Considering that the leaders may want to chat with Han Yu, and it’s not appropriate for Han Yu to take your car instead of his own, Director Qi had earlier asked Fang Guoya to borrow the Binjiang Port Group’s large bus used specifically for employee transportation.

Since there’s a large bus, the leaders naturally didn’t need to take the smaller cars they arrived in. They all boarded the luxurious bus and headed straight to a newly opened hotel near Pier 4.

Vice Mayor Qin and Commander Wang asked with keen interest about the visit, and Director Qi, Director Xu, and others were also very curious. Not wanting to disappoint the leaders and friends, Han Yu, like a tour guide, took the bus microphone and began to introduce the fleet’s visits to Malaysia, Tanzania, and South Africa.

When he mentioned that foreign naval officers admired the Chinese Navy for having such advanced large ships, respected the Chinese Naval Fleet for daring to pass Cape Horn in that season, and that overseas Chinese were incredibly excited to see their motherland with such large, advanced warships, everyone was elated and proud.

They arrived at the hotel at half past four in the afternoon, too early for the feast.

However, Director Qi and Political Commissar Dong were well-prepared, having arranged the venue in the conference room on the second floor of the hotel beforehand. They invited leaders and guests to take their seats and held a reception meeting welcoming Han Yu’s triumphant return, even hanging a large red banner.

The event was organized by the Changhang Bureau, but the host was not Director Qi; instead, it was Political Commissioner Chen from the Military District.

Political Commissioner Chen, who couldn’t attend the ferry due to prior commitments and came straight from the Military District to the hotel, briefly reviewed Binjiang’s achievements in building national defense reserve forces, especially the civilian militia reserve force, representing the Military District to express gratitude to all units including the Changhang Bureau and individuals like Han Yu. He warmly congratulated Han Yu for outstandingly completing the liaison task with the visiting fleet and earning a second-class personal merit. Then, he invited Han Yu to share his thoughts on visiting with the naval fleet.

Following that, Teacher Xia and Instructor Wang from the Binjiang Shipping College, who also performed similar missions, were invited to retrospect their experiences as "escort captains" and share their thoughts.

Lastly, Commander Wang and Vice Mayor Qin were invited to speak.

The entire reception meeting was brief, only an hour and a half, but it was solemn and very meaningful.

After the meeting, they went to the banquet hall next door to drink celebratory wine.

However, the wine was mainly for the leaders to drink. Han Yu couldn’t and dared not drink, he could only substitute tea for alcohol. Despite that, the atmosphere remained very lively.

The guests attending the banquet were from so many units, it’s rare to gather like today, exchanging toasts and laughs, it was quite lively.

A total of four large tables were set, served with fine dishes and good wine!

Han Yu thought it was too extravagant and felt uneasy, but he didn’t want to dampen the spirits of the leaders and friends. Not until after the banquet ended did he pull aside his immediate superior, who had just seen Vice Mayor Qin and Commander Wang off together with Director Qi, and asked, "Director Qi, didn’t we go overboard today?"

Director Qi looked back, smiled and replied, "Not overboard."

"This isn’t overboard?" Han Yu retorted, looking at the many dishes left untouched on the table, hesitated and said, "Our bureau isn’t a wealthy unit; the dinner alone, with the wine, must have cost quite a bit."

"Relax, the fifty thousand you helped borrow for the bureau has already been repaid to the Fire Association and the Rescue Boat Team, with interest."

"Even if it’s repaid, we shouldn’t be doing this."

Director Qi wasn’t new to Han Yu, he clearly understood Han Yu was filled with guilt, especially since to outsiders, tonight’s celebration banquet seemed organized for him. Without hesitation, Director Qi pulled Han Yu aside and chuckled, "Our budget is tight, but necessary spending must be done."

"Is this considered necessary spending?" Han Yu asked with a wry smile.

Director Qi was about to speak when Wang Wenhong smiled and approached, explaining with a touch of envy, "It’s definitely necessary spending! Think about it, what kind of days has your bureau been through these past years? Have there been events properly organized? Previously under someone else’s roof, everything had to consider the Port Authority’s opinion. Even the new office building’s completion and operation needed the Port Authority’s leaders to cut the ribbon."

It felt like someone was missing tonight.

Upon hearing Director Wang’s explanation, Han Yu suddenly realized that Director Qi hadn’t invited the head of the Binjiang Port Group.

"Previously, you were the ’Internal Security’ for the port and shipping enterprises, everything had to be low-key, even organizing a function like today was daunting, fearing the Binjiang Port Group’s leadership would have opinions."

Wang Wenhong paused, then continued with a smile, "Things will be different now. Soon you won’t be under someone else’s roof anymore, and you won’t need to heed other people’s expressions. Moreover, your bureau has just completed institutional reform, with the four direct brigades and four police stations becoming deputy department-level units. If you don’t utilize this opportunity to ’publicize,’ who will know? If people are unaware, they won’t regard the village head as a cadre!"

Director Qi added with a smile, "It’s mainly for future work."

It turns out they’re seizing the opportunity of his completed mission return to assert themselves!

Han Yu suddenly realized that Director Qi and Director Wang had valid points. After all, the Changhang Bureau had long been looked down upon by local police colleagues. Now, transitioning to administrative establishment, and with most internal institutions promoted in rank, they can’t proceed as low-key as before, otherwise it’s disadvantageous for future work.

"But why under the guise of celebrating my achievement?" Han Yu asked, amused and annoyed.

"Without using you as a guise, would we be able to invite Mayor Qin and Commander Wang? Without using you as a guise, would so many unit leaders grant us this favor?"

