Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1099 - 5: A Grand Event in Binjiang!

In the early morning, Xiang Fan rode his bicycle to the retirement home for work.

The only difference from usual was that Han Han wasn't sitting in the child seat at the back; she had just gone with her mother to the passenger terminal.

Today, Old Han, Salted Fish, Mengmeng, and Xiao Jun are coming back; in fact, the passenger ship they took has already arrived in Binjiang.

It's said that since the city airport was completed and put into operation, it hasn't held any major events or celebrations. Not to mention comparing with Guzhou City across the river, it's not even as lively as several districts and counties below. The city has decided to take advantage of the Linghai Reserve Camp's triumph to organize a big event.

Ningning received the notice two days ago, and in the early morning today, she took Han Han to greet San'er.

Xiang Fan could actually go as well, but she didn't want to affect her work. Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered the courtyard of the retirement home, she saw the Director, Political Commissioner standing at the garage door chatting and laughing with some old cadres.

"Director Xiang, why are you here today?"

"Here to work." Xiang Fan quickly got off the bike, holding the handlebars, and asked with a smile, "Deputy Division Commander Zhou, Director Yang, why are you all being so formal today?"

There aren't many old cadres at the Military District's retirement home, only fourteen in total.

Their ranks aren't very high, with the highest positions before retirement or leaving being Commander.

The old comrades have been retired for so many years and are very approachable. They're pretty much like ordinary elderly people, just with much higher salaries than average retired cadres.

Xiang Fan envied their high retirement salaries, while they envied Xiang Fan's daughter and son-in-law for being so capable.

"A hero dad, a good son" doesn't apply here; the children and grandchildren of old cadres aren't doing very well now. The most accomplished one seems to be a regiment leader in the army; most are ordinary workers, some even laid off.

This might be related to the past when enterprises and department stores had better benefits.

When they were in power, they managed to get their children into good units of that time, but glory does not last forever; those good units aren't doing well now.

A former Deputy Division Commander looked down at the Military Merit Medal pinned on his chest, leaned on a cane, and laughed: "We're about to go meet your husband and your daughter and son-in-law!"

"Director Xiang, you came just in time. Once Director Qian arrives, we'll go together."

"Director, you plan to go to the dock to greet the Linghai Reserve Camp?"

"We're going to greet the Linghai Reserve Camp as well as the Binjiang Flood Control and Rescue Reserve Camp. It's been a long time since it was this lively; it's a chance to accompany Deputy Division Commander Zhou, Director Yang, and Director Qian to get out and enjoy."

As soon as the retirement home's director finished speaking, Deputy Division Commander Zhou, wearing sunglasses, said: "The last time it was this lively was when we welcomed heroes returning from the Old Mountain Frontline. Director Xiang, your husband, your eldest son-in-law, second son-in-law, and second daughter are all flood control heroes; today, you're the most honorable!"

"What's so honorable about it? Flood control isn't war."

They are the precious wealth of our Party and military; their health is more important than anything. Xiang Fan was a bit worried and laughed: "Deputy Division Commander Zhou, Director Yang, I heard there might be a live broadcast today. It's so hot, and it will be even hotter later. How about we don't go? Let's watch the live broadcast in the activity room, there's air conditioning."

"There's always TV to watch; what's interesting about watching TV?"

"Indeed, being on-site is much better than watching TV!" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The old comrades have nothing to do all day; they love to join the fun.

The neighboring retirement home lost focus on these things, leading the old comrades to have nothing to do in past years, practicing Qigong with street swindlers from society, even standing up for a street swindler and running to a township in Si Gang demanding explanations, only to be detained along with their vehicle by locals.

The incident was big and had a bad impact. It's said that city leaders and Military District leaders personally went to bring them back.

Military District Command's Director Wu thought it was great to take the old comrades to welcome the triumphant flood control soldiers and laughed: "Director Xiang, I reported to the Military District just last night, and they coordinated with the police for us. The administrator took Xiao Chen and the others early this morning to set up a canopy."

"There's a canopy?"

"Borrowed from Boss Huang, who sells beer and cold drinks diagonally opposite. There are canopies and plastic chairs."

"Having a canopy is good; make sure to bring more water."

"It's been prepared early."

As they were speaking, a warrior helped an old cadre walk over.

Of the fourteen old comrades, only half could attend the event; the other half had gone to visit relatives or were bedridden.

The participating old comrades took the event seriously, wearing old-style uniforms; some wore old military caps, others didn't, but without exception, they wore their Military Merit Medals.

The car squad had been prepared early. Xiang Fan and Director Wu helped the old comrades into the vehicle, then got into the leading 212 old Jeep, heading straight to the passenger terminal.

When the convoy reached the long-distance bus station, the road ahead was blocked.

The traffic police stood in the middle of the road, directing motor vehicles to detour.

Director Wu showed his ID and explained the situation; the traffic police clarified and quickly cleared them.

Arriving at the passenger terminal entrance, they saw flags waving all around and crowds bustling!

