Chapter 8

Before the factory office officially sent Gao Changxing over, he didn’t count as part of the security department. Jiang Guoping was busy finalizing the economic police detachment and then taking leave to build a house, and he didn’t care at all about how the union negotiations were going.

The Changhe minivan was in good condition, and it only took a few minutes to get used to driving it.

The county was small, and the Public Security Bureau wasn’t far away. There wasn’t much traffic on the road, so he arrived after just a short while.

The Security Service Company was small, located at the west gate of the Public Security Bureau, with a total of three counters. The economic police had the same cap badges, uniforms, and ranks as the public security officers, except for the arm patches, which read “Economic” instead of “Public Security.”

They had already prepared everything, just waiting for the silk factory to send the money. A set of summer uniforms cost over a hundred, and a set of winter uniforms cost several hundred, which was quite expensive. Fortunately, the factory would pay, so individuals didn’t have to spend their own money.

After loading everything onto the car, Han Bo asked the salesperson for two pairs of handcuffs.

The factory leadership approved whatever amount the Public Security Bureau asked for, not a cent more. Han Bo had to pay for the handcuffs himself, and the Security Service Company would issue an invoice, which he could later reimburse from the factory.

"The 95-style police rank doesn’t look as good as the 92-style. One bar, two bars, three bars, it looks like the ranks of the Young Pioneers," Jiang Guoping, who had worn military uniforms for over a decade, didn’t really care about wearing a police uniform and started complaining about the new police ranks.

"Jiang Section Chief, what rank do I have?" Han Bo pulled the side door shut, climbed into the driver’s seat, and asked curiously.

Mentioning this, Jiang Guoping’s face lit up. "At yesterday’s meeting, they planned to grant you the rank of First-Class Police Officer, one bar with three stars, a bit higher than trainees and Second-Class Police Officers. Although it’s not very useful, more bars look better, so I argued with them based on facts and reason."

"How did you argue?"

"I asked them if the police rank follows the position, and they said not entirely. If not entirely, it means it’s not too different. Our Sige County State-owned Silk Factory can at least correspond to a section-level unit. The factory manager is a deputy department-level, and middle-level cadres are deputy section-level. Deputy section-level is too low, and several secretaries and town mayors who demobilized with me are at that level.

You are the deputy section chief of the security department and the head of the economic police detachment, with over twenty subordinates. The police station only has a few people, so you should be at least a section chief. I asked them what rank the police station chief usually has, and they said it could be a Third-Class Inspector, a Second-Class Inspector, or a First-Class Inspector, but not many. I said it’s neither too high nor too low, so your rank is two bars with two stars, a Second-Class Inspector."

Han Bo chuckled, "Can you haggle over police ranks?"

"Economic police are not public security police. We don’t take it seriously, and neither do they. Go back, change into your uniform, take a photo, and get your police ID in a few days."

Jiang Guoping was more interested in the car than the economic police detachment. He patted the storage box and sighed, "Since you can drive, many things will be easier. You can drive to the various branches, unlike me, who has to either ride a bicycle for a long time or take a minibus. I hate taking minibuses the most. They are now privately contracted and circle around the county, not leaving until they are full, wasting a lot of time."

The factory regulations stipulated that the security department must inspect each branch at least four times a month.

The two branches in the county were close, and inspecting them ten times wouldn’t be a problem. The three silk reeling branches in the townships were far away, and inspecting them four times would mean ten round trips.

After Jiang Guoping took leave, all these tasks fell on Han Bo. He pondered, "Driving isn’t a problem, but the key is that the car needs fuel. If we drive too much, will the factory have an opinion?"

"Trucks are used for deliveries, and leaders use sedans. This minivan isn’t used by anyone, so driving it isn’t a problem. However, you’re right; if we drive too much and use too much fuel, the leadership will have thoughts."

"The leadership is so stingy!"

"They are that stingy, otherwise, how could they argue with Gao Changxing? For a cadre, a few hundred more or less in salary during their term isn’t a big deal, but they fear illness and retirement. Empathizing with the leadership, they have their own difficulties. There are too many retired cadres, and the burden is too heavy. Last year, medical expenses alone cost over two million."

"What if we cover the fuel costs ourselves?"

"Then no one would say anything, but how can you pay for it yourself when you’re doing work for the unit?"

"Jiang Section Chief, I won’t pay for it myself. This is what I’m thinking..."

Han Bo briefly mentioned the idea of collecting sanitation fees from the night market, and Jiang Guoping was delighted. "Xiao Han, I’ve actually thought about it, and I’ve considered it more comprehensively. The reason I didn’t do it is that I’ve been the head of the security department for so many years, and I know everyone. I can’t bring myself to do it.

Secondly, people’s words are fearsome. If I led the effort, others might think I, Jiang Guoping, have a red eye, seeing others make money and wanting to get a piece for myself. At my age, it’s better to avoid trouble. I’ll retire in a few years, seeking peace and quiet, not wanting to be criticized behind my back."

"Are you saying it can’t be done?"

"I can’t, but you can. You just started working, and you’re from Sihé, so no one knows you, and you have fewer concerns. Everyone knows your family is well-off and that you got a house right away. Unlike me, who has saved up enough to build a two-story house after a lifetime of work. Others won’t think you’re trying to make money; they’ll think you want to do something."

Han Bo was genuinely grateful to have such a good superior.

Last night, he had asked a neighbor who had moved from Sihé Town. His father was doing engineering projects in Donghai City, earning in a year what others earn in a lifetime. Jiang Guoping had no qualms about smoking the good cigarettes Han Bo offered and lit another Yuxi.

"Your approach won’t work. The factory’s land should benefit the factory. Not collecting money is fine, but once you start collecting, the factory leadership will have thoughts. So, you need to give the factory some benefits, like covering the wages of a few janitors.

The industrial and commercial department needs to be considered. They are easy to deal with, a few hundred a month, equivalent to industrial and commercial management fees. This way, the night market becomes a legal and regulated market, and you can collect fees legally. The fee standards you mentioned are not scientific. You should charge more for prime locations and less for less desirable ones.

To secure a good location, the individual traders often fight. After negotiating with the factory and the industrial and commercial department, gather them for a meeting. Draw dozens of stalls on paper and let them choose. For the contested stalls, have them bid, and the highest bidder gets the stall. Once decided, it stays for a year without change..."

Han Bo realized he had underestimated the situation; Jiang Guoping had considered it more comprehensively.

Money can motivate subordinates and establish authority. With authority, they will be motivated, and he can lead them to catch hooligans and prevent potential tragedies.

Han Bo made up his mind and, holding the steering wheel, said, "Jiang Section Chief, I’ll follow your advice. But I’m young and inexperienced, and I’m not sure if Director Qian will agree. Also, I don’t know anyone at the West City Industrial and Commercial Office."

This wasn’t for himself but for the security department and everyone.

He was willing to take the lead, and Jiang Guoping was more than happy to support him. He waved his hand, "I’ll help you with the factory and the industrial and commercial office. First, talk to Director Qian, and once we agree, go to the industrial and commercial office. It won’t delay your evening work. You know I’m building a house, so the other work will have to be led by you."