Chapter 13: The Arrival of Crisis

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Zhou Kang snorted coldly and left with a flick of his hand. Zhang Jun sat down, rifling through a contact directory in his drawer until he found the number for the provincial government’s car service. Using the office landline, he called to arrange for a driver and vehicle to be ready at the entrance by 9:10.

No sooner had he hung up than a middle-aged, portly man walked in.

“Heh heh heh! Secretary Zhang, hello, congratulations on your promotion!” The man approached with a genial smile, extending his plump hand.

Zhang Jun shook it lightly and asked, “May I ask who you are?”

The man smiled warmly. “My name is Cheng Qiang, Deputy Director of the Provincial People’s Hospital. I’m here to meet Governor Ma.”

Zhang Jun recalled the schedule and said, “Deputy Director Cheng, I’m afraid there’s no appointment for you today.”

Cheng Qiang glanced down the corridor, then quickly pulled out a large envelope and pressed it into Zhang Jun’s hand.

Zhang Jun hurriedly tried to refuse.

He was short on money but dared not accept such a bribe.

Having finally become Ma Hongqi’s secretary, he was determined not to ruin his promising future over a moment’s greed.

Seeing Zhang Jun’s refusal, Cheng opened a drawer and tossed the envelope inside with a smile. “Just a small token, a gesture of goodwill. We can be friends. Since I can’t see the leader today, I’ll ask Secretary Zhang to arrange a meeting another time.”

Zhang Jun reached for the envelope to return it, but Cheng vanished faster than a rabbit.

By the time Zhang Jun chased outside, there was no sign of him.

Hearing footsteps in the hallway, Zhang Jun couldn’t just carry the envelope around and had no choice but to return to his office.

He squeezed the envelope—it felt as thick as ten thousand yuan.

It was like holding a hot potato, leaving him unsure how to handle it.

Since starting work, this was the first time someone had handed him a gift; previously, he was always the one giving.

What should he do?

After much thought, seeing the time was nearly right, he called the driver to confirm the car was waiting outside. Only then did he take the envelope and enter Ma Hongqi’s office.

“Boss, we’re about ready to depart. The car’s waiting at the entrance.”

“All right.”

Ma Hongqi held a pen, finishing the last document with a rustle.

Zhang Jun handed over the envelope and stepped back two paces. “Boss, Deputy Director Cheng Qiang from the Provincial People’s Hospital came by earlier, saying he had something to report. I told him there was no appointment, so he slipped me this envelope. I haven’t opened it. I didn’t dare accept it, so I’m passing it to you.”

Ma Hongqi gave him a deep, steady look.

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Just then, Zhou Kang arrived—he was to accompany Ma Hongqi to the airport.

Ma Hongqi pointed to the envelope on the desk. “Comrade Zhou Kang, you’ve come just in time. This was handed to Secretary Zhang by Comrade Cheng Qiang. Zhang passed it to me; now I’m giving it to you to handle.”

The suddenness caught Zhang Jun off guard, and Zhou Kang was equally shocked.

Cheng Qiang’s gift to Zhang Jun was a secret matter that must not be publicized.

Zhang Jun entrusted it to Ma Hongqi, trusting his boss to handle it properly.

Normally, such money might be donated to the Red Cross or turned over to the Discipline Inspection Commission.

But Ma Hongqi handed the cash to Zhou Kang!

It was like passing a hot potato.

Zhou Kang felt the matter was troublesome and cautiously asked, “How should we handle this money?”

Ma Hongqi said in a low voice, “You decide. By the way, write a receipt now for Secretary Zhang, proving this money has been handed over to the General Office.”

Zhou Kang had no choice. When a superior gives an order, you follow it. He peeked inside the envelope—sure enough, it was ten thousand yuan, crisp bills still sealed with the bank’s packaging.

He wrote a receipt on the spot.

Zhang Jun took the receipt, thinking how savvy the boss was—this way, he protected himself well.

They went downstairs to the entrance where the car was ready.

Zhang Jun opened the door, placing his hand on the frame to shield Ma Hongqi as he got in.

After gently closing the door, he quickly moved to the front passenger seat.

The convoy set off toward the airport.

The trip was smooth, arriving without delay.

They passed through the VIP channel and proceeded straight to the tarmac for the reception.

Arranging airport pick-ups for leaders seemed simple but truly tested a secretary’s coordination skills.

The leader’s arrival time couldn’t be too early—waiting too long would be tiresome; nor too late, which would offend the guests.

You must neither inconvenience the leader nor the honored guests, and ensure traffic flows smoothly with careful timing.

Fortunately, Zhang Jun’s first time arranging an airport reception was perfectly timed.

Just five minutes after Ma Hongqi’s arrival, the health ministry inspection team disembarked.

There were five members in the delegation.

The team leader was Vice Minister Wang Mingyu.

The provincial government assigned Ma Hongqi to receive Wang Mingyu’s plane—an appointment of equivalent rank.

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“Comrade Hongqi, sorry to keep you waiting!” Wang Mingyu shook hands with Ma Hongqi.

“No trouble at all! On behalf of Secretary Zheng Dongfang, Secretary Liu Yuan, and Governor Zhang Lipeng, I warmly welcome your inspection team. They are busy and could not come personally, but instructed me to ensure you are well received. Please, please, come with me.” Ma Hongqi spoke flawlessly, name-dropping the absent senior officials to showcase his political acumen.

The convoy arrived at the provincial government guesthouse.

Everything was prearranged—first, the inspection team would check in, then a welcome banquet would be held.

The lunch was served in the guesthouse dining hall.

Zhang Jun served at the table, pouring and urging drinks.

He constantly observed the boss’s condition, ready to shield him from excessive drinking when necessary.

Drinking culture was a vital part of national etiquette.

Before the strict anti-alcohol regulations were introduced, anyone in the bureaucracy who couldn’t handle their liquor was considered poor at socializing.

Ma Hongqi and Wang Mingyu were both heavy drinkers.

Although Zhang Jun protected his boss from too much drinking, he himself had to remain sober enough to work in the afternoon.

After the meal, Zhang Jun escorted Ma Hongqi back to his quarters to rest and familiarize himself with the place for future pickups.

The residence was a small villa, tranquil and secluded, with a garden, rockery, and fish pond.

Ma Hongqi had a habit of taking a half-hour nap after lunch.

Zhang Jun left the villa and headed to the guesthouse restroom.

While crouched inside replying to messages, he overheard a conversation outside.

“The inspection team from Beijing has arrived. I hear this time they mean business! The entire provincial health system is being overhauled. Several big ‘tigers’ may be taken down!”

“Do you really believe that? Just Ma Hongqi? Does he have that much power? His secretary died; if he acts recklessly, won’t he be next?”

“We’ll wait and see.”

Hearing this, Zhang Jun broke out in a cold sweat!

So Gao Hai’s death really had hidden motives!

Following Ma Hongqi might put his own life in danger!