Chapter 120: Divergence (Part 1)
The Standing Committee of the County Party Committee had, in principle, agreed with Secretary Zhao’s proposal.
After the meeting, Minister Liu sought out the top leader, Secretary Zhu Yan, to report his concerns. "Secretary Zhu, the principle that the Party manages cadres is fundamental to our organization. Yet, I feel deeply uneasy."
"Why uneasy?" Zhu Yan asked.
"Recently, a saying has become popular among the township cadres: 'The Party cannot hold them together, and the Youth League cannot gather them.' This indicates that some grassroots organizations have become loose and lack combat effectiveness. The election incident in Qinglin Town is a typical example, reflecting the alienation of grassroots organizations under the surge of the commodity economy."
Zhu Yan remained impassive and asked, "What is your opinion, Minister Liu?"
Minister Liu, a tall man, sat upright before Zhu Yan. "If we do not handle the Qinglin election incident seriously, we will be encouraging this bad trend. It will be difficult to control the next election cycle, and who knows what other anomalies might arise."
Zhu Yan tapped the table lightly with his fingers. "If you had objections to the handling plan for the Qinglin issue, you should have raised them during the Standing Committee meeting."
Minister Liu explained, "Secretary Zhao is in charge of organization and personnel, so I must respect his opinion. However, I felt it necessary to report my personal thoughts to you." He continued, "Liu Kun was defeated in Qinglin Town. Keeping him there might make it difficult for him to carry out his work in the future."
Zhu Yan pondered for a moment. "I agree with Comrade Zhao Lin’s opinion on this matter. I also consulted with County Mayor Ma, who has a favorable impression of Hou Weidong. I believe we should give him a chance. Placing him in Qinglin Town allows him to be tempered through work. Whether he is a donkey or a horse, we will know once he is put to the test. As for Liu Kun, the principle is to assign him to a different location. However, since the elections have just concluded and the leadership teams are newly formed, further adjustments are not advisable at this time. His experience in bureau-level work is insufficient, so keeping him in Qinglin Town serves as a form of assessment."
With the County Party Secretary’s final word, Hou Weidong and Liu Kun became the youngest Deputy Town Mayor and Deputy Party Secretary in Yiyang County, respectively.
At Liu Kun’s home, upon learning of his appointment as Deputy Party Secretary of Qinglin Town, Liu Kun finally dragged himself out of bed. The idiom "days passing like years" had been familiar to him since childhood, but these past few days had perfectly illustrated its meaning. His beard had grown long and unkempt. After getting up, he used an electric shaver, the device buzzing loudly as he trimmed his facial hair.
The "Black and White Fiends" and Duan Ying were sitting in the living room. The White Fiend, while preparing vegetables, said angrily, "I never realized Hou Weidong was such an ungrateful wolf. He actually used such underhanded tactics. Liu Jun, you are a member of the County Standing Committee; why didn’t you speak up?"
The Black Fiend, Liu Jun, was lounging on the sofa watching TV. "I knew about Secretary Zhao’s arrangement long ago. What was the point of nagging?"
The White Fiend was furious. "People like Hou Weidong must be taught a lesson. Isn’t he running a business? It is a disciplinary violation for government officials to run enterprises. Why are you afraid to investigate?" She then turned to Duan Ying. "Duan Ying, you know Hou Weidong, don’t you? I heard his girlfriend is your roommate. Write a letter to her immediately, expose Hou Weidong, and ruin his reputation."
Duan Ying placed the prepared vegetables into a basin. "I’ve finished sorting them. I’m going to wash them."
Liu Kun came out wearing a clean shirt. "Hou Weidong got rich from his quarry and was even arrested by the Procuratorate once. This time, he definitely bribed the village cadres with money. Ning Yong and Jiang Youcai are idiots; they couldn’t even figure out such a simple matter."
The turmoil of the election had allowed Liu Kun to experience both peaks and valleys. Naturally, he harbored deep hatred for Hou Weidong, the instigator.
"When I was in the town, I often spoke up for Hou Weidong. I didn’t expect him to turn his back on me and stab me in the back at a critical moment."
