Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 380 - 268: Plans Cannot Keep Up with Changes

In the blink of an eye, it has been twelve days since returning.

Shi Shengyong had originally planned to strike while the iron was hot and organize a force to arrest the other fugitives.

But with numerous year-end summaries, evaluations, and meetings, and with New Year’s Day just a few days away, not only do they need to carry out pre-Spring Festival security rectifications, but they also need to ensure the safety of the Bai Niu Ferry and Bailong Port Long-distance Bus Station during the Spring Festival travel rush. They were simply too busy.

Yesterday morning, he went to the bureau for a meeting. The organization department appointed the former senior leader Sun Jiawen as the Political Commissioner of the Linghai Police Bureau.

Political Commissioner Ding, retiring to the second-line, although he will no longer keep attendance, the bureau’s police force is too strained. Unlike other units where retiring second-line leaders don’t need to work, his main job going forward is to represent the bureau in joint law enforcement with the business, tax, and cultural departments.

This morning, as soon as the newly appointed senior leader showed up, he personally made a phone call demanding the speedy submission of the list of outstanding police and party members nominated by the police station.

Previously at Southern City Police Station, when such matters arose, the Director and the Instructor would "take turns leading the charge."

Shi Shengyong, also being new to his position and even feeling the weight of added responsibilities, decided that it couldn’t be the same as before. After consulting with Old Li, they determined the list of nominees and then embraced democracy by calling a meeting of all police officers.

"Comrades, the quotas for outstanding police and party members are allocated proportionally. Our station has a relatively large number of police, so we have two quotas for outstanding police and one for the outstanding party member. Brother police stations only get one of each."

Shi Shengyong looked around at everyone and continued, "Given that every time we have these elections, everyone promotes modesty—you yield and he yields—decisions drag on till nightfall and can even affect our work. Thus, after discussing with the Instructor, we have drawn up a list of nominees. Please raise your hand to vote."

Huang Yueping and the others had quietly sneaked back to Four Factory last night, hiding in the drainage station beneath Changbei Bridge.

Winter is different from summer, without corn and bamboo plants for cover, the few brothers from the Water Police Fourth Squad and Major Cases Squad had no choice but to lie in the irrigation ditches for surveillance, and the weather forecast predicts snow tomorrow.

Cold and frozen, who can endure lying in ambush outdoors?

Han Yu was preoccupied with the drainage outlet, hoping that his father-in-law’s weather forecast would be as inaccurate as before, not even knowing what the Director was talking about.

Uncle Zhang and Uncle Ding are retiring tomorrow and really don’t care about these things— one leisurely smoking, the other reclined in a chair with his eyes closed.

"Instructor Li came over earlier this year, and Director Jiang and I transferred in the latter half of the year. We’ve been here for a short time and haven’t achieved much, so the three of us will not participate in the selection. The Water Police Squadron was only recently put under our command, so I think they shouldn’t participate in the selection this year either."

Shi Shengyong glanced at Salted Fish and then at Uncle Zhang and Uncle Ding, seeing that none of them reacted, he continued, "The superiors now require younger officers, and I think we should also prioritize young police officers with outstanding work performances in the selection while also considering the hard-working older comrades.

I propose Li Shichang and Wu Aiguo as outstanding police officers, and Zhang Yuhua as the outstanding party member. Please raise your hands to vote, and if more than half agree, we’ll applaud and it’s decided."

Quite a strategy for someone not having been at the station for long.

Boldly excluding the Water Police Squadron from this, and you can hardly say anything against it.

Uncle Zhang hadn’t expected Shi Shengyong would do this, thinking, if not for Salted Fish, could you have possibly uprooted Four Factory Public Security Department and secured a hundred thousand in funding to address the urgent crisis before?

But then again, even without Salted Fish single-handedly causing chaos at the City’s sanitation drive, leading to his and Jianghai’s dispatch to Four Factory Police Station, if it really came to a democratic election, Salted Fish wouldn’t have been selected anyway.

After all, the current Water Police Squadron, formerly Yanjiang Police Station, didn’t have much interaction with the cops on land, and were even often envied by them.

Uncle Zhang sighed silently and, extinguishing his cigarette, raised his hand.

Uncle Ding knew Salted Fish didn’t care about these things. Opening his eyes and seeing Salted Fish daydreaming, he immediately nudged Salted Fish’s arm.

