Chapter 77

With the matter concerning Gu Xingu settled, Director Ji called again to praise, but it was only praise.

Capturing fugitives within the jurisdiction is like farming for the locals; it's part of the job, a duty. Apart from praise, the bureau wouldn't have any other response. As the year-end approached, it would just add another achievement to the summary report, nothing more.

Just like after any other business trip, a meeting was held, and the colleagues who stayed behind reported on their work.

The position of assistant to the township chief, in Sige, means that if one can serve as an assistant, they are guaranteed to be promoted to a deputy section level within a year.

The special envoy had been a leader since starting work, always holding administrative positions, and had attended the youth cadre training program organized by the county party committee's organization department. Unlike those military-turned cadres with parentheses, he would definitely be promoted to a deputy section level by this time next year, at least to the position of captain in the bureau, or deputy township chief if transferred to the government.

If the boss has a bright future, the subordinates can also benefit.

The colleagues were elated, and their address immediately changed to "Township Chief Han," no longer the awkward "Special Envoy Han."

Wang Yan was more motivated than ever and reported excitedly: "In the past week, the police station received 8 calls. Three were traffic accidents: one at the second intersection east of Liuxia Bridge, one at the three-way intersection at the boundary of Siliang Road and Dinghu Lake, and one at Unity Bridge. All involved motorcycles, with no fatalities. Our main task was to maintain order, protect the scene, and assist the injured, with the traffic police taking over the rest.

Of the other five cases, one was a public security case. Based on the clues provided by the neighborhood watch team, we apprehended several gambling suspects, with a significant amount involved. We punished the six participants according to the Public Security Administration Punishment Regulations, fining each 5,000 yuan. Xiao Yong handled the public security decision at the bureau. The bureau processed it specially, and the 40% of the fine retained by the township finance didn't require us to front the money."

Several officials from the construction station, including a project manager, all wealthy, had nothing to do after returning from the north and gathered to play "Zha Jin Hua," with high stakes, often winning or losing tens of thousands in a night.

Han Bo took the materials and looked at them, then asked, "Did Manager Wang come to plead for leniency?"

"He did. I followed your instructions, handled it officially, and quickly. When he saw the decision, Manager Wang didn't say much, paid the fine, and took the people away."

Most of the fine was returned to the township finance. What could he say to the police station?

However, it's necessary to show respect. I'll visit the construction station later, lower my stance, and ask for his understanding.

Han Bo nodded and asked, "What about the other two public security cases?"

Wang Yan didn't need to look at the materials, recounting them in detail: "The first was actually a neighborhood dispute. After the autumn harvest, there was nowhere to put the straw, so they burned it. A woman from Liangdong Village burned rice straw without watching it, and the fire spread, burning unharvested rice. Over two acres of rice were completely destroyed. The other party was desperate and called 110. We had to respond, inspected the scene, and asked the village officials to help calculate the loss, asking the arsonist to compensate.

One party thought the compensation was too much, the other thought it was too little, and they wouldn't let it go.

The dispute escalated from the village to the police station, and they argued all afternoon on the first floor. No matter what we said, they wouldn't listen. I had no choice but to tell them that the police couldn't handle it and suggested they either sue at Dinghu Court or seek mediation at the judicial office. Dinghu is far, but they actually went to Director Wu, each paying 50 yuan for mediation. The result was the same as our mediation. The extra 50 yuan was wasted. What a mess!"

The judicial office charges for mediation. It's funny to think they ignored our advice and spent money on this.

"The last case was theft. At least 500 pounds of fish were stolen from a pond in Hongqi Village. We found footprints and a broken fishing net at the scene. The case value was small, so the criminal investigation team didn't want to investigate. We had to conduct inquiries. Xiao Dan found several suspects, but there was no solid evidence. We could use the momentum of the public arrest campaign to bring them to the police station and see if we can get any information."

Even minor cases are cases, and if they aren't solved, the public won't be satisfied.

Han Bo pondered and said, "Four to five hundred pounds of fish can't be eaten by one family. The suspects must have sold them. We'll divide the work. Tomorrow morning, I'll go to Liuxia, Xiao Dan to Dinghu, and Chen Meng to Lizhuang. We'll visit the markets, especially the vegetable markets, to gather clues about the stolen goods."

