CHAPTER 500: CHAPTER 349: PICK SOMEONE UP

A validation meeting was held, and news that the Changhang Binjiang Branch was planning to build a large fire-fighting and rescue vessel spread rapidly.

During this period, the phone rang incessantly, with directors and political commissioners from more than a dozen brother branches calling to inquire whether Binjiang Branch had struck it rich.

The investment would cost at least tens of millions; this was a substantial order indeed.

Several ship design units and shipbuilding enterprises from Hanwu were in an uproar; some sought help through contacts, some directly rushed to Binjiang to discuss, and some even went to seek leaders at Changhang Police Bureau or even the Yangtze Navigation Bureau.

The office received dozens of proposals from design units and shipyards, not only from Hanwu, but also from East Sea, Qingdao, Dalian, and even East Guang.

Binjiang Shipyard, which was acquired by Cosco last year and only builds cargo ships, would surely want to compete for this large project from the branch if they also constructed tugs.

Just two minutes ago, a leader from the Yangtze River Channel Bureau called, having been commissioned by someone.

Director He tightly gripped the telephone, smiling as he said, "Director Du, sorry, we are still in the validation phase, and the funds are not fully in place. But rest assured, once the funds are secured, I will report to you first thing. Yes, yes, yes, there will certainly be a tender, and welcome, welcome, how could we not welcome it?"

Political Commissioner Jiang walked in with a newly received notice. After Director He finished the call, he couldn’t help but ask with a chuckle, "Another one courting favor?"

"This is the third call today, haha."

"Is it from a shipyard or a design institute?"

"It’s from someone at the Waterway Bureau, acting on behalf of a marine research institute."

"Director He, it seems our validation meeting wasn’t for naught; at least it’s made our branch famous. Now, not only within the Changhang system but also major domestic ship design units and shipbuilding enterprises are aware of our branch."

"The vessel we intend to build is a fire-fighting and rescue ship, not an ordinary cargo vessel, nor a regular tugboat. Without a diamond drill, don’t take on porcelain work — design units and shipbuilding enterprises that aren’t confident won’t dare get in touch."

The commotion is so widespread, even leaders from unrelated upper-level units are aware. How this will all wrap up in the future.

The branch has never been so high-profile before, Political Commissioner Jiang is both excited and a little worried. He hands the notice over with a smile and asks, "Director He, if we really manage to secure matching funds, truly manage to pull in sponsorship, who will we entrust with the design and construction when the time comes?"

"Are you worried that choosing one for the design will offend another, and picking one for the build won’t please another?"

"Each one bigger than the last, how can I not be worried?"

"There’s nothing to worry about."

Director He laughed heartily, sitting back down and saying, "If we really secure matching funds, if we really pull in sponsorship, this project will be similar to joint-stock, with the city government, Port Authority, Port Supervision Bureau, and sponsors as ’shareholders’ at that time. We’ll invite a few ’shareholders’ to appoint participants, or even have the ’shareholders’ organize the tender."

Political Commissioner Jiang asked with a smile, "So we don’t have the final say?"

If one is flexible enough, bad situations can often be turned into favorable ones.

For example, with Salted Fish wanting to build a new ship — since Salted Fish couple has already made a big fuss, making it impossible for the bureau not to support — why not go with the flow.

By inviting leaders from the Changhang navigation police specializing in firefighting, firefighting department leaders, and several ship experts to attend the Binjiang validation meeting for building the fire-fighting and rescue ship, not only will the superiors know that Binjiang Branch values firefighting. Having finally raised some funds, they would rather forego constructing an office building and spend all resources to build a fire-fighting and rescue vessel, and powerful domestic ship design units and ship-building enterprises also know about it.

Those ship design units and shipbuilding enterprises are state-owned, and most are part of the transportation system.

It’s no exaggeration to say that even the leaders of the Ministry of Transport are now aware that Binjiang Branch wants to build a large fire-fighting and rescue vessel!

