Power and Wealth

Noon.

Dong Xuebing closed the file he was reading and went downstairs to the cafeteria beside the office building to have lunch. The cafeteria is small and old. It is not like other government departments where they have multiple cafeterias. Here, all the leaders and staff have to eat at the same place. Dong Xuebing got his food and sat by the windows. He ate slowly, and the other staff sat far from him. This is the respect and fear they had for Dong Xuebing. Even the leaders don't dare to share a table with Dong Xuebing or sit near him.

News of Dong Xuebing stripping Lui Dafa's authority within an hour after he was appointed had spread.

Chief Dong's first move is swift and ruthless, making everyone fear him.

While eating, some staff members were discussing the changes that the Agency will face.

Dong Xuebing looked at the staff and knew he had established his authority. After lunch, he returned to his office and waited for the staff to return to work. When lunchtime is over, Dong Xuebing walks out of his office and walks towards Business Section One's office. This morning, the staff, who were chatting and surfing the net, were reading documents, and some were calling investors. Their attitude is much better compared to the morning.

"Huh? Chief Dong."

"Chief."

"Chief Dong."

The staff saw Dong Xuebing and quickly put their work aside to greet him.

Dong Xuebing nodded and waved. "Carry on with your work."

See… this is the result of establishing authority.

Dong Xuebing continued his way upstairs. He decided to take a look at the Office Department. But when he got upstairs, he overheard Lui Dafa speaking to the staff members in the office. Dong Xuebing wonders if Lui Dafa is pretending, or he did adjust his attitude, as Lui Dafa is laughing and chatting happily with some staff. Dong Xuebing could also hear Deputy Office Director Dan Enguo's voice.

Dan Enguo said. "Chief Lui, this year's promotion materials…

Lui Dafa interrupted. "Xiao Liu had done a good job previously. Let him handle it again."

A young man replied. "Thank you, Chief Lui."

Lui Dafa laughed. "Haha… work hard, and let's try our best to get better results this year."

Someone asked. "Chief Lui, err…. I heard there will be changes to the Office Department's bonus? Is the Business Section Office's commission really going to be lowered?"

Lui Dafa replied. "I am not sure. We will just do what the Chief says."

That man asked. "But the bonus structure had always been like this. Why must it change suddenly?"

Dong Xuebing did not enter the office and continued his way up to his office on the fourth floor. During the meeting earlier, he had only asked the Office Director to directly report to him instead of Lui Dafa. But he had not removed Lui Dafa's authority over the Office Department. This authority cannot be removed so suddenly. All Dong Xuebing can do is slowly remove Lui Dafa's influence within the Agency and not remove him from his position. Also, from Lui Dafa's expression at the meeting, Dong Xuebing knew he will retaliate against him. The way Lui Dafa smiled and chatted with the staff in the Office is his way of retaliation.

Such things are very common in government offices.

Just like the County Party Committee meeting previously. Executive Deputy Mayor Zhou Pingzhi had switched sides at the last minute and backstabbed Xie Huilan. It's not whether if the subordinate dares to go against their superiors. It is about whether if the subordinate has the influence and backing to go against them. Zhou Pingzhi must have the support of Xiang Daofa, and that's why he dares to do that. Lui Dafa's backing is Publicity Department's Head, Chen Tongbing… or even Xiang Daofa. That's why he dares to go against Dong Xuebing openly.

Knock… knock…

Dong Xuebing stopped thinking about this. "Come in."

The door opens, and Luo Haiting entered.

Dong Xuebing laughed. "Director Luo? Is there any problem?"

Luo Haiting walks over with a smile. She had regained control over her Office department, and she is still excited and shocked by Dong Xuebing's swift and ruthless methods. Her position within the Agency is more secure and has higher authority now. These are what she wanted, and her respect for Dong Xuebing increased. She knew she had made the right move by leaning towards Dong Xuebing, but at the same time, she is worried about Dong Xuebing. Lui Dafa is not someone who can be bullied.

"Chief, I had brought some staff's particulars over for you."

"Their particulars?" Dong Xuebing looks at Luo Haiting.

Luo Haiting passed the files to Dong Xuebing. "Our usual practice is for you to pick a secretary from the Office Department to assist you with your duties. These are my recommendations. They are capable and very smart. If you want any one of them, I will bring them over to see you."

"Oh… Let me look at their files first. Thank You, Director Luo."

"It's my duty."

