Chapter 55 Important

The next morning, Du Ruo also learned about the theft at the clinic. He called personally and, upon learning there was no loss, he felt relieved and then asked if Zeng Yi was available.

"In the morning, I have to go to the Health Department for a meeting!" After being reminded by Feng Yuqin, Zeng Yi no longer took his duties lightly. "In the afternoon, I'm free!"

"Then after the meeting, I'll send someone to pick you up," Du Ruo said with a smile over the phone. "You've never come to inspect my work, and that's not right."

Zeng Yi laughed heartily, "Brother Du, don't joke around. How could I dare inspect your work? Since Brother Du has pointed out my shortcomings, I'll make the change today. I'll come over in the afternoon and familiarize myself with the place."

"Alright, then I'll wait for you at the bureau!" Du Ruo smiled and hung up the phone.

Zeng Yi went to work at the Health Department in the morning, which surprised many people. They thought this advisor, who had no official position, was preparing to seize power.

Guo Penghui personally led Zeng Yi to a prepared office and said, "Advisor Zeng, take a look. If you need anything else, I'll have it prepared immediately."

Zeng Yi looked around. The office was spacious, well-lit, and well-equipped. He said, "It's very good, this is already excellent."

"Advisor Zeng, don't be too modest. As the saying goes, 'To do a job well, one must first sharpen one's tools.' Only in a comfortable working environment can one better focus on work," Guo Penghui said with a smile.

"It's really very good. If I need anything, I'll let the office staff know."

Guo Penghui then smiled, "If Advisor Zeng is satisfied, that's all that matters. I won't disturb your work. I'll be in the next office, so just call if you need anything."

He gently closed the office door and sighed. In the future, besides Feng Yuqin, this Advisor Zeng would likely be the one with the most influence in the preparatory group.

In everyday life, people often criticize "brick experts" (a term for experts who are out of touch with reality). The controversy surrounding these experts also highlights a problem: once knowledge is combined with power, or power seeks out knowledge, the combined effect is very powerful.

A highway, for example, where everyone says the route is problematic, but as long as the experts approve, it will be built without hesitation. A dam, where everyone says the disadvantages outweigh the benefits and there are safety concerns, but as long as the experts argue it is safe, it will be constructed. Conversely, if the experts say it's not feasible, you have to tear it all down and start over.

In this increasingly science-oriented society, people cannot match the experts. They must find a scientific justification for everything they do. This system greatly tests a scholar's conscience and sense of social responsibility. If experts have a conscience, their knowledge can benefit society. If they act maliciously, the harm caused by their knowledge can far exceed the harm caused by power.

In the construction of this health base, Feng Yuqin clearly trusted Zeng Yi. Zeng Yi's opinions could significantly influence Feng Yuqin's decisions, which was a form of power in itself.

Guo Penghui felt somewhat helpless. According to convention, he, as the third in command of the preparatory group, should have the most actual power. Now, he had to give way to the last-ranked advisor, which was truly frustrating!

In the morning, Zeng Yi wrote down some of his ideas, formed them into written documents, and then discussed them with the other members of the preparatory group who were present, exchanging opinions and communicating.

After lunch, Zeng Yi prepared to go see Du Ruo. When he went downstairs, he saw Du Ruo's car waiting for him.

"Hello, Advisor Zeng!" Du Ruo's driver quickly jumped out of the car. "Director Du sent me to pick you up. The car is already cooled down!" He then opened the rear door of the car.

"Director Du is really too polite. I said there was no need to send a car," Zeng Yi said with a smile. "Thank you, Mr. Liu, for the trouble in such hot weather!"

"It's my duty, my duty!"

Du Ruo's driver was surnamed Liu. He had never talked to Zeng Yi before, but he was surprised that Zeng Yi knew his surname. He felt a sense of coolness and quickly closed the car door, got into the driver's seat, and turned on the air conditioning. It was too hot, and the cold air in the car would quickly dissipate.

When they arrived at the Public Security Bureau, Du Ruo was waiting downstairs. Seeing Zeng Yi, he extended his hand, "Younger Brother Zeng, this is your first visit to my place."

Zeng Yi smiled and joked, "I didn't want to disturb Brother Du's work! If I affected the safety of Rongcheng's eight million people, I couldn't bear the responsibility."

"Ha ha, let's not talk about that. Come, let's go to my office and sit down. I've recently gotten some good tea!" Du Ruo patted Zeng Yi's shoulder and led the way.

