The game of power begins with the police officers at the local police station.

The director's office meeting was scheduled for 10:00 AM. Chen Shi, carrying a notebook, entered the meeting room. The room immediately quieted down. Chen Shi sat down at the podium and looked at Yang Xiaobo: "Director Yang, is everyone here?"

Yang Xiaobo stood up: "Director Chen, everyone is here except for the three who asked for leave."

Chen Shi nodded: "The meeting begins."

Everyone picked up their pens, just like elementary school students, and prepared to take notes in their notebooks.

Chen Shi said solemnly: "Yesterday afternoon, a shocking incident occurred at the Education Bureau. Dong Xuexi's wife, Huang Feng'e, was transferred to Zhongshan Elementary School by the Personnel and Teacher Resources Department. Zhongshan Elementary School received a report from a parent that Huang Feng'e had a history of corporal punishment of students. Zhongshan Elementary School refused to accept Huang Feng'e and issued a letter of refusal to the Personnel and Teacher Resources Department."

The Personnel and Faculty Affairs Department canceled Huang Feng'e's transfer. Dong Xuexi held a grudge and went to argue with Guan Ping, the head of the Personnel and Faculty Affairs Department. The two got into a fight over a disagreement, which had an extremely negative impact.

Comrade Guan Ping was injured and hospitalized. Yesterday, I went to visit him with three deputy directors. He needs to be hospitalized for observation for a few days.

Today, I'm calling this director's office meeting to discuss and reach a decision regarding Dong Xuexi's reckless behavior. Everyone, please share your thoughts.

No one dared to speak first, unsure of Chen Shi's stance.

Huang Minglang said loudly, "Let me share my opinion. Dong Xuexi's behavior is unforgivable and must be severely punished. I suggest giving him a serious warning within the Party and transferring him to the Laoyan Town Central School as an ordinary staff member. As for related compensation, we should negotiate with Section Chief Guan. Dong Xuexi should make a self-criticism at the democratic life meeting, sincerely apologize to Section Chief Guan on behalf of all cadres, and obtain Section Chief Guan's forgiveness."

Huang Ming was someone Chen Shi trusted implicitly, and his opinions represented Chen Shi's opinions.

Li Zhe continued, "The Education Bureau has never experienced such a serious incident before. The impact is extremely negative. Usually, when people have opinions, they might argue a bit, but they focus on the issue, not the person. Dong Xuexi has a twisted mentality. First, he made personal attacks on Comrade Xiao Guang, and then he went to argue with Comrade Guan Ping. They started fighting over a disagreement."

This kind of behavior is not the quality a cadre should possess. Dong Xuexi's various actions make him unsuitable for the position of cadre. I recommend that he be expelled from the Party, that a letter of explanation be issued to the Personnel Bureau, and that he be removed from the civil service.

Li Zhe's suggestion made everyone worry for Dong Xuexi: expel him from the Party and remove him from the civil service, punish him severely, and leave him no chance.

Seeing that Huang Ming and Li Zhe had both expressed their opinions, Wang Zhikai also felt he had to. In order to distance himself from Dong Xuexi, he said in a deep voice, "I support Director Li's suggestion. Cadres with such distorted minds must be severely punished. Keeping them in the civil service is just adding insult to injury."

Seeing that the three deputy directors had all expressed their opinions, the members of the second-level leadership team also expressed their views. Some supported Li Zhe's opinion and called for severe punishment of Dong Xuexi, including expulsion from the Party and dismissal from the civil service.

Some also supported Huang Ming's opinion, suggesting giving Dong another chance to learn.

After listening to everyone's remarks, Chen Shi solemnly said, "Everyone has expressed their opinions on the proposed handling of Dong Xuexi, and I will briefly say a few words here."

Dong Xuexi's behavior is unforgivable and he must be punished accordingly. However, he should also be given a chance, since this is his first time making a mistake.

Based on everyone's opinions, the director's office meeting decided to give Dong Xuexi an administrative demerit, a serious warning within the Party, and transfer him to Laoyan Town as a regular staff member, while retaining his civil servant status.

