Chapter 15: Running One’s Legs Off (Part 2)
The television broadcast was filled with tedious advertisements—bland, unengaging, and utterly forgettable.
Liu Li retrieved a slice of watermelon from the refrigerator, carried it to the kitchen, and sliced it into thin, palm-sized pieces. She inserted toothpicks into each slice, brought the plate out, and smiled at Hou Weidong. “Have some watermelon.” Her smile was gentle, radiating the mature charm of an older sister, a stark contrast to the reserved demeanor of the young girls at the academy.
Liu Kun grabbed a slice without hesitation. He told Hou Weidong, “This was sent over from Jintan Town. It’s the ‘New No. 2’ variety; the taste is quite good.” Hou Weidong did not wish to appear overly stiff in front of Liu Kun. He skewered a slice with a toothpick and said to Liu Li, “Thank you, Sister Liu.”
“No need to be so polite,” Liu Li said. As she spoke, she snatched the remote control from Liu Kun’s hand and pressed a few buttons. The theme song for The Legend of White Snake began to play from the TV: “A thousand years of waiting…”
Liu Li crossed her legs elegantly, her lower leg trembling slightly in time with the melody. Her calves were slender, and her skin was fair and smooth. The mature allure of her legs made Hou Weidong swallow hard. He quickly took a bite of watermelon to mask the action.
For a short while, the three of them sat in silence. After watching the TV for a moment, Liu Li casually asked Hou Weidong, “I heard you took the Yiyang Party and Government Cadre Exam. How did it go?”
The Yiyang Party and Government Cadre Exam had ten available positions, reportedly to accumulate talent for the county’s development. Over a thousand fresh graduates had taken the exam. Hou Weidong had ranked second, a result that was quite impressive. He tried to conceal his pride, speaking with feigned indifference: “I barely passed. I plan to go to the Personnel Bureau tomorrow to ask about the reporting date.”
Liu Li was clearly familiar with this cadre exam. Hearing that Hou Weidong had passed, she glanced at Liu Kun with some surprise. “Hou Weidong passed? Why didn’t you mention it?”
Liu Kun did not answer, focusing instead on eating his watermelon.
Liu Li, however, was not done. “You were in the same class. Hou Weidong ranked in the top ten, while you only ranked 360th. I really wonder what you were doing at the academy.” Liu Kun had been pretending to be deep in thought, but now he could no longer hold back. He replied unhappily, “I never wanted to work in a township anyway. Dealing with farmers all day is dirty and smelly.”
Liu Li retorted, “Dad worked in a township for over ten years. When did you ever smell anything bad on him? When our whole family lived in the township, you used to run up the slopes every day, just like the rural kids. Now that you’re in the city, you’ve forgotten your roots and look down on townships.”
“Everyone who passed this cadre exam has entered the Organization Department’s talent pool. Many people wanted to get in. Liu Kun, don’t talk big. You clearly didn’t do well, yet you’re looking for external excuses. Once you start working, you need to be down-to-earth and learn from Hou Weidong.”
Liu Li was a girl with a sharp tongue. When she argued with her brother, her words came out like a machine gun. After a few more exchanges, Liu Kun’s face gradually turned red. He looked like a fighting cock, ready to explode.
The argument between the siblings made Hou Weidong feel very awkward.
Just then, the sound of a door lock turning was heard. A middle-aged couple walked in. The man wore gold-rimmed glasses and a white short-sleeved shirt. He was neither fat nor thin, with a dark complexion, and appeared generally capable and efficient. The woman had fair skin and her hair was styled in large waves, the most popular hairstyle at the time.
Hou Weidong stood up politely to greet the couple. As he looked at them, a nickname suddenly popped into his head: The Black and White Fiends.
The “Black Fiend” saw there was a guest in the room and walked into the living room. Without waiting for introductions, he asked, “You must be Liu Kun’s classmate.” Hou Weidong quickly replied, “Hello, Uncle Liu. I am Hou Weidong.” Liu Li added, “Hou Weidong also took the Party and Government selection exam. He did well and ranked in the top ten.”
