Deputy Town Mayor Zhou Hongyuan felt rather frustrated this New Year. He had taken on two consecutive days of administrative duties, hoping to rest afterward, but those plans had fallen through.
Qin Zhengyang required that anyone in Dongzhou must attend the eting, and since Mrs. Jiang’s suicide happened during Zhou Hongyuan’s shift, he needed to present a situation report at the eting. Having spent only half a day at ho, Zhou Hongyuan had to return to Weishan Island.
By coincidence, he ran into Qin Zhengyang on the ferry. Today, there was no wind over the lake, and the sunshine was splendid. On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the unrestrained sunlight cast over the lake, creating a scene that looked like countless golden carp leaping continuously.
Standing in the sunlight, Zhou Hongyuan took out a cigarette, but Qin Zhengyang waved it off, so he put it back. When Qin Zhengyang first arrived, he, like others, respectfully called him Teacher Zhou because of Zhou Hongyuan’s background in education and their equal positions at the ti.
Nowadays, Qin Zhengyang simply called him Old Zhou, often even omitting that title, like now.
"Xiaoxu just started. You need to help him steer in the right direction at crucial monts. Although his intentions are good, going too far won’t do any good."
Zhou Hongyuan understood what Qin Zhengyang ant and nodded, "I attended several coordination etings. However, Xiaoxu lacks experience in this kind of work. He is young and just started in his new role, and I feel that he’s a bit too eager to prove himself."
Qin Zhengyang said, "It’s not bad for young people to want to show themselves. If nobody wants to step up, how can we carry out our work when challenges arise?"
Zhou Hongyuan didn’t reply, feeling that Qin Zhengyang was implicitly blaming him. Actually, the issue with Jiang Ailian should have been handled by him during his administrative duty. Even Zhou Hongyuan didn’t expect that Qin Zhengyang would hand this matter over to Xu Chunliang, making it apparent to anyone observing that Qin Zhengyang was setting up obstacles for Xu Chunliang.
Zhou Hongyuan was happy to be free from the hassle, especially since the issue was tricky. He was quite pleased to see Xu Chunliang take over the problem.
But nobody expected that Xu Chunliang would sweep through the involved parties indiscriminately, hitting Da Heng, Hua Nian, and frightening the Liu Brothers with his approach.
Xu Chunliang’s actions surprised Zhou Hongyuan and surely left Qin Zhengyang astonished. Zhou Hongyuan could clearly see the purpose behind Qin Zhengyang’s sudden appearance for the eting, as he realized that Xu Chunliang was not as easily controllable as expected and did not stumble as anticipated.
To be fair, Xu Chunliang handled the situation quite well, settling the dispute in the shortest ti. However, the aftermath continued to spread, and the public discourse quietly shifted over just a few days.
Qin Zhengyang gave a signal to Zhou Hongyuan, who looked in the sa direction, noticing a group of senior citizens passionately discussing sothing inside the cabin. They had noted this group since boarding, realizing they were likely there to protect their rights.
Jiang Ailian’s death had disrupted the stability Da Heng had struggled to achieve, forcing them to promise assistance in canceling contracts with the deceased’s family, setting a precedent that made many previously hesitant buyers restless and deciding to cancel their contracts.
Zhou Hongyuan whispered, "They must be Da Heng’s clients."
Qin Zhengyang turned to face the lake, "A single stone can raise a thousand waves; subsequent impacts will follow. If we can’t handle this properly, it might trigger panic among investors about our business environnt."
Zhou Hongyuan said, "Sotis, I feel like our work is all about balance. Turn left, it doesn’t work; turn right, it doesn’t work. A slight misstep, and we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place."
Qin Zhengyang laughed, "In ti, things should ease up. The city established a special command center for the national resort area, which will significantly reduce our workload."
Zhou Hongyuan didn’t find comfort in that thought since reduced workload ant restricted power. Qin Zhengyang was soone who valued power intensely, probably like any other top leader. Zhou Hongyuan, however, didn’t mind, as he wasn’t politically ambitious, knowing his limits. Coming from a farming family, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get very far, given the system valued heritage profoundly.
Qin Zhengyang patted his shoulder, "We’ve arrived!"
Patting a shoulder is an art: the senior can pat the junior, and the superior can pat the subordinate. Doing it the other way around is deed disrespectful. Qin Zhengyang’s pat was natural, and Zhou Hongyuan felt a sense of comfort and belonging, as this physical gesture showed Secretary Qin considered him part of his inner circle.
Other than those out of town, most of the town’s leadership team had gathered for this eting.
Lv Aihe from the Party and Governnt General Office whisked off to Xu Chunliang’s office five minutes after the eting started. Despite being hosted by the top leader, Qin Zhengyang, for this committee eting, Xu Chunliang was late.
Upon entering Xu Chunliang’s office, Lv Aihe found him exercising.
Indeed, Xu Chunliang was using an ab roller in his office, with a graceful and standard posture. Watching Xu Chunliang’s body moving up and down, Lv Aihe couldn’t help but admire this fellow’s impressive core strength. He bet that Xu Chunliang’s extraordinary core strength was unrivaled across the entire Hu Shan Town Governnt.
