Chapter 84

After finishing breakfast and returning to the office, Director Ning called.

"Xiao Han, you arrived late yesterday. Although the market didn't collect stall fees, there weren't many people buying vegetables. The few stalls at the intersections and the small shops in the villages that sell vegetables didn't yield much information. I just arranged for it, and I'll help you ask around today. You should have news by noon at the latest."

"Thank you, Director Ning, for your trouble."

It was autumn, and a relative who was a village cadre in Liangzhuang had sent over more than a hundred pounds of new rice and ten pounds of free-range eggs in the evening.

It was a common practice for people from the countryside to send some local specialties or fresh fruits and vegetables to the city, and for city dwellers to send things that their rural relatives couldn't easily buy. This tradition had been formed over many years and was very common and normal in Liuxia and Liangzhuang.

He invited the relative to stay for dinner, and during the meal, he casually mentioned the new public security commissioner in Liangzhuang.

He didn't know until he asked, but it turned out that the young man who had been acting humble was a tough character. He had recently caught over a hundred silkworm traders, including the drivers, most of whom were from Xin'an, with over twenty from Liuxia. They were heavily fined by the Sigeon Industry and Commerce Bureau.

After catching the traders, he went after fugitives. A public security commissioner actually did the work of a detective, traveling over 2,000 kilometers to catch a fugitive who had been on the run for six years, and held a grand public arrest meeting.

Unlike Li Shuncheng, who had cancer and worked alone, he wasn't alone. He had four or five police officers under him, and his position was not much different from that of a police station chief.

Not just not much different, but better than a police station chief.

He wasn't just a public security commissioner; he was also an assistant to the township head, a half-township leader, enjoying the benefits of a deputy section-level position, and would be promoted to deputy section-level after a year.

He was well-educated, capable, and decisive, and it was said that he had strong connections above. Such a person had a bright future.

More friends mean more paths. It was important to build a good relationship with such a person. Although they weren't in the same prefecture-level city, he didn't need to ask for help, but since he had relatives in Liangzhuang, he could always ask for help if they needed it in the future.

Director Ning was even more enthusiastic than yesterday, smiling, "We're family, no need for formalities. The calligraphy you wanted is ready. I just sent it to be framed, and I'll bring it to you once it's done."

"That's too much trouble. You can just bring it over, and you can come over for a visit and try some of our local dishes from the countryside."

"Deal. You're busy, and I have to go to work."

After hanging up, he forgot to ask about the household registration transfer, but from the tone of his voice, it didn't seem to be a problem.

An Xiaoyong was still staking out in Tuanjie Village, and there was no movement yet. Checking the time, it was almost 8 a.m. He picked up his bag, took the walkie-talkie, and walked to the construction station, which was about fifty meters west of the police station.

Many people think that police officers are just for solving cases, but out of 100 police officers, at most only 10 are involved in solving cases. Especially those in leadership positions, who have too many things to deal with and can't be on the front lines for investigations.

The construction station was the richest enterprise in the township, and Manager Wang's status was second only to Township Head Jiao.

After arresting a few cadres and fining them heavily, he had to pay a visit. More importantly, according to the custom in Sigeon, such enterprises would give some sponsorship to the police.

A police officer who can't solve cases isn't a good police officer, and a leader who can't make money isn't a good leader.

Considering the budget for this year, it was almost the end of the year, and it was time to discuss how the construction station would support the police station's work next year. The "royal grain" wasn't enough, so they had to rely on "miscellaneous grain." In this line of work, one had to have a thick skin.

"Xiao Han, is there something you need?" As he walked through the gate, the main person came out of an office.

"Good morning, Manager Wang. I didn't see your car, so I thought you were out."

"The Audi took Secretary Lu to the city to handle the township-to-town conversion. I'm using this one, which the client just gave us. What do you think?"

With a new car, Manager Wang was in a good mood.

The car was also good, a Honda Accord, almost new, automatic, a high-end sedan with an out-of-town license plate.

Xiao Han opened the door, got in to feel it, and then came out smiling. "Good car, it's only run for 20,000 kilometers. Using this one is better; it's more impressive for official business than a Santana."

