Chapter 36 – Fire! (1/2)

10.30 am.

General Affairs Office.

Guoo Panwei and Guo Shunjie went out with Zhou Changchun for some errands. Tan Limei and Changjuan also went upstairs to collect the two very important documents from Li Qing’s office. But there was no one at the Confidential Department to receive the documents. It seems that they were still having a meeting. There was only two staff on duty at the counter. But these documents need the leader to acknowledge and signature. Tan Limei and Changjun could only bring the documents back to DirectorLi Qing.

Dong Xuebing was looking at the attendance sheet when they returned. He asked: “You delivered the documents?”

Tan Limei sat down on her chair. “The leader of Confidential Document Department is not around. Director Li told us to send the documents again in the afternoon.”

Dong Xuebing looked around and saw there were no outsiders. He asked softly: “tan Zhi, is it because I am still under my probation? Why Chief Zhou never pick Zhuang Zhi and me to deliver those important documents? Is he afraid that we will look at the documents?”

Tan Limei laughed. “I am not sure about this. What’s wrong? You are jealous of me and Sister Chang?”

Dong Xuebing sulked. “Do I need to? But I just feel that the leader does not seems to trust me.”

“It’s not he doesn’t trust you, it’s……” Tan Limei paused for a while and looked around the office. She picked up a document and pretended to be discussing the document with him. “I had wanted to warn you yesterday. I think Chief Zhou might be slightly pissed with you.”

Dong Xuebing was shocked. “Impossible…… I did not do anything to make him angry.”

Tan Limei continued. “This is only my opinion. That day when you had the conflict with Guo Shunjie, you purposely did not say you were in Chief Zhou’s office and lead Guo Shunjie to say those things. Yes. Guo Shunjie was scolded by Chief Zhou. But have you ever thought that what you did was forcing Chief Zhou to step in to scold Guo Shunjie? He had no choice as one of his subordinates was shouting outside. If he still did not step in, people will lose respect for him.”

“Damn!” Dong Xuebing felt this might really be true.

“That’s why although Chief Zhou did not say anything, in his heart…… you should know.” Tan Limei had been in the government sector for more than one year. She could see further than Dong Xuebing. “Chief Zhou had asked Guo Shunjie to follow him along for his errands was the leader’s art of carrot and stick. Since he had shown that he is the boss of the office, there was no need to make things worse. At the same time, he was giving you a warning.”

Dong Xuebing was grateful. “Thank you so much for telling me this. If you did not tell me, I would still be wondering why Chief Zhou was treating me differently. So, this was the reason.”

Sighed……. I was still too naïve.

Dong Xuebing reflected on himself. This was a lesson to him. Suddenly he felt slightly cold and walked over to press the remote of the air conditional. He tried to raise the temperature, but the button might be spoilt. It had no reaction after pushing for a while.

“You need to press harder. Press as hard as you can.” Changjuan said. “The thermoset is faulty.”

“Did we report it?” Dong Xuebing used his strength to press and beep. The temperature indicator increased a notched. “Damn, adjusting the temperature is also manual labor.”

Old Yan who was reading his newspapers laughed. “It was repaired several times, but it was still faulty. Recently, the budget was tight, and the higher-ups do not allow us to replace it. Not only this air conditional, that water dispenser cold water is also faulty. The electric kettle in Director Li Qing’s office was also faulty. It will stop working when boiling water. Just make do with it first.”

Someone opened the door of the office. It was General Affairs Office’s head. Director Li Qing. “Bureau Chief Yan need someone to help him carry things. One of you needs to follow me.” Bureau Chief Yan’s full name was Yan Liang. He was the Chief of this district’s branch bureau. The real head of this place. He had more authority than the District Political Commissar.

When heard that it would be helping Bureau Chief Yan to carry things, Dong Xuebing stood up. “Director Li, I will go.”

Li Qing looked at him and laughed. “Never mind. Let Xiao Sun go. He is stronger.”