Chapter 306: Where to Go From Here (Part 1)

Zhu Yan spoke with modesty, "Things can change at any moment. It only counts once the official document is issued." By saying this, he was indirectly admitting the truth of the matter.

Director Ding replied, "I saw Minister Hao’s signature. It’s a settled matter. Let’s have a good drink today. My young brother has finally become a department-level cadre." He added, "The leadership team in Maoyun is undergoing significant adjustments. You will be the third-in-command there. If you handle things well, you might be promoted to the top position sooner than expected."

Hou Weidong had grown accustomed to Zhu Yan’s presence. Hearing suddenly that Zhu Yan was being transferred to Maoyun as Deputy Secretary felt like standing on a steel cable tens of meters high, only to have the balancing pole suddenly snatched away. The sensation left him feeling profoundly empty.

He recalled what Li Jing had told him at the Jinggong Group’s Shazhou branch. Li Jing truly has sharp judgment, he thought. No wonder she can navigate the business world so freely, pulling a small enterprise into the framework of a group.

Zhu Yan’s expression remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

After Grandpa Zhu left the room, the group quickly changed the subject. The conversation centered on the shifting political winds in the provincial capital. Hou Weidong was merely the newly appointed director of the New Management Committee in Yiyang County. Although the straight-line distance to the provincial capital was short, the psychological distance felt like ten thousand miles. He disliked gossip and instead turned his thoughts inward, pondering his own situation now that Zhu Yan was leaving.

The faces of Yang Senlin and Ma Youcai ran through his mind like a carousel. Let’s not worry about these messy affairs, Hou Weidong told himself. In the worst case, I’ll just be transferred to Maoyun. This thought lingered in his brain, refusing to dissipate.

Over the next few days, Hou Weidong accompanied Zhu Yan to visit several heavyweight figures. They spent a considerable amount of money. By the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, they had basically completed their New Year visits, seeing everyone who needed to be seen and visiting every home that required a visit.

During this period accompanying Zhu Yan, Hou Weidong’s mobile phone was nearly blown off the hook. Familiar leaders like Qin Feiyue, Zhu Bing, and Su Ming were all trying to track down Zhu Yan’s whereabouts. Paying New Year calls was a mandatory ritual for leaders of all levels during the holiday.

If you went to pay your respects, the leader might not pay special attention. But if you didn’t go, the leader would likely take note of your absence.

On the evening of the sixth day, Zhu Yan and Hou Weidong returned to Zhu Yan’s home in the suburbs of Lingxi. Dean Jiang had taken her son to her parents’ home after the Spring Festival celebrations.

After the holiday, following usual custom, Zhu Mei had returned to her grandparents’ home in the Lingxi suburbs. This time, in addition to her drawing board, she had brought a computer. Previously, she communicated with her grandparents using pen and paper or sign language. This time, whenever she had something to say, she simply sent a text message. This forced Grandpa Zhu to put on his reading glasses and start practicing how to send texts.

Grandpa Zhu took the matter seriously. He quickly mastered the basics of texting. However, his dexterity was far inferior to Zhu Mei’s. While Zhu Mei’s fingers flew across the keypad, he had to search for a long time to type out a single character. Nevertheless, to support his granddaughter’s work, he approached texting with the spirit of founding a nation.

Half an hour before the New Year’s bell rang, Grandpa, Grandma, Zhu Yan, and Zhou Jing gathered in the study. Zhu Mei proudly opened the animation she had created. "It’s a beautiful picture," she explained via text. "First, snow fills the sky, turning the earth silver. Plum blossoms bloom in front of and behind the house. Two children light firecrackers in the courtyard. After the explosion, countless phrases like 'Happy New Year' and 'Wishing Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, and Mom good health' float in the air."

Grandpa Zhu had always doted on his granddaughter, who could neither speak nor hear. Seeing her spirits greatly improved compared to before, and noticing her frequent smiles, he felt a true sense of relief. When she showed them the animation, her face blooming with joy, he enthusiastically cheered her on. All the wrinkles on his face seemed to relax, giving him the demeanor of a playful old child.

Zhou Jing, though a college student, was still quite unfamiliar with computers. Seeing all these novel features, her eyes shone with envy.

On the evening of the sixth day, Zhu Yan and Hou Weidong returned to Lingxi again. Zhou Jing was learning how to create computer animations from Zhu Mei. Able to teach her older sister knowledge, Zhu Mei’s face was full of pride, and she was particularly patient. Their method of communication was unique; instead of using paper and pen, they insisted on texting. Zhu Mei was an expert at this, her fingers flying faster than Zhou Jing’s.

