Chapter 44

Dial 110, and the police will show up in five minutes; that's in a big city, and even in a big city, it's not always possible.

Public security officers are human, not gods made of special materials. They have their own lives and can't stay on duty 24 hours a day. After 12 o'clock, they go home to rest. Anyway, they have pagers, so they can be called if something happens.

My brother was transferred from the county to the town, which sounds like a demotion.

Actually, it's not. Before, he only managed the security of one factory, but now he manages an entire town, just like the chief of the police station, and he has a gun!

Han Fang is proud of her brother from the bottom of her heart. She woke up her husband early to buy breakfast so that her brother would have something to eat when he got up.

Today, they are going to penalize the arcade owner. The fine isn't much, but it's sensitive, and it's easy to imagine how lively it will be.

Han Bo got up quite early, as soon as Li Taipeng left the house.

Little Ruirui was sleeping soundly. His sister tiptoed out of the room and curiously asked from outside the bathroom, "Xiao Bo, is your office in the town government?"

"Yes, on the third floor of the town government. You can come and play if you have the chance."

"What's there to play in Liangzhuang?"

"There's not much to play in Liangzhuang, but there is in Liuxia, which is less than three kilometers away. It's an ancient town with a long history. Many ancient buildings are well-preserved, with a classical charm. It's not inferior to tourist attractions, and you don't have to pay for admission."

"I know Liuxia. It has produced several scholars and poets, and it seems that several towns to the west used to be under its jurisdiction."

Han Bo finished shaving and, while squeezing toothpaste, smiled and said, "Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, so the people of Liangzhuang speak with an accent similar to that of Xin'an, which is different from ours."

"I've never been there. I'll go if I have time. Xiao Bo, I want to discuss something with you."

"Go ahead."

"Staying in the county is boring. I don't know anyone, and no one comes to visit. Winning the grand prize and returning to Sihé is troublesome. Dad called last night and said the house is rented. We plan to go to Donghai early, without waiting for Ruirui to be a month old."

The county is different from our hometown. The neighbors aren't familiar, and they have to work during the day. It's not like in Sihé, where there are many acquaintances, and we can chat from morning till night.

I understand the boredom.

Going to Donghai a few days earlier or later makes no difference. Perhaps Mother is eager to see Ruirui.

Han Bo rinsed his mouth and turned back, smiling, "Sure, but make your husband drive slowly, especially when crossing the ferry. Be careful when going down the slope to board the ship. If necessary, ask the ferry staff for help. In Donghai, follow the traffic rules. It's a big city with elevated bridges and one-way streets. A moment's inattention can lead to a violation. Violations aren't a big deal, but traffic accidents are."

"Going to study accounting and helping Father manage the construction company, I can live in a real big city."

Han Fang is looking forward to the future and said with a smile, "I understand. We'll be in the car as a family of three; nothing can go wrong."

"Good to know. We can leave in the morning and arrive before dark. There's no rush."

"Then we'll leave tomorrow?"

"You can decide for yourselves. I don't have time to send you off."

"When we leave, you should focus on your own affairs. Dad said on the phone last night that you're almost 23 and have a stable job. Don't be too picky; find a partner quickly and bring them home for the Spring Festival."

"Such matters depend on fate and can't be rushed. I'm going to work now. Remember to lock the doors and windows when you leave, drive slowly, and call me before you leave and when you arrive."

"Have breakfast before going to work. Your brother-in-law has bought it."

"No time, I have something today and need to go early."

...

The car drove to the entrance of the residential area. Her brother-in-law had just bought breakfast and rolled down the window. He handed over two buns, parked by the roadside, and finished them with hot water in a few bites. He wiped his mouth and set off.

It was a little past six, and there were few people on the road. The minivan could only go 80 km/h; any faster, and it would rattle all over.

When they arrived at the town government, two people were standing by the meeting room, smoking and talking. One of them was the arcade owner, Lei Jianwei.

"Director Han, Special Envoy Han, did you go back last night?"

Han Bo got out of the car with his bag. A man in his forties, wearing old military uniform, pushed a bicycle and came up with a smile, saying, "I'm Niu Qingshan from the Armed Forces Department. Director Jiang called me. I went to the county for a recruitment meeting yesterday and couldn't welcome you. I came early today."

A comrade of Director Jiang, a former deputy battalion commander, who has been the head of the Armed Forces Department in Liangzhuang for over ten years.

Joining the army is a way out. Students from Liangzhuang who didn't get into middle school or university often join the military to take the military college entrance exam. Everyone has to go through him, making him one of the most popular officials in the town.

Han Bo realized and quickly extended his right hand, "Director Niu, hello, thank you for your concern. I'm sorry to have you come so early."

"It's 7:20, just 40 minutes early. I came out to breathe some fresh air. The town is different from the county, with poorer conditions. Are you not used to it?"

"No, I had some business at the bureau last night and didn't return until 12 o'clock."

"Having a car is convenient."

As they were talking, Lei Jianwei followed a man in his forties, thin like a bamboo pole, with a face full of wrinkles, who approached nervously.

"Good morning, Director Niu, Special Envoy Han."

The older man, with a fawning smile, took out a cigarette and bowed to the new public security special envoy. Niu Qingshan didn't know what to say and, after parking his bicycle, took off his briefcase from the handlebars and asked, "Old Wu, do you have something to discuss with Special Envoy Han?"

"Yes, I do. I need to admit my mistakes and make a self-criticism to Special Envoy Han."

You are the cultural station director, the same level as him, and you don't report to him. What mistakes are you admitting? Niu Qingshan was confused and shifted his gaze to Lei Jianwei.

"I'm Wu Daqing from the Cultural Station, Special Envoy Han. I came last night, but the office was closed, and I didn't know your pager number, so I had to come early. I failed to supervise properly, and I take responsibility. I will make a self-criticism. I will make him rectify immediately and supervise the rectification. If he receives students on non-holidays again, I will be the first to report and revoke his license."

"Ah, Director Wu, hello, hello."

"Director Niu, I'm sorry, I need to... to... report to Special Envoy Han first."

He is the cultural station director with the least education in the town, not even finishing primary school, while Secretary Lu has a higher education level.

At the time, a village primary school was short of teachers, and he, who had only completed four years of primary school, was chosen to teach first grade. The quality of education was predictable. Later, when there were more teachers, he couldn't teach anymore and was assigned to ring the bell at the middle school and help other teachers print test papers, essentially a school worker.

He may not have much education, but he is multi-talented, skilled in playing the erhu, flute, and other instruments, and can sing and play well.

At that time, there was a focus on spiritual civilization. Each village had to prepare cultural programs, and the commune would organize performances and tours. He was in high demand, helping here today and there tomorrow.

The commune leaders saw him as a talent, promoted him, and transferred him to the cultural station. He was then transferred to the district, and after the district was abolished and the town was established, he was transferred to Liangzhuang as the cultural station director.

Knowing he had little education and poor family conditions, with his wife dying early and him raising two sons alone, one of whom was a son-in-law and the other still without a job or a partner, he always treated people with a low profile, addressing even elementary school students as "classmate" and reporting to officials regardless of their rank.

The officials looked down on him but also felt some sympathy and generally wouldn't hold grudges over trivial matters.

Niu Qingshan hadn't been to the cultural station for years, didn't know Lei Jianwei, and didn't know what had happened, so he couldn't offer any opinion. He simply smiled and said, "Special Envoy Han, you and Old Wu can talk first. I'll go upstairs and wait for you in my office."

...

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