Binjiang Police Affairs

Chapter 1457 - 245: Overseas Allowance!

The world-renowned Cape Horn, located at the southern end of the Cape Town Peninsula, is about an hour’s drive from the wharf.In China, there’s a saying "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true hero." Whether Chinese or foreigners, anyone who visits BJ must see the Great Wall.

In South Africa, Cape Horn is equivalent to China’s Great Wall.

Climbing Cape Horn is a fervent wish for every officer in the fleet; everyone wants to leave their mark at Cape Horn because it has become a proud historical testament for these first pioneering Chinese sailors venturing into the ocean.

Counting this time, Han Yu has already sailed around Cape Horn twice from the sea, but has never truly landed on Cape Horn.

This collective activity must be participated in, otherwise, it might become a lifelong regret. After all, I no longer run ships, and opportunities to go abroad are rare, perhaps I may never come to South Africa again in this lifetime.

Heading to Cape Horn by car, along the way it’s noticed that due to the constant western wind all year round, all the trees were leaning eastward, and the leaves on the western side were almost blown clean.

The convoy entered the gentle Cape Horn Nature Reserve. Unknown wildflowers and shrubs, clustered together, low and solid, in a lush green mixed with deep red and bright yellow, the open mountainous land looked like it was covered with a thick, colorful carpet.

Suddenly, a group of baboons appeared in front of the road.

Everyone was very curious because they had only seen these dragon-like creatures on television before. The South African driver was accustomed to it, stopped the car, and waited for the baboons to gradually clear the middle of the road before continuing forward.

Adviser Wu watched the baboons playing by the roadside, curiously asking, "Mr. Yang, are baboons the same as gorillas?"

There are several types of military attaches abroad, such as Defense Attaches, tri-service military attaches (Army Military Officer, Naval Military Officer, Air Force Military Officer), Military Representative, Military Expert, etc. Below these are Deputy Military Attache, Assistant Military Officer, Military Officer Secretary.

The Chinese Embassy in South Africa is not large, with fewer personnel than the US Embassy, with only two Defense Attaches.

To be able to accompany visiting comrades who traveled thousands of miles across the sea in a foreign country to visit, Mr. Yang sincerely felt happy, seeing that everyone seemed unable to differentiate, he laughed, "Everyone, baboons are not gorillas. There is a distinction between baboons and gorillas."

"What’s the difference?" a Captain couldn’t help but ask.

"First of all, from appearance, there is a big difference. Baboons have a thin long tail, and their buttocks have a noticeable red patch, whereas gorillas have no tail."

Mr. Yang smiled, he continued, "Secondly, the similarity in genes to humans is different. Gorillas are very close to humans; it’s said their genetic similarity to humans can reach about 96.4%. Although baboons are also primates and second only to gorillas, their genetic similarity to humans is not as high."

Adviser Wu instinctively asked, "Does that mean baboons are not as smart as gorillas?"

"Pretty much."

Mr. Yang nodded and added, "Furthermore, baboons are omnivores and can find food in any environment. But gorillas mainly feed on tender shoots, flower buds, and insects, occasionally eating small vertebrates."

Just then, a few tall antelopes sprang out from the seaside bushes, joined by ostriches, nonchalantly foraging around.

These animals are difficult to see in the home country, and such natural ecosystems are rarely seen domestically either.

Han Yu was silently ruminating, the destination had arrived, Mr. Yang called everyone to get off the car.

We’ve arrived at Cape Horn!

Adjacent to the cliff at Cape Horn is Cape Point; the two capes connect, forming a crescent shape.

At the top of the cliff at Cape Point, 230 meters above sea level, the terrain is steep, with a lighthouse built in 1857, which has become the best spot for tourists to sightsee. To attract business, the savvy South Africans directly called this cape "Cape Horn."

Not far away on the coastal rocks, a few elderly people were focused on fishing.

Sea waves rolled over, while the shore remained peaceful. The extraordinary natural spectacles created here make Han Yu and everyone else feel particularly refreshed.

Officers climbed Cape Horn and gathered under the lighthouse to take photos, waving their arms and military caps in excitement, unable to contain their excitement and joy.

Having just asked the publicity officer to take a single picture, Adviser Wu came over smiling, "Han Da, you’re knowledgeable, tell us some historical anecdotes about this place!"

