Chapter 11: The Next Step of the Plan!

Lingyun Municipal Administration Office, inside Tian Guanghan’s office.

Lin Yaodong and Tian Guanghan sat facing each other, but neither spoke—a heavy silence hung in the air. Tian Guanghan’s expression was especially grim, his face clouded with humiliation.

Just at noon, he had suspended Yang Dong for review, and yet, before the afternoon was out, the Municipal Disciplinary Committee Office, together with the Organization Department of the same committee, had sent over a direct request for a temporary transfer. The document read: “Requesting the secondment of Yang Dong from the General Affairs Division of the Municipal Administration Office. Comrade Yang Dong is to report to the Municipal Disciplinary Committee Office before six o’clock this evening.”

When Tian Guanghan received this request, his face fell as if he’d swallowed a fly—utterly revolted. The Municipal Disciplinary Committee was slapping his face in public.

He could have refused outright—after all, as Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Administration and Deputy Director of the Administration Office, currently presiding over daily affairs in Yin Tiejun’s absence, he had the authority to decide on any matter within the office.

But he had to consider the consequences of refusing the Committee’s request. That department was special—few cadres dared provoke it, especially someone like Tian Guanghan, whose own record was less than spotless.

To complicate matters, that very afternoon, the newly appointed member of the Municipal Standing Committee and Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee, Guan Mushan, had just arrived. If he refused now, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face to the new secretary?

He’d attended the city’s welcoming conference for new cadres earlier and had been thoroughly intimidated. The Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Disciplinary Committee, Ma Shuli, and the Standing Deputy Minister of the Provincial Organization Department, Jiang Hongyang, had personally escorted Guan Mushan to his post.

Tian Guanghan was no fool—he understood the message. Secretary Guan had come wielding the authority of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Disciplinary Committee. Refusal was out of the question.

Besides, it wasn’t worth offending the Municipal Disciplinary Committee over someone as insignificant as Yang Dong. Still, the whole thing left a bitter taste.

“Secretary Tian, are we just going to comply with this?” Lin Yaodong’s face was dark as he looked at Tian Guanghan and asked in a low voice.

The transfer order from the Disciplinary Committee felt like a stinging slap to his face—it was intolerable. He thought he’d finally have Yang Dong crushed: first humiliated by a thorough disciplinary suspension, then kicked out of the office for good. But now, this transfer order from the Disciplinary Committee gave him a bad feeling.

Besides, he’d never heard that Yang Dong had any powerful connections—so why would the Committee suddenly transfer him?

“What else is there to do but comply?” Tian Guanghan’s grim look faded, replaced by a mild smile as he sipped from his thermos. He spoke sincerely, trying to counsel Lin Yaodong. “Xiao Lin, sometimes you must learn to let go.”

“The road may be winding, but the future is bright. Don’t be too fixated on individual wins or losses.”

Instantly, Lin Yaodong put on an admiring expression, singing his praises: “You really are a true secretary, sir. I could never hope to reach your level of vision and composure.”

“Haha, you rascal. You do have a silver tongue.” Tian Guanghan burst out laughing.

Knock, knock!

His laughter was abruptly cut off by a sudden knock at the door. He collected himself, eyes narrowing, and signaled to Lin Yaodong.

Lin Yaodong rose and opened the door.

“Yang Dong!”

He immediately spotted Yang Dong at the threshold. The sight of him made Lin’s anger flare, but recalling Secretary Tian’s words, he forced a smile and greeted him with exaggerated warmth: “Ah, Group Leader Yang, come right in!”

With that, he ushered Yang Dong inside.

Yang Dong knew Lin Yaodong’s character well: utterly unscrupulous, no moral baseline, no real ability—his whole career built on flattery and picking sides. Lin’s behavior now was exactly what Yang expected.

He knew Lin must already be aware of his transfer to the Disciplinary Committee—after all, they were both in Tian Guanghan’s office.

Yang Dong ignored Lin and turned to Tian Guanghan.

“I’m here to collect the transfer order,” he said bluntly, not caring to waste words. They were not the same kind of people; civility was for those who treated you as a peer. Since the other side had shown no respect and had tried to ruin him, why should he bother being polite? Yang Dong was no stranger to anger, and he wasn’t about to indulge Tian Guanghan.

