Chapter 6 — The Gateway to Public Service

She did not insult me, Tran Duong. She insulted the Party discipline, the laws of our state, and the core principle of serving the people. The people she offended are not my kin; they are the thousands upon thousands of ordinary citizens who come here seeking the services they are entitled to. Therefore, whether she deserves forgiveness is not for me to decide—it is for the people to say.

The line fell silent. Perhaps Chu Van Hai had not expected such a blatant lack of deference. A few seconds later, his voice turned icy. Secretary Tran, you are young, and your temper is far too volatile. In all things, one should leave a path open for the future, so that we may meet again under better circumstances. We are colleagues in the same leadership body; there is no need to be so ruthless. You have just arrived and are unfamiliar with the landscape here. There will be many times in your future work when you will need the support of everyone around you.

This was a threat. A naked, unapologetic threat. He was reminding me that he held the power and the connections. If I insisted on touching his people, he would ensure my tenure was obstructed at every turn. Unfortunately, he had miscalculated. If there is one thing I, Tran Duong, do not fear, it is a threat.

Mayor Chu, thank you for your advice. However, my principle has always been to address the issue itself: if there is corruption, I excise it. I do not feel the need to cater to anyone's whims. As for your suggestion that we might meet again, I am certain we shall meet soon enough during the City Committee’s Standing Conference. At that time, I hope you can still maintain this level of bravado.

I hung up immediately. The conference room fell into such a profound silence that even a falling needle could be heard. The remnants of relief on the faces of Truong Khai Minh and the others vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, encroaching fear. They finally realized that the new secretary was a man of iron who did not play by the conventional rules. He would not even grant a modicum of face to the deputy mayor. I looked toward Truong Khai Minh. Where was I? Ah, yes, the fifth point. From this day forward, establish a dedicated window for reporting grievances regarding unresolved administrative matters. This window is for those citizens who have had to come back time and time again without success. You, Truong Khai Minh, will sit at that window yourself. For every complaint a citizen makes, you will resolve it. If you cannot solve it, you will be dismissed on the spot. Is that clear?

Truong Khai Minh stood as stiffly as a raw recruit under fire. I hear you—it is crystal clear!

My phone vibrated. It was a message from the Head of the Organization Department, Tien Phong. All documents related to the recruitment of Luu Ly had been sent over. I opened the file and scanned it quickly. Three years ago, she had entered the administrative center through the civil service examination. Her written exam scores were third from the bottom, yet her interview scores were the highest. The lead interviewer at that time was Truong Khai Minh himself, and the supervisor was a deputy director of the Municipal Department of Labor and Social Affairs—a man who, coincidentally, had been single-handedly promoted by Chu Van Hai. The threads were all connected. Here lay a clear web of interests and cronyism. I put the phone away and stood up.

My words are finished. From this moment, implement them. Truong Khai Minh, you are to remain. As for the rest of you, go down to the first-floor lobby immediately and publicly apologize to all the citizens who are there for service. Then, get to work.

The group seemed to act as if they had just been granted a reprieve; they scrambled up and fled the room as if escaping a fire. Only I remained, along with Truong Khai Minh and Luu Ly, who sat huddled in the corner, sobbing until she was utterly exhausted. I walked over to her. She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, filled with desperate entreaty. Secretary Tran, I was wrong, I was truly wrong. I beg you, give me one more chance.

I shook my head. Opportunities are not for me to grant. You, yourself, time and time again, have snatched them away from the hands of the citizens who came here to seek help. What you should be doing right now is not begging me, but preparing your documents to explain clearly to the comrades at the Discipline Inspection Commission how you have conducted your work these past few years and exactly how your uncle provided you with his special care.

After disposing of the matter of Luu Ly, I turned to Truong Khai Minh. He stood there, unsure of where to place his hands or his gaze.

Truong Khai Minh.

Yes, Secretary Tran.

How many years have you sat in this position?

Five... five years and three months.

Five years. I repeated the words. How many five-year periods does a human life possess? In these five years, what have you accomplished? You turned a window meant to serve the people into a den for the families of the powerful. You turned a group of officials who should have been servants of the people into slippery, lazy bureaucrats. As a director, you have been truly "successful."

My words were like daggers, piercing his heart. He lowered his head, so ashamed that he could find no place to hide. Secretary Tran, I have failed the trust of the organization and disappointed the expectations of the people. I am ready to accept any form of disciplinary action.

Disciplinary action against you is a certainty. But before that happens, I still have a use for you.

Truong Khai Minh froze, staring at me in complete bewilderment.