Big brother, how could you have become like this!"

"I don’t want to be like this either. I’d love to be as tough as you, but with a pile of cases on hand that need investigation, and the need to spend money to do so—while the bureau doesn’t provide us the funds—how can I afford to be tough?"

"Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore otherwise I’ll end up using your phone bill."

...

Zhang Mingyuan heard everything loud and clear, no less shocked than Han Yu that his peers on land had become so "desperate and terrible."

Since they were already here, they couldn’t just go back because they were reluctant to spend 500 yuan.

Old Zhang went silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Salted Fish, shall we go back in and talk to that Director Zhou?"

"We are here to request the cooperation of Agent Li, what’s there to talk about with a Comprehensive Governance Office Director?"

"Okay, let’s wait a bit longer."

The three of them entered the town government building, saw the conference room on the first floor open, walked in, and sat down to wait.

Having driven since morning, Han Yu was a bit tired and laid down on the conference table to nap.

Old Zhang rested in his chair for a while, then went out to hobnob with the town officials, inquiring whether Agent Li was carrying a walkie-talkie or a pager, and when Agent Li might return.

Han Yu, who had spent years at sea and could sleep even standing up, was woken up by Old Zhang at five o’clock in the afternoon, well after dozing off resting on the table.

"Salted Fish, Agent Li is back."

"Oh."

As Han Yu lifted his head and prepared to get up and find a faucet to wash his face, he was surprised to see a burly middle-aged man standing with arms akimbo, looking at him.

One look and you could tell he was a leader—with slicked-back hair, a white shirt, a large pager clipped to his waist, and a foldable Motorola cell phone!

Additionally, an Audi 100 was parked just outside the entrance—no need to ask to know that he was the one who had gone out in the Audi for business.

You’re already this well-off and yet still have the nerve to ask us for a cooperation fee...

Han Yu grumbled internally and quickly raised his hand to salute, "Greetings, Agent Li."

Director Zhou reminded, "Captain Han, this is Secretary Lu of Liangzhuang Town; this gentleman here is Agent Li."

This Secretary Lu is quite an eyecatcher...

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