"Boy, seven pounds, six ounces. The ship captain is finally able to hold his grandson, he can't stop grinning. He asked a breakfast shop in Lang Mountain Town to cook some red eggs. He delivered a big basket to the doctors and nurses at the health clinic, brought a basket to us, and in the afternoon he plans to deliver some to the Maritime Bureau traffic center."

"Oh, it's a boy, no wonder he's so happy."

Thinking of having two daughters herself, and her eldest daughter having a girl, Director Xiang looked a bit sad.

Han Yu quickly said, "Boys and girls are the same, like my Han Han. Even if someone gave me two boys, I wouldn't trade her."

Realizing her slip, Director Xiang smiled and said, "Yes, nowadays boys and girls are all the same."

Though she said otherwise, in her heart she certainly wished Han Han were a boy.

When it comes to having boys or girls, Han Yu genuinely didn't care. As she wondered how to comfort her mother-in-law, she got a call from her old workplace.

Han Yu neglected her meal and quickly got up to use the home phone to return the call.

"Salted Fish, are you busy?"

"Not busy, Director Shi. Is there something you need?"

Linghai Police Bureau Deputy Director Shi Shengyong had just finished his meal, sitting in a restaurant booth, playing cards with his neck holding his phone, he laughed, "Do you have time tonight? Can you come back for a gathering?"

Han Yu instinctively asked, "Is there an event tonight?"

"Yeah."

"What's the theme? Who will be there?"

"Director Yang is back, and Chairman Li happens to be home. Old Wu and I would like to invite a couple of our former leaders to gather." Fearing Han Yu might not show up, Shi Shengyong added with meaning, "I just called Political Commissioner Zhou, he said he will have time tonight. It's a rare opportunity to have the past three directors together!"

Director Yang is now the Deputy Director of the Binjiang Judicial Bureau, Chairman Li retired long ago. If you add Zhou Huixin, who was reassigned to the Smuggling Crime Investigation Branch, it truly is a grand gathering of three Linghai Police Bureau directors.

Han Yu asked with a smile, "Director Shi, I remember there was another director between Chairman Li and Director Yang. Did you invite the old director?"

"Are you talking about that Zheng Dahuang who was allegedly chased away by your master?"

"Yeah, that's Director Zheng, but I never met him. Also, he wasn't chased away by my master." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Zheng Dahuang retired long ago, who knows where he is now. Haven't been in contact for years, and since his reassignment, he hasn't been back to Linghai, I can't reach him, so how can I invite him."

"I was just asking."

"Seriously, can you come back tonight?"

Han Yu didn't answer his question but asked with a smile, "Will Director Zhang be there tonight?"

Shi Shengyong glanced at his old colleague sitting across from him and said without thinking, "We're inviting old leaders for a meal, it's not an official reception. Besides, Mayor Zhang is so busy, we didn't plan to disturb him."

Inspector Wu...

He had mentioned "Old Wu" earlier, and Han Yu hadn't immediately realized who it was.

Now he said "Inspector Wu," and Han Yu suddenly realized he meant Wu Ren Guang, now Deputy Chief Procurator and Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau at the Linghai District Procuratorate.

Wu Ren Guang and Zhang Yidong had such a public fallout back then, it's said that they still glare at each other when they meet at City Committee and Municipal Government meetings. It's true they really wouldn't sit together for a meal.

Having not returned to Linghai for quite some time, Han Yu did intend to go back to have a look.

But thinking today was the "Western New Year" and she promised to play with Han Han yesterday, Han Yu could only apologize, "Director Shi, you veterans gathering, as a junior, I shouldn't intrude. Besides, I can't drink, if I go, I'd only dampen the mood."

"Impossible, we miss you, really. Don't believe me? I'll let Inspector Wu talk to you."

"Salted Fish, it's me, Wu Ren Guang. Long time no see, why not gather tonight?"

Desperately conscious of the call with his elder master brother and mentor, Han Yu hurriedly said, "Inspector Wu, I have some things on my side, truly can't make it."

Wu Ren Guang was about to speak, when Shi Shengyong, standing beside him, laughed and asked, "What's the problem? Is it that crazy river thief who's been committing crimes on the Yangtze River that hasn't been caught?"

"No, that bastard is very cunning. With so many instances of crimes committed, theoretically, there should have been quite a few leads left behind, yet we've searched and searched and can't make any headway, organizing so many police forces for surveillance with no results."

