The silent sea of officialdom

  Ding Yuan personally made a phone call and contacted the accompanying personnel of the Municipal People's Congress. Soon, Xu Guangkun's car appeared at the entrance of the highway. After getting out of the car, Xu Guangkun had no expression on his face, and the warm smile he had when he first arrived was gone. The leader of the Municipal People's Congress stood aside, looking very embarrassed.

  "Shao Jie, come with me, let's accompany Director Xu for a walk."

  Xu Guangkun looked at Ding Yuan with some confusion, and Ding Yuan hastily introduced Xu Shaojie.

  "Oh, so you're Xu Shaojie, I know, young man with a promising future, keep up the good work."

  "Director Xu, you are an old leader now. What I regret most is not introducing Xu Shaojie to you earlier. If Xu Shaojie could work in the Provincial Party Committee Office or the Provincial Government Office, I would be at ease."

  Ding Yuan finished speaking, and Xu Guangkun did not respond for the time being. The three of them walked along the wide highway.

  "Ding Yuan, I've already stepped down to the second line. This time I came, mainly to see how you're doing in Huaiyang City. I feel that something is not right. The relationship between you and Huang Haitao doesn't seem harmonious."

  Xu Shaojie immediately felt Xu Guangkun's concern for Ding Yuan, the secretary. It turned out that Xu Guangkun had this purpose in mind, no wonder he wanted to go to Salong County, and no wonder he didn't want Secretary Ding to accompany him. It seems that Xu Guangkun is truly taking care of Ding Yuan.

  "Director Xu, Huang Haitao and I have many differing opinions."

  "You don't need to say anything, after all, Huang Haitao has been eyeing your position. There's nothing strange about that. Huang Haitao has been the mayor for 6 years and is about to start his 7th year. He's long been thinking of becoming the municipal party secretary. However, you've also held the position of municipal party secretary for 5 years and are about to start your 6th year."

  Ding Yuan lowered his head and didn't speak for a long time before opening his mouth.

  "Director Xu, I've let you down and didn't do a good job."

  "It's pointless to say these now, if you had taken the first step earlier and not hesitated, the situation would have been different. Huaiyang City has undergone some changes, the provincial party committee is aware of the situation in Huai'an City, including Yuhong County. This development path is correct, it's not too late to do something now."

  Xu Guangkun looked at Ding Yuan and Xu Shaojie, as if he had made up his mind.

  "There are some things that I shouldn't have said, you must keep it confidential, just knowing is enough. The provincial committee has the intention to adjust the main leadership of Huaiyang Municipal Committee and Municipal Government, but it was temporarily vetoed. Comrade Zhao Haiyang thinks that since it's the end of the year, there are many things in the city and state, suddenly adjusting the main leadership is not quite appropriate. Ding Yuan, you must be mentally prepared, according to my estimation, you have at most half a year to one year left. This time, since there was no adjustment, there won't be any adjustments at the beginning of next year, but it's uncertain for the second half of next year."

  Xu Shaojie's heart was stirred, it turned out that the provincial party committee had already made adjustments to Secretary Ding Yuan so quickly. There was no doubt that the one who proposed the opinion must be Sun Zhi-chao, the newly appointed deputy secretary of the provincial party committee. The one who took over as the municipal party secretary must be Huang Haitao. Xu Shaojie's mood became somewhat heavy. Half a year to a year's time was too tense, and Secretary Ding Yuan would find it difficult to achieve any results.

  "Director Xu, I understand. Don't worry, I won't be hesitant anymore. No matter how the provincial party committee arranges things, as long as I am still the municipal party secretary, I will do my job conscientiously and work hard."

  "Ding Yuan, I know your temper, and I also know some things about the situation in Huaiyang City. The situation has changed, and what you should think about first is not just work, but also personnel arrangements. In fact, I don't need to say these things, you already know."

  After Xu Guangkun left, Ding Yuan stood at the entrance of the highway for a long time. The winter weather was a bit cold, but Ding Yuan didn't feel it at all. Xu Shaojie accompanied Secretary Ding, and his heart was also a bit cold. What Xu Guangkun said was very true, that is to say, after July next year, Ding Yuan will be adjusted at any time. Now the key is that not only Ding Yuan knows this thing, Huang Haitao must also know it. Xu Shaojie estimated that after the beginning of next year, Huaiyang City will appear all kinds of rumors, which will definitely be unfavorable to Secretary Ding. Secretary Ding wants to carry out his work smoothly, but it will be very difficult. There are some rules in the officialdom, and the main leader who is about to leave office cannot make large-scale personnel adjustments. If he offends these rules, he will encounter the dissatisfaction and contempt of everyone.