Lv Aihe intended to wait for him to finish before speaking, but Xu Chunliang seed like a tireless machine, rolling endlessly without stopping.
Lv Aihe hesitated for a mont and then chose to approach him from behind, whispering, "Town Mayor Xu, the eting is starting."
Xu Chunliang bent over, his face peeking out from between his legs, "I’m not a party mber."
Lv Aihe said, "Secretary Qin specifically asked to inform you; if you don’t go, I’ll get criticized."
Only then did Xu Chunliang straighten up and handed the ab wheel to Lv Aihe, who chuckled bitterly, "I don’t know how to use it."
Xu Chunliang said, "Just put it aside for ."
"Sure, but hurry up; the eting has already started."
Xu Chunliang washed his face and then unhurriedly walked toward the eting room, with Lv Aihe closely following him throughout. He was afraid that this guy might run away halfway. Over the past few days, he had learned that this new deputy mayor does not play by traditional rules.
Helping Xu Chunliang push open the door of the eting room, Xu Chunliang walked in. All the mbers of the leadership team were present, and everyone’s eyes turned to him.
Xu Chunliang bead and said, "Happy New Year, everyone! You’re all back to working overti today, huh?"
Everyone understood the implied aning; Xu Chunliang was hinting that they had been on leave these days, and only he had been at work.
Qin Zhengyang chuckled, "Xiaoxu, you’ve worked hard. Take a seat; everyone has been waiting for you."
Xu Chunliang said, "I’m really sorry. The main thing is that I’m not a party mber yet, so I didn’t feel it was appropriate to co first thing. I intended to call Secretary Qin to confirm, but was afraid of disturbing your eting. Thankfully, Director Lv inford ."
Lv Aihe was busy serving tea and water on the side, smiled but said nothing, thinking to himself, this guy really knows how to play his role.
However, most people understood Xu Chunliang’s explanation. In everyone’s view, Xu Chunliang indeed wasn’t qualified to attend a party committee eting, not even being a probationary mber. Isn’t it a joke for him to attend such a eting? Of course, from another perspective, this also shows his powerful background. A political outsider actually beca a deputy mayor; don’t be fooled by this temporary dispatch. Quite a few of such positions, once borrowed, aren’t returned—perhaps this guy will just settle down in Hu Shan Town.
Liang Yifeng, who presides over the town’s people’s congress work, said, "Xiaoxu, let’s get started." He was the eldest in age, and after forr secretary Kong Xiangsheng left, he beca the most senior. In his eyes, Xu Chunliang was just a junior.
Xu Chunliang saw his na tag placed near the door, clearly indicating his non-party committee status and subtly implying his low standing in the current Hu Shan Town leadership.
Qin Zhengyang said, "I urgently gathered everyone today mainly to discuss the incidents that occurred during the New Year period and convey the instructions from higher-ups. I’m sure everyone is sowhat aware of the recent events. Let’s start by introducing the new mber joining our team, Comrade Xu Chunliang."
Qin Zhengyang smiled at Xu Chunliang and said, "Comrade Xu Chunliang is recomnded by higher-level departnts, temporarily seconded to work at our Hu Shan Town Governnt, serving as the deputy mayor for now. The higher leadership has decided that during his secondnt, Comrade Xu Chunliang will be temporarily responsible for investnt promotion and cultural education and health work. Let’s all welco Comrade Xu Chunliang to our team."
Xu Chunliang stood up, greeting everyone, and all the party committee mbers responded with a lukewarm applause, giving the newcor a little face.
Xu Chunliang said, "I’ve interacted with most of you in the past, and I look forward to your guidance in the future. If there’s anything I’m not doing well, feel free to point it out directly. I will humbly accept my mistakes." Implied is: if I do sothing right, don’t just criticize.
Qin Zhengyang asked Xu Chunliang to briefly introduce the Jiang Ailian incident.
Xu Chunliang smiled at Zhou Hongyuan, "Town Mayor Zhou, why don’t you go first? When I received the order to handle this matter, Jiang Ailian had already died."
Zhou Hongyuan cursed inwardly, aren’t you throwing under the bus in public? Clearly stressing that Jiang Ailian’s suicide happened during my duty ti, while you co to clean up the ss.
Zhou Hongyuan said, "Since Secretary Qin asked you to solve this matter, you should speak first."
Xu Chunliang said, "Then I’ll briefly explain." He narrated the entire incident from beginning to end. This guy has impressive eloquence, speaking with flowery rhetoric, making Jiang Ailian sound extrely tragic and the Liu brothers unbearably hateful, not forgetting to stab Da Heng and Hua Nian a few tis. The fundantal point was to highlight his own capability in handling matters, summarizing that the issue had been resolved and all parties were very satisfied with the current outco, with emotions stable among those involved.
The leadership team mbers present were dumbfounded. They’ve seen people brag before, but never soone who praises themselves so unabashedly. Does this guy not know what humility is?
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