Chapter 21

Capturing two criminals meant there would be no peace.

Director Xu had only just left when Ji Xiajuan's family arrived, carrying fruit and expressing their heartfelt gratitude. If she had been saved by the police station or the criminal investigation team, they might have sent a banner.

Such matters couldn't be forgotten by the factory leadership; Director Qian and the union chairman Liu were asked to receive them.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, the factory held a staff meeting. Director Qian reported on what had happened the previous night, praising the security department, especially those who had participated in the capture. They were awarded red flowers and certificates, and the ceremony was grand.

Secretary Ding made several requirements: those working the late night shift were not allowed to enter the factory without someone to pick them up. Those working the early night shift were not allowed to leave the factory without someone to drop them off. Safety would be linked to wages and bonuses, and any necessary deductions or penalties would be enforced. The security department must strictly manage the situation, preparing a sign-in book at the gate for those picking up or dropping off, with signatures or fingerprints for those who couldn't write.

The finance department must have security personnel escort them when going to the bank to withdraw or deposit money. The sales department must inform the security department in advance when returning with goods or cash, specifying which bus they would take and when they would arrive at the bus station, so that the security department could arrange for someone to meet them. All factory staff must report any suspicious situations to the security department immediately...

The entire meeting focused on safety, showing unprecedented attention to safety issues.

The status of the security department rose, subtly surpassing the union, the armed forces department, the youth league, the propaganda department, and the family planning office, officially moving out of the category of "idle eaters."

Before being assigned to the silk factory, there had been some reservations.

After working for half a month, he gradually understood the situation in the county and realized that this was not a demotion but a favor from the personnel department.

Among all the units in the county, which one could guarantee monthly wages like the silk factory? As Fang Ruming, the judicial assistant, put it, he might be the best-placed college graduate assigned to the county this year.

The key was that the events in his dreams were continuously being confirmed, and such good times wouldn't last long. He needed to make plans early. Capturing two criminals and preventing a tragedy, Han Bo no longer worried about the chaos and focused on studying law, preparing for a transfer to another unit.

There were too many legal statutes to memorize, and he needed to balance work and rest. He would either check on his brother-in-law's renovation at the silk factory complex or wander around the night market.

Although he had achieved some results, it didn't fundamentally change the fact that the security department was seen as "idle eaters." As the deputy director and head of the economic police, he had little influence in the factory. However, in the night market, he was a "big shot," truly like what Jiang Guoping joked about, handling public security, industry and commerce, health, and security work, essentially the "Comprehensive Governance Office Director" of People's West Road without an official appointment.

The stall owners were all enthusiastic, but their true thoughts were another matter.

Collecting fees wouldn't make him popular, and Han Bo was prepared for that. After a round, he didn't find any suspicious loiterers and entered the guardhouse, taking out a 200-card to make a call.

The guardhouse's digital phone wasn't broken; they just didn't know how to use it. The number keys were locked and hard to press, but you could tap the key below the handset: one tap for 1, two taps for 2, three taps for 3, and so on, ten taps for 0. Master the rhythm, and you could call anywhere.

The factory was saving on phone bills, and Han Bo didn't want to take advantage of the company. He first tapped 200, then the password, followed by the area code and phone number, tapping like sending a telegram, with no room for error.

"Hey, Doctor, you finally remembered to call me."

"Doctor" was a nickname from college, derived from the "Bo" in his name. On the other end of the line was his college classmate and roommate, Ma Zhigong. Han Bo leaned back in his chair and laughed, "Comrade Ma, I'm in a remote rural area, unlike you in a big city with a phone at home. To make a call, I have to walk half a day up a mountain and then ride a bull cart for half a day. The conditions are tough, and there's no way around it."

"Is Nangang a mountainous area? Does Sigon County have mountains? Complain if you must, but don't exaggerate. Do you think I learned geography from an English teacher?" Ma Zhigong laughed and scolded, then asked curiously, "How's work? Have you settled in?"