"Yeah Han Da, tell us!"

"With Mr. Yang here, it’s not up to me to tell, besides there’s someone in front explaining."

"We can’t understand what that person is explaining. Mr. Yang indeed can explain, but he has to accompany the leaders."

"Actually, it’s my first time here too."

Under pressure not to disappoint, Han Yu turned to face the bay and began to talk eloquently, "In 1488, Portuguese mariner Dias sailed from west to east when he discovered and navigated around this cape connecting two oceans, because the wind and waves here were fierce he named it ’Storm Cape.’ Later, Portuguese King John II renamed it Cape Horn.

In 1500, when the mariner who first discovered Cape Horn, Dias, again led his ship here, he was swallowed by the ruthless hurricanes here, forever buried in the sea. Therefore, this place is not only a strategic location for maritime traffic between the east and west but also a sacred destination for brave seafarers to long for..."

These were learned back in school, Han Yu only knew this much.

Unsure how to continue, he noticed the officers behind were gathering around a stall selling souvenirs, quickly found an excuse to check it out, and concluded the explanation.

Having finally come to South Africa, some gifts for Han Han should be brought back.

But money is tight, how can I buy anything without money?

Han Yu regretted not going to the bank earlier to exchange the five hundred RMB given by the senior sister into US Dollars, Colonel Zhang in charge of logistics for the fleet came over, quietly asking, "Han Da, did you not bring money?"

"Yeah."

"I did."

"US Dollars?"

"RMB is not usable here either." Colonel Zhang opened his briefcase, took out a wad of small-denomination US bills, quickly counted them, and shoved them into Han Yu’s hands, "Is one hundred enough? If not, I’ll get you another hundred."

Han Yu looked behind, with a bit of embarrassment said, "I don’t need a hundred, fifty will do."

Colonel Zhang whispered, "Prices here are high, what can fifty do?"

"My wife only gave me five hundred RMB for expenses; borrowing that much I won’t be able to repay it."

"Five hundred RMB?"

"Brother Zhang, five hundred is quite a lot, consider my monthly salary."

Turns out Adviser Wu wasn’t exaggerating, this Deputy Department Level Deputy Director of the Police Bureau truly doesn’t have money.

Colonel Zhang pulled him aside, jokingly said, "Your wife only approved five hundred, but you have business trip allowances. Don’t worry, use this one hundred US Dollars first, the allowance issued will surely repay it."

"There’s a business trip allowance?"

"You didn’t know?"

"I wasn’t told."

Colonel Zhang was amused, laughed, "Marine travel has overseas allowances, calculated daily. Upon docking, there’s a foreign trip allowance too, also calculated daily, you and Captain Qian each get ten US Dollars a day.

Visited Malaysia for four days, Tanzania for five days, the visit time in South Africa is even longer, your foreign travel allowance will surely exceed one hundred US Dollars, guaranteeing repayment."

There’s a marine travel allowance.

Docking involves entry processing, equivalent to being abroad, unexpectedly there’s also a foreign travel allowance!

Han Yu was delighted, joyfully said, "Thank you, Brother Zhang, if there’s an allowance I’ll borrow one hundred first."

"Sign it, take it as an advance."

"Alright."

Han Yu quickly penned a promissory note on Colonel Zhang’s small notebook on a rock, overjoyed, Colonel Zhang tucked the notebook into his briefcase, smiling, "You’ve been busy here and there these days, didn’t know to find me for a bit of foreign exchange advance. If I wasn’t mindful, you’d only be able to watch others buy things today."

"Many people advanced?" Han Yu asked curiously.

"Only you didn’t advance."

"I didn’t know, had I known, I would have come to borrow sooner."

...

Borrowed one hundred US Dollars, can’t spend it all.

Han Yu browsed the souvenir stalls, after much consideration spent thirty-three US Dollars on two boxes of South African chocolate, two bottles of wine, and two packs of Rooibos tea.

The chocolate was for Han Han, the wine for the father-in-law and his own father, and the Rooibos tea for the mother-in-law and the senior sister.

As for African wood carvings, there is no need to buy them; crafts can only be seen, neither useful nor edible, why buy them. South Africa’s most famous specialties, diamonds, and gold, were desirable but only in thought, they’re too expensive.

The remaining US Dollars are saved, they can be exchanged for RMB upon returning home as personal funds.