Power and Wealth

You want to give us an answer? How are you going to do it? What answer are you giving us? What a joke! The Chief Editor and Deputy Editor Gong looked at Dong Xuebing. They want to see who he was calling. Public Security Bureau? The Public Security Bureau cannot do anything to them! Unless you are calling Beijing Daily Group. Those are their direct supervisors. Calling other departments are useless! All the reporters in the office were looking at Dong Xuebing as if he was a joke. They were enjoying this show. This was the first time someone came to their news agency to create trouble.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Dong Xuebing was waiting for the other party to answer his call.

Ring...... ring...... ring......

Qu Yuxuan was touched to see Dong Xuebing came to get justice for her. But she was also worried that he would get into trouble. She quickly said: “Xiao Bing, go back with me. I have already prepared my resignation letter. I will quit this job. What’s the big deal? Come, let’s go.” Cao Ping was also making eye signals to Dong Xuebing. She was telling him to stop. Both of them felt Dong Xuebing does not have any connections that could influence Beijing Times news agency. They were afraid that he would get into trouble.

Dong Xuebing refused to listen. “Let me handle this. Don’t interfere.”

The call got through. “Hello? Xiao Dong?”

“It’s me.” Dong Xuebing quickly say: “I need your help here.”

“Oh. Wait a while.” Dong Xuebing could hear Xie Huilan talking to someone. “There is no need for that. Tell them to go to the meeting first. I will go later...... Xiao Dong. Tell me what happened.”

Dong Xuebing knew she was very busy with her work. He walked over to a quiet corner and said softly: “I have a friend working in a newspaper agency. A while ago, her leader wanted to matchmake her with his brother. But my friend refused, and that leader took revenge on her. That leader got a client to frame my friend and then demoted her from a team leader in the advertising division to a backend staff in the reporter department. He even sent her on a dangerous undercover investigation on illegal tour guides at Zhejiang. Because of this investigation, my friend was beaten up by that illegal tour guide. Now, that person still wants to send my friend to operate the lifts. How can he do this? I am now at the newspaper agency to reason with their leader, but that Chief Editor just ignores my complaints. He turned a blind eye to all these, and......”

“Which newspaper agency?”

“Beijing Times News Agency.”

“What is that leader’s name?”

Dong Xuebing covered the phone and asked Aunt Xuan. “What’s that Gong fellow’s full name?”

Qu Yunxuan hesitated and said: “Gong Wei.” Dong Xuebing then walked away from the other, and no one could hear what he was saying and who he was talking to.

“His name is Gong Wei.” Dong Xuebing also did not want to bother Xie Huilan. But he got no other choices. “Sister Xie, this matter......”

“Ok. I got the whole picture. Their Chief Editor is over there? Can you pass the phone to him?”

Dong Xuebing said yes and walked over to the Chief Editor to pass him the phone. “Answer it!”

The Head of the Newspaper agency knew about the commotion in the Reporter Department, and the Chief Editor was explaining to the head over the phone. He saw Dong Xuebing passing him his phone and replied without thinking: “I am not answering it!” He thought Dong Xuebing had gone to his Public Security Bureau leader. But Public Security had nothing to do with his newspaper agency. He does not need to give any face to the Public Security Bureau’s leaders.

Gong Wei looked at Dong Xuebing with a smirk on his face.

Dong Xuebing shrugged his shoulders and said into the phone. “Sister Xie, he refuses to answer.”

Xie Huilan, on the other line, paused for a few seconds before saying: “I know!” Tuuuuu....... The line was cut.

Dong Xuebing was stunned. What does she mean by she knows? She still has not told me what she will be doing. Why did she hang up? This matter was too troublesome for her to handle? Shouldn’t be. Even if she does not have any authority, she was also from the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China. The Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China was the department that oversees the Beijing Daily Group. This should not be troublesome for her.

After thinking for a while, Dong Xuebing kept his phone.

Qu Yunxuan asked: “Xiao Bing, who did you called?”

“A friend.”