I made a self-criticism at the democratic life meeting, sincerely apologized to Comrade Guan Ping in front of all the cadres, and obtained Comrade Guan Ping's forgiveness.

An internal notice of criticism was issued by the Education Bureau.

Yang Xiaobo quickly wrote down Chen Shi's decision.

The members of the second-level leadership team were satisfied with the punishment of Dong Xuexi. They believed that the violence of subordinates hitting their superiors must be stopped, as they were also afraid that their subordinates might take action against them one day.

As a leader, it's impossible to please all subordinates; there will always be a few who harbor resentment towards you.

Dong Xuexi's beating of Guan Ping is intolerable to all leaders.

Chen Shi continued, "As leaders, we should also care about our subordinates. I don't want the Dong Xuexi incident to happen again."

The leaders of each department went down to their respective departments, talked to the ordinary staff members, paid attention to their practical difficulties, and helped solve them in a timely manner if they could. If they couldn't solve them, they reported them to the bureau, and we would find a solution.

Chen Shi glanced at everyone and solemnly said, "Meeting adjourned."

Chen Shi returned to his office, and Yang Xiaobo followed him in. Chen Shi sat down and said, "Old Yang, call Director Huang to my office. You personally deliver the decision made at the director's office meeting to Guan Ping. On my behalf, go and visit Guan Ping."

Yang Xiaobo jotted down key information in his notebook, just to show that he valued the leader's speech.

After Yang Xiaobo left, Huang Ming came to the office, and Chen Shi called out, "Sit down."

Chen Shi poured Huang Ming a cup of tea: "Director Huang, this afternoon you should talk to Dong Xuexi and persuade him not to do anything foolish. He should work hard in Laoyan Town, and if he performs well, he can still be transferred back to the Education Bureau."

Huang Ming understood Chen Shi's meaning: it was essential to give ordinary staff members hope, not despair, as this could easily lead them to extremes.

We shouldn't drive people to the brink of desperation. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a human.

"Okay, this afternoon I'll have a private talk with Dong Xuexi and try to guide him. Some people suddenly develop problems with their thinking, and we need to correct them promptly."

Chen Shi then said, "Director Huang, please go down and check if there are any other staff members in the bureau who are in the same situation as Dong Xuexi. As leaders, we should provide timely care and support."

Those who are facing difficulties should be helped to overcome them; such incidents must not be allowed to happen again.

Huang Ming nodded. If this happens once, it's an individual problem. But if it happens repeatedly, it's a problem with the leadership. They don't care enough about ordinary staff members. If word gets out, it will have a huge impact on their reputation.

Yang Xiaobo arrived at the hospital and informed Guan Ping of his proposed treatment plan. Guan Ping was satisfied with what he heard.

Yang Xiaobo said softly, "Old Guan, the bureau will reimburse your medical expenses. As for Dong Xuexi's compensation, he will come to you on his own. You can negotiate it yourselves."

Director Chen meant that he didn't want to escalate the matter and let it get out, as that would negatively impact the bureau.

Guan Ping understood Chen Shi's meaning: the compensation should not be too much; there should be a limit. If Dong Xuexi is pushed too far, he might do something extreme, which would be bad for everyone.

Guan Ping's voice was weak: "Old Yang, I understand. Originally, we didn't have to ask for compensation, but Dong Xuexi went too far. I'll ask for a little to teach him a lesson, to make him think twice before acting, and not to act impulsively."

His wife said from the side, "Director Yang, look at how he beat my husband, Lao Guan, like this. He must compensate us for the emotional distress, lost wages, and medical expenses."

Yang Xiaobo chimed in, "These should be compensated."

Yang Xiaobo's implication was that Dong Xuexi should compensate for what he should, and for what he shouldn't, Dong shouldn't make exorbitant demands, lest he become the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

Guan Ping looked at Yang Xiaobo: "Old Yang, please thank Director Chen for me when you get back. I'm fine, I can be discharged in a couple of days."

Yang Xiaobo nodded. "You're a sensible person; you know when to stop."

This matter cannot be entirely blamed on Dong Xuexi.