Originally thought the exercise would last a week, but upon arrival found out it was a drill. It went on for over a month; Qin Weiquan from the Maritime Bureau and Qian Shiming from Customs both felt a bit homesick.

Teacher Xia, Instructor Wang, and other faculty from Binjiang Shipping College didn't miss home much, as they were not only teachers but also sailors. The Bin Xun was both a training ship and a cargo ship, and their classrooms were on the ship, engaging in shipping activities with students for at least half a year annually.

Yang Jianbo was already an active-duty officer. Working at the Armed Forces Department felt like being a "fake soldier," so participating in military exercises with so many active-duty units felt like being home, fueling his enthusiasm even more.

Having been away for so long, Ma Jintao and Xiao Yu, like Qin Weiquan and Qian Shiming, felt homesick, and when they heard Han Yu had returned, they rushed back to the anchorage on the power boat after completing the joint landing exercise mission with active-duty units.

As soon as they boarded the Bin Xun, they surrounded Han Yu with questions.

"Did the upper reaches of the Yangtze River flood this year?"

"Nanhu flooded, mainly near Dongting Lake."

"Any areas inundated?"

"Yes, but very few places were flooded."

Han Yu sat at the dining table, watching his close brothers, and explained: "Master Xi mentioned the floods this year exposed many engineering quality issues. After last year's floods receded, some levee sections built with special funds from the central government were found to have severe jerry-building problems. They were exposed by Focus Report, and can be described as 'Tofu-dreg Projects.'"

Xiao Yu exclaimed, "Those involved in the projects aren't afraid of execution, even daring to cut corners on the Yangtze River levees!"

"Indeed, their guts are huge; supposedly even General L was alarmed."

"Investigations need to happen, eliminating a few won't calm the public's anger."

Anyone who has participated in flood control and rescue is more aware than anyone how crucial the quality of the Yangtze River levee is.

Seeing the righteous indignation of his brothers, Han Yu continued: "The Ministry of Water Resources has dispatched inspection teams, conducting inspections section by section. Hao Qiusheng got lucky, securing several levee repair and reinforcement projects consecutively. Master Xi said the workload isn't small and might continue until the end of next year."

"Brother Hao" abandoned his wife and children to marry a 23-year-old 'little vixen.'

Xiao Yu and others couldn't understand, and even slightly looked down on "Brother Hao," but no matter what, he was their flood-fighting comrade.

Ma Jintao quietly asked, "Having manpower isn't enough for engineering, machinery is also necessary. Especially for earthworks, you need excavators, bulldozers, loaders, and rollers, plus vehicles for transporting earth and stone. Does he have that much engineering machinery and vehicles?"

"Engineering machinery can be rented, and earth and stone transportation can be outsourced."

"So, he's turned his luck around?"

"With so many 'Boss Officers' supporting him, even Zhang Erxiao lent him fifty thousand; turning things around isn't hard for him."

Birds of a feather flock together; things of the same kind converge.

For instance, at Linghai Reserve Camp, it's normal for Boss Officers to get along well and help each other.

Moreover, Boss Officers also get along well with leaders, so Han Yu simply changed the topic: "Xiao Yu, your teacher's secondment ended, and he's now back in Hanwu as vice principal of your police school."

Xiao Yu looked surprised and happily asked, "Director Liu went back to Hanwu as vice principal?"

"Yes, before leaving, Yu Zhen specifically hosted a farewell banquet in the city, inviting Director Wang, Sister Zhu, and my father-in-law."

"Why not wait for me to return before leaving, it's too sudden."

"Director Liu must obey the organization's arrangements; are you blaming the organization for not seeking your opinion?" Han Yu playfully scolded, then continued, "Also, your Yu Zhen just sold the house in Hanwu and plans to look at apartments in East Sea when you return."

"She sold the Hanwu house?"

"You didn't know?"

"She... she never told me. When the house is sold, where will her cousin live?"

They all say I have no place at home, but you truly have no status.

Otherwise, for such a big matter as selling the house, Yu Zhen would never fail to discuss it with you.

