Chapter Seventy-One: Necessary Sacrifices

  Liu Mu already knew he had done something wrong and said the wrong thing. At this moment, Zhao Deli, Dong Guihua, Liu Mu, and Song Tao stood on one side, while Xu Shaojie didn't speak, lost in thought.

  "Secretary Xu, this matter was wrong on my part. I take full responsibility for it. If the district committee and government want to handle it, they can handle me. I'll go to the district government office right now."

  "Secretary Liu, don't get excited, it's not time to talk about these things yet."

  Xu Shaojie finally spoke up.

  "Things might have gotten a bit tricky. You're all people I've worked with, trustworthy individuals. Although the Communist Party doesn't allow this sort of thing, in actual work, everyone needs to have a group of reliable people - one good man needs three helpers. This time, even if I don't say anything, you all know the reasons behind it. It seems like a storm is brewing for us, dark clouds are pressing down on the city, wanting to destroy it. So quick to be impatient, thinking Xu Shaojie is easy to bully? Heh heh, let's wait and see who laughs last."

  When Xu Shaojie said these words, no one spoke, everyone knew that a storm was coming, and in this storm, some people would suffer losses and others would fall.

  "I've been in Yudu District for almost half a year, and there are still several months left, which means it's been a year. I'm the deputy secretary of the district committee, thank you for trusting me and following me. If I couldn't protect you well, I wouldn't be able to stay in office either. Today's incident came suddenly and fiercely, you must have mental preparation, temporary setbacks are inevitable. The main responsibility I will take on myself, no matter how the district committee studies it, I will take it all on. In your future work, you must pay more attention, don't easily let others grasp your handle."

  "Secretary Xu, I disagree with your opinion."

  Zhao Deli, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up. Xu Shaojie was somewhat surprised, wondering if Zhao Deli had some good idea.

  "Secretary Xu, this matter, since the other party has planned it well, they may have anticipated that you would take on all the responsibility voluntarily. I've worked for many years and seen a lot of things. Cadres from rural areas are all like that - when doing things, they don't consider the consequences. No matter how great the danger is, they'll do it first and talk later. So even if you take on the responsibility voluntarily, it won't be of any use. I dare say, in the end, you'll be the one to suffer a loss. We can't escape, those who should be punished will still be punished, and those who should be removed from office will still be removed. Maybe that's what they're thinking."

  "Lao Zhao, you're being too serious."

  "Secretary Xu, it's not possible. I'm originally from the countryside, and Liu Zhihua's weight in his stomach, I still know a thing or two about it. In recent years, he has done things with very few mistakes, and as time goes on, he becomes more confident and less concerned about consequences. The district committee held a secretary's office meeting, knowing you were in Huolong Village, which is not far from the district government building. It wouldn't take more than an hour to send Yang Chen to pick you up, but instead, they started the meeting without you. Moreover, all other deputy secretaries of the district committee were present, except for you. What's the reason behind this? Is it that you don't want to listen to any explanations? I think if you take responsibility and explain this matter, the consequences will only be more severe. You have the ability, but Liu Zhihua has indeed grasped our weakness this time, and we can't make excuses for ourselves."

  "Lao Zhao, what you said makes sense. I've been thinking about how to resolve this matter, but the key is that it's hard to reason out, and it's self-contradictory. No matter how we put it, it just can't be rounded off nicely."

  "Secretary Xu, I have a plan. You may oppose it when I say it out, but I think it's the best way. Mayor Dong, Secretary Liu, and Little Song, I hope you will support me after I say it."

  "Old Zhao, you go first."

  "I take full responsibility for this matter, it has nothing to do with anyone else. I am the Party Secretary of the township and have the authority to order a holiday break. Liu Mu said that Director Dong and I were inspecting work in the village, which was my instruction, because we needed to respond to an unexpected inspection from above. The whole thing, Secretary Xu didn't know about it, Director Dong didn't know about it, Liu Mu did this according to my instructions. So all the responsibility is on me."

  "Old Zhao, this won't do, absolutely won't do."

  Dong Guihua did not speak, lowering her head in contemplation, including Liu Mu also lowered his head in contemplation, they were obviously considering Zhao Deli's words.