"Alright, but there's a more important matter. Xiao Yong, you know the situation best, you report."

"Sure."

An Xiaoyong took out a statistical list and said solemnly, "Township Chief Han, while visiting the villages, I found several out-of-town brides who hadn't registered their household. They only registered their children's household when the children started primary school. This has happened before, but I had no authority to handle it. Now that I'm in charge of the household registration, I can't ignore it.

To gather more information, with the support of Wang Yan and Xiao Dan, I organized the neighborhood watch team to conduct a survey in all 19 administrative villages in the township. Preliminary statistics show that there are 28 out-of-town brides in the township, mostly bought from other places by local bachelors, especially those from poor families. After being bought, they are closely watched by the family and neighbors, restricting their freedom.

With no relatives, no money, and a language barrier, some of these women have tried to escape but failed. They are truly in a desperate situation, with no one to turn to. Trafficking women and children, involving illegal detention and rape, is unimaginable in our jurisdiction, and in such large numbers."

Poor families, unattractive, unable to find wives, buying one from elsewhere is not uncommon in Sige.

An Xiaoyong didn't have the authority before, and neither did I.

Han Bo clenched his teeth and said coldly, "Investigate, start with a secret investigation. Find out where they were bought from and the original hometowns of the trafficked women. When the time is right, organize a rescue operation."

Making this decision wasn't easy. An Xiaoyong sincerely admired his superior's resolve and continued, "Township Chief Han, I have a lead. A villager in Liubei Village, around 40 years old, is currently asking someone to buy a wife. The seller will bring the woman in three to five days."

"Since we have a lead, the trafficking gang must be taken down! Xiao Yong, you collected the lead, so you're in charge of this case. There's a meeting in the township tonight. I'll report the issue of buying wives to Secretary Lu, hoping to draw his attention and use this opportunity to address the problem."

This case is very challenging. The issue of buying wives exists to some extent in all townships in the county.

The police station is understaffed and has many responsibilities, so officers rarely visit villages. The neighborhood watch team has low wages, low morale, and, being locals, often turn a blind eye to such issues.

With officers rarely visiting villages and the neighborhood watch team not reporting, it often takes until the child can buy soy sauce for the issue to be known.

After being trafficked and closely watched for a long time, once a woman has a child, she no longer wants to escape. Maternal love makes them give up everything. They pity their children and sympathize with their husbands, even though this "affection" is forced.

Over time, buying wives becomes a matter that the public doesn't report and the authorities don't investigate.

Wang Yan felt sympathy for the trafficked women, but the issue is very sensitive and involves many families. You can't handle one case and ignore another, as it could lead to many families breaking apart, affecting the social stability of the jurisdiction.

Even if the township party committee and government can make a decision, what about other townships?

Trafficking women and children is a serious criminal case. If Liangzhuang police station handles it and others don't, it would be considered dereliction of duty. The aftermath of this issue, especially the follow-up work, can't be solved by the police alone and requires support from the township party committee and government, and even the county party committee and government.

She took a deep breath and hesitated, "Township Chief Han, this issue is very sensitive. Should you reconsider?"

"I'm not an only child; I have a sister. If my sister were trafficked to an unfamiliar place, with no news from home, neither alive nor dead, my father would be heartbroken, my mother would cry herself to death, and I would be desperate! Humanity shouldn't be so cold. This shouldn't happen in Liangzhuang, especially since we are the people's police, and it's our duty to combat crime and protect the people's lives and property."

These women are truly pitiful. From the information we have, some were trafficked when they were still minors.

Their lives have been destroyed by human traffickers and ignorant farmers.

Wang Yan felt increasingly distressed and said, choking back tears, "Township Chief Han, I was wrong. I shouldn't have been so hesitant. I'll follow your lead."

...

ps: The east wind blows, the war drums sound, who in this world is afraid of whom!

The charge has begun, officially aiming for the recommendation list. I'll vote for myself first, and I urgently need the support of all my brothers and sisters.

Also, I've noticed that many readers who donate don't vote for recommendations. Don't waste it; throw it at me.

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