Han Yu felt extremely pleased, smiling at him and said: "It was sold to your cousin, and the Hanwu garment wholesale business was also transferred to her. Lin Xiaohui's future focus will shift to Hong Kong. Liu Xiaomei only knows how to enjoy life and doesn't care much about the factory, so she can't manage the Hanwu business and needs to concentrate on being the factory manager."

Before Xiao Yu could respond, Ma Jintao curiously asked, "Salted Fish, you're saying Yu Zhen plans to buy a house in East Sea?"

"Almost every wealthy boss in Linghai has bought a house in East Sea. Yu Zhen has money, of course, she wants to help Little Crocodile buy one."

"Buying in East Sea is fine; when I retire, I can be neighbors with you and Sister Han Ning." Xiao Yu grinned broadly and then enthusiastically added, "Actually, we could call Sister Han Ning and have her check which houses are good for us."

For the same purchase of an apartment in East Sea, the considerations of wealthy people versus those of poor people are truly different.

Han Yu hesitated for a moment and then said with a smile, "You don't need to say it; your Yu Zhen already thought of it. My sister has looked at several complexes for you, but your Yu Zhen didn't like them. Eventually, she helped you see a high-end complex at Huangpu River, newly developed, costing over ten thousand per square meter."

"Where is it, and is it far from your place?" Xiao Yu asked eagerly.

"It's near Lujiazui area, better positioned than the complex I bought, not close to where I live."

"Alright, after completing the mission, Yu Zhen and I will go have a look!"

The concept of a house costing over ten thousand per square meter...

Ma Jintao, Chen Jian, and Gao Jichun looked at each other, feeling this topic wasn't for them while secretly marveling at how Xiao Yu was truly a life winner, supporting a lifestyle to such an extent like never before.

Realizing the topic was too sore, Han Yu straightforwardly asked about their work over these days.

The work at Linghai Reserve Camp remained mostly unchanged since their arrival, continuously transporting officers and soldiers for landing practices alongside the Navy's landing crafts or participating in composite exercises organized by the Command Center.

The training ship completed several voyages, transporting supplies to Zhoushan Base for the logistics support team a few times.

With tens of thousands of liberation army officers and soldiers suddenly on the island, prices soared significantly. Without organized transportation, relying entirely on island purchases like in the beginning wasn't financially viable and would impact island residents' lives, as prices were elevated by the participating units of the exercise.

The civilian soldiers' transport team of fifty-five fishing vessels continually partnered with various units to practice landing, where the Big 001 played a vital role, towing ships here and there, even rescuing an old navy vessel.

As everyone was enjoying their lively conversation, Adviser Wu arrived on a workboat with two colleagues from the Observation Team.

They were here to freeload under the guise of observation.

When Han Yu boarded the ship in the evening, he noticed a pile of empty wine bottles, and he could imagine how many people had been drinking on board. Last year it was like this during the flood rescue, and this year it's the same for the military exercise. It seems "Linghai Hotel" is quite famous.

As a regular guest of the "Linghai Hotel," Adviser Wu asked what was for dinner as soon as he got on the ship.

Qin Weiquan was neither surprised nor strange, and he was well-prepared, warmly inviting them to the dining room.

"Salted Fish, learn from this, see how enthusiastic the Chief of Staff is!"

"Yeah, you're at least a Regular Group Level Big Commander, you should show some Regular Group Level spirit."

Chief of Staff Wang leaned over to look at the beer brought over by the chef and said with a smile, "Salted Fish, we're here to welcome you, no matter what you have to drink today, let's see who's left standing after the bottles, how about it?"

"No way, no way, I really can't drink, I'll let the Chief of Staff drink with you."

"The Chief of Staff is definitely going to drink, I'm talking about you."

"I really can't drink!"

"It's just beer, not liquor."

"Neither beer nor liquor work for me."

Qin Weiquan, knowing very well that Han Yu couldn't drink, laughed as he helped to open the bottles and said, "Gentlemen, Salted Fish really can't drink; one-shot drunk on liquor, one bottle down on beer. I'll drink with you, let's not include him!"

Chief of Staff Wang asked half-believingly, "One bottle down on beer?"

