Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 396 - 281 Family Banquet at Yanjiang Police Station

Chapter 396: Chapter 281 Family Banquet at Yanjiang Police Station

The evening celebration banquet was a plentiful feast, with chicken, duck, fish, and meat all available. Old Qian had spent the entire afternoon preparing for it.

Four officers from Bailong Port Police Station came, including the retired Li Weiguo and Captain Wang, who were driven there by Han Yu. Old Zhang, Old Ding, Old Jia, and a few from Port Supervision Bureau joined after work without returning home. Together with Zhu Baogen, Xiao Yu, and Yu Zhen, there were twenty people in total.

The small cafeteria on the first floor and the duty office could not accommodate everyone, so they simply set up the banquet in the second-floor conference room.

The conference table was long. Everyone sat along both sides, with Li Weiguo and Captain Wang sitting at the head of the table at everyone’s insistence, giving it a feel somewhat akin to a foreign banquet.

The long table wasn’t a square or the round type found in restaurants.

Considering that people sitting at one end wouldn’t be able to reach dishes placed at the other, Old Qian divided each dish into two portions, so people didn’t need to stand up to reach for food, nor worry about not being able to reach it.

Everyone sat together, enjoying their drinks heartily and chatting jovially.

"Opportunities really matter a lot for a person!"

Li Weiguo, returning to his old unit and looking at the two fish sitting at the lower end of the table, felt a flood of emotions and exclaimed with a wine glass in hand, "Let’s not talk about Salted Fish, let’s talk about Xiao Yu. If it weren’t for his third-level merit earlier this year, and the bureau changing his status from rural to urban to help him secure a technical staff position, he wouldn’t have been able to wear the police uniform so easily. Even Director Zhang would have found it difficult to talk to the HR department."

Old Ding agreed wholeheartedly, putting down his chopsticks and saying with a laugh, "That’s why we should thank Director Yang. He knew he was getting transferred and still helped Xiao Yu so much before leaving."

Jiang Xiaojun then sighed and added, "It’s like the blessing in disguise. If Director Yang had agreed to sell the boat to Changhang Bureau or approved Salted Fish’s transfer, Xiao Yu wouldn’t have been able to wear the uniform."

"That’s certain. Although it’s easier now to change one’s household registration, sorting out a permanent position, whether it’s in administrative or institutional staffing, is very difficult."

"Baogen, if you were twenty years younger and had a high school diploma, that would have been great."

"Instructor Li, I know my own limits and I really have no such aspirations."

"Even if you had any aspirations, there’s nothing much that can be done. Here, this drink’s for you, let’s drown our sorrows."

Owing to his part-time job which could be deemed inauspicious, Zhu Baogen worried that others might find his presence unwelcome. Except for when he went out to conduct funerals, he seldom sat at the table to dine with others.

Today, not only was he sitting at the table, his seat was also arranged quite upfront.

Zhu Baogen was touched, quickly grasping his wine glass with both hands and leaning forward to clink glasses with Li Weiguo.

Uncle Liu, knowing Zhu Baogen’s drinking capacity, couldn’t help but laugh, "Didn’t we just say that today you don’t need to stand up to drink, whether toasting or returning a toast?"

Jiang Xiaojun added while knocking on the table, "Once you lift your butt, you need to drink again. Old Zhu, that’s a foul, another drink."

Han Xiangning and Yu Zhen were responsible for pouring drinks tonight, each taking one side.

Noticing Zhu Baogen emptied his cup in one go and was about to stand up to pour more, Zhu Baogen quickly said, "All good, all good, I’ll penalize myself with another drink. Han Da, don’t get up, I’ll pour it myself."

Salted Fish gave himself the nickname of "Director of Fish", and Han Xiangning became "Han Da". Li Weiguo, genuinely happy, laughed heartily, "Baogen, today is a family banquet of Yanjiang Police Station, you are the elder here, Ningning must pour the drink for you!"

"Yes, yes, yes, Uncle Zhu, please sit, have some dish first."

Han Xiangning smiled gently, leaning forward to fill Zhu Baogen’s glass to the brim.

