Binjiang Police Affairs

Chapter 1455 - 243: Can the Tables Be Turned?

8:30 a.m., third floor of the Old Port Authority.Fang Guoya is both the captain of the Binjiang Port Enterprise Fire Brigade and the chief of the fire department at Binjiang Port Group.

During the recent major fire safety inspection and rectification conducted by the Changhang Bureau, Binjiang Port Group was found to have over 60 safety hazards, resulting in fines exceeding 60,000 yuan, and even one employee being administratively detained.

As the chief responsible for fire safety management and supervision, Fang Guoya was criticized several times by the group leadership. These days, he’s been busy mending these issues, urging rectifications at various docks and storage yards with safety hazards, while also preparing for the second and even third inspections by the Changhang Bureau.

The materials to organize are piling up like a mountain, and he’s overwhelmed with work, when Minister Yang suddenly calls him to come to the small conference room on the third floor.

As he walks in, he sees familiar faces of the Changhang Bureau leaders.

Could they have found more issues?

Fang Guoya’s heart skipped a beat, and he even forgot to greet Director Qi and Political Commissar Dong.

Minister Yang’s youngest son graduated from the Changhang Police Academy and participated in a water anti-pickpocket operation organized by the Changhang Police Bureau with Xiao Yu, and later was assigned to the Changhang Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Team.

Because of this, Minister Yang has a good relationship with the Changhang Bureau and half-jokingly said, "Guoya, don’t worry, Director Qi and Political Commissar Dong are not here to give you trouble today, go ahead and sit down, we’ll talk sitting."

"Director Qi, Political Commissar Dong, do you have any directives?"

"No directives, just want to have a chat with you."

"Chat about what?"

Time is tight, Director Qi didn’t want to beat around the bush and straightforwardly said, "Friend Guoya, you were transferred from our bureau to Binjiang Port, and you’ve been working in fire services for these years. You should be quite familiar with the situation of our bureau’s fire department.

Li Mingsheng is no longer suitable to continue as the branch captain due to the fire accident responsibility determination issue and will be adjusted in the next few days. Salted Fish suggested that the commissar and I have a talk with you to see if you’re willing to return to the bureau to work, replacing Li Mingsheng as the branch captain."

The water fire was said to be extinguished by the Changhang Bureau’s fire department, but it was actually the Binjiang Port Enterprise Fire Brigade that dispatched two multipurpose vessels and twenty-two firefighters to put it out.

Fang Guoya participated in the firefighting and also knew that the accident responsibility investigation and determination later had issues.

It was already known that the superiors would definitely hold someone accountable after the trouble Li Mingsheng caused, but he didn’t expect it to be so fast, and even more so that Han Yu would recommend he be transferred back to the Changhang Bureau to serve as the fire branch captain.

The news was too sudden!

Fang Guoya was momentarily stunned and asked in surprise, "I can be transferred back to the bureau?"

Before Director Qi could speak, Minister Yang smiled and said, "Our Binjiang Port Group is a city-owned state enterprise, and you are a staff member of the state enterprise. As long as you’re willing to transfer back to the Changhang Bureau, you’ll still retain your cadre status."

"If I transfer back, can I be a branch captain?"

"Although there’s a split between governmental and enterprise operations now and administrative levels are no longer discussed, you are our group’s fire chief. If you compare it to a party and government department, your level would correspond to a full department level."

The predecessor of Binjiang Port Group, the Old Port Authority, was a provincial hall level unit!

The Port Authority was transferred to the local administration, becoming the Binjiang Port Group. The group’s general manager is not appointed by the Binjiang Municipal Committee, but instead is recommended by the Binjiang Municipal Committee to the Provincial Party Organization Department, researched and approved by the Provincial Party, and enjoys vice director level treatment.

If you compare it hierarchically, a few deputy general managers are equivalent to director level.

Heads of administration, business, HR, and safety production departments are equivalent to deputy director level, and department heads are equivalent to full department level.

Fang Guoya understood and couldn’t help but asking again, "Salted Fish recommended me?"

"Yes, he just arrived in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday. There’s a time difference between South Africa and China. He called me last night, and I received it past midnight."

Director Qi took a cigarette from Minister Yang’s hand, smiled, and added, "He’s the deputy director in charge of fire services. We need to seek his opinion on the candidate for the fire branch captain. You were the first person he thought of, and both the commissar and I believe you are competent."

Fang Guoya was transferred from the Armed Police Fire Brigade, and he envied many old comrades who transferred to police agencies and could continue wearing uniforms. Additionally, the Changhang Bureau will convert its operations soon, and Changhang public security police will no longer be the ’internal security’ of port and shipping enterprises. They will soon become civil servants like local public security police!

Fang Guoya was truly tempted, subconsciously looking at his immediate superior, "Minister Yang, I... I..."

"I know this is too sudden for you. Actually, I feel the same, as this matter is sudden. In short, if you wish to transfer, there won’t be any issue with the transfer, but there are pros and cons for you."

Minister Yang tapped the ashes from his cigarette and continued analyzing, "The advantage is that you can become an official national staff member from an enterprise cadre. If you do well in the bureau and with the support from Director Qi and Political Commissar Dong, the future is limitless. As for the disadvantages, they mainly lie in the salary and benefits."

