Chapter 33

The Public Security Bureau is next to the County Party School, a row of two-story old buildings with a small courtyard that can only accommodate a dozen cars.

The gatekeepers are two security guards, and the Household Registration Office is next to the guardhouse. The Public Security Brigade, Internal Security Brigade, and National Security Brigade are on the first floor at the front, the second floor houses the Bureau Office, Political Department, and Administrative Equipment Section, and the bureau leadership is on the third floor.

A central corridor leads to the back yard, with the stairs on the side. Gao Changxing greeted a few familiar comrades and confidently made his way to the Political Department.

"Speak of the devil, Xiao Han, Xiao Gao, come in."

Last Wednesday, during the "Severe Crackdown" commendation meeting at the County Party School, he had met him as one of the "Advanced Individuals in the Severe Crackdown." The bureau had announced commendations, and Director Ji immediately recognized him, warmly inviting a political work officer to get some water.

"Director Ji, no need to be so formal, I'm your subordinate, here to report in."

"Reporting in requires a warm welcome. Xiao Gao, go invite the Political Commissar. He hasn't gone upstairs; he's in the next room."

"Yes!"

"Director Ji, here is my letter of introduction."

"Good, good, good, take a seat."

The more polite the leadership, the more likely something is amiss. Han Bo was uneasy, unsure how the leadership would arrange his next assignment. He handed the letter of introduction to the Political Department Director, and Commissar Yuan entered, also with a full smile.

Having served as a team leader of economic police for two months, Han Bo had studied all the regulations and rules of the Public Security Bureau. He stood at attention, saluted, and reported, following the proper protocol.

He had seen many young cadres, but this was the first time Commissar Yuan had seen one like him.

After working for two months, he was promoted to a full-section level, a meteoric rise.

Others who rose so quickly would face much gossip, but he had almost no opposition. Cultured, capable, decisive, hardworking, and eager to learn... his reputation in his original unit was impeccable. From elementary school to university, he was a "Triple Good Student" all the way, winning scholarships every year, joining the Party in his sophomore year, and serving as the deputy head of the Student Union Sports Department in his junior year. His file was more impressive than those of many selected cadres.

He joined the workforce during the "Severe Crackdown" and was commended for his contributions during that period.

The silk factory finally achieved some success beyond economic construction, and the factory's Party Committee, especially the Propaganda Section, sent materials to the County Party School non-stop, making it impossible not to be noticed. He participated in the county's sixth youth cadre training program with over twenty other cadres nominated for deputy-section level positions and won the "Outstanding Trainee" award. This year, two people in the county took the lawyer qualification exam, and both passed, including him.

Such a cadre should go to the County Party Committee or the County Government, or even the County Youth League. Why come to the Public Security Bureau?

This is a place where seniority counts, and young cadres are not favored.

To advance or be promoted to deputy-section level or deputy-director level here is harder than securing a specialized legal and political compilation. Young cadres have no future here.

At 22, a full-section level cadre with a bachelor's degree and a lawyer's qualification, the police station chief didn't dare to take him, and the criminal investigation team leader was concerned that his presence might affect the morale of the older comrades. Staying in the bureau would be even more problematic, as it would upset many older comrades who had worked hard but had yet to secure a compilation.

His work arrangement had been a headache for the past two days.

Commissar Yuan cleared his throat and said slowly, "Comrade Han Bo, before your transfer, you were a formally compiled staff member of our Public Security Bureau, serving as the deputy head of the Security Department and the team leader of the economic police at the silk factory, though for a short time, you achieved a lot. You are cultured and capable, and you recently passed the lawyer qualification exam. The bureau is well aware of your situation and needs high-quality talents like you, young cadres like you."

When it was time to express his stance, Han Bo hurriedly said, "Commissar Yuan, Director Ji, I voluntarily requested a transfer to the Public Security Bureau because I genuinely love the public security work and the police profession. My promotion to full-section level came after I requested the transfer, and I was unaware of it beforehand. Leaders, please don't be troubled; I will resolutely follow the organization's arrangements, even if it means being a regular traffic police officer, I will have no regrets."

