Binjiang Police Affairs

Chapter 783 - 531: The Twilight of the Hero

Binjiang City’s best hospital is not the Binjiang City First People’s Hospital, but the Binjiang Medical College Affiliated Hospital.Zhou Huixin, under the care of the City Bureau and Linghai City leaders, was arranged to receive treatment at the Affiliated Hospital. Although he is only a deputy department-level cadre and is not considered a high-ranking official in Binjiang, he still was admitted to the ward for high-ranking cadres.

The surgery had been done for more than ten days, and the day before yesterday he underwent his first chemotherapy session after surgery.

The doctor said that he could be discharged in a few days, and after discharge, he would need to return for a check-up every week, and depending on his physical condition and the progress of the disease, decide whether to continue chemotherapy or not. It is said that for the next four months, he usually needs to undergo chemotherapy six or seven times.

In short, he no longer needs to consider going to work in the future.

Even if he wanted to return to his unit to work, the leaders would not agree.

While he was actively working on his career, Zhou Huixin felt dejected and despondent to have fallen ill with such a disease, lying listlessly in bed as Wang Wenhong came to visit.

"I really don’t understand how the district county police bureau directors are selected and appointed these days. The one replacing you, surnamed Zhang, named Zhang Yidong, is forty-nine years old this year, previously the deputy prosecutor of the Gangzha District Procuratorate. Although he belongs to the political and legal system and is a political and legal officer, he has never worked in the police."

"Has he already taken office?"

"He is now the member of the party group of Linghai City Government, the secretary of the Linghai Police Bureau party committee, and acting bureau director. In a few days, when the People’s Congress meets, and after the People’s Congress approves, he will be the bureau chief."

Iron gates of the government offices pass through a stream of officials.

His own body failing him, contracting cancer, he can’t blame anyone else for taking his position.

Zhou Huixin sighed silently and changed the topic: "Is that Singapore cargo ship repaired yet?"

"It was repaired a long time ago."

Wang Wenhong hurriedly said: "For Linghai, this is an historic breakthrough. During the repair period, Linghai TV Station broadcasted news about the foreign ship’s repairs every day. The day the cargo ship was repaired and left the dock, leaders from all four groups went to the riverbank to see it off, and Linghai TV Station broadcasted live for almost half a day.

It is said that the successful maintenance of the Singaporean cargo ship made it not only to Binjiang TV Station’s evening news but also to the provincial TV station’s Jiangnan news. However, it turned out to be a repair of a foreign vessel of more than 70,000 tonnes, which indeed carries great significance."

If it wasn’t for being sick and hospitalized, on the day when the foreign vessel repairs were completed and it left the dock, I would also have gone to the riverbank with Secretary Ye and the others...

Zhou Huixin felt a pang in his heart and, feigning a relaxed tone after a moment of silence, asked: "Having prestige is not enough, you also need substance, do you know how much money repairing this foreign ship made?"

"They made quite a bit, according to Salted Fish, there should be a fifty percent profit."

"When they first estimated, the total repair costs were $500,000. How much was the final bill?"

"The Singaporean shipowner sent two people over to check, they were very satisfied with the repair quality and progress, and they added a few repair items to the original repair plan, the final repair costs turned out to be $698,000, equivalent to 5.7934 million RMB."

"Fifty percent profit, that means they made over 2.8 million!"

"At first, I was also shocked, but later I learned that it was more expensive to repair at other shipbuilding and repairing companies because the ones with large-scale dry docks are large-scale shipbuilding and repairing companies, and most of them are in big cities, where their management expenses, business costs, and staff wages are all higher than Linghai’s, and it’s said that it’s even more expensive to repair overseas."

Who would have thought that the shipyard transformed from a natural Cha Port would turn out to be so useful!

After some thought, Zhou Huixin asked curiously again: "During this repair, did the Port Supervision, Border Inspection, Customs, Health Inspection, and other units provide so much help, even arranging special handling by assigning people to work on site? The development zone managed to create close to $700,000 in foreign exchange all at once, is there any expression of thanks to those departments that helped?"

"There is, if there wasn’t any expression of thanks, who would help the next time something like this happens."