  "Shao Jie, what are your plans?"

  "Secretary Ding, I don't have any ideas for now."

  "When the New Year comes, I'll go visit Governor Chen and think of a way to transfer you out of Huaiyang City. Previously, I was thinking of arranging you to take a leading position in the county or city before I leave. Now it seems that there are some difficulties, even if I arrange for you to be transferred, you won't be able to work effectively. You've been following me for almost a year now, alas, it's just bad luck. If you had come to work with me earlier, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out like this today. Now that everything has passed, you should think about your own future."

  "Secretary Ding, I don't care, at worst I'll just continue staying in the office or be transferred to a municipal unit to work."

  "Shao Jie, don't think like that. With your talent, you have a bright future ahead of you. After we return to the provincial capital, I'll help you get in touch with some units. It would be best if you could work at the Provincial Committee or the Provincial Government, rather than going to a directly affiliated unit. Time flies by so quickly, and I hadn't realized that it's already been almost 6 years since we started working in Huaiyang City - everything feels like it happened just yesterday."

  "Secretary Ding, I think after you return to the provincial city, you will definitely arrange a very good unit."

  "Hehe, Shaojie, you're speaking out of turn! I'm not familiar with Secretary Sun, where would I have a good unit? Director Xu hinted to me when he first arrived that I should pay more attention to the work of the People's Congress. I think after returning to the provincial capital, I might go to work at the Provincial People's Congress. This is also good, accompanying Director Xu, previously I never had time."

  Xu Shaojie felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar, his whole body was chilled to the bone. Huaiyang City still held a prominent position in Xishan Province, and the municipal party secretary was arranged to work at the Provincial People's Congress. What did this mean? Was it a complete denial of Secretary Ding Yuan? Perhaps seeing Xu Shaojie's emotions, Ding Yuan continued to speak.

  "Shao Jie, in the process of doing politics, sometimes choices are very important. Listen to me, during the New Year's holiday, go visit Mayor Chen. Mayor Chen is currently the mayor of Xilin City. You being able to work in Xilin City would also be a great thing. Xilin City is the provincial capital, and its development space is greater than that of Huaiyang City."

  It's already the end of the year, and the work in the municipal party committee office is very busy.

  Xu Shaojie did not expect that rumors about Secretary Ding Yuan would emerge immediately. On this day, Lu Changzheng entered Ding Yuan's office with a not-so-good expression on his face and only nodded when he saw Xu Shaojie. Qian Dazhi's complexion was somewhat wilted, losing the spirited look of before.

  "Director Xu, there are many rumors in Huaiyang City. It's said that Secretary Ding will leave Huaiyang City after the Spring Festival. Although no one has mentioned who will take over as Municipal Party Secretary, this is an obvious fact. Mayor Huang has been serving as mayor for 6 years, and from a stable perspective, the Provincial Party Committee will definitely have Mayor Huang take over as Municipal Party Secretary."

  "Qian Kezhang, you've also heard the rumors."

  "Can't you hear? It's all over the municipal party committee office. Secretary Lu's mood hasn't been great lately either."

  The two men faced each other, speechless for a moment. The situation was clear: what could be said? Qian Dazhi was Lu Changzheng's secretary, and Huang Haitao didn't have a good impression of Lu Changzheng. He hated the house and its occupants, and in the end, Qian Dazhi's outcome might not be optimistic.

  "Qian Kechang, you don't have to worry too much either. Thinking about these things now doesn't serve any purpose. If I think about these things every day and don't work, I'll just be worried to death. Besides, even if Huang Shichang becomes the Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, according to seniority, Lu Shuji has a good chance of becoming the Mayor. At that time, you won't have to worry about anything either."

  "Alas, I hope so, Director Xu. You'd better be prepared. When the time comes, follow Secretary Ding Yuan to the provincial capital and leave Huaiyang City behind. It's better to suffer in the province than here."

  Xu Shaojie smiled, it's not that simple. If Ding Yuanshuai goes to work at the Provincial People's Congress, can he follow him there? Obviously not possible, he's too young, going to the Provincial People's Congress to retire is not suitable, and Secretary Ding would not agree either. Currently, the best solution is to rely on Chen Dengxiang, see if he can enter the Xilin Municipal Government to work, but this is also not a good choice. Chen Dengxiang doesn't fully understand him, even if he enters the Xilin Municipal Government, it's not certain that he can arrange a good position. Moreover, Liu Hong is working in the Xilin Municipal Government now, and going there would lead to an even more intense collision between them. Xu Shaojie is not worried about Liu Hong, but Liu Hong's father Liu Zhiwen's power cannot be underestimated, having a strong presence in Xilin City, making him still not a match.

