Chapter 327: New Job (Part 2)

Yongtai’s wife had previously served as the head of the finance section at the silk factory. She and Zhou Yongtai were both graduates of the finance school, though she was a year younger than him. Known for her beauty during their school days, she had married the then-awkward and unpolished Zhou Yongtai. This background naturally gave her a sense of superiority within the household. In the earlier years, the silk factory had enjoyed a period of genuine prosperity, and as the finance section chief, she frequently interacted with county-level leaders.

Consequently, she had always played the role of the primary decision-maker in the family, while Zhou Yongtai acted merely as the deputy, limited to offering suggestions without the final say on household matters. However, fortune is cyclical. The once-thriving silk factory could not withstand the shock of the market and eventually collapsed. The former finance section chief was forced to become a housewife, and the entire family came to rely on Zhou Yongtai’s salary, living a tight and frugal life.

Her pent-up anger often simmered within her. At work, she could vent her frustration on her subordinates, but now, her only outlet was Zhou Yongtai. When Hou Wei-dong finally managed to support Zhou Yongtai home, his wife opened the door and saw his state. Her face instantly froze, covered in a frost colder than the Siberian winds.

“You dead man,” she snapped. “You can’t even handle three sips of that cat urine, yet you insist on drinking. You get drunk, but others aren’t as foolish as you. Why don’t they get drunk?”

Yang Liu, following behind Hou Wei-dong, heard Zhou Yongtai’s wife launch into this barrage of criticism without distinguishing right from wrong. She felt angry and whispered, “If I had known it would be like this, I would have just left him at the restaurant.”

Hou Wei-dong turned his head and gave Yang Liu a subtle look with his eyes. He did not wish to lower himself to argue with Zhou Yongtai’s wife. Once she took charge of supporting Zhou Yongtai, he turned and left without making a fuss.

Yang Liu also harbored resentment toward the driver. This driver had originally worked for the development zone and had said many flattering things to her when he wanted the driving job. Now, seeing Hou Wei-dong supporting Zhou Yongtai upstairs, he remained seated comfortably in the car. He only verbally asked if help was needed but took no actual action. Yang Liu thought to herself, “This person is shallow and not worth deep friendship.”

Upon arriving at the Yi Yang County Government compound, Hou Wei-dong got out of the car, and Yang Liu followed. She proactively reported, “Secretary Zhang Youfa from Mengguan Town has already reported for duty. He is about to go to the Shazhou Party School for three months of study. Zhang Jin remains the Executive Deputy Director, so he is currently presiding over the work. The basic structure of the new management committee has not changed.”

Hou Wei-dong was also familiar with Zhang Youfa. During the Spring Festival this year, Zhang Youfa had wanted to pay New Year’s respects to Zhu Yan, but he had to obtain Zhu Yan’s contact information through Hou Wei-dong. However, while Hou Wei-dong closely followed Zhu Yan, Zhang Youfa maintained good relationships with several other leaders.

Hou Wei-dong felt both favorably and cautiously toward this man. He said, “Director Zhang is smooth in his dealings and has good relations with the county leaders. He is a veteran leader with his own methods of personnel management.”

Yang Liu was Hou Wei-dong’s most capable subordinate in the new management committee. Whether Zhang Youfa would continue to employ Yang Liu after taking over was a question, and Hou Wei-dong did not wish to spell out this implication directly, so he only spoke half his mind.

Yang Liu understood the unspoken majority of Hou Wei-dong’s meaning. She said, “I will simply fulfill my duties as the Office Director. If the leadership is dissatisfied, at most, I will be transferred to another position. It doesn’t matter.”

Seeing Yang Liu speak this way, Hou Wei-dong no longer held back. He said, “Secretary Ji and I have a very good relationship. If you are unhappy working in the new management committee in the future, you can change jobs at any time. Do not委屈 (wrong yourself) by staying in a difficult position.”

Watching the Mitsubishi car drive away, Hou Wei-dong felt a complex mix of emotions.

This incident made him understand many things, one of which was the truth behind the saying: “When one person attains the Dao, even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven; when one person suffers misfortune, it brings disaster to a whole group.”

The principle was actually simple. Those who attain the Dao always rely on the strength of many people to finally ascend. Without a group of subordinates earning money, cooking meals, cleaning, and caring for their parents for them, the person attaining the Dao would likely be exhausted by worldly affairs before they could ascend. How could they have the ability to fly? Therefore, after ascending, they must take their chickens and dogs with them. This is also the traditional virtue of repaying a drop of water with a spring of water.

If one did not take their closest people when ascending, but instead took outsiders, it would be too inhumane.

Similarly, when one person suffers misfortune, their subordinates inevitably become targets of suppression. It is like beating a落水 dog (dog that has fallen into the water), to prevent it from biting people when they are unprepared. This is a tradition in Lingxi since ancient times, as well as a lesson learned from real life.

Carrying these chaotic thoughts, Hou Wei-dong returned to the Science and Technology Commission office on the top floor. After sitting for a while, Director Wang from the Information Institute walked in. Director Wang appeared to be in her forties, with her hair tied in a large braid. Her clothing seemed stuck in the 1980s. She sat opposite Hou Wei-dong and said, “Director Hou, do you have some time? I need to report on my work.”

During the lunchtime drinking session, before getting drunk, Zhou Yongtai had basically introduced the people in the Science and Technology Commission. When introducing Director Wang, Zhou Yongtai had specifically emphasized her status as a worker-peasant-soldier student, which Hou Wei-dong remembered clearly.

When the Cultural Revolution began in 1966, the college entrance examination was suspended. Instead of exams, universities resumed the recommendation system from before the Tang Dynasty. New university students were recommended directly from among workers, peasants, and soldiers. Applicants had to have worked as workers, peasants, or soldiers for at least three years. This was the origin of the “worker-peasant-soldier college students.”