When Zhu Yan and Hou Weidong entered the room, Zhu Mei first ran over to hug her father and kissed his forehead. After showing affection to her father, she looked at Hou Weidong and raised her phone.

The first time Hou Weidong had met Zhu Mei, she had been sitting quietly in the studio, giving off a cold, detached impression. But this Spring Festival, there was a hint of warmth in her expression.

"Brother Hou, I posted my animation on Yinghaiwei. Last week, it ranked second in click rate," Zhu Mei sent via text.

"Really good. Keep it up," Hou Weidong replied. His texting speed was average—slower than Zhu Mei’s but much faster than Grandpa Zhu’s.

Yinghaiwei Network was the most popular Chinese information website in 1995. Its founder, Zhang Shuxin, had accumulated company equity worth 2.12 million yuan in just sixteen months, becoming one of the rare female millionaires in the public eye.

"Enter Yinghaiwei Space, and you can read electronic newspapers, chat with unseen friends in the network coffee house, speak freely in online forums, and even browse the international internet at any time." These promotional slogans were undoubtedly tempting to netizens. Although joining Yinghaiwei required registration and an entry fee, this was no problem for Hou Weidong. He paid the entry fees for both himself and Zhu Mei.

In his spare time, Hou Weidong often chatted with Zhu Mei in the Yinghaiwei chatroom. As a deaf-mute, Zhu Mei had previously found it difficult to communicate with others. Now, having found an outlet, she had quickly transformed into a chatterbox with incredibly rich language. During their chats, she spent most of the time describing the world of her dreams as a little girl, while Hou Weidong served as an excellent listener, occasionally offering suggestions.

The family enjoyed a lively dinner together. Afterwards, Zhou Jing joined Zhu Mei in exploring the Yinghaiwei network. The two girls were like explorers opening Alibaba’s treasure cave, so engrossed that they didn’t even want to watch TV.

At ten o’clock that night, Grandpa and Grandma Zhu retired to bed. Zhu Yan and Hou Weidong remained alone in the living room.

Zhu Yan said, "The Provincial Party Committee has made many adjustments to the leadership teams of various regions. I am being transferred to Maoyun. You already knew about this a few days ago. I want to hear your thoughts."

This had already been discussed and approved at the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee. The relevant documents were being finalized and would be issued soon, followed by an announcement in the newspapers. Zhu Yan had learned the confirmed news yesterday and was now formally raising the matter with Hou Weidong.

Hou Weidong’s feelings were complex. From a career development perspective, following Zhu Yan was the safest option. On the other hand, the New Management Committee represented a huge investment of his heart and soul. It was on the verge of producing results. If he were transferred to Maoyun, his efforts would be left for his successor. He turned the matter over in his mind several times before finally saying, "Secretary Zhu, I want to follow you to Maoyun." In doing so, he expressed his true wishes while also demonstrating his loyalty to Zhu Yan.

Zhu Yan, having long navigated the officialdom, understood human nature and worldly affairs deeply. He had anticipated Hou Weidong’s response and shared his own thoughts: "There are some problems within the Maoyun leadership team, and the situation is currently chaotic. You should stay at the New Management Committee for now. Once I am familiar with the situation in Maoyun, I will arrange a suitable position for you."

In Zhu Yan’s heart, Hou Weidong was not only an excellent secretary but also a capable talent who could handle things independently. Such a person could be trusted anywhere. Therefore, after learning of his own transfer, Zhu Yan had been considering Hou Weidong’s placement. Since he would only be a Deputy Secretary, he was cautious about Hou Weidong’s affairs and did not want to transfer him immediately. Maoyun was messy, and he needed to wade in to understand the depth of the water.

Early on the seventh day, Zhu Yan and Hou Weidong returned to Yiyang. The prominent officials in Yiyang quickly got the news and came to Zhu Yan’s home one after another to pay their respects. While a few county-level leaders contacted Zhu Yan directly, other cadres reached out through Hou Weidong’s mobile phone.

From the seventh to the tenth day, visitors came like a revolving lantern. It took some effort, but they managed to get everything done.

On the eleventh day, Hou Weidong arrived at Zhu Yan’s home at 9:30 AM. Zhu Yan was already up, reading the newspaper in the living room. Seeing Hou Weidong, he smiled self-deprecatingly. "I’m exhausted these days. I feel like a giant panda in the zoo, being visited in turns by comrades."

"Old Ji is coming this morning, and Pingfan will also be here. It’s rare for the four of us to gather. After lunch, you can go home and rest for two days. Spend some time with your family. You’ve worked hard these days."

