Han Yu went to the airport to pick up Director Feng, but he did not attend the reception dinner the city held for Director Feng. It wasn't that the city leaders didn't invite him; mainly, he didn't want to go, nor did he dare to go.
He didn't want to go because dining with the leaders involves too many etiquettes. You can't pick up your chopsticks if they don't. You can't engage in their conversations and can only sit by the side like a fool.
He didn't dare to go because he was worried about having to drink or being teased.
Having dinner at ho and spending ti with his daughter sounded great.
Unexpectedly, just after finishing dinner, while holding his daughter and watching TV, Director Feng called asking him and Han Xiangning to go to the Navy Retirent Ho, saying he wanted to chat.
The couple didn't dare to delay even a mont, hopped on their light motorcycle, and rushed to the retirent ho. They were led by a warrior to a two-story building.
They saw Aunt Yao, Director Feng's wife, tidying up the small courtyard at the entrance. Director Feng was sitting in the living room, drinking tea and laughing with Director Zheng, Commissar Fang, and a Major Assistant.
Director Zheng attended the city's reception dinner for Director Feng and not only knew that Han Xiangning was Director Feng's forr subordinate but also knew that Director Feng wanted to discuss work with Han Yu and Han Xiangning. He imdiately made an excuse about having sothing to do and took Commissar Fang and the Major Assistant to leave first.
After sending off the leaders of the retirent ho, Han Yu jokingly asked, "Director Feng, are you comfortable living here?"
"What's there to be uncomfortable about?"
Looking at the small garden in the yard, Director Feng sighed, "I used to pass by the entrance many tis but never ca in. I didn't expect the environnt inside to be so nice. Had I known the conditions at the retirent ho were so good, I wouldn't have transferred back then. I would have stayed in the army until retirent and moved to a retirent ho in old age, instead of ending up in a nursing ho now."
Aunt Yao jokingly scolded, "Who can you bla? What did I tell you back then? I told you not to transfer, but you insisted. Now, it's too late to say anything."
"Salted Fish, this is a lesson, and a very profound one at that. Apparently, when we n make significant decisions, we should listen to won's counsel more often."
Director Feng turned to Han Xiangning and teased, "For example, regarding buying a comrcial house in East Sea, Ningning's decision was so wise. It was tough at first, but now, as I heard, the house you guys bought has appreciated, increasing by hundreds of thousands. Would you have had the courage to make that decision?"
"I wouldn't."
The house prices did increase, but Han Yu wasn't as happy as his father-in-law and the senior. After hesitating for a mont, he smiled wryly, "Director Feng, Aunt Yao, the house in East Sea did appreciate a bit, but calculating everything, we are still at a loss."
The fact that Salted Fish and Han Xiangning made money from the house purchase had a significant impact on Aunt Yao.
Just half an hour ago, Aunt Yao called her son and daughter-in-law who are far away in the Capital, advising them to look for a suitable comrcial house, even if it ant taking a loan and going all-in to buy one.
She didn't expect Salted Fish to say that, and just when she was about to ask how they lost, Han Xiangning quickly interjected, "Auntie, don't talk to him about this. If you do, he'll start calculating bank interests with you!"
"Are bank interests very high?"
"The bank indeed charges us a lot of interest, but they did lend us money to buy a house. If they hadn't lent us the money, we couldn't afford to buy it."
"True, that's not a loss."
Han Yu wanted to say the house cost over six hundred thousand, and the interest amounted to over six hundred thousand, even if it appreciated a bit now, they were still losing hundreds of thousands, but since the senior and Aunt Yao said so, he reluctantly lowered his head.
Ten years ago, Salted Fish was already completely under the thumb of his old subordinate managing everything.
Unexpectedly, ten years later, Salted Fish still had no status at ho.
Director Feng sympathized with Salted Fish's situation and imdiately changed the subject, "Ningning, when are you guys planning to put up the Marine plaque?"
"We have to wait for the Jiangnan Mariti Bureau to establish, then the departnt can change the plaque, and only then our Port Supervision Departnt can change as well."
"When will the Jiangnan Mariti Bureau be established?"
"Soon, probably in a few days."
It's normal for old leaders to care about their forr units.
After thinking for a bit, Han Xiangning smiled again, "I called Huang Yuanchang yesterday. He said Director Tang is coming to Jiangcheng tomorrow or the day after. This morning, the bureau's office sent us a notice saying the superior decided that Director Xu will assist Director Tang in presiding over the work, and Director Xu should be our new bureau director."
"Is that the youngest vice director?"
"He's thirty-five this year."
"How about you?"
"I'm twenty-eight, Director Feng, you should rember how old I am this year."
"I'm not asking how old you are this year, I'm asking how the organization has arranged for you."
Realizing, Han Xiangning quickly laughed, "Sister Zhu, representing the organization, talked to and said, according to the superior's regulations, I can't be promoted to deputy director temporarily and can't serve as the director of the upgraded Linghai Port Supervision Departnt. They gave three choices."
Director Feng chuckled and asked, "What are the three choices?"
"First, to serve as the acting director of Linghai Port Supervision for two years, waiting until I et the minimum service ti as a full division director before becoming the official director."
"What's the second choice?"
"Transfer to the Security Inspection Division as the division head."
"And the third?"
"Before, we only managed Yangtze River's waterway safety. After the reform, we are to manage Binjiang's mariti safety too. The bureau is preparing to establish the Dongqi Mariti Departnt as per superior's instructions. If I am willing to go to Dongqi, Director Zhu said I'll be exceptionally promoted to deputy director and serve as the director of the Dongqi Mariti Departnt."
I only knew that the senior could serve as the acting director; I had no idea there were two other choices. It's unbelievable that if the senior is willing to go to Dongqi, she could be quickly promoted to deputy director!
Han Yu was stunned, dumbfoundedly looking at Han Xiangning.
Director Feng wasn't too surprised, given that the transportation system's restructuring this ti involves significant changes, establishing so many marine bureaus and departnts. To facilitate interactions with local governnts, those marine bureaus and marine departnts all have considerable administrative ranks.
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