Chapter Ten: The Sorrow of Kōkō
Some people say that in an organization, half of success is ability and the other half is flattery. This means that to achieve success, one must grasp two aspects well. On the one hand, you need to work hard, give full play to your strengths, and do a good job; on the other hand, you need to learn how to get along with people, understand the situation, accurately grasp the leader's psychology, do things that make leaders happy, and say things that make leaders happy.
It's a fact that no matter who the person is, no matter how big an official he is, everyone likes to listen to pleasant words. Just as people like to look at beautiful scenery, women like to wear pretty clothes, and men like to admire beauties. There isn't any leader who likes someone who always opposes him, unless he's mentally abnormal, unless he's a masochist, or unless he has mental illness.
Since flattering is so important, everyone wants to flatter, but it's not easy to do it well. In life, there are many people who can flatter well and some who make leaders dislike them. The fundamental reason is that some people don't know how to flatter, they just flatter the horse's hooves. Those who are seasoned and have been tested in the official circles for a long time, when they flatter, they make the leader happy, they make the leader like it, and they make the leader unaware of it.
Some people say that our nation is one of the best in the world, known for its diligence, bravery, wisdom and kindness. Our wisdom is also unparalleled in the world. However, it's a pity that many of us have abandoned these excellent traditions. Many people are not using their intelligence and wisdom to work hard or strive for self-improvement, but instead use them to flatter and intrigue each other.
It is precisely because of such a poor foundation, coupled with the vanity that everyone has, that there are always people around leaders who spend their days hovering around them. Their main energy is not focused on work, but rather on wholeheartedly observing leaders, understanding leaders, and sensing leaders. Whatever leaders think or need, they will stop at nothing to satisfy as soon as they find out. Many leaders are unknowingly pulled down, unknowingly assimilated, and unknowingly become blind to reality. What they hear, see, and even understand is often not the true nature of things.
There is a strange phenomenon in the organization, that is, around the leader, there are a group of sycophants, and behind them, there are people who work diligently. The leader's eyes only see those sycophants, never seeing the diligent workers behind them. As a result, the benefits go to the sycophants, while the diligent workers suffer losses. This is also why busy people always have endless tasks to complete, no matter where they go.
So, as a leading cadre, especially high-ranking leaders, if you only know how to follow the country's laws and regulations, and strictly demand yourself, this is far from enough. Our ancestors have said many times that being close to the ruler and distant from petty people; listening comprehensively leads to clarity, while biased listening leads to darkness. The reason lies in this. We cannot help but admire our great ancestors, who thousands of years ago spoke words that are still true today, and are universally applicable worldwide. Which other nation can achieve this?
Having experienced the success of more than half a year, Deputy Director Dong Xin was ecstatic. Now, all the work in the Logistics Support Center has been on the right track, and the negative impact of that case is getting smaller and smaller, while the enthusiasm of the employees is getting higher and higher. When Deputy Director Dong Xin felt the joy of success, he couldn't help but feel a little lucky that he had listened to Director Zhao's words and sought Gong Zhong's opinion in his work, especially in financial management.
Deputy Director Dong Xin knew that many of his operations, especially in financial management and employee welfare, were planned by Gong Zhong. Gong Zhong was indeed an expert in financial management. Dong Xin couldn't help but sigh at the mistakes made by Shu Daming, thinking that if Shu Daming had respected Gong Zhong and listened to his advice back then, he wouldn't have made those mistakes, and of course, there wouldn't be a Deputy Director Dong Xin today.
Deputy Director Dong Xin is very clear that the Logistics Support Center of the organ has three key departments, one is the Vehicle Management Department, one is the Canteen Supply Management Department, and the other is the Property Company. If these three departments are well managed, the work of the Logistics Support Center will be done well. Of course, these three departments are also money-spending departments, and most of the budget of the Logistics Support Center is implemented by these three departments. Therefore, each department has its own interests and its own way to survive, so it is necessary to strictly control these three departments.
Fortunately, the three department heads are all people he trusts, they work hard, have a strong sense of responsibility, and do their jobs with great enthusiasm. What makes Deputy Director Dong Xin even more satisfied is that these three department heads listen to him very well and have never expressed any opposing opinions. As long as it's something he has arranged, no matter what it is, they will all do it according to his requirements and do it in a way that satisfies him. If every cadre and staff member of the agency's logistics support center were like these three department heads, then he would have nothing to worry about.
Thinking of this, Deputy Director Dong Xin couldn't help but feel a little annoyed with Gong Zhong again. Gong Zhong was a good person in all aspects, except that he was sometimes too rigid, especially when it came to financial management. Sometimes, for some expenses, he would ask this and that, making people feel uncomfortable. Deputy Director Dong Xin thought that Gong Zhong had not positioned himself correctly, if it wasn't his business, then don't interfere randomly. As a subordinate, doing one's own job was enough, did the leader need to explain things to him? Thinking of these issues, Dong Xin couldn't help but feel a little resentful towards Gong Zhong again. Which leader in the workplace liked their subordinates to undermine them?
At this time, Gong Zhong was having trouble with an expense. Cao Tingting, the manager of the property company's comprehensive department, brought a labor fee reimbursement receipt of over 80,000 yuan and asked Gong Zhong to sign it. Gong Zhong looked at it carefully and felt that something was strange - there was no contract for this expense, which required cash payment, the content of the labor was unclear, and it was opened temporarily at the tax window, and it was not clear who the payment would be made to.
