Despite wearing a helmet and gloves, and donning a cotton coat, riding a motorcycle in winter was still very cold. By the time Han Yu arrived at the home textile market, his legs were numb from the freeze.

After calming down his two aunts and his sister-in-law and understanding the situation, he got into the second-hand Toyota that his cousin Luo Hao had recently bought from East Sea and hurriedly headed to the Sanxing Police Station.

Li Guangming was away at a meeting at the bureau and hadn't returned, Deputy Director Old Huang and several police officers were out on business, leaving only Instructor Wu Changzheng, desk worker Shi Yu Jun, and registrar Tang Hong at the station.

Instructor Wu Changzheng was genuinely surprised at Han Yu's rapid arrival – after all, Han Yu was newly appointed and things were different now; he had to be careful about his influence in whatever he did.

But now that Han Yu was here, he must be warmly received.

Feigning ignorance, Wu Changzheng listened to Han Yu's purpose and said with a bitter smile: "Director Han, the case was handled by Director Huang and his team. I'm not clear about the specifics. How about I call and ask for you?"

Joining in the reception, desk worker Shi Yu Jun, a military transfer official, was not familiar with Han Yu and just thought this chief of the Port District Bureau was excessively young.

Registrar Tang Hong, one of the few female police officers at the Linghai Police Bureau who had worked in the bureau office for a few years and was on good terms with Zhang Lan, had requested a transfer here since her spouse worked for the Sanxing Town Government.

She had known Han Yu for a long time and sincerely felt that Old Huang's handling of the matter was not righteous. Yet, as part of the station staff, she had to stand with her leaders and colleagues, greeting Director Han awkwardly: "Director Han, have some water to warm yourself up."

"Thank you, Sister Tang."

Han Yu took the cup of tea and looked up, "Instructor Wu, Sister Tang, Brother Shi, you can still call me Salted Fish as before. I've come today as a family member, not as some bureau chief."

"Now you are the chief of the Port District Bureau. A leader is a leader, and if we were to address you like in the past, there would no longer be any hierarchy."

"Instructor Wu, I'm not putting on airs, nor am I joking with you."

"Director Han, you don't need to say such things."

"Instructor Wu, let me finish. Brother Shi, Sister Tang, I need you as my witnesses."

Han Yu set down the tea cup and said earnestly and sincerely: "I've been working for eight years, applying to join the Party for nearly six. As an older Party member and police officer, I am well aware that coming here like this is not proper. To escalate the issue would mean breaking the law while knowing the law and interfering with case handling. But Party cadres are human beings, and like everyone else, they have emotions.

Sister Tang is very aware of my personal situation. My family are shipmen, I was born on a ship, couldn't go to school on the ship, and when I was very young, I was sent ashore to my grandmother's. My childhood was spent in Sanxing, raised by my grandmother, aunts, and uncles.

Previously, our economic situation was not as good; after my older sister finished junior high, she returned to help out on the ship, and my brother dropped out of junior high to work on the ship as well, with the whole family earning money to support my education.

Then later, when I started working – you know the salary and benefits back then – the support from my aunts, uncles, and brother and sister-in-law was necessary. They are all my family; I will never be able to repay what I owe them. Now they are in trouble, and if I didn't come, my conscience wouldn't allow it. I wouldn't even be able to respect myself!"

Instructor Wu Changzheng didn't expect Han Yu to speak so candidly and wondered whether Han Yu was playing the sympathy card or trying to apply pressure?

Shi Yu Jun, seeing this young chief of the Port District Bureau lobbying for his relations so openly and confidently, was momentarily speechless.

Tang Hong, however, was secretly worried for Han Yu, feeling he was being too impulsive, as doing so could give others leverage over him.

Unaware of their thoughts, Han Yu took a sip of water and suddenly changed the topic: "Coming here is one thing; what we say and the attitude we present upon arrival is another. First of all, it was wrong of my uncle and my brother to not manage their business properly and gather in the shop to play cards.

If it truly constitutes gambling, they should be dealt with according to the Public Security Punishment Law, and they should be criticized and educated. Family is the most important, and although I, as a nephew, cannot criticize them, I will cooperate with the station to persuade them, making them realize their errors and ensure they won't repeat it.

In summary, you need to handle the investigation as you see fit, following the law and regulations. Treat me just as a relative of those involved, without considering their connection to the chief of the Port District Bureau. After all, I am also in this line of work; I understand everyone's difficulties."

His words were already very clear.

His arrival was intended to provide an explanation to relatives, not to curry favors or pull strings.

However, the implied meaning was also very clear: the investigation must adhere to the law, and if anyone mishandled it, that would be another matter.

Thinking of the Director's broader "discretion" in handling matters, Old Wu felt very embarrassed and quickly said: "Thank you, Director Han, for your understanding, for your support of our work. I will contact Director Huang right away; he has a pager, and should be reachable."

"It's a bother, Instructor Wu."

"No bother."

…

What followed was all within Han Yu's expectations.

Instructor Wu called Old Huang, who didn't return the call.

Instructor Wu dialed Li Guangming's cellphone, got through, but was hung up on after a few words. Li Guangming claimed to be out and about with matters to attend to, suggesting everything be discussed upon his return tomorrow. Attempts to call again were unsuccessful.