To accompany Zhu Yan during the Spring Festival, Hou Weidong had spent most of his time with him, except for New Year’s Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year, which he spent at home. Because of this, Xiaojia had complained quite a bit. However, one’s fate in the world is not entirely up to oneself. He had put on a pleasant face for Xiaojia, but he still accompanied Zhu Yan east and west without hesitation.

"If you want to strive, you must make sacrifices," he constantly encouraged himself.

The two watched TV casually in the living room. At 10:30 AM, Zhu Yan’s former secretary, Pingfan, arrived. Pingfan was tall and thin, with a lean, angular face that looked quite spirited. He carried a heavy box. After greeting Zhu Yan and Hou Weidong, he opened the box and said, "Secretary Zhu, these are all monographs on regional economics. I’ve gathered books by famous domestic professors. They’re all here." His fingers slid slowly over the covers of the books, as if caressing the back of a beloved woman. He then pulled out a book and sniffed it deeply.

Watching Pingfan’s subtle actions, Hou Weidong thought, As the saying goes, every worm bores into its own wood. Pingfan is a bookworm. No wonder he went to Peking University for graduate studies. Pingfan wrote well. When Hou Weidong served as Zhu Yan’s secretary, he often used Pingfan’s articles as drafts. Thinking of Pingfan’s beautiful handwriting, a detail suddenly popped into his mind: I once saw Pingfan’s handwriting in a copy of 'Half-Month Talk' at the Lingxi home. He had written the name 'Zhou Jing'.

How could a little girl like Zhou Jing be connected to Pingfan? And why did Pingfan write Zhou Jing’s name? While Zhu Yan and Pingfan chatted casually, Hou Weidong indulged in a bit of mental gossip.

Ji Haiyang arrived at eleven o’clock. Upon entering, he smiled and said, "Old leader, there are many rumors outside. Some say you’re becoming the Secretary-General of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee. Others say you’re being transferred to the province. And some say you’re moving to the Maoyun Prefecture."

Zhu Yan laughed, "The official document will be issued soon. I won’t keep secrets in this house. Maoyun Prefecture, Deputy Secretary." Ji Haiyang rubbed his hands together and said, "Secretary Zhu has been a full division-level cadre for nearly ten years. It was long overdue for a promotion."

Zhu Yan said, "The Provincial Party Committee is making big moves this time. There are significant adjustments at the prefecture level. Huang Zidi will also be promoted to Deputy Secretary."

Zhu Yan had not become a Vice Mayor. Secretary Changquan had originally planned for Zhu Yan to serve as the Secretary-General of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee and enter the Standing Committee. Zhu Yan could have accepted this arrangement, so he had gone to the Provincial Party School to study with peace of mind. During his studies, a pie fell from the sky. The Maoyun Prefecture leadership team underwent major adjustments, and he was suddenly appointed as Deputy Secretary of Maoyun Prefecture. This position was a tier higher than that of a Secretary-General.

Ji Haiyang said, "Once Secretary Zhu’s appointment was announced, Yiyang became lively. Neither Yang Senlin nor Ma Youcai are pushovers. It will be a fierce dragon-and-tiger struggle to see who gets the position of County Party Secretary."

Zhu Yan said seriously, "Old Ji, both Yang Senlin and Ma Youcai have backgrounds. Either of them could become Secretary. Don’t get involved in their affairs. Also, keep an eye on Xiao Hou. The better the New Management Committee develops, the more interests it involves. Where there are interests, there are struggles. You need to protect him. A development zone director in his twenties is a rarity even in Lingxi. It would be a pity if he were crushed."

"Rest assured. Although Weidong is young, he acts steadily. His reputation among officials in Yiyang is quite good," Ji Haiyang said. He added, "Yang Senlin has plenty of drive, but the county affairs are a mess. Several Standing Committee members have good relations with Ma Youcai, so Yang Senlin’s words don’t carry much weight."

Zhu Yan spoke earnestly, "Old Ji, you have some seniority now. In the future, report your work more often to Secretary Changquan and Secretary Jiang. If you want to challenge Huang Zidi, call me. I’ll help you set up a meeting. Work hard for another two or three years, strive for a full appointment, and become the top leader."

Pingfan sat to the side. These people and events had once been so familiar, yet now they felt so distant. He looked coldly at Hou Weidong, noting that although he was young, he had a steady demeanor. Another young man dragged into officialdom, he thought. I wonder what kind of person he will become in a few years?

(End of Chapter 306)