"Dongdong, time to get up!"
"Xunxun, be good, hurry up and wash your face, brush your teeth, and have breakfast, Master Gao will be here soon."
"Auntie, why is Master Gao coming?"
"To make sure you do your homework!"
Every morning, Han Xiangning wakes up one child after another, like going to battle.
Compared to Dongdong and Xiao Xunxun, Xu Yuan is much more well-behaved, probably because she sleeps with Han Xiangning. She gets up very early and even diligently stuffed the clothes into the washing machine that was bought just a few days ago.
Originally thought to be playing for a week before everyone goes back home, but Zhang Lan is on a business trip in East Guang and won’t be back any time soon. Director Li did want Han Ning to return with the main troop, but the leadership at the Changhang Bureau, concerned about the money, insisted that Han Ning return with Zhang Lan.
With the two of them not at home, the brother-in-law and big senior brother are so busy, sending Dongdong and Xu Yuan back home with no one to look after them. If Dongdong and Xu Yuan don’t go back, naturally Xiao Xunxun won’t either.
Taking care of three kids is really tiring, having to wash a large tub of their clothes every day.
Considering the repairs of the "antiquated item" ultimately being funded by the office, and there still some budget left in the team’s account, Han Xiangning simply bought a washing machine to save the hassle of hand washing like before.
Bailong Port is also Han Xiangning’s "home," where she has many friends, such as Zhang Erxiao’s fiancée, Gao Xiaoqin – the daughter of the principal of Bailong Port Primary School, and Chen Lanlan – a ticket seller at Bailong Port Passenger Pier, and Sister Qin from the Bailong Port Lock Management Office.
Friends who could all offer help, especially Gao Xiaoqin, who was also on summer holiday as the students, making her the perfect person to help look after the kids.
Dongdong, being so naughty, becomes very obedient as soon as he sees Master Gao.
Han Xiangning put down the steamed buns she bought from a breakfast stall at the entrance of Bailong Port market, took out the pickled vegetables and salted duck eggs bought the day before, started the rice cooker, and while serving porridge to the kids, she instructed: "Later, I need to go to the office for some work, after breakfast, you must listen to Master Gao, study well and do your homework."
Xu Yuan looked up, blinked her big eyes and asked, "Auntie, when will you be back?"
"I’m going to work. What will you do there? Be good, and I’ll bring you some treats when I come back."
Right then, Gao Xiaoqin arrived.
Han Xiangning was about to ask her if she had eaten breakfast when Director Liu from the Bailong Port Police Station also walked in.
"Master Gao, you are here so early."
"There’s nothing much to do at home."
Gao Xiaoqin knew Director Liu wouldn’t come to Han Xiangning without a reason. She smiled slightly, turned and looked towards Xiao Dongdong who was trying to hide.
Close friends don’t need to be formal.
Han Xiangning picked up a towel to wipe her hands and smiled, "Xiaoqin, I’ll leave them in your care?"
"You do your things, I’m here," Gao Xiaoqin said, her gaze still fixed on Xiao Dongdong, who wasn’t doing his holiday homework properly and wasn’t eating well either.
Frightened, Xiao Dongdong dared not look directly, hurried to the desk, sat down, and started earnestly nibbling on a steamed bun.
It’s air-conditioned on the dunship, and she has to watch the kids.
Ever since Han Yu left for a business trip, Han Xiangning has been living on the dunship.
She quickly ran into the utility room, opened the washing machine lid to make sure the clothes to be washed were inside, then added water, turned on the power, and after finishing, invited Old Liu into the Port Supervision duty room.
"Ningning, has Salted Fish called you?"
"He did, called yesterday, he should be boarding the plane now. Where he’s going next, I don’t know, and what mission he’s on, he won’t tell, and I didn’t pry further. All I know is he won’t be calling for the next two months."
"Taking a flight for a mission that takes so long..."
"Uncle Liu, let’s not talk about him anymore. Did you call Uncle Jiang about the matter I mentioned? Does he think it’s feasible?"
"I did, he said it’s a matter of the Ministry of Transport, the bureau intervening on your behalf to investigate is definitely doable, but... this case isn’t big but also not small, involving so many crew members. If mishandled it might alert the Ministry of Transport, not something small like our little Bailong Port Police Station or Port Supervision Bureau can investigate."
Han Xiangning frowned and asked, "If you let your bureau investigate, wouldn’t all my efforts be wasted?"
Old Liu turned to look back and laughed, "Whether this case lets our bureau investigate or not is up to your bureau leadership. And in the future, if there are any confiscations, how these confiscations are spent, your bureau leadership’s attitude is also very important."
Han Xiangning paused for a moment, then mischievously asked, "So as long as Director Tang says the money from the confiscations should be used for boat repairs, Director He won’t object?"
"The bureau needs to deploy police force for investigation; we can’t let the bureau work for nothing, we need to give something."
"Understood, I’ll go talk to Director Tang and Sister Zhu shortly."
"Did you discuss this matter with Salted Fish?"
"No, it’s my job, why should I discuss it with him?"
Han Xiangning chuckled, then excitedly exclaimed, "When it comes to managing funds, he’s far behind me. When I was issuing thousands of tickets, all he could was fine someone five bucks. I didn’t tell him; I want to give him a surprise!"
This is a genuine mutual understanding, with the wife following her husband’s lead.
Salted Fish wants to repair the boat and also wants to build a new one, but the problem is the lack of funds.
She has always kept it in mind, and now she even wants to help Salted Fish get some money.
Director Liu was very pleased and couldn’t help laughing, "First go report to your bureau leadership, but be sure to keep this confidential."
"I know, maybe there’s a mole in the bureau. I haven’t even told Director Jin."
"Good to know, hurry and report to the bureau, call me with any updates."
San’er would almost tear the sky apart, only managing to gather a few hundred thousand.