Chapter 15

The rectification of the night market is a big deal for the security department and the vendors being regulated, but it's not a big deal for the factory.

Since the operation takes place after work, many employees and staff are unaware of it. The only change they notice is the addition of a dozen or so security guards. When they are busy loading and unloading goods, they can confidently ask the security department for help.

According to the "Regulations on the Management of Economic Police," to deal with possible emergencies, economic police officers are required to live in concentrated accommodation on a rotating basis. Each police team should always have more than half of its members living in concentrated accommodation.

The three silk reeling branches are too far away to be concentrated, so only one person is assigned from each. The dyeing and printing branch and the clothing branch are in the urban area, so all six people from the two shifts come over.

The duty roster is rearranged, and fixed posts and personnel are no longer assigned. Today, one might be on duty at the main factory, tomorrow at the dyeing and printing branch, and the week after next, in a town. The roster is rotated every week to ensure that there are always six people available at the main factory.

The "Eight Major Disciplines and Ten Points of Attention for Public Security Personnel" and the "Regulations on the Internal Affairs of the People's Police" are strictly enforced.

Morning exercises, drills, military physical training, peak hours for going to and from work, afternoon roll calls, and night market patrols are all part of the routine. Even a party cell is established according to regulations, with strict organizational life and regular political study to enhance the organizational awareness and party spirit of party members, and to play the vanguard and exemplary role of party members and the fortress role of party organizations.

Gao Changxing and Yang Xiaomei are doing a great job, so Han Bo doesn't need to worry about the sub-unit.

Security personnel must know the law.

Since there's plenty of time, he signed up for the lawyer qualification exam at the judicial bureau, bought the books, and participated. It doesn't matter if he's not a law major; as long as he has a bachelor's degree from a higher education institution, he can sign up.

The construction of the legal system is a long and arduous task, and lawyers are not in high demand. There are only two people in the entire county who signed up.

The leadership of the judicial bureau takes it very seriously, suggesting that he participate this year rather than wait until next year. They even called the factory leadership to ask them not to distract him during this period.

Being able to drive and now preparing for the lawyer qualification exam, he is becoming a versatile and multi-skilled person!

Other units don't have many legal cases, but the silk weaving factory has plenty. Over 20 million yuan in unpaid goods can be traced back to eight years ago. If the factory had a lawyer, would they need to seek help from others?

Party Secretary Ding immediately decided that it didn't matter whether the positions at the three town silk reeling branches were checked or not. He should focus on preparing for the lawyer qualification exam. The factory would cover the registration fees, book fees, and exam fees. A reward of 500 yuan would be given for passing the exam, and if he didn't pass this year, he could try again next year.

Director Qian even required that the cadres in the third-floor offices and those living in the dormitories not visit the security department and not disturb Comrade Xiao Han's studies, making it feel like the college entrance exam.

With such high regard from the leadership, there is indeed some pressure.

To live up to the expectations of the leadership, Han Bo asked the factory office for a dormitory room and invited Fang Ruming, a town judicial office cadre who also signed up for the exam, to prepare together. Fang Ruming graduated from a law program, so he could ask him questions when he didn't understand something.

Learning requires a quiet environment, and the unit also gave Fang Ruming a two-month leave. He happily accepted the invitation.

With their heads hanging and their legs pricked, the silk weaving factory suddenly had two top students.

Life is precious, and while studying, night patrols cannot be neglected.

Every night at eleven, Han Bo would drive the minivan to the factory gate, first taking a walk with Fang Ruming to relax and clear their minds, then leading the night shift police officers to secretly protect the workers going to and from work at places prone to incidents.

The vendors were packing up, and Gao Changxing, Wu Yongliang, and Xiao Yan, among five or six others, were helping a few vendors tidy up.

After a day's absence, there were significant changes.

A few rows of parking spaces had appeared at the east gate of the labor service company. Two janitors, who had recently been transferred to the security department, were generating income. They had found some "public security patrol" red armbands and were pulling two long ropes to watch over bicycles and motorcycles.

Old Shen, the industrial and commercial administrator, was sitting in the guardhouse, counting money and tallying receipts with Yang Xiaomei. The table was piled with loose change and the stubs of industrial and commercial office receipts, and he was thoroughly enjoying it.

