On February 26th, after completing their duty assignment at Huanghua Port, Wu Dihao (left), an officer with the Huanghua Immigration Border Inspection Station, adjusted his wife Dong Xiuli's uniform. Wu Dihao and Dong Xiuli are a post-90s police officer couple serving at the Huanghua Immigration Border Inspection Station.
February 26th, the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, saw a sharp drop in temperature. The day's duties saw the couple temporarily assigned to the First Duty Team to perform border inspection tasks at the port. "Today is the third workday after the holiday, cargo ship traffic is busier than before the Spring Festival. The station has increased manpower to improve inspection efficiency and allow crew members to enter the country sooner," Dong Xiuli explained succinctly.
Dong Xiuli set out from the station's headquarters to the First Police District of Huanghua Port. "Dihao is responsible for patrolling the wharf. His assigned area is vast, so he left early in the morning," she noted. When asked if they often work shifts together, Dong Xiuli smiled and shook her head. "Since we met in 2019, we've worked our own shifts and rarely see each other even at the station," she said, explaining that station regulations prohibit spouses from working in the same team. Their simultaneous duty that day was an exception, and they still had separate tasks.
Arriving at the comprehensive port area terminal, the Cypriot-flagged foreign vessel "Sophia," measuring 229 meters long and 36.5 meters wide, was berthed quietly by the blue waters of the Bohai Bay. After obtaining a temporary boarding pass and donning a safety helmet, the journey continued alongside Dong Xiuli as she boarded the foreign ship. The vessel, which had docked at 9:00 AM, carried over ten foreign crew members. There, Dong Xiuli and officer Wang Xinlei meticulously verified crew documents, conducted strict person-document checks, and performed a safety inspection of the ship's hull. "From the engine room and deck to the chain locker, we cannot overlook any blind spots," Dong Xiuli stated while leading the inspection team into the ship's compartments.
From the deck, a patrol team could be seen approaching on the wharf, led by Wu Dihao. Catching up with him, he explained the scope of his duties. "This area is very large. Many containers have arrived since the Spring Festival, and every section requires careful inspection," he said while walking. Keeping pace with his patrol was challenging. "This morning's patrol covers about 20 kilometers and takes roughly two hours," Wu Dihao mentioned, adding that Huanghua Port was experiencing its first small peak in cargo ship traffic post-holiday, making inspection duties heavier than usual. This involved checking each berth, checkpoint, and vessel for any suspicious personnel, vehicles attempting to board or approach ships, illegal mooring situations, and safety issues during container operations.
Near noon, as Wu Dihao concluded his patrol and passed the "Sophia" again, he encountered Dong Xiuli, who had just finished her inspection tasks. "Xiuli!" he called out, quickly walking to the ship's ladder to help her disembark. "You head back to the unit first; I'll go home at noon," Dong Xiuli said. "Alright, be careful on the road," Wu Dihao replied, carefully adjusting her uniform. By then, both their hands were red from the cold.
It is noteworthy that this couple hails from Shanxi and Henan provinces, respectively. Since beginning their careers, they have never returned to their hometowns for the Spring Festival, including this year. "Safeguarding the security of Huanghua Port and ensuring smooth customs clearance is our responsibility. Protecting the safety of the nation's maritime gateway is worth any hardship," the couple expressed in unison.