Duan Ying did not participate in their discussion. She remained in the kitchen, sorting vegetables while listening to their conversation.
The Black Fiend, Liu Jun, looked weary. He squinted, flicked ash from his cigarette, and said, "Hou Weidong is a talented young man with formidable methods. Liu Kun, you two will be working together in the same team. It is beneficial to cooperate and disastrous to fight. In government agencies, one should not make enemies lightly. Do not provoke a conflict between Xiao Kun and Hou Weidong. Be magnanimous. Do not listen to your mother; women have short hair and short sight."
Liu Kun was unconvinced. "I lived with him for four years. I know him inside out. Who is afraid of whom?" The phrasing was slightly awkward, causing Duan Ying to giggle softly inside the room. The White Fiend was displeased. "We are discussing serious matters. Why are you laughing?"
Duan Ying’s expression darkened. Liu Kun shot a glare at the White Fiend. "What’s wrong with smiling?" He then turned and walked into the kitchen.
Once Liu Kun entered the kitchen, the White Fiend complained angrily, "Losing a son to a daughter-in-law. They aren’t even married yet, and look at this. Hmph. Let’s see how it turns out later."
Liu Jun watched TV with his eyes half-closed, letting the smoke swirl around the living room. He spoke seriously to the White Fiend, "Liu Kun and Hou Weidong are now members of the same leadership team. Cooperation benefits both; conflict destroys both. Do not incite a struggle between them."
At Shazhou College, Xiaojia burst into the room and couldn’t help but shout with joy, hugging Hou Weidong tightly and refusing to let go.
Early that morning, while the County Standing Committee was deliberating the Qinglin Town election, she had arrived in Yiyang. Hou Weidong, still a free man at the time, had been waiting for her at the station. After meeting, they went to the market to buy groceries before returning to their apartment at Shazhou College.
Xiaojia truly loved this new room. After a passionate moment, she stood on the balcony, holding a cup of hot coffee, leaning against Hou Weidong, and enjoying the bleak but serene scenery by Jingri Lake.
"Weidong, I always worry that there will be trouble in the future. This position of Deputy Town Mayor is not easy to hold."
"Better to die fighting than to live in humiliation. Even if there are troubles later, it is better than being forgotten in Shangqinglin."
Having worked in the Construction Committee for a long time, Xiaojia had encountered many figures in officialdom. These individuals were of much higher rank than Hou Weidong and were mostly cunning and shrewd, always keeping a reserve in their dealings. Hou Weidong’s reckless forward charge was truly an anomaly in official circles.
In the distance, several white cranes flying south stood in the shallow water by the lake, leisurely searching for food. In their homeland, it was now freezing cold. Without enduring the hardships and dangers of a long flight, how could they enjoy such peace and abundance at this moment?
As the two enjoyed the natural beauty and chatted softly, a woman with short hair emerged from the adjacent balcony. It was Guo Lan, who had just returned from a vacation in Hainan Island.
The Organization Department had recently held a training class for enterprise party affairs cadres. After the training, they went to Hainan for inspection, which was essentially a trip. She had returned to the department yesterday and heard about the election incident. She had never expected that Hou Weidong, who did not seem keen on official career advancement, would make such a stunning move.
"Indeed, one cannot judge a book by its cover, nor measure the sea with a dipper. Hou Weidong actually directed such a good play. He truly lives up to his reputation as a prominent figure at Shazhou College." Guo Lan intuitively believed that Hou Weidong must have orchestrated this entire event.
Thinking of Hou Weidong, she glanced toward the opposite balcony and happened to meet Hou Weidong’s gaze. He was standing intimately with a young, beautiful, and elegant girl.
"This is my wife, Zhang Xiaojia."
Guo Lan quickly glanced at Xiaojia across the balcony and smiled. "Zhang Xiaojia certainly doesn’t work in Yiyang, does she?" Xiaojia asked in surprise, "How did you know?"
Guo Lan pointed to Xiaojia’s pretty curly hair and her clothes. "Girls in Yiyang don’t dress with such style." Xiaojia laughed. "I work at the Shazhou Construction Committee. I graduated from Shazhou College, so I can be considered a person of Yiyang."