The Black Fiend sat on a separate sofa and pointed at Liu Kun. “Liu Kun, Uncle Liu brought the results today. You ranked 360th. You’ve really brought shame upon me.” Liu Kun’s expression was extremely ugly. “Dad, I managed to get into university. How have I brought shame upon you? Uncle Liu’s son is worse off than me. He served in the military for a few years and still came back tail between his legs.”
“So what if he served in the military? I find him agreeable.”
Uncle Liu was a member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and the Head of the Organization Department. His son, Liu Jiangtao, was in the same class as Liu Li. His grades were average. He joined the army after high school and, upon discharge, was assigned to the County Construction Commission. The two had since established a romantic relationship. Liu Kun’s remark directly targeted Liu Jiangtao, which Liu Li naturally disagreed with.
The Black Fiend asked again, “What was your rank?”
“Second place.”
The Black Fiend nodded. “Not bad. Hmm, not bad.”
The “White Fiend” changed her shoes and walked into the living room. She was well-maintained, possessing the lingering charm of a mature woman. She did not look like someone approaching fifty. She picked up a slice of watermelon with a toothpick, ate two pieces without offering any to Hou Weidong, and then said to the Black Fiend, “I told you to come back early, but you just went out drinking. Look, half an episode of White Snake has already aired.”
The Black Fiend asked kindly, “Have you been assigned to a specific town yet? All ten of you will be distributed to townships. Township work is arduous, so you need to be mentally prepared. Especially towns like Qinglin and Wutan—they are far away, transportation is inconvenient, and the workload is heavy.”
Hou Weidong had never lived in a township and had no concept of township life. He said, “When I took the exam, it was made clear that I would be going to a township. Since I am going to a township, the conditions will naturally not be as good as in the city.”
The White Fiend wiped her hands with a tissue. “You are Liu Kun’s classmate, right? You took the Party and Government Cadre Exam.”
The Black Fiend said, “Hou Weidong did well. He ranked second in the entire county. The young man is quite good.”
The White Fiend said dismissively, “It’s actually a good thing that Xiao Kun didn’t pass. If he had been assigned to a township, who knows when he could be transferred back. If he were assigned to Qinglin or Wutan, it would take two or three hours just to get into the city. By then, it would be too late to cry.” She spoke with a condescending attitude, making Hou Weidong feel both awkward and somewhat resentful.
“You shouldn’t speak like that. Township work tempers a person. Which county leader hasn’t served as the head of a township?” The Black Fiend then addressed Hou Weidong: “Hou Weidong, work hard. The organization has high hopes for your batch of cadres. This is the first time in Shazhou’s history that reserve cadres have been selected openly. It hasn’t happened before, and it may not happen again. You must cherish this opportunity.”
The White Fiend’s face turned gloomy. “Whether one is a donkey or a horse, it must be tested through actual work.”
The White Fiend was extremely protective of her own. Her son, Liu Kun, had failed the cadre exam, while Hou Weidong had ranked second in the county. She felt an unexplained dissatisfaction, and every word she said seemed directed at Hou Weidong. However, half of what she said was true. Once in a township, far from the center of power, it was indeed difficult to make a name for oneself without connections above.
The White Fiend’s blunt words felt like a thin whip cracking against Hou Weidong’s face. Knowing that the Black Fiend was a member of the County Party Standing Committee, he suppressed his resentment and spoke respectfully to him.
Liu Kun, having been scolded by his father, was unhappy and sat aside with a sullen expression.
After chatting for a while, Hou Weidong rose to take his leave.
Hou Weidong had just graduated from the academy and was not yet accustomed to staying in hotels. He had originally intended to stay at Liu Kun’s house for the night. However, after meeting Liu Kun’s family, he abandoned the idea and decided to stay in a hotel.
Life in Qinglin