The next morning.
The weather is good.
Dong Xuebing drove the Toyota Camry to work. But before he can enter the Investment Promotion Agency’s compound, he saw that hooligan, Wang Shaoyan, and a middle-aged man standing outside, talking about something. Dong Xuebing stopped his car by the roadside and rolled down the windows. He heard what they are talking about, and his face changed.
Wang Shaoyan asked. “Are you here for a consultation? I tell you, don’t ever invest in Yan Tai County. These people are conmen. I guarantee that you will not get a single cent back if you invest here. Losing your investments is fine, but you will get lots of debts.”
That middle-aged man frowned and wants to continue his way into the agency.
Wang Shaoyan continued to pester him. “You must believe me. I was cheated on by them, and that’s why I am warning you. Don’t be cheated. Invest your money elsewhere.”
The middle-aged man couldn’t stand Wang Shaoyan and walked away.
Wang Shaoyan sneered and lit a cigarette.
Damn it! Dong Xuebing is furious. “Guards! Get his man away from here!”
Wang Shaoyan turned and looked at Dong Xuebing. Before the guards arrive, he spat on the floor and walks away. He had heard of Dong Xuebing before and knows Dong Xuebing is not someone he can trifle with. But he has been a hooligan since young, and furthermore, it is the agency who owes him money. Therefore, he is not afraid of Dong Xuebing. 50,000 RMB is not a small amount, and he will create trouble at the agency every day until he gets his money!
The security guards arrived. “Chief Dong.”
Dong Xuebing gave the guards a stare. “Pay attention to the surroundings! Don’t ever let that man come again. Chase him away if he comes again. If he refuses to leave, call the Police!”
“Yes, sir.” The two security guards nodded.
If Dong Xuebing was still with the Public Security, he would have given Wang Shaoyan a kick. But he is the Head of the Investment Promotion Agency and cannot use the same aggressive working style anymore.
Back in his office, Guo Panwei showed Dong Xuebing his next week’s schedule. “Chief, Wang Shaoyan had come again?”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “I had chased him away. The Investment Promotion Agency has never given incentives to non-government personals before. This is considered bribery. What Meng Xianglin did is nonsense. I think the agency had accomplished its target last year through this method. He still wants the County Government to pay for him?! He might be able to cover up this if he is still the Chief. Hah! Now, he wants to push the responsibility to us after he retires?! That Wang Shaoyan still dares to create trouble outside our main gate?!|
Guo Panwei also scolded Wang Shaoyan with Dong Xuebing.
Ring… ring… ring… the phone in Dong Xuebing’s office rang.
Guo Panwei answered. “Hello, Investment Promotion Agency… Oh… Please wait…” He passed the phone to Dong Xuebing and whispered. “It’s Mayor Zhao.”
Dong Xuebing answered.
Zhao Xinglong said. “Chief Dong, how is your agency’s progress?”
“Everything is going well, and I will be going out to meet investors this afternoon. We hope to achieve 40 million RMB this month.”
“Meeting the investors? Postpone it first.” Zhao Xinglong said. “I received news that reporters from Xin Hua Agency will be visiting our County for an interview about attracting investments.”
Dong Xuebing’s brows twitched. “Xin Hua Agency?”
“This is a last-minute decision. They are supposed to be interviewing other County’s Investment Promotion Agencies in our province. Maybe they had completed their tasks earlier and decided to include our County. They will be visiting some of the investment projects and might be visiting the Investment Promotion Agency. After all, the higher-ups are taking a serious look at attracting investments. Party Secretary Xiang and Mayor Xie had given orders to treat this interview seriously.”
Dong Xuebing asked. “Is it Xin Hua Agency’s branch?”
Xin Hua Agency’s Hebei branch might be influential. Still, Xiang Daofa and Xie Huilan should not be so concerned over this.
Zhao Xinglong replied. “The reporters are from Xin Hua Agency’s branch. But I heard one of the reporters is from Xin Hua Agency’s head office and he is the classmate of a reporter from the local branch. He is accompanying him for this interview on his way to his hometown. Even though he is not coming here because of us, but we must treat him with respect.”
Dong Xuebing understood why his higher-ups are treating this interview seriously. That reporter is from a National level news agency. Just the reporter from this news agency’s branch is enough to create a big hoo-ha in Yan Tai County, let alone a reporter from its head office. Dong Xuebing sighed. Everyone will be panicking when reporters visit the grassroots counties. They have no choice as media is more important than anything. They must treat these reporters with respect and provide the best food and even give them red packets. The local governments only hope the reporters will not make up stories. Suppose these reporters are unhappy or feel offended, they will write some things that are not in favor of the local government, and even the County’s leaders might be implicated.
