Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1098 - 4: Yangtze River Night Conversations

The superior is waiting for the list, the material can be reported later.

Director Tan of the Yangtze River Committee received a call from Director Liao of the Changhang Bureau and asked in surprise: "You recommended Huang Yuanchang, and now Huang Yuanchang has shown style and recommended the old director of the Linghai Transportation Bureau?"

"Director Ye, Comrade Ge Weidong has indeed done a lot of work. He's nearing sixty and has consistently remained on the front lines of flood relief, and the local transportation system is part of the transport system. I just called the department's leadership to report, and they said there's no issue; Comrade Ge Weidong can represent our Ministry of Transport."

"Alright, I'll wait for Port Supervision Bureau, Waterway Bureau, and Changhang Police Bureau to report the lists, then we can submit them together."

Master Xi listened clearly and silently took out a pen, crossed his own name off the list, and wrote down Yao Lirong's name.

Director Tan put down the phone and stared at him, asking, "Old Xi, what are you doing?"

"Master Ge can represent the transportation system, and Xiao Yao can equally represent our water conservancy system."

Master Xi put away the pen, thought for a moment, then smiled wryly, "Director, I shouldn't have suggested to Salted Fish to recommend Xiao Yao. He was right on the call just now; they're reserve forces, not active duty. As the camp commander, he needs to consider every aspect and look to the future."

The leadership from the National Flood Control Headquarters made it clear that the Linghai Reserve Camp will become the national emergency force for the Yangtze River Basin in the future.

In other words, the Linghai Reserve Camp must maintain its combat effectiveness and absolutely cannot disband.

And this emergency rescue force is formed by several units, as camp commander, that Salted Fish must first consider unity.

Thinking of this, Director Tan nodded.

Everyone has personal biases. The reason Master Xi suggested Han Yu recommend Yao Lirong is partly due to his time spent with Yao Lirong recently, treating him like a student.

Now that the spot is given to Yao Lirong and it doesn't affect the unity of Linghai Reserve Camp, Master Xi feels extraordinarily good and smiles, asking, "Director, if there's nothing else, I'll head back."

"Wait."

"What's up?"

"Still that same phrase, Salted Fish must be a role model. You don't need to worry; I'll explain to the superior."

"Even if I wanted to worry, I don't have the qualification."

"Also, Vice President L instructed before returning to Beijing, that an advanced flood control collective should be added."

Master Xi asked curiously, "Which unit will be added?"

Director Tan picked up the pen and quickly wrote down a unit name under the advanced flood control collective list. Master Xi thought he misread, hesitated for a while, then laughed: "Unexpected, yet perfectly reasonable!"

"After returning, make sure they invite you to dinner."

"They absolutely must invite me for this meal! If you tell them, they'd likely be too happy to sleep."

"It must be kept confidential now, can't be told for the time being."

"I understand."

...

Farewell to Baidi amidst colorful clouds, return a thousand miles to Jiangling in a day!

It's impossible to take a passenger ship to Jiangcheng in a day, but the poetry of the ancients is indeed thought-provoking.

The rolling waters of the Yangtze evoke vivid memories of Master Han's increasingly distant past, and all that once glorious water transportation flowed east with the mighty Yangtze, never to return.

He sat by the ship's railing, watching the lights on the South Bank, and couldn't help recalling his youthful years, remarking: "When I was a soldier in Jiangcheng, I'd often take the Jiangshen or Jianghan when returning home from the military. Initially, they weren't called Jiangshen or Jianghan but East Red.

Departing from the Xia Guan Pier by night and arriving at Binjiang in the morning, then transferring to a bus to return to Si Gang. Back then, I didn't quite appreciate the greatness of the Yangtze River, but only valued three advantages of riverboats."

With nothing to do in the evening, he was just keeping company with his brother-in-law and father-in-law. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Han Yu asked curiously, "What are those three advantages?"

Master Han laughed and replied, "First, the ferry ticket is cheaper than the bus ticket; initially, it only cost a few bucks. Second, departing in the evening and arriving in the morning doesn't waste time; you sleep through a night and arrive at Binjiang. Third, passenger ships have spacious rooms, open views, and travel smoothly without causing dizziness or blurred vision."

Han Xiangmeng asked curiously, "Dad, did Mom take the ship when she returned home too?"

"Xichuan is too far. Just the round trip alone takes half a month, which wastes time and costs money, so she rarely went back." Master Han thought about it, then sighed: "After you and Ningning were born, she went back even less often, so she's had this wish for years to take you all back home."

Having received quite a bonus last year and after being awarded a First-level Merit this year, financial stress from buying a house has eased.

Thinking of his mother-in-law, who retired and went to work to support the family, Han Yu felt particularly guilty, hesitated a moment, and said: "Dad, how about we accompany Mom back to Xichuan for the New Year this year? I'll call Ningning right now; Ningning should agree."

Old Han was about to speak when Han Xiangmeng burst out laughing: "San'er, can't you be a little proactive!"

"What's wrong with me?"

"If you want to accompany my parents back to Xichuan, just do it, do you really need Ningning's approval?"

"The money's all with her, me saying we should go is useless."

"Hahaha."

"Why are you laughing? It's not like you didn't know this from day one."

Liang Xiaojun felt sorry for his brother-in-law, the Salted Fish, and couldn't help but say with a chuckle, "If you want to go, just go. I haven't been there either. Don't worry about the travel expenses; Mengmeng and I will cover them."