The advertisement has been very targeted, and the effect unexpectedly good.

Director He, delighted by the good news, offered a cigarette to Political Commissioner Jiang and laughed, "Even if we had the final say, we’d have to pretend we didn’t, otherwise, we’d offend so many people."

Political Commissioner Jiang did not have the time to joke further. Pointing at the notice he had just received, he said, "Director He, take a look quickly, and after that, we need to call back the superiors."

"Oh... What do they want me in Ningbo for?"

"I don’t know either."

"Let me call and ask."

Director He put down the notice and picked up the phone to contact the Changhang Police Bureau Political Office.

The more he asked, the more confused he became. The deputy head of the Political Office gave him a mobile phone number, instructing him to contact the owner of the number and emphasizing that it was a directive from the ministry.

Director He glanced at the newly noted number and picked up the phone to dial.

After waiting for about twenty seconds, the call connected.

"Hello, Leader. This is He Bin from the Changhang Public Security Bureau Binjiang Branch. May I ask... what instructions do you have?"

"This is He Bin, comrade, right? I am Feng Yuanzheng. I have been transferred to Cosco, but I used to work at Binjiang Port Supervision Bureau."

Who is Feng Yuanzheng?

He’s with Cosco; does he also want to compete for the design and construction of the rescue ship project from the Changhang branch? Is he inviting me to go to Ningbo to visit their shipyard?

This new development was even more substantial than the previous ones, making waves even within the ministry.

Director He was unsure how to proceed when Political Commissioner Jiang blurted out in surprise, "Director Feng, weren’t you transferred to the Marine Bureau? What are you doing at Cosco now!"

"Is that Old Jiang?"

"Yes, it’s me, Director Feng, you still remember my voice."

"We’re old friends; of course, I remember your voice. Sorry Old Jiang, but I need to speak with He Bin about something, you might need to step out for a moment."

"Alright, I’ll leave for now."

Political Commissioner Jiang, still confused, hastily whispered to Director He, "He used to be head of the Port Supervision Bureau, enjoying treatment as a deputy director, and served as an inspector at the Marine Bureau."

Having composed himself, Director He waited until Political Commissioner Jiang had left the office, and hurriedly continued, "Director Feng, sorry about that. I am new to Binjiang this year, and I am not very familiar with the affairs of the Port Supervision Bureau."

"No problem."

"Director Feng, do you have any instructions?"

"Comrade He Bin, you should have received the notice from your bureau, right?"

"I have, just received it."

"Comrade He Bin, if you are not too busy, come with me to Ningbo to pick someone up."

Director He subconsciously asked, "Pick up who?"

Director Feng mentioned casually, "Pick up Comrade Salted Fish from your branch, and please also ask Comrade Han Xiangning, Salted Fish’s spouse, if she has time, if her health allows it, and whether she would like to come along."

"Director Feng, what’s happened to Salted Fish!"

"Don’t worry, nothing has happened to Salted Fish, he’s fine."

Repeated notifications to the unit leaders and requests for them to inform family members made Director He’s heart beat wildly, as he asked anxiously, "Director Feng, is Salted Fish really alright?"

"He’s really alright, I guarantee it on my personal integrity."

Director Feng realized he had scared the other party and explained with a smile, "The reason I notified you is mainly because, as a unit leader, you should know where your subordinate has been and what he’s been busy with for the past few months. Moreover, the higher-ups are holding a commendation ceremony in Ningbo and it needs to be kept secret, so only you are being informed to participate."

Director He asked incredulously, "Salted Fish has made a contribution and the superiors want to commend him?"

"Yes, a great contribution. This is also an honor for your Changhang Bureau. I offer you my congratulations in advance."

"Can Salted Fish’s spouse participate?"

"At first, the superiors did not plan to inform Comrade Han Xiangning. Later, considering that Comrade Han Xiangning is pregnant and in need of Salted Fish’s care the most, yet she has been very supportive of Salted Fish’s work. Plus, she is a party member and definitely reliable politically, as well as capable of keeping secrets, it was finally decided that she could participate if she wishes to."