Compared to Han Yu and Han Xiangning, Captain Wang was more concerned about Xiao Yu and Yu Zhen as he was both their matchmaker and a senior from the shipping company who had watched Yu Zhen grow up.

Noticing Yu Zhen whispering with Xiao Yu, he smiled and asked, "When is Xiao Yu going for training in Hanwu?"

Liang Xiaoyu, taken aback, hastily replied, "On the sixteenth of the first lunar month, leaving from Binjiang Port by boat."

Li Weiguo, also curious, asked, "How long will the training be?" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

Since his foundation is weak, school learning really isn’t his forte.

Liang Xiaoyu had been anxious this entire year, worried about not being able to keep up with the studies and failing the exams, which might force him to remove the newly worn police uniform. He said, with a worried look, "Three months."

"That’s quite a long time."

"The branch leader said that starting this year, all newly promoted police officers need to undergo three months of training at the Shipping Police School."

"It’s good to receive training and take the opportunity to see the world. Hanwu is a big city, bigger and with a longer history than Binjiang. You should know about the Xin Hai Revolution; the first shot that was fired in Hanwu marked the beginning of the overthrow of the decrepit Qing Dynasty."

"Uncle Li, I’ve never traveled far alone, I’m somewhat scared."

As a child, he had always stayed on fishing boats, had only been to Bailong Port before being recruited by Yanjiang Police Station, and had never visited Linghai County town.

He had indeed visited quite a few places later, but always as part of an operation, staying on the boat and seldom going ashore.

Thinking about it, he had really only traveled far once, going to East Sea with Salted Fish for just one day trip. They arrived in the morning, played for a while at the Bund, walked along Nanjing Road, and after having dinner, took the boat back.

Li Weiguo was feeling somewhat uneasy when Old Qian lifted his head and said, "Why don’t I accompany Xiao Yu? When kids go to university, their families accompany them. Xiao Yu is also going to study in Hanwu, just for a shorter period."

Xiao Yu traveling alone was indeed a worry for Captain Wang, who instinctively asked, "Old Qian, can you manage to get away?"

"I can manage. I only need to cook until the day after tomorrow."

"Salted Fish, what’s going on?"

"Captain Wang, I never thought about dismissing Uncle Qian. It’s just that tomorrow afternoon, three police officers are coming to report, and when they arrive, there will be more mouths to feed. Uncle Qian isn’t in great health and can’t cook for so many people alone, so..."

"That’s not Salted Fish’s fault. Age spares no one; I just don’t feel like doing it anymore."

"What about meals in the future?"

"I’ve already arranged with the cafeteria at Bailong Port Pier. From now on, we’ll eat there."

Old Liu smiled, picked up a boiled peanut and chuckled, "Considering that Salted Fish and Ningning are getting married in a few months, and there are many people on the ship, it’s not convenient for the young couple to live on the ship, so I also borrowed a dormitory for Salted Fish and Ningning near the pier."

Han Xiangning blushed with shyness and couldn’t help muttering, "Uncle Liu, why talk about these things."

"Alright, alright, I won’t talk anymore."

Old Liu laughed heartily and then turned to tease, "Xiao Yu, Yu Zhen, Salted Fish and Ningning are getting married soon, are you two jealous?"

Xiao Yu laughed and said, "Jealous."

Yu Zhen couldn’t help but pinch him and scolded, "What are you talking about, just eat your food!"

Xiao Yu mumbled, "I’m just saying I’m jealous."

Salted Fish is twenty-three this year, and Han Xiangning is twenty-five this year; together, they are forty-eight years old, which perfectly meets the criteria for late marriage.

It’s different for Xiao Yu and Yu Zhen; one is twenty-three, and the other is twenty-two, not old enough.

Old Ding couldn’t help but laugh, "Jealousy won’t help, you’ll still have to wait another two years, unless Xiao Yu doesn’t want this hard-earned job."

Changhang Bureau also requires young police officers to marry and have children late, that’s unavoidable.

Seeing the two girls embarrassed, Old Jia quickly changed the topic, "Director Yu, do you know which officers from your branch will be transferred here?"