Wu Yongliang ran over excitedly, pointing at the two janitors giving change, and asked, "Director Han, how does it look?"

"Who came up with the idea of charging for parking?" Han Bo asked, unable to suppress a smile.

"Collective wisdom. The department store charges for bicycle parking, the People's Park charges for bicycle parking, and the hospital and cinema also charge for parking. If they can do it, why can't we? A little is better than nothing, and it can be used for bonuses. Plus, with dedicated supervision, theft won't happen."

"What if they don't want to park here?"

"Traffic can't be blocked, and parking is not allowed elsewhere. It's only 20 cents for a bicycle and 50 cents for a motorcycle, which is not much. Many people are afraid of their bikes being stolen and specifically look for someone to watch them."

Wu Yongliang smiled at Fang Ruming and continued, "All the large and old stalls have paid, but some farmers selling vegetables and melons and some small mobile vendors haven't. This is unfair to the legal stall owners who have paid. Old Shen is in charge of this area and charges one to two yuan based on the size of the stall and the quality of business.

We are not charging arbitrarily; we provide receipts from the industrial and commercial office. If they don't pay, we confiscate their scales, and if they don't have scales, we seize their goods. However, only 60% of the money goes to the department, and 40% goes to the industrial and commercial office, similar to the return of fines by the public security department."

Management is about charging fees.

Han Bo suddenly realized he had opened a Pandora's box. His subordinates, tasting the sweetness, were using every means possible to collect more money.

Not knowing how to respond, Yang Xiaomei reported, "Director Han, although the parking fees are only 20 or 50 cents, with so many people and vehicles, we can collect four or five hundred yuan a night, and conservatively estimate over 2,000 yuan a month!"

With money in the department, individuals also have money. She was more motivated, her face beaming with joy.

On the surface, it seems reasonable and legal, but after studying the law for a few days, he wondered if it was truly legal. Fang Ruming smiled wryly, and Han Bo felt awkward, reminding her, "Sister Yang, be moderate; don't go too far."

"Director Han, we have no choice."

Yang Xiaomei invited them into the guardhouse and complained, "The factory notified us yesterday that only one duty person will be provided with a night snack. The canteen will be contracted to an individual, and for each additional person, the canteen owner will charge the factory for one more meal. The workers are on night shifts for the factory and can create benefits for the factory. We cannot directly benefit the factory, so the factory is unwilling to provide meals.

If we stay up until after midnight, the comrades will be hungry. Where will the funds come from? We can only think of ways ourselves. Eating at the night market is too expensive, and the canteen food is not good. Starting today, we will cook ourselves, with a standard of 2.5 yuan per person, which can both satisfy and nourish us."

"How come I didn't know about this?"

"You are preparing for the lawyer exam, and Director Qian didn't want to bother you."

"Who will cook the night meals, and where?"

"We will do it ourselves, in the dormitory. We bought an electric rice cooker, a gas stove, and utensils at noon. I will start cooking after the inventory is done, and you can have a meal when you finish your patrol."

As always, she was meticulous and considerate. Han Bo nodded and shook his head, "Many cadres cook in the dormitory, but it will affect your rest."

"Midnight is not late; I watch TV until midnight. Besides, we are not working in the workshop. At worst, we can arrange for a longer nap the next day."

"Since you have everything planned out, let's do it. Remember to add an extra pair of chopsticks."

"We know. We have prepared a meal for Assistant Fang. You are studying hard, and you can't go without a meal until late at night."

"How can I accept this?"

"What's there to be embarrassed about? Assistant Fang, you are a classmate of Director Han and a guest of our economic police sub-unit. A night snack is nothing."

Coming to the silk weaving factory to review was the right decision. The office is quiet, the dormitory is peaceful, and there's no need to worry about meals. Most importantly, there is a learning atmosphere, and studying together is more motivating than studying alone.

Fang Ruming envied his "classmate" who was one year younger. He had a good unit, a leisurely job, high and guaranteed wages, and the attention of the leadership, with power in his hands. Unlike the grassroots judicial office, which had to popularize the law, mediate disputes, assist the town in collecting various taxes and fees, and help the family planning office catch pregnant women in the middle of the night, leaving him exhausted and with no guarantee of his salary.