  For a moment, Xu Shaojie felt somewhat vexed and disheartened, with an uncontrollable sense of helplessness swirling in his mind. This was not a good thing. He thought of his father's passing and the harsh realities of life.

  Lu Changzheng came out of Ding Yuan's office, his expression a bit calmer. Xu Shaojie didn't know what Ding Yuan and Lu Changzheng had said between them, but judging from Lu Changzheng's expression, it was apparently not something particularly bad.

  It's the end of the year, and normally there should be countless heads of municipal units coming to report their work to Secretary Ding Yuan. However, this year is a bit abnormal, with many people going to the municipal government for instructions on their work. Of course, it's normal for them to go ask for funding at the end of the year since the municipal government controls the funds.

  Xu Shaojie had some free time. In the past, Secretary Ding Yuan would usually go to the counties and cities below to understand the work of the whole year. This year, Secretary Ding Yuan did not go down and did not mention this matter. There were not many people from municipal units who came to ask for instructions and report on their work. Secretary Ding Yuan didn't think it was a big deal and didn't say anything. Xu Shaojie, who had always been busy, suddenly became idle and felt a bit uncomfortable for a while. Most of his time was spent surfing the internet. The broadband network installed in the municipal party committee office was still quite fast.

  During this period, Lu Changzheng, Lang Shifou and Liao Hongyun often came to Ding Yuan's office, but the time was not long. Xu Shaojie understood that these people were all in good relationship with Secretary Ding Yuan. If Secretary Ding Yuan left Huaiyang City, they would also have to consider their own future. Lu Changzheng and Lang Shifou were a bit better off, after all, they were deputy secretaries of the municipal party committee, and their identities were there. Liao Hongyun's situation was different, as the secretary general of the municipal party committee, he followed the secretary of the municipal party committee all the time. If Huang Haitao became the secretary of the municipal party committee, Liao Hongyun's prospects would certainly be not optimistic.

  Seeing this situation, Xu Shaojie also felt deeply moved. It seems that no matter how high or low one's position is, in the end it's all the same, and one has to consider their own future, only the level is different. Take Liao Hongyun for example, although he is a member of the municipal party committee, but in front of the municipal party secretary, he also cannot hold his head high. If Huang Haitao takes office as the municipal party secretary, Liao Hongyun's best destination would be the municipal people's congress or the municipal political consultative conference, preparing to retreat to the second line.

  Before the Spring Festival, Secretary Ding Yuan did not make any adjustments, and rumors were still rampant. Secretary Ding Yuan seemed to be unaffected, doing what he needed to do with a slightly changed attitude, becoming much more amiable. Xu Shaojie attended several municipal standing committee meetings, while Huang Haitao kept a low profile, without any disputes with Ding Yuan, despite being the most popular candidate, who might take over as municipal party secretary at any time.

  This Spring Festival holiday, Xu Shaojie returned home a little earlier. The municipal party committee office distributed 5,000 yuan in welfare at the end of the year, which is also a considerable income. Xu Shaojie was not sure if anyone had paid New Year's greetings to Secretary Ding Yuan. Anyway, he didn't get anything substantial, just some department heads reporting on their work and bringing two good cigarettes, occasionally someone would bring Moutai or Wuliangye liquor.

  On the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, Xu Shaojie followed Ding Yuan back to the provincial capital. Tang Wanrou accompanied Xu Shaojie to pay New Year's greetings to Chen Dengxiang. Chen was very busy and returned home late, looking exhausted. Xu didn't disturb him and bid farewell quickly, leaving all his prepared words unspoken.

  Tang Wenjun learned about the situation and asked Xu Shaojie if he was interested in joining the public security team. Xu Shaojie declined, saying that the public security bureau is different from a purely administrative unit, with stronger professionalism and more technical work. The leaders of the county and municipal public security bureaus are mostly experts in related fields, and entering the public security team would be just for show.

  On the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, Xu Shaojie returned to the small county town. Perhaps due to worries about the future, Xu Shaojie insisted on staying alone in front of his father's grave for a while, and neither Zhang Shaocai, Xu Yijie nor Xu Lan disturbed him.

  Tang Wanrou brought to Xu Shaojie was the rare comfort, Tang Wanrou told Xu Shaojie not to worry so much, when you reach the mountain there will be a road, nothing is insurmountable, just being an ordinary cadre, isn't it just living a peaceful life? But Xu Shaojie was unwilling to give up, he knew that he still had many things to do, for his family, for his brother, and for Tang Wanrou, he couldn't give up. Society is cruel but also fair, having power and influence means being chased by the crowd, having no power or influence means enduring cold eyes, since you chose this path in the first place, you have to fight to the end.