The Chief Editor finished reporting to the Head of the agency, and Deputy Editor Gong shouted to the two security guards. “What are you waiting for? Chase him out!”

The Chief Editor also waved his hand: “Get him out of here! Don’t let him create any more nuisance here!”

The two security guards heard the orders from their leaders. They hesitated for a while and looked at the police logo on Dong Xuebing’s ID card. But they still move closer to Dong Xuebing slowly.

The rest of the reporters were slightly disappointed that the show was ending.

Deputy Editor Gong pointed at Qu Yunxuan. “You are the one who brought him here? Kicking the desk?! Destroying our agency’s property?! Disrupting our work here?! Scolding the leaders?! Fine! Qu Yunxuan, you are very capable! I will not settle all these scores with that guy! I will settle all these with you! From today onwards, you will......”

Just when Gong Wei was scolding relentlessly and the two security guards trying to carry Dong Xuebing out, a young man ran out of the elevator. “Chief Editor! Chief Editor! We are in trouble!”

The Chief Editor frowned. “What’s there to panic? Tell me what happened.”

The young man panted and said: “There was a phone call to your office earlier. You are not around, so I answered for you. The higher-ups had issued an order. With immediate effect, our newspaper agency will stop publication for restructuring!”

“What?”

Everyone was dumbfounded!

The Chief Editor and Gong Wei were shocked. They did not care about Dong Xuebing and quickly took out their phones to make calls!

Soon, the whole newspaper agency knew about the order. Everyone who heard of the order were shocked. Stop publication? Why? Restructuring? They had restructured in the past. But stop publication for restructuring? This was the first time they heard of such order. Moreover, the order starts with “With immediate effect.” That means they had to stop publication more than one day. It might be one week or even one month! How can this be happening? That means everyone at the agency will be out of jobs for a month?

The other departments of the agency might not know the reason, but the people at the reporter department turned to look at Dong Xuebing after they got over the shock!

Qu Yunxuan was also in a daze. She asked: “Xiao Bing, this....... You are the one behind this?”

The Chief Editor and Gong Wei had not thought of Dong Xuebing. But when they heard Qu Yunxuan, they turned to look at Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing was shocked too. Damn! Stop publication? Does she need to be so ruthless? He had only wanted to ask Xie Huilan to pressurize the leaders at the agency and settle his problem. But stopping publication was a bit too much. This...... was Xie Huilan doings? Beijing Times might not be some major newspapers, but it was still a newspaper with the word “Beijing” in its name. This was a word with weight. She could just ask them to stop publication just like that? Ask for restructuring without any reason?

Dong Xuebing was shocked, but he did not show it on his face. He pretended he knew what was be happening.

The Chief Editor does not believe it was Dong Xuebing that caused this to happen. It was because everything happened too fast. It was only a few minutes after Dong Xuebing hang up. Even if Dong Xuebing had gone to the leaders at the City’s Publicity Department, it was also impossible for the order to be issued so fast. Issuing an order like this without discussion or approvals? Who has the authority to order them to stop publication? No one! No one dares to give such an order! No one can take on this responsibility!

The Chief Editor immediately called a leader from another department. He also does not know what happened. He did not even know about the order of them stopping publication. That’s it. The Chief Editor was relieved. It must be his secretary who had misheard, or someone was impersonating a leader from the Publicity Department. Stop publication? Hahaha. How is this possible?!

But a few seconds later, the Chief Editor’s phone rang. It was a number from the City’s Publicity Department.

The Chief Editor paused for a few seconds and answered: “Director Yan.”

Director Yan, on the other end of the phone, started scolding: “What the hell is your Beijing Times doing? Ah? What did you all do?” Bang, bang, bang! It was the sounds of Director Yan banging on the table. “A leader from the Central Publicity Department called us to complain about your newspaper agency! The caller specifically named you and someone by the name of Gong Wei! You all really did us proud! Now, the whole department knows both of you!!!”

“Ah? Central Publicity Department?” The Chief Editor immediately turns pale. “Director Yan, this......”

Because Director Yan was shouting at the top of his voice, Gong Wei heard everything. He almost shits his pants. A leader from the Central Publicity Department specifically complained about him? Goddamn!

