Han Xiangning thought he had misheard, and with a smile, asked, "Director Mei and Director Yang want to transfer me to Jiangcheng Maritime Bureau?"

"Promote you to deputy director, as deputy bureau chief."

Director Tang turned to look at Huang Yuanchang, who smiled gently.

Han Yu had never noticed before, but now realized that Huang Yuanchang genuinely had the air of leadership. But he was unlike most leaders; he had an academic aura that made him seem wise—wisdom mixed with humility—giving the impression of a gentleman who is as gentle as jade.

Han Yu was pondering why he previously found Huang Yuanchang disagreeable, while Han Xiangning responded without hesitation, laughing, "Not only would I not come to Jiangcheng to be deputy bureau chief, but even if you offered me to replace Director Huang as the chief, I definitely wouldn't come to Jiangcheng!"

"Is Jiangcheng not good?"

"It's not that Jiangcheng is bad; it's just not suitable for me. My whole family is in Binjiang, how could I possibly come to Jiangcheng to work on my own."

Although Director Tang knew his old subordinate would be reluctant to transfer to Jiangcheng, as the Deputy Director of Jiangnan Maritime Bureau, he still had to urge him, smiling at Han Yu, "What if Salted Fish were transferred as well?"

"Impossible!"

"Everything is possible."

Director Tang picked up his teacup, smiling, "Our maritime division is managed vertically, just like Customs and the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau. As long as Salted Fish is willing to transfer to the Jiangnan Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau, I believe the leaders at Jiangcheng Customs and Jiangnan Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau would agree, and even welcome it warmly."

Han Yu didn't expect Director Tang to say this, and couldn't help but laugh, "Director Tang, you've got to be kidding, I am a Binjiang person, how could I possibly come to Jiangcheng!"

"You were originally a Linghai person, didn't you transfer to Binjiang Smuggling Crime Investigation Branch from Linghai and work there?"

"And this is the third time working in Binjiang." Huang Yuanchang added with a smile, "First time to Water Police Division for a temporary post, second time transferred to Changhang Navigation Police Bureau Fire Brigade as Deputy Division Commander. Salted Fish, you've seen the wider world, don't be like those with regional prejudices."

"It's different, Binjiang is near Linghai, and I've always been on the river with my transfers. Jiangcheng is too far from my hometown, the Jiangcheng people's accent is different from ours, so I won't transfer there, I'd rather stay honestly in Binjiang."

"Ningning can speak Jiangcheng dialect, Ningning grew up in Jiangcheng, Jiangcheng is Ningning's first hometown."

"I grew up here, but service in the military differs from civilian life. Nearly all my uncles and aunts who served alongside my parents have retired back home, few stayed locally, most of my childhood friends went home with their parents, so I have no friends here, much less relatives!"

Han Xiangning thought for a moment, then softly said, "I understand Jiangcheng dialect, but I'd never speak it. Frankly, Jiangcheng dialect is just cursing. If San'er and I were to transfer, Han Han would definitely have to come too, otherwise there'd be no fatherly or motherly love. I wouldn't want Han Han to grow up in an environment where people curse everywhere."

One must admit, Jiangcheng dialect is indeed not very civilized; it's summed up as bitingly brash!

It's usually with "biting" at the beginning and "brash" at the end, like complaining about someone's unpleasant speech—"brash speech is unbearably biting."

Also expressions like "brash hotel," "brash place," "brash person," "nothing brash to do," "I won't deal with you brashly," etc.

The word "brash" in Jiangcheng dialect can be a virtual word or an actual word, it can serve as an adjective, verb, auxiliary, and even an interjection—its application is extremely broad.

When Director Tang first arrived, he was equally unaccustomed, and could not believe Han Xiangning cited it as a reason for refusal to transfer to Jiangcheng. He asked amusedly, "What if we transferred you to East Sea?"

"Transferring me to East Sea would be fine, as long as you can transfer me to East Sea, I don't care about being promoted; I'd be fine working as a staff member."

"You want to go to East Sea so much and disdain Jiangcheng so much!"

"Director Tang, I am now both Binjiang person and wife of Linghai person, so of course, I want to go to East Sea. You know, us Linghai people only go to East Sea, never Jiangcheng!"

"Salted Fish, what about you?"