No wonder he could excel wherever he went; his attitude was impeccable.

Would they really make him a regular traffic police officer?

The silk factory's Party Committee was established earlier than the Public Security Bureau, and its work was very formal. The factory's cadres either did not correspond to administrative levels, or when they did, the organization and personnel department recognized them. They could have directly promoted him to full-section level but recommended him for the youth cadre training program.

This was to bring him into the organization's line of sight and into the key reserve cadre ranks for focused cultivation. It was also a way to tell the Public Security Bureau that a full-section level is a full-section level, and a position should come with a rank, not just a title.

They sent over a cadre without a compilation, and now they send over a full-section level cadre.

Commissar Yuan sighed and said, "Xiao Han, don't rush to express your stance. Let me finish speaking. You previously followed the 'Eight Disciplines and Ten Points of Attention for Public Security Personnel' and adhered to the 'Internal Regulations of the People's Police.' After transferring to our Public Security Bureau, you will quickly adapt and won't need to attend any police academy training. If there is any shortcoming, it is a lack of grassroots experience."

Lack of grassroots experience means I should go to a township, right?

Having decided to become a police officer, he was mentally prepared for this. Han Bo said, "Report to the two leaders, I am a Party member, and I will resolutely follow the organization's arrangements."

"Good, as a Party member, you should play a leading role in critical moments."

Commissar Yuan and Director Ji exchanged glances and said solemnly, "Director Zhang is at a meeting in the provincial bureau, but he is very concerned about your work arrangement and has called three times. The bureau's Party Committee has decided to appoint you as the Public Security Special Envoy to Liangzhuang Township, replacing Comrade Li Shuncheng, who is hospitalized, and you will be fully responsible for the public security work in Liangzhuang Township."

The position of Public Security Special Envoy is outdated!

Riding a bicycle, a pistol on the waist, managing an entire township, it was once a prestigious and respected role. But times have changed, and the security environment is no longer as peaceful. Even the smallest township has over a dozen administrative villages and tens of thousands of people. Can I manage it alone?

Han Bo hesitated, and Director Ji explained, "According to regulations, townships with a population of over 20,000 should have a police station. Due to issues with police force, funding, and compilation, and the county's ongoing efforts to merge townships, Liangzhuang Township has not established one. In fact, not just Liangzhuang, six townships in the county still lack police stations, and public security work is handled by Public Security Special Envoys."

I never knew there were six townships in the county without police stations.

If there were no Public Security Special Envoys before, I could complain, but there were, and they worked until they were hospitalized. Managing the public security of an entire township is a huge responsibility, and Han Bo dared not speak lightly.

"Since there is no police station, household registration management has not been transferred, and the household registration seal still bears the township government's seal, so you don't need to handle household registration. Criminal cases are handled by the Fourth Criminal Investigation Team responsible for that area, mainly focusing on public security. Once you complete the procedures, go to the Public Security Brigade and communicate with Comrade Cheng Renyou, who is at home."

I just said I would resolutely follow the organization's arrangements, so I can't contradict myself.

Special Envoy it is, at least I'll be the top person.

Han Bo thought for a moment and asked, "Commissar, what about funding?"

"What funding?"

"Case handling funding."

"Xiao Han, I wasn't joking when I said I know you well. You transformed the People's West Road night market into a self-supporting full-section level public institution, generating thousands of yuan in revenue each month. During the training at the Party School, you didn't idle, visiting the Sihé Police Station to familiarize yourself with public security work. You are capable, decisive, and focus on research, fully aware of how tight our public security bureau's funding is. At this stage, we can only rely on self-raised funds."

"Self-raised funds!"

"First, ask the township for as much as you can, and if it's insufficient, legally raise funds. Like other police stations and teams, you will get a 10% return."

The county allocates funds to the Public Security Bureau based on the number of people, but even the formally compiled officers with specialized legal and political compilations don't receive full pay, only 70% at the bureau, 40% for public institution and contract officers, and nothing for local compilation officers. As for case handling funds, it's even worse.

With insufficient central funding, they have to rely on other means. Given the situation, Han Bo was mentally prepared to legally raise funds.