Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

Monday, 8:20 AM.

The lobby of the Ningzhou High-tech Zone Management Committee building, though resplendent in gold, exuded a languid, half-asleep atmosphere. A cleaning lady was still mopping the floor, while several diligent ordinary staff members hurriedly clocked in, carrying steamed buns and soy milk.

"Squeak—"

A screeching sound shattered the tranquility of the hall.

Liu Ming carried the chipped enamel mug in one hand and dragged a hard wooden chair with the other, walking straight to the center of the hall, facing the row of glass sensor doors.

"Bang!"

The chair hit the ground with a dull thud.

Liu Ming sat down with an air of authority, unscrewed the lid of the teacup, blew away the foam, and sipped the hot tea.

Behind him stood four uniformed staff members, their faces showing embarrassment and tension. They were officers from the Management Committee's Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office, who had been abruptly pulled from their offices early that morning by Liu Ming's title of "Deputy Director."

"Director Liu... are we really going to do this?"

The head of the discipline inspection team, a kind-hearted man, was sweating profusely. He whispered, "If we block everyone at the door, it won't look good. Besides, many of them are..."

"What are they?"

Liu Ming didn't turn her head, her voice as calm as still water.

"Are they all people with connections? Are they royalty?"

The head of the discipline inspection team hesitated for a moment, then didn't dare to respond.

"Good-looking?" Liu Ming sneered, a chill that seemed to seep into her very bones. "They take the government's salary, enjoy high welfare benefits, yet they can't even adhere to the most basic work hours. What's the point of keeping them around? To put up couplets for the New Year?"

He raised his wrist and glanced at the military watch.

"Five minutes left."

"At 8:30, lock the side gate, leaving only the main gate open. Stop and register every single person who is late."

"If even one name is missing, I will hold you responsible."

The head of the discipline inspection team felt a chill run down his spine when he looked into Liu Ming's calm yet oppressive eyes.

He knew that this new "ruthless person" was determined to take action against these old men.

"yes!"

……

8:30.

The work bell rang on time, echoing through the building.

Liu Ming put down his crossed legs and uttered a single word.

"Seal off the gate."

The side door clicked shut and locked.

The atmosphere in the entire hall instantly shifted from languid to somber.

8:35.

A red BMW Mini braked suddenly at the entrance, the door opened, and a woman carrying an LV bag and wearing exquisite makeup stepped out.

It was Li Cuihua, a "Taobao expert" from the Logistics Service Center, and the wife of the Finance Bureau Director.

She smeared some lipstick on her lips in the rearview mirror, then shuffled in her high heels, completely disregarding being five minutes late. To her, arriving at work before nine was already a favor to the country.

However, she froze as soon as she entered the revolving door.

In the very center of the hall, a young man in an ordinary jacket, holding a broken teacup, stood like a gatekeeper, blocking the only way. On either side stood several disciplinary inspectors holding registration forms, their faces serious (actually, they were nervous).

"Oh, isn't this Director Liu?"

Li Cuihua recognized Liu Ming, a forced smile appearing on her face, but she didn't stop walking, intending to walk right past him.

"What are you doing sitting here so early in the morning? Are you a greeter? You must be tired. I'm going upstairs now, I have a package to pick up."

"stop."

Liu Ming did not get up, nor did she even lift her eyelids.

"It's 8:36 now. Comrade Li Cuihua, you're late."

Li Cuihua paused, her smile froze, and then turned into annoyance.

"Late? I was only a few minutes late, is it really that big of a deal? Besides, I was stuck in traffic! Director Liu, we all see each other all the time, there's no need to be so serious, is there?"

"Traffic jam is an excuse?"

Liu Ming took a sip of tea, her tone indifferent.

"In a regular company, being late results in a deduction in pay. In the military, being late means solitary confinement. This is a government agency, a place to serve the people, not your backyard."

He gestured with his chin toward the discipline inspection officer next to him.

"Write this down. Li Cuihua, Logistics Center, six minutes late."

"you!"

Li Cuihua was so angry that her makeup almost came off. She'd been working in the High-Tech Zone for so many years; who didn't give her some respect? Even Wang Dawei had to address her politely as "Sister-in-law." How dare this newcomer, this greenhorn, embarrass her in public?

"Okay! You can remember it! Go ahead and remember it!"

Li Cuihua snorted coldly and glared fiercely at Liu Ming. "Let's see how long you can keep this up! Let's see how many days this fire can burn!"

After saying that, she angrily tried to barge inside.

"Wait," Liu Ming spoke again, "Sign your name before you leave. If you don't sign, it will be considered absenteeism."

Li Cuihua looked at the registration form handed to her, gritted her teeth, grabbed the pen, and scribbled several lines on it, almost tearing the paper. Then she threw the pen down, swayed her hips, and walked away.

Once there's a first one, there's bound to be a second.

8:40.

8:50.

Nine o'clock.

As time went on, more and more people were blocked at the door.

Among these people were relatives of district leaders, nephews of bureau chiefs in the city, and seasoned veterans who relied on their seniority to coast along.