"I know."

"Who, do I know them?"

"You probably don’t know them, they’re just assigned to the branch recently, Uncle Liu and Uncle Jiang probably haven’t seen them either."

"Just assigned to the branch?"

While urging everyone to eat, Han Yu smiled and said, "One is Zhang Ping, twenty-seven years old, originally an onboard police officer at the Changhang Wuhu Branch. In the past two years, the number of ferry passengers has significantly decreased, and the three ferries of Jiangwu have stopped operating. Although he’s from Wuhu, since his spouse works at our Binjiang Port, the superiors have transferred him to our branch."

Old Liu, who has been at Bailong Port for a long time, asked unconsciously, "No more ferries in Wuhu?"

"They still operate, but like Binjiang Port, they just pass by places like Jiang Shen and Jiang Han."

"What a good route, just like that it shuts down."

"Fewer travelers by boat, operating losses every trip, the shipping company couldn’t sustain it."

Hearing what Han Yu said, Old Liu couldn’t help but think of Bai Shen and Bai Liu at Bailong Port, which are now barely maintaining operation.

Having been a dock policeman at Bailong Port for so many years, he couldn’t imagine what it would be like if Bai Shen and Bai Liu also lost passengers and all the ferries stopped operating.

Jiang Xiaojun didn’t think too much but laughed and asked, "What about the other two officers?"

"One is Gong Jian, from Yangzhou, an alumnus of mine, graduated last year and was assigned to the Port Authority. But he studied marine engineering management, not port machinery. The Port Authority only has two tugboats and two high-speed ferries, not needing so many people. He worked at No.3 Pier for half a year, just about to be officially appointed, when suddenly, for some unknown reason, he got transferred to our branch."

In the past, the Port Authority’s Binjiang Passenger Transport Company operated many inland river passenger routes, none of which are needed now.

Jiang Xiaojun nodded slightly and pressed on, "And the other one?"

"Another one, named Fang Guoya, thirty-two years old, originally from Dongshan, but his spouse is from Binjiang, and they’ve settled down in Binjiang. He was formerly the Deputy Captain of the Binjiang Fire Department. Last year, he transferred and was placed in the Port Authority."

Han Yu paused for a moment, then continued, "I don’t know whether the big fire at Jiangcheng Refinery was a wake-up call for the Port Authority or some other reason, but they eventually transferred him to our branch."

So, he’s a military transfer official.

Old Liu curiously asked, "What about his position? Did they assign him one?"

"I asked Director Zhang. Director Zhang said he transferred from deputy battalion, and as usual, they can’t assign him a position for now. There are already too many military transfer officials in the branch, and if they gave him a position right away, other transferred officials might feel uncomfortable."

"After all those years of service, and he has a professional firefighting police background. When he arrives, you can’t treat him just like any other officer."

"I will respect him, and I will build a good relationship with him."

"Respect is necessary, but you shouldn’t overdo it, otherwise how would you, as the Deputy Division Commander and Fire Chief, establish authority."

"I understand, I’ll think it over carefully about how to balance this."

"Good to know." Old Liu nodded in relief.

Li Weiguo then smiled and asked, "The beginning is the hardest, do you have any plans on how to carry out the upcoming tasks?"

"I have some unrefined ideas, once I get through this busy period, I’ll first consult and report to Director Tong. If Director Tong has no objections, then I’ll report to the branch leaders."

"Busy now, is it that busy?"

"Not so much at Bailong Port, but things are a bit busy over at Binjiang Port."

"Busy with what?"

"The city is about to host two sessions soon, planning to organize representatives of the People’s Congress and members of the Political Consultative Conference to inspect along the river. The primary inspections will be at Huaineng Power Plant, piers No.4 and No.5, and several major construction projects along the river. They’ll also visit the Port Supervision Bureau. All these units under inspection fall within our branch’s jurisdiction, so the bureau will be very busy soon, and our Fire Department will have to join with both people and boats."

...

PS: I made a mistake yesterday, Salted Fish is twenty-three after the New Year, not twenty-two. I’ve corrected it.

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