t
Noon.
Investment Promotion Agency.
Dong Xuebing returned to his office with the Agency’s new target documents. He frowned and wonders how to tell the various department heads. But after the meeting ended this morning, some of the department heads already gotten wind of the 500 million RMB target. News of the new target had spread throughout the Agency, and the Agency is in an uproar. 500 million RMB is more than three times last year’s target. Everyone in the Agency is grumbling and discussing this.
Knock… knock… knock…
A few minutes after Dong Xuebing entered his office, someone knocked on his door.
Business Section Chief Lin Pingping entered angrily. “Chief, I heard that the County had set a 500 million RMB target for us. Are they trying to kill us?!”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “Sit down first.”
Lin Pingping did not sit and was agitated. “500 million RMB is not an easy task. If the County wants to attract investments, they should do it step by step. How can they increase it by so much?! What is the County Government trying to do? Chief, everyone in the business section is affected. This target is not motivating us, and none of us are motivated to work. If this carries on, we might not even achieve 200 million like last year!”
Dong Xuebing looked at Lin Pingping. If excluding himself, Lin Pingping is the youngest Leader within the Agency. She is quite pretty, in her early twenties, and is not married yet. After working in the Agency for a few days, Dong Xuebing realized Lin Pingping is very capable and is good at reading those investors’ hearts. If not, she will also be promoted to be Business Section One team’s Chief. Last year, Lin Pingping led her team to achieve 60 million RMB investments.
Lin Pingping saw Dong Xuebing not saying a word. “Chief…”
Dong Xuebing nodded and did not reply to her. He turns to Guo Panwei. “Panwei, get Chief Sun, Chief Lui, and all the department heads to my office for a short meeting.”
Guo Panwei acknowledged and run out of the office.
Dong Xuebing said. “Section Chief Lin, have a seat first. We shall talk after everyone is here.”
Lin Pingping took a deep breath and sat down on the sofa.
After a while, Business Section Two’s Chief Jiang Hailiang was the first to arrive. Jiang Hailiang is also a young leader in his early thirties and is only a few years older than Lin Pingping. Dong Xuebing points to the sofa, signaling him to have a seat. Jiang Hailiang is also looking terrible because of the new target. He looked at Lin Pingping and sat about a meter away from her.
Dong Xuebing knows that although Lin Pingping and Jiang Hailiang are always smiling in front of others, they are not on good terms. Business Section one and Business Section Two are competitors. The Agency had set up two teams is to create competition to motive the staff. Dong Xuebing also found out Business Section Two has gotten better results than Lin Pingping’s team. Last year, Business Section Two had gotten more than 10 million worth of investments and is almost double of Business Section One. This is also because Deputy Chief Sun Shuli is close with Jiang Hailiang. Some of the investments brought in by Sun Shuli were given to Jiang Hailiang’s team.
About more ten minutes later, Office Director Luo Haiting, Lui Dafa, Sun Shuli arrived.
Sun Shuli was the latest as he was dining with an investor nearby. He rushed over after receiving the call, and Dong Xuebing can smell the alcohol smell on him.
Dong Xuebing glance at Sun Shuli, who arrived ten minutes later than the rest, and knew Sun Shuli is still unhappy with him. But Dong Xuebing will not use the excuse of drinking during working hours to reprimand him, as this is part of their job. “Alright. Everyone is here. I believe all of you know about the latest target set for our Agency. Ok. Let’s talk about our 500 million RMB target.”
Lui Dafa continued sitting there and showed no interest in expressing his views.
Luo Haiting was the first to speak. “Chief, 500 million is quite high.”
Jiang Hailiang added. “This is no longer considered high. This is not practical. Who doesn’t want to bring in a few hundred million more of investments to the County? We also want, but it’s not that we can get what we wish for. Chief, I had asked my men to write a report on our last year’s performance. You can read it. Our results last year is the highest compared to these few years. Increasing the target by several folds is making it too difficult for us.”
