Chapter 20

The factory gives the Public Security Bureau several ten thousand yuan in sponsorship fees every year and five thousand yuan to the police station for joint defense fees. Yet, one of our factory workers was robbed near the factory and almost raped by a criminal. Without asking, it's clear that the factory leadership has already called the Public Security Bureau leadership.

You have your difficulties, but your work is indeed not up to standard.

Putting aside the sudden incident, the night market at the factory gate has had security issues for years, but you've ignored it and never seriously addressed it.

"Director Xu, the public security and the factory security are one family. If there's anything, just say it. As long as we can do it, we will certainly cooperate." In September, Han Bo doesn't have time to listen to his complaints.

Director Xu isn't being pretentious and speaks frankly: "Director Han, you are indeed straightforward. This is what I think: the People's West Road police station has been established, but its functions haven't been fully utilized. I plan to assign a joint defense team member to come to the police station every night for duty, under the dual management of the police station and the economic police detachment. According to the instructions of the bureau leadership, they will patrol the main and secondary roads of People's West Road together with the police officers of the detachment."

Using the economic police detachment as a joint defense team, is there such a good thing in the world?

Han Bo also complains, looking troubled: "Director Xu, your police force is tight, and our security force is also not abundant. One main factory, five branch factories, plus the night market at the factory gate, we only have twenty-two people in total. Three branch factories are in three different towns, so in the city, we only have sixteen people. We can cooperate in the first half of the night, but not in the second half, otherwise, it will affect our main job, and it's hard to motivate the detachment."

You have sixteen people responsible for several factories, and we have a dozen people responsible for a town, especially the most challenging urban-rural fringe area.

Your salaries and bonuses are higher and guaranteed, while our salaries haven't been fully paid for years. We have no funds for case handling and have to rely on our own methods. Even knowing that a fugitive is hiding in a neighboring province, we have no money to catch him.

Although you don't have funds, you don't have the pressure of handling cases or even need to handle cases. Catching someone in the act is an achievement, but not catching them won't be criticized. Now, you are working with the industrial and commercial department, guarding the night market, which is a money tree, generating thousands of yuan a month. Unlike us, who collect joint defense fees and fines, causing complaints and being criticized behind our backs...

The more Director Xu thinks about it, the more he feels aggrieved, wishing he could say, "Let's switch jobs, you be the director, and I'll be the deputy director of the security department."

Old comrades from the same unit can't stand by when they encounter difficulties. Gao Changxing smiles and says, "Director Han, the main problems usually occur in the first half of the night, at most until one o'clock in the morning. We are already patrolling in the first half of the night, we just need to slightly expand the patrol area."

"Yes, mainly in the first half of the night." The factory leadership is busy with major affairs, Jiang Guoping is building a house at home, and the security department of the silk factory is under his control. Director Xu looks at him expectantly.

"Director Xu, Director Gao, you are considering social security, but I have to consider the unit. The unit pays the security department's salary, and if the security department neglects its main job to work for the police station, the leadership will see it as not focusing on the main job."

"Social security is good, and enterprise security will be good; they complement each other. Director Han, please help us and assist in persuading the factory leadership."

The factory is undergoing reform, being meticulous in every aspect, not even providing night snacks for the patrol personnel. Who knows if the reform will affect the security department. From this perspective, the security department shouldn't get involved in this mess.

Gao Changxing understands the difficulties of his superior, but he can't ignore Director Xu's request. After thinking for a moment, he looks up and says, "Director, last night Secretary Ding said he would give us car No. 7 and let us apply for a police car license plate and install a police light. I just checked the 'Economic Police Management Regulations,' which only mentions firearms, not police cars."

"What do you mean?"

"Because of the police rank issue, the bureau has made a big mistake. Learning from the mistake, it might be difficult to apply for a police car license plate. If Director Xu applies, it will be simpler. Apply in the name of the police station, and both parties can use it, but in reality, we will use it. Driving a few rounds on People's West Road at night, with the police light on and parked near the night market, how much of a deterrent effect will it have? Who would dare to target our factory workers and the night market?"

The police station lacks money, cars, and people. The top priority is to find a few people to patrol the streets; otherwise, it will be hard to pass the bureau's inspection.

Director Xu extinguishes the cigarette butt and slams the table, promising, "It's not about applying for an equipped police car, just a license plate. I'll take care of it. In half a month, no, in a week. At most a week, I'll get the license plate and all the procedures done."

Whether the security department has a police car or not is not a big deal; with a police car license plate and a police light, it might be inconvenient to go anywhere.

Now that the leadership has opened this door, the people below are enthusiastic and take it seriously, wanting to ride in a police car and show off. If it can't be done, it will affect the morale of the detachment and their enthusiasm.

Capturing two suspects, they have forgotten who they are. Since they have energy but no place to use it, let them expand the patrol area and extend the patrol time.

Han Bo nods slightly and agrees, "Alright, as long as the license plate issue can be resolved, I will handle the factory's work."

"Director Han, it's settled then. The joint defense team member will report today and will be permanently stationed at the police station."

"What about the salary?"

"Director Han, you are wealthy, help us solve it. I'll pick someone who can drive, a recent veteran, a party member, a former squad leader, and an excellent soldier every year, with top-notch political and military qualities. He will follow orders and do whatever you tell him, without any complaints."

Han Bo laughs, "Director Xu, our security department is not short of excellent soldiers, and we appreciate your good intentions."

"Director Han, to be honest, the person is from the town and has nowhere to be placed, so they were assigned to our station. We can't collect joint defense fees, and we owe tens of thousands of yuan in water, electricity, and phone bills. It's not just a tight budget; we are almost bankrupt. You are guarding the night market and can help the industrial and commercial department solve an employee's salary. Why can't you help us solve a joint defense team member's salary, a few hundred yuan, and not much to pay?"

Asking for help and asking for a salary, this is indeed not proper, and Director Xu looks embarrassed.

Collecting parking fees is not legitimate, but with the involvement of the police, it's different.

Since he has said this much, it's hard to refuse. Han Bo conditionally agrees, "Director Xu, it can be solved now, but I can't guarantee the future. Some big cities are setting up specialized urban management enforcement teams, and some places are establishing market service centers. The night market affects the city's appearance and is part of the market. No one is managing it now, but it doesn't mean no one will manage it in the future."

"Let's deal with the future when it comes. We, the public security and the factory security, and the industrial and commercial department will manage this temporary convenience market first. When someone wants to take over, they will have to give us an explanation, at least help us place a few people, right?"