The two chatted warmly across the thin railing of the balcony, leaving Hou Weidong somewhat ignored. Hou Weidong said, "You two can chat slowly. I’m going to cook."
During his two years in Shangqinglin, Hou Weidong often cooked for himself when he had free time. He had learned the skill of stir-frying Twice-Cooked Pork from Township Mayor Gao’s wife.
Twice-Cooked Pork is a traditional Sichuan dish. Almost everyone who knows how to cook Sichuan cuisine can make it, but few can achieve the level of Township Mayor Gao’s wife.
The key to Twice-Cooked Pork lies in precision. The simpler the dish, the more care it requires. To show off his skills in front of Xiaojia, Hou Weidong had specifically bought fresh hind leg pork and all the necessary seasonings at the market.
While Xiaojia chatted with Guo Lan on the balcony, he sliced the hind leg pork into strips that were forty percent fat and sixty percent lean, about three fingers wide. Too fat would be greasy, too lean would burn, and strips that were too wide or narrow would not hold their shape. Once the meat was cut, the water was boiling. He added smashed ginger, green onion segments, garlic, and Sichuan peppercorns to the broth. Soon, the aroma of the soup filled the air.
Xiaojia walked in from the balcony and hugged Hou Weidong’s waist tightly with both hands. "Why didn’t you tell me before that a beauty lives next door? Does she have a boyfriend?"
Hou Weidong held a kitchen knife in his hand. "How would I know if she has a boyfriend? We’ve lived here for so long and have only met twice. Hey, don’t squeeze so hard. I’m working hard here."
Xiaojia threatened, "A great beauty lives next door. You must keep yourself pure. If you get involved with Guo Lan, I won’t forgive you."
Hou Weidong said, "Let me say this: 'A scholar changed after three days deserves a new look.' I haven’t seen Xiaojia for over ten days, and how have you turned into a jealous pot?"
Xiaojia leaned against Hou Weidong’s back. "Prevention is better than cure. Defending the family is a war; one must never relax vigilance."
After acting coquettish, Xiaojia stood by and watched Hou Weidong cook.
Wearing an apron, Hou Weidong looked somewhat like a professional chef. He finely chopped authentic Pixian bean paste with a knife. Once the pot was hot, he used a ladle to scatter the meat in the broth, then poured it into the wok with a splash. After a while, the meat slices curled up into shapes resembling small bowls, commonly known as "lamp bowls."
Seeing the meat form bowls, he immediately added sweet bean paste, a little oil, a few drops of cooking wine, and a bit of chicken essence. Then, he added fragrant garlic sprouts and stir-fried over high heat.
When a large basin of Twice-Cooked Pork, perfect in color, aroma, and taste, was ready, Xiaojia’s eyes widened. Saliva flooded her mouth. She ate several pieces in succession and then exclaimed like a child, "Hubby, you’re amazing! You must cook Twice-Cooked Pork for me every day from now on."
Happy times are always short; this is a law of nature.
On Friday afternoon, after seeing Xiaojia off, Hou Weidong turned and boarded the bus to Shangqinglin.
The next morning, he woke up early and went to Yao’s Tofu Pudding Shop. The manager, Yao, greeted him enthusiastically.
"Town Mayor Hou, so early?"
Hou Weidong sat in his usual spot. "Manager Yao, one bowl of tofu pudding and two taels of walnut meat."
Manager Yao was a nickname Hou Weidong had given to Yao the Skinny Man. By now, the name was well-known in Shangqinglin Town. He sat next to Hou Weidong. "Madman, I’m still used to calling you Madman. Calling you Town Mayor feels awkward. If you respect this old brother, come eat tofu pudding here whenever you go up the mountain."
For two years, Hou Weidong had spent half his breakfasts here and had developed some affection for Yao’s tofu pudding. "I haven’t moved away. Why are you speaking so deeply?"
The descent was very fast. Hou Weidong arrived at the Qinglin Town Government at exactly eight o’clock. He did not yet have an office in the town government, so he could only stand in the courtyard. Government officials arrived one by one for work. When they saw Hou Weidong, their expressions were somewhat strange. Although the county’s approval had already reached the town, and Hou Weidong was a genuine Deputy Town Mayor, everyone still felt it was odd. They had not yet reconciled the image of the largest quarry owner with that of a Deputy Town Mayor.
