Power and Wealth
Chapter 1548 – Another Leader came
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection…
Eighth Supervisory Office…
Division Chief Level Inspector…
Everyone listened in stunned silence, seemingly beyond everyone’s comprehension. Many people remained silent, staring at Dong Xuebing.
Vice Principal Wang was dumbfounded.
Dong Quan was also stunned.
Le Hai Dong and Sun Ruhua were also at a loss for words.
Dong Xuebing looked at Dong Quan and said, “It’s not convenient to talk here. Come with me for a while.” Then, he turned to Vice Principal Wang and said, “Help me find a classroom; the closer, the better. I hope it’s just the two of us and others should avoid it. Please cooperate.”
Vice Principal Wang took a deep breath. “You…”
Dong Quan finally took a look at the work ID held up in front of him by Dong Xuebing. He could tell at a glance that it was genuine. Moreover, who would dare to impersonate a Central Commission for Discipline Inspection member? It was even less likely that such a document would be carried around casually. When Dong Quan realized this, his face changed immediately. He knew what the Eighth Supervisory Office was all about. Their jurisdiction included provinces, and Jiangdong Province was among them. Not to mention, their city of Wuyang, even their province, fell under the supervision of the Eighth Supervisory Office. Dong Quan had never expected to encounter such trouble today, and he had never imagined that the unremarkable young man in front of him was at a similar level as himself, a Division Chief level cadre.
How old are you?
How did you reach this level?
Jiang Min looked puzzled. “Xuebing, how…”
Sun Ruhua also widened her eyes in disbelief. “You’re a Division Chief level inspector?”
Many other students and teachers watching the scene began to discuss animatedly, and the atmosphere became chaotic.
“Is there a problem?” Dong Xuebing stared at Vice Principal Wang. “Everyone’s time is not abundant. Hurry up and prepare the classroom.”
Vice Principal Wang quickly looked at Dong Quan.
Dong Quan felt a chill in his heart, but he could do nothing. If a cadre from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection wanted to talk to him, how could he refuse or leave? Even if he were of his level, even if the Secretary of the City Party Committee came, he wouldn’t be able to refuse because he couldn’t refuse. That was the superior supervisory department. So, Dong Quan had no choice but to take Dong Xuebing’s words seriously.
Vice Principal Wang looked and understood everything. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly instructed a nearby teacher to prepare the classroom.
The situation became tense.
But at that moment, another car slowly drove in.
A sharp-eyed teacher spotted the person in the car at a glance. “Mayor He is here.”
“Mayor He!” Vice Principal Wang turned around in a hurry, forgetting about the situation here, and rushed over.
Many people were at the school gate, and the car couldn’t drive in. It could only stop near the entrance. The driver got out and opened the door, and a middle-aged man exited the car. Seeing so many people blocking the way, he seemed a little puzzled and smiled, “Vice Principal Wang, what’s going on?” He Zhengfei, the Deputy Mayor of Beijing City, is in charge of education. He was not a graduate of United University. He came today mainly to show his support. After all, United University was a major university in Jingcheng, and various relationships were laid out there. It was normal for He Zhengfei to come.
Vice Principal Wang was at a loss for words. “Um, well. Something happened.”
On the other side, Dong Quan’s eyes lit up when he saw He Zhengfei. Without paying attention to Dong Xuebing, he quickly walked up and said, “Old leader, you’re here too.”
He Zhengfei looked at him and laughed, “Oh, Dong Quan.”
Dong Quan was somewhat excited. “You still remember me?”
He Zhengfei smiled, “You worked in my department for two or three years. How could I forget you? You graduated from United University.”
Dong Quan hastily said, “Yes, it’s been almost twenty years since graduation.”
He Zhengfei glanced around. “What’s going on here? It’s quite a commotion.”
Dong Quan immediately explained in a low voice, “Old leader, it’s like this. When I drove into the school gate, a teacher happened to be walking towards me, and my car accidentally grazed her. It wasn’t a collision, but she twisted her ankle and fell because of her high heels. As a result, I got stuck here. She asked me to apologize and compensate her, but apologizing was unnecessary. After all, she was partly at fault. Besides, today is the school’s anniversary. What kind of situation is this?”
He Zhengfei said lightly, “Let’s go in first. Being stuck at the gate is nothing. There are still many people behind. We’ll deal with it after the anniversary.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Dong Quan sighed helplessly. “But that teacher has a student who is a Division Chief level cadre from the Eighth Supervisory Office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection wanting to talk to me.”
He Zhengfei and Dong Quan were acquaintances, not deep, but they had once been in a superior-subordinate relationship. He Zhengfei furrowed his brows slightly and said, “Does the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection handle this kind of thing?”
“But he already given a warning.” Dong Quan complained.
