April 15 fell on a Saturday.
At eight thirty sharp, Director Zhou set off by car from Sunshine Residential Community, then picked up Sima Yanan and her secretary at the Municipal Party Committee residential compound before heading to Liaoyang together.
They had arranged this the day before. Since Sima Yanan had no car, she needed to hitch a ride with Director Zhou.
"You really do live simply and frugally!" Sima Yanan offered this glowing appraisal of Director Zhou's Personal Car.
Being old was one thing, but the windshield was cracked, as though someone had taken a hammer to it.
"I'd like to show off, but circumstances won't allow it!" Zhou Yi replied with a sigh.
He had sent back both the bureau's Audi and its Toyota. Apparently, they had been generously sponsored by Hongyuan Coal Mine. Fine cars, but sitting in them was like sitting on a hot seat.
This Jetta was a little old, but he could ride in it with an easy conscience. It also helped sell his image as a thrifty, frugal official.
There was no point looking down on a public persona. If someone could maintain one for decades without ever breaking character, there was hardly any difference between that persona and who they really were!
"Chen Zhong still isn't back?" Sima Yanan glanced at the young auxiliary officer driving and asked casually.
"Probably next week," Zhou Yi answered, then added with a smile, "Yu Xiao's a good driver too. They can take turns covering for each other."
Sima Yanan nodded.
Being a good driver alone wasn't enough. To cover for Chen Zhong, he would need to be roughly as capable in a fight. She had an idea: she could use her connections to arrange another driver and bodyguard for Zhou Yi. She would ask her