"I've settled in. I'm the deputy director of the security department and the head of the economic police at a state-owned enterprise. The company's performance is average, and my salary, bonuses, and various allowances add up to about 500, which is better than some but not as good as others."

"Deputy director of the security department and head of the economic police, not bad. A few years ago, a regimental political commissar was assigned to my mother's unit and didn't even get a deputy director position. He ended up as a political instructor in the economic police and has been there ever since."

"Your mother's unit is a state-owned enterprise, but mine is a county-level state-owned enterprise."

"Brother, in these times, having a job is already good. College graduates will soon no longer be assigned jobs, and they'll have to pay thousands in tuition and find their own way after graduation. Besides, does work really matter to you? The eldest son is poor, the second son is rich, and the third and fourth sons are ten-thousand-yuan households. At worst, you can join your father in the construction business."

"How about you?"

"Generations of my family have worked in the petrochemical industry, dedicating their youth and lives, and now their children. I wanted to go to the special economic zones with Old Feng and the others, but my grandfather and father strongly opposed it, almost coming to blows with me. I have no choice but to follow in my father's footsteps and work honestly in the petrochemical industry."

"What position?"

"Technical department at the Jiangcheng Petrochemical Second Factory. Let's not talk about this. Tell me about Doctor Post, who has been separated from you. You two are almost like a couple who have broken up. Have you been in touch? What are you thinking?"

"Doctor Post" was the nickname for his college girlfriend, Li Xiaolei. "Doctor's Queen" was shortened to "Doctor Post." They were classmates, a year apart, and from different majors. After being together for over two years, the separation was hard to bear, and Han Bo felt a bit melancholic.

She was indeed beautiful, but she was in the capital and would return to work there in the future.

Ma Zhigong didn't see a future for the couple and bluntly said, "Freshmen are cute, sophomores are charming, juniors are on high alert, and seniors are unwanted. You can relax for the last year, but after that, you're on your own."

Marriage these days involves too many considerations, such as the other person's job, household registration, family background, and financial burdens. Especially job and household registration, many couples have failed to be together because of these issues.

It's not that people are too pragmatic; it's that reality forces them to be pragmatic.

He had to live not just for himself but for his family. If he gave up this position for love, his parents and sister and brother-in-law would be deeply disappointed. She was also a source of pride and hope for her family and had to consider their feelings. After graduation, she could only return to the capital and start a family there.

Dreams are not easily realized, and money is not everything. Even if he gave up this position and had some money, it would be difficult to obtain a household registration in the capital and become a resident there.

From the beginning of their relationship, they had been mentally prepared for this, but they hadn't explicitly discussed it.

Han Bo sighed inwardly and asked, trying to sound casual, "Don't worry about our relationship. Tell me about yours. When are you getting married? I'll take leave in advance to attend your wedding."

This year was a peak for classmates getting married. Those who had repeated a year in high school were already in their mid-twenties, considered old bachelors, and were waiting to graduate. Ma Zhigong had repeated two years in high school and was 25 this year. His girlfriend had waited for him for several years and couldn't wait any longer. That's why he was calling today.

"New Year's Day. It's during a holiday, so I don't need to take special leave. If you can't make it, just send a red envelope. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event, and you can't miss the chance to get rich. Two months' salary, let's make it a round number."

"Ten thousand? Are you robbing me? We should follow the standard set by Old Zhou and not be special."

Ma Zhigong laughed and argued, "What's the relationship between him and you, and what's the relationship between me and you? This isn't being special; it's treating you differently. Besides, I'm close to the school and can keep an eye on Doctor Post for you. When you come to Jiangcheng, I can provide a place for you two to meet. During the crackdown, it's not safe to rent a hotel room."

"Get lost, we're very pure, not as dirty as you think..."

Talking to him would only lead to more nonsense.

Han Bo left two phone numbers, one for the guardhouse's digital phone and one for the factory's main switchboard and the security department's extension. Then he continued tapping the hang-up key, calling his parents, who were doing renovations in Donghai City.

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