Many people in the Public Security Bureau building were surprised. To see Du Ruo personally come down to greet someone and be so friendly, they wondered who this young man was. Du Ruo was a member of the Municipal Party Committee and the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, holding the largest violent agency in Rongcheng, the Public Security Bureau. He was a powerful figure. Even other members of the Municipal Party Committee who did not hold real power would not necessarily receive such treatment from Du Ruo.

Zeng Yi looked at Du Ruo's office. It was grand and simple, solemn and dignified, without any pursuit of luxury or clutter. On the desk were two bright flags, the national flag and the party flag. On the wall hung a calligraphy piece that read, "Serve the Public."

"Younger Brother Zeng, sit wherever you like. You don't need to be formal here," Du Ruo said.

Zeng Yi found a sofa and sat down. The simplicity of a bureau chief's office revealed a lot about Du Ruo's character. He seemed to be a decisive and ambitious person, and he likely had further ambitions in his career. Therefore, he paid great attention to details to avoid giving others any leverage.

Du Ruo's secretary soon brought in a pot of freshly brewed tea and poured a cup for each of them.

"Try it and see how it tastes."

Zeng Yi picked up the teacup, first smelled the tea, then looked at the shape of the leaves, and finally took a small sip. The tea lingered on his tongue, and he finally drank it all, saying, "The water from the Yangtze River and the tea from the top of Mount Meng. This is top-grade Mengding Huangya!"

Du Ruo laughed, "Younger Brother Zeng is also a tea connoisseur. This tea was given to me by an old leader. I find it very good, but I can't explain its origin."

"As long as you like it, that's what matters!" Zeng Yi smiled, while wondering why Du Ruo had called him over today. It couldn't just be about the theft at the clinic.

"Young Brother Zeng, you have a heavy responsibility at the Health Department, right? You must be very busy lately!" Du Ruo asked with concern.

Zeng Yi smiled inwardly, thinking that Du Ruo might also be here about the health base. He said, "I just help with planning. How can I claim such a heavy responsibility? You, as the Public Security Bureau chief, have the real heavy responsibility."

Du Ruo was taken aback. Tang Haoran, the secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, knew the ins and outs of the new health base. He had mentioned that if Zeng Yi did well with this, his future would be limitless. But from Zeng Yi's casual attitude, it was clear he didn't understand the importance of this task.

Thinking about this, Du Ruo said, "How can your task not be important? Once the base is built, important provincial leaders can go there to rest and recuperate, and when central leaders visit, they can stay there."

Zeng Yi's mind suddenly clicked. When he casually mentioned it, Feng Yuqin overturned all the preparatory group's plans. He couldn't understand why his opinion was so important. Now, with Du Ruo's hint, he realized that the establishment of this health base in Nanjiang Province also had political needs. The key was not how to build it, but to have important leaders stay there.

"Brother Du, you're right. There are no small matters around leaders. I haven't fully understood the importance of my work!" Zeng Yi raised his teacup in a toast to Du Ruo.

Du Ruo smiled broadly, thinking that Zeng Yi was indeed a smart person. A little hint was all it took. This time, it was Tang Haoran's oversight, otherwise, he wouldn't have had this opportunity to guide Zeng Yi. Du Ruo had learned from Tang Haoran that Feng Yuqin had assigned Zeng Yi to oversee the health base with the intention of having him take charge of the health work at the base in the future. This was a good position to get close to leaders and gain their trust. By laying the groundwork now, Du Ruo could ensure his own future. Zeng Yi's medical skills also impressed him. After using Zeng Yi's ointment, all his back problems disappeared. With such high medical skills, how could leaders not value him?

"Because your work is so important, I've prepared something for you." Du Ruo got up, walked to his desk, and handed a brown paper file to Zeng Yi. "Take a look and see if you're satisfied."

Zeng Yi opened it curiously and found a car key and related documents. It was a police car with a police license plate, and the number was within fifty. He returned the file to Du Ruo, shaking his head and smiling, "Brother Du, I appreciate your gesture, but I can't accept it!"

"Feel free to use it. The car is usually idle. Using it will help you do your job better!" Du Ruo smiled. "As your older brother, I can't support you in any other way!"

"I really can't accept it!" Zeng Yi smiled and declined. "I know Brother Du is taking care of me, but I can't let my older brother violate the rules!"

Du Ruo tried to persuade him a bit more, but seeing Zeng Yi's firm refusal, he gave up. He had done his best to show his goodwill. However, Zeng Yi's reason for not accepting the car made him feel very comfortable. Careful planning is the key to long-term success! Many wealthy people had come to him with money, wanting to buy a police license plate, but he hadn't approved any. Why? Not because he was afraid, but because these people only cared about their own convenience and ignored the responsibility he would have to bear as the bureau chief.