"Is my presence that significant?"

"It is!"

...

As they spoke, Han Xiangning walked over with a bouquet of flowers.

Han Yu didn’t have time to continue chatting with Director Qi and Director Wang, quickly apologized, and left with his senior for the ride arranged by the bureau to head home.

In front of the driver, the couple couldn’t show too much affection.

Once inside their home, Han Xiangning put down the flowers, hugged his neck, and asked, "You’ve been away for over two months, did you miss me?"

"I did, every day, almost to the point of missing you to death!"

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you."

"You smell terrible, hurry and take a shower."

"I’ll go get the change of clothes."

"You go wash first, I’ll help you take it."

"Okay."

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, Han Yu was also quite impatient, chuckling as he headed straight for the bathroom.

Water conservation is important at sea, so it’s just a quick rinse every day.

Finally back home, Han Yu really wanted to soak in the bathtub. Just as he filled half the tub, he heard his senior sister outside asking, "San’er, where did these US dollars come from?"

Han Yu paused, then looked up and said, "A visit abroad counts as going abroad, and this is an official trip abroad, which comes with overseas allowances, ten dollars a day."

"You were on a visit for more than two months; that should be over six hundred dollars, why is there just this?" Han Xiangning walked in with two envelopes and asked.

Han Yu quickly explained, "Sailing at sea doesn’t count as being abroad, only when docking ashore counts as abroad. Altogether it’s fifteen days, totaling one hundred and fifty; I spent some, leaving one hundred and fifteen."

"The chocolates and wine in the box were bought with this money?"

"Yes."

"One hundred and fifteen US dollars converted to RMB is over a thousand, but let’s not exchange it yet. I’ll save it first, just in case there’s another chance to go abroad in the future."

"..."

This is my private money, alright!

Earlier, I acted too impulsively. I should’ve known not to rush into the shower; organizing my suitcase myself would’ve been better.

Han Yu deeply regretted it but could only pretend to happily nod his head.

Han Xiangning giggled, opened the second envelope, took out a wad of RMB, and counted it curiously, "Where did this money come from?"

"There’s an overseas allowance for going abroad and a sailing allowance for navigating; this money is the sailing allowance issued by the superior."

"Forty-two hundred, so much!"

"Not forty-two hundred; it includes the five hundred you gave me when I left."

"You’re already back, not much to spend on now. I’ll leave you a hundred, and the rest we’ll save tomorrow."

"Ah..."

"What’s with the ’ah,’ is it too little?"

"No," this was a legitimate raid, Han Yu was a bit downcast, and upon pondering, couldn’t help but say, "Ningning, Li Shousong came from Beihu, we fought floods together, when he’s here I can’t not treat him to a meal."

"I’ll give you another hundred, if he’s drinking, take from home; there are just two bottles."

"Alright, two hundred it is."

"By the way, you earned a Second-class Merit, but they only gave you the medal today, no prize money?"

"This is a Second-class Merit recorded by the Ministry of Transport Police, the bonus issued by the superior unit in the system differs from the bonus given by the military. Political Commissioner Dong mentioned at dinner that it might take one to two months to be issued, and when it does, it’ll go directly to the salary card."

Once I have the money, I’ll be able to repay some of the loans for mom and dad to lighten the burden.

Han Xiangning was in high spirits from the good news, put away the money with a playful smile, and said, "Hurry up and wash, I want to wash up too."

...

Meanwhile, Li Shousong was returning to Linghai Reserve Camp in the car with Xiao Yu and Guo Weitao.

Starting four days ago, the sentry post at the gate was replaced with active duty warriors from the Binjiang Reserve Group on duty. The group transport team, Military District transport platoon, along with drivers and military vehicles drawn from the Armed Forces Departments across various districts and counties gathered at the camp, temporarily forming a motor company entirely responsible for the Special Warfare Group’s transportation during the Binjiang Sea Training.

Zhang Erxiao, President Wu, President Qian, and other "boss officers" were urgently recalled to the camp, bringing along their old subordinates to first handle the security squad and motor company logistics support. When the Special Warfare Group officers arrive, they’ll be responsible for the logistics of all training participants and assisting sea training personnel, too.

Everything is ready, and Li Shousong, who came early to set up, became the most idle person as the Deputy Chief of Staff.

He walked into the office, sat down, took out a cigarette, and with a bit of regret said, "I wanted to invite Secretary Han to a late-night snack, but was too busy chatting with Li Jun and didn’t notice when he left."

"You’ll have plenty of opportunities to treat him to a snack, but definitely not tonight." Guo Weitao took the cigarette, smiled, and said, "He’s been on business for over two months, circled the globe, and finally completed the mission; of course, he’d want to properly spend time with Mayor Han."

"That’s true, my apologies for not considering it."

"Enough about that, though; have your leaders called to inform when the main troop arrives?"

"The main troops arrive tomorrow afternoon."

"How are they coming; going to East Sea first or directly to Jiangcheng?"

"Straight to Binjiang." Li Shousong smiled as he explained, "We’re paratroopers, of course, we’ll fly over. Gaoru has a military airport, and the transport plane for transferring the main troops will land tomorrow afternoon."

Xiao Yu asked excitedly, "Are we going to Gaoru to pick them up?"

"Yes." Li Shousong checked his watch and smiled, "We’ll set off directly for Gaoru Station tomorrow afternoon at two. For confidentiality reasons, once we pick up the personnel, the convoy can’t just return; we need to wait till after dark to come back."