  "Secretary Xu, this is the best solution for now. I'll take all the responsibility on myself, and Director Dong and Liu Mu will be able to stay safe. If my guess is correct, Huilin Township won't appoint a new party secretary for the time being. After all, without your opinion, Secretary Xu, Liu Zhihua can't make a decision arbitrarily. So, it's likely that Director Dong will temporarily take charge of the work, which would be the best outcome. As for my punishment, I've already thought about it - removing me from the secretary position and sending me to work in Qinghua Township. It's not a big deal for someone who comes from a rural area."

  "Lao Zhao, I still don't think it's okay."

  "Secretary Xu, it has to be done this way. I'm saying everything today, and I'm speaking from the heart. You can't make any mistakes. If you do, we're all doomed. As long as you're still in Yudu District, we have hope. Even if we get disciplined by the Discipline Inspection Committee, we still have hope. But if you get into trouble, we'll never be able to get out of this. Also, I must take responsibility for this. That's the only way it can pass. As the main leader, I can make decisions like this. Any decision made by Mayor Dong or Liu Mu that I don't agree with won't work. I can just say whatever I want and it'll be over. There's just one thing - you must say you know nothing about this matter."

  Dong Guihua finally spoke up.

  "Secretary Xu, I agree with Secretary Zhao's opinion. I'm also a seasoned person who knows the weight of things. At this point, this is the best choice. It doesn't matter if Secretary Zhao suffers temporarily as long as there's still hope. We're not afraid because from the day we started following you, we've been prepared. Liu Mu has gone through similar situations before, and when you were in Yudu District, he was able to get out of it too. The key is you."

  Liu Mu also spoke up, Liu Mu was a vocational school graduate and had suffered grievances, so he seemed much more mature when speaking.

  "Secretary Xu, I agree with Secretary Zhao and Mayor Dong's opinion. It's always necessary to make sacrifices, using the smallest cost to exchange for temporary peace is worthwhile. Today's incident, the biggest mistake lies with me, but I've also come to realize that we have been under Liu Zhihua's attention all along. With so many cadres in the township government, who dares to guarantee that they are all on our side?"

  One mind, why didn't the first two breaks have this kind of thing happen, but this time it did, and the timing was too good. I even suspect that the tobacco company's leaders came to inspect the work, it was arranged in advance. So, things will come out sooner or later, and coming out early has its benefits, at least we can know Liu Zhihua's routine. I also think that Secretary Xu cannot have any trouble.

  Speaking of which, I have another suggestion: Secretary Zhao should take the initiative to go to the district office and take all the responsibility. Isn't Liu Zhihua preparing a big hammer? Let his big hammer hit nothing. At this moment, Liu Zhihua must be waiting for Secretary Xu to return. Secretary Xu might as well not hurry back to the district office, just stay in the village for two days, until Secretary Zhao has settled everything. I think that by then, Liu Zhihua will probably take the initiative to find Secretary Xu.

  Zhao Deli and Dong Guihua both agreed with Liu Mu's opinion. At this point, Xu Shaojie fell silent. The more it was like this, the calmer one had to be. Zhao Deli was calm and analyzed all the problems.

  "Alright then, Song Tao, after you go back, you know what to say. Old Zhao, you'll have to put up with some temporary grievances."

  Xu Shaojie's face turned gloomy, he hadn't expected Liu Zhihua to make a move so quickly. Liu Zhihua had too many advantages, having operated in Yudu District for so many years, with eyes and ears everywhere. Just like the situation Liu Mu revealed earlier, how many officials from the township government would secretly report information to Liu Zhihua? This was an impossible situation to guard against, as long as he did his job, mistakes would occur, and the other side could grasp at any opportunity. Xu Shaojie no longer had the mood to understand the situation below, now he needed to get news about what kind of situation Zhao Deli would encounter.

  Liu Zhihua was waiting for Xu Shaojie with full confidence. He knew that according to Xu Shaojie's personality, once he knew about the matter, he would not be able to bear it and would take all the responsibility, protecting his subordinates. This was just right, as the secretary's office meeting had already discussed and decided to handle the matter severely, no matter who was involved, and could not tolerate it, even if it was Xu Shaojie, who would have to take corresponding responsibility and make a self-criticism at the relevant meeting. This time, Liu Zhihua would not show mercy, he wanted to severely criticize Xu Shaojie and then bring him to the municipal organization department to request personnel adjustments on the spot. Although it might not be possible to succeed immediately, Xu Shaojie's arrogant attitude could be thoroughly criticized, and he himself would have fewer things to worry about.

