Zhang Wen's name

Office of the Director of the Handong Provincial Children's Palace.

"Hello, is this Comrade Li Dakang? This is Li Weimin from the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China."

Upon hearing the phone call, Li Dakang immediately stood up and respectfully greeted the caller.

"Hello, Minister Li, this is Li Dakang. What instructions do you have?"

"Comrade Li Dakang, according to the decision made at the meeting of the leaders in Kyoto, you will come to the Kyoto Core Party School for study in one week."

After hanging up the phone, Li Dakang's emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

"Hey, Comrade Sun Liancheng, come over here now, I need to discuss some work-related issues with you."

"Li Dakang, you should be weighing plants during working hours. Besides, what kind of work do you, as the director of a youth center, have to discuss with me, the secretary-general of the provincial party committee of Handong Province?"

"Sun Zhiwu, there's something I really need to discuss with you. As you know, I don't have many friends in Handong. I can only talk to you about this. I'm not sure about this matter, and I'd like you to help me figure it out."

"Li Dakang, you finally admit you have a problem. I told you I had no problem with my work. Okay, I'll go ask for a short leave right away."

...................................................

"Li Dakang, I'm here. Hurry up and tell me."

"Liancheng's here! Let me make you some tea."

"Li Dakang, let me tell you this first. I know you well. If you're being overly solicitous for no reason, you're either up to no good or a thief."

"Okay, Liancheng. I was just spacing out in my office today when Minister Li from the Organization Department of the Central Committee called and asked me to go to the Kyoto Core Party School for training in a week."

"That's a good thing, why do you look like that?"

"Liancheng, if I were still the Party Secretary of Jingzhou, I would be very happy to hear this news."

"But I am currently the director of the Handong Provincial Children's Palace. Does this mean that Kyoto is going to transfer me to the National Children's Palace as its director?"

"Li Dakang, I think you've been stargazing lately and it's messed up your brain. You're a vice-ministerial level official, and you used to be a member of the Standing Committee. Last time, Governor Zhang even asked me to ask you if you wanted to go back to Jingzhou as mayor. This means your punishment might have been too harsh, and you also received a second-class merit last time. I think you might be getting a promotion."

After listening to Sun Liancheng's analysis, Li Dakang suddenly had a sudden inspiration.

"Thank you, Liancheng. You said I've been promoted to provincial governor. Does that mean you're going to call me 'leader' now?"

"Report, Chief Li Dakang, what are your instructions?"

"Hmm, Xiao Sun, you're doing very well. Keep it up."

The two joked with each other.

"Liancheng, if I become the governor of the province, will you go with me?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Liancheng shook his head violently, like an electric fan.

"Li Dakang, I kindly tried to give you advice, but you repaid kindness with enmity. You are such a scoundrel."

"Liancheng, don't get agitated. I was just asking you a question."

"Li Dakang, did I get agitated? Don't you even remember what kind of life I lived before? Working under you, I was always the one taking the blame for everything."

"Liancheng, I've been thinking about a lot of things at the Children's Palace these past two years. In those two whole years, you were the only one who came to see me. To be honest, I was quite touched. You see, the moment I got promoted, you were the first person I thought of. Liancheng, this time I'm truly sincere towards you, and I will definitely not treat you the same way I did before."

Hearing Li Dakang's heartfelt words, Sun Liancheng felt much more relaxed.

"Li Dakang, I'm now under Governor Zhang's command. Don't think about anything else; I'm afraid Governor Zhang will misunderstand. Besides, I'm not stupid enough to give up a major economic province like Handong to suffer in a poor western province with you."

"Comrade Liancheng, I have to criticize you for this. As a great man once said, there is no distinction between high and low positions. You are serving the people as a night soil collector, and I am serving the people as a national leader."

"Go to hell with you! Where did you learn this twisted logic? You expect me to be a latrine cleaner while you, as the head of state, are supposed to serve the people? Isn't this just being a scoundrel?"

"Actually, I don't think that statement is entirely correct. But Secretary Gao Yuliang often mentions it in the Standing Committee meetings. So I wrote it down. I feel that Secretary Gao's debating skills are very impressive, and I want to learn from him."

"Li Dakang, you should listen to less fallacies and heresies, they'll only harm you. Hearing you say that reminds me of a joke I saw online. You eat steamed buns and pickled vegetables to fill your stomach. I eat a Manchu Han Imperial Feast to fill my stomach too. Is that even human language? It completely disregards logic."

"That's right. As Party cadres, we must be realistic and pragmatic."

"Liancheng, let's go look at the stars for a while before going back. I've made a new discovery recently."