This kind of situation is quite normal in the police system, especially at the grassroots stations. Whenever someone is arrested, there will be people pleading on their behalf, so it becomes convenient to do a "disappearance act," waiting until a case concludes to resurface.

In criminal cases, the case-handling unit might even set up in an unexpected corner, places no one would think to look. The bureau leadership also understand the difficulties of those below, and if a leader were to intervene, they might use the excuse of being out of reach.

But not all cases are the same. Sanxing Police Station had confiscated the cash in Han Shen's bag and from his uncle's office desk as gambling funds and even took his uncle's cellphone and his second uncle and brother's pagers as "crime tools," – an excessive overreach.

Moreover, my eldest uncle, second uncle, older brother, and Ji Xiaojun are all relatives. They did play cards, but the stakes weren't high, and it certainly wasn't for profit, just for entertainment. It's arguable whether it constitutes gambling.

Considering that the police officers in the station all have specific duties, and we can only approach the officer responsible for the case, Han Yu didn't feel comfortable saying too much to Instructor Wu and the others. So, she decided to take a secondary approach and asked, "Instructor Wu, you must at least know where my eldest uncle and second uncle are being held, right?"

That couldn't be concealed, as simply asking around would reveal it.

With a bit of reluctance, Wu Changzheng replied, "It seems they are at the brick and tile factory. Our station is small, and the Cooperative Defense Team is set up over there at the factory. Sometimes we also handle cases there."

"Are there any police officers handling cases over there?"

"I'm not really sure about that."

"How about the detention conditions at the brick and tile factory? It's fine for my brother and Ji Xiaojun to be tough and learn a lesson from hardship, but my uncles can't handle it. They are older and not in good health. Especially my eldest uncle, who has heart disease and high blood pressure."

Han Yu paused for a moment, full of hope, and asked, "Instructor Wu, could you please contact the comrades over at the brick and tile factory for me and send in my uncles' regular medication, along with a few thick clothes? After all, the weather is so cold that it can reach below zero at night."

She didn't request a meeting, just wished to send some items.

Forget about just a public security case, even for criminals detained in detention centers, their relatives could send clothes and necessary medications.

Left with no choice, Wu Changzheng grudgingly agreed, "No problem, Director Han, I'll go with you."

"There's no need to disrupt your work, just use the walkie-talkie to pass the message to the brick and tile factory. If the walkie-talkie doesn't reach, then make a phone call."

"It's not busy today, I'll accompany you."

"How could I impose on you like that."

"You are the director, and it's rare for you to come to Sanxing. Let's go together."

...

Luo Hao had been waiting outside all along.

Seeing his cousin come out with the instructor from Sanxing Police Station, he quickly started the engine.

Han Yu made introductions, and then they took her cousin's car to the brick and tile factory.

The gates were tightly closed, and a member of the Cooperative Defense Team opened the door.

Taking the opportunity while Instructor Wu spoke with the member of the Cooperative Defense Team, Han Yu peered through the gap in the gate and distinctly saw several tables set up in the courtyard. The chairs and benches were clearly "brought by" those detained inside, who were being scolded by a police officer and several members of the Cooperative Defense Team as they sat together playing cards in the open.

Eldest uncle, second uncle, the older brother, and Ji Xiaojun were among them, clearly shivering from the cold.

Crashing in would probably not even be blocked by the Cooperative Defense Team members of Sanxing Police Station, but such actions would give others leverage over her.

After weighing her options, Han Yu shouted, "Eldest uncle, second uncle, brother, Ji Xiaojun, it's Han Yu! Luo Hao and I have brought you your medication and clothes!"

"Ah!"

"San'er, you've finally come. They are being unreasonable..."

"What do you mean unreasonable? You don't conduct business properly and decide to play cards in the market – you think you have a reason to do that? Now that you're here, you need to reflect deeply, correct your attitudes, and cooperate with the investigation. Tell the truth and don't hope for luck."

There were quite a few strangers detained as well, certain things couldn't be said rashly.

Considering her nephew had already arrived, there was nothing more to be afraid of.

Eldest uncle hastily said, "I understand, I will cooperate."

Han Yu, seizing the moment, said, "You need to cooperate with the investigation, and we as relatives also need to cooperate. Luo Hao and I are right outside; if you're still cold we'll bring a few more clothes, and if you're hungry, we'll bring you food."

With the nephew there, the second uncle felt reassured, and couldn't help but smile, "Okay, we got it!"

Wu Changzheng felt overwhelmed. After delivering the items and returning to the car, he asked with a wry smile, "Director Han, do you really intend to wait outside?"

The establishment of rule of law is a long and arduous journey.

If she didn't wait outside, heaven knows how much hardship they might let uncle and second uncle endure.

Han Yu sighed inwardly, her face expressing helplessness, "Inspector Wu, the ones inside are my own uncles and brother. If I just go back, not to mention my aunt and sister-in-law, even my mother wouldn't let me off."

"But Director Huang and the others might not come back anytime soon."

"This is a public security case. They can only be detained for up to twenty-four hours at most. Even if it were a criminal case, people can't always be detained here. I reckon Director Huang should be back shortly."

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