Chapter 192: Section Member (Part 1)

The Yiyang County Party Committee office building was a five-story structure. The Organization Department occupied the left eight offices on the second floor. The three department leaders—one director and two deputy directors—each had their own private office. One room served as the general department office, another as a typing room, leaving only three offices for the functional sections. Consequently, the space felt particularly cramped.

The Comprehensive Cadre Section had four staff members: one section chief, one deputy section chief, and two section members. Section Chief Li had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage during a meeting, collapsing under his desk. Although he was successfully rescued, he had been bedridden ever since, leaving Guo Lan to preside over the section’s work.

The two clerks were Zhan Caixin and the newly transferred Hou Weidong.

Hou Weidong’s desk was placed in an uncomfortable spot, right next to the entrance and exit passage, with his back to the office door. Sitting there, he always felt eyes watching him from behind, making him uneasy.

A stack of old files sat on his desk—a task assigned by Guo Lan. He was to read through all the documents from the past two years to quickly grasp the situation and get into the role. At that moment, Guo Lan was concentrating intently on typing at the computer. The Comprehensive Cadre Section had only one computer, and since Guo Lan was the only one who knew how to use it, it was effectively her personal machine.

From his seat, Hou Weidong had a clear view of Guo Lan’s profile. “Quiet, virtuous, and elegant,” was his assessment of her.

The veteran clerk, Zhan Caixin, was clean-shaven and neatly groomed. He held the newly arrived Shazhou Daily, reading carefully from the first page to the eighth, sipping tea and smoking, leisurely observing his new colleague.

In the Yiyang County Party Committee organs, every unit had individuals who fit a specific profile: over forty years old, with about twenty years of service, and stuck in a position below deputy section chief. Locals colloquially called these people “old stools.” A key characteristic of an “old stool” was that they never committed major errors but made frequent minor mistakes. Moreover, many had tangled personal connections, leading many leaders to turn a blind eye to them.

“Hou Weidong, you can just call me Old Zhan from now on. In our department, we don’t distinguish by age or rank. Everyone calls me Old Zhan, so you should too.”

Zhan Caixin was the “old stool” of the Organization Department. Seeing Hou Weidong sitting idle at his desk, he walked over and casually sat on the edge of Hou Weidong’s desk. “Hou Weidong, it was so comfortable being a deputy town mayor in Qinglin Town. Why did you think of transferring to the Organization Department? The department has a good reputation, but it’s not really like that. If I were ten years younger, I certainly wouldn’t work here.”

Guo Lan was rushing to finish a speech draft for Director Liu to use that afternoon. The draft had only been approved that morning by Minister Yang, who oversaw the organs. With tight deadlines and high quality requirements, she was working hard to meet the schedule. Hearing Zhan Caixin giving Hou Weidong an orientation lecture, she turned her head from the computer. “Old Zhan, my draft is ready. Please help me review it.”

Zhan Caixin’s principle was to delay tasks whenever possible and push them away if he could. With a new arrival, he said, “Hou Weidong is a top graduate from Shazhou College and has served as a leader in the town. Let him review the draft.”

Hou Weidong immediately said he dared not presume. Guo Lan patiently explained, “It’s a good tradition in the Comprehensive Cadre Section. For any important drafts required by department leaders, everyone studies them together before finalizing. I’ll print two copies. Both Old Zhan and Hou Weidong can help look them over.”

The three of them then buried their heads in the draft.

After reviewing it, Guo Lan asked, “Hou Weidong, do you have any comments?”

Hou Weidong spoke honestly, “I’m not familiar with the section’s work yet, so I can’t offer specific suggestions.” He added, “The draft is well-written. Section Chief Guo has a deep foundation in writing…”

Hou Weidong had a background in law and his writing skills were not bad. However, in the few years since graduation, he had been building roads, running a quarry, and serving as a leader, rarely writing articles. The longest piece he had written was his annual performance report, which was only about a thousand words. Now, holding a thirteen-page draft, he felt momentarily dazzled.

Zhan Caixin also skimmed the draft quickly. Taking out his large fountain pen, he corrected a few words on the manuscript paper and said, “Section Chief Guo’s drafts are the best in the department. Why do we need to change anything? I’ve just added three words that Director Liu likes to use.”

Once the draft was finished, Guo Lan went to find Minister Yang.

Watching Guo Lan leave the office, Zhan Caixin said mysteriously, “Generally, when a new person arrives, everyone has a group meal at noon or in the evening. I heard you’re an expert at drinking. Tonight, I must toast you properly.”

Hou Weidong was new to the place and had a mindset of a transient visitor, so he kept a low profile. Without an official announcement, he neither confirmed nor denied Zhan Caixin’s suggestion, merely smiling faintly.

When Guo Lan returned, she tapped her forehead and said, “It passed on the first try.”

Minister Yang, who oversaw the organs, was very strict with written materials. After his review, Director Liu would basically read the text verbatim. Because of this, Minister Yang’s scrutiny reached a picky level, making staff from various sections anxious when submitting materials.

Zhan Caixin understood the nuances well. “Passing smoothly on the first try is rare. We should celebrate properly. Lunch…” Seeing Guo Lan didn’t respond, he suggested, “When is the welcome dinner for Hou Weidong today?”

