Vice Mayor Shen was too busy, not only responsible for port construction but also for attracting investment to the Linghai Port Industrial Park, answering one phone call after another.

Han Yu didn't want to interrupt the leader's work and took the initiative to say goodbye after a short conversation.

Manager Jiang, Boss Wu, Lin Xiaohui, and Zhang Erxiao had already left. Chairman Li stayed, waiting in the lobby on the first floor.

Chairman Li was not only a senior but also a former Director of Linghai Police Bureau.

Han Yu quickly approached and, while accompanying Chairman Li outside, reported on the conversation they just had.

"Investing in port construction, we never had such experience before. Everything has to be figured out as we go along, learning while doing. Mayor Shen is under a lot of pressure; it's not easy."

"Director Zhou said he was previously the director of Transportation and Energy at the City Planning Commission."

"The Planning Commission is only responsible for planning and approval. Besides, the city's transportation construction mainly revolves around roads and bridges."

"That's true, having no experience at all, starting from scratch indeed is not easy."

"For Mayor Shen, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. The same applies to you."

Han Yu whispered, "What challenge, what opportunity?"

Chairman Li stopped, turned around, smiled and said, "Mayor Shen was clear. Next, you will enter the Party Working Committee, joining the Linghai Port Construction Command Center. As long as you work hard, build the port, and develop the Port District, you will be a pioneer in the development of Linghai Port and Linghai Port Industrial Park.

Times are different now; everything now revolves around economic development. Think about it, if the port and Port District are developed, that's a tremendous achievement! Don't believe me; just wait and see, the day Linghai Port commences operations will be when you get promoted to director."

Han Yu couldn't help but laugh and said, "Chairman Li, I am with the police."

"The police as well, nowadays everything revolves around economic development. The City Committee now values who contributes more to the economic development of Linghai, rather than just looking at how many cases you have solved or how many suspects you have arrested."

"So pragmatic among the city leaders?"

"Boosting economic development and letting people earn money and live better lives is a good thing! Secretary Ye is capable and determined, and very pragmatic. Unlike Secretary Xie, who focused on hygiene campaigns without much result."

Secretary Ye was indeed impressive.

Last year, when dealing with a case in East Guang, a senior had told him over the phone about Secretary Ye waiting on a Dunship in the sweltering heat for leaders from Yangtze Navigation Bureau and later chasing them down from Bailong Port all the way to Binjiang District.

Secretary Xie was actually quite good, too, at least a nice person.

The master used to confront him, even embarrassing him in front of many people, but he didn't make things difficult for the master and approved quite a bit of funding for Yanjiang Police Station.

Han Yu didn't want to talk about the leadership, but instead asked with a smile, "Chairman Li, what factory is Zhang Erxiao planning to invest in?"

"Salted Fish, I'm not criticizing you, but you can't just focus on work and ignore your friends."

"It's not that I don't care, but I've been too busy."

"Being busy is an excuse, you really haven't paid attention."

Chairman Li jokingly scolded and explained, "The living standards of the residents have improved, and their requirements for grains and oils have increased. Previously, they just needed to collect grain, process it into rice and bag it to sell in East Sea. They dealt in new rice, which was in high demand."

Han Yu genuinely didn't understand these aspects and asked puzzledly, "Not anymore?"

"Now there are more people in the grain and oil business, and East Sea people have become pickier. Even with new rice, they care about the taste."

"Taste?"

"How flavorful and tasty the steamed rice is."

"That depends on the rice variety, what does it have to do with setting up a factory?"

"It seems you only know about eating, never really bought rice, nor cooked much."

"I used to cook frequently."

Being from a different field, it's normal for a young guy not to understand this.

Chairman Li smiled, patiently explaining, "To make the rice look and taste good, from the moment raw grains are stored, quality control must start from the source. Then it needs to undergo processes like husking, milling, color sorting, polishing, washing, and packaging. Therefore, they need to establish a factory, incorporating crushing machines, rice millers, dryers, packaging machines, and other processing equipment."

Before, knowing just about eating rice, one could simply pour the paddy into a rice miller, separate the rice from the husk, winnow it, cleanse it with water, and then cook it in a rice cooker by just adding water. But now, it turned out to be so sophisticated.

Han Yu realized and hastily inquired, "How much does it cost to start a rice factory?"

"Five to six million."

"Do they have that much money?"

"They have been trading grains and oils for so many years, with less competition before and made quite a bit of money. If it's not enough, they can obtain loans from a bank."

"Why must they set up the factory in Sanhe?"

"Sanhe is convenient for transport, right next to Lingda Car Ferry. Once the rice is processed and packaged, it can be loaded onto trucks and transported across the river via Lingda Car Ferry to East Sea for sale. Also, compared to the development zone, the land price in the Port District is much cheaper, only about sixteen thousand per acre."

"How much per acre in the development zone?"

"It depends on the location, starting from twenty-one thousand per acre."

Big brother and sister-in-law do business, Lin Xiaohui does business, Yu Zhen does business, it seems like everyone around is in business, and their business is getting bigger.

As long as they take the plunge, they can make big money, no wonder being an official in Linghai is not the best choice.

While Han Yu was feeling deeply moved, Chairman Li suddenly asked, "Has Director Zhou talked to you?"

"He did; I went to him myself, and we talked for half an hour at noon in the office."

"Regarding the selection of the Branch leadership team, has the Bureau made a decision?"

"Yes, Director Zhou plans to appoint Director Shi as the Instructor and send my senior brother to be the deputy director."

"Sending Shi Shengyong and Xu Mingyuan over, it seems Director Zhou has considered everything thoroughly."