"Each profession has its focus, Inspector Wu is experienced in cracking cases like this, he is a real veteran in criminal investigation. You should come over early this afternoon and ask Inspector Wu for some analysis."

A string of thefts, with the Water Police Station, Changhang Bureau, Water Anti-Smuggling Department, and Border Inspection Station jointly trying, couldn't solve the case, which is frankly embarrassing.

No wonder their shore colleagues believe the water police only handle water firefighting, water rescue, and water security management. When it comes to solving cases, the water police are far behind.

The more Han Yu thought about it, the more awkward it seemed, unwilling to return to Linghai and "humiliate himself," he said with a laugh, "We don't need Inspector Wu's help for now, we'll keep trying to figure it out."

"Salted Fish, this is different from firefighting and disaster relief, the longer it drags on, the worse the impact. How about I talk to the Criminal Police Unit and ask Captain Xing to appoint an investigator to help with the investigation?"

"Director Shi, I appreciate your kindness. But as I said, we genuinely don't need it for now."

...

Ending the call, Shi Shengyong couldn't help but laugh, "This kid is still showing off, that's just saving face at his own expense!"

Having been in criminal investigation for so many years, Wu Ren Guang didn't see it that way. Dropping a 1-6 in his hand, he said, "Breaking a case requires first having case-breaking conditions. The situation on the river is more complex than on land, with such a large fluidity of people and vessels, it's perfectly normal for a case to be unsolved for a while."

"The key is that they've come up against something more than a mere theft."

"Theft is theft, what's different about it?"

Before Shi Shengyong could speak, Linghai Police Bureau Deputy Director and Development Zone Branch Director Yang Xihui said with a touch of schadenfreude, "They've encountered a series of thefts. The suspect committed seventeen times in two and a half months, causing a very nasty impact."

Linghai Police Political Commissioner Sun Jiawen added, "If this case isn't quickly solved, it'll spread by word of mouth. In the end, as long as someone mentions Binjiang, they'll say its security is poor and there are a lot of thieves there."

"So Salted Fish has a lot of pressure?" Wu Ren Guang looked up and asked.

"Salted Fish is now an anti-smuggling police officer, what pressure could he have? But anything that happens on the river is related to him, after all, he's the 'Binjiang Water Army Commander.' It's said that even with such a serious case occurring, neither the City Bureau nor Old Wang was even consulted, it's all because of Salted Fish's influence."

"So are Wang Wenhong and Zhao Hongxing under a lot of pressure?"

"They're the director and deputy director of the Water Police Station, who else would the City Bureau ask?" Shi Shengyong thought for a while and then added, "Theoretically, they could also ask the Changhang Bureau, but the fact is, the Changhang Bureau isn't under the City Bureau's control, and the security on the river mainly relies on the Water Police Station."

Yang Xihui added, "This case isn't that big, but it's not small either. The City Bureau knows, and the police departments of several districts and counties along the river know as well, everyone up and down is watching."

No matter the case, when leadership starts focusing on it, things become difficult for those below.

Recalling his days working in the police system, Wu Ren Guang sighed, "Luckily, Salted Fish is there to weather the storm, otherwise Wang Xiazhi and Zhao Hongxing would be frantic by now."

Shi Shengyong agreed and couldn't help but chuckle, "Also, fortunately, Salted Fish has a good attitude. If it were someone else, they probably couldn't sleep, worried sick. To the leadership of the City and City Bureau, he's the one in charge of the river. If river security is good or not, he bears the primary responsibility."

"That's why being too capable is not always a good thing."

"It has its pros and cons."

"Secretary Lu and Mayor Wang highly value Salted Fish, but they value Xiang Ning even more. It's said that Xiang Ning's deputy director promotion was strongly recommended by Secretary Lu and Mayor Wang."

"They highly value Xiang Ning for a good reason, especially as it directly relates to the construction of the Yangtze River Bridge."

Yang Xihui, whose jurisdiction is not far from where the Yangtze River Bridge is to be built, explained with a smile, "Such a large construction project, with a lot of higher-level attention. Every now and then, leaders and experts come for on-site inspections, and they cannot avoid going to the Maritime Bureau."

"Xiang Ning knows her business, familiar with river conditions, rich in work experience, so when leaders and experts ask, she can give detailed insights. Not only is she young, but she also has a good image, making a great first impression on higher-level leaders and experts."

Wu Ren Guang laughed and asked, "So, Xiang Ning has become Binjiang's spokesperson?"

"More or less, her main job is to assist the city in hosting higher-ups."