Section 9 Organizational Department Talks

  The weather in July is hot from early morning, but with a gentle breeze, people feel refreshed.

  Ye Zhenran, who likes to wear T-shirts, wore a white shirt today and looks particularly spirited. As he walked into the office, Ma Yanli pretended to be surprised: "Boss, you look great today."

  Ye Ziran hit her on the head with a loud slap and said: "I think you're really unlucky."

  "Boss, from now on I'll call you Ye Chang." Little Ma smiled even more brightly.

  "Don't follow suit with something the organization hasn't announced."

  "Oh, I see." Mary's expression was exaggerated for a moment, but her eyes showed excitement and admiration.

  "Did the family members raise other demands after Lin Zhang's memorial service yesterday?"

  "No, He Chunying has already reported to the service center today, and she privately thanked you for your help."

  "She's also an unfortunate soul."

  Before long, Zhong Ping, Wang Pei Pei and Chen Xiao Yu all arrived at the office. Ye Zhen Ran assigned the day's tasks as usual.

  "Wang Peipei, send yesterday's public security situation materials to Secretary Qin, he is waiting for them."

  "Alright." Wang Pei Pei lowered her head and eyes, picked up the materials and left.

  "Zhong Ping, the county has informed us that Secretary Tang will come to our town on the 10th of next month to guide economic work. Li Chang wants the Party and Government Office to prepare a draft, it can only be more hard work for you."

  "Alright, alright." Zhong Ping replied repeatedly. He had been working in the party and government office for seven or eight years, and his writing skills were still good.

  "Boss, what's my task for today?" Ma Yanli asked, holding a rag and preparing to clean the office windowsill and the flower pot on it with cacti. She saw Ye Zhenran finish arranging Zhong Ping's work and took the initiative to ask.

  "Chen Xiaoyu has to go to Liugang Village and Xiahai Village this morning to learn about the medical cooperative, and then come back to write an article. You can take it easy today, just stay home on duty."

  Everyone was busy with their own affairs when Wang Peipei rushed in, shouting: "Director Ye, Secretary Qin wants to see you."

  "Does Secretary Qin have something to say?" Ye Zhiran asked with a puzzled expression, seeing her hurried and flustered look.

  "He didn't say, I saw Secretary Qin receive a phone call, and then he told me to come find you."

  "Alright." Ye Zhenran nodded and left.

  He arrived at the office of Secretary Qin on the fourth floor, where Secretary Qin smiled and told him that the county party committee's organization department had called to notify him for a talk, and he should go immediately. He would have to return in the afternoon for a meeting to formally announce his appointment. Ye Zhenran quickly thanked Secretary Qin for his concern. As he walked out the door, he, who was normally low-key, added a bit of swagger to his step, feeling as though his chest had expanded by several centimeters.

  Mashi Town, although it is the first town of Changja County, actually has only 700,000 to 800,000 people. Three main roads running east-west traverse the small town. The county committee and government are combined in one courtyard office, located in the central position of Mashi Town.

  It took only ten minutes to drive to the county committee. Ye Zhenran asked the driver to wait for a moment, got out of the car, and saw Zhang Liren walking out.

  "Huh? Liren, how did you end up here? On business?"

  "I've come on a private matter." Zhang Liren chuckled and asked in a low voice, "What's up? Has the Organization Department summoned you for a talk? Are they treating you to dinner?"

  Ye Ziran said at this time, in front of Zhang Liren, without hiding anything: "Yes, I guess it's for this matter. Do you have something to do tomorrow? Go to Ye Lao's house to play bridge."

  Zhang Liren shook his head and said: "Tomorrow Yang Hongmei wants me to go shopping with her, I won't be able to make it."

  "Alright, let's talk about it later." Ye Ziran bid farewell to Zhang Liren.

  Ye Ziran went to the county committee organization department for the first time and asked two people in a row before finding it.

  In the county committee organization department office, deputy head of the organization department Fu Bin represented the county committee and had a conversation with him before taking office.

  "Comrade Ye Ziran, I am now representing the organization to talk to you."

  "Yes." Ye Zhen Ran slightly puffed out his chest and sat up straight.

  "The organization has decided to appoint you as a member of the Party Committee and Vice Mayor of Ma Shi Township, what do you think?" Minister Fu looked up and asked Ye Zhenran.

  "Ma Shi Township is a suburban township of Changja County, ranking among the top three in scale throughout the county. I was appointed as a member of the township party committee and deputy township head, but I worry that my experience is not enough. However, I resolutely obey the organization's arrangement." Ye Zhenran spoke in a slow tone.

  "Your situation is well understood by the organization department, and it has been registered with the Jianan Municipal Committee Organization Department. The organization department has always cared about your growth. In the past two years, your work in Mashizhen has been solid, and the work of the township party and government office has been carried out in an orderly manner. You have also done very well in terms of integrity and self-discipline, fully meeting the requirements for organizational promotion."

  Minister Fu flipped through the documents on his desk, his voice had a magnetic quality to it, very pleasant to listen to. Ye Zhenran observed him for a moment, Minister Fu was under forty years old, wore glasses, and looked refined and cultured.

  "Chiayi City Party Committee, in response to the central and provincial party committee's requirements for cadre selection, the organization department has clarified the construction of a team of cadres. You are a young cadre who came through open selection, and from now on you must be even more strict with yourself, work hard, and not disappoint the trust and expectations of the organization. This is also the requirement of Zhangjiajie County Party Committee for you."

