Chapter 362: The Grinding-in Process (Part 2)

Secretary-General Hong Ang spoke with crisp efficiency, avoiding unnecessary verbosity. He outlined the primary responsibilities and key precautions, then concluded with a serious tone: "Serving as Secretary Chang Quan’s secretary is a sign of the organization’s trust in you, but also a test. Since you have previously led work at the Yiyang County Party Committee Office, you should already be familiar with the duties of a secretary. I won’t belabor the details."

He tapped his forehead with a finger and added, "Serving as a secretary to a municipal party committee leader requires intuition. You will gradually grasp the nuances through your future work."

The conversation lasted only about ten minutes. Hong Ang then personally escorted Hou Weidong to Secretary Chang Quan’s office.

Shazhou, being a prefecture-level city, operated on a different scale than the Yiyang County Party Committee Office. In Yiyang, the county party secretary’s office was a standalone room, while his secretary worked in the General Affairs Section. In Shazhou, however, the municipal party secretary and his secretary shared a suite. The rooms were connected by an internal door, yet each also had a separate entrance facing the outer corridor. This design allowed the party secretary to enter his office directly from the hallway or through the secretary’s room.

"Before Secretary Chang Quan went on his business trip, Secretary Hu cleared out this secretary’s room. This will be your office from now on."

Although Secretary Hu, who had accompanied Secretary Chang Quan, had been appointed Deputy Director of the Local Taxation Bureau, he had not yet assumed his new post because Secretary Chang Quan had not yet selected a new secretary. Hou Weidong’s arrival marked the day Secretary Hu would finally depart for his new role.

Hong Ang handed Hou Weidong a red confidential telephone directory. "This red confidential directory is reserved exclusively for municipal-level leaders. It contains contact information for provincial-level leaders. You must not lose it under any circumstances. This is copy number sixty-five, registered under your name. If number sixty-five is compromised, you will bear full responsibility."

Just then, Hong Ang received a phone call. He stepped out of Secretary Chang Quan’s office but turned back at the doorway to address Hou Weidong. "Secretary Chang Quan will be flying back to Lingxi tomorrow morning. You will accompany me to the airport to pick him up."

With Hong Ang gone, Hou Weidong was left alone in Secretary Chang Quan’s office. He noticed a high-end water dispenser in the corner. Opening the lower compartment, he found tea leaves inside. On a small black tea table beside the dispenser sat a dozen fine porcelain cups.

Hou Weidong had not brought his own cup, so he selected a Jingdezhen porcelain cup, brewed some tea, and finally relaxed. He sat in the chair, taking in his new workspace.

The secretary’s room and Secretary Chang Quan’s office were separated only by an antique-style wooden door.

Hou Weidong reflected, "This architectural design is significant. With only a wall between the secretary’s room and the leader’s office, voices can pass through unimpeded. On one hand, this indicates that the secretary is indeed the leader’s confidant, privy to many confidential matters. On the other hand, the secretary is under constant supervision and must conduct himself with strict propriety."

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Hou Weidong stepped through the wooden door into Secretary Chang Quan’s office. The layout was similar to Zhu Yan’s former office. The spacious desk was spotless, with several file folders neatly arranged on top. Behind the high-backed chair stood a row of bookshelves filled with books on law and history. On the left wall hung a large banner with the characters: "Serve the People."

"These characters are straightforward and fitting for Secretary Chang Quan’s position," Hou Weidong mused.

During his time at the Yiyang County Party Committee Office, he had visited many townships. The banners in township party secretary offices varied wildly. For instance, the former township party secretary of Qinglin Town, Zhao Yongsheng, had hung a banner reading, "Tranquility leads to far-reaching goals." The sentiment was poetic, but a township party secretary is at the core of grassroots governance, often dealing with urgent, pressing issues. How could one remain tranquil? To aim for "far-reaching goals" was unrealistic; managing one’s own jurisdiction well was sufficient.

When Su Ming became township party secretary, he hung a banner that read, "It is rare to be confused."

When Qin Feiyue became secretary of Chengguan Town, his office displayed a banner stating, "Gods exist three feet above the ground." It seemed somewhat incongruous, but recalling the mistakes Qin Feiyue had previously made, Hou Weidong understood the meaning behind the banner.

Looking at the universally applicable banner in Secretary Chang Quan’s office, Hou Weidong speculated, "This slogan is balanced and steady. It suggests that Secretary Chang Quan is a prudent person." Of course, this was not a conclusion drawn solely from a banner. Hou Weidong had read through all of Secretary Chang Quan’s speeches from the past two years and had already formed a general impression of his personality.

Lost in thought, the telephone on the desk rang. Hou Weidong hesitated for a moment before picking up the receiver.

"Hello, Secretary Hu. This is Zhao Lin from Wu Hai County. I wonder if Secretary Chang Quan is available? I would like to take up ten minutes of his time to report on a few matters." Zhao Lin, the Party Secretary of Wu Hai County, spoke politely, yet his tone suggested familiarity.

"Hello, Secretary Zhao. This is Hou Weidong. I have just been transferred from the Yiyang County Science and Technology Commission to the General Affairs Section of the Municipal Party Committee Office."