Guo Lan glanced at Hou Weidong, intentionally or not, and changed the subject. “Has the seating card for this afternoon’s meeting been printed?” Guo Lan also had a hint of confusion. According to department custom, whenever a new person was transferred to the Organization Department, the department would hold a group meal. Unless there was an emergency, Director Liu would personally attend. But after Hou Weidong reported for duty that morning, she had asked twice, and neither Minister Yang nor Minister Xiao had given a clear response.

“If Director Liu had objections to Hou Weidong, he wouldn’t have transferred him to the department. Since he’s been transferred in, why is there such coldness?” This thought circled in Guo Lan’s mind several times. She decided to wait and see, letting Minister Xiao make the first move.

Hou Weidong was working in a county-level organ for the first time and didn’t know about all these hidden complexities. He sat idly in the office for the morning, flipping through the section’s old files, until it was time to get off work.

Seeing that lunch plans were still unsettled, Zhan Caixin asked again, “Section Chief Guo, when exactly is the department meal? I heard Hou Weidong has a good capacity for alcohol. We should have a good contest.”

Just then, Hou Weidong’s mobile phone rang.

Director Zhu Bing of the Transportation Bureau laughed several times on the phone. “Brother, how did you quietly transfer to the Organization Department? Are you free at noon? I’m treating you to a drink. Bring Section Chief Guo and Old Zhan from your section. We’ll meet at the Huangshan Pine room in Yiyang Hotel.”

“Section Chief Guo, Old Zhan, Director Zhu from the Transportation Bureau called. He wants to treat our section colleagues to a meal.”

—

When Zhu Bing was deputy director of the Transportation Bureau, he had been in charge of the bureau’s organization and personnel work, so he was familiar with everyone in the Comprehensive Cadre Section. Hearing that Zhu Bing was treating, Zhan Caixin immediately said, “Zhu Bing became director but hasn’t treated us yet. Today, we’ll make him pay.”

The three chatted in the office for a while. By twelve o’clock, people from various sections emerged from their offices like ants leaving a nest.

The County Party Committee building had three staircases: left, center, and right. County Party Committee leaders usually took the central staircase, so most ordinary cadres avoided them by using the left and right staircases.

As they went downstairs, Hou Weidong said, “Section Chief Guo, Old Zhan, please wait a moment. I’ll go get the car.” Hou Weidong’s pickup truck was not parked in the County Party Committee compound but in a courtyard not far outside the building. This courtyard was the base for Liang Bifa’s engineering team, only about twenty meters from the County Party Committee building.

Old Zhan got into the pickup truck and, looking at the temporary interior, sighed with admiration. “Townships are still better. The work is lighter, and the year-end bonuses are higher. Hou Weidong has only worked for three or four years, and he’s already bought a car.”

The car slowly navigated through the crowded flow of people, passing a few cadres riding bicycles, and slid into Yiyang Hotel.

Old Zhan and Guo Lan got out of the car and stood at the hotel entrance, waiting for Hou Weidong to park. Old Zhan said, “This Hou Weidong transferred from the township quietly. He must have backing. The top director of the Transportation Bureau is personally treating us to a meal. He has quite some influence.”

Guo Lan didn’t say much, only remarking, “Hou Weidong was part of the first batch of public recruitment exams, the same batch as Ren Lindu.”

Old Zhan was a chubby “old stool” with a double chin, enjoying the cool breeze from the hotel entrance. He secretly calculated, “Since Hou Weidong has a good relationship with Zhu Bing, perhaps I can get a taxi medallion.” With this thought in mind, his smile became much brighter when Hou Weidong returned.

Zhu Bing had been waiting at the Huangshan Pine room. After becoming the top director, he hadn’t gained weight; instead, he had become darker and thinner. He said to Hou Weidong, “Brother, you’re not honest. You transferred to the Organization Department without telling me.”

With Guo Lan and Old Zhan present, Hou Weidong didn’t elaborate, only saying, “I stayed in the township for too long and wanted to come to the county for some training, so I transferred up.” Compared to Guo Lan and Old Zhan, Zhu Bing knew Hou Weidong better. He laughed, “In my opinion, Yiyang County can’t keep you, brother. You’ll go to Shazhou sooner or later. Just don’t forget your old friend then.”

At that moment, the phone rang again. It was Qin Feiyue’s voice. “You transferred to the Organization Department? Where to, and what for? You agreed with Secretary Zhu to come to the Development Zone as deputy director.” After Hou Weidong expressed his gratitude, Qin Feiyue added, “I’m eating at Yiyang Hotel. It’s all people from the Development Zone. Have you eaten? Come join us.”

“I’m also at Yiyang Hotel, in the Huangshan Pine room, with Director Zhu.” Hanging up, Hou Weidong told the waiter, “Add another set of tableware.”

When Qin Feiyue walked into the Huangshan Pine room holding a wine glass, Old Zhan couldn’t help but look at Hou Weidong with new respect. Zhu Bing was the Transportation Bureau Director, and Qin Feiyue was the Development Zone Director. Both were powerful figures, considered prominent in Yiyang. Hou Weidong was merely a deputy town mayor of Qinglin Town, yet he called them brothers. Old Zhan thought to himself, “No wonder Hou Weidong could suddenly transfer to the Organization Department. His connections are indeed deep.”