Chapter 503: Transport Department

When Su Yang arrived at the Transport Department it was already 11:30. Normally, at this hour the provincial department has few officials coming to handle business, especially those from the townships.

In theory, even if it weren't Su Yang's rank, a County Magistrate or County Party Secretary would barely get a glance from the Transport Department's leaders. As the saying goes, everything has its rules—if a township official runs to the Transport Department to handle affairs, wouldn't the county leaders have to go to Jingcheng? Under normal circumstances, only the top one or two officials of a city government would go directly to the provincial department to apply for a project.

Sure enough, Su Yang was stopped as soon as he reached the Transport Department's main gate.

"Hey, what are you doing? Trying to barge in? This isn't a place you can just walk into," the gate's transmission room chief shouted at Su Yang.

Su Yang said, "I'm here to see Director Duan."

The transmission room chief replied coldly, "Who are you? Coming to see Director Duan? Everyone who comes in says they want to see Director Duan. Does Director Duan have that much time to meet people like you? Go back to where you came from!"

Su Yang was truly impressed by these self‑important guards in the province—clearly just door keepers, yet they always act as if they're superior to even Division-level officials coming from below.

"Fine, your words put me at ease. But if Director Duan comes looking for you later, don't regret it," Su Yang didn't tolerate the transmission room chief at all. Such people are used to taking bribes; to get through the gate you must at least hand over two packets of Huazi—that's the rule. For someone like Su Yang who just storms in, they'll naturally try to hold him back.

Of course, they also treat people differently. If the entrant wears glasses, an administrative jacket, and has a few people behind him, the guard won't dare block him and will greet him with a smile. But Su Yang is young; after entering he looks around anxiously, clearly a first‑time visitor. The guard has no other abilities, but he's quite shrewd at reading people.

"Director Duan coming for you? I don't believe it! If Director Duan does come, I'll smash my head here! What identity, what rank do you have to deserve Director Duan's attention? Believe it or not, I'll call the Security Department to take you away," the transmission room old man grew agitated.

He's never seen anyone like Su Yang before—no bribe, fine, but speaking so bluntly, can he really let Su Yang through the gate?

Su Yang's anger flared, and he said coldly, "To put it nicely, you're a guard; to put it harshly, you're just a watchman. What qualification or right do you have to block someone coming to handle business? Are you hoping I'll give you a favor?"

"Don't even think about it! Those who can handle affairs here are state officials, serving the people; their authority comes from the people, let alone you!"

"Your kind's flaw is that you've been spoiled into it."

After speaking, Su Yang strode forward into the building. The transmission room old man lunged like a mad dog to pull him, but his physical condition could not match Su Yang's.

Su Yang dragged the old man inside as if pulling a dead dog. He restrained his fury, lest he turn and kick, which could kill the old man outright.

"Hey, comrade, what are you doing? Who told you to act like this? Do you even know where you are? Stop right there!" a voice suddenly rang in his ear.

Su Yang turned and saw a man in his forties, clutching a briefcase, hair slicked with gel, shoes polished to a shine.

But he completely ignored him—he hadn't done anything wrong, just came to handle a matter; does he still need that whole web of personal connections?

The man was a bit angry. He could tell Su Yang was certainly not a high‑rank official; at most he was a clerk sent up from below, or someone from a unit delivering documents.

These hotheaded youths appear a few times a year; a little lesson will do. As he spoke, he rushed forward and grabbed Su Yang.

But Su Yang didn't tolerate him either; with a flick of his wrist he sent the man sprawling like a dog in mud. The gel‑slicked head hit the ground with a "thud", and he let out an "Ow!" while clutching his face, unable to get up for a while.

"Director Niu! Director Niu, what's wrong with you? I'll call the Security Department! Some country bumpkin just popped up here and acted so barbarically!"

Their commotion alarmed everyone upstairs and downstairs. Countless heads poked out of windows—though work is usually rigid and serious, seeing a disturbance instantly triggered a by‑stander instinct. Even dull jobs need occasional excitement; everyone looked as if they had nothing better to do.

"Is everyone out of work? Huh? Have you finished all the tasks in your hands?" At that moment, a deputy director saw the scene and shouted from the hallway.

People above and below instantly pulled their heads back—joining the fun is fine, but if a leader spots you, it's not worth the risk.

A moment later, the deputy director hurried out. Before he could speak, the gate guard old man rushed in, "Director Xu! No idea where this person came from, but he barged in looking for trouble! I'm ready to call the Security Department to educate him; if that fails, I'll call the Public Security Bureau to arrest him!"

Before he finished, Director Xu briskly approached Su Yang and said warmly, "Comrade Su Yang, right? Why didn't you call ahead? Director Duan is up there waiting specifically for you!"

Su Yang replied, "I thought I could just come straight over, but officials from small places like ours aren't aware of all the entry rules here at the Transport Department, so I was delayed a bit. My apologies."

Director Xu's gaze instantly turned cold. Who Su Yang is doesn't matter; what matters is that Governor Huang specifically called to instruct this, and the Transport Department must treat it as a major matter.

This Vice Provincial Governor Huang is not only the Executive Vice Governor, but also the leader overseeing the Transport Department. To put it bluntly, if Su Yang were lazy and didn't want to come, or if today he went to dine with Huang Dachen, Huang Dachen could simply call Director Duan to the provincial government for an on‑site handover. That's how officialdom works.

Of course, Su Yang also knows the rules. He can't rely on patronage and actually stay at the Provincial Government while the Transport Department people come over—though that would get the job done, his reputation would suffer over time. In this circle, knowing how to behave is also crucial.

"How can you treat a comrade who comes to handle business like this? Such conduct is unacceptable! With behavior like yours, people might think the Transport Department itself ordered you to act this way!"

At that moment, the bespectacled man, still oblivious, said, "Director Xu, you didn't see earlier, right? It's Su Yang—he's the one causing trouble here. You probably think he…"

Director Xu turned to the man who had fallen flat on his face, his glasses shattered, and asked, "What do you do? Are you from our Transport Department?"