Wang Wenhong smiled and reeled off: "The most effort from the Port Supervision Bureau was from the Linghai Port Supervision Office; their office building is finished, and they plan to set up an activity room. The Development Zone Management Committee sent Xiang Ning and the others a karaoke VCD player, a large color TV, and a set of sound amplifiers;

The border inspection station not only arranged for officers to handle the boarding and mooring procedures on-site but also arranged a company of warriors to supervise on-site for almost twenty days. Seeing that the new year is approaching, Mayor Shen led a team to visit the border inspection station, what was said to be a consolation visit was actually a thank you visit, a heap of consolation gifts were prepared, and the consolation money is estimated not to be small."

"Did Salted Fish go?"

"He did, Salted Fish, his classmate... that Deputy Director Tang from the management committee, along with two shipyard bosses, went too. They went with banging gongs and drums, and also presented a banner to the border inspection station, it was said to be quite lively."

"Expressing gratitude, as well as counting as a part of the development zone’s dual-support work achievements, Mayor Shen really knows how to work the abacus."

"Mayor Shen indeed knows how to work the abacus, as far as I know whether it’s sponsoring the karaoke in the Port Supervision Office activity room or visiting the border inspection station, the development zone didn’t actually spend any money, it was the two shipyard bosses who paid."

"If it weren’t for the development zone, they wouldn’t be able to take on such big business, and even if they could, they couldn’t do it on their own. They’ve made so much money, it’s right that they should show some gratitude."

"That’s true."

Wang Wenhong laughed and continued: "As for customs and health inspection, they only went to give thanks and presented two banners on behalf of the Development Zone Management Committee. But customs and health inspections also made a profit, the Development Zone Management Committee is building an office building, and once it’s finished, they will reserve one for customs and health inspection."

Zhou Huixin asked subconsciously: "Give them a whole building?"

"Director Zhou, you’re a city leader in Linghai, others may not know, but you understand best, Secretary Ye and Mayor Qian considering Linghai’s economic development, have always hoped that customs could set up an office in Linghai, and customs there had agreed long ago but never implemented it. So, the city and the development zone wanted to use this opportunity to help them build a building, then once it’s built, invite them over."

"I see, I almost forgot, your branch and Changhang Bureau also helped out this time, deploying at least two law enforcement vessels. Has the development zone shown any appreciation for you two?"

"Yes, when foreign ships entered and left the dock, we dispatched vessels to carry out vigilance and protection duties, and the fuel costs were reported and reimbursed. Besides that, Mayor Shen also led a team to visit our branch and Changhang Bureau, gifting comfort supplies worth over five thousand RMB to each."

Seeing Zhou Huixin deep in thought, Wang Wenhong added, "The fire brigade was dispatched by you. The firefighters stood guard by the river for twenty-one days. Deputy Mayor Shen and Salted Fish also visited the Linghai Fire Brigade."

"So you mean Salted Fish has been busy accompanying Mayor Shen on comfort visits recently?"

"He’s probably greatly influenced by his mentor, with little interest in the position of Development Zone Political and Legal Committee Secretary, but he’s very keen on becoming the Military Minister. Not only has he been accompanying Mayor Shen on visits, but a few days ago he also borrowed several police cars to make a grand show of sending new recruits on behalf of Sanhe Street."

Salted Fish and Han Xiangning had come to visit a while ago. It was right after my surgery and I wasn’t in good spirits, so we didn’t talk much.

Zhou Huixin really missed Salted Fish and asked with a smile, "What has he been up to these past two days?"

"He went with Secretary Ye to visit the ’Linghai Boat’. It’s the navy’s antisubmarine submarine named after Linghai. They left yesterday and should probably return the day after tomorrow."

Wang Wenhong knew Zhou Huixin was concerned about the people and affairs of his old unit and thought for a moment before adding, "Our branch held a party committee meeting a few days ago and reassigned the party members’ tasks. Han Yu is now responsible not only for firefighting but also in charge of the Third Team, and is also the liaison with the Port Supervision, Customs, Fishery Administration, Border Inspection, and other relevant units."

Zhou Huixin asked instinctively, "In charge of the Third Team?"

"Based on our work needs and with approval from the City Bureau, we implemented institutional reform. The shoreline is too long to be managed by the Second Company alone, so we had to redraw the jurisdiction. The Third Team is responsible for security in the Changzhou, Linghai, and Dongqi waters and shorelines, overseeing the Yingchuan Port Water Police Team, Linghai Water Police Squad, and the yet-to-be-formed Dongqi Water Police Team."

