Chapter 10

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Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

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The silk factory was generous when it mattered but stingy when it didn't. The sign-hanging ceremony was scheduled for 2 PM. People came after lunch, and dinner was still a long way off, so there was no need to spend hundreds of yuan on a meal.

Knowing that the silk factory wouldn't take the sign-hanging seriously, only a security team instructor from the county public security bureau and a deputy chief from the Chengxi police station showed up. The security department handled the event, and no factory leaders were present. They simply changed into police uniforms and hung the two small signs, "Sigung County State-Owned Silk Factory Economic Police Squad" and "Sigung County Public Security Bureau Chengxi Police Station Renmin West Road Police Office," at the gatehouse.

The signs were actually quite large, over two meters tall, but there were even larger ones. At the main gate, several signs were densely arranged: "Sigung County State-Owned Silk Factory," "Communist Party of China Sigung County State-Owned Silk Factory Committee," "Sigung County State-Owned Silk Factory People's Armed Forces Department," and "Sigung County State-Owned Silk Factory Trade Union Committee." Only the People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference were missing.

After hanging the signs, they stood at the main gate for a group photo with the propaganda department staff, then went to a small meeting room for a meeting, where Li Suhong from the factory office was asked to help with tea and water.

The security team instructor read out the appointments of the squad leader and deputy squad leader, and read through the "Economic Police Management Regulations." Jiang Guoping, as the leader of the police unit, gave a few words. The sign-hanging ceremony, which had been prepared for over a month, ended there.

After the large meeting, a smaller one was held, chaired by the newly appointed Second-Class Inspector Han Bo. The attendees included the squad instructor Gao Changxing, the deputy squad leader Yang Xiaomei, and the three squad leaders, Wu Yongliang and others.

In their police uniforms, they looked even more impressive. Li Suhong was captivated by Han Bo's eloquent speech and didn't want to leave.

"This is a document I drafted, which Comrade Jiang reviewed and made some adjustments to. Comrade Li Suhong from the factory office helped us print it out, with a red header. We need to divide the tasks. I will go to the business administration office with the instructor, then to the Chengxi police station to get their seals.

Yang Xiaomei, please call the three silk production plants and ask the three squad leaders to arrange their work and bring one person each. If they have motorcycles, they should use them; if not, they can take the minibus, and the expenses will be reimbursed. Meet at 5 PM, no tardiness. Wu Yongliang, continue working with the factory employees and their families. Xinsheng and Songren, take the police uniforms back and arrange for one person each, also meeting at 5 PM."

The factory would have to support a person at the business administration office and bear the wages of two janitors, so there would be no petty cash. But working the night shift at the factory would guarantee an additional 100 yuan per month.

Just by putting on the police uniform, they would indirectly get a 100-yuan raise, so the team was highly motivated.

The second day of work involved governing and rectifying the night market, which required a lot of courage and decisiveness. The factory leaders were pleased, and the staff supported it, which quickly established his authority. No wonder he could become a leader at such a young age, while she could only be a nominal instructor.

Gao Changxing no longer underestimated this inexperienced superior. Climbing into the minivan with him, he discovered that Han Bo was multi-talented and could even drive.

During his university days in Jiangcheng, Han Bo had seen joint law enforcement by health, public security, sanitation, and business administration departments against street vendors. He knew that such matters required swift action. Turning onto Renmin Road, he said in a consultative tone, "We have ten people from the five plants, four from the main factory, and you and I, making 16 in total, plus the colleagues from the business administration, 17. Instructor Gao, I feel we are still short of people. Can you think of a way to get some help from your former unit, perhaps 10 to 20 people, to support us?"

He had already established his authority and wanted to solidify his position in the silk factory and be promoted next year. Gao Changxing needed to show his capabilities.

The colleagues coming for a couple of hours in the evening wouldn't affect their work. After some consideration, he agreed, "Sure, after we get the seals, we'll go to the bureau. Requesting assistance in the name of the unit shouldn't be a problem."

Han Bo patted the steering wheel and reminded him with a bitter smile, "Instructor, they will be on duty, so we need to request assistance in the name of the security department and the economic police squad. The key is that the factory only gives us policy, not funding. Asking them to come at night... it's really hard to say."