Han Yu came to his senses and seeing that everyone had raised their hands, he quickly followed suit.

"Alright, pass with applause."

Shi Shengyong took the lead in clapping, and a warm round of applause followed.

Li Shichang was so excited he couldn’t help but look back at Salted Fish, thinking to himself, let this kid set up his little slush fund, let him disregard the greater good, if he’d voluntarily handed over the slush fund to the station, not to mention an excellent police officer, even an excellent party member he could be elected.

Shi Shengyong had no idea what Li Shichang was thinking, just as he was about to arrange the next task, the phone in the nearby office rang and an auxiliary police officer ran over and said, "Director Shi, Instructor Li, Political Commissioner Sun is asking for you on the phone."

"Got it."

Shi Shengyong quickly got up and smiled, "Everyone, Instructor Li and I are going to take a call, take a five-minute break, and if anyone needs to use the restroom, go now."

Old Li directly assumed that the old leadership was inquiring about the excellent police and party member roster, and followed Shi Shengyong to the office, standing by to listen.

Shi Shengyong pressed the speakerphone button and said, "Commissioner, we are in a meeting, we’ve just selected the names..."

"I’m not calling about the selection of excellent police officers and party members. I’m notifying you to gather at the Water Police Squadron Dunship before two o’clock this afternoon."

"What are we doing on the Dunship?"

"Just received a notice from the City Bureau; the Provincial Department has decided to award the Water Police Squadron a collective Second-class Merit, to comrade Salted Fish an individual Second-class Merit, and to the auxiliary police Zhu Baogen and Liang Xiaoyu individual third-level merits. This afternoon, under the Political Department of the Provincial Department, Director Dong from the Political Office of the City Bureau will announce the commendation orders at the Dunship."

"Collective Second-class Merit..."

"Yes."

"Auxiliary police can also receive awards?"

"Why shouldn’t auxiliary police be eligible for awards? This is not unprecedented. When Director Chen was here last time for research, he even praised two auxiliary police from the Water Police Squadron and brought up with Secretary Chen from the City Committee and Secretary Wang from the Political and Legal Committee the outstanding auxiliary police like Liang Xiaoyu and Zhu Baogen, suggesting we find ways to handle their staffing."

"How can we handle their staffing now when contract police can’t even be turned into official staff?"

"It’s not about turning them into official police but resolving their work personnel placement. Now that the order for commendation from the Provincial Department is here, Director Yang had just spoken to the city leadership, and it seems Liang Xiaoyu’s staffing issue should be resolved, Zhu Baogen is too old and his educational background isn’t sufficient to resolve his."

City Bureau leadership highly values talent, the intent of the leadership must be implemented faithfully.

Sun Jiawen quietly marveled at how lucky Liang Xiaoyu was, then said, "Aren’t you voting for excellent police and party members now? Salted Fish must be an excellent police officer or party member, otherwise, it would be a joke."

"But the Water Police Squadron just moved to our station not long ago, I, Old Li, and Jianghai did not participate in this selection, the Water Police Squadron also didn’t participate, and we’ve already made our choices."

"Which persons did you select?"

"Li Shichang, Wu Aiguo, and Zhang Yuhua."

To choose Li Shichang, what a mistake!

Thinking about the situation reported by Salted Fish a few days ago, Sun Jiawen without hesitation said: "Wu Aiguo and Zhang Yuhua are fine, but Li Shichang still needs training, replace Li Shichang with Salted Fish."

"But..."

"Old Shi, what on earth are you thinking, where do all these ’buts’ come from? Follow orders and obey commands, the list is now finalized."

Having just selected someone as an outstanding police officer and now having to replace them is like slapping oneself in the face.

Shi Shengyong felt overwhelmed, not knowing how to explain, when his old leader had already hung up the phone, leaving only the tone of a busy signal.

Old Li regained his composure and hurriedly said, "Director Shi, it’s a good thing that the Provincial Department is awarding the Water Police Squadron. Let’s get ready quickly."

"What about Li Shichang then?"

"Wait for Director Dong to announce the awards this afternoon. Then we’ll go and see if Director Yang and Political Commissioner Sun might be able to secure another spot."

"That’s all we can do; the Provincial Department awarding the auxiliary police seems quite exaggerated."

"It is a bit exaggerated, but it’s still good news."

