A few days later.
Morning.
It was almost winter, and the temperature had dropped.
Fen Zhou City’s city area. Dong Xuebing drove his Porsche Panamera into Xi Ping District. Most of the City’s Party Committee and Government departments are located here. Along the way, he saw many damaged or collapsed buildings from the earthquake. Workers were clearing the debris and tearing down those damaged buildings for rebuilding. He made a slight detour to look at the progress and nodded. The City will return to its former glory within a year.
The City Party Committee Building was in front.
Dong Xuebing looked at the building and drove into the compound.
The guard saw Dong Xuebing’s car did not display the entry permit and had no intention to stop. He was about to block his path when he noticed the Porsche logo. He was stunned for a while and raised the barrier to let this almost 4 million RMB into the compound.
The City Party Committee Building compound.
Dong Xuebing parked his car in a random parking lot randomly. He got out of his car and looked around.
The building in the center should be the City Party Committee office building, and the building beside is the City Government building. Xie Huilan had not reported working, and Dong Xuebing doesn’t know anyone. He didn’t see anyone around and walked to the City Party Committee office building. He saw a few staff in the building and asked them where the Party Committee office was. After that, he went upstairs and found the City Party Committee office and the Organization Department Minister’s office.
Knock, knock….
“Come in.” A middle-aged man said.
Dong Xuebing entered the office with a smile. “Are you Minister Wen?”
Wen Shixiang found Dong Xuebing familiar. “You are….”
Dong Xuebing reached out both hands to shake his hand. “I am Dong Xuebing. I am here to report.”
“Oh, Director Dong.” Wen Shixiang laughed. He stood up and shook his hand. He looked at him from top to toe. “Young and capable. No wonder you can become our Fen Zhou City’s earthquake hero.”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Minister Wen, I’m flattered.”
Wen Shixiang waved his hand. “I had been waiting for your arrival. Have a seat.”
“No need. I will stand.” Dong Xuebing replied politely.
Wen Shixiang was Yang Zhaode’s replacement as Fen Zhou City’s Party Committee Organization Department Minister. The political rivalry and human connections are more complicated than at the county level at the city level. Many things cannot be explained with one or two sentences. That’s why Yang Zhaode did not tell Dong Xuebing much when he asked about the situation in Fen Zhou City. He only told him to keep a low profile and establish a good relationship with the higher-ups. He got to find out the current situation by himself. Uncle Yang must have offended many people because of the earthquake and lost some of his former allies.
Ten minutes passed.
Both men chatted about the earthquake.
Wen Shixiang looked at his watch and said. “Let’s go. I will bring it to the Commission for Discipline Inspection office.”
“Thank you, Minister Wen. Sorry to trouble you.”
“Haha…. Don’t mention it. Let’s go.”
They left the City Party Committee office building and went to a small building on a corner.
The Commission for Discipline Inspection was a department under the Party Committee. The building was not far from the main building.
The City’s Commission for Discipline Inspection has power over all government departments and staff in the City. They are an independent department with its reporting line. They addressed reports, investigations, interrogations, punishments, etc., against government staff. The Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Organization Department had conflicting roles. The Commission for Discipline Inspection is in charge of punishing staff. The Organization Department is in charge of the staff’s promotion.
The Commission for Discipline Inspection office building.
Wen Shixiang did not inform anyone before he brought Dong Xuebing there.
They walked slowly, giving Dong Xuebing a chance to look around and familiarize himself with the environment.
The City’s Commission for Discipline Inspection is a huge department with more than ten sub-departments. For examples, the Office Department, Inspection Office One, Inspection Office Two, Integrated Inspection Office, Regulations Office, Party Members Conduct and Government Building Office, Enforcement and Inspection Office, Trial Office, Public Complaints and Proposals Office, Promotion and Education Office, Correction Office, Cadre Office, etc. Because the Disciplinary and Inspections’ duties are split, many offices had duplicate roles. Of course, the office staff is the same, but they had to take on multiple roles.
