58: Chapter 58 Division of Labor

Early September, Changyuan County.

The office building of the County Public Security Bureau was an old five-story structure with white tiles on the exterior walls that were so blinding in the sunlight one could barely keep their eyes open.

Xu Weidong stood in front of the building, looked up at the sign for the Changyuan County Public Security Bureau, took a deep breath, and walked inside.

His office was on the third floor, facing south, with excellent lighting.

He had just sat down when the phone rang.

"Director Xu, Secretary Liu Qingfeng requests your presence at a meeting in the small conference room at 9:30."

"Alright, I understand."

Xu Weidong checked his watch; it was 9:10, leaving him twenty minutes.

He opened the meeting materials on his desk and began to leaf through them.

On top was a document titled "Preliminary Plan Regarding the Adjustment of Division of Labor Among Bureau Leaders," which listed the proposed areas of responsibility for each bureau leader.

He read through it once, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

Xu Weidong, Executive Deputy Director, in charge of the Criminal Investigation Brigade, the Economic Crime Investigation Brigade, and the Public Order Brigade.

These three brigades were the core operational departments of the Public Security Bureau.

The Criminal Investigation Brigade handled major and serious cases, the Economic Crime Investigation Brigade handled economic crimes, and the Public Order Brigade managed social order.

It could be said that the lifeblood of the county's public order was held in the hands of these three brigades.

Furthermore, according to the decision of the County Party Committee Standing Committee, he also concurrently served as Deputy Director of the County Anti-Organized Crime Office, presiding over its daily operations.

This division of labor was quite significant.

He continued flipping through and saw the proposed areas of responsibility for the other deputy directors, his gaze pausing on the name Deputy Director Chen Ling.

According to what he had learned over the past few days, Deputy Director Chen Ling had worked at the Public Security Bureau for fifteen years, rising step-by-step from a grassroots police officer to deputy director, possessing deep seniority.

Moreover, he had previously been in charge of the Economic Crime Investigation Brigade.

With this adjustment, the Economic Crime Investigation Brigade was being removed from his purview and assigned to himself.

Xu Weidong closed the materials, leaned back in his chair, and stared at the ceiling.

Today's Party Committee meeting would likely not be very calm.

9:30, small conference room.

Six people sat around the oval conference table.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng, Party Committee Secretary and Director of the County Public Security Bureau, sat at the head of the table, his gaze sharp.

Political Commissar Hu Ke, Deputy Party Committee Secretary and Political Commissar, sat to his left, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his expression gentle and unreadable.

Xu Weidong, Deputy Party Committee Secretary and Executive Deputy Director, sat to Secretary Liu Qingfeng's right, with the meeting materials laid out before him.

Deputy Director Chen Ling sat opposite Xu Weidong; he was in his mid-forties, with a thin, elongated face and deep-set eyes, his gaze always darting away when looking at others.

Chief Wang, the Deputy Director, sat next to Deputy Director Chen Ling; he was in his early forties, loud-voiced, fond of smiling, and appeared to be a straightforward person.

Sha Hai, the Deputy Director, sat next to Chief Wang; he was the youngest, around thirty-eight or thirty-nine, spoke little, and was always looking down at his materials.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng cleared his throat and said: "We are holding this Party Committee meeting today primarily for one reason: to study and confirm the division of labor for each bureau leader."

"Everyone has seen the materials; if you have any opinions, speak freely."

The conference room was silent for a few seconds before Political Commissar Hu Ke spoke first: "I have reviewed this plan. Overall, it is quite comprehensive, taking into account both work requirements and the strengths of each comrade. I personally express my approval."

Chief Wang followed, saying: "I have no objections; I will obey the organization's arrangements."

Sha Hai also nodded and said: "Agreed."

Secretary Liu Qingfeng's gaze landed on Deputy Director Chen Ling, who was looking down, seemingly deep in thought.

After a few seconds, he looked up with a smile on his face, but the smile looked somewhat forced.

"Secretary Liu Qingfeng, I have an idea I would like to present for everyone's consideration."

Secretary Liu Qingfeng nodded and said: "Go ahead."

Deputy Director Chen Ling cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over those present before finally landing on Xu Weidong.

"Comrade Weidong is young and promising, a cadre the organization is focusing on cultivating; everyone is in agreement on this point."

"However..."

"Comrade Weidong has just arrived at our bureau, and might not be very familiar with the situation in the bureau or the operations of each brigade."

"With this division of labor, having him take charge of the three core brigades—Criminal Investigation, Economic Crime Investigation, and Public Order—all at once, while also presiding over the daily work of the Anti-Organized Crime Office, isn't this burden a bit too heavy?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling looked at Secretary Liu Qingfeng, then at Political Commissar Hu Ke, and continued: "My thought is, could we first let Comrade Weidong familiarize himself for a period of time, perhaps a month, and have him take charge of one or two departments first, then gradually increase his scope of responsibility once he is familiar with the situation?"

"This would be responsible for the work, and also responsible for Comrade Weidong himself."

After finishing, he leaned back in his chair, wearing an expression that seemed to say: "I am doing this for your own good."

The conference room fell silent. Chief Wang's smile faded, and he looked down at the materials in front of him.

Sha Hai remained looking down, motionless.

Political Commissar Hu Ke's eyes flickered, but he did not speak.

Xu Weidong remained calm, as if he hadn't heard the subtext in Deputy Director Chen Ling's words.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng stared at Deputy Director Chen Ling for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

"Deputy Director Chen Ling, are you saying that Comrade Weidong is not capable enough and cannot handle this burden?"

