Pang Returns
He saw Pang, for the first time since April, on a Tuesday morning in mid-June.
Lin was in the lobby of the building, waiting for the elevator. Pang walked through the main doors. He was — in a different suit from before. Slightly more relaxed. The taut watchfulness of his face during the General Office years had — softened.
He saw Lin. He came over.
"Xiao Lin."
"Director — Section Chief Pang."
(Pang's title in the new advisory position was Section Chief, formally one rank down from Director. The reduction had been — part of the transition.)
Pang waved his hand.
"Don't bother with the title. I'm here for a meeting on the third floor. Two minutes. Come over."
He gestured toward a small alcove by the elevators.
Lin followed.
In the alcove, Pang said: "Congratulations on the promotion. I was — pleased to see it. You earned it."
"Thank you, Section Chief."
"How is Sun's office."
"Substantively interesting."
"Yes. I expected it would be." Pang looked at him. "I want to — say one thing to you, Lin. I have — perhaps — two minutes before my meeting. So I will be brief.
"In April, when the events around the master plan came to a head, I — understood, by the time of the Mayor's announcement, that you had — been at minimum adjacent to certain channels that contributed to my transition. I did not, at the time, hold this against you. I do not, now, hold it against you. I want you to know this directly.
"I have, in the past two months, had — some time to think about what happened. The thinking has been — useful. I have decided that — many of the things I was attempting to do in the General Office were — not appropriate. The Mayor's correction was — necessary. I am — adjusting, in my new position, to a more sustainable pace.
"You will — possibly — hear, in the coming months, that I am — angry. That I am — looking for revenge. That I am — building a coalition to return. None of these are true. I am — sixty-one. I have nine years to retirement. I would like, in those nine years, to — finish my career without further disruption. I have no interest in — returning, or in revenge."
He looked at Lin steadily.
"I am telling you this because — I think you may, in the coming year, encounter people who — claim my name in service of their own purposes. People who are — angry on my behalf, or who use my situation as cover for their own ambitions. You should not — assume that they speak for me. They do not. If you ever wish to — verify whether something attributed to me is actually mine, you may — come to my office and ask. I will tell you the truth."
Lin said, slowly: "Thank you, Section Chief Pang. I — appreciate the directness."
"Mm."
Pang glanced at his watch.
"I have — forty seconds. One last thing. The Tier-Two Cities position paper. The Mayor circulated it last week. I read it. It is — excellent work. The framing of the three-versus-nine structure is — exactly what the negotiation has been missing for fourteen months. You have a — good head, Lin. The promotion was — adequately earned."
"Thank you."
"Go to work."
Pang walked to the elevator.
#
That evening, Lin met Lao Wei at the canal bridge.
He told him about the Pang exchange.
Lao Wei listened.
He said: "Do you believe him."
"I — am not sure."
"Why."
"Because — he was, in the past, a director who was very good at saying things in ways that were technically true but operationally misleading. The exchange was — almost too clean. Almost too — pre-prepared."
Lao Wei nodded.
"Your instinct is correct. Do not — fully trust him. He may have meant what he said. He may not have. Either way, treat his statement as — information, not as a binding declaration."
"Yes."
"There is — something you should know. In the past three weeks, I have been — observing certain movements. Liang Hao has been — meeting with someone, twice, at the same teahouse on Yu Street where you delivered the envelope last October."
"The Cloud Peak."
"Yes. I have not been able to identify the someone. But the meetings are — regular. They occur on Thursday evenings at six. Whoever Liang is meeting is — using a private room, with the curtain drawn."
"Could it be Pang."
"It could. It could also be — someone in Vice-Mayor Liu's circle. Or someone in the Provincial Land Resources network that Pang's exit weakened. Or someone we have not yet identified."
"What should I do."
"Nothing, for now. Continue your work. Be — exemplary. I will — find out who Liang is meeting. When I know, we will adjust."
"Yes."
"Walk safely."
#
That night, Lin lay in bed for a long time.
He thought: *Pang's "I have no interest in returning" was — too rehearsed. He has interest. He may not be acting on it actively. But he has it.*
He thought: *Liang is meeting someone at the Cloud Peak. Liang reports to Vice-Mayor Liu. The someone may be Pang. The someone may be — orchestrating something.*
He thought: *I should — prepare.*
He slept.
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