Chapter 127: Meeting Chen Dengxiang

  "Husband, you're really impressive! I saw you chatting with the stationmaster for a long time and it seemed like you two hit it off. I have no idea where you got such great skills!"

  "Xiao Rou, I understand now. It's not that I'm capable, it's just that Secretary Ding Yuan arranged this opportunity for me to get close to Station Master Bai. Otherwise, how could things be so easy? I'm afraid Secretary Ding Yuan has already spoken with Station Master Bai over the phone and settled this matter, making my efforts unnecessary."

  Tang Wanrou looked at Xu Shaojie, for a moment she was somewhat stunned and didn't react.

  "Alright, Xiaorou, don't think too much about it. Fishing is a high-end activity and this place isn't for ordinary people to play around in. The food is really not good and yet so expensive. This afternoon we'll find somewhere else to eat well, I'm getting hungry now."

  Tang Wanrou held onto Xu Shaojie's arm, strolling down the street. Xu Shaojie had completed his task and didn't have anything worth worrying about, so he was feeling very relaxed.

  However, this did not last long, as Xu Shaojie's phone rang.

  Xu Shaojie took a look at the number and felt a bit dizzy, it was Chen Mubiao's call.

  "Director Xú, where are you now? I'm so annoyed."

  Xu Shaojie was speechless, Chen Mubiao only realized at this time that he had encountered trouble, and it was a bit too late. If Ding Yuanshu hadn't intervened and sent the gift through his own hands, the internal report would have already appeared in front of the leaders by now. However, Xu Shaojie also didn't dare to be too self-satisfied, if it wasn't for Ding Yuanshu's consideration, he would still be in the dark about this matter. This is the difference between being in office for a long or short time, the longer you are in office, the more unique your perspective on problems becomes, and the more able you are to take decisive measures.

  "Secretary Chen, I am in the provincial city, where are you? Are you still in Shalong County?"

  "No, I'm also in the provincial city. Let's meet up and talk about some things. I didn't expect that on the surface it seems like a good thing, but inside there are so many twists and turns, it's really complicated."

  Chen Mubiao entered the private room and saw Xu Shaojie and Tang Wanyu sitting inside. Xu Shaojie had a relaxed expression, as if nothing was wrong, while Tang Wanyu had a smile on her face, looking at Xu Shaojie.

  Chen Mubiao had no appetite, and when he returned home, he saw his father Chen Dengxiang. Only then did Chen Mubiao understand the complexity of the situation. It turned out that a fire had occurred at the Chenjiawan Forest Farm earlier, but neither the Huaiyang Municipal Committee nor the Shalong County Committee had pursued any responsibility for it. Chen Mubiao thought this was a good thing, but who would have thought that it wasn't? Now it has led to a whole series of problems.

  "Secretary Chen, you haven't eaten yet, let's eat together."

  Chen Mubiao saw Tang Wanrou here, didn't know what to say, so he sat down to eat, but his appetite was really bad, the food in his mouth had no flavor. Tang Wanrou understood Chen Mubiao's thoughts, and knew that there must be something he wanted to talk to Xu Shaojie about, so she found an excuse to leave.

  "Director Xue, I've gotten into trouble, I just heard from Dad today and found out that the forest farm thing isn't as simple as it seems."

  Xu Shaojie was just about to open his mouth to comfort Chen Mubiao, but unexpectedly Chen Mubiao suddenly said a sentence.

  "Hmph, nothing is impressive. After going back, I will resign from the deputy secretary position of the county committee. Let's see what they can say then. What's impressive about that? They even let reporters investigate the matter of officials protecting each other, investigating the background of things, and still want to subtly point at my old man. I just don't understand, why do they have to bear a grudge against me and plot against me? Isn't it just one mistake at work? Do they have to blow it up to such a big deal?"

  "What are you doing by resigning? Does resigning make things clear? I'm afraid that after you resign, things will become even more troublesome."

  "What else can I do? I won't just push the responsibility to those below me. Even if I wanted to, it's too late now. At the Standing Committee meeting, I've already taken primary responsibility. Thinking back on it now, it was just a moment of impulsiveness. If they investigate and assign blame, I'll naturally take primary responsibility. Rather than waiting for them to come after me, I'd rather be proactive about it myself. Besides, doing things this way will avoid trouble."

  "That won't work either, think about it, if you resign, what will County Mayor Chen Dazhi do? Won't he also have to resign? Not to mention the vice county mayor in charge. Wouldn't they hate you to death? And wouldn't you be proving the journalist's investigation?"