"That’s a good arrangement."

"Director Chen thinks so too."

"Old Wang, you guys are planning a full coverage along the entire Yangtze River shoreline? Does Changhang Bureau know about this? What does Director Qi think?"

"They can establish police stations in Changzhou, Linghai, and Dongqi, so why can’t we form water police squadrons in the riverside districts and counties? As for their thoughts, they surely have some, but it involves the solemn right to security jurisdiction. Plus, they can’t manage the security of more than 200 kilometers of water area on their own, so we can’t consider whether they are happy about it or not."

"Salted Fish must feel quite awkward caught between you guys."

"It’s unavoidable. We have maintained river security over these years unless the superiors require otherwise, and we have no intention of yielding our jurisdiction to Changhang Bureau just because they’ve established a few ineffectual police stations."

Indeed, Changhang Bureau currently doesn’t have the capacity to properly manage the river’s security.

After all, this issue is beyond the scope of a District County Police Bureau Director – it’s a fight between higher powers, and now that I’m "retired", it’s not my place to interfere.

Zhou Huixin nodded slightly, then with a smile looked at Wang and asked, "Is Salted Fish still planning to quit and become a sailor?"

"I didn’t ask, and Mayor Shen didn’t bring it up either, but it seems unlikely he will resign."

"How do you know that?"

"His previous desire to resign wasn’t because he disliked this job, but due to financial pressure. It’s 1998 now, and the bonuses, subsidies, and commissions from attracting investment for development zone officials are set according to those of several development zones across the river. Apparently, he earns more than you and me, which greatly relieves his financial pressure."

Wang Wenhong smiled and went on, "Considering that official salaries are too low and many units are providing bonuses and subsidies on top of that, Port Supervision Bureau is also reforming this year, and Xiang Ning’s bonuses are not insignificant. After they receive December’s salary and the annual bonus, the couple won’t have to worry about their housing loan."

The salaries of officials are indeed very low these days.

Three to four hundred RMB a month is hardly enough.

The welders at the riverside shipyard earn over a thousand a month.

It’s said that Lin Xiaohui’s seamstresses on piece-rate wages can also make over a thousand, hence many departments are trying to improve the treatment of officials.

Zhou Huixin quietly lamented that if he hadn’t been diagnosed with cancer and if he continued as the Police Chief, he would also have to implement a bonus system with commissions for lawful revenue generation. Otherwise, relying on honors alone is hardly inspiring for grassroots officers – after all, honors can’t be eaten...

Wang Wenhong suddenly remembered something, he couldn’t help but speak up, "Director Zhou, why did you transfer Xu Mingyuan back to the bureau to be the Criminal Investigation Captain? He and Zhang Lan also bought commercial housing, and they don’t have family support like Salted Fish and Zhang Jiangkun. If he worked in the development zone, he could have earned a lot more within a year."

"I’m aware of his financial pressure, but I still have to consider work."

"But..."

"There are no buts, Old Wang. You came from Linghai Police Bureau and should know that Xu Mingyuan is a criminal police officer that the bureau has been focusing on training these years. After so many years of training, and he really has a knack for criminal investigation, if not him, then who should be the Captain?"

Zhou Huixin retorted and continued, "About his financial difficulties, I do believe it’s only temporary. Moreover, he has worked longer with Wu Ren Guang than with Xu Sanye – you can say he’s not only Xu Sanye’s disciple but even more so Wu Ren Guang’s! River work is important, but for Linghai Police Bureau, criminal investigation work is more important. I’ve discussed it with Wu Ren Guang in advance and he made it clear that no one is more suited for the role of Criminal Investigation Captain than Xu Mingyuan. As for his family’s financial difficulties, Wu Ren Guang will definitely not ignore them."

Compared to Scholar Yu, Zhang Junyan, Salted Fish, and Xiao Yu, Xu Mingyuan really doesn’t quite count as Xu Sanye’s disciple.

Thinking of the many years Xu Mingyuan spent working under Wu Ren Guang, Wang Wenhong couldn’t help but laugh, "Cultivating an excellent criminal police officer isn’t easy. With Wu Ren Guang around, Xu Mingyuan and Zhang Lan really don’t need to worry about their financial pressures."