Worried his partner might not get it, Old Li added with a smile, "The Water Police Squadron is our police station’s squadron, Salted Fish is our police station’s officer, and Liang Xiaoyu and Zhu Baogen are like our station’s auxiliary police. It’s also a honor for us if they get recognized by the Provincial Department."

"That’s true, let’s go announce it quickly. After announcing, let’s hurry to Bailong Port."

...

This news indeed shocked the police and auxiliary officers at the station.

Only Old Zhang and Old Ding felt it was nothing unusual; it was exactly as it should be.

Han Yu was delighted when he first heard the news, but his happiness only lasted a moment when he saw Gu Datou driving a used Santana near the police station.

Too many people were around, and not knowing if Huang Yueping had other informants in Four Factory, he had to act as if he didn’t recognize him and opened the car, returning first to Bailong Port with the Instructor, Old Zhang, and Old Ding.

Xiao Yu was ecstatic when he heard about earning the Third-class Merit.

Old Zhu awkwardly inquired, "Is there a bonus with the Third-class Merit?"

"Yes, quite a few hundred."

Instructor Li had no grievances with Salted Fish or Xu Sanye, and was genuinely happy for the Water Police Squadron, but then regretfully added, "Old Zhu, you’re at a disadvantage due to your age and education level. If you were under thirty-five with a high school diploma, you could have been converted to a staff position just like Xiao Yu."

Before Zhu Baogen could speak, Xiao Yu grinned and asked, "Instructor Li, what is a staff position?"

"It belongs to the career establishment."

"Can I wear a police uniform?"

"You can wear the auxiliary police uniform, but not the regular police uniform."

"What’s the use of this career establishment then?"

"You’re currently employed as a temporary worker; having a position means you’re permanent, and the salary is several dozens more than an ordinary auxiliary officer."

Seeing Old Li’s enthusiastic demeanor, Old Zhang couldn’t help but laugh, "Instructor Li, both Xiao Yu and Baogen already earn more than an average auxiliary officer, and quite a lot more at that."

Old Li asked reflexively, "How much more?"

Before Old Zhang could respond, Xiao Yu looked up and smiled, "Uncle Zhu and I now get one hundred and eighty-five."

Old Li was momentarily stunned and said laughingly, "You earn that much, huh? Well, solely in terms of salary, this staff position really wouldn’t be of much use to you."

Old Ding felt that even though the staff position might not be useful, having a position was definitely better than not having one, and smiled, "Xiao Yu, the superiors sorting your position is recognition of your years of work. As for the salary, once you have an official position, the squadron will compensate for the shortfall."

"That’s good, thank you Uncle Ding. Wouldn’t want the official position to make less money than being a temp."

"Let’s go clean up now, tidy up the meeting room well."

"Alright."

"Where’s Salted Fish, where did Salted Fish go?"

"He was just at the entrance." Old Zhang got up, went to the window, and looked towards the river embankment, then said with a bitter smile, "The car’s gone too!"

Salted Fish is supposed to be the protagonist this afternoon, yet now he’s nowhere to be found. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Old Li quickly asked Old Zhang to use the walkie-talkie to call him, and after a long time, they finally heard Salted Fish’s voice.

"Uncle Zhang, I didn’t have time to tell you, I have an urgent task, I won’t be able to make it to the awards ceremony this afternoon."

"What urgent task?"

"Sorry, it needs to be confidential."

"Who assigned you this task?"

"That also needs to be confidential."

"What will we do this afternoon if you don’t come back?"

"Uncle Zhang, you and Uncle Ding are veteran leaders and officers, it will be fine with you there. Plus, I never attended the previous award ceremonies and they went ahead without me anyway."

Han Yu ended the call, and then there was no further response.

Zhang Mingyuan thought Salted Fish didn’t want to receive the leaders, turned to a frantic Old Li and said, "You heard him, he has an urgent task."

Old Ding, gesturing towards the telephone on the desk, chuckled, "Let’s ask Old Jin to contact Ningning and have her come accept the medal and certificate on his behalf."

Old Li asked reflexively, "Who’s Ningning?"

"Salted Fish’s girlfriend. She has represented him at merit award ceremonies before."

"And who will receive the collective Second-class Merit certificate?"

"Old Li, you’re the leader now, you can represent us in accepting it."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