Official excuse: I've put you on patrol in Handong, and the whole province is in a panic.

Li Dakang readily admitted his mistake, taking full responsibility upon himself.

After speaking, he immediately turned to Xu Ming and Su Zhe, his attitude equally sincere: "Team Leader Xu, Team Leader Su, and leaders of the inspection team, I am very sorry! It was our Jingzhou's work that went wrong, allowing you to witness such an inappropriate scene upon your arrival in Handong. On behalf of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee and Government, I solemnly apologize to all comrades in the inspection team! We fully accept Comrade Su Zhe's criticism and resolutely support the inspection team's opinions! Please rest assured, leaders, we will rectify this immediately, thoroughly, and resolutely!"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Dakang turned his head and looked at Zhao Donglai, the director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, who was standing at the back of the welcoming team.

"Zhao Donglai! What are you standing there for? Come here!"

Zhao Donglai had been anxiously watching the situation unfold from behind. When he heard Li Dakang call his name, he immediately stepped forward, his forehead already beaded with sweat.

However, he also felt very wronged.

It's true that the Jingzhou Municipal Bureau did this, but the specifications and guidelines were issued by the Provincial Department's Special Operations Bureau!

The document even has Qi Tongwei's signature on it!

Now Qi Tongwei is shirking all responsibility and shifting all blame to the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau. Is he even human?

But seeing Li Dakang's gaze, Zhao Donglai didn't explain, he just ran over and saluted.

"Yes, Secretary Li!"

Li Dakang pointed at the police officers and security personnel who were still waiting on the scene and seemed somewhat at a loss, and ordered: "First, all additional security forces, except for those necessary to maintain basic order, must immediately withdraw! Restore normal access to all airport passages!"

Second, in the name of the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, an immediate and sincere apology must be issued via the airport's public address system to all passengers and members of the public affected by this security operation! It must be clearly stated that this was a mistake made by the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau in its work arrangements and has nothing to do with the central inspection team or the provincial party committee and government!

Third, coordinate with the airport to provide each passenger currently stranded in the affected area with a voucher or equivalent gift as compensation to express our apologies! We need to act quickly!

"Yes, Secretary Li! I'll get on it right away!"

Zhao Donglai dared not delay in the slightest and immediately took out his walkie-talkie to begin issuing instructions.

The entire welcoming party fell silent, watching Zhao Donglai and his officers quickly get to work.

The security personnel who had formed a human wall with their backs turned quickly and orderly withdrew, the cordon was lifted, and the blocked passenger area began to resume normal passage.

Soon, the airport's public address system blared, and a clear and sincere female voice echoed through the terminal: "Dear passengers and citizens, this is the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau. We would like to express our sincerest apologies to all passengers and friends who were affected by the temporary security measures just now!"

This is because we misunderstood the policies and oversimplified our work methods while performing our duties, causing inconvenience and trouble for your travel.

We deeply regret our mistake and will rectify it immediately! We once again express our sincere apologies to everyone! To express our apologies, we will issue vouchers or equivalent gifts to travelers in the affected areas as compensation. We ask for your understanding!

The location for collecting vouchers and gifts is...

The broadcast was played three times in a row.

At first, the passengers were somewhat confused and complained, but when they heard the announcement so frankly admitting the mistake, apologizing, clarifying the responsibility, and stating the attitude of the inspection team, the commotion at the scene gradually subsided.

When staff began distributing vouchers to delayed passengers in an orderly manner, many passengers showed surprise, which quickly turned into understanding and acceptance.

"Oh, so you actually apologized?"

"That's really practical, they're even issuing consumption vouchers."

"Did you hear that? It was the Municipal Bureau that made a mistake. It has nothing to do with the inspection team. The inspection team criticized them as soon as they got off the plane."

"That's more like it; you're brave enough to take responsibility for your actions."

"This inspection team seems to be serious..."

A few scattered claps and cheers even rang out from the crowd.

Some astute reporters had already set up their cameras and recorded the entire process, including the evacuation of security personnel, the broadcast apology, the distribution of consumer vouchers, and the public's reaction.

This scene is clearly more newsworthy than the previous rigid and grand receptions.

Sha Ruijin watched all of this unfold rapidly with a blank expression until the broadcast ended and order was largely restored. Only then did he slowly turn his head to look at Xu Ming and Su Zhe, his expression softening somewhat, but still serious.

"Team Leader Xu, Team Leader Su, you've both seen it. Our Handong Province, especially Jingzhou City, does indeed have shortcomings in our work, and the lessons are profound! We thank the inspection team for promptly sounding the alarm for us. The self-criticism and rectification by Comrade Dakang and Comrade Donglai are preliminary, but also necessary. Next, the Provincial Party Committee will conduct a special reflection on this matter, draw inferences from one instance, and resolutely prevent similar incidents from happening again."

Xu Ming nodded.

"Secretary Sha, it's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost. The key is to have a thorough understanding and to rectify the problems completely. The people have discerning eyes; they know whether we are truly combating the 'four forms of undesirable work styles' and whether we are truly connecting with the people. Today's incident, though an interlude, has exposed some problems. I hope this can become an opportunity to promote a new level of improvement in work style in Handong Province."

Su Zhe stood beside Xu Ming without saying anything more.

He has achieved his goal, demonstrating the inspection team's attitude and witnessing firsthand the response and rectification efforts of Handong Province.

Sha Ruijin's decisiveness, Li Dakang's willingness to take responsibility, and Gao Yuliang's reprimand of Qi Tongwei...

Everything that happened in those short ten minutes was like a miniature exposé of officialdom, giving him a direct and profound impression of the complex and subtle relationships among the high-ranking officials in Handong Province.

He knew that this storm, seemingly instigated by him, involved far more than just a simple issue of hospitality. This was just the beginning; the real contest was yet to come.

Seeing that the situation was mostly resolved, Sha Ruijin gestured again, "Team Leader Xu, Team Leader Su, comrades, this isn't the place to talk. Let's leave the airport first. The cars are ready; please go to your accommodations and settle in."

......

The Provincial Party Committee compound in Handong.

Office of the Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

Gao Yuliang stood with his hands behind his back.

Qi Tongwei pushed open the door, saw Gao Yuliang, and said in a low voice, "Secretary Yuliang...I..."

Gao Yuliang turned around, looked at Qi Tongwei, and shook his head.

"Tongwei, do you know what you did wrong today?"