“Then what should we do?” Dong Xuebing asked.
Zhao Xinglong replied. “The reporters will be arriving tomorrow. You need to make some preparations at the Investment Promotion Agency, and inform the people-in-charge of the various projects to make sure nothing will go wrong tomorrow. This interview will be focusing on project constructions. We must not let those reporters find fault with us.”
Dong Xuebing asked. “What about the hosting duties?”
“Cao Xupeng and I will be accompanying the reporters. You will plan the itinerary for the reporters, and it will be better to showcase some of our better projects.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Alright. I will make the preparations now.”
Zhao Xinglong had started his career from the village and worked his way upwards. Maybe it is because of his previous experiences. He dislikes reporters. These people are not his superiors, but sometimes they are more important than the higher-ups. He had met reporters who just like to nitpick and make up stories.
After hanging up, the phone rang immediately.
It’s Deputy Party Secretary Cao Xupeng. “Xiao Dong, it’s me. Do you know that the reporters from Xin Hua Agency are coming?”
“Yes. I know.” Dong Xuebing laughed. “Mayor Zhao had just ordered me to do the preparations.”
Cao Xupeng and Dong Xuebing has a good relationship and are more casual in their conversation. “Alright, then I will not say more. This time, the County Party Committee had given the orders to your Investment Promotion Agency. You must treat this seriously. You all don’t need to achieve anything, but nothing must go wrong.”
Dong Xuebing acknowledge and said he will do his best.
After hanging up, Dong Xuebing looks at his watch. “Panwei, notify all the leaders to come to my office for a meeting at 10.”
After a while, Luo Haiting, Lin Pingping, and the rest arrived.
Sun Shuli is not around as he had gone out to meet investors. Other than him, all the leaders are present.
Dong Xuebing did not beat around the bush and told them about the Xin Hua Agency’s reporters’ visit.
Lin Pingping and Luo Haiting smiled wearily the moment they heard this. Jiang Hailiang smacked his lips and frowned. Reporters had visited Yan Tai County’s Investment Promotion Agency in the past, and their visit had caused too many disturbances to their work. For two days, the agency had to accompany the reporters to dine and play. This caused many delays in their work, and the Provincial-level reporters did not mention them in their articles. This is considered a blessing. When they heard it will be the reporters from Xin Hua Agency, they immediately feel upset. Xin Hua Agency’s reporters are more influential than the provincial-level reporters.
Dong Xuebing saw their expressions and understood what they are thinking.
There is a saying… beware of thieves, robbers, and reporters. They are all from the same category.
Dong Xuebing also dislikes reporters. His foul temper cannot tolerate others nitpicking him, and he might even scold the reporter. To him, these Xin Hua Agency’s reporters are just giving them problems. Why did you change your schedule and visit us? But when he remembered Xie Huilan’s cousin, Xie Jing, is also working in Xin Hua Agency, Dong Xuebing stop cursing them.
Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. “Don’t bring emotions into work. It’s good for the reporters from Xin Hua Agency to visit us, and it will be a testimonial to our work. If they can find problems with us, we will change. This is also benefiting us, right?”
Lin Pingping, Jiang Hailiang, and the rest replied. “Yes.” But their tone is still unmotivated.
Dong Xuebing continued. “Now, I will arrange the tasks. Director Luo, you will take charge of our agency’s cleanliness. Get your staff to clean up the place and inform all the staff members to take care of the reporters. Section Chief Lin and Section Chief Jiang. Handover your work to your people temporarily and prepare the itinerary for the reporters’ visit tomorrow. Pick a few better projects and speak to the investors…”
Everyone acknowledges and leaves to do their work.
Dong Xuebing stopped Luo Haiting from leaving. “How much is the usual practice for red packets?”
Luo Haiting looks at Dong Xuebing. “There is no standard amount to give. The last time when reporters visited us, the agency gave them 500 RMB each.”
Dong Xuebing thought for a while. “Then we will give them 1,000 RMB each.”
“… will it be too much?” Luo Haiting is in charge of the agency’s finances and knows the agency doesn’t have much money left. “Compared to other agencies and departments, our agency is not rich.”
“Hmph. Do you think I want to give? It will be better if these people can leave early.” Dong Xuebing did not hide his hatred for these reporters in front of Luo Haiting. “Just give them 1,000 RMB red packets.”
Luo Haiting knows Chief Dong is not treating her as an outsider and felt comfortable. “Ok. I will make the preparations and will give them the red packets during lunch tomorrow.”
“Ok. You can decide on this.”