Dong Quan couldn’t afford to offend the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, especially the Eighth Supervisory Office. They could make his life difficult effortlessly. They were not on the same level. But He Zhengfei was different. The Eighth Supervisory Office didn’t oversee cadres in Beijing, and their work had little overlap. Moreover, He Zhengfei was the Deputy Mayor of a directly-administered City, almost at the level of a deputy minister. Dong Quan’s words were a plea for help from He Zhengfei. He hoped He Zhengfei could help mediate. In his view, even if it was a cadre from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, they should give face to Deputy Mayor He.
He Zhengfei also thought so. It was just a casual remark to help out an old subordinate. So he asked, “Which person are you referring to?”
Dong Quan pointed in their direction. “That young man.”
“The one in sportswear?” He Zhengfei frowned slightly.
Dong Quan nodded. “Yes, that’s him.”
Dong Xuebing also looked in their direction.
He Zhengfei remained silent for a few seconds and glanced at Dong Xuebing with a hint of strangeness and a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
Many people’s hearts sank when they saw Deputy City Mayor He arriving and noticing his relationship with Dong Quan seemed good. They knew that things might be resolved without further ado. Who is Deputy Mayor He? Many students knew. He was a city leader frequently seen on television, and his rank was there for everyone to see. It was just a matter of a word. Even if it were a cadre from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, they wouldn’t dare to insist further. It wasn’t about who was afraid of whom; it was just that this matter was insignificant. Teacher Jiang was only slightly injured, just twisted her foot. The dispute was just about saving face. But now, with Deputy Mayor He seemingly intervening, even if it was a cadre from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, they should give Deputy Mayor He some face. Besides, it was so trivial that it didn’t involve any principles or legal issues. It was just a civil dispute that didn’t even need to be escalated.
Many people looked towards He Zhengfei and Dong Quan.
Seeing Deputy Mayor He remaining silent for a long time, Dong Quan called out, “Old leader.”
He Zhengfei glanced at him and whispered in a voice only they could hear, “You, why pick a fight with him? Forget it. Let me give it a try. I can only say I’ll try.”
Dong Quan was puzzled, not understanding the meaning behind He Zhengfei’s words.
You’re a Deputy Mayor of a directly-administered City. Isn’t it just a matter of saying a word?
Under the gaze of everyone, He Zhengfei slowly walked up with a smile and said, “Hello, Division Chief Dong.”
Dong Xuebing looked at him and shook his hand when he reached out. “You must be Deputy Mayor He,” he said. He does not recognize him but has seen him on TV.
He Zhengfei said calmly, “I’ve heard about the situation. It’s not a big deal. Later, I’ll have Dong Quan send the money to your teacher. Let’s call it even. Today is the 30th anniversary of United University. It’s a great day. With so many people gathered here, it’s inconvenient, don’t you think?”
Dong Xuebing looked at him and said, “Deputy Mayor He, it’s not that I don’t give you face. I’ve just said, in my opinion, this is not a trivial matter. Teacher Jiang is my mentor. As you should know, there’s a saying: ‘A day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father.’ Teacher Jiang is like a father to me, a family member. If someone in your family were hit by someone else and the other party didn’t even apologize, how would you feel? This can’t be considered a small matter.”
He Zhengfei said, “That’s true, but…”
Dong Xuebing interrupted him, “Moreover, I have something work-related to discuss with Comrade Dong Quan. I received a task from the General Office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. I can’t discuss the details with you. We have confidentiality principles to adhere to. Since it’s official business, please don’t interfere.”
He Zhengfei didn’t get angry either. He just shook his head helplessly. “Okay, if it’s official business, then I won’t say anything.” He then turned to Dong Quan. “You cooperate.”
Dong Quan hesitated for a moment. “Old leader…”
He Zhengfei waved his hand, saying nothing, and walked directly into the campus.
“Deputy Mayor He left.”
“Huh, why didn’t he intervene?”
“Yeah, isn’t he acquainted with Dong Quan?”
As they watched He Zhengfei leave, many students and teachers were stunned.
Le Haidong was also surprised. He works in Beijing Education Bureau and naturally knew He Zhengfei and his position. He also knew what kind of person he was and his temper. How could a Deputy Minister-level leader advise someone to cooperate and then leave when it wasn’t a difficult task? He hadn’t expected Dong Xuebing to disregard He Zhengfei’s authority altogether, and He Zhengfei didn’t say much after a couple of sentences and walked away.
He Zhengfei didn’t want to meddle.
Why didn’t He Zhengfei intervene? Wasn’t Dong Quan his former subordinate?
Confusion and puzzlement were written all over their faces. They couldn’t understand what was going on.
Perhaps only Dong Xuebing and He Zhengfei knew what was going on. It was Dong Xuebing’s first time meeting He Zhengfei, but as a city leader in Beijing, he wouldn’t be unfamiliar with the son-in-law of the city’s top leader. He probably knew Dong Xuebing’s tricky temperament and tried to mediate with a few words, but seeing that Dong Xuebing didn’t listen, He Zhengfei knew it was futile. His rank couldn’t suppress Dong Xuebing, so he left first.
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