Zhao Lin paused, surprised. He knew Secretary Chang Quan was selecting a secretary, but he had not expected the chosen candidate to be Hou Weidong from the Yiyang County Science and Technology Commission. He quickly replied, "Congratulations, congratulations."

"With Secretary Hou by Secretary Chang Quan’s side, it will be more convenient for us to report our work in the future. I recall that Wu Hai is your hometown. When you return, please be sure to call me."

Hou Weidong was impressed by Zhao Lin’s memory.

Zhao Lin continued warmly, "I remember that you and Ren Lindu were among the first batch of publicly recruited cadres. Your batch was the most successful." The public recruitment of fresh university graduates as cadres had been orchestrated by Zhao Lin, who was then in charge of organizational affairs. He remembered it vividly.

Hou Weidong replied, "There is another member from the first batch of publicly recruited cadres who joined the Municipal Party Committee Office. Her name is Yang Liu, and she serves as secretary to Deputy Secretary Gao Yonghong."

Zhao Lin, clearly pleased, said, "I will ask Ren Lindu to act as a liaison to connect with the ten comrades from the first batch of public recruits. We should organize a reunion." After a few more exchanges, Zhao Lin added, "If Secretary Chang Quan returns to Shazhou, please help me get in touch with him."

When Hou Weidong had first reported for duty in Yiyang, he had coincidentally met Zhao Lin, who had offered a word of advice that saved him from unnecessary detours. Although six years had passed, Hou Weidong still remembered that detail. "Secretary Zhao, you are my former leader. Please don’t be so formal. Secretary Chang Quan is expected to return in the next day or two." Having just arrived at the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee Office, Hou Weidong was still unsure of the political landscape. He spoke cautiously, withholding specific details about Secretary Chang Quan’s itinerary.

Although it was just a phone call, Hou Weidong felt the thrill of power. Zhao Lin, a full-fledged county party secretary, spoke to him over the phone as if they were old friends.

The first day of work passed without incident. At lunchtime, Yang Liu invited Hou Weidong to the government canteen. Watching leaders from various municipal departments—whom he had once looked up to from the county level—eating together, some even making casual jokes, Hou Weidong reflected, "Distance creates beauty, and distance also creates authority. No wonder in ancient times, the eunuchs were the least respectful toward the emperor. Living together daily, the emperor’s mystery would naturally vanish in their eyes."

At nine o’clock the next day, Secretary-General Hong Ang took Hou Weidong straight to Lingxi Airport.

Upon arrival, Hong Ang made a phone call, and their car was driven directly into the airport premises. Hou Weidong was surprised to find four cars already waiting. Huang Zidi, Mayor Bu, Director Kong of the Finance Bureau, and Director Fang of the Public Security Bureau were gathered together, smoking and chatting.

Hong Ang approached them and first addressed Huang Zidi. "Secretary Huang, looking at this gloomy weather, there might be a delay." Huang Zidi smiled and said, "Secretary Chang Quan is lucky; he is always punctual."

Hong Ang greeted the others and then introduced Hou Weidong. Everyone else had met Hou Weidong before, but when he was Secretary Zhu Yan’s secretary, Director Kong and Director Fang had not paid much attention to him. Now, suddenly transformed from a county party secretary’s secretary to a municipal party secretary’s secretary, the leap was greater than that of an ugly duckling becoming a swan. Consequently, Director Kong and Director Fang’s attitudes changed noticeably.

Mayor Bu was taller than Bu Gao, standing at about one meter eighty. He stood with considerable elegance and smiled at Hou Weidong. "Hou Weidong, Director of the New Management Committee in Yiyang. You are quite famous." Mayor Bu had previously served as Director of the Construction Commission and was well-versed in construction-related matters. Although the New Management Committee did not fall under the Construction Commission’s system, its large-scale construction projects meant Mayor Bu was familiar with the basic situation.

Hou Weidong greeted the various leaders and thought to himself, "Those present at the airport to welcome Secretary Chang Quan are all his confidants." He further reflected, "The Finance Bureau Director is Secretary Chang Quan’s confidant. Mayor Liu Bing’s position must be difficult to maintain."

The group chatted casually. Hong Ang kept checking his watch. At 11:30, a large passenger plane landed. Huang Zidi smiled at Hong Ang and said, "Secretary-General, Secretary Chang Quan rarely misses his flight when traveling by air. He brings good fortune."

Secretary Chang Quan disembarked and shook hands with everyone individually. He said to Hong Ang, "Secretary-General, I told you not to disturb everyone."

Hong Ang merely smiled.

Huang Zidi took over the conversation. "Secretary Chang Quan should understand the comrades’ enthusiasm." Secretary Chang Quan laughed and replied, "You, the former Secretary-General, did not set a good example. Let’s not make it a habit."

Hearing this, everyone laughed even more openly.

Secretary Chang Quan did not speak much with Hou Weidong, merely nodding slightly as a greeting. Secretary Hu, however, shook Hou Weidong’s hand firmly and said, "Let’s find a time to have tea." He was about to assume his post as Deputy Director of the Local Taxation Bureau. As Secretary Chang Quan’s former secretary, he had matters to hand over to Hou Weidong and wished to build rapport with the new secretary.