They drove in luxury cars, carrying designer breakfast items, and walked in in twos and threes. They were chatting and laughing when they entered the door and saw this scene.

"What's going on? Why won't they let us in?"

"Checking attendance? Are you just wasting your time?"

"I'm from China Merchants Group! I have an urgent matter!"

The hall gradually became noisy, filled with dissatisfaction and complaints.

But in front of Liu Ming's icy face, and in front of the black and white forms of the disciplinary inspection team, these "old men and women" who were used to being arrogant, although they cursed and swore, their actions told a different story.

They lined up obediently, signed, and pressed their fingerprints.

That feeling of pent-up frustration was worse than killing them.

9:15.

A modified Land Rover roared downstairs and illegally parked right in front of the main entrance.

The car door opened, and Zhang Xiaolong, with his blond hair, earring, and a fried dough stick dangling from his mouth, sauntered in.

He played games all night last night, and his eyes are still dark. He looks irritable and like he hasn't slept well.

Upon entering and seeing the long queue ahead, Zhang Xiaolong paused for a moment, then cursed, "Damn it! What's going on? Are we getting free eggs?"

He had no intention of queuing at all. He pushed aside the two junior staff members blocking his way and swaggered in.

"Make way! Everyone, make way for me! Don't you have eyes?"

The clerks in front dared not speak out in anger and all made way.

Zhang Xiaolong rushed to the front without any hindrance, just about to step over the turnstile.

A hand was placed across his chest.

"Zhang Xiaolong".

Liu Ming remained seated in her chair, holding the teacup in her hand, her voice so calm it was unsettling.

"9:15. Forty-five minutes late."

Zhang Xiaolong stopped, looked down at Liu Ming, and a sneer of extreme arrogance curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, it's you again? Director Liu?"

"You unplugged my internet yesterday, and now you're blocking my door again? Are you trying to pick a fight with me?"

He spat the fried dough stick in his mouth onto the ground, stomped on it, and then pointed at Liu Ming's nose with a fierce look in his eyes.

"Let me tell you, don't push your luck! My uncle is Wang Dawei! This High-tech Zone is my family's property! I can come and go as I please! It's none of your business!"

These words caused an uproar among those around them.

Although everyone knows he is Wang Dawei's nephew, calling him that so openly changes the nature of the matter.

This is a blatant provocation against the system and a blatant slap in the face to Liu Ming!

Everyone held their breath, watching Liu Ming, wondering how the new deputy director would handle the situation. Would he back down? Or would he stand his ground?

Liu Ming slowly put down the teacup.

"when--"

The sound of enamel hitting the ground was crisp and jarring.

He stood up.

Standing at 1.85 meters tall, coupled with the oppressive aura emanating from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, Zhang Xiaolong instantly felt that the person standing in front of him was not a person, but a mountain.

"Your home?"

Liu Ming looked at Zhang Xiaolong, her eyes showing no anger, only a kind of pity for a dead man.

"very good."

He turned his head and looked at the discipline inspection team leader next to him, who was trembling with fear.

Write it down.

"Zhang Xiaolong from the Logistics Center was 45 minutes late, openly insulted his superiors, disregarded organizational discipline, and declared that 'the High-tech Zone belongs to him.'"

"Memorize every single word clearly."

"You dare?" Zhang Xiaolong was anxious and reached out to snatch the registration form.

Liu Ming twisted her hand and easily gripped his wrist, applying slight pressure.

"Ouch—! It hurts! Let go!"

Zhang Xiaolong instantly turned into a spineless coward, screaming like a pig being slaughtered.

Liu Ming shook off his hand as if she were throwing away a wad of trash.

He pointed to the registration form, his voice as cold as a knife.

"signature."

"If you don't sign, it will be considered absenteeism."

"Three absences without leave will result in immediate dismissal."

"You can try and see if your uncle, who's the director, can eat this form for you."

Zhang Xiaolong clutched his wrist, looking into Liu Ming's emotionless eyes, and finally became afraid.

It was a fear born of primal instinct. He felt that if he dared to utter another word of nonsense, the man would really attack.

He gritted his teeth, grabbed a pen with a humiliated expression, scribbled a few lines on the form, then slammed the pen to the ground and glared viciously at Liu Ming.

"Fine! Liu Ming! You just wait! This isn't over!"

After saying that, he covered his face and rushed into the elevator.

With Zhang Xiaolong's signature, this morning's "farce," or rather, "establishment of authority," finally came to an end.

Liu Ming glanced at the densely filled registration form in her hand.

There are more than forty names listed above.

It includes almost all the influential people in the High-tech Zone.

"knock off."

Liu Ming handed the form to the head of the discipline inspection team, picked up the teacup again, and blew on the tea foam that had cooled down.

Make two copies of this list.

"A notice was posted on the bulletin board, publicly criticizing the individual."

"Another one..."

Liu Ming looked up at the direction of Wang Dawei's office on the top floor, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Send it to Secretary Wang's desk."

"Let him see how much face his 'personal guards' bring him."