Sun Shuli added emotionlessly. “Even if the County is supporting us wholeheartedly, we will still not achieve 500 million RMB.” Sun Shuli worked in the Agency for many years, and he is the best person to say this. “I am not trying to demoralize everyone and is telling the truth. I saw how our Agency improved over the years, and I believe we can still improve. Yan Tai County will become more attractive to the investors, but it is not practical to achieve this target now.”
Jiang Hailiang controlled his anger and added. “Also, pursuing our responsibility for not achieving the target is too much.”
Pursuing their responsibility is the main reason why everyone is so angry.
Lin Pingping added. “Chief, can you speak to the higher-ups?”
Dong Xuebing took a sip of tea and said. “I had spoken to the higher-ups this morning at the County Government. This is the order given out by the Party Committee and cannot be changed.”
“But 500 million…”
Everyone started complaining.
Dong Xuebing did not say a word and sat there listening to them.
After complaining for several minutes, everyone got tired. Dong Xuebing looked at them and said. “I know all of you are affected. You all can complain to me if you all are unhappy, but this 500 million RMB target had been issued, and no one can change it. That’s why I hope everyone here will not still have this expression on your faces after you walk out of my office. You all are department heads, and your emotions will affect your subordinates directly.”
Jiang Hailiang added. “But this order…”
“This order must be completed!” Dong Xuebing shouted. “Whoever thinks he or she is not good enough to lead the department to get this 500 million RMB investment, you can write your resignation letter now! I will let someone confident of achieving this target to replace you!”
Luo Haiting, Jiang Hailiang, and the rest were stunned.
Dong Xuebing always has a smile on his face since he was transferred to the Agency. But today, Dong Xuebing returned to his former self when working in the Public Security Bureau. He realized that being friendly and always smiling like Xie Huilan is not suitable for him. He still prefers to be the ‘unreasonable and overbearing’ Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing looks at Guo Panwei. “Bring the paper and pens over!”
Guo Panwei was also stunned by Dong Xuebing’s sudden change and quickly bring a stack of paper and pens over.
Dong Xuebing pointed to the table. “I will give you all five minutes. Those who are not confident of achieving the County Government’s target, hand over your resignation letter now. There are a pen and paper here, and I will sign it once you finish writing it. After you had resigned, I can write a report to the higher-ups to transfer you to other departments.” Dong Xuebing paused for a second and continued. “But if you all decided not to resign, I will take it as you are confident of achieving this target, and I want you to put in your 120% effort! I will not let anyone that dares to grumble about the target in front of the subordinates, or tried to drag the Agency down, off!”
No one dares to say a word.
Dong Xuebing looked at his watch and closed his eyes to wait for them.
One minute…
Three minutes…
Five minutes…
“Times up!” Dong Xuebing suddenly opens his eyes. “Since no one is writing anything, I will take it as none of you are going to resign.”
Lin Pingping gritted her teeth. “Chief, Business Section One will do our best. I will speak to the staff after I return and will motivate them. I promise…” Lin Pingping paused for a second and continued. “I promise we will achieve the target set for our Agency!”
Dong Xuebing narrowed his eyes and nodded. “Good!”
Jiang Hailiang looked at Lin Pingping and frowned in his heart. He added. “Business Section Two will also do our best to achieve this year’s target.” He did not make any promises like Lin Pingping.
Luo Haiting also represented the Office Department to show her support.
Dong Xuebing nodded. “I am telling all of you that we must achieve this target at all cost. I had promised Mayor Xie that if we cannot bring in 500 million RMB worth of investments by next year, I will submit my resignation letter the next day.”
Lin Pingping, Luo Haiting, and the rest were shocked. They thought in their hearts. Is there a need to be so extreme?
Dong Xuebing continued. “I am telling you all this is to let you all know that I am not all talk. I would not use one of you to be the scapegoat if we did not achieve the target. If we cannot achieve this target, everyone, including myself, will be held responsible. That’s why this is not the time to think about what we should do if we cannot achieve the target. We should be thinking about how we are going to get 500 million RMB worth of investments!” Dong Xuebing banged the table. “I am sticking to what I said! If other Counties can do it, why can’t we do it?! I don’t believe the people in our Agency are inferior to others! We will show the County Leaders and other Counties… what our Agency is capable of!”