Gong Zhong felt that there was a problem and tactfully said: "Ting Ting, put it here first, I'll review it and then send it to you." Cao Tingting is a beautiful woman in her late 20s, with a sweet mouth and a gentle personality, very popular among the central government staff. Hearing Gong Zhong say this, she of course knew what he meant. But she didn't show any dissatisfaction, instead smiled sweetly and said: "Okay! Director Gong, just let me know after you've reviewed it, how could we let our leader run errands personally?"
As a financial management personnel, when auditing each expense, generally need to know the real situation of each expenditure, and understand the ins and outs of this expense. This is also why during financial examination, if there are any questions, they will first ask the financial management personnel; if further explanation is needed, then they will ask the person in charge. In other words, financial management personnel should be clear about every expenditure of the unit, not just simply signing their name.
Cao Tingting was around thirty years old and worked as the manager of the comprehensive department in a property company. She appeared to be simple, worked solidly, was very diligent, and had a sweet mouth, so everyone liked her. When Gong Zhong asked about the labor costs, she quietly told him: "This is the cost of cleaning the bureau leader's home." "The cost of cleaning the bureau leader's home? Why is it so much, shouldn't it be just a few hundred yuan for one cleaning?" Gong Zhong felt puzzled and carefully inquired about the details.
It turned out that at the beginning of the year, Deputy Director Dong Xian was guiding the work in the property company and instructed Vice General Manager Ma Zhibing: "We should refine and detail our logistics service work to satisfy the leaders. For example, now the leaders are very busy with work and have no time to deal with household chores, so we should help alleviate their worries and difficulties, assist the leaders in handling household chores well, and let them have more time and energy to focus on work-related matters."
According to the instructions of Deputy Director Dong Xian, since January this year, the property company has hired professional cleaning personnel to clean the homes of bureau leaders once a week. Cao Tingting finally explained: "Director Gong, this is the sanitation fee for the past month." Gong Zhong calculated that there are 10 in-service department and bureau-level cadres in Jiangnan Bureau, including leading positions and non-leading positions. Each household is cleaned once a week at a cost of 200 yuan per time, with an annual expenditure of nearly 100,000 yuan.
A cost of 100,000 yuan is not a small amount for the property company either. This expense was not budgeted and should be considered an extra-budgetary expenditure. Moreover, it's worth considering whether this expense should be borne by the unit. Gong Zhong knew about the situation and couldn't say anything, as this was a very sensitive issue that wasn't something a small section chief like him could discuss. Gong Zhong decided to put it aside for now and understand the situation more clearly before saying anything.
After Cao Tingting left, Gong Zhong took the expense reimbursement form to Zhang Huanying's office in the finance department. Although Zhang Huanying had been transferred to a researcher position, she was still responsible for accounting work at the agency's logistics support center and Zhengqi Property Company. Some special expenses required her review and approval before payment could be made by the cashier. Gong Zhong felt that he could communicate with her privately and see what her opinion was.
Deputy Director Zhang listened to Gong Zhong's explanation and took over the reimbursement documents to carefully examine them. She didn't dare express any opinions either. Although the bureau leaders said they did not agree to reimburse this expense, they accepted the cleaning and sanitation work arranged by Dong Xian, which in essence was tacit approval of such behavior. However, Zhang Huan Ying still had an opinion about Dong Xian's approach. After all, she was in charge of the financial work at the agency's logistics support center, and now that things were difficult for Dong Xian, she would have to take responsibility, so she wasn't foolish enough to do such a thing.
"After repeated consideration and comprehensive balance, Deputy Director Zhang said to Gong Zhong: 'This is a matter handled by your agency's logistics support center on its own, without communicating with the finance department. The finance department does not manage this expense, and it will not be arranged in the budget. You need to solve this funding issue yourself.' In the end, Zhang Huan Ying did not sign the reimbursement voucher. According to regulations, some non-normal expenditures and special expenditures of the agency's logistics support center require her signature before they can be reimbursed."
After Gong Zhong returned to his office, there was no other good way. Vice Director Zhang Huiying's attitude was very clear and the handling method was also correct. It seems that it is impossible for the financial department to consider this expense in the budget, but the administrative logistics support center does not have this budget. As the person responsible for financial management work, he had to consider where this funding would come from and whether the property company has the ability to bear it. Gong Zhong thought about it repeatedly and decided to go communicate with Deputy Director Dong Xin, considering how to make up for this expense.
Deputy Director Dong Xin knew Gong Zhong's intention, and Gong Zhong clearly felt that his eyebrows furrowed slightly. He knew this was one of the facial expressions when someone is unhappy. "This expense was collectively decided by the center leadership, it's a normal expenditure for the logistical service work of the agency's logistical support center. Without budget or not, the expenditure still needs to be made." Deputy Director Dong Xin said firmly and clearly to Gong Zhong without saying much else.
Gong Zhong clearly felt unhappy from Deputy Director Dong Xin's words. Gong Zhong didn't say anything else and left Deputy Director Dong Xin's office directly. After returning to his own office, Gong Zhong signed the expense account documents with his name, then called Cao Tingting and said: "I have already approved this expense, please come to my office for a moment."