That old fox had stabbed him in the back more than once in a previous life. Those debts, he had not forgotten.

“Comrade Yang Dong, congratulations! The Disciplinary Committee’s transfer order—well, you’ve really brought honor to our Administration Office.”

“In all the history of Lingyun City, no one from our office has ever been seconded to the Disciplinary Committee. You’ve broken the mold.”

“Remember this: the Administration Office is your home, and we’re all your family here.”

“When you get to the Committee, be sure to look after us, your old colleagues.”

Tian Guanghan’s eyes narrowed with feigned warmth as he stood, patting Yang Dong’s shoulder like a close friend. Yet, it was he who had suspended Yang Dong at noon.

Such men wore many faces, switching roles to suit different people and circumstances.

“Understood. Thank you, Deputy Secretary-General, for your guidance,” Yang Dong replied coolly. “I’ll take my leave now.”

He felt nothing for Tian Guanghan’s false friendliness and made no effort to hide his indifference. Tian’s attitude had changed only because of the transfer—he feared the Committee, not Yang Dong.

Now, as a member of the Disciplinary Committee, Yang Dong held a sliver of power that could threaten Tian. You had to admit, Tian was adaptable—a survivor.

“Why not stay a while longer? You’re still part of the office,” Tian said with empty courtesy, trying to salvage something.

Yang Dong gave a sardonic laugh. “Deputy Secretary-General, I’m currently suspended for review.”

“Staying here would set a bad example—it would seem I’m disregarding my superiors’ decisions.”

“I’ll be on my way.”

With that, Yang Dong turned and left, never once glancing at Lin Yaodong, treating him as if he were invisible. Whatever Lin’s current mood, Yang Dong couldn’t care less.

“Secretary, this Yang Dong is too arrogant! He treats you with utter disrespect. He even…”

Lin Yaodong closed the door and began to vent his anger at Yang Dong.

But Tian Guanghan waved him off, smiling as if nothing had happened. “Let it go, Xiao Lin. He’s riding high now—off to the Disciplinary Committee.”

“He’s not really going anywhere. It’s only a temporary transfer—he’ll be back when his term is up.”

“I just don’t know where he gets the nerve to behave like this. When he comes back, you must teach him a lesson!” Lin Yaodong fumed.

Tian Guanghan settled into his chair, sipping tea, and replied airily, “You need to be more generous, Xiao Lin. Don’t be so narrow-minded.”

“Ah, Secretary, your magnanimity is truly something to aspire to!” Lin Yaodong launched into another round of flattery.

Yang Dong left the municipal building, staring at the slender transfer order in his hand—just a line of text, stamped in red by the Committee’s office. Yet this single slip of paper had plucked him out of the Administration Office and sent him to the Committee.

He was still completely in the dark. Who had ordered his transfer? Why him? He knew nothing.

Could it have been that phone call he made earlier? Had it really worked?

He thought of the proud, aloof young woman who had answered—the memory left him speechless. That woman was arrogance incarnate. Was this world truly too small to hold her?

Pushing the thought aside, Yang Dong began to consider his next move. Now that he’d been seconded to the Committee, he would have a chance to meet Secretary Yin. He needed to find a way to see Secretary Yin, and ideally, get involved in the case.

It would be difficult. Usually, leaders pulled strings for their subordinates—yet here he was, the subordinate, trying to rescue his superior.

With mixed feelings, Yang Dong took a car to the Committee’s building.

“This is the Disciplinary Committee—you can’t just walk in!”

No sooner had he reached the entrance than a security guard stopped him. The guard, dressed crisply in black uniform and hat, stood with hands behind his back and chest thrust out—a picture of swagger, as if he were the Committee Secretary himself.

Yang Dong handed over his transfer order.

“Welcome, sir! Please, go right in!” The guard’s demeanor changed instantly. He beamed, bent at the waist, utterly deferential.

Yang Dong took back the order and strode in without a word. Guards like this always found ways to make life hard for ordinary people, forgetting that they themselves had once been at the bottom. A taste of petty authority had gone to their heads, making them feel superior—though, when faced with an actual civil servant, they always backed down.

“Hello, could you tell me where newly transferred personnel report in?” Yang Dong entered the building, found the Committee Office floor, and approached a young man standing in the corridor, asking politely.