"As Ningning said, I am a Linghai person. Us Linghai people and Dongqi people only go to East Sea, how could we possibly end up in Jiangcheng? Plus, we have housing in East Sea, friends and relatives there, and even our accent is similar to theirs."

"So there's no consideration?"

"Absolutely not!"

Linghai people don't even want to go to Binjiang, let alone Jiangcheng, except possibly for university.

Director Tang knew this would be the result, and with feigned seriousness, said, "Xiang Ning, you are a backup cadre of our maritime system. The organization needs you to work here; if you don't come, you're not obeying the organizational arrangement."

Han Xiangning didn't think the old leaders would forcibly transfer her, laughing, "Director Tang, I am female, family comes first for me. If my superior insists, then I can only resign."

"Resign?"

"Yes, I have old and young ones at home; I cannot disregard my family."

"What would you do after resigning?"

"Work at our school, if my brother-in-law can be a teacher at the school, I can too; Dean Shao definitely won't turn me away. I might even venture into business, open a freight forwarding company; business would surely be good, might even strike it rich!"

Director Tang didn't think Han Xiangning was joking and turned back, asking with a smile, "Yuanchang, any words from you?"

"What should I say, everyone has their own aspirations; can't force it."

"So report like this to Director Mei and Director Yang?"

"Reporting like that wouldn't work." Huang Yuanchang never expected to transfer Binjiang's "Fine Master" here, pretended to ponder for a moment, then said, "Xiang Ning is right, having elders and little ones at home, family circumstances are evident here, transferring to work in Jiangcheng indeed isn't realistic, but she can help guide newcomers."

"Continue."

"Personnel must move, cannot always stay put, will seek to report later, seeing if we can bring in key personnel from brother maritime bureaus for temporary post here, and arrange our 'key personnel' to go to brother maritime bureaus for study."

Obviously Huang Yuanchang's real intention lay elsewhere.

But truth be told, he had no other options.

Because the situation of Jiangcheng Maritime Bureau is distinct from other maritime bureaus, primarily being in a provincial capital city, and institutions have just undergone a restructure.

Previously, Jiangcheng Port Supervision Bureau split in two, some went to the newly established Jiangnan Maritime Bureau, which is at provincial level authority, belonging to superior leadership organs, overseeing several standard department level maritime bureaus and offices including Jiangcheng Maritime Bureau—not only is there a rise in position and treatment, but also there's no need to dwell by the river every day, nor to go enforce laws on the river.

Those left behind were bound to feel discontent; after all, having worked in the same unit before, why do you get promoted with pay raise to superior organ, whilst I stay at grassroots...

In essence, Jiangcheng's situation is very complex; Huang Yuanchang needs a chance to reorganize the team.

Director Tang understood, got up, smiled, "Then let's leave it at that, Salted Fish, Xiang Ning, Director Mei hasn't left yet, we must quickly go over, won't see you out."

Han Yu had no knowledge of Jiangcheng's situation, nor Huang Yuanchang's hidden motives; quickly smiled, "No need to see us out, Director Zhang arranged a car, I'll take the Changhang Bureau's police car back."

Surprisingly, Director Tang turned back at the door, smiling, "Xiang Ning, even if you don't transfer to Jiangcheng, you'll soon be promoted to deputy director level, though possibly not as deputy chief."

Han Xiangning was stunned, asking in disbelief, "I'll soon be promoted to deputy director level?"

"The Binjiang Yangtze River Bridge project has been approved; even if construction doesn't start next year, it will the year after." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"What's that got to do with me?"

"It's important for you."

Director Tang explained with a smile, "When Linghai Port was being constructed, I was anxious and worried, fearing major safety incidents in Sanhe Waters. Building the Yangtze River Bridge requires prioritizing water traffic safety; recently Director Yang spoke with your Director Xu, intended to transfer you to Changzhou Maritime Office."

Han Xiangning instinctively asked, "Let me be Changzhou Maritime Director?"

"The bridge is being built within the jurisdiction of Changzhou Maritime Office, your strong sense of responsibility makes them uneasy unless you're stationed there." Director Tang smiled, adding, "Binjiang has the river but no bridge, sea but no port; inadequate transportation severely constrains Binjiang's development. The forthcoming bridge is critically important to Binjiang's economic construction; having you stationed there is also the wish of Binjiang City leaders."