The economic police squad is under the guidance of the county public security bureau, so seeking help from the bureau is normal. People coming at night to help maintain order should at least be given something to drink. Reciprocation is important; since everyone is in police uniforms, the public security detachment will provide meals. Moreover, in the eyes of the county bureau, the silk factory is very wealthy.

This was a practical issue, but it couldn't be ignored. The first action had to be a success.

Gao Changxing rubbed his face and said with a self-deprecating smile, "Don't worry, Comrade Han. I've worked at the bureau for six or seven years, and even if I haven't made great contributions, I've put in a lot of effort. Now that I've transferred to a new unit and encountered some difficulties, my old unit can't just stand by."

"That's true. They're making you work without giving you a proper position, which is their fault."

"It's not just me. Besides, a woman fears marrying the wrong man, and a man fears entering the wrong profession. I brought this upon myself, so I have no right to complain."

Anyone who could be transferred to the silk factory must have some connections in the public security bureau. Moreover, he was still a police officer. After getting the seals from the business administration office and the Chengxi police station, they rushed to the county public security bureau, where Deputy Political Commissar Niu personally received them, accompanied by the security team instructor who had just returned from the sign-hanging ceremony. He made a few calls to the public security detachment and the patrol team, and the matter of dispatching officers was settled.

With police uniforms to wear and a major operation at night, the six people from the three silk production plants arrived quickly. They had never met the deputy section chief and the instructor, so they formally introduced themselves, changed into their uniforms, and were treated to an early dinner at the canteen. Then, Gao Changxing led them in a parade on the main road.

The longest-serving had been out of the military for four years. As economic police, they needed to look the part in their uniforms.

Hearing about the major operation at night while eating in the factory canteen, Han Fang decided to stay and see how impressive her brother would be. She and Li Taipeng waited in the dormitory all afternoon. Han Bo was busy and had to go back to the dormitory to see them.

"Governance and rectification, nothing to see here. Go back, or it will be dark soon."

"It's cooler at night, no problem. I'll ask Taipeng to drive slowly."

Han Fang was determined to see the operation. She looked him up and down and praised, "The police uniform makes you look sharp. If Mom and Dad saw you in this, they'd be overjoyed. On Sunday, let's go back to the village and wear the uniform to show everyone."

"Showing off?"

"What's wrong with showing off? If you don't show off your success, it's like wearing fine clothes at night. I'm not a Party member, so I don't have your high ideals. I just want to show off and let Xiao Lan and the others see that I have a brother who is a deputy section chief and a police captain."

Not being from the same family, Li Taipeng, wearing a large-brimmed hat and looking like a bandit, chuckled, "We can also visit my older brothers."

In the county and among the entire cadre group, being a police officer was not considered a good career.

The work hours were long and irregular, the promotion opportunities were limited, the salary was low and often delayed, and the "imperial grain" was insufficient, so they had to find "miscellaneous grain." Not only did they have to find their own "miscellaneous grain," but they also had to help the county generate revenue, such as catching vehicles under trees and gambling and prostitution at the walls, which gave them a bad reputation and made them the subject of gossip among the people.

There was a popular saying: "First-class police are traffic police, standing on the road and charging fees; second-class police are criminal police, solving cases after getting drunk; third-class police are public security police, chasing away prostitutes and sleeping with them; fourth-class police are fire police, suffering when the people suffer."

In the countryside, to the farmers, being a police officer was a big deal.

The idea of official status was deeply ingrained, and they believed that police officers had guns, and with guns came power, and with power came glory and the ability to honor their ancestors.

"Alright, we can go back to the village when we have time. Just stand far away, as there will be many people watching. If you get pushed or squeezed, don't take it lightly." Han Bo didn't know how to explain and didn't want to disappoint his sister and brother-in-law. As the least financially successful member of the family, if he couldn't satisfy their vanity, he felt he would be letting them down.

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The 515 Fan Festival is coming soon, and I hope to continue to make it to the 515 Red Envelope List. On May 15th, the red envelope rain will reward readers and promote the work. Even a small donation is appreciated, and I will definitely update well!

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