County Party Committee Office.
Inside the Secretary's Office.
When Meng Hanmei called for Su Yan, many people in the office blinked in confusion. They were puzzled because everyone knew that Su Yan was a marginal figure, neither high nor low in status. Why was Director Meng looking for him and personally coming to do so? The expression on her face didn't seem to suggest she was there to punish him, which meant it was about something else. If it were something else, it should have been handled by the Secretary’s Office Chief or even the Deputy Director of the County Party Committee Office. It seemed unusual for a County-level leader like Director Meng to come personally, especially since it was the day of the new County Party Secretary's appointment. Meng Hanmei must have had many other things to handle, so taking the time to see Su Yan was exceptional—certainly not something Su Yan would usually experience.
The fact that Meng Hanmei waited at the door after speaking made the situation even more unusual, leaving Su Yan somewhat perplexed.
Nervous, Su Yan said, “Director Meng, I…”
Meng Hanmei waved her hand again, saying, “Come with me. We’ll talk on the way.”
Su Yan swallowed hard, bracing himself and following her.
Seeing him come along, Meng Hanmei turned and led the way to Dong Xuebing's office.
Su Yan, clearly uneasy, might have thought that this was about the incident from a few days ago. Once alone, he anxiously said, “Director Meng, I was impulsive the other day. I shouldn’t have acted out, especially before the County Party Secretary. I know it caused some trouble, and I apologize and accept any criticism from the leadership.” After the incident, Su Yan realized that the person who had assaulted the police and sat next to him in the black car was the new County Party Secretary. When he found out, Su Yan was stunned and uneasy. After all, it was an embarrassing incident, and he had been on edge for the past few days. So, when he met Meng Hanmei, he immediately admitted his mistake, saying, “But I had reasons for my actions. You don’t know the whole situation. That person…”
Su Yan was relieved but even more confused. “Then why are you looking for me?”
Meng Hanmei smiled, “I can’t tell you what it is yet, but it’s something good. Let’s go. Secretary Dong wants to see you.”
Su Yan was taken aback. “Secretary Dong wants to see me?”
“You’ll find out when you get there,” Meng Hanmei said, not elaborating further, and led him away.
Dong Xuebing was reviewing Su Yan’s file. No wonder Meng Hanmei hadn’t picked him; the film was mediocre. There was nothing particularly outstanding, and even the positive comments from some leaders were sparse. It was clear to anyone that this wasn’t due to a lack of comments but reflected more fundamental issues. Leaders’ comments are often insincere and can be inflated, so receiving positive remarks from leaders doesn’t necessarily mean someone is exceptional. Conversely, if leaders were reluctant to provide bland comments, it indicated problems in how Su Yan managed his relationships with leadership.
Dong Xuebing processed the information and had a sense of clarity. In truth, he wasn’t too concerned about it. He wasn’t someone who followed the rules strictly. Moreover, from a different perspective, Dong Xuebing was also unpopular in his previous workplaces. He was undoubtedly less liked than Su Yan. Dong Xuebing was more than just disliked; he was a source of headaches for all the leaders. The only difference was that Dong Xuebing had a significant background, and even if leaders disliked him, no one dared to act against him. Thus, Dong Xuebing wasn’t bothered by Su Yan’s situation. What he valued more were the character traits that appealed to him. He wanted a secretary who suited his preferences, not a bureaucrat.
The sound of knocking came.
“Come in,” Dong Xuebing said, putting down the file.
Meng Hanmei entered first. “Secretary, I’ve brought him.”
Dong Xuebing said, “Thank you, Sister Meng.”
Meng Hanmei replied, “You two chat. I’ll head back now. Call me if you need anything.”
After closing the door, Meng Hanmei left, leaving Su Yan looking somewhat bewildered and at a loss. “Secretary Dong…”
Dong Xuebing smiled, motioning for him to sit. “Have a seat.”
Su Yan hesitated, “It’s fine. I can stand.”
Dong Xuebing insisted, “Sit down. Let’s have a chat.”
Su Yan wasn’t sure what this was about, feeling nervous and uneasy as he sat opposite Dong Xuebing. He barely used half of the chair and sat stiffly, unsure where to place his hands and feet. Previously, Su Yan hadn’t known that Dong Xuebing was the County Party Secretary, so he had behaved naturally on the bus. Now that he knew Dong Xuebing’s identity, he felt a palpable pressure and was unsure how to comport himself.
Dong Xuebing noticed Su Yan’s tension and felt a bit helpless. The scene of Su Yan hitting someone had a strong impression on him. He had thought the way Su Yan fought was impressive and satisfying. However, Dong Xuebing was not surprised that Su Yan appeared so different from his usual demeanor at work. People often have different facets to their personalities. Dong Xuebing himself, though outwardly polite, had a more troublesome side that only those familiar with him would recognize.
Dong Xuebing got up, went to the water dispenser, took out a disposable cup, and poured hot water for Su Yan. “It’s cold. Have some.”
Su Yan, taken aback, said hurriedly, “Thank you, thank you, Secretary.” After taking a sip, Su Yan’s emotions settled a bit. “Secretary, I didn’t realize it was you on the bus the other day. I’m sorry for any offense caused. Please don’t hold it against me.”
Dong Xuebing asked with a smile, “What offense?”
Su Yan was momentarily at a loss, unsure what he had done to offend.
Dong Xuebing chuckled and looked him up and down. “Even if there was an offense, it’s no big deal. There’s no real offense. Let me be straightforward. I’m asking you today if you want to become my secretary.”
Su Yan was stunned at these words, nearly spitting out the hot water.
“Become the County Party Secretary’s secretary?”
For a moment, Su Yan could hardly believe his ears. The suddenness of the offer left him dumbfounded.