Han Xiangning got on the boat too.
It was freezing outside, and she was just about to go to the crew cabin to get out of the wind when the walkie‑talkie crackled with a call from the Deputy Director of the Bridge Office.
"Comrade Han Xiangning, are you there? Please respond if you hear this."
"Here, Director Qian, go ahead."
"Hurry to the bridge, Minister Yuan wants to get a grasp of the waterway situation."
"Yes, right away!"
Han Xiangning put down the walkie‑talkie and, under the envious gaze of the heads of the various departments, quickly pulled open the hatch door and, moving as if she'd done this a thousand times, ran up the stairs toward the bridge.
The Maritime Bureau wasn't under Binjiang's jurisdiction, but today it was ministry‑level leadership doing the research.
