In the minds of the old comrades at the Local Police Bureau and the Changhang Bureau, the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau is a very idle unit with good salary and benefits.

Whether the Anti-Smuggling Police are truly idle is something to ask the colleagues of the Investigation Department.

It's not that Han Yu's words are unconvincing, it's mainly that the situation in the Water Anti-Smuggling Department is quite special. When they're busy, they can be so busy that they won't return home for one or two months. For example, when the 825 craft was carrying out a vigilance mission outside the exercise area before its modification, it was out for a long time. Similarly, when carrying out future maritime anti-smuggling missions, once they go out to sea, nobody knows when they will return.

When it's idle, it's really very idle.

The department no longer investigates smuggling cases, and the main work ahead is to assist Customs with boarding inspections and assist the Investigation Department in combating water smuggling.

For example, if foreign ships come to Binjiang, but the tonnage is too large to enter the port, or there is insufficient berth at the dock, they can only anchor at the sea anchorage or offload trans-shipped goods on the river. In such cases, Han Yu would deploy the 825 craft to transport Customs officers aboard for inspections.

In short, Wang Changjiang of the Investigation Department was right earlier, the Water Anti-Smuggling Department really is just a bunch of sailors.

Including Han Yu, there are a total of 19 people. Without other tasks, the daily work is to maintain and upkeep the 825 craft to ensure it's always ready to set sail for missions.

The conditions at the Customs Anti-Smuggling Pier are very rudimentary, with only a trestle bridge extending into the river and a flat barge. The crew can only be on duty on the craft.

The duty schedule is divided into three shifts just like when sailing, with Vice Boat Captain Jiang Shengqi, Second Officer Liu Chuanjun, and Third Officer Liu Wei each leading a shift. Each watch crew consists of deck crew and engine room workers, ensuring the 825 craft can set sail at any time.

Han Yu does not lead the shifts himself. This isn't about "privileges," but as the section head, he has many administrative tasks, like attending meetings at the bureau, which would conflict with the duty schedule.

After all, leading a shift at the Water Anti-Smuggling Department is different from a Police Station duty; the shift leader is equivalent to the "duty boat captain," not only ready to lead the duty crew on urgent tasks but also tasked with piloting the craft!

Moreover, the observation and communication group on the boat consists of only two people; everyone can read the radar, but not everyone can do radio operations, so Han Yu serves as the mobile support for the observation group, stepping in when Xue Wenping or Yao Yazhong have family matters or are sick with a cold.

This New Year's Eve, there were no urgent anti-smuggling missions arranged by Customs and the bureau, but instead, they received a call for help from the Maritime Bureau's Traffic Control Center, saying a pregnant female crew member's water had broken and she needed to be rushed to the hospital.

Female crew members are rare on seagoing vessels but more common on inland river cargo ships.

My mother was a crew member, and my sister was also a crew member back in the day.

The situation of that pregnant woman's family was similar to mine, living on the ship, sailing with her in-laws and husband. Their ship anchored overnight at Lang Mountain anchorage.

Late at night, the woman's water broke, and she was in severe pain. Her in-laws and husband were so anxious they ran in circles and could only radio the Traffic Control for help.

Colleagues at the Traffic Control Center knew they weren't far from the Customs Anti-Smuggling Pier and were aware that the Water Anti-Smuggling Department had a jeep, so they contacted the 825 craft with a hopeful mindset.

Han Yu naturally wouldn't stand by and immediately organized the crew to lower a motorboat, went to the anchorage to pick up the pregnant woman's family, arranged for a crew member to watch their ship, and then personally drove them to Lang Mountain Town Hospital.

To him and the crew, this was a small act of help, but to the pregnant woman's family, it was a tremendous aid, a truly significant gesture!

Early the next morning, when everyone woke up and got washed, preparing to take turns going to the mountain camp to have breakfast, the woman's in-laws brought a big basket of red eggs and expressed gratitude profusely. Not accepting them would have upset them, making everyone feel quite embarrassed.

Frost had fallen during the night, and with the waves on the river, ice had formed on the ship's sides and deck.

After breakfast, everyone worked together to remove the ice, laid out non-slip mats, and then began checking the main engine, auxiliary engine, anchor, navigation, firefighting systems, and so on...

They were busy until noon, just preparing to go home for lunch and celebrate New Year's with their daughter, when the woman's husband came with a silk banner.

It was the first silk banner received by the 825 craft since its incorporation!

Han Yu was very happy and moved, invited the man aboard to chat for a while, confirmed that the family had no difficulties requiring assistance, and then sent them off.

When he returned home, it was already 12:30. His father-in-law had taken Little Han Han out shopping, and his mother-in-law was at home.

While eating the meal his mother-in-law had heated, Han Yu recounted the events of the day.

"Fortunately, we acted quickly. Her husband said that shortly after reaching Lang Mountain Hospital, she gave birth. The doctor checked the time; the baby was born exactly at midnight! Early this morning, the hospital leadership reported to the Development Zone Health Bureau and the Development Zone Family Planning Office, and it's said the superiors want a count."

"Count of what?"

"Counting how many children were born today. It's not just the development zone; apparently, the entire city is counting."

Director Xiang suddenly realized, sighed, and said, "Children born today are all 'Millennium Babies,' with birthday January 1, 2000. It truly is significant. Come to think of it, they should indeed count."

Han Yu laughed and said, "Maybe it'll make the TV news."

"This birthday is great, better than New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Children born during the New Year suffer the most; every birthday, relatives and friends are busy celebrating, and there's never a chance to have a proper birthday celebration."

Director Xiang smiled, and curiously asked, "Boy or girl?"