Xiao Wang from the Ethnic Affairs Commission Beijing Office came by car to pick Li Long up. By the time he got off the plane, Xiao Wang was already waiting outside the airport.
When they reached Director Dai's office at the Beijing Office, Li Long asked about it, and Director Dai said Secretary Zhang had called ahead to tell him Li Long was coming.
"Secretary Zhang said it wasn't particularly convenient for his side to pick you up directly. Since you came through our channels, it was more appropriate for you to come here."
Director Dai spoke warmly, and Li Long found that perfectly acceptable.
"Secretary Zhang also said I should call him once you've settled in. Then he'll check his schedule and decide when we should take you over."
Secretary Zhang really had arranged everything thoughtfully.
Director Dai chatted with Li Long for a while longer. Unlike Secretary Zhang, he did not know much about what Li Long had been doing lately. Because of Secretary Zhang, and because he himself was from Northern Xinjiang but had worked in Yanjing for years, he was quite interested in Li Long and the situation in Northern Xinjiang.
Only after they had talked for more than twenty minutes did Director Dai call Secretary Zhang. Once the call connected, he told her Li Long had arrived.
Secretary Zhang seemed to check the schedule, then told Li Long to come over the following morning, giving a specific time: a quarter past ten.
After hanging up, Director Dai chatted with Li Long a little longer before arranging for him to rest-but Li Long said he was not tired and wanted to take a look at his own courtyard.
Director Dai naturally had no objection. He had Xiao Wang drive Li Long to the Big Courtyard and