Chapter 121: Divergence (Part 2)
After the meeting concluded, the newly appointed Director of the Party and Government Office, Ouyang Lin, approached Hou Weidong. "Director Hou, your office is ready. Here are the keys."
Previously, Tang Shugang had served as the Director of the Party and Government Office. After his promotion to Deputy Township Head, Ouyang Lin was appointed to the position. Ouyang was known for his flexibility in handling affairs and his strong writing skills, making him well-suited for this role.
The office was small and sparsely furnished: a desk, a chair, a telephone, a row of filing cabinets, and a water boiler. It had just been cleaned, so it was tidy, though somewhat shabby. Opening the window let in a rush of fresh, cold air.
Satisfied with the space, Hou Weidong offered a cigarette to Ouyang Lin. "Director Ouyang, I’m currently living in Shangqinglin Mountain. It’s inconvenient to run back and forth. Are there any single-staff dormitories available in the town below?"
Ouyang Lin lit his lighter, first helping Hou Weidong light his cigarette before lighting his own. He explained, "Qinglin Town was formed by merging Shangqinglin and Xiaqinglin. The cadres from both former townships are concentrated in the Xiaqinglin government compound, and housing is severely insufficient. There’s simply no room to spare. Secretary Zhao has been quite worried about this issue."
"Are there any rental houses nearby?" Hou Weidong asked.
For Hou Weidong, who was young and physically fit, commuting from Shangqinglin Mountain to work in Xiaqinglin wasn’t a major problem. However, climbing the mountain after overtime work or drinking sessions was a grueling task. Occasional trips were manageable, but doing it regularly was not feasible.
Ouyang Lin had worked in Qinglin Town for several years and knew the town well. "Qinglin Town has almost no floating population, so there’s no rental market. If you really want to rent, I can ask around for you, but I don’t hold out much hope."
After Ouyang Lin left, Hou Weidong felt troubled. It’s been over ten years since the Reform and Opening-up policy began, and we’re already in the 1990s. Yet Qinglin Town is still in this state.
When lunchtime arrived, no one came to invite him. He stood by the window, watching groups of two or three government officials leave the compound, inviting each other to eat lunch.
Su Ming pushed open the office door and saw Hou Weidong’s door still open. He proactively invited, "Director Hou, what are you looking at? Come on, let’s go to my place for lunch."
Upon arriving at Su Ming’s home, the smell of braised meat greeted them. Su Ming’s wife was coming out of the kitchen carrying a basin of trotter and lotus root soup. She smiled and said, "Su Ming, why didn’t you say Director Hou was coming earlier? We don’t have much food."
Hou Weidong replied, "I’m not a stranger. We’ll eat whatever is available. Sister-in-law, there’s no need to be so polite with your brother."
They each poured a small glass of liquor. Su Ming said, "According to the new county regulations, drinking at noon is prohibited. Since both of us have good tolerance, we’ll just have three cups. Outsiders certainly won’t notice."
Hou Weidong took a sip and said, "Director Su, I’m a novice in government work. Please criticize and help me in the future."
Su Ming sighed, "Director Qin was a very capable Township Head. His transfer to the Development Zone was a good use of talent. Now that he’s gone, he’s left this huge responsibility in Qinglin Town to me, and I feel overwhelmed."
Hou Weidong sincerely said, "Director Su, whether in theoretical knowledge or practical experience, you are at a high level. Qinglin Town is nothing compared to your abilities. If you were sent to Xingyi County under County Head Yang, you would still perform excellently."
"Ha, ha. Director Hou, you’re starting to flatter me with sugar-coated bullets," Su Ming laughed. Then, turning serious, he said, "Director Hou, in the new town government team—myself, Old Zhong, Tang Shugang, and you—we are all novices. The tasks ahead are heavy. From your perspective, where is the easiest area for the new government to achieve visible results?"
Hou Weidong smiled. "I haven’t fully entered my role yet and have no clear concept. I can’t offer any good suggestions. Conventionally, securing fiscal revenue should always be the top priority."
Su Ming also smiled. "You’re telling the truth. Fiscal revenue is the hard indicator. Besides fiscal revenue, do you have any new ideas?"
Hou Weidong couldn’t answer immediately.
"I’m giving you this task not to be completed immediately. From today on, think carefully about it. What new strategies can make Qinglin Town’s work distinctive and successful, attracting the attention of the County Party Committee and County Government, and standing out among other townships? I know you are smart and not bound by rigid frameworks. I’m entrusting this important task to you."
Hou Weidong didn’t humble himself. "I’ll accept the task. I’ll conduct some investigations and strive to complete it well."
