As for those who bought the women, we must apprehend every single one of them. Not doing so is not an option, or else the practice will continue in the future.

Considering that some of the women trafficked here have already married and had children, and their marital relationships are quite good. As for those implicated in buying the women, our local party committee and police have decided to first detain them, prosecute them if necessary, and have the court decide on probation or detention based on the severity of the offense, as well as impose fines. Without such punishments, we cannot curb this appalling trend."

It seems to be a case of strict enforcement paired with leniency.

In this situation, it seems there's no other way but to do so.

Han Yu thought for a moment and then asked, "Secretary Lu, does Liangzhuang have a police station now?"

"We've had one for some time now. Not only does Liangzhuang has a police station, but the station also hosts the anti-abduction squad of the Si Gang Police Station's Criminal Investigation Team, and all of the women and children trafficking cases in Quansigang are handled by us in Liangzhuang!"

"Having a police station is great news."

"Xiao Han, if you hadn't called me, I was planning to reach out to you in a few days. We have even more exciting news in Liangzhuang, and that includes your Dinghu too."

"What kind of good news?" Han Yu asked with a smile.

Old Lu has been in high spirits these few days, and he laughed, "We got approval from our superiors for our application to change from a rural area to a town. Not only will Dinghu stop hoping to annex Liangzhuang, but Liangzhuang is also going to merge the two townships of Dinghu and Yongyang. There will be no more Dinghu Town or Yongyang Town, just our Liangzhuang Town!"

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you? If you don't believe me, call your aunt. We're busy preparing for the ceremony to change from a rural area to a town. Once the date is set, I want to invite you and your father-in-law to witness this historic moment." Old Lu was getting more excited as he spoke, emphasizing by knocking on the table, "For the people of Liangzhuang, this is as significant as Hong Kong's return!"

Having known each other for several years and having shared several meals together, Han Yu was well aware that Old Lu wasn't exaggerating. For him, Liangzhuang was his world, and the assurance that Liangzhuang wouldn't be annexed held a huge significance for him.

Han Yu couldn't help but ask with a laugh, "Secretary Lu, does that mean you'll be the real official in charge of our hometown?"

"I am already, no need to wait until the rural area changes to a town."

Old Lu has been waking up laughing these days, waving his arms and laughing, "Xiao Han, there's something I've been too busy to tell you over the phone. The county might feel that such a significant event as the merging and establishment of townships can't go without someone in charge, and they insisted on recommending me to the Binjiang Municipal Committee as a Vice Director Level Researcher, meaning Liangzhuang, Dinghu, and Yongyang are all under my jurisdiction now."

"A Vice Director Level Researcher is equivalent to a Vice Director, congratulations, Secretary Lu."

"It's all for the sake of the job. Frankly, I don't really care about being a Vice Director Level Researcher. I'm already in my fifties and nearing retirement. My son works at the Port Authority, my son-in-law is a pilot, and my daughter is a military officer, so it doesn't really mean much to me whether I become a Vice Director Level Researcher or not."

"Secretary Lu, you've achieved success both in your career and family!"

"Speaking of career, I have more good news for you."

"What good news?"

"We in Liangzhuang are going to embark on major development in the west, planning an industrial park by the Liu Xia River. We've already started construction, first on the infrastructure. Enterprises such as the construction site, building materials machinery factory, and oil extraction plant are undergoing shareholding reforms. The construction site will soon become Liangzhuang Construction Group, and the oil extraction plant will be restructured into Liangliang Group."

Old Lu glanced at the "Western Development" planning blueprint and continued: "Not only do we need to go out to undertake construction projects and sell products in the future, we also need to attract investment. You Linghai people have developed economically better than us in Liangzhuang, and you Linghai people have money. If there are bosses in Linghai who want to invest in building factories, you can introduce them to come to our Liangzhuang for an inspection."

I'm also assisting with attracting investment now. Wouldn't it be like favoring outsiders over my own people if I introduce them to you?

Han Yu found it funny, but Old Lu changed the topic: "Xiao Han, I know you are very capable, but Director Han of our Liangzhuang Police Station is also extremely capable and a very good person. He is now our hero in Si Gang for fighting against abductions. I am focusing on mentoring him and will recommend him to the town party committee next.