They went upstairs.
“Minister Wen.”
“Minister Wen.”
The Commission for Discipline Inspection officers and staff saw Wen Shixiang and greeted him. They noticed Dong Xuebing beside him and looked at him puzzledly. They smile or go up to Minister Wen to greet him like the staff from most departments. They were calmer. Maybe this was because of their work nature. Their job was to pick on others and charge them. They were more serious and seldom smiled or joked around.
This will be my working environment in the future.
Dong Xuebing nodded. He liked this working environment because he is a straightforward person. He doesn’t like to beat around the bush and was frustrated by most staff’s pretenses in other departments. They would act like friendly people in front of you and stab you in the back. He like this place, and this job suits his character. The nature of this job will offend many people, and this was what he was good at.
Upstairs.
The Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary’s office.
Wen Shixiang knocked on the door and entered the office with Dong Xuebing.
A middle-aged man was reading documents behind his desk. He looked up when he heard the door opening. “Oh, Old Wen.”
Wen Shixiang smiled. “I had brought your man here.”
He Suien looked at Dong Xuebing. “This is….”
Wen Shixiang passed the appointment letter to him and sat down. “He is your Commission for Discipline Inspection, Inspection Office One’s Director, Dong Xuebing.”
He Suien replied. “Oh, I thought you would be here a few days later.”
Dong Xuebing reached out with both hands to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you, Secretary He.”
He Suien nodded and shook his hand. “I had heard a lot about you. I got to thank you properly for saving us with your earthquake article.”
Dong Xuebing quickly replied. “Oh, I didn’t do much.”
“You had risked your life to save others.” He Suien praised. “You are too modest. Have a seat. I had been waiting for your arrival.”
Wen Shixiang laughed. “Old He, I still have work to do. I will come back for the appointment announcement later.”
He Suien looked at his watch. “Let’s set it an hour later. I will get someone to inform you.”
“Ok.” Wen Shixiang patted Dong Xuebing’s shoulder. He looked like a caring leader. “Drop by my office for a chat when you are free in the future.” He said and suddenly laughed. “Forget it. You better not come to my office. Something bad will happen when someone from the Commission for Discipline Inspection visits.”
He Suien smiled.
Dong Xuebing quickly stood up to send Wen Shixiang off. He did not walk him to the door as his new supervisor was behind the desk. The Commission for Discipline Inspection work is different from other departments. He cannot be too friendly to others as it will affect his work in the future. What would his supervisor think if a friend had committed an offense? Are you going to arrest him or let him off? He was prepared to maintain a distance from the staff from other departments.
Office.
He Suien exchanged some pleasantries with Dong Xuebing and made a phone call. “Hello, Gao Wenrong. Come to my office now.”
A while later, a tall man in his late thirties entered the office.
“Secretary.” Gao Wenrong greeted and looked at Dong Xuebing.
He Suien nodded. “Notify the rest of the departments for a meeting forty minutes later. We will read an appointment announcement. This is Dong Xuebing. Inspection Office One’s Director.”
Guo Wenrong was surprised and shook hands with Dong Xuebing. “Oh, you are Director Dong. I have heard a lot about you. I am Gao Wenrong. Deputy Secretary and Office Director of the Commission for Discipline Inspection. Let me know if you need anything in the future.”
Dong Xuebing greeted him politely.
Gao Wenrong turned to Secretary He. “I will inform the other departments now.”
He Suien nodded. “Xiao Dong, Xiao Gao will bring you to your office while the small hall is set up. Try to familiarize yourself with the surroundings first.”
“Yes.” Dong Xuebing replied. “Sorry to trouble you.”
Dong Xuebing and Gao Wenrong left the office.
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Thanks for bringing me around, Brother Gao.”
Gao Wenrong laughed. “Don’t mention it. Just call me Old Gao will do.”
The Commission for Discipline Inspection staff were friendlier towards their people.
