BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 6 Starting Over from the Beginning

When Director Wu was mentioned, Secretary Yang’s expression became complicated.

He forced a smile and said to Sun Fatty:

“Director Sun, no matter what, most people in the bureau have already accepted the contents of the directive. Listen to an old friend’s advice—go home and rest for a while. I’ll smooth things over upstairs. In a few days, you’ll still be the Director of the Bureau.”

As Secretary Yang spoke, Sun Fatty’s gaze fell back onto the document.

He seemed to notice something and suddenly smiled.

Pointing at a line in the document, he said:

“Old Yang, it says here, ‘regarding certain leaders of the Bureau of Folklore Affairs Investigation and Research.’”

“Tell me, if I’m no longer a leader of the bureau, wouldn’t this document stop applying to me?”

Secretary Yang froze.

For a moment, he couldn’t follow Sun Fatty’s train of thought.

Ever since he had joined the Bureau, Sun Desheng had always been the Director.

The higher-ups merely wanted to give him a warning and rein him in a bit; they had never intended to remove him from his position.

Even Secretary Yang couldn’t imagine what the Bureau would look like without Sun Fatty in charge.

Seeing that he still didn’t understand, Sun Fatty chuckled.

“When Boss Gao recruited me into the Bureau, I signed a ninety-nine-year contract.”

“I never planned to leave this place.”

“But whether I’m Director or not—that part doesn’t matter.”

Secretary Yang blinked.

“You’re saying you don’t want to be Director anymore?”

“Then what would you do? Become Secretary? Or head one of the investigation departments?”

“But those are still leadership positions,” Sun Desheng replied, making a face at him.

“Wouldn’t I still have to go home and undergo review?”

He grinned.

“I can bend when I need to.”

“I won’t be Director. I won’t be a department head. I’m not interested in your Secretary position either.”

“How about some labor reform?”

“Let me start over as an ordinary investigator.”

“Stop joking, Director Sun!” Secretary Yang exclaimed.

“How could you possibly go back to being an investigator?”

Sweat had already appeared on his forehead.

The ministry leaders had only wanted to discipline Sun Desheng a little and make him more obedient in the future.

Nobody had ever suggested removing him entirely.

“Why call it a joke?”

“If I have to stop working anyway, I might as well get down to the grassroots level and reform myself through labor.”

After saying that, Sun Fatty turned toward Che Qianzi, who was still standing there in a daze.

“Little brother, I think I understand your situation.”

“You came looking for Boss Gao because you needed to borrow money.”

“I won’t ask how much—you said the amount might scare me.”

“Coincidentally, I happen to need a personal assistant.”

“One hundred thousand yuan a month.”

“Interested?”

“Yes!”

Che Qianzi agreed almost instantly.

One hundred thousand yuan a month.

At that rate, he could pay off the old man’s debts in only five years.

Secretary Yang quickly interrupted:

“Director Sun, forget about becoming an investigator for a moment.”

“You’re still a public official.”

“How can you pay a personal assistant one hundred thousand yuan a month?”

Sun Fatty smiled.

“Which law says a public servant can’t hire a personal assistant?”

Then he sat beside Secretary Yang and slapped him on the thigh.

“My wife’s family is rich.”

“They know I’ve been feeling weak lately.”

“So they’re spending their own money to hire someone to take care of me.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Or are you jealous because I’m doing well?”

“Maybe you’re looking for an excuse to drive me out of the Bureau?”

As he spoke, Sun Fatty wrapped an arm around Secretary Yang’s neck and whispered into his ear:

“Even if I really quit, it wouldn’t matter much.”

“But there are probably a few others who’d quit too.”

“For example, my buddy Lazi.”

“And my father-in-law, Director Wu.”

“If the old man leaves, do you think the Two Yangs would stay?”

“Sure, maybe you convinced them for now.”

“But in the end, they’ll follow my father-in-law’s lead.”

“Believe it or not, if he walks out the front door of the Bureau, the Two Yangs will be right behind him.”