Chairman Li nodded satisfactorily, then suddenly changed the topic: "Salted Fish, have you been in contact with your Master's wife recently?"

Han Yu realized he was reminded of his Master and hurriedly replied: "We keep in touch regularly, I just called her a few days ago."

"How is she doing over there?"

"She's doing well, she no longer works at the small diner on Military Street; she's fully committed to taking care of her grandson."

"She's not old; you should talk to Haoran and see if the military has someone suitable to match her with for companionship."

It was indeed fitting for Master's wife to find a companion, as even Master had mentioned it before his passing.

Han Yu fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly: "I've asked Brother Haoran and also mentioned it to Sister-in-law Xiao Qin, but they said there was no suitable match in the military."

Chairman Li pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took several puffs, pondering: "She's unfamiliar with life there, she might not even understand the local dialect, finding a suitable match is not easy."

Han Yu also didn't want his Master's wife to be alone and asked in a low voice: "Should we ask my Master's wife to come back and stay for a few days?"

"Don't rush it; the key is to first see if there are any suitable candidates, and if there are, then let her come back."

"But I'm always staying by the river, and I know few people."

"You focus on your work; leave this to me." Chairman Li thought for a moment and added: "I'll give Li Weiguo a call later, have him keep an eye out as well."

Speaking of Li Weiguo, Han Yu remembered something urgent and quickly said: "Chairman Li, Chief Ding and Uncle Zhang are also retiring. Director Shi called me at noon to discuss how to send them off."

"When it's time to retire, it's necessary; I'll also give them a call later to help keep an eye out."

…

Han Yu dropped Chairman Li off at the Nan District of the agency, then drove back to the Linghai Police Bureau.

Director Zhou had just finished inspecting the work, and upon seeing him, immediately asked about the meeting. Han Yu reported truthfully.

Upon learning that Vice Mayor Shen had sought him for a talk, Director Zhou couldn't help jesting: "With Mayor Shen as such a strong backing, the bureau's work isn't difficult to progress, and you can be reassured when called back."

"Director Zhou, I am a public security police officer, and although Mayor Shen is a leader, once I'm back, you are my direct superior."

"The situation at the Port District Bureau is different from other stations; it primarily receives directions from the Port District Party Working Committee and the Management Committee."

"Does police work have to be led by the Party Working Committee and the Management Committee as well?"

"The police work is still supervised by the Police Bureau."

Zhou Huixin smiled, took out his phone, swapped its battery, then said: "On the way back just now, Director He and Political Commissioner Wang called me. They know you can't leave the ship; they've already communicated with the Port Supervision Bureau and decided to let you take Dunship 001 there."

This was good news.

Dunship 001 moored at Bailong Port was really no different than being at Sanhe Waters.

In fact, when his Master was alive, they had more than once thought about towing the dunship to Sanhe Waters, especially since the North Branch waterway is shallow, only allowing small ships to navigate, rarely large ones.

Han Yu couldn't help but laugh and said: "Having a ship without personnel won't do."

Zhou Huixin laughed and said: "We've discussed it and plan to have Ma Jintao, Yang Yong and Yang Yuan go to Sanhe with you. Managing Captain Fan and Old Zhu is even easier; no need for any formal transfer, they can just go with you."

"That leaves only Chen Zikun, Zhang Ping, and Xiao Gong, three police officers at Bailong Port."

"The Bailong Port Passenger Pier has only three ferry classes left; three police officers are enough."

"What will happen to Ningning and Director Jin if the city buys the dunship?"

Director Tang and Director Zhu have already considered that. Once construction starts on the Linghai Port Pier project, the water traffic in Sanhe will become very complex. Director Tang plans to let the Port Supervision Third Team join you in Sanhe. They won't separate you and your wife."

Previously it was three families "sharing an office" on the dunship, and in the future, it would still be three families sharing an office, just that it would change from the Changhang Branch Bailong Port Police Station, the Water Police Third Team, and the Port Supervision Third Team, to the Linghai Police Port District Bureau, Water Police, and Port Supervision Third Team.

Thinking they wouldn't be separated from his senior sister, but simply changing their mooring location, Han Yu grinned and said: "That's great, thank you Director Zhou."

"This was decided upon by Director Tang, Director Zhu, and Political Commissioner Wang in their discussion. What are you thanking me for?"

"I should still thank you."

Han Yu thought for a while but couldn't help asking: "Director Zhou, the Port Supervision Bureau selling the dunship to the city, did they mention how much they plan to sell it for?"

Trying to hold back a laugh, Zhou Huixin casually said: "The Port Supervision Bureau quoted eight hundred thousand."

"Eight hundred thousand!"

"Director Zhu said steel prices have risen, now building an identical dunship would cost at least a million, eight hundred thousand is already quite cheap, and it's buy one get one free."

"Free Dunship 001?"

"How could the Port Supervision Bureau possibly give Dunship 001 for free."

"Then what are they giving?"

"They're giving that old relic."

"That old relic was something I picked up from the river; just selling the dunship alone for eight hundred thousand, the Port Supervision Bureau is making how much money off this deal!"

Han Yu was shocked, his face filled with disbelief.

Zhou Huixin didn't think they had sold it at a loss back then, indifferently stating: "With rising prices, an asking price of eight hundred thousand isn't excessive. Besides, the city needs to construct the port, the Port Supervision Bureau is the managing authority, they'll invariably need to ask favors from them, so the city will only engage in symbolic bargaining."

Is this considered a bribe?

Han Yu was completely convinced, unsure what else to say, when Zhou Huixin laughed again: "The city is paying for it, not our bureau. Regardless of eight hundred thousand or one hundred eighty thousand, it has nothing to do with us."

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