The central government allocated student quotas to various ministries, provinces, and military units, which then distributed them down to factories and counties. In 1970, less than 1% of Chinese people had received higher education. In many places, the quota was less than one in a thousand of eligible youth. In some areas and units, the recommendation process became corrupt due to nepotism.

From 1972 to 1976, seventy percent of students who went to university through recommendation were children of cadres or had political backgrounds. The undergraduate program was shortened from four years to three. Due to neglected studies during labor and the uneven levels of new students, some professors complained that some college students were not as competent as high school graduates.

Director Wang was one such worker-peasant-soldier university student. In the Science and Technology Commission, a place concentrated with intellectuals, even colleagues with secondary vocational school diplomas looked down on her.

Hou Wei-dong warmly poured a cup of water for Director Wang and looked at her, waiting for her to speak.

Director Wang held the teacup, seemingly very excited. She said, “I have served under four directors in the Science and Technology Commission, and I have reported to the office many times. Only Director Hou has poured tea for me.”

Hou Wei-dong smiled and said, “This is something I should do.”

Director Wang continued, “During the Cultural Revolution, intellectuals were labeled as the ‘stinking ninth category.’ Now, the status of intellectuals has finally improved. Without the Party’s good policies, we could not quietly research scientific work here.”

She circled around for a long time before bringing the topic back to herself. She said, “Director Hou, I have been working since graduating from university for nearly twenty years, yet I am still a Deputy Section Chief. In the past, every time there was a salary adjustment or rank evaluation, I showed magnanimity. Now, I am getting older in the Science and Technology Commission, and I am about to retire, yet I remain a Deputy Section Chief. Please, Director Hou, consider this issue for an old comrade.”

She added, “The previous Director Yao had a narrow mind and took every opportunity to retaliate against me. Forget it, let’s not talk about the past.”

Section Chief and Deputy Section Chief were non-leadership positions linked to salary. Each unit had a certain quota of non-leadership positions based on its size and level. If the quota was full, even if one qualified for a non-leadership position, they had to wait for a vacancy to be filled in order.

Hou Wei-dong did not answer directly. He said, “I understand. When conditions permit, I will consider a comprehensive balance.”

Director Wang did not expect the problem to be solved in one report. She enthusiastically said, “Our Information Institute is a subordinate unit of the Science and Technology Commission. Please, Director Hou, find some time to visit and guide our work.”

After Director Wang from the Information Institute left, Hou Wei-dong thought to himself, “This Information Institute is also a name without substance. They don’t even have a few computers. How can they carry out information work?”

After sitting in the office and thinking for a while, Hou Wei-dong went straight to the third floor. He wanted to find Vice County Mayor Gao, who was in charge of the Science and Technology Commission, to request funds to purchase computers for the commission.

Upon reaching the third floor, he did not contact the Government Office but went directly to find Vice County Mayor Gao. Just as he arrived at the office door, Secretary Xiao Lin came out of Vice County Mayor Gao’s office. Seeing Hou Wei-dong, Xiao Lin smiled and said, “Director Hou, please wait a moment. Vice County Mayor Zeng just went in. The two leaders are discussing some matters. Please come to my office and sit for a while.”

Hou Wei-dong followed Secretary Xiao Lin to the Government Office Secretariat Section. Xiao Lin was a selected graduate one year later than Ren Xiaowei. When he first arrived at the Government Office, he often visited the Commission Office and was familiar with Hou Wei-dong. He quickly brewed tea for Hou Wei-dong and pulled up a stool to sit in front of him.

As they were chatting, Liu Kun walked in holding a document. He immediately said, “Xiao Lin, this document still needs revision. The logical relationship between the second and third paragraphs is confused, and the conclusion is not clear.”

Xiao Lin stood up and listened respectfully.

Liu Kun said, “This draft is needed urgently. Hurry up and revise it. Bring it to me before getting off work.” Only then did he turn his gaze to Hou Wei-dong and ask, “Director Hou, do you have something to discuss?”

Hou Wei-dong calmly replied, “I am looking for County Mayor Gao.”

Dressed in a suit, white shirt, and tie, Liu Kun looked very handsome. He said, “County Mayor Gao has an executive meeting of the county government at 3:30 PM. It is best to come see him tomorrow if you have urgent matters.” At that moment, the mobile phone in his pocket rang. He answered the call and walked out of the secretariat office.

Hou Wei-dong was preparing to go back upstairs when he met Vice County Mayor Zeng in the hallway. Vice County Mayor Gao saw Hou Wei-dong standing at the door and smiled. He said, “Wei-dong, why haven’t I seen you around these past few days? Tonight, I have arranged to meet with Zhu Bing, Old Liang, and a few others. We will meet at the highway exit at 5:30 PM.”

Hou Wei-dong shook hands with Vice County Mayor Zeng in farewell and then entered Vice County Mayor Gao’s office.

After listening to Hou Wei-dong’s report, Vice County Mayor Gao scratched his head. He said, “The Science and Technology Commission indeed needs computers, but no budget was reported at the beginning of the year. The financial pressure is particularly high this year, so it might be difficult. How about this? Let’s hold on for one year. Next year, we will find a way to increase the budget for the Science and Technology Commission. You can remind me then.”

When Hou Wei-dong was previously in the new management committee, he could simply submit a report, and the finance department would immediately allocate a Mitsubishi car. Now, purchasing a few computers was a difficult task. He said, “Alright. I will come to report again at the end of the year.”

Seeing Hou Wei-dong stand up, Vice County Mayor Gao added, “How about this? Have your office submit a request to purchase one computer. I will allocate one computer to you first.”