Hou Weidong also felt this awkwardness. When Yang Fengyi arrived, he immediately followed her to the Party and Government Office. Yang Feng smiled. "Town Mayor Hou, congratulations. When will you host a reception banquet?"
Hou Weidong asked, "Is Secretary Zhao coming today?"
"According to routine, a meeting for the secondary leadership team and above is held every Monday morning. Secretary Zhao will be here shortly."
Public Security Officer Huang walked in carrying a black artificial leather briefcase. Seeing Hou Weidong, he shouted loudly, "University Student Hou, you are truly impressive. In two years, you’ve become a Deputy Town Mayor. Your future is limitless."
As they were talking, the sound of a car braking was heard outside. Yang Feng leaned close to the window, took a look, and turned to Hou Weidong. "Town Mayor Hou, Secretary Zhao has arrived."
Hou Weidong left the office and walked quickly to Zhao Yongsheng. "Secretary Zhao, I would like to report on my work."
Zhao Yongsheng’s face was expressionless. "Good. Come to the office."
In the office, Zhao Yongsheng put down his briefcase, turned on the water heater, took out a tea box, and put tea leaves into a cup. Only then did he look up. "Have you seen the county’s approval?"
"What approval? I haven’t seen it."
"Based on the election results of the Qinglin People’s Congress, the new Town Mayor of Qinglin Town is Su Ming. The Deputy Town Mayors are Zhong Ruihua, Tang Shugang, and you. A work meeting will be held shortly, and you will participate. After the meeting, a joint Party and Government meeting will be held to clarify the division of labor within the town government team."
At nine o’clock, the Qinglin Town secondary leadership team and above meeting was convened.
The meeting was held in the central conference room on the second floor. In the center was an oval conference table, with two rows of chairs arranged around the perimeter. The Party and Government leaders sat at the conference table: Secretary Zhao Yongsheng, Town Mayor Su Ming, Deputy Party Secretary Liu Kun, Deputy Town Mayors Zhong Ruihua, Tang Shugang, and Hou Weidong, as well as Vice Chairman of the People’s Congress, Xiao Weiguo.
It was Hou Weidong’s first time sitting at this oval conference table. He sat up straight, tried to keep his expression solemn, opened his pen and notebook, and appeared ready to take notes at any moment. However, his peripheral vision darted around, observing the attendees.
Liu Kun and Su Ming sat on either side of Zhao Yongsheng. Zhao Yongsheng smiled broadly, told a few jokes to the secondary leadership team, and tossed a few cigarettes to the people at the table, appearing very composed.
"Before the meeting begins, I will read two documents from the county."
These were documents regarding the appointments of the town government leaders and Liu Kun. After reading the documents, Zhao Yongsheng said, "The specific division of labor for the town government leaders will be based on the documents."
Then, the secondary leadership team began to report on their work, mainly their plans for the week and the difficulties encountered in the previous week. Although Hou Weidong had worked in Qinglin Town for over two years, he had been stationed on Shangqinglin Mountain and was unfamiliar with many tasks. He took notes quickly.
After the directors of various departments reported their work, Zhao Yongsheng answered a few questions. He turned to Su Ming. "Town Mayor Su, would you like to speak?"
Su Ming shook his head. "Not for now."
Zhao Yongsheng announced, "The primary leadership team will not speak today. Directors of various departments may leave. The new year has begun, and there are many tasks. You must work hard and not relax."
After the department directors left, Zhao Yongsheng said, "Yesterday, I met with Town Mayor Su. Now, Town Mayor Su will clarify the division of labor within the town government team."
Su Ming cleared his throat. "The new government team, including myself, consists entirely of newcomers. As the administrative head, I feel great pressure. I hope that under the leadership of the Town Party Committee, we will complete the tasks proposed at the People’s Congress, maintain the crown of first place in fiscal revenue growth, work down-to-earth to accomplish several practical deeds, and seek benefits for the people of Qinglin Town."
"Now, based on