  Chen Mubiao didn't say anything. Although Xu Shaojie found Bai Changlin, things are still unclear now. Xu Shaojie also hasn't received any definite news, so he doesn't dare to tell Chen Mubiao.

  After Tang Wanrou came in, Xu Shaojie and Chen Mubiao both said they were full. Tang Wanrou went out and had already paid the bill. When Chen Mubiao arrived, Tang Wanrou knew that something must have happened, and Xu Shaojie shouldn't think about eating peacefully.

  "Director Xu, Tang Wanrou, come to my home and sit for a while."

  Xu Shaojie nodded, at this time, he had to make things clear with Chen Mubiao, otherwise, after Chen Mubiao's excitement, if he made a bad choice, it would be too late.

  Xu Shaojie didn't expect that Chen Dengxiang was at home. After Xu Shaojie entered the house, he felt that the atmosphere in the room was not good. Chen Dengxiang saw Xu Shaojie and nodded slightly, his eyes very serious. Xu Shaojie and Tang Wanyu both called out to Chen Dengxiang and Zhao Qingmei. Zhao Qingmei pulled Tang Wanyu aside to talk. Chen Dengxiang sat in the living room without saying a word.

  Xu Shaojie felt very embarrassed and didn't know why this situation had arisen. Could it be that Chen Dengxiang knew everything, but this matter had nothing to do with him?

  "Dad, it was me who invited Xu Shaojie and Tang Wanyu to come home"

  Chen Mubao seemed dissatisfied with his father Chen Dengxiang's attitude and spoke up.

  "Alright, you know what? You don't understand many things. You lack the most basic vigilance, thinking that being a leader is so easy to take on. In the past, when you worked in Xueyuan District, it was simple, just office work, with not much at stake. But now it's different. As the Deputy Secretary of the County Committee, everything you do and say must be carefully considered."

  Chen Dengxiang was actually scolding Chen Mubiao, but Xu Shaojie felt that something was off. Had someone said something to Chen Dengxiang? Xu Shaojie believed that Chen Dengxiang must have understood the situation. Working in the provincial capital, he had access to a lot of information, and such a big thing couldn't be unknown to him. Xu Shaojie felt that Chen Dengxiang seemed to be scolding himself or Secretary Ding Yuan. A glimmer of light flashed through Xu Shaojie's mind, and he suddenly understood. Secretary Ding Yuan was the main person in charge of Huaiyang City. When the report from Salong County was submitted, Secretary Ding Yuan should have been able to propose a handling opinion. But his own suggestion to Secretary Ding Yuan was not to handle anyone. On one hand, the Salong County Party Committee had caused this trouble, and on the other hand, he had given Secretary Ding Yuan a bad idea. Now that things had developed to this point, it would also become a tool for some people to use.

  Xu Shaojie felt a chill run down his spine. Many times, Xu Shaojie would rather believe that the world is harmonious and that everyone's nature is good. But what he saw and heard was not like that at all.

  Xu Shaojie won't stay silent, otherwise the friendship between him and Chen Mubiao will be torn apart by a huge rift that can never be mended. Today he came to Chen Mubiao's home, perhaps it was fate, letting some people's schemes fail.

  "Uncle Chen, this morning, Secretary Ding arranged for me to meet someone, Bai Changlin, the head of the China News Agency's Xishan Province branch. This morning, Tang Wanrou and I met with Director Bai."

  Chen Dengxiang was stunned for a moment, but after just a few seconds, he immediately spoke up.

  "Xiao Xu, follow me to the study room, target, you wait in the living room"

  "Uncle Chen, I brought it up but didn't handle the matter of Chen's goal, which is what I said. I was just considering Chen's future and didn't want him to suffer any blows, so I made this suggestion to Secretary Ding Yuan. However, the report from Shalong County exceeded Secretary Ding's expectations, and at that time, Secretary Ding thought that there might be unfavorable situations in the future. At the municipal party committee meeting, which I attended as a non-voting delegate, Mayor Huang Haitao supported the decision of the Shalong County Party Committee. You know the situation in Shalong County; Mayor Huang is from Shalong County. When the reporter from Huashang News arrived in Huaiyang City, Secretary Ding's first reaction was that this matter would be unfavorable to you. Therefore, Secretary Ding asked me to pay attention to the reporter's movements at all times. Secretary Ding is clear about my relationship with Chen Mubiao. This morning, I met with Director Bai, but I estimate that Secretary Ding had called Director Bai in advance."