Dong Xuebing picks up the file and starts looking at the staff's resume. The first person is someone almost thirty. He looks mature in his picture, and the second person is a girl, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. The third person is a middle-aged man in his forties. He does look like someone suitable to be a secretary. All the candidates are suitable, and Luo Haiting had put in effort into choosing them. But Dong Xuebing smiled.

Luo Haiting looks at Dong Xuebing. "Chief, what do you think?"

Dong Xuebing smiled and said. "I think let's put this aside first."

Luo Haiting was confused. Chief Dong does not want any of the candidates? Could it be that Chief Dong does not trust her recommendation and is afraid she is planting a spy beside him?

Dong Xuebing did not want to disappoint Luo Haiting. "Director Luo, the people we recommended, are all very good. They look smart and are suitable to be secretaries. But I am only twenty-four and twenty-five after my birthday this year. If I get someone who is almost forty to be my secretary, it will be awkward. Hahaha…" That girl is young, but if Dong Xuebing picks her, there will be rumors and gossips. It will be bad for his reputation. Even if Dong Xuebing picks her, Sister Xie will also not agree.

Luo Haiting thought for a second and smiles. "Sorry, I had forgotten to take this into consideration."

"Let's talk about this later."

"Ok." Other than these few people in the Office Department, there are no young men suitable to be secretaries. Some of the younger staff are smart, but they are not matured enough. That's why Luo Haiting dare not recommend them to Dong Xuebing. If they mess up in the future, Chief Dong will push the blame to her.

"Oh…" Dong Xuebing remembered something. "I heard the Investment Promotion Agency's bonuses and the Business departments' commissions will be lowered? Who had issued this order? The County Government? How come I am unaware of it?"

Luo Haiting replied. "I am not sure."

Dong Xuebing looks at Luo Haiting. "Did you not hear about the staff discussing it?"

"… yes. I heard about it earlier." Luo Haiting replied after a slight pause.

Dong Xuebing continued. "Sister Luo, just speak your mind."

"Ah…" Luo Haiting lowered her voice. "I don't know who is the one that started this rumor, and everyone is saying… you will be adjusting their bonuses and lowering the commissions to cut cost."

Dong Xuebing's face changed. "Me?"

Luo Haiting quickly explained. "It must be someone who is spreading this rumor to tarnish your reputation and prevent you from doing your job properly. After I heard about this, I explained to the staff. The commission structure is approved by the County Government and will not be changed." Luo Haiting is telling Dong Xuebing the truth. If no one started this malicious rumor, it would not spread.

Dong Xuebing suppressed his anger. "Who started this rumor?"

Luo Haiting replied. "I… I don't know."

"Go and find out!" Dong Xuebing replied angrily. "When did I say I am going to lower their bonuses and commissions?!"

Luo Haiting knew there is no way for her to find the culprit, but she still agreed.

It must be Lui Dafa. Other than him, no one dares to put words into Dong Xuebing's mouth! This is to gross Dong Xuebing out! How does one earn respect from others?! From people's hearts! Benefits are the fastest way to get into others' hearts! If everyone's benefits are affected, they will not stay calm and not respect Dong Xuebing.

This Lui Dafa had acted fast to create problems for Dong Xuebing!

Dong Xuebing's eyes turned cold. He must get rid of Lui Dafa as soon as possible!

But Meng Xianglin and Lui Dafa had controlled the Investment Promotion Agency for many years, and the Agency is their stronghold. That's why Lui Dafa is close to the heads of the various departments and staff. His connection within the Agency is strong and had established his authority much earlier than Dong Xuebing. If Dong Xuebing tried to remove him by force, it might cause all the staff to go against him.

Dong Xuebing knew he had not does enough to establish his authority, and he did not expect to settle this issue on his first day. It is like playing chess, and he needs to move one step at a time. But after hearing the rumors, Dong Xuebing is more determined to get rid of Lui Dafa. However, he cannot do it openly as everyone knows they have a deep grudge against each other. If Dong Xuebing does not have the power to remove Lui Dafa from his position, the staff will look down on him, and it will be hard for his work to progress in the future.

That's why Dong Xuebing must still establish authority!

Dong Xuebing must use Lui Dafa to do that!

By attacking Lui Dafa, Dong Xuebing can establish his authority among the staff and restructure the internal environment!

But how should Dong Xuebing do that? He still has not thought of a way.

Lui Dafa… Lui Dafa… Lui Dafa…

This is Dong Xuebing's first political obstacle since his appointment!