Chapter 112: Chapter 99 "Extortion
At half past eight in the morning, the grand public trial comnced at Bailong Port.
Ard public security police and the Ard Police escorted twenty-six scalpers off of five open-top trucks and lined them up under the large platform constructed yesterday.
The judge and people’s jurors sat in the center of the platform, the public prosecutors from the Procuratorate sat on the left, and defense lawyers appointed by the Judicial Bureau and lawyers hired by the suspects’ families sat on the right.
Passengers waiting for their boats and the local community gathered around the square to watch the commotion, with the suspects’ family mbers arriving early, eager to know the forthcoming sentencing outcos.
Looking around, a dense crowd estimated to be three or four thousand.
Although the police played a supporting role, focusing mainly on assisting with guarding the suspects and maintaining order, their presence was most noticeable due to the large number of people and guns.
Many people thought this public trial was orchestrated by Xu Sanye, but it was not.
Consideration from the county committee, the governnt, and Binjiang Port Police Station due to the upcoming Spring Festival, as people returning ho for the New Year and visiting relatives would increase, led to the decision to hold this trial. It was aid at deterring scalpers from reselling tickets for ships and buses after nurous discussions.
Because of this, reporters from the county radio and television station, Linghai Daily, and the publicity departnt of the Binjiang Port Authority were present.
To ensure order at the venue, all officers from the Yanjiang Police Station and the Cooperative Defense Team were mobilized, leaving only Old Qian in the station to answer the phone.
Han Yu was excited to be involved in such a major operation.
Wearing a steel helt, with ammo pouches strapped to his body, carrying a Micro Machine Gun, and holding a walkie-talkie, he stood at the intersection with Liang Xiaoyu and Chen Zikun, both equally ard, appearing formidable and stern.
The actual judgnt proceedings began at nine o’ clock, with a female official from the Judicial Bureau emphatically reading aloud the laws and regulations related to the punishnt of ticket scalping.
Usually inactive in disseminating legal knowledge to the public, they nonetheless joined in today’s fervor.
However, the sister from the Judicial Bureau indeed spoke excellent standard Mandarin, and her voice resonated with authority.
Just like selling cigarettes without the authorization of the tobacco authorities is considered profiteering, Zhang Erxiao wouldn’t dare to "fly in the face of the law."
Yesterday he had hidden away the cigarettes and the wares he sold, and early this morning ca to spectate with Xiao Jiang.
The two lads dared not strike up conversation with unfamiliar public security police, nor get too close. Squeezing through the crowd they found nowhere to stand where they could see clearly, so they gave up and went back to find the two "fish" from Yanjiang Police Station.
"Salted Fish, how co your gun is different from Xiao Yu’s?"
"This is a Micro Machine Gun, Xiao Yu’s is a 56 Assault Rifle, of course they’re different."
Zhang Erxiao said enviously, "It looks more advanced than Xiao Yu’s."
Advanced, what? It’s not advanced at all.
From the mont he got his hands on it, he could tell the quality was nowhere near that of the 56 Assault Rifle; it looked like it was hamred out of tin.
In the words of the Director, it’s a relic from the 40s designed to be equipped in the 80s!
If it wasn’t for the potential future missions like ship hijacking and hostage rescue, and if there wasn’t a better option available, the Director wouldn’t want this thing.
Han Yu chose to carry it instead of the 56 Rifle because, firstly, it was lighter and smaller than the 56, which suited him perfectly.
Secondly, Chen Zikun was required by Director Yu to participate in maintaining order and couldn’t be empty-handed, so he had to leave the 56 Rifle for Chen Zikun.
In front of Chen Zikun and Liang Xiaoyu, Han Yu couldn’t boast about how good the Micro Machine Gun was, so he simply changed the topic: "Erxiao, you must recognize all those people who are about to be sentenced, don’t you?"
"Yeah, I recognize them, and so do you."
"How old will you be after the New Year?"
"Do you even have to ask? I’m the sa age as you."
As soon as Zhang Erxiao finished his sentence, Xiao Jiang cracked a smile, "And
and Xiao Yu, the four of us are all the sa age."
Han Yu pointed towards the platform with his walkie-talkie: "In a few days after turning sixteen, you’ll be old enough to be sentenced."
Xiao Jiang caught on and pointed at Zhang Erxiao, "He’s talking about you."
Liang Xiaoyu was stunned for a mont and couldn’t help but laugh.
Zhang Erxiao glanced at Chen Zikun, who was still confused, and said with a pained expression: "Salted Fish, what do you an by that? We’re brothers, and just like Old Qian, I’m a proactive security mber for your Yanjiang Police Station. Last ti you infiltrated a criminal gang, I pretended not to know you and even helped you get a boat ticket to East Sea!"
"Don’t even talk about being brothers; even if you were my own brother, you can’t break the law."
Han Yu didn’t want to see him end up sentenced like those scalpers ahead and looked him straight in the eye, speaking very seriously, "You’re registered with the tobacco departnt, with a record probably a foot tall. They haven’t co down on you because you were underage."
"What do you an they haven’t co down on ? They’ve fined
a lot of money and seized plenty of my cigarettes."
"In the future it won’t be as simple as just fines and seizing cigarettes. If they really hand over the case to us police, let’s see if the Criminal Investigation Team doesn’t catch you!"
"So what should I do?"
"Quit while you’re ahead. You’ve made enough money; you’re not short on cash."
Xiao Jiang wholeheartedly agreed, turning to pat his shoulder: "Listen to Salted Fish, don’t go seeking trouble when you’ve got a good life, or you’ll end up eating prison als."