  Xu Shaojie spoke without hesitation, pouring out everything he knew. Chen Dengxiang listened very carefully. When Xu Shaojie mentioned his conversation with Bai Changlin, a faint smile appeared on Chen's face, but it was immediately replaced by a serious expression.

  "Xiao Xu, I know the situation. You go out and sit with him for a while, advise him more, don't have any other ideas. Young people, encountering such things, it's nothing unusual."

  Xu Shaojie hastily walked out of the study and tightly closed the door behind him. He knew that at this moment, Chen Dengxiang must have some important phone calls to make.

  Xu Shaojie and Chen Mubiao were sitting in the living room, listlessly watching TV. At this time, Xu Shaojie had nothing to say, Zhao Qingmei probably knew something was up and kept pulling Tang Wanyu into the house to talk.

  Half an hour later, Chen Dengxiang came out, his face no longer serious, with a smile. Xu Shaojie's heart was put at ease, he knew that Chen Dengxiang must have known the exact news, and it wasn't bad news.

  "Goal, stay with Shaojie and Xiaorou, go out for a late-night snack tonight. I have some things to do, so I won't be joining you guys. Shaojie, thank you, if it wasn't for you coming home today, there were some things that I really didn't know about. Goal, let's just drop this matter here and not say or think anything more about it. In future work, pay attention to discussing with Shaojie which words can be said and which cannot."

  Chen Dengxiang said as he walked out the door, Chen Mubiao looked at Xu Shaojie, as if to know what Xu Shaojie had told his father Chen Dengxiang, and why his father's face lit up with a smile so quickly.

  "Brother Chen, don't look at me like that, I also don't know what happened, I want to know too. But you can rest assured now, nothing's wrong, just continue with your work."

  Xu Shaojie didn't understand until he went to work what exactly Chen Dengxiang had figured out, of course, he and Chen wouldn't talk about these things. Chen Mubiao was different from Chen Dengxiang, from Chen Dengxiang's attitude, it seemed that Chen Mubiao wasn't very clear about all the aspects involved in this matter.

  Entering Secretary Ding Yuan's office, Xu Shaojie placed a stack of files on the desk as usual and was about to leave when Secretary Ding spoke up.

  "Shao Jie, sit down for a moment, I have something to say."

  Xu Shaojie nodded and closed the office door.

  "Shao Jie, you went to Old Chen's house, this matter is something I didn't think of. If it wasn't for your explanation this time, who knows how much trouble there would be in the future."

  Xu Shaojie didn't say anything, but he vaguely understood something.

  "Shao Jie, I know you must have some doubts in your mind, this is also something I didn't consider."

  "Secretary Ding, I just explained the actual situation in front of Director Chen."

  "Hehe, you know what? Right after you and Old Chen discussed the situation, I received a call from Old Chen. Later, we got together and clarified some things. Then, Old Bai also came, and we had a few drinks together. Now, I'm aware of everything that's going on. It seems like there are quite a few people who care about this matter."

  Xu Shaojie looked at Ding Yuan, his eyes filled with astonishment. It seemed like a knot that couldn't be untied. As long as the right person was in charge, nothing else mattered. After everyone discussed it together, everything was fine again. Xu Shaojie finally learned something: in official circles, so-called relationships are actually the most important capital and wealth.

  "Shao Jie, you know that Old Chen has a high opinion of you. If it wasn't for your clear explanation face-to-face and later Old Bai's and my clarification, you would have been in trouble."

  Xu Shaojie nodded, having already understood some of its subtleties.

  "It was Zhu Zongxiang who told Old Chen about the situation, and it seemed to have an effect, haha. Because there's a contrast between before and after, Old Chen finally understands now who really cares about Chen Mubiao. I talked to Old Chen on the phone for a long time, saying that both you and Chen Mubiao are immature in some ways. If Chen Mubiao had insisted on accepting punishment, none of this would have happened. And if you could see things from a longer-term perspective and suggest proper handling of those responsible, it wouldn't have come to this either. What Old Chen dislikes the most is unclear situations like this, but you actually made such a suggestion, so Old Chen has some misgivings about me. However, the criticism is directed at you because your relationship with Chen Mubiao is not ordinary. That day when we were drinking, Old Chen expressed his concerns, thinking that both you and Chen Mubiao don't fully understand the dangers of officialdom and often act on impulse. In the future, when doing things, you must think clearly about all aspects and not act on temporary excitement. Old Chen knows you care about Chen Mubiao, but good intentions almost led to bad consequences."