Power and Wealth

Inside the room.

It was almost nine o'clock.

Dong Xuebing got up to pour a cup of tea for Luo Haiqing, who sat there and placed it on her desk. Luo Haiqing was going to work with him this time. From a personal and professional standpoint, Dong Xuebing's attitude towards Luo Haiqing would differ from that towards Han Fei and Zhang Lili. They were both substantive deputy division chiefs in rank, but Dong Xuebing's position was one level higher than Luo Haiqing's.

"Have some tea," Dong Xuebing said.

Luo Haiqing slightly got up. "I can do it myself."

"How's it going with the work in the city? I heard from Secretary He that you have quite an important role there. But I need your help this time, so I had you transferred here," Dong Xuebing said.

Luo Haiqing glanced at him and said, "Work is going smoothly. Even without me there, they can carry on. I also wanted to come and help you. I have to thank you. I have been thinking about changing her work environment for a while, wanting a bigger stage for development. When I came to Beijing last time, I wanted to talk to you about it and ask if you could help me find a new place. But then I forgot about it and didn't bring it up, so who would have thought you were still thinking about it."

Dong Xuebing smiled. "There's no need to thank me."

Luo Haiqing said seriously, "I'm not just being polite. I have to thank you. If it weren't for you, I'd still be stuck in Yantai County's Investment Promotion Bureau, and I wouldn't have been able to come to such a big department in my lifetime. Over the past few years, I've been promoted almost every year, all thanks to your support. I understand that."

Luo Haiqing's promotion over the past few years has been very smooth. She went from being a deputy section chief to a division chief in less than three years. If we were to talk about the promotion speed, Dong Xuebing probably wouldn't compare to her. After all, Luo Haiqing jumped directly from the City Commission for Discipline Inspection Office to being the Deputy Section Chief of the Ninth Office’s Second Section. At the same time, Dong Xuebing had transitioned from being an executive deputy county magistrate in a poverty-stricken county. But then again, Dong Xuebing was much younger, and his qualifications were not as solid, so he needed constant job adjustments and even opportunistic moves to move up. After all, he was only in his twenties. But Luo Haiqing didn't need that. She was already a seasoned cadre in her forties with solid qualifications. So, her transition was much smoother.

"No need to thank me. We've been old friends for many years. Besides, I wanted you to help me. I'm counting on you to shine," Dong Xuebing said, then suddenly reached out his hand. "Luo Haiqing, Yantai County Investment Promotion Bureau once, and the Fen State Commission for Discipline Inspection once. Let's count this time as our third time working together. I'm a bit impulsive, and my temper isn't very good. I'll need you to support me in the future."

Luo Haiqing also shook hands with him. "Look at what you're saying. Everyone knows about your abilities at work. If anyone needs support, it's you supporting Sister. I'm new here and don't know anything. This time, Sister is here with the purpose of learning. I'll learn a lot from you."

"You're too flattering," Dong Xuebing said.

"I'm just speaking the truth," Luo Haiqing laughed.

Checking the time, it was exactly nine o'clock. Dong Xuebing said, "It's time to start work. Your office is next to mine, but let's have a quick meeting first."

Luo Haiqing quickly got into work mode. "I'll let them know where to meet."

"Alright, just use the open office area," Dong Xuebing said.

"Okay, I'll let them know," Luo Haiqing replied, picking up her luggage to leave.

But Dong Xuebing stopped her. "Wait a moment." He rummaged through a drawer, took out a few keys, and handed them to her. "Almost forgot. Here are the keys to your residential compound. I've had your house prepared for you. You can go back and take a look tonight. Let me know if you need anything, and I'll prepare it for you."

Luo Haiqing smiled. "Thank you."

"Then that's settled," Dong Xuebing said.

About ten minutes later, Dong Xuebing came out of his office.

Everyone stood up straight, and Luo Haiqing also walked out of her office and stood with the others.

Dong Xuebing glanced at them. "I said we'd have a brief meeting, but there's not much to discuss. It's everyone's first day on the job, and we're all here. I'll say a few words. The Ninth Supervision Office is a newly established department; you should all feel the expectations and trust the leaders have placed on us. Yes, we're a new department, but I don't want everyone to see us as such. Everyone here has experience and capabilities in this field. Although we've just taken on new responsibilities and there's a period of adjustment ahead, that shouldn't be an excuse to affect our work. Starting tomorrow, new tasks will be introduced. Everyone knows the functions of the Second Section of the Ninth Office. I won't say anything else. I have only one request: everything else is negotiable, but there cannot be any issues with our work. I hope everyone pays attention to every detail and procedure." He paused. "That's all. Old Luo, say a few words."

Luo Haiqing waved her hand. "I'll pass."

"Say a few words," Dong Xuebing insisted.

After hesitating, Luo Haiqing followed Dong Xuebing's direction and expanded on what he had just said. Luo Haiqing was just a deputy section chief in the County Investment Promotion Bureau three years ago. She couldn't have imagined that she, with insufficient ability and lack of connections, could stand on the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection stage as a substantive division chief and speak to her subordinates. She hadn't even dared to dream about it. Even now, her head was still spinning a bit. Of course, the feeling was extremely good. Luo Haiqing enjoyed the authority that came with this position.

Dong Xuebing didn't interrupt; they just listened to Luo Haiqing speak on the side. When Sister Luo had almost finished speaking and looked at him, Dong Xuebing also gestured for her to continue speaking, which was quite obvious that he wanted to express his absolute support for Sister Luo to the others.

Luo Haiqing understood his meaning, hesitated momentarily, and continued speaking.

Dong Xuebing also noticed a major issue, leaving him stunned momentarily.

Damn, he realized that his entire department was composed of female comrades! Both deputy division chiefs were female, the two deputy division chief inspectors were female, and even the lowest-ranking one, Li Hong, was female. Apart from Dong Xuebing himself, the entire Second Division of the Ninth Bureau was like an army of women!

Dong Xuebing: “.....”

This situation was truly rare. Dong Xuebing guessed that even the higher-ups hadn't anticipated it. Zhang Lili and Li Hong had been chosen earlier, so having two women wasn't a big deal. After all, their discipline inspection commission had quite a few female comrades. But Dong Xuebing's designated candidates also being female was probably something they hadn't expected, or maybe they didn't even think about it.

Sweat.

Wouldn't this give people something to gossip about?