Secretary Yang had worked at the Bureau for years and had recently been acting as Director.

He knew perfectly well that the Bureau survived because of people like these.

If they all left with Sun Fatty, the Bureau might as well shut its doors.

Just as Secretary Yang jumped up to respond—

Bang!

The office door was kicked open again.

A young man with snow-white hair walked in.

The moment he entered, he spotted Sun Desheng.

Ignoring Secretary Yang completely, he walked straight over.

“Great Sage, what’s going on?”

“I heard from Old Yang that they’re removing you as Director.”

“They said you got into trouble over work-style issues again.”

“Your wife and kid don’t know about this, do they?”

As the man spoke, Che Qianzi finally got a clear look at him.

He appeared no older than twenty-five or twenty-six, yet his hair was completely white.

Halfway through speaking to Sun Fatty, he suddenly turned and glanced at Che Qianzi.

The moment he did, his brows furrowed.

“What work-style issues?”

Sun Fatty snorted.

“Anyone else saying that would be one thing.”

“But Lazi, don’t you know who my father-in-law is?”

“I’m telling you, he’s been hoping your sister-in-law would become a widow for years.”

As he spoke, he handed the document over.

“Perfect timing.”

“I just resigned as Director.”

“I’m starting over from scratch and going back to being an investigator.”

Ever since noticing the unfamiliar face in the Director’s office, the white-haired man had kept stealing glances at Che Qianzi.

Only after Sun Fatty called him several times did he snap out of it.

Then Sun asked:

“Lazi, didn’t you say you were going on a blind date?”

“How’d you get back so fast?”

“Don’t even mention it.”

The white-haired man looked miserable.

“My father said I’m not getting any younger, and with all this white hair, I should lower my standards.”

“So he set me up with a widow who already had two kids.”

After glancing at Che Qianzi again, he continued:

“In the end, she rejected me.”

“She thought my white hair was dyed on purpose.”

“Said I was some kind of punk trying to look trendy.”

Hearing such a disastrous blind-date story, Sun Fatty burst out laughing.

After laughing for a while, he pointed at Che Qianzi.

“Let me introduce someone.”

“This guy came looking for Boss Gao.”

“From now on, he’s my personal assistant.”

“Oh right, little brother—what was your name again?”

“My Taoist name is Che Qianzi.”

The young Taoist answered calmly.

“I entered the religious life right after I was born.”

“I only have a Taoist name, no ordinary name.”

“Even the name on my ID card is Che Qianzi.”

“Che Qianzi?”

Sun Fatty struggled not to laugh.

“Great name. Just hearing it sounds so refreshingly smooth…”

Then he turned toward the still-confused Secretary Yang.

“Old Yang, hurry up.”

“Which investigation department are you assigning me to?”

“I need to take my assistant and report for duty.”

“We can handle the paperwork for resigning as Director later.”

Seeing that Sun Fatty was determined to start over from the bottom, Secretary Yang could only sigh helplessly.

He pulled out the personnel rosters of all the investigation departments.

After looking through them, he spread one open before Sun Desheng.

“Director Sun, take a look yourself.”

“All the other investigation departments are full.”

“The only opening left is in Investigation Room Two—under Xiong Wanyi.”

“Room Two?”

Sun Fatty sighed.

“Room Two it is, then…”

Before he could continue, the office door opened for the third time.

Another white-haired man walked in.

He appeared roughly the same age as Shen La.

His features were refined and handsome, but his eyes carried a sharp, somewhat harsh look.

Everyone in the office had been sitting.

But the moment this white-haired man entered—

Sun Desheng, Shen La, and Secretary Yang all jumped to their feet.

Sun Fatty’s eyes narrowed into slits from smiling.

“Director Wu!”

“Long time no see!”

“When Yiyi called recently, she was talking about you.”

“Your wife was talking about me?”

The white-haired man rolled his eyes.

Then he said coldly:

“She’s finally had enough of living with you?”

“Has she finally realized the advantages of being a widow?”