China News Service, Tianjin, February 10th: Title: 120-year-old "Taiko" on duty during the Spring Festival: the river of time flows into the sea

　　Author Zhou Yaqiang and Ren Chao

　　"Nowadays, it is popular among young people to find a partner. This Chinese New Year, we two veterans will work together to bring a perfect end to our forty-year police career!" In the early morning of New Year's Day, the air in Tianjin Port was dry and crisp. In the preparation room of the first duty team at Donggang Border Inspection Station, veteran policeman Liu Shanliang was calmly arranging police equipment. In front of the computer next to him, Brother Wang Bing was carefully watching the electronic surveillance. In 2024, this pair of veterans with more than 40 years of service will retire honorably. They decided to spend the last Spring Festival of their careers on duty.

Liu Shanliang and Wang Bing, who were on duty during the Spring Festival in 2024, patrolled the docks in their jurisdiction. Photo courtesy of Donggang Border Inspection Station

　　"I was not on duty during the last Spring Festival before retirement. I will regret it when I think about it in the future. This can be regarded as a little bit of selfishness on my part." Liu Shanliang patted his chest, "Of course, I have asked my wife and children for permission." After speaking, he smiled heartily. Made a sound.

　　Wang Bing also said with a smile: "I originally wanted to take a vacation during the Spring Festival, but I think it is better to give the opportunity to young comrades. We two old comrades will spend the last holiday with everyone and stand on the last duty!"

Liu Shanliang and Wang Bing, who were on duty during the Spring Festival in 2024, patrolled the docks in their jurisdiction. Photo courtesy of Donggang Border Inspection Station

　　On the monitoring screen, container ships are busy operating, and several huge wind turbines rotate with the wind. Liu Shanliang smiled and said: "Look, Lao Wang, Tianjin Port is so beautiful and clean now, but twenty years ago I was most afraid of wind at Donggang Station."

　　"Yes, this used to be a coal dock. When the wind blows, the sky is filled with soot."

　　Around 2000, Liu Shanliang was the captain of the inspection team. At that time, criminal smuggling activities by gangs in Tianjin Port were on the rise. Faced with the severe situation, he led his comrades to launch a special attack and finally put an end to such crimes. During this period, he and the soldiers squatted on the dock for a whole day, no matter the rain, snow or fog, they were afraid of the wind. The sea breeze blew for a day, and the coal ash drifted for a day. They didn't dare to open their mouths. At that time, only the eyes and teeth were white. The soldiers laughed at themselves: "From a distance, they look like beggars, from up close, they look like coal collectors, but when you look closely, they look like people at the border inspection station."

　　"Don't forget your original intention, you will grow stronger when you are old, you will learn to strengthen your country, and the sunset will shine brightly." This is a little poem written by Liu Shanliang himself. A colleague asked him: "Why is it 'dark and bright'?" He smiled and said: "Bright is definitely not as bright as young people, but our sunset must also be bright. I joined the army in 1982, became the squad leader in the second year, and joined the party in the third year , I have been following the Party for most of my life. I will continue to ‘study to strengthen the country’ and I will continue to learn the Party’s theory. Regardless of whether I retire or not, I will still be a Communist Party member!”

　　"Speaking of 'dark light', Lao Wang is actually more suitable to describe him." Liu Shanliang continued: "Although he is usually not good at words, has no temper with people, and is very rigid in doing things, Lao Wang was able to capture fugitives back then. , and even won the title of National Outstanding People’s Police!”

The picture shows Wang Bing checking the documents of boarding personnel at the stairway of an outer ship in 1989. Photo provided by interviewee

　　In 2015, Wang Bing transferred from Tanggu Border Inspection Station to Donggang Border Inspection Station. At that time, most police officers at the station did not know about his deeds. At this year's New Year's Eve party at Donggang Station, Wang Bing, who is usually unknown, walked onto the stage with a sheng and played the song "Building the Chinese Dream Together". The sound of the sheng was clear and profound, just like the person he was.

　　"In 1990, the Travel Inspection Section was established, and Tianjin Port opened a liner route to South Korea. I was sent to Shanghai to study the travel inspection business, and was among the first batch of travel inspection officers at the seaport station. Thirty years later, I still clearly remember the first time The sense of pride and sanctity when a foreigner’s passport is stamped with a validation stamp.”

　　Wang Bing continued: "In 2007, the police at the front desk discovered a fugitive, and a special arrest team was set up in the station. That was the only time I participated in the arrest work. I was very nervous at the time. I only caught and handcuffed the person later. Relax. This thing makes me proud, and it also gives me a deeper understanding of the work of guarding the country."

　　"Let's go, it's time to go on inspection." Liu Shanliang greeted his "partner" on duty.

　　Putting on their duty equipment, the pair of veterans drove the police car and set out on patrol again. The wheels rolled forward, and the police lights flashed on and off. The gangway of the container ship on the shore is tall and steep. Two veterans in their 60s walked steadily, as if they were wearing military uniforms for the first time. They climbed up the stairs and continued their work for forty years. It seemed that nothing had changed.

　　From olive green to border inspection blue, from a handsome boy to frost-stained temples, the river of time flows into the sea, and countless ships dock and sail away. This pair of veteran "partners" will eventually part ways, but the lights of Tianjin Port will always be bright and bright. (over)