  "Yes, I will definitely remember the organization's requirements for me, work hard and be honest and dedicated." Ye Zhenran said solemnly.

  "Comrade Tang asked me to tell you that he doesn't have time to see you off, so after lunch at the county government cafeteria, I'll take you to your new post." Minister Fu said with a smile, and the conversation was brief and to the point.

  "Thank you, Minister Fu." Ye Zhenran knew that the conversation had ended and stood up to express his gratitude to Minister Fu.

  The conversation lasted only a dozen or so minutes before it came to an end. Since it was still early, Ye Ziran thought of going to the county government office to take a look at Zhu Yuli.

  In 1988, as a pilot project for cadre selection, the organization department recruited and enrolled ten college students from well-known universities across the province. Two of them were assigned to Changja County, in addition to Ye Zhenran, there was also Zhu Yuli who was assigned to the General Affairs Section of the county government office. After work, Ye Zhenran and Zhu Yuli didn't meet often, but being in the same county town, they still had opportunities to exchange their situations with each other.

  Zhu Yuli saw Ye Zhenran coming to the county office and congratulated him: "Congratulations, we are the first among the ten of us to become a deputy department-level cadre."

  "I'm just taking the lead, it doesn't mean I'll go further or better afterwards." Ye Zhenran said, "Zhu Yuli, are you in touch with the other eight people? If so, let's set a time for everyone to get together."

  "We have all the contact information, but what about the timing? It's hard to organize a gathering, everyone is busy and lives far apart."

  "It's not necessarily a must to gather immediately, first contact each other and see if everyone is willing. If there is willingness, we can meet when there is an opportunity and exchange work experiences."

  "Alright then, I'll get in touch first. Let's not talk about this anymore, you've been promoted, shouldn't we celebrate?" said Zhu Yuli.

  "No problem, wait for your boyfriend to return to Changsha, I'll treat you both to dinner." Zhu Yuli's boyfriend works in the county economic committee and is her high school classmate. He has been working for five or six years and was recently seconded to the Jianan City Economic Committee to work on a municipal project feasibility study.

  "Alright then, Ye classmate, since you're being polite, I'll treat you to lunch." said Zhu Yuli.

  While having dinner, Zhu Yuli asked about his private matters: "Ye classmate, have you talked about your girlfriend?"

  Yezhen shook his head and replied: "Not yet, this can't be rushed, what about you? When are you planning to get married?"

  "It's been a year," said Zhu Yuli. "Among the ten of us, Liuzhongyuan from Hengshan County is now serving as the deputy county magistrate's secretary, which is quite impressive."

  "You're also a comprehensive department secretary." Ye Zhenran comforted.

  The county party committee's comprehensive department has seven or eight people, although they are all secretaries serving the county party secretary, but they are different from the secretaries beside the secretary. They can't even talk to the secretary, and their main job is to handle various documents. This is what people commonly refer to as a "secretary". Although they are all secretaries, their ranks are not the same. As the saying goes, "First-class secretaries carry water and bags, second-class secretaries write speeches." For example, Zhu Yuli and others in the comprehensive department spend every day at home searching for inspiration to write speeches for the secretary. The written speeches are handed over to the director and then given to the secretary. Zhu Yuli and others can't even see the secretary's face, they only have the title of secretary, but can only be considered second-class secretaries.

  In contrast, Secretary Hu is different. He is both glorious and practical, well-known to all, and travels in a small car with great fanfare. When he goes to the countryside, local officials must first look at the secretary's face before doing anything. Every department has its own expression, but it always includes the secretary and driver's share. If there are some small expenses, they can be solved by finding the department.

  The common saying "carrying water and bags, running with a bow" refers to these secretaries. Those who don't understand think they are just followers, but in fact, if you want to see the secretary, without their help, you won't even have a chance to get through the door.

  "That's different, you're intentionally comforting me." Zhu Yuli looked at him.

  Two people were eating and chatting about the topic of secretaries, Ye Zhenran saw Secretary Hu also came to eat, and hurriedly greeted him. Secretary Hu finished his meal and came over to join them at the same table. Ye Zhenran asked: "Hu Ke, why are you eating alone today?" Secretary Hu held the title of Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Department.

  "Secretary Tang has an event today, so I'm off." Due to Secretary Tang's relationship, Secretary Hu and Ye Zhenran are very familiar with each other. He is well aware of the private friendship between Ye Zhenran and Secretary Tang, so in front of Ye Zhenran, he doesn't have a condescending attitude and speaks politely. "First of all, I'd like to congratulate you, Mayor Ye."

  "Please, please." Ye Zhenran put down the chopsticks in his hand and bowed to Secretary Hu, then said: "Hu Ke, Zhu Yuli is my classmate, take care of her more often."

  "Xiao Zhu is the pen holder of the comprehensive department, very capable, and I often ask her to write drafts too." Secretary Hu said with a smile, his tone seeming to also hold high expectations for Zhu Yu Li.

  "Hu Ke, Ye Xiang has been promoted, let's get him to treat us to a meal!" Zhu Yu Li said with a smile.

  "That's right, that's right." Secretary Hu nodded in agreement.

  "No problem with eating, as long as Secretary Hu can arrange the time." Ye Zhenran agreed happily, but he knew that Secretary Hu's time was not under his control and it was difficult to determine a specific time.

  After dinner, the three men shook hands and bid farewell. Secretary Hu knew that Ye Zhenran was going to take office in the afternoon, so he didn't keep him for long.