Director Yan shouts: “I don’t care what happened! I don’t want to know who did you all offended! I want you to solve this immediately! If the order is not retracted by noon, you and that Gong Wei will pack your bags and go!” Tuuuuu...... He hanged up!

The Chief Editor and Gong Wei were looking at the phone in a daze. They did not expect this incident to blow up like this. Now, even if these two people were idiots, they also know that it was this young man who caused the newspaper agency to stop publications! The rest of the people in the office saw their Chief Editor and Gong Wei’s facial expressions and then looked at Dong Xuebing. This young man only made a call, and the whole agency had to stop publications. How influential were his connections? They remembered what Dong Xuebing said before his phone call. “If you all don’t give me an answer, then I will give you all an answer!” Everyone realized that Dong Xuebing was not boasting when he said this.

The Chief Editor immediately regretted. This incident had nothing to do with him. It was all caused by Gong Wei. Just because he chose to ignore this, he was dragged into this mess. What the hell was this? He was thinking how to pacify Dong Xuebing. But there were too many employees present. He was not willing to lose face in front of them. He did not say a word and stood there looking at Dong Xuebing.

Suddenly the elevator doors opened, and the Head of the news agency walked out. “What’s happening? What is going on?”

The Chief Editor sighed and walked over to explain to the Head.

The Head of the agency’s face became darker as he listened to the Chief Editor. He was furious and points at Gong Wei without saying a word.

Dong Xuebing took a glance at the few leaders of the agency and said coldly: “I also want to settle this amicably. But since I arrived in the morning, no one wants to listen to me. All of you only knows how to use your authority to brush me aside. Fine. Now, can you all settle this issue for me?” At first, Dong Xuebing felt it might be too overbearing to make this newspaper agency to stop publications. But after thinking for a while, they were the unreasonable ones first. Why should Dong Xuebing be reasonable with them? If this order did not come in, no one would bother to listen to him!

The Head of the agency looked at Dong Xuebing. He knew that the higher-ups did not really want to let the agency stop publications. They only wanted to warn the agency that if they don’t settle this problem, the agency might have to stop publications. This was why the agency’s head panicked. He forced a smile: “Hi, can we speak in private at my office? We will make sure we will investigate all your complaints and give you an answer.”

Dong Xuebing also did not want to make Qu Yunxuan embarrass in front of so many people. He nodded and followed the Agency’s Head.

Qu Yunxuan followed behind and asked softly: “Xiao Bing, is the newspaper really going to stop publishing? Who did you call?”

Dong Xuebing turned and replied: “A leader from the Central Publicity Department. She owes me a favor in the past.”

Agency’s Head office.

Gong Wei knew he was in deep trouble. At the same time, he felt wronged. He had only transferred that bitch to another department. What’s the big deal? He could not understand why Dong Xuebing would get a leader from the Central Publicity Department to help him over such a small matter. This was not all. The leader even ordered a suspension on their agency? All these just to get back at him and want an answer? Gong Wei believed that Dong Xuebing wanted more. So, he tried to act smart and said: “I might have overlooked over Qu Yunxuan’s work. Head, I suggest transferring Qu Yunxuan back to the advertising division. There is a vacancy for the deputy chief there.”

The Agency Head looked at Dong Xuebing.

But Dong Xuebing immediately blow up: “F**k you! Overlook? You really know how to avoid taking responsibility! I am telling all of you now! I am here today is not to ask for a promotion for Aunt Xuan! I am here to reason with you all! You think leaders have rights and your subordinates do not have human rights? Let’s settle our scores one by one. Collaborating with a client to accuse Aunt Xuan, transferring her to another department as support staff, picking on her at work, and forcing her to date with Gong Wei’s brother! If none of you can give me a good explanation, fine. I am not in a hurry too. Aunt Xuan, let’s go!” Dong Xuebing pulled Qu Yunxuan and was about to walk out.

The Chief Editor panicked. “Don’t...... wait a minute......”

