Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1094 - 2: Good Things Take Time

4:30 PM, Linghai Municipal Committee's small meeting room.

A committee meeting is taking place, and in the past half hour, a batch of department-level cadre appointments and dismissals was unanimously approved.

Minister Yang of the Armed Forces Department is also a committee member but doesn't have much say in cadre selection or other major decisions. Each meeting, he simply raises his hand in agreement.

Today, although he again raises his hand in agreement, his mood is completely different from before, because most of those dismissed are older local cadres, while the promoted are either military transfer officials or reserve officers. He has never felt the status of soldiers as he does today, truly feeling a sense of pride.

The first agenda item concludes, moving into the second: discussing how to welcome the triumphant returning Linghai soldiers.

Secretary Ye signals the City Committee Office's secretary not to take further notes, smiling as he asks Deputy Mayor Shen, "Shen Fan, where have Salted Fish and Old Ge reached?"

"They should be at Jiujiang by now." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Deputy Mayor Shen checks his phone for the time and explains, "The water convoy returned with the passenger ship, which needs to dock at Jiujiang Port Passenger Terminal for refueling and water, taking at least an hour. The docking time is even longer at Xia Guan Pier at Jiangcheng Port; Old Ge said in a call they will stop for three hours in Jiangcheng."

It's no wonder Changhang Passenger Transport is struggling; moving this slowly is too slow.

If you're taking a boat from East Sea to Hanwu, it would take at least three days and nights. Going downstream is slightly quicker, taking two days and nights. If heading to Mountain City, the journey would be even longer, needing at least a week.

Time is money, and efficiency is critical now; who would choose to travel this slow...

Secretary Ye realizes the Bai Shen Line's suspension is inevitable and sighs, asking, "Why will they stop in Jiangcheng for so long?"

"There's already a longer docking time at Xia Guan Pier, and it's the first voyage since the floods. The passenger terminals along the route were submerged during the floods, and everything must start anew."

Deputy Mayor Shen glances at his notebook and adds, "Secretary Ye, you wouldn't remind me if you didn't inquire, so I nearly forgot to report. The Provincial Military District and Jiangnan Army Reserve Division not only plan to help our Linghai Reserve Camp apply for the All-Army Science and Technology Progress Award but also intend to take our Linghai Reserve Camp's automated sandbag packing equipment for the Nanjing Military Region's Science and Technology Training Exhibition. So, the water convoy will lift our automated sandbag packing equipment ashore when docked at Jiangcheng Port."

Secretary Ye muses, "Helping us apply for the All-Army Science and Technology Progress Award is good, and participating in the Science and Technology Training Exhibition is also good, but we need to call Salted Fish to make sure the equipment is returned after the exhibition. Just like the Provincial Military District and Jiangnan Army Reserve Division have honor rooms, we have them too! If the equipment isn't brought back after the exhibition, what will we display in our honor room?"

Mayor Qian strongly agrees, tapping the table, "It's vital to clarify that the equipment must be returned; there have been too many cases where borrowed items by the province were never returned, and we must learn from those lessons."

"Mayor Qian, the province borrows items without returning them?" Minister Yang, unfamiliar with these things, looks shocked.

"There are many such instances. Some provincial agencies have no vehicles, so they borrow from below; borrowing can last several years, returning when nearly ruined."

The Organizational Minister can't help but look up, saying, "Higher-ups not only borrow cars, but also borrow people, often sending personnel below to work without being transferred. The city-level can't manage and borrows from districts and counties, which don't have enough personnel, so they borrow from towns, and towns hire socially; finally, the higher-ups check if we are overstaffed!"

Having previously managed culture and education, the Deputy Mayor feels this most vividly, a wry smile appearing, "Our Linghai, unlike districts and counties in Nanhe and Xishan provinces, was formed from sandbars with a short history and lacks deep historical roots. After painstakingly unearthing some artifacts, we are still clueless and must invite provincial experts to study and verify them. They come over like antique treasure hunters, taking anything valuable, never returning, claiming we lack protection conditions, so Jiangnan Province Museum and Jiangcheng Museum hold several pieces that were ours."

Minister Yang, hearing this for the first time, couldn't help but ask, "Can't we get them back?"

"How to obtain them? Even asking won't get them returned." The Deputy Mayor says helplessly, "We're building a museum, and once complete, we still need to beg them for a few replicas."

Secretary Ye doesn't want to turn the committee meeting into a "bemoaning Jiangcheng for long" grievance session, yet the recent speeches are very reasonable, reminding, "Shen Fan, the Provincial Military District and Army Reserve Division, having decided to borrow our equipment, might also borrow our flood response project materials. Flood response project materials are Old Ge's responsibility; remember to call him after the meeting to clarify that when the museum is completed, we intend to hold a flood response exhibition. Flood response project materials are essential exhibit pieces and the Linghai archives' centerpiece; they must return intact!"

"Relax, Secretary Ye, I've already instructed him on this matter."

"Additionally, regarding the welcoming, has Mayor Qin called you, and has he mentioned proper arrangements at Binjiang?"

"Yes, Mayor Qin said the City Committee and Municipal Government and Military District are all arranged. At Binjiang Passenger Terminal's exit, a monumental Arc de Triomphe will be set up. Mayor Wang and Commander Wang will personally greet them, and relevant officials and social groups will organize people to welcome the combat soldiers, beating drums and gongs all the way to the Military District's auditorium to hold a commendation assembly for supporting Beihu flood relief."