Initially, it was about keeping secrets, and now even more about "strictly keeping secrets."

Thinking about how well acquainted Political Commissioner Jiang was with Director Feng, and that Director Feng had asked Political Commissioner Jiang to recuse himself, Director He quickly said, "It’s not very busy at the bureau; I’ll have Political Commissioner Jiang take over the work, and I’ll go with you."

"Good."

"By the way, where should I go to report to you?"

"I’ll fly to East Sea City early tomorrow morning. First, ask Comrade Han Xiangning if she wants to come. If so, you two directly head to Luchao Port Pier in East Sea Nanhu. We’ll meet at the pier at two o’clock in the afternoon, and take the high-speed passenger ferry to Ningbo together."

"Understood, I’ll contact Xiao Han right now."

...

Han Xiangning got the call and was also startled.

Director He confirmed a few times that Salted Fish was fine, and only then did Han Xiangning breathe a sigh of relief, hurriedly packing her clothes and asking Old Ge to drive her to the city.

Binjiang Passenger Terminal offers high-speed ferries to East Sea, but only to Wusong Pier in East Sea.

Wusong Pier is on the north side of East Sea City, while Luchao Port Pier is on the south side. It’s too much trouble to change transport, and this time they’re going to pick up Salted Fish, who must have a lot of luggage. After discussing with Han Xiangning, Director He decided to have the bureau driver take them directly to Luchao Port.

A journey of several hundred kilometers; had it been the past, Han Xiangning would probably have vomited bile.

But now is not the past; she had stronger reactions at the beginning of the pregnancy, constantly suffering from morning sickness, but to the point where she unexpectedly no longer got carsick.

After arriving at Luchao Port Pier, they had lunch and let the driver find a hotel nearby to stay in, waiting to pick up Salted Fish before returning together.

The two arranged for the driver, and as instructed by Director Feng, purchased the 2:30 p.m. ferry tickets and entered the waiting room.

Han Xiangning, looking through the window at the high-speed passenger ferry anchored on the dunship at the pier, couldn’t help but turn around and say, "Director He, this passenger ferry was imported from Norway, and it’s more advanced than the ferries that go back and forth between Hong Kong and Macao!"

Director He leaned forward to take a glance, curiously asking, "How do you know?"

"I work in Port Supervision, I’m aware of all the advanced ferries that have been introduced to the country."

"Does Salted Fish know?"

"Yes, we have a lot of periodicals on ship technology and marine navigation on our dunship."

After longing for both the stars and the moon, they finally waited for San’er to return.

Thinking that she would see San’er in just a few more hours, Han Xiangning was so excited. She looked back at the beautifully streamlined high-speed passenger ferry and said with a beaming smile, "It’s called the Yongxing, 38.8 meters long, with a passenger quota of 320. It made its maiden voyage on the Shenyong Line on February 5, 1987. It was introduced several years earlier than the high-speed ferries in Binjiang."

Director He smiled and said, "And it’s bigger than the high-speed ferry in Binjiang."

"Our side has hovercraft, but this is a real high-speed passenger ferry."

"How far is it from here to Ningbo, and how many hours will we be sailing?"

"If I remember correctly, it’s 55 nautical miles from Luchao Port Pier to Ningbo Small Port Pier, only two hours by sea."

While they were talking, a tall leader and six navy officers came in.

Han Xiangning hurried forward, saluting with joy, "Hello, Director Feng, you’ve finally arrived!"

"Have you been waiting long?"

"We just arrived ourselves."

Though it was normal for navy personnel to take a ferry to their base from here, as there is a naval base in Ningbo, the sudden entrance of six navy officers still attracted the attention of the passengers.

Director Feng did not wait for Director He to speak before extending his right hand, smiling, and shaking Director He’s hand warmly, "Comrade He Bin, thank you for waiting. This is not the place to talk; let’s get onboard."