Chapter 47

After the negotiations on this side were finished, Chief Jiao and Director Wu also concluded their talks. The two township leaders discussed and came up with the decision regarding the electronic game hall.

The public outrage was too great, and Old Lu didn't care about the legal basis. He ordered the township comprehensive management office to take the lead in shutting it down.

The lease agreement with the cultural station was terminated, and no rent would be refunded. They could sue wherever they wanted; he wasn't afraid.

Cultural Station Director Wu Daqing, who not only failed to promote spiritual civilization but also rented the station to outsiders to open a game hall, was found to have committed a serious dereliction of duty and received a warning within the party.

Old Lu dealt with the officials without hesitation. If it were someone else, it wouldn't have been so lenient. The key was that the cultural station only had Wu Daqing left as an official. If he were dismissed, there would be no one left. His family was indeed in difficulty, and if his salary were docked, he wouldn't be able to survive.

The public security decision made by Han Bo overnight was also nullified. Corrupting so many children and ruining social morals, a fine of 3,000 was too little; it couldn't be less than 5,000! Four to five, 5,000 for the township would bring in 2,000, while 3,000 would only bring in 1,200. The economic account couldn't be ignored.

Director Zhou Zhengfa of the comprehensive management office led people to seal the game hall, then called four joint defense team members to detain Lei Jianwei in the first-floor meeting room of the township government, not allowing him to leave. He was told to have his wife raise the money, 5,000 within two days, or he would be "transferred" to the public security bureau for labor re-education.

Administrative detention for 15 days wouldn't scare anyone; only labor re-education would do, and it must be labor re-education.

This was illegal detention, and it couldn't be done this way.

Considering this was Old Lu's instruction and that he had just made a "major compromise" on the public security decision-making authority, Han Bo, with no choice, filled out a blank summons, ensuring it wasn't illegal detention for at least 24 hours.

He went to the bureau to reissue the public security decision, returned the 3,000 fine receipt to the finance department, and reissued a 5,000 fine receipt, also handing over the remaining 30,000 sponsorship fee to the finance department.

Director Ji was on duty last night, attended a meeting in the morning, and listened to Director Zhang convey the spirit of the provincial public security bureau (division) chief meeting. He was now resting at home. After greeting Cheng Renyou, he was about to return to Liangzhuang when Political Commissar Yuan came out of the building.

Respecting the leadership, he saluted and greeted him.

The leader was in a good mood, patted his arm, and smiled, "Han Bo, you've done well. Opening up so quickly, it's beyond my expectations."

Han Bo raised the decision and fine receipt he had just received, and smiled bitterly, "Commissar, don't mock me. Running back and forth for this, it's a waste of fuel."

"A good start is half the battle. Old Lu is in his fifties; how long can he stir up trouble in Liangzhuang? Once he steps down, your days will be better."

"Commissar, I'm not being pessimistic, but I'm afraid I won't last until then. The 60,000 sponsorship fee from the silk company was all handed over to the finance department. The public security fines must be handed over to the township finance. The bureau gets the lion's share, the township gets a small share, and I only get 3%. What can I do with that? I don't even know who to report the fuel expenses to."

Among all the station chiefs and township public security commissioners, his situation was the most special.

He had to please Old Lu, complete the tasks assigned by the bureau, and not make any principled mistakes. It's not something an ordinary person could do.

The "crackdown" had been going on for more than three months, solving major cases, capturing fugitives, spending money like water, and having piles of invoices to be reimbursed. The family building had just started, and so many officers without housing were eagerly waiting...

There were too many expenses, and you couldn't do cases without funds, but the bureau's funds were even tighter.

Political Commissar Yuan could only help so much, smiling and saying, "Han Bo, the difficulties are temporary. Think of ways to overcome them. Work hard, and I believe in your ability."

Since he was willing to spend 60,000 to "buy" four local police officers and was brave enough to make a deal with Old Lu, he must have been prepared to solve the funding issue through other channels.

In about ten days, the autumn cocoons would be collected. Liangzhuang was the western gate of the county. Catching a few illegal traders would bring in the funds.

This wasn't within the scope of public security management. The police were just running errands. Handing over the people to the industry and commerce bureau and the tax bureau, getting a few ten thousand in bonuses shouldn't be a problem. Since it wasn't a fine, Old Lu couldn't extort this, and the annual funds would be secured.

Old Lu couldn't be relied on, and neither could the bureau.

