141: Chapter 141 Someone Above Us

To be honest, what grassroots units loathe most are inspections announced on short notice.

It wouldn't matter if there were no notice at all; one could just lie flat and wait for the end.

Early notice is also fine, as it gives time to prepare—showing off the good and hiding the bad.

Only short-notice inspections are truly annoying—one has to prepare, yet there's no way to do it properly, leaving everyone in a state of panic.

Zhao Yang hadn't even officially taken office yet, but he was already working overtime until past ten at night. He had kept an unrented townhouse in the Wenhua Jiayuan residential area here in Magic City. However, seeing that work would start early the next morning, he simply found an express hotel near the Third Institute to crash for the night.

Early the next morning, Zhao Yang's welcoming ceremony lasted only fifteen minutes before everyone got busy again.

Director Gao Wenbo pulled him into the office and spent quite a while asking about issues related to the Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Investigation and the Great Firewall. Although Zhao Yang was primarily responsible for the reception in the afternoon, Director Gao Wenbo was afraid the higher-up leaders might suddenly put him on the spot and ask about his blind spots, leaving him flustered.

Two hours later, Director Gao Wenbo patted Zhao Yang on the shoulder. "I've wronged you. This welcoming ceremony was really... sigh, there was no other way. I hope you understand."

Zhao Yang nodded. "I understand. It's all for the sake of work."

"You're only twenty-six this year. Sitting in this position will inevitably attract some attention. The former deputy division chief, Old Xue, had quite a lot of support, so everyone is somewhat troubled by your parachuting in. You should have noticed that."

"Mm, it's only human nature," Zhao Yang said indifferently.

Director Gao Wenbo lowered his voice. "Even though you're a generation younger than me, I've always viewed you as a close comrade-in-arms. If anything comes up, come straight to me. Don't be a stranger."

"Alright, then I won't be polite. I actually have something right now."

"Oh? Speak up."

"Director Gao, make up for last night's welcome dinner at noon today."

Director Gao Wenbo was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Good! You're something else, kid!"

In the afternoon, the atmosphere at the Third Institute suddenly grew tense. Many cars with special license plates appeared on the surrounding roads, along with crew-cut men who seemed to be casually strolling around.

At exactly three o'clock, a black Hongqi sedan drove through the main gate. A lean, vigorous elderly man stepped out. Zhao Yang recognized him—the number two figure in the Ministry, Minister Cai. Back then, it was from his hands that Zhao Yang had received his first-class merit certificate.

As soon as Director Gao Wenbo saw this man appear, his heart settled back into his chest. He pushed Zhao Yang forward a bit and stepped back himself.

Zhao Yang had a strange expression. "Director Gao, what's wrong with you?"

Director Gao Wenbo lowered his voice with a look of envy. "You'll know in a moment. I thought it was a real inspection, but it turns out to be this kind of 'inspection'."

Zhao Yang understood in his heart, but he kept a look of confusion on his face.

Director Gao Wenbo secretly lamented: This kid's sensitivity in this area is still a bit lacking; I need to find more opportunities to guide him. He can't just keep his head down and work.

After some polite formalities, Minister Cai spoke directly in front of everyone. "I heard that the hero who fought organized crime in Jinghai has just taken up his new post at the Third Institute, right? Where is Zhao Yang?"

Zhao Yang quickly took a step forward. "Minister Cai, I am here."

"Hahaha, come here, come here, let me get a good look at you!" Minister Cai beckoned. "This face of yours is practically the face of our entire Ministry!"

Zhao Yang gave an embarrassed smile. "Actually, the credit isn't mine."

Minister Cai laughed even harder. "Come, come, I've heard long ago that our first-class merit hero is a young hero with both brains and brawn, a leader in strengthening the police through technology! Today, you must give me a good introduction to information security, especially regarding that project you're leading."

Zhao Yang maintained his smile, his expression respectful but not subservient. "Alright. Minister Cai, let's head to the small conference room first, and I'll give you a report."

The institute leaders responsible for the reception, regardless of their rank, saw this and understood perfectly—as a twenty-six-year-old division chief, Zhao Yang had backing from above. Furthermore, Zhao Yang had come to the Third Institute with a mission. From now on at the Third Institute, from the director down to the cleaners, no one would dare to trip him up.

As they walked toward the conference room, Director Gao Wenbo leaned toward the Institute Director, Director Ma Wenkui, and whispered with a smile, "We were worried before that it would be hard for Little Zhao to carry out his work, but I didn't expect Minister Cai to come here personally to back him up."

Director Ma Wenkui laughed. "I told you long ago you were worrying for nothing! Zhao Yang coming to our place is also an opportunity for us. As long as the Great Firewall project is done well, the people from the First Institute will have to speak softly when they see us in the future."

Minister Cai spent two and a half hours inspecting the Third Institute, two of which were spent talking to Zhao Yang. Only the last half hour was given to Director Ma Wenkui and the other institute leaders for their reports.

As soon as the Hongqi car left the Third Institute, the way everyone looked at Zhao Yang completely changed. This man didn't just have 'someone' at the top. Some even privately speculated based on the fact that Zhao Yang's parents were deceased—could he be the illegitimate son of some high-ranking official?

Minister Cai returned to his residence, and just as he sat down, the secure phone rang. He picked it up, and General Feng's voice came through. "Well? Did you see the kid?"

Minister Cai smiled slightly. "I did. This kid is indeed not simple; no wonder he could pull off so many things. Your eye for talent isn't bad! I think Zhao Yang is worth further observation."

"It's just, if he stays in your administrative sector all the time, will his path become narrower and narrower?"

"He's just been promoted to division chief. Once he achieves some results and reaches the seniority for deputy department level, there will naturally be a place for him."

"How can you be so sure? If there's no place, I'll bring him over to our side."

Minister Cai laughed. "What, you want to snatch someone from the Old Leader?"

"I wouldn't dare. But regarding Zhao Yang's current position, it's hard for even the Old Leader to say much, right?"

"That's not necessarily true." Minister Cai lowered his voice. "The Old Leader had me investigate; your guess was accurate. The wildlife smuggling case in Jinghai—Zhao Yang was the first to sound the alarm. the Cabinet already knows about this."

"That kid actually dared to lie to me! You have no idea how real his expression was that day; I didn't see through it at all!"

Minister Cai laughed. "The Old Leader guessed you'd say that. Think about it, how old is he? He was only a deputy division chief. When he happened upon such a major matter, of course he wouldn't dare admit it. You have to understand the young man and just pretend you don't know."

"Fine! I understand, but this kid better cough up some more good stuff for me, otherwise I absolutely won't let him off!"

Minister Cai had a strange expression. "I say, you're a military man, why are you always thinking about our public security people? You have so many research institutes! You can't just keep shearing the wool off our people, can you?"

"It's all serving the people, why distinguish between yours and mine!"

"You're lecturing me on principles now? You're just never satisfied with how much you take!"

General Feng and Minister Cai were old comrades-in-arms; as they talked, they began to bicker and expose each other's old secrets. Finally, Minister Cai realized this was a secure phone and was being recorded, so he quickly said a few formal words and hung up.

Afterward, his fingers lightly tapped the tabletop. He pondered for a while, sighed, and murmured to himself, "This child... the public security sector... won't be able to keep him."