"Don’t publicize this matter yet. Share your ideas directly with me. Once they are mature, we can discuss them with Secretary Zhao. We must avoid presenting immature plans that might make the Party Committee think the government lacks competence."
After lunch, Hou Weidong returned to the Deputy Township Head’s office. He rested in his chair for a while until work hours began.
Although his title was Deputy Township Head, his mind felt empty. He sat idly in the office, reading newspapers and drinking terrible-tasting tea. Checking his watch, he realized less than half an hour had passed. Sitting here all afternoon would truly be torture.
He initially wanted to talk to the colleagues under his supervision, but then thought it unnecessary to rush into departmental talks. Observation, learning, and understanding were the first priorities.
After sitting in the office for another half hour, Hou Weidong couldn’t stay still. He decided to find something to do and went downstairs to Yang Feng’s office.
There was a pack of roasted broad beans on Yang Feng’s desk. She was leisurely eating them alone. Seeing Hou Weidong come down, she asked, "Director Hou, do you have any arrangements?"
Hou Weidong politely smiled. "What arrangements? I don’t even know what I should be doing. Could you please get me this year’s People’s Congress Government Work Report and the key points for the beginning of the year? I need to study them seriously."
After receiving the reports, Hou Weidong hurried back to his office to read them carefully. It took him over an hour to finish the two important documents. He gained a preliminary written understanding of Qinglin Town’s overall work. However, a deep, intuitive understanding would only come through practical experience over time.
He lingered in the office for a long time. By four o’clock, Hou Weidong put down the documents and sat in the office, staring blankly.
According to the division of labor, Hou Weidong was in charge of social affairs, transportation construction, and comprehensive social security management. These corresponded to the Social Affairs Office and the Comprehensive Security Office. Transportation construction did not have a dedicated department; it was handled by a temporary Leading Group Office.
For half a day, no one from the departments under his supervision came to report to him. Hou Weidong realized his position: It seems my identity as Deputy Township Head hasn’t been recognized by everyone yet. In Shangqinglin, Hou Weidong had felt right at home. Now, arriving at the Qinglin Government as a Deputy Township Head, he felt a sense of loneliness, like a tiger fallen from its mountain.
Near the end of the workday, Hou Weidong went to the Party and Government Office. Ouyang Lin was talking with Yang Feng. Seeing Hou Weidong enter, Ouyang Lin proactively greeted him. "Director Hou, come and sit."
Hou Weidong looked at the darkening sky. "Director Ouyang, you know the area well. Help me think about it. Are there any rental houses? Climbing up and down every day is too inconvenient. If I get drunk one day and can’t walk, I’ll have to sleep in the office."
Ouyang Lin had also been pondering this specific problem. He scratched his head. "The Qinglin town area is quite small. I’ve thought about it, but I haven’t found any suitable houses. If you really want to rent, there are some places in nearby villagers’ homes, but the environment is too poor. I suggest you don’t go there."
Hou Weidong asked both of them, "Where do other cadres live?"
Yang Feng quickly answered, "Before the merger of the two townships, the town government had some dormitories. After the merger, they were overcrowded. The town government’s housing is full. Most of the town government cadres are locals. Those without housing return to the countryside to live. One of the purposes of establishing the working group in Shangqinglin was to accommodate cadres without housing."
After chatting for a while, Hou Weidong saw that it had grown much darker. "Let’s stop talking. I need to hurry back to Shangqinglin, or I’ll have to sleep in the office and catch a cold."
Passing through the Qinglin town area, Hou Weidong paid closer attention than usual, carefully observing this small town. Qinglin Town had an antique charm. Although it had a slightly more modern touch compared to Shangqinglin Township, as a new town under the Reform and Opening-up policy, its houses were too old, the streets too narrow, and the scale too small.
Reaching the halfway point up the mountain, the sky grew dark. Hou Weidong looked out at the town shrouded in mist. Could renovating this old town count as an achievement for the new government?
Returning to his familiar courtyard, Yang Xinchun at the postal agency greeted him. "Director Hou, climbing the mountain road every day is too troublesome."
Hou Weidong laughed. "What’s the trouble? Daily exercise helps me keep fit. Otherwise, I’d end up with a beer belly like Qin Dajiang."
Fortunately, it was winter. There were some leftover dishes and rice at home. He turned on the electric wok, mixed the leftovers together, and a strange aroma quickly filled the room. The scent mingled with the sound of the television. Although there was only one male host in the house, it created a homely atmosphere.
Halfway through his meal, a low voice came from outside. "Teacher Hou, can I come in?"
