Almighty Coach

Waiting always makes people unable to calm down. It was just like sitting on a boat and shaking with the waves. The mood of anxiety was like the bad weather when you are struggling with the waves, which make you complain about your bad luck and cause in you some reverence and fear for God.

Finally, when his phone vibrated, Director Zhang knew that the bureau had replied to his message. Hurriedly he began sliding his phone screen.

"Director, I have personally verified that there is no one from the Labor Union or the Family Planning Office on the training staff trip to America. But there is one from the Retired Officials Division. He is the division chief, Changjin Xiao."

Seeing this, a grim look appeared on the face of Director Zhang.

"It is true that Supervisor Jiang of the Inspection Group noted one of them! So, it seems that the example said by leader Jiang was not a coincidence. He was just now talking about us!" Director Zhang felt that his heart was suddenly in his throat and sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Could it be that the Inspection Group is going to use us as a warning to others? If so, I will have to bear the responsibility." Clenching his fists, Director Zhang cursed Shousheng Liu, who was responsible for the training program in America, and Changjin Xiao, who caused the trouble.

Changjin Xiao always gets me into trouble. This time he has pushed me in front of the Inspection Group. Stupid guy! If this gets worse, even I could be punished! The more he thought, the more nervous Director Zhang got. However, with so many years of official experience, he quickly calmed down and started to analyze the matter.

But then again, there were so many departments, like the human society department, the housing department, the land and resources department, and the tax department that had real power. Compared with the Sports Bureau, even the science, education, culture, and health departments were more prominent. How could Supervisor Jiang have noticed us alone? And how did he know this? It must be someone in our bureau who disclosed this. Who is so widely connected to bring this to the Central Inspection Group?

Director Zhang heaved a sigh as he could not think about someone so tricky in the Sports Bureau.

The problem must have been caused by the allocation about quota for going abroad! Realizing this, he took out his phone again and texted a message.

"Tell Shousheng Liu and Changjin Xiao to wait for me in my office."

...

Standing in front of the office door, Changjin Xiao was nervous and didn’t know why he was asked here.

In the distance, Shousheng Liu came over and greeted Changjin Xiao immediately. "Xiao, are you coming to report to Director Zhang?"

Changjin Xiao shook his head and replied, "Director Zhang told me to wait for him here. He is attending a meeting at the Provincial Party Committee and hasn’t come back."

"What a coincidence. Me too. He also asked me here," Shousheng Liu said.

"Did he tell you why?" Changjin Xiao asked in a low voice.

"No. I was informed by the office." Shousheng Liu asked, "What about you?"

"Me too. I was also informed by the office, and I know nothing else," Changjin Xiao replied.

They both fell silent and tried to figure out why Director Zhang had asked them there. To figure out what’s on the mind of the leader, in other words, understanding the intention of leader, was one of the basic skills of middle-class officials.

Suddenly, Changjin Xiao asked, "Director Liu, is everything alright for me to go to America?"

"Sure, no problem. It’s all settled," Shousheng Liu said confidently.

"I mean the coach I have replaced. Any problem with him?" Changjin Xiao asked again.

"The coach called Dai Li from the track and field team?" Shousheng Liu sneered. "Take it easy. Dai Li comes from Yuzhou City, and he does not have any connections in our Qing City. You shouldn’t worry about him."

...

Just after the meeting, Director Zhang walked out the number one conference hall in a hurry.

I have to get back to figure out what happened. Thinking this, Director Zhang walked faster.

Just then, a man came up beside him. As he kept pace with Director Zhang, he said, "Zhang, why are you walking so quickly? Since everyone is trying to get out, the exit of the parking lot will be blocked again."

"It’s you, Du!" Director Zhang slowed down a bit and said with amusement, "Easing the traffic is just your work, Du. Since the road is blocked, why don’t you get down to your work quickly?"

"What can I do? The road is so narrow!" Du said.

The "old man" was the deputy director of the traffic police department of the Public Security Bureau. Since the Sports Bureau often hosted sports games or national fitness activities, it was quite normal to ask the traffic police to maintain and ease the traffic. Therefore, the business between Sports Bureau and Director Du was quite a lot. As a result, Director Zhang and Chief Du had become familiar.

Director Du said, "Zhang, I heard that your department would send people abroad. To America, right?"

"How did you know?" Director Zhang asked in surprise.

"Hey, it’s no big deal to me. Recently, many coaches from your Sports Bureau came to the Entry-Exit Administration Center for passport application or change," Chief Du explained.

According to the regulations, the passport application for officials of the institution would be put on a special register. Someone who were in a high position even needed to submit their passports to his or her organization for safekeeping.

However, Director Zhang frowned and asked, "Du, you are in charge of traffic police. When were you in charge of the Entry-Exit Administration?"

"I happened to see that!" Lowering his voice, Chief Du continued, "Supervisor Jiang of the Inspection Group came to our bureau for inspection that day and met someone he knew at the service hall who was applying for his passport. After all, this man was related to Supervisor Jiang, so we checked him out by the way and found that he was a coach from your bureau."

"Some guy in our bureau knows Supervisor Jiang!" Instantly, Director Zhang’s back was soaked by cold sweat and the doubt in his mind was solved immediately.

"Du, check for me who the coach was!" Director Zhang said at once.

"Well..." Chief Du hesitated.

"I know it is against the rules, but it’s important to us. Du, do me a favor!" Director Zhang continued to say.

"OK. I’ll check it for you." Finally, Chief Du agreed.

"Du, this is very important, check it for me at once when you get back, as soon as possible," asked Director Zhang, with an urgent expression.