"Did you hear that? Now that's a real man." Han Xiangmeng laughed heartily.

Han Yu felt embarrassed and muttered, "If I hadn't bought the house, I could afford it too! It's just a year's salary, I could work for free if necessary."

"Stop bragging. Even if you didn't buy a house in East Sea, you'd still have no money. I know my sister better than you."

"Let's not talk about her, let's change the topic."

Master Han didn't want his younger daughter to tease his son-in-law and pointed towards the direction where Jiujiang had long disappeared, smiling as he said, "Your mom and I were quite the adventurous couple when we were young. One year, we took a boat from Jiangcheng, and I think we arrived in Jiujiang in the morning. We walked all the way from Jiujiang Port to the long-distance bus station, then took a bus to the foot of Lu Mountain. By the time we climbed to Guling Street along Brave Man's Slope, it was already dark."

Han Yu, having seen the family photos, asked with a laugh, "Dad, the photos of you and Mom on Lu Mountain, were those taken during that trip to Jiujiang?"

"Yes, it was during that trip."

"You just knew how to have fun on your own and didn't take me along." Han Xiangmeng pouted and muttered.

Master Han chuckled and said, "You and Ningning weren't even born yet."

Liang Xiaojun couldn't help but ask curiously, "When you were dating?"

"We were dating then, but hadn't officially confirmed the relationship. You could say our relationship was confirmed on Lu Mountain."

"Lushan Love!"

"Pretty much. I actually took your mom to see the movie 'Lushan Love.'"

"Dad, I didn't know you were quite the romantic. No wonder Xiaojun's dad couldn't compete with you!"

"Don't underestimate your dad. I was quite a handsome chap in the army back in the day."

...

Sitting on the passenger ship, looking at the Yangtze River night scene, listening to my father-in-law's youthful love story is quite enjoyable.

Han Yu curiously asked, "Dad, how did you meet Mom?"

"It was destiny."

Old Han took a sip of tea and smiled, "Actually, at first, your mom and I didn't work in the same place. I was at Da Xiao Airport's weather station, and she was at the military district's air force headquarters communication station. Once, their station had an equipment malfunction, and they couldn't find anyone to repair it in time, so the higher-ups sent me. That's how we met."

Han Yu asked further, "Wasn't Mom a communications soldier? Not a nurse?"

"She wasn't a communications soldier, and she didn't start as a nurse either. She was a health worker at the communication station. Since most of the communication station personnel were female soldiers, the medic had to be a woman too."

"Then how did Mom become a soldier?"

"That's a long story; they didn't recruit female conscripts before, and still don't now. Women soldiers at the communication station were all daughters of leaders, at least their fathers were commanders. Your mom was different; she was the least privileged among the female soldiers at the communication station."

"How could she become a soldier without a background?"

"Your grandpa, in his hometown Xichuan, was a renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. Your uncle and mom learned medicine from your grandpa since young, helping villagers with medical care. Later, when your grandpa got old, they needed to train successors, so after your mom graduated from middle school, the commune sent her to the regional health school, where she studied for three and a half years."

Master Han paused before continuing, "Barefoot doctor Xiang Yanghua was praised by all the poor and lower-middle peasants. A silver needle cured hundreds of diseases, and a red heart warmed thousands of families. Just as she graduated and prepared to return home to succeed your grandpa as a barefoot doctor, a close classmate who was supposed to join the army asked her if she wanted to join instead, as she didn't want to go after falling in love.

Back then, unlike now, everyone idolized the liberation army, and everyone wanted to be a soldier. Not just young women; even young men found it hard to join the army. Your mom thought her classmate was joking and agreed instantly. However, just a few days after she returned home, a cadre from the army came to Jiangcheng and took her."

"Just like that?"

"Yes, your mom was stunned then and couldn't believe it was true. Once she joined, the team couldn't lack a barefoot doctor, so the commune and team let your uncle take over your grandpa's role. You've met your uncle; he followed in your grandpa's footsteps as a barefoot doctor and continues to this day."

"Did Mom's classmate's family have a background?"

"That classmate's uncle was a leader in our old unit, a commander back then. Even though your mom wasn't his niece, they were from the same hometown, and he looked after her in the army. Later, when the communication station was disbanded, your mom was transferred to our station's health team, sent for training, and promoted afterwards."

"So that leader was our family's benefactor!"

"You could say that, but that leader has long passed away, and we don't even know how to express our gratitude."

Master Han thought for a moment and then said, "One day, when we accompany your mom back to her hometown, our family should go and properly thank her classmate back then. Your uncle said her classmate works at the County People's Hospital as head nurse like your mom, probably retired by now."

Recalling recent events when arguing who was the real Red Saber Battalion, considering inviting retired old commanders to support the Linghai Reserve Camp, Han Yu couldn't help but laugh and ask, "Dad, with Mom having so many comrades from high-ranking families, why didn't you have her build some connections back then?"

"What for?"

"To get ahead."

"I'm not like Liang Xiaojun's dad; I'm a technician. What use would connections be for me?"

"You could switch to administration or political work."

"It's not as simple as you think. Speaking of connections, you have plenty too, so why not go to Director Yu?"

"Why would I go to Director Yu? I'm doing quite well in Linghai."

"Exactly, just like how I was doing well at the station's weather station."