These past few days have been exhausting, running around everywhere.

Han Yu fell asleep as soon as he got on the bus at the East Sea Long-distance Bus Station, and he slept soundly until the driver and attendant reminded him they were about to cross the river.

When a coach crosses the river, safety comes first.

Passengers disembarked and walked up the ferry along the right passage, while the coach drove up a gentle slope under the guidance of the dock staff.

The ferry doesn’t have sewage treatment facilities; everything gets discharged into the river.

Han Yu was born and raised on the river, and after graduating from technical school, he continued working on the river. He has a deep affection for the Yangtze River and doesn’t wish to see it become a "sewage ditch," so he avoids using the ferry toilet unless absolutely necessary.

Instead of rushing onto the ferry with the other passengers, he first headed to the toilet onshore. When he got on the ferry, he didn’t gather at the railings or climb to the second floor to view the river like the others; instead, he found his coach and continued resting with his eyes closed.

The river here isn’t very wide, and the ferry sailed across the river in about twenty minutes before sounding the horn and slowly approached the dock.

Driving a coach off the shore is easier than on, unlike driving downhill where a slight error could lead to losing control.

Passengers returned to the coach one after another, and the attendant, dressed like a flight attendant, counted the number of people, confirming none were missing before shutting the door.

The ferry docked, and the crew lowered the front deck for disembarking, signaling for a few small cars in front to go ahead. Actually, the ferry doesn’t really have a front and rear deck. When sailing northward, this side is the bow. As they load vehicles and people directly southward without needing to turn around, the south end becomes the bow, and the north end becomes the stern, repeating the process.

We’ve landed!

Han Yu calculated that it should take another twenty minutes to reach Binjiang Long-distance Bus Station, but the coach had just gotten onto the shore when a policeman and an auxiliary policeman directed it to slowly pull over.

"Are we checking IDs again?" asked a bespectacled passenger, looking out the window.

A passenger in the front row, accustomed to it, took out his wallet to retrieve his ID and chuckled, "They check ID everywhere these days. Today is good; they only checked when entering East Sea Bus Station. Last time I had checks at every stop, five or six times on the way."

"Yeah, they check on board, at several security checkpoints, toll booths, and when crossing the river. It’s so easy to make a phone call now, yet frontline policemen don’t seem to communicate with those in the backend, each does their own thing, wasting enforcement resources and our time!"

"Repeated checks are futile, completely unscientific."

"But so what if it’s unscientific? They’ll still check anyway. Catching a fugitive earns them merit awards; they only care about that, not whether they waste our time."

This is a luxury coach, a Benz, with tickets more expensive than regular coaches. Most travelers are successful people.

Seeing their incessant complaints about the police, Han Yu couldn’t help opening his eyes, yawning, "The repetitive checks do waste enforcement resources, but the police must have their reasons. The police aren’t nationally networked like banks. East Sea Police might not know who the Guzhou Police checked, and vice versa."

"Not networked?"

Before Han Yu could respond, a businessman-looking person laughed, "Indeed! At least they don’t know if our company vehicles violated traffic rules in East Sea; Guzhou and Binjiang’s traffic cops won’t know. Our vehicles can run freely in East Sea; even if caught on camera, they won’t chase us over to Binjiang to fine us."

Not networked now doesn’t mean they won’t be in the future.

Just as Han Yu was about to advise against taking chances on this issue, a passenger looked up and said, "There’s another reason why police repeatedly check IDs."

"What reason?"

"We’re on an express coach running from East Sea to Binjiang. It doesn’t stop midway or enter other stations, nor does it pick up passengers along the way. Regular coaches are different; they enter two to three small stations along the route and stop for passengers who flag them down. If checked in front and not behind, there would be security check loopholes. Who knows if the mid-route boarders are good people or not?"

"True. Spending a bit more on express coaches is worth it—not only faster but also safer."

Express coaches are not only comfortable but also have better security due to the higher quality passengers, with thefts and similar crimes rarely happening onboard.

Han Yu, just thinking the passenger who mentioned potential security management loopholes might be an insider, saw two fully armed police officers boarding the bus.

They didn’t ask the attendant for a passenger list or demand that passengers show their IDs, but walked up to Han Yu, saluted, "Director Han, welcome home!"

"Old Wu, what are you doing at the dock?" Han Yu snapped out of it, feeling quite surprised.

"Director Han, we’re here to pick you up. Where’s your luggage? We’ll help you carry it."

"Here to pick me up?"

"Director Han, this isn’t the place to talk, let’s get off the vehicle first."

...

The passengers were bewildered.

They couldn’t believe that Han Yu, who had slept all the way from East Sea to Binjiang, was actually the police, and moreover, the commissioner.

The driver and the attendant couldn’t believe it either. They quickly got off the vehicle, opened the luggage compartment, and helped to take out the luggage.

After thanking them, Han Yu followed the police chief Old Wu from the Changhang Branch Binjiang Port Police Station a few steps, and was suddenly amazed by everything he saw.

