The wind from the Yangtze River whistled, and the reeds by the river had all withered, yet the oilseed rape that Old Qian planted on the riverbank was still lush and green.

As soon as winter arrives in Yan Yang, it becomes bitterly cold. Due to coal burning for warmth, the outside is shrouded in grey, and one can't see such clear blue skies, let alone a hint of greenery.

Lin Xiaoqin really liked the climate in Linghai, and after picking some wild vegetables with Xu Haoran for a while, they picked dozens of tender oilseed rape plants and carefully made their way to the dunship along the floating bridge, carrying a basket.

"Ningning, where is your Supervision Boat?"

"It went to Shuzhou Port together with 001."

Han Xiangning walked out of the command dispatch room and called the two to come upstairs.

Lin Xiaoqin set down the vegetable basket and followed Xu Haoran upstairs and asked, "Your Supervision Boat is also going to participate in water safety protection?"

"San'er and Captain Ma are in charge of water safety protection. Director Jin and Uncle Ge are there to maintain water traffic," Han Xiangning, knowing that Sister-in-law Yan Yang was afraid of the cold, hurriedly turned on the heater.

Xu Haoran looked up at the large Changhang water area map on the wall and asked curiously, "Does your team also manage Shuzhou Port waters?"

"It's not under our team's management. The bureau has set up a supervision station in Shuzhou. Water traffic there is managed by the Shuzhou Supervision Station."

"Then why did Director Jin go to Shuzhou Port?"

"The new Yangtze River Lower Reach Divided Channel Navigation Rules were just issued and haven't been implemented for long. My trip to Hanwu a while ago was to attend training for the new rules. The traffic regulations have changed, and many crew members aren't used to it; many don't even know about them. The water area of Shuzhou Port is already a main artery of busy water traffic, and today there is also a port opening inaugural ceremony, so it's necessary to strengthen patrol and command forces on the water."

"Are the new rules similar to new traffic regulations on land?" Xu Haoran asked with a smile.

"More or less."

Han Xiangning turned down the volume of the high-frequency radio and, while pouring tea for them both, explained with a smile, "From the Changhang transportation system reform in '83 to now, Changhang transportation has developed very rapidly. Previously, the whole Yangtze River had only over 800 shipping enterprises; now there are more than 3,000, with a daily traffic flow reaching over 70,000 vessels on the main line.

On land, there are big trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles, tricycles, bicycles, and even pedestrians running on the roads, and the situation on the river is just as complicated. Previously, river ships only ran on the river, but now there are many river-sea ships with direct access from river to sea."

Han Xiangning put down the teacup and pointed at the water area map, "In addition to main and branch communication, foreign ships allowed, sea ships entering the river, tributary vessels entering the main line, a mixed traffic situation has formed, making the navigation order very complex, leading to frequent collision accidents."

Yan Yang lacks water and doesn't have major rivers.

Lin Xiaoqin curiously asked, "Are there many water accidents?"

"Last year, there were over four hundred accidents of various sizes, with main line collision accidents accounting for more than fifty percent of the total. And from Hanwu to our Binjiang lower reach waters accounted for eighty-seven percent of the main line accidents."

Han Xiangning motioned for them to sit and continued, "In short, now there are many ships and many accidents. We are still implementing the 'Inland River Collision Avoidance Rules' enacted in the eighties, which are no longer able to keep up with the growing needs of busy water traffic."

The river looks chaotic, not like on land where traffic sticks to the right.

Xu Haoran turned back to glance at the river and asked, "How does the new rule dictate navigation?"

"Divided channel navigation, which is to separate the opposite ship streams, reducing the chances of ships encountering each other, while also reducing the risk of collisions between crossing ships and those following the channel."

Seeing the puzzled looks on their faces, Han Xiangning thought for a moment and then explained, "Previously, only the main channel was divided, and ships were allowed to pass each other within the channel. The old rules were not specific about navigation order, just demanding vigilant lookout, allowing navigation when not hindering other ships, and when necessary, waiting downriver, but not specifying where exactly to wait.

The divided channel rules are like painting traffic lines on the river, setting recommended navigation routes. Sea ships and deep-draft inland cargo ships navigate according to the routes published by the Waterway Bureau, recommending small ships to navigate in the opposite direction following floating marks, and establishing waiting points, crossing zones, and alert zones."

It became clear with this explanation.

Xu Haoran was feeling that the new rules were very good when Han Xiangning turned to point at a pile of 'Lower Yangtze River Diversion Navigation Guides' and 'Lower Yangtze River Diversion Route Maps' stacked in the corner of the room and sighed, "The new rules have been issued and implemented, but many crew members don't know about them."

"Haven't they been distributed?"

"Those ships run everywhere from the South Sea to the high seas; they consider the world as their home, how can we distribute to them? There are also many 'deaf and mute ships' on the river, which are ships without high-frequency radios; we can't even call out to them."

Han Xiangning pulled out a chair to sit down and sighed again, adding, "I don't know what the superiors are thinking. If it's a new rule, it should be promoted vigorously. Instead, we are asked to sell these navigation guides and route maps to shipping enterprises and passing ships, not distribute them."

Lin Xiaoqin asked with a laugh, "They asked you to sell them?"

"Yeah, and they're not even cheaply priced. The superiors don't lack this little money, yet they insist on selling them, making many individual ship crew members think we're imposing charges under some pretext."

"We have various fees at our school too."

This was an awkward topic.