The administrator ran over to welcome them and guided the convoy to park across the street. Only then did Xiang Fan notice that not far from the tall "Arc de Triomphe," there really was a temporarily set-up canopy.

Deputy Division Commander Zhou and the old comrades were very satisfied with Director Wu's arrangements, and after getting off, they looked around and walked grandly to sit in the middle of a row of plastic chairs, fluttering their fans with a swoosh, fanning themselves as they asked, "Administrator, where are the flood control comrades returning?"

"Deputy Division Commander Zhou, they're preparing inside; they'll come out promptly at 8:30."

"And then?"

"Then they'll walk along People Road to the Military District to attend the flood relief commendation meeting by the City Committee, City Government, and Military District." The administrator pulled out a stack of tickets from his briefcase and smiled as if offering a treasure, "I met Director Zhang from the Military District this morning. I said you'd definitely attend with Director Liu. Director Zhang said they hadn't considered it properly and hurriedly rearranged the seats, giving us ten tickets."

"Which row?"

"Second row, middle of the second row, not a bad spot."

"That's more like it."

Deputy Division Commander Zhou nodded with satisfaction and asked, "What about the Commander and the Political Commissioner?"

The administrator quickly replied, "The Political Commissioner and Mayor Wang are inside; the Commander didn't come."

"How can he not come for such a big event?"

"The Provincial Military District Commander has come, and the Commander needs to accompany him with Secretary Lu; they will definitely attend the commendation meeting."

"The Provincial Military District has also sent someone?"

...

Director Liu's attitude was better than Deputy Division Commander Zhou's; he was retired and didn't get involved in Military District matters anymore.

If the Military District had any activities, he'd go if invited; if not, he wouldn't bother.

He wasn't concerned about whether the Military District Commander and Political Commissioner came or if he'd have the eligibility to attend the commendation meeting. Instead, he looked at the crowd sweating bullets on both sides and asked, "Director Xiang, did Ningning come with your family?"

"Yes, she came early this morning, brought Little Han Han along."

"Where are they?"

"I'm looking for them; I've looked around but can't find them."

"Borrow Director Wu's phone and call them. In this heat, your daughter will be fine, but your granddaughter might not handle it."

"You're right."

Xiang Fan, worried about Han Han, quickly borrowed the phone from the retired director to make a call.

Unexpectedly, even though his daughter came early, there were too many participants from all walks of life at today's event, and many citizens came spontaneously to greet, so the "Port Supervision Bureau delegation" was positioned relatively far back, all the way to the long-distance bus station.

Xiang Fan was worried his granddaughter might get squeezed or overheated, when suddenly he saw Director Wang from the Water Police Station coming out of a police car and quickly waved his arm to call out to Director Wang.

Wang Wenhong ran over to figure out the situation and immediately dispatched a driver to bring Han Xiangning and Han Han.

After about ten minutes, Han Xiangning arrived holding Han Han, and only then did Xiang Fan relax.

"Han Han, come over to Grandpa Liu, let your mom rest for a bit."

"Grandpa Liu, I want some water."

"Want water, huh? There's plenty here."

Han Han, who played every day at the retirement home, was already very familiar with Director Liu and the old cadres, and ran obediently to Director Liu.

Han Xiangning sincerely thanked them, looked at the crowded opposite side, and muttered, "The city really can't organize even a single event properly. They said they prepared for several days, and it's still a mess."

Xiang Fan chuckled, "We don't usually hold events, so it's naturally chaotic when we finally do."

"Poor organization would be one thing, but they clearly know San'er and the rest are tired, yet they insist on making them march from the dock all the way to the Military District in this heat, walking five kilometers, what a joke!"

"Walk, not take a car?"

"The leaders take cars, letting San'er and the others walk in front."

As Han Xiangning finished, Deputy Division Commander Zhou looked up and said, "Xiao Han, the reserve forces are still part of the army, and walking five kilometers is not much. Besides, this is different from training; this is a grand victory parade. Look at how enthusiastic the people are."

"Yes, it's a very glorious thing," Director Liu shared the same view as Deputy Division Commander Zhou on this issue.

Xiang Fan couldn't help but recall the days of being a soldier and smiled, "On September 30, 1968, the Yangtze River Bridge in Jiangcheng opened, which was a national, even worldwide sensation. More than fifty thousand soldiers and civilians in Jiangcheng held an opening ceremony at the Bridge Park Square, with representatives from the Army, Navy, and Air Force of the Nanjing Military Region attending.

I was fortunate to be part of the Air Force representative formation for the celebration. We conducted one month of formation training before the event. On the opening day, we gathered before dawn. Although we were exhausted, witnessing the opening of the bridge designed and built by our country was truly exciting, proud, and something to be proud of!"

Deputy Division Commander Zhou turned around with a smile, "Xiao Han, you hear that, it's a glorious thing, and it will become a lifelong memorable event. You could say not everyone has the opportunity to walk those five kilometers."

Director Liu gently stroked Little Han Han's head, smiling, "Han Han, study well when you go to school. Grow up to be like your grandpa and grandma in the liberation army. Work hard in the forces and win honors like your dad!"

...