Tian Zhengbing and Gou Hongtao discussed the matter in his office for ages without reaching any conclusion.
Then Gou Hongtao's seemingly casual question, "Didn't Secretary Hou mention it to you beforehand?" nearly shattered Tian Zhengbing's composure.
Exactly! When Zhou Yi had snatched the Executive Deputy Department Director position, Secretary Hou had at least sent Secretary Ding to notify him. Yet today, when the secretary had extended an olive branch to Zhou Yi through Organization Department Head Qu Zhaochuan, Tian Zhengbing had been kept completely in the dark.
In other words, Secretary Hou's sudden change in attitude toward Zhou Yi had caught him entirely unprepared.
And that was hardly good news for him.
It meant that in the days ahead, if he clashed with Zhou Yi, there was no telling whether Secretary Hou would support him, or how much support he would offer.
Would Secretary Hou advise him the same way he had advised Gou Hongtao? Zhengbing, just put up with it a little longer. Bear with it, and it'll pass!
Without Secretary Hou's support, what could he use to stand against Zhou Yi? Who would really call the shots at the Provincial Public Security Department? What was the point of wearing the exclusive Police Badge Number 000001? Just for show?
Seeing Department Director Tian's expression sour, Gou Hongtao tactfully got up and left.
He was nursing some resentment himself. After all, he had given Tian Zhengbing the Little Golden Dragon, hetian jade, and three hundred thousand yuan, yet the Executive Deputy Department Director position was still out of reach.
Tian Zhengbing was also somewhat displeased with Gou Hongtao. All the man ever thought about was becoming Executive Deputy Department Director. He could be terribly rash in both temperament and conduct, without sparing a thought for Tian Zhengbing's position as Department