Chapter 14: Team Ten, The Leader

Yang Dong followed Wei Chonghu, weaving past several offices until they arrived at the office of the Executive Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission. Once inside, Wei Chonghu poured Yang Dong a glass of plain water and set it on the table.

“Have a seat,” Wei Chonghu said with a smile, then took his own seat.

“Secretary Wei, I’d rather stand.” Yang Dong replied.

Even when invited by a leader, one had to be mindful of one’s position. If it were someone familiar, like Secretary-General Yin Tiejun, Yang Dong would have sat without hesitation. But since he was a stranger to Wei Chonghu, he didn’t dare to sit, afraid he might appear disrespectful. Moreover, who could tell what Wei Chonghu’s intentions were?

Wei Chonghu chuckled, easily recognizing Yang Dong’s caution. This young man was indeed interesting.

“After joining the investigation team, what are your plans?” Wei Chonghu’s smile faded, his expression turning solemn as he looked at Yang Dong.

Yang Dong felt uneasy, unsure what Wei Chonghu meant, so he offered a standard reply: “I will obey the orders from leadership, abide by the rules and regulations of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and fulfill my duties to the best of my ability.”

“No need for those official clichés. Since you called me, you don’t need to be so reserved.” Seeing Yang Dong’s continued caution and mistrust, Wei Chonghu decided to be more direct.

“I will carry out my duties as a member of the investigation team, neither letting a single wrongdoer slip by nor unjustly accusing an innocent person,” Yang Dong answered once more.

His words remained tight and impenetrable, but Wei Chonghu understood their deeper meaning. Who were the “innocent”? Who did Yang Dong refer to as good people?

“Very well,” Wei Chonghu said. “Don’t weigh yourself down with unnecessary burdens. Do what you must.”

“When you leave my office, turn left and go to the fourth room, the small conference room 310. Report there.”

After giving these instructions, he gestured at the water on the table. “Drink up, don’t waste resources.”

Yang Dong finally smiled, picked up the paper cup, and drank the water—it happened that he was a bit thirsty. Afterward, he tossed the cup away. Noticing that Wei Chonghu’s teacup was empty, he took it, filled it from the thermos, and set it back on the desk.

He then looked up and said, “Leader, I’d like a chance—perhaps to take charge of a few special cases.”

With these words, Yang Dong turned and left.

Wei Chonghu glanced first at the newly filled teacup, then pondered Yang Dong’s words, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

“Old Yin, you’ve really discovered a promising seedling—one who doesn’t hesitate to take risks.”

What a pity this young man was Yin Tiejun’s find. Otherwise, Wei Chonghu would have wanted to transfer Yang Dong directly into the Discipline Inspection Commission as a liaison.

After a moment’s thought, he picked up the phone and dialed several digits.

“Add Yang Dong’s name as team leader to the investigation group.”

Yang Dong left Wei Chonghu’s office and, following his instructions, made his way to the small conference room 310.

Standing at the doorway, he saw several rows already filled with people. Among them were Luo Jin and Jiang Hu. Seeing that no leader had arrived yet, Yang Dong quickly walked to the back row and found a seat, right beside Jiang Hu from the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

“Yang Dong, are you all right?” Jiang Hu asked quietly as soon as Yang Dong entered.

Yang Dong nodded and smiled kindly. “I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief,” Jiang Hu said, letting out a breath. If Yang Dong had truly been expelled from the Discipline Inspection Commission, Jiang Hu would have felt guilty.

“Everyone, quiet down!” At that moment, several figures appeared on the platform at the front—all leaders from the Discipline Inspection Commission. The room fell silent.

“Everyone is present, so let’s begin,” the leader announced. “According to the feedback from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission regarding suspected illegal and disciplinary violations by cadres in Lingyun City, the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission takes this matter seriously. From today, the investigation team is established.”

“For the duration of the investigation, please hand over your personal mobile phones. You will receive liaison phones issued by the Commission. During the investigation, no one is allowed to leave without permission. Any situation must be reported promptly to the investigation team.”

