60: Chapter 60 Self-Reflection

(Thanks again for everyone's gifts, bonus chapter! Bonus chapter! The old book is expected to resume updates in March. I've taken some time off in March to manage two books simultaneously. I ask my old readers for their understanding.)

At 9:00 AM the next day, the Party Committee meeting of the County Public Security Bureau was held on time in the small conference room.

The attendance was better than usual; not only were all Party Committee members present, but several department heads who were sitting in on the meeting had also arrived ten minutes early.

The atmosphere in the conference room was subtle. The expressions on everyone's faces were restrained, but the things hidden in their eyes could not be concealed from those with a sharp eye.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng sat in the main seat with a document in front of him.

He didn't speak immediately as he usually did. Instead, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and let his gaze slowly sweep over those present, finally landing on Deputy Director Chen Ling.

"Deputy Director Chen Ling, begin."

Deputy Director Chen Ling stood up, holding a handwritten self-criticism.

His complexion was worse than yesterday, his eye sockets sunken as if he hadn't slept all night.

He cleared his throat and began to read: "Respected Party Committee of the Bureau, comrades: Yesterday, at the private gathering at the Cuihu Clubhouse, I said some things I shouldn't have said and did some things I shouldn't have done."

"As a Deputy Director and a veteran Party member, my words and actions were seriously inappropriate and caused negative repercussions. Here, I make a profound self-criticism to the Party Committee of the Bureau, to Comrade Xu Weidong, and to all the comrades present..."

Deputy Director Chen Ling's voice was a bit hoarse. He read very slowly, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

"...I should not have questioned his decisions with a cynical tone just when Comrade Xu Weidong had taken office. I should not have used the pretext of considering work to actually disrupt unity."

"My behavior not only hurt the feelings of Comrade Xu Weidong but also damaged the image of the Party Committee of the Bureau and undermined the unity of the leadership team..."

Chief Wang lowered his head, staring at the notebook in front of him, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Sha Hai remained indifferent, his gaze fixed outside the window.

Political Commissar Hu Ke held his teacup, sipping slowly, his eyes sweeping over Deputy Director Chen Ling from behind his glasses before moving away.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng listened expressionlessly, his fingers tapping gently on the table.

"...After the criticism and education from the leaders of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, I have deeply realized my mistakes."

"As a veteran comrade, I should have taken the lead in maintaining the unity of the leadership team and supporting the work of the new comrade, yet because of personal selfishness, I did things that harmed unity."

"I have let down the cultivation of the organization and the trust of the Party Committee of the Bureau..."

When Deputy Director Chen Ling read to this point, his voice choked up.

He paused, took a deep breath, and continued reading: "...I guarantee that in the future, I will strictly demand of myself, resolutely obey the decisions of the Party Committee of the Bureau, and fully support the work of Comrade Xu Weidong."

"I ask the Party Committee of the Bureau and all comrades to supervise me."

"If there are any similar words or actions again, I am willing to accept any punishment from the organization."

Deputy Director Chen Ling finished reading and stood there with his head down, like a prisoner waiting for a sentence.

The conference room was silent for a few seconds. Secretary Liu Qingfeng looked at those present and then said: "Everyone has heard the self-criticism from Deputy Director Chen Ling."

"If you have any opinions, speak openly."

Silence. Chief Wang continued to stare at his notebook, Sha Hai continued to look out the window, and Political Commissar Hu Ke continued to drink tea.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng's gaze fell on Xu Weidong. Xu Weidong sat there quietly, with no expression on his face.

He didn't look at Deputy Director Chen Ling, nor did he look at anyone else; he just looked at the meeting material in front of him, as if there was something attractive on it.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng waited for a few seconds, and seeing that he didn't speak, he said: "Since no one has any opinions, let this matter end here."

"Deputy Director Chen Ling, I accept your self-criticism. I hope you remember what you said today and put your energy into your work in the future."

Deputy Director Chen Ling felt relieved and nodded repeatedly, saying: "Thank you, Secretary Liu Qingfeng, thank you, comrades. I will definitely remember, I will definitely remember."

After sitting down, Deputy Director Chen Ling wiped the sweat from his forehead.

In all his years in the police force, he had never been as humiliated as he was today.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng cleared his throat and began to preside over the other agenda items of the meeting.

Xu Weidong did not say a word from beginning to end.

After the meeting ended, everyone left one after another.

Deputy Director Chen Ling walked the fastest, almost escaping.

Chief Wang and Sha Hai walked out side by side, whispering something.

Political Commissar Hu Ke walked to the door, looked back at Xu Weidong, wanted to say something but stopped, and in the end, said nothing and pushed the door open to leave.

Only Secretary Liu Qingfeng and Xu Weidong remained in the conference room.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng stood up, walked to the window, and with his back to Xu Weidong, said: "Comrade Weidong, are you satisfied with this result?"

Xu Weidong also stood up, walked to his side, and looked at the courtyard outside the window.

"Director Xu, I am neither dissatisfied nor satisfied."

"I just feel that the self-criticism was written by him, and the path was taken by him; it has nothing to do with me."

Secretary Liu Qingfeng turned his head to look at him, his gaze containing a bit of scrutiny and a bit of appreciation.

"You are quite composed."

Xu Weidong smiled and said: "Director Xu, if I couldn't even maintain this bit of composure, I wouldn't have made it to this day."

Secretary Liu Qingfeng nodded and said nothing more.

The two stood by the window, watching the police officers coming and going in the courtyard downstairs.

After a long time, Secretary Liu Qingfeng suddenly said: "Comrade Weidong, this matter with Deputy Director Chen Ling will not end just like this."

Xu Weidong looked at him but didn't speak.

"He has worked in the bureau for fifteen years, and his roots are deep."

"He suffered a loss this time; on the surface, it looks like he has conceded, but no one knows what he is thinking inside."

"You need to be more vigilant in the future."

Xu Weidong nodded and said: "Thank you for the reminder, Director Xu, I will remember it."

Secretary Liu Qingfeng patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Xu Weidong stood by the window, watching his back disappear at the end of the corridor.

A person like Deputy Director Chen Ling would not truly concede just because of one self-criticism.

He bowed his head today because the County Commission for Discipline Inspection stepped in, and because he realized there were too many people he couldn't afford to offend.

But the thorn in his heart would only be driven deeper.

However, Xu Weidong didn't care.

His status was set there; Deputy Director Chen Ling was not the first, nor would he be the last, to bare his teeth at him.

In this position, you don't need to step on others; just by standing there, people will fall.

In the corridor, several young police officers came towards him. Seeing him, they quickly stepped aside to make way, with respectful smiles on their faces.

"Hello, Director Xu."

Xu Weidong nodded and walked past them.

A lowered voice came from behind: "Did you hear? Deputy Director Chen Ling read a self-criticism at the meeting today..."

"Serves him right, who told him to provoke that person..."

"Keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear..."

The voices gradually faded away. Xu Weidong pushed open the door to his office and sat down at his desk.

On the desk lay a document, which was the recent inspection report of key locations submitted by the Public Security Brigade.

At two in the afternoon, his door was knocked.

"Come in."

Entering was the captain of the Public Security Brigade, Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun.

"Director Xu, there is a matter I would like to report to you."

Xu Weidong motioned for him to sit down and said: "Speak."

Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun sat down, weighed his words, and then said: "This morning, Deputy Director Chen Ling found a few old subordinates and chatted with them behind closed doors in his office for more than half an hour."

"I don't know exactly what they talked about, but when they came out, the expressions on those people's faces were not very good."