Chapter 252: The Turnaround (1/2)

Chapter 252: The Turnaround

Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The passport was useless for the moment, but Dai Li went to the service hall of the public security bureau to get it anyway.

Dai Li also booked a ticket home. He planned to get the passport in the morning, take the train at noon so that he would get home before dark and have supper with his family.

”This picture on my passport is quite good. It's much better than the one on my ID card. I should change to a better-looking photo the next time my ID card expires and needs to be changed.”

With his passport in his hand, he looked at the photo on it carefully.

He had barely gotten out of the service hall when he saw a dozen people or so go out the the building next to the service hall one after another. Meanwhile, a minibus went over.

…

”Captain, why not stay here a little longer? It's so rare an opportunity that you can come here.” Director Qin held the hand of an old man firmly.

”Qin, I have job to do in Qing City. I need to visit several units here. I just dropped by to see you. All right, since you are very alive and sound, I will worry about you no more. I'll go now!” The old man waved his hand.

The deputy directors next to them were a little awkward when they heard that the old man address their director as ”Qin.” Anyone in the public security bureau, when seeing Director Qin, would address him as ”Director Qin” out of respect. This was the first time they had heard anyone addressing him as ”Qin.”

However, those deputy directors also knew that this old man was very much qualified to address their director as ”Qin.” When they were in the army, Director Qin served as a combat squad leader, while this old man was his company commander. When they were demobilized, this old man went to Huajing City and had a position of as a senior official. He had been the one everyone looked up to due to not only his qualifications and service history, but also his position.

The old man was about to turn around and leave when he saw Dai Li standing not far away on the stairs in front of the gates of the service hall.

”This lad has also come to Qing City.” After a moment of thought, he said, ”I see an acquaintance of mine and want to say hi to him. You stay here. Don't follow me.”

Director Qin nodded immediately and watched him walking toward Dai Li. The others, seeing that Director Qin obeyed the old man's order and stood there, dared not follow.

The old man came to Dai Li and Dai Li also saw him.

”Hi, young man! We meet again! Do you remember me?” the old man asked with a smile.

”Hi, it's you! Never expected to see you here.” Dai Li walked up to him quickly and then asked, ”Have you been running a marathon recently? Do you have cramp anymore in your leg?”

This old man was the one who fell during the Jinyan Lake half-marathon. Dai Li helped him then and treated him with a massage.

”My leg is okay. But I cannot run marathons anymore.” Seeing Dai Li's passport, the old man said, ”You are here to get a passport. Are you going abroad? I remember you are a coach. Are you going abroad for a match?”

”Not for a match. It was an exchange learning program. But I cannot go now. My quota was taken by some official!” Dai Li's voice was full of dissatisfaction.

”Taken by an official?” There was a glitter in the old man's eyes. Then he changed his tone and said as someone who had been in Dai Li's place, ”When I was young, I once had a chance to go to Hungary. I was told that I would not be able to go just two days before leaving. I was so upset at that time. Where were you going?”

”America.” Dai Li then said, ”The Sports Bureau is organizing the coaches to be able to learn from the training centers in America. Each team has a quota for one coach to go. My team sent me. But some division chief took my place.”

”What division is the division chief from? He wants to go abroad so badly?” the old man asked with a smile.

”The division of Retired Officials,” Dai Li answered, feeling speechless.

”Retired Officials Division? What is he going to learn in America? They don't have any management of the retired officials. This is a waste of the public fund!” the old man frowned.

”Surely it is! I wouldn't complain about it if it had been someone who was in charge of the training, competition, or even sports development. Yet he was from the Retired Officials Division! What can he learn?” Dai Li got quite angry.