Scratching his neck, Zhang Erxiao muttered, "I’m not really short on cash, but what else can I do except sell cigarettes?"
Xiao Jiang laughed, "Co work at our shipyard; it’s just short of hands."
"I can’t do the work at your place."
"Afraid of hardship?"
"I’m not afraid of hardship; I just don’t like working at the shipyard."
"Salted Fish, is your station short on people? Why not let Er Xiao join the Cooperative Defense Team like Xiao Yu."
Being a mber of the Cooperative Defense Team is even tougher than working in the shipyard.
Zhang Erxiao didn’t want to go out for a run of several kiloters before dawn every day, so he shook his head before Han Yu even opened his mouth.
Han Yu knew he was used to making quick and big money and didn’t want to go back to slow, small, hard-earned money. He thought of sothing Huang Jiangsheng ntioned yesterday at the shipyard and pondered, "You could join Boss Huang to do the rice and egg business."
Zhang Erxiao replied without hesitation, "I don’t want to snatch soone’s business."
Xiao Jiang, who was Huang Jiangsheng’s cousin, knew more about his cousin’s business than Han Yu. He laughed and said, "Er Xiao, this isn’t about snatching business. My brother and sister-in-law want to go back to East Sea, and soone needs to look after things here in Bailong Port."
"Why does your brother want to return if his business here is doing well?"
"Back in East Sea, he had many friends helping him sell rice and eggs, but now several of them want to switch careers because they think the profits aren’t enough. My brother and sister-in-law plan to go back, rent a few store fronts, and open so grain and oil shops. If they have their own stores, they won’t have to worry about not having any sales channels."
"If they go back, then soone has to help collect rice and eggs here!"
"Right, my brother has been fretting about this."
"Why are you working as a welder? Helping your brother collect rice and eggs would be great."
"I’m not cut out for business, and I alone couldn’t handle it all."
"Would you be willing to help your brother?"
"Of course I would, but I wouldn’t dare do it alone."
Collecting rice and eggs seed simpler than selling cigarettes. Zhang Erxiao thought it could be a way out, and with a smile, he said, "Let’s ask your brother later. If he trusts , I could give it a try. If he lacks capital to rent storefronts and open grain and oil shops in East Sea, I could even invest."
Xiao Jiang, too, didn’t want to continue working as a welder, but he was worried about his own capabilities. Seeing Zhang Erxiao interested, he said joyfully, "We don’t have to wait; let’s go ask my brother now."
The two scamps said they’d go and went. Han Yu showed a knowing smile.
Chen Zikun guessed what was happening and laughed, asking, "Salted Fish, was that kid trafficking cigarettes just now?"
Han Yu nodded, "He’s been selling them in Bailong Port for years."
Liang Xiaoyu added with a laugh, "The tobacco office has caught him many tis. Going to the tobacco company for him is like going ho; he knows everyone there."
At this mont, a few more people on bicycles ca to watch the commotion.
People could go inside, but bicycles had to be parked outside.
Four Factory Police Station had a few mbers of the Cooperative Defense Team in charge of watching the bikes, but they charged a fee.
Seeing that the crowd was hesitant to pay but didn’t want to co all this way and return empty-handed, Han Yu was just about to go over and see what was happening when his walkie-talkie crackled with Xu Sanye’s voice.
"Salted Fish, Salted Fish, respond if you hear this."
"Received, Director Xu, please go ahead!"
"Old Qian ntioned your cousin is here; looks like she’s planning to move in. Leave the roadblock to Chen Zikun, you hurry back and check."
"Understood!"
The public sentencing event hadn’t even started yet; the timing of her sister’s arrival couldn’t be worse.
Han Yu had no choice but to hand the walkie-talkie to Chen Zikun, pulled out his motorbike keys, unlocked the little trunk of his beloved scooter, put on his gloves, and rode to the station.
Old Qian stood at the gate, pointing towards the shipyard, "Salted Fish, people have co in two large trucks waiting for you at the shipyard dock."
"Got it, I’ll head there directly."
Han Yu hurried to the shipyard dock, only to discover Sister Xiang Ning standing on the dock, talking to a middle-aged man who looked like an electrician.
Han Xiangning was startled by his fully-ard appearance and ca over to ask, "Salted Fish, why are you carrying a gun?"
"Today there’s a public sentencing at Bailong Port. Didn’t you hear the broadcast?"
"I just arrived, was talking with Master Lv and didn’t pay attention."
"Sister Xiang Ning, what are you installing?"
"Air conditioning."
Despite being young, the little junior brother looked quite formidable in full gear.
Han Xiangning curiously examined his Micro Machine Gun, then turned and pointed to the large trucks, "Not only do we have to install for ourselves today, we also have to do it for you. Two air conditioners in total, one big and one small."
Han Yu parked his bike and asked in surprise, "Installing for us?"
"Didn’t Director Xu tell you? You didn’t know?"
"Director Xu is busy today. There’s a public sentencing in the morning and a public arrest in the afternoon; right now, Bailong Port has thousands of people. He’s the overall commander on the scene, maintaining order; he probably didn’t get around to telling ."
Han Xiangning thought owning guns was impressive, and looking at him, she said with a laugh, "Your unit is pretty powerful, always ’extorting’ from big entities, and those you ’extort’ from are all major institutions.
You’ve gotten your way again. Customs sponsored you with a large air conditioner, a big color TV, and a cara. They’re not familiar with you, but they know us from the Port Supervision well.
They heard we were bringing things over today, so they asked
to bring it along. The air conditioners were bought from comrcial companies, and they have Master Lv from the comrcial company help with the installation."
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