But you know the situation in Liangzhuang, there are quite a few army cadres who have moved on, and not many in the police system. You started working earlier than he did, you have been with the City Bureau Water Police Team, and also worked in the Changhang Bureau, so you are more familiar with the City Bureau than he is. I will introduce you two later, and if there's a chance, please give him a helping hand."

Han Yu was made to laugh and cry: "Secretary Lu, you really think highly of me if you believe I can help others."

Old Lu laughed heartily: "Xiao Han, you just mentioned that you were transferred back to the Linghai Police Bureau and have been too busy to tell me, but I knew it long ago—President Wang from the construction station told me. You're not a simple man now, a member of the party committee of the Linghai Port Industrial Park and also the head of the Port District Police Bureau, which is almost the same as being a deputy bureau chief of the Linghai Police Bureau."

"What bureau? It's just a slightly larger police station."

"A bureau is a bureau. I made some phone calls and found out that your industrial park is a real park. There are investments of several hundred million on your side, and compared with your industrial park, our Liangzhuang's park is just playing around. Plus, you have very high standards, with a standing committee vice mayor doubling as the secretary of the park. Once the park gets going, the superiors are bound to promote you."

The city takes the Port District very seriously. Deputy Mayor Shen said that it will soon be renamed to the Linghai Economic and Technological Development Zone in preparation for applying to become a national-level development zone. If the application for a national-level development zone is approved, the administrative level of the development zone will become higher than Linghai, reaching a vice director level institution!

As for the current East City Development Zone, it will transform into the East City Industrial Park after the new year passes.

Although the application for a national-level development zone has not seen any solid progress, the Management Committee and the cadres from the three towns are all as if injected with adrenaline, taking the initiative to work overtime for land requisition and demolition, and those responsible for attracting investment are showing their magical powers. They treat entrepreneurs like Huang Jiangsheng and Zhang Erxiao with the utmost respect.

It's a thing of the past now in the Port District to have a hard time getting through the door, seeing unpleasant faces, hearing harsh words, and having difficulties getting things done.

If anyone dares to intentionally make trouble or be corrupt, there's no need for complaints from the clients; colleagues will report to the leaders to remove the bad apples that ruin the investment environment from the Port District cadre team.

In short, as long as you work in the Port District, the future is promising.

Han Yu was also a bit excited, feeling a bit embarrassed by Old Lu's praises, and quickly changed the subject: "Secretary Lu, has Agent Li passed away?"

Old Lu paused, sighed lightly and said: "Yes, he has passed. He worked in Liangzhuang for dozens of years and barely had any good days. He died of cancer, and at the police bureau, he could not even qualify for an illness caused by overwork."

"Didn't you try to fight for Agent Li's case at the bureau?"

"Fight for what? He shone for so long in Binjiang. Besides Captain Han, no one from the police bureau ever visited him."

Old Lu became angrier as he thought about it, and resentfully said: "Although Old Li was recommended by our township to be a Police Special Envoy, he was equally a member of the public security police. After working at the grassroots level for so many years, even if he didn't have impressive achievements, he certainly put in the hard work. And yet the police bureau didn't treat him as one of their own; is what they did befitting of human behavior?"

Such a thing would definitely not happen in the Linghai Police Bureau; no matter what, they should have gone to the hospital to visit.

Han Yu didn't know how to comment on the actions of his fellow District County Police Department when Old Lu continued sentimentally: "Although Chief Xiao Han has never worked directly with Old Li, he treated Old Li like an elder and colleague. He visited him at the Binjiang Tumor Hospital, arranged for a car to pick up Old Li when he was discharged, and after Old Li passed away, he helped with the funeral arrangements. How does one do that? As for the director, Political Commissioner, and the deputy bureau chiefs at our Si Gang Police Bureau, none of them have the competence, capability, or educational qualifications, and they can't even be proper human beings, far inferior to Chief Xiao Han. That's why I want to focus on mentoring him, and I also ask you to help him if you have the chance. There aren't many cadres like Chief Xiao Han nowadays."

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