Han Yu quickly said, "Half a bottle would probably do me in."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you, I really can't."

The feeling of being drunk is truly unpleasant, and beer really tastes awful.

Han Yu absolutely wouldn't drink; Adviser Wu, Chief of Staff Wang, and Director Yang from a military academy didn't want to force it, so they only drank with Qin Weiquan.

Ma Jintao used to be a soldier in the army and wasn't interested in mingling with officers, so he didn't join in. He drank a few bottles with Xiao Yu and others next door, ate his fill, and then went to bathe and rest.

Not dining with active-duty officers, you wouldn't know how much officers could drink.

They ate, drank, and chatted continuously without realizing that each had consumed a whole case, and appeared completely unaffected.

Han Yu was very impressed and envious, but also felt heartache.

After all, what they drank was money, and he secretly thought that next time he invites them for a meal, he could only serve liquor. Ten or so bucks for one bottle of liquor per person should be enough, unlike beer that's two to three bucks a bottle, and a case costs twenty or thirty bucks.

"Salted Fish, Chief of Staff, we're not going back tonight, do you have a place to stay here?"

Before Han Yu could reply, Old Qin laughed and said, "Yes, I'll have someone clean up a place for you."

"No need for the trouble, we can sleep in the cockpit."

"It's no trouble, this is the Shipping Academy's training ship, so there are more crew cabins than a regular cargo ship."

"Chief of Staff, Salted Fish, you must call me if you ever go to the Capital, and I'll make arrangements then."

"Sure, we won't be shy with you."

Han Yu didn't like attending banquets, not just because he couldn't drink, but also because it was too time-consuming, taking a long time for a meal.

They didn't have many dishes, spending all their time drinking and chatting.

Unknowingly, they drank until after midnight.

Han Yu felt extremely sleepy, yawning constantly, but was too embarrassed to suggest ending it, so he forced himself to stay engaged in idle conversation.

Adviser Wu was in high spirits, eating a boiled peanut while saying with a smile, "Salted Fish, we really aren't used to you being away these days. The day before yesterday we had a meeting discussing Navy construction, and Captain Shen mentioned you when reporting to the superiors."

"Why did Captain Shen mention me?"

"The exercises exposed a series of issues, and a big part was due to outdated equipment. We have passion, but passion alone is far from enough for war. Captain Shen asked the superiors why we can't build an aircraft carrier and said in front of them that even you, a Reserve Officer, were willing to donate."

As soon as Adviser Wu finished speaking, Director Yang couldn't help but say, "Donate fifty."

Han Yu instinctively asked, "How did Captain Shen know I was willing to donate fifty for building an aircraft carrier?"

"I said it," Adviser Wu felt his pockets and laughed, "don't be embarrassed, donating fifty is a lot, you're better than me, I don't even have fifty in my pocket."

"You're a deputy battalion, your salary isn't low, at least six or seven hundred a month, where's the money?"

"I bought a phone, it cost more than six thousand, and the money wasn't enough, my dad helped me with four thousand. You know, after being a soldier for so many years, still using my family's money, it's really embarrassing when I think about it."

"Why did you buy a phone?"

"It's inconvenient without a phone, and besides, you can't get a date without a phone."

Looking at Adviser Wu's awkward expression, Chief of Staff Wang explained with a wry smile, "Salted Fish, you've never worked in a department, so you don't know how it is, especially at the Headquarters, finding a suitable partner is really difficult."

Understood, Adviser Wu works in the Capital and wants to find a partner there.

His hometown isn't in the Capital, so he basically has nothing there, and without a phone to boost his image, finding a partner in the Capital would be truly difficult.

Just as Han Yu didn't know what to say, the whole ship was suddenly lifted three or four meters by a sea wave, and the bottles and dishes on the table crashed to the floor with the violent swaying of the ship.

The training ship was anchored in the sea, and rocking with the swells was normal, but such unexpected and sudden swells were very unusual.

Han Yu was caught off guard and took a hard fall.

Old Qin, Adviser Wu, Chief of Staff Wang, and Director Yang were similarly affected, especially Adviser Wu, whose head was injured and bleeding heavily!