Chapter 16 – General Affairs Departmen (2/2)
“Ok. Thank you.”
The mood in the compound was very different from other government agencies. Beijing people were very hospitable and will greet and chat for a while when they see someone they know. They will talk about some meaningless stuff, like “Have you eaten breakfast?” “how’s your flu?” “Are your kids in school?” Etc. But in this compound, the people only nodded to each other and did not speak. Only when they saw a leader, they will open their mouths and greet them “Good morning, Section Chief.” Or “Good morning, Director.” There was no pointless chatting.
Grey building.
Second floor’s corridor.
Dong Xuebing saw the sign “Political Section office” on the wall. But there were lots of offices there, and he does not know which office to enter. When he was hesitating, he heard footsteps behind him. He turns around. Huh? It was that big size man he met at the bus stop. Was he also from the State Security?
“Excuse me.” Dong Xuebing asked. “This is my first day. Do you know which office should I go?”
That big size man paused and scratched his head embarrassedly. “I am also here to report, and I am also looking for the office.”
“Huh? What a coincidence.” Both kept quiet. Dong Xuebing could feel this person was not good at talking like him. He cleared his throat and said: “Errrmmm…… My name is Dong Xuebing.”
That big size man smiled: “I am Sun Zhuang. I have just graduated from University. My friends in school call me Zhuang Zhi (means pillar in Chinese).”
Both shook hands and walked into an office nearest to them. They entered the correct office. A staff member in civilian clothes told them to wait there. A Deputy Chief from the Political Section office entered the room and go through all the paperwork and told them the rules and regulations within the department.
More than an hour past.
The Deputy Chief took a sip of tea: “That’s all. The both of you will be posted to the General Affairs Department. I heard that the department is short on manpower. Try to familiarize yourselves with this place. Tomorrow will be your official first day. As for your uniforms, we will give it to you when it is ready. Anyway, other than some meetings in the City Bureau, we do not need to wear the State Security uniforms. This is not important.”
After finishing what he had to say, he asked the staff member to show Dong Xuebing and Zhuang Zhi where their office was.
The General Affairs Department was located on the ground floor. It was a partitioned small office. There were 8 to 9 desks in it.
That staff member from the Political Section office walked in and said: “We have newcomers. Both are fresh graduates. This is Dong Xuebing, and this is Sun Zhuang.”
Dong Xuebing knew the first impression was essential and he modestly said: “I am new here and do not know anything. Please guide me along in the future. Thank you.”
Zhuang Zi heard Dong Xuebing, and he quickly said: “Me too. Please guide us along.”
The people in the office look at both of them from head to toe.
One girl in the office laughed. “Don’t worry. Once you enter this office, we are one big family.”
That staff member from the Political Section office pointed to the 5-6 people in the office. “Chief Zhou had gone to the doctor? He does not seem to be around. This lady is Tan Limei, that is Old Yan, Guo Panwei, Guo Shunjie, Changjuan……”