  Song Tao had left the district government office, and Liu Zhihua also knew that Xu Shaojie was in Huolong Village, which was not far from the district government office. He believed that Song Tao must have found Xu Shaojie by now, and perhaps Xu Shaojie was on his way back.

  Liu Zhihua thought of Zhao Deli, Dong Guihua, Liu Mu and Song Tao, a cold smile appeared on his face. These several people who didn't know what was good for them, after dealing with Xu Shaojie, wouldn't be able to have any good days either. Especially Zhao Deli and Dong Guihua, no matter how you looked at it, they were mid-level leaders in the Yudou District, tightly relying on Xu Shaojie, what did that mean? Did they think they would have a great future from now on? That was just absurd.

  Liu Zhihua still had a number in his mind, at this time, he couldn't be impatient. The secretary's office meeting had already been held, and Xu Shaojie hadn't been notified to attend, which could be explained as the matter was urgent. But if someone was sent to notify Xu Shaojie after the meeting, then there would be a problem, it would be contradictory. Why wasn't he notified before the meeting? Liu Zhihua didn't rush, Xu Shaojie would take the initiative to return to the district office. The tobacco planting area for the near future had almost been finalized, and some rural households were preparing to start transplanting tobacco seedlings. There weren't many things to do below, it was just the right time to deal with Xu Shaojie.

  Liu Zhihua's mood was exceptionally good, never having been so good before. He had rarely encountered such an opponent in the past and almost didn't know the taste of compromise. Xu Shaojie came to Yudu District, and he finally got a taste of what it was like to do so. Therefore, the moment of total attack felt so comfortable and wonderful.

  When the knock on the door sounded, Liu Zhihua briefly organized his thoughts. He thought it must be Xu Shaojie coming back. According to the time calculation, Xu Shaojie should have returned to the district office.

  The door opened and in came Zhao Deli.

  Liu Zhihua didn't react for a moment and asked an unexpected question, "Why did Zhao Deli come to the district office?"

  "Zhao Deli, what are you doing here at the district office? Why hasn't Xu Shaojie come back?"

  Liu Zhihua's words further solidified Zhao Deli's idea, it seems that the pit is ready, waiting for Xu Shaojie to jump in. Unfortunately, this time the pit probably only has himself jumping in.

  "Secretary Liu, I didn't see Secretary Xu, I came directly from home."

  "Oh, what brings you here?"

  "Song Tao found me and told me I made a mistake. I thought about it for a long time at home, although I was a bit resentful in my heart, but after all, I did something wrong. The superior leader came to inspect the work, Yulin Township didn't make good preparations, now is the key moment to implement the tobacco planting area, thinking of these, I know my mistake is very serious."

  "Zhao Deli, what mistake have you made that I don't know about? Let's do it this way, you go back first. The district committee hasn't studied the matter yet. Once the district committee has investigated clearly, we'll notify you to come."

  Liu Zhihua obviously didn't want to bother with Zhao Deli, and even less wanted Zhao Deli to take all the responsibility. However, Liu Zhihua couldn't have imagined that Zhao Deli had long been fully prepared and would not give up until he achieved his goal.

  "Secretary Liu, I know my mistake is very serious, so I came to the district office especially to acknowledge my error. You must give me a chance to correct it in the future."

  "Go on, go on, I'm listening, what's your mistake?"

  Because of the development of tobacco production, to implement the tobacco planting area, more than half a month ago, the cadres and staff of Yulin Township have not had a holiday. So I considered it appropriate to let everyone rest for a few days. A few days ago, I made a decision to let the township government's cadres take turns resting, with Dong Xiangzhang and me being the last batch. The time was today. After making this decision, I told Dong Xiangzhang about it, but he disagreed, thinking that now is a critical moment and we cannot have holidays. However, as the secretary, I insisted on executing the decision, and Dong Xiangzhang had no other choice.

  Yesterday afternoon, I told Liu Shuji about it, saying that since Dong Xiangzhang and I were both resting, if anyone came to the township government for inspection, they should say that we went to the village to implement tobacco planting area. I knew I was wrong, thinking that being in a grassroots position for a long time, delaying work for a while wouldn't be a big deal. When Song Tao found me earlier, I still thought there wasn't any problem. Later, Liu Shuji came over and told me that the leaders of the municipal tobacco company were coming to inspect our work, and only then did I realize that things had gotten out of hand.