"It's worth 400,000, but I'd rather have the money." Manager Wang shook his head, looking distressed.

"Getting paid for projects is hard, but getting a car is better than getting nothing at all."

"That's true. If it weren't for your help, we wouldn't have been able to deal with that Dacheng Company in Jiangcheng."

"Manager Wang, I'm here to apologize. When we went to Behe to arrest Gu Xingu, the few officers who stayed behind weren't very flexible. I'm ashamed to face you, and I don't know how to apologize." With no one around, Xiao Han brought up the matter, looking apologetic.

The fines collected by the police station were different from those collected by other police stations. The return was only 3%, and the police officers and auxiliary police didn't get a cut. The fines didn't go into their pockets.

If someone reported it, they had to respond. If they caught someone in the act, they had to handle it according to the law.

There was a ruling document and a fine receipt. The gambling money seized on the scene counted as a fine, and the excess was returned.

If it were the Dinghu Police Station, they would confiscate the gambling money, charge a fine separately, and make you wait a week to get the ruling document and receipt, trying to exploit people's fear of losing face and not wanting to go to the county public security bureau for a ruling document or a receipt.

Moreover, he personally came to apologize. How could Manager Wang hold it against him? He waved his hand. "What apology? They should have been taught a lesson for gambling."

"You're not angry with me?"

"How could I be? Xiao Han, I'm also a party member and a cadre. I have some political awareness."

"You're not just a party member and a cadre; you're also a leader."

He was indeed a leader, with a deputy township head position, a deputy section-level rank, and an appointment from the county party committee organization department, a genuine official and businessman.

Old Lu was even funnier, giving himself the title of chairman. On the front of his business card, he was the Party Secretary of Liangzhuang Township in Sigeon County, and on the back, he was the Chairman and General Manager of the Liangzhuang Township Agricultural, Industrial, and Commercial Development Corporation.

The young man, now an assistant to the township head, was still so humble, addressing him as "you" and showing the same respect as always.

Manager Wang was very satisfied, and Xiao Han seized the opportunity to bring up the issue of the police station's funding.

Police stations in the jurisdiction would ask enterprises for sponsorship and security fees, which was a common practice in Sigeon. However, Liangzhuang was an exception. Even if there had been a police station before, they wouldn't have paid, and the township would have asked the police station for money.

This was a principle issue. If they paid, other enterprises would have complaints.

It was his first time asking, and he couldn't let him leave empty-handed.

Manager Wang thought for a moment, suddenly raised his arm, and pointed to a dusty SUV in the carport, the brand of which couldn't be identified. "Xiao Han, you've helped us a lot at the construction station, so we should support your work. A few thousand yuan wouldn't be enough, so we'll give you a car."

"A car?"

"It's not scrapped, and it's in good condition. It's a Desert Prince, but it has no documentation and can't be registered. It doesn't matter to you; just hang a license plate, and you don't need to pay for road maintenance or insurance. You can still drive it."

He wasn't exaggerating. The police budget was tight, and there was no money for insurance or road maintenance. Only the cars of the bureau chief and the political commissar were insured. Many cars didn't even have a registration, being confiscated vehicles of unknown origin, used as they were.

He walked closer and scraped the dust off the window. Inside, it was in good condition, with leather seats, a clean and tidy interior, and a sunroof.

Chen Meng could drive, and Xiao Dan had just gotten his driver's license. Having a car would be more convenient, but the key was whether they could accept it. Xiao Han turned around and said, "Manager Wang, this car is worth hundreds of thousands of yuan!"

"It has no documentation, can't be registered, and can't be driven on the road. It can't be sold, and secondhand car dealers wouldn't dare to take it, fearing that the police might seize it one day. We don't owe anyone money, so we can't use it to offset debts like the client did. It's been parked here for half a year, and if we don't use it, it will really be scrapped."

Manager Wang patted his arm and continued, "If you use it, the township won't have any objections. If the township leaders need to go somewhere and can't find a car, you can pick them up. This is called the rational use of resources."