Even though returning to the bureau is a Full Department Level position, the salary won’t be as good as it is now. However, one shouldn’t only look at the present. You are aware of the situation in the Group, due to the specificity of your work and expertise, it decides that advancement within the Group will be difficult for you."

Binjiang Port Group is a business.

As a business, the first consideration is profitability!

From the perspective of the Group’s higher-ups, only those who can create benefits for the Group are considered competent. Fire safety management is important, but its status within the Group is not high, even less so than some port directors.

Fang Guoya paused for a moment, then asked with a bit of awkwardness: "Minister Yang, are you saying I should return?"

"You’re different from me, you’re still young." Minister Yang extinguished his cigarette and said profoundly: "Moreover, you’re going back with Salted Fish. Others may not know, but you know best, anyone who has followed Salted Fish has progressed."

This hit the mark!

Director Qi didn’t want to drag it on, and seized the opportunity to give an example: "Li Jun from the border inspection station was all set for transfer, yet because he followed Salted Fish to fight the flood and earned merit, the superior arranged for him to train at Tianjin Armed Police Academy, and upon returning from training, he was promoted to Deputy Director Level. Chen Zikun from our bureau, Old Wu from the Maritime Bureau, you know them well. You can say that anyone who has worked with Salted Fish has progressed."

"If I return to the bureau, who will take over as Fire Brigade Captain?"

"Don’t worry about this, Minister Yang will arrange it. Also, after returning to the bureau you will still manage fire safety, it just changes from being the leader to guiding the operation. All the firefighters in the brigade are your former subordinates, do you think they won’t listen to you?"

Returning to Changhang Bureau, wearing the long-missed police uniform, becoming a public security police officer once again.

The more Fang Guoya thought about it, the more excited he became, tightly clenching his fists, he said: "Thank you Director Qi and Political Commissioner for your trust, I am willing to return to the bureau!"

"Do you need to discuss it with your spouse?"

"No need."

"Really no need?"

"Really no need!"

"Okay, then it’s settled." Director Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Considering the transfer procedures don’t process quickly, and fire safety work is so important, after adjusting Li Mingsheng, the Fire Department cannot be left without a person in charge. We just discussed it with Minister Yang and plan to temporarily let you return to the bureau as Acting Fire Brigade Captain."

Afraid Fang Guoya wouldn’t understand, Political Commissar Dong explained: "We haven’t formally ’split’ from Binjiang Port Group, cadre exchange positions are normal. Rest assured, we will expedite the formal transfer procedures and strive to complete them by the end of the year."

Fang Guoya couldn’t help but ask: "Minister Yang, will the Group’s leadership agree?"

"In the past, the Group might not necessarily agree, and even if they did, it wouldn’t be so swift. However, things are different now, Director Qi and Political Commissar Dong have handed us many fines and even detained our employees. Though we indeed have many fire safety risks, the leaders aren’t very pleased because, after all, Changhang Bureau takes our salary, eats our food but reversely fines us and detains our people, what is this all about?"

Director Qi felt awkward by what Minister Yang said and asked with a wry smile: "Are several managers displeased with me?"

Minister Yang said with slight schadenfreude: "They know it was Salted Fish who issued the fines and detainments, but they can’t take issue with Salted Fish. Faced with Salted Fish, they even have to treat him with politeness. After all, Salted Fish is someone who has met Central Leadership, a cadre valued by Secretary Lu, Mayor Wang, and Mayor Qin, so they can only have issues with you and Political Commissar Dong."

"Just having issues?"

"Of course that’s not all, if I were the Group’s manager, you eat our food but crack our plates, I’d definitely knock you down a peg or two. Funds for the second half of the year might be hard to come by; you better be prepared for that mentally."

"Not giving us funds? How can I pay police salaries without funds?"

"Isn’t Guoya coming back, have Guoya plead with the leadership when the time comes."

Fang Guoya realized being the Brigade Captain wasn’t so easy, and said with a bitter face: "Minister Yang..."

Minister Yang reflexively glanced at the door and said with a hint of humor: "The effect of reporting the same matter to leaders can be entirely different depending on how it’s presented. For instance, your return to Changhang Bureau was not because Director Qi and Political Commissar Dong sought you out, but because I suggested they adjust Li Mingsheng’s position and have you assume the role of Acting Fire Brigade Captain to strengthen the Group’s ’leadership’ over Changhang Bureau!"

The Group wants to strengthen its "leadership" over Changhang Bureau, as if the statement can be flipped around.

Fang Guoya suddenly comprehended deeply, and with utmost admiration, Director Qi couldn’t help but laugh and said: "Reporting like this is good, Group leaders are people who care about face, we must give them enough face. Whoever doesn’t will have their position adjusted!"

"Leaders are very displeased, consequences could be serious, but even though they’re unhappy, they can only adjust a Department Level cadre like Li Mingsheng, and only assign Guoya to represent the Group to manage fire safety and supervise, but they can’t adjust Salted Fish, even if Salted Fish isn’t promoted to Vice Director Level, he can’t be adjusted."

"Adjusting a Brigade Captain is good enough, no one will dare to disrespect the Group leadership in the future."

"Director Qi and Old Dong, let’s unify our stance for now, if later any different news comes from your bureau it would put me in an awkward position."

"Rest assured Minister Yang, we will definitely not put you in a difficult situation!"