Xu Haoran didn't want to continue and quickly asked, "Ningning, is San'er very busy today?"

"Not very, they're just responsible for water safety protection. The leaders who attend the inauguration ceremony of the port opening won't board the ships, so they just need to patrol around the waters of Shuzhou Port to prevent unrelated vessels from entering. There will definitely be fireworks in the Port District today, and they need to be ready to respond to any fires at any time."

Han Xiangning turned to glance at the water area map and then smiled, "Once the inaugural cargo ship sails out of the port, they will escort the cargo ship together with the Supervision Boat to the waters at the border with Liuhe River, and then they will return."

"When will they be able to return?"

"I should be home before 5 p.m."

Thinking that the couple would be taking a high-speed ferry to East Sea tomorrow morning, and then catching a train back to Yan Yang from there, Han Xiangning asked, "Brother Haoran, Sister-in-law Xiao Qin, have you both packed your things?"

Before Xu Haoran could speak, Lin Xiaoqin smiled and said, "We packed early."

They brought back so many local products from Yan Yang, and it was only appropriate to prepare some local specialties from Linghai to take back to them.

Han Xiangning had already gone to Four Factory yesterday to buy quite a few Linghai specialties, and was about to speak when the phone suddenly rang.

"Brother Haoran, I need to take this call first."

"You go ahead with your business, don't worry about us."

Rarely returning to the place where his father had worked, Xu Haoran wanted to see his father's photos again.

Han Xiangning couldn't stay with them and answered the call, "This is the Third Team of the Port Supervision Bureau, may I ask who is calling?"

"Han Da, Fang Guoya here. Is Director Yu there?"

"He's at Shuzhou Port participating in the security work for the inaugural sailing ceremony. Brother Fang, do you need to see him?"

"I heard he was transferred back to the Linghai Police Bureau, but I can't get through to his mobile phone."

"His phone number has changed, do you have a pen handy? I'll give you his new number if you do."

"Okay."

...

Fang Guoya hastily wrote down Han Yu's new number, glanced subconsciously at the entrance, and then brought up his actual concern.

"Han Da, there's been a leadership change at the Port Authority!"

"When did this happen? Has Secretary Miao been transferred out?"

The Port Authority and Port Supervision Bureau had always been closely linked, so the leadership reshuffle at the Port Authority was indeed a big deal. Han Xiangning was taken aback.

Fang Guoya spoke in a low voice, "It happened yesterday. The city held a meeting just yesterday, and it was only announced this morning at the Port Authority. Not only has Secretary Miao been transferred, but he's no longer the Vice Mayor. It seems he's been moved to the Political Consultative Conference and is now a party group member of the city's Political Consultative Conference."

"Who's the new director?"

"His surname is Cao, named Cao Zhiqing. I just called my father-in-law to ask – before moving here, Director Cao was the Deputy Director of the Municipal Finance Bureau and also the Director of the Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Bureau. Several of the deputy directors of the Port Authority have also been reshuffled, with many younger division heads being promoted."

"Secretary Miao has been in his role for many years; it's about time for him to retire."

Han Xiangning reflected for a moment, then laughed, "The Binjiang Port Police Station has merged with the Changhang navigation police, with Director He sent over from Hanwu's side to take the role of director. Now that the city has arranged for someone to replace Secretary Miao, it seems that the Port Authority will now primarily follow the leadership of Binjiang City."

Fang Guoya said quietly, "That's what my father-in-law said as well."

Now that the Port Authority had become a company, he was neither a state official nor a public institution employee and didn't understand port management and operations, which made his situation somewhat awkward.

Han Xiangning clearly understood his concerns and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Fang, can your father-in-law communicate well with the new Director Cao?"

"My father-in-law knows him, but he doesn't know my father-in-law."

"Don't worry; a port area can't be without firefighting. It's explicitly stipulated by superiors that port enterprises must establish their own fire brigades."

The new director was known for his decisive and fast action, and he previously oversaw finances – reportedly a real penny-pincher.

Fang Guoya was genuinely worried and hesitated before saying, "I just heard from the office people that Director Cao wants to reform and get rid of many departments. The Security Department, which was just restored less than a year ago, might get disbanded, and the Economic Police Team is likely to be dissolved as well."

The city's adjustment of the Port Authority leadership at this time shows that they feel the competitive pressure from the official launch of Shuzhou Port.

Thinking of what Sister Zhu mentioned last time, that the city had long planned to reform the Port Authority and establish the Binjiang Port Group Company Limited on the current foundation to operate according to modern enterprise systems, Han Xiangning laughed, "No matter which departments are disbanded or dissolved, it won't affect you much."

"How could it not?"

"Didn't we just say? Any port will have to have its own enterprise fire brigade. As long as you manage the fire brigade well, no leader will replace you."

"Really?"

"For real. If Binjiang Port had no enterprise fire brigade, both the Changhang Bureau and our Port Supervision Bureau would be the first to object, and even the Binjiang Fire Department would go to the Port Authority leaders."

Port firefighting is crucial.

As long as the Port Supervision Bureau, Changhang Bureau, and Binjiang Fire Department are supportive, the leader of the fire brigade can hold his position firmly.

Thinking that although Salted Fish had been transferred back to the Linghai Police, he still had a say in firefighting, and the leaders of the three firefighting units would all give face to Salted Fish, Fang Guoya breathed a sigh of relief and said with a bitter smile, "Hindsight is 20/20. Han Da, don't laugh at me; I really have some regrets now."

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