Chapter 97

At 10:47, the arrest team safely returned to the police station.

The iron gate was wide open, and a security guard was sitting in the guard room. Over thirty men who had bought wives had already been taken to the detention center; otherwise, the security measures wouldn't have been so lax.

Comrade Lao Wang was extremely efficient; the sign for the "Sige County Public Security Bureau Anti-Trafficking Investigation Team" had already been hung up. Although the county's personnel office didn't recognize this team, it was stronger than the Liangzhuang Township Police Station, which lacked official recognition. Just seeing the sign at the entrance made it clear that this was a public security agency.

What was both amusing and exasperating was that next to the anti-trafficking team's sign, there was another one that read "Sige County Liangzhuang Township People's Government Anti-Trafficking Office."

It seemed to be a way of asserting sovereignty, as if to tell everyone that the police station belonged to the Liangzhuang Township People's Government, not the county public security bureau. It was definitely Lao Lu's instruction. If he hadn't guessed wrong, the director of this anti-trafficking office should be Zhou Zhengfa.

Getting out of the car, he walked into the hall and saw a familiar face.

"Minister Niu, you're here too."

"Back already, must have been a tough journey?"

"We had a car, the conditions were good, not too tough."

Niu Qingshan looked at Wang Jiefang curiously and said straightforwardly, "Xiao Han, I'm here to borrow your car. Two military recruitment officers are doing home visits and plan to go to the county armed forces department to pick them up and then take them to the villages."

Military recruitment was a big deal, like a carp jumping over the dragon gate, second only to the high school entrance exam in Liangzhuang.

To secure more military recruitment spots, Lao Lu and he made countless trips to the county armed forces department every year.

The off-road vehicle belonged to the township, so it was normal for the township to use it. Besides, Minister Niu had always been very supportive of him. Han Bo immediately agreed, "No problem, I'll have Chen Meng take you."

"Then I won't be polite. I'll come back at 12:30."

"Minister Niu, it's almost lunchtime. What are you going to do? Let me introduce you, this is Deputy Chief Wang Jiefang of the Public Security Bureau's Criminal Investigation Team. Chief Wang is heading back to the county, so we can go together after lunch."

Wang Yan smiled, "That's right, the food is ready. Minister Niu, let's go to the canteen."

The canteen was empty except for a few members of the arrest team. After washing his hands, Han Bo picked up his bowl and chopsticks and asked, "Wang Yan, where is the task force? Where are they eating?"

"Only Master Qin is here, and he can't handle it alone. The task force and the women and children are being fed by the construction machinery factory canteen. They deliver the food directly to the sericulture guidance station. They also prepare the food when the silk company collects cocoons, and Director Wang is supervising there."

Xiao Dan muttered, "Seventy or eighty people eating, three meals a day, how much will it cost?"

"The task force's meals are covered by us, but the women and children have to pay. Ten yuan per person per day. We're not a charity, we can't afford to feed them."

"What about the ones who were just rescued?"

"We take care of them."

Han Bo pondered, "It's not a good situation to keep supporting them. Has Secretary Lu or the bureau given any instructions?"

Wang Yan glanced at Niu Qingshan and said with a bitter smile, "Secretary Lu gave us a blank check. The township will provide 100,000 yuan for post-incident expenses, which he says will come from future public security fines. He also promised to increase support for the police station, with all future public security fines being fully returned to us."

The township used to collect about 200,000 yuan in public security fines each year. After reaching a 40% return agreement with the Public Security Bureau, the annual "income" from this source wouldn't exceed 100,000 yuan.

Lao Lu's calculation was brilliant. By promising to cover the expenses, he won a good reputation, but in reality, he didn't spend a cent. The so-called post-incident funds would ultimately have to be legally generated by the police station itself.

Minister Niu couldn't help but laugh, "Xiao Han, Xiao Wang, it seems you're at a disadvantage now, but in the long run, you'll benefit. If it weren't for Secretary Lu's efforts, would you get a 43% return?"

Before, they didn't know and were misled, but now they were fully aware of the bureau's internal workings.

Han Bo shook his head and picked up a piece of vegetable with his chopsticks, "Minister Niu, the 10% return is for special envoys. The bureau leadership believes that a single special envoy doesn't need much funding. We're now similar to a police station, and with the anti-trafficking team, our financial pressure is greater than any police station. 43% isn't much; we should get a full return like the traffic police."

"That would be a direct income and expenditure!"

"Two separate lines of income and expenditure. We hand it over to the bureau, the bureau hands it over to the finance bureau, and the finance bureau returns it. It's not a direct income and expenditure."

Some extremely difficult and heavily indebted police stations indeed received full returns on public security fines from the bureau.

The traffic police needed to maintain traffic management facilities, such as installing traffic lights and cameras at major intersections, setting up roadblocks, road markings, and traffic warning signs. The county didn't provide funding, so they had to get a full return, but even then, it wasn't enough.

Your Liangzhuang Police Station is different. You have an office building, two cars, and no external debts. The conditions are so good that 43% is already quite good. Wanting a full return is like a dream. The bureau leadership would never agree.

He had an ambitious long-term plan for the unit's development, which required tens or even hundreds of thousands of yuan.

Wang Jiefang knew he was short of money but seriously doubted whether the bureau would agree to a full return on public security fines. He remained silent, smiling without a word.

Han Bo also didn't have high hopes. He said thoughtfully, "In a few days, we'll collect next year's public security joint defense fees. A family of three pays 20 yuan, and a family of five also pays 20 yuan. This isn't scientific, reasonable, or fair. I'll talk to Director Zhou and see if we can change it to 5 yuan per person, more for larger families, less for smaller ones."

Collecting 20 yuan per household would bring in 130,000 yuan, but if it were 5 yuan per person, it would be at least 170,000 yuan.

Wang Yan's eyes lit up, and she laughed, "This plan is good, fair. Deputy Township Head Han, I think this work won't be difficult."

It wasn't his idea but his former boss Jiang Guoping's.

Thinking of the word "unscientific," Han Bo couldn't help but smile.

This less-than-successful anti-trafficking operation was mainly limited by two aspects: first, the "rear was unstable." The village police stations weren't fully established, the number of security guards was insufficient, and the equipment was lacking. Without improving the jurisdiction's public security, it was impossible to meet the basic requirements of fewer cases, fewer criminals, and no criminals, making it impossible to focus on anti-trafficking. Second, the funding was insufficient. Anti-trafficking was a costly endeavor, and without a foundation of 300,000 to 500,000 yuan, it was impossible to operate effectively in Sige, Nangang, Jiang Province, or nationwide.

Money isn't everything, but without money, nothing is possible.

Han Bo decided to continue generating revenue and said expressionlessly, "After lunch, Xiao Dan and Lao Mi will take Meng Shiyong to the detention center. Their case will be handled by Xiao Yong, who will be responsible for it from start to finish. Wang Yan, you and I will go to the old party school and thoroughly question the trafficked women, especially those who tried to escape but failed. Find out who was involved in their confinement. Summon each one for questioning, and deal with each one who is confirmed to be involved!"