These words were too direct, startling Deputy Director Chen Ling, whose expression changed as he hurriedly waved his hands: "Secretary Liu Qingfeng, that is not what I meant."

"I am saying that Comrade Weidong has just arrived and needs a process to familiarize himself..."

"A process to familiarize himself?"

Secretary Liu Qingfeng interrupted him: "Deputy Director Chen Ling, let me ask you, how did Comrade Weidong perform previously in Hukuang Township?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling paused for a moment, then said: "This... I heard it was quite good."

"Heard?"

Secretary Liu Qingfeng's tone deepened: "The case in Qili Village was led by him, wasn't it?"

"The human traffickers in Hukuang Township were caught by his team, weren't they? When Secretary Ma from the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission came for an inspection, he specifically named him to meet, you know that, right?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling's face turned somewhat pale. Secretary Liu Qingfeng continued: "Although Comrade Weidong did not work in Hukuang Township for long, he accomplished more than some people do in several years."

"You say he is not familiar with the situation, then how was the den in Qili Village taken down?"

"You say he cannot handle the burden, then why did the County Party Committee Standing Committee want him to concurrently serve as Deputy Director of the Anti-Organized Crime Office and preside over daily operations?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling opened his mouth, but could not say anything.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng's gaze became stern: "Deputy Director Chen Ling, let me remind you: the division of labor by the Party Committee was decided after comprehensive consideration, not by any one person acting on impulse."

"Comrade Weidong being in charge of the three brigades is a work requirement, and also a sign of the organization's trust in him."

"You say let him familiarize himself first, so let me ask you: is it so that once he is familiar, we can then take the Economic Crime Investigation Brigade back from your hands?"

Once these words were spoken, Deputy Director Chen Ling's face changed completely.

"Secretary Liu Qingfeng, I... I did not mean that..."

"Then what did you mean?"

Secretary Liu Qingfeng stared at him, his tone cold: "The Economic Crime Investigation Brigade was previously under your charge. Now that it is being adjusted to Comrade Weidong, you can raise any objections you have, but do not do so under the guise of it being for Comrade Weidong's own good."

"We have worked together for so many years; who doesn't know who?"

The conference room was deathly silent. Chief Wang kept his head down, not daring to look at Deputy Director Chen Ling.

Sha Hai remained looking down, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Political Commissar Hu Ke picked up his teacup and took a sip, his gaze sweeping over Deputy Director Chen Ling from behind his glasses before shifting away.

Xu Weidong remained calm, as if all of this had nothing to do with him.

Sweat beads broke out on Deputy Director Chen Ling's forehead. He opened his mouth to say something, but found he could not say anything at all.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng waited for a dozen seconds, then said: "Are there any other opinions?"

No one spoke.

"Alright, then let us raise our hands to vote."

He raised his hand first, Political Commissar Hu Ke followed, and immediately after, Chief Wang and Sha Hai also raised their hands.

Xu Weidong raised his hand.

Deputy Director Chen Ling sat there, his face ashen, and after several seconds, he slowly raised his hand.

"Passed unanimously."

Secretary Liu Qingfeng lowered his hand and said: "Meeting adjourned."

He stood up and was the first to walk out of the conference room; the others stood up and left one after another.

Deputy Director Chen Ling was the last to stand up. When he reached the door, he turned back and glanced at Xu Weidong with a complex expression.

Xu Weidong met his gaze, nodded slightly, and said nothing.

Deputy Director Chen Ling walked out quickly, leaving only Xu Weidong in the conference room.

He sat there, looking at the empty conference table, and suddenly recalled what his father had said.

"In officialdom, position determines stance. If you sit in that position, naturally there will be people who have opinions about you."

"Do not pay it any mind. As long as you are in that position for one day, doing what ought to be done is enough."

Xu Weidong stood up and walked out of the conference room.

He walked toward his office with a steady, unhurried pace.

At 2:00 PM, a knock sounded on Xu Weidong's office door.

"Come in."

The door pushed open, and a young man in his early thirties entered. He was of medium height, wearing a washed-out police uniform, with clear, bright eyes.

"Director Xu, I am Zhou Chao, Captain of the Economic Crime Investigation Brigade, here to report to you on our work."

Xu Weidong stood up, extended his hand, and said: "Captain Zhou, please sit."

Zhou Chao sat down, took a document from his briefcase, and handed it to Xu Weidong with both hands.

"Director Xu, this is a summary of the Economic Crime Investigation Brigade's work over the past three years, as well as the progress of several key cases currently being handled."

Xu Weidong took it, flipped through it, and nodded: "Alright, I will take a look first, and if there are any questions, I will call for you."

Zhou Chao hesitated for a moment, then said: "Director Xu, there is one more thing..."

"Speak."

"Deputy Director Chen Ling called me this afternoon to ask about the situation of a few cases."

Zhou Chao spoke very subtly, but the meaning was very clear.

Xu Weidong looked at him, his gaze calm: "Deputy Director Chen Ling was once the leader in charge of you; it is normal for him to be concerned about the cases."

Zhou Chao nodded, stood up, and said: "Then I will head back. If Director Xu has any instructions, call me at any time."

"Alright."

Zhou Chao walked to the door, turned back, and said: "Director Xu, the comrades of the Economic Crime Investigation Brigade are all hoping to do their work well."

"In the future, if there are any tasks, please feel free to command us."

Xu Weidong looked at him and smiled: "Alright, I understand."