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Su Tongzhou, Director of the First Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office. This is Liu Shan, Director of the Case Review Office. From today, we will serve as deputy leaders of the investigation team.”

“Now, hand over your phones. You will be housed together at the hotel arranged by the Commission, and no one may leave privately during the investigation.”

Su Tongzhou spoke sternly, sweeping his gaze across the fifty team members present. Staff began to collect phones row by row. When they reached Yang Dong, he handed over his phone, having first deleted the call record with Su Muyun.

Soon, all phones were collected, and new liaison phones distributed. These contained only the numbers of the two deputy leaders and the team members—no other contacts.

“The investigation team will be split into ten groups, five members each, with one leader per group.”

“I will now announce the group assignments and group leaders.”

“First group, leader: Lu Yanqing. Members…”

“Second group…”

“Third group…”

“Ninth group, leader: Luo Jin. Members: Chen Bingzheng, Lu Yin, Du Sheng, Jin Yun, Jing Linghai.”

“Tenth group, leader: Yang Dong. Members: Jiang Hu, Lu Yike, Hou Donglai, Hou Shuangquan.”

“These are the group assignments for the investigation team.”

“If anyone has objections, speak now, so there won’t be any hindrances or underhanded moves during the formal investigation,” Su Tongzhou said sternly, looking over the fifty team members.

For example, if anyone disagreed with their group leader, now was the time to speak.

“I have an objection!” As expected, when it came to group leader appointments, issues arose. Though this wasn’t a formal personnel appointment, merely an internal arrangement for the investigation team that would dissolve after completing the task, being a group leader still carried significant authority. It was only natural for some to be dissatisfied, confused, or unwilling to accept it.

“Speak,” Su Tongzhou said, nodding at the man who stood up.

He was not old, about thirty, but dressed in an outdated style, resembling a man in his forties. After all, in the bureaucracy, everyone tried to appear more mature. Yet his attempt only made him look somewhat childish.

“Deputy Leader Su, I am Hou Donglai from the Municipal Procuratorate. I am a deputy section-level officer there. Even if seconded to the Discipline Inspection Commission, my rank does not change. I noticed that other group leaders are mostly deputy or even full section-level officers. Why is our group led by someone who isn’t even deputy section-level? I refuse to accept it!”

Once Hou Donglai spoke, everyone instinctively turned their gaze to Yang Dong, the leader of the tenth group, while Hou Donglai was merely a member, yet his rank was higher. Naturally, anyone would be dissatisfied if their leader outranked them.

“Hou Donglai, the leadership’s decision on group leaders is based on comprehensive considerations. What grounds do you have for your objection?” Jiang Hu shot up, glaring at Hou Donglai with anger. Hou Donglai was clearly targeting Yang Dong, disdaining his lower rank.

But Jiang Hu felt Yang Dong was a decent person—a man who could stand up for justice without fear. He admired him.

Yang Dong hadn’t expected Jiang Hu to speak up for him, even before he himself had said a word.

“Jiang Hu, this is none of your business!” Hou Donglai retorted, his face darkening. Clearly, he knew Jiang Hu. In fact, within the public security and judicial system, there was hardly anyone unfamiliar with Jiang Hu—the infamous “loose cannon” of the Economic Crime Investigation Division, notorious for annoying the leadership, yet always standing up for justice, causing endless headaches for his superiors.

As Hou Donglai was from the Procuratorate, he was well acquainted with Jiang Hu’s reputation.

“Comrade Hou Donglai, internal group matters can be resolved within the group; there’s no need to bring them up here.”

“Leaders, I am confident I can handle internal group issues. Please rest assured,” Yang Dong said, rising and looking toward the two deputy leaders, Su Tongzhou and Liu Shan.

With those words, the two leaders felt greatly reassured and satisfied with Yang Dong. Still, they wondered why the higher-ups had assigned him as group leader, given his rank and experience. Yet orders from above had to be obeyed.

They had even prepared to send Hou Donglai back to the Procuratorate if he continued to cause trouble.

“Very well, the meeting is adjourned.”

“Everyone, follow me to the minibus. We will head to the hotel for centralized accommodation.”