Vice Mayor Qin, Military District Commander Wang, Director Qi, Political Commissar Dong, Director Xu from the Maritime Bureau, Dean Shao from his alma mater, Teacher Xia, Instructor Wang, Director Wang from the Water Police Station, Director Liu from the border inspection station, Commissar Fang from the Navy Retirement Home, his old colleague Ma Guan, Shi Shengyong from the Linghai Police Bureau...

More than twenty leaders, teachers, and old friends had come, even Li Shousong, with whom he had fought floods and tackled disasters, was there, smiling at him in front of the port security check station.

Feeling incredulous, a young and beautiful female police officer full of youthful energy approached with a smile. She first saluted and then presented a bouquet of flowers: "Hello, Director Han, welcome back victorious!"

"Director Han, give a smile, let’s take a picture first."

Xiao Wang, the propaganda officer from the political office of the branch, clicked the camera shutter continuously.

Wu Dan finally saw the legendary "Binjiang Water Army Commander," she couldn’t have been more excited, instinctively tossing her ponytail, wanting to appear better in the pictures.

Han Xiangning saw this and felt a bit down-hearted, secretly muttering to himself, when Han Yu saw her and quickly went over to hand the flowers to his senior sister, turning back with a wry smile to ask: "Mayor Qin, Commander Wang, Director Qi, Director Xu, what are you all doing here?"

"We’re welcoming you home!"

Vice Mayor Qin slightly smiled and looked towards today’s "host."

Director Qi quickly explained: "Han Yu, this is required by the superior, and you deserve such a welcome."

Wang Wenhong knew well that Salted Fish didn’t like this kind of welcome ceremony, fearing he might not give face to the leaders, he immediately stepped in as the host of the welcome ceremony: "Dear leaders, dear friends, next we’ll have Political Commissar Dong Xiangyun from the Changhang Public Security Bureau Binjiang Branch read the order from the Ministry of Transport Police for recording Han Yu’s commendation!"

He has made merits!

Making merits is great, there are bonuses for making merits!

Han Xiangning immediately felt his previous displeasure disappear, breaking into a knowing smile.

Han Yu was being made at a loss by them when Political Commissar Dong opened his briefcase, took out an order document, and read it with an impassioned modulation: "Yangtze River Shipping Police Bureau: Comrade Han Yu of your bureau, assigned by the Ministry of Transport, while serving as the garrison liaison officer for the second batch of visiting Chinese Navy formations, completed the tasks assigned by the formation command post to high standards and strict requirements, making outstanding contributions to the successful completion of the visit tasks.

Furthermore, to better complete the visit work, he carefully researched and analyzed the route, sea conditions, climate, combined with the actual formation, proposed many constructive opinions and suggestions, which received full recognition from the formation command!"

Political Commissar Dong paused and continued reading: "During the visit, Comrade Han Yu fully utilized his expertise in marine navigation and English, actively assisting in translation duties, undertaking liaison with foreign port authorities during the formation’s docking and leaving foreign ports, as well as providing translation for pilot guidance, facilitating docking and undocking processes, and collected port and waterway information, which significantly helped the formation smoothly pass through the Singapore-Malaysia Strait, Cape Horn, and dock and undock at foreign ports.

While serving as the garrison liaison officer, he also utilized his rich marine experience and professional knowledge, providing lectures on marine English, international maritime conventions and other related topics for the formation officers and soldiers, which was highly praised by them!"

Han Xiangning realized that the commendation order from the Ministry of Transport Police was full of references from the thank-you telegram the visiting formation command had sent to the Changhang Police Bureau from Tanzania previously.

In other words, this was a commendation request initiated by the visiting formation for San’er!

Han Yu realized this too, knowing that the incident where two commanders had sent gratitude telegrams to the Changhang Police Bureau was known to him. In fact, they had not only sent it to the Changhang Police Bureau but also to Guangzhou Navigation College of which Captain Qian was part, with almost the same content.

"During the execution of the garrison liaison task, Comrade Han Yu’s performance fully manifested the pioneering exemplary role of an outstanding Communist Party member, actively demonstrating the excellent quality, good style, and superb expertise of the Changhang Police iron army, embodying the vigorous spirit of the Changhang Police.

To commend the advanced, boost morale, and stimulate fighting spirit, with the approval of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Police, a decision has been made to award Comrade Han Yu with a second-class personal merit, along with a medal, certificate, and a bonus. Ministry of Transport Police, Director Wang Xinde, September 17, 2000."

After Political Commissar Dong finished reading, everyone immediately gave a round of warm applause.

Director Qi, having just received the medal and certificate from the Political Office Director, was about to present them on behalf of the superior when Vice Mayor Qin couldn’t help but laugh: "Xiang Ning, why are you silly smiling? Half of the military merit medal also belongs to Salted Fish, and half to you! Quickly, go over, and accept the commendation together with Salted Fish."

"Mayor Qin, this isn’t appropriate."

"What’s inappropriate? This is not only a tradition of the ’First Post of the Yangtze River’ but also a tradition for you two over the years. Since it’s a fine tradition, it should be maintained. Commander Wang, don’t you agree?"

"Mayor Qin is right, good traditions should be maintained. Mayor Xiao Han, quickly, we’re cheering for you!"