The Agency Head banged the table angrily and points at Gong Wei: “Something like this had happened? Why am I not informed?!” It was not sure if he was pretending or was really not aware.

Gong Wei tried to explain himself: “Head, it’s not......”

Dong Xuebing does not want to waste any more time. “I only have a few requests. Number 1. Gong Wei must apologize to Aunt Xuan. Number 2. He must be demoted from his position of Deputy Editor. Number 3. I don’t what he will be doing in the future, but from today onwards, I want him to work as the lift attendant for a week! All three demands must be met!” Dong Xuebing had the upper hand now. Xie Huilan had helped him set up all these, and he can’t just let them off so lightly.

Demote? Operate the lift? Gong Wei’s face changed: “Head!” He wanted to kill Dong Xuebing on the spot. This was too humiliating!

The Head frowned. “Young man, I can understand your feelings now. But we still have not investigated this incident thoroughly, and I can’t make the decisions now. How about this? If Deputy Editor really had something to do with Qu Yunxuan’s transfer and forced her to date with his brother, I promise I will demote him.”

“How long will it be for this investigation to be over? You want to drag this out? It’s fine with me. We will go back first. Call me when you get the evidence.”

The Agency Head did not expect Dong Xuebing’s temper to be so foul. “Young man, we also have our difficulties. I can’t just demote a Deputy Editor without evidence. I do not have this authority. I still need to report this to the higher-ups. Furthermore, to ask him to operate the lifts......”

“Now you are telling me about evidence? When Gong Wei accused Aunt Xuan, what are you all doing? When Aunt Xuan complained to you all, why didn’t you all investigate and get the evidence? Stop bullshiting me!” Dong Xuebing showed 3 fingers. “I only have 3 demands, and there’s no negotiation. Just say whether you all agree or not!”

Qu Yunxuan was moved. She did not say a word and let Dong Xuebing handle everything.

The Agency Head had a headache. Why does he have to face someone so unreasonable? He rubbed the bridge of his nose and glanced at the Chief Editor.

The Chief Editor was in a hurry to save himself and does not have the time to care about Gong Wei. He blinked and nodded.

Gong Wei panicked: “Head! Chief!”

The Agency head sighed and looked at his watch. He does not have much time from noon, the time when their papers are published. If he cant settle this as soon as possible and that leader in the Central Publicity Department got angry, he might also be dragged down and lose his position. The Agency Head thought about this and made his decision. “Ok! Qu Yunxuan will resume her former position and be transferred back to the Advertising Division. Deputy Editor Gong will be removed from his position. Before his next job arrangement is out, he will be operating the elevators!” The Head then turned to Gong Wei: “Apologize to Team Leader Qu now!”

“Head! I really did not abuse my authority.......”

The Agency Head stared at him. “Hurry Up!” You are responsible for all this mess, and you are still not willing to take responsibility?

Gong Wei gave up. He knew it’s over for him. He wanted to just throw his resignation letter and just leave. He had the experience of being the Deputy Editor at Beijing Times and should be able to get a job at other newspaper agencies. But he knew if he did not settle this today, that leader from the Central Publicity Department would not let him off. He will not be able to survive in any workplace. Gong Wei turned to Qu Yunxuan and looked at her for a long time. He gritted his teeth and said: “I’m sorry.”

The Agency Head says: “Young man, we have given you an explanation now. Can you......”

Dong Xuebing looked at Qu Yunxuan, and she nodded. He turned to the Agency Head: “Fine. Everything will end here. But before I go, I must take the elevator operated by Gong Wei.”

Gong Wei: You!”

News of Editor Gong operating the lifts spread throughout the agency. Many people did not believe it and ran to the elevators to see for themselves. The former almighty Editor Gong was standing there pressing the buttons of the elevators.

Dong Xuebing felt terrific. Back on the second floor, he remembered that he had left his work ID at the reporter department. He took his ID and kept it back in his pocket. Cao Ping and the rest were looking at him as he walked out of the News Agency. On the way out, he called Xie Huilan. “Sister Xie, everything is settled. Thank you very much.”