In Shangqinglin Township, most villagers called Hou Weidong "Madman," and a few called him "University Student Hou." Only the Tie Duanqing family called him "Teacher Hou."
"Tie Ruiqing, come in quickly. School hasn’t ended yet. How did you come back?"
When Hou Weidong arrived in Shangqinglin, Tie Ruiqing was in her first year of high school. Time flew by, and Tie Ruiqing was admitted to Chongqing University with excellent grades. She was the first student from Shangqinglin to enter a key university. Hou Weidong had once tutored Tie Ruiqing. Seeing his student enter a key university gave him a small sense of achievement.
As the saying goes, a girl changes eighteen times as she grows up, becoming more beautiful each time. Tie Ruiqing had only been in university for half a year, but she had blossomed into a vibrant young woman with bright eyes. However, her face was pale, and she looked pitiful.
"What happened? Do you need my help?" Hou Weidong noticed the problem from her worried expression. He poured her a glass of water and asked with concern.
Tie Ruiqing lowered her head, seemingly struggling with her thoughts. After a while, she looked up and bravely met Hou Weidong’s gaze. "Teacher Hou, did you make a lot of money from your quarry?"
"Tie Ruiqing, why are you asking this?"
Tie Ruiqing insisted, "Please answer me, Teacher Hou. Did you make a lot of money?"
Hou Weidong held his tea and sat opposite Tie Ruiqing. "Money? What is the standard? One hundred thousand? Two hundred thousand? Or one million?"
Tie Ruiqing asked hopefully, "Two hundred thousand. Can you come up with it?"
Hou Weidong asked cautiously, "Why do you need money? Why so much?"
"My mother has a heart problem and needs surgery. I want to take her to Xinqiao Hospital in Chongqing for the operation. The surgery costs 150,000 yuan. I want to borrow this amount from Teacher Hou."
"Why are you borrowing it?"
"My father is a primary school teacher. Our family savings are only 10,000 yuan. He has never borrowed money from anyone in his life, let alone such a large sum." Tears shimmered in Tie Ruiqing’s eyes. "My father has cried in secret several times. I came to find Teacher Hou without telling my father. You have to help me."
Tie Ruiqing observed Hou Weidong. Seeing that he was only drinking tea and not responding, she said, "Teacher Hou, rest assured. I will write an IOU. I am studying Industrial and Civil Engineering at Chongqing University. My income after graduation should be decent. I will definitely repay it."
Hou Weidong looked at Tie Ruiqing. "Alright. Come to Yiyang City with me tomorrow. I’ll withdraw the money for you. I studied law, so I value contractual relationships. Let’s be clear first, then friendly. An IOU is necessary. However, I don’t want interest, and there’s no deadline for repayment. Does that work for you?"
Hearing Hou Weidong’s response, Tie Ruiqing hadn’t expected the problem to be solved so easily. Her eyes suddenly shone with a special light, and tears flowed freely. She wiped them several times, laughing through her tears. "Teacher Hou, you are truly capable. In just over two years, you built a road for Shangqinglin and opened a quarry. You are a real man. Better than Takakura Ken."
Hou Weidong laughed. "You little girl, you know Takakura Ken too? I can’t compare to him. At least I talk more than he does."
At this moment, Tie Bingsheng appeared at the door. Seeing his daughter sitting in Hou Weidong’s living room, he exclaimed in surprise, "Tie Ruiqing, why are you here?"
"Dad, why are you here?"
Tie Bingsheng’s face was grave. "To save your mother, I have come to beg Teacher Hou." Taking this step, the usually proud Tie Bingsheng had undergone intense internal struggle. The desire to save his wife ultimately overcame all notions of face.
Tie Ruiqing happily said, "I’ve told Teacher Hou. We’re going to Yiyang City tomorrow to withdraw the money."
Tie Bingsheng looked at his daughter and Hou Weidong in shock. He worried that his daughter might do something foolish to save her mother. He said to Hou Weidong, "Brother Hou, I can’t repay this money temporarily, but please rest assured. I swear on my character that I will repay this money, even if I have to work like an ox or a horse. Ruiqing will graduate in three years. By then, the two of us will earn money, and our economic conditions will be much better. We will definitely repay it."
Tie Bingsheng punched his chest with his fist and added, "I will always remember your great kindness in my heart."
Hou Weidong sincerely said, "Principal Tie, you don’t need to be like this. Helping your sister-in-law is what I should do."
When the father and daughter left, Hou Weidong stood in the hallway to see them off. Tie Bingsheng’s back seemed slightly hunched, while Tie Ruiqing was like a young tree in spring, bursting with vitality. She turned back, looked at Hou Weidong, and waved her hand.