Afraid of delays, Han Bo said urgently, "Commissar, I've completed half of the tasks assigned by the bureau, but the tasks assigned by the township haven't been completed. I made a pledge to reclaim the public security decision-making authority and will go to Jiangcheng to collect debts early tomorrow. I don't know how many days this will take. Liangzhuang has over a dozen administrative villages and a population of more than 30,000; it can't be without a police officer."

Director Ji mentioned in the morning that debt collection and accounts receivable recovery were the most important tasks for Liangzhuang township at this stage.

Old Lu and Chief Jiao personally led the charge, and the tasks were assigned layer by layer. The public security commissioner had to accept the leadership of the township party committee and government. Such tasks couldn't be shirked; he had to go.

A township couldn't be without a police officer. Political Commissar Yuan pondered, "The one you named, Xiao... Xiao..."

"Xiao Dan."

"Yes, Xiao Dan. There's no problem with Xiao Dan. Special cases require special handling. He can take office now, and the transfer procedures can be handled when the security team is merged into the patrol team. Police officers with jurisdiction and household registration management experience will have to wait; they all have ongoing work, and handover will take time. The internal affairs officer is no problem; I'll arrange a female officer for you. The police station has four or five people, similar to a police station. If you encounter a female suspect, it will be troublesome without a female officer. I'll also give you an intern. Taking three people today, is that enough support?"

Temporary workers from the bureau were completely different from the joint defense team members and the security officers recruited by the police station.

They were either college graduates with no place to be assigned, veterans, or public servants transferred from townships, with records in the personnel bureau or civil affairs bureau and files in the political department of the public security bureau. Strictly speaking, they weren't temporary workers but self-funded public servants.

Like the formal police officers with special political and legal compilation, they wore police uniforms and had police ranks, had law enforcement authority in Sige County, and would eventually transition to fully funded public servants and then to formal officers.

In Sige County, they were police officers.

Quality over quantity, four local police officers were more effective than a dozen uneven joint defense team members. Spending 60,000 in sponsorship fees to "buy" four police officers was worth it!

"Commissar, thank you so much. Where are they? I'll go pick them up now. Also, can I submit the fine at the end of the month? It's like doing business; it's really tight now, and there's no working capital."

With three people gone, they would need to eat a night snack and get some overtime pay, or the comrades wouldn't be motivated.

Political Commissar Yuan agreed, "Sure, I'll call the finance department. Wait a moment for the internal affairs officer and the intern. I'll go upstairs to make the call for you. And that Xiao... Xiao something, you can go to his old unit to pick him up, as long as Jiang Guoping is willing to let him go."

Back in the public security team office, he called the security department of the silk factory and chatted with Cheng Renyou for a while. A female police officer in her twenties, carrying luggage, arrived, panting and saluting to report.

"Report, Special Commissioner Han, I am the internal affairs officer Wang Yan from Changgang Town Police Station, reporting for duty. Please give instructions!"

She was tall, with short, spirited hair, a round face, and a few freckles. As long as a female officer wasn't too unattractive, she would look impressive in a police uniform. Working in the "Siberia" of Sige County, anyone else would have been full of complaints, but she seemed excited and eager.

"Wang Yan, come in quickly. Put your things down. You're all sweaty; did you come from Changgang?"

"Yes, Chief Ma brought me on his motorcycle. He had to leave first and asked me to greet you, Special Commissioner Han."

"Have some water first, and we'll eat together in the canteen later."

Wang Yan put down her luggage and smiled, "Special Commissioner Han is so young. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."

Cheng Renyou introduced her with a smile, "Special Commissioner Han, this is a newlywed. Her husband works at the Dinghu Tax Office. They finally got closer, so don't always make her work night shifts."

It turned out she was there for family reunification. Han Bo laughed, "Newlywed, congratulations. It's too late for wedding candy now, but I'm waiting for the red eggs."

"Special Commissioner Han is so funny."

As they were chatting, Xiao Jun arrived, riding a motorcycle with luggage tied to the back. He had just been transferred back to his hometown, and he was beaming with joy.

He already had a police uniform and rank. After changing to the police arm badge, he went to the photo studio across the street to take some quick photos. The photo studio, designated for ID photos, relied on the police for business, and officers took photos for free, no matter how much they were given.

If they didn't accept it, so be it. There was no time for formalities. He took the photos to the political department to get a work permit, but the bureau could only issue a work permit, not a police officer's certificate.